Trade Deadline: Winners and Losers

Manny Ramirez is the newest member of the Los Angeles Dodgers. Who else changed uniforms?
[PHOTO BY ICON SMI]

BY MICHAEL GANCI
Update! Writer
The trade deadline has come and gone, and it was one of the more surprising days in recent memory. Three future Hall of Famers changed their uniforms. These could be the moves that make or break a team for the run to the playoffs. It is all about October, and in this column, UPDATE! will analyze each move to let you know if the team took a step in the right direction.

1.      DODGERS RECEIVE:OF Manny Ramirez, $7 million from Red Sox

RED SOX RECEIVE: OF Jason Bay from the Pirates

PIRATES RECEIVE: 3B Andy LaRoche and RHP Avery Morris from the Los Angeles Dodgers; RHP Craig Hansen and OF Brandon Moss from the Boston Red Sox

VERDICT:The biggest winner in this monster three-way deal is the Los Angeles Dodgers’ franchise. They acquired the best player in this deal, and all that they had to give up was a very good prospect whose ceiling seems to be falling, and a relief prospect. The only concern for them is that they need to make sure Ramirez is not a negative distraction and that he behaves. The Red Sox get Bay, who they have under control through 2009 at a very affordable salary. The Pirates continue to rebuild their farm system in hopes of having a positive future.

 

2.      WHITE SOX RECEIVE: OF Ken Griffey Jr. and Cash

REDS RECEIVE:RHP Nick Masset and 2B Danny Richar

VERDICT:Believe it or not, I believe that the Reds are the biggest winners in this deal for the long haul. Masset is going to fit nicely into their immediate plans as a starter, and Richar still has a decent chance to develop into an adequate regular. As much as Griffey is still a feared bat in baseball, the White Sox are really hurting themselves defensively. The plan is to return Griffey to center field, where he hasn’t played in a while. Nick Swisher will move in to play first, and the struggling Paul Konerko will be relegated to the bench. With Griffey’s aches and pains, this deal isn’t going to pay off much for the White Sox this season.

 

3.      MARLINS RECEIVE: LHP Arhur Rhodes

MARINERS RECEIVE: RHP Gaby Hernandez

VERDICT: This is a nice win for the Florida Marlins franchise. This deal doesn’t look at good on the surface as it actually is. As of now, Renyel Pinto is one of the National League’s leaders in appearances. Rhodes will do a nice job taking the load off of his shoulders. For the Mariners this year, Rhodes has held lefties to an under .200 clip and he is also averaging more than one strikeout per inning. If you need hold, this guy could be a nice source of them. As for Hernandez, he may develop into a back of the rotation guy, but nothing is certain. This was a solid acquisition for Florida.

4.      YANKEES RECEIVE: C Ivan Rodriguez

TIGERS RECEIVE:RHP Kyle Farnsworth

VERDICT: When people initially look at this trade, it looks more lopsided than ever. Both the teams addressed one of their major needs. The Yankees needed a catcher after losing Jorge Posada for the season and the Tigers’ bullpen has been suspect to say the least. In terms of quality, the Yankees definitely got the better end of the deal, as Pudge may be the one piece that they need. They also addressed a major need when they acquired Xavier Nady and Damaso Marte from the Pirates, so it looks like the Bronx Bombers are ready to make a run for their first World Series ring since 2000.

 

5.      ANGELS RECEIVE:1B Mark Teixeira

BRAVES RECEIVE:1B Casey Kotchman and RHP Steve Marek

VERDICT: I think the Braves did well here to acquire the two young studs in exchange for the pending free agent Teixeira. Kotchman was clearly unhappy to find out that he was coming to Atlanta, and why wouldn’t he be? He left a team that may be the best in the American League, and now he will be probably watching the playoffs from his living room. Teixeira puts the Angels offense over the top, but this move makes it a World Series ring or bust year. Teixeira is going to make upwards of $20 million per season on the open market, and although they will surely have a chance to retain his services, there are no guarantees. This was a nice trade for the Braves for future purposes.

 

6.     YANKEES RECEIVE: OF Xavier Nady and LHP Damaso Marte from the Pittsburgh Pirates

PIRATES RECEIVE:RHPs Jeff Karstens, Daniel McCutchen, Ross Ohlendorf and OF Jose Tabata

VERDICT:People in Pittsburgh have the right to be very angry over this one because they got had. Nady was hitting .330 for the Pirates and was turning everyone’s heads, and Marte may be the best situational left-handed pitcher in baseball, and this is all they could get for them? I don’t think so. Ohlendorf has showed nothing but the fact that he is hittable and Tabata is out for the season. McCutchen is a decent prospect and Karstens may be a fifth starter on his best day. The Yankees won this one by a landslide and Pirates’ management really needs to be shaking their heads over this one. Nady is still an excellent play in fantasy, especially with the protection that he will have in the Yankees’ lineup.

 

TRADES NOT DONE

1.      RAUL IBANEZ TO THE METS

Comments:This was an example of greed from the Seattle Mariners. They were asking for two of Fernando Martinez, Jon Niese and Bobby Parnell for Ibanez. That is just off the wall. There is a chance that Ibanez will make it through waivers, but this trade is unlikely to happen because the Mets’ competitors in the NL East will likely block it.

2.      JARROD WASHBURN TO THE YANKEES

Comments:The Mariners were once again shooting for the stars with Washburn. They wanted the Yankees two top prospects for him. The Yankees were nice enough to eat the remaining salary on the contract, but apparently that was not enough. This trade may be revisted because Washburn should easily clear waivers.

3.      GREG MADDUX TO THE DODGERS

Comments:Maddux nixed at least one trade that would have taken him out of San Diego, but the reason he did so it because he wanted to remain out west. The only team that was a logical fit for Maddux was the Dodgers and the Padres couldn’t really see dealing him to a divisional rival. This trade is most likely dead to rights.

YANKEES: Nady Goes Nuts

New York Yankees outfielder Xavier Nady went 4-for-5 with a double, home run and six RBI Sunday against the Angels on Sunday.

BOTTOM LINE: Nady has fit in nicely in the Yankees uniform. He is showing no signs of being hampered by his recent injury, and he is an excellent option to start in all formats.

YANKEES: Acquire Nady and Marte

Former Pittsburgh Pirates outfielder Xavier Nady and Damaso Marte have been traded to the Yankees for prospects Jose Tabata and George Kontos, reliever Ross Ohlendorf, and Double-A starter Phil Coke, according to the Westchester Journal.

BOTTOM LINE: This was the steal of all steals for the Yankees. Nady will fill their void in the outfield, and Marte may be the best left handed specialist in the game. I am not quite sure what the Pirates are thinking, but Nady’s value just went up. Start him in all leagues.

Trade Deadline Looming

The MLB trade deadline is only eight days away, and there are several guys who may be wearing new uniforms once that time comes. In this blog, I will pick the five most likely guys to get traded, and where I think they will end up.

1. Xavier Nady, Pirates
Destination: Rays

The Rays are in need of a good hitting right-handed hitter, and Nady would seem to be the guy who would fit the bill best. The Rays have a plethora of young pitching in which they could trade, so it seems like these two teams could be a match. Nady has said that he wants to stay in Pittsburgh, but the decision is out of his hands.

2. Brian Fuentes, Rockies
Destination: Marlins

Florida management is known to be fans of Fuentes, and he would come in and threaten Kevin Gregg to take over as closer. They have been pursuing him very aggressively. The Marlins have plenty of young talent to get the deal done. It’s just a matter of whether or not they want to go for it this year. This seems like a match for all parties involved.

3. Casey Blake, Indians
Destination: Mets

This trade makes too much sense for it not to happen. Omar Minaya is known to be a huge fan of Blake, and Blake fits the big hole that the Mets have. They need a right handed hitting outfielder who can also occasionally spell Delgado against a lefty at first base. Blake fits the bill. I think it would only cost the Mets a mid-level prospect if they are willing to eat Blake’s contract.

4. Jarrod Washburn, Mariners
Destination: Yankees

The Yankees are in need of a starting pitcher. Mussina and Pettite are the only two guys that they can consistently count on right now, although Wang should be entering the picture pretty soon. Washburn, although caught up in the horror of Seattle, is still a quality pitcher. The Yankees and Mariners are known to be in discussions, and the Yankees want Seattle to take Kei Igawa, but the best course of action would be for the Yankees to trade a mid-level minor leaguer and eat Washburn’s contract.

5. Huston Street, Athletics
Destination: Brewers

The Brewers have proven to everyone that they are ready to go for it now. The acquisition of CC Sabathia was a huge splash for them and they don’t seem to be done. Eric Gagne could be a headache, so the Brewers entered the market for a late inning reliever, and Street would feet the bill. The Athletics are looking to reload their minor league system, and the Brewers have a nice group of prospects. This one is an easy match.

 

–MICHAEL GANCI

PIRATES: Nady Back on Fire

Pittsburgh Pirates outfielder Xavier Nady has picked up a hit in 14 of the last 15 games. He is batting .419 during that stretch.

BOTTOM LINE: He is doing a heck of a job showcasing his abilities for potential trade partners. I don’t expect Nady to be a Pirate once August begins.