July 31st, 2006 by The Healthy Scratch
THS Does the MLB Trade Deadline
The rumors have been flying and deals have started, so what better way to celebrate the Major League Baseball trading deadline then to give up some opinions on what goes down. This will be updated constantly until the deadline on July 31, so check back often.
Last Update: July 31, 2006 7:30pm Est.
Dodgers get Lugo in the biggest trade of a boring deadline day
Dodgers get: SS/2B Julio Lugo
Devil Rays get: OF Joel Guzman, OF Sergio Pedroza
Gibbons take: The Dodgers intend to play Lugo at 2B while Jeff Kent heals up and then deal with a logjam when Kent returns. In the end it’ll likely mean that Wilson Betemit will end up in a reserve role once everyone gets healthy. Guzman is the big prospect in the deal. He’s more tools than performance right now, but he’s 21 and already in AAA, so he probably has a future. Pedroza is older and much further away, but he’s got some serious pop in his bat. If the Dodgers has actually filled a need with this move I’d call it even, but since they didn’t: Advantage Tampa.
Frangos take: Kind of surprised that the Dodgers ended up with Lugo as it was rumoured that the Blue Jays were hot to trot for the shortstop. I think his bat will help Los Angeles down the stretch. Tampa did good getting some talent in return as Lugo was going to walk this off season.
Dodgers add Maddux
Dodgers get: P Greg Maddux
Cubs get: SS Cesar Izturis
Gibbons take: Maddux is done. I hate to say that as he was always a favorite of mine growing up, but he’s just not up to the task anymore. He started the season on fire, but hasn’t had a month with an ERA below 5.00 since. In Izturis, the Cubs get a younger version of Neifi Perez. He’s never going to be an all-star again, but there are worse players around. The edge on this goes to the Cubs.
Frangos take: Again I am surprised the Dodgers of all teams get Maddux. Who would have thought this hall of famer would get traded for a guy hitting .252 with 1 homerun? Not exactly the kind of return you’d expect, anyways I think Maddux has some gas left in the tank, and you never know with the Dodgers in the west. It’s anyones division to win.
Mets add arms, deal Nady
Mets get: P Roberto Hernandez and P Oliver Perez
Pirates get: OF Xavier Nady
Gibbons Take: I like this deal for the Pirates. Nady has some good pop and could excel given a full time role in Pittsburgh. Roberto Hernandez is 100 years old but he might help in the bullpen. Oliver Perez has turned awful for some reason and I don’t think he’s going to turn it around. Chalk this one up for the Pirates.
Frangos take: The Pirates needed to add a good bat after trading Casey and Wilson in earlier trades. He’s a young player that hopefully can grow into an everyday major leaguer with the Pirates. The Mets needed to replace Duaner Sanchez who was injured in a cab ride. Not sure however, if Hernandez and Perez will make that much of an impact. Good deal for the Pirates.
Casey to the Tigers
Tigers get: 1B Sean Casey
Pirates get: P Brian Rogers
Gibbons’ Take: Hooray for mediorce 1st baseman. Casey’s very average, but since Chris Shelton has forgotten how to hit, this is a decent little move. Rogers isn’t much of a prospect, but the Pirates need anything they can get.
Frangos’ Take: Same old story about a team like the Pirates dumping a player, in this case making $8,500,000 in Casey for a prospect. Oh by the way, I guess someone told Chris Shelton he’s Chris Shelton.
Reds continue to load up on pitchers
Deal One:
Reds get: P Kyle Lohse
Twins get: P Zach Ward
Deal Two:
Reds get: P Rheal Cormier
Phillies get: P Justin Germano
Gibbons’ take: The Reds remind me of that fantasy owner who’s team loses because of terrible pitching, so the next year they draft 50 straight pitchers and realize they have no hitting. Cormier should help in the bullpen. But Zach Ward has some good numbers in the minors and Kyle Lohse is pretty weak. All in all, I’m bored by these deals.
Frangos’ take: The Twins should have traded Lohse along time ago. Getting Ward is pretty good for them. As for the other deal, meh.
Ronnie Belliard goes to St. Louis
Cards get: Ronnie Belliard
Indians get: Hector Luna
Frangos’ take: If it were Julio Lugo instead of Hector Luna, this trade would have been more interesting, but nevertheless, the Cards improve their roster by making this move as Belliard will only help the Cards as they continue to fight off the Reds for first place. The Indians continue to dump salary and add puzzling names to their roster.
Gibbons’ take: Cards win this deal, but its a minor one.
Bobby Abreu, Cory Lidle dealt to Yankees
Phillies get: LHP Matt Smith, SS C.J. Henry, C Jesus Sanchez & Carlos Monasterios
Yankees get: Bobby Abreu & Cory Lidle
Frangos’ take: The Yankees desperately needed to make a splash. Getting Abreu fills that big left-handed bat in the lineup. Cory Lidle adds some experience and is an inning eater that will take pressure off the bullpen. The Phillies, already having traded 3B David Bell to Milwaukee, are clearly mailing it in.
Gibbons’ Take: This is a steal for the Yankees. They traded a guy who can be one of best player in baseball, for a load of blah prospects. Message to the Phillies front office: A lot of crap is still just crap. They got destroyed in this trade.
Carlos Lee goes to Texas
Brewers get: Kevin Mench, Francisco Cordero, Laynce Nix & Julian Cordero
Rangers get: Carlos Lee & Nelson Cruz
Gibbons’ take: The 1st big deadline deal is upon us. I’m not the biggest Carlos Lee fan around and think he can be overrated because he puts up huge RBI numbers, but even I can’t argue with the numbers he’s put this year. Lee is an upgrade on Mench, although not by as much as you’d think. Francisco Cordero could excel with a change of scenery as his stuff is still good. The rest of the players are just guys, although Julian Cordero could eventually become a decent prospect.
Frangos’ take: A great pickup for the Rangers. Lee is just what Texas needs in the middle of their lineup. Mench had become a none factor as a power hitter having only hit 2 in the last 2 months. Francisco Cordero, with the exception of his last outing versus the Yankees where he gave up 4 runs, was starting to get used to the setup role after losing the closer role earlier in the year to Otsuka. I think Mench is a perfect fit for the Brewers and Cordero will helpout Turnbow in the pen. As for the rest of the guys, there just throw-ins as far as I’m concerned.
RELATED POSTS
Leave a Reply