Anti-climactic trade deadline
That was a rather anti-climactic trade deadline, wouldn't you say? I was expecting big news about Soriano, Jon Lieber and maybe Lastings Milledge, and was certain there would be moves made by the Jays and Red Sox. Instead, here's what went down in the final hours leading up to the deadline:
- LHP Rheal Cormier => Reds
RHP Justin Germano => Phillies - RHP Kyle Lohse => Reds
RHP Zach Ward => Twins - 1B Sean Casey => Tigers
RHP Brian Rogers => Pirates - OF Matt Stairs => Rangers
RHP Joselo Diaz => Royals - IF Todd Walker => Padres
RHP Jose Ceda => Cubs - RHP Kip Wells => Rangers
RHP Jesse Chavez => Pirates - OF Craig Wilson => Yankees
RHP Shawn Chacon => Pirates - RHP Roberto Hernandez, LHP Oliver Perez => Mets
OF Xavier Nady => Pirates - RHP Greg Maddux => Dodgers
INF Cesar Izturis => Cubs - SS Julio Lugo => Dodgers
OF/INF Joel Guzman, OF Sergio Pedroza => Devil Rays - 1B Ryan Shealy, RHP Scott Dohmann => Royals
RHP Jeremy Affeldt, Kansas City, RHP Denny Bautista => Rockies
You can check out complete trade and player capsules here. Judging from this and other trades made before the deadline, it looks like the Rangers made the biggest overhaul, followed by the Yankees and Reds. The Royals, Devil Rays, Pirates and Phillies all acquired some good young talent that will help these clubs rebuild for the future.
Before I get too bummed out about the lack of activity by J.P. Ricciardi, there's another deadline to look forward to: the waiver wire. While the high profile trades are likely done until the off-season, waiver wire deals can put a team in contention over the top and can therefore be quite interesting transactions. MLB Trade Rumors has posted a quick and easy guide to what the waiver wire is all about, and ESPN has a good piece about the players we might see on the move before August 31.
Even though Eric Hinske has played well of late, with Rios back in the lineup, I was surprised he didn't go for a pitcher…
Thanks for your comment, Glyn! I agree, I thought Hinske would move, maybe to the Padres for Linebrink or the Phillies in a package for Jon Lieber.
Lieber would have been welcome. Until Chacin returns, and Burnett finds his groove, the Jays need all the starting help they can get… or at least someone SOLID in the bullpen besides Speier…
Just when will AJ find his groove? That signing is looking pretty limp these days! Chacin may have been a 1-year wonder, we'll see… I'm happy with the acquisition of Jeremy Accardo. Next year, Schoeneweis and Speier will be gone (Lilly, Molina and Catalanotto too) so it will be up to Accardo and the young bucks (plus any acquisitions) to carry the bullpen.