MLB Trade Deadline Banter

A lot of moves have been made as the trade deadline approaches and some teams have really gone for it all. For myself and Varun we have had some conversations about all the moves so far. Here is some of the best stuff:

Alex: So Varun, how about the Jon Lester deal? As a Bostonian, it hurts to see him go but what about the trade as a whole?

Varun: As a Red Sox fan, this trade killed me. Interesting fact: including Lester’s time in the minors, he was Boston’s second longest tenured athlete (behind Patriots quarterback Tom Brady). As for the trade as a whole, I really liked the move for both sides.

The Athletics are the American League’s best team as of today, but they lacked a true number one starter, an ace that has been there before. Lester will be able to provide that guy who can get you a win in a decisive game, as he did so often in Boston.

For the Red Sox, I think this trade is very interesting. Yoenis Cespedes has a unique contract that allows him to become a free agent after next season. Is he a rental? I’m not sure, but I think that he will have great success playing pepper with the Monster.

Alex: I say that he could be here long term. While the Red Sox front office has indicated that they aren’t prepared to offer lengthy contracts to hitters, Cespedes is an offensive force and I think if he performs like people anticipate he will in a hitter friendly park like Fenway, they may offer him more money. I love this trade for both teams and I think the A’s, along with their acquisitions of Sam Fuld and Jonny Gomes, are headed for the World Series. But they are going to have get by the Tigers, and word is that they traded for David Price. How about that move? Wow!

Varun: The David Price trade was by far the biggest shocker today. Now, the Tigers have three of the best pitchers in baseball, and their October rotation is going to be scary. I like how the Mariners acquired OF Austin Jackson from the Tigers. They were in the market for a right handed bat, and I didn’t even know that he was available. Ol’ Jack up in Seattle did a fantastic job as well.

Alex: I think Tampa actually did ok contrary to many peoples thoughts. Drew Smyly is a pretty darn good pitcher and I think they should be in good shape for the future with Nick Franklin from Seattle. I love what the Mariners did as well. In addition to getting Austin Jackson, they also added Chris Denorfia. By adding the offense they were looking for, they maybe, just maybe, can get Felix Hernandez into the postseason. Speaking of bolstering pitching rotations how about St. Louis? Adding Justin Masterson and John Lackey without losing top 5 prospects? I got to think of that as a win for them.

Varun: Actually, I’m looking at the Cardinals as one of the teams that I truly have no opinion about. I really liked the acquisition of John Lackey, but trading Allen Craig and Joe Kelly was a steep price to pay for the righty. I loved the trade for former Red Sox prospect Justin Masterson. But seriously, have you ever seen a fanbase change their collective opinion about a player as rapidly as was the case with Lackey?

Not a year and a half ago, Lackey was reviled in Boston. Yet, one magical season and a beautiful pitching performance in Game 6 of the World Series later, it was tough for me to see him go! I’ve written about Boston Sports since 2007, and I’ve never seen Bostonians flip the likeability switch on an athlete as dramatically as they did with John Lackey. He went from goat to hero in less than six months!

Alex: That’s a great point, all seemed lost with Lackey early on, only for it to become positive very fast. Perhaps there was a new sense of optimism with John Farrell leading this team instead of Bobby V, and people were able to be more positive. Maybe it was the fire he showed in the postseason. Either way it was a dramatic reversal which caused this deal to hurt many Boston fans including myself.

As for the deal itself, I think the Cardinals must have faith that they can organize a longer term deal with Lackey but the Red Sox got great value in this trade without a doubt. Keep in mind, by trading Craig, more playing time opens up for Oscar Tavares who looks to have so much promise. Craig seemed expendable, but I don’t know why the Cardinals gave up so quickly on Kelly. Perhaps it was to appease the fans, who like Red Sox fans, don’t want to see their team go from World Series appearance to missing the playoffs.

So what was the move that not too many are talking about that could be a sneaky good move in your opinion?

Varun: From the point of view of the Astros, I loved the trade of Jarred Cosart to the Miami Marlins. In return, they acquired OF Austin Wates, 3B Colin Moran and OF Jake Marisnick. These three prospects not only helped Houston re-stock their shelves, but could turn out to be very good players one day. The Astros have done a fine job acquiring prospects, and I think that they will be a very good team in the future when those players develop.

After talking a lot about the moves that were made, let’s talk about those that were not completed. What do you think about the Phillies, who did not make any significant deals this trading season?

Alex:  I agree on the Astros I think it was a huge haul for a guy who projects as maybe a number 3 starter. Another move that is a bit forgotten is that the Twins quietly got a guy in Tommy Milone from the A’s who was a solid pitcher for them and they only traded Sam Fuld, who they picked up from the A’s off waivers! Good move for the future for basically nothing.

As for the Phillies, that was a horrible move from their GM on a day when many other GM’s were making very intelligent and impactful moves. They have so many players on their roster who could help add to a fairly thin farm system and build for the future. I just don’t get it. For example, Marlon Byrd should have been moved. There was no reason to keep him whatsoever and they could have gotten really nice value.

The other teams that should have made moves were the Dodgers and Pirates. The Dodgers wanted to add a lock down piece to their rotation and maybe an eighth inning guy, but they did nothing. The A’s improved their rotation, the Cardinals improved their rotation, the Tigers improved their rotation but they didn’t. They didn’t even add a guy like Andrew Miller for the 8th inning. Very confusing. As for the Pirates, they should have added a starter especially when their main competition (St. Louis and San Francisco) improved their rotations. They also could have used another bat. Didn’t get anything done.

Alright so lets compare predictions for the playoffs. Who do you have making it in the AL and NL and what do you have happening?

Varun:  In the American League, I like the Athletics, Tigers, and the Orioles to win their respective divisions. I think that the Angels and Mariners will be the two wild card teams. Ultimately, I believe that the Tigers, headed by their 3 headed bull-dog rotation, will advance to the World Series for the AL.

In the National League, I believe that the Nationals, Cardinals, and Dodgers will win their divisions. The Giants and Pirates will be the two wild card winners. In the end, the Dodgers will advance to the Fall Classic, where they will defeat the Tigers in seven games.

Which ones to do you agree with, and with which of my predictions do you have a problem with?

Alex: Well in terms of the AL, I agree that the Athletics, Tigers, and Orioles will win their divisions as well. I have the Angels as the top wild card and the Toronto Blue Jays as the second wild card team. I then have the Oakland Athletics beating the Tigers in a very close series thanks to some big game pitching from Lester and young Sonny Gray.

For the NL, I have the Nationals, Brewers and Dodgers winning their divisions and then I have the San Francisco Giants as the top wild card team and the Atlanta Braves as the second, purely because the Pirates didn’t do enough at the deadline. I have the Dodgers beating the Nationals and rolling on the play the A’s.

Finally in the Fall Classic I have got to give the edge to the Dodgers as well, although I think they will win in six but we will see a series with the same level of excitement that came from the Red Sox vs. Tigers in the ALCS last year.

Phew…does that cover it all? Wow what a day for baseball, this has been the craziest deadline I have seen in years. You have got to love it Varun, its going to be exciting.

Varun: Yesterday marked one of the busiest trade deadlines I’ve ever seen! Hopefully, July 31st leads into a great two more months of regular season baseball and another fantastic postseason.