Trade Deadline 2011 Winners and Losers

The 2011 baseball non-waiver trade deadline has come ands gone. My phone managed to….not explode and some teams managed to get marginally better while others (houston astros) mortgaged playoff aspirations for the foreseeable (8+ years) future. With that in mind, let’s rank the trade deadline winners ands losers.

WINNER WINNER CHICKEN ALFREDO DINNER:
If your team makes this list, you should be happy that you have a GM who appears to understand the object of the game is to win (either eventually or now).

1) Texas Rangers: I really like the Ranger’s deals the past two days and I am not too sure if they gave up more than they should have. By adding Koji Uehara and Mike Adams to Neftali Feliz, the Rangers have a bullpen to keep the leads that that potent offense creates in the early innings. These trades also make the Rangers a far, far better team in the playoffs. Mike Adams, and Koji Uehara are more intimidating than Dave Bush and Mark Low. (And, and, how awesome is it that I said that that earlier in the paragraph. I love repeating myself)

2) Cleveland Indians: The Indians got Ubaldo Jimenez for 4 decent prospects. Love the move. Cleveland has needed a top of the rotation starter and a guy as talented as Ubaldo is never available. More than one cautionary flag has been raised in regards to why the Rockies would trade Ubaldo but I think its in the same light as the Colby Rasmus trade: frustrated coaching staff. Ubaldo could turn his season around with a simple mechanical change for all we know. Here’s to hoping someone in Cleveland can help him out.

3) Atlanta Braves: The Braves picked up Michael Bourne from the AAA Houston team. Bourne gives the Braves a talented, supremely speedy leadoff hitter. He’s the guy the Braves wish Nate McClouth or Jordan Schafer was. Best part? The Braves got Bourne for Schafer and a bag of peanuts. The three minor leaguers won’t help the Astros be a good team if they make it there. So the Braves get a proven speedster for a guy who’s hit 217 over the past 2 years and three arms who are probably best suited as middle relievers.

4) New York Mets: The Mets got a legit pitching prospect for 3 months of Carlos Beltran. The move saves payroll and nets a talented pitcher who should help the Mets for 6 years starting next year.

5) NY Yankees: The Yanks could have done for another starting pitcher but, did not pull the trigger on any moves. Makes me happy for the organization as they realize the payroll obligations going forward could tie the team down with no depth and force bad players into everyday rolls. I know that Yankees fans dont like to hear it, but funds aren’t endless and there’s some bad contracts on the books for 2012 and beyond. The last thing they need is another average, veteran, overpaid starter.

LOSER IDIOTS
If your team is on here, your GM should consider his next career, or just go home. Also, the Phillies bit is done entirely tongue-in-cheek as the Pence addition certainly fits the criteria for everything the Phil’s could have wanted (youngish, right handed, right fielder under team control for next year too)

1) Houston Astros: The Stros traded two of the 4 major league players on the current big league roster and got a small return. Keith Law said that calling the Astros a cupcake to opponents the rest of the way would be an insult to cupcakes. Buster Olney joked that MLB solved the realignment problem by moving the Astros to the International League. My own joke holds true, name three players on the Astros in under 5 seconds…. impossible. Even GM Ed Wade can’t do that. Of course, he doesn’t know much about baseball so its forgivable.

2) Chicago Cubs: the Cubs have some talented players but are a bad team. The Yankees sure would have made a pretty offer for Matt Garza. I know the Braves expressed interest in Marlon Byrd and Carlos Pena will be gone at years end anyway. I don’t get how they couldn’t find any takers for some of their guys. This is the opposite of logical thinking: we have the second worst record in the Majors but, are gonna keep the current roster intact for next year. O and its a group of veterans who earn over $100 million. The Cubs should not be in win now mode.

3) Philadelphia Phillies: I’m sorry Philly Phans but the trade for Hunter Pence was dumb. Pence is clearly going to break down and has been a significantlly better player over the first half of the year vs the second half throughout his career. Yes, he’s an upgrade over Dominic Brown this year but, its stunting Mr. Brown’s growth and doesn’t represent a lineup improvement. Plus, they didn’t address their biggest need, especially come playoff time: 5th starter. Or something like that….

4) Los Angeles Dodgers: The Dodgers were the third team in the Erik Bedard deal. They gave up a top outfield prospect and got… a few minor league relievers. Trayvon, the prospect, just cracked Baseball America’s Top 50 list. Ned Colletti is out as Dodgers GM as soon as McCourt loses the team.

There’s about 900 words sent from my DROID-ya i’m a professional blogger. Also, I like the moves by the Pirates-get marginally better, inspire the fanbase, but don’t mortgage the future.

STAT OF THE DAY: Going into Sunday, Dan Uggla had the National League’s longest hitting streak (20) while also sporting the League’s lowest batting average (.205).

-Sean Morash