Deadline mania
UPDATED AUGUST 3RD
Let's get right down to business. As usual, there were several deals made, including 12 on Deadline Day. Some were surprising, others expected, and then there were the ones that didn't get done.
Read along as I break down each trade player by player:
1B Sean Casey to the Tigers for P Brian Rogers
The best team in the majors didn't need to do much, but with Dmitri Young returning to the Tigers' lineup - pick him up if you can - Casey's acquisition gives Manager Jim Leyland the ability to go righty-lefty, righty-lefty all the way through the order. The first baseman is a career .304 hitter and is patient at the plate. He gives the Tigers another veteran presence on the young squad.
This is a good move for Detroit, but it really won't have any fantasy impact. April power player Chris Shelton was sent down to Triple-A to make room for Casey, but Tigers' management plans on bringing him back up in September when rosters expand from 25 to 40.
RF Bobby Abreu and P Cory Lidle to the Yankees for four minor leaguers
Next to the Casey deal, this one looks to be the most significant for a single team. With Hideki Matsui and Gary Sheffield absent from the lineup since May, the Yankees needed to add another bat to their ailing outfield and add one they did.
Bobby Abreu is a walks machine, about to draw 100 free passes for the eighth straight season, joining Max Bishop and Oakland slugger Frank Thomas as the only players with eight in a row. He has speed to burn, averaging 28-plus steals a season, and he's eclipsed the 100-RBI mark in four of the past five seasons. How can you go wrong with an All-star outfielder in such a loaded lineup.
Picture this. When Matsui, Sheffield, and Robinson Cano return from their various injuries, this is what the Yankees' lineup could look like:
That's just scary.
Cory Lidle is also a good pick-up at the back end of the rotation, and after winning his Pinstripes debut vs. Toronto, he now has won his last five decisions. Lidle isn't going to get you a lot of strikeouts, but he should post a decent ERA and pick up a good amount of wins.
Pitcher Matt Smith, Class-A shortstop C.J. Henry - a first-round draft pick in 2005 - rookie league catcher Jesus Sanchez and right-hander Carlos Monasterios head over to Philly, but none of them are expected to have any impact in the majors until at least 2009, 2010, if at all.
Greg Maddux to the Dodgers for SS/3B Cesar Izturis
With the Cubs sinking fast, GM Jim Hendry did the right thing and sent Maddux closer to his offseasons home in Las Vegas while giving him a chance to pitch in the playoffs. Since starting out 5-0 with a 1.35 ERA in April, Maddux has gone 4-11 with a 5.77 ERA through July for the Cubs. Heading to L.A., Maddux should enjoy the benefits of being in a pitchers' park and should be a solid presence in the Dodgers' rotation down the stretch.
In return for Maddux, the Cubs got a slick-fielding shortstop with good speed and the ability to spray the ball all over the field. In 2004, Izturis finished the season with 193 hits, 90 runs, 25 steals, 45 extra-base hits and a .288 batting average. The following year his progress was marred by a variety of injuries - hamstring, back, and elbow - but the talent is still there and he should excel in Chicago in the No. 2 slot hitting behind speedy leadoff man Juan Pierre.
Carlos Lee and Nelson Cruz to the Texas Rangers for Francisco Cordero, Kevin Mench, Laynce Nix and Julian Cordero
Moving from Milwaukee to Texas, Lee will bat in the middle of a more powerful lineup, but his production, which is stellar, should remain the same. Cruz has hit for power in every level as he's come up through the ranks, but he's not exactly a prospect anymore at age 26. He's not the highest rated minor leaguer out there, but if Texas calls him up to the bigs, you should be able to get some decent production out of him.
Going to Milwaukee, Francisco Cordero gets another chance to close games again after being demoted from that role on the Rangers earlier in the season. Following his demotion, however, Cordero posted a 2.87 ERA in 37.2 innings with 15 holds.
Former Brewers closer Derrick Turnbow had an utter meltdown in July, blowing four straight save chances in a span of two weeks, so Cordero should give the Brew Crew a more stable, and able, body in the ninth.
As for Mench and Nix, out of the two Mench will likely get more playing time and he should replace a decent-sized portion of the power numbers Lee put up in Milwaukee. But that's all he'll replace. Lee is a better fielder and he is more prone to stealing bases than Mench is.
Out of all the deals made around the deadline, this deal is probably the most beneficial for both sides.
Julio Lugo to the Dodgers for Joel Guzman and Sergio Pedroza
The Devil Rays weren't able to work out a long-term extension with Lugo, so they deal him to L.A. for top prospect Joel Guzman and Pedroza. Lugo should continue to hit for average, steal bases in score runs over in the National League. The only question is who plays where and how often when Jeff Kent and Nomar Garciaparra come off the DL.
For now, Lugo will play second with Rafael Furcal over at short, newly acquired utility man Wilson Betemit manning the hot corner and Olmedo Saenz at first. When Kent and Nomar return, the talk is that Lugo will shift over to third with Kent going back to second and Nomar to first.
Guzman is the real deal, and once he's playing for Tampa, he'll join B.J. Upton to form an extremely talented left side of the infield at Tropicana Park. Pedroza heads to Class-A Visalia.
Roberto Hernandez and Oliver Perez to the Mets for Xavier Nady
This move was necessitated when Mets setup man Duaner Sanchez severely separated his pitching shoulder in a taxi accident the day before the trade deadline. GM Omar Minaya promptly whisked Nady away and filled the void left by Sanchez with Hernandez, who should fare well in the same role he occupied with the Mets last season.
Minaya also acquired Perez - a highly talented, 25-year-old lefty who has shown flashes of brilliance but has also struggled greatly. Back in 2004, Perez posted a 12-10 record with a 2.98 ERA and struck out 239 batters in 196 innings. He is 6-foot-3 and weighs 210 pounds, but it's definitely possible that he wore himself out with that heavy workload.
Since his promising '04, Perez has gone 9-15 with a horrendous 6.18 ERA, 158 strikeouts and a whopping 128 walks in 35 starts. He will play out the rest of the season at Triple-A Norfolk, but the Mets expect him to be a part of their rotation in 2007 after pitching coach Rick Peterson gets to work his magic on the troubled, yet talented, starter.
Minaya almost dealt Perez to the Padres along with reliever Heath Bell for Scott Linebrink, but the teams ran out of time as the deadline hit. Keep an eye on Perez in Spring Training next season. In the right environment he could regain his 2004 form.
Let's get right down to business. As usual, there were several deals made, including 12 on Deadline Day. Some were surprising, others expected, and then there were the ones that didn't get done.
Read along as I break down each trade player by player:
1B Sean Casey to the Tigers for P Brian Rogers
The best team in the majors didn't need to do much, but with Dmitri Young returning to the Tigers' lineup - pick him up if you can - Casey's acquisition gives Manager Jim Leyland the ability to go righty-lefty, righty-lefty all the way through the order. The first baseman is a career .304 hitter and is patient at the plate. He gives the Tigers another veteran presence on the young squad.
This is a good move for Detroit, but it really won't have any fantasy impact. April power player Chris Shelton was sent down to Triple-A to make room for Casey, but Tigers' management plans on bringing him back up in September when rosters expand from 25 to 40.
RF Bobby Abreu and P Cory Lidle to the Yankees for four minor leaguers
Next to the Casey deal, this one looks to be the most significant for a single team. With Hideki Matsui and Gary Sheffield absent from the lineup since May, the Yankees needed to add another bat to their ailing outfield and add one they did.
Bobby Abreu is a walks machine, about to draw 100 free passes for the eighth straight season, joining Max Bishop and Oakland slugger Frank Thomas as the only players with eight in a row. He has speed to burn, averaging 28-plus steals a season, and he's eclipsed the 100-RBI mark in four of the past five seasons. How can you go wrong with an All-star outfielder in such a loaded lineup.
Picture this. When Matsui, Sheffield, and Robinson Cano return from their various injuries, this is what the Yankees' lineup could look like:
1. CF Johnny Damon
2. SS Derek Jeter
3. 1B/DH Jason Giambi
4. 3B Alex Rodriguez
5. RF Bobby Abreu
6. DH/1B Gary Sheffield
7. LF Hideki Matsui
8. C Jorge Posada
9. 2B Robinson Cano
That's just scary.
Cory Lidle is also a good pick-up at the back end of the rotation, and after winning his Pinstripes debut vs. Toronto, he now has won his last five decisions. Lidle isn't going to get you a lot of strikeouts, but he should post a decent ERA and pick up a good amount of wins.
Pitcher Matt Smith, Class-A shortstop C.J. Henry - a first-round draft pick in 2005 - rookie league catcher Jesus Sanchez and right-hander Carlos Monasterios head over to Philly, but none of them are expected to have any impact in the majors until at least 2009, 2010, if at all.
Greg Maddux to the Dodgers for SS/3B Cesar Izturis
With the Cubs sinking fast, GM Jim Hendry did the right thing and sent Maddux closer to his offseasons home in Las Vegas while giving him a chance to pitch in the playoffs. Since starting out 5-0 with a 1.35 ERA in April, Maddux has gone 4-11 with a 5.77 ERA through July for the Cubs. Heading to L.A., Maddux should enjoy the benefits of being in a pitchers' park and should be a solid presence in the Dodgers' rotation down the stretch.
In return for Maddux, the Cubs got a slick-fielding shortstop with good speed and the ability to spray the ball all over the field. In 2004, Izturis finished the season with 193 hits, 90 runs, 25 steals, 45 extra-base hits and a .288 batting average. The following year his progress was marred by a variety of injuries - hamstring, back, and elbow - but the talent is still there and he should excel in Chicago in the No. 2 slot hitting behind speedy leadoff man Juan Pierre.
Carlos Lee and Nelson Cruz to the Texas Rangers for Francisco Cordero, Kevin Mench, Laynce Nix and Julian Cordero
Moving from Milwaukee to Texas, Lee will bat in the middle of a more powerful lineup, but his production, which is stellar, should remain the same. Cruz has hit for power in every level as he's come up through the ranks, but he's not exactly a prospect anymore at age 26. He's not the highest rated minor leaguer out there, but if Texas calls him up to the bigs, you should be able to get some decent production out of him.
Going to Milwaukee, Francisco Cordero gets another chance to close games again after being demoted from that role on the Rangers earlier in the season. Following his demotion, however, Cordero posted a 2.87 ERA in 37.2 innings with 15 holds.
Former Brewers closer Derrick Turnbow had an utter meltdown in July, blowing four straight save chances in a span of two weeks, so Cordero should give the Brew Crew a more stable, and able, body in the ninth.
As for Mench and Nix, out of the two Mench will likely get more playing time and he should replace a decent-sized portion of the power numbers Lee put up in Milwaukee. But that's all he'll replace. Lee is a better fielder and he is more prone to stealing bases than Mench is.
Out of all the deals made around the deadline, this deal is probably the most beneficial for both sides.
Julio Lugo to the Dodgers for Joel Guzman and Sergio Pedroza
The Devil Rays weren't able to work out a long-term extension with Lugo, so they deal him to L.A. for top prospect Joel Guzman and Pedroza. Lugo should continue to hit for average, steal bases in score runs over in the National League. The only question is who plays where and how often when Jeff Kent and Nomar Garciaparra come off the DL.
For now, Lugo will play second with Rafael Furcal over at short, newly acquired utility man Wilson Betemit manning the hot corner and Olmedo Saenz at first. When Kent and Nomar return, the talk is that Lugo will shift over to third with Kent going back to second and Nomar to first.
Guzman is the real deal, and once he's playing for Tampa, he'll join B.J. Upton to form an extremely talented left side of the infield at Tropicana Park. Pedroza heads to Class-A Visalia.
Roberto Hernandez and Oliver Perez to the Mets for Xavier Nady
This move was necessitated when Mets setup man Duaner Sanchez severely separated his pitching shoulder in a taxi accident the day before the trade deadline. GM Omar Minaya promptly whisked Nady away and filled the void left by Sanchez with Hernandez, who should fare well in the same role he occupied with the Mets last season.
Minaya also acquired Perez - a highly talented, 25-year-old lefty who has shown flashes of brilliance but has also struggled greatly. Back in 2004, Perez posted a 12-10 record with a 2.98 ERA and struck out 239 batters in 196 innings. He is 6-foot-3 and weighs 210 pounds, but it's definitely possible that he wore himself out with that heavy workload.
Since his promising '04, Perez has gone 9-15 with a horrendous 6.18 ERA, 158 strikeouts and a whopping 128 walks in 35 starts. He will play out the rest of the season at Triple-A Norfolk, but the Mets expect him to be a part of their rotation in 2007 after pitching coach Rick Peterson gets to work his magic on the troubled, yet talented, starter.
Minaya almost dealt Perez to the Padres along with reliever Heath Bell for Scott Linebrink, but the teams ran out of time as the deadline hit. Keep an eye on Perez in Spring Training next season. In the right environment he could regain his 2004 form.
posted by The Knuckler @ 7/28/2006 01:09:00 PM
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