Baseball Trade Deadline Deals

[ginbot]

Every guy you mentioned was at or on downside of his career. Canseco....please he was done when the Rangers had him for about a year. The guys you mentioned were going to be signed to put butts in the seats. Not to add to a playoff contender. And they never seriuosly were in the running for those mentioned above

You're wrong.

As for the Rays... STAND PAT. If they do they will continue to be dominant for 5-10 years. The Sox and Yanks can't keep outbidding everyone for FA's and making steals of trades. Sooner or later their bottoms will come out and they'll be left in shambles, leaving the O's and Rays to duke it out for the East.

But if the Ray's 'mortgage the future', then they may not stay relevant for quite so long. They need to stay the course and keep building from within so that many other teams can follow their model instead of 'do it the easy way' like the 'big market teams'.

Continue to be dominant for 5-10 years? Continue? They've never been dominant, and certainly aren't now. They lead the East by 1 game. That, and their zero all-time playoff games doesn't exactly scream dominance.

The Red Sox and Yankees typically finish 1-2 atop this division so the Rays' window of opportunity will likely close with this season, because I can assure you the Yankees will re-tool this off-season and the Red Sox aren't going anywhere. If the Rays don't make the playoffs this year, they won't have another chance at a playoff spot for several years. If they don't make a deal within the next two days, management will have really dropped the ball.

 

[Mitchell]

The Texiara watch continues. With the Braves 7-1-2 out after losing two of three this weekend in Philly, Atlanta is done. The articles I've read on AJC.com seem to be conflicting. Some columnists believe that Texiara will be traded before Thursday's deadline, while other writers believe that the Braves will just keep Tex, and let him walk this winter through free agency. I personally hope that Tex is traded. At least that way they will get something for him. Based on what I've read, though, the Atlanta GM seems to feel that the Braves would be better off losing him to ftee agency, and taking whatever draft picks they would get as compensation.

Mitch

 

[Cy/MiG]

ATL will unload Tex and maybe others. They need to retool their farm system because even with all the talent they have (Hud, McCann, Franceour, etc.) they still can't overtake the Phils, Mets and the always rebuilding Marlins. ATL can trade Tex and still stay competitive over the next 3-5 years... i think.

As for the Rays, yes bad choice of words on my part. I should have said 'continue to improve until they dominate'. If you look at their roster and young prospects, many of them are still under 26-27 years old (Crawford, Upton, Kazmir, Longoria, Price, Baldelli, etc.) Neither the Sox nor Yanks can boast such young talent. Ellsbury, Lester, Pedroria and Buckholz is about where it ends with the sox and the yanks have buy Cano, Melky and maybe a couple of hot prospects. Manny and Papi aren't getting younger. Jeter and A-Rod are 32-33. Giambino and Damon are 34+. Varitek is falling off. Sooner or later both teams will get too old or sign the wrong free agents and eventually buy themselves out of contention, I believe.

The Rays can continue their upward swing with their great pitching core (Kaz, Shields, Garza, Price...) and hitting (Upton, Longoria, Crawford...) and as long as they retain these players be like the yanks from 1996-2001 when they dominated the MLB.

 

[ginbot]

You said it Mitchell. There are so many conflicting stories about Teixera, I don't know what to believe anymore.

They're a proud organization, which makes me think they'll feel that trading him is a sign of weakness, or that they're giving up on the season.

However I know that the suits in their front office are smart enough to get something in return for him.

If they had intended to trade him, McCann's injury may negatively impact the chances of that happening. If he's out of the lineup for an extended period, they may not want to give up another big bat.

Cy/MiG, it's easy to say how good Tampa will be. How much better they'll get. How young their stars are. It's far more difficult to convince the very proud front offices of the Yanks and Red Sox that they need to take a year off to re-build. They're just going to keep buying rosters that will keep them in contention. Keep in mind that as Papi, Manny, Jeter, and A-Rod age, Epstein and Cashman get a little wiser, and Steinbrenner and Henry just keep on getting richer.

Living in Toronto, I've seen some great Blue Jays squads fail to make the playoffs, winning as many as 88 games! The Rays would need to pass not only the Yanks and Sox, but don't discount the Jays as well, who are a perennial .500 team. The Rays would play each of these teams 19 times. That's 57 games. Tough to see a combination of (a) the Rays having a strong year, and (b) two of Yankees/Red Sox/Blue Jays having an off year. That's why I feel this will be their best shot for the next several years.

Even if you can legitimately say that the Rays will compete for the playoffs in the coming years, it would be foolish not to strengthen this year's team for their first ever playoff run, and the first playoffs for many of it's players, including all the core players you listed. I can't even think of a time when this team's had a nationally televised game. They won't want to look silly.

Anyone have any info on where Washburn/Padilla/Burnett will end up?

 

[zepp3320]

the yankees are willing to take on the remaining of washburn's salary but will only give up a mid level prospect in doing so, while the mariners want a top tier prospect with the salary dump.

 

[ginbot]

A top-tier prospect in exchange for Washburn is incredibly unrealistic on Seattle's part.

 

[FlockOfSeagulls]

You're wrong.



Continue to be dominant for 5-10 years? Continue? They've never been dominant, and certainly aren't now. They lead the East by 1 game. That, and their zero all-time playoff games doesn't exactly scream dominance.

The Red Sox and Yankees typically finish 1-2 atop this division so the Rays' window of opportunity will likely close with this season, because I can assure you the Yankees will re-tool this off-season and the Red Sox aren't going anywhere. If the Rays don't make the playoffs this year, they won't have another chance at a playoff spot for several years. If they don't make a deal within the next two days, management will have really dropped the ball.

Are you saying that the Rays were in contention when they looked at said players?

The most games they have EVER won in a season is 70. That is 12 games under .500 . They have a all-time winning %OF .410

I would love to see the RAYS win the division or wild-card , but to this point they have been nothing but pathetic


It would have to be the right deal to in order for it to happen . I just don`t see them trading for a rent a player . if they proof me wrong...well good for them!

 

[Cy/MiG]

Today on ESPN Jayson Stark posted a article saying Tex is 'officially on the open market' which I think is a shame. He played college ball at GA Tech and fits a need for the Braves. Many thought he would re-up last year or midway through this year, but alas...

And as for my prediction on the Rays, yes I'm basing this only on potential but I believe theirs to be really really high. I just think the Yanks and Sox can't keep buying their pennants. And while the Jays are competitive, they too keep acquiring talent via FA (Like Ryan, Burnett, etc.) They're good enough to stay above .500 but they just don't have 'it' to win. The Rays on the other hand have been drafting in the top 10 since their first season (about 10-11 years ago) so they're stacked. Remember, they used to even have Josh Hamilton.

The O's can contend in the East soon, too, espescially if they can unload Sherill and Roberts for prospects.

The M's aren't going to get anything above a B- prospect and cap relief for Washburn. And they're trying to trade Ibanez to the Mets or the D-Backs and also Arthur Rhodes for anything. So says the rumor mill.

 

[Mitchell]

MIG, I'm a Braves fan, as most on here know, and while I hate to see Tex go, it has to be done. The Braves are finished. They just put Chipper and Hudson on the DL today. That makes Glavine, Smoltz, Hudson, and Chipper all on the DL now, which is their three best pitchers, as well as their best hitter. Atlanta will probably finish fourth this year, well under 500, unless they bottom out and catch Washington, which may not happen. Were I the Braves, knowing that they're not likely to re sign Tex, I would trade him for the best possible package, and look to next year.

That being said, one writer on the AJC.com suggested that there might be a chance for the Braves to be able to afford Tex next year. Mike Hampton makes over 14 mil a year. This writer mused that if they take Hampton's money once his contract expires this year, and Tom Glavine retires, which is another 8 mil,, they may be able to afford Tex. I heard Glavine wants to play in 2009. Also, it sounds to me like Boras wants minimum 20 million a year for Tex, which means that only the Yankees, Red Sox, and maybe Mets, can afford him.

My bet is that 72 hours from now, Tex will not be a Brave. Braves GM Frank Wren will get the best deal he can for Texiara, and the Braves will move on without Tex.

Mitch

 

[Cy/MiG]

From the rumors I keep hearing, The Arizona 'Dirty Snakes' (AKA D-Backs) are the main team fishing for Tex. ATL seems to like their prospects and may even try to acquire Conor Jackson in the deal.

I think Tex will be gone, too, but wouldn't it be great if they traded him to AZ and then re-signed him during the offseason? (which is what I heard the M's are trying to do w/ Raul Ibanez, as well.)

I hope ATL turns things around, they seem to have a pretty solid base of young and old, they just need to 'fine tune' their team. Hopefully the trade of Tex pushes them to that possibility.

 

[ginbot]

Are you saying that the Rays were in contention when they looked at said players?

Before the season started, yes. They were the sexy pick to make the playoffs in the Wild Card spot.

The most games they have EVER won in a season is 70. That is 12 games under .500 . They have a all-time winning %OF .410

I said they took a shot at winning. Needless to say it didn't work out.

I would love to see the RAYS win the division or wild-card , but to this point they have been nothing but pathetic


It would have to be the right deal to in order for it to happen . I just don`t see them trading for a rent a player . if they proof me wrong...well good for them!

Your first point is exactly why they should make a trade to improve their roster. They're viewed as a joke by the public. That's why it's tough for them to sign players. In their first trip to the national stage, or atleast the closest they've been to getting there, the only thing that'd be worse then not making the playoffs would be getting blown out in three games.

 

[ginbot]

I just think the Yanks and Sox can't keep buying their pennants. And while the Jays are competitive, they too keep acquiring talent via FA (Like Ryan, Burnett, etc.) They're good enough to stay above .500 but they just don't have 'it' to win.

Tell them that.

They've combined to win 8 of the last 15 World Series, while representing the AL in the World Series 10 of the last 15 times.

Atleast one of these teams has made the playoffs in each of the last 20 years.

I think they'll be fine.

 

[CurtWild]

couple rumors i heard on espn radio today

Tex to the bosox for Manny who would be moved for prospects (3- team deal)

Manny and Ellsbury to the mets for Beltran and i'm assuming some sort of prospects

 

[zepp3320]

I don't see the red sox trading manny. They don't need a DH or first basemen so Tex wouldn't work. I don't think they can get value for him at this point so he'll be staying put.

 

[Cy/MiG]

And trading a young and fiery Ellsbury for an older (but more 'powerful') Beltran seems counterproductive, not to mention his HUGE contract. I think the Sox keep Manny since he's off their books come this winter.

 

[CurtWild]

Tex went the Angels for Kotchman and minor league pitcher Steven Marek

 

[milagros317]

As if the L.A. Angels of Anaheim needed help.

 

[ginbot]

And the flood gates have officially opened.

 

[ginbot]

The Red Sox aren't trading Manny. That's just ridiculous.

 

[Mitchell]

I was taking a nap after work, and just got up and read about the Texaira deal. Many fans on Atlanta Journal Constitution.com were bitching that the Braves didnt "Get enough for Tex". In reality, while that may be true, Braves GM Frank Wren did the best he could. The player we got for Tex, Casey Kotchman, cant be a free agent until after the 2011 season, whereas Tex might well be a three month rental for the Angels, and then go somewhere else.

The Braves did the best they could. Time to move on.

Mitch

 

[Cy/MiG]

Pretty good deal for the Braves, Kotchman is young and ready to play. But why would the Halo's only rent Tex?---they probably could have won a WS w.o./him. They better throw money at him hard and fast or he's bolting as a FA.

 

[Mitchell]

Anaheim has a big lead in the AL West. With the AL having home field advantage in the World Series, maybe the Angels feel that Tex is the one last cog that can win them an AL Championship, and perhaps, a World Series. Many teams have rented players for a few months, and won championships that year, only to see the player leave for free agency. Anaheim might have the money to re sign Tex. That is the unknown.

Mitch

 

[Cy/MiG]

Yeah, the halo's are clearly gunning for the Series now.

It's just interesting considering that most of their core roster is intact for the next 2-3 years except K-Rod. And even if they lost him they could win a WS in the next couple years since they have (arguably) the best pitching staff in the league.

Seems to me they're resigned to losing both K-Rod and Tex in the offseason. It's now or never for them.

 

[FlockOfSeagulls]

Yeah, the halo's are clearly gunning for the Series now.

It's just interesting considering that most of their core roster is intact for the next 2-3 years except K-Rod. And even if they lost him they could win a WS in the next couple years since they have (arguably) the best pitching staff in the league.

Seems to me they're resigned to losing both K-Rod and Tex in the offseason. It's now or never for them.

There`s no arguing; the Angels by far have the best pitching staff in all of baseball. Thats why at the start of the season I picked them to win the Series

 

[ginbot]

I'd say this deal's been won by both sides.

The Angels have their best chance at winning it all since acquiring Vladdy, so a rental player may be a good investment. They haven't been able to figure out the Red Sox in the post-season and this year may be their best chance at doing so. Boston's rotation has more holes in it then it's had in years. The White Sox just aren't good enough to win it this year, and the Wild Card team (Rays or Yankees) would be far inferior to the Angels. Teixera could be the final piece of the puzzle.

From Atlanta's perspective, they're acquiring a player who, as a 25 year old, will only get better. His numbers aren't that different from Teixera's, except in the power department, which is an area that has been steadily increasing for him, and he was considered a potential power hitter when he was drafted.

Teixera .283 AVG 27 2B 20 HR 78 RBI
Kotchman .287 AVG 24 2B 12 HR 54 RBI