Summer School: MLB Trade Deadline Grades
Patrick Zeng
@Roundtripper891
Christmas in July is a phrase often used and that is exactly what the trade deadline felt like for MLB fans yesterday. A flurry of action especially by some of the games' top franchises made the deadline incredibly interesting. Some moves were exactly what the teams needed, others not so much. Grades are in and it's time for report cards to be sent out.
Boston Red Sox: B
Boston is 4-6 in their last ten games and find themselves a half game behind the first place Yankees. Add in a rift between David Price and broadcaster Dennis Eckersley and WEEI radio and things have not been going smoothly for the Sox. Boston added Eduardo Nunez from San Francisco as well as Addison Reed from the Mets. While Nunez adds speed and position versatility, he is not penciled in as a starter. Boston is hoping that Rafael Devers solves their third base issues, but a more proven commodity would have been the better move here. The Reed move should be solid as a setup option for Kimbrel. Reed pitched to a 2.09 ERA in his time in New York since being acquired in August of 2015.
Colorado Rockies: B
The Rockies have been one of baseball's surprises this year, coming into today 14 games over .500 and firmly planted as the second wild card in the National League. Colorado did not have a lot action over the past few days, but it will definitely help the club. They went out and acquired Pat Neshak to help in the bullpen. He should be an upgrade over what they have, as he had been having a great year in Philly. The Lucroy addition is one I really like. A free agent come seasons end, Lucroy has been struggling in Arlington. A team fighting for a playoff spot with a new contract on his mind and playing at Coors Field should invigorate the veteran catcher. Starting pitching should have been addressed and because it was not their grade drops a bit.
Washington Nationals: A
Mike Rizzo did what he needed to do. Top to bottom, there is not a lineup in the league that rivals the Nats sluggers when healthy. The additions of Ryan Madson and Sean Doolittle helped plug the glaring hole in that god awful bullpen. Doolittle has done a nice job stabilizing the 9th inning for Dusty Baker since his arrival. Brandon Kintzler will also help provide more options in that pen. The Howie Kendrick deal was a little surprising, and where he'll fit in is stil to be determined but Rizzo did everything he could to make sure this team can have a run in October.
New York Yankees: A+
Seriously, how good is Brian Cashman? Additions of Robertson and Kahnle for the bullpen and Jaime Garcia as well as Sonny Gray strengthened the Yanks biggest needs. I'm still low on Frazier(who is hitting .216 with 1 home run in pinstripes), but Chase Headley has shown some life since being moved to first base. The rotation is much stronger, the bullpen should shorten the game and with the production their lineup is capable of, these pickups should translate to a bunch of W's.
Houston Astros: C-
It's easy to pile on Houston for not getting it done this deadline. The best team in the American League only picked up Francisco Liriano as a bullpen option. They flirted with the Rangers for Darvish and the O's for Zach Britton, but with no high profile move getting done and contenders around them getting stronger, it was not a great day in Houston. However they do have the best record in the American League to fall back on.
Chicago Cubs: A
The champs are back. After floundering all season around .500 the Cubs have lost 3 games since the All Star break. They added Jose Quintana who has been great for them since his swap across town as well as Justin Wilson and Alex Avila. Wilson gives the Cubs a power lefty arm who has been fantastic for the Tigers and gives them another option to close if Wade Davis needs the night off. And Avila fills the backup catcher need that they have had since the release of Miguel Montero. This team should be dangerous come October.
New York Mets: B+
To say this season has been a complete disaster in Queens might just be an understatement. But Sandy Alderson was able to have a quietly good deadline. Moving the expiring contracts of Lucas Duda and Addison Reed for four power pitching arms should be seen as good business. Alderson even pulled off a surprise move acquiring AJ Ramos, giving the Mets someone to close without Familia and a setup man for 2018. Spots were also opened up for top prospect Amed Rosario and Domonic Smith.
Los Angeles Dodgers: A+
I hear late October is really nice in LA. That is when the Dodgers should be playing with the pieces that were added. Already with a team that was on pace for 114 wins, Andrew Friedman brought in Tony Cingrani and Tony Watson as lefty pen arms to help get the ball to Kenley Jansen. And then just before the clock struck 4pm eastern Yu Darvish was acquired to add a solid right hander to a left hand dominant rotation. Darvish also acts as cover while Kershaw rehabs his back and makes it so it truly is world series or bust in the city of angels.
@Roundtripper891
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| Sports Illustrated |
Christmas in July is a phrase often used and that is exactly what the trade deadline felt like for MLB fans yesterday. A flurry of action especially by some of the games' top franchises made the deadline incredibly interesting. Some moves were exactly what the teams needed, others not so much. Grades are in and it's time for report cards to be sent out.
Boston Red Sox: B
Boston is 4-6 in their last ten games and find themselves a half game behind the first place Yankees. Add in a rift between David Price and broadcaster Dennis Eckersley and WEEI radio and things have not been going smoothly for the Sox. Boston added Eduardo Nunez from San Francisco as well as Addison Reed from the Mets. While Nunez adds speed and position versatility, he is not penciled in as a starter. Boston is hoping that Rafael Devers solves their third base issues, but a more proven commodity would have been the better move here. The Reed move should be solid as a setup option for Kimbrel. Reed pitched to a 2.09 ERA in his time in New York since being acquired in August of 2015.
 |
| Boston Globe |
Colorado Rockies: B
The Rockies have been one of baseball's surprises this year, coming into today 14 games over .500 and firmly planted as the second wild card in the National League. Colorado did not have a lot action over the past few days, but it will definitely help the club. They went out and acquired Pat Neshak to help in the bullpen. He should be an upgrade over what they have, as he had been having a great year in Philly. The Lucroy addition is one I really like. A free agent come seasons end, Lucroy has been struggling in Arlington. A team fighting for a playoff spot with a new contract on his mind and playing at Coors Field should invigorate the veteran catcher. Starting pitching should have been addressed and because it was not their grade drops a bit.
/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/55972657/818536172.0.jpg) |
| Getty Images |
Mike Rizzo did what he needed to do. Top to bottom, there is not a lineup in the league that rivals the Nats sluggers when healthy. The additions of Ryan Madson and Sean Doolittle helped plug the glaring hole in that god awful bullpen. Doolittle has done a nice job stabilizing the 9th inning for Dusty Baker since his arrival. Brandon Kintzler will also help provide more options in that pen. The Howie Kendrick deal was a little surprising, and where he'll fit in is stil to be determined but Rizzo did everything he could to make sure this team can have a run in October.
 |
| Washington Post |
New York Yankees: A+
Seriously, how good is Brian Cashman? Additions of Robertson and Kahnle for the bullpen and Jaime Garcia as well as Sonny Gray strengthened the Yanks biggest needs. I'm still low on Frazier(who is hitting .216 with 1 home run in pinstripes), but Chase Headley has shown some life since being moved to first base. The rotation is much stronger, the bullpen should shorten the game and with the production their lineup is capable of, these pickups should translate to a bunch of W's.
 |
| Sports Illustrated |
Houston Astros: C-
It's easy to pile on Houston for not getting it done this deadline. The best team in the American League only picked up Francisco Liriano as a bullpen option. They flirted with the Rangers for Darvish and the O's for Zach Britton, but with no high profile move getting done and contenders around them getting stronger, it was not a great day in Houston. However they do have the best record in the American League to fall back on.
 |
| MLB |
The champs are back. After floundering all season around .500 the Cubs have lost 3 games since the All Star break. They added Jose Quintana who has been great for them since his swap across town as well as Justin Wilson and Alex Avila. Wilson gives the Cubs a power lefty arm who has been fantastic for the Tigers and gives them another option to close if Wade Davis needs the night off. And Avila fills the backup catcher need that they have had since the release of Miguel Montero. This team should be dangerous come October.
 |
| Denver Post |
New York Mets: B+
To say this season has been a complete disaster in Queens might just be an understatement. But Sandy Alderson was able to have a quietly good deadline. Moving the expiring contracts of Lucas Duda and Addison Reed for four power pitching arms should be seen as good business. Alderson even pulled off a surprise move acquiring AJ Ramos, giving the Mets someone to close without Familia and a setup man for 2018. Spots were also opened up for top prospect Amed Rosario and Domonic Smith.
 |
| NY Post |
Los Angeles Dodgers: A+
I hear late October is really nice in LA. That is when the Dodgers should be playing with the pieces that were added. Already with a team that was on pace for 114 wins, Andrew Friedman brought in Tony Cingrani and Tony Watson as lefty pen arms to help get the ball to Kenley Jansen. And then just before the clock struck 4pm eastern Yu Darvish was acquired to add a solid right hander to a left hand dominant rotation. Darvish also acts as cover while Kershaw rehabs his back and makes it so it truly is world series or bust in the city of angels.
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