MLB: Trade Deadline Deals
The MLB Trade Deadline is always one of the most exciting times during the season. Teams are deciding whether they are going to buy or sell, and in turn have to choose "now" or the "future." I will breakdown the major deals ahead of the deadline which ends on August 1, 2016. There have already been plenty of fireworks but there may be a few more in store. All of these deals will affect who makes the playoffs this season and who has strong potential for years to come. I will also project how these deals pan out and how I predict they change the playoff outlook.
Aroldis Chapman traded to the Chicago Cubs: Chapman has been one of the best closers of the last half-decade, and is consistently regarded as the hardest thrower in all of baseball. He regularly touches 100 MPH on the radar gun, and will continue to do so in a Cubs uniform. Chicago has not won a World Series in over a century and Theo Epstein knows this is their best opportunity. They had been reportedly interested in trading for an All-Star reliever and were willing to give up good prospects. Both the Cubs and the Yankees are getting what they want, as Chapman will sure up the end of the Chicago bullpen and OF Billy McKinley, SS Gleyber Torres, and P Adam Warren will help New York build a good farm system.
Francisco Liriano and Melvin Upton Jr. traded to the Toronto Blue Jays: Toronto has not shied away from making big moves over the last two seasons: trading for P David Price and SS Troy Tulowitzki in 2015, before dealing for Liriano and Upton Jr. in 2016. It seems like the Canadian team is sticking with what worked last year, moving young players for an All-Star fielder and a left-handed pitcher. It took them to the ALCS in '15, we'll see how it pans out this year. The Pirates get P Drew Hutchison in return.
Matt Moore and Eduardo Nunez traded to the San Francisco Giants: The Bay Area's team has been sliding over the last two weeks but things may be looking up following a very successful trade deadline. Last weekend, the Giants traded P Adalberto Mejia for Nunez, who is one of the best infielders in the league. He is batting .300 to go along with 12 home runs and has been the lone bright spot for the Minnesota Twins. He and Brandon Crawford will make for one of the best infield duos in the National League. The Giants were not done though, as they went out and snatched up Moore. He has a 4.08 ERA and will add depth to an already dominant starting rotation, alongside Johnny Cueto, Madison Bumgarner, and Jake Peavy.
Andrew Miller traded to the Cleveland Indians: Cleveland has been one of the big surprises of the 2016 season, as they are in first place in the AL Central and have the best record in the American League. However, the Indians had two glaring weaknesses that they needed to clear up before the postseason. Miller is one of the best closers in the game, owning a 1.39 ERA, and will fit in perfectly in The Land. Unfortunately for Indians fans, that is all the team could do. They had a deal set in place to acquire All-Star catcher Jonathan Lucroy from the Milwaukee Brewers, but Lucroy vetoed the deal due to his no-trade clause. Miller is a very nice pick up but Lucroy would have been the icing on the cake.
Jay Bruce traded to the New York Mets: Bruce is having one of his best seasons for the Cincinnati Reds, but the longtime outfielder has flirted with being dealt over the last few seasons. It was reported that the Mets were highly interested last summer but were not able to get a deal in place. Things have changed in the past year and the Mets now have their new right fielder. New York needs to play like the did last fall if they want to return to the playoffs for a second consecutive year. Bruce should help them make a push. Bruce, Yoenis Cespedes, and Curtis Granderson are now one of the best outfield cores in the league. The Reds received OF Brandon Nimmo in exchange.
Rich Hill and Josh Reddick traded to the Los Angeles Dodgers: The Dodgers will send minor league P Jharel Cotton and other players to be named to Oakland for Hill and Reddick. This is clearly a move to help LA win now. The Dodgers currently hold a Wild Card spot but will need to play well down the stretch to hold off the likes of the Miami Marlins, St. Louis Cardinals, and New York Mets. Hill and Reddick are good pickups. Hill has a 2.25 ERA and will fill in for Clayton Kershaw while he is injured, and Reddick is batting .296 on the year. This trade likely means current Dodgers rightfielder Yasiel Puig is headed elsewhere, by either being demoted or released.
Carlos Beltran and Jonathan Lucroy traded to the Texas Rangers: After the Indians made their deadline move, it looked as though they were the favorites to win the AL pennant. The Rangers have other ideas. Texas had the best deadline of any team, going out and getting Beltra and Lucroy. Beltran is batting .304 with 22 home runs and 21 doubles for the Yankees, and is an experienced postseason player. While Lucroy is batting .299 with 13 homers and was by far the best catcher on the trade market. With Prince Fielder going down with a neck injury, Beltran will take over the DH spot. Lucroy will slide into the catcher position which has been the major weakness on offense for the 2016 Rangers. These two moves made the Rangers the slight favorites to go to the World Series for the third time in the last seven seasons. It is also important to note that Texas did not have to trade their three best prospects in Joey Gallo, Nomar Mazara, or Jurickson Profar. The Yankees received three minor leagues including the No. 4 pick in 2015: Dillon Tate.
Current Playoff Picture:
AL West: Texas Rangers (62-44)
AL Central: Cleveland Indians (60-43)
AL East: Baltimore Orioles (59-45)
AL Wild Card No. 1: Boston Red Sox (58-46)
AL Wild Card No. 2: Toronto Blue Jays (59-47)
NL Central: Chicago Cubs (64-41)
NL East: Washington Nationals (62-44)
NL West: San Francisco Giants (61-44)
NL Wild Card No. 1: Los Angeles Dodgers (59-46)
NL Wild Card No. 2: Miami Marlins (57-49)
Final Playoff Predictions:
AL West: Texas Rangers (94-68)
AL Central: Cleveland Indians (91-71)
AL East: Boston Red Sox (87-75)
AL Wild Card No. 1: Toronto Blue Jays (86-76)
AL Wild Card No. 2: Kansas City Royals (84-78)
NL Central: Chicago Cubs (98-64)
NL West: San Francisco Giants (93-69)
NL East: Washington Nationals (90-72)
NL Wild Card No. 1: Los Angeles Dodgers (86-76)
NL Wild Card No. 2: New York Mets (84-78)
Photo Credit: Bleacher Report.
