There were quite a few blockbuster deals at the MLB trade deadline this year, sending aces to strong contenders strengthening their rotation, big hitters to superstar teams, and then there were teams that stood pat when they should have made a few moves. Here’s a look at the winners and losers of the trade deadline.
First, the winners.
The Detroit Tigers added David Price to their starting rotation and now have three former Cy Young Award winners pitching consecutively. Detroit’s rotation was already scary with Max Scherzer and Justin Verlander, but add Price and now it’s absolutely dynamic. He got a no decision in his first start against the Yankees on Tuesday night. Not only did they add Price, but they got him for practically nothing.
They sent outfielder Austin Jackson to the Mariners as part of the three team trade and sent pitcher Drew Smyly to the Tampa Bay Rays. Detroit only had to let Jackson and Smyly go in order to get Price. While they do pick up his contract for next season, Price will now most likely be a replacement for Scherzer, as keeping them both will be costly.
The Tigers were winners of the deadline not only because they received Price, but because they were able to do so without getting rid of any key players.
Detroit made the Price deal in response to a deal that was made earlier in the day; the Oakland A’s acquisition of Jon Lester from the Boston Red Sox.
The A’s were also winners of the deadline as they also strengthened their rotation, but the A’s had to give up a key piece to their success in Yoenis Cespedes. Say what you will about Cespedes’ .300 OBP, but the A’s have always struggled without him in the lineup.
In return Oakland receives an ace with great postseason success and an MLB record .43 World Series ERA. Lester has made two starts in the green and gold winning both of them. No doubt the A’s made this move to make a point and show that Billy Beane is all in for a World Series title.
The A’s are also winners for adding Jonny Gomes, Sam Fuld, Jeff Samardzija and Jason Hammel. They now have a rotation capable of throwing a shutout every day.
The St. Louis Cardinals also ended the trade deadline as winners, picking up some serviceable starters in John Lackey and Justin Masterson. The Cardinals have the fifth best ERA in the majors, and with the addition of Lackey and Masterson, their rotation is solid moving forward with a postseason appearance in their sights.
The New York Yankees may not have made many flashy trades, but they’ve added a few players who have had an impact on their success. They added Brandon McCarthy, Chase Headley, and Stephen Drew this season as each has had an immediate impact.
McCarthy is 4-0 since joining the Yankees, and Headley has had clutch hits in the pinstripes. Drew was added on the 31st, and while he is making adjustments moving to second base, he’s a solid pickup for New York to make a postseason run.
Sticking with the AL East, the Orioles picked up the Red Sox best left handed reliever in Andrew Miller, improving their bullpen. The O’s did, however, let go of their third best prospect Eduardo Nunez.
Although they no longer have Lester or Lackey in their rotation, the Boston Red Sox were still winners of the deadline. They gained a good outfielder and hitter in Cespedes while picking up Allen Craig, Joe Kelly, and Rodriguez.
The Sox are in last place in the AL East at 50-63, but added some good pieces to contend in 2015. Not to mention Lester is a free agent after this season, and the Red Sox could definitely make a run for him, as well as Scherzer.
Now onto the losers.
The Tampa Bay Rays were playing some great baseball before the deadline, and still are only five and a half games out of the AL Wild Card. They got rid of their best pitcher, but didn’t get much in return. Smyly and Nick Franklin are decent acquisitions, but not big difference makers. They also received Willy Adames, a young shortstop from the Tigers.
Tampa couldn’t afford Price’s contract next year, but being only 5.5 out, they could have kept him for the season and dealt him this offseason, or gotten a lot more for the former Cy Young winner.
The Toronto Blue Jays stood pat at the deadline which was kind of surprising considering how close the AL East is. They currently lead the second Wild Card, but that race is so tight, they could have used another bat, or another pitcher.
On to the NL West where the Giants are now three back behind the Dodgers. SF could have used a second baseman or more pitching, but did nothing at the deadline.
With the Phillies in last place of the NL East, they should have been big sellers at the deadline, instead they dealt no one. Now Cliff Lee is on the disabled list and could miss the rest of the season, taking him off the board for a possible waiver deal, when teams had shown interest in him back in July. Chase Utley, Jimmy Rollins, Cole Hamels and Ryan Howard were all possible trade pieces at the time as well.
The Cubs, however, claimed Hamels off waivers Thursday evening.