This year, they have no intentions of easing off the gas pedal. Owners Mark Walter and Magic Johnson, and front office leaders Stan Kasten, Andrew Friedman and Farhan Zaidi are all-in. The Dodgers are the stars of the MLB trade deadline, and here's why:
1. Dodgers acquired SS/3B Manny Machado from the Orioles for OF Yusniel Diaz, 3B Rylan Bannon, RHP Dean Kremer, RHP Zach Pop and IF Breyvlc Valera.
Dodgers Grade: A++
Orioles Grade: A-
This one is old news at this point, but it's the most important deal of them all. Machado is the all-around impact superstar the Dodgers needed to make their playoff push (and ultimately their consecutive World Series appearance push). Keep in mind the following: the D'Backs are only 0.5 games behind the Dodgers in the NL West. The Rockies are only a game back. The veteran Giants are only 5.5 games behind. Making the playoffs isn't a guarantee for the Dodgers. They need an all-world player like Machado.
2. Dodgers acquired 2B Brian Dozier from the Twins for IF Logan Forsythe, RHP Devin Smeltzer and OF Luke Raley.
Dodgers Grade: A
Twins Grade: B
Justin Turner is on the DL, and the Dodgers just aren't taking any chances. They already lost Corey Seager for the season; so they are stocking up on big-time infielders to ensure this doesn't become a lost year. The risk is in the combined number of prospects moved between the Machado and Dozier deals. Both studs are impending free agents, so the Dodgers better win it this year. If they fall short -- or, worst case scenario, miss the playoffs altogether -- LA's braintrust is going to have an awful lot to answer for. Obviously, on the plus side, Dozier has been a consistently elite big-league second baseman. He'll be asked to deliver run production alongside Machado.
Moving on to the rest of the MLB...
3. Pirates acquired SP Chris Archer from the Rays for P Tyler Glasnow, OF Austin Meadows and an undisclosed third piece.
Pirates Grade: A+
Rays Grade: C+
I'm generally very impressed by the work of Brian Auld, Matthew Silverman, Chaim Bloom and Erik Neander in the Rays' front office, but I'm not a huge fan of this deal. Archer has three years left on his contract, for the delicious price of $27.5 million. You just don't find arms like that for that price. The Pirates are winning on this deal, as Archer's transition to the NL Central should be an easy one. The kid has been contending with the high-powered Yankees and Red Sox throughout his MLB career. Now, Archer will consistently face light-hitting (or no-hitting) NL pitchers at the dish, so we can expect both his ERA and WHIP to drop, while his strikeouts increase.
On the other side, Glasnow always tends to trick people. He has electric stuff, but may be one of those kids who never puts it all together. Luckily he's still only 24 years old, and the Rays can generally afford to take chances on young projects like this. In fact, it's virtually mandatory for them to take chances like this. As they continue to sell their prime players for younger, cheaper replacements -- a la Billy Beane and his A's, particularly during the dog days of Moneyball -- moves like this become customary and expected.
But my question is...what's the endgame for this franchise? Just accept that they can't truly compete with the Yankees and Red Sox? 53-53 is an accomplishment for this club. Whatever combination of moves they make, how much better can they possibly get?
Is there anywhere but the middle for the Tampa Bay Rays?
4. Rays acquired OF Tommy Pham from the Cardinals for LHP Genesis Cabrera, OF Justin Williams and RHP Roel Ramirez.
Rays Grade: B+
Cardinals Grade: B-
Speaking of the Rays...now thisssss is interesting. I think I have a clear sense of this one: the Cardinals think Pham maxed out in his first full year. He hit .306 with 23 HR, 73 RBI, 25 SB, 22 2B and a .411 OBP in only 128 games. He finished 11th in the NL MVP voting, ahead of household names like Bryce Harper and Clayton Kershaw.
This year's a completely different story. Pham has dropped all the way down to .248, with an alarmingly-low .331 OBP. Which player is he? Clearly, the Rays think he's the kid from 2017. The Cardinals think 2018 is a better indicator of Pham's big-league identity. Only time will tell.
It's interesting to see Tampa give up some decent prospects. That's not really their modus operandi. On the Cardinals' side, they are certainly looking to shake things up. Mike Matheny and Pham are now gone, and John Mozeliak's retooling is under way.
5. Brewers acquired IF Jonathan Schoop from the Orioles for 2B Jonathan Villar, RHP Luis Ortiz and INF Jean Carmona.
Brewers Grade: A-
Orioles Grade: B
Who knows what to think about the Orioles? Obviously they are going to be rebuilding with Machado and now Schoop gone; but like the Rays, what's the endgame here? If you lose all of your prime players and you're already bad, where do you go?
I dunno, but I like this deal for Milwaukee. Schoop's career trajectory is strikingly similar to Pham's, with an off-putting year following a monster breakout. But Miller Park makes good things happen. Hitters bust out in that friendly park, and Schoop will enjoy the support and protection of Jesus Aguilar, Mike Moustakas, Ryan Braun, Lorenzo Cain and the white-hot Christian Yelich. I don't think there's too much individual pressure on Schoop here, so I expect him to fit in nicely.
On the flip side, I guess Villar is an interesting player to gamble on. In June of '17, I had him ranked as the No. 168 player in baseball. In hindsight, what I wrote about him is interesting:
"Did you know that he was the #16 overall fantasy player last season? Ahead of studs like Charlie Blackmon, Robinson Cano, Nelson Cruz, Anthony Rizzo and Daniel Murphy? Well, unfortunately, Villar's been terrible this year. The rest of the 2017 campaign will determine whether or not he drops out of the top 200 or works his way back into the top 100."
Clearly, since, he has dropped out of my top 200. But that doesn't mean he lacks the potential to reemerge. .261 with 14 SB in 87 games isn't that bad. I'm sure the lowly Orioles will be able to toss him plenty of at bats. Maybe the O's think Schoop was a flash in the pan.
6. Braves acquired RHPs Kevin Gausman and Darren O'Day from the Orioles for RHP Evan Phillips, INF Jean Carlos Encarnacion, C Brett Cumberland and LHP Bruce Zimmerman.
Braves Grade: A
Orioles Grade: A
Like Archer, Gausman should enjoy the transition from the AL East to the NL. It's a whole 'nother world. We all know about the differences in run production between the two leagues, historically. Gausman has a plus fastball and solid career strikeout rate, so as long as he keeps his walks down he should be very effective for Atlanta.
O'Day is a seasoned major league reliever who is particularly good with inherited runners. His near-submarine arm action allows him to sink his two-seamer, resulting in timely double plays late in games. If the Braves are going to take the Phillies down to the wire, O'Day will undoubtedly have to play a key role in tight ballgames.
I like this haul for Baltimore. In recent years, the Braves have done a wonderful job evaluating young talent. From the perspective of a rebuilding club, I would most certainly welcome four Braves farmhands with open arms. So that's 4 here; 2 in the Schoop deal and 5 for Machado. Eleven prospects in three deals. For the Orioles and their long-suffering fans, let's hope they find 2-4 stars in that stockpile.
7. Phillies acquired C Wilson Ramos from the Rays for a player to be named later or cash considerations.
Phillies Grade: A
Rays Grade: F
Wilson Ramos is one of the premier offensive catchers in the world. This was an absolute no-brainer for the Phillies, and a disproportionate sell by the Rays. For Tampa, is baseball all about strategy now? Do the specific players not matter anymore? Not sure how far you can get selling off an affordable Archer contract and getting virtually nothing for one of the most productive backstops in the game.
Phils are laughing all the way to the bank on this one. Or perhaps laughing all the way to the playoffs.
8. Pirates acquired RHP Keone Kela from the Rangers for LHP Taylor Hearn and a player to be named later.
Pirates Grade: A
Rangers Grade: B
I was just starting to feel like Kela was coming into his own.
The energetic, right-handed flamethrower has a mundane 3.44 ERA out of the pen this season, but his 2.97 FIP is a better indicator, as he has successfully nailed down 24 saves for a sub-par Rangers club. Kela has whiffed 44 in roughly 36 innings, and his intimidating stuff should play particularly well in the NL Central. The Pirates are 6 games out of first and 3 back in the wild card, but with the Archer and Kela acquisitions, it's obvious how they feel about the rest of the 2018 campaign. The Buccos are goin' for it. It's 11:44 p.m. EST and I'm too lazy to look up Kela's contract situation, but both he and Archer should be key future pieces, as well.
The Rangers are in No Man's Land. They don't know which way is up. They kind of remind me of my pathetic Mets. But it's okay -- we only lost 25-4 tonight. Jose Reyes pitched. Nuff said.
HOT TAKES THE REST OF THE WAY OUT
9. Red Sox get Ian Kinsler: A solid vet who has been around the block; but his better days are behind him. I'm sure he'll mix in a few clutch postseason hits. He's not a major impact player, though.
10. Braves get Adam Duvall: Loved this for Atlanta. Duvall was insanely consistent the past two seasons, so he should normalize during the second half of the '18 season. The first half was a disaster, but the Braves can afford to be patient with a power bat like this. He will not be asked to play every day.
11. Yankees get J.A. Happ and Lance Lynn: Two veteran arms who don't rattle much mentally. Happ isn't electric but he gives ya what he has, and it's been a down year for Lynn, but in the past he was a playoff bulldog. These guys will be jockeying for position with Sonny Gray and CC Sabathia.
12. Astros get Roberto Osuna: Hated this deal. Obviously GM Jeff Luhnow created a PR nightmare, and Osuna's mental state is questionable as well. Houston also gave up its No. 10 minor league prospect. I'm sure Ken Giles will bounce back for Toronto, too.
13. Braves get Brad Brach: The Orioles' firesale continues. Atlanta has bolstered its bullpen with O'Day and Brach. I really like what they are doing overall. My gut tells me - if they can keep Freddie Freeman healthy - they will squeak by the Phillies in the end. That's the reward for running an organization the right way.
Almost midnight...goodnight!
No comments:
Post a Comment