More Big Trades Could Be on the Horizon as MLB Trade Deadline Inches Closer
Chances are we haven’t seen the end of the wheeling and dealing before Major League Baseball’s non-waiver trading deadline.
Teams already have started unloading contracts and trying to upgrade before the last two months of the season. Teams are selling. Teams are buying. Some teams appear willing to do nothing at all.
Which players have been moved, and which are likely to call a new place home come Saturday afternoon?
If this week is any indication of things to come, we could be in for a crazy day of transactions.
A number of teams made moves Thursday, and perhaps the best starting pitcher available was swapped. Roy Oswalt waived his no-trade clause and is now a member of the Philadelphia Phillies. The Phils dealt away promising southpaw J.A. Happ, outfielder Anthony Gose and shortstop Jonathan Villar to get Oswalt.
Time will tell if Oswalt’s the last "big fish" to fall. But he solidifies the top of the rotation in Philadelphia and will piggyback Roy Halladay as the two "Roys" look to help the Phillies catch the Braves, who sit atop the NL East. It’s the second straight year the Phillies have acquired a high-profile pitcher around the trade deadline. Last season, they nabbed Cliff Lee.
"I think it works out for both of us," Oswalt said after the trade. "Houston's getting a good prospect and another pitcher, and I'm getting to go to a great team. I'm happy for both sides."
Meanwhile, the San Diego Padres looked to lock down their NL West lead by trading for Orioles third baseman Miguel Tejada. Baltimore is a seller at the deadline this year because it is going nowhere in a hurry.
The Padres, on the other hand, have a 3 1/2-game lead on the Giants and are seven games ahead of the Dodgers. San Diego only parted with a minor league pitching prospect Wynn Pelzer to get the 2002 AL MVP, who gives them some flexibility on the left side of the infield.
Late Thursday night, the Minnesota Twins landed a closer. The team was concerned about the production of Jon Rauch at the backend of the bullpen so it dealt away its top catching prospect, Wilson Ramos, to acquire Matt Capps from the Washington Nationals. With Joe Mauer inked in Minnesota for a long time, Ramos was fairly expendable, and the Twins added a reliever with a sub-3.00 ERA.
The Texas Rangers also continued making moves, acquiring Florida Marlins infielder Jorge Cantu for Double-A right-handed pitchers Evan Reed and Omar Poveda. Just a few weeks after dealing Justin Smoak and prospects for Seattle ace Cliff Lee, Texas hopes Cantu can be the answer to a production problem at first base.
Florida wanted to get value for Cantu, who becomes a free agent at the end of the season.
The rumblings haven’t stopped Friday.
The Arizona Diamondbacks sent Edwin Jackson to the Chicago White Sox for Daniel Hudson and David Holmberg. Jackson is one of five pitchers who’s thrown a no-hitter this season, and the White Sox are looking to vamp up a rotation that’s lost Jake Peavy for the season.
There also is some talk about the White Sox potentially turning Jackson around to the Washington Nationals for Adam Dunn. ESPN.com’s Jayson Stark reports that this is less likely now but could happen.
And there is still more to come.
The Cubs’ Ted Lilly looks like he may find a new home in Hollywood. Sources say the Dodgers are the front-runners to get what many consider to be the top pitcher remaining with Oswalt and Dan Haren already dealt.
Apparently, the Houston Astros also are still unloading players as they shipped five-time All-Star Lance Berkman to the New York Yankees.
The Tampa Bay Rays have been rumored to be the leading bidders for Washington slugger Adam Dunn. A deal there could change things dramatically in the AL East.
The Boston Red Sox and New York Yankees, meanwhile, are both in the market for bullpen help. Boston is getting a big boost from players coming off the disabled list but still needs desperate help in the ‘pen. The Yankees seem concerned about the reliability of Joba Chamberlain in the eighth inning and could make a move.
By 4:01 p.m. ET on Saturday, some big names could have new teams.
