MLB: Who?s going where?
Here we go again.
You?ve done your baseball handicapping homework. You?ve assessed the pitchers, the lineups, even the umpires. Then game time comes, and? the team you bet on traded its starting pitcher minutes before he was going to toe the rubber. Some Triple-A scrub is on the mound instead.
It happens every year as the trading deadline approaches. This year, the festivities have gotten underway a little early. Teams are jockeying for playoff position and are in no mood to wait for the July 31 cut-off date for non-waiver deals. Other teams (hello once again, Philadelphia) are out of the postseason hunt and eager to shed salaries as soon as possible.
Let?s take a trip to the trade rumor mill and see which teams are due for a makeover. You?ll want to beware the above scenario, but on a more positive note, there may be a chance to get a decent price on the futures market if you believe a club is putting itself in a stronger position to contend for a division title or even the World Series.
BUYERS
New York Yankees: As usual, the Bronx Bombers are at the top of trade speculation. This year, however, there is even more pressure on the Yanks to pull off a deal or two. They?re in another dogfight with the Boston Red Sox for the American League East division lead, but they?re doing it without two giant bats in Gary Sheffield and Hideki Matsui. The leading candidates to wear pinstripes in August are Bobby Abreu, Alfonso Soriano and Shawn Green. Abreu seems the likeliest of the lot.
Seattle Mariners: Monday night?s grapevine was abuzz with rumors of a possible deal sending Soriano to the M?s for a package including centerfield prospect Adam Jones. Seattle is hanging in there at 44-49 in the surprisingly weak AL West, four games back of the Oakland A?s. But this potential trade makes little sense. Soriano is likely headed for free agency at the end of the season, and Jones is a Mike Cameron-type who could probably outperform Soriano this instant. As much pressure as there may be on GM Bill Bavasi to right the ship in the Emerald City, this isn?t the way to do it.
Los Angeles Angels: The Halos are also rumored to be in the running for Soriano, and he would probably be a better fit there, although the suggested retail price of starting pitcher Ervin Santana is, again, too rich for my blood. Besides, the Angels have won nine of 10 to climb back above .500 and within a game of Oakland. Why mess with that ? especially when what L.A. could really use now and in the future is another Santana or two in the starting rotation? Pittsburgh?s Craig Wilson would be a less expensive way to go if L.A. insists on an outfield upgrade.
SELLERS
Philadelphia Phillies: Looks like time?s up once again in the City of Brotherly Hatred for Local Sports Teams. The Phils are 42-48 and going nowhere fast in the National League East. GM Pat Gillick is apparently using this week to sort out which of his veteran players don?t fit into the club?s future plans. Abreu is at the top of the list, followed by Pat Burrell and Tom Gordon. David Dellucci may also be available.
Washington Nationals: Soriano?s seemingly inevitable departure is Washington?s best option when it comes to getting some much-needed pitching in return. Jose Guillen might be worth a live arm, but I wouldn?t want to give up much more than a dozen pizzas for him. GM Jim Bowden might be fortunate enough to find a taker for Livan Hernandez, who is having a dreadful season and might not be able to bounce back this time. Rare kudos to Bowden in either case for getting Austin Kearns and Felipe Lopez from the Cincinnati Reds.
Baltimore Orioles: The vultures are circling around Baltimore. Every GM (except, perhaps, for Billy Beane in Oakland) wants to get his hands on Miguel Tejada. If he does get traded, I suspect it will be very close to the deadline, and it?ll take a monster bidding war to generate the kind of package that would satisfy the O?s. They?d be more than happy, though, to unload a pair of Lopezes: Javy and Rodrigo. The latter appears to be closest to hitting the trail at this point. Kris Benson is also a strong possibility ? insert your favorite Anna Benson joke here. Mine has to do with her participation at the 2005 World Series of Poker.
--Perry
BetWWTS
Here we go again.
You?ve done your baseball handicapping homework. You?ve assessed the pitchers, the lineups, even the umpires. Then game time comes, and? the team you bet on traded its starting pitcher minutes before he was going to toe the rubber. Some Triple-A scrub is on the mound instead.
It happens every year as the trading deadline approaches. This year, the festivities have gotten underway a little early. Teams are jockeying for playoff position and are in no mood to wait for the July 31 cut-off date for non-waiver deals. Other teams (hello once again, Philadelphia) are out of the postseason hunt and eager to shed salaries as soon as possible.
Let?s take a trip to the trade rumor mill and see which teams are due for a makeover. You?ll want to beware the above scenario, but on a more positive note, there may be a chance to get a decent price on the futures market if you believe a club is putting itself in a stronger position to contend for a division title or even the World Series.
BUYERS
New York Yankees: As usual, the Bronx Bombers are at the top of trade speculation. This year, however, there is even more pressure on the Yanks to pull off a deal or two. They?re in another dogfight with the Boston Red Sox for the American League East division lead, but they?re doing it without two giant bats in Gary Sheffield and Hideki Matsui. The leading candidates to wear pinstripes in August are Bobby Abreu, Alfonso Soriano and Shawn Green. Abreu seems the likeliest of the lot.
Seattle Mariners: Monday night?s grapevine was abuzz with rumors of a possible deal sending Soriano to the M?s for a package including centerfield prospect Adam Jones. Seattle is hanging in there at 44-49 in the surprisingly weak AL West, four games back of the Oakland A?s. But this potential trade makes little sense. Soriano is likely headed for free agency at the end of the season, and Jones is a Mike Cameron-type who could probably outperform Soriano this instant. As much pressure as there may be on GM Bill Bavasi to right the ship in the Emerald City, this isn?t the way to do it.
Los Angeles Angels: The Halos are also rumored to be in the running for Soriano, and he would probably be a better fit there, although the suggested retail price of starting pitcher Ervin Santana is, again, too rich for my blood. Besides, the Angels have won nine of 10 to climb back above .500 and within a game of Oakland. Why mess with that ? especially when what L.A. could really use now and in the future is another Santana or two in the starting rotation? Pittsburgh?s Craig Wilson would be a less expensive way to go if L.A. insists on an outfield upgrade.
SELLERS
Philadelphia Phillies: Looks like time?s up once again in the City of Brotherly Hatred for Local Sports Teams. The Phils are 42-48 and going nowhere fast in the National League East. GM Pat Gillick is apparently using this week to sort out which of his veteran players don?t fit into the club?s future plans. Abreu is at the top of the list, followed by Pat Burrell and Tom Gordon. David Dellucci may also be available.
Washington Nationals: Soriano?s seemingly inevitable departure is Washington?s best option when it comes to getting some much-needed pitching in return. Jose Guillen might be worth a live arm, but I wouldn?t want to give up much more than a dozen pizzas for him. GM Jim Bowden might be fortunate enough to find a taker for Livan Hernandez, who is having a dreadful season and might not be able to bounce back this time. Rare kudos to Bowden in either case for getting Austin Kearns and Felipe Lopez from the Cincinnati Reds.
Baltimore Orioles: The vultures are circling around Baltimore. Every GM (except, perhaps, for Billy Beane in Oakland) wants to get his hands on Miguel Tejada. If he does get traded, I suspect it will be very close to the deadline, and it?ll take a monster bidding war to generate the kind of package that would satisfy the O?s. They?d be more than happy, though, to unload a pair of Lopezes: Javy and Rodrigo. The latter appears to be closest to hitting the trail at this point. Kris Benson is also a strong possibility ? insert your favorite Anna Benson joke here. Mine has to do with her participation at the 2005 World Series of Poker.
--Perry
BetWWTS
