Gotta love the picture
At this time during the baseball season things are beginning to wind down before the All-Star break. The selections have largely been announced, and every team gets a much needed break, while a majority of the players get some time to ease off the tension and relax.
By now, the dust has settled and we can see the teams that are out--cough, Nationals--the pretenders, and the contenders. Being a Mariners fan, I have had my share of nail-biters with their twenty wins in one-run games. So I experience daily how very tight the races are in many divisions. The largest gap between first and second is just seven games, with the second-largest being two games in any other division.
Eightteen teams have winning records still, and five are three games under .500 or less. A Rockies-esque hot streak could leapfrog as many as seventeen teams into first place in a matter of several games.
Here are two teams I'm buying and two teams I'm selling to make the postseason in the AL. With the trade deadline looming, I will also examine teams' possible acquisitions to bolster themselves before the deadline.
Buying:
Minnesota Twins
They sit four games back of a team that has lost ten of their last fourteen games, the Detroit Tigers. The Twins have a young nucleus of talent, anchored by guys like CF Carlos Gomez and 1B Justin Morneau. If they can keep the sixth-best offense rolling and get their 13th-ranked pitching staff to step it up a little, there is no reason why they cannot pass Detroit.
Trade Deadline
It all depends on the mentality. If they want to win now then they need to buy, but with them being a low-budget team and with the economy the way it is, it will be hard to predict what direction they take. They already boast an offense (sixth), and defense (second), both ranked in the top six; if they can find a quality arm to add to the back end of the rotation to keep that ERA from climbing higher than their current 4.23, they can leapfrog Detroit and try to gain some distance.
Possible Targets
Jarrod Washburn, Joe Blanton, Carl Pavano
Seattle Mariners
This all depends on what happens at the trade deadline. Given the very successful one year turnaround, the new regime of Zdurencik and Wakamatsu have brought the brain trust may make an effort to push for the pennant. Sporting a top pitching staff and a very porous but somehow clutch offense, anchored by stud 1B Russell Branyan, some added beef to the lineup would gear the M's for a pennant run if the pitching staff continues its dominance.
I say they can buy and sell at the same time honestly. It is not illegal to trade a package of prospects for an established veteran whilst also trading a veteran for a package of prospects. 3B Adrian Beltre will not be a factor, and the M's have been conserving Erik Bedard in a time a team should be showcasing a player if they plan on trading him. Bedard, along with P Jarrod Washburn, P Miguel Bautista, and SS Yuniesky Betancourt have been the Mariners most prominently mentioned in trade rumors.
To contend, they have to get a bat or two in that lineup that can either hit for average, or power, better yet, both. This offense SUCKS, cannot say it any better then that. If they can get a guy that can hit in front of Branyan (so when he hits a HR theres someone to drive home) and someone in the back of the order who can get consistent contact it will take some serious pressure off of the pitching staff.
Miguel Bautista is a very underrated trade chip who could net the team a pair of prospects. Unloading Betancourt is a must, and there seems to be interest in him.
Possible Targets: Kevin Kouzmanoff, Victor Martinez, Melvin Mora, Aubrey Huff (DH)
Selling:
New York Yankees
Yes, I am selling the hottest team in baseball and the reason is simple: Pitching. Your offense can go on a hot streak and win you some games, but that only lasts so long. If their 23rd-ranked pitching staff cannot step it up then the offense is going to have to continue to steamroll people if they are going to keep pace with the Red Sox. It's no good to score seven runs if your pitching staff gives up nine. They have to find some bullpen help, and arms at the back end of the rotation to seal off the bleeding.
Trade Deadline
This is the Yankees, and they do not sell often. The bloated payroll should say enough. They will likely dangle guys like OF Brett Gardner for some pitching help. They already grabbed Erik Hinske in a solid move that provides them some depth. Getting a quality reliever and a fourth or fifth starter will go a long ways towards not having to rely on the offense to win the majority of the games.
Potential Targets
Jarrod Washburn, Erik Bedard, Doug Davis
Texas Rangers
Tom Hicks has hamstrung this team financially, having to borrow money from MLB. This means the Rangers will not likely be making any impact moves at the deadline, which could pose a major problem if their AL West rival Angels and Mariners are at all active. As usual, the team has an explosive offense but the 22nd-ranked pitching staff. Without any blockbuster additions at the trade deadline, if any further breakdown occurs in the pitching game, this team is in big trouble.
Trade Deadline
This team is not going to be able to take on any significant salary, so a small trade, or a straight up swap of similar salaries is all that can happen. With MLB already loaning them money as mentioned previously, they have been likely told to keep activity at a minimum. A small deal for a guy like P Carl Pavano is not out of the question, and going small and under the radar with a rent-a-player type deal would be their only option if they have any.
Potential Targets
Kyle Davis, Carl Pavano, Jarrod Washburn
Thanks for checking out my article. The next part will be the two teams I'm buying and two teams I'm selling in the National League.
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