With the non-waiver trade deadline just two days away, instead of running through some of the rumors flying around since there are so many of them, I thought I'd run down some of the trades that could happen. So without further ado...
1. Roy Halladay to Phillies. The Phillies desperately need another starter to anchor the front of their rotation. They've had a lot of inconsistencies and injuries to their rotation and bullpen this year that you almost have to wonder if the pitching staff could withstand a long playoff series again. The Phils have the prospects to pull off a deal, but because the Jays are asking for the world for Halladay, the question becomes, who blinks first, Toronto, Philly, or neither? Other suitors: Red Sox, Dodgers, Angels, Brewers, Rangers.
PREDICTION: My bet is Halladay doesn't get traded at all.
2. Cliff Lee to Dodgers. The Dodgers could use some depth in the rotation, as well. While Hiroki Kuroda was brilliant in the post-season last year, Chad Billingsley has struggled immensely in his last eight starts, and he didn't look too hot against Philly in the NLCS last year. Clayton Kershaw is unproven in the playoffs and Randy Wolf hasnever been in a playoff game in his 11 year career. The Dodgers have the prospects to pull a deal off without having to give up Billingsley or Kershaw. If the Indians are willing to accept a package that doesn't include Billingsley, Kershaw or any other player currently on the Dodgers major league roster, a deal could get done. Other suitors: same teams in on Halladay.
PREDICTION: Because Halladay doesn't get traded, Phill will turn their attention to Lee and have their "ace" by day's end.
3. Jarrod Washburn to Yankees. He might not be Halladay or Lee, but pluck him in the middle of the Yankee rotation and they're the clear-cut favorites in the A.L. At the same time, it won't cost them Joba Chamberlain or Phil Hughes to get him. Other suitors: same teams in on Halladay and Lee, and Twins.
PREDICTION: Dodgers need a starter more than the Yanks do, so I expect Washburn to land in L.A.
4. George Sherrill to Angels. Sherrill is a perfect fit for the Halos, whose bullpen is among the worst in baseball. They have their closer in Brian Fuentes, they're just having trouble getting the lead to him. Other suitors: Dodgers.
PREDICTION: The Dodgers have been the most aggressive in their pursuit of him. Sherrill will be a Dodger before Friday.
5. Freddy Sanchez to Giants. This deal was near completion on Monday night, and then at the last minute, Sanchez was held out of Pittsburgh's lineup on Tuesday night in San Francisco. As it turned out, no deal was completed, but the Pirates are looking to move him (and Jack Wilson) due to their inability to sign them to extentions. The Giants, who added Ryan Garko on Monday in a trade with the Indians, have been looking to upgrade their offense anyway they possibly can. Sanchez isn't a known power hitter, but he should bring stability to an inconsistent lineup on a team with arguably the league's best starting rotation. Other suitors: Twins.
PREDICTION: Sanchez will eventually end up in the Bay Area, although the Giants will take their time completing the deal to make sure his knee is sound.
6. Orlando Cabrera to Twins. Oakland GM Billy Beane has already made one trade by shipping Matt Holliday to St. Louis for a package of prospects, and with several Twins players lobbying for an O-Cab trade, it wouldn't be a shock to see him in a Twins uniform come Friday. Other suitors: Red Sox.
PREDICTION: I'm still on the fence about where O-Cab lands, but I think eventually he lands in the Twin Cities.
7. Victor Martinez to Red Sox. The Red Sox have coveted him for quite some time. They did just trade for Pittsburgh's Adam LaRoche for depth at first base that would allow Kevin Youkilis to play some third base and give Mike Lowell some much needed days off, but the growing feeling is they want V-Mart behind the plate, pushing Jason Varitek to a reserve/back-up. Other suitors: Tampa Bay.
PREDICTION: If the Indians move Lee, you can almost bet they'd move V-Mart, whether in the same deal, or a separate one. In the end, I believe V-Mart will wind up in Boston.
Now, on to a couple of teams in need:
1. Roy Halladay to Phillies. The Phillies desperately need another starter to anchor the front of their rotation. They've had a lot of inconsistencies and injuries to their rotation and bullpen this year that you almost have to wonder if the pitching staff could withstand a long playoff series again. The Phils have the prospects to pull off a deal, but because the Jays are asking for the world for Halladay, the question becomes, who blinks first, Toronto, Philly, or neither? Other suitors: Red Sox, Dodgers, Angels, Brewers, Rangers.
PREDICTION: My bet is Halladay doesn't get traded at all.
2. Cliff Lee to Dodgers. The Dodgers could use some depth in the rotation, as well. While Hiroki Kuroda was brilliant in the post-season last year, Chad Billingsley has struggled immensely in his last eight starts, and he didn't look too hot against Philly in the NLCS last year. Clayton Kershaw is unproven in the playoffs and Randy Wolf hasnever been in a playoff game in his 11 year career. The Dodgers have the prospects to pull a deal off without having to give up Billingsley or Kershaw. If the Indians are willing to accept a package that doesn't include Billingsley, Kershaw or any other player currently on the Dodgers major league roster, a deal could get done. Other suitors: same teams in on Halladay.
PREDICTION: Because Halladay doesn't get traded, Phill will turn their attention to Lee and have their "ace" by day's end.
3. Jarrod Washburn to Yankees. He might not be Halladay or Lee, but pluck him in the middle of the Yankee rotation and they're the clear-cut favorites in the A.L. At the same time, it won't cost them Joba Chamberlain or Phil Hughes to get him. Other suitors: same teams in on Halladay and Lee, and Twins.
PREDICTION: Dodgers need a starter more than the Yanks do, so I expect Washburn to land in L.A.
4. George Sherrill to Angels. Sherrill is a perfect fit for the Halos, whose bullpen is among the worst in baseball. They have their closer in Brian Fuentes, they're just having trouble getting the lead to him. Other suitors: Dodgers.
PREDICTION: The Dodgers have been the most aggressive in their pursuit of him. Sherrill will be a Dodger before Friday.
5. Freddy Sanchez to Giants. This deal was near completion on Monday night, and then at the last minute, Sanchez was held out of Pittsburgh's lineup on Tuesday night in San Francisco. As it turned out, no deal was completed, but the Pirates are looking to move him (and Jack Wilson) due to their inability to sign them to extentions. The Giants, who added Ryan Garko on Monday in a trade with the Indians, have been looking to upgrade their offense anyway they possibly can. Sanchez isn't a known power hitter, but he should bring stability to an inconsistent lineup on a team with arguably the league's best starting rotation. Other suitors: Twins.
PREDICTION: Sanchez will eventually end up in the Bay Area, although the Giants will take their time completing the deal to make sure his knee is sound.
6. Orlando Cabrera to Twins. Oakland GM Billy Beane has already made one trade by shipping Matt Holliday to St. Louis for a package of prospects, and with several Twins players lobbying for an O-Cab trade, it wouldn't be a shock to see him in a Twins uniform come Friday. Other suitors: Red Sox.
PREDICTION: I'm still on the fence about where O-Cab lands, but I think eventually he lands in the Twin Cities.
7. Victor Martinez to Red Sox. The Red Sox have coveted him for quite some time. They did just trade for Pittsburgh's Adam LaRoche for depth at first base that would allow Kevin Youkilis to play some third base and give Mike Lowell some much needed days off, but the growing feeling is they want V-Mart behind the plate, pushing Jason Varitek to a reserve/back-up. Other suitors: Tampa Bay.
PREDICTION: If the Indians move Lee, you can almost bet they'd move V-Mart, whether in the same deal, or a separate one. In the end, I believe V-Mart will wind up in Boston.
Now, on to a couple of teams in need:
- The Dodgers are also looking for relief help, so if they can't get their hands on Sherrill, they could turn their attention elsewhere.
- The Red Sox are desperate for starting pitching, as well. The rotation is very shaky after Josh Beckett and Jon Lester. Most teams will ask for Clay Buchholz in any trade from the Red Sox, so unless they can get a quality starter in return, don't expect the Red Sox to move Buchholz. The Red Sox are also in the market for another bat and have been tied to Padres first baseman Adrian Gonzalez, who the Padres say isn't on the market, and Martinez. V-Mart has been linked in a package with Lee to several teams including the Red Sox, Dodgers and Rays.
- The Rangers, too, are "scrambling" for starting pitching with the uncertainty of Vicente Padilla's health (swine flu), Kevin Millwood's recent struggles, and no experience behind either of them. Look for the Rangers to make a minor deal to get a starting pitcher as finances will be a sticking point in them landing a major player.
- The Rays are looking to make a big splash anyway they possibly can, and have supposedly dangled Scott Kazmir (Angels?), Carlos Pena and Carl Crawford. The only way they move Pena and Crawford, however, is if they can get Lee and Martinez from the Indians.
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