Yesterday was the end of the second trading deadline in Major League Baseball and there was quite a bit of action as teams tried to add players to fill the needs they think they have as they get ready to make a run for the playoffs. We’ve explained a couple of times how players are traded after July 31st; so we’re not going to get into that. Humorously players can still be traded, but if they’re dealt now they won’t be eligible for post season play.
Let’s take a look and see who went where.
The New York Yankees started the trade frenzy as they acquired former National League MVP Andrew McCutchen from the San Francisco Giants. The Yankees sent two minor leaguers infielder Abiatal Avelino and right handed pitcher Juan De Paula.
After spending the first nine years of his career with the Pittsburgh Pirates he was dealt to San Francisco in the off season. He made the move to right field this season and in the 128 games he’s played out there he’s made just two errors. McCutcheon has Appeared in 130 games for the Giants this season. He’s hitting .255 with 15 home runs and 55 RBI’s and has stole 13 bases.
Since Aaron Judge has been injured the Yankees have played Giancarlo Stanton, Neil Walker and Shane Robinson in right field; so it appears McCutcheon will take over as the full time right fielder for New York. Clint Frazier may have been an option to fill in for Judge, but he’s injured as well and has just started a rehab assignment. McCutcheon still has the ability o play all three outfield positions; so if and when Judge returns he’ll still be a useful piece for the Yankees.
The Yankees also went out and pick up an insurance policy in the infield as they acquired shortstop Adeiny Hechavarria from the Pittsburgh Pirates for a player to be named later or cash considerations.
Hechavarria actually started the season in the American League East as a member of the Tampa Bay Rays. After being designated for assignment by the Rays the Pirates made a trade for him. He played just 15 games for Pittsburgh. Hechavarria has always been considered a quality defensive player who wasn’t going to hit much. This season combined he played in 76 games and is hitting .254 with 4 home runs and 29 RBI’s. He has a .987 fielding percentage at shortstop this season as he’s committed just three errors.
With Didi Gregorius working his way back from injury Gleybar Torres has taken over at shortstop full time. Adding Hechavarria the Yankees have a quality defensive shortstop they can use until Gregorius is 100% healthy and Torres can slide back over to 2nd base if they choose. They could also use Hechavvaria as a late inning defensive replacement.
The Yankees weren’t the only contender to make two deals yesterday. The Los Angeles Dodgers also made two deals while the Milwaukee Brewer made three deals.
In their first deal the Dodgers sent minor league right hander Andrew Istler to the Washington Nationals for reliever Ryan Madson. The Dodgers also went out and got David Freese from the Pittsburgh Pirates for minor league infielder Jesus Valdez.
Madson is a quality bullpen arm with a lot of experience, but he’s had a down year for Washington. Madson is 2-5 this season with an ERA of 5.28 with 4 saves. Madson appeared in 49 games this season covering 44 1/3rd innings. If Madson is right he could be the set up guy the Dodgers need in front of Kenley Jansen.
Freese is another solid veteran add by the Dodgers. He spent the last three seasons with the Pirates where he played 1st and 3rd base for them. This season in 94 games Freese was hitting .282 with 9 home runs and 42 RBI’s. Freese brings a good bat off of the bench and provides the Dodgers with back up at the corner infield positions.
I’m not sure how many people remember this, but Freese was the MVP of both the NLCS and the World Series back in 2011.
There was a lot of talk about the Brewers adding a starting pitcher before the deadline and not only did they do that, but they also added a bullpen arm and a veteran outfielder.
Milwaukee sent KJ Harrison who’s done some catching, but has mostly been used at DH this season and infielder Gilbert Lara to the Washington Nationals for left hander Gio Gonzalez.
Gonzalez is a former 20-game winner who like a lot of Nationals is having a down season in 2018. In 27 starts he’s 7-11 with an ERA of 4.57 over 127 2/3rd innings. Gonzalez will take his turn in the rotation. Since becoming a full time starting pitcher in 2010 Gonzalez has made 30 plus starts every year, but one and he should hit 30 or more starts again this season. Milwaukee will be looking for Gonzalez to be more the pitcher he was in 2017 when he posted an ERA of 2.97.
The Brewers not only added a left hander to the rotation they also added one to the bullpen as hey acquired Xavier Cedeno from the Chicago White Sox. It’s unclear what the White Sox will be getting in return for Cedeno, but I’m guessing it’s a player to be named later or cash.
Cedeno has appeared in 33 games for the White Sox his season. He’s 2-0 with 1 save and an ERA of 2.84 over 25 1/3rd innings. With Dan Jennings possibly injuring his knee in a rundown of all things Cedeno is the perfect guy to fill that role if Jennings misses any time.
Milwaukee wrapped up their trade frenzy by picking up veteran outfielder Curtis Granderson from the Toronto Blue Jays for minor league outfielder Demi Orimoloye. Toronto is also sending Milwaukee $5 million dollars to help cover the remainder of Granderson’s 2018 salary.
Granderson is in his 15th major league season; his 13th as a full time player. He’s hi 40 plus homer twice in his career and while he no longer has that type of power he still is a versatile outfielder who can play all three outfield spots.
Granderson has appeared in 104 games for the Blue Jays this season. He’s hitting .245 with 11 home runs with 35 RBI’s. Granderson should give the Brewers a veteran left handed bat off the bench who can spell any of their outfielders if needed.
Toronto made another move as they found a taker for injured 3rd baseman Josh Donaldson. Oddly Donaldson ended up going to a team that wasn’t mentioned in any of the rumors involving him the Cleveland Indians.
The Blue Jays will get a player to be named later, but there was an attachment that said “of some value” for Donaldson and just like in their other deal the Blue Jays send some cash t the Indians to help cover some of Donaldson’s salary.
This is easily the biggest risk reward deal that was made at the deadline. If Donaldson is healthy the Indians are getting a former MVP who not only has big power, but is a top defender. Now id he’s not healthy the Indians might just be getting the guy who hit .234 in 36 games earlier this season.
With the lead the Indians have on the AL Central there’s no need for Donaldson to come in a produce immediately as this is more a move for the post season.
You’d have to think that a healthy Donaldson would take over at 3rd base full time bumping the Indians current MVP candidate Jose Ramirez to 2nd base with Jason Kipnis dropping into a utility role.
So there you go. Which team do you think made the best deal? And how do you think this affects the division or playoff races?
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