I've been busy the last few days, so I'm just now getting along to this blog-staple post now, after everything has sunk in. Which is actually kind of nice. Sometimes, when I write this post, I rank the 10 ten based on in-the-moment feelings, rather than actually stepping back and thinking about how well these guys are actually gonna do in new uniforms.
I also needed to make a TON of customs for this post, so that was all last night, but we're all good now. We can do this post, of the top 10 deals that happened this trade deadline. Yes, we can reach back to June if we want.
There are, of course, some honorable mentions, so here are a bunch!
-Adam Duvall to Atlanta, Matt Wisler, Lucas Sims and Preston Tucker to Cincinnati.
-Eduardo Escobar to Phoenix, prospects to Minnesota
-Roberto Osuna to Houston, Ken Giles and prospects to Houston
-Jeurys Familia to Oakland, prospects to NY
-Brad Hand and Adam Cimber to Cleveland, Francisco Mejia to San Diego
And now...the top ten:
How it benefits Philly: Jorge Alfaro has been a serviceable but weak catcher for the Phils, so getting All-Star and NL East rival Wilson Ramos to play backstop for them was a wise idea, especially considering his nice numbers in 2018. Ramos will be steady at catcher, while Alfaro will be a fine backup.
How it benefits Atlanta: The Braves went TO WORK this trade deadline, and this move not only buttresses their pitching staff, which has been ailing due to injuries to Brandon McCarthy and Mike Soroka, and giving them a borderline-ace arm in Gausman, but helping their bullpen with O'Day. Heck, they also got Balty's OTHER top reliever Brad Brach in another trade, so the O's bullpen is reforming in Atlanta, and might be more powerful given a better team.
How it benefits the Yanks: Happ is a veteran starter who's been giving fine numbers this year, and was already pretty nice in his first start in NY. His hand-foot-and-mouth diagnosis has brought him down a few pegs, but he's a great latter-half-rotation addition for a team who's trying to fix the pitching problem.
How it benefits the Jays: Drury adds to the list of sneaky middle infielders on that team, and is a better choice at 2nd than Devon Travis. McKinney might be a great outfield arm next year. This trade establishes that the Jays may be readying a 2019 playoff run.
How it benefits the Sox: Eovaldi fits RIGHT into the Sale-Porcello-Rodriguez-Price formation, and fits even better now that Sale is taking a brief DL detour. Eovaldi has reformed his career a year after Tommy John surgery, and he's finally back to dealing dirty stuff. Putting him in Boston, against his old team, may be the key to 1st place.
How it benefits the Rays: Beeks might be a nice starter next year, and the Rays suddenly need a LOT of rotation help.
How it benefits the Brewers: Schoop is a much better choice at 2nd than Villar, Orlando Arcia or Eric Sogard- Schoop can hit, play nice defense, and supplant the overall offensive. This is a major upgrade.
How it benefits the O's: Villar may be currently missing out on a 2B spot thanks to Breyvic Valera, but he could be a good 2nd base fixture...or 3rd base...or 1st...
How it benefits the Brewers: If the Schoop deal didn't help the power of the lineup enough, you reunite Mike Moustakas with his former KC teammate Lorenzo Cain, and put the still-on Moose into a lineup with Aguilar, Yelich, Thames, Cain and...yes, and Schoop. This does displace Travis Shaw, but he's capable of playing the outfield.
How it benefits the Dodgers: They've been trying to get Dozier ever since they lost Howie Kendrick, and Chase Utley and Forsythe have been less-than-favorable at 2nd. Now, with the hard-hitting Dozier at 2nd, we now have the infield foursome of Bellinger, Dozier, Machado and Turner. Imagine going up against THAT one after the other.
How it benefits the Twins: Forsythe will have to do for right now at 2nd. Hopefully his average will improve.
How it benefits the Cubs: Hamels is still one of the best pitchers out there, and setting him up with Jon Lester and Kyle Hendricks is a nice move, even if Quintana and Montgomery are only so good at supplanting. He could definitely return to his ferocity from the LAST time he pitched a game in Chicago.
How it benefits the Rangers: Butler could be a nice starting pitcher for the rest of the season? Unless they wanna keep playing him as a reliever.
How it benefits the Bucs: Archer is the #1 starter they've been looking for. Nova, Taillon, Williams and Kuhl have all been okay, but none have COMPLETELY succeeded on the mound this year. Archer might get back to his 2016-17 numbers in Pittsburgh, and he could lead them to the playoffs, as they definitely are aiming to go.
How it benefits the Rays: Meadows is a grade-A outfield prospect, Kevin Cash could work his magic on Glasnow's arm, and the Rays, while sellers this year, certainly aren't dead yet.
and...the OBVIOUS #1 IS...
How it benefits LA: Machado is one of the best players in baseball. The Dodgers currently don't have a healthy shortstop. Manny may be a rental, but he's one of the most impressive rentals out there. Machado could be the piece that elevates LA to 'playoff-bound' levels, as they've been borderline for the past few weeks. Machado has proven himself in his past few games in LA, and he could be ELECTRIC in October.
How it benefits Baltimore: Valera played for them today. So they're at least using what they got.
THAT was a pretty awesome assortment of trade deadline deals. Glad I got to cover the best of them.
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