AL East Trade Deadline Chatter
This year, July 31st is looking to be one of the flattest trade deadlines in recent memory. Of course, when that’s the expectation, it usually ends up being quite the opposite. I don’t really see the Sox adding much. We’re playing relatively good baseball, there aren’t any glaring needs, and the biggest additions to the Sox this summer will be David Ortiz’s return from the DL and Clay Buchholz’s promotion from AAA. Also, look for Masterson to shore up a shaky pen in the second half. Our system is stocked; we could bring in ML talent, I just don’t see a need glaring enough to justify trading Bowden or any other coveted prospects that will surely be part of the price tag.
I’m not worried about the Sox, but I am becoming supremely worried about Tampa Bay. They have the best system in the major leagues. David Price is rising fast, drafted out of Vandy last year and already in AA, and he could be the centerpiece of a blockbuster deal. With the way Kaz, Garza and Shields are going right now, they won’t miss him. C.C. Sabathia can probably be had for the right price, and I think TB can meet that price easily.
C.C. doesn’t scare me on his own. The weight issue, the high stress delivery and the October meltdown I watched first-hand last season make me think he could really flop big time if traded to a contender. However, don’t underestimate the effects a deadline deal can have on a team like the Rays. They’re young and haven’t experienced a playoff chase before, and they might be searching a little bit come August. It would be a huge vote of confidence from GM Andy Friedman to go out and acquire a veteran pitcher. That could provide the perfect spark for the Rays to take off and maintain their play through the second half.
The Gagne acquisition had a similar effect on last year’s Sox, despite him being a monster disappointment. To go out and acquire a player of that stature says to your players that you’re willing to pay a sizable price - be it talent or otherwise - to contend immediately. That can fire guys up, and if Friedman swoops in and nabs C.C., I won’t be worried about facing him in October, but I’ll be pretty afraid of the other 24 guys that never thought their team would be anything other than a seller come the deadline.
David, interesting discussion here. Being a Tampa Bay fan (I was born in Tampa), I’m not sure that starting pitching is the team’s biggest weakness. Still, your point about inspiring Rays players by making a major acquisition is a good one. I haven’t looked at overall team stats, but maybe they could use a different type of player other than a starting pitcher. What do you think? Doing a quick check, I see that the Rays have scored over 50 less runs and almost a 100 fewer hits than the Red Sox so far this season.