It's that time of the horsehide season when teams earnestly get about chasing a playoff dream or resignedly rendezvous with the reality of a lost season and cash in their expiring contracts and aging veterans for some future value.
Some clubs do find themselves betwixt and between: either they have the personnel they want but are just snakebit or under-performing -- hello Blue Jays! -- or they think they will be in contention in a year or two when their current roster will still be delivering value. These teams may smooth down some rough edges or flip a particular asset but aren't in full rebuild mode.
Focusing on the first two groups, here are some trade deadline deals that would make the playoff race funner.*
Cubs trade Matt Garza to the Orioles -- More than any other squad in contention, the Baltimorons would be transformed by a top-of-the-order starter. Garza looks like just that, and Jed Hoyer is looking to deal. I don't know if the Oriole farm system has what the Chicagos need, but I'm taking this from Baltimore's perspective. Besides that, wouldn't it be delicious for Garza to be dealing in critical late-season contests against his old mates from Tampa? (Note: since Garza went to Texas, Baltimore might consider Kyle Lohse, who is nearly as effective as last year but without the gaudy record.)
White Sox trade Alex Rios to the Rangers -- Nolan Ryan is bracing for MLB to play Nelson Cruz's Go To Jail card, so he needs a backup plan right fast. Oakland is a second-half team and there's no guarantee the Wild Cards won't get eaten by the East. Rios is Cruz with less power but more defense. The White Sox are Texas with less winning and more future needs. Poifect.
Mariners trade Kendrys Morales to the A's -- Brandon Moss is the A's first baseman but his 16 home runs are approaching their witching hour. Morales brings added pop and defense to a team that continues to confound. Although he's about all the power the M's have, he'll be gone at year's end, long before Seattle is relevant again.
White Sox trade Jesse Crain to the Red Sox -- Relief pitchers win playoff games. This one needs different color hosiery for that to matter. This would be the perfect time for the Southsiders to deal the righty because he sports an 0.74 ERA and 46 Ks in 36 innings as free agency looms. Unfortunately, he's on the DL with a shoulder strain. Boston needs bullpen help leading up to Koji Uehara with Andrew Baily and Andrew Miller on the pines.
Padres trade Luke Gregerson to the Pirates -- Pittsburgh wants cheap, young players. But non-contenders want to trade expensive veterans. So the Pirates, who really need help in right field, should instead pick up a veteran middle reliever, and the 29-year-old northpaw is as good as it gets. A durable, consistent performer, Gregerson is under team control for two more years. Whether the Bucs' system has any decent hitting prospects for the struggling Priests is the big question in this deal.
Phillies trade Jonathan Papelbon to the Tigers -- It's going to be a quick, painful fall to the basement in Philly before they begin a long, painful recovery. Paying $13 mil for the luxury of a closer is like buying $300 wheel covers for a '74 AMC Pacer. Detroit is championship-focused and would be ready to part with piles of potential for that final piece. Tiger starters have allowed an 86 OPS+ against while relievers have allowed a 109 OPS+ against, meaning batters are hitting 14% below average against Justin Verlander, et. al., and nine percent above average against the bullpen.
If you're playing the sports book at Vegas, not one of these deals gets you even odds. But they all make sense for both teams (assuming the sellers are satiated by the return.)
*Even more better than simply "fun."
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