Official MLB Trade Deadline Thread

• TigerNation10

  

  The trade deadline will be here in a couple of weeks and a few trades have went down already.
  
  Cliff Lee to Rangers for Justin Smoak
  Yunel Escobar and Jojo Reyes to Blue Jays for Alex Gonzalez
• SportsAndLady

  

  Hopefully the Reds can add a bullpen lefty
• Azubuike24

  

  TigerNation10;423444 wrote:The trade deadline will be here in a couple of weeks and a few trades have went down already.
  
  Cliff Lee to Rangers for Justin Smoak
  Yunel Escobar and Jojo Reyes to Blue Jays for Alex Gonzalez

  What a steal for Toronto.
• karen lotz

  

  Azubuike24;423623 wrote:What a steal for Toronto.

  
  
  I don't know about that. Escobar has been a head case the past couple seasons and his hitting .238 with ZERO HR's and 19 RBI. Reyes has made one appearance on the year and Atlanta's bullpen has been pretty solid without him. I do like Escobar and hope that he can get things turned around in Toronto.
• karen lotz

  

  SportsAndLady;423448 wrote:Hopefully the Reds can add a bullpen lefty

  
  
  I am very glad that Lee ended up in Texas. It wouldn't have been good if Atlanta had to see him twice in a POTENTIAL NLCS match up.
• Heretic

  

  karen lotz;423641 wrote:I don't know about that. Escobar has been a head case the past couple seasons and his hitting .238 with ZERO HR's and 19 RBI. Reyes has made one appearance on the year and Atlanta's bullpen has been pretty solid without him. I do like Escobar and hope that he can get things turned around in Toronto.

  
  I'd say that long-term it definitely is a potential steal for Toronto, but short-term, it likely is good for Atlanta, as Gonzalez has been having a good season. And I'd guess they only care about short-term right now, currently leading a competitive division in Cox's last year.
• Ironman92

  

  You'll like A Gon swinging for the fences every at bat
  
  
  
  I think Dunn will go to the Angels or White Sox.....Padres could but would have to sacrifice some defense and put him in LF....but he kills it in San Diego. Surprised Washington isn't dealing with him much.....he's improved at first.....producing better...SEEMS great in the clubhouse and tears it up when Strasburg pitches.....
• karen lotz

  

  Heretic;423651 wrote:I'd say that long-term it definitely is a potential steal for Toronto, but short-term, it likely is good for Atlanta, as Gonzalez has been having a good season. And I'd guess they only care about short-term right now, currently leading a competitive division in Cox's last year.

  Yeah I'd say it has potential to be the rare good for both teams trades. I don't think Toronto is going to be able to hang with NY/BOS/TAM this year but Escobar is above average defensively and has shown in the past he has the tools to be a good offensive player too. Just needs to get his mental game figured out and hopefully a change of scenery will help.
• karen lotz

  

  Ironman92;423653 wrote:You'll like A Gon swinging for the fences every at bat

  
  
  IF he can keep up with the pace he had pre All Star break, I think Atlanta will be ok with it. Although they have had a different approach to plate appearances this year as a team. Maybe Pendleton can get through to him.
• Ironman92

  

  I'm pretty lazy...but I do wonder A Gon's stats since about the midst of May
• Heretic

  

  Ironman92;423662 wrote:I'm pretty lazy...but I do wonder A Gon's stats since about the midst of May

  
  From a quick Yahoo Sports check:
  
  Average: stayed the same
  Slugging: dropped pretty substantially (.550ish to .490ish).
  Homers: 7 of 17 since May 15.
• Ironman92

  

  to be at .550 in the middle of May and to now be at .490....he must have been about .430 slug % since then
  
  
  
  I'll be surprised if he's worth a crap for the Braves
• karen lotz

  

  Ironman92;423678 wrote:to be at .550 in the middle of May and to now be at .490....he must have been about .430 slug % since then
  
  
  
  I'll be surprised if he's worth a crap for the Braves

  
  Hell maybe he will be a bench player. More playing time for Infante. Escobar was not good in the clubhouse and maybe that was the main reason for moving him??
• Ironman92

  

  ^^^^^that makes more sense
• Heretic

  

  I'd agree with that. While with the Reds, he seemed to be hurt or on the bereavement list much of the time. He's played all season so far for Toronto. It's very possible that he got off to a great start, but has been wearing down as the season goes on. After three straight seasons of only playing about 110 games, he's already played 85, so is on pace for 150+.
  
  Being in a more part-time role might be of benefit.
• The Enforcer

  I would like to see the Reds go after Dotel.
  
  He would be the perfect setup man and fallback option for Cordero.
  
  the White Sox were in on Cliff Lee until Seattle asked for Gordon Beckham.
  
  Speaking of the White Sox, dont be surprised to see them land either Prince Fielder or Adam Dunn.
• jordo212000

  

  Wow I love that trade for Toronto. I don't trust Alex Gonzalez at all. He has been bad the past few seasons. I see him slowing down. Escobar has been good in years past, he'll bounce back
• Azubuike24

  

  It's a good trade for Toronto because they signed A-Gon off the heap, he's overachieved and they got something possibly useful for a guy who isn't that good and on the back-end of his career.
  
  Escobar and Reyes must totally be in the tank according to Atlanta people. I know Reyes wasn't even on the radar anymore in-terms of being a future starter, but still, not a bad haul for Toronto.
• dat dude

  jordo212000;423707 wrote:Wow I love that trade for Toronto. I don't trust Alex Gonzalez at all. He has been bad the past few seasons. I see him slowing down. Escobar has been good in years past, he'll bounce back

  
  So trading someone who has been "bad" in the past, but who is having a a great year this year (2nd in OPS for SS in MLB) for someone who has been "good" in the past, but is sucking this year is a steal? Gotcha. If the past stats counted, I could see your point.
  
  I mean, I don't think either team really made out on this deal. It is obvious that Atlanta is playing for "it" this year, and make a move in kind. If Gonzalez can continue his pace, it will work out.
• karen lotz

  

  Azubuike24;423781 wrote:Escobar and Reyes must totally be in the tank according to Atlanta people. I know Reyes wasn't even on the radar anymore in-terms of being a future starter, but still, not a bad haul for Toronto.

  
  
  Escobar has not been a good presence in the clubhouse in addition to not producing at all this year. I think overall its a pretty tight knit group and he wasn't really a part of it for whatever reason. I have seen some talk about him disrespecting veterans on the team and expecting certain things for himself.
  
  Reyes made 1 appearance for the Braves this year out of the bullpen. He gave up 9 runs and currently has a 24.30 ERA. He wasn't going to crack the rotation in the next few years as the Braves have some pretty good arms coming up again. Maybe the move to the pen was one he just never adjusted to?
• jordo212000

  

  dat dude;423787 wrote:So trading someone who has been "bad" in the past, but who is having a a great year this year (2nd in OPS for SS in MLB) for someone who has been "good" in the past, but is sucking this year is a steal? Gotcha. If the past stats counted, I could see your point.

  
  It sounds silly, but yeah... that's my opinion. I acknowledge that Gonzalez is having a great season. However, at the same time I know he has been garbage the past 2-3 seasons. Escobar on the other hand has been solid. His track record suggests that he will not continue to hit .230 just like Gonzalez's track record says that he will not be an OPS leader.
  
  Atlanta doesn't get any of Gonzalez's Blue Jay statistics (obviously duh, haha). The rest of the season (and in the future) I have to admit I like Escobar much more
• karen lotz

  

  jordo212000;423930 wrote:I have to admit I like Escobar much more

  
  
  I agree with this but for whatever reason it wasn't working this year. I'm pretty certain Gonzalez isn't a long term solution. Just a solid veteran who can help the team this year.
• karen lotz

  

  Escobar is hitting a cool .462 since the trade and hit his first HR of the season, a grand slam. Looks like he might have just needed a wake up call. Gonzalez was hitting .333 until taking an 0-4 this afternoon. He has played some great defense though. Hopefully both guys continue to play good baseball.
• Ironman92

  

  Yeah....Escobar is the type of player who can produce enough to "I'll show you"
  
  A lot of talent....maybe a Milton Bradley or Jose Guillen
• TigerNation10

  

  The Phillies are apparently in talks with the Astros for Roy Oswalt.