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New York Yankees: The New York Yankees are back into the race for the AL East Division title and are back in the news with a trade and other possible trade rumors. The Yankees are on fire having won their first 8 games since the All-Star break. They are now only 3 games out of first behind the Tampa Bay Rays. They also completed a trade this past week with the Pirates for OF Xavier Nady and left handed reliever Damaso Marte, giving up Russ Ohlendorf, Jeff Karstens, Dan McCutchen, and top prospect Jose Tabata. With the Yankees surging, the Boston Red Sox continuing to struggle on the road, and the Tampa Bay Rays just struggling period, it's possible that the Yankees could be in prime position to win the AL East once again.
With the addition of Marte and Nady, the Yankees made what might seem like a small trade but I believe this is just the type of trade that could make a big difference for the Yankees. Xavier Nady is a very underrated hitter and he addresses a need for the Yankees, who lack good right handed bats outside of A-Rod and Derek Jeter. For his career, Xavier Nady has been an above average offensive player with a 108 OPS+, but this season he has really been mashing the ball, hitting .327 with 13 HR, 57 RBI, a .384 OBP, .530 SLG, and 141 OPS+. He is also a .320 career hitter against lefties with an .880 OPS. Now I don't know if Nady will continue hitting as good as he has this season but even if he hits how he has over his career, he will still be a help to the Yankees lineup.
The other player in the trade, Damaso Marte, is going to help the Yankees simply by showing up to pitch because the Yankees did not have any left handed pitchers in the bullpen before they traded for Marte. It won't be hard for Marte to make an impact on the Yankees bullpen, simply because he is a left handed pitcher but he also is a damn good one. Over his career, Marte has been a solid reliever and has posted a 3.21 ERA and a 141 ERA+, while striking out more than one batter per inning. He already paid dividends for the Yankees by striking out David Ortiz in his first appearance this weekend. The acquisition of Marte means that the Yankees now have a bullpen that could be one of the best in baseball.
The trade for Xavier Nady and Damaso Marte was a solid trade that should improve the Yankees but there also have been several other trade rumors that have included the Yankees. The biggest rumor out there right now is that the Yankees are trying to acquire left handed starter Jarrod Washburn from the Seattle Mariners. Washburn is having the worst year of his career but the Yankees are not offering much to acquire him besides paying most of his salary. As long as the Yankees don't give up much to acquire Washburn then I don't see the harm in trading for him. While Washburn would be an upgrade over Sidney Ponson, I do not see it as a major upgrade but a move that would provide more consistency out of the back end of the rotation.
If the Yankees are not able to acquire Washburn, rumor is that they might trade Melky Cabrera to the Royals for Brian Bannister. Bannister has been horrible this season and certainly hasn't even been as good as Sidney Ponson, which says a lot considering that Ponson is no prize himself. If I were the Yankees, I would not make a move for Bannister, especially if it means giving up their starting center fielder.
The last rumor that involves the Yankees is that they were discussing possibly signing Barry Bonds. This move would probably be a long shot but there is no doubt in my mind that Bonds would be productive as a DH for the Yankees. The only question is whether or not Bonds and all the hoopla that surrounds him is even too much for the Yankees to have to deal with. All indications are that the Yankees will not sign Bonds.
Manny Ramirez: Wow, I can't believe after all these years the Red Sox are finally thinking about trading Manny Ramirez. As much of a pain in the ass Manny can be, the Red Sox would be stupid to trade him if they plan on winning this season. I find it highly unlikely they could get an equal return for Manny that would be able to help them this season. Now if they think that they can't win this season, then I would say go ahead and trade him but I don't see the Red Sox giving up on this season when they have as good a chance of any team to win it all. Either way, things with the Red Sox and Manny Ramirez have become really ugly and it could be something that has a major effect on the Red Sox playoffs chances this season.
Milwaukee Brewers: While the New York Yankees are the hottest team in the AL, the Milwaukee Brewers are one of the hottest teams in the NL after winning 11 of 16 games since acquiring C.C. Sabathia, including an 8 game winning streak. The Brewers are now tied for first place with the Chicago Cubs and they will face off with the Cubs for a four game series starting today. I still have to favor the Cubs to win the division because I like their lineup and bullpen better. With the addition of Rich Harden, the Cubs have to be the favorites to represent the NL in the World Series but the Brewers will certainly be a player throughout the second half of the season and push the Cubs hard. The Brewers also made a minor deal this past week by acquiring second basemen Ray Durham from the San Francisco Giants.
New York Mets: The one team in the NL that might be hotter than the Milwaukee Brewers is the New York Mets. The Mets are 16-5 in their last 21 games and have taken over the lead in the NL East. Even though they are playing well, they are still looking to improve their team and have been talking to the Mariners about outfielder Raul Ibanez. Ibanez has been a solid hitter throughout his career and is batting .275 with 14 HR, 61 RBI, and a 116 OPS+ this season. The Mets apparently would have no interest in Manny Ramirez if the Red Sox do decide to try and trade him.
Casey Blake: The Los Angeles Dodgers were able to acquire Indians third basemen/outfielder Casey Blake. Blake is a decent player who is having one of his best seasons to date, hitting .293 with 11 HR, 58 RBI, .363 OBP, .470 SLG and 121 OPS+. Despite Blake's solid season, I don't see this move as a major one. It might help the Dodgers win the NL West but I think they are still far away from being a serious World Series contender.
With the addition of Marte and Nady, the Yankees made what might seem like a small trade but I believe this is just the type of trade that could make a big difference for the Yankees. Xavier Nady is a very underrated hitter and he addresses a need for the Yankees, who lack good right handed bats outside of A-Rod and Derek Jeter. For his career, Xavier Nady has been an above average offensive player with a 108 OPS+, but this season he has really been mashing the ball, hitting .327 with 13 HR, 57 RBI, a .384 OBP, .530 SLG, and 141 OPS+. He is also a .320 career hitter against lefties with an .880 OPS. Now I don't know if Nady will continue hitting as good as he has this season but even if he hits how he has over his career, he will still be a help to the Yankees lineup.
The other player in the trade, Damaso Marte, is going to help the Yankees simply by showing up to pitch because the Yankees did not have any left handed pitchers in the bullpen before they traded for Marte. It won't be hard for Marte to make an impact on the Yankees bullpen, simply because he is a left handed pitcher but he also is a damn good one. Over his career, Marte has been a solid reliever and has posted a 3.21 ERA and a 141 ERA+, while striking out more than one batter per inning. He already paid dividends for the Yankees by striking out David Ortiz in his first appearance this weekend. The acquisition of Marte means that the Yankees now have a bullpen that could be one of the best in baseball.
The trade for Xavier Nady and Damaso Marte was a solid trade that should improve the Yankees but there also have been several other trade rumors that have included the Yankees. The biggest rumor out there right now is that the Yankees are trying to acquire left handed starter Jarrod Washburn from the Seattle Mariners. Washburn is having the worst year of his career but the Yankees are not offering much to acquire him besides paying most of his salary. As long as the Yankees don't give up much to acquire Washburn then I don't see the harm in trading for him. While Washburn would be an upgrade over Sidney Ponson, I do not see it as a major upgrade but a move that would provide more consistency out of the back end of the rotation.
If the Yankees are not able to acquire Washburn, rumor is that they might trade Melky Cabrera to the Royals for Brian Bannister. Bannister has been horrible this season and certainly hasn't even been as good as Sidney Ponson, which says a lot considering that Ponson is no prize himself. If I were the Yankees, I would not make a move for Bannister, especially if it means giving up their starting center fielder.
The last rumor that involves the Yankees is that they were discussing possibly signing Barry Bonds. This move would probably be a long shot but there is no doubt in my mind that Bonds would be productive as a DH for the Yankees. The only question is whether or not Bonds and all the hoopla that surrounds him is even too much for the Yankees to have to deal with. All indications are that the Yankees will not sign Bonds.
Manny Ramirez: Wow, I can't believe after all these years the Red Sox are finally thinking about trading Manny Ramirez. As much of a pain in the ass Manny can be, the Red Sox would be stupid to trade him if they plan on winning this season. I find it highly unlikely they could get an equal return for Manny that would be able to help them this season. Now if they think that they can't win this season, then I would say go ahead and trade him but I don't see the Red Sox giving up on this season when they have as good a chance of any team to win it all. Either way, things with the Red Sox and Manny Ramirez have become really ugly and it could be something that has a major effect on the Red Sox playoffs chances this season.
Milwaukee Brewers: While the New York Yankees are the hottest team in the AL, the Milwaukee Brewers are one of the hottest teams in the NL after winning 11 of 16 games since acquiring C.C. Sabathia, including an 8 game winning streak. The Brewers are now tied for first place with the Chicago Cubs and they will face off with the Cubs for a four game series starting today. I still have to favor the Cubs to win the division because I like their lineup and bullpen better. With the addition of Rich Harden, the Cubs have to be the favorites to represent the NL in the World Series but the Brewers will certainly be a player throughout the second half of the season and push the Cubs hard. The Brewers also made a minor deal this past week by acquiring second basemen Ray Durham from the San Francisco Giants.
New York Mets: The one team in the NL that might be hotter than the Milwaukee Brewers is the New York Mets. The Mets are 16-5 in their last 21 games and have taken over the lead in the NL East. Even though they are playing well, they are still looking to improve their team and have been talking to the Mariners about outfielder Raul Ibanez. Ibanez has been a solid hitter throughout his career and is batting .275 with 14 HR, 61 RBI, and a 116 OPS+ this season. The Mets apparently would have no interest in Manny Ramirez if the Red Sox do decide to try and trade him.
Casey Blake: The Los Angeles Dodgers were able to acquire Indians third basemen/outfielder Casey Blake. Blake is a decent player who is having one of his best seasons to date, hitting .293 with 11 HR, 58 RBI, .363 OBP, .470 SLG and 121 OPS+. Despite Blake's solid season, I don't see this move as a major one. It might help the Dodgers win the NL West but I think they are still far away from being a serious World Series contender.
More: MLB Weekly
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