As the midnight trading deadline approached Friday night, there was a stampede of deals made. Herewith is a guide to all the deals and what they mean on the major league level.
The Mets acquired Tony Phillips from the Toronto for minor league pitcher Leoncio Ramirez Estrella.
What this means: The Blue Jays have given up on the wildcard chase. The Mets, who ignored Phillips during the offseason, don't really have a set position in the field ready for Phillips, but will surely play him a lot at various positions in order to bat him leadoff and upgrade the offense.
The Los Angeles Dodgers acquired pitcher Carlos Perez, infielder Mark Grudzielanek, and minor leaguer Hiram Bocachica from the Montreal Expos in exchange for infielder Wilton Guerrero and minor leaguers Peter Bergeron, Ted Lilly and Jonathan Tucker.
What this Means: After losing Ramon Martinez for the season and Ismael Valdes for a month as a result of injuries, the Dodgers desperately needed a quality starter to fill out the rotation, and they got one in Carlos Perez. The Grudz/Guerrero exchange gets the Expos out of an arbitration case this winter, but neither player is likely to contribute to their new team. In exchange for Perez, the Expos acquired three promising prospects. They gave up Bocachica, who is almost an ex-prospect by now.
The Cubs acquired left-handed pitcher Felix Heredia and minor league pitcher Steve Hoff from the Florida Marlins in exchange for third baseman Kevin Orie and minor league pitchers Todd Noel and Justin Speier.
What this means: The Cubs add another mediocre lefty to their bullpen, while the Marlins add some decent prospects to their farm system.
Milwaukee acquired pitcher Bill Pulsipher from the Mets in exchange for minor league infielder Mike Kinkade.
What this means: The Mets had to get rid of Pulsipher once Steve Phillips realized that the pitcher was out of options. In exchange they pick up a player who could be a useful bench player in the future.
The Blue Jays sent third baseman Ed Sprague to the Athletics in exchange for minor league pitcher Scott Rivette.
What this means: The Athletics must be extraordinarily desperate to replace Mike Blowers at third, and they sent the Jays a non-prospect in exchange for the "privilege" of picking up Sprague's salary for the rest of the year. Billy Beane says that Sprague is not that old, but what he doesn't mention is that he is that finished. The Blue Jays finally get to give Tom Evans a third at third base.
The Blue Jays also sent pitcher Juan Guzman to Baltimore for pitcher Nerio Rodriguez and minor league outfielder Shannon Carter.
What this means: The Orioles will try and insert themselves into the wildcard race by putting the unpredictable Jose Guzman into the rotation - Guzman is a risk but he does have a high upside. Rodriguez has a good arm and the Jays expect more from him than the 8+ ERA he had for Baltimore.
The Red Sox acquired Orlando Merced and Greg Swindell from the Twins in exchange for minor league pitchers Matt Kinney and Joe Thomas and minor league outfielder John Barnes.
What this means: Swindell will definitely help stabalize the Sox bullpen, while Merced will provide a decent bat for the bench. In Kinney, the Sox have given up a decent prospect, while Barnes at this point is a longshot prospect.
The Astros acquired Randy Johnson from the Mariners in exchange for minor league infielder Carlos Guillen, minor league pitcher Freddy Garcia and a player to be named later.
What this means: This? This is all the Mariners got? Garcia and Guillen are both good prospects, but they're not world-beaters. We'll see who the ptbnl is. Johnson obviously strengthens the Astros staff this year, especially if this trade gets his head on straight. Johnson also may make the Astros far more dangerous in the playoffs. It's going to be very interesting to see Johnson pitch in a pitcher's park.
The Mets traded outfielder Bernard Gilkey and minor league pitcher Nelson Figueroa to Arizona for Willie Blair and Jorge Fabregas.
What this means: The Mets dump Gilkey, who has stunk ever since the Mets signed him to a long term deal. But in exchange they get Blair, the most overpaid 5th starter in the world, and he'll reportedly end up in the bullpen for now. And the acquisition of Fabregas, the Mets' umpteenth catcher this year, sends poor (and worthier) Todd Pratt back to AAA again. In Figueroa, the Diamondbacks get a pitcher whose has some some good pitches, but it's all slow stuff, and that makes him a long shot prospect.
The Giants acquired outfielder Ellis Burks from the Rockies in exchange for outfielder Daryl Hamilton and minor league pitcher James Stoops. In Stoops, the Rockies get a reliever who has totally dominated A ball hitters but hasn't really been challenged yet by a league with prospects his own age.
The Texas Rangers acquired third baseman Todd Zeile from the Florida Marlins in exchange for minor league third baseman Jose Santos and minor league pitcher Dan DeYoung.
What this means: The Rangers have rebuilt the left side of their infield. Zeile's no great shakes, but he's a bit better overall than Tatis has been this year. The Marlins waited months before they found a taker for Zeile, and it shows; the prospects they got are nothing special, though Santos has more of a shot at the majors than DeYoung
The Rangers acquired shortstop Royce Clayton and pitcher Todd Stottylmyre from the Cardinals in exchange for third baseman Fernando Tatis, pitcher Darren Oliver and a player to be named later.
What this means:Clayton is a major upgrade defensively over Elster, and Stottlemyre will also help a faltering pitching staff in Texas, assuming his 7 ERA over the last month isn't a sign of a serious problem. The Cardinals get a struggling talent in Tatis, and they figure their chances of signing Stottlemyre as a free agent this winter haven't changed much. Meanwhile, they were ready to replace Clayton anyway.
The Red Sox traded minor league pitcher Joe Hudson to the Brewers for minor league infielder Eddy Diaz.
What this means: Not much.
And in the previous few days these trades were also made:
The Red Sox acquired designated hitter Mike Stanley from the Blue Jays in exchange for minor league pitchers Peter Munro and Jay Yennaco.
What this means: Stanley's return gives the Sox a good right-handed DH and a bat on the bench. The Jays get back a solid pitching prospect in Munro.
The Braves acquired first baseman Greg Colbrunn from the Colorado Rockies for minor league pitchers David Cortes and Mike Porzio
What this means: Very little
The White Sox traded relief pitcher Matt Karchner to the Cubs in exchange for minor league pitcher Jon Garland
What this means: The Cubs get a decent middle reliever, but overpay with a good albeit faraway pitching prospect.
The White Sox traded catcher Charlie O'Brien to Anaheim for minor league pitchers Jason Stockstill and Brian Tokars
What this means: Charlie O'Brien is a slight improvement over what the Angels have, which is Matt Walbeck, but that's because almost anybody who can catch is. But the Angels gave up little, which may still be too much for O'Brien, but it really doesn't matter a whole lot.
The Mets acquired Tony Phillips from the Toronto for minor league pitcher Leoncio Ramirez Estrella.
What this means: The Blue Jays have given up on the wildcard chase. The Mets, who ignored Phillips during the offseason, don't really have a set position in the field ready for Phillips, but will surely play him a lot at various positions in order to bat him leadoff and upgrade the offense.
The Los Angeles Dodgers acquired pitcher Carlos Perez, infielder Mark Grudzielanek, and minor leaguer Hiram Bocachica from the Montreal Expos in exchange for infielder Wilton Guerrero and minor leaguers Peter Bergeron, Ted Lilly and Jonathan Tucker.
What this Means: After losing Ramon Martinez for the season and Ismael Valdes for a month as a result of injuries, the Dodgers desperately needed a quality starter to fill out the rotation, and they got one in Carlos Perez. The Grudz/Guerrero exchange gets the Expos out of an arbitration case this winter, but neither player is likely to contribute to their new team. In exchange for Perez, the Expos acquired three promising prospects. They gave up Bocachica, who is almost an ex-prospect by now.
The Cubs acquired left-handed pitcher Felix Heredia and minor league pitcher Steve Hoff from the Florida Marlins in exchange for third baseman Kevin Orie and minor league pitchers Todd Noel and Justin Speier.
What this means: The Cubs add another mediocre lefty to their bullpen, while the Marlins add some decent prospects to their farm system.
Milwaukee acquired pitcher Bill Pulsipher from the Mets in exchange for minor league infielder Mike Kinkade.
What this means: The Mets had to get rid of Pulsipher once Steve Phillips realized that the pitcher was out of options. In exchange they pick up a player who could be a useful bench player in the future.
The Blue Jays sent third baseman Ed Sprague to the Athletics in exchange for minor league pitcher Scott Rivette.
What this means: The Athletics must be extraordinarily desperate to replace Mike Blowers at third, and they sent the Jays a non-prospect in exchange for the "privilege" of picking up Sprague's salary for the rest of the year. Billy Beane says that Sprague is not that old, but what he doesn't mention is that he is that finished. The Blue Jays finally get to give Tom Evans a third at third base.
The Blue Jays also sent pitcher Juan Guzman to Baltimore for pitcher Nerio Rodriguez and minor league outfielder Shannon Carter.
What this means: The Orioles will try and insert themselves into the wildcard race by putting the unpredictable Jose Guzman into the rotation - Guzman is a risk but he does have a high upside. Rodriguez has a good arm and the Jays expect more from him than the 8+ ERA he had for Baltimore.
The Red Sox acquired Orlando Merced and Greg Swindell from the Twins in exchange for minor league pitchers Matt Kinney and Joe Thomas and minor league outfielder John Barnes.
What this means: Swindell will definitely help stabalize the Sox bullpen, while Merced will provide a decent bat for the bench. In Kinney, the Sox have given up a decent prospect, while Barnes at this point is a longshot prospect.
The Astros acquired Randy Johnson from the Mariners in exchange for minor league infielder Carlos Guillen, minor league pitcher Freddy Garcia and a player to be named later.
What this means: This? This is all the Mariners got? Garcia and Guillen are both good prospects, but they're not world-beaters. We'll see who the ptbnl is. Johnson obviously strengthens the Astros staff this year, especially if this trade gets his head on straight. Johnson also may make the Astros far more dangerous in the playoffs. It's going to be very interesting to see Johnson pitch in a pitcher's park.
The Mets traded outfielder Bernard Gilkey and minor league pitcher Nelson Figueroa to Arizona for Willie Blair and Jorge Fabregas.
What this means: The Mets dump Gilkey, who has stunk ever since the Mets signed him to a long term deal. But in exchange they get Blair, the most overpaid 5th starter in the world, and he'll reportedly end up in the bullpen for now. And the acquisition of Fabregas, the Mets' umpteenth catcher this year, sends poor (and worthier) Todd Pratt back to AAA again. In Figueroa, the Diamondbacks get a pitcher whose has some some good pitches, but it's all slow stuff, and that makes him a long shot prospect.
The Giants acquired outfielder Ellis Burks from the Rockies in exchange for outfielder Daryl Hamilton and minor league pitcher James Stoops. In Stoops, the Rockies get a reliever who has totally dominated A ball hitters but hasn't really been challenged yet by a league with prospects his own age.
The Texas Rangers acquired third baseman Todd Zeile from the Florida Marlins in exchange for minor league third baseman Jose Santos and minor league pitcher Dan DeYoung.
What this means: The Rangers have rebuilt the left side of their infield. Zeile's no great shakes, but he's a bit better overall than Tatis has been this year. The Marlins waited months before they found a taker for Zeile, and it shows; the prospects they got are nothing special, though Santos has more of a shot at the majors than DeYoung
The Rangers acquired shortstop Royce Clayton and pitcher Todd Stottylmyre from the Cardinals in exchange for third baseman Fernando Tatis, pitcher Darren Oliver and a player to be named later.
What this means:Clayton is a major upgrade defensively over Elster, and Stottlemyre will also help a faltering pitching staff in Texas, assuming his 7 ERA over the last month isn't a sign of a serious problem. The Cardinals get a struggling talent in Tatis, and they figure their chances of signing Stottlemyre as a free agent this winter haven't changed much. Meanwhile, they were ready to replace Clayton anyway.
The Red Sox traded minor league pitcher Joe Hudson to the Brewers for minor league infielder Eddy Diaz.
What this means: Not much.
And in the previous few days these trades were also made:
The Red Sox acquired designated hitter Mike Stanley from the Blue Jays in exchange for minor league pitchers Peter Munro and Jay Yennaco.
What this means: Stanley's return gives the Sox a good right-handed DH and a bat on the bench. The Jays get back a solid pitching prospect in Munro.
The Braves acquired first baseman Greg Colbrunn from the Colorado Rockies for minor league pitchers David Cortes and Mike Porzio
What this means: Very little
The White Sox traded relief pitcher Matt Karchner to the Cubs in exchange for minor league pitcher Jon Garland
What this means: The Cubs get a decent middle reliever, but overpay with a good albeit faraway pitching prospect.
The White Sox traded catcher Charlie O'Brien to Anaheim for minor league pitchers Jason Stockstill and Brian Tokars
What this means: Charlie O'Brien is a slight improvement over what the Angels have, which is Matt Walbeck, but that's because almost anybody who can catch is. But the Angels gave up little, which may still be too much for O'Brien, but it really doesn't matter a whole lot.
