I could do a thorough trade deadline review, but that would take forever. So instead, here's a review/analysis of the trades made by the 3 teams I follow, Pittsburgh Pirates, Texas Rangers and the Boston Red Sox.
7/23:
Pirates: 3B Aramis Ramirez
Brewers: RP prospect Yhonathan Barrios
(Aramis Ramirez)
2015: 88G, 332PA, 25R, 73H, 20 2B, 11HR, 44RBI, 16BB, 44K, .236/.280/.408 (.688 OPS)
(Yhonathan Barrios)
2015: 1-3, 2.55era, 35G, 13SV, 42.1IP, 39H, 15R (12ER), 18BB/22K, 1.346WHIP
With both Josh Harrison and Jordy Mercer out until late August at the earliest, the Pirates needed some corner infield help. So it just so happens that they reunite with Aramis Ramirez. He had a slow start to the year, but has been heating up since June. In return, the Pirates gave up position player turned pitcher Yhonathan Barrios. He's reached AAA this year, but has had control problems.
7/27:
Red Sox: IF Josh Rutledge
Angels: OF Shane Victorino
(Josh Rutledge)
2015: (w/AAA) 81G, 351PA, 51R, 92H, 21 2B, 4 3B, 6HR, 34RBI, 21BB/67K, .286/.336/.432 (.768 OPS)
(Shane Victorino)
2015: 36G, 117PA, 11R, 24H, 2 2B, 1HR, 4RBI, 10BB/18K, .231/.310/..279 (.589 OPS)
This move was more of a pure salary dump for Boston. Also, it opens up an OF spot for international signee Rusney Castillo so Boston can see what they really got with him. If Rutledge turns out to be a productive utility player, it'll just be a plus. The Angels meanwhile stockpiled corner OF'ers during the deadline, also getting David Murphy and David DeJesus, so they certainly now have options. Victorino should also be a nice veteran presence for that team down the stretch.
(The Red Sox wouldn't win the 2013 WS w/o Victorino's play that season)
7/29:
Pirates: P Joe Blanton
Royals: Cash Considerations
(Joe Blanton)
2015: 2-2, 3.92era, 16G (4 GS), 2SV, 43.2IP, 45H, 20R(19ER), 7BB/42K, 1.191WHIP
Blanton had been designated by the Royals, so his acquisition didn't cost much for the Pirates. Blanton has had pretty good results in his comeback this year, so he should be able to provide the Pirates with some solid long relief and/or spot starts.
7/29:
Rangers: SP Cole Hamels/RP Jake Diekman
Phillies: SP Matt Harrison/C prospect Jorge Alfaro/OF prospect Nick Williams/P prospect Jake Thompson/P prospect Alec Asher/P prospect Jerad Eickhoff
(Cole Hamels)
2015: 6-7, 3.76era, 21G/GS, 1CG, 1SO, 136.1IP, 121H, 58R/57ER, 40BB/143K, 1.181WHIP
(Jake Diekman)
2015: 2-1, 4.89era, 44G, 38.2IP, 40H, 23R/21ER, 25BB/50K, 1.681WHIP
(Matt Harrison)
2015: 1-2, 6.75era, 3G/GS, 16IP, 19H, 12R/ER, 6BB/5K, 1.563WHIP
(Jorge Alfaro)
2015: 49G, 207PA, 22R, 48H, 15 2B, 2 3B, 5HR, 21RBI, 9BB/61K, .253/.314/.432 (.746 OPS)
(Nick Williams)
2015: 97G, 415PA, 56R, 113H, 21 2B, 4 3B, 13HR, 45RBI, 32BB/77K, .299/.357/.479 (.836 OPS)
(Jake Thompson)
2015: 6-6, 4.72era, 17G/GS, 1CG, 87.2IP, 94H, 51R/46ER, 30BB/78K, 1.414WHIP
(Alec Asher)
2015: 4-10, 4.43era, 20G/GS, 107.2IP, 110H, 56R/53ER, 37BB/97K, 1.365WHIP
(Jerad Eickhoff)
2015: 10-4, 4.11era, 20G/19GS, 111.2IP, 102H, 52R/51ER, 36BB/107K, 1.236WHIP
We now get to a blockbuster, as the Rangers came out on top in the Hamels sweepstakes. Altogether, this is a win-win deal for the Rangers and the Phillies. Cole Hamels provides Texas with a much needed top of the rotation arm with Yu Darvish still recovering from TJ surgery. Hamels will also allow the Rangers to ease Darvish back in 2016. With some salary relief also exchanging hands, the Phillies were able to get some highly regarded prospects back in Alfaro/Williams/Thompson.
7/30:
Pirates: RP Joakim Soria
Tigers: SS/OF prospect Jacoby Jones
(Joakim Soria)
2015: 3-1, 2.74era, 45G, 24SV, 42.2IP, 33H, 13R/ER, 13BB/37K, 1.078WHIP
(Jacoby Jones)
2015: 99G, 448PA, 55R, 105H, 18 2B, 3 3B, 13HR, 66RBI, 33BB/115K, .262/.320/.419 (.739 OPS)
A very solid acquisition by the Pirates. As we saw with the Royals during their 2014 run, its crucial to have a powerful BP bridge to shut down a game. Soria provides the Pirates with just that with Hughes/Watson/Soria/Melancon. The Tigers get a power-hitting prospect back, but one who is somewhat without a natural position.
7/31:
Red Sox: RP Ryan Cook
Athletics: Cash Considerations
(Ryan Cook)
2015: 0-2, 10.38era, 4G, 4.1IP, 7H, 5R/ER, 3BB/3K, 2.308WHIP
Obviously Cook's numbers don't look so hot in a brief sample this year, but he's dealt with injuries on and off. He's had a fairly solid track record from 2012-14, posting 9.0+ K/9, with era's ranging from 2.09 to 3.42. He was a 2012 All-Star with Oakland as well. Maybe Cook won't get his groove back, or maybe this will pan out like the Craig Breslow trade of 2012.
Rangers: RP Sam Dyson
Marlins: C prospect Tomas Telis/LHP prospect Cody Ege
(Sam Dyson)
2015: 3-4, 3.72era, 46G, 1SV, 46IP, 45H, 22R/19ER, 17BB/41K, 1.348WHIP
(Tomas Telis)
2015: 71G, 303PA, 43R, 83H, 15 2B, 1 3B, 5HR 26RBI, 14BB/31K, .292/.327/.405 (.732 OPS) (had a brief cup of coffee with the Rangers this season, these are his minors numbers)
(Cody Ege)
2015: 6-2, 0.97era, 36G, 2SV, 46.1IP, 34H, 13R/5ER, 23BB/65K, 1.230WHIP
Sam Dyson comes with a lot of control (at least until 2020). He should provide a stable presence in the Rangers BP. You could make the argument that the Marlins got a better package in return here than in the Mat Latos deal.
Pirates: 1B/OF Michael Morse/Cash considerations
Dodgers: OF Jose Tabata
(Michael Morse)
2015: 53G, 174PA, 8R, 34H, 4 2B, 4HR, 12RBI, 12BB/55K, .213/.276/.313 (.588 OPS)
(Jose Tabata)
2015: 27G, 38PA, 2R, 11H, 4RBI, 2BB/7K, .289/.341/.289 (.631 OPS)
Tabata's career hasn't taken off since his early contract extension with the Pirates. This year he's seen split time between the minors and majors (his major numbers are shown here). The Pirates did well to free themselves of Tabata, and in return get a player who was a fairly big piece of the Giants 2014 WS run. While Morse hasn't been nearly as productive this year, he should at least provide a solid bat off the bench.
Pirates: P J.A Happ
Mariners: P prospect Adrian Sampson
(J.A Happ)
2015: 4-6, 4.64era, 21G/20GS, 108.2IP, 121H, 58R/56ER, 32BB/82K, 1.408WHIP
(Adrian Sampson)
2015: 9-8, 3.94era, 22G/GS, 132.1IP, 142H, 62R/58ER, 29BB/100K, 1.292WHIP
With the news that A.J Burnett could be out for 4 weeks with a flexor strain, this move provides the Pirates with some SP depth. While Happ isn't spectacular by any means, he should be able to take on innings in the rotation down the stretch.
