One of the best parts of the seven month baseball season is the trade period.
Spanning across two weeks from the middle of July to the very first day of August, MLB’s trade deadline is a chaotic time for players and fans, but it can also provide plenty of clarity for punters looking to cash in early on the World Series market.
It’s been a busy two weeks, mainly filled with empty rumors, speculation and hopeful thoughts.
Here’s how the baseball landscape, as well as the futures market, is looking following Wednesday’s d-day…
Boston Red Sox
Now with a six game division lead, the Red Sox acquired veteran second baseman Ian Kinsler from the Los Angeles Angels just hours before the deadline closed. The deal wasn’t important, it was necessary, as all reports indicate Boston’s 12-year veteran at the position, Dustin Pedroia, is unlikely to return from a serious knee injury this season.
Kinsler isn’t the hitter he used to be, but he’s still a great defensive infielder. In World Series betting, the Sox have firmed into a tidy $5.00 overnight, and although the division rival New York Yankees have loaded up themselves, Aaron Judge’s wrist injury opens the door for Boston to storm ahead and win the division with a few extra pieces.
New York Yankees
General manager Brian Cashman always figured to be a heavy player in this years’ market, and although the Yankees failed to make a big splash right before the deadline, New York still added some crucial pieces ahead of their playoff hunt.
The biggest move made was on the pitching front, but in fact, that’s the only move the Yankees made, as Cashman failed to add a single bat. New York now hang their hopes on newly acquired starter J.A. Happ, while the addition of versatile swing man Lance Lynn should compliment the Yankees’ biggest acquisition, closer Zach Britton, nicely.
Los Angeles Dodgers
Just a week after landing Manny Machado, the hottest name on the trade table, the Dodgers went ahead and added a veteran second baseman of their own in Brian Dozier.
Having spent his entire six-year career with the Minnesota Twins, the move makes sense. Dozier is a big time slugger fresh off his second straight 30+ home run season. The Dodgers hardly need help in the run scoring department, – LA ranks sixth and seventh in home runs and runs scored this year – but Dozier’s typically impressive second half stats should help push Dave Roberts’ team towards October.
Milwaukee Brewers
The Brewers sit just one-game back from the Cubs in the NL Central, but as expected, Milwaukee made moves to try and close the gap.
At the deadline, the biggest addition was second baseman Jonathan Schoop from the Baltimore Orioles. The 26-year old is well on his way to tying last seasons career high in home-runs hit, but overall, star third baseman Mike Moustakas’ arrival from the Kansas City Royals only strengthens what was already a lethal infield.
Atlanta Braves
All signs point toward a Braves playoff berth right now. Atlanta went out and acquired two huge names before the deadline in outfielder Adam Duvall and pitcher Kevin Gausman.
Neither player is “elite”, but both add some depth and experience to what is still such a young team. Most importantly, though, Atlanta’s Top 5 farm system is still intact, a credit to general manager Alex Anthopoulos as he tries to edge the Braves towards the top of the NL East.
Pittsburgh Pirates
Pittsburgh went all-in just hours before the deadline, making by far the biggest splash in the trade pool. Tampa Bay Rays starting pitcher Chris Archer was one of the hottest names on the market, but he drew a big asking price from potential bidders.
Right after adding proven closer Keone Kela from the Rangers, the Pirates were hardly the favourites to deal for Archer. But with a winning record and a slight chance to pinch the NL Central lead away from the Cubs, Pittsburgh pounced.
Both moves now makes the Pirates serious contenders in the division, and pleases what was otherwise a very disgruntled fanbase.
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