The Red Sox have a patchwork outfield; the Twins could use a third baseman or a starter; the Angels could use a corner infielder. Those are just a few of the American League teams with areas of concern as the trade deadline approaches. And in the National League, the Dodgers could use a starter and the Rockies are down an infielder. Virtually every contender could improve by adding the right piece, but not all of them need to make a deal.
Which contender most needs to make a trade?
Click here to take the survey and here to view the results.
How are the Mets not a Contender?
Where does it say the Mets aren’t contenders?
Since the Mets are not listed as a team that “needs to make a trade”
Because they are the METS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Because they are the METS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Other. The Reds need bullpen help. The Cardinals and Dodgers could use another starter and the Padres and Giants need better hitters, preferably in the outfield.
Every team other than the padres need bullpen help.
the rangers do not need bullpen help
the rangers do not need bullpen help
I’ll buy that. Even good bullpens need reinforcements. But I think the Reds aren’t going to stay in long if they have to go with a Rhodes/Cordero/hope Masset is okay tonight/ kind of bullpen the rest of the season. Rhodes has been fantastic-one of the best relievers in either league so far, but can he hold up for the entire season?
I think the Padres should go get David DeJesus. He’s perfect for them. There should be a pitcher or two that meets KC’s needs in their system.
I’ll buy that. Even good bullpens need reinforcements. But I think the Reds aren’t going to stay in long if they have to go with a Rhodes/Cordero/hope Masset is okay tonight/ kind of bullpen the rest of the season. Rhodes has been fantastic-one of the best relievers in either league so far, but can he hold up for the entire season?
I think the Padres should go get David DeJesus. He’s perfect for them. There should be a pitcher or two that meets KC’s needs in their system.
It find it odd that the Padres didn’t make the survey, considering they still lead the NL West and desperately need another bat. I still think the Padres will find a way to turn Heath Bell into a big bat and convert either Adams or Gregerson into their closer.
I don’t think the Dodgers are a contender as they are currently situated. Their pitching is pretty much a mess (can’t count on Ely and Montasterios all season), and their lineup may have a hole or two, as well. Plus, I’m not sure they have the financial room to make any meaningful additions.
“I still think the Padres will find a way to turn Heath Bell into a big bat”
I don’t think I could’ve misunderstood that any more severely than my first read through. I’m more tired than I thought, I suppose.
Read: They will trade Bell for a bat – probably sooner than later.
The Padres don’t need a big bat, they need a leadoff hitter. They should see if Oakland would be willing to deal Rajai Davis. There aren’t any big bats available are there?
If they wanted to make a big splash they should inquire about Cliff Lee. Lee would give them the ace they don’t have right now and amk there rotation almost as good as there bullpen. With the 2 picks they would get for him in the offseason, Hoyer could replenish the system, with his guys, after dealing some prospects. I think Seattle needs a 1st baseman of the future, I wonder if Blanks still has any trade value anymore.
Before you say that Blanks is the Padres future 1st baseman, I’m sure they could get a 1st base prospect in the inevitable deal of Gonzalez. This could be a replay of ’98. Make a run at the World Series and then tear it apart.
Oakland might trade Davis but definitely NOT for Bell
Sorry, I didn’t mean to sound like that would actually be the deal. You’re right Oakland getting Bell would make no sense, but what would Oakland want for Davis?
Maybe Tim Staufer? Pads don’t need him to start, the A’s with all of their injured pitchers could sure use a guy like him right now. He’s just an extra arm for the Pads.
Maybe Tim Staufer? Pads don’t need him to start, the A’s with all of their injured pitchers could sure use a guy like him right now. He’s just an extra arm for the Pads.
….. boxofficehaiku.com/haiku/wp-content/themes/fluidit… For years I wanted to be older, and now I am. (c) Margaret Atwood ‘Don’t you mean but pardon?’
Actually, I believe the Padres could use a lead-off man AND someone to drive in runs. That said, they probably only have one move to make (which would involve one of their relievers). I think they’d be better served trading for a right handed hitter who can protect Gonzalez and allow them to drop Nick Hundley to the 5th spot in the order. Someone needs to help Adrian pick up the slack.
Frankly, if Rajai Davis qualifies as a lead-off hitter in today’s game, the Padres may as well just sign Willy Tavares. Davis is only getting on base at a .313 clip, which is woefully low for a lead-off man (speed or no speed). I know some will point to his .270 avg, but that’s a pretty empty stat since he doesn’t provide any extra base power. I would expect the Padres to stick with some rotation of Gwynn Jr and Cabrera (who is back today) atop the order and make due with them – Gwynn’s avg is low, but his OB% has been on the rise recently.
The chances of the Padres trading for Cliff Lee are slim and none, in my opinion. And to be honest, I think them trading for an arm over a bat is misguided considering their offensive struggles.
The Braves still could use an RH OF bat. They’re too reliant on Heyward and Hinske to be in there every day against tough lefties. Heyward will break out of his funk, but he may be inconsistent the rest of the season until he learns to make adjustments. Plus, no 20-year-old should be expected to get 700 plate appearances in his first season.
every team could use another starter or another bat.
Phillies could use another starter but will have Happ coming back soon. Hopefully he will effective.
the Phillies need a whole new bullpen, a new hip for Utley, a therapist to fix Rollins’s ego, and a replacement for Ibanez
Are any therapists available on the trade market?
Yeah, you contact the same people that you would for new hips.
Yeah, you contact the same people that you would for new hips.
Are any therapists available on the trade market?
Frankly, I think a more pressing need for the Red Sox is a bullpen arm. Their bullpen is essentially Daniel Bard and pray for good luck right now.
Classic overreaction from a blown save by Papelbon. Do you know how many blown saves the guy has since the all star break last year?
I’ll tell you: its 4.
Out of the 4 the Sox still won 2 of those games; therefore in roughly the past 150 games the team has won all but two games when they lead the game after nine innings (not considering the Bard blown save a few days ago when Papelbon was on bereavement leave).
Speaking of that, nobody outside the Sox org. knows why he was on the leave to begin with. He’s been back about a week and that week has been a little rough. Ever thought of maybe, just maybe his head isn’t completely into the game right now. These guys are human after all.
Papelbon is a top 3 closer in MLB, Bard is a top 3 setup man in MLB, Manny Delcarmen has had a very good season, outside of the 3 runs he just gave up. Okajima had given up 2 runs in his last 9 outings until the 3 he JUST gave up.
Anybody and everybody would love to have a little more bullpen help, but lets not overreact to a couple of games and say that the sox have Bard and pray for luck. they have a bullpen that almost any other team would die to have. come on man!
And classic defense of Papelbon. 😉
I agree with both of you. I think that Mark is right that Bard is the glue that holds the bullpen together right now, and I think you’re right in pointing out that a couple guys are stepping up more than expected. Funny though, that you didn’t mention the one guy I LOVE to see warming now; Scott Atchison. After starting for Dice-K, he has been extremely solid. Plus, he can pitch multiple innings, which is the long man we were missing!
Anyway, one reason the Red Sox bullpen looks weak is the fact that, until recently at least, Delcarmen, Okie, and Pap have all still not looked up to their form in previous years. I’ve really liked what I’ve seen from Okie in the last couple of weeks though, and Delcarmen has some really good stretches. Regardless, they’re all down from the dominance they’ve showed before, which is frustrating to watch. What Mark is saying that right now, the one guy everyone feels comfortable seeing warm up right now is Daniel Bard. And thus, he is getting overworked. Plus, the “extra” arms of Ramon Ramirez and Dustin Richardson are not reliable at all. So, adding an arm would be great. Yes, they have a good bullpen. But in the division they are competing in, and with the lofty goals they hope to achieve, they need to add an arm.
And classic defense of Papelbon. 😉
I agree with both of you. I think that Mark is right that Bard is the glue that holds the bullpen together right now, and I think you’re right in pointing out that a couple guys are stepping up more than expected. Funny though, that you didn’t mention the one guy I LOVE to see warming now; Scott Atchison. After starting for Dice-K, he has been extremely solid. Plus, he can pitch multiple innings, which is the long man we were missing!
Anyway, one reason the Red Sox bullpen looks weak is the fact that, until recently at least, Delcarmen, Okie, and Pap have all still not looked up to their form in previous years. I’ve really liked what I’ve seen from Okie in the last couple of weeks though, and Delcarmen has some really good stretches. Regardless, they’re all down from the dominance they’ve showed before, which is frustrating to watch. What Mark is saying that right now, the one guy everyone feels comfortable seeing warm up right now is Daniel Bard. And thus, he is getting overworked. Plus, the “extra” arms of Ramon Ramirez and Dustin Richardson are not reliable at all. So, adding an arm would be great. Yes, they have a good bullpen. But in the division they are competing in, and with the lofty goals they hope to achieve, they need to add an arm.
Interesting that “other” is leading the vote by a big margin. I would think the Cardinals most need to make a trade; with Lohse out possibly for the season and Penny out for who-knows-how-long, they need starting pitching rather desperately.
As an aside, Adam Ottavino was scratched from his start last night at Memphis; the speculation on the Card fan forums is that he will be called up for this weekend’s series with KC, which features starts by Suppan and (supposedly) Hawksworth in the first two games. Whether Ottavino would pitch in relief in those games, or start the Saturday game instead of Hawksworth, I don’t know…
Not entirely surprising. Most people on this site are probably fans of teams “other” than the ones on that list. And EVERYONE thinks their team is just one trade away from contending. I’m a transplanted Twins fan in DC, and even out here, there are people who think the Nats are just one good signing away from the playoffs…
Interesting that “other” is leading the vote by a big margin. I would think the Cardinals most need to make a trade; with Lohse out possibly for the season and Penny out for who-knows-how-long, they need starting pitching rather desperately.
As an aside, Adam Ottavino was scratched from his start last night at Memphis; the speculation on the Card fan forums is that he will be called up for this weekend’s series with KC, which features starts by Suppan and (supposedly) Hawksworth in the first two games. Whether Ottavino would pitch in relief in those games, or start the Saturday game instead of Hawksworth, I don’t know…
Baez stinks but other then that I don’t have any other problems with the Phils bullpen.
yeah Utley is hurt but has been playing ok lately,
Jimmy always has been like that and that is ok in my book
the phils are not going to bring up Brown and Ibanez has been playing a lot better lately, i don’t have a problem with him anymore.
Baez stinks but other then that I don’t have any other problems with the Phils bullpen.
yeah Utley is hurt but has been playing ok lately,
Jimmy always has been like that and that is ok in my book
the phils are not going to bring up Brown and Ibanez has been playing a lot better lately, i don’t have a problem with him anymore.
Kind of dumb list not to have all teams currently in 1st place listed as contenders.
Not all of them have needs or the ability to make trades.
Kind of dumb list not to have all teams currently in 1st place listed as contenders.
NONE OF THE ABOVE
Since “other” is by far the biggest vote getter in this poll, I think it’s fair to conclude that the question is not correctly phrased. Several clubs are missing from the list.
The Tigers need a shortstop at least as badly as the Twins need a third baseman.
The Tigers need help in the rotation more than the Twins do. Check out the rotation ERA’s.
They’re half a game apart in the AL central- both contenders as much as each other.
That seemed apparent by the 12th inning of the 163rdgame last season.
NONE OF THE ABOVE
Since “other” is by far the biggest vote getter in this poll, I think it’s fair to conclude that the question is not correctly phrased. Several clubs are missing from the list.
The Tigers need a shortstop at least as badly as the Twins need a third baseman.
The Tigers need help in the rotation more than the Twins do. Check out the rotation ERA’s.
They’re half a game apart in the AL central- both contenders as much as each other.
That seemed apparent by the 12th inning of the 163rdgame last season.