Here’s what happened in the NL Central in the week leading to the trade deadline this afternoon.
- As expected, the last-place Brewers were very active as sellers. They sent star center fielder Carlos Gomez, starting pitcher Mike Fiers and international bonus spending rights to Houston for outfielders Domingo Santana and Brett Phillips, along with pitchers Adrian Houser and Josh Hader. They also shipped outfielder Gerardo Parra to the Orioles for pitching prospect Zach Davies, and they sent reliever Jonathan Broxton and cash to the Cardinals for outfielder Malik Collymore. Last week, they dealt veteran third baseman Aramis Ramirez and cash to the Pirates for pitcher Yhonathan Barrios. They also claimed reliever Preston Guilmet from the Dodgers.
- The Reds also sold, trading starting pitchers in two high-profile deals. They sent Johnny Cueto to the Royals, getting lefties Brandon Finnegan, Jake Lamb and Cody Reed in return. They also shipped Mike Leake to the Giants for pitcher Keury Mella and infielder Adam Duvall. Finally, they outrighted Chris Dominguez.
- The first-place Cardinals addressed their bullpen by getting Broxton in the aforementioned trade with Milwaukee, and by acquiring Steve Cishek from the Marlins for pitcher Kyle Barraclough. They also acquired 1B/OF Brandon Moss from the Indians for pitching prospect Rob Kaminsky, and they designated first baseman Dan Johnson and pitcher Marcus Hatley for assignment.
- The Pirates received Ramirez in the aforementioned trade with the Brewers to shore up an injury-ravaged infield. They acquired lefty starter J.A. Happ from the Mariners for pitcher Adrian Sampson, and reliever Joakim Soria from the Tigers for infielder JaCoby Jones. They also got first baseman Michael Morse from the Dodgers for outfielder Jose Tabata, and veteran pitcher Joe Blanton from the Royals for cash. Finally, they designated relievers Deolis Guerra and Vance Worley for assignment; outrighted infielders Brent Morel, Steve Lombardozzi and Justin Sellers; and traded minor league pitcher Jayson Aquino to the Indians for cash considerations.
- The Cubs acquired veteran starter Dan Haren from the Marlins for shortstop Elliot Soto and righty Ivan Pineyro. They also sent outfielder Junior Lake to the Orioles for reliever Tommy Hunter. In more minor moves, they designated pitcher Ben Rowen and outfielder Mike Baxter for assignment, and they released Edwin Jackson.
That Rob Kaminsky for Brandon Moss deal seems so odd. It just doesn’t seem like a Cardinals type of move.
I wanted the Yanks to draft Kaminsky that year they had 3 draft picks in the first round. We got Ian Clarkin instead because Cards took Kaminsky a few picks prior.
Still confused why you trade a first round pick with his type of upside for Brandon Moss. Good deal for Cleveland though.
I don’t like the deal either. Mozeliak, However doesn’t feel that way:
““I certainly understand why people may feel that we overpaid on this deal, but I would also position it as we had a need and we also felt like we were dealing from a strength,” Mozeliak said. “Just felt like where we were on this we had to do it.””
I don’t understand why Marlon Byrd’s name didn’t seem to come up at all…is it bc he’s a righty bat? Plenty of other rental OF’s moved, and he’s used to being moved – to me he’s even more glaring than Justin Upton staying put.
Byrd is more likely to be traded during August than Upton. Upton will get nuisance claimed just to block someone else from getting him, but I doubt Byrd will.
Brewers had an outstanding week. It looked like they were going to get Metblocked but Melvin reversed course for a very strong return.
really think the pirates made a nice collection of moves, but i wish they had gotten a more established mid-tier SP
No earth shattering moves, but that makes sense because the 3 good teams have solid teams and the other 2 needed to sell some parts for a better future.
I wish the Cubs would have gotten some sort of RH bat though. I guess maybe Baez can get called up and be that bat, but you never really know.
No big splashy moves out of the contenders here, but that’s because all three are built for sustained success. The Cardinals, Pirates, and Cubs all feel like they will be in position to compete for years to come, no urgency to make the “all in” move.
Not sure why Neal Cotts is still a Brewer. Lefty relievers are usually targeted at the deadline.
I like how the pirates kept the AJ Burnett injury on the QT for a few days while they went after some pitching.
Reminds me of the NHL and their “upper body” and “lower body” injury descriptions
I understand all the moves the Pirates made. Ramirez, and Soria were the biggest of all.
However, what Pirate fan isn’t happy about Tabata finally being gone? It’s like being told cancer has been removed completely. Probably one of the biggest mistakes this front office has made and now they have finally dealt him away with that contract.
Morse seemed to be always in the mix of the Giants run last year. I like that he is now a Pirate and has some pop and if nothing else the experience he can share with the clubhouse of a WS run.
I really believe this team is complete now. Soria showed last night his moxy and what team has a better back end of the bullpen now than the Pirates in Hughes, Soria, Watson, and Melancon?
Happ, maybe Uncle Ray can adjust something and he can be a nice filler while AJ more or less rest. I would have liked to have seen them go after one of Cashner or Ross from the Padres but you never know what the asking price was. I really believe one of those two to replace Locke or Morton would have really tipped the Pirates as favorites for the division.
In September we will get Mercer and Jay Harrison back from the DL as well as Burnett should be back so you could look at those as additions.
All in all the Pirates added for absolute need along with a big time bullpen arm in Soria. This team has the look now to go along with the talent. The time is now. I believe it will be a Pirates vs. Royals WS and Pirates in 6.
You folks aren’t going to believe this (I don’t)… While I was reading this article, a baseball pal called and said he was disappointed in this year’s trade deadline because “no big names got moved.” I laughed… then found out he was serious…
Hamels, Cespedes, Price, and Cueto aren’t big names?
Wow you better call him on it…dud he mean in the last hour? It’s complicated to move a big name with minutes to spare, which is why teams looking to do that were working all week.
You should tell him that a huge name was moved in the final minutes – rzcepczinski – one of the biggest names in mlb at 12 letters…heck Tulowitzki is only 10 letters
Well, I sure would LOVE to find out who he considers to be a big name!!
Shoulda looked up the spelling – it’s Rzepczynski – still has Tulo beat by a letter!