Trade Analysis

Rather than do a write-up for every major trade that went on this past week, I'll just do one giant post about all that I wish to discuss, because it's Sunday and I'm super lazy! Without further ado, the 2010 MLB trade deadline:

1) Yankees acquire First Baseman/DH Lance Berkman and cash from the Astros for Relief Pitcher Mark Melancon and Infielder Jimmy Paredes

Berkman, also apparently known as "Fat Elvis," slots into the DH spot Nick Johnson would be in if he wasn't made out of paper mache. Berkman's numbers are down this year, with a .242/.367/.430 line, which is apparently due to both age and a knee injury he rushed back early from. As the knee continues to improve, so should his numbers, and playing in the AL where he can DH his brains out can't hurt either. Berkman will never be the player he was 2 years ago, but he can still get on-base, has a little bit of pop, switch hits and won't kill you in the field.

In return the Astros, who have finally gotten the picture that they suck, get a reliever who has thrown a combined 20 and a third major league innings and a "toolsy" (scout speak for athletic and talented without ever really putting it all together) infielder who according to Keith Law at ESPN.com is, "without a clear position." Not too say either player can't or won't produce in the majors, it's just far from a slam dunk.

Winner: Yankees: Berkman's contract isn't an issue for the bombers, and they didn't give up anything of note to get him. He's a bad body player whose career is winding down, but DH'ing can do a lot for those types of guys. Melancon has good stuff, but he hasn't put it all together at the higher organizational levels.

Braves Acquire Outfielder Rick Ankiel and Relief Pitcher Kyle Farnsworth from the Royals for Outfielder Gregor Blanco, Relief Pitcher Jesse Chavez and Pitcher Tim Collins

Royals GM Dayton Moore used to be a front office guy for the Braves, so he cuts deals with them all the time to get names he can remember from scouting reports long past, when they might have been something. Ultimately, they are not (see: Davies, Kyle). That being said, he wasn't going to get much for either Ankiel or Farnsworth to begin with, so dumping salary is all well and good for a last-place team going nowhere. The Braves do improve with the deal, which is more of a testament to how terrible Nate McLouth was than anything else. Ankiel's line of .261/.317/.467 really isn't starting center fielder worthy, but McLouth was hitting .168/.279/.265, so in comparison, Ankiel is Mickey Mantle. The other piece the Braves got, reliever Kyle Farnsworth, should be nicknamed, "Danny Ocean," for his unique ability to constantly steal millions of dollars from teams every year without ever being caught (cause, yah know, he sucks). That being said, Mr. Ocean is actually having a decent season, with a 2.42 ERA and an equally good 3.16 FIP. Also, for what it's worth, Farnsworth's best season came when he spent half the year in Atlanta in 2005, so it's possible he could be a useful piece. Or he could be Kyle Farnsworth. Check back in 3 months.

In return for that glorious bounty, the Royals get Chavez, a below average reliever who has shown some ability to get a strikeout; a serviceable fourth outfielder with little pop in Blanco, and Tim Collins, who you may remember from the Yunel Escobar trade earlier in the year. The knock on Collins has been his stature--he's listed as being 5'7'', 155 pounds-- but he has had an excellent strikeout per nine innings (K/9) all throughout the minors. If Collins can't cut it as a starter due to wear and tear, perhaps he can be an effective left-handed reliever.

Winner: Nobody really, but I guess the Braves, even though statistically the best player in this deal is my size (still waiting for that call-up....any day now...don't worry, I got time....why isn't the phone ringing...).

3-Way Trade: Cardinals acquire Right Handed Starter Jake Westbrook and Left Hander Nick Greenwood; Padres receive Outfielder Ryan Ludwick; Indians receive Pitcher Cory Kluber

Everything about this deal seems to have been hinged on the performance of St. Louis outfielder Jon Jay, who has had an impressive first month up with the big club (.383/.433/.533) making Ludwick expendable, in the eyes of the Cardinal front office. Admittedly, I've always found Ludwick to be overrated. His 2008 season has been bookended by mediocrity or worse, but for the offensively starved Padres, he is a welcome addition to the club. Even if Ludwick were to perform at career averages he'd be a steal for a fluky San Diego team that has out performed it's talent level all season.

The Cardinals get Jake Westbrook, a strike throwing sinkerballer who fits the mold of how the Cardinals put together a pitching staff (Keep Carpenter and Wainwright around, then sign whoever is down and out and let Dave Duncan revitalize their career, so that they can hit the open market and steal a ton of money from the Brewers). I expect Westbrook then to perform well in St. Louis, although it seems difficult for me at this time to make the same prediction about Jon Jay. Although off to a hot start, the small sample size suggests that he may be in over his head, and if he comes back to earth, the Cardinals are going to miss that dull, unimpressive warmth off a Ryan Ludwick hug.

For their part, the Indians get Cory Kluber and salary relief to fuel their perpetual rebuilding machine that they've utilized since forever. Kluber has decent minor league peripherals and probably profiles at best as a Jake Westbrook, middle to back of the rotation type. Kluber has never been dominant at any professional level--he almost always gives up at least a hit per inning, whether it's single-A, double-A or rookie ball--but his K/BB rates have been good enough that the Indians, who obviously have nothing but more games to lose, should give him a shot.

Winners: The Padres, who before this trade were looking into the possibility if signing Isuro Tanaka for the stretch run.

Dodgers Acquire Left Handed Starter Ted Lilly and Infielder Ryan Theriot from the Cubs for Infielder Black DeWitt, Right Handed pitcher Brett Wallach and Right Handed Pitcher Kyle Smit

This deal is all about Lilly, who the Dodgers were able to get even with the messy divorce that has engulfed the teams financial situation this season. Lilly has a terrible win-loss record, but he may be the poster child for why that's so irrelevant when analyzing player production. Despite being 3-8, he sports a 3.69 ERA and a 4.50 FIP, which while not great, should be helped by moving to a better park for fly-ball pitchers, like himself. Lilly's stuff is not what it used to be (I saw a game earlier this year where he seemed to working almost exclusively in the mid-80's) but he has a good secondary repertoire and will most likely improve the Dodger rotation. Along with Lilly came Theriot, a player who saw a lot of plate appearances because Lou Piniella loves it when players swing the bat, no matter what. For the Dodgers, Theriot is mostly a back-up infielder, which suits him better than a starting job anyway. He effectively replaces Blake DeWitt, as he can play short or second.

For the Cubs, DeWitt profiles as, well, a back-up infielder who doesn't hit much but has shown the ability to get on base when given the opportunity. He can play both second and third effectively, but can't replace Theriot at short, which is fine anyway because the Cubs have Starlin Castro. Brett Wallach, a 21year-old right hander, had a pretty good K/9 inning rate in 2009, despite a bad ERA. Smit is a strike throwing reliever who projects as a middle-man at the major league level.

Winner: Ted Lilly: Because he's going to a contender. I always liked him, ever since he came up with the Yankees looking like a terrified kindergartener on the verge of crying. You can try and grow a beard, Ted, but you still look like that 5 year-old who just dropped his ice cream cone on the ground.