MLB Trade Season: Part 1 American League East

By Jim Ingram

Fan Fanatic Sports

Well, July is here and that means one thing for the MLB: The trade season is open. Actually, the Cardinals and Indians kicked it off for us last weekend. The Cardinals made a very good moving picking up Mark (Chad & I love you) DeRosa to fill their season long void at third base, while only giving up giving up Chris Perez and a player to be named later. Yesterday saw another two trades as the Nationals traded Lastings Milledge to the Pirates for Nyjer Morgan. The Pirates weren't done, as they sent Eric Hinske to the New York Yankees. 2. What I'll do in part one of this article is look at the AL East contenders and break down their needs and potential targets. I will only cover teams in that are within 5 games in the standings. With that being said, there are still a good number of teams in the race

American League East:

1. Boston Red Sox - The Red Sox have been very hot of late, but so have the Yankees and Rays. They hold only a 2.5 game lead right now, so it will be a long, hard fought Summer in the AL East.

Needs - With the uncertainty of Mike Lowell's hip, and David Ortiz's bat, the Sox's biggest need is another bat, preferably a power bat that plays a corner infield position or a right handed hitter that can play right field.

Potential Targets - Garrett Atkins is potentially a good fit for the Red Sox. He can play third & first and obviously fill in at DH. He just started to hit this season, and it looks like the Rockies are starting to showcase him with more playing time. Theo Epstien seems like he's a big fan of Nick Johnson. If Nick is healthy, then he's just the type of hitter the Sox like due to his patience at the plate and high OBP. Victor Martinez would fill several holes long term for the Sox. He could play first and DH this year and next and take over for Jason Varitek after next season. He would also cost Boston a ton of major league ready prospects. A smaller deal could get done for Mark Teahen. Teahen can play 1st, 3rd and the OF, but he's left handed hitter.

Trade Strengths - Pitching, pitching, pitching. They have amazing depth at the Major and Minor league level. I doubt they'll part with the likes of Clay Bucholtz or Michael Bowden though, but do have enough lower level talent to entice other clubs.

2. New York Yankees - The Yanks already picked up Eric Hinske to provide another bat off the bench, but they'll need more than that to fend off the surging Rays and overtake the hated Red Sox.

Needs - The #1 need is the bullpen, but they also need another starter. Mariano Rivera is in the midst of another great year, but they've had a terrible time getting to him. Brian Bruney is back from the DL. The Yankees bullpen has been much better of late, but there isn't a reliable veteran arm in the pen. Even with CC, AJ, Joba and Petitte, they still need another starter. Wang has been inconsistent at best, and there are even trade rumors circling about Wang. Don't be surprised if the Yanks pick up another outfield bat as well because it looks like Xavier Nady is done for the season.

Potential Targets - The Yankees won't be the only team looking for bullpen help, but they have the ability to pick up larger salaries than any other team. Houston Street would be their first choice, but the Rockies may choose to hold on to him. Chad Qualls would be a very solid pickup for the pinstripes. He has been very good closing games for the Diamondbacks this season, but has also had success as a set up man. Cla Meridith is on the trading block, again, and would be another good fit that shouldn't cost much. With the Indians poised for a fire sale, keep an eye out on Rafael Bettencourt. I wouldn't be the least bit surprised to see the Yankees join the rumor mill for Matt Holiday. They now have a deep enough farm system to make the trade, and Holiday would almost certainly put up Coors Field type numbers at the New Yankee Stadium.

Trade Strengths - They have a much better farm system than the past few years. They can also take on any amount of salary.

3. Tampa Bay Rays - The defending AL champs have been surging of late. They've won 9 of the last 10, and just got Scott Kazmir back. They are only 4 games behind the AL East leading Red Sox.

Needs - They absolutely need help in the bullpen, especially at closer. JP Howell picked up his 6th save the other night, but is not a closer. He's blown 5 save opportunities, and is much better suited as a set up man. They are also on the look out for another bat that can play the outfield and DH.

Potential Targets - Houston Street would make a lot of sense if the Rockies decide to trade him. The Rockies are looking for starting pitchers and the Rays have very good major league ready depth at the position. Heath Bell may also be on the market. He's been great as the Padres closer this season, and now would be a good time to sell high for a starting pitcher from the Rays. Also look for the likes of George Sherill, Latroy Hawkins, and Chad Qualls to be on their radar. They Rays would also like to pick up another bat, and Gary Sheffield would make perfect sense. He has already said he would like to finish his career in Tampa. He could play a little right field and DH for the Rays.

Trade Strengths - With the return of Scott Kazmir, they have a log jam at starter. In addition to Kaz, the Rays have Matt Garza, James Shields, David Price, Andy Sonanstine and Jeff Nieman. I haven't even mentioned their mild interest in Pedro Martinez. My guess is that either Sonanstine or Nieman go. They also have good depth at the position in the high minors as well as a very good shortstop prospect in Reid Breignac.

(Stay tuned for the breakdown of the AL Central tomorrow)

So anyways, about that bullpen...

By Brendan Hall
Fan Fanatic Sports Staff

No sooner was I about to write the words "Justin Masterson's slider was dirty" did the flamethrowing righty reliever proceed to implode.

Masterson struck out four batters over the fifth and sixth innings -- including one on, yes, a hella nasty slider -- and then proceeded to give up four runs with no outs in the top of the seventh. From there, things unraveled quicker than a poorly-written movie plot. Manny Delcarman, Hideki Okajima and Takashi Saito combined for five more runs, and then Jonathan Papelbon proceeded to blow the save in the eighth. Nick Markakis doubled off him two score two runs, for the final 11-10 score.

John Smoltz didn't qualify for the win, since the game went to rain delay in the middle of the fourth, but his strong statement for a rotation spot was wasted anyways. This was vintage Smoltz, his slider whizzing across the plate like it did a decade ago, in a game where the rest of the lineup was anything but over the last four innings.

Tell me something, was it an omen when all four infielders and Masterson began to walk off the field with two outs? Because the rest of the game, they played pretty stupid.

OK, OK, I could go on and on with turns of the phrase about what a FedEx job the Sox did last night. But let's put this into perspective before the worrywarts on WEEI and the Boston.com messageboards go palookas over trade ideas.

I'm not going to say this was bound to happen, because I'm not that naive. But it's just as naive to now think that this is an illumination of a growing problem, too. This is not "a nightmare", as Dennis Eckersley repeated verbatim over the last two innings, but just a sober reminder that, hey, we're not even at the All-Star break yet. So enough chirping about that "luxury" in the bullpen.

Could a little shakeup be in the works? With Dice-K and Mike Lowell on the Disabled List, I'm thinking Smoltz will fill that rotation spot for now. But after a game like this, I'd love to see what Clay Buchholz can do.

Don't look at this game as a barometer of the team's bullpen struggles. How they respond today -- with Lester on the mound, no less -- will tell you all you need to know about how tough this team truly is.