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.

No thanks, I'd rather play for someone else

By Chad Garner

Fan Fanatic Sports Staff

Some managers are player type coaches -- Boston's Terry Francona no doubt is -- and other managers do things that players just don't really like and makes them not want to play for them.

What makes a good manager?

Well, putting players in a position to succeed should top the list. Then get into game management, strategy, knowledge of how to use each player to their maximum, the ability to get players to play hard for you, etc. Those are just some of the things that should make a manager very good.

But some managers, regardless of how successful they are, will never get the proper respect from players because of their demeanor and attitude.

Look no further than Chicago White Sox manager Ozzie Guillen. This guy seems to rub just about everyone the wrong way --especially his players.

He apparently is unpopular with major leaguers, according to an espn.com story.

Should it surprise anyone that players don't enjoy playing for him or that other players from around the league wouldn't want to play for him? I'm more shocked that Chicago Cubs' Lou Piniella won the poll for the manager for which players would least like to play for.

Guillen, he may be a good in-game manager, but he comes off as an arrogant you-know-what. He's clearly the cockiest manager in the game and he's always chirping about something on the television. But it's always priceless when he lays into his own players --he seems to do that at least once a week. This guy has a funny way of motivating, right?

It's one thing to get on players, but do you have to go in front of the media and minimize them-- the same guys that play for you every day?

When you do that kind of stuff --and mind you, that act is so old already --you don't tend to get much respect. 

So is it really a shock that other players would rather not player for him? No way.

You know once Guillen sees this poll in Sports Illustrated, he'll puff out his chest and crank up his act even louder because he likes for others to see how important he is.

We see you Guillen, we don't get what your act is all about and it's sad, but we get it.

Who are you going to belittle next? Maybe Jim Thome? I doubt it, you even should know better than that.

Lose the act and more people will appreciate your baseball knowledge. There is a reason why you won the World Series in 2005.

What manager would you least like to play for?

Hot corner could become a hot topic for Sox

By Chris Maza
Fan Fanatic Sports Staff

June 18-19. That's the last time Mike Lowell has played on back-to-back days for the Red Sox.

It seemed only a matter of time until Lowell had problems with his surgically repaired hip. Now the fears are becoming realized. Having had his hip drained earlier today, Lowell is admitting that his hip is a problem and it doesn't just need rest. The question is this: Will this be the beginning of the end of this problem or are we be worrying about whether or not Lowell will be a the lineup every night for the rest of the year?

An if it's only the beginning of Lowell's hip issues this season, at what point do the Red Sox decide that they can't survive a postseason with Mark Kotsay the primary option at first base as Kevin Youkilis will surely move to third.

Any talk of moving a player, specifically Brad Penny, has just been spitballing to this point, but it could become a very real discussion if Lowell fails to prove he can play on a regular basis without his performance being totally hindered.

Penny is making himself an appetizing option to a lot of teams. Take a look at his June stats. 3.18 ERA, 1.34 ERA, 21 K in 28 IP. More than respectable. Toss out the blowup he had against the Rangers and you're looking at a 1.99 ERA.

The time is fast approaching when the Red Sox are going to have to take a long look at Lowell and decide if he's going to help the team. If not, they need to decide if Penny helps the team best as a Red Sox or a member of another squad. Stay tuned.

Fantasy Baseball: Chin Music

By Chad Garner

Fan Fanatic Sports Staff

Closers rarely get respect in fantasy circles, but getting those last three outs in a game can be a very tough job.

Once day you're a hero and the next you're a goat.

That's the life of a closer in a nutshell.

But in fantasy, the save category is sometimes volatile due to closers falling on their face and getting put in a setup role. And then you have to hope you land the replacement closer via a waiver wire. If you can't, then you just might be sitting and watching as people continue to climb in that category while you're left wondering what to do.

LEAGUE OF HIS OWN

Can you believe what Angels' lefty closer Brian Fuentes is doing? Yes, he's leading all of baseball with 21 saves. Angels fan are say K-Rod who?

Fuentes may lead in saves, but his ERA (3.91) and WHIP (1.34) aren't exactly great. But those saves sure are saving teams in that category.

San Francisco closer Brian Wilson isn't a household name and was perhaps a mid-level closer during the draft, but he's right behind Fuentes with 20 saves, along with Mr. Nasty Francisco Rodriguez and San Diego's Heath Bell. 

Bell has been a nice surprise all season long with 1.44 ERA and 0.99 WHIP --that's top-of-the-line stats.

ONE-WAY STREET

How about a big hand for Huston Street (18 saves, 3.00 ERA, 1.09 WHIP) in Colorado. Mind you, Street was terrible las year with 18 saves and a 3.73 ERA, a far cry from his 37-save effort in 2006 with the A's, but he's doing a solid job again this year.

WHO IS THIS GUY?

Seattle's David Aardsma, do you know who he is yet? If not, you've been sleeping under a large boulder. He's got a grasp on that closers job with the Mariners, that's for sure. Fifteen saves and a 1.53 ERA and 1.19 WHIP, and he's still only owned in 76 percent of standard 5 x 5 Yahoo! leagues. Get him if you can. People still aren't respecting his talents.

College Baseball Final Top 25 Poll

By Jorge Bannister
Fan Fanatic Sports

It’s been a week since the final out was registered at Omaha’s Rosenblatt Stadium.

And now, here’s my final Top 25:

Rank	School	Record
1	LSU	56-17
2	Texas	50-16-1
3	Arizona State	51-14
4	Arkansas	41-25
5	North Carolina	48-18
6	Virginia	49-15-1
7	Fullerton	47-16
8	Southern Miss.	40-26
9	UC-Irvine	45-15
10	Florida State	45-18
11	Florida	42-22
12	Rice	43-18
13	Mississippi	44-20
14	Clemson	44-22
15	East Carolina	46-20
16	Louisville	47-18
17	Georgia Tech	38-19-1
18	TCU	40-18
19	Oklahoma	43-20
20	South Carolina	40-23
21	Kansas State	43-18-1
22	Miami (Fla.)	38-22
23	Oregon State	37-19
24	Western Kentucky	42-20
25	Ohio State	42-19

U.S. soccer is all grown up

By Jorge Bannister
Fan Fanatic Sports

It was no secret to our readers that I thought the United States was fit for a bronze medal in the 2009 FIFA Confederations Cup. Boy, was I wrong.

For 55 minutes, the U.S. played with such aggression and desire that I thought it was going to be Upset Special No. 2 in this tournament.

(For those of you who haven’t watched any of this tournament, or have been under a rock when it comes to American sports in recent news, the U.S. defeated Spain, 2-0, to gain the Final. Brazil advanced by defeating South Africa, 1-0, on a late goal.)

Sadly, in the 84th minute, Dempsey — who scored the first goal in the 10th — lost sight of Lucio and the defender headed home the winner off an Elano corner. U.S. goalkeeper Tim Howard, who was named best goalkeeper of the tournament, had no chance.

U.S. players heading to the medal stand to accept their silver medals were downtrodden. Dempsey was the more emotional one, crying heavily on the pitch (that’s what they call the field in soccer) before slowly walking to the medal stand with his head hung low.

While this is great news for U.S. soccer fans, the players would’ve liked a win. Landon Donovan, who hasn’t beaten Brazil at any level, eluded to it in his post-game interviews.

If anything else, I know that I now have respect manager Bob Bradley a little more — even if his team did play tentative and scared in the second half. He proved that this group belongs among the world’s elite. However, he needs a way to get them to play a full 90-minute match every time much like they did against Spain. It seemed as though he managed the second half from the private VIP boxes rather than field level.

I know one thing for certain — if the U.S. makes the 2010 World Cup, which is scheduled to be played in South Africa as the Confed Cup was, nobody will take them lightly. Not even if they play like hell in any of the CONCACAF Cup games.