Deadline looms: 9 vital questions for 9 teams
This might be remembered as one of the craziest non-waiver Trade Deadlines of them all, with at least a dozen teams seeing themselves as good enough to win a World Series and working furiously to put themselves in position to do so.The flurry of action we've already had doesn't mean
This might be remembered as one of the craziest non-waiver Trade Deadlines of them all, with at least a dozen teams seeing themselves as good enough to win a World Series and working furiously to put themselves in position to do so.
The flurry of action we've already had doesn't mean the Trade Deadline itself -- 4 p.m. ET Tuesday -- will be anticlimactic. Possibly just the opposite, as a handful of teams rush to acquire one more upgrade, and another handful of teams decide whether to buy or sell. Looking at you, Cardinals, Nationals and Giants.
Here are nine questions for nine teams:
1. Haven't the Yankees already won the Trade Deadline?
Probably. No need to give away the ending, or all those "winners and losers" stories will lose some edge. When the Yankees acquired Zach Britton, they created a super bullpen that might end up being the dominant storyline of the postseason. General manager Brian Cashman took an area of his team that was already very good and made it possibly historically good. Postseason baseball is often a bullpen game, and no team is better positioned for it than the Yankees. Cashman then put the icing on the cake by adding lefty starter J.A. Happ.
2. Don't the Red Sox win the American League East even without landing another bullpen arm?
Not necessarily. The Red Sox and Yankees play seven more times, including three at Fenway on the final weekend of the season. Yes, the Red Sox are the favorites. Yes, they're playing better than any other team, and if they stay healthy, it's a stretch to think they won't hold on. On the other hand, Red Sox president of baseball operations Dave Dombrowski has important unfinished business in attempting to add another arm to a bullpen that has a pedestrian 4.60 ERA this month entering play on Saturday.
3. No way A's executive Billy Beane is done trading, right?
No way. This season has become an opportunity for the Athletics. They do not have these opportunities every season, but when they do, no baseball executive will be more aggressive at trying to ride the wave. So while the addition of reliever
4. Shouldn't the Braves be thinking big in their search for a starter?
Yeah, sure. There's nothing we in the media enjoy more than telling an owner how to spend his money, or a general manager to get busy and make a bombshell deal. Here's the rub for Braves GM Alex Anthopoulos: His team has taken a huge step forward this season and has such a strong farm system that it's positioned to contend for at least a few years. So how deep should Anthopoulos dig into that system to acquire a starting pitcher? The Rays have made it clear that the price for Chris Archer is going to be high. The Mets have not even hinted that
5. Have the Brewers done enough?
You mean have they done enough to get us talking? Yes, they checked that box when GM David Stearns acquired third baseman Mike Moustakas and asked his incumbent third sacker,
6. What's all the fuss about the Dodgers needing another reliever?
You'd think acquiring the best player on the market, Manny Machado, would be enough, wouldn't you? You'd also think that getting hard-throwing lefty
7. What do the Astros do about that glaring hole in left field?
This isn't about the regular season. Besides, only the Red Sox and Indians have scored more runs than the Astros. Problem is, every weakness is exposed in the postseason, and Houston's left fielders are hitting .239 with 11 home runs and a .695 OPS (sixth-lowest among the 30 MLB teams). Manager A.J. Hinch has given at least 10 starts to four players, including veteran
8. Are the Phillies done dealing?
Nope. Orioles outfielder
9. What's next for the Mariners?
GM Jerry Dipoto is casting a wide net: starting pitching, offense, lefty reliever. He acquired righty reliever
Richard Justice has been a reporter for MLB.com since 2011. Read his columns, listen to his podcast and follow him on Twitter at @RichardJustice.