The biggest deadline deals of all-time
It will be hard to top the 2008 action at the trading deadline. The deals that took place in the past few weeks have been truly historic.
Not in 41 years had three Hall of Famers been traded in the same year. On Wednesday and Thursday, three certain Cooperstown-bound players - barring a Pete Rose-like slip-up in the future - were traded in two days.
Ivan Rodriguez is now a New York Yankee, Ken Griffey Jr. is now a member of the Chicago White Sox and Manny Ramirez is a Los Angeles Dodger.
And that doesn't even include the Mark Teixeira deal, or the CC Sabathia deal, or the Rich Harden deal. One or two of those guys might be Hall-worthy someday, too. July 2008 was one of the most colossal trading months of all-time.
Of the big three deals at the deadline, the Ramirez trade is the obvious choice for the biggest impact. It altered the rosters of two teams in pennant races (Dodgers and Red Sox) and replenished a third (Pirates). I actually like the deal for the Pirates the best - they got four decent players for only Jason Bay, which helped fix a one-sided deal in the puzzling Xavier Nady trade last week. I don't like it for the Red Sox, as Boston didn't upgrade at the position (Bay is decent, and signed through 2009, but he's no Manny) and the Red Sox also had to give up two promising players to Pittsburgh. The Dodgers made out fine as well - landing Ramirez for Andy LaRoche and an OK prospect was a borderline steal, if Joe Torre can handle Manny.
But Boston was stuck in a no-win position and had to deal Ramirez, who was beginning to be a major distraction with his lack of hustle and cancerous attitude.
Rodriguez looks good in pinstripes, but the Yankees needed pitching worse. (Their middle relief, once a strength, looks very shaky on paper.) And Griffey is a nice addition for Chicago, but did they really upgrade? Paul Konerko is the player going to the bench for the White Sox, and he's not much worse than Griffey these days.
What others are saying:
- Boston Herald: The worst thing for the Red Sox: Manny got his way.
- Los Angeles Times: Trades added a buzz factor to Los Angeles. But he also brings a lot of baggage.
- Fox Sports: Deadline deals had winners all around.
Comments
Yes, it’s been an interesting week. The Angels were in Boston when Manny made the infamous comments that got him traded. I have to say that I’m behind him. People on the Angels’ radio broadcast were saying that with all the money he makes he shouldn’t talk. But all the money in the world is no substitute for respect. I’ve known a few “money people” in my time who didn’t seem to know the difference between buying a person’s services and buying a person. Rock on, Manny!