Trade Deadline Winners and Losers

Stan McNeal - SportingNews.com

Determining winners and losers at the trading deadline is as difficult as the decision to trade veterans for prospects. No one knows how these deals will work out.

In addition, no one knows how many more deals are still to come. Teams still are free to trade, but now the players must clear waivers before any swap can happen.

Taking all of the recent trades into consideration ...

WINNERS

Phillies
Getting lefthander Cliff Lee without giving up either of the two young pitchers (J.A. Happ, Kyle Drabek) the Blue Jays wanted for Roy Halladay was the best trade of the month. It gives the defending World Series champions a lift where it's needed -- at the top of the rotation. Outfielder Ben Francisco was more than a throw-in, too. He also fills a need by giving Philadelphia a righthanded power bat off the bench. The Phillies would have been even bigger winners if they could have bolstered their bullpen. Maybe Pedro Martinez or the possible return of Brett Myers (hip) will strengthen the staff enough that the 'pen will benefit. The Phillies must compensate for the continuing struggles of closer Brad Lidge.

Cardinals
No contender upgraded its offense as much as the Cardinals. The price for outfielder Matt Holliday wasn't cheap, but the best prospect the team gave up -- third baseman Brett Wallace -- is better suited for the American League. Holliday started strong with St. Louis, reaching base at least twice a game in his first seven games. The versatile Mark DeRosa and Red Sox discard Julio Lugo have contributed almost as much in the past week. The three righthanded hitters also have improved the Cardinals' dismal performance against lefthanded pitching.

Pirates
Neal Huntington must have a spic-and-span house. Based on his work the past several weeks, the Pirates general manager knows how to clean house. By trading eight players since June 3, Pittsburgh isn't going to end its losing streak -- which is going on 17 seasons -- this season. Or probably next. But look at it this way: The Pirates weren't winning with those guys so, really, it was time to move on. The huge haul of prospects the Pirates have received at least will pump new hope into the franchise. Of course, Pirates fans have been hearing such talk for a long, long time.

Padres
San Diego couldn't deal Jake Peavy when he was healthy, but it managed to move him Friday even though it isn't clear when he will pitch again. The Padres not only freed themselves of the $48 million Peavy is owed for the next three seasons, they also received four players from the White Sox, including a couple of major league pitchers in Clayton Richard and Aaron Poreda. Peavy vetoed a deal to the White Sox two months ago but since then, the Padres have dropped to last place in the N.L. West and the White Sox have emerged as contenders in the A.L. Central.

Tigers
First-place Detroit already had the strongest rotation in the A.L. Central. The addition of Jarrod Washburn makes it as deep as any in the A.L. Washburn is a fly-ball pitcher who should benefit from working at spacious Comerica Park. Washburn's arrival will take a lot of heat off 20-year-old Rick Porcello, who appears to be tiring as his innings mount.

Red Sox
You knew Boston general manager Theo Epstein would be good for a last-minute deal. He pulled off a good one by obtaining switch-hitting Victor Martinez. Martinez can strengthen the lineup in a couple of ways: When he plays first base, Kevin Youkilis can spell Mike Lowell at third base. When he catches, he provides an offensive upgrade over Jason Varitek.

LOSERS

Roy Halladay
The Blue Jays' refusal to lower the asking price for their ace makes me wonder if the club ever was serious about trading Halladay. All they ended up doing was making the past several weeks miserable for Halladay, which he is sure to remember. You could tell by the patient way he dealt with all the media questions that he was preparing himself to be moved. But after being subjected to weeks of speculation, he still is stuck in Toronto.

Indians
It doesn't matter that the Indians received better prospects in their trades than did the Pirates in theirs. There is a difference in the two situations: Cleveland could have contended next season if it had kept Lee and Martinez, both of whom have reasonable contracts. Now the Indians are likely to hover near the bottom of the A.L. Central for at least two more years.

Rays fans
A season after reaching the World Series, Tampa Bay is stuck in third place in the A.L. East and decided to stand pat. In other words, see you next season.

Brewers
No Halladay, no Washburn and, now, no hope to make the playoffs.

Stan McNeal is a writer for Sporting News. E-mail him at smcneal@sportingnews.com.

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