MLB Trade Deadline: American League East Needs

Mandatory Credit: David Manning-USA TODAY Sports

Welcome to the AL East Round Up: MLB Trade Deadline Edition. I’ve been away for a few weeks and am ready to shake off the cob webs and get back at it. This week, I thought I’d look at the AL East to see if I could come up with a short list of what each team needs to do before July 31st Non-Waiver Trade Deadline

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At the time of writing (Saturday), the standings in the AL East look like this:

Baltimore Orioles- 52-43
New York Yankees- 48-47 (4GB)
Toronto Blue Jays- 49-48 (4GB)
Tampa Bay Rays- 45-53 (8.5GB)
Boston Red Sox- 44-52 (8.5 GB)

Baltimore Orioles

Mandatory Credit: Bill Streicher-USA TODAY Sports

NEED TO: Get a Starter (or two)

With an eye on the post season, the Orioles MUST add pitching. They need to find a stud to throw out there in a short series. Right now, they do not have the true, show stopping ace that post season winning depends on. Wei- Yin Chen leads the team with a 9-3 record, but his ERA is 4.15. In fact, the Orioles current rotation, which includes Ubaldo Jimenez who is on the 15 Day DL has a combined ERA of 3.99! Also,

That cannot make the O’s feel comfortable. They’ve got to add an arm. To that end, there’s this:

I suppose that is an addition…I don’t see it being enough to get the Orioles a series win in the post season. It might help them get there, which they may end up doing anyway. I’d aim higher.   I was surprised to read this from MLB Insider, Chris Cotillo. Apparently, the O’s are not happy with their options behind the dish and are looking to get rid of Nick Hundley (they offered him to St Louis when Yadier Molina went down) and look for another option. Cotillo says they could kick the tires on John Buck (free agent) or possibly acquire Kurt Suzuki.    

New York Yankees

Mandatory Credit: Winslow Townson-USA TODAY Sports

NEED TO: Pray For a Miracle.

I’m kidding. Sort of. Not really. If the Yankees believe in a “higher power”, they better consult with it soon. Losing Masahiro Tanaka was the final nail in their season. According to Jusin Tasch of the New York Daily News, Tanaka could be out for a while. Initially, the timetable was set at 6 weeks to see if the platelet rich plasma injection would work. That kind of tells you how desperate they are. They are really hoping to still have him back this season. But, a partially torn ligament in your throwing elbow…good luck with that.

So, if the Yankees believe they are going to make a run at this thing in Derek Jeter‘s final season, they are going to need help. Lots. Tanaka is out. C.C. Sabathia is out.  The Yankees are going to need a better option than Hiroki Kuroda, David Phelps, Vidal Nuno and Chase Whitley. They made some progress when they added Brandon McCarthy. That progress is not going to be enough.

Offesnively, the Yankees felt comfortable enough letting Alfonso Soriano go. Maybe because they had swung a deal that was subtly announced during the MLB Home Run Derby:

Obviously, that was an ESPN error. I don’t think they Yankees have enough in their system to pull off a trade for a bat like Jose Bautista‘s. In fact, I’d be surprised if they have enough to bring in a bat at all. MAYBE their ability to eat contracts can help them land an impact bat. Maybe.

Toronto Blue Jays

Mandatory Credit: Matt Kartozian-USA TODAY Sports

    NEED TO: Realize they are running a professional team that is closer to contending than it has been in 20 years and use their billion dollar worth to take over this division. Like everyone else, I’ve become more and more frustrated with the laisse- faire attitude of the Blue Jays.  Their needs are obvious. They need a bat (or two) and a starter. In that order.

  Injuries to Brett Lawrie, Edwin Encarnacion and Adam Lind have created all kinds of problems. The Blue Jays are running out several players who should be in AAA. How much longer are they going to wait to remedy this?

Betsided

Until the aforementioned injured parties heal? The Blue Jays have slip from 6 games up to 4 games down in the AL East. How much more sliding will happen until then?

The Blue Jays have been linked to Martin Prado, Aaron Hill, Chase Headley, Adrian Beltre. All of these would help the lineup. The question is: What is the asking price. I say: Who cares! These players are owed a significant amount of money over the next year or so. The Blue Jays should just eat it. They COULD if they chose to. Apparently, they choose not to:   

The other option is paying through prospects. Aaron Sanchez, Daniel Norris and Dalton Pompey have been the names teams appear to start with. The Blue Jays can’t have it both ways. They can’t say they won’t take on more money and then not be willing to give up talent. Basically, they are saying they are not willing to do anything to improve. Nice.

The Blue Jays also need bullpen help. There is bound to be many deals available. Bullpen help can be had for relatively cheap. This doesn’t concern me. What does concern me is the rotation. Even if the Blue Jays add a bat or two and somehow make it to the playoffs, much like Baltimore, they need a true ace.

Mark Buehrle and R.A. Dickey are good, but not great! Marcus Stroman is electric, but by the end of the season, may be spent. Drew Hutchison may be out of gas by then too. If all of this is true, we know what will HAPPen, right? That’s right, J.A. Happ is the only other option. Yikes.

But, never fear Blue Jays fans:

Tampa Bay Rays

Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports

    NEED TO: Sell, sell, SELL!    

Rays fans may not like my opinion as to what the team should do coming in to the MLB Trade Deadline. But, considering the mountain they have to climb to get back in to contention, one must be realistic. The Blue Jays are making it easier for the Rays to get closer to first place, but it still won’t be enough.

So, with several teams in the hunt for post season baseball, the time is right for the Rays to have a Miami Marlins type sale. Seriously.  The Rays could command a hefty haul for David Price alone. They can aim higher than the James Shield deal that brought them Wil Myers et al. Considering the state of Major League Baseball, the Rays can afford to name their PRICE. (see what I did there?). And, some team will pay it. They only need one to bite. It looks as though they may have found one, too:

Morosi also mentions Ben Zobrist. He would be a welcome addition to any offense. The Mariners already have a second baseman (who is going to cost them a pretty penny for YEARS) but Zobrist brings versatility that managers love. By packaging these two players together, the Rays could command a package that few teams could meet. Separating them might open the door for more teams to enter the bidding.

I don’t know if you can ever say the Rays are in rebuilding mode, but if they are waving the white flag on this season, maybe they listen on Evan Longoria too. Although, he’s had a bit of a down year, he’s worth a listen. I know, I know. That is crazy talk. But, think about the return. They probably will not put Longoria on the block. Probably. But, it is fun to speculate. Maybe not for Rays’ fans, though.