AL East Round Up: Big Surprises Edition

Welcome to the AL East Round Up. This week, I thought I’d look at some big surprises that have emerged in the AL East. In order for a team to contend and eventually win, they need to get some regular contribution from their “big boys”;  the guys expected to do big things.

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Yet, every year, there is one or two guys who emerge to contribute to the team’s success. This week, I’ll take a look at those surprises. Feel free to leave a comment and add your own opinion, choice, etc.

Standings:
Baltimore Orioles 67-49
New York Yankees 61-55 (6GB)
Toronto Blue Jays 62-56 (6GB)
Tampa Bay Rays 57-59 (10GB)
Boston Red Sox 51-65 (16GB)

New York Yankees

Mandatory Credit: Anthony Gruppuso-USA TODAY Sports

BIG SURPRISE: Brandon McCarthy

After compiling a record of 3-10, an ERA of 5.01 and a WHIP of 1.377 I scoffed a bit when the Yankees picked him up. The Bronx Bombers were in desperate need of pitching help and they hoped a change of scenery would be good for the 31 year old McCarthy. Man, I hate to admit it, but they were right. Since joining the Evil Empire, McCarthy has had a reversal of fortunes. Currently, he sits at 4-1, holds a 2.21 ERA and a WHIP of 1.282. He has compiled 8.8 K/9 and 1.5 BB/9.

With the Yankee rotation being decimated by injuries, picking up McCarthy looks like a genius move by Brian Cashman. Considering it only cost them Vidal Nuno, the deal looks even better.

I would be remiss if I didn’t throw in an obligatory Derek Jeter mention. Yesterday, Jeter passes the great Honus Wagner for 6th place on MLB all time hits list. 6th. ALL TIME. Hate the Yankees all you like, but you have to respect the legend of Derek Jeter.

PS: His 3431 hit came on a hit where he busted it down the line. Just saying.

Toronto Blue Jays

Mandatory Credit: Nick Turchiaro-USA TODAY Sports

BIG SURPRISE: Nolan Reimold

After playing the last 4 seasons in Baltimore, the Blue Jays plucked him from the waiver wire. I remember saying to myself a couple years ago: ‘Self, wouldn’t it be nice if Reimold played LF for the Blue Jays’.

Betsided

Then, they signed

and Reimold underwent surgery to repair a herniated disk in his neck.  When healthy, Reimold can be a contributor to any team, whether it is off the bench or as a righty bat in the starting lineup.

On July 31st, Reimold opened some eyes. After being on the DL dealing with his calf (the muscle, not the barnyard animal), he opened some eyes against the Astros:

Of course, there is this clutch performance from Saturday against the Tigers:

Here’s a suggestion for Alex Anthopoulos (because, he’s definitely reading this): Let Colby Rasmus walk at the end of the season. Anthony Gose can take over CF. Re-sign Melky Cabrera. It’ll cost a bit more, but he’s earned it. Jose Bautista will stay in RF. Nolan Reimold is the 4th outfielder. He won’t be a free agent until the end of next season. I’d be content with this outfield going into 2014.

Tamp Bay Rays

Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports

BIG SURPRISE: Andrew Friedman

The GM of the Tampa Bay Ray surprised me. Considering the deal he pulled off for James Shields previously, I thought he’d get a bigger package for David Price. Drew Smyly and Nick Franklin are good gets, but come on. We’re talking about David Freakin’ Price. I would have expected Friedman to ask for the moon…and get it.

Price is one of those studs that just don’t come around every day. He’s one of a handful of pitchers that EVERY team wishes they had. Maybe that is part of the problem. If they Rays kept him, he’d PRICE them out of their spending abilities. (See what I did there?) They just couldn’t afford the PRICE tag (Oops, I did it again). David Price is eventually going to command in the neighbourhood of $20M easily. The Rays just simply can’t pay that. So, they HAD to trade him.

That weakens any asking PRICE (Man, I’m on fire!). The situation turns to a buyer’s market. If Detroit is getting David Price, they can afford to give up Drew Smyly and Austin Jackson. Seattle has been rumored to be shopping Nick Franklin for a while. Or, at the very least, listening on him. So, is it just me, or did every team in this deal get something that they were VERY comfortable with? And, they all gave up something they were very comfortable with.

Maybe Andrew Friedman is a genius! You decide:

Boston Red Sox

Credit: Christopher Evans Boston Herald

BIG SURPRISE: Ben Charington

Here’s one GM who keeps surprising me. He is not afraid to sign the big boys to the big money. (Probably because he has the blessing of ownership. *cough* Rogers *cough*) Then, when things aren’t working out, he is able to unload big boys for big hauls. Remember the Nick Punto deal that sent Carl Crawford, Adrian Gonzalez et al to Los Angeles? To unload that kind of money can’t be easy. Then, when the Red Sox season was clearly going into the toilet this year, he did it again.

It was kind of funny how the idea of trading Jon Lester wasn’t such a hot button topic until I mentioned it. I (somewhat) jokingly said I’d give up Jose Bautista to get Lester. Before I go on, I am NOT saying that I had anything to do with the Red Sox trading Jon Lester. Don’t be silly. Obviously, their season dictated such a move. Anyway, what happened was almost of the caliber I mentioned. Getting Yoenis Cespedes from Oakland was nothing short of a steal.

It is especially a Red Sox friendly deal when you consider who the first team Lester’s agent will be negotiating with in November. Lester has already said he wants to go back to the Red Sox. Imagine. The Red Sox got Cespedes and then over the winter will get Lester back. I know, it is not a guarantee, but…come on. It’s close.

Of course, Charington did more than the Lester deal. He got rid of John Lackey and Jake Peavy (!) who was having an abysmal year. Big, heavy contracts were given up for quality players that cost a fraction of the price. And, adding Allen Craig and Cespedes to the lineup is a major boost. A Celebratory Brett Lawrie High Five to Charington. The Red Sox will ride out this season and be in a good spot to do what they need to to be right back in it next season.