The AL West completes the trade analysis. They seemed to have done pretty well overall.
Los Angeles Angels
No moves made.
The Angels were in pretty good shape to begin with, so I can’t fault them for holding still. Could they have done something? Yes, but it would have had to of been a lot to get to the level with the Rangers.
Result: Draw – Needed moves to be playoff bound, but didn’t make them just to make them.
Oakland Athletics
Acquired 1B Brandon Allen and P Jordan Norberto from the Diamondbacks for RP Brad Ziegler.
Acquired P Bruce Billings from the Rockies for 2B Mark Ellis.
Acquired 2B Scott Sizemore from the Tigers for RP David Purcey.
Oakland, being Oakland, moved a couple of veterans for younger players. They picked up a nice piece in Allen, even though they already have Daric Barton and Chris Carter. I like the Sizemore pick up, who should be able to step in for Ellis.
Result: Win – Allen and a pitcher for a reliever is a win, as in anything for Ellis and Purcey.
Seattle Mariners
Acquired OF Trayvon Robinson from the Dodgers and OF Chih-Hsien Chiang from the Red Sox for SP Erik Bedard and RP Josh Fields.
Acquired 3B Francisco Martinez, OF Casper Wells, P Charlie Furbush, and P Chance Ruffin from the Tigers for SP Doug Fister and RP David Pauley.
The Mariners took their third best pitcher and turned him into a good hitting prospect, which I’m still trying to figure out why he was involved; Robinson would probably be the best hitting prospect in the Dodgers system right now. Chiang is nothing special.
The deal from the Tigers also provided a couple MLB ready players and couple of good young players for a couple of guys who, to me, didn’t have a ton of value. Pauley has bounced around; will he continue to be this good, or does he have Kyle Lohse syndrome (pitches really good one year after years of mediocre pitching, so he continues to disappoint when he can’t get back to that level)? Fister is a back of the rotation starter, who goes to a team that already has a couple.
Result: Win – Seattle is playing for 2 years from now, and these 4 will be able to help.
Texas Rangers
Acquired RP Mike Adams from the Padres for SP Robbie Erlin and SP Joe Wieland.
Acquired RP Koji Uehara from the Orioles for 1B Chris Davis and SP Tommy Hunter.
The Rangers acknowledged they needed help in the bullpen, and they definitely addressed it. I think they paid too much though. Both pitchers – Adams and Uehara – are solid and could spell Neftali Feliz every once in a while. I know Davis needed a change in scenery and that Hunter couldn’t crack the bullpen, but they gave up talented players. Erlin and Wieland are both good prospects and will be missed from the Rangers system; I think their value is more than Uehara.
Result: Draw – Needed additions, but at a high cost. It’s safe to say this would have been their division without the moves.