As much as Daniels wanted a top-of-the-rotation starting pitcher, he couldn't bring himself to mortgage the future for one. Besides, the Rangers lead the American League West by six games and could still open a postseason series with Cole Hamels and Yu Darvish pitching Games 1 and 2. Who has a better front two than that?
Besides, the Rangers have weathered injuries and a hellacious 7-17 slump to remain solidly atop the division. Daniels has built a great organization from top to bottom, with Texas likely headed to the postseason for the fifth time in seven years. Part of his genius is not losing sight of the big picture. Daniels was interested in both Chris Archer and Chris Sale, but only to a point.
MLB Tonight on Hill and Reddick
MLB Tonight discusses Reddick and Hill deal
The crew on MLB Tonight talk about the reported Athletics and Dodgers trade, sending Josh Reddick and Rich Hill to Los Angeles
2. Dodgers now favorites to win the National League West
They've had an amazing season, having survived injury after injury to the pitching staff to remain competitive. Just when president of baseball operations Andrew Friedman was full go to pursue an outfielder, he watched Clayton Kershaw leave the rotation with a back injury.
Suddenly, Friedman had other priorities, and on Monday, he filled both of them by getting outfielder Josh Reddick and left-hander Rich Hill from the Athletics. The Dodgers haven't given up on getting Kershaw back for the playoffs, but they can line up Hill -- once his blister heals -- with Kenta Maeda, Brandon McCarthy and others to try and finish the deal.
The Giants lead the Dodgers by two games, but the two teams play nine more times -- including six times in the final two weeks of the regular season. Isn't that the way life is supposed to be?
MLB Central on Miller deal
Rosenthal and the guys on the Andrew Miller trade
Ken Rosenthal and the guys on MLB Central discuss the Yankees decision to deal Andrew Miller to the Indians over the weekend
3. The Indians are going for it
The Indians have been atop the AL Central for two months. They've got the AL's best pitching staff and one of its best bullpens. Their offense has been more productive than a lot of people thought it would be.
The Indians hoped to fine-tune it by getting Lucroy. Before Lucroy had even invoked his no-trade protection to veto the deal, Indians president of baseball operations Chris Antonetti went out and dramatically upgraded his team at the back of the bullpen by getting Andrew Miller from the Yankees. Antonetti surrendered a bundle of prospects, which could one day hurt, but this is about following in the Cavaliers' footsteps and delivering a World Series to Cleveland.
Antonetti did what the best general managers frequently do. While he hoped to improve his team in one area, he grabbed an opportunity to upgrade in another. The bottom line is that Antonetti sent a message to his players and fans that he thinks this team has a chance to win. The Indians are 19 years removed from their last World Series appearance and 68 years removed from their last title. They've got a great chance to end that streak.
Cashman on acquiring prospects
Cashman on acquiring four prospects from the Indians
Brian Cashman discusses the Yankees acquiring prospects Clint Frazier, Justus Sheffield, Ben Heller and J.P. Feyereisen from the Indians
4. The Yankees had themselves a great week
The Yankees suddenly are about as interesting as any team in baseball. After years of hoping to keep the old guys on the field for one more run, they faced reality and decided to go young by trading Aroldis Chapman and Miller.
MLB.com's Jim Callis believes that Yankees GM Brian Cashman may now have the best farm system in baseball. When Yanks fans watch their team next season, they're going to see loads of young talent that will stumble at times, but also has a chance to be part of the franchise's next great run.
Just over the horizon is a Yankees team with Clint Frazier in the outfield, Gleyber Torres at short, Greg Bird at first and Aaron Judge in the outfield. There are pitching prospects as well -- including Dillon Tate, who will come as part of the Carlos Beltran trade -- and money to spend to fortify the holes in the roster.
Chapman's grand first Cubs save
CWS@CHC: Chapman records first save as a Cub
Aroldis Chapman records a four-out save for his first as a member of the Cubs
5. The Cubs aren't messing around
Weren't the Cubs already baseball's best team? Why add Chapman? Because he makes the Cubs better. Because he makes the Cubs more interesting. One of those things may have been almost as important as the other.
Maybe this was Theo Epstein's way to jump-start his team out of a mini tailspin, a 1-9 slide that allowed the Cardinals to get within 6 1/2 games at one point. The lead is back to 7 1/2 games, the largest in baseball.
No one expected them to win every game. When a team starts a season 25-6 and opens up an 8 1/2-game division lead in early May, things might get a little, well, routine.
Enter Chapman and his 105-mph fastball. Fans at Wrigley Field will react the moment he takes off his warmup jacket. Guess what? Players will get excited, too. The Cubs may not have needed a jolt, but this is a significant one. Also -- and this is the bottom line -- the final outs of a game can be extraordinarily difficult in October. For the Cubs, October is what matters now.
Richard Justice is a columnist for MLB.com. Read his blog, Justice4U. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.
Rangers, Dodgers headline Deadline winners
0 commentaires:
Enregistrer un commentaire