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MLB Trades

doc's sports | Robert Ferringo ( Fri 4th, July 2008 )

During the Major League's offseason there are hundreds of hours spent by baseball folk - that's fans.

teams, agents, players, and other suits - obsessing and opining over each and every trade that is suggested, attempted or completed. The Hype Machine works overtime during the winter months as America's Ex-National Pastime desperately tries to stay relevant alongside the vicious onslaught of the National Football League. However, it seems like every year, with few exceptions, once we get elbow-deep into the actual season not many people take a look back and accurately assess how these trades worked out and who really got the better of the deal.

We are halfway through the season and I think it's time to look back on the moves and maneuvers that have really helped to shape the 2008 season. Below I've listed 10 key trades from this offseason, including the players involved, the team that was perceived by the bobbleheads and general public to have gotten the better of the deal at the time, and the team that, I believe, through just the first half of the season, has been the biggest beneficiary of the exchange.

Here they are, in no particular order:

1. Scott Rolen for Troy Glaus

Perceived "Winner": Toronto
Actual "Winner": St. Louis

The difference in the numbers isn't eye-popping, and Rolen has probably performed better when he's been in the lineup. But that's just it: Troy Glaus has played all 83 of St. Louis' games this year while Rolen has suited up for just 60 of 82. Glaus is second on the Cards in RBI and hits and has been a steady member in the clubhouse. Rolen was a malcontent and clashed with LaRussa. So while Rolen may get more respect from the average fan and may be a better hitter, the intangibles and the good karma surrounding Glaus makes him the better addition.

2. Matt Garza/Josh Bartlett for Delmon Young/Brendan Harris

Perceived "Winner": Minnesota
Actual "Winner": Tampa Bay

Delmon Young has been a nice, athletic addition to the Twins but he hasn't fully lived up to the hype and, at the time, was seen as the centerpiece in this deal. Matt Garza has been exceptional at home (5-1, 2.16 ERA) and a sweet addition to one of the best young staffs in the game for Tampa. And Jason Bartlett, perhaps seen as a throw-in, has been a key cog to Tampa's surge. He has solidified the Rays infield, has outperformed Harris at the plate, and has been a terror on the bases (17 steals). This trade was definitely beneficial to both teams but the edge does go to the Rays.

3. Luke Scott/Albers/Patton/Sarfate for Miguel Tejeda

Perceived "Winner": Houston
Actual "Winner": Baltimore

Luke Scott has been a revelation for the Orioles. He's put up numbers comparable to Miggy (although Tejeda has the edge in everything but HRs) in 100 less at-bats and has been a clutch performer for the overachieving O's. Tejeda has not been bad for the Astros. He's still one of the top hitting shortstops in the league. But his presence hasn't done anything to rejuvenate a sinking organization and his defense is still a liability. Baltimore gets the edge because the hitters are close enough but the upgrade to the O's bullpen has been dramatic.

4. Dontrelle Willis/Miggy Cabrera for Andrew Miller/Maybin/de la Cruz/Trahern

Perceived "Winner": Detroit
Actual "Winner": Detroit (for now)

This one is much, much closer than what it was originally thought but the Tigers get the nod because Cabrera is the only guy who's contributing right NOW. At the time, this was the deal that started the whole "Just Give Detroit The Hardware" ideas about the MLB season. Well, now the D-Train is derailed somewhere in Class-A ball, and Dontrelle is probably spending his evenings chasing down fans who caught a foul ball and offering them free tickets for the concession stand to give it back. Cabrera's numbers are down across the board but he's still been a leader for Detroit. But for Florida, Andrew Miller has been up-and-down but he's still only 23. Four of the six prospects that Florida picked up have already played in the Bigs this year and Cameron Maybin, the real gem in the trade, is turning it on in Class-AA. Five years from now we're going to say that Florida got the better of this deal.

5. Edgar Renteria for Jair Jurrjens

Perceived "Winner": Detroit
Actual "Winner": Atlanta

This was the first move in Detroit's attempt to create an American League Juggernaut and it hasn't quite worked out for them. Renteria showed in Boston that he just wasn't an A.L. player and now he's proving it again. Jurrjens, on the other hand, is thriving in the Atlanta rotation and is one of the key arms keeping them afloat. He was supposed to be a No. 5 starter but instead has been an effective No. 2. Also, Renteria's move opened the door for Yunel Escobar to play every day and, despite several nagging injuries, it hasn't even been close as to who is the better player as Escobar is topping Renteria in hitting, homers, RBI, OPS and runs.

6. Orland Cabrera for Jon Garland

Perceived "Winner": Both
Actual "Winner": Both

Both players have quietly gone about their business and been steady contributors on first-place teams (Cabrera to the White Sox, Garland to the Angels). Garland turned out to be invaluable for the Angels, whose staff was racked with injury at the start of the year.

7. Johan Santana for Carlos Gomez/Humber/Mulvey/Guerra

Perceived "Winner": New York Mets
Actual "Winner": Both (Edge: Twins)

Santana has been better than his 7-7 record would indicate. He has a solid 3.01 ERA and a 1.22 WHIP, but his velocity is down and he has not been the dominator that the Mets had hoped for. But all in all, this trade can only be considered a slight edge for New York. Carlos Gomez has injected a lot of life into the Twins lineup and his speed changes games the way that Jose Reyes does for the Mets. Gomez is on pace to hit .275 with 40 steals, 10 HRs, 100 runs, and 60 RBI. If Humber lives up to his considerable hype (which sounded a lot like the buzz around Scott Kazmir) then this one is a no-brainer for the Twins.

8. Erik Bedard for George Sherrill/Adam Jones/Butler/Tillman/Mickolio

Perceived "Winner": Seattle
Actual "Winner": Baltimore

At the time everyone in baseball was wet for Erik Bedard, a rather unproven commodity considering the players that were given up for him and the deal that he eventually signed. Bedard has been pedestrian this season while Sherrill is No. 2 in the Majors in save. Sherrill not only solidified the Orioles bullpen (ranked No. 29 last year) but also weakened the M's pen. Adam Jones is a luxury at this point and he gives the O's an athletic youngster to build their outfield around.

9. Josh Hamilton for Edison Volquez

Perceived "Winner": Texas
Actual "Winner": Both

This exchange was clearly the best of the offseason and has paid tremendous dividends for both clubs. Hamilton is the unquestioned MVP in the American League through the first half of the year while Volquez has been, if not the best, one of the best starters in the National League. At the time it occurred it didn't ring too many bells but this has really been an exceptional move for both clubs.

10. Dan Haren/Robertson for Dana Eveland/Greg Smith/Gonzalez/Carlos Gonzalez/Cunningham/Carter/Anderson

Perceived "Winner": Arizona
Actual "Winner": Both (Edge: Oakland)

Dan Haren has done exactly what the Diamondbacks expected when they sent a six-player package to Oaktown for him: he's given the D-Backs another ace and one of the best 1-2 punches in the Majors. In terms of quality, Haren (8-4, 2.85 ERA, 96 Ks) is the best player in the deal. However, Dana Eveland and Greg Smith have more than held their own and have been staples of the A's rotation. They are a combined 11-11 but have ERA's of 3.36 and 3.43, respectively. Carlos Gonzalez has been learning the ropes, and contributing. So Oakland secured three starters on a second-place team for the price of one frontline guy. Both teams are "winners" but Oakland has done a bit better.

Other Trades Worth Noting:

Jose Valverde for Gutierrez/Qualls/Burke

Perceived "Winner": Houston
Actual "Winner": Houston

Swisher for Gonzales/Sweeney/Santos

Perceived "Winner": Chicago White Sox
Actual "Winner": Both

Carlos Quentin for Chris Carter

Perceived "Winner": Chicago White Sox
Actual "Winner": Chicago White Sox

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