Throwing Knives: MLB Trade Deadline

by BD, Sports Show On Mute

Yesterday was quite a day in the sports world. KG to Boston, Tex to Atlanta, among many other things. I'm just now catching up on it all as I slept through it. Waking up just in time to shower and head off to work. So, I'll be getting acquainted with all of this stuff just as you are this morning. As you wait for your team to make that all important deal, feel free to check out Amanda Braun. I certainly have. She doesn't mind at all.

The MLB Trade Deadline is Today
That's right folks. If you've been dying for your team to make that blockbuster deal, today is the last day that can happen. Unless you live in Atlanta, of course. As that already happened, yesterday. Which is great if you consider all the negative the Atlanta sports scene has been dealing with over the last few weeks. Anyhow, I figured I'd rundown yesterday's market movement just in case you missed something.

Mark Teixeira and Ron Mahay to Atlanta; Jarrod Saltalamacchia, Elvis Andrus(prospect) and two Minor Leaguers to Texas
Obviously, this is a huge move for the Braves. It may have made them the best team in the NL East. Especially when you consider the Phillies nagging injury issues on the pitching staff. Teixeira should provide a solid lift to Braves offense. Hitting alongside McCann, and the Joneses he'll see his share of pitches to hit and should thrive. Salty should be able to replace most of what Tex did at the plate by next season. The biggest difference between them is the posistion they play. I think Texas did a fantastic job getting as much as they can for Tex whether Andrus and the other two youngsters develop or not.

Luis Castillo to New York(NL); two Minor Leaguers to Minnesota
I guess this is an ok trade. I don't know much about the two youngsters headed for Minnesota but from what I've read neither are considered to be future all-stars or anything or the like. Not that Castillo is worth such a prospect, I just fail to understand why he was traded. Minnesota is still very much in the playoff race. Mainly because Detroit and Cleveland cannot sustain a long enough run to put themselves well ahead of the pack. And given the look of both bullpens they won't be doing so anytime soon either. The Mets obviously don't want to let Ruben Gotay play everyday. Castillo isn't much better. He's more than solid defensively when he gets his hands on the ball. But, he won't provide any offense and his speed is on the decline.

Kyle Lohse to Philly; Matt Maloney to Cincinnati
I like thid deal for the Phillies as they need any pitching help they can get their hands on. While Lohse is a 4th starter on his best days, he's something. The youngsters they've been calling up have gotten shelled for the most part. And despite his wild inconsistency and ever fluctuating ERA Lohse won't get shelled quite as often. If that logic makes any sense at all. I have no idea who Matt Maloney is and if he doesn't contribute at the Major League level I probably never will.

Octavio Dotel to Atlanta; Kyle Davies to Kansas City
From everything I've heard and read this is a done deal. Atlanta is just waiting for the Teixeira deal to go through before they can make this one official. Assuming all works out it's another great move for Atlanta. As Dotel will more or less replace Mike Gonzalez who was lost for the season a few months back.

Garnett Officially A Celtic?
I'm still not sure if it's official, but it appears to be. KG will be donning the green and white and we'll all be hearing WAY to much about the C's leading into the season. I'll set the bar at the East Finals. Does anyone out there actually think they'll make THE Finals? For my full take on this deal click here.

Bill Walsh R.I.P
Rather than pretend to have lived through Walsh's heyday ... and actually know a lot about him. I'll just leave it at R.I.P. and may your QB's be as great in the 'afterlife'.

Scoreboard - July 30th - 2007
MLB
National League
Philadelphia 4, Chicago 1

American League
Tampa Bay 5, Toronto 4
Minnesota 3, Kansas City 1
Seattle 2, Los Angeles 0
Detroit 5, Oakland 2

That'll do it for today. I'd just like to wish our boy Jon Pyle the best of luck as he exits the Carnival tent for the time being.