2010 MLB Trade Deadline Recap

The 2010 Major League Baseball trade deadline has come and gone and once again ended with GMs shouting out deals back and forth as frenetically as Wall Street floor traders. The two biggest names dealt before today’s deadline were pitchers Cliff Lee and Roy Oswalt. Lee has turned into quite the vagabond as of late, heading from Cleveland to Philly to Seattle and finally to the Texas Rangers all within the last two seasons. Seattle got switch hitting first baseman Justin Smoak and three minor league prospects out of the deal.

Oswalt has been the martyr of the Astros organization for the last few seasons, throwing exceptionally well only to receive dead-ball era offensive support on his behalf. He was very open over the last few weeks about wanting to take his talents to a competitor and I can’t blame him. He ended up going to the Phillies, in their attempt to recover from the mistake of ditching Lee after only half a season, and hopefully he will have the chance to compete into October. Being an Astros fan, it was quite upsetting to see his talents wasted by such pathetic offense and I wish him all the best in Philadelphia. Houston received pitcher J.A. Happ and a couple of prospects in the deal.

Now onto today’s transactions. It appears Houston is calling it a wrap on their 2010 campaign as along with sending their top ace to Philadelphia they also sent hometown favorite Lance Berkman to the New York Yankees for two minor leaguers.

The Yankees, perpetually hunting for offensive explosiveness, will use Berkman in the DH and occasionally as a utility outfielder as needed. New York also picked up another outfielder in Austin Kearns from Cleveland for a player to be named later. In a separate Cleveland deal, the Yankees have also taken a long shot picking up one-time ace Kerry Wood to help out of the bullpen.

Another move for the Texas Rangers today was the pickup of infielder Jorge Cantu from the Florida Marlins for two minor league pitchers.

Tampa Bay picked up bullpen support with the acquisition of reliever Chad Qualls from Arizona for cash and a player to be named later. Arizona also dealt pitcher Dan Haren to the Anaheim Angels earlier this week for pitchers Joe Saunders and a couple pitching prospects as they look to begin retooling their pitching staff. In that retooling effort they also sent RHP Edwin Jackson to the White Sox for two more prospects, despite him already throwing a no-hitter this season for Arizona.

The Pittsburgh Pirates, despite their season being essentially over, are still making moves; they traded Bobby Crosby and Ryan Church for catcher Chris Snyder, also from the Arizona Diamondbacks.

The St. Louis Cardinals acquired pitcher Jake Westbrook in a three-way deal that saw outfielder Ryan Ludwick go to the San Diego Padres and prospects head to the Cleveland Indians.

The Los Angeles Dodgers picked up veteran pitcher Ted Lilly, shortstop Ryan Theriot, and $2.5 mil in cash for second baseman Blake DeWitt and two prospects.

The biggest name on the trading block to not be dealt was Nationals’ first baseman Adam Dunn, who expressed his desire to stay with his current team and appears to have had this wish granted.

There are just way too many deals to list them all here, but if you don’t see your favorite team on this list that doesn’t necessarily mean they haven’t made any moves. That’s all for now; I’d say to watch out for the Yankees who have increased their lineup potency even though they currently have the top record in the Majors and keep an eye on the numerous prospects picked up by the Diamondbacks in the future.