The trade deadline has passed, but teams can still make trades through waivers. Some teams, like the Yankees, Red Sox and Phillies have almost locked up their playoff births already, but most of the other contenders will battle it out for the remainder of the season. Teams can still add help by promoting players from the minor leagues, or making waiver deals.
The way waivers trades work is actually pretty simple. A team puts a player on waivers, and any team in the league (National or American) can put in claims on them. The team with the worst record that puts the claim in gets the player, unless the original team pulls him back. After a player clears his own league, he can be claimed by the other league. Teams can also block a competitor from getting a player by putting in a claim on them if they have a worse record. For instance, if the Phillies want to waiver claim for a player, the Braves could block them, since the Braves have a worse record than the Phillies, and might not want them to get stronger. Anyone acquired before the waiver trade deadline can be eligible to be on the playoff roster.
The teams I think are contenders this year are the Phillies, Braves, Cardinals, Brewers, Giants, Diamondbacks, Yankees, Red Sox, Tigers, Indians, White Sox, Rangers and Angels.
Phillies - Philadelphia is pretty much set for the post season. Hunter Pence put them over the top to be the favorite in the National League. I think that the team could use a extra bench bat and possibly another lefty reliever. As it stands, their best bench bat is probably John Mayberry Jr. They might bring up Dominic Brown for the postseason to be a left handed bat off the bench, or acquire one some time this month. Assuming the Phillies have the big four healthy for the postseason, Vance Worley and/or Kyle Kendrick will be sent to the bullpen. The bullpen will be stong, but Antonio Bastardo is the only lefty. I think adding another lefty would go a long way for them, as it would help deal with Prince Fielder, Brian McCann, and would turn Lance Berkman around to his weaker side.
Braves - A week ago, the Braves looked to have a lock on the NL Wildcard, but since Brian McCann has been out, they've really struggled. Their starting pitching is sound, but their bullpen is a little too left handed for my taste. Scott Linebrink is the only righty that they can trust before Craig Kimbrel comes in. I would like to say that they could use an extra bat, but I can't see where they'd put it. I think getting Brian McCann back will be huge for them. I think that a right handed bench bat would help even out the lineup.
Cardinals - The Cardinals added Aurthor Rhodes this week, which fills a hole for them. Their outfield defense is below average. But they can put Corey Patterson in late in the game in centerfield, and push John Jay over to right, it'd make everyone a little more comfortable.
Brewers - I don't know how the Brewers haven't addressed their defense yet. Here's a list of their above average defenders: . Yeah, that's it. The pitching staff is mostly strikeout guys, which helps, but they need to do something about the right side of the infield. Casey McGehee and Yukiesky Betancourt are terrible defenders on the left side of the infield, and aren't contributing anything at the plate. Their combined WAR for the year is 0.1. They are replacement level, anything would be an upgrade. I would think that they would try to replace either one of them, preferably with a high OBP guy, because after Prince Fielder all the have is a whole bunch of sub .315 on base guys.
Giants - The Giants need to upgrade at the catchers spot. A shortstop who can play defense wouldn't hurt either. I wrote more about them in my last post, check it out.
Diamondbacks - The Diamondbacks got acquired Jason Marquis at the deadline, but so far it hasn't been pretty. I don't trust anyone in the rotation besides Ian Kennedy and Daniel Hudson. Kevin Towers has done a good job with the bullpen, and adding Brad Ziegler has solidified that for the rest of the season. They've had a black hole at first base for most of the year. They started the year with Juan Miranda, Russell Branyan, and Xavier Nady. Miranda and Branyan are no longer with the team, and Xavier Nady broke his hand tonight. Paul Goldschmidt isn't ready for the majors, and looks overwhelmed. I think at his peek he could be a big league regular, but nothing more. Adding a first baseman would really help them. Carlos Pena would fit well, and probably wouldn't cost them very much.
Yankees - The Yankees can probably already stamp their tickets for the playoffs, they're seven games up in the wildcard, and only 1.5 games behind the Red Sox. They're currently carrying three catchers, and getting nothing out of any of them. They can't really add one, because of Jesus Montero in the minors. Boone Logan is the only lefty in the bullpen, and they could use another one. J.C. Romero is the most likely candidate, as they recently signed him to a minor league deal.
Red Sox - I thought that when the Red Sox added Erik Bedard, it was a good move. Mostly because Bedard is usually a two outcome pitcher, either he's effective, or he's hurt. He hasn't been either of those things so far in Boston. If he doesn't figure it out before the end of the season, the Red Sox will only have two starters that they can go to war with. After Lester and Beckett, they'll have to choose between Bedard or John Lackey (who got hit around by the Mariners tonight) for game three. They can shorten games with their bullpen, but need Bedard to step up in the rotation.
Tigers - The additions of Wilson Betemit and Doug Fister were both good transactions I thought for the Tigers. They've been playing well of late, but I think their bullpen could still use an upgrade. They signed Joaquin Benoit to be their eighth inning guy, but he hasn't been effective this year. They need someone to step up as a more reliable bridge to Jose Valverde. Al Alburquerque (Best. Name. Ever.) could be that guy if he could control his walk rate. Relievers are often who gets moved in waiver deals, and with them needing a right handed one, I think that if they want to, they could make something happen.
Indians - Shin-Soo Choo came back a little earlier than expected tonight, which was a welcome surprise. If the Tribe gets Sizemore back, they will have a strong outfield with Choo, Sizemore, Brantley, and Fukudome. I'm done with the Matt LaPorta experiment. He has a WAR of -0.5. He's the hole in the lineup, and much like Arizona, the Indians would be a good fit for Carlos Pena. I also think that adding a right hander out of the bullpen would help. Carmona has been better since coming off the DL, and if it continues could slot in well as a number three starter.
White Sox - I'm not sure what this team is doing. They should be trying to win the division but aren't Adam Dunn should be sat down, and Dayan Viciendo should get a shot at DH. If they are going to keep Dunn in the lineup, he shouldn't be batting fourth still. Their rotation and bullpen are ok, I'm just not sure what they're doing on offense. Their best bet at the hot corner was probably to platoon Brent Morel and Mark Teahen, but Teahen got sent to Toronto with Edwin Jackson. This team is only five games back, but isn't acting like they want to make a run at it this year.
Rangers - The Rangers brought in two relievers before the deadline, and they each have had rocky starts with the team. This shouldn't be a problem, I think the Rangers pitching staff is fine, and their three lefty starters would match up good with the Yankees in the playoffs. I think they need a center fielder, however. They've been playing Endy Chavez in centerfield, and while he's been fine, I'm waiting for the bottom to fall out. They have a lot of fly ball pitchers, and a good center fielder would be a big plus. Julio Borbon has been hitting well in the minors, and if the Rangers brought him up, put him in centerfield, and batted him ninth, it'd be an upgrade.
Angels - The Angels, much like the White Sox, haven't really done much to help their cause. They're only one game out, but haven't made any moves so far this year. A relief pitcher and another power bat could help this team. Excluding Mark Trumbo and Vernon Wells, none of their hitters scare me. Torii Hunter is barely slugging .400, and Bobby Abreu's only skill is taking walks. They have three stud starting pitchers who could reek havoc in the playoffs if they were to make it.
All of these teams could make themselves better, although it will be harder for some. Relief pitchers are generally the easiest commodity to find at this point, so teams looking to add those should be ok. The big prizes could be Wandy Rodriguez, Carlos Pena, and possibly Aramis Ramirez. Wandy could fit well with Arizona if they don't like what they see in Jason Marquis in the coming weeks. The Cubs apparently view Jeff Baker as the future for them at the hot corner (as he was deemed "not avaliable for trade" at the deadline), so Aramis Ramirez could make a difference to the Brewers or the Angels if they wake up.
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