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MLB Trade Deadline Tracker and Analysis

With the 2014 MLB trade deadline fast approaching, we figured it made sense to put all the trades on one page for those of you who don’t have the time to scour multiple pages in order to find the information you want. 

This page will be constantly updated between now and the real trade deadline towards the end of August. Also make sure to check out the analysis of each of the trades as they happen.

 

Braves Get Cubs Get
James Russell Victor Caratini
Emilio Bonifacio

Analysis: Atlanta acquires the reliever that it had been seeking during the entire month of July. Russell, a left-handed specialist, posted a 3.51 ERA and 1.20 WHIP with Chicago prior to this deal. In terms of Bonifacio, he’s a do-it-all reserve who can play multiple positions in both the outfield and infield. He was hitting .279 with two homers, 18 RBI’s and 14 stolen bases with the Cubs. Caratini, was the Braves eighth-ranked prospect prior to the start of the year. The catcher was a second-round pick of the Braves in the 2013 MLB draft.

 

Tigers Get Mariners Get Rays Get
David Price Austin Jackson Drew Smyly
Willy Adames
Nick Franklin

Analysis: The biggest trade deadline deal in recent memory, Detroit matched what the Oakland Athletics did earlier in the day…and then some. By adding Price to the mix, the Tigers now have one of the top-three rotations in all of baseball, if not the best. He’s under team control through the 2015 season. And think about this for a second. Detroit now has the last three AL Cy Young Award winners in Justin Verlander, Max Scherzer and Price. That’s insane. Jackson, who was pulled from the Tigers game when the deal went down, upgrades the Mariners outfied situation in a big way. He was hitting .270 with four homers, 32 RBI’s and 25 doubles at the time of the trade.

Interestingly enough, Tampa Bay didn’t get anywhere near the bounty that any of us expected. Smyly has ace potential and was having a pretty decent year in his first season as a full-time starter. Despite posting a 6-9 record in 17 starts, he was considered one of the top pitching prospects in all of baseball just a couple years ago. Franklin, also once a top prospect, has struggled big time at the plate during his stint with Seattle. Adames was the Tigers 38th-ranked prospect at the start of the season. If you’re baffled by what Tampa Bay received for Price, you’re not alone. That’s not exactly the haul most of us expected.

In terms of the Tigers, they are now up there with Oakland among the two-best teams in all of baseball. Just imagine how the pitching matchups would work out in a potential playoff series between those two teams.

 

Marlins Get Astros Get
Jarred Cosart Colin Moran
Enrique Hernandez Jake Marisnick
Austin Wates Francis Martes

Analysis: This one will fly under the radar with all the other major deals that were made on Thursday, but it was huge. Houston sent two promising young Major League-caliber players to the Marlins for two of their top prospects and an 18-year-old pitcher. Cosart, the 38th overall pick in the 2008 draft, was 9-7 with a 4.41 ERA with Houston at the time of the deal. In addition to this, Miami acquired a player in Hernandez who can play multiple positions both in the outfield and the infield. He was hitting .337 with eight homers and 37 RBI’s in Triple-A Oklahoma City prior to being called up to Houston’s big league squad. Wates, a third-round pick in 2010, was hitting .299 with two homers and 30 RBI’s in Triple-A. He also had 31 stolen bases and is projected as a lead-off hitter at the next level.

In terms of what Houston received, it was an absolute bounty. Moran, the sixth overall pick back in the 2013 MLB draft, is a great long-term third base option for Houston. Prior to the start of the season, he graded out as the Marlins No. 2 overall prospect. Marisnick was Miami’s third-ranked prospect at the start of the year and is a Major League-ready bat that should start in the outfield in Houston right away. In addition to his, Houston picks up talented 18-year-old Dominican prospect Francis Martes in the deal. While he’s too far away from the Majors to give a projection, it’s important to note that Martes was striking out more than a batter an inning in rookie league ball prior to the deal. Both teams got what they wanted here. For the Marlins, it was about acquiring a top of the line young pitcher who is under team control. Houston wanted to add some young bats to their organization and did just that.

 

Yankees Get Diamondbacks Get
Martin Prado Peter O’Brien

Analysis: Now here is a move that Yankees fans can get behind. Prado, a former All-Star, has been playing third base this season for Arizona, but has the potential to play along the right side of the infield as well. Prado was hitting .270 with five homers and 42 RBI’s with the Diamondbacks before this deal went down. At the very least, he adds options for Yankees manager Joe Girardi without them giving up too much in return. Infielder Peter O’Brien goes to Arizona in this deal. He was ranked 22nd in the Yankees system prior to the start of the season. O’Brien was hitting .245 with 23 homers and 51 RBI’s for Double-A Trenton prior to the deal.

 

Yankees Get Red Sox Get
Stephen Drew Kelly Johnson

Analysis: A minor deal between two bitter rivals heading in the different directions. New York acquires a veteran in Drew who can help it down the stretch. He is hitting just .176 with four homers and 11 RBI’s on the season. Boston adds a veteran infielder itself in Johnson. Not much more to add here.

 

Orioles Get Red Sox Get
Andrew Miller Eduardo Rodriguez

Analysis: Boston continues to kill at the deadline. It acquired Baltimore’s No. 3 overall prospect in starting pitcher Eduardo Rodriguez, who was 3-7 with a 4.79 ERA in Double-A prior to the deal. Rodriguez is said to have nasty stuff, but is still a ways away from making an impact in the Majors. It’s still a nice haul for a rental player in Andrew Miller. For the Orioles, they add to one of the best overall bullpens in all of baseball. Miller was 3-5 with a 2.34 in 50 appearances with Boston prior to the deal.

 

Nationals Get Indians Get
Asdrubal Cabrera Zach Walters

Analysis: This is an interesting move by the Nationals, who already have a really good shortstop in Ian Desmond. Though, it must be noted that Cabrera is a versatile infielder that can also play second and third, which helps the Nationals a great deal down the stretch. Remember, there is still some uncertainty regarding the health of third baseman Ryan Zimmerman, who has played in just 53 games this season and is currently on the DL. Cleveland acquires a young shortstop in Walters who ranked 12th among Nationals prospects at the start of the season. The 24-year-old Walters was a ninth-round pick of the Arizona Diamondbacks in 2010. He was hitting .300 with 15 homers and 48 RBI’s at Triple-A Syracuse prior to the deal. Walters figures to go directly to the Indians big league squad.

 

Mariners Get Padres Get
Chris Denorfia Abraham Almonte
Stephen Kohlscheen

Analysis: Not a blockbuster by any stretch of the imagination, Seattle did upgrade its situation in the outfield. Denorfia is hitting just .242 with one homer and 16 RBI’s on the season. He’s a solid defensive outfielder and boasts a lackluster .293 career on-base percentage. In terms of what Seattle yielded to San Diego in the deal for the light-hitting outfielder, Almonte seems to be the biggest prize. He ranked just outside of Seattle’s top-20 prospects at the start of the season. The outfielder has put up a .198 batting average in 106 at-bats for the Mariners big league squad this season. Almonte was hitting .267 with six homers and 36 RBI’s for Triple-A Tacoma after being sent down. Kohlscheen, a 45th-round pick back in 2010, has a 3.28 ERA in 15 relief appearances in Triple-A.

 

Brewers Get Diamondbacks Get
Gerardo Parra Mitch Haniger
Anthony Banda

Analysis: Battling for the NL Central crown, the Brewers added a pretty good bat and an elite defender in Gerardo Parro. The two-time Gold Glove Award winner is hitting .259 with six homers and 30 RBI’s on the season. He will likely be the fourth outfielder and a spot starter for the Brewers. Arizona acquires Milwaukee’s No. 6 overall prospect in outfielder Mitch Haniger, who is hitting .255 with 10 homers and 34 RBI’s at Double-A Huntsville. Starting pitcher Anthony Banda isn’t among the Brewers top prospects and is still playing low-level Single-A ball right now.

 

Cardinals Get Red Sox Get
John Lackey Joe Kelly
Corey Littrell Allen Craig

Analysis: It’s now fully understood that the defending World Series champions are throwing in the towel this season. Just hours after sending Jon Lester to the Oakland Athletics, Boston moved another veteran starter who played an important role in its championship run. Lackey is 11-7 with a 3.60 ERA on the season and will help fortify what has been an injury-plagued Cardinals rotation. In exchange for the starter, Boston received two highly-coveted chips. Outfielder Allen Craig is having a down season, but it’s important to note that he is just one year removed from an All-Star appearance and has driven in 90-plus runs in each of the last two seasons. Kelly, who split time between the bullpen and rotation last season, has started seven games in 2014. He’s 2-2 with a 4.37 ERA on the year. Kelly earned 10 victories and boasted a 2.69 ERA in 124 innings last year. Red Sox also yielded pitching prospect Corey Littrell, who was a fifth-round pick in the 2013 draft.

 

Athletics Get Twins Get
Sam Fuld Tommy Milone

 Analysis: I guess you could say Billy Beane is showing his hand this season. Less than an hour after acquiring Jon Lester from the Boston Red Sox, Beane sent starter Tommy Milone to the Twins in exchange for a player in Sam Fuld that the A’s waived earlier this year. Milone didn’t necessarily have a future in Oakland and demanded a trade following his demotion to Triple-A. He was 6-3 with a 3.55 ERA prior to the deal. In addition to that, Milone combined to win 25 games in 2012 and 2013. He gives the Twins a solid back-of-the-rotation starter. Fuld helps Oakland replace the production it received from Cespedes prior to him being dealt to Boston for Lester. At least from a depth standpoint.

 

Athletics Get Red Sox Get
Jon Lester Yoenis Cespedes
Jonny Gomes Competitive Balance Pick
Cash

Analysis: Now this is a blockbuster to end all blockbusters. Two All-Stars heading in opposite directions with the respective teams this season moved for one another in one of the biggest deadline deals in recent MLB history. Lester, who is having the best season of a stellar career, joins an A’s rotation that already includes aces Sonny Gray, Scott Kazmir and Jeff Samardzija. While he may be nothing more than a rental, it’s obvious Oakland is going for it all in 2014. As it relates to the Red Sox, they nab a player in Cespedes who has untapped potential and is coming off his first All-Star appearance. They do so with the idea that Lester may return in free agency this upcoming winter. Oakland was also able to acquire a clubhouse favorite from its surprising 2012 division title team in Gomes, who takes some of the sting away from losing Cespedes’ bat. Both teams got what they wanted, which makes this a fair deal all the way around.

 

Cubs Get Red Sox Get
Felix Doubront PTBNL
Cash

Analysis: This has to be considered a surprising trade between two non-contending teams. Doubront has struggled a great deal this season, posting an ERA over six. But he is coming off two consecutive double-digit win seasons and boasts a decent amount of upside for the Cubs. As it relates to Boston, apparently Doubront didn’t fit into its long-term plans at this point. Even more surprising is the fact that all Boston could land for the 26-year-old pitcher was a player to be named later. Good overall move from a Cubs perspective.

 

Cardinals Get Indians Get
Justin Masterson James Ramsey

Analysis: The Cardinals get a much-needed starting pitcher with Jaime Garcia lost for the season and Michael Wacha currently on the DL. Masterson, who is set to come off the disabled list himself on Friday, is already slated to start for St. Louis against the Milwaukee Brewers on Saturday. The veteran earned an All-Star appearance last season, but has struggled a great deal in 2014. He’s 4-6 with an ERA over five. Cleveland acquires the Cardinals 11th-ranked prospect in James Ramsey, who is hitting .300 with 13 homers in Double-A this year.

 

Blue Jays Get Royal Get
Danny Valencia Erik Kratz
Liam Hendriks

Analysis: A minor trade as the deadline looms. Toronto has been in need of an infielder over the past couple weeks, especially with Brett Lawrie and Edwin Encarnacion banged up. Valencia will act as a spot starter and late-inning defensive replacement. The 29-year-old third baseman was hitting .282 with two homers and 11 RBI’s at the time of the trade. Heading to Kansas City in this deal is Australian starter Liam Hendriks, who was 3-13 with an ERA over six in 31 career starts with Toronto. Triple-A catcher Erik Kratz is nothing more than a veteran backup. The 34-year-old backstop is batting .216 with 21 homers and 63 RBI’s in parts of five Major League seasons.

 

Dodgers Get Cubs Get
Darwin Barney PTBNL

Analysis: An extremely minor trade in the grand scheme of things, Los Angeles acquires a slick-fielding backup infielder that can’t hit worth a darn for a player to be named. Barney is hitting .230 with just 16 RBI’s on the season. He was designated for assignment by the Cubs earlier in July. Barney does possess a career 7.2 DWAR, which is an indication he can be utilized as a late-inning replacement in the field as well as a spot starter.

 

Giants Get Red Sox Get
Jake Peavy Edwin Escobar
Heath Hembree

Analysis: It was no secret that San Francisco had been targeting starting pitching in the past couple weeks. An injury to Matt Cain left a gaping hole in their rotation at the No. 5 spot with Yusmeiro Petit getting multiple starts. While Cain is expected back sometime next month, it made sense to add a starter. Peavy has been horrendous this season in Boston, going 1-9 with a 4.72 ERA in 20 starts. But he does add a veteran presence for the stretch run. In Escobar and Hembree, the Red Sox acquire two pitchers who ranked among the Giants top-10 prospects. Not a bad haul for a player that would have likely been designated for assignment if they were unable to trade him. Escobar, a reliever, should join Boston’s big club.

 

Yankees Get Rockies Get
Chris Capuano Cash

Analysis: The Yankees continue to add bargain-level veterans on the trade market. Chris Capuano was released by the Boston Red Sox in early July after posting a 4.55 ERA and 1.55 WHIP 28 appearances with the team. After catching on with Colorado, Capuano was assigned to Triple-A Colorado Springs where he put up a 3.07 ERA in three starts. The former All-Star has seen a deep decline in production since his days with the Milwaukee Brewers, but he did start 53 games with the Los Angeles Dodgers over the course of the two seasons prior to 2014. Realistically, this gives New York another arm to eat up innings. Not much more.

 

Mariners Get Twins Get
Kendrys Morales Stephen Pryor

Analysis: I don’t think anyone thought Morales would find himself in a Mariners uniform this season. After failing to re-sign the power hitter in the offseason, Seattle moved on by acquiring the likes of Logan Morrison and Corey Hart. Now that both have had their struggles this season, Seattle goes back to the well in order to help it contend in the AL West down the stretch. Morales was hitting just .234 with Minnesota on the season, but did hit 23 homers for Seattle last year. He’s an upgrade from a power standpoint. Minnesota received a reliever in Pryor, who last pitched regularly in the Majors back in 2012. The 25-year old boasted a 4.65 ERA in Triple-A Tacoma prior to this deal.

 

Tigers Get Rangers Get
Joakim Soria Corey Knebel
Jake Thompson

Analysis: The Tigers fortify what has been a disastrous bullpen this season by adding an All-Star caliber closer in Joakim Soria, who put up 17 saves and a 2.70 ERA with Texas prior to the trade. This is simply a move that Detroit needed to make in order to be considered serious contenders in the American League. It didn’t come without a cost. The Tigers yielded a top prospect in the form of reliever Corey Knebel, who was having a great season in the minors. Minor League tarter Jake Thompson also goes to Texas in this deal.

 

Yankees Get Padres Get
Chase Headley Yangervis Solarte
Rafael De Paula

Analysis: Headley has been a hot commodity on the trade market for a couple years now. His recent struggles may have impacted San Diego’s ability to get more for the soon-to-be free agent. He was hiting just .229 with seven homers at the time of the trade. Headley immediately takes over as the Yankees starting third baseman and may have a long-term future with the team, depending on how the Alex Rodriguez situation plays out. New York did give up its No. 11 overall prospect in Solarte in this deal. De Paula is a lower-level minor league starter who boasts an ERA over four in Single-A ball.

 

Angels Get Padres Get
Huston Street Taylor Lindsey
Trevor Gott R.J. Alvarez
Jose Rondon
Elliot Morris

Analysis: Los Angeles continues to improves its bullpen with the addition of an All-Star closer. Street’s splits are absolutely ridiculous this season (1.09 ERA, 0.76 WHIP). He will immediately take over for a unit that has blown a dozen saves thus far this season. On the other hand, San Diego acquires three of the Angels top-eight prospects for a veteran closer with a hefty price tag. Solid deal all the way around.

 

Royals Get Rangers Get
Jason Frasor Spencer Patton

Analysis: Frasor has been a good relief arm for some time now. He boasted a 3.34 ERA in 38 appearances for the last-place Rangers prior to this deal. He’ll be a nice addition to a really good Royal bullpen as they look to remain in contention in the AL Central. Patton is a young bullpen arm that should help Texas down the road. He put up a 4.08 ERA in 34 appearances at Triple-A Omaha prior to the trade. Patton did strikeout 103 hitters in 82.1 innings at two minor league levels last season.

 

Indians Get Angels Get
Nick Maronde PTBNL or Cash

Analysis: Not nearly a substantial trade in the grand scheme of things, Maronde has a career 7.13 ERA in 33 appearances for the Angels over the course of the past three seasons. He was a third-round pick out of Florida in 2011 and does have strikeout stuff.

 

Yankees Get Diamondbacks Get
Brandon McCarthy Vidal Nuno

Analysis: Brandon McCarthy is a veteran innings eater who should be able to help solidify what has been a struggling rotation. Despite struggling in Arizona prior to the deal,  McCarthy will be able to give New York the innings it needs from that spot in the rotation. Vidal Nuno ranked 30th among Yankees prospects entering the season. He was 2-5 with a 5.42 ERA in 14 starts for the Yankees prior to the deal.

 

Yankees Get Athletics Get
Jeff Francis PTBNL

Analysis: Nothing more than the Yankees looking to add another arm to their bullpen. Francis is about seven years removed from being a viable Major League arm. For the A’s, it was about getting something for a player that didn’t fit into their short or long-term plans. If the Yankees can upgrade from Francis prior to the deadline, they will.

 

Athletics Get Cubs Get
Jeff Samardzija Addison Russell
Jason Hammel Billy McKinney
Dan Straily
PTBNL

Analysis: The biggest trade thus far this season. Oakland yielded its top two prospects and a middle of the rotation starter for two important cogs in what promises to be an interesting run to the postseason down the stretch this season. Despite the success of Oakland’s rotation prior to this deal, Samardzija is an obvious upgrade and will act as staff ace. He’s also controlled through the 2015 season. Hammel was having the best season of his career with the Cubs. He tallied a 2.98 ERA in 17 starts prior to the trade.

The Cubs got a bounty in return for these two starters. Addison Russell is considered by many to be a top-five prospect in all of baseball. Despite doubling down at a position of perceived strength, he gives Chicago a lot of flexibility moving forward. McKinney was the A’s No. 2 ranked prospect and projects as a starting outfielder down the road. Lost in the shuffle of this blockbuster deal is Dan Straily, who won 10 games and put up a 3.98 ERA in 27 starts for the A’s last year. Two teams going in opposite directions getting exactly what they wanted.

 

Angels Get Diamondbacks Get
Joe Thatcher Zach Borenstein
Tony Campana Joey Krehbiel

Analysis: Thatcher is a left-handed specialist out of the bullpen and will help improve this aspect of the Angels’ team moving forward. He tallied a 2.64 ERA in 37 appearances with the Diamondbacks before this deal. Going back to Arizona are two mid-level prospects. Zach Borenstein put eight homers and 57 RBI’s in two minor league stops prior to the trade. Joey Krehbiel, a reliever, is still years away from the big club. Borenstein was the Angels No. 11 prospect entering the season.

 

Rockies Get Reds Get
Jair Jurrjens Harold Riggins

Analysis: Jurrjens is a former All-Star that has been unable to stay healthy over the past couple seasons. He’s no longer the pitcher he once was, but the Rockies are holding out hope that the starter can return to form. After all, he was 13-6 with a 2.96 ERA back in 2011. Riggins is a young power hitter that has had his issues with strikeouts in the minors. Despite putting up 22 homers in Single-A Modesto last year, he struck out a whopping 192 times in 413 at-bats. He was not ranked among Colorado’s top prospects heading into the season.

 

Angels Get Pirates Get
Jason Grilli Ernesto Frieri

Analysis: Two struggling closers looking for a change of scenery. Jason Grilli, who earned an All-Star appearance last season, is the most-proven of the two. This deal was all about giving two talented pitchers a fresh start.

 

All minor league rankings provided by SB Nation’s Beyond the Boxscore

Photo: Chicago Tribune

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