Trade Deadline Recap

We can now clearly see both headlights of the 2012 non-waiver trade deadline in our rear-view mirrors and it's now time to get on with the final two months of the regular season. But before we put this eventful and exciting milestone to bed, I'd like to present a recap of the proceedings in the form of (what else) a fantasy baseball list. What follows is a 25-man roster comprised of the best players to be moved via trade before Tuesday's deadline. The list includes each player's primary position, their old and new teams, and their fantasy points at the time they were traded.

Of the five teams that show up the most often on this roster (four times apiece), only one of them - the Los Angeles Dodgers - could be considered buyers. The Boys in Blue are the only team to notch three acquisitions on this roster: 1) a top of the order hitter (Shane Victorino) who is now assured to bat near the top of the order since he's no longer blocked by Jimmy Rollins - the Flyin' Hawaiian has spent only 8 games in the leadoff spot this year. 2) a power bat (Hanley Ramirez) who, despite a general disappointing pall that has fallen on everything Miami this year, has quietly put together a fine season. And 3) a bullpen piece (Brandon League) to replace the one they gave up to get the player #1 on this list (Josh Lindblom). They also recently made the first POST-deadline acquisition (pitcher Joe Blanton, also from the Phillies) but that's a different. Those two hitters they acquired are the 2nd and 3rd highest-scoring batters to change hands pre-deadline this year, trailing only Hunter Pence (yet ANOTHER Philly) who went to division-rival Giants. The Giants also got versatile infielder Marco Scutaro, with the only Major League talent they parted with being backup outfielder Nate Schierholtz (who went to... you guessed it, the Phillies).

The highest-scoring pitcher to be moved went to a team whose only major deal was to acquire the highest-scoring pitcher available at the deadline - however Zack Greinke has failed to win either of his two starts with the Angels - in fact, the temperamental starter hasn't won since June. I'm considering trying to sell him high from my fantasy team before the general negativity of Anaheim causes him to combust. Greinke wasn't the only chip Milwaukee moved; they also sent backup catcher George Kottaras to the A's, the only move made by Billy Beane's club in the first post-Moneyball (2011 film) trade deadline, failing to capitalize on the momentum of a franchise-best July to improve the team in any meaningful way. Meanwhile, in a similar situation to the Giants and the Dodgers in the NL West, the Rangers have matched Anaheim SP for SP, with the acquisition of former NL ERA leader Ryan Dempster (although the fact that his FIP is nearly a run higher than his ERA doesn't bode well for his smoke and mirrors act continuing in Arlington).

Dempster wasn't the only player the Cubs shipped to the Rangers - the two clubs connected earlier on deadline day in a trade for Geovany Soto, whose main purpose it seems will be to leech at bats from Mike Napoli (just another way the AL West is conspiring to undermine my fantasy team). Nor was Dempster the only starter dealt by the Cubs - two days before the deadline, they shipped Paul Maholm to Atlanta (along with fourth outfielder Reed Johnson) after the Braves were spurned by Dempster, who invoked his no-trade protection rights after a deal had been worked out between the two clubs.

Along with the Phillies and Cubs, Miami and Houston were the biggest sellers this year. In addition to the Hanley Ramirez deal, Miami also sent two key players to the Tigers: first time free agent to be Anibal Sanchez and returning 2B Omar Infante, who has cooled off in the last month and a half after swinging a hot stick to start the season. I still bat him second in my projected order because even though his .305 OBP is nothing special, it's better than Ichiro's .287, which shouldn't even earn him the "second leadoff" 6th spot, but he does have a bit of a track record on his side.

In their last year in the NL, the Astros have taken the predictable step of purging themselves of 30-something veterans making $10 million-plus per year: Wandy Rodriguez went to shore up the upstart Pirates rotation and Brett Myers hasn't given up a run yet for the White Sox... they even managed to pull off the rare sell-to-the-sellers trick, sending Carlos Lee to the Marlins before the Fish realized they were fighting a losing battle in 2012. They did receive highly touted 3B prospect Matt Dominguez in the deal, prompting them to trade Chris Johnson to the Diamondbacks to clear up a path for him. They also sent honorable mention J.A. Happ to the Blue Jays in a blockbuster deal, getting some return from the now twice-traded lefty before he hits the open market for the first time. The only other player worth honorably mentioning has to be Francisco Liriano, who is starting tomorrow for the White Sox.

One of the most surprising deals of the deadline had to be the Reds acquiring rejuvenated closer Jonathan Broxton from the Royals, since Cincinnati already features the hardest-throwing closer in the game right now. I wonder if this move will pave the way for Aroldis Chapman to head into the rotation, or if J-Brox will simply languish as a setup man for the rest of 2012. I wonder what would have been better for his 2013 free agent value: setting up for a playoff contender or closing for a team who's dead in the water.