The trade deadline is right around the corner but a lot of big deals have happened already. One of them is the Yankee's acquisition of Ichiro. I had actually thought the Yankees would be content with the roster they had and try to compete with it. After all, the Yankees can boast the best run differential (as of the end of today they are +84, tied with the Rangers), a sign of a well rounded team that can pitch and hit. However, the Yankees are the Yankees and had to make a big splash. While Ichiro is not the same hitter he was when he was younger, he is still a good addition. The Yankees can score runs the way they are, and do not need Ichiro to hit .400 for the remainder of the season to win the AL East. Instead, the Yankees can expect Ichiro to play well in the outfield. They can also expect a guy who can run the bases well and do damage when he gets on. Though many of the fans and the media will expect Ichiro to hit, as long as the other Yankees are hitting, it should not matter too much. If the Yankees hit a bad stretch, and Ichiro does struggle, questions will be raised. But if that happens, the Yankees can kiss their postseason hopes good bye anyway because they are in a tough division, even if they do have a massive lead. I would expect Ichiro not to return to the Yankees next season anyway, considering Brett Gardner will be coming back and Ichiro's age.
The Dodgers also made a big move by acquiring Hanley Ramirez from the Marlins. Remember the Dream Team the Marlin's tried to assemble last offseason? Well that has fallen apart quickly and now one of the Marlin's premier players has been traded away. (Note: I would not go so far as to call this a fire sale on the part of the Marlins. Look to the Marlins after the 2005 season and the 2008 Pirates for real fire sales. This is merely a sub par team trading away veterans for prospects.) While Hanley has struggled so far this season, I think his numbers will pick up with the Dodgers and he will be motivated by a chance to play in the postseason. He is also a valuable hitter to hit behind Kemp and Either and his presence there alone will help bolster that lineup. Defensively, I am not of the opinion he adds very much value to the Dodgers, though the move was made to get a major bat. While I do not think he will have the impact Manny Ramirez did when he was traded to the Dodgers, I do think he will be a solid player and improve upon what he was with the Marlins. Unlike Ichiro, I do expect the Dodgers to keep Hanley as he is still young. Over time, I expect Hanley to return to the player he was before. Where Hanley might hurt the Dodgers is with his off the field issues. Because of this question mark, I do not think this addition is as good as the Yankees acquiring Ichiro.
Another major acquisition was the Angels acquiring yet another starter: Zack Greinke. The Angels already had a formidable rotation with Jered Weaver and C.J. Wilson. Dan Haren is also a good starter, though he has had his struggles. Adding Greinke to the mix really makes it strong and might make it the best rotation on paper in the AL. However, I do not think the Angels will be able to catch the Rangers in the AL West. The Rangers have shown they can both pitch and hit with the best teams in the American League, and though their pitching staff might be thinning out, they still have good starters and an offense to more than make up for it, especially if Josh Hamilton gets out of the horrendous slump he is in. The Angels, on the other hand, have had a good pitching staff but have been mediocre in terms of offense this season. While their pitching staff might be good enough to carry them to the playoffs, I do not believe it will be good enough to win a division. But that might not matter. The Angels now have the pitching to be formidable in a short series and recent years have proved good pitching and timely hitting is more than good enough to win a World Series.
The Dodgers also made a big move by acquiring Hanley Ramirez from the Marlins. Remember the Dream Team the Marlin's tried to assemble last offseason? Well that has fallen apart quickly and now one of the Marlin's premier players has been traded away. (Note: I would not go so far as to call this a fire sale on the part of the Marlins. Look to the Marlins after the 2005 season and the 2008 Pirates for real fire sales. This is merely a sub par team trading away veterans for prospects.) While Hanley has struggled so far this season, I think his numbers will pick up with the Dodgers and he will be motivated by a chance to play in the postseason. He is also a valuable hitter to hit behind Kemp and Either and his presence there alone will help bolster that lineup. Defensively, I am not of the opinion he adds very much value to the Dodgers, though the move was made to get a major bat. While I do not think he will have the impact Manny Ramirez did when he was traded to the Dodgers, I do think he will be a solid player and improve upon what he was with the Marlins. Unlike Ichiro, I do expect the Dodgers to keep Hanley as he is still young. Over time, I expect Hanley to return to the player he was before. Where Hanley might hurt the Dodgers is with his off the field issues. Because of this question mark, I do not think this addition is as good as the Yankees acquiring Ichiro.
Another major acquisition was the Angels acquiring yet another starter: Zack Greinke. The Angels already had a formidable rotation with Jered Weaver and C.J. Wilson. Dan Haren is also a good starter, though he has had his struggles. Adding Greinke to the mix really makes it strong and might make it the best rotation on paper in the AL. However, I do not think the Angels will be able to catch the Rangers in the AL West. The Rangers have shown they can both pitch and hit with the best teams in the American League, and though their pitching staff might be thinning out, they still have good starters and an offense to more than make up for it, especially if Josh Hamilton gets out of the horrendous slump he is in. The Angels, on the other hand, have had a good pitching staff but have been mediocre in terms of offense this season. While their pitching staff might be good enough to carry them to the playoffs, I do not believe it will be good enough to win a division. But that might not matter. The Angels now have the pitching to be formidable in a short series and recent years have proved good pitching and timely hitting is more than good enough to win a World Series.
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