The Major League Baseball non-waiver trade deadline came and went yesterday and, if I may borrow a title from last year’s FHS theatre schedule, it could be labelled “Much Ado About Nothing.”
Years ago, there were numerous blockbuster trades born at the deadline (which is, traditionally observed on July 31 at 4 p.m. EDT). The thought process, I guess, is that you don’t want a team to be able to add a ringer to tip the pennant race one way or the other so close to the end. The July 31 date is about two months before the end of the season.
The Braves, themselves, celebrated a nice trade consummated by General Manager Frank Wren for lefty reliever Scott Downs who will help them in their final push over the next few weeks.
Smaller transactions can be made in August but, generally, they are more like roster tweaks than blockbuster deals. This year’s July period, actually, was comprised of more tweaks than blockbusters. MLB experts say there are a couple reasons for this shift.
For one thing, the addition of the second wild card team has opened up the playoff field. Teams with win-loss records a few games under the .500 mark this time of year were generally written off under the old playoff format. Or maybe they were considered long shots. But, in any case, they were more open to making trades with playoff contenders.
Now, everyone, it seems, is a contender.
Secondly, in tighter economic times, fewer teams are willing to take on some of these long-term, multi-million dollar contracts. At the same time, they place a higher value on high-level minor leaguers. Those prospects have greater upside and lower salaries.
Years ago, teams would trade three, four even five high-level prospects for a MLB star with a hefty contract. The thought was if you are able to win the World Series based on making that kind of trade, no one would mind. That is no longer the mindset.
Finally, I think, the current PED scandal in MLB had a bit of a chilling effect on this year’s wheeling and dealing. Some teams, fearing the suspension of a key player, were able to make trades to cover their impending holes. Most teams, however, stood pat. I think no one really knows what to make of this current scandal.
MLB reporters love to write the ‘Winners and Losers’ column when it comes to trade deadline deals. This year, however, the reporters, themselves, were the ‘Losers.’
They had nothing to report.
JG
(Source: mlb.com)
Originally posted 8/1/2013
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