As previously mentioned by Burga in his breakdown of the NL Part I, we will be breaking down the 2013 MLB Trade deadline by going through each team identifying needs both present and future, and making at least 15 deals including all 30 teams across both leagues. In order for this to be successful, we both need to make compromises in order to achieve what is best not only for our teams now, but in the upcoming future. Without further delay, let me break down which teams should buy, sell or hold.
AL EAST
Boston Red Sox - Buyers and Sellers
The Red Sox find themselves in a peculiar and oft debated situation. They are supposed to be in a bridge situation. They were supposed to be fielding a competitive team that would get them to their top prospects Bogaerts, Bradley Jr., Barnes, and Ranaudo in the next few years. Clearly it is working better than expected because they currently have the best record in baseball. What they can't do is lose focus of the big picture and try to go all in this season. They are playing well and scrappy which can only last for so long. With that being said they should make only the deals necessary to build up their bullpen and even their rotation, but not at the expense of their top prospects. They already dealt a prospect OF for a reliever, but with injuries to Bailey, Miller and Hanrahan in the bullpen, they need to make some acquisitions. They can't let their record keep them from trading players with expiring contracts like Napoli and Ellsbury, because they will be getting nothing for them in the offseason.
New York Yankees - Sellers
The Yankees can stop kidding themselves with this lineup of 2007 all-stars and "players to be name later" caliber rookies. They should be sellers and huge sellers. Probably the team that needs to make the biggest overhaul especially with a weak free agent class next season, they ought to be looking for prospects rather than cap space for superstars. Cano will be a free agent, but they will resign him to a bigger contract than Pedroia's. Alex Rodriguez could* be on the books for another $100M over 4 years too. They have a couple solid prospects in OF Slade Heathcott and C Gary Sanchez that they could start to form an offense around. But with Jeter, Mariano, Teixeira, Ichiro, Kuroda, Hughes, Youkilis, Granderson all being gone next year due to age, injury or free agency, the Yankees need to rebuild now.
Baltimore Orioles - Hold/Buyers
The Orioles may have the most complete team in the AL. They have youth, veteran prowess, superstardom and solid pitching. They really don't need to make any acquisitions after they completed their rotation with Scott Feldman, but like every contender, they could improve their bullpen, or pickup a Right Handed power bat to DH and Pinch hit.
Toronto Blue Jays - Hold
For the sake of the fan base, I would love to label the Blue Jays as Buyers, but you can't argue with their record. Currently 9 games under .500 and in the toughest division in baseball, you would think the M.O. would be to sell their names while they can, but that's just the thing. Being in the toughest division in baseball means as long as they are decent, they will always be relatively close in the hunt because the other teams will be beating up on each other. If they decide to Buy they will need to upgrade that rotation. Dickey, Buehrle and Johnson have been miserable and with Romero and Morrow combining for only 58 lackluster innings this season, another serviceable arm could be just the piece they need to make a run.
Tampa Bay Rays - Buyers
The Rays are in the thick of things doing the two things they do best, hit HRs and have quality pitching. They are currently leading the wild car race and only 2 back of the Red Sox. I don't see them needing to make any drastic upgrades as they have a young team built for the future with Myers, Jennings, Archer, Moore, Hellickson and Cobb, but could see them making a deal for another SP in case Cobb doesn't come back or getting a power Left Fielder to protect Longoria better in the order. They have the SP prospects to deal in Guerrieri and Odorizzi, so look for them to try to make a splash in Free Agency.
AL Central
Detroit Tigers - Buyers
The Tigers are a confusing situation. On paper they look like a dominant team, but have been far from it this season. They have the reigning MVP and Triple Crown winner in Miguel Cabrera, the first pitcher to win the MVP in years in Justin Verlander, but are still only a few games ahead of the Indians in the AL Central. When you look at the lineup, Victor Martinez hasn't been himself since coming back from injury and Austin Jackson missed a bunch of games in the season. Their rotation has been anchored by Max Scherzer of all people. Their biggest hole is in the bullpen. Jose Valverde and Phil Coke were flops as closers, and Joaquin Benoit has been decent, but they could use a bonafide elite closer as well as a powerful LF veteran bat. With Torii Hunter most likely gone next season and prospect Nick Castellanos coming up to play left, they don't need anything permanent.
Cleveland Indians - Buyers
At this point it is clear that the Wild cards are going to come out of the AL East or West, so the Indians need to do all they can to finish ahead of the Detroit Tigers. The Indians have a new found air of confidence with Terry Francona at the helm, and Justin Masterson has emerged as a major league ace. Kipnis has grown into a star while Asdrubal Cabrera has been a let down. Danny Salazar could be a star in the making and has incredible minor league numbers. Look for him to make another ML comeback this season. The Indians could look to move some slumping coveted ML pieces with other teams having the same problems (Swisher, Bradley, Bourn, Stubbs).
Kansas City Royals - Buyers
The Royals should NOT be buyers, but for the sake of their fan base, they need to make a push. This is the closest they've been being only 8 games back. James Shields has been great while Moustakas and Hosmer have been complete failures relative to their previous "Top Prospect" titles. After dealing Myers and Odorizzi to the Rays, they have pretty much thrown all their eggs in one basket for the next couple seasons and need to show their fans that they are serious. They have a plethora of talent in their minor league system and could definitely be in the market for some solid bats in the order or some rotation help.
Minnesota Twins - Sellers
The Twins are bad. They have nothing to look at on that roster outside of Joe Mauer, but it is what is in their system that Twins fans are getting excited about. 3B Miguel Sano and OF Byron Buxton could possibly be two of the top 10 offensive prospects in the game and could see themselves up in the show as soon as next season. They already called up former 1st round pick Kyle Gibson and have another prospect pitcher Alex Meyer waiting in the wings. Look for the Twins to move closer Glen Perkins and 1B Justin Morneau to a contender for some young pitching prospects.
Chicago White Sox - Sellers
The White Sox are even worse than the Twins and are much further out from being a contender again. Chris Sale should be the only untouchable piece on the team. Top Prospect Courtney Hawkins was drafted only last year and is still a couple years out. Gordon Beckham has turned it up a little bit and looks closer to being the guy they thought they drafted in the first round over 5 years ago. He could be a big piece and could be sold while his value is high right now to a team looking for a RH Veteran bat in the infield. Alex Rios has been drawing some attention along with Alexei Ramirez and both should look to be moved.
AL West
Oakland Athletics - Hold/Buyers
The Moneyball era seems to be over as they have upgraded to players like Coco Crisp who steals bases and although they still follow most of the philosophies, the cat is out of the bag on it for the most part as WAR, for instance, is recognized around the league now. The A's have another solid team comparable to the Orioles. Solid all the way around and have pitchers galore. Could see them move one of their starters for an infielder because when Anderson comes back from the DL they will have 7-8 able-bodied Starters between the MLB and AAA. They need to keep in mind that Bartolo Colon was listed as a steroid user in the same list that Braun was on, so they may need to keep all hands on deck.
Los Angeles Angels - Buyers
If the Angels don't turn this season around and make the playoffs, look for them to have a similar offseason as the Red Sox did a couple years ago by dumping all of their high priced pieces. The Pujols, Hamilton, Trout era has been going steady for a while now and has been far from effective. They need to replace Joe Blanton in the rotation, but other than that, there's not much more that needs to be upgraded other than their star players' averages.
Seattle Mariners - Sellers
The Mariners are one year away from seeing their roster come together. They have already called up Zunino, Franklin, Erasmo Ramirez, and Brad Miller this season. Dustin Ackley and Justin Smoak have been hitting better and Hisashi Iwakuma has emerged as a solid #2 pitcher on any team. With Taijuan Walker, Danny Hultzen, and Brandon Maurer on the cusp of joining the major league club, the mariners could have one hell of a rotation in the near future. Look for them to ship off Ibanez, Bay, Morales on offense, either Harang or Saunders from their rotation and anyone in their bullpen.
Texas Rangers - Hold/Buyers
Being in Second place in the AL West and in control of one of the wild card spots, I do not see many more moves the Rangers need to make since acquiring Matt Garza. Alexi Ogando is back from the DL this week and Matt Harrison is only 4-8 weeks away. The Rangers could be the quiet team to beat in the post-season with Profar being the ultimate utility man backing up every position, I don't see them making any more moves except maybe for a bullpen arm.
Houston Astros - Sellers
The Astros have so much talent in their minor league system and could see a decent turn around as soon as 2015, but for now their team is a joke. Their total payroll is less than Alex Rodriguez has been paid this season to do nothing. Jarred Cosart and Matt Dominguez have been the lone bright spots on this team, but with Springer, Correa and Appel in their minor league system, this team could have some enormous potential in the coming years. Look for them to have any one of their pitchers available including Bud Norris and even Jordan Lyles. Any of their starting OFs could be for sale too because Springer will be taking one of those spots next April.
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