Pelletier's Perspective 7.29.08: Deadline Deals

Posted by Justin Pelletier on 07.29.2008

We are just two days away from Major League Baseball's trade deadline. Want to know who will be headed where? Join 411's Justin Pelletier as he takes a look at possible destinations for a few of the biggest names on the trade block in the latest edition of Pelletier's Perspective.

It's a good time of the year for the Perspective. Not only because my career as a teacher at Camden Academy Charter High School has me off the entire summer but, also, because the summer is the time of year when rosters in every sport are in transition.

Three weeks ago I chronicled changes to several NBA rosters in my controversial draft recap. Now NFL rosters are sure to change as camps open and high priced veterans are sent packing. And this week, I will take a look at trade deadline deals that may (or at least should) go down in Major League Baseball.

This year has been an unusual one in regards to in-season trades as the two biggest deals went down weeks prior to the deadline. Milwaukee's acquisition of CC Sabathia and the Cubs subsequent deal for Rich Harden gave each team a leg up on the rest of the NL but may have kept the balance of power the same in the Central.

It will be up to the rest of National League to keep pace, and LA getting Casey Blake doesn't count. On the American League side of things the action has been pretty quiet but everyone knows that won't last long with both the Yankees and Sox in the pennant chase.

There are a ton of quality major leaguers who are available (or at least should be available) who can help any number of teams. Let's take a look.

Mark Teixeira – Teixeira has been the hottest name on the market. The Braves acquired the slugging first baseman just one year but he failed to pay dividends. This year Atlanta finds itself on the outside of the playoff chase looking in and willing to deal Teixeira to a team in need of a slugger. The problem is that most of the squads in the race are set at first. Philly (Ryan Howard), Milwaukee (Prince Fielder), The Cubs (Derek Lee), Boston (Kevin Youkilis) and The Yankees (Jason Giambi) are all normal buyers who are just not in the market for a first baseman. That leaves three teams with playoff aspirations as possible suitors for Big Tex. The first would be the Mets but with Carlos Delgado's recent surge (not to mention his preposterous salary) it looks like the New Yorkers will live or die with him at the corner. The LA Angles make a lot of sense as they've seemed to be on the verge of another World Series birth for a number of years but LA management doesn't seem to think that a 30+ home run hitter could help their cause. The final, and most likely, destination for Teixeira would be Arizona where the Diamondbacks have, arguably, the best staff in the majors but an offense that couldn't score five runs in a church league softball game. Teixeria would fit right into the middle of their line up and replace a game, but ultimately middling, Connor Jackson.

A.J. Burnett - Honestly, what team couldn't use a legit front-end of the rotation starter? Two contenders stand out far beyond the rest. The Phillies and the Yankees both find themselves behind the front runners of the Easts and both could use another arm. There aren't many things I can think of, more unlikely than the Jays trading Burnett to their division rival in the Evil Empire. Well there is one, Philadelphia actually ponying up the players necessary. Hope you like Joe Blanton Philly, advantage Yankees.

Miguel Tejada - Tejada is an interesting name that has only recently been floated around and that's primarily because the Astros still believe they are buyers! Clearly they are not and would be wise to start thinking about the future. It is going to take a total overhaul to get this team right and that overhaul should start by dealing this former MVP. The team most closely associated with Tejada are the Red Sox. Julio Lugo is a joke and Tejada would absolutely sure up the short stop position. There is another team which could use Tejada's services as well. This is a team which could use a veteran presence, an upgrade at short and has plenty of talent in its farm. Tampa Bay may not land Tejada but it wouldn't be a bad idea.

Manny Ramirez - Come on people! You don't trade one of the two or three top hitters of a generation, no matter how many times he says he wants to be traded, or shows up late to spring training, or stops to take a piss in the Green Monster. Man-Ram is the man, he's one of the top people responsible for Boston's two World Series titles and he's not going anywhere.

So there are four names, one which will probably be on the move, two which probably won't, and one which isn't going anywhere. So if you're like me and it's trades you want, well, you probably have to be happy with Casey Blake.