MLB Trade Deadline

The July 31st trade deadline is typically a place where a few big names move around and a lot of prospects and veterans get shuffled around from bad teams to contenders. In 2006, the trade deadline featured a few big trades, but some of the bigger names, like Oakland pitcher Barry Zito, maligned Nationals slugger Alfonso Soriano, and Orioles shortstop Miguel Tejada remained with their teams. However, there were enough trades to make this last weekend interesting in MLB and some teams came out better than others.

Winners:
The Milwaukee Brewers came out well on another trade, this team dealing big time slugger Carlos Lee to the Texas Rangers for Laynce Nix, Kevin Mench, Francisco Cordero, and a prospect. While the Brewers also gave up top flight prospect Nelson Cruz, they got three major league players in return and Mench and Cordero have already made contributions. General manager Doug Melvin made a similar trade in the 2005 off-season, dealing Richie Sexson to the Diamondbacks for several great prospects, and in the 2006 off-season, dealing Lyle Overbay to the Blue Jays for several players who have played significant roles this season. Carlos Lee was not going to resign with the Brewers in the off-season and they made the best move they could make. Mench will be a solid outfielder, Nix is good enough to play off the bench, and Cordero will give manager Ned Yost a fall back option for troubled closer Derrick Turnbow.

The Cincinnati Reds are not the floundering franchise they once were, but a team that is on the verge of taking over the NL Central and they made the move that a winning team makes: bolstering their bullpen. The Reds picked up Rheal Cormier and Kyle Lohse to give them some solid innings from the bullpen and even more veteran leadership on a team with Adam Dunn and Ken Griffey Jr.

The New York Yankees got two solid players in outfielders Bobby Abreu and Craig Wilson in deals with the Philadelphia Phillies and the Pittsburgh Pirates, respectively. The Yankees raided Pennsylvania to get two more bats for a lineup loaded with talent and looking to stay one of the best teams in MLB. Abreu and Wilson should flourish in the lineup and at least through the regular season, the Yankees should put up huge numbers on the scoreboard.

Losers:
The Texas Rangers needed a pitcher, and they got...Kip Wells. Not exactly the ace they were looking for and Wells has had a poor and injury-riddled season in 2006. While they picked up big hitter Carlos Lee, they weren't able to get that big arm they will need to make themselves a contender in the AL West in the second half of 2006.

The Philadelphia Phillies are a salary cap winner but a talent loser. While they were glad to get rid of pitcher Corey Lidle and outfielder Bobby Abreu 's salaries, they will miss their talent. However, all is not lost as they got some prospects from the Yankees and they have a good young nucleus to build around in Ryan Howard and Jimmy Rollins. Nonetheless, the Phillies' 2006 performance has been incredibly disappointing.
The Washington Nationals lose because they couldn't shake Alfonso Soriano off their roster. Much maligned since coming to Washington, Soriano wants to move back from the outfield to shortstop. However, MLB teams knew of this conflict and the Nationals wanted way too much for Soriano. While Soriano won't tank the 2006 season because it is his contract year, the Nationals won't be able to get anything for Soriano after the season is over.

The Los Angeles Dodgers may have gotten Greg Maddux, but they got the older version, not the pitching magician that led the Braves to every NL East title in the 1990s. Maddux may be able to do a serviceable job on the mound, but his age is showing and the Dodgers have had their share of veterans and hacks in their rotation. Julio Lugo will be able to contribute some good defense and hitting, but the Dodgers are quickly morphing from a promising team to a team that is disappointing at every level of play.