Wheeling and Dealing: The 2008 MLB Trade Deadline

Disclaimer: While I am a good baseball mind, I am by no means an expert in farm systems, and most of these deals will probably not even come close to happening anyway. But hey, it is fun to think about

With the deadline under two weeks away, there is one theme that has definitely presented itself.

No team is without need.

Whether a team is looking for an immediate fix to a blaring team weakness, or looking to bring in new, young players to help the rebuilding process, every team could use something.

With no division looking to be a lock going into the deadline, and many teams making a surprise run at contention (Tampa Bay, Minnesota, Texas, Florida), there will be a different group of buyers then normal coming into this. To summarize, I will discuss the #1 buyer trade that could/should/etc. happen in each division.

AL East

Adam Dunn (CIN) to Tampa Bay for Carl Crawford and Jeff Neimann (Durham, AAA).

Crawford spent years as one of few bright spots in Tampa Bay's lineup, but in 2008, where most of the team have seen career years, and new stars like Evan Longoria emerge, Crawford's numbers have dipped. His sub-par .315 OBP has also essentially rendered his stolen base ability to near uselessness, and he suffers from Johnny Damon-itis when trying to throw the ball from the outfield. That being said, Dunn and Griffey Jr. are probably on their way out and Crawford could do okay in Cinci. Cinci also needs more starting pitching and the Rays might get away with sending over Neimann and not having to touch David Price. On the Rays end, this trade would give the Rays the one big slugger they need, and allow the hot hitting Eric Hinske a guaranteed everyday spot in Left Field. Could even make them the (gasp) most talented team in the AL East.

AL Central

Aaron Rowand and Matt Cain (SF) to Minnesota for Glen Perkins, Kevin Mulvey, Brian Buscher, (Rochester, AAA), and Nick Punto.

Twins have overacheved this season in area, but too much of their performance is coming from too few players. They need a decent hitter and a new pitcher. Given San Francisco's anemic offensive numbers from the SS position this season, they would possibly do Rowand for Punto and a mid level prospect (hey, Punto's actually hitting pretty good this season in limited time). Cain is young and has huge upside, though, and the Twins would probably have to part ways with another high level prospect like Perkins to make this trade happen. The AL Central remains weak, though, and the Twins could find themselves playing in October.

AL West

Zach Greinke (KCR) to Texas for Kasey Kiker, Renny Osuna (Bakersfield), and Hank Blalock.

Rangers need pitching and the Royals are going nowhere fast again. I can't imagine Greinke would want to sign a long term deal with them. In the meantime, Blalock and his still good bat is wasting away on the Ranger bench and could provide KC with a little offense, and Osuna could do the same in the future. Kiker has also shown promise, mowing players down in Single A ball in 2007, at age 19. In the case of the Rangers, they have the potential to sign Greinke long term, and the need at the position. Though a good distance behind the Angels, their lineup, combined with the other two teams in the AL West having already packed it in for 2008, keeps Texas a buyer with a chance at the postseason.

NL East

Erik Bedard (SEA) to Philadelphia for Jason Donald (Reading), Travis Blackley (Lehigh Valley), and (insert random filler that could pan out to be a .750 OPS guy here).

It is no secret that the Phillies need pitching help. Adding Joe Blanton was a little bit of assistance, but they need more. While Bedard has been under a lot of heat while in Seattle for being the bad end of an imbalanced trade, he is still a good starter that could benefit the Phillies greatly if they are willing to take on his contract. The Phillies also stand a shot of resigning him after 2009 is over. Carlos Carrasco could also be involved in a trade like this instead of Blackley, but I have no idea why the Phillies would offer him in an initial deal when Seattle will probably be looking to dump his salary like they did Sexson and start fresh.

For Seattle, they would get a good future player in Cardenas, and Blackley could also pan out to be a decent player, but his ceiling is nowhere near as high as the previously mentioned Carrasco.

NL Central

Jon Rauch (WAS) to Chicago for Jacob Fox (Iowa), and Sean Marshall.

Cubs are the most loaded team in the NL Central, but with the recent injury to Kerry Wood (put this one on the opposite end of the shock spectrum to Greg Norman's British Open performance), plus the already iffy bullpen going in, the Cubs could use some help here. Fortunately, the Cubs have expendable parts to send the way of the Nationals to wrangle their closer from them.

The hangup with this trade is that only Marshall is major league ready at the moment, and Fox has had a below stellar season this year in the minors, bouncing back and forth between Tennessee and Iowa. Chicago could also send over Josh Vitters, but as the heir apparent at 3rd base to Aramis Ramirez and only 18, I would have to think Chicago would do everything in their power to avoid any deal involving him.

NL West

Marcus Thames (DET) to Arizona for Doug Davis and Brooks Brown (Mobile).

Well it is pretty hard to call either of these teams buyers or sellers, so why not have both of them give away some of what they have plenty of to get some of what they do not have. Thames is having a brilliant, career season, but this is the last year of his contract, and Clete Thomas looks like a capable replacement going forward. Eric Byrnes has never been all that good, and was badly overrated by finishing 11th in MVP voting in 2007; this fact has been painfully apparent in 2008. No one on the Diamondbacks is slugging over .500, Thames could immediately become the cleanup hitter. It is also the last year of Doug Davis' contract, but once again, the need for pitching makes this an attractive offer from Arizona, and would immediately make Davis the #2 starter, thanks in part to the struggles of Rogers, Robertson, and Verlander. The deal would be a little weighted towards Arizona, meaning Arizona would have to throw in a little something extra. That something extra would be Brooks Brown, who could pan out to be a good reliever in the future.

While teams still have a week and a half to figure out deals and decide how much of a chance they are willing to take with the team's future to win now, but if deals similar to these happen in the coming days, it could be what eventually tilts each division and helps us determine the jumble that has been the 2008 MLB season.