MLB Trade Grades for Baltimore Orioles, Boston Red Sox and More

The 2013 non-waiver trade deadline didn't feature a flurry of activity like it has in past years, but there were still plenty of interesting moves that promise to have a big impact on the stretch run. 

This included the teams of the competitive American League East beefing up their rosters. I'll feature two of those teams below. 

They will be joined by the Oakland Athletics, who managed to make a deal with a division rival. 

Boston Red Sox 

Red Sox Received: SP Jake Peavy, RP Brayan Villarreal

White Sox Received: OF Avisail Garcia, SS Cleuluis Rondon, RHP J.B. Wendelken, RHP Francellis Montas

Tigers Received: SS Jose Iglesias

With Clay Buchholz's availability and effectiveness (when/if he does return) for the remainder of the season up in the air, the Red Sox had to do something to bring in a starter, and they got a good one.   

Four-time All-Star and 2007 Cy Young winner Jake Peavy was easily one of the most coveted arms this trading season. While he is not as dominant as he once was, he is still a very good pitcher.

Peavy is 8-4 with a 4.28 ERA, 1.14 WHIP and 76 strikeouts in 80 innings this season. There is no doubt he is an upgrade for the Red Sox. 

That's not all, either. The Red Sox needed help in the bullpen, and they got Tigers reliever Brayan Villarreal.

How much he can help remains to be seen. The right-hander struggled to a  20.77 ERA in seven games before being sent down to Triple-A this season. He is not without potential, though. Last year, he posted a 2.63 ERA in 50 appearances. 

The Red Sox did have to give up 23-year-old shortstop/third baseman Jose Iglesias to Detroit. In 212 at-bats this year, he's hit .330/.377/.410.

However, the three prospects (Cleuluis Rondon, J.B. Wendelken and Francellis Montas) surrendered by the Red Sox do not appear to be a huge loss. 

Grade: A

Baltimore Orioles

Orioles Received: SP Bud Norris

Astros Received: OF L.J. Hoes, SP Josh Hader, Comp Round A pick

The Orioles couldn't sit idly by while the Red Sox landed a starter. 

Earlier in July, the Orioles added pitcher Scott Feldman, but that wasn't enough for them. They added one of the top pitchers on the market in Bud Norris. 

The right-hander is just 6-9, but that isn't bad considering he compiled that record while pitching for the pitiful Astros.

Norris has posted a 3.93 ERA and a 1.41 WHIP in 21 starts this season. The 28-year-old is also under team control until 2015. This is a quality addition for the Orioles, but it came at a price. 

L.J. Hoes and Josh Hader are top prospects, and the competitive lottery pick in the upcoming draft will come right after the first round.

With the price of acquiring starting pitching at this deadline, the Orioles can't be blamed for giving up too much, and there is no doubt that Norris makes Baltimore a better team. 

Grade: A-

Oakland Athletics 

Athletics Received: 3B Alberto Callaspo

Angels Received: 2B Grant Green

The A's didn't make a huge splash as they prepare to try to hold their five-game lead over the Texas Rangers in the American League West, but they helped bolster their lineup. Not by much, however.

Alberto Callaspo has been playing third base for the Los Angeles Angels, but he's started 201 games at second in his career, and that is where the A's plan on using him.

This makes sense for the A's, given that their platoon of second baseman, led by Eric Sogard, are slashing just .254/.320/.340. 

However, the problem is that Callaspo isn't hitting much better. For the season, the 30-year-old is hitting .253/.323/.348 with five home runs and 36 RBI.

Combine this with the fact that he is an aging player who hasn't had regular time at second base since 2009, and it is hard to see why the A's would part with a solid prospect in Grant Green. 

Making it even more confusing is the fact that the 25-year-old Green has been playing Triple-A at second base this year and is hitting .325/.379/.500 with 11 home runs and 50 RBI.

I just don't see how the Athletics gained enough to make this deal worth it.  

Grade: D