MLB Trades 2011: 6 Bold Predictions for Players with New Teams

Well, the July 31 trade deadline has come and gone, but not before numerous teams were able to make a splash by landing that top slugger or ace and sending their young prospects packing.

It was an interesting few weeks. Teams like the Cleveland Indians, who haven't been buyers at the deadline in many years, joined the party, and other teams which usually make a lot of noise come the end of July remained mute.

But let's set aside talk of the deals themselves for a few minutes. I'm leaving the discussion of good trade/bad trade to somebody else. Let's talk about the players themselves and what the impact on their new teams will be for the home stretch of 2011.

The Good: Michael Bourn to the Atlanta Braves

Perhaps more than any other player in a new place this summer, Michael Bourn will have the most dynamic impact on his new team. He instantly brings speed, Gold Glove-caliber defense, and an aggressive mien that the Atlanta Braves will benefit from as they chase the Phillies for the NL East divisional crown.

The Braves have had trouble filling the leadoff spot with a prototypical number one hitter all year. Martin Prado doesn't have the speed and doesn't draw enough walks. Nate McLouth is more of a typical leadoff hitter but has had problems with hitting consistently and staying off the DL. Jordan Schafer is still probably too young for a playoff-bound team, and Alex Gonzalez doesn't quite fit the ideal mold.

With Bourn, a player who is having a career-type year, batting .303 with an NL-leading 39 stolen bases, he'll provide an instant impact as a leadoff threat to all opposing pitchers. Look for him to continue his hot hitting, running, and fielding as there should be little transition time adjusting to pitching between Houston and Atlanta. Furthermore, dropping Bourn directly into a playoff hunt should reinvigorate and motivate him to continue his breakneck pace.

Projected Stats for the Rest of 2011:

.291 BA, 1 HR, 11 RBI, 38 R, 20 SB

The Good: Hunter Pence to the Philadelphia Phillies

Like Bourn with the Atlanta Braves, Hunter Pence will slide nicely into a scuffling Philadelphia lineup that has been badly in need of a presence like his.  While the Phillies have tried to plug up the hole that Jayson Werth left with a number of different players all season, the spot was tailor-made for Pence.

Pence, who should end the year with career highs in doubles, hits, RBI, and possibly OBP, will bring consistently high production to the fifth slot in the Philly lineup—a position which, up until his arrival, was middling at best.

Also, similarly to Bourn, Pence should have a short transition time as there are no inter-league pitching adjustments to be made.  Also, with the hitter-friendly confines of Citizens Bank Park and Hunter Pence's balanced approach at the plate, he should have plenty of offensive success in 2011 and beyond.

Projected Stats for the Rest of 2011:

.288 BA, 9 HR, 33 RBI, 19 R, 3 SB

The Good: Mike Adams to the Texas Rangers

Mike Adams is the best set-up man in Major League Baseball.  In each of the past three seasons, he has had a sub-2.00 ERA, a sub-1.07 WHIP, and has averaged more than nine strikeouts per nine innings. And this season Adams has been even better, if you can believe it.

The one thing working against Adams in his trade to Arlington is that he'll be moving from the pitcher's dream park in Petco to one of the better hitter's parks in the AL. Even still, he'll remain in a division that sports a group of some of the weakest hitting teams in the MLB, and he'll be facing batters who won't have much experience against him.

Projected Stats for the Rest of 2011:

21.0 IP, 1.29 ERA, 0.95 WHIP, 19 K

The Bad: Ubaldo Jimenez to the Cleveland Indians

Ubaldo Jimenez is not the pitcher he was last year. Still, he may figure to be a valuable starting pitcher for the Cleveland Indians for the rest of the 2011 season—particularly if they are able to make the playoffs.

Jimenez may turn out to be worth the price of admission if the Indians can win the AL Central and use him in Game 1 of the NLDS.  At the very least, he is a legitimate ace on a team that was without one until Saturday night. But there is no question he has lost his 2010 form.

Despite a similar K/9, BB/9, HR/9 and K/BB ratio to last year, Jimenez has posted a significantly higher WHIP and H/9 this year. Also, though typically Ubaldo's fastball has topped out around 96-97 mph, on Saturday his fastball was coming in around 89-92 mph.

Jimenez's 2011 has been typified by streaks of brilliance and mediocrity. The Indians are hoping the AL-NL transition will work in his favor and he can finish out the year strong, in spite of a rocky 2011.

Projected Stats for the Rest of 2011:

4-3, 3.89 ERA, 1.36 WHIP, 58 K

The Bad: Rafael Furcal to the St. Louis Cardinals

Ryan Theriot, the St. Louis Cardinals' shortstop (until Rafael Furcal arrived) was having a horrendous July. It's probably what contributed most to the Cardinals pursuing Furcal after another injury-riddled 2011.

Mostly, the Cardinals went after Furcal with the hopes that he can remain healthy for the remainder of 2011 in part-time duty at shortstop. Unfortunately for the Cards, there is nothing to suggest that Furcal will bounce back from an already horrible start in 2011. He is 33 years old, hasn't hit over 10 home runs since 2006, and hasn't stolen more than 25 bases since 2007. To add insult to injury, he is under the Mendoza line in batting average and has only played in 37 games so far this season.

None of those stats bode well for the aging shortstop.

Still, Furcal is a veteran bat with experience to spare for the Cardinals who hope they can make a push into the playoffs. What he may not bring in numbers, perhaps he can bring in intangibles. My gut feeling is, however, that Furcal has very little left in the tank and may end up being a non-factor in the crucial months leading up to the end of the season.

Projected Stats for the Rest of 2011:

.223 BA, 1 HR, 7 RBI, 12 R, 2 SB

The Ugly: Eric Bedard to the Boston Red Sox

A number of unfortunate events had to take place in order for Erik Bedard to be dealt to the Boston Red Sox. Even still, the Bedard trade was one of desperation for the BoSox.

Although Bedard is a supreme lefty talent—probably a reason why time and again nobody wants to give up on him—Boston only picked him up because Clay Buchholz's back injury looks like it may sideline him for a significant portion of the rest of the season and because their deal with the equally injury-plagued Rich Harden fell through.

Boston is hoping that Bedard's last start, where he got shelled for five earned runs in one and a third innings (to say nothing of the four walks) while MLB scouts looked on, is no reflection of how he'll finish the season. Despite the rough start, Bedard has been having a decent year for the offensively powerless Seattle Mariners. Perhaps a change of scenery will do him good, but I can't see him staying off the DL over the next couple months.

Boston rolled the dice on this one and are hoping it doesn't come up snake eyes.

Projected Stats for the Rest of 2011:

2-1, 4.22 ERA, 1.24 WHIP, 36 K