The Trade Deadline/Archer Award Show

            The pageantry of baseball’s 4:00 P.M. trading deadline rests on the battery life of General Managers’ cell phones

Since GMs make their paychecks in the last week of July, moves to improve the team are frequently made, and graded. Also, just like every year, some players have new teammates for the rest of the season at least.  

With the non waiver deadline done, let us award the teams that did the best, and heckle the ones who did the worst. Heck, let’s make this a themed award.

Ladies, gentlemen, readers of all ages, welcome to the first ever Archer trade deadline award post.

We start with the “THAT WAS TOTALLY NINJA!” award for the best deal made with five minutes before 4:00 P.M.

 This year, the Texas Rangers spearhead the top of the trade deadline ninja class. The Rangers needed a starting pitcher like a businessman needed Dunkin Donuts in the morning. With the L.A. Angels snatching up Zach Greinke, the Rangers had to respond by landing a quality starting pitcher. When Cliff Lee and Felix Hernandez got taken off the market they did the next best thing, they landed Ryan Dempster.

The Rangers gave up Class A third baseman Christian Villaneuva and pitcher Kyle Hendricks to the Cubs in exchange for Dempster. In addition to his killer impersonation skills, Dempster brings the second lowest earned run average in the majors to the lone star state.

By landing Dempster, the Rangers reminded the American League that teams still have to go through Texas to get to the World Series.

The Rangers get the ninja award for their move five minutes before the clock struck 4:00.

Honorable Mention: The New York Yankees getting Pirates third baseman Corey McGehee. Even with a six and a half game lead in the AL East, the Yankees lineup is currently being held together with Duct tape. McGehee provides a body to plug the hole until Alex Rodriguez recovers from his broken hand. Getting McGehee was a smart deadline deal.

Next we have the “Yeah, I know it's sexy Woodhouse, that's why I bought ten. Now arrange those by color.” award for the team that made the highest number of big name, low productivity trades. Come on down and claim your prize Los Angles Dodgers.

The Dodgers managed to snare shortstop Hanley Ramirez and outfielder Shane Victorino before the end of July.

            

            Ramirez and Victorino are both upper level names in the game, yet both have struggled this season. Ramirez was hitting a whopping 2.43 with 66 strikeouts this year before heading west. Yet Ramirez’s ten home runs and 45 runs batted in this year were somehow enough to convince the Dodgers to trade for him. The low production coupled with Ramirez’s history of back issues at age 28 makes the move more flash than substance.

            Speaking of substance, there hasn’t been much of that from former all-star Victorino. The flying Hawaiian managed only a .261 average to be paired with nine homers and 40 runs batted in this year. Also, the Dodgers are planning on giving up cash to the Phillies to take on the 31 year old outfielder.

            Between Victorino and Ramirez, the Dodgers will increase their jersey sales. Too bad L.A. will be disappointed by the production they get from their two big names.

           

             Honorable Mention:  Chicago White Sox get Francisco Liriano. This lefty has not won a game since July 6^th. Liriano also has an ERA of 5.31 with a horrid win loss record of 3-10. The White Sox may be in first place still, yet this is a big name-bad move situation.

            Up next is the “I’m sorry Cyril’s off what, with whom?” award for the most surprising deal made. This trophy goes to the Cincinnati Reds for their acquisition of Jonathan Broxton.

            The Reds have won ten out of their last eleven games and managed to get better on deadline day. Broxton is 1-2 this year with a 2.27 ERA, 23 saves, 14 walks and 25 strikeouts for the Kansas City Royals. Between Broxton and human cannon Aroldis Chapman, the Reds have the last two innings covered. Oh and their best player, Joey Votto, is rehabbing as we speak. With this move, the Reds are now the scariest team in the National League right now.

            

             Honorable mention: Yankees land Ichiro. Sure Ichiro is hitting .260 and yes he is 38, yet this move works for the Bronx bombers. He provides a dependable replacement for Brett Gardner at a reasonable price. This move doesn’t guarantee the Yankees a championship, yet it helps.

            Our fourth award is the “You know I bet there's a lesson to be learned from all this, but I - oh s*&^ my rug!” award for the biggest trade deadline blunder. This award goes to the Saint Louis Cardinals for trading for Marlins reliever Edward Mujica. This award goes to the team that made a terrible deal, not one who did nothing.

            It is one thing to have a fire sale at the deadline; it is another to make a horrid move for the sake of improvement. The defending champs traded for bullpen help, yet it is possible someone forgot to tell them Mujica has a career ERA of 4.42. Mujica has been more of the same this year with a 4.38 ERA this season. With the Reds and Pirates improving, the playoffs may not be in the Cards this year.

            Honorable Mention: Liriano to the White Sox. See above.

            Finally we hand out the “That is my foot in your face, Smell the embarrassment” award for the team that made the worst mistake by not making a trade.

This award goes to the Atlanta Braves for not getting a bat.

            The Braves .256 batting average is 16th in the league. Atlanta did exactly nothing at the deadline to patch up their lineup. With the Washington Nationals slowly gaining distance between themselves and the Braves, Atlanta will have to hope there is still an opening for that second wild card spot in October.

            Honorable Mention: Boston Red Sox not doing anything substantial. The Sox didn’t get rid of Josh Beckett or unload Carl Crawford for talent in return. Sure they got Craig Breslow, a good relief pitcher for nothing. To put it simply, not only did the Sox not appease their fans, they also failed to make a move that put them in the playoff picture.

Thank you for coming to the award show everyone. Be sure to e-mail your GM with a congratulations or strongly worded F-you letter.