MLB Trade Deadline 2013: Winners, Losers From Baseball's Trading Day
With the nation-wide obsession of rumors, the MLB Trade Deadline usually never lives up to our insane expectations. Therefore, 2013 was a little anticlimactic as nearly all of the top-notch players supposedly on the trade block stayed put. For example, the Chicago White Sox have been rumored to dealing Alex Rios since May, yet he remains on the south side of Chicago...for now.
However, a few players did get dealt this trade deadline and as always there were a few moves that made you shake your head.
Bud Norris going from the Houston Astros to the Baltimore Orioles seems like a big-time move for Baltimore, but the Orioles took a large step backwards by bringing in this mediocre starter. L.J. Hoes was sent to Houston in exchange for Norris and the Astros are definitely excited about plopping this 23-year-old prospect in their outfield for years to come. Believe it or not: Hoes was a third-round pick in 2008 and he has emerged as a five-tool player in during his time in the minor leagues, yet the Orioles felt he was nothing more than a fourth outfielder at the major-league level.
Meanwhile, Norris has pitched in four MLB seasons with each of them coming for the futile Astros. It's difficult for a player coming from a bottom-dwelling team to get dealt to a contending team -- the expectations in Baltimore are World Series and Norris has never even pitched in a postseason game.
Devin O’Barr is the Content Commentator for www.RantSports.com. Follow him on Twitter @DevinOBarrRS, “Like” him on Facebook or add him to your network on Google.
No. 3 Winner: Detroit Tigers Get Defensive
With Johnny Peralta likely getting nailed with a 50-game suspension in the coming days, the Detroit Tigers had to make a move at shortstop. Therefore, Detroit unloaded a one-dimensional prospect for Jose Iglesias, who is a natural shortstop and has been money for the Boston Red Sox at third base. The Tigers' defense has been lacking, so this move makes a ton of sense. Not to mention, the Tigers also got Jose Veras on the cheap which means the closer problem should no longer be an issue.
No. 3 Loser: Baltimore Orioles: Bud Norris is Nothing Special
Bud Norris isn't the type of pitcher that the Baltimore Orioles needed. I understand that Baltimore can see itself slipping in the AL East standings, yet Norris has pitched for the futile Houston Astros for the last four seasons and doesn't know a thing about the postseason.
No. 2 Winner: Pittsburgh Pirates Stand Pat
It was comforting to see the Pittsburgh Pirates not make a move this trade deadline. Surrendering a prospect for an overpaid outfielder would only put the Pirates behind the eight ball and disrupt the chemistry currently evident in Pittsburgh. The best team in MLB had no business making a move on Wednesday.
No. 2 Loser: Boston Red Sox Will Regret Jake Peavy Move
Jake Peavy was the best starting pitcher on the market in 2013, yet he doesn't exactly fit with the Red Sox. Peavy is only under contract for the rest of 2013 and 2014, so Boston flipped a top-notch infielder like Iglesias just less than a year and a half for an aging starting pitcher. The Red Sox may enjoy Peavy in the short term, but this move is a risky one to say the least.
No. 1 Winner: Arizona Diamondbacks Finally Fix Bullpen
Ian Kennedy didn't have a future with the Arizona Diamondbacks, so dealing him in exchange for a shut-down reliever makes a ton of sense. Joe Thatcher is now with the D-Backs and he'll be responsible for stifling the left-handed bats in the NL West.
No. 1 Loser: St. Louis Cardinals Playing With Fire
Apparently, the St. Louis Cardinals think they can win games with an array of back-up catchers while Yadier Molina is on the 15-day disabled list. Instead of snagging a productive journeyman like John Buck or Dioner Navarro, the Cardinals sat idly by and better hope that Molina's knee strain isn't too serious.
