What are your thoughts on the new, single trade deadline? Most importantly, is it going to create more sellers or buyers this year?
I've gone back and forth in my head trying to decide if it creates more desperate buyers or more patient sellers/standers. In all, I think it'll be a big game of chicken right down to the deadline. I think the obvious teams will make moves, but I think we'll see a little less action overall and some surprise sellers.
It's going to be really interesting, especially with the wild card mosh pit that is the NL, where very team except for the Marlins is within 7 games of a playoff spot. The obvious cases are obvious. Yanks, Astros, Dodgers, Twins, Indians, Braves and Rays stand in obvious buyer territory, whether their individual finances allow it or not. Giants, Mets, Marlins, Orioles, Jays, White Sox, Tigers, Angels, Royals and Mariners are in classic seller/stand pat position depending on what they have to offer.
That's 17 of 30 teams. For the other 13, what does the one deadline mean? In recent years, we've seen some fringe teams make some middling moves at the deadline knowing that they'd have a chance to re-flip those assets in August if things didn't pan out. We've also seen teams hold in July and then become buyers if they get hot in August.
I'd say Cubs, Brewers, Indians, Red Sox, Nats, Phils and Cards are still more likely to be buyers than sellers....but what do you do if you're the Reds, Pirates or A's? If you're Texas or Arizona/San Diego/Colorado, do you make a token attempt to improve for the WC race knowing that's all you can have or do you sell?
I've gone back and forth in my head trying to decide if it creates more desperate buyers or more patient sellers/standers. In all, I think it'll be a big game of chicken right down to the deadline. I think the obvious teams will make moves, but I think we'll see a little less action overall and some surprise sellers.
It's going to be really interesting, especially with the wild card mosh pit that is the NL, where very team except for the Marlins is within 7 games of a playoff spot. The obvious cases are obvious. Yanks, Astros, Dodgers, Twins, Indians, Braves and Rays stand in obvious buyer territory, whether their individual finances allow it or not. Giants, Mets, Marlins, Orioles, Jays, White Sox, Tigers, Angels, Royals and Mariners are in classic seller/stand pat position depending on what they have to offer.
That's 17 of 30 teams. For the other 13, what does the one deadline mean? In recent years, we've seen some fringe teams make some middling moves at the deadline knowing that they'd have a chance to re-flip those assets in August if things didn't pan out. We've also seen teams hold in July and then become buyers if they get hot in August.
I'd say Cubs, Brewers, Indians, Red Sox, Nats, Phils and Cards are still more likely to be buyers than sellers....but what do you do if you're the Reds, Pirates or A's? If you're Texas or Arizona/San Diego/Colorado, do you make a token attempt to improve for the WC race knowing that's all you can have or do you sell?
