ESPN.com gives you the skinny on the big trades, including our special rating system (four balls = high impact, one ball = low impact).
| THE TRADE |
THE SKINNY |
To Atlanta:
B.J. Surhoff
Gabe Molina
To Baltimore:
Luis Rivera
Trenidad Hubbard
Fernando Lunar
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Surhoff is a Proven Veteran. However, before you Braves fans get too excited, compare his numbers to Al Martin's (see below). And the Mariners didn't have to give up an excellent pitching prospect like Atlanta did in Rivera. Surhoff has a .794 OPS (on-base + slugging), which isn't that good for a major-league left fielder. He's also 36 on Aug. 4 and signed through 2002. This could turn out be a big albatross for the Braves in a couple years as Surhoff ages and if the flamethrowing Rivera, 22, can stay healthy (he's been out two months with a right shoulder strain).
Pennant impact:  |
| THE TRADE |
THE SKINNY |
To Seattle:
Al Martin
To San Diego:
John Mabry
Tom Davey
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The Mariners may have picked up the only defensive left fielder worse than Rickey Henderson, but that's not why they got Martin. They needed a left-handed stick and Martin has clubbed righties this year to the tune of a .348 average (sixth-best in the NL), .403 on-base percentage and .559 slugging percentage. And all they gave up was a suspect major leaguer in Mabry and the hardthrowing but control-impaired Davey. Martin is signed through 2001.
Pennant impact: |
| THE TRADE |
THE SKINNY |
To St. Louis:
Will Clark
Cash considerations
To Baltimore:
Jose Leon
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Remember when Baltimore signed Clark and let Rafael Palmeiro go to Texas? That one didn't work out, did it? Obviously, the Cardinals are concerned about Mark McGwire's knee. If he's out for any period of time, Clark could prove to be a nice pickup. He doesn't have much power, but he still gets on base (.413 on-base percentage). Leon, 23, is a third baseman hitting .269 with 14 home runs at Double-A but an awful 16/66 BB/SO ratio. Kind of a poor man's Ryan Minor.
Pennant impact: |
| THE TRADE |
THE SKINNY |
To Toronto:
Steve Trachsel
Mark Guthrie
To Tampa Bay:
Brent Abernathy
Player to be named
|
With Chris Carpenter getting hammered left, right and upside down, the Jays were desperate for another starter, especially with Kelvim Escobar also struggling and Frank Castillo perhaps tiring. Trachsel has a solid 4.58 ERA, but he's allowed 52 hits in 35.1 innings in July. Trachsel has a one-year deal for $1 million, but is likely to earn up to $4.5 million in performance bonuses. Guthrie helps out in the pen. Abernathy is a solid second-base prospect, hitting .296 at Triple-A Syracuse, who could unseat Miguel Cairo for a starting job next year.
Pennant impact: |
| THE TRADE |
THE SKINNY |
To Los Angeles:
Tom Goodwin
To Colorado:
Todd Hollandsworth
Randey Dorame
Kevin Gibbs
|
Devon White came off the DL last week after having shoulder problems, but now his left knee is hurting ... and now Tom Goodwin can hurt the Dodgers offense. Seriously, he's another Coors Field mirage and is hitting just .208 on the road. Hollandsworth has never hit enough to be a major-league regular, but will post some superficially excellent numbers in the Land of Great Hitters. Dorame is a 21-year-old lefty who is the sleeper to the deal. He has a 3.05 ERA between Class A and Double-A.
Pennant impact:  |
| THE TRADE |
THE SKINNY |
To St. Louis:
Carlos Hernandez
Nathan Tebbs
To :
Heathcliff Slocumb
Ben Johnson
|
Comparing Carlos Hernandez to Mike Matheny isn't exactly comparing apples to oranges: both are catchers with good defensive reputations but minimal output at the plate. After a strong April (.313), Matheny has hit .217, .210 and .211 in May, June and July. Hernandez isn't much better, hitting .251 with little power. He's signed through next year. The Cardinals didn't need Slocumb after acquiring Mike Timlin and Jason Christiansen. Johnson is just 19 and is hitting .242 with 13 home runs in the Midwest League.
Pennant impact: Half a scuffed baseball (no picture available) |
| THE TRADE |
THE SKINNY |
To Cubs:
Rondell White
To Montreal:
Scott Downs
|
White is hurt (he's been out since July 14 with a strained right hamstring) and the Cubs are out of the pennant race, but they decided to make a move for the future. And in all likelihood this is a good trade for the Cubs even though White has a history of injury problems, which includes a bad knee. Several teams, including the Yankees, Braves and Mariners reportedly did back off in their pursuit of White because of his injury woes. Downs looks like an average left-handed pitcher at best. You would have thought the Expos could have gotten more than a pitcher who has given up 117 hits in 94 innings and has a 5.17 ERA.
Pennant impact: None |
| THE TRADE |
THE SKINNY |
To Florida:
Henry Rodriguez
To Cubs:
Ross Gload
Dave Noyce
|
This trade screams for another one to follow. Why else would the Marlins, who trail the Mets by 8½ games in the wild-card race, trade for a veteran like Rodriguez, who is making $4.5 million this season? The Marlins, if they keep Rodriguez, will also hold a $5.2 million club option for 2001 with a $600,000 buyout. The trade of Rodriguez does, however, free up Rondell White to take over left field for the Cubs whenever he becomes healthy. Gload, a first baseman-outfielder, and Noyce, a left-handed pitcher, aren't considered high-level prospects.
Pennant impact: Obviously, none |
| THE TRADE |
THE SKINNY |
To Anaheim:
Ron Gant
To Philadelphia:
Kent Bottenfield
|
Gant has one of the more amazing stat lines of the year -- 20 home runs and only 38 RBI (he's hitting .181 with runners on base and 16 of the homers have been solo shots). He likely becomes Anaheim's regular DH, but he's not much of a step up from Scott Spiezio. Meanwhile, Bottenfield, who like Gant is signed through 2000, was no great shakes as a starter (5.71 ERA), but does hurt Anaheim's rotation depth. While there's no "winner" in this trade, the Angels end up losing in the long run -- by next year, Adam Kennedy is likely their only return left for Jim Edmonds.
Pennant impact: |
| THE TRADE |
THE SKINNY |
To White Sox:
Charles Johnson
Harold Baines
To Baltimore:
Brook Fordyce
Juan Figueroa
Miguel Felix
Jason Lakman
|
A nice deal for the White Sox. Johnson is having a terrific year at the plate and should improve the league's top-scoring offense. And while Johnson will become a free agent, the Sox have two young catchers ready for next year in Josh Paul and Mark Johnson. Baines becomes a nice pinch-hitting weapon. Fordyce is solid, although he's actually a year older than Johnson. The three minor leaguers are all right-handers. Figueroa is the best prospect, a 21-year-old who has a 3.40 ERA in 10 starts at Double-A.
Pennant impact:  |
| THE TRADE |
THE SKINNY |
To St. Louis:
Mike Timlin
To Baltimore:
Chris Richard
Mark Nussbeck
|
Timlin, who is in the second year of a four-year, $16 million contract, has struggled a great deal since arriving in Baltimore last year. He has 11 saves and four blown saves this year and has a high ERA (4.89). But he is expected to be the set-up man with the Cardinals, so perhaps he'll do better in a less-pressurized role. Richard is a power-hitting first baseman/outfielder who has put up impressive numbers in the minors, but hasn't been give much of a chance on the big-league level for obvious reasons. Nussbeck has won nine games at Triple-A this year, but isn't considered a great prospect.
Pennant impact: |
| THE TRADE |
THE SKINNY |
To Cleveland:
David Segui
To Texas:
Ricky Ledee
|
Segui is having nice little season with an on-base percentage near .400 and a slugging mark over .500. He also improves Cleveland's defense, assuming Jim Thome slides into the designated hitter role. Ledee never got the bat going with Cleveland since coming over from the Yankees, continuing his disappointing season. Still, he should have more longterm value to the Rangers than Segui, who will be a free agent at the end of the season.
Pennant impact: |
| THE TRADE |
THE SKINNY |
To Cleveland:
Wil Cordero
To Pittsburgh:
Enrique Wilson
Alex Ramirez
|
Essentially, Cordero, who is signed through the 2002 season, replaces Richie Sexson and he does have a higher on-base percentage and higher slugging percentage than Sexson had. Ramirez would likely have provided similar production, but he's not a Proven Veteran. The Pirates picked up a nice infielder in Wilson, who has been blocked for playing time. Alas, too bad they are saddled with Pat Meares' contract.
Pennant impact: |
| THE TRADE |
THE SKINNY |
To Oakland:
Jim Mecir
Todd Belitz
To Tampa Bay:
Jesus Colome
|
The A's are generally happy with their rotation and their lineup, which left only the bullpen for improvement. So that's exactly what they did, adding Tampa Bay right-hander Mecir, who has posted a 3.03 ERA since joining the Devil Rays in 1998. Mecir didn't come cheap, though; right-handed starter Jesus Colome is regarded as one of Oakland's top prospects, and he was 9-4 with a 3.59 ERA for Double-A Midland.
Pennant impact: |
| THE TRADE |
THE SKINNY |
To Mets:
Rick White
Bubba Trammell
To Tampa Bay:
Jason Tyner
Paul Wilson
|
The Mets get a solid middle reliever in White to help out their overworked bullpen and a vastly underrated hitter in Trammell. And what do they give up? Not a whole lot. Tyner aspires to be Brett Butler when he grows up, but without the power, while Wilson has suffered through years of arm injuries. Chuck LaMar's quote: "We felt we needed to get more athletic." Which comes a few months after wanting to add more power. Is there a more clueless GM in the game?
Pennant impact: |
| THE TRADE |
THE SKINNY |
To Cleveland:
Bob Wickman
Steve Woodard
Jason Bere
To Milwaukee:
Richie Sexson
Paul Rigdon
Kane Davis
Player to be named
|
Is Bob Wickman happy to be going to Cleveland or what? Did you know the Indians are fourth in the AL in fewest runs allowed but sixth in runs scored? Anyway, Sexson wasn't helping the offense with his pathetic .315 on-base percentage. He has big-time power potential (but only 16 home runs this year), and needs to raise that OBP to be an effective hitter. Cleveland gets an All-Star reliever in Wickman (signed through 2001), a fourth starter in Bere (signed through 2000) and Woodard, who was Milwaukee's Opening Day starter but had been banished to the bullpen. Rigdon and Davis are Grade C prospects.
Pennant impact: |
| THE TRADE |
THE SKINNY |
To Mets:
Mike Bordick
To Baltimore:
Melvin Mora
Lesli Brea
Mike Kinkade
Pat Gorman
|
If you're a Mets fan, you should be happy. You got your shortstop. If you're an Orioles fan, you should be happy. One of the old guys is finally gone. On the other hand, Bordick isn't likely to impact the pennant race as a pitcher could. And Mora, for all his skills as a utilityman, isn't young (28) and hits like the Bordick of old (.317 OBP). The Mets may try to sign Bordick, a free agent, to a longterm deal, even though he's 35, and already have Rey Ordonez signed for three more years and this guy named Rodriguez will be available. Brea is a hardthrower in Double-A who lacks command but could develop while Kinkade can hit a little, but lacks a position. And GM Steve Phillips still has Alex Escobar to play around with.
Pennant impact: |
| THE TRADE |
THE SKINNY |
To Boston:
Rolando Arrojo
Mike Lansing
Rick Croushore
To Colorado:
Jeff Frye
Brian Rose
John Wasdin
Jeff Taglienti
|
The Red Sox hope Arrojo and Lansing can help down the stretch, but Arrojo will have to rediscover himself after posting a 5-9 record (6.04 ERA) in his first season with Colorado. With several makeup dates in September, the Red Sox needed another arm. In Lansing, Boston gets an experienced vet who is hitting a lackluster .258 despite playing in Coors Field. Look for him to play some third base since Ed Sprague hasn't done the job. The Sox rid themselves of Frye, who criticized team management about Mike Stanley's release, but are stuck with Lansing's $6 million salary for 2001. Rose, Wasdin and Croushore were all in the minors after spending time in the majors earlier this season. The Rockies, losers of 18 of their past 22 prior to the trade, have been mailing it in for some time, and this just makes it official.
Pennant impact: |
| THE TRADE |
THE SKINNY |
To Arizona:
Curt Schilling
To Philadelphia:
Travis Lee
Omar Daal
Vicente Padilla
Nelson Figueroa
|
A year ago, the D-Backs overpaid in their zeal to win the pennant (Tony Batista for Dan Plesac; Brad Penny, Abraham Nunez and Vladimir Nunez for Matt Mantei), but this deal looks much more favorable to them. Lee is young, but hasn't hit in two years and some question his dedication. Daal, after winning 16 games a year ago, has been terrible (2-10, 7.22 ERA). Padilla may develop into a closer. Sounds like a lot of ifs. Meanwhile, Schilling, who is signed through 2001, teams with Randy Johnson for a terrific 1-2 punch.
Pennant impact:  |
| THE TRADE |
THE SKINNY |
To Los Angeles:
Ismael Valdes
To Cubs:
Jamie Arnold
Jorge Piedra
cash
|
After the Dodgers desperately dumped Valdes on the Cubs in the offseason, the Cubs desperately dumped him back. Valdes, an impending free agent, has battled injuries (shoulder tenderness, blisters) but may have solved his latest problems by soaking his fingers in rice. But will the rice cure his gopherball problems (17 HRs in 67 IP)? Piedra is a marginal Class A outfield prospect.
Pennant impact: |
| THE TRADE |
THE SKINNY |
To Yankees:
Glenallen Hill
To Cubs:
Ben Ford
Ozwaldo Mairena
|
The Yankees picked up designated hitter/designated butcher Hill, but expect them to acquire another left fielder before the deadline. All they gave up were two middling pitching prospects. Ford, 24, is a tall (6-7) sidearming righty with some bullpen potential (3.07 ERA at Triple-A) while the left-handed Mairena had a 2.83 ERA in 40 games at Double-A. They're unlikely to turn around the Cubs in 2001.
Pennant impact: |
| THE TRADE |
THE SKINNY |
To Toronto:
Esteban Loaiza
To Texas:
Darwin Cubillan
Mike Young
|
Like the Rangers last year, the Blue Jays are hoping to catch lightning in a bottle with Loaiza in the second half. He was 9-4 after the All-Star break a year ago. If that happens again we'll eat our shorts as Loazia has been roughed up pretty good this year (.307 average against him). Then again, he has to be better than Chris Carpenter or Roy Halladay. Meanwhile, Cubillan had some great numbers at Triple-A Syracuse (0.55 ERA, 14 hits in 32.2 innings) while second baseman Young aspires to be a big-league utilityman someday.
Pennant impact: |
| THE TRADE |
THE SKINNY |
To Yankees:
Denny Neagle
Mike Frank
To Cincinnati:
Drew Henson
Jackson Melian
Ed Yarnall
Brian Reith
|
The Yankees beat everybody to the punch in acquiring one of the few quality starters and Neagle has responded with terrific outings in his first two starts with the Yankees. But he didn't come cheap, as Henson, Yarnall and Melian all have upside potential. On the other hand, potential can amount to a whole hill of beans if Yarnall doesn't learn to pitch without jitters in the majors, Henson sticks to football and Melian doesn't develop his "tools." Keep an eye on Reith, who was leading the Florida State League in ERA when the trade was made. The Yankee farm system is getting barren, but they'll worry about that after the season and look for them to sign Neagle, a free agent, to a new contract.
Pennant impact: |
| THE TRADE |
THE SKINNY |
To Atlanta:
Andy Ashby
To Philadelphia:
Bruce Chen
Jimmy Osting
|
Ashby had stunk it up like a four-day old Philly cheesesteak before the Phillies finally shipped him out of town. Ashby, a free agent after the season, has responded with flying colors, pitching complete games in his first two starts with the Braves. However, he threw 136 pitches in his win over the Mets on July 23, so watch him closely. For some reason, the Braves stuck with veteran mediocrities like John Burkett and Terry Mulholland in the rotation rather than give Chen a shot. He should prove to be a solid big-league starter for the Phillies for several years. Osting is a tall, lefty finesse guy who has a shot to reach the majors.
Pennant impact: |
| THE TRADE |
THE SKINNY |
To Yankees:
David Justice
To Cleveland:
Ricky Ledee
Jake Westbrook
Zach Day
|
With veterans like Tino Martinez and Scott Brosius sinking towards the abyss of washed-up veteranhood, the Yankees needed new life for their offense. They went after Sammy Sosa and Juan Gonzalez but settled for the almost-as-productive Justice. The Indians made the trade as much to clear Justice's salary (he's signed through 2002) as to pick up Ledee, who hasn't played well this season. Westbrook is an intriguing right-hander, but his production hasn't yet matched his fastball.
Pennant impact: |
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ALSO SEE
Stark: Surhoff a 'great fit' for Atlanta
Stark: Winners, losers, and then some
Starting over: O's deal Surhoff, Clark before deadline
Trade roundup: Martin to Mariners
Yankees stand pat at trade deadline
AUDIO/VIDEO
 ESPN's Peter Gammons and Suzy Kolber report on the major trades.
RealVideo: 28.8
The crew from Baseball Tonight breaks down baseball's deadline trades.
RealVideo: 28.8
The Baseball Tonight crew takes a further look at Monday's trades.
RealVideo: 28.8
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