Thumbs Up, Thumbs Down: Analyzing This Week’s Baseball Trades

Mike Moustakas will bolster an already talented Brewers line up.

There was a flurry of baseball trades this week. Several contending teams got better as the push to October continues. Here are my thoughts on some of the trades I liked and ones I didn’t like.

If I liked the trade, it’ll get a thumbs up and why I liked it. If I didn’t like a trade, it’ll get a thumbs down and why I didn’t like it.

Here goes.

Thumbs Up 👍

J.A Happ to the Yankees: I like this deal for both Happ and the Yankees. Provided of course Happ can keep the ball in the park. He has surrendered 1.34 home runs per nine innings.

Soria and Moustakas to the Brewers: The Brewers fortified their bullpen by acquiring Joakim Soria. The Brewers bullpen already features Jared Jefferies and Corey Knebel. The Brewers May have not gotten the front line starter they were looking for but with the impending return of Jimmy Nelson, they can shorten games and turn things over to their pen.

The addition of Moustakas gives the Brewers another middle of the order bat that can help them score runs. Outside of Jesus Aguilar and Travis Shaw, the Brewers line up has struggled to hit home runs. Moustakas should change that while continuing to produce from a fantasy standpoint.

Red Sox Land Eovaldi: If Eovaldi can stay away from serving up the long ball and have his innings managed, he will be a steal for the Red Sox. Eovaldi routinely hits 95-98 on the gun and he piles up the strikeouts. He is worth picking up if he is available in your league.

Phillies Acquire Asdrubal Cabrera: l like this trade for the Phillies and for Cabrera. Cabrera gives Philadelphia another productive bat in the middle of their line up and is versatile in that he can play second base, shortstop and third base. Cabrera’s fantasy value shouldn’t take much of a hit. He should continue to produce in a good line up.

D-Backs Strike With Escobar and Andriese: The Diamondbacks needed a second baseman and a fifth starter and they got both in Eduardo Escobar and Matt Andriese.

Escobar will primarily play shortstop but he play third base and even second base as well. He hits for power and average and gives Diamondbacks manager Torey Lovullo a legitimate utility option.

Andriese can be the fifth starter and long reliever down the stretch. He is a versatile pitcher who has worked in both roles for the Rays and can do the same for the Diamondbacks.

Thumbs Down 👎

Yanks Don’t Land A Starter: Adding Zach Britton fortifies an already loaded Yankees bullpen but general manager Brian Cashman needs to add another starter if the Yankees are serious about contending.

Angels Concede With the Maldonado Trade: The Angels basically conceded the division and a potential wild card spot when they traded catcher Martin Maldonado to the Astros. Maldonado is having a solid season. Why trade him away for practically nothing? Especially to a division rival. It makes no sense.

Mets Trade Away Familia and Cabrera for Nothing: No offense to the prospects the Mets got in the trades for Jeurys Familia and Asdrubal Cabrera but the Mets didn’t get nearly enough back. Many in the New York media have suggested the Mets front office is in shambles. These two trades confirm that notion.

Astros Need to Trade for a Closer: The Astros need a closer. Sure, they have Hector Rondon and other capable arms but they need a legit closer who can lock games up in the ninth. Ryan Pressly is a solid pick up and could potentially set up but he won’t be enough. Houston needs more. Let’s see if they get something done.

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