Seton Hall
This week in baseball (Week of July 14)
Date: July 15, 2019By: Joe Cammarota
This past week in baseball was the All-Star Game, which means the season is at the halfway point. With that lets look at who should be buying, selling, and standing pat at the trade deadline.
In the AL East, the Yankees should be buyers. They are primed to make a deep run in the playoffs and could use a little help with their starting pitching. A target could be just across the border in Toronto with Marcus Stroman. Stroman has a great pedigree and would help the Bronx Bomber’s rotation immensely. Another aspect to why they should buy is that they have pieces in their farm system that they do not need but would be valuable to trade.
In Queens, the New York Mets are in a spot where they need to sell. They should try and get as many prospects as possible. They are not close to the playoff picture and they are in a position where they need a new manager and possibly a new general manager. If they do not fix up their situation soon, it can get much worse. The Mets need to try and build for 2022 and on at this point. Trading deGrom could be on the table if given a good enough offer.
Elsewhere in the NL, there is an interesting situation going on with the Pittsburgh Pirates. The Buccos are an average team this season. They will most likely not be making the playoffs this year, but they have potential to be a playoff team next year if they are healthy.
They should stand pat, unless they have a deal that blows them out of the water. A deal would probably be for closer Felipe Vazquez. He is an elite closer, and could command a big return, especially from a team like the Dodgers.
Speaking of the Dodgers, they need to be in buy mode. They have made the World Series the last two years but lost in both. They are so close to tasting glory but need to add one or two more pieces before the July 31 trade deadline. They are the favorite to come out of the National league this year again.
As of now the Dodgers need a closer, so a deal with the Pirates is a possibility. They also have farm pieces to give away that would intrigue the Bucs. Most people that follow baseball would want to add another position player who has a high on-base percentage to help bring in runs and get on base for players like Cody Bellinger and Joc Pederson.
In Cleveland, a team that made the World Series three years ago has a closing window. Being in second place is a forgettable position to be in, therefore the Indians should go full buy mode. Cleveland needs to look into trading pieces from the farm system for one last push at glory.
If this potential move works out, likely as they have great players already and good veterans, the team will show that small markets can win. The Royals did this a few years ago and it won them a World Series. It will hurt the team later, but the glory of winning the Fall Classic will last forever.
Joe Cammarota can be reached at joseph.cammarota@student.shu.edu.
