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AL East Weekly No. 2

Date: July 25, 2021

By: Michael Stamm

Nelson Cruz smiles as a new Tampa Bay Ray before a MLB game.

Getty Images

The trade deadline is quickly approaching. All teams of the American League East are in an exciting position as we enter the July 30 deadline. As your fellow AL East reporter, I decided to look at each team’s current position for this upcoming week, as well as possible moves they may or will not make. 

Baltimore Orioles

Orioles pitcher Paul Fry throws a pitch during a baseball game.

Michael Reaves/Getty Images

Holding the worst record in the AL East for the fourth time in five years, the Orioles are the only team in this division that are definitive sellers. The problem with this Orioles team – unlike other years – is that there is a lot of uncertainty about what assets Baltimore has going forward. Trey Mancini, Cedric Mullins, and John Means all obviously have the most significant trade value. However, Baltimore seems to want to build around those guys as they are all young stars. 

Freddy Galvis, who they signed to a free-agent contract, would have been a nice piece for another team looking for a gap shortstop. He has played well this season, but he has been out for a month because of a strained right quadriceps. He will not return until after the deadline, leaving him off the teams’ boards. 

So, who is likely to go from this struggling team? The only real options are Paul Fry and Tanner Scott. As the only lefties in the Orioles’ bullpen, they both have had mediocre seasons. Still, they could be attractive to contending teams like the Astros or Athletics. Fry, the Orioles setup man, has been terrible in closing situations but has played exceptionally well in the seventh and eighth innings, boosting an ERA under 1.80 in both innings.

The Orioles are in a tough place right now with their lack of assets. Still, general manager Mike Elias has not done a terrible job in previous trade deadlines. Sadly, though, the Orioles are not a team that will gain or lose from the deadline and are certainly not as interesting as the rest of the groups I am about to get into. 

Toronto Blue Jays

Toronto Blue Jays' George Springer swings the bat during a MLB game.

Nathan Ray Seebeck/USA TODAY Sports

The Blue Jays are coming into the trade deadline with a set of needs that seems to change every day. They have already been the most active team in the AL East, grabbing Adam Cimber and Corey Dickerson from the Marlins before July even began. Toronto may be fourth in the division, but they are no way out of it just yet, and they appear to be huge buyers. After all, they do have the assets with six prospects on the MLB Pipeline Top-100. 

Who will they target? Obviously, starting pitching is a must, with the rotation looking a little sloppy. So, Kyle Gibson from the Rangers could be a choice there. Although, they could also bolster their lineup with an addition like Eduardo Escobar from the Diamondbacks. 

Texas Ranger Kyle Gibson throws a pitch from the mound during a MLB game.

Tim Heitman/USA TODAY Sports

The Blue Jays are certainly a team to keep your eye on as July 30 approaches. General manager Ross Atkins is known for going all in to turn a borderline playoff team into a true contender. One big splash could soon make Toronto the favorites to win the AL East. 

Tampa Bay Rays

Nelson Cruz takes a swing during an at-bat with the Tampa Bay Rays.

Ken Blaze/USA TODAY Sports

Tampa Bay didn’t seem to want to wait for my preview article before they made their big splash, but that’s okay, I guess. The Rays grabbed a big-ticket guy in Nelson Cruz and minor league RHP Calvin Faucher from the Minnesota Twins in exchange for minor league RHPs Joe Ryan and Drew Strotman. 

I love this move for Tampa Bay, and I love that they struck it early. Cruz turned 41 this month, but he hasn’t lost a step just yet. At the plate, he is batting .294/.370/.537 with 19 home runs. Simply put, the Rays added one of the best hitters in the game to their lineup as they push to atop the Red Sox in the division. This move can also place Austin Meadows back in right field as Cruz will take all at-bats at the DH slot. 

The Rays did pay a hefty price, but they are also so deep in talent already that this deal outweighs the losses and could potentially put Tampa Bay over the top. 

New York Yankees

New York Yankees' Gleyber Torres high-fives teammates in the dugout during a MLB game.

Sarah Stier/Getty Images

The Yankees are the most significant question mark in this division. Will they be buyers again and grab a big-name player? Or will they be sellers for the first time in years and start reconstructing this roster from the bottom up? 

Let’s be honest, Brian Cashman will never sell, so let’s take a look at some potential names to add to this Yankee lineup. Of course, the biggest name being connected to New York is Trevor Story of the Rockies. This would be an enormous deal for the roster and allow Gleyber Torres to move back to his actual position of second base and let Story fill the shortstop role. 

The Yankees are also looking for another piece to their struggling bullpen. Still, with not many options out there and New York on the edge of the luxury tax, it will be a challenging but crucial part for the future of the Yankees. 

Boston Red Sox

Two Red Sox players celebrate at home plate after scoring a run during a MLB game.

Kevin Hoffman/Getty Images

Finally, we finish with the current AL East leaders. The Red Sox would probably love to go all in and start building even closer to another World Series, but they don’t quite have the farm pieces to do so. 

Most likely, what will happen is Boston making a few low-risk, high reward deals to try and reinforce their bullpen that has been effective when not worn out. No one expected this team to be a contender, so it will be exciting and unpredictable what they decide to do with their few assets. 

9th Inning

I don’t have much else to say as I wrap this week’s column up. I am still upset about how Brooke Kriske managed to become the first Yankee player to throw four or more wild pitches in one inning and lose a 5-4 game. He was coincidentally sent down to the minors the following day. I wonder why. 

Also, as I write this weekend, Cruz has hit a home run in his first game as a Ray.

So, watch out Boston, Tampa Bay is coming. Maybe the rest of the American League should be watching. Who knows? Have a great day, and see you next week. Peace.

Michael Stamm can be reached at michael.stamm@student.shu.edu.

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