July 31st is the MLB’s non-waiver trade deadline. This means all that all players under contract can no longer be traded. If a player is placed on waivers, any team can claim him. The waiver trade deadline is August 31. The MLB was business across the country and across both the National and American league. But who exactly were the winners and losers?
Yankees were the biggest movers in the trade deadline, acquiring Lance Berkman, Austin Kearns, and Kerry Wood
Meanwhile, the Boston Red Sox who are 6.5 games back from the Yankees traded for Jared Saltalamacchia. Saltalamacchia came from the Texas Rangers, who in return got QB Chris McGuiness, RHP Roman Mendez, a player to be named later and cash considerations. Also acquiring “a player to be named later” are the New York Mets who traded Mike Jacobs to the Toronto Blue Jays.
Hotlanta, this year’s sleeper team, traded for Rick Ankiel and Kyle Farnsworth from the Kansas City Royals. Also in the National League, the San Francisco Giants made amends to their pitching staff by trading for pitchers Javier Lopez and Ramon Ramirez.
A depleted Chicago Cubs team traded for Blake DeWitt and minor league prospects to try and salvage any hope. The struggling LA Dodgers acquired Ryan Theroitt and Ted Lilly.
With so many names being thrown around… just look smart and know that the Yankees yet again made big moves.
On Sunday, Florida Marlins outfielder Chris Coghlan pied teammate Wes Helms during a TV interview. Helms scored the game-ending single against the Atlanta Braves and was congratulated with a new team tradition. It is now being reported that Coghlan tore his meniscus during the post-celebration pie throw and will be sent to the DL. Coghlan received an MRI on Monday and discovered he might need surgery.
A fan in a LeBron Miami Heat jersey was escorted out of the Cleveland Indians game last night. The Indians played the New York Yankees, and Alex Rodriquez attempted to get his 600th home run. However, A-Rod was over shadowed by the LeBron fan who at in the left-field bleachers as fans chanted obscenities at him.
Former MLB pitcher Roger Clemens has long been accused of using steroids. Celemns has adamantly denied ever using performance-enhancing- drugs, but now former Red Sox GM Dan Duquette has come out to say he believes new evidence will come out proving everyone’s speculation. “I’ll just say this… let’s let it play out a little bit more, I think there is more information and evidence that will show that Roger used performance enhancing drugs in a significant way.”