The "surprising Indians, Pirates and Diamondbacks made some of the boldest moves at baseball's trade deadline, shedding those longtime seller tags and shopping for immediate help," according to Howie Rumberg of the AP. The Indians yesterday completed a deal for Rockies P Ubaldo Jimenez, and Indians GM Chris Antonetti said, "This was a rare and unique opportunity, especially in our market, which comes along few and far between." The Pirates have had a record 18 straight losing seasons, but now find themselves "in the thick of it in the NL Central race, and they showed they're serious in dealing for" Padres LF Ryan Ludwick and Orioles 1B Derrek Lee. The D'Backs "bolstered their bullpen," adding A's P Brad Ziegler. The team also acquired Nationals P Jason Marquis. D'Backs manager Kirk Gibson said, "You're seeing an effort by the organization to try and let us continue to do what we've done and go beyond what we've done. So that part of it energizes you" (AP, 8/1). MLB Network’s Ken Rosenthal said, “Great statement for the sport ... that the Pirates and the Indians could be in this position” (“MLB Tonight Live,” MLB Network, 7/31).
ALL ABOARD THE JOLLY ROGER: MLB.com's Jenifer Langosch noted it has been "years since the Pirates have been among the suitors for the marquee players available" at the non-waiver trade deadline, but Pirates GM Neal Huntington confirmed that the team "jumped into that mix aggressively." Huntington said, "We weren't afraid of going all in. We kicked the tires just about everywhere you could imagine kicking the tires." Pirates P Jeff Karstens said of the deals, "It shows they're in. If we wouldn't have made moves, we would have wondered if we were going to try and go for this." The team's "financial flexibility played a key role in the organization's ability to pull off both of these deals." In all, the Pirates are taking on "approximately $4.86 million in salary." But the team encountered one issue in completing trades, as Langosch noted the Pirates "found it tough to convince certain players to consider coming to Pittsburgh (MLB.com, 7/31).
MAKING A MOVE: In Cleveland, Bud Shaw writes you would have to agree Indians owners the Dolans "pretty much did what you've screamed for them to do" in giving up "years of cheap labor to try to win now, or at least soon." The Indians "don't look like serious contenders" after going 2-6 in a homestand completed yesterday, but it is "absolutely refreshing to see the Indians going after a No. 1 starter to give themselves a chance in a winnable division." The newly acquired Jimenez is "not only ready-made but under the Indians' control through 2013." Antonetti said, "We would not have made this deal if it were a rental" (Cleveland PLAIN DEALER, 8/1). Also in Cleveland, Bill Livingston noted the Indians' front office at the trade deadline needed to "show the fan base an active pursuit of a playoff berth that seems to be fading." The Indians' pitching staff "has kept them afloat" this season, so Antonetti "rolled the dice for more of what his team does best." The Cleveland fan "grumbling that the Indians are too cautious, that ownership is a pinch-nickel operation has now been replaced by fears that the team plunged too deeply and recklessly into the trade deadline market" (Cleveland PLAIN DEALER, 7/31).
LEAVING HOUSTON: In Houston, Jerome Solomon notes the Astros traded "arguably their best player Friday evening when they shipped" LF Hunter Pence to the Phillies. The team yesterday traded CF Michael Bourn, "the other option in the team's best-player debate." Astros GM Ed Wade said that "this is not the position the Astros want to be in." Solomon notes the Astros in the last two weeks have "traded away the two players everyone involved with the franchise had proclaimed were the future of the organization, as well as Jeff Keppinger, who was second on the team in hitting." Solomon: "Obviously, soon-to-be owner Jim Crane has let it be known he wants the payroll slashed, and he wants it slashed now. ... But Wade should have done all he could to move higher-salaried players like Brett Myers and Wandy Rodriguez for pennies on the millions of dollars" (HOUSTON CHRONICLE, 8/1). Also in Houston, Richard Justice reported Wade is "under pressure to trade away his assets because Jim Crane would like the payroll down to around $60 million by the time he takes over as owner in a couple of weeks." The Pence trade "was made all the more fascinating because of the dynamics swirling around the pending ownership change." Meanwhile, Justice wrote, "It'll be fascinating to see if Crane and his CEO, George Postolos, can differentiate between the competent employees and the butt-kissing office politicians" (HOUSTON CHRONICLE, 7/31). ESPN's John Kruk said, "I know the Houston Astros re-stocked their farm system with about nine million guys for Pence and Bourn, but why would you go watch that now? Why would you go watch that team? I mean, unless you’re just a die-hard for these young kids and you’re going to support them, it’s not going to be a good watch” ("Baseball Tonight," ESPN, 7/31).
