Overwhelming Underdogs (08/01)
Fantasy Focus: Trade D... (08/02)
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August 1, 2007 Prospectus TodayDeadline Wrapup
I want to be more original than this, but really, it’s just so easy to work in this format. So for one day, forgive me my lapse into cliché as I present the winners and losers at the trade deadline. Winners Atlanta Braves: It wasn’t all that close. The Braves replaced a group of first basemen with a sub-600 OPS with Mark Teixeira and his .310/.390/.520 bat. Teixeira also represents a big defensive upgrade. The combination is worth two to three wins over the course of the rest of the season, and it’s a near certainty that the gap between in and out of the postseason will be less than that. The Braves did pay a steep price—five players, including three top prospects—but they now have a fantastic offense that may be the best in the league. The bullpen upgrades won’t hurt, either. Guys like Peter Moylan and Oscar Villareal have been effective for the Braves, bridging the gap from a rotation that doesn’t work deep to a good back end. However, those pitchers have been worked hard. Adding Octavio Dotel, Ron Mahay, and Royce Ring—the latter the Braves’ third attempt to replace Mike Gonzalez—will bolster the pen and give Bobby Cox the depth to survive those stretches where he needs his relievers to get 10 or 11 outs on back-to-back nights. The Braves may not catch the Mets, but the moves they made over the past few days make them a favorite to hold off the Brewers (yes, the Brewers), Diamondbacks, and Dodgers (yes, the Dodgers) for the NL wild card slot.
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