On the day after the non-waiver trading deadline, many columnists pull out the lumber and quickly determine who made the "best" trades; who were the winners and losers in this executive round of ring toss.
It is impossible to tell who got the better of a deal until all the players involved in the transaction have a chance to perform or fail.
It is more important at times to look at the strategy behind the trades than the trades themselves.
For example, the White Sox had $20 million to pay Jake Peavy on his deal. The White Sox are mired in a free fall to last place (currently on 100 loss pace). Peavy did not fit into the long term plans of the White Sox. So he was expendable. By trading Peavy for a touted outfield prospect, the White Sox kept their young core starting pitching rotation in tact and got a young bat with an upside. GM Rick Hahn said that the contract savings may go to free agents in the off season, to sign current players, and to help pay for the increased spending limit in next June's amateur draft. Hahn would not write off 2014 at this point. He believes the "real White Sox" are somewhere between last year's overachievement and this season's underachievement. So as a mild Seller this year (moving relievers Thorton and Crain), Hahn can add pieces to next year's puzzle with new prospects.
The Cubs made the most moves. But they foreshadowed their plan early last winter by signing reclamation projects like Scott Baker and Scott Feldman for the express purpose of flipping them at the trade deadline for young talent to "increase the depth" of the minor league system. Baker has turned into a injured non-factor for the entire season (currently in a slow rehab process in the low minors). Feldman yielded two major league ready players, Jake Arrieta and Pedro Strop, who had worn out their short time with the Orioles. Matt Garza also did not figure into the Cubs long term plans (which means the rebuild process is going to take longer than most fans expect). Garza is coming into his prime. He is a free agent at the end of the season. He is going to get a big pay day the Cubs don't want to match. So, he was traded for prospects with issues. Jason Grimm was having a terrible time in Texas after his promotion this year. Mike Olt was once the best Ranger prospect, but a concussion and vision issues convinced the Ranger front office he was now disposal (even in a player rental type deal with Garza). The Class A fireballer, C.J. Edwards, can light up a radar gun but it still a long way away to see if this lanky kid can develop into a durable major league caliber pitcher.
The Cubs moved players who did not fit into their plans for 2014, 2015 or 2016. The team has started to look to fill roster spots in the 2014-2015 range with players like Arrieta, Olt and Strop. The low minors are now filled with players acquired by the front office. No one in AAA Iowa has a lock for a position in 2014. So one would expect the Cubs to try once again to sign second tier free agents this winter with the hope of trading them next July for more major league ready players.
