Deadline Day: Live Trades and Braves Analysis Here

Jul 27, 2014; St. Petersburg, FL, USA; Boston Red Sox pitcher

(41) smiles in the dugout during the game against the Tampa Bay Rays at Tropicana Field. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports

John Lackey to the Cardinals

Ugh.  The hits keep on coming.  Mutiple sources citing that Boston’s John Lackey is going to the Cardinals to join Justin Masterson as they get two starters in two days.  Multiple sources reporting.

  WHO WINS:  Boston.  Cannot argue with that analysis above:   it’s TWO  major league players to Boston for Lackey.  Joe Kelly a good young, controllable starter (just turned 26).  OF Allen Craig turned 30 this month, and is a good ‘get’ as well, though having a down 2014 season.  Could easily rebound in Boston. >>> SPECIAL NOTE:  This writer took a lot of heat last week (that’s fine:  it was expected) for suggesting the Braves ought to be sellers this week.  What the Boston Red Sox are doing is the very idea that I was attempting to convey:  if you’re not going to be competitive at the end of the year – or at least ‘not competitive enough’ – then blowing it up for big future returns isn’t a horrible idea at all.  Boston is doing this with an eye toward competing well next year.  The big hole for them now – that they can deal with in the off-season – is clearly in pitching.  But so far, you would have to call Boston the ‘winner’ today. Hey:  Boston could even now decide to compete for somebody like David Price now.  Or Cole Hamels (this off-season).  Or… others.   IMPACT ON THE RACE:  Cardinals don’t quite have a Dodger-esque rotation, given their injuries; but they are going for it, nonetheless.  Just seeing tweets that St. Louis was ‘down’ on both of these players, so they really don’t see a downside.  Lackey’s unique contract is for the major league minimum in 2015, and the Cards see this as a win for them as well.  Certainly, they are improved in the short term. IMPACT ON OTHER TRADES:  Dodgers are said to be ‘out’ on David Price; “in” on relievers – including Andrew Miller (the one the Braves covet most).  Not sure who (besides Seattle) that still really wants Price.  Toronto, Baltimore perhaps.  The cost is said to be still high from Tampa Bay.  Oakland, Dodgers, St. Louis have now ‘moved on’ from there. This trade will do nothing to lower the trade costs for anyone else. IMPACT TO THE BRAVES:  It’s getting tougher to compete.  Only active rumor involves Chris Denorfia.     See Fred’s write-up of this.