MLB Trade Deadline: The After Effects
by Nicholas Tolomeo - 8/10/2011
The MLB non-waiver trade deadline has come and gone. More trades may still be made up until Aug.31, but bettors have now had more than a week to digest the new-look rosters a lot of MLB teams are boasting. Here are a list of the big movers and shakers from last week, and even some teams that stood pat and what this means to them the rest of the way. We will label teams that have value as “BET” and ones that are overpriced to “GO AGAINST”.
Cleveland Indians
This is the team that in the past traded away Cliff Lee and CC Sabathia at the trade deadline, but they went the opposite way this season. They shipped four prospects to the Colorado Rockies for Ubaldo Jimenez. They have also added former Cubs outfielder Kosuke Fukudome. The Indians are 5-6 since acquiring Fukudome, and Jimenez was shelled in his first outing as an Indian, giving up five earned runs in as many innings in an 8-7 Cleveland loss. Even with their struggles, the Indians are still a decent team and only one game out of first place in the American League Central. The best thing about backing the Indians is that they have been underdogs in six consecutive games, even when Jimenez is on the mound. So keep an eye on Cleveland. This is an above-average team that has improved since the trade deadline and they continue to have excellent value as constant underdogs. BET
Chicago Cubs
The Cubs were expected to jettison all their high-priced veterans, but only Fukudome left town. Carlos Pena, Alfonso Soriano and Carlos Zambrano all stayed put. And while the Cubs are not going to make a playoff push, they are certainly a solid bet. The Cubs won their first seven games after the trade deadline. This is the same team who went on a tear during August and September last season when their postseason fate was already sealed. After being a bust for most of the season the Cubs are now a bargain-basement deal for the remainder of the season. BET
New York Yankees
The Yankees swung and missed on Jimenez, Hiroki Kuroda and Wandy Rodriguez. Their pitching staff remains vulnerable after Sabathia and Freddy Garcia and because they are the Yankees you will generally be paying hefty prices if you wager on them on the moneyline. The Yankees have dropped three consecutive games through Tuesday and it will be tough to turn a profit on the Bronx Bombers leading into the postseason. FADE
Pittsburgh Pirates
The fact of the matter is the Pirates could have brought Carlos Beltran and Hunter Pence on board and they still would not have been a playoff-caliber team. The Pirates were able to finagle their way into first place in the NL Central using smoke and mirrors, and probably steroids, but the wheels have since come off. Despite bringing veterans Derrek Lee and Ryan Ludwig on board, the Pirates lost 10 in a row, ending their playoff dreams. If you haven’t already, now is the time to jump off the sinking ship that is the Pirates bandwagon. GO AGAINST
Philadelphia Phillies
The rich get richer as the Phillies bring on board dynamic outfielder Hunter Pence. It was a hefty price to pay to pry Pence away from the Astros, but shipping away four prospects will obviously have no impact on the major league roster this year. The Phillies even did well not to bring on a veteran pitcher like Aaron Harang as the fifth starter because 23-year old Vance Worley (8-1, 2.35 ERA) has been dynamite on the mound. The Phillies are routinely laying -180 to -200 moneylines, but when you win 10 of 11 games like Philadelphia has since July 29, the moneyline hardly matters. BET
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