2009 MLB Trade Deadline

Buy low, sell high.

It's a maxim that serves Wall Street investors well, and over the test of time, it has proven true in baseball as well.

When Mark Shapiro of the Indians traded Bartolo Colon and got Cliff Lee, Grady Sizemore, Brandon Phillips, and Lee Stevens, he was bashed mightily by Indians fans. How could they give up on Bartolo Colon? He was coming off of two consecutive 200-strikeout years! And all they got were prospects?! They got hosed!

Or at least that's what the fanbase thought.

How do you think that trade looks to Cleveland now?

BY DOUG RUSH

As the calendar turns to July, the Major League Baseball trading deadline looms. Most people are expecting the Yankees to be active players near the deadline.

They already made one deal, landing Eric Hinske from the Pittsburgh Pirates for two minor leaguers.

It gives the Yankees more depth on the bench and a chance for Alex Rodriguez to get a day off here and there like Joe Girardi planned.

The only problem is Hinske is another left-handed bat, as is their current starting right fielder, Nick Swisher.

After a 21-7 June, the Colorado Rockies suddenly find themselves in a pennant race.

Less than three weeks ago, this was a team on the verge of trading away its best players, packing its bags and hoping for next year.

Now, the Rockies are a team poised to make a run at the playoffs.

As we sit three weeks from the July 31 trading deadline, what is the team’s next move?

This was, after all, a team stacked with potential trade bait only a few weeks ago. Now, most of these players look to be serious contributors to a potential Rockies playoff race.

As it stands, the Detroit Tigers sit atop the American League Central Division with a modest two-game lead.  Yet, looks can be deceiving when you look at the AL Central.  

This is definitely the worst division in the majors, with no team standing far above the others.  At this point, the Tigers, Minnesota Twins and Chicago White Sox are the three teams that will contend for the division championship.  

The Atlanta Journal Constitution's, David O' Brien is reporting that Atlanta may be close to making a deal. Frank Wren and Bobby Cox were holed up in an office for more than an hour on Thursday before the game, leading to rampant speculation about an imminent trade for the Braves.

According to O' Brien the Braves could get someone who is not a free agent next year for Vazquez.

At this time last season, Astros' first baseman Lance Berkman left many wondering if he could continue at his torrid pace when he led the NL Triple Crown categories heading into the All-Star break.

In what has turned out to be a tale of two seasons for Berkman, 2009 has been a struggle.  Flirting with the dreaded "Mendoza Line" for the better part of the season, Berkman (a career .300 hitter) has ignited the last ten games improving his average to a respectable .268.

With the first half of the 2009 baseball season reaching an end, it is time to start looking towards the July 31 non-waiver trade deadline, as the the contenders begin to deperate themselves from the pretenders.
With the New York Mets, the story for this season has been one of in jury and inconsistent play. Still, despite hovering around the .500 mark, the Mets are only two games behind the Phillies for the NL East division lead, and will look to be buyers when the trade deadline comes around.
So who will be available? Who should the Mets go after?

John Paul Morosi of FOX Sports is reporting today that the Minnesota Twins are interested in three Pirates: 2B Freddy Sanchez, closer Matt Capps, and lefty setup man John Grabow.

July 2 has been a busy day in baseball rumors, and with the trade deadline fast approaching, more and more rumors seem to be popping up. This columnn hopes to make known a few of them.

Welcome to Rudy Dominick & Johnny Lawrence's Week 13 installment of Detroit Tigers information and analysis. 

Each Thursday, we will delve into all things Tigers. Read and digest, or skim and spit out our insightful banter.

Keep An Eye On

Robbie Weinhardt, Relief Pitcher—Erie Sea Wolves (AA)

(Season @ Single-A Lakeland)

1-0, 31.2 IP, 24 H, 30 K, 0.85 ERA.