Movers and Stayers

Team sports are similar in a number of ways, but one thing I've noticed over the last few years is that every season, the professional leagues have teams that are always in the playoffs, teams that are never in the playoffs and teams that flirt with the postseason. This year, four of the six division leaders in baseball missed the playoffs last year, so maybe there's a change occurring in the MLB. The 2010 Trade Deadline has confirmed another aspect: the moves a team makes at the deadline determines whether they are making a push for the playoffs or if they're just regrouping for the near future. For example, Philadelphia's move to pick up Roy Oswalt shows their determination to make the postseason, whether that means overtaking the Braves in the NL East or the Giants for the Wild Card. I feel like almost every trade that has been made this month consists of one team trying to get prospects and one trying to build their team for this year. There are way too many big pickups to talk about, but here are a few teams I've been impressed with over the past few weeks.

San Diego Padres
To me, the Padres are the Trade Deadline's biggest winner. Bud Black's team may be the biggest surprise of the season, owning the National League's Best record. Maybe that's why they're taking advantage of what they have going for them this year, as they made some portentous additions before 4:00 today. San Diego has the best pitching staff in the league, leading the majors in ERA and opponent batting average, so they brought in two solid position players. They picked up the 2002 AL MVP Miguel Tejada in a trade with the Orioles. He's is batting just .267, but he was at .313 just a year ago and he's been in the playoffs four times, so the veteran experience will definitely help. Then, earlier today, they acquired Ryan Ludwick from the Cardinals. Ludwick was an All Star in 2008 and a bat the Padres need to contend for a title. Let me put it this way: the Padres are for real.

Chicago White Sox/Minnesota Twins
Bad news for the Tigers. They've got three starting position players on the DL. They're six games back in the division. And now the teams they're chasing each added solid pitchers. The AL Central leaders were very active in trade talks, and they finally acquired Diamondbacks starter Edwin Jackson. He's had a very inconsistent year, but capable of terrific pitching, as we saw in his no-hitter on June 25th. He was an All Star last year, and that's the type of pitcher I think Chicago is getting in this deal. Shortly after, the Twins went out and got All Star closer Matt Capps from Washington. Jon Rauch has been terrific in place of injured Joe Nathan, but Capps has 27 saves for the Nationals (imagine what that number could be on a winning team!) and adding to the mediocre bullpen could be what it takes for Minnesota to get back to the playoffs.

New York Yankees
The Yankees have been very active in the last two days. They traded for Austin Kearns yesterday to give them more outfield depth. Kearns is having a solid year despite missing some time, and he should be able to contribute for the Yanks in the fall. Today, they acquired Lance Berkman from Houston. The 5-time All Star is having a down year but I think he'll still make an impact in the Bronx. Right when you thought they were done, they got Kerry Wood from Cleveland. Wood has had a rough season, but if he can pitch well, the Yankees will have a very deep bullpen.