MLB Update
Going into Monday – the trading deadline in Major League Baseball – it seemed clear that the market was in pitching. And while Justin Verlander stayed put in Detroit, plenty of other pitchers were on the move. Most will profit by relocating.
Imagine lefty reliever Tony Cingrani’s glee at leaving the ever-floundering Cincinnati Reds for the Los Angeles Dodgers, who are playing .700 baseball and lead the National League West by 14 games. The Reds are 14 ½ games out in the NL Central.
Or Sonny Gray’s move from the Oakland A’s, 22 ½ games out in the American League West, to the New York Yankees, who narrowly lead the AL East. The Yankees also picked up bullpen help, which should further enable manager Joe Girardi’s relentless use of every pitcher on the staff in every game.
The Dodgers, who will be even more pitching-rich when/if Clayton Kershaw returns in a month or so from his back injury, also acquired Yu Darvish from the Texas Rangers. Darvish had some rough outings lately, but the change of scene will benefit him. The Rangers are 19 games behind the Houston Astros in the AL West; now Darvish will be pitching for a team that might well be playing the Astros in the World Series.
Last nod: The Washington Nationals. Their bullpen has been a weakness all season. They picked up righty relievers Brandon Kintzler and Ryan Madson and lefty Sean Doolittle. Their 14-game lead in the NL East seems mighty secure.
Baseball continues to be a game of home runs and strikeouts. Pitching is always paramount. And these teams certainly made moves that give them depth not only in the starting rotation but in relief.
Post By: Larry Weisman, a longtime sportswriter for USA TODAY, blogs for Twistity.com. Follow him on Twitter @MrLarryWeisman
Buffett Poised For Immediate Gain from Home Capital
-
Correa joined the Mets with a $315 million contract. Recently, baseball player Carlos Correa announced that he had cut...
-
Oklahoma and Texas will depart from the college sports conference at the end of the season. The Big 12...
-
Robert Kraft wants to re-sign Brady just long enough that he can retire as a Patriot. Earlier this week,...
-
The skilled third-baseman will be enshrined in Cooperstown. Scott Rolen is one of the most skilled and recognized third-basemen...
-
Brady’s 23rd football season has ended. On Monday, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and the Dallas Cowboys went head-to-head for...
-
Smith has been fired after one season with the team. Over the weekend, the owners of the Houston Texans...
-
Pelé passed due to complications related to colon cancer. On Thursday night, the sporting world received unfortunate news: Pelé,...
-
His return heralded a victory over the Phoenix Suns. On Sunday, Houston Rockets coach Stephen Silas needed to take...
-
Mayfield will be available on waiver to other NFL teams. After an underwhelming performance in his current role as...
-
Mike White led the team to a decisive victory over the Bears over the weekend. On Saturday, the New...
-
The game has been moved out of New York due to an encroaching snowstorm. This weekend, the Buffalo Bills...
-
Negative pushback prompted the team to give the role to someone else. Recently, the Brooklyn Nets have been in...