So now that the All-Star break is officially over, it means two things in my book- time to get back to blogging, and time for the hot stove to really start heating up.
The Brew-Crew already has made a big splash in the trade pool by acquiring K-Rod from the Mets (I'm not convinced this was a great move, but they needed to do something to push other teams in the division), but the best deals are yet to come. Over the next few days, I'll take a look at a few teams that I think are in need of the most help at the deadline to push them over the top. Feel free to disagree, I am crazy at least half the time, after all...
St. Louis Cardinals
Biggest Need: Pitching (at both ends)
The way I see it, the Cards have managed to get by offensively all season with at least one key piece missing each and every night. Once Pujols gets back to 100%, and Colby Rasmus actually comes within sight of his potential, the offense should be sound. Berkman is on fire, Holiday is solid, and Molina is a good bat in the 6-7 spot.
Pitching wise, I'm not so sure. Think about this one: who closes games for St. Louis? If you guessed Fernando Salas, you are correct! If you're a club that wants to make a run in the postseason, are you comfortable with Salas in the 9th? How about this one- can you name 3 starting pitchers in St. Louis? Carpenter, Garcia, and...??? McLellan, Lohse, and Westbrook round out the starting 5, but the addition of another starter would help.
The downside (and potential upside) for the Cardinals is there are four teams within four games of the lead in the NL Central. Even if two of those teams fall off, this division is going to be a dogfight that comes down to the final day of the season. Good thing for St. Louis their last nine games are against the Mets, Cubs, and Astros. Milwaukee has made the first move, now its time for the Cardinals to follow suit.
Pittsburgh Pirates
Biggest Need: Starting Pitching
See above- but can you name one starting pitcher in Pittsburgh? Uhhh.....??? The starting five: Kevin Correia, Paul Maholm, Charlie Morton, James McDonald, and Jeff Karstens. Yeah- that's a rotation that WILL NOT get you into the postseason. If by some miracle it does, it WILL NOT get you past the first round.
It's been something like a hundred years since the Pirates even had a winning record (Barry Bonds looked like me back then). I understand this team may not be there yet, but when it's been this long since you've even been .500, the time is now.
The really surprising thing is all the buzz seems to be around the Pirates trading for a bat. Josh Willingham, Aramis Ramirez, and even Hunter Pence have all come up in connection with the Pirates. I'm just not sold that the rotation is solid enough to compete down the stretch. Remember- offense may sell tickets, but defense wins championships.
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