ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. – With the major league trading deadline in the rear-view mirror, now is the time for pundits to search deep in their crystal bowl. Which trades made will genuinely assist a team in their quest for post-season position, or which will implode?
There is a temptation to draw comparisons between previous deals, and analogies and peak into Ouija boards. Then again, any attempt to find the difference between rolling dice in Las Vegas and analyzing components of a trade is challenging at best. In the quest for improvement, deals made at deadlines tend to be yield marginal results at best.
One exception to consider was the deal that brought J. D. Martinez from the Tigers to the Diamondbacks just before the trade deadline in 2017. All Martinez did in the desert was slam 29 homers, and drive in 65 runs in 62 games. Including four dingers he hit in one game at Dodger Stadium in early September, that deal pushed the Diamondbacks into the post-season.
Perhaps the most intriguing deal in the recently concluded trading period was pulled off between the Baltimore Orioles and Tampa Bay Rays. In a mission to shore up depletion in their starting rotation, the O’s acquired veteran right-hander Zach Eflin from the Rays, and initial signs from Baltimore manager Brandon Hyde have been positive.
Then again, through Eflin’s first three starts with Baltimore, the result is encouraging, In these outings, Eflin has allowed five earned runs (2.33 ERA) and gathered in victories in each start, In the latest on Aug. 9, the veteran right-hander allowed but four scattered hits in seven innings to his former Tampa Bay teammates and Baltimore cruised to a 4-1 win over the Rays before 20,673 Aug. 9 in Tropicana Field.
With the O’s, Eflin improved to 3-0 and became only the third pitcher in franchise history to record wins in each of his first three starts with the club. Speaking to reporters afterward, Eflin said the experience was surreal going against his former mates. At the same time, the struggling reality of the Rays’ season forced decision-makers into making unfamiliar moves.
“I was made aware that something might go down,” Eflin said after his effort Aug. 9 against the Rays. “Not entirely sure what would happen, but I knew that it going to take (the Rays) to play good baseball to stay here for a little bit longer. We were just hanging along the line and so I was made aware.”
In his three starts since the trade, Eflin had added to the resume, Against the Rays, he threw more changes-ups and that was noticeable.”
“Looks like he put in a great of work and some of his pitches had different movement than I what I saw in the past,” said infielder Brandon Lowe, who managed a walk off Eflin in three at-bats. “(Eflin) looked really good and hats off to doing a very good job. He definitely threw more change-ups and located really well. He was hunting those corners and painting the black really well.”
Trades are made for various purposes and in his case, the Orioles were in search of starters. With injuries to Kyle Brandish (Tommy John surgery for UCL sprain), John Means, out for 2024 season with left forearm strain, Tyler Wells out for 2024 with right elbow inflammation, and Grayson Rodriquez, out with right shoulder inflammation, the Orioles were desperate for a starter.
Capitalizing on the Rays maladies, Eflin was brought over and answered the bell.
“With trades, you give yourself a shot in the arm when you improved your club,” said Hyde, the Baltimore manager before the series with the Rays on Aug. 9. “It’s usually a positive thing when guys want to make a push to the post-season and (trades are) always beneficial.”
For now, a particular trade could clear dead wood from a franchise and hope anew with changed personnel. Then again, deals are generated to help teams down the stretch.
In the case of Eflin coming to Baltimore, it’s all good.
So far.
