Deadline Recap

Now that the trade deadline is over, I wanted to take one last look at what was accomplished in the past week or so. The deadline is going to be looked back on as the start of the new regime. Granted they have been on the job for close to a year, but it is with these deadline deals that they have really laid claim to the franchise.

First lets look where the team may have come up short.

1. The major league team is worse now and the streak is most definitely alive. Yes these trades did assure a tie with the Phillies for the most consecutive losing seasons.

2. No middle of the order or impact players came over in the trades. It is true that none of the players brought over in the trades could be called a cornerstone. We brought in a bunch of nice players, but no really great player. It was not for lack of trying, but many teams do not want trade away any of those types of players.

3. Some of these guys have checkered past performances or other issues in their background. Yes many of the players don't have a solid major league track record, so we really don't know what to expect from them. Then again we did not know what to expect from a young Padre prospect that had spent time in multiple organizations prior to San Diego either.

4. It is more of the same. Our good players get traded while we get a bunch of suspects in return. While I don't think these trades are more of the same, many fans may think this. (If you are reading this blog, I assume you are not one of those 'fans'.)

Now for the positives from these deals.

1. It was not about money. We all knew of shortcomings of the organization and the guys traded were long thought of as players that would be traded. Money was not an issue.

2. Organizational depth was a concern and was addressed. Many have said that the Pirates did a great deal in acquiring depth, in an organization that sorely needed it. The upper levels of the system were a barren wasteland, We needed talent. The acquisition of many provided relief for the big league roster, while still maintaining a youthful presence.

3. There were very little actual prospects in the system. The main aim of the trades seemed focused on upper level talent, but we did acquire two players that are more of the traditional prospect mold in Morris and Tabata. Getting those two players gives some actual prospects to a system that seems to have only one true prospect in Andrew McCutchen.

4. It provided a break from previous regimes. The trading of Bay was a bold move. They saddled up to the Boston Red Sox and became a player with the big boys in a three way blockbuster. Our other GMs during this streak would not have made such a bold move and would have more than likely dropped the ball and the deal would have died before anything would have happened.

5. The future looks brighter than it did a year ago. Keep in mind we went to the deadline last year to get....Matt Morris? What a difference a year makes.