MLB Trade Deadline Deals

Arizona Diamondbacks trade 3B Ryan Roberts to Tampa Bay Rays for IF Tyler Bortnick 
Arizona Diamondbacks trade IF Bobby Borchering and OF Mark Krauss to Houston Astros for 3B Chris Johnson

Chris Johnson on the Astros
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In two different deals occuring a few days before deadline, Arizona gets and gets rid of a 3rd baseman. Roberts had 6 homers, 34 RBIs, .250 average .309 OBP, .353 Slugging Percentage, .206 Secondary Average, .107 Isolated Power, and a 0.4 WAR for the D-Backs. Johnson had 8 home runs, 41 ribbies, 21 two-baggers, .279 average, .329 OBP, .428 Slugging Percentage, .226 Secondary Average, .150 Isolated Power, and a 0.5 WAR. The Diamondbacks get younger by getting Johnson, who is 27 and Roberts is 31. As for the contracts, both are up for arbitration after the year. Tyler Bortnick is good player. He's a big doubles hitter (35 in 2010 while playing in A and Advanced-A and 34 in 2011 while playing in Advanced-A). The D-Backs put him at Triple-A Reno. I think that Arizona made the right move in getting Johnson, who could provide to be a very good 3rd baseman for the next few years. 

Seattle Mairners trade P Brandon League to the Los Angeles Dodgers for P Logan Bawcom and OF Leon Landry

I like this pick-up for the Dodgers. League is a very good pitcher out of the pen. He was an All-Star last year as the M's closer. He was the set-up man this year. League is going to bolster an already solid bullpen. Kenley Jansen has 20 saves as the closers, and Josh Lindblom and Ronald Belisario both have 15 holds. Bawcom has played with the Dodgers Advanced-A, Rancho Cucamonga Quakes, and Double-A, Chattanooga Lookouts, this year, racking up 20 saves. Landry was playing in Advanced-A (Rancho Cucamonga) and is batting .328 with 15 triples this year. 

Miami Marlins trade 1B Gabby Sanchez and P Kyle Kaminska to the Pittsburgh Pirates for OF Gorkys Hernandez and a Draft Pick

Gaby Sanchez as a Marlin
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Sanchez has been struggling this year. He has hit 3 homers, 17 RBIs, .202 batting average, .250 OBP, and .306 slugging. He has even spent time in the minors. Last year, he was an All-Star. He hit 19 homers, 78+ RBIs, 35+ doubles, and 152+hits in the 2010-11 season. Even though he has been struggling, I like the pick-up for Pittsburgh. Their 1st baseman to this point has been Casey McGehee, who hasn't been much better, was sent to the Yankees before the Deadline. What I like about having Sanchez, instead of McGehee, he has been much more consitant, more power, and has more potential. McGehee had 1 great season (2010) and that is it. Sanchez will get back to his old form very soon. 

Chicago Cubs trade C Geovany Soto to the Texas Rangers for P Jacob Brigham

The Rangers have picked up a catcher as a back-up to Mike Napoli. But, Soto isn't your ordinary back up catcher. He is a former All-Star and NL Rookie of the Year in 2008. Soto hasn't had a season like 2008 since. He is hitting under .200 and has only 35 hits in 52 games. However, in Texas he doesn't have to be a star or even a main piece. He can be the back-up who plays well when he gets the chance. And, in case Napoli leaves in free agency, they have someone who wouldn't be a bad starter. Brigham was 5-5 with Texas' Double-A affiliate, Frisco Roughriders.