2023 MLB Trade Deadline Buyers-Sellers: AL East Edition
We’re keeping the buyers-sellers series going ahead of the 2023 MLB Trade Deadline, this time focusing on the AL East. This division is an absolute bloodbath with every team currently above .500. Each time has a chance to make the playoffs which should make for a rather hectic deadline as far as the AL East is concerned.
Orioles: Buy
If you would have said the Orioles would be first in the AL East at this point in the season, most people would think you’re crazy. But alas, here we are. They sit at 58-37 with the current tiebreaker over the Rays, causing many, including myself, to believe the Orioles will be real buyers for the first time under Mike Elias. Many thought the Orioles would be buyers last year, but decided instead to sell off older talent in Trey Mancini and Jorge Lopez. This year should be different though, the Orioles should look to improve this team and think about the possibility of a deep playoff run this year. Additional starting pitching could benefit them and they have the depth with position players to get it done. Dylan Cease could be a possibility, with him having a down year by his standards.
Rays: Buy pitching
I’d argue that no team has been hit harder by the injury bug than the Rays. Shane Baz, Jeffrey Springs and Garrett Cleavinger find themselves on the 60-day IL with many other relief pitchers also finding themselves on the IL. Shane McClanahan thankfully avoided a prolonged stint, but it’s clear that the Rays are going to need more pitching depth if they want to make it the long haul. It’s already affected them with the Orioles taking their crown atop the division. The Rays are never historically big buyers, but bringing in another arm for the rotation could go a long way.
Blue Jays: Buy
Stop me if I’ve had to say this already: The Blue Jays are in need of addressing starting pitching. This becomes a problem when you realize just how many teams are wanting to bring in another arm. There are only so many players available at the deadline, especially with something as important as pitching. The lineup for the most part is fine and doesn’t need to be altered too much. Another right-handed power bat like Brent Rooker could be beneficial but pitching should be the priority. If a starter can’t be brought in, addressing the bullpen could also benefit the Blue Jays. You can never have enough pitching depth, can you?
Red Sox: Buy … maybe??
At 51-46, the Red Sox have been a rather surprising team up to this point. Many expected this to be a rebuilding year after the loss of Xander Bogaerts and Nathan Eovaldi. But the Red Sox have seemingly overcome that and are even competing for a Wild Card spot as we speak. While the possibility of that surely is intriguing for Chaim Bloom, the Red Sox have to be careful and make sure they don’t overpay for anyone. The Red Sox farm system is loaded and they have a plethora of guys who one day can be serious pieces for this Red Sox team. It wouldn’t make sense to me to ship them off for shorter-term rentals. The next couple of weeks will be huge in determining what direction this team goes. No matter how good it does go, the Red Sox should not go on a shopping spree. If the right move to bring in another arm presents itself, then it could benefit them to take it. But they would be foolish to drain this farm system right now.
Yankees: Lay in the bed you made
Ahhh yes… All is good in the world when the Yankees are in last place. The cries from their fans are what powers the rest of the MLB world and their misery puts smiles on the faces of many of us reading this at home. It’s been a disappointing season, to say the least, and I don’t think it’s going to get much better any time soon. The Yankees are mostly handicapped with the players they have right now. They can’t go out and bring in a big name in an attempt to save their season. Their best bet is Aaron Judge coming back and carrying this team to another playoff berth. In a vacuum, the Yankees would be a team wanting to buy. The only problem is they can’t really afford it, so it seems like they will have to hope for a second-half resurgence from this lineup and a magical Aaron Judge return because anything short spells doom for this Yankees team.
With that, the AL East is completed. Again, this division is going to come down to the wire and it’s not going to be pretty, which should make for an exciting deadline as an outside observer. All of these teams I’m sure will be active in some way and hitting up the phones of other general managers this trade deadline.
What precisely those deals will be is yet to be known. Will some sell out for this year and overpay for a rental? Or will a team actually make a move that benefits them both in the long and short term? All I know is I’m excited about this trade deadline.
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