Every Sunday, MLB FanHouse empties out its notebook in Baseball Brunch.
The most remarkable thing about this season as we hit the not-halfway halfway point of the All-Star break isn't Albert Pujols' RBI total. Or Zack Greinke's ERA. Or the PED suspension of one of the game's biggest stars.
It's the standings. And they not only reflect the season so far, they give us a clue as to the weeks head leading up to the non-waiver trade deadline.
The Phillies and Dodgers are the only first-place team with a lead of more than 2 1/2 games. And 21 of the 30 teams are within 7 1/2 games of a playoff spot: nine of 14 in the AL and 12 of 16 in the NL.
NEW YORK -- It was a glorious sunny afternoon in the Big Apple -- the perfect day for the Yankees to show off their brand-new, $1.3 billion ballpark. The place looked great. The stands were packed. The field was littered with Yankee greats of the past. Yogi Berra threw out the first pitch. Kelly Clarkson sang the anthem. Everybody from the ushers holding the "Can I help you?" signs to feeble old George Steinbrenner himself was in an absolutely fantastic mood.
And then they had to go and ruin everything by playing the game.
FanHouse completes its 2009 MLB Preview with a look at the New York Yankees.
When they signed A.J. Burnett, CC Sabathia and Mark Teixeira for a combined $423.5 million in December, the Yankees opened the door to criticism that they were just trying to use their revenue advantage to bludgeon the opposition. The team did use a heavy hand, but they aren't deserving of criticism.
Let's get this straight: The World Baseball Classic is far from perfect. If you want to hate the event, and believe it should never occur again, that's well within your rights. I won't argue, although I'm personally enjoying it. I do, however, have a problem with the constant complaining done both in the media and by fans of Major League Baseball when it comes to injuries.
Injuries are part of baseball. They occur whether you are playing in your local summer bush league, Spring Training, the World Baseball Classic, or in the regular big-league season. This spring, there have been a rash of injuries across all of the majors, but the overwhelming majority of them had nothing to do with the WBC.
Fantasy baseball draft season is coming, so you best be prepared by delving through every major player on each team. Fantasy FanHouse is here to help with a quick once-over.
Meet the ... Funhouse. Formerly the straight arrow clubhouse where fun wasn't allowed -- even though it did find a way to seep in there from time to time -- now the Yankees are taking trips to pool halls instead of practice. Plus, do you see CC and Joba in this picture? They are having the time of their lives. The Yankees are now just here to have fun. Seriously, just ask the Steinbrenner family. They don't even care about wins, for real.
Damaso Marte's first stint with the Yankees lasted seven months, from November 2000 to June 2001. He was then traded to the Pirates, who traded him to the White Sox, who traded him back to the Pirates, who traded him back to the Yankees (I'm not making that up). And this time it looks like he'll stay in New York a bit longer as he's agreed to a three-year, $12 million extension with the pinstripes.
With only Phil Coke in the pen as a lefty, this is a move that makes good sense for the Yankees. Marte has been brutal on left-handed hitters the past two seasons and he's good enough against righties to make him an effective set-up man and not just a LOOGY, if that's what the team needs.
As contracts go, the Daily News points out that Marte's new deal matches the one given to J.C. Romero last off-season, so I think this is a steal for the Yankees. Though his ERA has recently been a bit higher, Marte's strikeout and walk numbers are much better than Romero's and had he hit free agency, I think someone may have given him a deal in the neighborhood of the $6 million option the Yankees declined for Marte after the season ended. And $2 million saved is $2 million more that the Yankees can put towards trying to sign every quality free agent in the solar system. Hank Steinbrenner's evil plan is in motion.
Take a deep breath, baseball fans. The dust has settled after another trading deadline, and what a deadline it was. Three future Hall of Famers were moved. So was a reigning Cy Young winner and two former All-Stars. And we haven't talked about Rich Harden yet. Undoubtedly, 2008 was the most entertaining trading season in recent memory for baseball fans.
After years of near-misses, the Red Sox finally send disgruntled slugger Manny Ramirez packing. Ramirez lands with the Dodgers as part of a three-way deal.
Christian Petersen, Getty Images
Former All-Star Jason Bay winds up in Boston as the other major piece of the three-way deal. Pittsburgh receives two prospects apiece from the Dodgers and Red Sox for its part in the trade.
Nick Laham, Getty Images
In the final year of his contract, the Reds send Ken Griffey Jr. to the AL Central-leading White Sox in exchange for two prospects, including sinker-balling pitcher Nick Masset.
David Kohl, AP
In need of a big bat for October, the Angels acquired Mark Teixeira from the Braves in exchange for first baseman Casey Kotchman and a pitching prospect.
Elise Amendola, AP
With fixture Jorge Posada out for the season, the Yankees moved swiftly to get Ivan Rodriguez, sending reliever Kyle Farnsworth to Detroit in return for the Gold Glove catcher.
Gregory Shamus, Getty Images
The Brewers made the first big move of trading season, acquiring reigning AL Cy Young winner CC Sabathia from Cleveland for a package of four prospects, including Matt LaPorta.
Jeff Roberson, AP
The Cubs bolstered an already deep starting rotation by acquiring Rich Harden from the A's. Oakland also sent relief pitcher Chad Gaudin to Chicago and received pitcher Sean Gallagher, outfielder Matt Murton, infielder Eric Patterson and catcher Josh Donaldson in return.
Charles Rex Arbogast, AP
The Phillies got much-needed rotation depth in the form of Joe Blanton from Oakland. The A's received three prospects, including second baseman Adrian Cardenas and pitcher Josh Outman.
Seth Wenig, AP
Florida acquires one of the many left-handed relievers on the market, adding Arthur Rhodes from Seattle for minor league pitcher Gaby Hernandez.
Jim McIsaac, Getty Images
The Yankees also added depth for the stretch run, landing outfielder Xavier Nady and reliever Damaso Marte for a package of four prospects that included right fielder Jose Tabata.
Getty Images (2)
Truth be told, it will take years before we know who helped themselves or hurt themselves at the 2008 trade deadline. That's just the way it is when boom-or-bust prospects are involved. But here's an educated (and roughly ordered) guess anyway at which teams won and which teams lost now that the July 31 deadline has come and gone.
Winners
Angels: With a double-digit lead in the AL West, the Angels didn't need to do anything to get to October. They went out and got slugging first baseman Mark Teixeira anyway, and it's nothing short of a coup. For all the praise heaped upon Mike Scioscia's throwback run-at-all costs strategy, it hasn't done much for Los Angeles in the postseason. The Halos have scored 17 runs in their last eight postseason games dating back to 2005, and they don't have single regular slugging over .500 this year. They needed a bat to go all the way in October, and that's just what they got in Teixeira.
With the trade deadline right around the corner, our MLB editor brings you the top five rumors every day until July 31.
- The Mets are continuing to pursue a corner outfielder, but with Pittsburgh's trade of Xavier Nady and Cleveland's trade of Casey Blake, the list of potential additions has dwindled. Jason Bay and Matt Holliday are still out there, but New York simply doesn't have the chips to acquire an All-Star caliber bat. Seattle's Raul Ibanez is the one name remaining that the Mets have been linked to and is likely in the team's price range.
Brian Giles, Padres Buzz: Giles is an on-base machine and a solid defender who could give a contender looking for a corner bat a boost. The Mets are one of the teams that may have interest in the outfielder.
Doug Pensinger, Getty Images
Raul Ibanez, Mariners Buzz: Many teams that are unwilling to spring for one of the star bats on the block see Ibanez as the bargain option on the corner bat market. The Mets are one of the leading contenders for his services.
Otto Greule Jr, Getty Images
Brian Fuentes, Rockies Buzz: The closer has reportedly been scouted by seven different clubs over the last few days, but Colorado's asking price -- rumored to be a top pitching prospect -- might be scaring potential suitors off. The Rockies also aren't certain that they are going to be sellers as they hang close in the NL West.
Doug Pensinger, Getty Images
Arthur Rhodes, Mariners Buzz: With Damaso Marte on the move and Brian Fuentes possibly off the market, Rhodes' stock could be rising. Milwaukee is a possible destination for the left-handed reliever.
Jim McIsaac, Getty Images
Felipe Lopez, Nationals Buzz: With the acquisition of second base prospect Emilio Bonifacio from Arizona, Lopez's days in Washington are numbered. The Nationals could move him in the next few days.
Greg Fiume, Getty Images
Mark Teixeira, Braves Buzz: Though Atlanta has denied a willingness to trade Teixeira over the last few weeks, the club appears to be moving toward becoming a seller. How the Braves play over the next week will likely determine whether or not the team moves the slugger.
Jeff Zelevansky, Getty Images
A.J. Burnett, Blue Jays Buzz: Though several teams have scouted Burnett, trade movement remains slow as teams balk at the right-hander's uncertain contract status. He has great stuff and would be a quality No. 2 starter for a contender down the stretch.
Jonathan Daniel, Getty Images
George Sherrill, Orioles Buzz: The Cardinals and Angels are among the teams who have asked about the closer, while the Brewers are not. Baltimore's rumored asking price is said to be two or three prospects.
Otto Greule Jr, Getty Images
Barry Bonds, Giants Buzz: The Yankees are the latest team to say they won't rule out pursuing the all-time home run king now that Hideki Matsui could miss the rest of the season. Hank Steinbrenner has admitted that the team will discuss Bonds in the next few days as they go over their options.
Lisa Blumenfeld, Getty Images
Jarrod Washburn, Mariners Buzz: The Seattle left-hander is drawing interest from the Yankees, who could use him to bolster their rotation. While not an ace, Washburn is a reliable innings-eater.
Otto Greule Jr, Getty Images
GM Omar Minaya probably can't afford to hone in on one target, though, so it's likely he'll make calls over the next few days to gauge what the Padres would want in return for Brian Giles and perhaps what the Reds would want in return for Adam Dunn or Ken Griffey Jr. The Mets are on a hot streak, but the team still has flaws -- flaws that can be taken care of in the next few days.
- Manny Ramirez was a very late scratch for Friday night's game against the Yankees, which the Red Sox lost 1-0, and the Boston Globe's Dan Shaugnessy is wondering if this is the final straw for the slugger in Boston. "Manny Being Manny" is a mantra that has come to mean many different things over the years, and part of it are these little dramas, which usually come to nothing. But the Red Sox have an option on Ramirez for next year, one they aren't even certain they will pick up, so perhaps this time it really is THE time to explore finding Ramirez's replacement. That means a middle-of-the-order bat, one which they could potentially acquire over the next few days. It wouldn't be a great surprise if GM Theo Epstein started making inquiries about Mark Teixeira, Adam Dunn and Matt Holliday, even if once again, this all amounts to nothing.
On Deck is FanHouse's look at the day's most intriguing baseball matchups.
New York Yankees (57-45) at Boston Red Sox- (60-44) 3:55 PM ET
As if the lure of Yankees/Red Sox wasn't enough, now you have the drama of a huge trade to stoke your fire. The Yankees beat everyone to the punch (as they normally do at the trade deadline) and acquired the righty bat they needed in Xavier Nady, and the lefty specialist out of the 'pen they needed in Damaso Marte.
We know Nady can handle the big city, having hit .264 with 14 HR's in 265 AB's with the Mets in '06. Marte was property of the Yankees in '01, but was traded for Enrique Wilson before Marte could make it with the big club. Now, they make their return to New York ... and pending physicals, they may be ready to go today for their Yankee baptism by fire at Fenway Park.
When Xavier Nady came out of the Pirates/Padres game in the first inning tonight, whispers started from the broadcast booth. "I don't think he's hurt..." Damaso Marte appeared in the Pirates dugout shortly afterwards, hugging players with a smile on his face. Then word leaked out that a deal was in place, pending physicals. Less than an hour later, most of the details have found their way to the internet and as per Will Carroll it looks like Nady and Marte are going to be Yankees for a quartet of prospects; Jose Tabata, Phil Coke, George Kontos and Ross Ohlendorf (who's not a prospect).
The Yankees are certainly improving themselves for a run at the Rays and Red Sox with this deal. Nady's in the middle of a career year, hammering along with a .330/.383/.538 line and 10 outfield assists. Marte is one of the best lefty-specialists in the league and he's been good against righties the past two seasons as well, doing a nice job filling in for Matt Capps at closer this year. Both players will be immediately useful for the Yankees in their pennant run.
For the Pirates, the deal hinges on Tabata. His minor league numbers aren't great, but he's in AA as a 19-year old and most prospect guys love him. He might be a superstar but between his wrist injury and potential headcase issues, he also might not be much of anything at all.
UPDATE: The last two pitchers in the trade have been changed from Coke and Kontos to Dan McCutchen and Jason Karstens.
NEW YORK -- It was a glorious sunny afternoon in the Big Apple -- the perfect day for the Yankees to show off their brand-new, $1.3 billion ballpark. The place looked great. The stands were packed. The field was littered with Yankee greats of the past. 
Fantasy baseball draft season is coming, so you best be prepared by delving through 
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