Giants Add Power & Other Trade Deadline Deals

In the midst of the groundbreaking news of the NFL labor dispute finally coming to an end, not to be overlooked is the MLB trade deadline which saw a number of short term adjustments being made to help those who are contending now and some long term adjustments to those who are rebuilding. With a World Series title on every team's wish list, those who are currently in contention made moves to help better their chances of hoisting the Commissioner's Trophy in 2011.

The San Francisco Giants' chances of becoming the first NL team to win back-to-back World Series titles since the Big Red Machine did so in 1975-76 got a whole lot better this week with the recent addition of New York Mets All-Star outfielder Carlos Beltran. Having been the subject of rumors that had Beltran Bay Area bound since early June, the Giants finally got their man days prior to the July 31 trade deadline. Though the addition of Beltran gives the Giants a significant impact in the lineup granted they've been starving of offensive production since losing their highly talented young catcher Buster Posey, the 34 year old slugger didn't come cheap as Giants general manager Brian Sabean had to part with his top pitching prospect in Zack Wheeler. When first getting wind of the deal, I wasn't thrilled Wheeler was involved considering I've never been big on trading away top prospects for rent-a-players, but given Beltran's track record, he just might be the shot in the arm the offense needs to thrive.

If Beltran can do half of what he did for the Houston Astros back in 2004 for us in the Postseason, Sabean and co. will look like a couple of geniuses. However, if Beltran struggles as a Giant and Wheeler develops into an All-Star several years from now, the deal would be added to the list of trades Sabean has failed at. Despite producing numbers nowhere near his career bests this season, Beltran automatically becomes the team leader in hits (102), home runs (15), rbi's (66), walks (60) and almost every other major offensive statistical category imaginable. Also worth mentioning is that he leads the National League in doubles with 30.

While the Beltran deal has received the most acclaim, it wasn't San Francisco's first mid-season acquisition, nor was it their last. After learning that their opening day second baseman Freddy Sanchez will most likely miss the remainder of the season due to an injured shoulder that will require surgery, the Giants went out and traded for Astros infielder Jeff Keppinger. Following the Beltran deal, Giants skipper Bruce Bochy then addressed the left side of the infield which was struggling in large part due to a slumping Miguel Tejada, by acquiring veteran journeyman Orlando Cabrera from the Cleveland Indians in exchange for Minor League outfielder Thomas Neal.

Hoping to keep within pace of the Giants for first place in the NL Western division, the Arizona Diamondbacks who have surprised the baseball world thus far, added a few pieces to let the league know that they're not yet satisfied with their success. Reliever Brad Ziegler and starting pitcher Jason Marquis were added to the D-Backs' pitching staff, which stabilizes both ends and gives them an innings eater to help ease the burden on the bullpen.

In hopes of upping the ante of the defending World Champions were their Philadelphia counterparts who countered with a blockbuster deal of their own, acquiring 2-time All-Star Hunter Pence from the Astros. With an already potent offense in tact, the Phillies added to their plethora of sluggers that's seeking a trip to their fourth NLCS in as many years.

Philadelphia's division rival -- Atlanta Braves made a last minute move, acquiring Houston's other gem on offense to give them a legitimate lead-off man and base stealing threat in Michael Bourn. Though they aren't expected to catch up to the division-leading Phillies, adding a speedster to the line-up like Bourn looks like the missing piece to Atlanta's Wild Card puzzle considering his league-leading 40 stolen bases is more than the Braves have combined.

In Pittsburgh where we've somewhat grown accustomed to seeing the Bucco's turn into seller's around this time of year, the team instead found themselves to be buyers for the first time in over a decade by going out and acquiring Ryan Ludwick from the Padres along with a veteran bat in Derrek Lee from Baltimore. Looking to continue what's been one of the biggest success stories this season, the Pirates will need a jolt from their latest additions if they hope to surpass the Brewers and Cardinals who are battling it out for first place in the NL Central.

In Cleveland where the Indians started the season off as the hottest team in the league but have since then fallen off to the Detroit Tigers, Kosuke Fukudome and Ubaldo Jimenez are the newest members of the Tribe. While it appeared almost imminent for Jimenez to land in the Big Apple with the New York Yankees, the Indians surprised everyone, surfacing as the team to land Colorado's young ace.

Similar to their National League counterparts, the defending American League Champion Texas Rangers also improved their chances of claiming back-to-back pennants by landing two formidable arms to add to the bullpen in Koji Uehara from Baltimore and Mike Adams from San Diego. Two players in which bolster an already lethal relief corps.

Other notable trades include: The Boston Red Sox dealing for pitcher Erik Bedard of the Mariners, Doug Fister and David Pauley to the Tigers, Rafael Furcal and Edwin Jackson to the Cardinals, Colby Rasmus to the Blue Jays and Jerry Hairston Jr. to the Nationals.

New York Mets under Friendly Fire

If anybody has the right to criticize a ball club and its players, it's the team owner. And with what looks to be another disappointing season in Queens, Mets owner Fred Wilpon is doing just that. After signing a string of players to lucrative contracts and little success to show for mainly due to injury, Wilpon has expressed publicly just how harsh he's being on not only the players he signed, but also himself for investing in them.

Referring to Mets outfielder Carlos Beltran who had a historic Postseason while a member of the Houston Astros in 2004 where he belted 8 home runs tying a single Postseason record before signing with the Mets, Wilpon told The New Yorker magazine, "We had some schmuck in New York who paid him based on that one series. He's sixty-five to seventy percent of what he was." Following his impressive run in Houston which ended after losing in the World Series to the Chicago White Sox, Beltran garnered the attention of Wilpon as a free agent who signed him to a 7-year, $119 Million deal which at the time was the richest contract in franchise history. Little did he know, much of Beltran's tenure with the ball club would be plagued by injury as he's missed portions of both the 2009 and 2010 seasons. Making matters worse, Beltran underwent knee surgery last season which the Mets claim was without their consent.

However, Beltran wasn't the only player targeted by Wilpon, as he also had some not so nice things to say about third baseman David Wright who's been the face of the Mets franchise since being called up in 2004. "David Wright is a really good kid, but not a superstar," Said Wilpon. As for Mets shortstop Jose Reyes who like Beltran is in a contract year and has also had his share of injuries, Wilpon told The New Yorker, "He thinks he's going to get Carl Crawford money. He's had everything wrong with him. He won't get it." For Reyes who's currently in the final year of a four-year extension signed back in '06, the 27 year old speedster is hoping to return to form as he's been among the elite at his position when healthy.

Despite going public with his strong disinterest in how his team has performed over the past few years, Wilpon does have something to be mad about. Coming into the 2011 season, the Mets owned the seventh highest payroll in the league with much thanks to the recent spending of players like Johan Santana, Jason Bay and Francisco Rodriguez. While both Santana and K-Rod have performed as expected thus far in a Mets uni, Bay has so far failed to meet expectations as his name will most likely be added to Wilpon's list in the near future. To avoid overspending and falling in a similar hole, Wilpon says he plans to slash the Mets payroll by as much as 30 percent next season. Luckily for them, first base will be among the few positions they won't need to address as they've got a promising young talent in 24 year old Ike Davis.