Market clarifies before trade deadline

MINNEAPOLIS -- The rate at which the trade market progresses before the deadline is exponential. Each deal changes the landscape for the next one; teams on the cusp can change from buyers to sellers and back in a week. 

Tuesday clarified the deadline slightly. Off the market went Ben Zobrist, acquired by the Royals. The Jonathan Papelbon shoe finally dropped as Washington received him from the Phillies. The Angels strengthened their outfield, adding David Murphy and David DeJesus after trading for Shane Victorino. And remember when Troy Tulowitzki changed hands?

The players can change the calculus as well. It wasn’t that long ago that Jeff Francoeur looked like a good right-handed complement to a struggling Gregory Polanco; it was reported here and elsewhere that the Pirates were interested. Now, with Polanco playing the best baseball of his brief career, is the need that great? And, as I’ve heard around baseball this month, given what Francoeur would bring in return -- not much -- is it even worth it for the Phillies to trade him?

The Pirates’ infield is more secure now, with Aramis Ramirez and Jung Ho Kang. The Ramirez acquisition probably takes the Pirates away from Cliff Pennington and Clint Barmes, whom I was told the Pirates had interest in. 

So what’s left? The rotation, the bullpen, first base and the bench. The rotation market might not become clear until Thursday or Friday, when the Tigers, 3-7 in their past 10, losers of three in a row and 41/2 games out of the wild card, decide whether to go for it or sell. If they sell, David Price becomes the most interesting name available. James Shields and Tyson Ross of the Padres could be moved; so could Cole Hamels, in the never-ending soap opera surrounding the Philadelphia left-hander. But with Ruben Amaro possibly not long for his job, Pat Gillick stepping down soon and Andy MacPhail getting up to speed, who in the Philly front office will pull the trigger on a franchise-shaping trade?

Mike Leake could still go. Dan Haren? Yovani Gallardo? 

Outside of closers like Craig Kimbrel and Aroldis Chapman, the relief market is less clear. The Pirates have done a good job building cheap bullpens in recent years, and this could be an area they strengthen in a waiver trade if nothing comes together by Friday at 4 p.m. I haven’t heard them on any specific relievers, but given what Arquimedes Caminero has done recently, another seventh-inning guy wouldn’t hurt. 

Regarding the bench, a sample starting lineup against a righty in an NL Park:

Polanco 9
Marte 7
McCutchen 8
Ramirez 5
Kang 6
Walker 4
Alvarez 3
Cervelli 2
PItcher 1

Bench: Rodriguez, Ishikawa (L), Decker (L), Florimon (S), Stewart 

Now consider the possible Aug. 31 lineup:

Polanco 9 
Marte 7 
McCutchen 8
Ramirez 5
Kang 6
Walker 4
Alvarez 3
Cervelli 2
Pitcher 1

Bench: Harrison, Mercer, Rodriguez, Stewart, take your pick

The question is, can they find a bench player who is enough of an upgrade to make it worth acquiring him for a month, but can be had for a small enough acquisition cost?

First base is the conundrum. I’ve heard since the winter meetings that Alvarez has been available, even offered; that has picked up this month. But they’ve had no takers. Pedro Alvarez is having a poor offensive season, not showing the power potential nor the ability to get hot and carry the team. His defense at first base is by all measures the worst by any regular player at the position. And if they can’t trade Alvarez, they can’t upgrade. With a five-man bench, they will be hard-pressed to carry two players who play only first base. 

Even if they could trade Alvarez, they would have to have the replacement deal all lined up because they have nothing in the minors. Their best triple-A first base option, Brent Morel, just declined an outright assignment and elected free agency. Josh Bell is in his first year learning the position at double-A. They can’t replace Alvarez without trading him, and right now they can’t trade him. 

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Fun facts from tonight’s Yankees -- Rangers game: Yankees starter Chris Capuano didn’t make it out of the first, allowing five runs in two-thirds of an inning. That meant the Yankees needed 51/3 innings from Diego Moreno, who went to New York in the A.J. Burnett trade, and did he ever deliver: 51/3 innings, no hits, no runs, one walk, five strikeouts.

The Yankees would win, 21-5, in part because they scored seven runs in an inning of work against former Pirates starter Wandy Rodriguez, pitching Tuesday night in relief.