Here's a quick roundup of where the AL Central contenders stand as the 3:00 p.m. CST deadline approacheth:
Detroit Tigers
- Acquired Doug Fister and David Pauley from the Seattle Mariners for Francisco Martinez, Schenectady's own Casper Wells, Charlie Furbush and a player to be named later (Nick Castellanos, Chance Ruffin or Drew Smyly fit that criteria).
The Detroit rotation is Verlander (165 ERA+), Scherzer (90 ERA+), and Scheiße, so there's plenty of room for Fister and his 111 ERA+. He wishes he had John Danks' luck, as he's 3-12 with a 3.33 ERA, so he should welcome a change of scenery for his arbitration case alone.
Getting Fister and Pauley, a decent bullpen guy, cost the Tigers four young'uns.. Wells and Furbush are short on upside -- it's the development of the toolsy Martinez and the PTBNL that will swing this deal. Sadly, it's probably not going to be Castellanos, the 2010 recipient of the annual Detroit Well-Above-Slot Payment.
Dave Dombrowski isn't afraid to dump a ton of youth on a team for a piece he needs, and the results of the Miguel Cabrera package back him up. Cameron Maybin is finally breaking out, but in his fourth season and second team after the trade. Since Fister is under team control through 2015, the risk isn't that great for the depth they're sacrificing. The Sox shouldn't like this trade. They should hope that Fister ends up like the last starter Seattle sent to Detroit.
Reaction: Lookout Landing and Bless You Boys.
Other moves coming: They have asked about San Diego's relievers, but their other big move was the promotion of Jacob Turner, who struck out six over 5 1/3 innings in defeat on Saturday.
Final note: "There will always be a gaping hole where the Fister was." -- David Aardsma. Seriously.
Cleveland Indians
- Acquired Ubaldo Jimenez from the Colorado Rockies for Drew Pomeranz (masquerading as a PTBNL at this moment), Alex White, Joe Gardner and Matt McBridge
- Traded Orlando Cabrera to the San Francisco Giants for Thomas Neal.
The Indians one-upped the Tigers by trading for Colorado ace Jimenez, but the teams couldn't come to an agreement in time to keep him from pitching for the Rockies on Saturday. He started the game, gave up four runs in the first inning, and then was pulled upon completion of the deal. The Indians could have arranged their whole rotation around him immediately, but instead, they'll have to wait a few days.
He came at a price, as White and Pomeranz were two of Cleveland's top four prospects, and projected to be rotation mainstays. But neither of them were projected to put up the seasons like Jimenez's 2009 and 2010.
However, Jimenez hasn't come close to those numbers himself this season. He's just 6-9 with a 4.46 ERA, and faced questions about his velocity earlier in the year. But he righted himself in June and looked like his old self, aside from his last start and one inning.
His contract is quite team-friendly -- he'll make only $9.95 million for 2012 and 2013 combined, but he'll probably void the $8 million option for 2014. Still, getting 2 1/2 year of Jimenez for that price kills a lot of the risk involved, because the worst-case scenario won't murder the budget, so I think the Indians were smart to take the plunge, assuming Jimenez passes the physical (which was a question for the New York Yankees when they kicked his tires).
Cleveland's rotation, at least until we see how Jimenez adjusts to the American League, resembles Detroit's on paper -- a Cy Young-caliber warhorse at the top and a strong No. 2 in Justin Masterson, with the final three spots lacking luster. Trading White eliminates an option on the back end.
The promotion of Jason Kipnis paved the way for Orlando Cabrera to go elsewhere, which cost the Indians their automatic bid into the 2011 postseason.
Reaction: Let's Go Tribe and Purple Row.
Other moves coming: The Indians aren't done thinking of Rockies, as they like Chris Iannetta. San Diego's Ryan Ludwick is also on their radar.
Final note: "What kind of a name is Poone? Comanche Indian. What kind of a name is Ubaldo? Cleveland Indian." -- Batting Stance Guy
And the rest
White Sox: Ken Rosenthal says they're looking to add rotation depth, which is funny since they traded rotation depth. Yes, I know, Mark Teahen contract dump, but still.
Twins: On Twitter, the Twins fans I follow are petrified that Bill Smith will trade Denard Span to Washington for Drew Storen. Because the Wilson Ramos-Matt Capps trade worked out oh so well for them.
Royals: They traded utilityman Mike Aviles to the Red Sox for Triple-A utilityman Yamaico Navarro and reliever Kendal Volz. Navarro could become New Aviles for the Royals if he can finish developing.