Hoya Paranoia | The Hoya's Sports Blog

Blockbuster Deal Between LA and Boston Causes Huge Shift in NL

On Saturday, the Los Angeles Dodgers and my beloved Boston Red Sox completed a nine-player waiver trade in what is perhaps the most unexpected and unprecedented in the history of the game. In the first trade ever featuring two players with over $100 million remaining on their contracts (let alone going to the same team), the Red Sox dealt embattled stars Adrian Gonzalez, Carl Crawford, Josh Beckett, and Nick Punto to Los Angeles for first baseman James Loney, and prospects Rubby de la Rosa, Allen Webster, Jerry Sands, and Ivan De Jesus Jr., while relieving themselves of over $260 million in future salary obligations.

Adrian Gonzalez, the trade’s centerpiece, homered last night in his Dodger debut.

As a Sox fan who has witnessed the struggles and subsequent dysfunction with the club, I cannot emphasize enough how happy I am with the trade. After recently demanding for front office upheaval, I can only give credit to GM Ben Cherington and President Larry Lucchino for finding a taker for virtually all of their burdensome contracts (outside of John Lackey) and to receive several quality young pieces in return.

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It’s been a while (three weeks, to be precise) since I brought to you my most recent MLB power rankings, and while much of it has to do with my own schedule, I’d be lying if I didn’t mention that the recent play of my beloved Red Sox has had me reluctant to stay enthused with the game of late.

Nevertheless, with the MLB trade deadline, various injuries, and the results of roughly 20 games since the last rankings, the MLB landscape has changed drastically as we enter the dog days of summer and most crucial period before the stretch run. So without further adieu, let’s get to it.

His outing on Sunday aside, Ben Sheets (30) has been a surprise stud for the Braves.

1. Washington Nationals (Record through Sat.: 71-43; Last 10: 9-1; 3 Weeks Ago: 3)

2. New York Yankees (67-46; 7-3; 2)

3. Texas Rangers (66-46; 7-3; 1)

4. Cincinnati Reds (68-46; 5-5; 6)

5. Atlanta Braves (66-47; 7-3; 10)

6. San Francisco Giants (62-52; 6-4; 7)

7. Tampa Bay Rays (61-52; 8-2; 16)

8. Los Angeles Dodgers (61-53; 5-5; 11)

9. Detroit Tigers (61-53; 7-3; 5)

10. Chicago White Sox (61-51; 6-4; 12)

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1. Texas Rangers (Record: 56-37, Last 10: 6-4, Previous Ranking: 1)

2. New York Yankees (57-38, 5-5, 2)

3. Washington Nationals (55-29, 5-5, 4)

4. Los Angeles Angels (51-44, 4-6, 3)

5. Detroit Tigers (52-44, 8-2, 10)

6. Cincinnati Reds (55-40, 8-2, 5)

7. San Francisco Giants (53-42, 7-3, 9)

8. Pittsburgh Pirates (54-40, 7-3, 8)

9. Baltimore Orioles (51-44, 6-4, 15)

10. Atlanta Braves (52-43, 6-4, 7)

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1. Texas Rangers (Record: 51-34, Last 10: 5-5, Last Week’s Ranking: 1)

2. New York Yankees (51-33, 5-5, 2)

The Pirates have jumped into the top 10 thanks in large part to an MVP-caliber year from Andrew McCutchen

3. Los Angeles Angels (48-38, 5-5, 3)

4. Washington Nationals (49-34, 6-4, 4)

5. Cincinnati Reds (47-38, 6-4, 7)

6. Chicago White Sox (47-38, 7-3, 10)

7. Atlanta Braves (46-39, 6-4, 14)

8. Pittsburgh Pirates (48-37, 8-2, 15)

9. San Francisco Giants (46-40, 3-7, 5)

10. Detroit Tigers (44-42, 7-3, 16)

While there’s no change among the top four clubs, the same cannot be said for the rest of the top ten. This week we welcome the Braves, Pirates, and Tigers for the first time, as they all take winning streaks into the All-Star break and appear poised for a strong second half. Although I remain skeptical of the Pirates, the addition of a big bat such as Justin Upton or Carlos Quentin would give Pittsburgh a legitimate sidekick for MVP candidate Andrew McCutchen.

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1. Texas Rangers (Record: 50-30, Last 10: 7-3, Last Week’s Ranking: 1)

Matt Cain’s June 13th perfect game isn’t the only thing worth cheering about in San Fran these days (ESPN)

2. New York Yankees (48-30, 7-3, 2)

3. Los Angeles Angels (44-25, 7-3, 3)

4. Washington Nationals (45-32, 5-5, 4)

5. San Francisco Giants (45-35, 7-3, 9)

6. Boston Red Sox (42-37, 6-4, 7)

7. Cincinnati Reds (43-35, 5-5, 6)

8. Los Angeles Dodgers (43-36, 1-9, 5)

9. New York Mets (43-36, 6-4, 15)

10. Chicago White Sox (42-37, 6-4, 11)

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1. Texas Rangers (Record: 44-28, Last 10: 8-2; Last Week’s Ranking: 2)
2. New York Yankees (44-28, 7-3; 1)
3. Los Angeles Angels (40-33, 7-3; 6)
4. Washington Nationals (41-29, 4-6; 5)
5. Los Angeles Dodgers (43-40, 3-7; 3)
6. Baltimore Orioles (41-31, 5-5; 7)
7. Boston Red Sox (38-34, 8-2; 18)
8. Cincinnati Reds (39-32, 5-5; 4)
9. San Francisco Giants (40-33, 4-6; 8)
10. Tampa Bay Rays (39-32, 4-6; 9)

Kevin Youkilis’s trade to the White Sox is sure to shake things up in the AL (Boston.com)

The big movers in the top ten are the Angels and Red Sox, with Bobby V’s boys the greatest mover of the week, up 11 spots from 18 to 7. Is one 6-1 week enough to vault a club so high? With the trade of Kevin Youkilis opening up consistent playing time for Will Middlebrooks, combined with Daniel Bard moving back to the bullpen, strong starts by Franklin Morales, and the phenomenon that is Daniel Nava, there is a lot to be optimistic about in Boston.

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