The silence created squirms. The clock reached 2 p.m., and kept ticking with no headline, no announcement. Nothing. Alfonso Soriano, rumored to be going to every team but Real Madrid, remained in Washington.
Congress figures to launch an investigation. Aren’t the Nationals guilty of misrepresentation or puzzling business practices?
General manager Jim Bowden predicted for weeks that he would land a treasure for the most-prized bat available. Instead, he refused to lower his demands and wound up with an explanation and no additions.
“There wasn’t a deal out there that would have helped our farm system in our opinion as much as not making a deal,” Bowden said during a conference call.
So he did nothing. And that’s something that will haunt the Nationals when Soriano defects as a free agent after this season, leaving Washington with two draft picks. Those kids don’t figure to land in the promotional literature for season tickets.
Pictures of playoff success help create buzz and no team – gulp! – did better than the Yankees. It’s like Brad Pitt getting the girl at the end of the movie. They picked up Bobby Abreu, Cory Lidle and Craig Wilson. Abreu has suffered a power outage since last year’s all-star break, but the Yankees just want him to get on base in front of Johnny Damon, Derek Jeter, Jason Giambi and Alex Rodriguez.
Somehow that rockscrabble lineup will scratch out a few runs.
Lidle is a serviceable fifth starter and Wilson a reputable bat off the bench.
All were landed without parting with Double-A pitcher Philip Hughes.
Cincinnati was the boldest, GM Wayne Krivsky running his club like a fantasy league team. He completely reconfigured his bullpen, adding left-handers Eddie Guardado, Bill Bray and Rheal Cormier and hard-throwing right-hander Gary Majewski.
The Reds have shown they can get a lead, but keeping one has been the problem. Looking to change the culture of losing, Krivsky has given Reds fans a reason to pay attention and believe a playoff spot is possible.
Texas was also aggressive, landing Carlos Lee, who is a more consistent run producer than Soriano. In the tame AL West, that move could be the difference, particularly when the Angels and A’s remained static.
A similar argument can be advanced about the Dodgers in the National League West. But they’ve been so awful since the break, it’s hard to believe Greg Maddux and Julio Lugo can execute a miraculous U-turn.
Because the trading deadline has become baseball’s equivalent of the NFL draft, there must be a scorecard. Instant analysis is dangerous because time is the best judge.
That said, the Red Sox woke up today feeling like losers, only because every move is measured against the Yankees. Boston came up snake eyes. Not that the Red Sox didn’t try. In an eager move, they made center fielder Coco Crisp available to land a frontline starter.
The Rockies and White Sox got involved, but weren’t interested in moving any of their rotation anchors.
And then there are the Pirates. They held as many chips as anyone at the deadline, their bullpen busting at the seams with enviable relievers. For Sean Casey, Roberto Hernandez, Kip Wells and Wilson, they brought in Xavier Nady and added Shawn Chacon.
Not surprisingly, Pirates GM Dave Littlefield spent Monday getting skewered. A similar lashing awaits Bowden when Soriano walks away this winter.
Staff writer Troy E. Renck can be reached at 303-820-5457 or trenck@denverpost.com.
