Trade Deadline

Today was the trade deadline for my nineteenth-century baseball teams, and three of the four teams were involved in the action. The frontrunning Haymakers picked up versatile center fielder Ned Hanlon from the Resolutes in exchange for reserve infielder Sol White. Hanlon provides the Haymakers with speed on the basepaths and elite defense in the outfield, both of which his new team has been lacking. How did the Haymakers land such a useful player for, essentially, a spare part? Well, the Resolutes found themselves in need of a stopgap third baseman for the remainder of the regular season, as their other trade today ended up being quite the blockbuster! 

Here's the scoop on that one: The expansion team nabbed elite outfielder Pete Hill from the Canaries in a dream-come-true opportunity. Hill will bat leadoff for the Resolutes and replace Elmer Flick in center. With Flick shifting to right, Fred Clarke remaining in left, and iron-gloved Orator Jim O'Rourke riding the pine, the Resolutes will suddenly have the best outfield defense in the league, even without Hanlon! It's also a great opportunity for Hill to take a step forward in his career, as he'd been overshadowed by superstar center fielder Hugh Duffy and obliged to patrol right field despite being Duffy's defensive equal. With Hill comes pitcher Rube Foster, who had won the Canaries' closer role this season but will likely revert back to his natural position as a starter now that he's a Resolute.

The Canaries were loath to part with the multitalented Hill, but for team allowing a league-worst 4.13 runs per game (and with a -15 run differential, also worst in the league), the defending champs needed pitching. And they sure got it! Enigmatic hurler Rube Waddell moves to the Canaries after rejuvenating his career with the Resolutes. Waddell sports a solid 2.77 ERA, good enough for fourth in the league (although his 39 innings pitched is a much lower total than the other ERA leaders). The Canaries also get Tommy McCarthy, a natural outfielder who'd been pressed into service as a third baseman on the Resolutes (hence the Resolutes' need to trade for Sol White). McCarthy brings a solid bat, and although his defense at third was nothing short of atrocious, he profiles as a plus defender in a corner outfield spot, thereby softening the blow of losing Hill. 

It's a great trade for both teams, and, as luck would have it, the Canaries and Resolutes will face each other in their very next game...tomorrow!