Five weeks ago – before a pitch was thrown this season – it wouldn’t have been hard to predict that clubs like perennial favorites Pittsburgh and Baltimore and teardown artists Cincinnati and Oakland would be off-season sellers.
The Cubs and Nationals were big sellers last July and there wouldn’t have been an eye roll if you were expecting the same this season.
But we’re already seeing how the sell-side could become more crowded. That’s because the sport is more divided than ever between the haves and have-nots. And that doesn’t seem to be a coincidence. It seems to be a trend.
In the 10 seasons from 2008 to 2017 there were a total of 11 teams that ended in 100 losses. In the last three full seasons (2018, 2019, 2021) there were also 11. From 2002 to 2016 there were a total of 14 teams that won 100 games. In the last four full seasons (add 2017 to previous group) there have been 13.
https://nypost.com/2022/05/13/the-trade-deadline-prizes-who-could-be-pried-away-from-baseballs-biggest-bummers/ The trade deadline prices that could be snatched from baseball’s biggest bitches