CarterHud

                The Los Angeles Angels have acquired 2B Brandon Phillips from the Atlanta Braves in exchange for C Tony Sanchez.

                 The Angels are just one game out of the second wild card spot in the AL, and two games out of the first spot. Their biggest need besides starting pitching is second base, after they acquired LF Justin Upton earlier today. Danny Espinosa was a huge bust this year, and is now on his third team of the season. Phillips is a way better 2B option than Kaleb Cowart. Also, Phillips can now play 3B, as he\’s shown in his 25 games at the position this year. He\’s a rental, so he doesn\’t affect their long-term plans.

                  Phillips, 36, has a .291 batting average, 11 homers, 52 RBIs and 10 steals in 499 Plate Appearances for the Braves this year. In his 16 year MLB career for the Braves, Cincinnati Reds and Cleveland Indians, Phillips has a .276 batting average, 208 homers, 941 RBIs and 208 stolen bases in 7860 Plate Appearances.

                  As sellers, the Braves are lucky to trade a rental at the waiver trade deadline. Also, they are able to unload the rest of the $14 million he\’s owed for this year. It\’s a good move for them.They are weak at the catching position, and get a catcher helps.

                  Sanchez, 29, has a .272 batting average, four homers and 40 RBIs in 284 Plate Appearances for Salt Lake (AAA) this year. In his three year MLB career with the Pittsburgh Pirates, Sanchez has a .259 batting average, four homers and 18 RBIs in 155 Plate Appearances.

                 I think the Angels win this trade. Even though they\’ll likely have Phillips for just a month, they only give up a minor league catcher with no upside. That\’s why they win.

                    The Houston Astros have claimed OF Cameron Maybin off waivers from the Los Angeles Angels.

                     With the playoffs looming, the Astros were looking for a solid 4th outfielder. Maybin has good speed, so that is helpful off the bench in the playoffs. Maybin will probably platoon with rookie Derek Fisher, as Fisher is left-handed, and Maybin is right-handed.  He\’s a
rental, and they get him for practically nothing.
                     
                       Maybin, 30, has a .235 batting average, six homers, 22 RBIs and 29 steals in 387 Plate Appearances for the Angels this year. In his 11 year MLB career for the Angels, Detroit Tigers, Atlanta Braves, San Diego Padres and Florida Marlins, Maybin has a .256 batting average, 52 homers, 274 RBIs and 160 stolen bases in 3401 Plate Appearances.

                       The Angels recently acquired LF Justin Upton, so Maybin was just a 4th outfielder. With getting rid of him, they also get rid of the remainder of his $9 million contract he\’s owed this year.

                 The Los Angeles Angels have acquired LF Justin Upton from the Detroit Tigers in exchange for RHP prospect Grayson Long and a player to be named later (PTBNL) or cash considerations.

                 Just one game out of the AL Wild card, the Angels are thinking that acquiring Upton could be the extra push they need. Also, Bill Shaikin of the Los Angeles Times noted that since the start of 2015, Angels left fielders have hit just 27 homers, including just seven this season. Upton\’s 162 game average is 28 homers. Even though he has a big contract, Upton is under contract for four seasons after this year. He can be solid in L.A.

                  In related news, the Angels awarded their left fielder, a former Tiger, Cameron Maybin to the Houston Astros. Maybin would have been benched with Upton on the team.

                  Upton, 30, has a .279 batting average, 28 homers, 94 RBIs and 10 steals in 520 Plate Appearances for the Tigers this year. In his 11 year MLB career for the Tigers, San Diego Padres, Atlanta Braves and Arizona Diamondbacks, Upton has a .269 batting average, 249 homers, 797 RBIs and 134 stolen bases in 6080 Plate Appearances.

               The Tigers have been looking to unload lots of salary lately. Former ace Justin Verlander is also on the market, with a $28 million price tag per year. Upton is owed $22 million per year, so trading him is good for the the payroll. The don\’t get too much, but that\’s what hurts about having that big of a contract.

                    Long, 23, has a 2.69 ERA, 1.17 WHIP and 125 strikeouts in 133.2 innings between High-A and AA this year. In his minor league career, Long has 3.05 ERA, 1.21 WHIP and 217 strikeouts in 218.1 innings.

                    I think this is an even trade. The Tigers get a solid prospect, and unload a lot of salary. On the other hand, the Angels get a good player under team control for a few years. So, everybody wins.

                With 109 points in 2016-17, the Chicago Blackhawks finished 1st in the Western conference. But, the eighth seed Nashville Predators upset the Blackhawks, sweeping them in the first round. Like most offseasons in the Windy City, big changes occurred. Let\’s look at what GM Stan Bowman did.

                 Notable additions: LW Brandon Saad, RW Patrick Sharp, D Connor Murphy, F Lance Bouma, F Tommy Wingels, G Anton Forsberg, D Jan Rutta, D Jordan Oesterle.

                 Notable subtractions: LW Artemi Panarin, D Niklas Hjalmarsson, G Scott Darling, C Marcus Kruger, F Tyler Motte, D Trevor van Riemsdyk, D Johnny Oduya, D Brian Campbell.

                                 Forwards
Here are my projected forward lines.

Brandon Saad – Jonathan Toews – Richard Panik
Patrick Sharp – Artem Anisimov – Patrick Kane
Ryan Hartman – Nick Schmaltz – Vinnie Hinostroza
Lance Bouma – Tommy Wingels – John Hayden

Since being acquired by the Blackhawks, Panik has been great with Toews. Saad started his career in Chicago, and was also great with \”Captain Serious\”. Sharp and Kane are reunited, and Anisimov has been Kane\’s center for a couple years now. The kid line is solid. Bouma and Wingels are two veteran additions that will pay off. Tomas Jurco, Jordin Tootoo and Tanner Kero are the extra forwards.

                                   Defensemen
 Here are my projected defensive pairs.

Duncan Keith – Connor Murphy
Michal Kempny – Brent Seabrook
Gustav Forsling – Michal Rozsival

Murphy is a nice addition, and can play well with a top defender like Keith. Seabrook and Kempny are two good top-4 defensemen. Forsling and Rozsival are a young guy, Forsling, and a vet, Rozsvial, which is normally a good thing. Jan Rutta and Jordan Oesterle are the extra defensemen.

                                      Goaltending
                                      Corey Crawford
                                      Anton Forsberg

Crawford is a really good goalie. Forsberg never got a chance to be a backup in Columbus, but can be that in Chicago. It\’s a solid tandem.

                                      Prediction
Once again, the Blackhawks have a good team. even though the loss of Artemi Panarin hurts, I think the Blackhawks will once again make the playoffs.

                                      YouTube
Also, check out my YouTube preview for the Blackhawks.

               A late season push helped the Carolina Hurricanes finish with 87 points in 2016-17, but they still finished 7th in a tough Metropolitan division, missing the playoffs. Rookie Sebastian Aho, Jeff Skinner and their young defensive core all had a good season, but goaltending woes hurt them. To improve their team, GM Ron Francis made some moves. Let\’s look at what the hall-of-famer did.

               Notable additions: RW Justin Williams, G Scottt Darling, D Trevor van Riemsdyk, C Marcus Kruger, C Josh Jooris.

               Notable subtractions: G Eddie Lack, F Bryan Bickell, D Ryan Murphy.

        
                                     Forwards
Here are my projected forward lines.

Jeff Skinner – Jordan Staal – Justin Williams
Teuvo Teravainen – Victor Rask – Sebastian Aho
Phillip Di Giuseppe – Elias Lindholm – Lee Stempniak
Joakim Nordstrom – Marcus Kruger – Derek Ryan.

The first line is three solid vets. The kid line second line should really work. I like the idea of Lindholm running his own line, and Stempniak is a nice wing to have. Nordstrom and Kruger were teammates in Chicago, and the Canes are hoping that chemistry works out. Josh Jooris and Brock McGinn are the two extra forwards.

                                      Defensemen
Here are my projected defensive pairs.

Noah Hanifin – Justin Faulk
Jaccob Slavin – Brett Pesce
Klas Dahlbeck – Trevor van Riemsdyk

Hanifin, at 20 years of age, gets to play with a their best defenseman, Faulk. Pesce and Slavin are solid top-4 defensemen. van Riemsdyk and Dahlbeck are a solid third pair.

                                   Goaltending

                                   Scott Darling
                                   Cam Ward

   Darling is finally getting the chance to start. Ward isn\’t a starter anymore, but he can be a solid mentor and backup to Darling.

                                 Prediction
Though they wildly improved in the offseason, I think that the Hurricanes will compete for the wild card in 2017-18, but just miss out on the playoff action.

                                  YouTube
Also, check out my YouTube season preview for the Canes