SEATTLE – In his long career as a baseball executive, Dave Dombrowski has weathered an astonishing 36 trade deadlines, more than any current general manager or president of baseball operations, perhaps, in fact, more than any executive in history.
Some years he bought. In other years, he sold. Some years, he didn’t do anything at all.
And that’s the thing: like snowflakes, no two trade deadlines are ever alike. The circumstances are different, the dynamics change and so, too, do the rules.
Dombrowski has plenty of reference points. But asked if this year’s deadline – now looming a mere week away – reminds him of any other, he could find no obvious comparison..
“I haven’t really thought about that,’’ said Dombrowski recently. “I haven’t reflected on it, but I guess, not really. I’ve been in a lot of pennant races.’’
But this year’s deadline features a number of mitigating factors that make it especially unique:
- In the weekend a week before the deadline, three teams were at – or near – double-digit leads in their respective division races.
- The advent of the second wild-card, while not especially new, has given more teams than ever the hope (or illusion) that they have a chance at the post-season. That translates, more and more, into more buyers and fewer sellers.
- An important change in the collective bargaining agreement could be the X factor this year.
- The combination of fewer sellers and the industry’s infatuation with younger (and cheaper) players has made teams reluctant to part with prospects unless the gain is significant.