The Move Matrix
How MLB teams should comport themselves at the trade deadline
Here’s a thing you learn relatively early in adulthood: There are some friends you want to invite on a road trip because they are spontaneous, willing to try the weird restaurant or take that exit and go see the world’s largest stuffed wombat. There are other friends you don’t want to invite because they are too spontaneous, too ready to detonate a whole day for the prospect of exploring a cave with a suspiciously cheap guide.
Each decision is theoretically different, but patterns develop. You know one friend is going to take the leap, caution be damned; you know another friend is going stick with the plan, for better or worse.
Baseball teams develop these personality patterns, too.
Some teams make huge pivots on a dime, shake up the roster for kicks. Others remain tethered to their status quo even when the results scream for change. Teams whose situations and personalities align create thrilling push notifications for their fans. Mismatches at key moments generate fury and regret.
So, I wanted to do my best to visualize the state of things as we approach the trade deadline.
In what I’m calling the Move Matrix, we’re gauging observed team tendencies toward action (left to right) against what a neutral observer might call for at this moment (up and down). It’s not about buying or selling. It’s about moving and shaking, deviating from the plan.
Without further ado, the Move Matrix:
