KERNELS get Ryan Madson & Jim Johnson
HIGHLANDERS get Michael Young & Jayson Nix
ANALYSIS I knew the Highlanders would obtain Young from the Kernels, but thought it would be in exchange for Miguel Tejada, because Kentucky needed SS & Moore needed 3B. Madson & Johnson will provide bullpen depth, while Young takes over as the starter at the hot corner for the Highlanders. Nix is a power hitting utility infielder. Very slight advantage Highlanders.
MARAUDERS get Vernon Wells & Jeff Keppinger
UPPERDECKERS get Huston Street & Alexei Ramirez (dropped)
ANALYSIS The best days of Wells are long gone. Keppinger provides coverage as a utility infielder. Street is a quality reliever. Ramirez, while a shortstop with pop, was just included to make it a 2 for 2 swap. Advantage Upperdeckers, only if Huston’s arm doesn’t fall off.
HIGHLANDERS get Scott Kazmir
GAMBLERS get Adrian Beltre
ANALYSIS Scott Kazmir is a quality lefthanded starting pitcher, we’ll have to see how he develops. Todd has traded pitching in the past Brandon Webb for Adam Dunn, and C.C. Sabathia was on the block a few years back. Beltre provides the Gamblers with a solid thirdbaseman, nice glove, decent power, nothing to get excited about. Advantage Highlanders, based on potential.
UPPERDECKERS get Daniel Bard & Dexter Fowler
GAMBLERS get Matt Wieters & Brian Sanches
ANALYSIS Any way you slice it, the Upperdeckers got hosed on this one. Matt Wieters is a switch hitting version of Joe Mauer, one problem – Marc already has Mauer. Still he should’ve gotten way more than a hard throwing reliever in Bard and a fleet footed outfielder in Fowler, that pick was gold. Sanches is a one year A*. BIG advantage Gamblers!
CHAMPIONS get Delmon Young & Clay Zavada
HITMEN get Ryan Doumit & Bobby Crosby
ANALYSIS Doumit & Crosby return to the franchise that traded them one year ago, in exchange for the Champ coveted Young and mustached reliever Zavada. Slight advantage Hitmen, nothing wrong with Doumit’s bat.
MARAUDERS get Randy Wells & Justin Masterson
KERNELS get Rick Porcello & Joba Chamberlain
ANALYSIS DonS should never have taken advantage of his little brother like this. Porcello & Chamberlain are better than Wells & Masterson, and I’m not a Joba fan. Only thing is Keith’s defense is he’s going for the playoffs and Randy is a B. Large advantage Marauders.
KERNELS get Brendan Harris
BOMBERS get Ronnie Belliard
ANALYSIS This was a coverage trade, Bombers needed more at 2B, Kentucky needed more at SS, no advantage.
MARAUDERS get Hanley Ramirez, Chris Coghlan, Dan Uggla, Kevin Jepsen, Everth Cabrera, Daisuke Matsuzaka, & Brad Lidge
RISING BAMM BEANOS get Adam Wainwright, Aaron Hill, Mariano Rivera, Mike Lowell, Rafael Furcal, Ken Griffey Jr, & Nomar Garciaparra
ANALYSIS BLOCKBUSTER! Marauders gave up a #1 pitcher in Wainwright, a slick fielding great hitting secondbaseman in Hill, and a 42 year old relief pitcher who is still doing it in Mariano for the best young players in baseball, Hanley. Molly Putts also landed high average hitting outfielder Chris Coghlan & a secondbaseman who’s name is Dan Uggla. I give the advantage to the playoff seeking Bamm Beanos, who should win 100+ this year.
BOMBERS get Brandon Webb
KERNELS get Alfonso Soriano
ANALYSIS If Webb comes back this is a steal, if Bonanza comes back on TV I’ll watch it. Soriano will bring his powerful bat to Kentucky, just a coincidence he’s a Cub. Kernels get the nod here.
HITMEN get Brett Anderson & Colby Rasmus
CHAMPIONS get Gordon Beckham & Jeff Francoeur
ANALYSIS Anderson is one of four blue chippers in this year’s draft & Rasmus brings a power bat to centerfield. Beckham looks to be the Champions secondbaseman of the future. The shine off Francoeuer’s tout boy status is gone. Nice deal by the Hitmen.
MARAUDERS get Jose Contreras
BOMBERS get Daisuke Matsuzaka
ANALYSIS I like Dice-K, don’t like Contreras. That said, Contreras might take to the pen in Philly and Matsuzaka might come back from injury, or it might just a be a D for a D. No advantage.
BOMBERS get B.J. Upton, Delmon Young, & Matt Capps
CHAMPIONS get Jason Marquis, Hideki Okajima, & Daisuke Matsuzaka
ANALYSIS This trade allowed the Champs the flexibility to draft Beckham rather than taking a starting pitcher. Marquis moves into the 5th spot in the rotation in Chicago. While Okajima adds to the relief corps. Dice-K provides insurance if/when Marquis falters. Upton, Young, & Capps are three youngsters, who look to get older. Both B.J. & Delmon have plenty of skills, while Capps brings his elastic arm & pinpoint control to Green Rock’s pen. Bombers get the best of this one.
RISING BAMM BEANOS get J.D. Drew
BOMBERS get Jonathan Broxton
ANALYSIS Despite the fact that everybody hates J.D. Drew, the guy can play! Broxton moves from being third man in the Bamm Beanos pen to ace with the Bombers. A fair deal for both ballclubs, both got what they wanted.