Welcome to the Trade Talks section of our BenchWarmers site.  
Below, you will find info on all the latest Big-Time trades.  

We'll breakdown the deal with an in depth look at who went where
and we'll follow it up with our take on who won (with a few
+++)
and who lost (with some
---)

For individual player info, click on the "CBSSportsline.com" logo
above for a full player list
Bucco’s get:

Joey Votto

**************
Braves get:

Franklin Gutierrez
Austin Jackson
Carlos Santana


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THE BREAKDOWN

Hmmm, the Braves must have been desperate for a catcher. Votto is an absolute beast, and
could potentially win the triple crown this year. He also probably hasn’t even hit his peak yet!
Flat…out…stud.

For the Braves it’s Gutierrez who is very meh. He hasn’t done much of anything all year, and
probably won’t be on this team next year. Jackson is having a nice year, but he is a singles hitter
and needs to steal more bases to have good value. He works as a No. 4/5 outfielder, but needs to
add power and speed to move up. Santana is the prize of the deal for the Braves, and should give
them a great starting catcher for a long time. However, he has yet to be called up so they will have
to wait a little longer for that value.

*Note from the future: Santana is out for the year so this ruins all value this trade had for the
Braves.


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THE GRADES

>>>Buccos: +++ (Votto is AWESOME!)
>>>Braves: - (The only truly good player they got in the deal is now done for the year. Gutierrez
is not good, and Jackson doesn’t do enough to help much.)
NEW
08-12-10
Mets get:

Johnny Damon

************
Snappers get:

Miguel Tejada


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THE BREAKDOWN

Well, this certainly wins the award for oldest average player trade. Damon has had a better year,
but his best days are easily behind him. Tejada’s best days are well behind him, and he plays in a
pitcher’s park now. Neither one really improves either team.

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THE GRADES

>>>Mets: even (Damon’s been OK, but not great.)
>>>Snappers: even (Tejada’s been less OK, but is SS eligible giving him a bit of value.)
NEW
Mets get:

Max Scherzer

*******************************
Snappers get:

Wilson Ramos

Miguel Sano


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THE BREAKDOWN

Scherzer was demoted shortly after this trade, but has since been called up and pitched pretty
well for the most part. He also K’s a lot of people which allows him to score points even when he
doesn’t pitch well.

For The Snappers Ramos is a nice prospect, and should be starting in Washington next season,
but for right now has little value. Sano is only 17 and nowhere near the majors.

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THE GRADES

>>>Mets: +
>>>Snappers: even
Bucco’s get:

Matt Moore
Ben Sheets
Brett Anderson
Kevin Correia

*****************************
Braves get:

Derek Holland
Ian Kennedy
John Lackey


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THE BREAKDOWN

Anderson is the best pitcher in the deal hands down. He was injured at the time of this trade, but
for the Bucco’s it’s his long term value they were after. Anderson is a steal at $10, and will quickly
become a top pitcher. Moore K’s a ton of guys but has no control so he is a work in progress.
Sheets’ season is over and his career may be over, and Correia is free agent material.

For the Braves, Holland got hurt immediately after this trade, and is still a few weeks from
returning, but could still be a factor this year. Kennedy seems to have hit a wall, and you never
know what you’re going to get from Lackey. Rumor has it the Braves are looking to move him, but
that is yet to be seen. The Braves get the nod in this one since Kennedy and Lackey have scored
them points ever since the trade, which the Bucco’s have yet to get much of from their 4, although
Anderson is healthy now.

**********************************************************************
THE GRADES

>>>Buccos: even
>>>Braves: +
NEW
Mets get:

Victor Martinez

******************************
Indians get:

Kendry Morales


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THE BREAKDOWN

Talk about a buzzkill of a trade! Two big names changed hands, and after they were traded both
ceased doing anything. For Morales it was a broken ankle almost immediately after this trade that
ended his season. For the Indians the loss hurt, but wasn’t huge since they probably weren’t
making the playoffs even with him healthy.

Martinez was a top catcher when Indians traded him, but over the last 8 weeks he has a whopping
total of 36 points! If he can turn it around he could be a big help for the Mets in the playoffs, but
right now he’s doing nothing.



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THE GRADES

>>>Indians: even (Morales is out, but is pretty young and has a bright future.)
>>>Mets: + (They get a + simply because Martinez is healthy. Martinez is older though so long
term Indians will win this trade.)
NEW
Bucco’s get:

Gordon Beckham
Manuel Corpas

*****************************
Braves get:

Mike Moustakas
Matt Capps

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THE BREAKDOWN

Beckham started off VERY slow, but has since started to recapture some of the potential that
made him an early pick in many drafts. He is eligible at 2B and 3B, and could easily be a top 10
2B by next year. He is a great talent at a thin position. Corpas was closing at the time of this trade,
but has since been relegated to middle relief.

On the Braves side, Moustakas is a great prospect, but the Royals seem content to bring him
along very slowly. He will probably be a midseason call up next year. Capps gets a ton of save
chances which makes him a top closer based on points, but he also blows a lot of saves which
keeps him from being elite. It is also unknown whether he will be closing next year if Nathan comes
back healthy.

**********************************************************************
THE GRADES

>>>Buccos: even
>>>Braves: even
NEW
Bucco’s get:

Jordan Lyles
Brian Matusz
Drew Storen

******************************
Braves get:

Leo Nunez
Trevor Cahill

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THE BREAKDOWN

Bucco’s score 3 nice arms in this trade. Lyles is only 19, but holding his own in AA, and could be
up by next season. Matusz is a future ace who is stuck on a rotten team in a tough division.
Storen became the closer in Washington shortly after this trade, and the guy who he replaces was
getting a ton of save chances.

The Braves receive top 10 closer Leo Nunez who has quietly put together a very nice season.
They also add Trevor Cahill who has done a 180 from last year, and is having a great season at
the age of 22.

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THE GRADES

>>>Buccos: even (Matusz has the highest ceiling, but it may take a few years before he reaches
it. Storen is a great young arm who is already the closer. Lyles is a ways from making an impact in
fantasy, but has a very bright future. This grade moves to a + depending on how quickly Matusz
and Storen can fulfill their potential.)

>>>Braves: + (For this year they win easily with Nunez and Cahill both being very solid options at
their positions. Both are also only $10 so they are a great value.)
NEW
DGX gets:

Stephen Strasburg
Buster Posey
Jon Lester
Billy Butler

**************************
Braves get:

Dallas Braden
Matt Holliday
Josh Hamilton
Miguel Cabrera


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THE BREAKDOWN

Wow. A lot of BIG names switched sides in this trade. Let’s start with DGX.

DGX gets an ace in Strasburg. Yes, an ace. Not a future ace. An ace. Strasburg was having a
great first season before experiencing some soreness upon reaching his previous high for innings
pitched. The injury is not serious, but the Nationals are taking a very cautious approach and will
not be over using him the rest of the way. Posey has been arguably the best catcher in fantasy
since his promotion and his a great future. Lester is a top 10 starting pitcher and is still young.
Butler is a very promising 1B who definitely has upside. DGX really has a bright future ahead with
these 4. So what did the Braves get?

Well for starters the Braves scored the best hitter in fantasy in Cabrera. He is a big upgrade over
Butler, and is still young. The Braves also added another top 10 hitter in Hamilton who is the top
scoring outfielder. On top of these 2 studs they added a 3rd stud in Holliday. He is a top 15 hitter
and along with Hamilton helps shore up an outfield that didn’t have a single guy in the top 30
before this trade. The Braves also received a decent arm in Braden. He will never be great, but is
cheap and should provide a decent amount of points.

**********************************************************************
THE GRADES

>>>DGX: + (Strasburg and Posey could be the best players at their positions within 2 years.
Lester is already a top 10 pitcher, and Butler is a great young first baseman.)
>>>Braves: ++ (The Braves win this one for now though after adding 3 stud hitters and a decent
pitcher.)
NEW
Legends get:

Cliff Lee

***************************
Finally gets:

Matt Kemp


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THE BREAKDOWN

This is a pretty basic trade of two big names that makes a lot of sense for both teams. Finally
really needs a good bat, and Kemp provides that. Kemp also still has upside and

should be a stud for years. The Legends needed pitching and they pick up an ace in Lee. He is
older, but will be pitching for a good team.

**********************************************************************
THE GRADES

>>>Legends: + (Filled a need with an Ace)
>>>Finally!!!: + (Filled a need with a stud bat)
NEW
Legends get:

Ian Desmond
Jordan Zimmerman
Dustin Pedroia
Mike Leake

******************************
Braves get:

Heath Bell
Dominic Brown
Starlin Castro
James Loney
Chris Nelson


*********************************************************************
THE BREAKDOWN

The Braves are definitely looking at this year in this trade. We sense a trend here. Zimmerman will
probably be back late August, early September, but will be rusty and not much help for the stretch
run. Pedroia’s return is still unknown so he may or may not help for the stretch run. Leake seems
to have hit a rookie wall, and Desmond is a decent infielder with some upside. For the future
though Zimmerman and Leake have great upside and Pedroia is arguably the best 2B in fantasy.

The Braves pick up the best closer in fantasy and two potential studs in Brown and Castro. Brown
and Castro should contribute decently this year, but their impact will be felt more down the road.
Braves also pick up Loney who is a decent starting bat, but will never be great. Nelson is an OK
prospect. The downside to this one for the Braves is that it leaves them without a real 2B.

**********************************************************************
THE GRADES

>>>Braves: + (Get better for this year and their push for a championship run)
>>>Legends: ++ (Get some great guys for the future)
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