Welcome to the Trade Talks section of our site.  Below, you will
find breakdowns on all the latest Big-Time trades.  What is a
"Big-Time" trade?  Well, it isn't Big Unit for Bonds.  Basically, if its
a team changing trade then we'll take a look but we won't be
breaking down each and every deal.

We'll give our full (mostly) un-biased opinion on any deals that we
break down along with our final assessment in the form of a few
+++ or, maybe some ---.  So take a peek and, as always, opinions
are welcome!  And no, not everyone will agree with all of our
reviews, you made a trade and we called you a dummy?  To bad!
The Connecticut Waves Get:

DH- Rocco Baldeli
SP- Daniel Bard
SP- Manny Parra

Combined Points- 87
*****

The OBkX Brewers Get:

OF- Fred Lewis
SP- Armando Gallaraga
RP- Brando Lyon

Combined Points- 211

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THE BREAKDOWN

Brandon Lyon is garbage and might be one of the worst pitchers in baseball.  However, Armando
Galarraga is pitching well so far and looks like he will be a top 40 pitcher for the next couple of
years to come.  Fred Lewis is a decent OF and will be a decent spot starter and back up for the
next couple of years.

Rocco Baldelli has a ton of talent but can’t stay on the field so he is pretty much the Mark Prior of
hitters.  Manny Parra is a low-end spot starter and will probably be nothing more then a spot
starter in fantasy for the rest of his career.  I do not see him ever becoming a reliable starter.  
Daniel Bard is the big piece Connecticut gets in this deal.  He has great stuff and could possibly
be closing for the Red Sox if they decide they don’t want to give Paplebon a big contract.  Daniel
Bard has nasty stuff.  It looks for now ObkX got the better end of the deal with Lewis and
Galarraga with Armando being the best player in this deal.  But if Daniel Bard lives up to his talent
the trade will be even.
**********************************************************************
THE GRADES

>>>Connecticut: - (To many what-ifs but IF Daniel Bard pans out it will be a good deal for The
Waves)
>>>OBkX: + (OBX gets 2 solid starters in the deal and only gives up a good prospect in return)
05-15-09
The Albany Annihilators Get:

SS- Gordon Beckham
SP- A.J. Burnett
OF- Jermaine Dye

Combined Points- 391
*****

The Jersey  Storm Gets:

OF- Endy Chavez
SP- Justin Masterson
1B- Paul Konerko

Combined Points- 257

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

The trade of GREAT DEBATE!  Albany wins the war of big names and will get the better end of
this trade long term.  Paul Konerko is playing like he did a couple of years ago but can he keep
up this tear he is on?  Has Endy Chavez finally found a starting home in Seattle or will he just be
back to platooning like he was with the Mets?  Justin Masterson is a great young pitcher and has
a lot of talent, the question is will he ever get a chance to hold a job with the Red Sox?

As you can see there are a lot of Question marks that Jersey has received.  AJ Burnett is a great
pitcher and is a top 30 pitcher although there are some injury concerns.  Jermaine Dye is a
consistent OF and puts up pretty good numbers every year and I would consider him a top 30
OF.  Gordon Beckham is a great prospect but all indications point to him not being utilized until
next season.  All signs point to Albany getting the better end of this trade but if Jersey’s player
continue to play the way they have been so far then it might be a little closer but still probably in
Albany’s favor.
**********************************************************************
THE GRADES

>>>Albany: ++ (Solid players who are consistent mixed with some young talent)
>>>Jersey: - (A lot of questionable players but might end up with the last laugh especially this
season)
05-15-09
The Columbus Bombers Get:

SS- Edgar Renteria
RP- Troy Percival

Combined Points- 209
*****

The Georgia Xperience Get:

SS- Bobby Crosy
RP- Cla Meredith

Combined Points- 118

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

Neither team gained any long-term keepers out of this deal.  Troy Percival is as old as Dirt and
Renteria will probably finish the season with the same batting average as his weight (270).  

On the other side, Bobby Crosby cannot stay on the field and is no longer on Georgia’s team.  As
for Cla Meredith he is nothing more then a decent middle reliever.  Looking at the trade for the
short term Columbus got a steal but long term it doesn’t really help either team.
**********************************************************************
THE GRADES

>>>Columbus: + (Wins trade easy)
>>>Georgia: - (Bobby Crosby is no longer on the team enough said)
05-15-09
The Albany Annihilators Get:

3B- Adrian Beltre

*****

The New Orleans VooDoo Get:

1B- Jason Giambi

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

This deal is basically a swap of positions.  Giambi and Beltre are very similar players, they were
both good when they used steroids and now they are both OK because they don’t use them.  
Albany might benefit a little more long term because Giambi is old but it would be a very slight
advantage.  
**********************************************************************
THE GRADES

>>>Albany: + (Got a 3B that they needed.)
>>>New Orleans: + (Got a 1B that they needed)
05-15-09
The Seattle Reign Get:

RP- Brian Wilson

*****

The Georgia Xperience Get:

SP- Franklin Morales

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

Seattle wins this trade hands down.  Brian Wilson has scored 132 points and Franklin Morales
has only scored 32 points.  Wilson looks like he has the job in hand for the entire season and
Franklin Morales might be a better long term player but when is the last time there has been a
rock solid pitcher come out of Colorado?

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

>>>Seattle: ++ (Wins trade hands down)
>>>Georgia: -- (Gave up an upper tier closer)
05-15-09
The Seattle Reign Get:

RP- Kevin Gregg (217 Pts)

*****

The SanFrancisco Slammers Get:

SP- Shairon Martis (158 Pts)

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

    Shairon Martis?  This guy is very young and might development into a somewhat decent starter
someday.  He does not have a chance to be a star by any means and will probably be cut before
his contract is up.  Kevin Gregg is a proven closer/middle reliever and will be better than Martis for
at least the next 3 or 4 years.
**********************************************************************
THE GRADES

>>>Reign: + (Seattle makes team that much stronger and does not give up very much to do it)
>>>Slammers: = (San Francisco gets a guy who was hot for a couple of weeks and might be a
decent matchup start)
NEW
06-29-09
The Philadelphia toolongtospells Get:

3B- Matt Gamel (93 Pts)

*****

The DeGenerationX Brewers Get:

1B- Jake Fox (62 Pts)

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

  What was OBKx thinking?  Jake Fox is a 27 year old journeyman minor league player and Mat
Gamel is an up and coming stud.  Jake Fox will be stuck behind Derek Lee and Aramis Ramirez
for most of the season and Gamel will have the chance to start for years to come.
**********************************************************************
THE GRADES

>>>Philanthropists: ++ (Philly wins this trade hand down)
>>>OBKx: -- (Obkx gave up a stud for a dud)
NEW
06-29-09
The Philadelphia Philanthropists Get:

OF- Andrew Lambo
OF- Cameron Maybin
SP- John Maine
SP- Rick Porcello
RP- Yadel Marti

Combined Points- 1,005
*****

The Columbus Bombers Get:

1B- Yonder Alonso
OF- Denard Span
SP- Andrew Bailey
SP- John Danks
SP- Anthony Swarzak

Combined Points- 269
*********************************************************************
THE BREAKDOWN

This is an interesting trade.  John Danks and Denard Span are both solid fantasy players.  
Andrew Bailey looks like he will be a pretty good pitcher and is now the A’s closer but he has
already blown 4 saves.  Who cares about Anthony Swarzak.  Rick Procello will be a good pitcher
for years to come, John Maine is a mess and very inconsistent, and Cameron Maybin has all the
tools to be a stud but can’t put it together for some reason but hope is not lost for him.  Lambo is
a while away from doing anything and Marti probably won’t do much.  Danks is better than
Procello for now but maybe not in the next 2 years remember both are still very young.  Span is
easily better then Maybin right now and Bailey is better than Maine.  Looks like the winner is pretty
clear.
**********************************************************************
THE GRADES

>>>Philanthropists: - (Got a lot of young talent but you know what they always say…talent gets
GM’s fired)
>>>Bombers: ++ (Wins trade just look at the points not even close)
NEW
06-29-09
The Pittsburgh Pirates Get:

OF- Matt Kemp

*****

The Connecticut Waves Get:

SP- Clay Buchholz

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

What was Connecticut thinking?  Matt Kemp is a young stud OF and is easily a top 50 player and
will probably be a top 25 player within the next few years.  Bucholz pitched a no hitter before and
has not pitched in the majors after that.  He is a good talent but even if he realizes it will he ever
be better than Kemp?  Probably not and I do not know why they would even risk that.
**********************************************************************
THE GRADES

>>>Pirates: +++++ (They pulled a fast one)
>>>Waves: --- (I hope he bought you dinner first)
NEW
06-29-09
The OBKx Brewers Get:

SP- Scott Richmond
RP- Randy Wells

*****

The Philadelphia Philanthropists Get:

SP- Neftali Feliz

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

 Neftali Feliz is a top 5 prospect but he is a pitcher in Texas.  He has also had some command
issues in the minors.  Maybe he will be lucky and get traded like Volzquez and Danks or he will
stay there and probably not do a whole bunch.  For the short term Richmond and Wells are better
but in the future Philly might be laughing all the way to the bank.
**********************************************************************
THE GRADES

>>>OBKx: - (could have gotten something a lot better for Neftali)
>>>Phils: + (Gets a stud prospect and didn’t give up a ton of talent)
NEW
06-29-09
The Seattle Reign Get:

RP- Daniel Schlereth

Combined points- 138
*****

The Philadelphia Philanthropists Get:

SP- Fausto Carmona
SP- Ross Detwiler

Combined Points- um....negative 5
*********************************************************************
THE BREAKDOWN

There are the Griffey’s, Bonds, Mannings, and now the Schlereth’s…not really Daniel Schlereth is
not looking very good and is a couple of years away from potentially doing anything.  Philly took a
chance with Carmona and no longer has him but I would still rather have Detwiler.
**********************************************************************
THE GRADES

>>>Reign: - (to bad Daniel and Mark Schlereth weren’t like the Bonds, Manning, and Griffey
family…. )
>>>Phils: + (Philly wins this one but not by a lot)
NEW
06-29-09
The Cincinnati Reds Get:

SS- Todd Fraizer

*****

The Philadelphia Philanthropists Get:

OF- Pat Burrell

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

Philly gets Pat Burrell and you know exactly what you are getting with him which is 20 HR and 80
RBI.  Burrell will be better than Frazier for at least 3 or 4 more years.
**********************************************************************
THE GRADES

>>>Reds: - (gets a decent young player but gives up a better player )
>>>Phils: + (wins this trade easy and gets a productive player )
NEW
06-29-09