Dodgers acquire OF Scott Podsednik, Tigers acquire 3B Jhonny Peralta, The Ridiculous Scott Downs Price

With the trade deadline just three days away, two teams made improvements to their ball-clubs, gearing up for the stretch run.

The Los Angeles Dodgers acquired Kansas City Royals' left fielder Scott Podsednik for catcher Lucas May and right handed pitcher Elisaul Pimentel.

Podsednik, 34, is enjoying a nice season while playing left field for the Royals. Through 94 games (430 plate appearances) He's hitting .309 with 5 home runs and 44 RBIs, to go along with 30/42 stolen bases. A third-round draft pick by the Texas Rangers in the 1994 draft, Podsednik, before this season, had spent parts of his career with the Seattle Mariners, Milwaukee Brewers, Colorado Rockies, and most notably the Chicago White Sox. In 2004, "The Podfather" stole 70/83 bases for the Brewers, while also belting out a career-high 12 home runs in 154 games. In 2005 Podsednik signed with the White Sox, hitting .290 with 59 stolen bases, but he didn't hit any home runs. He helped lead the South Siders to the World Series that season, helping the club win its' first World Series since 1917 in a four game sweep over the Houston Astros. After two more years in Chicago, Podsednik signed with the Colorado Rockies. Throughout the 2006, 2007, and 2008 seasons however, Podsednik experienced various injuries, limiting him to only 139 games in '06, 62 in '07, and 93 in '08. He only stole a combined 24 bases during the '07-'08 seasons.

For the 2009 season "Scotty Pods," as White Sox announcer Hawk Harrelson calls him, returned to the White Sox on a minor league contract. He was called up from Triple-AAA on April 30th of 2009 and was a pleasant surprise, hitting .304 with 7 home runs and 30 steals through 132 games. It seemed as though Pods was back. The White Sox let Pods walk after 2009, allowing him to sign a one-year contract with the Kansas City Royals worth $1.6 million.

Known primarily for his speed and great defense, Podsednik can hit for some average but is not a power hitter. A 162 game average for Podsednik estimates a .280 average, 7 home runs, and 49 stolen bases. Scotty Pods has 296 career stolen bases. He will most likely take over left field until Manny Ramirez returns from injury. He could be a big boost for the Dodgers, who sit 5 games out in the NL West, either off of the bench or as a starter.

In return, the Dodgers will send young catcher Lucas May and pitcher Elisaul Pimentel to the Royas. May, 25, was the Dodgers' 8th round selection in 2003. He put himself on the Dodgers' prospect map in 2006, when he belted out 18 home runs in Single-A with a respectable .273 batting average and 82 RBIs while striking out 130 times - a little too much. He responded in Single-A+ 2007, raising his career-high by hitting 25 home runs and driving in 89 RBIs while sporting a .256 average and cutting down to 107 strikeouts. After spending 2008-09 in Double-AA Chattanooga, May showed signs of improvement, especially in 2009, when he hit .306 with 6 home runs and 32 RBIs through 68 games, only 58 strikeouts, before missing the rest of the year with an injury.

This season, May has split time between both Double-AA and Triple-AAA. He hit just .167 in 7 games in Double-AA before being promoted. Since his promotion to AAA, May has torn the cover off the ball, hitting a career-high .296 with 11 home runs and 45 RBIs through 73 games with 60 strikeouts. Combined, he's hit .285 with 11 home runs, 46 RBIs and 67 strikeouts in 80 games. May is not a great defense catcher and is known more for his power hitting ability. A move to first base is most likely for this young player. In the majors, I could foresee a .240, 15 home run, 60 RBI season for May. With adjustments to major league pitching, I definitely think May could hit 20-30 home runs. Royals' GM Dayton Moore called May a "slam dunk MLB catcher."

The Royals also acquired young pitcher Elisaul Pimentel. Pimentel, 21, was an international signing by the Dodgers in 2007 out of the Dominican Republic. In three years with the Dodgers, Pimentel has pitched in Rookie ball and low-A, posting just a career 16-15 record with a 3.68 ERA. This season however, He's at 9-3 with a 3.49 ERA while posting an impressive 9.7/9 strikeout rate to go along with a 3.5 BB/9 rate. Very impressive for a young and inexperienced pitcher.

A good trade for both sides, Podsednik will definitely help the Dodgers offensively and defensively until Manny Ramirez returns. May could be a promising player for the Royals for the foreseeable future at the DH position, while Pimentel could be a legitimate sleeper prospect.

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The Royals weren't the only cellar AL Central team to make a trade today, as the Cleveland Indians shipped off once-promising-shortstop Jhonny Peralta (and cash) to the Detroit Tigers for young lefty pitcher Giovanni Soto.

Peralta, 28, comes to Detroit just a few weeks after both 3B Brandon Inge and 2B Carlos Guillen hit the disabled list. The Tigers, who sit 5 games out in the AL Central, have been looking to bolster their lineup as they poise for the playoff run.

Peralta began the first six years of his career as the Indians' shortstop. A promising talent, Peralta looked to continue the tradition of big, power hitting shortstops like Cal Ripken Jr., Alex Rodriguez, Derek Jeter, Nomar Garciaparra and Miguel Tejada. Peralta looked to be continuing the line after his explosive 2005 season, at age 23, when he hit .292 with 24 home runs and 78 RBIs in 141 games, his best season ever. 2006 was a set-back for Peralta, he hit just .257 with 13 home runs and 68 RBIs in 149 games before rebounding in 2007 with a .270/21/72 season and again in 2008 with a .276/23/89 season. Following the 2008 season, the Indians moved Peralta to third base. His bulky frame and defensive liability was becoming an issue for the Indians' infield. In '09 he played in 104 games at third base, hitting .254/11/83 while learning the new position.

This season Peralta has struggled. Once rumored a target for the bench this season by the Yankees, Peralta's hitting just .249 with 7 home runs and 43 RBIs through 91 games, all at third base. He makes $4.6 million this season (just about $1.7MM remains). In addition, the Tigers have a $7.25 million option for 2011 with a $250K buyout for the 2011 season as well. Until Inge and Guillen return, Peralta will hold down the hot corner for the Tigers.

In return the Indians will receive young lefty Giovanni Soto. Yes they share the same name, but this Soto is no catcher. A 21st round pick in '09 by the Tigers, Soto, 19, has showed promise in his first two seasons in pro-ball. He posted a 4-0 record with a 1.18 ERA through 13 games in Rk ball last year, striking out 7.3/9. This season, his first full season, he's 6-6 with a 2.61 ERA through 16 games in A-ball, raising his k/9 to 8.3/9.

It's a good trade for both sides here. The Tigers get their replacement until Inge returns, then Peralta will most likely move to shortstop. The Indians get a young lefty pitcher who could be part of their rebuilding for some years to come.

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Last but certainly not least, the Yankees and Red Sox have been two of the most interested teams in Toronto Blue Jays' reliever Scott Downs. Downs, 34, has pitched 42.1 innings (47 appearances) and is sporting a 2.34 ERA with 10 walks and 35 strike outs. He has held lefties close, as they are hitting just .182/.308/.309 against him. However, the Blue Jays have a high asking price for Downs.

Reportedly, the Blue Jays asked the Yankees and Red Sox for one of Jesus Montero/Joba Chamberlain or Casey Kelly/Jose Iglesias, respectively, in return for Downs. I laugh at this. If it costs Montero or Joba for the Yanks to land Downs, let him go. He's not worth Montero's or Chamberlain's caliber, especially at 34 years-old.