Guess who's back? Baseball bits: Wakamatsu, Carter, Coghlan, Arencibia, Sale, Morrow

Lots of baseball news today as I return to the blogosphere...

- In a move that surprised many, the Seattle Mariners fired Manager Don Wakamatsu. Wakamatsu, who was named manager prior to the 2009 season, and a dismal Mariners team, that was supposed to be the dark horse contender in the American League West thanks to a revamped (now disbanded) roster, sit at 42-70 in last place sporting the second-worst record in the American League, thanks only to the struggle of the Baltimore Orioles. As well, Seattle fired pitching coach Rick Adair, performance coach Steve Hecht and bench coach Ty Van Burkleo

"I'll be all right," the 47-year-old Wakamatsu said. "I've been in this game a long time, and I have a lot of people pulling for me -- most of all my family."

Wakamatsu, the first Japanese manager in baseball, joins the Florida Marlins' Fredi Gonzalez, Arizona Diamondbacks' A.J. Hinch, Baltimore Orioles' Dave Trembley, and the Kansas City Royals' Trey Hillman on the list of managers who have been fired this season.

In his managerial career, which began in 2009, he is 127-147 lifetime. In his first season as manager in 2009, Wakamatsu led the Mariners to an 85-77 record after finishing 61-101 in 2008. There was much promise for the 2010 Mariners, who sported an opening roster that consisted of newbies ace LHP Cliff Lee, OF Milton Bradley, and 2B Chone Figgins to combine with the likes of RHP Felix Hernandez and OF Ichiro Suzuki & Franklin Gutierrez. However, the team on paper was not the team on the field. The Mariners struggled early and continued to slide, ultimately watching as Lee was traded to Texas, Bradley dealt with injuries and anger issues, and Figgins, for lack of a better term, sucked and butted heads with Wakamatsu.

"I have concluded that these changes needed to be made now and that they are in the best interest of the Mariners as we move forward," Seattle general manager Jack Zduriencik said. "Don, Ty and Rick are all good baseball men and they have done their very best. But we are where we are. I no longer have confidence that Don, Ty and Rick are the right long-term fit for our organization. New leadership is needed and it is needed now."

"Everybody is evaluated at all times," he said. "As we go forward, you have to realize there is always an evaluation process going on at all times. You take a week at a time, a month at a time, a season at a time with everyone."

Wakamatsu's new replacement, Daren Brown, who managed the Triple-AAA Tacoma team for the Mariners' farm the past three seasons, will begin his career tonight as interim manager against the Oakland Athletics. Roger Hansen, the Mariners' minor league catching coordinator, will be Brown's bench coach, while Carl Willis, the Mariners' minor league pitching coordinator, will be his pitching coach.

Wakamatsu, a catcher, was an 11th round draft pick in 1985 by the Cincinnati Reds, played 11 seasons in professional baseball, mainly in the minor leagues in the farm systems of the Reds, Chicago White Sox, Los Angeles Dodgers, Texas Rangers, Cleveland Indians, Mariners, and Milwaukee Brewers before retiring in 1996. He appeared in the major leagues in 1995 with the Chicago White Sox and played in just 18 games while hitting .226.

It's unknown whether Wakamatsu will manage in 2011.

- The Oakland Athletics, although 7.5 games back and in second place in the AL West, aren't calling it quits just yet. While the division leading Texas Rangers look like the favorites to seal up the division, the A's are giving it one last fighting chance by promoting top prospect first baseman Chris Carter today from Triple-AAA Sacramento, according to Susan Slusser of the San Francisco Chronicle.

Carter, 23, was part of the six-player package, which included RHP Brett Anderson and SASWFM favorite OF Carlos Gonzalez, from the Arizona Diamondbacks to Oakland for RHP Dan Haren in 2007. Originally a 15th round draft pick by the Chicago White Sox in 2005, he was traded to Arizona for OF Carlos Quentin during the 2007 off season and flipped to Oakland.

A power-hitting first baseman who ranked #28 on Baseball America's Top 100 Prospects list prior to 2010, Carter has transformed himself into an elite home run hitter. He flew up prospect lists in 2007, while playing in the White Sox's farm system Single-A team, belting 25 home runs and sporting a .291 average before he was traded to Arizona and later Oakland. He proved 2007 was no fluke by breaking out in 2008, hitting 39 home runs with 104 RBIs for Oakland's Single-A+ Stockton. As a result, he ranked #76 on the top prospect list. In 2009, he continued to dominate, hitting 28 home runs with a .329 average and 115 RBIs between AA-AAA and moving up to #28 on the top prospect list.

Before his call-up today, he was hitting .262 with 27 home runs and 89 RBIs for Triple-AAA while playing 94 games at first base and 20 split in right and left field. Due to the recent injuries of 1B Daric Barton, LF Matt Watson, and INF Adam Rosales, Carter's call-up was almost a no-brainer. He will make his debut tonight and joins an elite 2010 Rookie Class. The scary thing? That's not even the whole class: Pedro Alvarez, among others, is missing from the list.

- Florida Marlins' LF Chris Coghlan will undergo surgery on his left knee Wednesday, after injuring himself in a walk-off celebration on July 25 when delivering a celebratory pie-in-the-face to teammate Wes Helms. Coghlan, who thought he would be able to rehab the injury, could miss the remainder of the season.

"I went out there and threw three days ago, and I think that's when it really hit me that, 'OK, I'm not going to be able to do this,' " he said Sunday. "I had too much sharp pain in my knee."

"It matters more to the public how you get injured, especially with the circumstances of how it happened to me," Coghlan said. "But to me the bottom line is I was injured, and it's disappointing. It's tough watching your team going out there and compete, and you're not able to help."

Coghlan, the 2009 NL Rookie of the Year, was hitting .268 with 5 home runs and 28 RBIs through 91 games in the outfield for the Marlins. While he has played primarily OF in the major leagues, he played second base in the minor leagues. Due to the recent emergence of top prospects Logan Morrison and Mike Stanton in the corner outfield spots, along with once top prospect CF Cameron Maybin waiting in the wings to re-establish himself, Coghlan seems to be the odd-man out in the outfield. There was talk of the Marlins trading All-Star second baseman Dan Uggla due to contract issues and moving Coghlan to second base, but instead they traded 3B Jorge Cantu to Texas, and want Coghlan to be the club's starting third baseman once he returns from injury. Coghlan, however, hasn't put any thought on the recent demands.

"Right now I haven't even focused on that -- too much focus on my knee," he said. "Let me get surgery and let me get back. Obviously as that process goes on, I'll be thinking more about third base."

The recovery, which is estimated at four-to-eight weeks, could allow Coghlan to possibly return at the end of the season for a few games, which very well could be at third base. The Marlins, who sit 9.5 games out and in fourth place in the NL East, aren't giving up hope yet, and neither is Coghlan.

"I will do everything in my power to get back healthy as quick as I can," he said.

- Lastly, here are some things I enjoyed after this interesting week in baseball:

1. How about that debut for Toronto Blue Jays' catching prospect J.P. Arencibia huh? 4-5 with 2 home runs in his debut? Wowzers. I don't think you could honestly have a better debut.

Well, unless you're this guy.


2. Did you hear about LHP Chris Sale of the Chicago White Sox?

Talk about skyrocketing...

Sale, the South Siders' first round (13th overall) pick in the 2010 draft in June, made his major league debut on August 6th. He pitched in just 11 games in the minors for A+ and AAA combined, going 0-0 with a 2.61 ERA, striking out 19 in 10.1 innings for a (inflated due to service time) 21.3 k/9 rate. The tall, lanky lefty is the first player from the 2010 draft making the jump from A+ to AAA to the majors.

"First time I see this guy on tape I said 'Why don't we have him tomorrow?'" White Sox Manager Ozzie Guillen said. "I like what I see on tape. He's got a lot of guts. We're excited to have him."

"Being here is an honor and a privilege," Sale, 21, said, "and I'm going to do everything I can to stay up here. These are important outings. It's not like we're 10 games back or 10 games up. If I get into a game, it's the real deal. I have to perform well."

He's off to a good start, giving up just one hit and one walk in 0.0 innings (one game, he didn't get any outs). Put him in the Hall Of Fame already .


3. Uh, the Toronto Blue Jays' RHP Brandon Morrow's performance Sunday? A complete game with 17 strikeouts is awfully nice, but losing the no-hitter in the 9th with two outs will sting, especially when that was an easy play that 2B Aaron Hill should have had. Nonetheless, he beat the Tampa Rays, which is good for the Yankee fans, as they are on a five game losing streak and now sit 2.5 games out. If the Rays had been no-hit, it would have been the fifth time they were involved in a no-hitter in the past two seasons. Wow.

"Oh, Canada" indeed.

Alex Rodriguez hits long-awaited 600th career home run

He finally did it.

He went 46 at bats without a home run, the longest stretch ever between milestones, but he got it done.

Yes, on August 4, 2010 the New York Yankees' Alex Rodriguez, 35, hit his 600th career home run, making him the youngest to ever reach the milestone. An 0-2 pitch from the Toronto Blue Jays' Shaun Marcum flew like a bullet to straight away center field, landing, ironically, in Monument Park, where Rodriguez will eventually be enshrined. Also, Rodriguez's 600th home run came exactly three years to the day that he hit his 500th home run in 2007.

He now joins a list of seven players who have hit 600 or more home runs, which includes Babe Ruth, Hank Aaron, and the Home Run King, Barry Bonds.

"Congratulations to Alex on this great achievement and on adding another highlight to Yankees history. We are especially proud he accomplished this feat as a Yankee and here before the most loyal fans in baseball," said Yankees' co-owner Hal Steinbrenner.

"When you reach that plateau, no matter where it is, whether you're playing in the Majors or the Minors, it's a tremendous accomplishment," former Home Run Champ Hank Aaron said. "It means an awful lot to whoever reaches this achievement."

Rodriguez, who endured an 0-17 before today's game, was no doubt struggling. But with one swing of the bat, Derek Jeter on first base, and the crack of a baseball hitting wood, a 600 lb gorilla (see what I did there?) was dropped off of his shoulders.

"It's definitely a special number," Rodriguez said. "I'm certainly proud of it. I'll treasure it for a long, long time. Many years from today, I'll be able to reflect a lot better. Today, the focus was that we needed to win. It was good to do it in a winning fashion and to be able to hit it at home."

"So much has changed, for me, for my place in that clubhouse," Rodriguez said. "That's the No. 1 thing that's changed -- my relationship with my teammates. The journey is what's fun, and playing with a team like that, with my teammates, I'm just in a good place. I'm enjoying playing the game, I'm enjoying playing good team baseball. It's much different than 500."

"There's no question I was pressing -- I wanted to get it out of the way to get back to playing good team baseball," Rodriguez said. "My plan [on Wednesday] for the first time was just drive in a run, get a base hit, hit it hard somewhere."

"It sure has been awhile, but it definitely felt good to get a big home run and help us win," he said.

"I just wanted to get a base hit," he added. "My teammates wanted me to go out there and relax."

"I'm at peace with my game," Rodriguez said. "I'm at peace with myself."

Well said, Alex.

Congrats to A-Rod, the eventual home run king.

Astros trade newly acquired OF Gose to Blue Jays for 1B/3B Brett Wallace

What a whirlwind of a day for Anthony Gose.

After being acquired today by the Houston Astros from the Philadelphia Phillies in the Roy Oswalt trade, reportedly, the Astros have traded Gose to the Toronto Blue Jays for top prospect third/first baseman Brett Wallace.

Wallace, a power hitting batter, was traded from the St. Louis Cardinals to the Oakland Athletics for Matt Holliday last year. During the off-season the Phillies traded OF Michael Taylor and other prospects to the Blue Jays for Roy Halladay. The Blue Jays then traded Taylor to the Athletics for Wallace. Now Wallace has been traded yet again for another Phillies' prospect, this time Gose, and will head to Houston.

Ranked the 27th best prospect in baseball, Wallace is hitting .301 with 18 home runs and 61 RBIs through 95 games this season while playing only first base. He originally was drafted a third baseman by the Cardinals, but after being traded from Oakland to Toronto, he made the switch to first. Wallace, 23, was the Cardinals' first round draft pick in 2008 out of Arizona State, going 13th overall. He has a career .304 average in the minors and was called a "hitting machine" by Astros GM Ed Wade. Wallace could be the best player the Astros got in this deal. Getting Wallace for Gose is definitely a better upgrade.

So technically, the Roy Oswalt trade will be remembered as Oswalt for J.A. Happ, Anthony Gose, Justin Villar and later Brett Wallace. Good flip of prospects by the Astros.

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.

Toronto Blue Jays trade SS Alex Gonzalez, two minor leaguers to Atlanta Braves and acquire SS Yunel Escobar and RHP Jo-Jo Reyes

Just got this news now: The Toronto Blue Jays and Atlanta Braves have agreed on a trade that will send shortstop Alex Gonzalez and prospects left handed pitcher Tim Collins and shortstop Tyler Pastornicky to the Atlanta Braves in return for shortstop Yunel Escobar and right handed pitcher Jo-Jo Reyes.

This is a huge trade and it was really surprising to hear this. Escobar, the Braves' second round pick in the 2005 draft, was coming off of a fantastic 2009 season in which he hit .299 with 14 home runs and 76 RBIs, and it had looked as though he was placing himself in the conversation of best shortstop in the National League East. Escobar, 28, has had a disappointing 2010 season so far. He's hitting just .238 with 19 RBIs and hasn't hit a home run yet this year. He's played lackluster defense and has looked nonchalant at times on the field. MLB.com's Mark Bowman said last month that "there's no doubt that Escobar's flamboyant approach to the game has continued to infuriate some members of the Braves organization." The Cuban defector will now take over duties at shortstop everyday for the Blue Jays. I think Escobar just needed a change of scenery, and I hope he can resurrect his career in Toronto. He is under Blue Jays control through the 2013 season. A great pick up by the Blue Jays.

The Jays will also acquire once top prospect RHP Jo-Jo Reyes. Reyes, a second round draft pick in the 2003 draft, was not able to live up to the hype that had. In the major leagues, Reyes has a carer 5-15 record with a 6.40 ERA, including going 3-11 with a 5.81 ERA his first full season in 2008. Since the '08 season, Reyes, 25, has spent time between the minor leagues and the majors. His inconsistency has resulted in the lack of faith that the Braves organization had in him. This is another great pickup for the Blue Jays. Reyes still has some potential left and is still young enough to be a difference maker. With a rebuilding Blue Jays franchise Reyes could either be moved to the bullpen or be inserted into the rotation.

The Atlanta Braves will acquire ex-Marlins shortstop Alex Gonzalez to replace Escobar. Gonzalez, 33, is having the best season of his career so far, hitting .259 with 17 home runs and 50 RBIs through 85 games this season. The 17 home runs are a career high through 85 games, as 23 home runs are the most Gonzalez has hit in a full season, that which came in 2004. Gonzalez is a great defensive player who plays his heart out of his team. Trading for Gonzalez was a great pickup for the Braves, especially with the Braves aiming for a playoff push to secure the NL East. This is a breakout year for Gonzalez, but he is no fluke. He's having a better season and plays better defense, and perhaps even cares more, than Escobar and should help improve the Braves' offense to replace the "production" of Escobar. He's certainly an upgrade over Escobar and is a free agent at the end of the season, so there is no long term commitment. Gonzalez is owed just $1.23MM left this year and has a $2.5MM club option for 2011. "This trade improves our club for the second half of the season." said Braves GM Frank Wren.

The Braves also acquire two minor league prospects: Tim Collins, a LHP and shortstop Tyler Pastornicky.

Collins, 20, is a left handed relief pitcher who owns a 1-0 record with a 2.51 ERA in 35 games for Double-AA Dunedin. He was ranked 19th among Blue Jays prospects by Baseball America. Collins' scouting report says that he "gets outs with a solid fastball that tops out at 93 mph and a true 12-to-6 curveball that he spins really well." He's a strikeout pitcher, fanning 73 (!!!) in 43.0 innings pitched this season while only giving up 16 walks. That's just a ridiculous 15.3 K/9. Although he is a great relief pitcher, Collins could be transitioned into a starting role with the Braves, due to his high strikeout total and low earned run average. In the minors, Collins' owns a career 14-9 record with a 2.40 ERA with 294 strikeouts in 194.2 innings pitched (!!!). He's only 5'7 but has a Tim Lincecum (who's 5'11) aura around him. The Braves are getting a great, young, left handed (!) pitching prospect who could be part of their bullpen or rotation for years to come. I'm surprised Toronto gave up on this young man.


Pastornicky, 20, was the Blue Jays 5th round draft pick in the 2008 draft. A shortstop, Pastornicky hits for a low average, usually in the .250-.260 range and isn't projected to have a great amount of power. He hit just one home run per season in the minors for A and A+ ball before showing some power this year, with 6 home runs so far in A+ ball. He's currently hitting .258 with 6 home runs and 35 RBIs for A+. He made 28 errors at shortstop in 2009, but this year has refined his defense making just 10 errors while playing both shortstop and second base through 77 games. Pastornicky has been scouted and is said to be a top of the lineup hitter who will play solid defense. Baseball America says that he "doesn't have flashy tools but gets the most out of what he has." He's another good pick up for the Braves. It doesn't hurt to have another young shortstop in the system.


Overall this is a good trade for both sides. The Blue Jays get a substantial shortstop in Escobar, who is still young and can hold the position until Adeiny Hechavarria, the Blue Jays' top shortstop prospect, is ready for the big leagues. Escobar still also has a ton of star potential left. As well, they get another major league ready arm for their bullpen/rotation in Reyes, who still has a ton of potential in his right arm. The Braves got the best part of this deal, acquiring one of the top offensive shortstops in the league right now in Gonzalez, who should help them to make the playoffs. As well, they win in this trade because they got the two young prospects. Obviously, Collins is the guy I like in this deal. I love prospects, and Collins looks like he has a lot of potential and I wouldn't be surprised if he's in the majors next season.

Both sides won this deal.

San Francisco Giants trade C Bengie Molina to Texas Rangers for RHP Chris Ray and a PTBNL

Ladies and Gentlemen, it's trade time!

Today the San Francisco Giants traded catcher Bengie Molina to the Texas Rangers for RHP Chris Ray and a Play To Be Named Later.

Molina, who was hitting .257/.312/.332 with 3 HR and 17 RBIs through 61 games will take over as starting catcher for Matt Treanor, who's hitting .237/.315/.378 with 5 HR and 23 RBI through 54 games. Treanor will be the back-up catcher now. Before the trade, the trio of Texas catchers, Jarrod Saltalamacchia, Taylor Teagarden, Max Ramirez and Treanor, were hitting a combined .212/.311/.328 on the year, prompting the move for a trade of a better offensive catcher. Molina, 36, is a free agent at the end of the season. The long-time Angels backstop is with his fourth organization now, after spending seasons with the Angels, Blue Jays, and Giants. The eldest Molina brother will now hope to had some power to the Rangers' lineup. The move will push Buster Posey to be the starting catcher in San Francisco.

The Giants meanwhile, acquire relief help as they try to make a playoff push this season. They'll acquire Chris Ray, ex-closer of the Baltimore Orioles. The former Tommy John surgery patient has thrown to a 3.41 ERA in 31.2 innings of work this season. Ray, 28, was traded to Texas for Kevin Millwood prior to the 2010 season, so this will be his second team this season. Ray will most likely take over duty as the set-up man for Brian Wilson. The Giants will also acquire a Player To Be Named Later as a bonus.

This is a good trade for both sides. The Rangers acquire a catcher that can hit and field, something they've been lacking since the days of Ivan Rodriguez, and they got him for a good price. The Giants acquire a young reliever who can help them in the bullpen, as well as a bonus player. The trade of Molina will now allow the Giants to play Buster Posey at catcher full-time, as he begins to grow into his position, and will allow them to play Aubrey Huff at first base full-time. A good trade fulfilling the needs of both teams.

Yankees 2010 Trade Target: Brandon League

Brandon League, RHP Seattle Mariners
2010 season: 36 G, 5-5, 3.07 ERA, 41.0 IP, 2 SV, 1.10 WHIP

A second round draftee of the 2001 draft by the Toronto Blue Jays, Brandon League has shown to be one of the more dominant relievers of the past half decade. Making his debut in 2004, League struggled in his first full season in 2005, as he posted a 6.56 ERA in 35.2 IP in 20 games, allowing an opponent's batting avg against of .302. However, it appeared as though the best of League was still to come. The Sacramento native posted a 2.53 ERA in 42.2 IP in 33 games with 29 strikeouts in 2006. His opponent's batting avg against? .214. Adjustment? I think so.

Going into 2007, League was deemed one of the better relievers in baseball. He struggled through shoulder problems in 2007, lasting only 14 games and posting a 6.17 ERA in 11.2 IP. Many analysts recognized that League's velocity had dropped greatly. Due to advanced strength conditioning during the offseason, League overdeveloped his shoulder muscles, causing the drop-off in velocity. His shoulder problems continued and he eventually needed major shoulder surgery, causing the Blue Jays to place him on the 60-day Disabled List. He would miss the rest of the 2007 season.

League returned in 2008 looking like his 2006 form. His velocity was back, as he posted a 2.18 ERA in 33.0 IP in 31 games. He also had 23 strikeouts and an OBA of .230. League was again back on top. 2009 wasn't as kind to League, as he struggled through the season again. Pitching in a career high 67 games, he posted a 4.58 ERA in 74.2 IP, but had 76(!!!) strikeouts.

Following the 2009 season, League was traded to the Seattle Mariners with minor league outfielder Johermyn Chavez for RHP Brandon Morrow. He's looked sharp so far in 2010, posting a 3.07 ERA in 41.0 IP in 36 games, as well as garnering 2 saves. He also has 31(!!!) strikeouts and an OBA of .214, his lowest since 2006. Due to the Mariners' poor play and sub .500 record at 31-43, last in the AL West, the Mariners have not yet declared themselves open to business, but it sure seems like it could be soon. When they do, League could be one of their best chips.

Recently, FOXSPORTS writer Jon Morosi tweeted that outside of Cliff Lee, the tattoo-addicted League is the Mariners' most attractive trade piece. He's a great reliever, and he's young, just 27, and is still under team control. He could easily help out a team's bullpen. One team with bullpen issues that could be interested? The New York Yankees.

With the bullpen struggling mightly this year, as opposed to last year's breakout, the Yankees are in need of relief help. Chan Ho Park has not met expectations, posting a 7.04 ERA in 19 games, while giving up 6 home runs, after giving up 0 last year, in 23.0 IP. His OBA? .320. Joba Chamberlain has composed himself recently, but he's still at a 5.17 ERA in 33.1 IP in 33 games, while giving up 11 walks, a weakness the set-up man should not have. Then there's the other cast of characters: Damaso Marte, who has been unreliable but not terrible, David Robertson, who struggled early but has recomposed himself, Boone Logan and Chad Gaudin, who are in for mop-up duties but are also pitching poorly of late. And then there's Mo. Do I really have to say anything about Mariano Rivera?

It's obvious that the Yankees need some relief help, especially with Alfredo Aceves still on the DL and with no definate timetable for return. I think that the Yankees could acquire League for maybe a B-Level prospect, such as a Mark Melancon. I think a trade of LHP Boone Logan and RHP Mark Melancon could get a trade for League done. I'd definitely do that trade if I'm the Yankees. League is having another great year, and he's still young and hasn't hit is prime yet. League could work with Chamberlain to set-up Rivera as well as work as a long-man out of the bullpen. He's owed just $1.08 million through this season, so he's cheap, meaning it'd definitely cost at least a B-level prospect. If I'm the Yankees and I can get away with giving up just Logan and Melancon, I pull the trigger.

So while it's still unknown if the Mariners are ready for waive the white-flag, it will be soon. I imagine that the Yankees could be players for League's teammate Cliff Lee due to the recent struggles of A.J. Burnett. If League is made available I would imagine the Yankees to be huge players. Perhaps the Yankees and Mariners could complete a trade that could land the Yankees both Lee and League? That'd be great but I'm just dreaming here! If I'm the Yankees, I'm trying to get League.