Recent Trades

We've recently had a flurry of trading activity- 6 fairly significant trades to be exact. Our correspondent out in Las Vegas, firesign34, has been kind enough to offer some analysis on the two Gamblers trades and then I'll add some of my own.

Trade between : Las Vegas Gamblers and Milwaukee Maniac Maulers

A recent trade between the Gamblers and Manic Maulers saw the Las Vegas all-star 2B, Bob Malone , depart for Milwaukee. In return Milwaukee sent prospects Coco Hines , a soon to be a "Fireman of the Year" award winner, and 1B Gabe Hynes , along with sure handed 2B, Tim Harding to Las Vegas. (firesign34).

Milwaukee gets an upgrade over Harding in Malone, who lengthens an already deep lineup. This is a team built to win now and may end up pulling it off. Las Vegas gets Harding, who immediately fills Malone's spot in the lineup. He's not as good as Malone but he's a decent piece to the lineup. Las Vegas also gets Coco Hines (#53 overall rated prospect, #4 rated reliever)- I agree with firesign that he's a future ace closer. Gabe Hines is a AA 1B who should hit enough to fashion himself a nice ML career. I think both teams get what they want out of this.

Trade between: Las Vegas Gamblers and Arizona Diamondbacks

Las Vegas sent their #1 Ace Keith Cortes and LA catcher Tomas Beltran to Arizona for SS F.P. Saipe , John Rosen, and ML RP Anthony Hall . Saipe and Rosen were immediately assigned to AA to help a non-existant (sic) bench. Hall should help a bull pen (sic) that has shown the inability to finish games in the late innings. (firesign34)

(Just as a note, LA means Low A)

Arizona felt they needed another starting pitcher, so they went out and got Cortes for the rotation. He'll join Pujols, Bautista, Grahe, and Small for a very strong starting 5- they should get quality innings just about every night now. Beltran may eventually turn into a backup catcher in the majors as a defensive specialist. As for Las Vegas's end, F.P. Saipe is a decent SS, but I don't think he's a sure-fire quality player. John Rosen is about the same in RF- should make the majors, but I'm not sure how good he'll be once he gets there. Anthony Hall (not the actor), should be a decent arm either in the back of the rotation or out of the pen. All in all, I'm not sure the Gamblers got enough for their ace.

Trade between: Milwaukee Manic Maulers and Chicago Cubs

Milwaukee gets: Burt Stevenson and Lawrence Carver
Chicago gets: Sean Simpson and Thomas Turner

Analysis: The league chat board is already abuzz over this one. Stevenson (#7 overall prospect, #1 rated 1B) adds even more depth to the Milwaukee lineup as a power hitting 1B- he's now in the majors and Carver projects out as a nice starter, maybe eventually a #3 in the ML. But Sean Simpson (#9 rated prospect overall, #1 rated 2B) is a future superstar. Turner seems like a throw-in, but could eventually get called up to the bigs. Most experts seem to think Chicago got the better end of this deal; although it could definitely wind up that way, I don't think it's so clear cut.

Trade between: Salem Sacrifices and Los Angeles Dodgers

Salem gets: Bo Hatfield
Los Angeles gets: Bruce Phillips and Qulivio Rijo

An interesting intradivisional deal. Salem gets bullpen help in former L.A closer Hatfield, who could either close or set up Kevin Nomo. Los Angeles gets Bruce Phillips, a future ML reliever, and Rijo, an offensive player. I'm not sure Rijo is a true catcher- he may need to find another position. Phillips is the key to the deal- he's a decent arm out of the pen but is it enough for Hatfield? Not really sure.

Trade between : Vancouver Fighting Moose and Monterrey Sultans

Monterrey gets: Cody Lincoln
Vancouver gets: Juan Cabrera, Max Knowles, Hector Nunez

In my preview I questioned Benito Tavarez's on-base ability- apparently Monterrey's management also felt it was time for an upgrade. Lincoln is a CF who can both get on base and drive in runs. In return the Moose get Cabrera (#69 rated prospect), who should be a solid #2 starter in the bigs, Knowles, who at 31 probably doesn't figure into Vancouver's long term plans and could be dealt again before the season ends, and Nunez, a defensive shortstop who may not be able to hit enough to stay in a lineup. The bottom line is Monterrey gets a huge CF upgrade without giving up any of their top 4 prospects.

Trade between: Houston Oilers and Vancouver Fighting Moose

Houston gets: Matty Eusebio
Vancouver gets: Joe Gleason, Steve Bako, Henry Canizaro

This is major. Houston knew it needed more starting pitching if they want to compete this year, so they went out and got the best guy currently available on the market in Eusebio. He instantly trumps all other pitchers in this division. Joe Gleason(#16 rated prospect, #10 rated SP), if he had slightly better pitches, could be an ace, but he should be a solid #2 one day. Bako (#86 rated prospect, #7 rated 2B) projects as a middle of the order type. Canizaro has plenty of potential as a CF of the future- all 3 should contribute at the ML level someday. I think Vancouver definitely got a good return for their ace. Does Eusebio put Houston over the top in the NL South? Hard to say.