Trades that make sense and should happen
Written by Jason P. Kelley
May 27, 2005

1. Baltimore Orioles and Oakland Athletics
Orioles trade Bruce Chen, Nate Spears, Nick Markakis, and David Haehnel to the Oakland Athletics for Barry Zito

The O’s need a big name pitcher on top of the Bedard, Ponson, Cabrera trio – Oakland needs depth. Chen won’t cost much, should be traded while the sale is high, and the three others are all the type of players that would fit young growing needs for an Oakland team that is realistically out of it this year. Baltimore needs to go for it while they have the chance.

2. Minnesota Twins and Pittsburgh Pirates
Twins trade Scott Baker, Grant Balfour, and Garrett Jones to the Pittsburgh Pirates for Kip Wells

Minnesota could use another starter to pair with the duet of Santana and Radke, Wells would make an excellent 3rd starter. Pittsburgh would get three good prospects who could all be in the majors by the end of 2006.

3. Boston Red Sox and Tampa Bay Devil Rays
Red Sox trade Stefan Bailie, Andrew Dobies, and Brandon Moss to the Tampa Bay Devil Rays for Aubry Huff and Josh Hamilton.

Boston has enough talent to make a move for a player who will make an immediate impact – Huff can play first or third or outfield, and will make the line-up even tougher to get out. Hamilton is added to relieve the Devil Rays of the headache he has become. The three prospects that the Devil Rays get in return can make impacts as early as 2006 and save them money. Maybe the Devil Rays should throw Pinella into the trade…

4. St. Louis Cardinals and Tampa Bay Devil Rays
Cardinals trade Cody McKay, Brad Thompson, Cody Haerther, and Einer Diaz to the Tampa Bay Devil Rays for Toby Hall and Elijah Dukes.

St. Louis needs an impact catcher to platoon with Yadier Molina, for the next year or two. And Dukes would give them an outfielder to replace Walker, Sanders, Mabry, Cedeno, and Taguchi in the next 2 years. Haerther could be good but may take a few more years then Dukes, Thompson could be a good starter/reliever for the Rays, while Diaz and McKay can at least help fill the void of Hall for a year, in McKay’s case maybe more.

5. Boston Red Sox and Houston Astros
Red Sox trade Jon Lester, Chris Durbin, and Kelly Shoppach to the Houston Astros for Roger Clemens.

The Red sox could use Clemens to help cement another run at a World title – Houston is going nowhere and needs young talent at OF, P, and especially C. Shoppach is a big time prospect at C, and is now blocked by Varitek anyway. Clemens, if he approved, would light up Boston and be a class act by both teams.

6. Florida Marlins and Pittsburgh Pirates
Marlins trade Scott Olsen, Joe Dillon, and Jason Stokes to the Pittsburgh Pirates for Jose Mesa and Freddy Sanchez.

The Marlins need RP insurance for Mota – even with Todd Jones pitching well. Mesa could be the piece to get them back to the World Series. Freddy Sanchez could be a safety net for Castillo and Easley, this year if not next. Stokes could be the power 1b that the Pirates need, and Olsen and Dillon are attractive enough that Pittsburgh could afford to part with Sanchez and his promise.

7. LA Dodgers and Toronto Blue Jays
Dodgers trade Russell Martin and Jonathan Broxton to the Toronto Blue Jays for Eric Hinske.

Eric has played well enough that he would warrant the 3B job in LA – easily he is better then the hodge podge they have been throwing out there. Broxton is an exciting youngster, probably the 2nd best in a huge crop of pitching in the minors for LA.

8. Texas Rangers and Colorado Rockies
Rangers trade Kevin Mench, Ramon Nivar, and John Danks to the Colorado Rockies for Preston Wilson, Shawn Chacon, and Dustin Mohr.

In a classic swap of outfielders, Mench could shine in Colorado, but Wilson and Mohr could also revive in Texas. The key to this is getting Chacon out of Colorado to help shore up Texas pitching, both as a starter and reliever. Danks looks promising, even if as a reliever, and Colorado needs to go with young arms and not waste money on players like Chacon and pitching.

9. Atlanta Braves and Oakland Athletics
Braves trade Kelly Johnson and Horacio Ramirez to the Oakland Athletics for Octavio Dotel

Hudson Street is ready, Oakland is not winning anyway, and the Braves need a closer.