Trade Market: Alfonso Soriano to any of 20 teams (rumor)

my thoughts...

http://www.natsfanatics.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=93&Itemid=28

Trade Market: White Sox turn down Crisp for Buehrle (rumor)

Red Sox get:
Mark Buehrle

White Sox get:
Coco Crisp

As reported by the Boston Globe, the White Sox turned down an offer from the Red Sox that would send OF Coco Crisp to the White Sox for starter Mark Buehrle. So, as it stands, this is just a rumor.

It's no seacret that the White Sox aren't too thrilled with the production they've received from rookie center fielder Brian Anderson. Even if ESPN reported that he wouldn't be part of a deal to the Washington Nationals for Alfonso Soriano.

Buehrle, a left-handed starter who likes to work quickly, is suffering from a case of "tale of two seasons" syndrome: starting the year off hot, before going 0-5 in his last five starts. He's still one of the more reliable pitchers in the game - and if it helps matters - he's 3-1 all-time at Fenway Park with 12 strike outs in 4 games.

Crisp, despite injuries, has played pretty well this season. He would be a major upgrade over Anderson in CF for the White Sox.

If Crisp were moved, that would pave way for Wily Mo Pena. While Mo Pena would help the Red Sox offensive attack tremendously, is it at the expense of having a linebacker playing centerfield? That's a lot of routine singles/doubles that could turn into triples and inside the park home runs.

Trade Market: Carlos Lee to the Rangers (official)

Brewers get:

OF Kevin Mench
RHP Francisco Cordero
OF Laynce Nix

Rangers get:
LF Carlos Lee
OF Nelson Cruz
LHP Julian Cordero

The Rangers - who weren't supposed to be major players in the trade market - got the two best players involved in this six-player deal. Carlos Lee has been rumored to be heading out of Milwaukee for sometime now and with Texas acquiring him, there aren't too many big time bats left on the market. Lee will bat in the middle of the line-up, helping a struggling Rangers offense. Cruz wasn't getting any looks in Milwaukee, but Texas has found a place for him, adding him to their MLB roster. The book on Cruz is that he has awesome power, will knock in some runs, steal some bases, but will have his fair share of strike outs. In AAA-Nashville, he compiled 20 HRs, 73 RBIs, stole 17 bases ... but struck out 100 times.

With this move it seems the Brewers are packing in the rest of the season. Although Mench is capable of hitting 20 homers and driving in 70 runs, the Brewers lost a lot in this deal, even if Lee was going to be a free agent in the offseason. Francisco Cordero could relieve Derrick Turnbow of his closing duties. Laynce Nix has been a minor leaguer as long as Lance Bass has been, well, happy.

Winner: