Bay Area Baseball

I Thought that some of you might be interested in this deal, they also have two years for $1.60.
Simply use code “July” under checkout.
A reputable magazine site as per:
Fatwallet
The four year and two year items
I went for the four years. It also comes with ESPN Insider. While you’re here, leave a comment!

Pudge Rodriguez brings his 2003 World Series ring to New York, and looks to add to his collection
With just hours left before the trade deadline, lets take a quick look at some of the deals so far, and the impact each move has had on contenders.
Ivan Rodriguez for Kyle Farnsworth
Winners:
Yankees – With Posada going down this is a great move to bring a proven winner in to stabilize the up the middle defense. Pudge also brings high average.
Brandon Inge – Gets full playing time now.
Losers:
Giants – Could have made a move here with Molina, who looks tired and who’s value is dropping by the game.
Tigers – Pick up an inconsistent reliever having a decent year. Lose a big part of their locker room in Pudge.
Jose Molina – Tough for Molina, who has been playing great defense, but the Yankees clearly decided his offensive woes are too much.
 Mark Teixiera for Casey Kotchman and Stephen Marek
Winners:
Angels – So far this is the best move any team has made, adding Teixera gives them the heart of the order power that Torii Hunter wasn’t able to bring and that Vlad Guerrero has lost. Even if he proves to be just a rental the Angels get two first/supplemental round draft picks
Losers:
Braves – Big mistake here by Atlanta, who gets a decent player in Casey Kotchman. Marek is a back end of the rotation starter. This move essentially completes a trade of Jarrod Saltalamacchia, Elvis Andrus, Neftali Feliz, Matt Harrison and two top draft picks for Kotchman and Marek. Andrus is one of Texas’ top prospects, Feliz has hit 101 mph on the gun, Harrison has already contributed in the majors and Saltalamacchia is expected to be their longterm solution at catcher.
AL Contenders (Red Sox, Yankees, Rays, A’s, Twins, White Sox, Tigers) – Anaheim establishes themselves as the favorites with this move.
 Xavier Nady and Damaso Marte for Jose Tabata, Ross Ohlendorf, Dan McCutchen and Jeff Karstens
Winners:
Yankees ­– Getting Nady helps out their thin outfield, and Marte started off his Yankee career by getting David Ortiz out in a clutch situation. He should help the pen and fill part of the late inning void created with Farnsworth’s departure.
Pirates – This was a team going nowhere, Nady is having a career year and they got good value for him with Tabata who has lost his way but is a talented young player and a couple of pitchers who can contribute in the bullpen or rotation almost immediately.
Other Moves:
Ray Durham to Milwaukee
Joe Blanton to Philadelphia
Rich Harden to Chicago
CC Sabathia to Milwaukee

Grady Sizemore was once an unknown prospect moved for a top level star, now, he’s a franchise player.

As we approach the trading deadline, there is the usual chatter about high level prospects and veteran rentals. Teams looking to add and teams looking to sell. The moves that these teams make now can impact their futures for the next decade. One of the more intriguing trades of the past decade is a deal that took place in 2002 between the Montreal Expos and the Cleveland Indians. The Expos, who were at the time contending, acquired SP Bartolo Colon and pitcher Tim Drew in exchange for Grady Sizemore, Brandon Phillips, Cliff Lee and Lee Stevens.

 At the time the Expos were praised for finally being a buyer when contending. Looking back six years later now, the trade is one of the most lopsided in recent memory. Colon, who is on the disabled list for the Red Sox, went 10-4 for the Expos but then was traded at the end of the season for Orlando Hernandez, Rocky Biddle and Jeff Liefer. He went on to win a Cy Young for the Angels. Drew is out of the league, and the Indians’ trade haul is outstanding. Sizemore is one of the top outfielders in the league, an All Star caliber player who has a legitimate shot at a 40/40 season. Lee has been the finest pitcher in the American League, and is the Indians’ Ace. Phillips, who was traded to Cincinnati, is one of the top five second baseman in the game, another power and speed threat like Sizemore who also plays excellent defense. Stevens is also out of the league, but the trade results are clear.

 Montreal received three months of Bartolo Colon, and the Indians got their centerfielder for the next 10 years, a second baseman who appears to be destined for an all star level career, and an ace who may or may not keep it up, but will certainly be a mainstay of their rotation for the foreseeable future. Another cautionary tale for teams like Tampa Bay and Milwaukee, who are faced with the prospect of trading future for present for perhaps the first time.