So much for "the next Pirate closer"

Pirates released RHP Josh Sharpless.

Sharpless was reassigned early in camp, and the Pirates say they were unhappy with his offseason conditioning. He insists that he reported ten pounds lighter, and that the new management ran a disorganized camp. While Sharpless once seemed destined to be a huge part of Pittsburgh's bullpen, he did seem to take a step back last year. He'll try to catch on with a different organization's Triple-A team.

Hope they're not as painful as they sound

Felix Pie-OF- Cubs Mar. 10 - 4:18 pm et
Felix Pie was scheduled for outpatient surgery to correct a case of testicular torsion.

Kaz Matsui-2B- Astros Mar. 11 - 10:25 am et
Kaz Matsui will miss four to five days with an anal fissure.


Sounds like Felix and Kaz had a wild party together.

Review of 2007 Trades

Patrick sent out an email listing the trades from 2007...here are my quick assessments of each trade...

Effective 5/21:

Jim Shorts trade Endy Chavez
to the Slackers for Jon Lieber.

Analysis: Edge Slackers - Chavez is keeper this year; Lieber was a bust.

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Effective 6/4:

Tubagoos trade Matt Belisle and Damion Easley
to the Jim Shorts for Mike Pelfrey and Eric Reed

Analysis: Edge Tubagoos - Pelfrey could be in rotation; Belisle and Easley did nothing

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Effective 6/25:

Jim Shorts trade Jeremy Hermida
to Raul's Doggy Dogs for Derek Lowe

Analysis: Edge Doggs - Hermida is a nice keeper this year; Lowe sucked.

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Effective 7/9:

Slackers trade Heath Bell, Aaron Heilman, Greg Maddux, Tom Glavine, Scott Rolen, JJ Hardy, Andrew Jones, Omar Vizquel, and Bengie Molina
to the Prowlers for Andy LaRoche, Joe Koshansky, Alberto Callaspo, Rod Barajas, Scott Thorman, Chad Billingsly, Chuck James, Scott Linebrink and Randy Messenger

Analysis: Good trade for both teams - Slackers picked up LaRoche, Billingsley as top keepers; James and Koshansky are lower tier keepers; But Prowlers picked up Maddux/Glavine which became Jay Bruce - so one could argue that the Slackers dumped and traded Jay Bruce for LaRoche/Billingsley

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Effective 8/6:

TC Homers trade Jonathan Broxton, Michael Wuertz, Ian Stewart, 2008 15th round draft pick
to the Del Lords for Jose Valverde, Ryan Dempster

Edge: Homers - picked up 2 closers for a $10 setup guy entering his option year, a $2 middle reliever, and a $10 Rockie w/o a position (this changes of course if Stewart wins 2B job), and a meaningless draft pick

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Effective 8/13:

Slackers trade Ty Wigginton, 2008 #14 & 15 draft picks
to Raul's Doggy Dogs for Jose Castillo, 2008 #2 & 7 draft picks

Edge: Slackers - this was a joke. A mild keeper in Castillo plus TWO premium draft picks (and #2 in each round)...for Ty Wigginton?

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Effective 8/20:

Jim Shorts trade Alejandro DeAza, Tim Redding, Rob Mackowiak, Jon Lieber
to the Tarantulas for Bill Hall, Carlos Delgado, Kyle Lohse, Lance Cormier

Edge: To maintain editorial integrity, edge to Shorts - but this changes if DeAza wins CF job and Redding keeps rotation spot.

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Effective 8/27:

TC Homers trade Jay Bruce
to the Prowlers forGreg Maddux, Tom Glavine

Edge: Win-Win: Homers got 2 starters it needed for stretch run and both are potential keepers this year. Prowlers get top prospect in baseball.

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Effective 9/3:

TC Homers trade Kory Casto, 2008 1st round pick
to the Wythes Guys for Lance Berkman, 2008 2nd round pick

Edge: Homers: Got Lance Berkman (even for a month) for a minor leaguer (where does Casto stand?) and moving down about 10 slots (and into the $10 position)