Well, Hardy is no longer with the Brew Crew, so this should pretty much eliminate all trade talk of Yunel...although there hasn't been any such talk for some time now...

"The Minnesota Twins completed a trade Friday to acquire shortstop J.J. Hardy from the Milwaukee Brewers in exchange for centerfielder Carlos Gomez.

Hardy's presence means Orlando Cabrera will not be back in Minnesota, and that the Brewers are indeed moving forward with Alcides Escobar as their shortstop.

It's also a sign that Denard Span is going to play center for the Twins in 2010, unless they acquire one this winter. Here's where Mike Cameron's name is a fit, but Minnesota's payroll just went up with the addition of Hardy, who could make as much as $7 million via arbitration.

Gomez gives the Brewers a plus defender in center field, but his offensive struggles are a concern."

From the latest ask BA. Callis always kills me.

With a good showing after he signed and a fine performance in the Arizona Fall League, has lefthander Mike Minor shed the notion that he wasn’t worthy of being drafted seventh overall by the Braves?

Phil Jones
Burke, Va.

————————

No one ever has disputed the fact that Minor can really pitch. He does a nice job of mixing and locating his fastball, curveball, slider and changeup. He has been very impressive in four starts at low Class A Rome (though that’s a small sample size) and in four brief outings in the AFL (a smaller sample size, and you shouldn’t read too much into AFL stats).

Still, Minor doesn’t have a true plus pitch beyond his changeup and his fastball usually operates in the upper 80s. His realistic ceiling is as a No. 3 starter, it’s easier to project him as a No. 4 and it’s not difficult to draw parallels between him and another Vanderbilt finesse lefthander who was a top-10 choice, Jeremy Sowers.

Was Minor a worthy first-rounder? Yes. Would have I taken him seventh overall? Not a chance. One of the reasons teams complain that the draft doesn’t distribute talent equitably is the clubs won’t take the best player available. Atlanta wouldn’t exceed MLB’s bonus recommendation at No. 7, though they mistakenly budgeted for the 2008 figure ($2.42 million) rather than the reduced 2009 number ($2.178 million) because the commissioner’s office didn’t give them the amount quickly enough. That limited their choices, though former Braves scouting director Roy Clark (now assistant GM with the Nationals) was a big believer in Minor. Clark loved Tyler Matzek, too, but didn’t have the budget to sign him.</blockquote

Marlins beat writer mentions that a swap of Uggla for Vazquez would make sense for both teams. I'd never do this trade, unless Uggla learned LF.

Sounds like the club will offer arbitration to both Gonzo and Soriano, and expects to resign neither, nor do they expect to resign LaRoche (indicating a 1 year offer). Also, maybe Wagner or Capps (or both) to replace Soriano and Gonzo? He also seems to think there will be a longer than normal list of non-tendered players to pick from.

Another great article on Logan's injury and progress.

Anyone think we should've made a deal to get him?

I'd never heard of Melissa Segura from SI.com (who broke the story earlier today), and it's not that surprising that this rumor was debunked by FW. Honestly, Chapman would be nice to have, but we don't have a need for him. I'd much rather spend the money on a closer, 1B or OF.