AL & NL East teams trade shortstops

Just a day after Brian McCann, catcher for the NL East leading Atlanta Braves, was named MVP of the All-Star Game, Bobby Cox's boys decided to deal 27 year-old Yunel Escobar for 33 year-old Alex Gonzalez in a five player swap. The Blue Jays will also receive minor league pitcher Jo-Jo Reyes while the Braves get minor leaguers Tim Collins, pitcher, and Tyler Pastornicky, shortstop. Escobar, a 2nd round draft pick by Atlanta in 2005, was only batting .238 with 0 HR and 19 RBI at the break and was getting heat for his lackadaisical play in the field after having a promising season in 2009 (.299 BA, 14 HR, 76 RBI, 89 R). Gonzalez, a 1999 All-Star selection, is batting .259 with 50 RBI and 17 HR at the break. In his 13th season, Gonzalez will have played for six different Major League teams, having served two stints with the Red Sox in 2006 and 2009.

Being a Reds fan and having suffered through watching Gonzalez up the middle and at the plate for Cincinnati from 2007-09, I know there is no way he can keep up his offensive pace in the second half. I understand riding the aging shortstop while he's hot, and I think in the short term, this deal might seem good and may possibly just be a push to get a good Braves team in the World Series one last time before manager Bobby Cox retires. However, I think in the long term Atlanta will miss having Escobar and probably didn't get full value for him in this trade.

What are your thoughts?

ALSO:

--ESPN.com ranks the top 300 fantasy baseball players for the second half (I have 7 of the top 30 on my team).

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This guy lost some of my respect, Votto gained a whole bunch of it. That's how baseball should be. The Cubs aren't your friends. He writes of Votto:

What a leech -- and a sorry excuse for an All-Star.

Well done bud, rip the best player in the National League by questioning his All-Star status just because he's a competitor.

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--The wonderfully exciting All-Star game last night garnered an all-time low television rating. How could the greatest all-star exhibition in professional sports receive such a terrible rating?? Deadliest Catch

RIP

Capt. Phil Harris

(photo from thefastertimes.com)