Nick Swisher.. the newest White Sox

It's cold outside but the hot stove is still burning. It's not as hot as it once was back in December but there were some deals deals being made..

The A’s have traded OF Nick Swisher to the White Sox for LHP Gio Gonzalez, RHP Fautino De Los Santos and OF Ryan Sweeney. Gio Conzalez and Fautino De Los Santos were the top two prospects in the Sox organization.

Before I knew that the White Sox traded their top two prospects, I automatically questioned why the Mets were not active in trade talks with the Athletics. It looks like a pretty even deal as of right.. but we'll see how it works out when the prospects mature into major leaguers.

Pelfrey to the 'Pen?

According to Buster Olney, via MLBTR, the Mets could trade OF Carlos Gomez, SP Kevin Mulvey, and SU Aaron Heilman to the Oakland Athletics in return for SP Joe Blanton. I really don't like this deal for the Mets. You would have to give up your second best reliever and at least one 5-star prospect in Carlos Gomez. In addition, you would have to include SP Kevin Mulvey, who could end up being very similar to what Joe Blanton is now. I say NO DEAL.

If that fore mentioned deal was to be offered to the Athletics, and excepted, who would be the new Set-up man? Ted Berg at SNY seems to have an answer. Convert RHP Mike Pelfrey into a reliever. As I have stated before, Pelfrey could benefit from having more time to work with pitching coach, Rick Peterson. Berg does not think that we should give up on Pelfrey, noting that Tom Glavine and Greg Maddux both struggled when they were called up to the Majors for the frist time. This would just provide the Mets with a Set-up man while giving Pelf more time with the jacket. Shea Nation also has a post on this topic.

I also have an idea. Sign Octavio Dotel to a 2-year deal. Keep Pelfrey in the minors or bullpen and hope that Dunaner Sanchez can come back at least at a middle reliever.

One deal I would make with the Athletics is this...

Mets Get:

SP Joe Blanton
OF/1B Nick Swisher

Athletics Get:

OF Carlos Gomez
SP?/SUAaron Heilman
SP John Niese
RF Ryan Church
SP Kevin Mulvey
SP Phillip Humber

Sounds like a fair deal to me.. Maybe a young arm from the A's in return. What are your thoughts?

Dan Haren delt to Diamondbacks

According to MLB.com, the Diamondbacks have acquired SP Dan Haren and RP Connor Robertson from the Athletics for for pitchers Brett Anderson, Greg Smith and Dana Eveland, OF Carlos Gonzalez, OF Aaron Cunningham and 1B Chris Carter. This deal gives the Athletics the prospects to re-stock their farm system and the Diamondbacks a formidable 1-2 punch in Brandon Webb and Dan Haren. The Diamondbacks love this acquisition because they now have a "cheap" starter untill at least the '09 season. Haren will replace the innings that Livan Hernandez pitched last season.
The Diamondbacks Rotation now shapes out like this:

1. Brandon Webb
   
2. Dan Haren
   
3. Randy Johnson
4. Doug Davis
   
5. Micha Owings
   

That will definately give the Diamondbacks the edge in the NL West. In other news, the Diamondbacks dealt closer Jose Valverde to the Astros for pitcher Chad Qualls, infielder/outfielder Chris Burke and pitcher Juan Gutierrez. I really don't know why the Diamondbacks did this deal. In my opinion, the Astros got the longer end of the stick on this deal. Who will close for them now? No one knows.