[BirdWatcher]

In a one-for-one trade of aging WPK stars, former MVP and 4-time All-Star Chris Flaim gets traded from Milwaukee, who signed him to a 1-year contract in the off-season, to Philadelphia for 5-time All-Star slugging right fielder Josh Ackland.

At 37 and 38, respectively, Flaim and Ackland are both clearly on the down slope of their careers. But perhaps a change of scenery will lead to a bit of a resurgence for one or both of these celebrated WPK stars.

Flaim won the MGL MVP award in 1967 as a member of the Phoenix Speed Devils when he led the league with a .360 batting average and in hits with 225. He won a Gold Glove award as a second baseman in 1965 and won Silver Slugger awards his first 3 seasons (1965-1967). And while his 1972 batting statistics are not spectacular, he led the league in doubles (42) in 1971 with a solid slash line of .293/.329/.460 and 2.9 WAR. Although his offensive skills still look to be useful, his defense at this point makes him a liability in the middle of the infield.

The slightly older Ackland, not as celebrated as Flaim, is also a liability in the field, although his arm remains a real weapon. He is, on the other hand, still potentially a prodigious power hitter and also has a very good eye at the plate. Ackland led the league in HR's in 1965 (41) and 1968 (26) and in RBI in 1968 (94). Interestingly, his league-leading 26 HR's in 1968 is his lowest season total thus far in his career with the second lowest being the 29 he hit last season. He has hit only 3 this season, but he's also only had 53 plate appearances thus far.

It should be interesting to see if either of these aging stars can recapture a little lost glory as they head towards clearly imminent retirement.