{The day after the All Star break is the first major trading period of the season, followed by the day before the trade deadline. Trades are somewhat randomized and limited in a variety of ways, basically an effort to ensure that, over time, they are at least approximately even in value.}
Portland signaled their commitment to this year, sending prized P prospect
Smokey Joe Wood and
Devin Mesoraco to
Kansas City for all-star 2B
Rogers Hornsby, OF
Vince Coleman, and a 4th round draft pick.
Perhaps the prize pitching performer on the market,
Birmingham's
Tim Hudson, went to
San Francisco in exchange for
Rube Melton,
Derrick May, and a 3rd round pick.
Brooklyn sends P
Don Sutton to the
New York Gothams for Ps
Ray Lamb,
Gil Heredia, and
Lew Krausse, Jr., OF
Don Mueller, and both a 1st and 8th round draft pick.
Cleveland made a clear sign of intent to compete this year, sending four players (P
Hardie Henderson and OFs
Jap Payne,
Darrell Miller, and
Gibby Brack) to
Philadelphia for all-star reliever
Ron Reed.
The Spiders also picked up
Houston's struggling OF
Lance Berkman to add more pop to their lineup, sending OF
Harry Stovey, IF
Charlie Grimm, P
Chad Qualls, and a 3rd round pick to the Colt 45's.
Media darling
Tom Herr has a shot at a championship after Birmingham shipped the all-star 2B to the
New York Black Yankees in exchange for a haul of talent, including IFs
Moose Skowron and
Reddy Mack, OFs
Bill Buckner and
Charlie Keller, P
Heathcliff Slocumb, and a 10th round draft pick.
The Black Yankees also picked up some help on the mound, sending IF
Dick Bartell, OF
Sam Thompson, and a 4th round pick to Ottawa for
Gary Lavelle and
Jamie Moyer.
Addressing an area of clear need,
Baltimore traded for
Miami's everyday 3B,
Manny Machado. The Black Sox sent a package of P
Mike Morgan, 1B
Richie Sexson, 3B
Joe Dugan, and C
Chris Hoiles to the Cuban Giants.
The Black Sox also shored up their bullpen, bringing in
Memphis' closer,
Joe Beggs, in exchange for P
Willie Sudhoff, OF
Alex Johnson, and a 4th round pick.
Ottawa and
Los Angeles pulled off a complicated deal, with the Angels receiving 1B
Carlos Delgado, IF
Steve Garvey and OF
Spud Johnson, sending OF
Rusty Staub and
Carlos Beltrán, C
Jim Stephens, and Ps
Dave Bennett and
Sean O'Sullivan to the Mounties.
The
Chicago American Giants added two of the better starting pitchers on the market, acquiring
Don Newcombe from Miami and
Dick Rudolph from Birmingham. The American Giants also received RP
Clay Condrey and a 4th round draft pick for
Minnie Miñoso from Miami, and sent
Melky Cabrera,
A. Rube Foster,
Adrián González, and a 2nd round pick to Birmingham for Rudolph and
Hoyt Wilhelm.
The American Giants also brought in SS
Freddy Parent, who is expected to step right into the starting lineup. To do so, they sent IFs
Sibby Sisti and
Rickie Weeks and OF
Bob Watson to Ottawa.
Miami's other significant trade piece,
Tommy Bridges, heads to San Francisco for two minor league pitchers,
Shawn Estes and
Turk Wendell, and a 5th round draft pick.
Los Angeles picked up some outfield help in the form of San Francisco's
Wally Moon. Moon heads south along with OF
Dwayne Murphy and 2 draft picks (one 4th round, one 6th) in exchange for C
Brian Downing, IF
Kurt Stillwell, and P
Dave LaRoche.
Detroit looked to improve their position behind the plate, obtaining
Ernie Lombardi from
Indianapolis for IFs
Donie Bush and
Jorge Orta, OF
Gene Martin, P
Brandon League, and a 2nd round pick.
Brooklyn added another versatile piece, sending OF
Curt Flood, IF
Manny Trillo, and a 6th round pick to Birmingham for IF
Frank Isbell.
Two clubs looking towards the future made a big move, with Houston sending a 5th round pick, P
Stubby Overmire, 2B
DJ LeMahieu, P
Jim Kaat, and OF
Hack Wilson to Memphis for P
Roger Clemens.
Sammy Sosa struggled so much for the
House of David, it was decided the young OF could do with a change of scenery, going (along with a 5th round draft pick) to Memphis in exchange for OFs
Fred Lynn and
Tony Conigliaro and a 2nd round pick.
Finally, in easily the most minor deal of the day,
Homestead picked up a 2nd round pick and IF
Steve Hertz from San Francisco in exchange for
Phil Garner.