With the talent pool ever-thinning, little surprise there isn’t much action in the trade market and some of those that do transpire tend toward the mega.
Here are the major moves of interest:
- 3B Bus Clarkson: Red Sox, 7 years / $329000
- P Max Lanier: Red Sox, 7 years / $288000
- 2B Benny McCoy: Athletics, 8 years / $279200
- P Mort Cooper: Giants, 6 years / $246000
- C Josh Gibson: Indians, 5 years / $202400
- 1B Nick Etten: Cardinals, 6 years / $194400
- 2B Howard Easterling: Reds, 5 years / $150000
- OF Roy Cullenbine: Cubs, 4 years / $146800
- 1B Stan Hack: Phillies, 4 years / $129600
- OF Mike Kreevich: Tigers, 3 years / $108200
- 1B Buck Leonard: Giants, 3 years / $97800
- OF Bobby Estalella: Cubs, 4 years / $96800
- OF Joe Marty: Red Sox, 3 years / $91800
- P Tiny Bonham: White Sox, 5 years / $81400 (extension)
- C Ernie Lombardi: White Sox, 3 years / $77000
- P Satchel Paige: Giants, 2 years / $68800
- 3B Buddy Blair and OF Marv Rickert from Reds to Red Sox for OF Chet Laabs (retaining 50%)
- C Paul Gillespie, P Hooks Iott and 3B Whitey Wietelmann from Tigers to White Sox for 3B Augie Galan
- SS Jack Louman and OF Tommy Tatum from Giants to Phillies for OF Barney McCoskey
- OF Fern Bell and OF Charlie Gilbert from Cubs to Reds for P Marv Breuer
- 1B Tommy Byrne from Reds to Cardinals for P Luis Tiant
- OF Milt Byrnes and 2B Crash Davis from Giants to Phillies for 3B Sid Gordon and OF Hoot Evers
ALL TRANSACTIONS
The Bucs take a 9-9 split in ST and lose both Leroy Matlock and rookie Russ Derry to short-term niggles that require an IL stint.
The pundits are again liking the Red Sox in the AL, with the Jints, Pirates, Cubs and Reds anticipated to be in a crackerjack tussle for the NL pennant.
FULL PRESEASON PREDICTIONS
Top 20 players.