As it works out this year, this article ends up written prior to the end of the Major League trading deadline. I have a Tout Wars meeting down in Chicago where we will do more filming for "Fantasyland", so I need to write this a bit early. There is enough to talk about, but I might miss a blockbuster for two.

Tigers acquired RHP Kyle Farnsworth from the Yankees for C Ivan Rodriguez.

When I look at a trade, sometimes I ask if the trade would be acceptable in my home Strat league. Like most fantasy leagues, the Commissioner has the power to prevent a trade if he feels the trade detrimentally affects the league or if another owner protests the deal. Rarely does he need to invoke that power.

If this deal happened there, I'd be on the phone to the Commissioner, getting him out of bed to protest this deal. It doesn't make sense.

The Tigers give up a starting catcher. Yes, the double-digit power is gone, but Pudge still hits for average, and he can still control the running game. If the Tigers were trading from a position of strength, I might give them a pass, but this deal means that Brandon Inge becomes the starting catcher. Any deal that requires Inge to get full-time at-bats doesn't make sense.

The Tigers get some help in the bullpen, but we all know Kyle Farnsworth. He struggles with his control. His ERA with the Yankees has been over 4.00. His salary is over $5 million and he has one year left on his contract. He isn't a standout guy and hasn't been trusted to close in a while. The Tigers aren't really dumping salary.  This doesn't make sense.

What really confuses the heck out of me is when I read some of the commentary on this deal from people I respect. "This deal really makes sense for both teams..." No it doesn't! The only way this deal makes sense is if you invoke the South Park Chewbacca Defense.

The Yankees fix a big problem and they give up nothing. It simply doesn't make sense.

Twins placed INF Alexi Casilla on the 15-day DL, retroactive to July 29, with a torn tendon in his right thumb and activated INF Adam Everett from the 15-day DL.

Sometimes you miss one. I pretty much gave up Casilla for dead based upon his performance last year. The Twins had an infield of Everett and Brendan Harris and also find at-bats for Nick Punto (speaking of doesn't make sense). The Twins sent him down and were going to work with him at short to make him a better utility infielder. Injuries happened, like they often do, and Casilla put up great numbers. Sadly, his season ends early as he needs surgery on a torn tendon on his right thumb.

Cardinals reinstated RHP Chris Carpenter from the 60-day DL.

I know that you thought for a second that maybe you should pick up Carpenter, but here are a few reasons why maybe you should wait. First, in his first start, he lasted only four innings. Second, he only threw half of his pitches for strikes. Finally, he fased the Braves, who just traded Mark Teixeira and placed Chipper Jones on the DL. Still, I think he will have some value as some point this season, but pick him up only if you can stash him on your bench until his arm is fully stretched out.

Diamondbacks optioned RHP Micah Owings to Triple-A Tucson and recalled RHP Jailen Peguero from Tucson.

Remember when there was some speculation that the Diamondbacks might start Owings every five days and have him start at first base on other days just to get his bat in the lineup? Yeah, that didn't work so well. Owings might be done for the season and just stay in the minors to work out his issues.

Braves acquired INF Casey Kotchman and RHP Steve Marek from the Angels for INF Mark Teixeira.

The Braves quickly unloaded Teixeira when is became clear that Tim Hudson was out for the year. The Angels rent one of the best hitters in baseball for two months. With the potent Angels lineup, Teixeira should get many more RBI chances, and nothing motivates like a playoff run. In Kotchman, the Braves get one of the best defensive first-baseman in baseball, though Teixeira himself was no slouch. There were some concerns that Marek would not be as effective now that his fastball is no longer in the high-90's, but what it lost in velocity it gained in movement, and his strikeout rate has actually increased. He looks to be a solid setup man in the Major Leagues, probably starting next year.

Phillies placed INF Pedro Feliz on the 15-day DL with lower back inflammation.

This injury is considered minor and should only require some rest.

Pirates placed INF Adam LaRoche on the 15-day DL, retroactive to July 28, with a right intercostal strain.

LaRoche reported that his back tightened up and he was having difficulty swinging. This might mean that Steven Pearce will get some time to prove that his 2007 minor league numbers were not a fluke. He's not putting up the same kind of numbers this year in Triple-A, but maybe the motivation of playing under the big lights will be enough to get him going.

Rangers placed INF Hank Blalock on the 15-day DL, retroactive to July 28, with inflammation in his right shoulder.

Sometimes it is hard to write the same thing over and over again. Blalock is on the DL, again. This time it looks to be just the minimum, but we'll see.

Braves placed RHP Tim Hudson on the 15-day DL and placed INF Chipper Jones on the 15-day disabled list, retroactive to July 24, with a strained left hamstring.

And so ends the 2008 Atlanta Braves' season. Tim Hudson has a tear in his UCL and he will need ligament replacement surgery. That means not only is 2008 done, but so is 2009. Jones' hamstring is sore, but he will only need to miss the minimum.

Astros activated RHP Roy Oswalt from the 15-day DL.

He looked fine in his first start, so the time off seems to have done him some good. Activate him.

Indians acquired C Carlos Santana and RHP Jonathan Meloan from the Dodgers in exchange for INF Casey Blake and cash considerations.

The Indians are out of it, so they're looking to the future. Santana is a very interesting player. The 22 year-old is hitting .323 with 14 home runs, plus he has 7 stolen bases. Defensively, he is very good. He looks like the next Victor Martinez, except with better defensive skills. Meloan was a closer that the Dodgers have tried to convert to starting with little success. We have to find out what the Indians intend to do with him. The Dodgers get an everyday, yet unspectacular, third baseman for the year.

Indians acquired RHP Anthony Reyes from the Cardinals in exchange for RHP Luis Perdomo.

The Indians will try and resurrect the career of Anthony Reyes. He has talent, evidenced by the fact that he has no trouble dominating in Triple-A. He just needs to get him over the hump.

Yankees acquired OF Xavier Nady and LHP Damaso Marte from the Pittsburgh Pirates in exchange for RHPs Jeff Karstens, Daniel McCutchen, Ross Ohlendorf and OF Jose Tabata.

It is pretty clear what the Yankees received, so let's focus on what the Pirates got in return. The foundation of this trade is 19 year-old Jose Tabata, who is currently playing in Double-A. He is considered a top hitting prospect and is expected to hit for power once he finishes puberty. The Yankees thought that he might join the team as soon as 2009, but Tabata has not fared as well as expected in Double-A, so he might not be ready until 2010. The Pirates also filled out their team with a few serviceable arms. What they didn't get in quality they received in quantity.

Tout Wars Update

From a standings point of view, I have moved up to sixth, which is quite amazing when you consider how slowly I started.

I pretty much took three-time Tout Wars Mixed League champion, Larry Schechter out of the FAAB mix by forcing him to make a $31 bid on Joel Hanrahan, leaving him with only $3 FAAB for the rest of the season. Hanrahan was named the closer for the Nationals but has yet to earn a save. Schechter's bid was $33, meaning that he wanted Hanrahan, but I suspect that he didn't think anyone would bid so high. We use Vickory bidding rules and my $30 bid probably surprised him. I need the saves, but I'll look elsewhere.

I'm sure that Schechter will make a move to compensate, like trading a player for more FAAB dollars, but this year he is finding the Mixed League a much tougher place to play.