A Hill of Beanes, Part I

Wherein I attempt to provide an overview of this month's MLB trades in the most cursory and self-indulgent fashion possible. Sue me -- it's the end of the month, and I've got a quota to fill.

Expos deal Peter Bergeron on 6/13

The Expos have given Peter Bergeron a very long leash. The no-hit, no-field CF has had 1100 at-bats (over parts of five seasons) to prove himself and wouldn't have had a job if the rest of MLB baseball cared enough to grant the Expos a permanent home. And now he doesn't. It's hard to see Bergeron advancing beyond AAA with the Brewers; Scott Posednick is entrenched in center field and the Brew Crew have a host of prospects (Richie Weeks, Prince Fielder) making a credible case for a one-way trip to the Big Show. I actually don't even see Bergeron wearing a major league uniform at any point in the future unless he's willing to stand in for the Bratwurst in the Sausage Races. That's harsh, but no, really: his talent lies with his speed on the basepaths, and he's been thrown out 25 times in 55 career attempts, so no volume discount can be applied. Three other prospects changed hands in the deal, including two guys named Jason, none of whom figure in to their respective teams' long-term plans.

Richard Hidalgo to Mets, David Weathers to Astros on 6/17

This is a classic example of two teams exchanging their problems. Weathers was brilliant with Milwaukee, the Cubs and the Mets in a four-season stretch between 2000 and 2003, but he's been a sub-average innings eater in his other 10 seasons. Middle relief help is always at a premium mid-season, but the Astros didn't really need it with Brad Lidge motoring along and Dan Miceli enjoying a career year -- and not when other, superior arms are reportedly available. Plus, the guy's set to make $4 million this season. Which is not as bloated as Hidalgo $12.5 million contract. A lot of money changed hands in this deal, too, but the Mets bumped their payroll up by at least $4 million this season (plus another $2 million for a buy-out). The idea that has been floated around recently that Hidalgo's a decent gamble for the Mets is, frankly, laughable: he's hitting .260 in 9 games in his new uniform, with 4 multi-hit games and 4 games where he couldn't get on base at all. Watch that average dance back and forth between .250 and .260 for the rest of the season. Hidalgo finished strong last season, but he really hasn't been the same player since his 2000 campaign.

Marlins acquire Billy Koch on 6/17

Billy Koch was the worst reliever in baseball not named Jose Mesa or Mike Williams last year. He is the worst reliever in baseball not named Arthur Rhodes this year, and has been making a credible case to overtake Rhodes in the futility department. A lack of innings and opportunities with the Marlins may hamper this quest, though he's still a wonderful candidate for a pick-up in CNN/SI reporter James Quintong's reverse fantasy league. By the way, he has choked in 4 of his last 5 appearances with the Fish; the team could've waited to pick C.J. Nitkowski off the waiver wire or dealt for Jason Grimsley just a few days later. The White Sox sent $2 million along to cover costs, and basically bought AAA SS Wilson Valdez, who's a little old but has great tools.

Yanks dump Gabe White on Reds on 6/18

I love this. This reminds me of the Red Sox and Pirates swapping Anastacio Martinez for Mike Gonzalez and back again last year, which is basically what this deal amounts to since the Yankees traded White to the Reds for minor-leaguer Charlie Manning, reversing the same trade from last season. What, Brad Ausmus wasn't available? Like Ausmus, White has been traded five times in his career -- I think the two are tied for the top spot on the most-traded list among active major leaguers. Neither have a shot of breaking the mark set by pitcher Bobo Newsom, though: he was traded 16 times in 20 seasons between 1929-1953. Pretty decent pitcher, too. Gabe White, on the other hand, is a lefty -- he doesn't need to be.