The Dodgers sent away one natural shortstop and added another, and dispatched touted phenom Joel Guzman. The Angels stood pat, holding on to their richly talented youngsters. Here are the details:
From the Cubs: The Dodgers get Greg Maddux — not the Greg Maddux of old, but perhaps still a decent starting pitcher. He has won 327 games in his career, but this season has a 4.69 ERA and has been struggling some. Sent to Chicago is Cesar Izturis, who is a nifty little defensive infielder but who became expendable when the Dodgers signed Rafael Furcal over the winter. Who will play second base while Jeff Kent is hurt? Keep reading.
From the Devil Rays: The Dodgers get Julio Lugo, Tampa Bay's everyday shortstop. He was destined to move to second base or the bench eventually with the Devil Rays, and that shift happens now with the Dodgers. He will play while Jeff Kent is hurt, and then who knows. But to get Lugo, GM Ned Colletti gave up Joel Guzman, who was thought by the previous Dodgers regime to be the prize hitter of the farm system. Originally a shortstop, they have had him playing all around in Las Vegas this season. The Dodgers also send Sergio Pedroza to Tampa Bay. So a blue chip prospect like Guzman for Julio Lugo? Oh man...
(Jon Weisman points out that Lugo is a pending free agent, so this is potentiallty fifteen years of Guzman for two months of Lugo out of position. Of course, Guzman might not pan out. Should be noted, though, that Baseball America rated him the 26th best prospect in the minors and qupoted a scout saying, "At 16 years old, the kid was as good as or better than anyone I'd ever seen." They don't say that about Julio Lugo.)
