NOMAR A CUB IN FOUR-TEAM BLOCKBUSTER
In a four-team trade, the Chicago Cubs traded Alex S. Gonzalez, Brendan Harris and Francis Beltran to the Montreal Expos and Justin Jones to the Minnesota Twins; The Red Sox traded Nomar Garciaparra and Matt Murton to the Chicago Cubs; The Montreal Expos traded Orlando Cabrera to the Boston Red Sox; The Minnesota Twins traded Doug Mientkiewicz to the Boston Red Sox.
What does it give the Chicago Cubs
Nomar Garciaparra. What more need we say? The Cubs were able to upgrade their shortstop position by dealing a decent one for one of the best in the game. Not only will the Cubs be getting a solid defender, but a guy who can hit .320 and hit for power and in the clutch. That's just what the Cubs need to help them take over the Wild Card slot in the National League. That is, provided he can keep that Achilles tendon healthy for the rest of the season. Having given up a couple of good prospects, they had to get one in return and they got that in Murton. He projects as a left-fielder with a ton of power, but is still at least a couple of years away.
What does it give the Boston Red Sox
The Sox, obviously, have downgraded their shortstop position with Cabrera, but there's certainly nothing wrong with him. He hasn't been having a great season, but he has shown in the past he can be a well above average shortstop. In Mientiewicz they get themselves a gold-glove-caliber first baseman, but he probably won't be an everyday player for the Sox, as long as Kevin Millar can keep up his hot hitting. But he does give Boston a much needed left-handed bat off the bench.
What does it give the Minnesota Twins
In Gonzalez, they get a solid shortstop, very good defensively and able to provide occasional pop. His biggest flaw, though, is that he'll swing at anything and misses most of the time. The real key to this one for the Expos is Harris, who is shaping up as a promising infielder. He can play second, third or short, all well, has a consistent line-drive bat and the same kind of occasional pop that Gonzalez has. Then comes Beltran, who could wind up being the closer the Expos are looking for. The big, young righty has high-90s heat and a good slider and if he can keep his command in check he can be a quality big-league reliever right away.
What does it give the Montreal Expos
Jones was probably the top left-handed pitching prospect in the Cubs' system before the trade. He has good size and his low-90s heat is set up nicely by his strong curveball. That good size could increase, too, as he's not yet 20. He's looked pretty good in his second season at Low-A Lansing, so a promotion to High-A or Double-A could be coming soon in the Twins' system.
Fantasy impact
