Miami, FL; It appears that new Dodger GM Mark Daniel has wasted little time in starting to revamp his roster. Apparently Daniel and Orioles GM Eric Sanders, both in town for the GABA World Series, sat down over drinks and, it is rumored, have hammered out a deal.
Since no deal can actually be completed until the end of the Series we only have the word of some very highly placed yet unnamed sources as to all the names involved in the trade. It seems that the Dodgers have agreed to send a package of minor leaguers along with SS Chin-Lung Hu to the Orioles for at least two pitchers. It is believed that 32 yo right handed started Ben Sheets and 31 yo right Jorge Julio are headed to Los Angeles.
The minor leaguers involved are a bit more of a mystery though speculation is that 3B Carlos Gutierrez, ranked 6th in the Baseball America's top 100 prospects, is the key to the deal for the Orioles.
There seem to be at least two other players changing hands but we haven't been able to get a firm handle on who they may be so we won't speculate.
It is a bit of a surprise that a team in need of rebuilding would trade a top prospect like Gutierrez, but Daniel has referred to their pitching as "deplorable" so bringing in two established big league pitchers may make some sense.
Sheets went 14-11 with a 3.20 ERA in 2010 with the Orioles and he immediately will step into the role of staff ace for LA and Jorge Julio was 15-4 with 3 saves and a 3.12 ERA out of the Baltimore pen.
An official announcement is not expected until after the series so we will not know all the details and reasoning until the league validates the deal.
Since no deal can actually be completed until the end of the Series we only have the word of some very highly placed yet unnamed sources as to all the names involved in the trade. It seems that the Dodgers have agreed to send a package of minor leaguers along with SS Chin-Lung Hu to the Orioles for at least two pitchers. It is believed that 32 yo right handed started Ben Sheets and 31 yo right Jorge Julio are headed to Los Angeles.
The minor leaguers involved are a bit more of a mystery though speculation is that 3B Carlos Gutierrez, ranked 6th in the Baseball America's top 100 prospects, is the key to the deal for the Orioles.
There seem to be at least two other players changing hands but we haven't been able to get a firm handle on who they may be so we won't speculate.
It is a bit of a surprise that a team in need of rebuilding would trade a top prospect like Gutierrez, but Daniel has referred to their pitching as "deplorable" so bringing in two established big league pitchers may make some sense.
Sheets went 14-11 with a 3.20 ERA in 2010 with the Orioles and he immediately will step into the role of staff ace for LA and Jorge Julio was 15-4 with 3 saves and a 3.12 ERA out of the Baltimore pen.
An official announcement is not expected until after the series so we will not know all the details and reasoning until the league validates the deal.
