Trade Deadline

I, just like everybody else, think the Francoeur trade and the Betancourt trades were both stupid moves by the teams that received them. It got me thinking that I should predict where some of the big trade candidates will land.

Matt Holliday, staying in Oakland. Billy Beane is too smart of a GM to sell him now when his value is at an all-time low. He will just hang on to him and collect the draft picks or pay him $15 million in arbitration next year if he accepts. The one way I think Holliday gets traded is if Nick Sabean (who doesn't have the best reputation as a GM) offers a package including one of the following: Bumgarner, Alderson or Posey. My dream trade would be to the Braves with Orlando Cabrera for Yunel Escobar (and because it's a dream trade, throw in Jason Heyward).

Roy Halladay, landing in Philadelphia. I think Ruben Amaro, Jr. will pull some strings and deal off a boatload of prospects for Halladay, and quite frankly, it's worth it. I think he should hang on to Dom Brown and Jason Knapp (he has said they are both untouchable), but I wouldn't be surprised if Ricciardi demands one of them at least. Amaro will give in on either player, but not both. I expect the package to be something like Dominic Brown, Kyle Drabek, Jason Donald and John Mayberry. It is a year and half of Halladay, the package is going to be monumental.

Cliff Lee, almost definitely staying in Cleveland. I don't think anybody will offer a huge package for the lefty. Victor Martinez is also going to stay put.

I think Adam Dunn SHOULD be traded, but won't be. The Nationals want to hold on to him, for what? They are not going to contend at any point during the remainder of his contract, trade him to the Giants or the Angels or some team that needs a power bat. Why in the hell wouldn't you trade him for a good amount of solid prospects for a team that might be able to contend in 3-4 years with Strasburg, Harper, Zimmermann, Zimmerman, Dukes and whoever else they're able to scoop up first overall in 2011 and 2012?

I also hope the Nationals decide to trade Josh Willingham but I'm not sure if they will. Literally if I was the GM of the Washington Nationals, I would trade everybody I could except for a few players like the two Zimmermen(n), Dukes, Martis and a handful of other plays.

I think Matt Capps will end up in Florida, maybe they'll trade Jose Ceda for him.

I don't know where Freddy Sanchez is going to land but I think it could be Tampa Bay, Milwaukee or Cincinnati. I'm gonna go with Milwaukee though. Neither Escobar nor Gamel will be part of the trade.

I think the Texas Rangers are going to make a move though, potentially for Halladay, maybe for Cliff Lee, maybe someone else, but they are going to trade Neftali Feliz or Justin Smoak or one of their other excellent prospects, still miss the playoffs, and then regret the trade forever.

(Quick aside, I cry myself to sleep some nights because Justin Smoak didn't fall just one more spot in the draft to the Oakland Athletics. Seriously, nothing has ever been so disappointing then when he was picked #12 by the Texas Rangers, I was absolutely furious. Not that I don't like Jemile Weeks, I love the guy, but Justin Smoak is on a whole nother level.)