Deadline Dealing?

Being dedicated Washington Nationals fans, we here at Triple Play don't normally concern ourselves with the dealings of that other regional baseball franchise. However, since the blockbuster trade in question involves our division rivals, the Florida Sport Fish, it is worth commenting on. The Baltimore Sun is reporting the imminent conclusion of a deal that would ship Florida SP A.J. Burnett, 3B Mike Lowell and a minor league outfielder to Bal'mer for RP Jorge Julio, OF Larry Bigbie and rookie SP Hayden Penn.

Whatever the relative merits for the two clubs involved, this is a great deal for the Nats. The Sport Fish are trading away a solid No. 2 or 3 pitcher and an established (if struggling) power-hitting infielder for a solid but unspectacular outfielder, a Guillermo Mota clone, and a promising but unproven young starter. It certainly seems like the Sport Fish are restocking for next year, having already traded SP Al Leiter to the Yanquis for a bucket of gold-plated BP balls. The Nats Triple Play crew heartily endorses rebuilding years, and encourages other NL East teams to catch trade deadline fever.