LEARNERS, JUNKIES MAKE DEAL

Russellville, AR (AP)--After some tough negotiating sessions, the Courthouse Junkies today shipped starting pitcher Tom Glavine to 

the Padawan Learners in exchange for third baseman Eric Hinske.

Glavine fell out of favor with Junkies' management when he accepted an offer to play for the New York Mets.

"We'll have none of that on my team," exclaimed owner Mark Scott.  "This Mets crap has gone way too far.  Nobody signs with the Braves' 

main rival and gets away with it.  Not here!"

Hinske, last year's Rookie of the Year, became expendable because of two reasons.

"I realized that I had three of the top third basemen in the league (Albert Pujols, Scott Rolen, and Hinske)," stated owner Daniel Shoptaw. 

 "You should always trade from strength to shore up a weakness, and I think Glavine will help stabilize our pitching staff.  Also, 

you gotta wonder about that sophomore jinx."

Keepers for the Friends League are due a week from tomorrow, so expect a flurry of last-minute activity.

"I've got some irons in the fire," said Shoptaw, "and hopefully a few will pan out."