2005’s first annual trade featured league commissioner Chris Wisehart (Hawks) dealing pitcher Mark Mulder ($18, ’06) and catcher Rod Barajas ($1, ’05) to newcomer Eric Cantrell’s Big Bashers for closer Mike Adams ($9, ’05) and catcher Javy Lopez ($9, ’05). As much as it sometimes pains me to not pick a winner, this trade works out alright for both teams. The Hawks needed saves badly, as Octavio Dotel was their only closer. You need at least two to compete in that department, and acquiring Adams fills that role. He’ll close for Milwaukee and should have a solid season. Obviously Javy Lopez is a big upgrade from Rod Barajas, who’s just plain useless. As for the Bashers, they’ve picked up a good starter in Mulder, and they’ll even have him next year to boot. They take on Barajas for $1, but he’ll be gone after this season anyway. If Mulder rebounds and Adams is solid, this trade is pretty much a draw. Both teams have met their needs.

The second post-draft deal is the bigger of the two. Defending (and three-time) champion Jay Colson’s Monroe St. Massacre sent outfielders Jeremy Reed ($1, ’07), Jeromy Burnitz ($1, ’06), and pitcher Jeremy Bonderman ($13, ’07) to Mike Carr’s Team Carr for outfielder Raul Ibanez ($12, ’05), first baseman Shea Hillenbrand ($2, ’05), and (most importantly) pitcher Randy Johnson ($33, ’06). Everything here pretty much speaks for itself. First, it’s obvious that Team Carr has an unhealthy need for players named Jer(e,o)my. Second, as far as 2005 is concerned, this trade has to favor Monroe St. Massacre; they acquired possibly the best pitcher in fantasy baseball. The Massacre needed a frontline starter, and they certainly got him. As for Team Carr, they’ll get two players who should be valuable in years to come (Reed, Bonderman) and one who’ll probably be somewhat of a burden despite the power (Burnitz). Carr did save money and get talent for the future, but this trade favors the Massacre for this season. After all, they got Randy Johnson.

As for me, I’m not looking to make any deals just yet. I really think my team is very well-rounded. The only potential needs I see at this point are in the saves department, but I have ample starters to trade if the situation winds up warranting it. For maybe the first time in my eight seasons, I have stolen bases covered (Pierre, Womack). As for power, I’ve got just as much as usual (Guerrero, Teixeira, Huff).

There’s not a whole lot of news regarding any of my players at this point, but I did pick up this little bit of information: apparently Juan Pierre is day-to-day with a strained right calf. All I have to say is that if this leads to some sort of disastrous, gimpy 15-steal season from Pierre, I’ll be forced to send him a letter of discontent. I won’t tolerate nagging leg injuries from the first stolen base threat I’ve had since Luis Castillo in 2002. While I have no other injury news at the moment, I’ll remind you that Mike Sweeney, Austin Kearns, and Luis Gonzalez are all on my roster, meaning that some sort of accident is almost a foregone conclusion.