Paul Haga at Philly.com advices the Phillies to deal rookie centerfielder Michael Bourn to the Pirates for relievers Sahwn Chacon and either Salomon Torres or Damaso Marte. I have to admit that this trade looks absolutely perfect for both teams as the Phillies need bullpen help - Torres could close - and the Pirates need a a player with the ability to draw a walk. He also suggests Bourn to Kansas City for closer Octavio Dotel. That isn't quite the match as the Royals currently have a player similar to Bourn in Joey Gathright.
The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette speculates that the acquistion of SS Cesar Izturis portends the trade of Jack Wilson. This is a logical conclusion that flows from an illogical move. Izturis is in the final year of a three-year contract and possesses no hitting abiltiy whatsoever. An OBP under .300 and 8 RBIs in 191 ABs attests strongly in that assertion's favor. Also, the Pirates needed a player like that even less than other teams do as it already has the aforementioned Jack Wilson and UT Jose Castillo. Any team willing to take Wilson and the remaining $14MM through 2009 would immediately be marked as "suckers" going forward. I'm afraid Pirates' GM Dave Littlefield will have a hard time finding someone to increase his club's membership beyond one.