Breaking down the trade: Andy's side

After two months of no trades, we get two in two weeks. In this one, Joe sends Carlos Gonzalez and Casey McGehee to Andy for Tommy Hanson and Alex Gonzalez.

Now, we look at this from Andy's side.

After an 8-2 start with virtually zero injuries all season, it has started to crumble for Andy.

He's on a three-game losing streak - soon to be four - and missing a boatload of talent that is on the disabled list. Chase Utley, Jason Heyward, Yovani Gallardo, Carlos Beltran, Dallas Braden (who was cut), and Kevin Youkilis (who just got injured but is not on the DL).


This might have forced Andy's hand to make a move. He needed a second baseman, which he got in McGehee. But more importantly, he acquired Gonzalez.

"I've been trying to get him for about two months now," Andy said. "I made a major mistake not taking him in the draft."

Andy gave up his second-round draft pick in Hanson, who I'm sure he expected to be a keeper by year's end when he drafted him so high. But with how well Matt Cain and Jered Weaver have pitched, Andy had some flexibility.

Hanson was the odd-man out.

"At this point, I probably wasn't going to keep him so I wanted to improve my hitting," Andy said. "That's not to say he won't turn into a star, but for this year, I needed to improve my hitting. I'll worry about next year during the offseason."

After the trade was announced, Gonzalez homered in his next at-bat and McGehee singled. Could it be a sign?

Gonzalez instantly upgrades his outfield, and with the return of Beltran and Heyward after the All-Star break, Andy gets some much-needed depth that he hasn't had the past month.

He does, however, take a hit at shortstop by trading Gonzalez. Now he's left with playing Miguel Tejada every day.

"I just hope Tejada gets traded these next two weeks," Andy said. "I'm not happy about being stuck with him, but I had to give up something to get something."