Breaking down the trade: Mike's side

Mike was at one point the punching bag of the league, but we have to admit he has drastically improved the squad.

Getting Delmon Young as a throw-in to his last trade turned out to be a great move, and now he acquires (what we think) is his third keeper for next year.

If Mike's roster doesn't change from this point forward, we think he'll have Jon Lester, Jered Weaver and Ian Kinsler. The first two he can keep for as many years as he wants.


"The team has definitely improved over the last month," Mike said. "But we still needed to best prepare ourselves for next year."

Mike was making a run toward an improbable playoff spot, but he will lose this week, making it that much more unlikely.

Even he admits that the trade was made with the future in mind. Weaver is 9-7 with a 3.19 ERA and 1.09 WHIP and 155 strikeouts. Great numbers, and now he joins a rotation with such names as Lincecum, Verlander and Lester. Pretty dirty.

"We viewed Jared as a top starting pitcher and hopefully someone to help us get into the division race next year," Mike said.

All things considered, Mike has to be happy with the direction of his team now than five or six weeks ago.