Hal, Jack make midseason move hoping to make the leap

It's always exciting when you get that e-mail from Yahoo! notifying you of a trade that has been accepted. But when I saw it was between Hal and Jack? Wow! Fresh blood for once.

We all know by now the trade details: Hal sent Daniel Hudson and Kyle Lohse to Jack for Alex Gordon and Mark Buehrle.


Like most trades, both managers seem happy with the deal. Hal probably feeling a little better right now since Gordon homered and tripled, and Buehrle had a fine start interrupted by rain on Tuesday night. We have yet to see Hudson and Lohse suit up for Jack, although Hudson did just throw a filthy complete game in his last start.

"I had no problem dealing Hudson after that last start," Hal said. "All I gave up for him was my waiver priority, and was able to parlay that into Alex Gordon. Getting Buehrle back in the deal was big for me because it essentially made the trade Gordon for Hudson or Lohse."

Hal also cited something interesting - the fact that he is already at 30 moves and wanted to try and change his roster without adding someone from the free-agent list.

Jack, meanwhile, seemed reluctant to part ways with Gordon but felt acquiring pitching depth was more important. Especially with Pablo Sandoval (and eventually David Wright) coming back. He gets two very good pitchers in this deal.

"Hated to trade both of those guys - they were solid players," Jack said. "I just wanted to upgrade pitching and these two guys hopefully will do that."

Hal and Jack probably have updated their trade blocks and posted trade messages more than anyone else, so it seems only fitting that they became trade partners.

"I'd been looking to make a trade for some time," Hal said. "My big-name draft picks have been horrible - to put it gently - and I needed an offensive improvement. I have been close in hits and runs each week. With Carlos Santana, Adam Dunn and Dan Uggla showing signs of life, as well as getting Matt Holliday back, I felt picking up Alex Gordon could be the piece to make my offense a legit threat."

I asked Jack if he thinks this trade will propel him into status as a division favorite. Far from it, he says.

"I'm not a favorite - heck we are not even a certain playoff team," Jack said. "Did you see my team's performance last week (in a 13-5 loss to Adam)? Dreadful - absolutely pathetic. They hit like little girls in a ballet class. If you bet on us - don't bet heavy. There are others in the league with a better team - just ask them."

Hal, on the other hand, is very excited about where his team is at. Once 0-5, he is now incredibly a game away from .500 and now a legit wild-card contender.

"It feels great," Hal said. "If my offense bounces back the way they're capable of and I can make the playoffs with some adds left to spare, I think my team can take some managers by surprise."