Huff Trade

The Devil Rays purge continues.

The team dealt Aubrey Huff to the Astros for two AA prospects, SP Matt Talbot and SS Ben Zobrist.

To make room for Huff, the Astros sent OF Jason Lane to AAA.

What I await is the move the Devil Rays make to fill Huff's roster slot.

This is a good trade for the 'stros as Huff will do what Lane was expected to do. Unfortunately for the depth of the Astros farm system, I believe Lane would have done the same thing Huff will do if he had not been inexplicably banished by Phil Garner.

Worse though, is keeping Orlando Palmeiro over Lane. Lane would have provided the late-inning pop that is so glaring on NL rosters.

As for he minor leaguers, Talbot had 96 Ks in 90.i innings of work with 29 walks - very good numbers, but he gave up 94 hits and that doesn't make me feel confident. He's missing bats but teams are still hitting him.

Zobrist is 25 with excellent plate discipline (.434 OBP 55 walks in 315 ABs with 46 Ks). He certainly looks like Upton insurance in the even BJ f(l)ails at SS.