On this date five years ago, the Nationals and lefty reliever Mike Stanton agreed to a one-year contract worth $1MM, making him the first player in Washington Nationals history to have two stints with the team. Stanton made 30 appearances with the club in 2005 before being traded to the Red Sox, and his second stint in 2006 lasted 56 appearances before being traded to the Giants.
Here is this week's collection of links, with a healthy dose of Zack Greinke talk…
- Improve Conditions says the Greinke trade tells us a lot about what small market teams can do in baseball's current economic climate.
- The Summer of Jeff asks (and answers) if the Brewers gave up too much to increase their odds of winning in 2011.
- Disciples of Uecker compares Greinke to the Brewers' recent aces.
- Royals Review says that Billy Butler, not Joakim Soria, is the player Kansas City should trade next.
- FanSpeak thinks Butler makes sense for the Orioles.
- Royal Revival provided 48 hours of Greinke trade thoughts.
- SPANdemonium interviewed the newest Pirate, Corey Wimberly.
- Baseball Time In Arlington posted a two-part series looking at the trade value of Rangers prospects, explaining why the team can afford to deal from depth (part one, part two).
- The Sports Banter tries to find Adrian Beltre's mystery team.
- Mike Scioscia's Tragic Illness looks at Mike Morse as a possible trade target for the Dodgers.
- Motor City Bengals believes Carl Pavano makes sense for the Tigers.
- U.S.S. Mariner breaks down David Aardsma's trade value.
- Yankeeist tells Yankee fans to step back from the ledge.
- Cubs Billy Goat Blog put together a composite top ten prospects list for Chicago's north siders.
- More Hardball creates a team from the remaining unsigned free agents.
- The Hardball Times makes an example of Ted Lilly, from a fantasy baseball perspective.
- Bottom of the Fourth recreated Sandy Koufax's perfect game … in gingerbread form.
If you have a suggestion for this feature, Mike can be reached here.
