In a blockbuster trade, Manny Ramirez has been dealt to the Los Angeles Dodgers, Jason Bay has been traded to the Boston Red Sox and the Pittsburgh Pirates received four top prospects. Dodgers general manager Ned Colletti explained his reasoning.

“We figured we had to do it,” Colletti said. “There was obviously a point in time that you have to make a major decision. We did and we were glad we did it. Hopefully it pays dividends. We’re confident we’ve got one of the best hitters in baseball coming in here—one of the best hitters of his generation from the right side.

In my view, the Pittsburgh Pirates made out like bandits in this trade. Why? They only gave up Jason Bay who, for all the hype, is a soon to be 30 year old .281 lifetime hitter. In return for Bay, Pittsburgh netted Brandon Moss, Craig Hansen, Andy LaRoche and Bryan Morris. Brandon Moss is a career .287 hitter in the minor leagues, Craig Hansen is a young hard throwing reliever who misses bats (25 K’s this season in 30 innings), LaRoche was the dodgers top position prospect, and Morris has 72 K’s in 81 IP’s this season in A ball. This is a clearly rebuilding Pittsburgh organization, and this is a great move for their future.

As for the Dodgers and Red Sox, not nearly as many positive words can be said. the dodgers, who seemingly have a vendetta against rookies, gave up two top prospects in exchange for yet another aging, expensive outfielder. Now Manny Ramirez, Juan Pierre, Andruw Jones, Andre Ethier, and Matt Kemp will have to battle for playing time.

The Red Sox gave up Manny Ramirez, Craig Hansen, and Brandon Moss in this trade for a player who isn’t nearly the hitter that Manny Ramirez is. Say what you will about the childish, immature statements Manny made prior to this trade, but the Red Sox are considerably worse for having made this deal. The loss of Craig Hansen is going to sting in the struggling Boston ‘pen, and Brandon Moss may be big league ready.  Its undeniable that this trade hurts Boston in both the present and future.