MLB Trade Deadline Day!

Last Updated: 6:55 PM - updates at the bottom of the post.

Viagra doesn't come close to doing what the MLB Trade Deadline day does for me. The Pirates don't have much to offer besides bullpen help, but today's PG brings us a delicious nugget that the Tigers are interested in JackWilson. IF the Pirates deal him, they better pick up some of his contract so that they get something respectable in return.

Your prom date is what we are defining "respectable" as

All indications illustrate DL is looking for MLB ready talent. You know that greatly limits the skill level of what he will get in return. If he was aiming at AA hitters the last couple of years at the deadline, we would not be in as bad of shape we are in now. But DL still has hope for 2008, so he wants MLB ready talent. Remember, the only way he could get that last year was to deal possibly the best relief pitcher available in the market and a promising, hard throwing lefty starter.

The only player Detroit has that might meet that requirement AND a position the Pirates would want in return in Ryan Raburn, at 27 year old OF. Not exactly a young prospect. It is possible that DL will complete his attempt to correct the Rule V mistake by getting Chris Shelton, the only talent at AAA, back. Shelton has not faired well since his hot April in the bigs last year. At AA they have a 22 year old OF who is showing some power and decent average... but he is not MLB ready.

As the Pirates trades go down today, I'll toss some comments up in this post. Check back frequently once they go down.

---

UPDATE: Several key media outlets in both Pittsburgh and Detroit are announcing that the Pirates and Tigers are still discussing a deal for Jack Wilson and that nothing has been consummated.

MLBtraderumors.com has the Pirates asking the Yankees for AA starter Alan Horne. Horne is 22, right handed and is 9-3 after starting 20 games at AA. In his 114 IP he has struck out 125 with a 2.36 ERA

---

The Pirates have acquired Matt Morris from the Giants for Rajai Davis and a player to be named later. This trade is the the veteran RHP DL tried to sign to a 2-year free agent agreement this offseason. Morris has been declining as the season wears on. Morris, who is making $10M this year, started off the first two and half months of the season with an ERA under 3.00. In his last 9 starts his ERA has ballooned to 4.35 as he has given up less than 4 earned runs only twice in those starts. He has given up more than 5 ER four times over that span.

Davis never stood a chance under Tracy. Over the past 2 weeks the Pirates have faced at least 4 left handed starters, left handed Nate McLouth got 3 of the starts. Even if DL was tossing aside a spare part, he picked up a multi-million dollar contract for no reason in return.

Davis had the game of his career at Pac Bell last season. That experience must have stuck with Giants GM Brian Sabean... or he was just looking for a sucker to take Morris' contract. It appears the Pirates will take all of the $9M owed to Morris next year, which makes you think they greatly overpaid for him. Why? Sabean was probably offering Morris to other teams that actually needed him for depth come the post season. The Pirates did not and certainly did not need to make this trade now. This could have waited until the offseason.

.