BREAKING NEWS: Holy Trade, Batman!

By KYLE KEOUGH
Double Day AP

The warning signs have been present for days.

A flurry of big-name trades seemed to suggest that sooner or later, two contenders would get into the mix and radically re-shape their rosters with one big move.

Well, the Toledo Maumees and the Albuquerque Dukes have made their move.

In a massive five-player deal, the Toledo Maumees have sent star hitter Albert Wall (.290, 27 HR, 76 RBI) as well 27-year-old coveted SP Junior Cerveza (9-5, 2.82 ERA) for a package headlined by SP Bernie Alvarez (9-7, 4.22 ERA) and including DH and former AL Player of the Week David Ortiz (.329, 20 HR, 75 RBI) as well as 22-year-old catching prospect Fernando James.

The fallout from said deal is massive. The Dukes have swapped Alvarez for Cerveza in the rotation, but have gained significant ground offensively with the acquisition of Albert Wall. The Maumees have traded Wall's bat for Diet Big Papi, but have managed to secure an NL-friendly workhorse in Alvarez, who potentially could pitch as many as 3 games in a long playoff series for the Maumees.

Both teams seemingly have looked to improve upon their strengths. The Dukes--first in team average, second in runs scored, fourth in home runs--have added a brilliant young star to team with incumbants Philip Maxwell and Spike Logan. It is as if a new "Big Three" has been born in Albuquerque.

Meanwhile, the Maumees--first in team ERA, first in opponents' average, second in wins--upgrade with Alvarez over Cerveza and now have a starter who can log major minutes in the postseason. Better yet, Alvarez' stint with Tampa Bay last year suggested that he prefers the National League, and should be lights' out pitching for the Maumees. That means nothing good for NL lineups.

In order to make the salary of Bernie Alvarez--$12,000,000 for this season--fit within Toledo's cap, the Dukes have agreed to pay the Maumees $4,000,000 in addition to the players being traded away.

Both team payrolls, following the deal, will sit somewhere in the $73-74 million dollar range.