tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19785015.post-80692969904263600612007-12-20T19:33:00.000-05:002007-12-20T19:34:47.024-05:00The Herkimer Magicians have pulled off a blockbuster trade, dealing SP <a title="Joe Blanton" href="http://www.lp2baseball.com/wiki/index.php/Joe_Blanton">Joe Blanton</a>, RF <a title="Brad Hawpe" href="http://www.lp2baseball.com/wiki/index.php/Brad_Hawpe">Brad Hawpe</a> and a bunch of draft picks including the #3 overall pick to minor league partner Finger Lakes for All-Star starting pitcher <a title="Carlos Zambrano" href="http://www.lp2baseball.com/wiki/index.php/Carlos_Zambrano">Carlos Zambrano</a>, All-Star left fielder <a title="Manny Ramirez" href="http://www.lp2baseball.com/wiki/index.php/Manny_Ramirez">Manny Ramirez</a>, and top setup man <a title="Jon Rauch" href="http://www.lp2baseball.com/wiki/index.php/Jon_Rauch">Jon Rauch</a>. "Along with the acquisition of Jeff Kent earlier this winter, we believe that gaining a couple more stars in Zambrano and Manny will deepen our lineup and rotation and give us arguably one of the two best one-two-three starters in the league, and putting Manny's bat in the middle of this lineup with Jeff will make it difficult to pitch around the middle of our lineup," Owner/GM <a title="Tim Farmer" href="http://www.lp2baseball.com/wiki/index.php/Tim_Farmer">Tim Farmer</a> said in a press release. "With CC (Sabathia), John (Lackey), and Carlos anchoring our rotation, this gives us three extremely talented young starting pitchers to build around."<div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/19785015-8069296990426360061?l=lp2baseball.blogspot.com'/></div>jchttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13101818106675173917noreply@blogger.com1