I'm still here

Forgive the absence of posts the last few days, but I spent the last few days moving to an apartment in Fond du Lac. I thought that would be a nice way to spend the hottest weekend of the summer, lugging dusty furniture and boxes of books that I keep only because I think they make me look smart.

But a lot has happened since we last met, and before all the Brewers fans start writing angry letters to Doug Melvin and lamenting the loss of Carlos Lee, pay attention.

It's not a bad trade. Melvin, the Brewers general manager, has done this before and gotten value in return every time he's done so. This was no different.

This was not a trade meant to significantly increase the Brewers' chances of winning this season, but it wasn't a trade for the far future either. This was a trade for next year. Any other proposed deal, from what I heard, involved prospects that wouldn't be ready until late next year or the year after. Aside from Lee leaving in the winter and getting nothing in return, that would be the worst case scenario.

Instead, what Melvin got in return, was a trio of players that could help immediately, but more importantly, could contribute next year as well. Players like Corey Hart and Tony Gwynn are still a year away from being every day players. Guys like Kevin Mench and Laynce Nix will bridge the gap. Adding Francisco Cordero to the bullpen might be the most important part of the deal.

And I wouldn't be too concerned about Nelson Cruz. According to various baseball Internet sites, his projected numbers are comporable to those of Mench, and there has to be a reason Cruz has toiled in the minor leagues since the Brewers picked him up in a trade with the Athletics two years ago.

This is a good trade, not a great trade. It's going to help the Brewers more next year than it does right now. This is not a playoff team in 2006, but it sure is looking like one in 2007.