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Best Trade EVER You know how I know you're...' making an incredible deal??? When you trade a below league average catcher who is owed just under $10M for the next two seasons and a player who had been on the trade block for many months' ( MLB.com). Even if the Nationals would have received some low level, low ceiling, old prospects, this trade was still essentially a victory for them. But given they moved Brian Schneider and Ryan Church for Lastings Milledge ( ESPN.com), the talented and toolsy soon to be 23 year old outfielder. The fact that the Nationals were then able to turn around and pick up Johnny Estrada makes an incredible move ( MLB.com), that much more incredible. Let's break this deal down from the start... The Mets moved a reliever whom had about a 50-50 chance to be a contributor to the teams bullpen to the Milwaukee Brewers for Mr. Estrada ( MLB.com). This move was made, as per the words of Omar Minaya, because Estrada is a switch-hitting, former All-Star who has been a consistent .300 hitter. Quite high praise from a GM who decided 10 days later they wanted a black hole hitting catcher on the roster as well. If you are keeping track, when the Mets traded for Schneider they had 3 catchers on the 40 man roster, not one of whom you would consider playing at another position. Given the team had just signed Roman Castro (not to mention overpaying at $2.3M a year)there was no way he was leaving town, so the choice was either recently acquired Schneider or recently acquired Estrada. Both have a rather hilarious ring to it. To summarize, the Mets moved Milledge, Estrada and Mota for Church and Schneider. Really? But how much water does that truly hold? Who are these players and why does it matter that Minaya made this move? Furthermore, you may be asking yourself, , you still haven't explained how the Nationals made an incredible transaction?' Fair enough. As mentioned, the Nationals were looking to move Church, so essentially anything they received for ...

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