Khalil Greene Goes To St. Louis

Another deal in the Hot Stove season, this time in a trade with the Padres dumping salary and also garnering some prospects. It looks like our role in the rumored three team trade with the Cubs and Padres has gone up in smoke with this development.

In a slow-moving market, the Cardinals are acting quickly. St. Louis answered the biggest question in its 2009 lineup on Thursday, trading for Padres shortstop Khalil Greene. A day earlier, the Cards signed reliever Trever Miller to a one-year contract.

The Redbirds announced the trade on Thursday evening after a day of reports and speculation. St. Louis will send relief prospect Mark Worrell and a player to be named later to San Diego.

It's the second deal consummated between the two teams in less than a year -- in December 2007, the Padres acquired Jim Edmonds for Minor League third baseman David Freese.

Greene will make $6.5 million in 2009, and thus far there are no indications as to how much, if any, of that salary the Padres would pick up. If St. Louis pays the entirety of Greene's 2009 salary, it would be left with approximately $10-15 million more in payroll room to find a second baseman and perhaps another starting pitcher and/or another left-handed reliever. Greene will be eligible for free agency after the 2009 season.

I don't know how this move makes the shortstop position for the Cardinals that much better; however, they only have Greene for one year, and if his numbers pick up, he's going to be line for a great pay day.

I'm not so sure he'd be good fit in Baltimore anyway aside from his power, and not much else in my mind to jump and say "sign him".

Meanwhile, the Orioles keep looking -- with Renteria signed with San Francisco and Furcal most likely rumored to sign with Oakland, could Cesar Izturis be our next shortstop?