Pronk Needs You!

Andy Marte is free!!  ESPN is reporting that Casey Blake has been traded to the Dodgers for two prospects:

• Carlos Santana is a 22-year-old catcher who has been beating the high A California League like a rented mule, with a line of .323 / .431 / /563 with 14 home runs and a staggering 88 runs and 96 RBI through 99 games.  He’s hit 14 home runs.  Apparently, according to those who know, he has always been a solid defensive prospect, so his explosion this year with the bat has kicked his prospect status up a notch.
• Jon Meloan is a 23-year-old pitcher, currently in AAA that has had significant success as a reliever, but whom the Dodgers have been trying to turn into a starter.  Last year, he had a cup of coffee with the Dodgers.  Most likely, the Indians put him back into a reliever spot at Buffalo, perhaps to groom as a late-inning guy.  Baseball America had him rated as the #8 prospect of the Dodgers before the season.

This looks like a really impressive haul for a 35-year-old rent-a-player, even one having as impressive a season as Casey Blake with RISP.  Most likely, Blake will get to butcher third base for the Dodgers, giving Torre the type of veteran player he seems to prefer for the stretch run, and putting Blake DeWitt and Andy LaRoche back on the bench.

Andy Marte is now the starting third baseman, most likely to be spelled by Jamey Carroll and perhaps even on occasion by Jhonny Peralta.  It also means we will be seeing more of Ryan Garko at first base, at least until Victor Martinez is ready to come back.

In other baseball mover, it appears that the FEDBU have traded for Xavier Nady and Damaso Marte, bolstering their pen for the stretch run and getting an outfielder to replace Hideki Matsui, who is down with knee problems.  I’ve seen two different packages going to the Pirates in return, but both have Jose Tabata and Will Ohlendorf in them.