Keith Law Hates You and Your Trades

by Kyle Smith, Doberman on the Diamond

Keith Law is an interesting guy. Many people seem to hate him, because he writes like his shit doesn't stink. Still, he's amusing to read, whether or not you agree with what he says.

His trade scorecard at ESPN.com is a pretty good example. Let's just say he didn't exactly agree with all of the moves that were made.

- San Francisco Giants trade SP Matt Morris to Pittsburgh Pirates for OF Rajai Davis

Law's take: "Another year, another bizarre acquisition by the Pirates. But while last year's move to get Shawn Chacon was puzzling, acquiring Matt Morris is inexcusable ... There's no justification for this trade ... they just handicapped themselves for the next two years ... The Pirates are going nowhere right now, and with this deal, they're not going anywhere in the near future, either.

- Texas Rangers trade RP Eric Gagne to Boston Red Sox for LHP Kason Gabbard, OF David Murphy and OF Engel Beltre

Law's take: "In exchange, the Rangers got ... stuff."

- Kansas City Royals trade RP Octavio Dotel to Atlanta Braves for SP Kyle Davies

Law's take: "The Royals get ex-prospect Kyle Davies ... Davies has been awful in over 200 big-league innings, with no indication that he's getting any better ... His fastball command is still poor, his control hasn't been good since he was in Double-A ... The only thing his average changeup does for him is ensure that lefties don't hit him any harder than righties do ... I'm not sure what the Royals see in Davies ... this is a major letdown for Royal fans."

- San Diego Padres trade RP Scott Linebrink to Milwaukee Brewers for RHP Will Inman, LHP Steve Garrison and LHP Joe Thatcher

Law's take: "neither of (Linebrink's) secondary pitches is a plus ... It's hard to see how he's going to help Milwaukee's bullpen ... The Brewers gave up a lot to acquire 20 innings or so of a guy who's pitched very poorly in favorable circumstances this year."

- Minnesota Twins trade 2B Luis Castillo to New York Mets for C Drew Butera and OF Dustin Martin

Law's take: "Castillo is a one-dimensional player whose game revolves around his speed ... His speed has already started to decline ... he can't even turn on average fastballs ... his range at second base, never great, is now poor ... He's the antithesis of everything the Omar Minaya's Mets do as an offensive club ... once his speed is gone, he'll be close to a replacement-level player."

- Houston Astros trade Dan Wheeler to Tampa Bay Devil Rays for 3B Ty Wigginton

Law's take: "We now have our first head-scratcher of this year's market, since I have zero idea what Houston was thinking ... Wigginton is a terrible defensive third baseman who doesn't get on base (and) isn't young ... the Astros just traded one year of Wheeler, a good reliever with experience as a closer, for two years of Wigginton, a player without a position and who has mediocre offensive skills."