Two Big Trades in the Big Apple

     A future Hall of Famer, who in his ten plus years was one of the most consistently exceptional players in baseball, went from his home dugout in Seattle, to the visiting dugout at Safeco Field. Ichiro Suzuki is now a New York Yankee in a trade that not many people would've seen coming. It is an interesting trade because the Mariners have parted ways with a legend who is surely their franchise's greatest player. But in no way is Ichiro the same player he once was. He is around a .270 hitter at best and he really doesn't reach base all that often. But for the Yankees, to plug him into the 8 hole in their order, he should give him at least what he gave to the Mariners and then some. He has the speed on the bases and if he is on base consistently, he will act as a double leadoff for the top of the Yankees deadly lineup. As if the AL East wasn't already locked up for the Yankees.

    
     But I want to get to the big trade in New York yesterday. After months of speculation and negotiating, no team could lure Rick Nash from the Columbus Blue Jackets given the asking price. But in a sudden shift of momentum, the Rangers have acquired Nash and give up not all that much considering what they are getting for the immediate future. The Rangers have just made the best move of the offseason. Yes, they are the defending Eastern Conference regular season champions, but they still remain in the most competitive division in the NHL. With the Penguins poised to have a healthy Sidney Crosby, the Penguins should be lethal offensively and a sure contender. On top of that, the Flyers are as deadly offensively and are very close to landing Shea Weber. So hello defensive stability and a backbone to replace Chris Pronger long term. Oh yeah, not to mention the defending conference champions, the New Jersey Devils are also in their division. The Rangers realized the division is by no means locked up for them. But now with Nash, they are once again the early favorites to come out of the Atlantic Division, albeit by a thin margin. Either way, the Rangers established themselves as the favorites in the East and even the favorites in the league to win the Stanley Cup by acquiring Rick Nash.