Stay with me here folks. I'll be keeping you posted.

Lots of General Managers were surprised when the Milwaukee Brewers traded top 2B prospect Brett Lawrie for Toronto Blue Jay's starting pitcher Shaun Marcum. It wasn't widely known that Lawrie was available.

Brett Lawrie was said to be waiting in the wings to become the Brewers next 2B, especially if Rickie Weeks faltered in any way. However, something seemed fishy when the club sent Eric Farris to the Arizona Fall League and not Lawrie. That may have been a clue to the world that the Brewers have changed their direction at second base. They liked Lawrie, but they like Farris as well. And Lawrie got them Marcum.

Shaun Marcum will probably becomes the #2 man in the Brewers rotation, but the team is not done looking for pitching. They were very pleased to get Marcum because of his background pitching against the American League East. Marcum went 13-8 with a 3.64 ERA in the toughest division in baseball.

Lawrie provides a combination of good skills. He stole 30 bases for the Brewers AA Huntsville club. He's a guy to target in fantasy because of his ability to hit for average (.285 in 2010) as well as flashing a bit of pop in his bat (8 homers.) Lawrie would have been a prime target for many, many clubs if they knew he was available. But I guess you don't know if you don't ask. The Blue Jays asked and they received.

Basically, this was a very good deal for both clubs. Needs were filled and everyone seems happy. Now, the latest rumors seem to involve 1B Prince Fielder. It is being buzzed that Fielder may be on the block because of his pending free agency. The Dodgers are supposed to be one of the suitors. I'll keep my eye on that.

On another note, it's beginning to look more and more like the Phillies are going to review their own internal options before giving up the store to replace Jayson Werth. It may well be that Ben Francisco will be given an opportunity to win the job in spring training. If not Francisco, the loss of Werth could be the beginning of the Dom Brown era in Philly. Or-it could be a combination of both. At any rate, it is being recognized that Werth's departure weakens the Phillies more than they may have realized. Reality has set in. Many people I have spoken with have expressed concern about the amount of the contract Jayson Werth signed with Washington. But I've already lost my spleen over that one in a previous blog.

updates as they come. Wrap up in my evening edition. Later.