What in the hell?

Big Rangers trade.

To Texas: CF Josh Hamilton

To Cincinnati: P Edinson Volquez, P Danny Herrera

At first I was pretty damn pissed about GM Jon Daniels trading away two big prospect pitchers like Edinson Volquez and Danny Herrera for centerfielder Josh Hamilton, but this trade is kind of starting to grow on me. The consensus among media reports is that Cincinnati is losing out on the deal because Hamilton's resurgence could raise his stock to the likes of Miguel Cabrera, Ken Griffey Jr. and Alex Rodriguez. Apparently Hamilton has HUGE potential and his presence in the Rangers outfield proves one thing: we have a potential All-Star centerfielder for at least five more years. But we give up Volquez, who I'd come to admire ever since he was torn up at the Major League level in 2006 only to begin 2007 in Class A and work his way up to Class AAA Oklahoma last year as one of the best pitchers in all of minor league baseball. We also gave up Danny Herrera someone I've been personally rooting for since I knew him in elementary school. Danny's changeup was supposed to be one of the filthiest ones in baseball and the way he's going, he'll be in the big leagues sooner rather than later. I guess the major turning point for me to go from being pissed off to being excited about this trade is the realization that we just traded two pitching prospects. For most teams who cares if you trade a couple of pitching prospects, but for the Rangers: we have come a long way. For years our pitching talent in the minor leagues has been next to non-existent and now we are dealing from a position of strength. The ESPN analysts are saying we have the second best farm system in the major leagues next to Tampa and there's really only one move that owner Tom Hicks allowed that caused that which is the hiring of Jon Daniels as General Manager. Aside from the atrocious trade of Adrian Gonzalez and Chris Young to the Padres for Akinori Otsuka and Termell Sledge (both of whom are no longer Rangers), Daniels has rebuilt this team in only a couple of years and it's a team poised on making a difference in the next couple of years. Maybe we'll finally make it to the World Series....here's hoping.

Below are some links to various outlets covering the trade; however, if you were only going to read one, read the piece Jamey Newberg posted on his website. Newberg is a Dallas attorney who follows the Rangers talent like no one else (and he's not even on the team's payroll) and he publishes his annual Newberg Report for Rangers fans.

Jamey Newberg article

mlb.com coverage from T.R. Sullivan

espn.com coverage

Dallas Morning News coverage by Evan Grant

Odessa American coverage (including interview with Danny Herrera) by Craig Craker

A story about Josh Hamilton's drug addiction by Josh Hamilton