It’s Christmas week, and the yule stove is warm, so let’s gather around the fire of teams making transactions and poke at the coals. 

When Baltimore made the Grayson Rodriguez for Taylor Ward swap, we anticipated another move to clear the outfield logjam. That’s not exactly what happened next, but they did clear out a bunch of pieces and add a pitcher in sending several prospects to Tampa in exchange for Shane Baz. One thing makes this trade unique is that it’s basically three first-round picks and two prospects for Baz. I don’t think I’ve seen a trade in this shape. OF Slater de Brun and C Caden Bodine were first-rounders this year, and they added in the 33rd overall selection in next year’s draft along with RHP Michael Forret and OF Austin Overn. Bodine has played 11 games in Low-A, and de Brun hasn’t played yet in the pros.