News Less Than 30 Minutes Old, and Why It Matters.

From the Associated Press on this Friday afternoon......"Phillies, Indians reach agreement on Michaels for Rhodes trade

1/27/2006, 3:16 p.m. ET
By BEN WALKER
The Associated Press
(AP) — The Philadelphia Phillies and Cleveland Indians reached agreement Friday on a Jason Michaels-for-Arthur Rhodes trade, a deal that could trigger a bigger swap involving the Boston Red Sox.

Rhodes was in Philadelphia taking a physical, two people familiar with the deal told The Associated Press. They spoke on condition of anonymity because the trade had not been finalized.

If the trade is completed, the Indians could turn around and send center fielder Coco Crisp to the Red Sox to fill the gap left when free agent Johnny Damon left for the New York Yankees."
********Peter here. Now our club is in a better bargaining position. Cleveland has an excess player, there were no surprises for the Indians in the results of Mota's physical exam, and now, just maybe, the Red Sox can take advantage of their suddenly superior bargaining position to dictate terms. This might mean weekend news. But by now, the importance, at least for me, has lessened. But we still need a center fielder.............to be continued.