for at least several posters, was for him to play well enough to have some trade value. He has held up his end of the bargain but no one seems to be advocating a trade anymore.

I think the combination of Ludwick and Duncan hitting behind Pujols has been very effective and that is a very important part of this team. They are both having All-Star seasons and I don’t think you mess with that part of this team. Rasmus is your long-term answer for CF and the perfect #2 hitter and as I see it #2 through #5 should be set and left alone.

With that being said I do think there is need for a RH outfielder / bat and I agree that Murton would be a good fit. I would gladly flip Ankiel for Murton but right now no one probably wants Ankiel. I do think that Ankiel will turn it around and when he does maybe a trade of this type might be possible.

Allen Craig (2009): .371/.463/.514 at Memphis, which is more of pitchers park than the bandbox that Murton is playing in.

I have to believe that you give Craig or Mather (who hasn’t figured it out yet, but I think he will) a shot at the LF platoon before you trade for Matt Murton, who is out of options.

Why trade for a guy who isn’t appreciably better than what we currently have at our own AAA farm club?

What we need is a right handed stick with pop on the bench. I agree with others that this should be Allen Craig. You can mix him in at 3B just as Tony did with Freese. We’re carrying an extra pitcher on the 25 man roster. Either Walters or Boggs eventually goes back down which opens up a spot on the 25 man roster. The problem is that Craig would then have to be added to the 40 man. We’re eating those open 40 man slots in a hurry if we make that move.