With the top of the AL East suddenly not out of sight, the Steinbrothers and Cash Man are pulling out all the stops to give the team the best shot possible to make it to the playoffs again. They already filled a couple holes with the great Nady and Marte deal (and BTW: I'm getting more excited about the X-Man with each passing day [and with each sweet RBI dub, of course]) and yesterday they made sure the trade deadline didn't pass them by before they could address another major need.

The move today was a surprise - and a GREAT one. The Tigers reportedly just started reaching out to teams looking for takers for Pudge Rodriguez and the Yanks jumped at the chance, thanks to the Jorgie Porgie's season ending surgery and Jo-Mo's inability to do much more than stand immobile at the plate. The best part?? All they wanted in return for this 14-time All Star catching gem: Kyle Farnsworthless.

Here's the deets on our new catcher:
Career numbers: .302/.340/.477. 47% caught steeling record (!!) 14 All-Star games, 1 MVP (1999), 13 Gold Gloves, 7 Silver Sluggers
2008: .295/.338/.417. 5 HR, 32 RBI, 6 SB. 36% caught steeling record.

Much as I despise Farny, I'll admit that he's been having a decent year: 44.3 IP, 43 K, 17 BB, 3.65 ERA. I'm not fooled, though. We all know he sucks.

For the most part, everyone seems excited about the deal. Pudge says he's ready to move on from Tigerville and would even like to stay once his contract is up at the end of the year (he's got an option on the contract) and is looking forward to working with the likes of the Jeet and the Moose. As for Farny... there were tears, which made the hyper-sensitive YC ALMOST feel bad for him (until I remember how much I hated him and was able to get myself under control). Girardino was getting verklempt himself - he loves the boy and has been pulling for him all season. They'll get over it as soon as Farny realizes he won't be booed as much in Detroit (at first, anyway) and Girardi realizes Pudge is an awesome replacement for Jo-Mo and especially poor Moeller.

Speaking of Moeller... see ya on the bench!

BTW, there's still a few hours left. Are more trades to come? Jarrod Washburn packing his bags yet?