Bleacher Report Fantasy League: Week One in the Books!

(Photo by Drew Hallowell/Getty Images)

Leftfield Lunatics was led by Evan Longoria, but he won't have that bat in his lineup the rest of the year. He and Brooklyn Bashers orchestrated a deal this week that will possibly send shockwaves for the rest of the season.

The deal is this:

Brooklyn Bashers send:

Conor Jackson (Ari - 1B,OF)
Nick Markakis (Bal - OF)
Josh Beckett (Bos - P) 

Leftfield Lunatics send:

Evan Longoria (TB - 3B)
Curtis Granderson (Det - OF)
Joba Chamberlain (NYY - P) 

I talked to both managers and here is what they each had to say about the deal:

Leftfield Lunatics are going to be first.

We just expect them to be themselves. Markakis is the cog that makes the Orioles' offense go, so we expect him to hit for power and score just like Evan. We needed to make a move for a staff ace like Josh, who will consistently contribute wins and a positive ERA to our young rotation.

Finally, we brought in Conor Jackson as part of the deal and we really liked his versatility, being able to play the infield and outfield. He won't hit tons of home runs but we know he will contribute a very solid batting average.

Let's hear what the Brooklyn Basher's had to say:

You are giving up a great young talent in Nick Markakis but are getting some young guns in Evan and Joba. What was the original offer and how did it develop into the three for three trade that it is? 

It was very hard for me to give Markakis away, but you have to give good players to get good players.  The original trade was my, Khalil Greene, Rich Harden, and Matt Lindstrom, for Lunatic's Jose Reyes. 

He rejected it and responded with this to say, "I'm going to reject this for now. Reyes is probably the guy I'm least interested in moving, especially when the best player I get in return will probably spend 75 percent of the season on the DL. If you're really interested in Reyes, I'd try to work out a 2-for-2 deal but I'd want a starter like Beckett in return." 

After that, I tried a couple more times for Jose, but it was too tough, I then started to look at some of his offers and build on them.  I liked his ideas, he wanted Beckett, and even though I like him, and he had a great first start, I wasn't totally against trading him. 

We shot several offers back and forth to each other over the course of a couple days and we finally agreed on this one here.

In my opinion you are giving up solid talent but are getting more in return in Evan and Curtis. Do you want Joba or was he the piece to swing Beckett over to the Lunatics? 

Who wouldn't want Joba, lol.  The real answer is that Lunatics gave me three pitchers to choose from him.  He let me pick from, I think, Verlander, Slowey, and Joba.  I picked Joba, because he's got a lot of nasty stuff, and I see him having a great year. 

I think that Beckett is only slighter better than Joba, and that Joba will put up Beckett like numbers throughout the season.

What is your expectations for your three new players and why did you want to make this trade? 

I think that Granderson is going to put up an average close to 300. and have good all around stats.  Longoria, is only getting better and will build off his rookie of the year campaign. 

Joba is filthy and has the ability to dominate every team he faces, and I'm happy to have that ability on my team. The trade started when Lunatic's left a message on the board asking for offers.  I sent a couple offers and then we built from there.

Bleacher Creatures who got the better part of this deal? respond in comments and the poll.

For the free agent pick up of the week I give it to Left field Lunatics, for jumping on the Emilio Bonaficio bandwagon. Left field had an astounding 29 moves by the end of the week and two teams hadn't even done anything yet. To put it into perspective, RIP Harry Kalas had the second most with six moves.

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