LA traded Eric Karros, Mark Grudzielanek, and a reported $2M in cash to the Cubs for Todd Hundley and Chad Hermansen on Wednesday. The deal leaked to the public on Tuesday, but Karros needed to waive his 5-and-10 rights and Chicago wanted Grudzielanek to agree to restructure his contract.

Chicago reportedly agreed to give Karros a no-trade clause that will replace the trade veto rights he earned by staying with the Dodgers for over five years and having more than 10 years of experience in the majors. Grudzielanek was to collect $5.5M in 2003 and his contract included a $6M option for 2004 with a $500,000 buyout. He'll now receive a $2M signing bonus, a $1M salary in 2003, and $3M will be deferred and paid within two months of the end of the 2003 season, so that the Cubs can include it in the 2004 fiscal year, rather than with their 2003 costs. I believe the option was eliminated from the contract, with the $500,000 buyout incorporated into the new deal.

Karros' contract guarantees him $8M for 2003 and includes a $9M club option for 2004 with a $1M buyout. The contract status of both players spurred the Dodgers to make this trade, as they desperately desired some payroll flexibility since they're uncomfortably close to the luxury tax threshold and still want to fill a few holes. Additionally, neither player had a good relationship with manager Jim Tracy.

Todd Hundley will make $6M in 2003 and $6.5M in 2004, but Los Angeles still cut five to seven million from the payroll this season, depending on whether or not cash in trades counts towards the luxury tax threshold. The Dodgers hope Hundley will rebound upon returning to LA and moving away from the Cubs' day game schedule. He's expected to back-up Paul Lo Duca at catcher and also play some first base. Lo Duca should also continue to see time at first, making it likely the Dodgers will want to keep David Ross around as a third catcher.

Joe Thurston already was slated to start at second base regardless of whether Grudzielanek remained on the team. LA drafted Thurston out of Sacramento Community College in the fourth round of the 1999 draft. He ascended rapidly through the organization and tore up AAA Las Vegas last season, hitting .334 with a .372 OBP and .506 SLG on 196 H, 39 2B, 13 3B, and 12 HR with a 25:60 BB:K and 22/31 SB% in 587 AB. His plate discipline could certainly stand some improvement, but the 23-year-old appears capable at least of matching Grudzielanek's contribution next season and building upon that production in the future.

The Dodgers would like to find a regular first baseman, but as long as they retain Mike Kinkade to assist the catchers at first, they should be covered. They also have Chin-Feng Chen at AAA, and while Chen likely could use a couple months to continue work on his plate discipline, he also could contribute to the mix at first.

LA looks likely to continue to use Cesar Izturis at short, though I'd seriously consider sending him back to AAA to work on his strike zone judgment if they ever want him to develop into an everyday contributor. Adrian Beltre could shift to short for a season, and the Dodgers probably have sufficient payroll flexibility to sign Edgardo Alfonzo to play third considering the lack of interest he faces on the free agent market. However, Beltre will probably remain at third while Izturis plays short, with Alex Cora serving as the middle infield back-up.

Brian Jordan has said that he wants a trade if the Dodgers fail to retain Marquis Grissom, and as they rightly don't seem likely to re-sign Grissom, dealing Jordan would free considerable payroll room and a spot for OF-L Luke Allen. Allen spent last season at AAA with Chen and Thurston, hitting .329 with a .395 OBP and .469 SLG on 165 H, 28 2B, 3 3B, and 12 HR with a 56:77 BB:K and 4/10 SB%. Unlike the other two, his plate discipline seems to be solid. The 24-year-old also has demonstrated moderate power skills, though Allen doesn't appear to have useful offensive speed.

Dave Roberts will remain in center while Shawn Green should continue to patrol right field despite his professed amicability to playing first. Jolbert Cabrera should return in a utility capacity. Chad Hermansen provides them with a very nice reserve outfielder, and his inclusion in this deal capped off my utter disappointment in the Cubs for making this trade.

I don't expect the Dodgers to make a large splash on the free agent market with their new payroll room since they don't want to lose their first round draft pick next season, though perhaps they might try to retain Omar Daal. For this reason, I also don't envision Los Angeles signing Alfonzo, Jeff Kent, or Cliff Floyd if their respective teams offer them arbitration. Consequently, they're likely to attempt to fill their remaining needs through additional trades. While this trade didn't bring the Dodgers a lot directly, it opens up considerable flexibility for the team from both a position and payroll standpoint.

On the other hand, the Cubs have now blocked two very promising position players in Hee Seop Choi at first and Bobby Hill at second. Both need to have starting jobs next season in order to further their development, and instead they'll be forced to compete for playing time. While I believe that both will receive the majority of at-bats available at their respective positions, neither should surpass 450 plate appearances, and the pressure of playing for their jobs is much more likely to hinder their development by encouraging bad habits than to spur progress. Chicago isn't helped by the fact that the new acquisitions' contracts will expire after the season, as they'll be on the roster long enough to foil the development of the youngsters.

Dusty Baker likes veterans and will make sure that Karros and Grudzielanek receive significant playing time. Karros claims that his lack of power is due to a shoulder injury, however his skills are quite weak historically and don't suggest a rebound for the 35-year-old. Grudzielanek is currently the Cubs' projected starting third baseman, as Chicago would prefer to have Mark Bellhorn retain his positional flexibility. However, the Cubs will likely obtain another third baseman before Spring Training, leaving Grudzielanek to take more at-bats away from Hill.

The departure of Chad Hermansen leaves the Cubs without even one reserve outfielder, though they're supposedly set to sign Marquis Grissom any day now, giving them yet another overpaid veteran for the bench. With their plethora of infielders, the Cubs won't have room for a fifth outfielder. In a single move, Chicago has gone from a team full of young promise to a veteran morass.