Philadelphia/Brick trade

With up-and-coming starter Juan Santiago out for a year with an elbow injury, the first place Philadelphia Hornets wasted no time finding his replacement. The team has announced a stunner of a trade with fellow division leader Brick, with the Barracudas receiving a package of five players and an armored truck's worth of cash in return for starter Will Hickford.

Along with $8,000,000 cash, the Hornets are sending 3B Larry McCormick, SP Ron Hill, AAA SP Austin Houston, AAA RP Francisco Flores, and A RP Juan Diaz.

"It was a steep price to pay, but with Maui on our backs and a legitimate chance to win a Cecil Cup on the horizon, it was worth it," said Hornets GM Michael Weintraub.