Majors: Trade Central: 2012

For any trade involving a major leaguer or a Prospect Handbook-caliber minor leaguer, we summarize the players' strengths, weaknesses and possible future roles. We slant our analysis toward the young players and prospects involved, letting the veterans' track records do most of the talking.

Any player who is designated for assignment, and thus removed from his club's 40-man roster, is not considered for Trade Central because the resulting trade is not a pure talent-for-talent exchange. Teams have much less leverage in such trades.

May 3 • Angels Find Relief In Form Of Padres' Frieri
Acquire: RHP Ernesto Frieri, San Diego	Acquire: 2B Alexi Amarista, Salt Lake (AAA) RHP Donn Roach, Inland Empire (Hi A)

April 21 • Down Two Center Fielders, Red Sox Deal For Byrd
Acquire: OF Marlon Byrd, Chicago (NL)	Acquire: RHP Michael Bowden, Boston LHP Hunter Cervenka, Greenville (Lo A)

April 21 • Orioles Acquire Belfiore From D-backs As PTBN For Bell
Acquire: 3B Josh Bell, Norfolk (AAA)	Acquire: LHP Mike Belfiore, Visalia (Hi A)

April 4 • Giants Deal Catching Surplus To Yankees
Acquire: C Chris Stewart, San Francisco	Acquire: RHP George Kontos, New York (AL)

April 1 • Reds Deal Out-Of-Options Francisco To Braves
Acquire: 3B Juan Francisco, Cincinnati	Acquire: RHP J.J. Hoover, Gwinnett (AAA)

March 31 • D-backs Retain Rule 5 Pick In Trade With Pirates
Acquire: RHP Brett Lorin, Bradenton (Hi A)	Acquire: RHP Robby Rowland, Missoula (R)

March 20 • Royals Deal Prospect Lefty For Big League Depth
Acquire: C Humberto Quintero, Houston OF Jason Bourgeois, Houston	Acquire: LHP Kevin Chapman, NW Arkansas (AA) player to be named

Feb. 21 • Cubs, Red Sox Settle On Compensation For Epstein
Acquire: GM Theo Epstein 1B Jair Bogaerts, DSL Red Sox (R)	Acquire: RHP Chris Carpenter, Iowa (AAA) RHP Aaron Kurcz, Daytona (Hi A)

Feb. 17 • Yankees Unload Burnett, But At A Cost
Acquire: RHP A.J. Burnett, New York (AL)	Acquire: RHP Diego Moreno, Bradenton (Hi A) OF Exicardo Cayones, GCL Pirates (R)

Feb. 6 • Rockies Continue Overhaul With Guthrie Acquisition
Acquire: RHP Jeremy Guthrie, Baltimore	Acquire: RHP Jason Hammel, Colorado RHP Matt Lindstrom, Colorado

Jan. 25 • Phils Deal Valdez To Reds For Roster Flexibility
Acquire: 2B/SS Wilson Valdez, Philadelphia	Acquire: LHP Jeremy Horst, Cincinnati

Jan. 21 • Red Sox Pare Payroll, Deal Scutaro To Rockies
Acquire: SS Marco Scutaro, Boston	Acquire: RHP Clayton Mortensen, Colo. Springs (AAA)

Jan. 20 • Indians Acquire Slowey To Fill In For Carmona
Acquire: RHP Kevin Slowey, Minnesota	Acquire: RHP Zach Putnam, Cleveland

Jan. 16 • A's Deal Two Arms To Rockies For Seth Smith
Acquire: OF Seth Smith, Colorado	Acquire: LHP Josh Outman, Oakland RHP Guillermo Moscoso, Oakland

Jan. 13 • Yankees Use Montero To Acquire Pineda From M's
Acquire: RHP Michael Pineda, Seattle RHP Jose Campos, Everett (SS)	Acquire: C Jesus Montero, New York (AL) RHP Hector Noesi, New York (AL)

Jan. 6 • Cubs, Padres Swap Cashner For Rizzo
Acquire: 1B Anthony Rizzo, San Diego RHP Zach Cates, Fort Wayne (Lo A)	Acquire: RHP Andrew Cashner, Chicago (NL) OF Kyung-Min Na, Boise (SS)

Jan. 5 • Cubs Ship Zambrano To Miami For Volstad
Acquire: RHP Carlos Zambrano, Chicago (NL)	Acquire: RHP Chris Volstad, Florida

Jan. 1 • Blue Jays Reacquire Frasor In Year's First Trade
Acquire: RHP Jason Frasor, Chicago (AL)	Acquire: RHP Myles Jaye, Bluefield (R) RHP Daniel Webb, Lansing (Lo A)

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