Ladies and Gentlement, Justin Morneau is your 2008 Home Run Derby Champion!

But that's not the real story here.  Josh Hamilton SHOULD be your champion.  Hamilton stepped to the plate in the first round and belted out a record 28....yes 28!!!...home runs!  Holy cow!  No other competitor in the field (Morneau, Berkman, Braun, Uggla, Sizemore, Utley, or Longoria) hit 28 home runs in the Derby across all rounds!

So how does a guy who hit 13 more home runs than his competitor in the competition lose the home run derby?

We've already seen 2 blockbuster trades in the MLB trade market so far with CC Sabathia and Rich Harden switching teams and leagues.  And the rumor mills are a buzz with other names of players that might potentially switch teams on or before the MLB trading deadline.

In case you've missed the rumors, here's what's being whispered about in baseball circles that might impact your fantasy baseball teams:

Players I believe may be on the move:

American League Pitchers I believe might be on the move:

C.C. Sabathia, Daniel Cabrera, Brian Bannister, Livan Hernandez, Boof Bonser, Joe Blanton, Justin Duscherer, Vicente Padilla, Roy Halladay, Jesse Litsch

AL - Infielders

Jose Lopez, Mark Ellis, Mike Lamb, Esteban German, Juan Uribe, Joe Crede, Julio Lugo, Brian Roberts, Melvin Mora, Aubrey Huff, Robinson Cano

AL - Outfielders

Jay Payton, Luke Scott, Coco Crisp, Brandon Inge, Mark Teahen, Jose Guillen, Melky Cabrera, Johny Gomes,

I am so unbelievably tired and disgusted everytime I hear about who is leading the all star balloting!

National League:

2B - Mark Derosa ahead of Dan Uggla...and Brandon Phillips not even in the top 5? 

OF -  Explain to me how Alfonso Soriano(injured), Ken Griffey Jr(Popularity), and Fukudome(Popularity) over #4. Ryan Braun, #5. Matt Holliday, #6. Carlos Lee, #8. Cory Hart, and #10 Pat Burrell.

SS - Miguel Tejada and Ryan Theriot ahead of Jimmy Rollins and Jose Reyes.

Ken Griffy Jr finally belted his 600th home run last night.  I'm sure this isn't news to you since it's been on most major news stations, and you're reading this on a fantasy baseball site.  But I thought I'd go ahead and say congrats to "the Kid."

I must say that I chuckled a bit when I came across this Denver Post article concerning Matt Holliday's upcoming free agency.  Written by Woody Paige, frequent guest on ESPN's Around the Horn, the article suggests that Cleveland might be a good place to cash in on Holliday's Colorado equity.

I just stumbled upon an AP story about how John Odom was recently traded from the Calgary Vipers, of the Golden Baseball League to the Laredo Broncos, of the United League. 

I know it's early in the season, but as I awoke this morning a wierd feeling came across me.  I opened up the sports page during my morning red bull and pop tart breakfast only to see something very strange staring back at me:

The Chicago Cubs are leading the NL Central!!

Fantasy baseball managers hoping that Yovani Gallardo would anchor their pitching staffs for 2008 are collectively greiving.  According to a report by the Milwaukee Journal Sentinal it looks as if Gallardo's season is over thanks to a torn ACL.