Indians provide Mulhern, Pirates provide the cash

Hey, maybe now the Indians can afford to to sign CC Sabathia this winter. As Mike wrote earlier, the Indians traded Ryan Mulhern and starter Dan Reichert to the Pirates Thursday for cash considerations.

I'm not exactly sure how such trades go down, though you'd like to imagine Pittsburgh GM Neal Huntington driving to Cleveland to hand-deliver a bag of cash to Cleveland GM Mark Shapiro. And how is the amount negotiated? ("Ah, just fill up a garbage bag and we'll call it a deal.") Any way you look at it, there can't be much honor in being exchanged for "financial considerations," though it's surely better than being traded for a sack of bats.

Interesting about Mulhern. The 27-year-old infielder, once considered one of Cleveland's better prospects, was named the organization's minor league player of the year in 2005. Playing for Class A Kinston and Double-A Akron that season, he ranked fifth in the minors in homers (32) and fourth in slugging percentage (.640). And last season, the guy was the Bisons' co-MVP, hitting .290 with 16 homers. Yet it's also clear Mulhern never quite progressed like the Tribe's front office hoped. This season in Buffalo, Mulhern hit .250 with seven homers and 26 RBIs in 58 games while developing an affinity for standing behind the cage and hitting balls into the stands during batting practice.

A fresh start in Pittsburgh can't hurt.

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An additional note on Bryan Bullington. The Pirates apparently hoped the former No. 1 draft pick would clear waivers and return to their Triple-A affiliate.

"He wasn't in our immediate picture, but we felt there was more there," Huntington told the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. "We thought it was a worthwhile risk, and it didn't pay off."

--- David Briggs