Both the Expos and Indians made small trades with other clubs on Tuesday that may have helped set up Thursday's big deal. Montreal dealt Donnie Bridges to Florida for Brett Roneberg, while Cleveland sent Bruce Aven to Philadelphia for Jeff M. D'Amico.

The Expos designated Bridges for assignment June 20th in order to make room for Dan Smith on the 40-man roster. Montreal drafted Bridges out of Mississippi's Oak Grove High School in the first round of the 1997 draft. The Expos were so excited with his progress that they allowed him to pitch 201 innings between AA and AAA in 2000, which led to shoulder problems last season. Back at AA this season in 63 IP, he's allowed 63 H and 7 HR with a 49:42 K:BB. His control problems may be a lingering result of mechanics disrupted by attempting to pitch through last season's injury. The 23-year-old's upside is still a major league starter, though if his control problems persist he might have better luck as a reliever.

Roneberg signed with the Marlins as a nondrafted free agent out of Australia in 1996. He's always shown doubles power and developed home run power last season at A+ Brevard County in the Florida State League. In addition to the doubles power, his plate discipline has been exemplary aside from some difficulties during the 1998 season. I'm concerned that the 23-year-old has at least partially repeated every level, and for some reason he's barely received any at-bats this year while returning to A+ for a portion of the season. If he can avoid getting stuck at AAA, he could contribute to a major league bench around 2004. Considering Montreal likely would have lost Bridges on waivers, he's acceptable compensation.

The Indians actually signed D'Amico to a minor league contract in the off-season and then traded him to the Phillies in early April for a PTBNL who still hasn't been named. Oakland drafted Jeff M. D'Amico as a position player out of Washington's Redmond High School in the second round of the 1993 draft, after Milwaukee selected fellow pitcher Jeff C. D'Amico out of Florida's Northeast High School in the first round. Following four years of stagnant offensive development, the A's converted Jeff M. into a pitcher in 1996. He made some progress as a pitcher before Oakland traded him, along with RHP Blake Stein and RHP Brad Rigby, to the Royals for RHP Kevin Appier at the 1999 trading deadline.

The 27-year-old has worked as a reliever and most recently as a starter, occasionally showing promise but never receiving an extended major league opportunity. Kansas City gave him his major league debut in 2000, though he performed poorly in a short stint as a reliever with one spot start. In his combined time at AAA Buffalo and Scranton/Wilkes-Barre, both of the International League, he has a 47:26 K:BB in 75 IP with 77 H and 9 HR allowed.

His numbers are quite similar to those of the 23-year-old Tim Drew, who has a 43:23 K:BB in 96.1 IP with 96 H and 6 HR allowed. Considering D'Amico's four years' older, he certainly has less long term upside than Drew, but if needed he could easily serve the same role for the major league team this season that Drew would have filled.

The 29-year-old Aven has moderate power and occasional speed but generally poor plate discipline. He'll provide Philly with an extra outfielder at AAA in case of injury. He was also signed as a minor league free agent, so reacquiring D'Amico costs the Indians little.

Montreal's trade doesn't appear overly related to their exploits later in the week, though Roneberg fits in as a lesser replacement for Grady Sizemore in their minor league system. However, trading Tim Drew likely became easier for Cleveland after reacquiring D'Amico.

As I mentioned yesterday, I want to go into more detail as to the effects of Thursday's trade on both organizations (Click here for another look at the players involved). First, this trade was particularly interesting considering the ownership circumstances of Montreal. Many people, including myself, questioned how trades would work with a franchise owned in part by the clubs with which it would be dealing. Few suspected that the Expos would be allowed to contend and make trades to further their success.

Now Montreal is legitimately in the playoff race, in large part due to surprisingly adept on-field and front office management. The club has been run in a professional and frequently insightful manner, which is more than several other franchises can claim. This trade may make it possible for them to fulfill their playoff dreams, which in turn could lead to the revitalization of baseball in Montreal. The second half of that statement remains somewhat far-fetched, as the team still has to compete with a possible work stoppage, and it remains more likely that their success would lead to a change of venue rather than a new lease on life in Montreal. Nevertheless, we are a long ways from the dire straits the Expos found themselves in this off-season.

The Expos still need another quality right-hander in the bullpen. Including Lee Stevens in the trade not only freed up salary, it allows them to use alternatives with more upside at first base. The prospects lost represent considerable future value, but they probably only slightly overpaid for the possibility of a playoff berth, which says a lot considering they might not even exist next season.

Meanwhile, the Indians' side of the deal is also quite intriguing in a different way. Two things main things confuse people about Cleveland's end of this trade. First, the Indians appear to have a genuine shot at the playoffs, which they lose by trading Bartolo Colon and probably others. Second, why wouldn't Colon be a part of any rebuilding process?

The first issue is easier to deal with than the second. While the Indians could make the playoffs this season, their moves for the last several seasons have been just enough to get them to the playoffs, and though chance can bring any playoff team to the World Series, the club really hasn't had the necessary components to advance. Now they're in a borderline situation where they could once again make a run for the post-season, or they can retool and try for the big prize in a few years with the prospect of and a long run of success. The playoffs are nice but one only has to look at the Braves' attendance to know that fans lose interest, even in the post-season, without championships. I'm continually baffled at the average fan's inability to support a rebuilding process and/or young players. The process can easily derail, but the benefits if properly executed are immense.

As for Colon, Cleveland likely should have kept him if they're looking for a quick renovation. His departure could backfire with C.C. Sabathia suffering under the added pressure and likely increased workload. Additionally, rebuilding around an existing ace is a much easier process.

However, there are several ways to make it work without him and several reasons to trade him. While he's tied to the team for the next few years, his salary will escalate; placing a larger commitment behind younger, cheaper players makes some sense. Of all the players on the team, no one outside of perhaps Jim Thome had more trade value than Colon. By dealing him, they were able to add three very high quality prospects to a farm system that has received a steady influx of talent from successful drafts the last two seasons.

Based on their past expenditures, I believe the Indians will be willing to supplement their minor league bounty with free agent signings and a number of interesting pitchers should arrive on the market in the next few years. Cleveland should abstain from any major free agent signings next season and stick to players who will fetch a good price at before the trade deadline. In this way, they can put the finishing touches on their reconstruction, returning to the thick of the playoffs in 2004 as a stronger and hopefully more enduring contender.