Adding in one of the most beautiful parks in the game, Oriole Park at Camden Yards, to the team’s history and roster list and the only thing that could possibly stop the Orioles from being a perennial power would be a bad owner. Enter Peter Angelos.

Angelos has only raised the payroll above $75 million once in the past 10 seasons. That’s hardly a number that can be seen as acceptable, especially when competing in the same division as the Yankees and Red Sox. The team’s farm system, until recently, has also been lacking in creating young stars to compete in the majors as well.

13 seasons of sub-par play have culminated this year with an abysmal 18-48 record. It’s almost impossible to fathom, but only 66 games into the season the team is 23.5 games out of first place. Dave Trembley has already lost his job, but the team is still floundering and could go down in history with the worst won-loss record if they can’t figure out a way to turn things around soon.

Blame for an awful record sits with every player, but the offense can be pointed out as the most critical area of the team. In 2010, the O’s offense has averaged only 3.24 runs per game. That’s the fifth lowest amount in team history, and the lowest since 1954.

There is very good young talent on the team, most notably Matt Wieters, Adam Jones, and Nick Markakis. However, without a middle-of-the-lineup power threat, no player strikes fear into opposing pitchers. Could the acquisition of Milwaukee Brewers’ slugger Prince Fielder be the move to turn around a franchise in dire straits, and energize a fan base yearning for a return to glory of their beloved birds?

Fielder, as he has done throughout his career, struggled mightily to start the 2010 season. He hit only two home runs with nine RBI in April. However, as he had done in each year as a professional, he has turned his fortunes around and has begun to heat up as summer draws near.

In June, Fielder has hit six home runs, including three in his last four games with seven RBI. Although his power numbers are right on target for another 35-plus home run season, his RBI totals are down due to inconsistency at the top of the Brewers’ lineup. If Fielder would be sent to Baltimore, the damage he would do with the short right field porch could be astounding.

With Fielder not becoming a free agent until after the 2011 season, the team would have plenty of time to decide whether or not to take the plunge on a long-term contract with the hefty first baseman. With apologies to Wieters and Markakis, Fielder would instantly become the face of the franchise if signed to a contract extension.

The Orioles have several players that would be quite appealing to the Brewers.

For a short-term fix for 2010, Kevin Millwood would be a great addition to the team’s rotation. Millwood is winless on the year but has been the victim of the team’s poor offense and just plain bad luck. Traded to a team with a potent offense would see the fortunes change quickly for the 14-year veteran. He is, however, a free agent at the end of the season.

Jeremy Guthrie is suffering from worse support than Millwood. Sporting a 3.97 ERA in 14 starts this year, Guthrie only has a 3-8 record to show for it. He would be a very nice addition to the Brewers’ rotation. He is under team control until after the 2012 season and is making a quite affordable $3 million in 2010.

While some Brewer fans may be salivating at the thought of trading for Brian Matusz, the more realistic option may be fellow young pitcher, Jake Arrieta. Arrieta, the team’s fifth round pick in 2007, made his major league debut earlier this month and is off to a great start.

He is 2-0 with a 2.77 ERA in his two career starts. In 13 innings, he has struck out nine, and opponents are hitting just .159 against him. Both starts made have been quality starts, and he is showing poise for a 24-year-old. With several young pitchers in the farm system, Arrieta could be the perfect piece to acquire a talent like Fielder.

Another young player in the Orioles’ farm system that could be sent to Milwaukee is first baseman Brandon Snyder. Snyder was the team’s top draft pick in 2005, and he is currently playing for the team’s Triple A affiliate in Norfolk. Despite a .249 average this year, he has a career average above .280 and shows good plate discipline as well.

Could a potential package of Corey Hart and Fielder for Guthrie, Arrieta, and Snyder work for both teams? The Orioles would immediately become a great offensive club, while the Brewers’ pitching would be bolstered immensely. With Ryan Braun, Casey McGehee, Jim Edmonds, and Rickie Weeks, the Brewers would still have an offensive core that could put up decent numbers at the plate.

As long as the Orioles continue losing at a record pace, more and more fans will be less likely to flock to Camden Yards. Even with the worst record in baseball, a trade for Prince Fielder would send shockwaves throughout the baseball world, especially in Baltimore.

Peter Angelos has made mistake after mistake running the Orioles into the ground, but all may be forgiven if he can bring a player like Fielder to Baltimore.

To read more by Jesse Motiff, click here

Since the 2008 All-Star Game, no other hitter for the Milwaukee Brewers has faced more scrutiny that outfielder Corey Hart. Hart followed up a breakout 2007 season by winning the fans’ ballot to become the final member of the National League All-Star team in 2008.

Hart was unable to throw out Justin Morneau at home plate, and Hart’s downfall began. Prior to the game, Hart was hitting .289 with 15 home runs, however he finished the season hitting .268, while hitting just five home runs in the final three months of the season, including none as the Brewers made their playoff push in September.

His struggles continued in 2009, a season that saw him hit just .260 with 12 home runs and 47 RBI in 115 games. Hart further distanced himself from Brewer fans by continually speaking out against his home crowd to the local media.

The last straw for many fans came this past winter when Hart was given a substantial raise to $4.8 million for the 2010 season despite his monumental struggles. However, Hart promised everyone he would prove his worth this season, and to his credit, he has more than made up for the past season-and-a-half.

Hart leads the league in home runs (17), and he already has one less RBI (47) than he had all of last year (48). He’s also only eight home runs away from a career-high in the category. His power surge is surprising since he only hit three homers in the first six weeks of the season.

Not only has Hart worked his way back into the good graces of the fan base and management, he may be hitting his way right out of the organization.

Hart’s name has been linked recently to both the Mariners and Braves in possible trade scenarios. Each team, along with several others, is looking for a bat to bolster weak offenses. In exchange, Milwaukee would want pitching to bolster their rotation and bullpen which have been mired in a season-long slump.

The most recent rumors have the Brewers and Mariners in discussions with a potential third team in a three-team deal which would see Hart sent to the Mariners for impending free agent pitcher, Cliff Lee. The Brewers would then send Lee to a third team for young pitching that they could control for several years.

Although the idea of selling high on Hart is very tempting, management needs to resist the notion and keep Hart around as long as they can.

Prince Fielder will very likely be traded this coming winter, and the Brewers will need to find a replacement for the slugging first baseman. Hart spent some time at first base in the minors, and he could transition back to the infield with relative ease. Other options (Mat Gamel and Brett Lawrie) are both unproven prospects that the Brewers would be taking a giant risk on trying to replace Fielder.

With Hart’s move to first base, the Brewers could field Ryan Braun, Carlos Gomez, and top prospect Lorenzo Cain in the outfield. The team would lose Hart’s power, but the overall team defense would improve greatly, and Cain would immediately become one of the team’s top base stealers.

Hart has one more season of team control before becoming a free agent after the 2011 season. He’s in line for another substantial raise after this season, but this time it will be justified. Perhaps the Brewers could even sign him to a four or five-year contract extension this off-season that would be a much better value than any contract Fielder would be seeking.

Hart’s name wasn’t on the All-Star ballot for the 2010 edition of the game, but could he come full circle and be named the winner of the fan’s choice for a second time?

Regardless of another possible appearance in the midsummer classic, Corey Hart, Brewer fans, and management are all thrilled with his stunning turnaround back into a legitimate power threat. Now the only thing that remains is just how long Hart will remain with the Brewers.

To read more by Jesse Motiff, click here.

While the team has a stranglehold on great pitching, their offense is below the league average in most categories. They have grounded into more double plays than any NL team, and have the fewest number of walks of any team in the league other than the Houston Astros.

With the exception of Pablo Sandoval, no hitter on the team strikes fear into opposing pitchers. While their great pitching will keep them competitive all season, if the hitting doesn’t come around, the Giants will have a hard time making the playoffs.

San Francisco has long been mentioned as a possible destination for Brewers’ first baseman Prince Fielder. Fielder was born in California and many have speculated that he could end up playing for a team on the West Coast once he becomes a free agent after the 2011 season.

With the Brewers off to a slow start, trade winds are swirling about the Brewers unloading Fielder before he can leave via free agency, and leave Milwaukee left with nothing in compensation.

The Giants have a great farm system needed to pry Fielder out of Milwaukee, but would trading for the slugger make them the favorite to represent the NL in the World Series?

Fielder would give the Giants that big bat in the lineup that they are desperately lacking, and they would easily be able to compete against the Cardinals and Phillies for the NL crown. However, how much of their farm system would they have to give up, and would it be worth it to take action this season or would they be better off waiting until after the 2011 season and just sign Fielder as a free agent?

Brewer fans should immediately give up any thoughts of getting Sandoval, Tim Lincecum, or top prospects Buster Posey and Madison Bumgarner from the Giants. Those players are simply untouchable, and they won’t be traded for anyone.

In addition to a great farm system, there are several players on the Giants that could be involved in the trade either on their own or as part of a package.

Travis Ishikawa, Eugenio Velez, and Emmanuel Burriss are all players that are under team control through the 2014 season and could be included with prospects to head to Milwaukee.

Matt Cain and Jonathan Sanchez have each been mentioned in the past as possible trade candidates for the Brewers in exchange for Fielder.

Cain is off to a great start this season. He’s 2-1 with a 2.79 ERA in six starts. He’s struck out 30 and walked only 10 in 38 2/3 innings in 2010. Opposing teams are only hitting .209 against the 25-year-old righty. The Brewers may actually have to include more talent than just Fielder in order to bring him to Milwaukee.

Sanchez has gone from a fringe starter to one of the best left-handed starters in less than a year. Since his no hitter last year, his confidence has grown immensely, and he’s given the Giants a fourth very good starter. However with lefty prospect Bumgarner expected to make his debut soon, he may still be expendable for the Giants.

In 2010, Sanchez is 2-2 with a 2.48 ERA in five starts. He’s struck out 37 batters in only 29 innings. Opponents are hitting a mere .170 this year against the 27-year-old Puerto Rico native.

Many of the Giants best prospects are at the lower levels of minor league baseball, but their talent may very well be worth waiting for the Brewers.

Zach Wheeler was the top pick for the Giants in last year’s draft. Wheeler was drafted out of high school, and most scouts feel he was more advanced coming out of high school than Bumgarner was.

Dan Runzler is a lefty reliever that made the Giants out of Spring Training this year. Some feel he could be the eventual successor to Brian Wilson as the team’s closer, or he could be used to help land Fielder. In 12 appearances this year, he’s 1-0 with a 2.19 ERA and has struck out 12 in 12 1/3 innings.

Thomas Neal is a power-hitting prospect that was taken by the Giants in the 36th round of the 2005 draft. He projects as a middle-of-the-order bat eventually, but he’s still at least a year or two away from making is debut in the majors.

Other prospects that could be sent to Milwaukee include: outfielder Roger Kieschnick, second baseman Nick Noonan, and outfielders Francisco Peguero and Rafael Rodriguez.

Trading Prince Fielder to the Giants may be the best option for the Brewers’ front office. They have the best combination of major league talent and prospects to help Milwaukee both now and in the future.

Giant fans may not like the thought of giving up a player like Matt Cain or Jonathan Sanchez, but putting Fielder in the middle of the lineup would more than make up for losing either one.

Add to that the realization of being on the same level or better than the Cardinals or Phillies, and the Brewers and Giants would both be wise to become trading partners sooner rather than later.

To read more by Jesse Motiff, click here.

Davis seemed to be on his way to a title shot until a decision loss to Mike Swick at UFC 85 in June 2008. He won his next two fights, but he then lost back-to-back bouts to Dan Hardy and Ben Saunders. Saunders became the first fighter to knock out Davis last Nov. at UFC 106.

In desperate need of a victory, Davis will face Jonathan Goulet this Saturday at UFC 113 in Montreal. A win will keep him afloat in the deepest division in the UFC, while a loss could very well lead to his walking papers from the company.

Davis recently spoke with Bleacher Report about his new training regiment, his upcoming fight with Goulet, and his past with Dan Hardy.

“I realized I had to change the way I trained,” Davis told Bleacher Report when asked what he learned from his lost to Ben Saunders. “I used to lift a ton of weights in my training. I would cut down from between 200-210 pounds to make the cut-off at 170. That was just too much, and I felt weak in my fights and would gas out.”

“Give Ben (Saunders) credit though. I didn’t come in at my best, and he took advantage of it. He kneed the hell out of my face and won. I took him too lightly, and I paid the price. I guarantee you that I’ll never underestimate another opponent again.”

Davis realized a flaw in his game, and he’s worked hard to correct it. He’s changed how he prepared for a fight as well as his diet.

“I ate a lot better, and changed my routine in the gym,” he said in regards to changes in his training. “I didn’t lift any weights at all. I got on a scale and weighed 172 today. I don’t have to put any stress on my body to cut weight, and I feel stronger, quicker, and healthier than I ever have coming into a fight.”

“I know I don’t have the best diet in the world, so I worked on it. It can be hard, I like fried foods and pizza as much as anyone, but I really focused and concentrated on eating better to incorporate that into my training. When I walk into the cage Saturday night, I’ll be walking in with more confidence for a fight than I’ve ever had. I really believe in the changes I’ve made.”

While the changes had to come from Davis himself, he’s quick to point out those that have helped him in his journey.

“I owe everything to Patrick Cote and Jorge Gurgel,” Davis said when asked who helped him the most in preparation for his fight. “Patrick is like my brother, and he really did a lot for my stand-up game. Jorge is the greatest guy in the world. He’s helped me with my ground game, and if I end up on my back I know I’ll be okay and be able to overcome it.”

Having confidence going into a fight is a great thing, but when a fighter can look back on previous experience rolling with his opponent, it only adds to the belief that a win is likely. Davis trained with his opponent, Goulet, a year ago and that could be a key factor come fight night.

“Jonathan came and trained with us about a year ago. He and I were in the cage a lot together, and we went at it pretty good for awhile. I feel that my game matches up well against him, and he can’t do anything to me to end the fight other than possibly cutting my paper-thin skin. I don’t see that happening though, and I think I’ll come out of the cage with a win.”

Although Davis is focused on the task at hand, it doesn’t mean he doesn’t think about the past and what may have been. He fought and lost a split decision to Dan Hardy last June, in a fight that he still feels he won.

“You know, it’s hard not to think about where I’d be if I won that fight, especially because I still believe I won that fight,” Davis said when asked for his thoughts on his fight with the British fighter. “Everyone I’ve talked to; ESPN, Sports Illustrated, any of the big MMA sites all tell me that they think I won that fight. I can’t change what happened though, I just can’t allow any more fights to go to the judges though. I won’t put my fate in their hands.”

Asked if he wanted to fight Hardy again, Davis was quite clear in his answer.

“I want to fight him more than anyone else right now. I think I might need a couple wins to get a re-match, but it’s definitely a fight I want. I’d love to fight him in Boston or Ireland. He talks so much trash, I want to fight him on my turf, and Boston or Ireland are the two places where I’d have that home-field advantage.”

As Davis said, it will take more than just a win on Saturday night to face Hardy. Even a spectacular knockout won’t put him in the top 10 of his division. He can’t worry about Hardy, or any other potential future fights.

Marcus Davis may never be a champion. However, he’s the type of fighter that will go out every fight and give the fans everything he’s got. With the lack of inspiring performances lately, fans will never have to wonder what they’ll get from Davis. He is the type of fighter that is vital to the success of the UFC, and somebody that will never disappoint, even if he isn’t always a winner.

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For awhile, it looked as if the fight with Jardine was indeed Jackson’s swan song in the sport.

Last September, he wrote on his website that he finished with fighting and the UFC due to mistreatment from the organization. This was after facing two felony and four misdemeanor charges that stemmed from a July 15, 2008 incident in which Jackson struck a pregnant woman with his vehicle.

In December, Jackson said he would return to fight out his contract with the UFC, and Dana White announced in March that he had signed Jackson to a new six-fight deal with the company.

All legal and personal problems now seem to be in his past. Can Jackson regain the form he has shown in the past and return to the dominant fighter he was in PRIDE and early in his UFC career, or is he just a shell of his former self?

The answer to the question may lie in his opponent, Rashad Evans. Evans could very well be the man to motivate Jackson enough to get him back to the ruthless aggressor that had fans around the world chanting the name, “Rampage.”

Jackson has always performed his best when motivated, and when he feels he has something to prove.

He came into his fights with Chuck Liddell and Dan Henderson with a lot to prove, and he showed his greatness by knocking out Liddell and winning a marathon match against Henderson.

Even Henderson thought that Jackson has never been better than in their fight in Sept. 2007. “Rampage I think came into that fight in the best shape of his life,” Henderson said when asked about Jackson. “If he can become rededicated to fighting, there’s no reason why he can’t be champion again.”

Things began to fall apart for Jackson after his meeting with Henderson. He was pegged to be a coach against Forrest Griffin on The Ultimate Fighter. However, Jackson showed very little interest in the series, and many bashed him for his lack of coaching skills.

Jackson continued to show a lack of interest when he fought Griffin for his UFC light-heavyweight title in July, 2008. Although some had Jackson winning the fight, Griffin won the bout in the eyes of the judges and won the title. Regardless of who fans may have thought won the fight, most agreed that it wasn’t the same Rampage that they had come to know over the years.

He regained some of his old form when he faced Wanderlei Silva at UFC 92 when he knocked out his long-time foe. The determination and focus he had going into the Silva fight is exactly what he needs going into his bout with Evans.

Jackson and Evans grew to hate each other when they were opposing coaches on The Ultimate Fighter. The two went face-to-face inside the Octagon after Jackson won his fight with Jardine, and it seemed like they would come to blows at any moment.

The two will finally be able to trade blows almost 15 months after their infamous meeting after the UFC 96 main event.

Evans has nearly as much to prove in the fight as Jackson. After beating Griffin for the Light-heavyweight title he won from Jackson, Evans lost it in his first title defense against Lyoto Machida. After his own uninspiring follow-up performance against Thiago Silva, he needs to show the UFC and his fans that he can still compete and win against the very best in the sport.

Jackson has the talent to be the best fighter in the division. His personality gives him appeal as a cross-over star as evident by his upcoming role as B.A. Baracus in A-Team movie.

To once again be the face of the UFC light-heavyweight division, Jackson needs to stop fighting so much like Quinton and more like Rampage. If he’s able to do that, everyone may be witnessing only the surface of what he can accomplish in MMA.

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After looking at the merits of the Boston Red Sox trading for Milwaukee Brewers first baseman, Prince Fielder, there could be another team with colored socks in the mix for Fielder’s services, the Chicago White Sox.

GM Kenny Williams isn’t afraid to bring in a big-name player to his organization, as evident by his acquisitions of Jake Peavy and Alex Rios last season. Fielder would just serve as the latest player to come to Chicago thanks to one of the most aggressive general managers in baseball.

Much like the Red Sox, the White Sox currently have an established first baseman already on their roster. Paul Konerko has been entrenched as the team’s first baseman since joining the club prior to the 1999 season.

Konerko, who turned 34 in March, is in the final year of his five-year, $60 million contract. Most feel he won’t return to Chicago after the season. Fielder would be able to take over for Konerko at first for the foreseeable future for the White Sox.

To his credit, Konerko is off to a torrid start. He leads baseball in home runs (12), slugging (.790), and OPS (1.206). Unfortunately, he’s one of the few players on the team doing anything at the plate for the struggling White Sox.

If Williams would trade for Fielder this season, it’s likely he would take over at first base, moving Konerko to DH. Konerko would be allowed to leave in the offseason, and extension talks could take place for Fielder.

That would be the best-case scenario for the Williams and his team, but the better move would be to wait until after the season to pull off such a deal. However, if the White Sox are in contention, he may feel the need to make a big splash at the trade deadline, and acquiring the 25-year-old Fielder would be a huge splash on multiple levels.

Much like a potential trade with the Red Sox, any deal with the White Sox would have to involve pitching. When talking about potential pitching trading chips, one must look no further than John Danks and Gavin Floyd.

Danks is off to a great start in his fourth season with the White Sox. The 25-year-old lefty is 3-0 with a 1.85 ERA in five starts to start the season. He has struck out 27 and walked only nine in 34 innings.

This was the first year Danks was arbitration eligible. He’s under team control until after the 2012 season. He would be a great addition to the rotation for the Brewers. Although the Brewers have lefties Randy Wolf, Doug Davis, Chris Narveson, and Manny Parra already, Danks would slot right behind Yovani Gallardo at the top of the team’s rotation.

Gavin Floyd has seen mixed success since joining the White Sox from the Phillies in the 2006 Freddy Garcia trade. After two strong seasons in 2008 and 2009, he is off to a rocky start in 2010.

The 27-year-old Floyd is 1-2 with a 6.49 ERA in five starts this year. He has struck out 23 and walked 12 in 26 1/3 innings. This is a far cry from the 28 wins he posted over the last two years, and almost two runs more than his 4.75 career ERA.

Floyd is in the second year of the four-year, $15.5 million deal he signed prior to the 2009 season. In addition to the deal he signed, there is also a club option for the 2013 season, which would be very appealing to the Brewers.

Chicago would not part with Gordon Beckham, so any thought that Brewer fans have acquiring the young second baseman should be pushed out of their heads immediately.

The White Sox don’t have as deep of a farm system as the Red Sox, which could complicate a possible deal. The Brewers won’t want to take on an excessive amount of salary, and they would prefer to acquire young talent that will be controllable for several seasons.

Most of the young talent in the White Sox farm system are position players. There are very few young pitchers high enough in their system to make a splash in the majors in the next couple seasons.

Dan Hudson is the team’s highest ranked pitching prospect. Hudson is a 23-year-old starter that saw time in the bullpen for the White Sox last season. He started this year at Triple A Charlotte and has a 6.56 ERA in five starts this season. He has struck out 28 hitters, but his opponents are currently hitting .305 against him.

Jared Mitchell, Brent Morel, and Jordan Danks are all young position players that are projected to one day play in the majors. However, none have made it to Chicago at the point and only Danks has played above Double A.

Mitchell is an outfielder that could eventually replace Corey Hart in right field. He was the top pick for the White Sox last season, and he played quite well for the Class A affiliate Kannapolis Intimidators.

Morel is the current third baseman at Double A Birmingham. He’s hitting .280 with eight extra-base hits in 20 games in 2010. He was selected by the White Sox in the third round of the 2008 draft.

Jordan Danks, the younger brother of John, is currently at Triple A Charlotte for the White Sox. He was the seventh round pick of the club in the 2008 draft. Currently, he’s hitting .276 with 12 extra base hits and six steals in 22 games. Although he is a centerfielder, he could easily transition to a corner outfield spot, and be a center-of-the-order hitter for the Brewers for several years.

The Brewers and White Sox have been trading partners before, and each came out as a winner. The Brewers acquired Carlos Lee from the White Sox prior to the 2005 season. Lee was an All-Star both seasons with the Brewers, while the White Sox were led to the World Series by Scott Podesdnik at the top of their lineup.

Although the White Sox can’t offer a package for Fielder with an immediate impact like the Red Sox could, they could send Milwaukee several players that could have a longer-lasting impact with the Brewers.

Kenny Williams shouldn’t be underestimated in his ability to acquire a big-name player to improve his ball club. In regards to Prince Fielder, he may be better off just sitting back and waiting until after the 2011 season and sign the slugger as a free agent and keep all the young talent in the organization.

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Word had already leaked out that Fielder would likely start his contract talks based on the eight-year, $184 million deal signed by Joe Mauer. Fielder would offer no such “hometown discount” like Mauer did for the Twins.

As much as Brewer fans want the club to sign Fielder at any cost, giving the slugger an annual salary anywhere near $23-$25 million a year doesn’t make sense for the long-term success of the team. It’s becoming more clear every day that the Brewers will have to trade him, and they would be wise to do so sometime during the 2010 season.

The possibility for potential trade partners is almost unlimited. Over the next couple weeks, I’ll take a look at teams that are not only realistic fits for Fielder on and off the field, but also teams that could return the quality of players in return that the Brewers would need to trade away a player the caliber of their young first baseman. The first team is the Boston Red Sox.

Out of all the teams in baseball, Boston is thought to be the most likely destination for Fielder when he reaches free agency after the 2011 season. They have the payroll flexibility, need for his services, and talent needed to make the trade happen.

Although Fielder projects as a future designated hitter, he’s still young and agile enough to play a solid first base defensively. With Kevin Youkilis under contract until after the 2012 season, Fielder could be moved to DH immediately. That would almost cause immediate problems in the clubhouse.

Youkilis is a Gold Glove first baseman, but Fielder has turned into an all-around great player. His defense has improved dramatically since his rookie season, and he has turned into a more-than-adequate defender, while still possessing one of the most feared bats in the game.

To avoid a potential log-jam at first base, Youkilis could be included in the deal back to Milwaukee. He would be an upgrade defensively for the Brewers, and while his bat isn’t as powerful as Fielder’s, it is more consistent and would slot in nicely behind Ryan Braun.

Regardless of what bat might be sent to Milwaukee, the focal point of the trade would involve pitching. Red Sox fans may not like to hear it, but it’s almost a certainty the Brewers would demand Clay Buchholz.

The 25-year-old Buchholz is off to the best start of his young career. In four starts this season, he is 2-2 with a 2.19 ERA and 22 strikeouts in 24 2/3 innings. Most importantly to the Brewers, he is under team control until after the 2014 season.

Even with free agent signings over the winter, the starting rotation for the Brewers is off to a slow start. Buchholz would fit well behind Yovani Gallardo and Randy Wolf to give the Brewers a very good top three pitchers.

The Red Sox also have several prospects and other young players that could entice the Brewers if they choose not to take on salary from the likes of Youkilis.

Lars Anderson is a highly-touted first base prospect at the Double A level for the Red Sox. He is hitting .355 with 5 home runs and 16 RBI in 17 games in 2010. The lefty may be a year away from being ready for the Majors, but he could turn into a nice replacement in the coming years.

Daniel Bard, Manny Delcarmen, and Michael Bowden are all young pitchers that could be sent to Milwaukee as well.

Bard is a 24-year-old righty that has been in the Boston bullpen since last season. He is a hard thrower with a 3.48 ERA in 60 career games. He strikes hitters out at a high rate, but he needs to learn better control to become a dominant arm in the bullpen.

Delcarmen has spent time with the Red Sox since 2003. He doesn’t have the overpowering stuff that Bard does, but he doesn’t allow as many baserunners. In 2010, Delcarmen is 1-1 with a 1.74 ERA in eight games. His walk totals have increased, and that may keep him limited to being just a one-inning pitcher in the future.

Bowden is a former top-ranked prospect for the Red Sox that has struggled recently. He is 0-0 with a 7.20 ERA in four starts in 2010 for Triple A Pawtucket. He projects to a middle-of-the-rotation pitcher in the future, but he may be relegated to the bullpen in Boston due to their starting pitching depth. He’s a perfect candidate to be traded, whether it’s to Milwaukee for Fielder or to another team to help Boston make a playoff push.

With the massive contracts that “franchise players” are now receiving, the Milwaukee Brewers simply cannot afford Prince Fielder past the 2011 season. He has been as valuable as any member of the team over the past few seasons, but his long-term value to the Brewers now comes in trading him away.

He is off to a slow start this season, but that has become the norm for Fielder. There’s no reason to think that by season’s end he won’t have over 40 home runs and at least 120 RBI.

The New York Yankees don’t have any place for Fielder on their roster, so that makes the Red Sox the clear favorite for his services.

They could sit back and wait until after the 2011 season to make a push for him, but Fielder has the abilities to make Boston the favorites for the AL pennant this year. He could make Red Sox nation forget very quickly about their teams slow start, while helping the Brewers stay competitive for the next several years.

Brewer fans may never come to terms with the thought of trading Fielder, but the sooner they realize he won’t be in Milwaukee much longer, the sooner they can deal with the team’s future instead of living on the memories of the 2008 playoffs.

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In part two, Faber gave his thoughts on some of the best smaller fighters in the world, including a teammate and several former opponents.

Jesse Motiff (Bleacher Report): Urijah, I’d like to ask you your thoughts on some of the top lighter weight fighters in the world. The first fighter I want to ask you about is your teammate with Team Alpha Male, Joseph Benavidez.

Urijah Faber: Joseph came in a few years ago and just worked his butt off. He worked at the front desk at the gym and would train. He has the confidence and consistency to rise quick.

I’ve been telling him from early on that he’s the best 135-pounder in the world. It was only a matter of time before he started to believe that himself. I really believe he’s going to be a champion and a guy in the sport that makes it big.

Jesse Motiff (Bleacher Report): The next fighter I want to ask you about is your opponent Saturday night, Jose Aldo.

Urijah Faber: Jose Aldo is a young, talented kid with dangerous stand-up skills. He’s going to have a good career in the sport but he’s going down to me and losing that title belt.

Jesse Motiff (Bleacher Report): Former WEC Featherweight champion, Mike Brown.

Urijah Faber: Mike Brown is a big guy, he’s very durable. He’s extremely strong and very well-rounded. I think he’s another guy that will be a future fight for me, and I look forward to getting back into the cage with him again.

Jesse Motiff (Bleacher Report): Jens Pulver.

Urijah Faber: Jens is a trendsetter in the sport. He’s had a long and great career in the sport with some ups and downs. He’s got a lot of character, and he’s one of the best ambassadors the sport has.

Jesse Motiff (Bleacher Report): Tyson Griffin.

Urijah Faber: Tyson is a tough dude also. He’s probably one of the bigger 155-pound fighters out there. He’s definitely a guy I want to fight again in the future.

Jesse Motiff (Bleacher Report): Kid Yamamoto.

Urijah Faber: Kid Yamamoto is a guy that has star power. He’s somewhat of a standout, especially in Japan. He’s got a kind of swagger that most Japanese people don’t have. He’s a very dangerous fighter. He’s like royalty in his home country. I think he’s one of the most well-rounded fighters as far as ability as a fighter, marketability, and just being a cool dude.

Jesse Motiff (Bleacher Report): Miguel Torres.

Urijah Faber: Torres is a tough-nosed guy. The guy has great hair. He was someone in the sport when there were no rewards. He fights for the love of it and I respect the guy.

Jesse Motiff (Bleacher Report): There’s been a lot of talk and speculation of you moving up or down to different weight classes for possible “super fights.” Is that something you see yourself doing in the future?

Urijah Faber: I could do a lot of different things. I would definitely be willing to drop down to 135 pounds for a super fight. If that were to happen, that’d be great. I would like to go up to 155 to do some super fights as well. I wouldn’t stay permanently at either weight, more just to do fights that people want to see.

If there is an opportunity to do a super fight at either weight, it’s something I would jump at right away. It’d be good for me as a fighter, but I think it’s something that would excite the fans and draw more interest to the sport.

Jesse Motiff (Bleacher Report): Lastly, you obviously have a huge following and are one of the most popular guys in the sport. How would you describe yourself to someone that might not know you or someone that might be tuning in to the WEC for the very first time on Saturday night?

Urijah Faber: I’m a guy that follows my heart and my passion. I do what I love. I’ve always been a competitor. I’ve been a huge fan of every type of fighter and martial art sport. I’ve always wanted to be the best. I’m here to have fun and be the best.

Jesse Motiff (Bleacher Report): Urijah, I want to thank you for taking the time to talk with me and sharing your thoughts on so many things. I wish you the best of luck in your fight with Jose Aldo.

Urijah Faber: Thank you very much, I appreciate it. You have a good one.

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Aldo, who won’t turn 24 until September, has a career record of 16-1. His only loss came in 2005, when he was still fighting exclusively outside of the United States.

Whether it is a double flying knee, tremendous fists, outstanding kicks, or his BJJ, Aldo has finished fights in every way possible. Having such a deep arsenal of weapons, along with blinding speed, makes him one of the hardest fighters to prepare for.

Although he owns a black belt in Brazilian jiu-jitsu, fans in America haven’t been able to see him use his considerable ground skills to this point. His devastating striking skills have been all Aldo has needed to run over his competition. He may have the most complete all-around game of any fighter not named Anderson Silva.

Aldo has already impressed enough fans and critics that most rank him in the top ten of pound-for-pound best fighters in the world. He has seemingly been more impressive each time he enters the cage than the time before.

Since entering the WEC in June 2008, Aldo has won all six of his fights in dominant fashion, winning Knockout of the Night three times. Can a win over Urijah Faber, the best featherweight fighter in the history of the sport, cement Aldo’s place not only in the top ten but at the top of the pound-for-pound rankings as the best fighter in the world?

Most top ten lists currently have Fedor Emelianenko, Georges St. Pierre, and Anderson Silva ahead of Aldo in pound-for-pound rankings. When taking a closer look at each fighter, a case can be made for Aldo to sit above all of them in the rankings.

Aldo will be fighting for the seventh time since making his WEC debut in June 2008. In that same amount of time, Fedor has fought just three times. Yes, he was very impressive in all three fights, but to be ranked as the very best in the world, a fighter should be fighting much more often than three times in a two-year period.

The WEC Featherweight champion was just as impressive in his wins in that time period, and he fought twice as much as the Russian. No matter who is at fault for his inactivity, until Fedor fights on a more regular basis, he shouldn’t be ranked ahead of Aldo.

Since losing his UFC Welterweight title to Matt Serra in April 2007, Georges St. Pierre has won all seven of his fights. However, of those seven fights, four of them were won by decision.

St. Pierre may fight smarter than anyone else in the sport, but he doesn’t finish fights the way Aldo does. GSP fights not to lose, while Aldo fights to win. Both are effective strategies, and while St. Pierre’s strategy may be smarter to his long-term success, Aldo leaves no doubt in his fights of who the better fighter is.

The ultimate goal when stepping inside the cage is to win a fight. Winning a fight via a decision is impressive, but it leaves the fate in the judges’ scorecards, and that’s a dangerous proposition.

In the pre-fight hype for his match with Frankie Edgar, BJ Penn said the following, “A good fighter will win a fight going to a decision, but a real champion will end a fight and leave no doubt of his greatness.”

St. Pierre is a champion, but he doesn’t end fights anywhere near the way that Aldo does.

No one doubts the physical tools of Anderson Silva. He is a lethal striker with amazing skills on the ground. However, we all saw the bad side of Silva at UFC 112.

When fighting as a light-heavyweight, everyone has seen Silva at his very best. He has dominated both James Irvin and Forrest Griffin when fighting at 205.

However, the problem for Silva lately has come when defending his middleweight title. He has been uninspired by his fights against Demian Maia, Thales Leites, and Patrick Cote. Most would agree that he could have won those fights quite easy, as he showed glimpses of finishing the fight at any moment.

The fact of the matter is that he didn’t finish those fights. He decided to try and make a point to Dana White and the rest of the UFC. Sadly, Silva is the only one that came out of those bouts looking foolish. A great champion lives up to those expectations at all times, and Silva hasn’t done that lately when fighting as a middleweight.

Aldo, on the other hand, has never tried to make any personal statement in the cage other than beating his opponent in spectacular fashion. He fights the way that everyone believes Silva is capable of.

Aldo has already beaten what was thought to be a potentially dominant champion when he dispatched of Mike Brown. A win over Urijah Faber will show those that still aren’t convinced just how good Aldo truly is.

Should he be known as the best pound-for-pound fighter in the world? That title is up for debate, but few, if any fighters can make as strong of a case for the top spot than Jose Aldo.

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BJ Penn and Gegard Mousasi, both of whom were thought to be the clear-cut top fighters in their respective divisions, lost their belts in uninspiring performances. Anderson Silva, thought by many to be the best pound-for-pound fighter in the world, mocked his opponent and sport in an underwhelming victory. Finally, everyone knows about the debacle at Strikeforce: Nashville between Jason Miller and Team Cesar Gracie.

The sport really needs a person and event to help showcase all that is wonderful about it. Enter Urijah Faber and the WEC’s first pay-per-view show, WEC 48: Aldo vs. Faber.

Faber is one of the most recognizable names and faces in the sport, and he’s the face of World Extreme Cagefighting. He’ll face Jose Aldo this Saturday, trying to regain the featherweight title he lost a year-and-a-half ago to Mike Brown.

Recently, Faber sat down with Bleacher Report to discuss his fight with Aldo, his thoughts on the WEC’s venture into pay-per-view, and how his lifestyle allows him to achieve great things in the sport.

“Jose is a tough, bad dude,” Faber said when asked about the WEC Featherweight champion. “He’s a young phenom that some people think is unstoppable, and I’m the big-star, former champion trying to make my was back to the title. He’s a fast guy, but I’m a fast guy as well.”

Aldo may be the best striker in the world at 145-pounds, and Faber knows all about the dangers he poses. However, the former champion feels his own skills are substantial enough to offset what Aldo brings to the table.

“His biggest weapons are his kicks,” Faber explained about his opponent. “His kicks and the knees he throws are outstanding and accurate. He uses them a lot of different ways. I’ve seen him put guys down with head kicks and set other guys up with low kicks.”

“But I’ve done a lot of training with my Muay Thai trainer. I’m strong too. He’s a black belt in Brazilian jiu-jitsu, but my pedigree of wrestling along with my jiu-jitsu is at the top of its game. I feel his stand-up weapons are his best tool, but I think I can match him there, and then beat him with my in-between game.”

Faber has been with the WEC for a little over four years, and he’s gone from a relative unknown to a superstar in the sport. One might think that would be overwhelming for a person to deal with, but Faber’s friends and family help keep him grounded.

“Yeah, it’s crazy how everything has blown up the way it has,” Faber replied in response to his personal popularity and the expansion of the WEC to pay-per-view. “It’s a huge honor to be in the main event of the first pay-per-view for the company, and I’m sure Jose feels the same way.”

“I’ve always envisioned on being at the top of the sport, and this is the next step for that. It’s pretty cool for the company to put their eggs in our basket and believe in us like they do. We’ll go out there, put on the best show we can, and hopefully it’s a fight that will be talked about for a long time.”

When asked if this was the biggest fight in WEC history, Faber left no doubt in his answer.

“I absolutely think this is the biggest fight in our history. This sport grows so much every year, and this is the next logical step. We each have the reputation of being exciting, and fighting for the world championship is as big as it can get.”

It’s no secret about the holistic lifestyle that Faber leads. It’s a very clean-living lifestyle, something that has laid the foundation of who he is as a person since his birth.

While having hippie parents, and never having taken Tylenol or drinking a Pepsi or Coke might seem odd to almost everyone, Faber feels it’s things like that which have made him as successful as he’s become.

“It’s hard for a lot of people to understand holistic living,” he said when asked about it. “Yeah, my parents were hippies, but not tree-hugging hippies. They were just all about love and acceptance of people and things. First and foremost, I come from a very loving, tolerant household.”

“Yes, I may have grown up eating and drinking things that most people might find weird, but it was just a normal thing thanks to my parents.”

“Respect is something that was instilled into me ever since I was a baby. I don’t go into the cage wanting to or trying to hurt anyone, it’s not who I am. I have a great deal of respect for my opponents, but you can bet I try and do whatever it takes to win a fight.”

“Understanding that there is no malice in my intentions is important to understand. I’m just in there competing and trying to be the best fighter in the world. It doesn’t mean I have to hate my opponent or try and hurt him.”

There’s no doubt that fans of MMA have every right to be upset and frustrated with how the last two weekends have turned out for the UFC and Strikeforce.

The WEC may not be the top name in fighting organizations, but they are about to explode on the scene, and provide something not seen in the last two weeks: respect and action.

If they are willing to give the WEC a chance, they’ll be pleasantly surprised by not only the respect of the competitors, but the non-stop action in every fight from the first fight on the preliminary card, to the main event featuring Aldo and Faber.

Urijah Faber has had a lot to do with the growth of the company, and he plans to be around long enough to see it obtain even greater heights. For those who aren’t familiar with him, or even those who are, expect to witness one of the best examples of what mixed martial arts is all about.

The sport is depending on such a performance.

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