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	Friday, July 14
	Trade analysis: Kurkjian and Knight ESPN.com
	Editor's note: ESPN's Tim Kurkjian and Ray Knight react to Wednesday's trades: Kurkjian: Yankees made a strong deal The Yankees made a very good trade to get Denny Neagle. They got a quality starting pitcher, perhaps the best starter available on the market. They gave up quite a bit in terms of prospects, but they are the Yankees and have a lot to give up. Neagle can fit in anywhere in the Yankees' rotation. It gives them a little bit more cushion if David Cone doesn't find what he's been missing most of this season. If Cone does come back and pitch well in the second half and Ramiro Mendoza gets healthy, they can put Mendoza back in his familiar spot as one of the best set-up guys in the league. Neagle gives the Yankees another lefty in the rotation, but one who has had good success against right-handed hitters. It's not like Neagle will face a big-time right-handed-hitting lineup and be extremely vulnerable. Given Neagle's history, that won't be the case. As for the Reds, Drew Henson could become a star someday, but there are questions whether or not he will hit at the major-league level. The Reds were faced with losing Neagle to free agency and felt they had to do something. Their pitching has been terrible the first half, and today they traded their best starting pitcher. Their chances of running down the Cardinals in the NL Central or making the wild card were not helped with this trade. Knight: Advantage Braves The last few months, the Braves have really struggled with their pitching. Pitching coach Leo Mazzone said they have always been four deep in their rotation. As a result, they haven't had to worry about their bullpen too much because they have only had to get six outs in the eighth and ninth innings. But this year they have had to get 12 outs. Andy Ashby has been throwing extremely well lately and will shore up that Atlanta ballclub. He gives the Braves a pitcher who induces a lot of ground-ball outs and is a great competitor. He's been in a winning situation before when he was in San Diego and teamed up with Kevin Brown in the Padres' rotation. When I did a breakdown earlier in the day, there wasn't much of a difference between the Braves and the Mets. I couldn't separate the two clubs. This trade sways things toward the Braves.		ALSO SEE Yankees find way to finagle Neagle in blockbuster Arms race is on: Braves acquire Phillies' Ashby AUDIO/VIDEO  Denny Neagle talks about his first Yankee appearance and his future in New York. wav: 233 k RealAudio: 14.4 | 28.8 | 56.6  Ray Knight sees this as a great move for the Reds in the future. wav: 153 k RealAudio: 14.4 | 28.8 | 56.6  Jayson Stark feels this trade makes the Yankees a much different team. wav: 252 k RealAudio: 14.4 | 28.8 | 56.6  ESPN's Ray Knight thinks this trade puts Atlanta ahead of the Mets. wav: 332 k RealAudio: 14.4 | 28.8 | 56.6  Jayson Stark sees the Braves as the perfect remedy for Andy Ashby's woes. wav: 226 k RealAudio: 14.4 | 28.8 | 56.6