Trade to impact Biscuits

The Rays traded major-league third baseman Aubrey Huff to the Houston Astros today for two minor-leaguers that may join the Biscuits.

Starting pitcher Mitch Talbot and shortstop Ben Zobrist are coming to the Devil Rays, who announced the two will come to Class AA Montgomery, but I'm not so sure.

Zobrist, however, was hitting .328 at Corpus Christi, led the Hooks with 25 doubles and the Texas League with six triples. He had also drawn 55 walks and struck out only 46 times, so he may be ready to go to Class AAA. But B.J. Upton is the shortstop at Durham. One could be trying out a new position soon.

Zobrist was a starter in last month's Texas League All-Star Game. Upton is one of the top prospects in the minors, but has been error-prone.

The Rays were already suffering a system-wide shortage of quality third basemen before Huff's departure. That's one reason Wes Bankston moved to third this spring. Upton has been committed to shortstop, but his glove at the position has left him in the minors. His hitting has been ready for the big leagues for a few years. (Evan Longoria, this year's first-round draft pick, is a third baseman, but he's at high-Class A Visalia.)

Talbot seems a lock to come to the Biscuits. He was 6-4 with a 3.39 ERA at Corpus Christi. He's walked 29 and struck out 98 this year. His arrival means the Biscuits will rearrange their rotation.