At the trading deadline in 2004, Jim Duquette, the general manager of New York's most beloved team, the New York Mets, acquired right-hander Kris Benson from the Pittsburgh Pirates.

In exchange, the Mets sent Ty Wigginton, minor league right-hander Matt Peterson, and infielder Jose Bautista to the Pirates.

Charlie Manuel is 66 years old, and has had complications with his health in the past.

Three of his contemporaries have either announced retirement, or will be announcing retirement.

It’s time to look at the potential two-start options for the upcoming fantasy week. If I have someone rated as a three, four or five-star option, they are someone I would definitely use.

A two-star option is someone who is borderline, but I’d strongly lean against it unless I have no other options. The one-star options are an absolutely not scenario.

So, with that said, let’s take a look at the players available to you this week:

Five-Star Options:

The Mariners need a utility infielder that can play both second and third base and at a minimal price. Dustin Ackley will likely make his debut in mid-June in order to avoid becoming a Super Two player, and until then, somebody will have to hold his place at second base.

Look, when ranking the top players in any sport it is primarily a subjective process. I mean, you can use statistics, but those numbers do not factor in the importance of the position they play, nor the heart and desire of an athlete.

But let me tell you this: From a purely objective analysis, at least to me, Troy Tulowitzki meets all those criteria and may just be qualified to be considered the best player in baseball.

For years and years, and it seems like decades that we've been playing a 6 inning game in a 9 inning battle (take out SS, C, & Pitcher --all batting below .230). First all, for those following the Astros, in between Miguel Tejada and Ricky Guiterrez, we've had a disaster at SS. Do you want a 300 +20hr guy at SS? No need to answer that.

No, I'm not just excited because Alex Rodriguez hit a three-run home run with two strikes and two outs in the ninth inning of last night's game to claim a dramatic, 4-3 come-from-behind victory for the Yankees in Baltimore.

The Los Angeles Times broke the story Friday, announcing Los Angeles Dodgers manager Joe Torre will resign at the end of the season, giving way to his understudy apprentice, Don Mattingly. 

Mattingly has been Torre's right-hand man since 2004, following Torre from the New York Yankees to Los Angeles. 

Since mid-June, rumors have heated up regarding the status of Torre and his intentions for 2011—while many insiders felt he was leaning towards leaving Hollywood.