It has been a long time since a baseball player started his career and ended it wearing the same uniform. These days, players are traded with surprising frequency. Chances are high that your favorite player will get traded during his career. But knowing it can happen doesn’t make it easier when it does eventually happen.

The Cubs made two deals today. One sent a legend, Greg Maddux, to LA and the other sent my favorite player, Todd Walker, to San Diego. I’m sure it makes the team stronger, but I’m quite sad inside.

Greg Maddux is a future hall of famer. He started the season 5 and 0. The rest of the season didn’t go quite as well, but part of the problem was the offense and lack of run support. I am very surprised the Cubs traded a veteran pitcher considering the number of starts that the rookies have made. It is an opportunity for some more young guys to get an opportunity, but the team has struggled with the inexperience of the young pitchers and now they have one less veteran.

As for Todd, I was a Todd Walker fan before it was cool to be a Todd Walker fan. He was invaluable to the team this year. When D Lee went out with a broken wrist, Todd filled in admirably. He played a great first base. He has a consistent bat and held his own defensively this year. He has a label of being a defensive liability, and I have seen him make errors, but I suppose I have blinders on when it comes to Todd and was able to forgive him those mistakes.

When it comes down to it, baseball is a business and this is the nature of that business. Business can’t be personal. But I’m a fan and being a fan is ruled by emotion. I wish both players a lot of luck, but personally, this makes a disappointing season even more so.