Are we really out of trading chips because of the trade?
While the degree of difficulty in putting together a trade has certinally increased post "the trade" I don't think I agree with the oft repeated idea that we suddenly have no trading chips to use whatsoever.
Freel, Deno, Ross, Javy, Phillips, Hatte, Bray and Majic, IMO represent possible trading chips. As much value as a Kearns, for example, no, but value none the less. While you you have to replace their production, and that makes the available trading pool smaller and more difficult, I don't think other teams would look at these particular players and call them "worthless".
Dunn, EE, Harrang, Arroyo, Votto, Bruce and Bailey most certinally have trading value. Obviously you tread very, very, very lightly here and absoutley must get the proper return for them, but they are definatley valuable trading chips.
I hate to type this, but I'd say Jr, and the random cast of charicters in AAA/AA represent a further class of trading chips to be used. I bundled Jr with the minor leaguers only due to his (1) age (2) health (3) contract (4) veto clause.
I don't think it's unreasonable to mix-and-match some of these players (assuming the corresponding production is replaced/improved) and pull off a trade. Especially with so many teams staying out of the FA market this winter.
I don't mean this to be yet another rehash of the trade, rather a discussion about the current trading pool available to Krivsky.