Kazmir KO'd

The Scott Kazmir trade wasn't entirely about shedding salary for the Rays. No, the trade was an acknowledgment that Kazmir (below) was no longer one of the team's top five starting pitchers. His ERA was 5.92 at week's end, and he had given up more than four walks per nine innings for the second straight season, a sure sign that he doesn't have command of the strike zone. A lack of endurance, his high-effort delivery and nagging injuries mean the lefthander has thrown 200 innings just once in his five full major league seasons. Righthanded prospect Wade Davis, 24, is a better pitcher right now at any price. This was a baseball decision that makes the Rays better immediately.

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SCOTT AUDETTE/REUTERS (KAZMIR)