Although I don't think he has a lot of trade value with a big contract and NTC, but to say that Maddux is a 5th starter is a bit of a stretch. I looked at 3 different stats for last year to get a feel for where Maddux would fit on other staffs. Using ERA, he ranked 61st overall among qualifying pitchers. He would have been the 3rd or better starter on 17 teams. He wouldn't even have made # 5 for the Cards, but he would have been the 3rd best for Atlanta, and #2 for the Yankees and Red Sox (of course the Yankees only had 2 qualifying pitchers!!). He would have been the staff ace for 5 teams. Since we put so much emphasis on OBP for hitters around here, I also looked at OBA. There, he ranked 35th overall with a .308. (tied with new White Sox J. Vazquez). On only one team would he have been the 5th starter, that being your WS champs. He would have been 3rd or better on 25 teams. And finally, on innings pitched, he ranked 13th overall. The only rate stats that were worse than ERA related to the long ball, but even there only 11 teams had 3 or more pitchers with a better HR/IP. It's clear he would have been at least a #3 on over half the teams last year. I think that qualifies him as a legit #3 pitcher. I hope I can remember this post when people criticize Maddux. The only thing terrible about him is his contract, and I can hardly falut him for taking the money the Cubs offered.