My reaction was, why wouldn't Cantu be a big hole at second?

And Medlock could prove to be a useful pen piece sooner rather than later, while Rocco might not even be in the majors - with the Fish no less - to start the season.

Wasn't the big hole at 2nd when Cantu was playing the position and any GB came his way?

I had to look twice to make sure the original post wasn't from last spring.

Anyone who likes Cantu more than Aki as an everyday 2nd baseman (or any other position, for that matter) should be charged with an E-4, imo.

In his first two years on the team, Travis Harper practically didn't pitch. (6 & 2 games respectively) In the third year, he did poorly but in 2003-04 he was actually quite good. His ERA+ was 116 & 117, he gave up fewer hits than innings pitched and walked less than 3/9 IP. He was then awful in 2005 and after being given much less work in 2006 was released by the current management team.

So the answer is yes, the Rays dealt with him exactly right, giving him an opportunity to prove himself when he was young which paid off with two solid years and then releasing him when he showed precipitous decline.

Cantu was not only an impossibly terrible second baseman who never took a walk. He also had become a malcontent and had to be traded. Receiving Medlock, even if he never pans out, was a good example of getting something for nothing.