And the floodgates of the 2012 trading season have been opened. The Kansas City Royals have acquired right handed pitcher Jeremy Guthrie from the Colorado Rockies for left-handed pitcher Jonathan Sanchez.

Okay, so maybe I exaggerated with the floodgates opening. It is a lackluster trade.

What both teams did was exchange struggling pitchers and brought them back to familiar ground.

Sanchez was recently traded to the Royals for Melky Cabrera. We all know who got the better end of that deal.

So far in 2012, Sanchez has struggled. He has a 7.75 earned runs average with a 1-6 record. Sanchez has started 12 games and pitched 53.1 innings while allowing 46 runs. 

No numbers are completely contrary to the ones he sported in the National League while with the San Francisco Giants.

The numbers were not stellar, but he did go 13-9 in the Giants' World Series season in 2010.

He now returns to the NL West, just this time in a Rockies jersey and playing in a stadium not considered a pitchers' ballpark. 

Just ask Jeremy Guthrie. He has not had a great season either and leads the NL with 21 home runs given up so far.

He only trails Jason Vargas of the Seattle Mariners who has allowed 25 homers.

Now Guthrie returns to the all too familiar American League Central. He began his career with the Cleveland Indians and played the majority of his nine-year career with the Baltimore Orioles.

So far in 2012, he is 3-9 with a 6.35 ERA. 

Guthrie had also been traded to the Rockiers during the offseason.