Though the Major League Baseball trade deadline came and went over the weekend without a blockbuster deal, it appears a gigantic trade could be in the works in the radio world. The Chicago Sun-Times' Robert Feder reports that Emmis and Infinity are in talks "at the highest levels" to swap Mancow Muller from Emmis' WKQX "Q101" over to Infinity Talk station WCKG, replacing Howard Stern. Then, Jonathon Brandmeier would return to Q101 sister station WLUP "The Loop." Sources told Feder that Brandmeier would only agree to return to the station if he would not have to deal with his former rival, Mancow.

Feder's sources also emphasized that this is far from a done deal. As with the failed Manny Ramirez talks between the New York Mets and Boston Red Sox, money is a major factor in the trade. The companies would like to have the hosts switched around by September 22, the beginning of the fall Arbitron ratings. This would also mean pulling Stern off the air early. It has never been a certainty if Stern would make it to year's end on all his affiliates. Feder says that the deal would also put Mancow on at least six other major market stations in place of Stern. Brandmeier has been off the air since March, when KCBS/Los Angeles flipped to the Jack format.

The article, read by Stern on air this morning, touched off another plea by the King Of All Media to be let go. "Get me outta here! You should want to get me out of here. The more I'm here it's a reminder for people to buy satellite. Get me out today!" cried Stern, before jokingly adding "I'm a cancer to terrestrial radio."

Stern also intimated if he is let go early by Infinity, he will not be showing up at Sirius soon after. "I plan to report to duty on satellite radio January 1," he stated.