With the MLB trade deadline looming, contending teams are scrambling to find that missing piece from slim pickings.
The New York Yankees are no different; it’s the market that is just not appealing.
It doesn’t make GM Brian Cashman’s job any easier because in his place you are damned if you do and damned if you don’t.
Look, if an ace were obtainable the Yankees would be all over it. You can’t use the Cliff Lee-Mariners-Rangers tangle from last season, as that can be chalked up to questionable business by Seattle’s front office.
So, what do you think the Yankees next move should be…. trade or no-trade?
What it comes down to for me is the answer to three questions:
Who? Why? How Much?
In a market lacking both the quality and the quantity means that teams will overpay for a big name that odds are won’t live up to expectations. There is no Cliff Lee or CC Sabathia available here, but a few options and nothing that really fits the Yankees bill enough.
Here are a few players the have been linked to the Yankees, and practically every other contending team:
- Hiroki Kuroda, SP, Los Angeles Dodgers
- Health Bell, RP, San Diego Padres
- Ubaldo Jimenez, SP, Colorado Rockies
- Sean Burnett, RP, Washington Nationals
- Mike Adams, RP, San Diego Padres
- Carlos Beltron, OF, New York Mets
- BJ Upton, OF, Tampa Bay Rays
- Randy Choate, RP, Florida Marlins
- Wandy Rodriguez, RP, Houston Astros
Nothing looks to appealing to me, as Bell is a solid closer but the Yankees are getting Rafael Soriano back this week. Bell won’t come cheap, as the Padres can get a pretty penny for Bell.
Then there is Jimenez, but the Rockies asking price included Yankees prospects Jesus Montero, Manny Banuelos and Dellin Betances, which are not worth Jimenez. Montero can go, but Banuelos is to precious for any trade in my mind.
The Dodgers have Kuroda, but he is 36 years old and I do not have enough faith in Japanese pitching. Would you if your team paid Kei Igawa $45 million and endured witnessing Dice-K’s crap in Boston for years?
Realistically, the Astros Rodriguez is a solid lefty reliever who could fill a hole in the bullpen. Rumor has it there were a lot of teams interested, but he is owed $39 million through 2014 and AL teams are nervous about Rodriguez switching leagues as well.
Another possibility reported on MLB Trade Rumors that ESPN’s Buster Onley confirmed that the Yankees have inquired with the Marlins about Choate but nothing has surfaced that would make me think a deal is looming.
To sum it up, not one of those names have me excited or hopeful.
That doesn’t mean that I think the Yankees couldn’t get better but the options are just not there.
So, I guess the Yankees and the fans will just have to make due.
Wow, that statement even felt weird to type, but get ready for lots of finger crossing in the Bronx that the team can hold up down the stretch. Still, can’t forget that Ivan Nova is down in Triple A and can come up any moment again, which I bet my life will be sooner than later.
Just maybe one of the prized prospects will get the call, for sure when the rosters expand in September to 40-players. The likelihood, that Cashman can ink enough aging veterans to fill all 15 extra spots is not even a funny joke at this point.
The season could go either way for the Yankees; so it is up to us fans to make sure the players have something to play for.
Related articles
- Source: Kuroda would consider Yanks, Red Sox (espn.go.com)
- New York Yankees Trade Talk: What’s Too Much to Deal for Each Big Target (bleacherreport.com)
- New York Yankees Trade Speculation: 5 Players Who Could Be Moved (bleacherreport.com)
- MLB Trade Rumors: New York Yankees Bullpen Could Use Some Chicago Heat (ladylovespinstripes.com)
- New York Yankees Trade Rumors: Is Rockies Pitcher The Right Move? (ladylovespinstripes.com)
- MLB Trade Rumors: Yankees Newest Bargain Athletics Rich Harden (ladylovespinstripes.com)
