From Tyler Kepner’s BATS blog:
Swisher looked like a spare part after the Yankees signed Mark Teixeira, and in time he might be. But for now, Swisher is doing everything the Yankees could have wanted, and they have the notorious Ruben Rivera to thank.
Makes no sense, right? Well, follow the evolution of the trade that brought Swisher to the Yankees.
1990 – Yankees sign Rivera from Panama.
1997 – Yankees trade Rivera to Padres in Hideki Irabu deal.
1999 – Yankees trade Irabu to Expos for Jake Westbrook (and others)
2000 – Yankees trade Westbrook to Indians for David Justice
2001 – Yankees trade Justice to Mets for Robin Ventura
2003 – Yankees trade Ventura to Dodgers for Scott Proctor
2007 – Yankees trade Proctor to Dodgers for Wilson Betemit
2008 – Yankees trade Betemit to White Sox in Swisher deal
There you have it. How Nick Swisher became a Yankee, in eight easy steps.
What’s most interesting to me about this is how some of these moves were mistakes. Acquiring Irabu was clearly one, as was Betemit. The players we gave up weren’t ones we were kicking ourselves over, but we attempted to fill a need and failed to do so. Yet Irabu became Westbrook, who became Justice (good move) who became Ventura (good move) who became Proctor (good move) who became Betemit (bad move) who became Swisher (good move so far).
No GM has a spotless record, but Cashman has clearly made more good trades than bad ones. There is always going to be an element of trial and error in making deals. Though with Cashman’s renewed focus on player development, trading for backup infielders and relievers should become a thing of the past.
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TIQ IQ
On related note, I have a special request from Moshe. He did an article on MVN a year or two ago about what the Yanks would look like had they made NO trades or free agent signings from around 2000 on. Nick Johnson was at 1B, Marte was in the bullpen, etc. I’d love to read that again if he can dig it up.
Found it.
http://mvn.com/thebronxblock/2008/03/03/in-an-alternate-reality.html
Thanks Moshe, really interesting stuff.
BTW-I forgive you for having Joba in the bullpen.
Lol. Just to defend myself, the article did state that I was looking at 2008, in which Joba was to start the year in the pen.
Moshe, if you assume the Yankees didn’t sign any major free agents, then they should still have the draft picks they surrendered for these free agents. For example: In 2001 they signed Moose and the Orioles received pick #19 which they used on Mike Fontenot. In 2002 the A’s picked Joe Blanton with their compensation pick for Giambi.
Yeah, I know, it was just extremely complicated to include those players, being that the Yankees likely would have picked other guys.
Good point, they likely wouldn’t have taken the same guys. I just think it is possible some of these draft picks would be in the majors and contributing to these alternative-reality Yankees.
I don’t think the Betemit move was a bad one. Betemit was still one of the best utility men in the AL and Proctor’s arm was done.
A utility infielder who you can’t play anywhere in the infield defensively is a bad move.
OHH Some very interesting and insightful thoughts. Adding this to my bookmarks. ^_^