Here’s the video. RAB‘s Mike Axisa recaps the Yankee highlights via MLBTR:
- Yankees GM Brian Cashman told Rosenthal that he was “very aggressive” going after pitching help, whether it be high-end starters, low-end starters, or relievers. “I was on all of it,” Cashman said.
- Cashman specifically targeted Jarrod Washburn, but the Mariners asked for top prospect Austin Jackson in return. The Yankees were also “one of several clubs” to inquire about Felix Hernandez.
- Rosenthal says Heath Bell was their primary target among relievers, as the idea was to make him the primary setup man for Mariano Rivera, and possibly put Phil Hughes or Alfredo Aceves back into the rotation.
A few reactions. First, kudos to Cash for passing on Washburn. He’s a nice pitcher who’s having a good season, but I don’t give up a top flight prospect like A-Jax for 2 months of him. Next, if Heath Bell was on the team, then even with as great as Hughes has been as the setup man, he would be expendable to be stretched out in the minors and join the rotation in September. But the trade didn’t happen so he’s not. This illustrates that the Yanks still view Hughes as a starter long term, and and their desire to make Aceves the 5th starter. But since a trade didn’t pan out, now they’ll be looking to make these things happen internally. The key(s) to this will be the performances of Brian Bruney, Mark Melancon and possibly Damaso Marte. If any of them assert themselves as reliable bullpen options on par with Aceves, look for his return to the rotation. That doesn’t mean Mitre is out, Aceves will likely be taking Joba’s place as he approaches his innings limits.
Finally, I’m amazed the Mariners are even listening to offers for King Felix at this point. He has only 4 years of service time, so the team still controls him for the next few seasons. But the fact that they even listened to offers signals their intent with him, and unless he signs a massive extension (doubtful) I’d expect him to be the focus of attention for next year’s trade deadline should the Mariners fall out of contention. He will draw an enormous trade package, and the biggest contract in Baseball history should he go free agent. 25 year old elite power pitchers just don’t hit the FA market, ever. He could garner 8-10 years at CC Sabathia money as a free agent. Depending on his health, he’s also a possible 300 game winner in an era where many sportswriters thought they’d never see one again.
BTW-Once again, NoMaas knocks it out of the park. Congrats to the Melkman, who made quite the delivery yesterday.
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0 Responses to Ken Rosenthal interviews Cash on trade deadline
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TIQ IQ
This can’t be. Cash was wasting his time with Hairston and just had no time to get a pitcher. Asleep at the wheel.
At this point who would you rather have? (assuming Bannister won’t get through waivers)
Jon Garland, Gil Meche, Harang, Arroyo or Doug Davis? Since the trade deadline ended I have been pretty sure that we are going to end up with Garland because he has AL experience, WS experience, helped lead a team to a ring and pitched in the AL as recently as last year (4.9 ERA with LAA) and should come pretty cheap as far as a trade goes and would require even less prospects now that we are past the deadline and the Diamondbacks aren’t competing any time soon. Arroyo I won’t no part of with that contract and his ability or lack there of…
I guess the major problem is that there is not much teams feel they can grab for value outside of our best prospects (i.e. Montero, Jackson).
I’m scared that we are heading into a long, tough part of the season without the pitching we need. Mitre never looked passable, and after the weekend we saw how much he can strain the bullpen. Plus with Joba going out its looking scary. Especially when you look at the Sox and Rays.
Really hoping we get someone decento off waivers, although it is hard to envision.
I think the fact that both McCallister and Kontos got injured right before the deadline really hurt our chances of getting Washburn or a Bannister because we had two less starting pitchers to offer.
a possible silver lining, should the redsox pass the Yanks, is that they cannot block a waiver transaction that could help the Yanks. Of course i hope they never pass us in the standings, but given that the Yanks will be looking to not add much salary, the sox could block any move as of right now.
I don’t think they would be willing to take the risk remember they had to trade for Kotchman just to send him to the minors, they have little 40 man roster maneuvers left.
What makes AJAX such a great prospect? He’s probably a corner outfielder who does not hit HR’s, strikes out too much and goes into long slumps.
Montero is a hitting prospect.He hits .300 and slugs HR’s everywhere he plays and he’s younger.
Right now AJAX looks like a dime a dozen outfielder who to me doesn’t project as a .300 hitter with 25 HR’s a season.
Or, at least isn’t a lock to be a top player.
We can sign guys in the Nick Swisher mold and better in free agency.You don’t potentially blow a WS winning season to protect less than a sure thing outfielder.
This is Cashman all over, worrying about losing Ricky Leedee for a Jim Edmunds only a few years older and already an All-Star because Ricky then already 25 years old might develop.
No, guys like Montero who do it everywhere are the can’t miss hitting prospects.When a guy is 22-23-24 and still not hitting a lot of HR’s, still striking out, no reason to believe he’s a .400 hitter.
Cashman needs to protect the farm system but not at the cost of a Championship season with an aging team.
To me you project as a 5 year old who uses his dads computer to much! You don’t trade your next starting CF which he will be a CF for a 2 month rental of a 34 year old pitcher you have no interest in re-signing.
You would have traded A-Jax for Washburn? I am not the hugest A-Jax fan, but that would be a terrible use of resources.
When did I say that?
Yankess passed on a lot of deals that could have helped the team, to save mediocre prospects.
If Yankees could have a WS this year and next, I give up 5 AJAX’S?
Who could they have had for Jackson that would have been worth it?