In a bit of a surprise considering the number of options available on the free agent market, the Yankees are apparently moving in on acquiring a starting pitcher via trade. Buster Olney first reported it, Ken Rosenthal confirmed that a trade was in the works, and Mark Feinsand noted that it was nearing completion, but nobody knows who the trade is for or even which club is involved. Here are some of the interesting names that have been thrown about by fans (most at RAB), with Aaron Harang and Carlos Zambrano having been ruled out:
Ted Lilly
Derek Lowe
Javier Vazquez
Roy Oswalt
Brian Bannister
Josh Johnson
Jonathan Sanchez
Gil Meche
Ricky Nolasco
Wandy Rodriguez
Matt Cain
Zach Duke
Chad Billingsley
Who do you think it is?
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21 Responses to Yankees Close To Landing Starter?
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Cashman has said in the past that he wants strikeout pitchers for the cold weather play-off games.
I think that takes Bannister, Meche (also injury history), Nolasco, Rodriguez & Duke off the list.
What about any of Detroit’s starters?
My guess, Joba for Oswalt with money coming back to the Yankees and maybe a low-level prospect. Hughes projects as the better starter so he is kept. While Oswalt’s strikeout rate is decreasing, he’s still solid.
Zach Duke may be the most interesting name on the list. 4 years of service so he’s arb eligible, made 2.2 mil last year and due for a big raise. Yanks were very impressed with him when they saw him in 08. Cash and Huntington obviously have made trades before.
Assuming of course, that Josh Johnson is going nowhere as reported.
When I saw the Yankees connected to the Cubs via the latter’s interest in Gardener, I surmised Lilly might be the target becasue he has a track record of success in the AL East. But I would be a bit surprised if the Yankees added a third lefthander to the rotation.
I would welcome a major deal for Johnson, who is already everything we hope Hughes and/or chamberlain woudl become.
Duke has an alarmingly low K/9 rate and would be fortunate to keep his ERA below 5.00 in the AL. If the Yankees were impressed by him based on his start against them, they need to be wary of the small sample size rule.
Obviously it would need to be based on more than that. Plus, the 08 team had all sorts of trouble against Lefties. But you’re right, looking at his numbers and they don’t figure to translate well. He was better last year, but even then his FIP was a bit higher than his ERA, and both were north of 4. I’m just trying like everyone else to figure out who these 2-3 mystery target could be.
Matt Cain anyone? The Giants are pitching rich and could really use a sure-fire bat like Montero. Would a 1-1 deal get it done?
The Giants strike me as in a win-now mode, so I would be surprised if they were ready to deal Cain even-up for Montero. But the deal could be bigger on both sides.
I would really like to see the yankees pick up a great young pitcher like Cain but i would be surprised to see the Giants deal him. He’s only 25 turning twenty six after next season and posted a 2.89 era last season.
My money is on Ted Lilly or Zach Duke.
MLBTR now says its Vazquez. Awesome.
And what’s even better is apparently they won’t have to include Swisher which suprises me. However by trading Melky (if that report is accurate) they have a hole in left field, perhaps for JD? Or maybe even Brett Gardner in a full time role.
This would be a big trade for Cashman, although I expect to hear a lot of whinning from yankee fans who will only focus on his failed 2004 second half.
Vazquez + Boone Logan to NYY
Cabrera, Mike Dunn + prospect to ATL
Vazquez has 1Y/$11.5M remaining on contract.
I am seriously floored by this. How on earth could Atlanta give away a top-5 NL pitcher for a 4th OF type and a LHP reliever with major control issues?
Ben Sheets must feel like he got hit by a truck. Here he is, demanding $12M and no one bites and the next minute, his most logical landing spot got a healthier and cheaper option and no longer needs his services. Way to overplay your hand, Benjamin.
For the record, if this doesn’t now open up Damon’s spot in LF, I’ll probably drive to the Bronx and slap Cashman a few times.
I wouldn’t be shocked to see them give Gardner a shot to play everyday now. Unless they use payroll concerns and lack of a market to convince Johnny to take a one year deal, but no way I see that happening. I guess it all depends on what Cashman’s budget is.
This trade is an absolute steal tho.
So much for a budget huh? $11.5MM puts the Yankees over the 200MM mark again. Add in another LF @ 8-13MM and the Yankees will have a HIGHER payroll than last year.
Maybe next year is the year the Yankees can stick to a “budget”.
I always found this budget talk to be misguided and idiotic, if it was even legitimate.
All increasing the payroll does is cut into the Yankees operating revenue.
Thus, they are giving up a piece of their profits just to ensure they have a championship team year in year out. Isn’t this what fans want?
The PIrates have the highest operating revenue (though gross revenue remains low, the amount of money they input into the team is ridiculously low)
The point, I thought, was with the new collective bargaining agreement set to be negotiated after 2011, the Yankees wanted to hedge their payroll a bit in case of a drastic (or even a less than drastic) change in the economics of MLB.
I guess the Yankees still maintain some flexibility due to Vazquez’ contract only having one year left on it. But my point remains.
I think this is a great and often underrated point.
I dont have good memories of Vazquez.
The Yankees just robbed a pitcher who struck out 238 batters and pitched 220 innings last year. They are essentially paying him 8.5 mil (minus the 3 mil from what Melky’s arbitration would cost). Compared to what the Yanks would have paid to Sheets this deal is amazing.