At some point during this season, the Yankees are going to look to upgrade the back end of their rotation. One or two of Hughes, Nova, Colon, Garcia, Millwood, or the minor league crew may evolve into an acceptable option behind C.C. Sabathia and A.J. Burnett, but the Yankees will surely at least explore the trade market for better options. Yesterday, MLB Trade Rumors pointed out two potential options from the Houston Astros:
- Wandy Rodriguez, SP: Up to $38.3MM owed through 2014. Since Wandy is paid only $7MM this year, he’d fit into most contenders’ 2011 budgets. His ’13 club option becomes a player option with a trade, the salary of which is reflected in the $38.3MM figure. If the 32-year-old is in the midst of a disappointing but not terrible season, the Astros could have a way of getting out of the contract. If he’s pitching well, the Astros could get solid players in return.
- Brett Myers, SP: $16.3MM owed through 2012; could become $23.3MM through 2013 if option vests. Like Rodriguez, Myers is earning only $7MM this year. At the least he’s an innings eater, and the Astros could extract a decent bounty from a desperate team at the trade deadline. GM Ed Wade holds a couple of excellent trade chips in Rodriguez and Myers, though it remains to be seen if they’ll become available.
Neither are picture-perfect options, but both would probably be an upgrade to the Yankees rotation this season. Wandy is under contract for longer with a higher salary, while Brett Myers is a shorter commitment, and is pitching pretty well at this moment and was one of the better starters in the NL last season. If you were the Yankees, what would you give up for them?
Echoing MLB Trade Rumors, my chosen price for Wandy depends on his performance. If he rebounds from his 7.31 ERA start and looks like his recent self (110-115 ERA+ range), I would pay a much higher price for him than as a salary dump. The Yankees could send two decent, but not blue-chip, prospects toward the Astros – say Adam Warren and Brandon Laird, plus someone like Scottie Allen. I wouldn’t even think about trading any of our catchers, Killer B’s, Hector Noesi, or Slade Heathcott for Wandy. He’s on the wrong side of 30, has some sizable paychecks coming, and struggles to pitch long outings in the National League. I’m not sure if he’s a great fit for an AL East team in anything more than a salary dump.
Brett Myers is a lot more intriguing. He’s on a shorter, cheaper contract, and has more recent success. Save for his odd conversion to a closer a few years ago and an injury in 2009, he’s mostly been an effective pitcher in the National League, with occasional (2010, 2005) elite seasons. He’s home run prone, which won’t help in Yankee Stadium, but besides that fundamentally strong. I think the Astros would find a lot of demand out there for him. I would be willing to give up one of Romine, Noesi, Betances or Brackman for Myers, plus someone like Laird, David Adams, or Corban Joseph and some farther down players.
If the Astros are willing to get creative, I think the Yankees could work out a deal involving Hunter Pence and Brett Gardner. If its May, and Gardner is still struggling a little, the Yankees could offer Gardner + Betances or Brackman + someone else for Pence and one of Myers or Wandy. Gardner would provide them a cheaper option than Pence, but with plenty of upside.
MLB Trade Rumors also mentions Jeff Keppinger, whom I think would look great in Eduardo Nunez’s spot.
But that’s me. What would you all offer the Astros for Wandy Rodriguez or Brett Myers?
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9 Responses to Discussion: What Would You Give Up For An Astros Pitcher?
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TIQ IQ
I’m always skeptical when it comes to trading for a NL pitcher. That said, I’d prefer Myers over Rodriguez. I also like Pence.
Rodriguez would be a nice pick up for the Yankees in the middle of the rotation in the 3/4 spot. His xFIP has not gone above 3.7 in his last three full seasons in Houston. As long as we are talking about two mid level prospects then I think that would benefit the Yankees.
I wouldn’t even think about trading any of our catchers, Killer B’s, Hector Noesi, or Slade Heathcott for Wandy.
Agree… Would you trade Nova plus a lesser prospect (Kevin Russo) for Wandy?
I think if the yankees trade for a starter, it should either be someone who you should be very comfortable with the idea of giving a playoff start to and would be happy with in the rotation for a couple of years if it costs prospects with real upside or a back of the rotation starter on a one year that helps to add depth/stabilize the rotation but doesn’t cost much. I’m not sure either really fits either of those descriptions. I know most people like Wandy more than I do and I wouldn’t be that bothered by giving up anyone you mentioned for him other than Betances but I’m not sure I’d really want to do it either. If Wandy was on a one year deal with a team option for 2012 and cost something like Noesi plus one of Laird/Joseph/Adams, I’d be more interested. The thought of giving up real prospects and having Wandy through his mid 30′s isn’t too exciting to me. I’d probably pass on Myers competely. I think he is at best a back end starter in the AL East and I wouldn’t want a commitment through 2014 on someone like that.
I would be angry beyond belief if we trade Betances in a package for Pence, since he can’t pitch he serves as nothing but an upgrade to the 9 hole as Martin would hit there while Posada, Pence, Swisher and Granderson share 6-8. Either way it isn’t a need, it would simply be a want to improve an already strong area of the team (lineup) while we would still have holes in the rotation.
Wandy is a terrible fit in the AL East and honestly I wouldn’t be all that thrilled to take him in a dumb, which the ‘Stros won’t do since they just extended him.
Myers is an interesting pitcher, he isn’t great but probably has enough stuff and guts to at least be serviceable in our much tougher division. That said I wouldn’t give up much for him, and obviously Slade, Noesi, Nova, B’s, and catchers would all be off limits.
I wouldn’t give up anywhere near what you’re suggesting for Myers, nor would I want a guy with his history on the Yankees. I’d rather lose without him.
Pence is one of the most overrated players, I think last year he accumulated 1 WAR which is essentially a bench player. I would also much rather have Wandy over Myers a lefty with strikeout ability and power over Myers who has been up and down his whole career. Give me a steady lefty all day.
I LOVE THE TRADE BRETT MYERS AN HUNTER PENCE WOULD MAKE YANKEES INSTANT FAVORITE FOR WORLD SEREIES PENCE HAS HIT 25HR 3STRAIGT YEARS AN MYERS IS A BULLDOGG GREAT TRADE
EXCELLENT TRADE A LINEUP WITH PENCE WOULD BE UNSTOPPABLE WHOEVER SAID HES OVERRATED LOOK UP HIS NUMBER 3 SEASONS OF 25HR AN THREE SESONS 72,84,91 RBI AN A MYERS DOMINATES THE PHILLIES WHO ARE PROBLY NL FAVORTIES FOR WORLD SEERIES GREAT TRADE DO IT