Comments on: Looking back on two trades

By: EnglishYankee

EnglishYankee — Sat, 05 Apr 2008 00:36:13 +0000

I haven’t read the responses but this is poor reporting. The Yankees traded Sheffield for Sanchez + 0thers knowing that Sanchez would have to have TJ surgery, just because he hasn’t produced yet doesn’t make him a bust

By: Paul

Paul — Fri, 04 Apr 2008 21:10:42 +0000

Brian M is right on — dealing Sheffield and Johnson was addition by subtraction. I would add two things. First, whenever you trade for prospects you gamble, and sometimes they pan out, sometimes they don’t. So it’s not really fair to look at these trades in comparison with each other — rather look at them in the aggregate — we got a mediocre reliever who turned into a first round choice, a good-fielding minor league shortstop, and a bunch of pitching prospects, one of whom is with the team. And let’s give it another two years before we can really evaluate them. Second, Sheffield for all of his homers and line drives could be a real rally killer. How many times did he come up with men on in scoring position and less than two outs and hit a huge popup to the infield — leaving the runners where they were, where a fly ball or even a ground ball to the right side would have plated a run and set up another. Plus he was nonexistent in the postseason.

By: Doug

Doug — Fri, 04 Apr 2008 20:59:41 +0000

“hmmm April 4th, 2008 at 2:03 pm

I donâ€™t dislike Matsui, but this is a terrible argument.”

I don’t agree. To restate: Matsui up with a man on third less than two outs equals a run. He is one of if not THE best in baseball at this. How many times has A-rod been up in the same situation (like last night for example) and failed to have a productive AB. Isn’t this why a lot of Yankee fans have trouble with him?

I’m not saying that Matsui is in A-Rod’s league but with a runner on third and less than two out I’d take Hidecki every time. (and get more RBIs)

By: no.27

no.27 — Fri, 04 Apr 2008 19:39:09 +0000

I still look at Matsui as a very dangerous hitter. He has had some problems coming back from injury, probably because he hasn’t had to deal with it very much in his career. I also think he may be one of those guys that isn’t used to DHing. If he can get over his knee injury and contribute like he did before his wrist injury the bottom of our lineup will be better than the heart of most teams’ lineups with Cano-Posada-Matsui hitting 6-7-8.

By: bronxbomber77

bronxbomber77 — Fri, 04 Apr 2008 19:27:53 +0000

Or Brian Cashman could turn some of his extra parts (a center fielder here, a pitching prospect there) into a player this July.—- P Abe…

Perhaps if the Braves fall flat and are way out of contention at the trade deadline, perhaps a trade and long-term extension for Mark Teixeira? Especially if The Big G is on the disabled list?

What would it take? Perhaps Alan Horne and Brett Gardner? They wouldn’t be able to get much, seeing as he is a free agent next year…unless they pull a Jim Bowden a la Soriano/Nats.

You have to figure a GM would rather get one, poss two decent prospects than get a draft pick for an impending free agent at the deadline on a bust team.

Imagine if the Yankees pitching holds up beautifully… and the only hole on the team is at 1B. Would trading for Big Tex be an impuls move when he’s a free agent next year?

Trade for him and sign him to 6 x $120, perhaps 6 x $149 ?

By: Ty

Ty — Fri, 04 Apr 2008 19:24:34 +0000

I can’t understand the desire to trade Matsui. How would the team replace his consistent numbers? Does anyone really expect Giambi to stay healthy all season and put up 2006 numbers as opposed to 2007 numbers now that he is two years removed from that season?
Duncan is a nice player, but I would have to believe that if he was anything even remotely special GMs would have inquired as to his availability in trades during the offseason.
Matsui had a bad hammy in April 2007 and his knees(playing most of your career on turf has a tendency to do these things) started failing him in August, but in between he managed to put up his career norms in OPS/BA/RBIs. I expect no different this year, but without the nagging injuries.

By: Brian M

Brian M — Fri, 04 Apr 2008 19:23:37 +0000

Pete, you normally show a lot of respect for the work Cash has done rebuilding the system but this post is a very skewed look at the two trades. As others have said althought the guys haven’t produced for the Yankees yet, it is partly because they are prospects. I don’t think they were supposed to be the nucleus of our playoff roster.

Tabata, Gardner and Betances haven’t produced the goods yet in NY either. Best try to trade them for a utility man eh?

Sanchez has a history of injuries,so he was a risk, but with the pitching depth we have in the minors he was a risk worth taking. He could be Mo’s replacement when he gets back. He could be the guy who makes it possible to keep Joba in the rotation.

Viz threw lot of good innings last yr. Imagine what a mess the bullpen would have been without him. Gonzalez is a brilliant defender who has hit about .330 for the last 6 months.

When these two trades were made Cash was the talk of the winter meetings because his took one injury prone pitcher with an ERA above 5, and one player who had lost his everyday job, both of whom were sullen and disruptive characters, with $26M left on the books and turned them into 4 promising pitchers, a set up man for whom we just got an extra draft pick, and a great SS prospect.

It might have been better to pay Johnson to join Pavano in the treatment room and Sheffield to mouth off about Torre everyday though eh?

As for Matsui, if he will consent to a trade – which he suggested in the summer he would, then he could be a good candidate for a trade. I’d like to see a lefty pitcher come back. I would also like to see Gardner get a chance in NY. Cash might wait till next summer though to see what happens with Abreu in the off season though. If he wont take a 1 or 2 yr deal (which I suspect he will) we might be better keeping Matsui in the team for his left handed bat and power potential. With Gardner, Jackson and Tabata to join the outfield over the next couple of years we don’t want Abreu on too long a contract.

By: jason

jason — Fri, 04 Apr 2008 19:19:24 +0000

Don’t forget Whelan.
He is a darker horse than Sanchez. The lingering injury is very scary, given the lack of information. But the guy strikes out tons of people. If he can get his control in order, he can be a real legit bullpen arm.
As has been mentioned, ridding the team of players we did not want nor need, removing a huge chunk of salary AND bringing in anyone to help the team is fantastic.
Ohlendorf – Big leaguer
Gonzales – Hitting the ball well. Big league utility guy at minimum
Sanchez – If he recovers from surgery – high caliber big leaguer
Whelan – Lots of upside, questions of injury and control

By: Drew

Drew — Fri, 04 Apr 2008 19:19:15 +0000

Perhaps a Mark Teixeira in July.

By: Jorge Steinbrenner, the long-lost third brother

Jorge Steinbrenner, the long-lost third brother — Fri, 04 Apr 2008 19:14:26 +0000

Trading Brett Gardner and Alan Horne for Chris Ray IS a pretty crazy idea when you take into account that Chris Ray just had not been a successful relief pitcher for long enough to give you any inkling as to whether he’s the real deal. Horne, Melancon, Cox, etc. could easily prove to be just as good.

Chris Britton got a ton of outs for one year for the Orioles.

We’ve got a ton of potentially great bullpen arms in the minors. No need to look Chris Ray’s way.