Today in The Journal News
-
- July
- 24
Mike Mussina kept the hot streak going as the Yankees beat the Twins. Brian Heyman has the story.
Jorge Posada, for now, will put off surgery and try to play again. This notebook also has updates on a big meeting in Tampa and a silly mistake by Melky.
Today is the 25th anniversary of the Pine Tar Game and George Brett takes a look back. So does Tim McClelland.
————
The Yankees are off today. They start a three-game series in Boston on Friday.
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on Thursday, July 24th, 2008 at 3:34 am by Peter Abraham.
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Peter Abraham
I eagerly await a post which includes a link to a notebook regarding the release of Latroy Hawkins. Please Pete, don’t keep me waiting too long for that.
The “pine tar decision” by Lee MacPhail was a travesty. I realize it is just one game but c’mon the “spirit of the rule”? Puhleez.
BTW, Pete, “role call” should be “roll call”.
I think this move with Posada is a stall tactic. If he goes out now, it gives other teams leverage in trades. After the Yanks make a move, he’ll conveniently have his surgery, and be back next year.
Brett is a word used for a feminine hygene product.
If it is a stalling tactic it’s a waste of time for all concerned. No one in baseball thinks Jorge will be a legit power threat before he gets that shoulder fixed. Thus this “tactic” won’t alter anyone’s asking price for a RH bat or # 2 catcher.
With Damon and Giambi already on hand as guys who should not be out there defensively it makes no sense to put off surgery until mid October… time to get ‘er done!
From Pete’s notebook: “Melky Cabrera acknowledged the Bleacher Creatures with his left arm during role call in the first Tuesday night as a single was coming his way in center. The ball kicked off his glove for an error. Girardi had a little discussion with him yesterday upon his arrival.”
Wow. Doesn’t make Melky a bad guy but IMO it does suggest that he is not serious and focused enough to raise his game. He’s been in the Bigs too long for a mental lapse like that.
Moves may not be made in Tampa today but decisions will.
It would be great to be a fly on the wall to hear what proposals are made for the rest of the season.
There’s no question that 3-5 players will be affected by roster moves made by 7/31.
Cashman will advise the hierarchy of what deals can be on the table but what the team does over the weekend vs. Boston will influence who Cashman will make serious moves for. As many as 5-6 Yankees are on the bubble right now.
As usual, most teams won’t be dealing until early next week.
Fans can speculate on names all they want but there’s always the element of surprise.
heyman’s piece on the pine-tar game was written like a schoolkid’s book report on the middle ages. no context, no feeling of the fires that burned at the time.
the yankees and royals were hated enemies back then, having faced off in the postseason several times. if memory serves me correctly, and it usually doesnt, that win put the yankees (temporarily) in first place in the division and the yankees never recovered after McPhail overruled McClelland. there was alot of feeling in yankees camp that McPhail ruled against the Yankees simply out of spite over the way George Steinbrenner had let him go as club president. (i was very glad to see a warm embrace between McPhail and Steinbrenner on the field at the All-Star Game last week.
also, the ruling by McPhail made no sense whatsoever. similar incidents in the past had been ruled different ways but the bottom line was the league’s had always backed the umpires involved and validated thier calls.
maybe if heyman had interviewed a few people instead of writing an article off a conference call, he could have captured some of the spirit of the matter. oh well.
VT YankeeFan -
You’re wrong - it is roll call - like an attendance roll.
(But VT is a great engineering school!)
Do we have to hear about that incident again? When will it get old… seriously?
if you dont want to read an article on the pine tar game you dont have to.
i was commenting on the piece that they published and pete linked.
Pete,
I don’t know if it has been said yet or not but maybe the front office, Girardi, Posada all got together and decided that it was best to say hes putting off the surgery and attempting the rehab to allow Cashman a little more wiggle room in trade discussions. If they send him under the knife now, and other teams KNOW (as opposed to think) that Posada is done for the year, it backs the Yanks into a corner on discussions. Could this be a instance of Cashman and Co not tipping their hand?
So, that play with Melky was Melky being Manny? Only not as effective?
Speaking of the Posada situation. In today’s NY Post, Randy Levine scoffs at what Pete wrote about him (Levine)yesterday.
“It’s a silly story,” Levine said. “(The writer) should have called me first then he would have known it was nonsense. We make our decisions on medical reports.”
Levine doesn’t have a very good reputation for saying things that turn out to be true. (to put it politely)
The knives in Joe Torre’s back while he was here had Levine’s fingerprints all over them.
I’d trust Pete on this one.
Hew and Clay,
I thought the same thing yesterday and more so today when I read what posada had to say. I’ve had surgery on my labrum. As I recall, MRI’s are very suspect when it comes to the shoulder. It’s not until the doctor gets in there that they see the extent of damage. They thought I had only fraying, but it was worse.
That said, he will have the surgery and it is curious that the decision is schedules right after the deadline.
Lastly, he hasn’t hit, Cashman and Levine both know 15 days isn’t going to cure what 30 days didn’t earlier this year.
Bottom line - smoke and mirrors, he’ll have the surgery sometime in August and that should give him plenty of time to return for 09.
Trading for Washburn only makes sense if you give up Kennedy for a bat in another trade. If that happens then you have to replace Ponson.
They could trade Kennedy and Ohlendorf to Pittsburgh for Marte and Nady.
Then trade Igawa and Gardner for Washburn.
Washburn gives me heartburn.
“They could trade Kennedy and Ohlendorf to Pittsburgh for Marte and Nady.”
No, they couldn’t.
Some Old Timer’s Day news:
http://newyork.yankees.mlb.com/news/press_releases/press_release.jsp?ymd=20080722&content_id=3173631&vkey=pr_nyy&fext=.jsp&c_id=nyy
Mike,
Ny would do that trade with pitt in a cocaine heartbeat, pitt wouldnt with us.
Thats way too much for washburn, 34yr old with 4.75 era, not so sure about that.
“They could trade Kennedy and Ohlendorf to Pittsburgh for Marte and Nady.
Then trade Igawa and Gardner for Washburn”
well, they could try to. that doesnt mean the Pirates would take that, though.
but i agree with the general premise… acuiring Washburn should allow Cashman to use his prospects for a OF bat to upgrade the offense, too.
“Kennedy and Ohlendorf to Pittsburgh for Marte and Nady.” HAHHAAHHAHAH i LOVE the trade deadline.
“He’s been in the Bigs too long for a mental lapse like that.”
Like when Jeter got doubled off of second with A-Rod at the plate earlier this year? It happens. It’s a mistake, hopefully he’s learned from it and he moves on.
My guess is that Mussina, Mr. Almost, will win 19 games this year. Likely to miss an opportunity to win 20 due to an injury.
“if you dont want to read an article on the pine tar game you dont have to.”
*phew* Thanks for letting us off the hook teach.
What/Who does everyone think are our most likely acquisitions?
Washburn is most likely at this point
Okay, I`m an idiot, what would Pittsburgh want?
“My guess is that Mussina, Mr. Almost, will win 19 games this year. Likely to miss an opportunity to win 20 due to an injury.”
60 games left. That probably gives him 12 more starts, maybe 13. At 13 wins in 21 starts, he’s getting a win in 62% of his starts this year. He needs 7 wins, which represents 58% of his last 12 starts to hit 20. He’s got a fair shot.
Washburn.
and a under the radar, bat.
by the way, william. Tell your dog, i feel for her/him. I love beagles.
Its just so hard to get excited about the Yankees getting Washburn. He isn’t an upgrade.
Ken Rosenthal from foxsports.com just said that the Yankees should go after Texeira. That would probably cost a boat load of prospects and his contract is up at the end of the season.
Is there any chance that the Yankees can sign both him and C.C. in the offseason? That would be a nice haul and would offset the loss of giambi if he’s not able to resign for much less.
Rumor is that Miguel Olivo wouldn’t be hard to get either…
“Like when Jeter got doubled off of second with A-Rod at the plate earlier this year?”
Meant to say picked off of second.
ESPeeN said that there isn’t much of a market for Teixeira as everyone has a firstbaseman who is doing the job well.
So there ya go. Teixeira isn’t going anywhere, ESPeeN has spoken.
“Melky being Manny” … good one, I like that.
We now can see a non-effective position for trying to maintain a little leverage in trade talks. Since every team knows Posada’s arm definitely needs surgery, the price of trading for someone to replace his bat will go up. To say “he’s going to put off the surgery and play DH/1B” is not going to convince anyone. “His arm’s not 100%, but we like that Molina’s been gunning runners down like a madman so we’re going with the hot hand” may be a lie but it can help the cause of trading for a good hitter. But at least Cashman and Girardi are learning to be honest.
“What/Who does everyone think are our most likely acquisitions?”
I think Washburn may be it. Having Posada try to “rehab” isn’t fooling anybody around the game, so the asking price for a bat will remain pretty high. Don’t see a catcher anywhere who will represent much of an improvement over Molina, unless the Rangers make Laird available. I think they are fine as is with the pen.
“Ken Rosenthal from foxsports.com just said that the Yankees should go after Texeira. That would probably cost a boat load of prospects and his contract is up at the end of the season.”
i dont think itd be worth it in terms of what the Braves would want back for him right now.
although, i would say that with Hudson being taken out with an apparent elbow issue, and Chipper going down with a hamstring injury, the Braves are definately in sell mode now.
I don’t think they will expect to get back all they gave to get Teixeira, but they will ask a hefty price.
I would love to see Teixeira in this lineup, but would he be worth the cost?
“My guess is that Mussina, Mr. Almost, will win 19 games this year. Likely to miss an opportunity to win 20 due to an injury.”
Fredo, if Mussina wins one more game this year it’ll one more game than I would have guessed he had even a ‘long shot’ at coming out of spring training. Back then I was thinking what he’s got now would be his optimal win total for the season, and he might finish the season with a .500 record. To me, if he finishes one game shy of 20 wins he’s had a super year.
Good for him, good for the Yanks.
Like when Jeter got doubled off of second with A-Rod at the plate earlier this year? It happens. It’s a mistake, hopefully he’s learned from it and he moves on.
Certain mistakes are worse than others. Someone getting picked off is a different animal than Melky misplaying a ball because he was too entranced by the fans.
The only way they would be similar is if the bleacher creatures had nothing to do with Melky booting the ball. That way, both would just be uncommon mistakes. Instead, Jeter getting picked off is a miscue, whereas Melky’s is a lapse in judgment.
“Is there any chance that the Yankees can sign both him and C.C. in the offseason? That would be a nice haul and would offset the loss of giambi if he’s not able to resign for much less.”
Of course there’s a chance. They have the money. Doesn’t appear consistent with what Cashman wants the organization to be though.
“Rumor is that Miguel Olivo wouldn’t be hard to get either…”
He’s a crap bat. Basically Molina with a little thump. A .275 OBP guy with some pop. Some scuttlebut that he doesn’t work well with pitchers, but I’m not sure how legit that is.
prolly not. Texeira will definitely be walking, following the year. At least if we give up players for a Bay/Holiday?, we would have the player, for the following year.
Kennedy/Betances/Tabata: too bad Colorado, would not take a combination of these players for Holiday.
Ansky:
Was responding to Scott’s post about Mussina winning 19. I agree, he’s exceeded expectations by a country mile this year. I think he may well have pitched his way back to another season in the Bronx.
Bobby Ryan of the Boston Globe on this weekends series. Gives props to lots of Yanks but a little harsh on Pettitte IMO.
http://multimedia.boston.com/pub/tn/17/sports.htm?bctid=1684377850
“At least if we give up players for a Bay/Holiday?, we would have the player, for the following year”
and either of them could slide right into RF next season, which allows the Yankees the room to let Bobby Abreu walk.
“Certain mistakes are worse than others. Someone getting picked off is a different animal than Melky misplaying a ball because he was too entranced by the fans.
The only way they would be similar is if the bleacher creatures had nothing to do with Melky booting the ball. That way, both would just be uncommon mistakes. Instead, Jeter getting picked off is a miscue, whereas Melky’s is a lapse in judgment.”
You’re crazy if you actually believe that. Both offenses are inexcusable. Jeter getting picked off is a definite laspe in judgement. Tie game, runner on second, A-Rod at the plate and Jeter’s not paying attention got him picked off. That’s horrible.
Thanks Vinny - good thing for her were starting a road trip, i wonder how sweet caroline will effect her?
Mike
Pitt wants the sun and the moon. Thats why at the deadline they are alway the pretty girl w.out the date to the prom. That organization doesnt get the concept of selling high. I’d guess they’ll start with Hughes, AJax, or Melancon plus some B level.
Tex makes no sense - none. In the off season the can sign him and he’s going to FA because he’s rep by Boras.
I hope they go for Bay, if not, adam dunn.
Someone made a valid point about Nady yesterday. For all the Nady talk, Pittsburgh would be selling about as high on Nady as humanly possible right now. It’s not the time to be on the other side of that.
It’s funny…..the one guy on that team I’d be willing to give a lot up for would be McClouth. i know he’s not avaialble, though.
We can debate whether Washburn is really better than Ponson/Rasner. What we can’t debate is that, for all its faults, this team is now 11 games over .500. Knowing that, and this team’s second half track record, it’s hard to argue that this team can’t keep up a playoff pace as is, or with some very minor tweaks.
Y’know, I sorta wish it weren’t so easy to know about prospects. Then we wouldn’t have to hear all of these imaginary trade proposals.
turn two: exactly. And notice, didn’t mention Nady. As i don’t believe he would really be a upgrade on Abreu.
someone had mentioned possiblility of a Baldelli low-risk/high reward type contract, next year. It may be better then comitting to Abreu at multi-years.
Give Ryan some credit for paying attention and having a grasp on how well Joba has pitched and how strong the pen has become. Some stooges in the talk radio world still believe a Joba-less pen still has no bridge to Rivera.
Both offenses are inexcusable. Jeter getting picked off is a definite laspe in judgement. Tie game, runner on second, A-Rod at the plate and Jeter’s not paying attention got him picked off. That’s horrible.
Both are inexcusable, but you could claim that anytime someone gets picked off it’s a “lapse in judgment”. People get picked off all the time. It’s part of baseball. Melky’s error was different because it occurred while acknowledging the fans. He literally turned and waved towards the bleachers. That’s on a different level than Jeter straying a bit too far away from 2nd base.
the Post is reporting the Dodgers are interested in Cano, and might be willing to offer Lowe and Kemp in return.
And I’m interested in trading my job and salary for AROD’s.
Dodger’s must be crazy.
the Post is reporting the Dodgers are interested in Cano, and might be willing to offer Lowe and Kemp in return.
I hope they don’t make that trade.
“and either of them could slide right into RF next season, which allows the Yankees the room to let Bobby Abreu walk.”
Ok, I’ll give you Holliday; I was wrong about his defensive capabilities, according to both this year’s numbers AND the opinions of people who know more than me (Baseball Prospectus). But I’m sticking on Bay. He’s terrible in LF _right now_ and BP doesn’t see him as a RFer either. Yeah, he’d probably be an upgrade from Bobby’s D right now, but he’d still give back a bunch of runs over there going forward.
If you’re going to make a high-profile trade, make the right one.
they wouldn’t. Kemp have struck out, 105 times this season.
Anybody have a clue as to what the MoM__s blog post is about? “Whites only”?
“If you’re going to make a high-profile trade, make the right one.”
totally agree. i’m for making a splash if it makes sense.
i would still prefer Holliday over Bay, but i dont think the Yankees are going to be able to meet Colorado’s price.
in the end, i dont think the Yankees are really going to make any major moves, maybe just tweak the roster a bit.
The Yankees bullpen needs a nickname…..any suggestions?
please no nicknames; they never turn out well.
Holliday would probably cost 3 blue chip prospects at least. So thats something like Hughes, Melancon and Jackson. The Yankees could do it but they’d have to give up serious talent. I don’t think Holliday is worth that kind of price.
Right now the Pirates are looking for 2 premium prospects in return for Nady. That price is absurd but even if it becomes more reasonable they could probably get 1 great prospect and a few B prospects. I’m not sure if Nady is worth that cost either but I’m sure Cashman is looking into it.
Holliday would probably cost 3 blue chip prospects at least. So thats something like Hughes, Melancon and Jackson. The Yankees could do it but they’d have to give up serious talent. I don’t think Holliday is worth that kind of price.
Right now the Pirates are looking for 2 premium prospects in return for Nady. That price is absurd but even if it becomes more reasonable they could probably get 1 great prospect and a few B prospects. I’m not sure if Nady is worth that cost either but I’m sure Cashman is looking into it.
that because the nicknames given recently have been really, really bad….they deserved to turn out poorly due to the fact that the nicknames were so bad.
Me and you are going to have a problem.
the Post is reporting the Dodgers are interested in Cano, and might be willing to offer Lowe and Kemp in return.
I love the trade deadline who said this Joel Sherman ?
Thing with Nady is that he is 30 and has NEVER produced close to the level he has the 1st half of this season. Don’t know whether we attribute this to him “finding himself” or an exceptional blip in an otherwise .275, 15-20 homer, 65-70 RBI type career, but I’d be careful not to unload too much to get him. He quite likely won’t be worth it.
“I love the trade deadline who said this Joel Sherman ?”
i think it was George King.
“i think it was George King.”
You mean noted fiction writer,George King??? (:
I wish the yankees would have done the Bobby Abreu for Jermaine Dye trade rumored last year.
Geroge King is a genius … I’d love to trade the hottest hitter in baseball who also happens to be a 2B who out hits his position when he’s awake.
Jermaine Dye was awful last year, hindsight is always 20/20.
Cano for Lowe and Kemp? no.
but Cano for Billingsley and Loney? gotta think about that.
Will Levine please go away? People talk about the A-Rod curse, but I believe the Yanks won’t win another World Series until Levine leaves.
“but Cano for Billingsley and Loney? gotta think about that.”
Not if you’re the Dodgers.
Mussina is ‘likely’ to fall short of 20 wins due to an injury? Whose?
Regarding Washburn, I’m on the fence about it. I think people who haven’t paid close attention to him lately (people such as me) think he’s a better pitcher than he’s been for years.
It’s a more attractive notion if they would take Igawa and not make us take Vidro. Otherwise, I’m agnostic and leaning against it. If they pull the trigger, I wonder if that means they think Wang isn’t coming back at all this season.
“Not if you’re the Dodgers.”
ha! of course not, but its a good deal if they really want Cano that bad.
It’s also funny to me how Graziano on his star ledger show cases Paul Lo Duca’s pic…why the hell would he showcase a pic for a catcher who can’t throw, can’t defend, can’t play on the field …is he better than Gerald Laird ..No,is he better than Miguel Olivo..No, is he better than Salty …hell no. Why is La Duca who is past his primes can’t call a game to save his life an option…GOD I HOPE WE LOOK AWAY
offense: Laird,Olivo,Salty >>> La Duca
defense: Laird,Olivo >>> La Duca
Add to that I’m pretty sure Alex would kick his ass in the locker room, Alot of things beat writers don’t take to account.
i woulod have to see the upcoming 2B market before i would think about doing a Loney/Billingsley for Cano/prospect deal.
Cano is a perrenial +300 hitter with a great glove
the only thing Lo Duca would bring to any contending ballclub is a reliable HGH/steroid hook-up.
“but Cano for Billingsley and Loney? gotta think about that.”
Kershaw or no deal. I’m not trading Cano, I’ve been saying that for some time.
Cano is not going anywhere.
“I wonder if that means they think Wang isn’t coming back at all this season.”
I think they have to think that way, whether it ends up being true or not. His being a valuable contributor this season would appear to be less than a 50/50 proposition at this point.
Agree on Washburn without Vidro for Igawa, but can think of no logical explanation for Seattle agreeing to it.
Someone type in the MLBTRADERUMORS site that this isn’t happening. I would but it keeps telling me error.
Fredo-
9+ net salary dump.
I think a trade of Igawa and a B prospect for Washburn would help the Yankees. However, I don’t want anything to do with Vidro. I’m also curious to see which prospects are being offered as part of the deal.
“9+ net salary dump.”
If they only send Washburn? Not true. Igawa’s due 4 mil per for the next three years.
So, whatever the pro-rated amount is for this year plus 12. 13 ish. Washburn is about the same, when you figure in his pro-rated amount for this year. That’d be basically a straight-up salary swap. Except that the M’s would get to spread the money out for longer. That could be attractive to them; it frees up 6 mil or so for next year, and saves a couple mil this year.
“Someone type in the MLBTRADERUMORS site that this isn’t happening. I would but it keeps telling me error.”
You can’t live and die with every rumor, Brandon. The vast, vast majority of things that we hear about never happen. And a lot of things we don’t hear about do. It’s just not worth getting all concerned about stuff until it actually happens.
Whozat-
good point. my short-sighted thinking led me to only think of next year.
Why can’t the Yanks sign both CC & Texeira in the off-season??
btw jackson melian was released recently at the age of 27, apparently without any ml appearances. was he the ultimate yankee hype?
Can anyone tell me where the negotiating rights money went for Igawa? was it to his old team, the league in general, or some other organization.
Japanese baseball must love the Yankees. we signle handedly double their revenue
whozat -
That is fuzzy math - the Mariners are getting 3 years of Kei Igawa’s services too (i can’t even type this with a straight face)
But it is a salary savings - not a wash.
‘Fredo-
9+ net salary dump.”
It’s a lot less than that Joey A. Igawa is on the books for a few years after this one. Mariners don’t want a $4 million a year minor leaguer anymore than the Yankees do. They’d be more inclined to take non-prospects than they would Igawa.
Wow - WFAN must have a strong signal -
The Rockies are ‘interested in Bronson Arroyo’!
(anything to shut up Francessa)
“Why can’t the Yanks sign both CC & Texeira in the off-season??”
Nobody said they couldn’t, but you have to figure:
Tex will want a long contract around $100 million
CC will want Johan money, which, in my opinion, he’s worth, being that he’s younger, throws faster, has more upside. IDK if Tex is worth what they r looking for. As i always say, im a big supporter of money over years. give them 3 or 4 million more per year than they want, but shed off 2 years. I would love to give CC a 4 year contract at 20-22 a year. that makes him a FA @ 32/33, which im sure he would love.
ugh just read that Cano rumor - PLEASE NO!! and I was NEVER one of the people saying to trade him during the first half of the year.
But Robby is one of the key bats that are going to help carry this team in the second half - we can get Lowe for a different price
Fredo-
who says Igawa would be a minor leaguer.they love Asian players. their Asian market is one of the biggest, mostly off of Ichiro. Also, who knows, maybe Igawa performs better there than here. This is NY. maybe it was too much for him or whatever a la Kaz Matsui. who would have ever thought he would be an asset for a team after his Mets debut. same could go for Igawa, if not a SP, a bullpen arm.
“who says Igawa would be a minor leaguer”
His talent does.
As far as Cano, the only thing I would trade him to the Dodgers for is a combo of Billingsley and Kemp or Kershaw. Other than that, no thanks.
Fredo-
For our team, yes. there are plenty of players playing in the majors that would not be major leaguers on the Yankees.
I saw Jeter do the exact same thing Melky did in a game at the stadium this year against the Blue Jays.
The difference was Jeter acknowledged the creatures and made the play without missing a beat.
It was another example of Jeter’s athletic ability and powers of concentration.
Yesterday, he makes a play at second where he catches the ball while in mid-air, steps on the bag, and is blowing a bubble all at the same time. The little things he is able to do is amazing sometimes.
“Fredo-
For our team, yes. there are plenty of players playing in the majors that would not be major leaguers on the Yankees.”
Maybe. Doesn’t change that Igawa is not an MLB pitcher though. He adds nothing to that team. If Seattle’s goal is as it appears to be, which is to say dump salary, why would they take someone as useless as Igawa and his contract back. As I said, they’d likely prefer a couple non-prospect, minor league roster filling types who costs nothing.
For those interested (hmmm) here’s Washburn’s record since his last good year (2002)…
2003 ANA-A 10 15 0 4.43
2004 ANA-A 11 8 0 4.64
2005 LA_-A 8 8 0 3.20
2006 SEA-A 8 14 0 4.67
2007 SEA-A 10 15 0 4.32
2008 SEA-A 4 9 1 4.75
More hits than IP every year since then also.
Looks like a borderline 5th starter to me. Yeah he’s really impressive (sarcasm off).
How many extra wins does Washburn give us this season? No one can answer that question, obviously, but is Washburn worth it (ignorning the Igawa angle) if the answer is 1 or 2 extra wins? That too is tricky when we’re 4 games back in the loss column. 2 extra wins could be the difference between the postseason and October tee times. Zero extra wins… well, who knows.
And then, what does having Washburn on the roster mean for 2009? As of now we have two slots in that rotation filled for sure, Wang and Joba. We think/hope that Hughes gets another of them. As of July 2008 both Mussina and Pettitte look really good too, but we can’t assume that both or either would come back next year.
So Washburn might be taking someone’s slot or he might not. We can probably agree that he’d be vastly overpriced for whatever role he would fill. If Igawa is not part of this deal, it would be not so nice to have them both on the books.
Trading Cano would not be a good idea if the plan is to make a run this year. He may end up batting .350 or higher from July on… if you’re wondering why the team’s runners in scoring position average is up so much since the break, look to him. But if the team has become too frustrated with his first-half performances and feels like they need to trade him, I would certainly wouldn’t do it for those two Dodgers.