Either way, give me your “scouting” report, lol. I’m fearful to go and get stuck with a droning Prospero, or one who hath “a drowning mark upon him.”

I think Wuertz would be a solid, affordable acquisition for the bullpen and he might be gettable for Robertson and Kontos. I wouldn’t be inclined to pay more than that.

The real key is the price for Halliday and if you take the top four guys offr the board you’re going to lose the next two which means perhaps McAllister and Romine plus some extras.

“the yankees really need to come up with a better way than they’ve handled joba and phil.”

Welcome to “Rebuilding – Yankee style.” Had Joba or Phil gone to another team, frankly IMO, their careers may be off to a better start.

Because it’s the first time in more than 10 years that they seem to be putting a value on an in-house future, the Yankees seem to be learning all over again about identifying and evaluating talent. That means, IMO, that they are also in the position of having to re-establish the quality of and commitment to their player development program. Unfortunately the Yankees’ corporate culture is never too far from “win now,” so there are going to be many compromises and mistakes with player development, IMO.

It may be that Phil and Joba will look back and say that they were on the Yankees at the wrong time.

That’s a nice, but idyllic, scenario Randy – where we’re so far ahead we can employ “low leverage” starts for our young guys. Except the price – one of those two blue chippers – is too high.

And don’t you know, were we to do this, Halladay would pull his groin again, or CC would go down…Joba or Hughes would go to Toronto and get it figured out, and haunt us for the rest of their career.

I think we can ameliorate without giving up the farm for Roy Halladay. What do we need?

We need a starter; what’s wrong with putting the Mexican Gangsta in the rotation? He’s a guy with command-able pitches and in-game intelligence – not like he’s some 2-trick pony who gets exposed with more innings. His last start was a matter of tiring – needs to be built back up.

I understand the questions about Melancon, because people here haven’t seen him nearly enough to get that he has the goods – but he does – another guy with a mixed bag and ability to get two outs on a single pitch – in other words, long relief.

Why do we give up one of our talented young pups – and AJax and/or Montero? For a 32 year old pitcher? To help the pup that’s left behind develop better? I can’t see that as sensible.

Second let’s look at teams that are 12 games or more behind in their division races and “assume” they might be willing trading partners, and let’s assume the other teams still in the race for a wild card need pitching also.

Orioles
Indians
A’s
Diamondbacks
Padres
Nationals

Which pitchers would interest you, both starters and relievers, and at what cost, from the above “out of the race” teams? Let’s also look at non rookie pitchers with current sub 4.00 ERA’s and pitchers having pitched > 20 innings so far.

George Sherrill
Cliff Lee
Zack Greinke
Brian Bannister
Joakim Soria
Dallas Braden
Michael Wurtz
Brad Ziegler
Doug Davis
Dan Haren
Max Scherzer
Chad Qualls
Scott Schoeneweis
Edward Mujica
Heath Bell
Cla Meredith
John Lannan
Sean Burnett
Joe Beimel
Ron Villone
Mike MacDougal

What would it take given the above parameters? Who do you think we realistically have a chance for without giving up Jackson, Montero, Joba and Hughes from our roster?

Dialogue welcome

yes and the prohibitive cost is not making the playoffs again…

but then there’s the cost of rushing blue chip young pitchers.

WHAT blue chip pitchers?!?!? Other then Joba (said with a huge smirk) and hughes (semi smirk) they have no blue chip pitchers – and they are both on the major league team so its not like they are being rushed…tim lincecum is a blue chip pitcher – and he’s just as young (ok a year or so older but he won the cy young when he was their age)as joba and hughes and he looks OK being rushed..

add halladay and there’s no need to rush the good young pitchers you have left( you’d likely have to give up one of hughes or joba ) exactly!!!

Keep in mind we have no idea where Halladay will and will not go, though there have been guesses thay NY, Bos and Philly are acceptable. I just think the Yankees have to find out, just like they did with Santana.