Quiet deadline for Yanks

by Travis G on Jul 31, 2009 5:10 PM EDT in Analysis Comment 30 comments

The Yankees made one trade today, acquiring utility-player Jerry Hairston for minor league catcher Chase Weems. What does this mean?

First off, it probably means the end of Cody Ransom in pinstripes. For that we should be thankful. He also has decent speed (134 SB in 12 partial seasons), so he should be a better pinch-runner than Ransom. He's also a very good all-around fielder, having a positive UZR in five out of seven positions. Hairston will take over Ransom's UIF spot and Gardner's PR/LIDR spot (for the time being). Just this season, he's spent time at second, third, shortstop, and all three outfield positions.

I like the trade because we give up relatively nothing (from a position we're overflowing from talent with) for something useful.

As for the Red Sox, they certainly made a more impactful trade, getting Victor Martinez for Justin Masterson and two minor league pitchers. What you must remember is that Martinez is essentially a replacement for David Ortiz. He can actually play 1B a little, catch a little, and DH a bit. What it will mean is less playing time for Ortiz, Lowell and Varitek. They get a great bat, but giving up Masterson could be big.
Shelley Duncan(!) was recalled to the Yankees today. A reliever will likely be demoted (Melancon? Alby?). UPDATE 5:38 p.m.: It was Alby.
In other interesting trade news, Chicago's starter tonight was traded to San Diego for Jake Peavy. So much for not being able to trade a player on the DL.

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what about the 40?

-man roster, that is. I remember hearing that calling up Duncan was problematic because he’s not on the 40-man. I assume Ransom will be DFA-ed, but where’s the other spot coming from? Wang to the 60-day?

by long time listener on Jul 31, 2009 5:23 PM EDT reply actions

We'll know soon enough

by Ed Valentine on Jul 31, 2009 5:38 PM EDT up reply actions

Albala-poop

has pitched that way. Melancon was nasty in his only outing. Id hope that porky gets sent outta here.

Nice to see Shells back up. I wonder what him and Swisher will be yapping about between innings.

by FreeBradshaw on Jul 31, 2009 5:34 PM EDT reply actions

Pete Abe

says Albaladejo has been sent down. Hairston will not arrive until tomorrow, so another move will have to come.

by Ed Valentine on Jul 31, 2009 5:40 PM EDT reply actions

i wonder what made Peavy change his mind?

by Brian5517209 on Jul 31, 2009 5:49 PM EDT reply actions

Same here

by Hood on Jul 31, 2009 5:58 PM EDT up reply actions

How

does this help us? This team needs pitching! Not an aging utility player named in the Mitchell Report! We have 3 reliable starters. Joba is going to the bullpen soon because of his innings limit! I simply don’t trust Mitre! Who’s going to pitch? 3 starters isn’t even enough to fill a playoff rotation! And what if someone gets hurt? Guys, I think I heard that once Kei Igawa learns how to throw a fastball he’ll be coming up. Oh wait, NICK SWISHER CAN PITCH!!!!!!! Oh my god Cashman you may have screwed us big time! You think Mike Mussina would be up to coming out of retirement? Oh my gosh where is Aaron Small when you need him?

by nyyrocks29 on Jul 31, 2009 6:01 PM EDT reply actions

So you would have traded Jesus Montero for Brian Bannister?

by FreeBradshaw on Jul 31, 2009 6:02 PM EDT up reply actions

No but

we needed a starting pitcher. You’d be kidding yourself if you thought we didn’t. I thought for sure we would get someone like Jarrod Washburn, or Bronson Arroyo. Someone we could get that wasn’t high priced, and we didn’t have to give up high prospects for. Either one would win games, could eat up innings, and had postseason experience. Whos pitching in the postseason now after CC, Burnett, and Andy? Joba’s inning limit would have been reached, and he wouldn’t be “stretched out” to start in the playoffs. Who pitches a game 4? Mitre? Igawa? Swisher? Yea, right! There’s the problem right there.

by nyyrocks29 on Jul 31, 2009 6:10 PM EDT up reply actions

Keep an eye

On the Yankees in August. They could be active in the waiver market. Often a place where big bankroll teams can pick up some salary dumps.

by Matt Buggenhagen on Jul 31, 2009 6:12 PM EDT up reply actions

Who pitcher game 4?

Chamberlain, Joba.

Innings limit will not be reached. Im sure the Yankees aren’t dumb enough if they are implementing the limit to keep trotting him back out there. They are gonna need this Joba in the playoffs. The bullpen Joba hopefully is dead cuz that could mean we never see this Joba again.

Washburn could have imploded with teh Short porch and Arroyo Im not sure is any better than Mitre or Swisher.

Bannister still could happen. All is not lost today and I hope that if you really are planning to jump off a bridge cuz of this quiet deadline that you bought a parachute. They Yanks will make a deal in August, doomsday is not upon us.

by FreeBradshaw on Jul 31, 2009 6:15 PM EDT up reply actions

i'm not

saying all is lost today! I’m simply saying that I think Cashman lost a great oppurtunity to really help his rotation and not have to give up a lot. I know they still have the waivers. On Joba, it’s possible that, if the Yankees remove him from the rotation at all, he can’t start in the playoffs because he won’t be “stretched out”. Don’t worry, I’m not freaking out. Other teams have their problems too. I just felt this was a good oppurtunity for Cash and he let it pass. Thats all.

by nyyrocks29 on Jul 31, 2009 6:22 PM EDT up reply actions

Your right for thinking that

but the fact remains that there was nothing reasonable for Cash to do.

I wanted Washburn, hell I wanted Halladay or even Peavey. They would have cost entirely too much in terms of prospects.

The need was not dire (we DO Still have AJ and CC….those are 2 aces) enough to pull the trigger for a guy like Halladay or even to satisfy the smoked out requests of the Marinol’s GM.

Joba is obviously the key. Andy seems fine. Given that the Yanks didn’t go out and get a Bannister or Arroyo, it means they have a solution in place for what to do with Joba and limit his innings all the while maintaining him for his starts in the playoffs.

by FreeBradshaw on Jul 31, 2009 6:25 PM EDT up reply actions

Free

It amazes how much you and I agree on this whole trade deadline scenario. Can you say, ‘Scareeeeeeee?’

by Ed Valentine on Jul 31, 2009 7:03 PM EDT up reply actions

I'm not sure

‘let it pass’ is the right way to put it. Cashman knows he needs a pitcher before the season ends, and I’m sure he tried like crazy to get one. There are a set of prospects the Yankees decided they absolutely would not give up, however. If teams are going to insist on someone from that list a deal simply can’t get done. It takes two to tango, as they say.

by Ed Valentine on Jul 31, 2009 7:02 PM EDT up reply actions

Kind of upset we didn’t get a starter myself.. doesn’t make sense to me

by Yankz09 on Jul 31, 2009 6:02 PM EDT via mobile up reply actions

There's no need right now

in August depending on the Joba situation, there will be.

It also depends on the whole division thing. If the Yanks stretch out their lead, going with a 4 man roation for a little while (CC was OK with 3 days rest and throwing 9 innings night in and out…..remember?…..what’s saying he can’t do 4?) wouldn’t be a bad thing.

And if they don’t make a deal? 2-3 starts of Igawa or if there is another veteran rotting in the minors is not gonna kill the Yankees.

I wanted Washburn, but as soon as I hear Joba or Hughes or Montero I knew the Mariners were trying in a round about way of saying they don’t want to deal with the Yankees. What they got from the Tigers was not that good, so F em.

Arroyo or Bannister can still be Yankees in August. This isn’t over.

As of this moment, today, we don’t need a starter. Joba’s still there, Andy’s still dealing, AJ didn’t slip on a pie, and CC didn’t pop. Mitre can give whatever the hell he can, cuz those other 4 guys seem to be on point right now (CC;s fine BTW…)

by FreeBradshaw on Jul 31, 2009 6:21 PM EDT up reply actions

I wish we had gotten a starter too

Or at least a reliever to justify putting Aceves or Hughes in the rotation. But the asking price was too much. Joba or Huges for Washburn? One or both of those guys, plus one or two more of our top prospects, for Halladay? Montero for Bannister? No matter what you think of Cashman, he can’t conjur up a deal out of thin air – if the asking price is too much, you just have to walk away and see who clears waivers.

by long time listener on Jul 31, 2009 6:10 PM EDT up reply actions

what potential starting pitcher could be available on the waiver market

by jv52yankees on Jul 31, 2009 6:18 PM EDT reply actions

Just speculating

Bannister, Arroyo, maybe Harang.

Im sure as teams completely drop out of races in August that more guys will be available.

Its a matter of passing through waivers and teams not asking for the world that will help the yanks land someone.

by FreeBradshaw on Jul 31, 2009 6:22 PM EDT up reply actions

maybe if we're lucky

we can trade A-Rod, CC, Tex, Mo, Jeter, Cano, Hughes, Joba, Montero, Jackson, Z-Mac, Bleich, Romine, and all the salary money to the Red Sox for Bucholz since he is going to be teh best pitchah everzorz

by Brian5517209 on Jul 31, 2009 6:37 PM EDT up reply actions

+1

But the Sox would only do that if we also took on Varitek and Drew

by jmappelbaum on Jul 31, 2009 6:42 PM EDT up reply actions

If we're lucky

they take that.

Then in Cashman’s Pièce de résistance, he trades the rights to the deed of the new Yankee stadium, the revenue its earn thus far, and the rights to have every single Yankee’s first round pick for their entire existence, for Casey Kelly.

Then the Yanks would have Clay Bucholz, who may or may not be the descendant of Lizard King Jim Morrison, and also Casey Kelly, who may or may not be the descendant of Babe Ruth.

This is all of course contingent on Bucholz proving he is a mammal and Theo Epstein coming out of the closet.

by FreeBradshaw on Jul 31, 2009 8:07 PM EDT up reply actions

Crazy idea

If I was the manager of the NYY, and I didn’t have to worry about a whole city of angry New Yorkers trying to murder me, I would put Melancon into the set-up role RIGHT NOW. I would start the transition of Hughes to a full time starter (he can do it- the kid has nasty stuff and is developing a ton of confidence in his pitches being the set-up man, and it’s not like he’s never started before)..

But obviously I’m a little crazy.. I believe in Hughes that much

by mytoemytoe on Jul 31, 2009 6:36 PM EDT reply actions

True

He’s given all of us, even the murderous ones, reason to believe in him that much. I don’t think that’s an unreasonable idea.

by Hood on Jul 31, 2009 7:04 PM EDT up reply actions

I really don’t think Cleveland got enough from Boston for Victor Martinez… how can the smaller market teams continue to give away players to the bigger teams, our Yankees included, and get not nearly enough back…

Mario Lopez

by southernBURGH on Jul 31, 2009 6:38 PM EDT reply actions

+1

The Indians seem to make a habbit out of that. It seems that when they get one prospect straight up, like Santana (Carlos? He’s a catcher…) from the Dodgers for Casey Blake. Santana is an excellent prospect.

When they more than one like CC, or the 2 trades this season, it seems they go for depth. Tho I would have to say, when you get a guy like Laporta who will be up soon, Masterson, who unlike many prospects has shown he’s a major leaguer, and then Carrasco from the Phillies, who regressed this season but is still young, they still did fine.

When you ask for the world, like the Mariners did from the Yankees and the Jays do with Halladay, you don’t get anything worked out. Give them credit or knowing what they want and just getting the deal done.

by FreeBradshaw on Jul 31, 2009 8:10 PM EDT up reply actions