29 for 29: A Mild Yankees-Angels Trade Scenario
by jscape2000 on Dec 26, 2011 11:37 PM EST
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PrintThe New York Yankees have been surprisingly quiet this offseason. This is likely the convergence of all the imaginable factors: the age and composition of the roster, this specific moment in the midst of the Yankees' expiring contracts, the new CBA and the lowering boom of the payroll tax.
But I wonder if the biggest reason for the front office's seeming complacency is just what it seems: from 1995-2011, the Yankees made the playoffs every year but one, usually while leading the league in dollar spent; but starting in 2012, the Yankees no longer need to be the best team in baseball, nor the best team in the AL East, nor the second best- thanks to the shiny new second wildcard, the Yankees trust that they no longer need to push so hard to make the playoffs.
So, maybe just maybe, the Yankees figure they can afford to jettison some talent now in exchange for cheaper future roster options. The trade here is a mild deal; my blockbuster idea is over at my blog.
The Yankees have a slew of pitching options in the minor leagues, a full (if star-starved) rotation, and a shutdown bullpen.
From this embarrassment of riches, the Yankees deal David Robertson out to Anaheim- Los Angeles- Southern California. The Angels bullpen is solid: Downs, Takahashi, and Walden all filled 60+ innings last season. Adding Robertson to that pen would give them the clear-cut best squad in the major leagues.
In exchange, the Yankees get double-A 3B Luis Jiminez and double-A reliever (and David Robertson clone in waiting) Ariel Pena. The Yankees send away a reliever headed to arbitration (Cashman has shown an unwillingness to pay real money for any reliever not named Rivera [a wise strategy so long as Hank and Hal don't pull a Sori]), and get in exchange a pair of prospects to further crowd the middle ranks of the farm system.
It's not a blockbuster, but it's a deal I think would benefit both teams- so it's a deal that could get done.
For the blockbuster click here (oh, shameless self-promotion!).
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An insane trade idea
You are out of your mind if you think the Yankees would go for this!
by JBBY on Dec 27, 2011 12:07 AM EST reply actions 1 recs
Bold
Knew someone would go with trading DRob.
I like the idea of trading for a top, MLB pitching prospect a lot.
Did you have to pick two of my favorite players to trade though?
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by Brandon C. on Dec 27, 2011 1:47 AM EST via mobile reply actions
If the Yankees trade Brett Gardner for Torii Hunter
Brian Cashman needs to be shot. That is not what we need at all.
I’d trade Robertson for one of their surplus infielders. They might be willing to give up Trumbo if they have so many players now. I’m a fan of his.
Forgot to add
In the “wild” scenario, Hunter is a throw in to relieve the Angel’s outfield log jam and salary: the trade is Gardner for Garrett Richards.
Richards is a legit talent. He’s a college arm who has moved fast through the minors. Last year, at 23, he tossed 140 innings of AAA: 1.140 WHIP, 7.7 H/9, 0.6 HR/9, 2.5 BB/9, 6.5 K/9, 2.58 K/BB
For comparison, Betances threw 100 AA innings and 20 AAA innings: 1.361 WHIP, 7.3 H/9, 0.6 HR/9, 5.0 BB/9, 10.1 K/9, 2.03 K/BB.
So I’m trading Gardner for a pitcher the same age as Dellin Betances, who has barely had a cup of MLB coffee, who has better control.
that part i don't have a problem with
but Trumbo could play 3B/1B/DH. I understand we’d be getting some good pitching talent, but we’d be giving up two very talented and valuable assets and would be taking on Hunter’s contract when Cashman has made a point of staying away from big contracts.
Trumbo has never played 3B. He’s been a 1B/LF/RF all through the minors and majors. He’s got a lot of pop, but with a sub .300 OBP, I’d rather take my chances with Nunez.
oh, i thought he had experience there
since they are talking about moving him to third. Why don’t they just trade him than?
I disagree that it's cost-effective to trade David Robertson...
If Mariano retires after 2012, the Yankees have their next closer in Robertson, and he’ll be arbitration eligible for the 2013 and 2014 seasons. Having Robertson replace Mo is both cheaper and smarter than siging a high-priced free agent closer.
When Robertson reaches free agency after 2014, and he himself becomes a high priced free agent closer, and will likely be beginning his decline, then you let him go as a free agent and promote the next guy.
Not paying a closer 8 figures is one way the Yankees can smartly lower the payroll. There isn’t going to be another Mariano. There’s no reason to pay someone like there is.
by Let's Talk About Tex Baby on Dec 27, 2011 1:21 PM EST reply actions
I think the odds are against DRob posting another season like he just had. I think selling high on him and letting the next guy the average fan has never heard of take over is smart. But I don’t think DRob is likely to perform as closer significantly better than Soriano (sunk cost) or any of the top prospects coming up.
Soriano will be a high priced free agent closer in 2013 though, because of his opt-out unless he’s bad again this year. If that happens the Yankees might have a riot on their hands if they try to sell him as the successor to Mariano, so either way I don’t think he’s much of an option.
DRob’s been dominant for his last 100 innings or so. He may not be able to repeat 2011, but I don’t think his performance over a year and a half of baseball has been a fluke either. His K-rates have always been ridiculous. I don’t think there’s another great in-house closer option for 2013/14 unless they convert one of the starters, which would be a mistake.
by Let's Talk About Tex Baby on Dec 27, 2011 5:54 PM EST up reply actions
Trading Robertson after the season that he just had to some team in need of a closer and making a killing for the farm system would be a bold and shrewd move and I would be all for it. It, however, is very against the convention of the way the Yankees, and all of baseball really, do business.
I have no doubt that after 2011, he is the leading candidate in the “heir to Mariano” sweepstakes, which people who make more money than me think is important, but I have never really seen the value in it. With Soriano here for two more seasons, Joba coming back, and a long list of guys in the farm system who are on the cusp of the big leagues but will be competing for a very limited number of rotation spots, I don’t think that Robertson is needed for the bullpen to remain a strength in the coming years.
This is not to mention that the probability of Robertson maintaining his 2011 success is next to zero, meaning that his value is not likely to ever be higher. Is this the best deal to make with him? I don’t know, as my knowledge of these Angels prospects is only what a Fangraphs search can tell me. I’m much more in favor of the “mild” trade than the “wild” trade where we give up Brett Gardner and get the overpaid corpse of Torii Hunter.
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by Lord Duggan on Dec 27, 2011 11:01 PM EST reply actions 2 recs
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