What if we...

did nothing?  What if July 31st came and went?  Why do we have to make moves at the deadline?  Anyone significant on the market is too expensive.  Colorado was asking for six prospects for Ubaldo Jimenez.  Six!  Why don't we just give them our AAA team while we're at it?  James Shields, being in our division, will cost a fortune, as Tampa Bay will try to filch every last prospect of ours.

I guess I understand why people continually clamor for moves by our front office.  Being the Yankees, we are in contention not just for the playoffs, but also the World Series every year.  But we also have to understand that we play for the future, as well as the present.  If we trade a handful of our top prospects for one above average player (I don't consider Beltran, Shields, or 2011 Jimenez to be elite), we'll be sunk in 3-5 years.  I also believe (this has zero statistical backup, mind you) that players help worse teams more than better teams.  Let me explain: if Roy Halladay were traded, he would help the Pirates more than he would help us.  I say this because for elite teams like us (and Red Sox, Phillies), it's hard to significantly improve by adding just one player.  we're only 2 games behind the Red Sox right now.  And it's not like they've been leading consistently the entire year.  There's two months of baseball left.  People who want to make moves now are probably thinking that doing nothing means giving up on the season.  Not quite.  While adding, say, Ubaldo would help us and improve our chances, I think we have a pretty good team here.  We're not the favorites to win it all, but we certainly have a shot.  I guess what I'm saying is that we shouldn't throw out our future (our prospects) just for an increased chance to win it all this year or the next.  People say "no guts, no glory," but we can't "do anything stupid" if we don't do anything.

I guess it's a little inaccurate to say doing nothing is the best.  Maybe one or two role players would help.  A bat off the bench, or reliever.  It would also help if Ivan Nova was promoted and Phil Hughes relegated to the pen.  I'm fine with trading off not-so-valuable minor leaguers for guys who might help us.  Obviously, for every Kerry Wood you get, you get a useless Lance Berkman and an Austin Kearns.  Basically, we should just ignore any marquee trade chips right now, because they are way too expensive.  We might have deep pockets for cash, but not nearly as deep for prospects.