MLB Trade Rumors: New York Yankees Scouting Astros’ Wandy Rodriguez Again?
June 20, 2012 · Doug Rush · Jump to comments
Article Source: Bleacher Report - New York Yankees
It seems like whenever a starting pitcher is on the trade market, the New York Yankees always find a way to be attached to the rumors.
First, it was Matt Garza.
Then, it was Ryan Dempster.
Hey, they were even scouting free agent pitcher Ben Sheets.
Now, according to Jon Paul Morosi of FOX Sports, we can add Houston Astros lefty Wandy Rodriguez to the list.
Scouts from the Yankees were in attendance for his latest start against the Kansas City Royals on Tuesday night, a game that despite losing, he pitched well in.
This is not the first time the Yankees have been tied to being interested in the Astros starter.
The Yankees attempted to trade for Rodriguez at last year’s trading deadline, but the deal fell apart at the last second because the two teams couldn’t come to an agreement on how much of Rodriguez’s salary each would take on.
In 2012, Rodriguez is 6-5 with a 3.29 ERA in 15 starts, pitching 95.2 innings with 61 strikeouts.
I was not a fan of trading for Rodriguez last year, and my stance has not changed. I hope the Yankee scouts were merely doing their due diligence in watching the left-hander.
The Yankees should not take on Rodriguez’s contract, as he’s still owed $18 million between 2012 and 2013, and has a $13 million player option for 2014 if he is traded.
Plus, Rodriguez gets away with not exactly being a typical strikeout pitcher with dominating stuff in the NL Central. But in the AL East, he likely would be eaten alive by the more powerful lineups he would see every five days.
According to the same story by Morosi, scouts from the Giants, Blue Jays, Red Sox and Dodgers were also in attendance for the same game, watching Rodriguez.
The Red Sox, Giants and Blue Jays make more sense than the Yankees do looking at Rodriguez.
Boston just placed Josh Beckett on the disabled list, and they are always looking to add starters, especially with John Lackey out for the season recovering from Tommy John surgery. The Giants are dealing with Tim Lincecum’s struggles.
The Blue Jays, like the Yankees, tried to pursue Rodriguez last year and were unsuccessful. Toronto also just placed starters Kyle Drabek and Brandon Morrow on the disabled list.
Every starter the Yankees have now is better than Rodriguez, so he wouldn’t be an improvement to the rotation. If the Yankees are in fact going to attempt to add pitching, hopefully it will be a better starter.
Stay tuned, Yankees Universe.
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