New York Yankees: Should Bombers Look into Trade for Alfonso Soriano?
February 24, 2013 · Doug Rush · Jump to comments
Article Source: Bleacher Report - New York Yankees
The New York Yankees lost another key bat on Sunday due to injury.
In Sunday’s spring training game with the Toronto Blue Jays, Curtis Granderson was lost for 10 weeks after suffering a broken forearm after taking a pitch off the arm by J.A. Happ.
Because of the injury, Granderson will now be out until at least May, which eliminates another key member of the offense for over two months.
Mike Axisa of River Ave. Blues and CBS Sports reported that the Yankees will try to fill the void left by Granderson internally, and a guy like Melky Mesa could be first in line for a shot to get playing time.
With a team that is trying to cut payroll, bringing up a guy like Mesa seems like the best option to take the spot of the injured Granderson.
But will it replace the power and productivity that is lost with Granderson’s injury? Not likely.
If the Yankees want any chance of contending in 2013, they’re going to need to upgrade the offense and go outside the organization to do it.
CBS Sports and WFAN’s Jon Heyman suggested that the Yankees try to make a deal for Chicago Cubs outfielder Alfonso Soriano.
Five days ago, my fellow B/R writer Kenny DeJohn wrote about the possibility of adding Soriano to the Yankees lineup, which was before the injury to Granderson.
A few days ago, adding Soriano didn’t make sense because it wasn’t a necessity.
Now with the injury to Granderson, trading for Soriano may be a necessity, and I happen to agree with Heyman‘s story.
In 2012, Soriano hit .262 with 32 home runs and 108 RBI in 151 games for the Cubs.
The one issue with Soriano is that he’s still owed $36 million over the next two years, so if the Yankees were going to make a deal for him, the Cubs would have to eat most of the contract in order for the Yankees to take Soriano.
The Cubs nearly dealt Soriano last season to the San Francisco Giants, but Soriano induced his no-trade clause that nixed any potential deal.
Soriano’s preference is to play on the East Coast, so going back to the Yankees could in fact be a possibility if trade talks were to happen.
The Cubs can afford to spare Soriano, especially now that they have Jorge Soler in their plans to take over Soriano’s spot.
Even when Granderson does return from injury, the Yankees are still in need of a right-handed bat to be in their lineup.
Against left-handed pitching, the Yankees could use Soriano as a part-time DH to give Travis Hafner a break so they also don’t burn out Soriano in the outfield.
Soriano once started out as a top Yankee prospect and lead-off hitter who got off to a great start before being dealt to the Texas Rangers in 2004 in the trade that landed the Bombers Alex Rodriguez.
That trade made sense considering the Yankees had just lost Aaron Boone to a broken leg and A-Rod was clearly the better player in his prime.
Nine years later, the 37-year-old Soriano is no longer a second baseman but an outfielder. An outfielder that can still drive the ball and be useful in a Yankee lineup that is losing pop by the day.
It would be fitting that Soriano could get a shot to end his career with the same team he started his career with.
There are two major questions that have to be asked.
1. Do the Yankees want Soriano?
2. If put on the block, would Soriano waive his no-trade clause to come back to the Yankees?
Since the Yankees will likely be contending for another AL East title and the playoffs, going back to the Bronx would be an attractive option for Soriano.
I think Brian Cashman will try to go with the internal options first. But if they don’t work out, don’t be surprised if Soriano’s name comes up for the Yankees.
Stay tuned, Yankees Universe.
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