Yankees Hoping Help Is On the Way Via Trade and In-House Options
July 2, 2013 · Christopher Connors · Jump to comments
Article Source: Bleacher Report - New York Yankees
The New York Yankees won Tuesday night. These days, one win—even against a lousy Minnesota Twins team—is cause for celebration in Yankees Universe.
But in a lot of respects, Tuesday night’s ugly, yet inspired 10-4 victory in the Upper Midwest seems like a band aid over the many cuts and wounds that cover the Bombers this summer. The Yankees are falling in the standings and their competitors are climbing.
Like The Beatles, the 2013 Yankees are in need of some “Help!“
Namely, help is needed in the lineup and more specifically the left side of the infield, the outfield and even the designated hitter spot. For the month of June, the Yankees finished last in the major leagues in runs scored. Not surprisingly, New York was second to last in team OPS, only percentage points ahead of baseball’s worst team, the Houston Astros.
The question on every fan’s mind at this point is, where will the help come from?
The rumor mill is starting to churn out news slowly regarding players that pique the Yankees’ interest—or in today’s case, of players the Yankees currently have that other teams appear keen on.
Joba Chamberlain, a man that most Yankees fans cannot wait to say goodbye to, is being scouted by the San Francisco Giants and Atlanta Braves, though there’s little discussion on who they would consider dealing to the Bronx, according to George A. King III and Dan Martin of the New York Post (h/t Aaron Gleeman of NBC Sports’ Hardball Talk).
For the other 29 teams in baseball, it’s easy to see Chamberlain as the ultimate candidate for a change of scenery, and it’s quite enticing to be charmed by his high-90s fastball. But Chamberlain has shown himself to be a prima donna during his time in New York and earlier this season felt it necessary to put the great Mariano Rivera in his place.
Still only 27, Chamberlain could conceivably turn things around in the National League. The Yankees would be wise to deal him now and hope for the very best in return. Phil Hughes and Ivan Nova remain possible trade bait.
The Yankees are certainly not short on young-to-fairly young pitchers with proven success. Yet Hughes and Nova lack consistency, which is why they’re even in the discussion to potentially depart New York for other ballclubs.
In recent days, names such as the Phillies‘ Chase Utley, Michael Young and also Carlos Ruiz have been mentioned as possible players going to New York, as per Michael Salisbury of CSN Philly. All three would be significant upgrades for the Yankees at first base, third and catcher.
There’s Chris Carter of the Houston Astros, who gets a passing mention, per Nick Cafardo of the Boston Globe as someone who could intrigue the Yankees. Carter is only 26 but leads the AL in strikeouts and was traded by the Oakland A’s last winter to Houston.
Teams normally don’t trade young power bats like Carter so that in and of itself is telling.
The possibility is always there for the Yankees to make an earth-shattering deal for the likes of Giancarlo Stanton of Miami but don’t count on it. That simply hasn’t been GM Brian Cashman’s M.O. of late.
The smart move here is not to mortgage the future and part ways with prospects like Mason Williams, Gary Sanchez and Rafael De Paula—as tempting as it may be.
Of course, the in-house options abound with Alex Rodriguez, Derek Jeter, Francisco Cervelli, Curtis Granderson and Eduardo Nunez all due back at varying points over the next 2-to-6 weeks. Yet what can the Yankees realistically expect from both A-Rod and Jeter?
The Bombers are saving nearly $19 million on Mark Teixeira this year, a major financial boon for a team paying exorbitant sums of money to players who have not performed or barely played at all. There’s money there to throw around. There could be more if A-Rod doesn’t suit up at all this year for the Yanks.
No one really knows for certain how much money the Yankees could stand to recoup if A-Rod does not don the pinstripes in 2013. It remains nearly impossible to know whether a healthy and unsuspended A-Rod could actually provide value for New York this year.
The key word being “unsuspended,” as A-Rod could be given a lengthy ban by MLB in wake of the investigation into the Biogenesis lab in Miami. It’s all difficult to predict right now, and the hope is that Jeter, Cervelli and Granderson all come back healthy and add production to this lineup.
The Yankees season is hanging by a thread right now due to lackluster hitting. Vernon Wells and Travis Hafner were sensational in April, but their decline has caught up to them here at the midway point of the year. How much longer will these replacement parts hold up?
The Yankees need to make a deal soon. The truth is, they have the pitching to stay in this fight for a playoff berth until the end. They needs some productive bats. They need some help—now.
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