Yankees Other Trading Deadline Need: Starting Pitching
July 7, 2009 · Doug Rush · Jump to comments
Article Source: Bleacher Report - New York Yankees
BY DOUG RUSH
The Yankees were hoping that Chien-Ming Wang was going to work out his pitching problems on the mound and hope the Chien-Ming Wang of old would re-appear for the second half of the 2009 season.
On July 4, it looked as if that was happening as Wang was pitching very well for five innings. Then in the sixth, the worst happened. Wang left the game against the Toronto Blue Jays with a strained right shoulder and was placed on the disabled list for the second time this season and third time in two seasons and no time-table has been set for Wang’s return, leaving the Yankees down one major starter.
The Yankees were able to salvage the game and pick up the slack of Wang’s departure, but his injury leaves a hole in the rotation. Joe Girardi has already said Phil Hughes is staying in the bullpen and more than likely, so will Alfredo Aceves as both Hughes and Aceves have been too valuable in the bullpen.
So if Hughes and Aceves aren’t the answer, who is? Could it be Sergio Mitre, who they said could be called up from Triple-A Scranton/Wilks-Barre to take Wang’s start.
Most people probably don’t know a whole lot on Mitre; he’s 28-years-old and has pitched for the Cubs and the Marlins. His last full season was 2007 where he made 27 starts and went 5-8. Since then, Mitre has been on the shelf with arm problems and most recently, a 50-game suspension for a drug violation.
Apparently Mitre has been good in Triple-A this year, but that’s only the minor leagues. We’ve all seen Ian Kennedy dominate the minor leagues, then get shelled when returning to the majors like he did in 2008. Most probably do not see Mitre as a long-term solution, more like a one-game solution until the All-Star break.
So what do the Yankees do to upgrade their rotation? A few options are out there.
Before I go into the other options, Roy Halladay will more than likely never happen because J.P. Riccardi will never ever trade within the division again, so I think most Yankee fans can just cross Halladay off the list.
Cliff Lee of the Cleveland Indians is out there, although it seems like Mark Shapiro will want a lot in return because Lee is still the reigning Cy Young winner. However, Cleveland is sinking fast. They are 17 games under .500 and 11 1/2 games out of first and half of their roster is on the trading block. Shapiro could be inclined to wave the white flag on 2009 and start dealing major players like Lee, who is 4-8 with a 3.45 ERA and 120 innings pitched.
Dan Haren of the Arizona Diamondbacks is also out there. Arizona is definitely out of the race in the National League West being as they are 18 1/2 behind the Los Angeles Dodgers and Haren is an established pitcher. Arizona knows they also might lose Brandon Webb to free agency, so they may feel like it is time to re-build their franchise, which would mean getting something back for players like Haren. Haren is 8-5 with a 2.16 ERA in 121 innings pitched and is a former All-Star. I’d be curious what Arizona would ask for in return for Haren.
For years, I have always wondered if Roy Oswalt from the Houston Astros would ever get traded and up until now, it still has been a no. Houston has been in a decline since its trip to the 2005 World Series and from the retirements of Jeff Bagwell and Craig Biggio. Houston is in a tie for fourth place at 40-41 and just 3 1/2 back in the NLCentral race. However, if they start to decline by the end of July, I would make a phone call to Houston to see what Oswalt’s price tag is. Oswalt does seem like a long shot with them being in the thick of the race, but by the end of the month, that could change.
I have heard Jarrod Washburn’s name mentioned again this year, as it was brought up last year. The Yankees had a major problem with the pitching last season with Wang on the DL and here we are a year later with Wang back on the DL and trying to fill his shoes. Washburn was never dealt last year from the Seattle Mariners and they were one of the worst teams in baseball last year. This year is different; they are over .500 at 43-39 and just 3 1/2 games out of first in the AL West. Seattle may not feel as inclined to deal someone like Jarrod Washburn because he does give Seattle innings (105.1) and he’s 5-6, but that’s due to lack of run support as his ERA is only 3.08. Washburn’s numbers make him a nice target, but again, Seattle is still in the race.
Washburn’s Seattle teammate, Erik Bedard, has also been rumored on the trading block. Bedard was brought over from Baltimore to Seattle last year to help the Mariners overtake the Los Angeles Angels in the West, but that just hasn’t happened. Seattle made a lot of bad signings in recent time with Richie Sexson, Adrian Beltre, Jose Vidro, Carlos Silva, just to name a few. Bedard has spent more time on the DL than on the mound in his time with Seattle. If Seattle decides that they are waving the white-flag on 2009, I’d be curious to know what Seattle would want for Bedard. He is 5-2 with a 2.47 ERA with 65 innings pitched before going on the DL with a shoulder injury and he’s also a lefty strikeout pitcher with good stuff. If Seattle is still in the race, I wouldn’t even bother, but if they fall by the end of July, he’s a name I’d be very curious about.
We all know the Washington Nationals are out of the NL East race at 24-56 and 19 games out of first, they aren’t going anywhere. Most of their roster is on the block and they have slowly started to deal. They also have an interim GM in Mike Rizzo who is looking to keep the job so he may be re-shaping the roster. One player I’d look into is lefty John Lannan, who the Yankees saw last month and beat the Yankees back on June 17 at the new Yankee Stadium. On a horrid Nationals team, Lannan is 6-5 with a 3.45 ERA with 107 innings pitched. He doesn’t strike out a lot of batters, but he gets outs, and that’s all that matters in the game. If Lannan were on a better team, he might have 8-10 wins, but he is still stuck in Washington. He might have a low price tag and could be an option.
The final option is the longest shot of them all, but I have to wonder because the Atlanta Braves seem to be falling out of the NL East race slowly, and that is Derek Lowe. Yes, Lowe makes $15 million a season and the Yankees could have had Lowe back in the winter. Lowe also got pounded by the Yankees in Atlanta late last month. Lowe has been on a skid as his record is 7-7 with a 4.56 ERA. But, Lowe is 36 and still never been on the DL with any sort of injury and he has given the Braves innings when needed with 106.2. Lowe also has a ton of playoff experience with the Red Sox and Dodgers and doesn’t fold under the bright lights of October. Frank Wren would probably ask for a lot in return for someone like Lowe, who is in the first year of a four year deal, so it does make him a long shot to be dealt, But it can’t hurt for Brian Cashman to pick up his cell phone and ask.
Whatever the case may be for the Yankees to add to their pitching staff, they know without Wang, they are a man down and Wang’s spot needs to be replaced soon. If a trade can be made for a starter, hopefully it won’t cost the Yankees their top prospects like Austin Jackson or Jesus Montero.
But if the Yankees can get a deal done, then lets hope it brings the Yankees a solid investment and stabilization to a pitching staff that needs it for the second half.
Yankee Tickets
Shop Yankee
