Subscribe to YFSF feed
In the NYT this morning, Tyler Kepner speculates that the injury-riddled Indians are likely to deal C.C. Sabathia, and the Yanks are the top candidate for partner. What kind of deal will Cleveland be looking for? They picked the Expos' pockets when they dealt Barrtolo Colon to Montreal in 2002. The Yanks have prospect depth in the minors, at least with pitchers, though it's hard to imagine Phil Hughes going. Would anyone, besides Melky, be sorry to see Robi Cano dealt at this point (a Kepner suggestion)?
Meanwhile, nice win for the boys in Oaktown last night. Big slam for Matsui on his birthday. Solid pitching from Pettitte. The usual dominant close-out from Mo. Can the Yanks spend more than one day over .500??? Take a look at the standings. Boston may be a tough catch, but the A's aren't quite the formidable machine of years past, and Tampa is still Tampa. A decent second half and our boys are playoff bound. You gotta figure a big lefty rotation rock would be a major help in that direction. Bet that Cash'll be thinking about that added playoff revenue when he gets on the horn with Shapiro. You hear a lot of talk about this being a rebuilding year, and maybe it is, but it's not hard to imagine the boys sliding into October as a "surprise" contender. Once the playoffs start, all bets are off.
I wouldn't be happy to see Robi go, but if it meant we could get a legit #1 by all means pull the trigger. If you remember I took a boat load of crap when I suggested they include Cano in the Santana trade. I just think the idea of having a #1 Vs. an underachieving 2Bman seems like a no brainer at this point.
The only thing that scares me is that I highly doubt (as do most) that the Indians will give the Yankees a window for an extension.
Posted by: John - YF | Friday, June 13, 2008 at 09:46 AM
"Would anyone, besides Melky, be sorry to see Robi Cano dealt at this point (a Kepner suggestion)"
Um...I would. I mean I now he's been bad this year. I guess it's possible that either the last 3 seasons were total flukes and/or he suddenly started became a terrible player just before the start of this season - but it's not likely. It's much more likely that he is the young left-handed monster hitting second baseman who's locked up to a *very* reasonable long term contract. No effing way do you trade that for 20 starts from CC Sabathia (yes I know the argument that it would be a trade & sign - still).
Posted by: Mark (YF) | Friday, June 13, 2008 at 10:03 AM
You have to weigh, no pun intended C.C., your options:
Can the Yankees win without a monster 2Bman?
Can the Yankees win without a proven #1 starter?
I guess it depends on the direction they are going.
Bottom line is though Cano isn't going anywhere. Look at what the Twins got for Santana and that was before the season. There is no way the Indians get Cano + from the Yankees in June or July knowing that the Indians will not give a window like the Twins did.
Posted by: John - YF | Friday, June 13, 2008 at 10:11 AM
If Cano starts hitting career average, wouldn't that be a huge boost? Is trading a young player like Cano for Sabathia (and guess what, it won't just be Cano if the Indians play their cards right - Cano isn't playing well enough to be in a straight-up deal for a CY winner) causing problems even as it solves another? The Yankees are miraculously only six back in the loss column, with about as much going wrong as could be imagined in the first half. If Posada and Cano can lift their performances just a bit this team should contend, trading a player like Cano (plus whoever else they need to throw in) for a rental of Sabathia seems panicky to me.
That's not to say that Sabathia isn't a valuable player, but he's not signed (and will demand nine figures to be extended) for 2009 so his value to a team for 2008 is limited by that vagueness; that may decrease his cost to a trading partner, for sure, but it also could turn Sabathia into an expensive rental with no guarantee of major team improvement. If I am the Yankees, I only trade if I can do it with non-roster players, not Robinson Cano. I'd trade Hughes AND Kennedy before I move Cano, frankly. Call me crazy, but if the Yankees can sign CC then they have Wang and Sabathia anchoring their rotation with Chamberlain following. I'd move the young high-upside pitchers before I move the proven second baseman having a bad year.
Posted by: SF | Friday, June 13, 2008 at 10:20 AM
DO WHATEVER IT TAKES TO GET C.C.! Period.
We are not going to challenge the Sox until we shore up our rotation. (master of the obvious)
C.C., Wang (could finally be a #2 as he obviously is not an "ace"), Joba, Hughes (assuming he gets his ass in gear) Kennedy/Brackman/Cole??? That could be a killer rotation into the 2010's...
Not to mention, C.C., Wang, Pettitte, Moose and Joba would work for this year I think...just would need to get a reliever or two for bullpen depth. (trade or minors)
Posted by: krueg | Friday, June 13, 2008 at 10:36 AM
p.s. I would give up Cano if it meant getting C.C. but that would have to be a one-for-one deal. Cano is having a bad year but still will be great in my humble (and mostly pessimistic) opinion...
Posted by: krueg | Friday, June 13, 2008 at 10:48 AM
I meant to post something on this the other day. Jayson Stark on Mike & Mike also said a trade of C.C. Sabathia is a possibility, and that the Indians are calling teams with strong farm systems to look at options.
I believe his quote, slightly garbled by three days of memory, was: "They are all over the Red Sox right now."
Posted by: Paul SF | Friday, June 13, 2008 at 11:42 AM
Also, I think the Indians would certainly be seeking Hughes and Kennedy, absed on their struggles this season. It's no longer an either/or option, like it (maybe) was in the Santana negotiations, and Sabathia is much younger.
From the Red Sox, I'm leery about giving up Masterson, but if it required him and Jed Lowrie, I think I would do that deal. I am by no means sold on that, though... It's hard to tell whether I'm overvaluing our prospects or undervaluing them. Glad I'm not a GM.
Posted by: Paul SF | Friday, June 13, 2008 at 11:48 AM
No way in hell Hankenstein lets C.C. go to Boston!!!!! Right?
Posted by: krueg | Friday, June 13, 2008 at 12:49 PM
in 21 postseason innings cc has a 7.17 ERA giving up 17 runs and 18 walks. if he was able to get the yanks to the playoffs this year you might wanna think about not having him pitch in those playoff games.
Posted by: sf rod | Friday, June 13, 2008 at 02:14 PM
Hey...those numbers are better than Wangs!!!
Posted by: krueg | Friday, June 13, 2008 at 02:47 PM
I don't think the Tribe have a lot of leverage in this situation, so if Hughes was off the table before, I'd assume he remains so now unless there's been a major reevaluation of his value within the organization.
Posted by: YF | Friday, June 13, 2008 at 03:20 PM
Cleveland's best player dead up for New York's worst. Sabatha for Cano. Why?
Posted by: WAY...SF | Saturday, June 14, 2008 at 09:29 PM