So where do they go from here with the trading deadline coming on July 31st? Do they tweak the roster to make it better, or do they go for broke and pull out all the stops? Most likely scenario is a tweak. Brian Cashman made a big trade at the trade deadline last season by getting Nady and Marte from Pittsburg for 4 prospects. The team was hot at the time and looked like it could make a run for the division. Unfortunately, the team failed to get better and finished in 3rd place and out of the playoffs.
I'm assuming Cashman will take the same approach this season and wait to see how the team responds after the break before determining what moves to make by the 31st. The needs as usual are pitching, pitching and more pitching. What else is new! The rotation which looked good on paper in the spring is now filled with holes. CC and AJ have preformed OK (not great), but the rest of the starters have been so-so to terrible. The key to the blueprint drawn up this winter was Wang. A return to his pre-injury form would have given them a top 3 to rival any top 3 in baseball. What's happened is the opposite because of Wang's problems. They now have a bottom 3 that is suspect with Wang hurt/ineffective, Joba going through growing pains trying to become a starter, and Pettitte hanging on trying to remain a starter. On top of that their next potential starter, Hughes, is now in the bullpen. Yes, he's excelled there, but they need him in the rotation.
So what to do- tweak it or go for broke? Let's go through some possible scenarios:
1) Bring up help from Scranton. The Yanks have Sergio Mitre and Ivan Nova both throwing well done there. Positive: Doesn't cost anything. Negative: Yankee pitching prospects haven't always performed in NY like they have in the minors (even though Mitre isn't a rookie). They kind of act like Dorothy from the Wizard of Oz when they get to the mound and realize they are not in Kansas anymore.
2) Move Hughes or Aceves into the rotation. Positive: Both were successful minor league starters and have pitched well in the NY bullpen. Negative: They would need time to "stretch out" their arms, and you'd have to replace them in the pen where they both have been very good.
3) Move Joba to the pen. Positive: Joba was a great 8th inning guy in the past. Negative: You would need 2 starters to replace him and Wang unless Wang comes back. Plus, there's no guarantee Joba will be the 8th inning monster he used to be when he was throwing close to 100 with his fastball.
4) Make a trade for either Jarod Washburn, Doug Davis, Erik Bedard, Jon Garland, Rich Harden, Jose Contreras, or other 2010 free agent pitchers. Positive: They are rentals and "may" not require as much to acquire. Negative: Seattle, and both Chicago teams are still in the playoff races, and pitchers like Contreras have already failed in NY.
Hey, 2009 free agent pitchers Paul Byrd and Odalis Perez are still available.
5) Trade for and pick up a contract of someone like Gil Meche, Aaron Harang, etc. Positive: Acquire an established starter. Negative: Having to pay a lot of money to overpriced talent.
6) Try to acquire Cliff Lee. Positive: Won Cy Young last year and is pitching well this year but without run support. Negative: Cleveland has an affordable option on him for next year so they will require some top prospects for his services. Plus, he will need a big contract to resign him after that.
7A) Go for broke and get Halliday. Positive: Acquire one of the best pitchers in baseball which would give them a top 3 of CC, AJ and Halliday for the next few years. Negative: The Jays would ask for half the farm system and then you have to sign him to a big extension.
7B) Trade for Halliday and Vernon Wells for a package of Wang, Swisher, Roberto Pena and either Zach McAllister or Ivan Nova. Positive: See 7A above. Negative: Taking on Wells absurd contract: Signed seven-year, $126 million extension w/full NTC ($25.5 million signing bonus). 2009: $10 million, 2010: $21 million, 2011: $23 million (can opt out after season), 2012: $21 million, 2013: $21 million, 2014: $21 million, and then also have to resign Halliday for big money.
Rationale: The Jays save millions of dollars if the Yankees take Well's ridiculous contract and Halliday's remaining money. Plus, it's doubtful the Jay's could afford to resign Roy in a couple of years. The Yankees, in turn, don't have to give up the farm. The Yanks have Damon (13 million), Matsui (13 million), Nady (6.55 million), Pettitte (5.5 million), Molina (2 million) coming off the books after this season- almost 40 million. Wang makes 5 million this year and Swisher makes 15.75 over the next 2 years. That's another 20 million. The Jays could keep or try to trade those 2. Next year is the last year of Jeter and Mo's contracts. They won't get 21 million and 15 million again. Posada's contract is done in 2 years at 13.1 million each year. Unfortunately, they still have to pay Marte and Igawa 4 million each over the next 2 seasons. So what may you have: Roy, CC, AJ, Hughes, and either Kennedy (if healthy), McAllister or Nova as starters. Mo, Joba, Aceves, Bruney, Coke, Melancon, Robertson, etc. in the pen; Montero, Cervelli, and Romine as catchers after Posada leaves; Tex, Cano, Jeter and Arod in the infield, and Melky, Gardner, Wells and Austin Jackson in the outfield.
So what are your ideas?
