Back in July 2004, the Yankees desperately tried to acquire Randy Johnson from the Diamondbacks. The Yankees told Arizona officials that absolutely no one in their farm system was untouchable. But the D-Backs, having been burned by the Curt Schilling trade just a few months prior, opted to hold onto Johnson _ crushing the Yankees, who perhaps wouldn't have been embarrassed that October. Arizona, meanwhile, underestimated a couple of interesting, talented players.
Fast forward to three years later, and the Yankees could land pretty much any available player out there, thanks to their vastly improved farm system. An impressive group of pitchers, featuring Joba Chamberlain, Ian Kennedy and Alan Horne, not to mention Phil Hughes, has the industry buzzing.
So what should the Yankees do with their well-earned stash of pitchers? Should they utilize some of the youngsters to acquire Akinori Otsuka and Mark Teixeira from the Rangers? Or should they pocket the arms and see how many thrive in the Bronx, consequently saving untold millions down the line by not having to rely on untrustworthy outsiders?
It's not an easy call, given the Yankees' distance from a playoff spot and the way their needs have been a moving target. Don't think for a moment that Brian Cashman will let his supposed job instability influence his thinking. The bet here is that Cashman (pictured here from a New York magazine story that same '04 sesaon) will absolutely be back in 2008, no matter whether the Yankees make the playoffs.
What would you do if you were Cashman?
Comments (20)
Cashman should keep the prospects. We need the young arms to develop. We need to much at this time to make a run at the playoffs. The Yankees are better off making a run with what they have in place.
Keep the prospects.
Keep two (Hughes plus Chamberlain or Kennedy), trade two for Teixiera (signed to a long-term deal) and Otsuka. Throw in Farnsworth and Phillips too so Texas can fill its roster spots.
Face it, much as we like prospects, no way all four of them will ever be in the rotation together.
Why not go after Eric Gagne to replace Fransworth-less as the bridge to Mariano. Since Gagne is a free agent this year, he can probably be had cheaply...maybe even up for Farnsworth.
The Yankees have accumulated too much age ever since they signed Scott Brosius to a 3-year contract and simultaneously traded Mike Lowell to the Marlins. It has come home to roost this year. They need to get back into the player development business, keep the prospects, improve their amateur scouting in North America (especially in the inner cities), and stay out of Japan.
Poppy, Gagne is one of the most sought commodities on the trade market. The Rangers have no interest in Farnsworth. They want prospects in return.
Prospects are what they are, "prospects". They should hold on to Hughes because we have seen what he can do. Otherwise they should make a run at the pennant now. There is no way the Yankees can afford to wait on these guys like the Tigers have and tank for a year or two. There will always be another free agent out there to get to fill a spot or need.
Hughes and Joba are off the table. They're untouchable. Those two and Wang will give the Yanks one of the best starting rotations in a couple years.
I'd be willing to part with Kennedy, Horne, and maybe even Tabata.
Teixeria would just be a perfect fit for the Yankees and our lineup, and obviously we could use Gagne in the pen.
Do you think Texas would do Kennedy, Horne, and Tabata for Teixeria and Gagne?
Speaking of the pen, what does Farnsworth(less) have to do to be taken out of tne 8th inning?!?!? Wake up, Torre!
Who has stolen more from the Yanks, Krazy Kyle or the great Pavano?
Jeff, I don't think that package gets it done. Texas can't deal Teixeira and Gagne to the Evil Yankees (perception down in Texas, not me saying it) and come away with pitchers 3 and 4 on the hierarchy.
the yanks have to decide which youngsters are true prospects and which are pretenders. there is a TON of pitching talent down there.take a page out of the braves book, chances are, all of these prospects arent going to make it.so do your homework and decide who's staying.DONT OVERVALUE THEM. you'll wind up with crap. then go get teixeira (the tino deal worked out pretty well remember?-it wasnt on the cheap prospect-wise), call up joba for the pen, and trade kyle for a bag a balls and a utility player.
Yeah, I had a feeling that deal probably wouldn’t get it done.
To be fair though, there’s really no shame to be behind Hughes and Chamberlain in the hierarchy. Kennedy would probably be a top-pitching prospect for a lot of teams right now. His numbers at Trenton are very impressive: 5-1, 2.47 ERA, 51 K in 44 IP. I’ve heard him compared to Mussina.
Horne has really emerged as well: 9-3, 2.34 ERA, 115 K in 103 IP at Trenton.
And Tabata is hitting .310 in high A ball with 45 RBI and is only 18. He’s by far the best position player prospect in the Yankees system.
In any event, it should really be interesting to see what, if anything, the Yanks do during the deadline, and especially in the offseason. The question of whether Torre goes and who replaces him to A-Rod’s contract situation, and whether we bring in a CF (Hunter would make the most sense, I think).
In a perfect world, Girardi is brought in to manage, A-Rod resigns, and Hunter signs, and we’re able to find a sucker for Farnsworth and Damon.
Hunter wears an earring.
Which means he is a follower.
Earrings are for
A. Women
B. pirates
We need leaders to set the trend, not follow the crowd.
Teixiera is garbage. The Yankees don't need another mouth on their team. Andy Phillips is one of the main reasons why we're not done right now.
You don't reward hard work and success with a secured spot on the bench. That crap backfired last year.
I have a great idea as to who the Yankees should aquire. Jeff Conine from the Reds. He wouldn't cost much.
That, and he's a gamer.
Abreu is a little girl. He should traded
if only to remove him from the team.
A nice guy, but a soft player.
Maybe an arm for the pen, but only if they can unload the Farns and or Proctor. You have no chance to win if your pen can't get it over the plate.
They will give up the entire farm system, make the playoffs on the final day of the season and then get swept in the division series.
Increase scouting in the inner cities??? who the hell plays baseball in the inner city? Thats where you go to find hoopstas, not baseball players... idiot!
Hughes and Chamberlain are the 2 that you MUST keep. The others can be used as trading chips if necessary (although I love Ian Kennedy). No matter what at the end of the year we must get ride of Damon, Abreu, and Farny. Sign Hunter, move melky to right. Then the AROD decision: I would keep him. KEEP Andy Phillips, he is clutch with RISP and plays good D. Sign Posada and Rivers too. As for the deadline: we don't really NEED Teixeira but we could use some arms in the bullpen and utility players ahem Farny sucks.
Keep the piching prospects. It would be nice to have Teixeira but we should wait till he is a free agent or the price comes down.
I say trade Giambi, Damon, Abreau, Duncan, Farnsworth and Proctor....The field is set with Arod, Jeter, Cano and Phillips, catching is Posada and now backup Molina, outfield keep Melky in Center, Matsui in Left and try to deal with Tampa for Crawford or Upton either would be cheap, and happy to leave Tampa, now you have a solid field and lots to deal with for pitchers...and the #1 to go after although he is not available is Willis in Arizona and Gagne, ge them both!
Bill, you're not getting Crawford, Upton, Willis or Gagne by giving up any of the guys you mentioned. Those guys are all in the Hughes-Chamberlain realm - perhaps not Gagne, but even he would require a Kennedy or Horne.
Yankees should get a lefty in pen that is biggest need and righthanded hitter for RF
I'm thinking (Farnsworth )to Rockies for (Jeremy Affeldt) Yanks pay half the contract.
Villone to Braves for Matt Diaz