Pudge Rodriguez-Kyle Farnsworth Trade Helps Both Teams

Every now and then, a trade occurs that helps both teams in the short term. In one-for-one swaps between contenders, it's hard to find players that are one team's trash and another team's treasure.

I'm not calling Kyle Farnsworth or Ivan Rodriguez trash (though as a Yankees fan, I've called Farnsworth worse than that, but listening to Brian Cashman's press conference, he clearly was a little shaken saying goodbye to him), but both players fit the bill.

"'Tis the season to be aggressive and decisive," said Cashman, justifying his decision to "rob Peter to pay Paul" by potentially helping out another American League team.

Farnsworth had been an eight-inning mainstay for the past two seasons, drawing the ire of many Yankees fans in the process. With Jose Veras, Edwar Ramirez, and David Robertson emerging from the bullpen, and Brian Bruney's imminent return from the disabled list, the Yankees were finally able to improve their bullpen.

Farnsworth was expendable for two reasons. First, he was to be a free agent after the season, so they wanted to get value for him before he left in the offseason. Second, he is a one-inning reliever.

He doesn't like coming in the middle of innings, and he is ineffective throwing more than one inning. Since he wasn't usually the eighth or ninth-inning pitcher for the Yankees, he was a bit of an albatross. They would rather use younger pitchers who could equal Farnsworth's mediocre production, but with more versatility.

Detroit has enough bullpen problems that they are willing to give him a chance late in ballgames. He played in Detroit in 2005, and his stuff has never been a question mark.

Rodriguez was tired of Detroit, and his salary and average production (.295, 5 home runs, .338 OBP) made him not worth the headache. From their perspective, Farnsworth helped the bullpen more than losing Rodriguez hurt them at catcher.

Pudge had been splitting time with Brandon Inge, and Inge actually had a higher OPS (.758 to .755), so the 36-year old is out for the season.

With Jorge Posada out for the season, Jose Molina had the opportunity to start an extended period of time. He's already been in 69 games, nine short of his career high, and his bat has gone dormant (.229, 0 home runs, .279 OBP). Though, his defense has been phenomenal: He threw out 12 runners in a row at one point.

Pudge and Molina can now split time for the rest of this season, giving the Yankees an offensive boost and Molina some much needed rest.

Rodriguez and Farnsworth are both free agents after the season, so neither team needs to make a commitment to either player past this season.

But this season is all the Yankees and Tigers are worried about right now.

"We want to cross that finish line," said Cashman. His next move is likely to DFA Chad Moeller and call up reliever Brian Bruney

The trade was consummated just one day after Tigers' GM Dave Dombrowski made the offer, but both teams want to make the playoffs.

And they are willing to risk helping each other to help themselves.

Note: The Yankees have also traded reliever LaTroy Hawkins and cash to Houston for single-A infielder Matt Cusick. Hawkins had been designated for assignment July 26 after throwing 41 innings with a 5.71 ERA and 1.44 WHIP. Cusick is a single-A infielder from USC and not considered a top prospect.