MLB Trade Scenarios: 5 Ways to Inject More Youth into the Yankees Roster

The New York Yankees are your prototypical aging organization, locked into long-term deals the Bombers wish they could rid themselves of.

But alas, the Yanks aren't solving any of those long-term issues by playing them out. Clearly there is a need for young talent to replenish the Bombers for the future.

Especially if Hal Steinbrenner wants to compete with a $189 million payroll.

How will the Yankees do it?

Rafael Soriano

New York's bullpen might be devastated with injuries in 2012, but their depth continues to keep them strong in that department. If David Robertson, and in the future, Joba Chamberlain, can both come back healthy, the Yanks could consider trading Rafael Soriano.

Don't forget Phil Hughes who is quickly pitching his way back into the dog house.

Sori's 45-save season in 2010 will be the bait the Bombers throw out to other teams, but will those teams bite?

That remains to be seen and although Soriano does have some value as a closer, he is making a little too much money to make potential buyers comfortable.

The Bombers' closer by default is making $11 million this season and gets a healthy bump up to $14 million for 2013.

General manager Brian Cashman will be hard-pressed to find any takers without picking up some of the money owed to Soriano. Then, and only then, can he hope to get some solid young players back.

Phil Hughes

It just seems Phil Hughes is not working out as a starter with the Yankees. Another horrid outing by the young right-hander saw him give up seven runs in 5.1 innings pitched.

Hughes' stock isn't exactly high, but chances are another team could see the value in acquiring his services. Best bet for the former top prospect would be a relocation to the NL West.

Just a suggestion.

Teams are always looking for cheap, reliable pitching and while Hughes isn't exactly reliable, you can always make him a reliever which is where he's had success. That's if the Bombers don't do that themselves, of course.

Not to mention, how did that guy Ian Kennedy do once he left New York? Sometimes a change of scenery is all a player needs and I have the history to prove it.

Or maybe it was the NL West.

Nick Swisher

Swisher's expiring contract makes him liable to be dealt at any moment, however unlikely that might be.

The Yankees struggling offense has had plenty of problems so far in 2012, but Swish has been one of New York's biggest contributors. His 30 RBI currently tie him for the team lead with Mark Teixeira, of all people.

While his average isn't sitting pretty below .250, Swisher is still an outfielder with some pop and there are plenty of teams worse off than the Yanks who could use an offensive boost.

If traded to a competing team, Swisher could be worth some prospects in return, especially if the free-agent-to-be decides to sign an extension with his new team.

Wishful thinking, however possible it might be.

Freddy Garcia

Has anyone seen Freddy Garcia?

The veteran right-hander has been relegated to the bullpen after four miserable starts to begin the 2012 campaign. He's currently sitting in a long reliever role to mop up whatever mess that day's starter left.

But there could be teams out there who still see a potential contributor to their ailing rotation no matter how bleak it might look for the soon-to-be 36-year-old.

He's a cheap alternative for a contending team needing a back-end starter to fill out their rotation. He has no shortage of experience, as well.

Garcia will be a free agent after the season so he won't be a long-term commitment.

And how does that inject youth into the Bombers' roster? Certainly Garcia won't garner any kind of young talent.

However, a trade will take the 36-year-old off the Yankees' roster, making space for another younger pitcher looking to get a shot in the big leagues.

Don't Trade Away Prospects

There might be some potentially attractive pieces out there this trade deadline that could help the Yankees, but we all know they should have enough already on their roster.

Prospects in the Bombers' farm system normally pay the price when the team makes a move to improve at the deadline. But if the Yanks want to get younger, there's no better way to do that than from within.

Some of the greatest players ever to wear the pinstripes came from within the organization itself and it's been a formula that has proven to work periodically over the past century.