Latest Yankees Trade Rumors

Outside of the news about Alex Rodriguez, things are kind of slow in Yankeeland these days. But there have still been rumblings of a trade with the Atlanta Braves.

Things took an interesting turn last night when Adam Dunn signed a two-year $20 million deal to play for the Washington Nationals.

With Dunn and Bobby Abreu—who signed with the Angels—off the market, the Braves lost their two best options for a corner outfield bat via free agency.

The Braves now have two choices: Sign a very aged veteran, or make a trade with the Yankees.

With the way the free agent market currently looks, it appears the Yankees have quite a bit of leverage over the Braves.

If the Braves want to add a bat, the Yankees are their best choice, and they know it. Previously, the Yankees have resisted eating some of Nick Swisher’s contract in order to make a deal work. However, the Yankees may now reconsider that tactic, as Swisher is quite an attractive option, and could net a nice return.

Peter Abraham of the Journal News had some good ideas for prospects the Yankees could get from Atlanta:

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“How about Nady and $2 million to the Braves for OF Gorkys Hernandez, LHP Jeff Locke and a lesser prospect? I’m just picking names, but I think it makes sense. Hernandez is a good CF prospect but the Braves already have one of those in Jordan Schafer. Locke is a 21-year-old from New Hampshire who had a poor season in low A ball but has velocity and command. Maybe he needs to meet Nardi Contreras.

The Yankees badly need position player prospects and they lack LH starters in their system beyond Jeremy Bleich and young dudes like Nik Turley and Manny Banuelos.

Now don’t go spreading rumors, I’m just throwing this out there and channelling my inner Joel Sherman for a moment.”

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Abraham also believes the Yankees would be smarter for keeping Swisher over Xavier Nady, but he added that it would be in the Yankees best interest to keep both of them.

I agree.