New York Yankees: 4 Players Who Could Be Moved This Offseason

As other teams in the AL East begin to bolster their rosters, the New York Yankees need to make some big moves to stay competitive in what will surely be next season’s toughest division.

Key guys like Nick Swisher, Russell Martin, Rafael Soriano and Ichiro have elected free agency and need to be replaced this offseason.

This team took a lot of criticism after their ALCS sweep at the hands of the Detroit Tigers. They have the daunting task of keeping the fans in New York happy and making some big moves.

To make these big moves, they’re going to have to include some big names of their own.

Here are four Yankees who could be moved this offseason.

Phil Hughes

Since throwing six perfect innings in his first career start, Hughes has been one of the most overhyped players on this Yankee team.

The 26-year-old is far removed from being a top Yankee prospect and hasn’t provided the Yankees with the type of stuff they hoped he would offer.

Last season, Hughes threw a career-high 191.1 innings after a career that’s been plagued by injury. His increased stamina and 4.23 ERA will make him a hot commodity as teams are likely already inquiring about his status.

Hughes is arbitration eligible this year and, assuming the Yankees can keep him, should look to include him in a deal for a big-name pitcher.

Curtis Granderson

The Yankees recently exercised their one-year, $15 million contract option for Granderson.

The 31-year-old Granderson had a career high in home runs with 43 in lefty-friendly Yankee Stadium. While Granderson is beginning to transform into more of a power hitter, he had a career-low .232 average with a disappointing 195 strikeouts in 2012.

Granderson will be a free agent next season and would make a nice piece in a trade to acquire a starting pitcher or a few bats.

“I will listen on anybody, but you would be hard-pressed to get enough to trade a center fielder who is a perennial 40-homer-plus man,” GM Brian Cashman told the New York Post.

Cashman will not trade Granderson unless the Yanks can get significantly better from it.

A possible location for Granderson this offseason could be Los Angeles.

Pitchers Aaron Harang and Chris Capuano are entering the final year of their contracts, and both enjoyed relatively good seasons for the Dodgers.

The chances of Granderson being dealt are slim, but the Yankees could get a lot in return for their lefty slugger.

Ivan Nova

Ivan Nova had one of the more noticeable sophomore slumps in MLB this season.

Nova ended 2012 with a 12-8 record, a 5.02 ERA and 153 strikeouts.

Nova wasn’t high on the Yankees’ radar until his 2010 minor league performance where he went 12-3 with a 2.86 ERA for triple-A Scranton Wilkes-Barre.

The young righty was left off the Yankees postseason roster this year, and there’s a chance he could be dealt at some point this offseason.

A possible trade destination could be the Royals, where Alex Gordon hit a quiet .294 with 14 home runs and 73 RBI. Gordon also took home his second Gold Glove this season.

Nova has some significant trade value and could be an important piece in a blockbuster Yankee trade.

Alex Rodriguez

“What began as a casual, joking conversation between New York Yankees president Randy Levine and Miami Marlins owner Jeffrey Loria about the possibility of Alex Rodriguez playing for the Marlins may develop into serious trade talks this offseason,” reported Wallace Matthews of ESPN.

After the mega deal with the Blue Jays that nearly wiped Miami’s roster clean of talent, the Marlins will be looking to reshape their franchise.

Giancarlo Stanton, one of the real talents remaining on this roster, was extremely unhappy with the recent trade, and is currently stranded with an organization that frankly has no idea what it’s doing.

Alex Rodriguez could be the solution to making not only Stanton happy, but the fans of Miami happy as well.

The Marlins will be shopping Logan Morrison and Ricky Nolasco this offseason, and, if they’re willing to pick up A-Rod’s contract, would be a trade beneficial to both the Yankees and Marlins.

Morrison has a real chance to be a 40-home run guy in New York with the short porch. His bat and his lively personality could be a perfect replacement for Nick Swisher.

A-Rod’s departure from New York would be a weight lifted off the shoulders of Yankee fans and their organization, and adding Nolasco and Morrison would bolster both their lineup and rotation.