Yankees Start Trimming the Fat: Brian Bruney Traded to Nationals

The Yankees, who are reportedly on a quest to reduce payroll this offseason, have traded right-handed reliever Brian Bruney to the Washington Nationals for a player to be named later.

Bruney, who made $1.25 million this year, was due for salary arbitration and could've made around $2 million after putting up what appeared to be a good season.

The 27-year-old's 5-0 record and 3.92 ERA look nice on paper, but Yankees fans know how much Bruney struggled at times this year following his return from injury.

On Aug. 1, he had a 6.10 ERA, but manager Joe Girardi kept his confidence in the reliever and from that point forward, he allowed only three runs in 18 1/3 innings (1.47 ERA).

Bruney's biggest issue was his control, as he walked 23 batters in just 39 frames.

With the righty finishing strong, why not sell high and try to get something in return?  David Robertson's emergence as a capable reliever made Bruney expendable, and this move will help the Yanks decrease their payroll from $208 million to their reported goal of about $185 million.

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Jordan Schwartz is Bleacher Report's New York Yankees Community Leader. His book "Memoirs of the Unaccomplished Man" is available at amazon.com, barnesandnoble.com, and authorhouse.com.

Jordan can be reached at [e-mail]