New York Yankees: 10 Risky Trades They Could Pull off to Go for It All in 2011
Yankees GM Brian Cashman has a farm stocked with highly thought of prospects, prospects that he has no intention of promoting to the major league roster anytime soon and is very hesitant to include in a trade.
Why wouldn't he trade them?
Simply put, Cashman is not looking to make "big" changes to the Yankees—it has been reported that the Yankees are only interested in left-handed relievers and players who will become free agents after this season.
Jesus Montero, Delin Betances, Manny Banuelos and company, from what we can gather, are too promising to include in a trade for such a player.
However, this is the New York Yankees we are talking about, and as we all know, the Yankees are only focused on one thing—winning championships.
While there is an inherent risk in acquiring any player and introducing him into the intense, sometimes circus-like atmosphere that comes with playing for the Yankees, the team has shown no hesitation in doing so before.
Two players who were gigantic question marks and widely considered to be huge risks coming into the season, starting pitchers Freddy Garcia and Bartolo Colon, thus far have been risks that were worth taking. Especially in the case of Colon, who it could be argued has been the Yankees best starting pitcher this season.
What other risks could the Yankees take to ensure that they are the last team standing at the end of the 2011 season?
After the jump, 10 trades that could go either way for Brian Cashman and the Yankees, some that could have long-term implications on both the Yankees and the rest of the American League.
Jonathan Broxton, RP, Los Angeles Dodgers
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Yankees Acquire: Jonathan Broxton
Dodgers Acquire: mid-level prospect, cash considerations
We briefly discussed Jonathan Broxton roughly two weeks ago, and the story stays the same. The 27-year old remains on the disabled list, and there is no guarantee that Dodgers manager Don Mattingly will make him the closer again once he returns.
Regardless of the settlement that is reached between embattled Dodgers' owners Frank and Jamie McCourt in their contentious divorce case, the team will most likely remain cash-strapped in the short term whether one of the McCourts assumes control or if the commissioner's office steps in.
While not the left-handed reliever the Yankees covet, Broxton is a former All-Star who is historically tough on left-handed batters, holding them to a .219 average throughout his career.
If Larry Rothschild and the Yankee coaching staff is unable to straighten him out and he continues to pitch to his awful numbers so far this year (5.68 ERA, 1.89 WHIP), he becomes another expensive mistake (see Kei Igawa), albeit a short-term one, as his contract expires after this season.
However, the chance to get young, established relief pitchers does not come around often. If Broxton does return to form, he gives the Yankees another powerful weapon on the bridge that leads to the end of the rainbow, where Mariano Rivera patiently waits.
Francisco Rodriguez, RP, New York Mets
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Yankees Acquire: Francisco Rodriguez
Mets Acquire: Mid-level prospect
We discussed Francisco "K-Rod" Rodriguez roughly two weeks ago, and like Jonathan Broxton, not much has changed.
While former closer-turned-setup man Rafael Soriano went from outstanding to awful to the disabled list in little more than a month for the Yankees this season, one has to wonder whether or not Rodriguez has the mental makeup to handle being a setup man.
Additionally, Rodriguez has clashed with the Yankees before, and while Brian Bruney is no longer in the Yankee bullpen, Yankee fans will surely let K-Rod know how they feel about his often "over-the-top" celebrations at the first sign of trouble.
Even after acquiring a desperately needed influx of available cash from new minority owner David Einhorn, the fact remains that the Mets do not want to see Rodriguez finish 55 games this year and watch helplessly as his $17.5 million option for 2012 vest.
With a team that continues to barely tread water in the NL East, Sandy Alderson may come to the realization that they are better off getting something for Rodriguez now rather then either risk his option vesting or losing in him free agency with nothing substantive in return other then a draft pick.
Were Rodriguez able to handle not being "the man," he would shorten the game for the Yankees starting pitchers and provide Joe Girardi with a legitimate alternative to close games on days when Mariano Rivera is unavailable to do so.
Should he prove unable to flourish in a setup role, K-Rod would become an unwelcome distraction and a scapegoat for Yankee fans everywhere.
Fausto Carmona, SP, Cleveland Indians
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Yankees Acquire: Fausto Carmona
Indians Acquire: mid-level prospect
While seeing the Cleveland Indians in first place brings back memories of a time when Albert Belle and Manny Ramirez called Cleveland home, or possibly flashbacks of Charlie Sheen taking the mound as Rick "Wild Thing" Vaughn in Major League, nobody expects the Indians success to last.
Unfortunately for Indians fans, this run of success is going to end soon, as their offense continues to struggle, while their pitching, which carried them into first place, comes back down to earth.
Except for Fausto Carmona.
Four years ago, Carmona finished fourth in the American League Cy Young Award voting, going 19-8 with a 3.06 ERA, 1.21 WHIP pver 215.1 innings. Since then, he has only finished a season with an ERA under 5.40 once, in 2010.
As the Indians continue to rebuild their once proud franchise, the question of what to do with Carmona needs to be addressed. With a team option for $7 million next season, if the Indians do not see him as part of their future, they might as well take what they can get for him.
For the Yankees, they take a chance on a once promising 27-year-old pitcher who they could conceivably control until after the 2014 season as his contract has three consecutive team options built into it.
If Larry Rothschild can get Carmona back on track, the Yankees pick up a pitcher who only strengthens the rotation. If he remains a bust, he becomes a liability for this season but can be jettisoned immediately following.
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J.J. Putz, RP and Justin Upton, RF, Arizona Diamondbacks
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Yankees Acquire: Justin Upton and J.J Putz
Diamondbacks Acquire: Nick Swisher, Delin Betances, Brandon Laird, Slade Heathcott
J.J. Putz is the reason Cashman picks up the phone and calls Kevin Towers. Names are kicked around, and a tentative agreement to send Ivan Nova and Slade Heathcott is agreed to.
Before hanging up, Cashman asks about Upton, the dynamic 23-year-old right fielder for the Diamondbacks.
Towers says that he would need to receive a legitimate front-of-the-rotation arm, a third baseman to eventually replace the over-30 combination of Melvin Mora and Ryan Roberts and a solid veteran bat that could be inserted into their lineup and provide leadership in the clubhouse.
Knowing that he needs to make a big splash in order to try and save his job, Cashman agrees to give Towers what he wants and expands the deal to include Laird, Swisher and Betances, one of the heralded "Killer B's."
In Putz, the Yankees acquire a reliever who can get left-handed batters out—lefties are hitting just .182 against him this year and .236 for his career.
Upton is an obvious upgrade over Swisher both with the bat and in the field, and his powerful arm should limit people from continuing to advance first-to-third against the Yankees outfield.
Whether he can cut down on his strikeouts (he has struck out over 120 times each of the last three seasons) and handle the bright lights of New York remains to be seen. The last Diamondback to land in the Bronx, Randy Johnson, did not acclimate very well.
The risk for the Yankees is not only mortgaging part of the future with the three prospects, but shortening their rotation by including Nova, which makes the health of Phil Hughes and Bartolo Colon all the more important.
Additionally, Swisher is a fan and clubhouse favorite, and by removing his personality from the clubhouse, it could upset the balance of things.
Wandy Rodriguez, SP, Houston Astros
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Yankees Receive: Wandy Rodriguez
Astros Receive: mid-level prospect
After struggling for the first three years of his career with the Houston Astros, 32-year-old Wandy Rodriguez has been solid for the past three seasons. This season included, he has averaged a 10-9 record, 3.26 ERA, 1.29 WHIP and 142 strikeouts over 154 innings a year.
Solid, not spectacular.
With the Astros clearly in rebuilding mode, one has to wonder whether or not he fits into their long-term plans. Rodriguez is signed through the 2013 season, and if traded, the team option for $13 million in 2014 becomes a player option, one that he would be sure to exercise.
If the Yankees are convinced that Rodriguez can replicate his NL success in the AL East for the next few seasons, he would be worth taking a shot with. As we know, left-handed starters do not grow on trees.
The risk, of course, is that Rodriguez is shown to be worse then expected and becomes an expensive mistake for the Yankees, one that could be relegated to either long relief or Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre.
Jose Reyes, New York Mets
6 of 11Yankees Acquire: Jose Reyes
Mets Acquire: Brett Gardner
Jose Reyes is arguably the best player in baseball this season—without question, he is the MVP of the National League thus far. His .341 average, 54 runs, 103 hits and 12 triples all lead the league, and he is playing gold-glove caliber defense at shortstop.
Citi Field was built specifically with Jose Reyes in mind, whether the Wilpons want to admit it or not. A player with blazing speed can take advantage of the massive outfield and gaps that it creates, stretching seemingly harmless fly balls into extra base hits.
Which makes Brett Gardner a perfect fit for the Mets. With the seemingly over-the-hill Jason Bay currently splitting time in left field with the likes of Scott Hairston, Willie Harris and Jason Pridie, the Mets have some serious issues in their outfield. Gardner is a solid leadoff hitter with a good eye, blazing speed and excellent defense.
Reyes has already said that he will not discuss a new contract until after this season, and it is widely assumed that he has every intention of becoming a free agent. While the Mets would have a five-day window after the World Series to negotiate exclusively with Reyes, there is no guarantee that Reyes will re-sign with them before hitting the open market.
For the Yankees, they already have a first-ballot Hall of Famer playing shortstop, captain Derek Jeter. We all know that Jeter has no interest in moving from that position and that the Yankees will not force the issue with him this season.
So that leaves the Yankees with two options—make Reyes the full-time designated hitter, or put Reyes in left field for the remainder of this season, a position he has not played save for one game in his first season as a professional athlete in 2000.
A risk to put him in an unfamiliar position, and a risk that he walks away at the end of the season and re-signs with the Mets, or worse, heads up I-95 and starts parking his car in Harvard Yard.
But a risk worth taking.
Jered Weaver or Dan Haren, SP's and Vernon Wells, CF, LA Angels of Anaheim
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Yankees Acquire: Jered Weaver or Dan Haren, Vernon Wells
Mariners Acquire: Jesus Montero, Andrew Brackman, Eduardo Nunez, mid-level prospect
Just as with the Seattle Mariners, Cashman knows that the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim do not want to trade either of their young stud pitchers, but are burdened by a terrible contract in the form of Vernon Wells.
Wells, 32, is owed considerably more than Chone Figgins—$63 million from 2012-2014. A former All-Star and gold glove award winner, Wells, like Figgins, finds himself in the midst of a terrible season, with his average hovering near .200.
Jered Weaver or Dan Haren, both among the best starting pitchers the American League has to offer, is who Cashman has targeted.
The risk here, of course, is Vernon Wells. He becomes the most expensive fourth outfielder in history, and whether or not he is able to turn things around and revive his career to something that even resembles the Vernon Wells from his days with the Toronto Blue Jays is a gigantic question mark.
For the Angels, they not only acquire an offensive force in Montero and a back-of-the-rotation starter or possible closer in Brackman, but most importantly, gain significant payroll flexibility.
It should be mentioned that the Angels have been a difficult team for the Yankees to play for over a decade, and by giving Reagins two prospects and the ability to add to a solid core of talent, the move could backfire as the Yankees find themselves eliminated from the playoffs once again at the hands of the Angels.
Joe Nathan, RP, Minnesota Twins
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Yankees Acquire: Joe Nathan
Twins Acquire: mid-level prospect
After saving a career-best 47 games for the Minnesota Twins in 2009, right-handed reliever Joe Nathan blew out his elbow, requiring Tommy John surgery.
Twice this year, Nathan has had setbacks in his recovery, and currently, the 36-year-old Stony Brook University alumnus sits on the disabled list.
When not injured, Nathan's numbers have been downright awful this season—7.63 ERA, 1.70 WHIP, 13 ER and 17 H over 15.1 innings.
With the Twins falling further out of contention in the AL Central, moving Nathan and what remains of his $11.5 million salary makes sense.
Whether or not Nathan has anything left after the surgery remains to be seen. Historically tough on hitters from both sides of the plate—right handed batters hit .192, left-handed batters .214—if healthy and able to regain his previous form, Nathan could be a valuable addition to the Yankees bullpen.
If he continues to struggle, Nathan becomes a liability and could cost the Yankees games that potentially could come back to haunt them come October.
Felix Hernandez, SP and Chone Figgins, 3B, Seattle Mariners
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Yankees Acquire: Felix Hernandez, Chone Figgins
Mariners Acquire: Jesus Montero, Delin Betances, Eduardo Nunez, mid-level prospect
Knowing full well that the Seattle Mariners do not want to trade their prize jewel, Felix Hernandez, Cashman decides to get creative.
Chone Figgins, the one-time top-of-the-order bat with explosive speed, currently sits with an average below the Mendoza line of .200 and an albatross of a contract that sees him due over $18 million through the end of the 2013 season, $9 million more if he reaches 600 plate appearances in 2013 and sees his 2014 option vest.
With an aging star in Ichiro and two unproven youngsters in second baseman Dustin Ackley and first baseman Justin Smoak, Cashman knows that the Mariners desperately need some bats to compliment their young core of pitchers, which include Michael Pineda and Jason Vargas.
Hernandez, arguably the best pitcher in baseball, would command a small fortune in return should the Yankees attempt to deal for him alone. Jesus Montero, Delin Betances and Manuel Banuelos would all have to be included in any package, along with at least two other pieces.
By taking Figgins off the Mariners' hands, the Yankees are able to hold onto the left-handed hurler Banuelos.
Figgins becomes the most expensive utility player in baseball, as he would be coming off the bench for the Yankees. While this is probably the role Figgins is best suited for at this point in his career, there is no guarantee that he will happily accept it.
Also unknown is whether or not "King Felix" is able to handle the spotlight and intense pressure that will be thrust upon him in New York.
Trading for Only King Felix, Jered Weaver or Dan Haren
10 of 11Yankees Acquire: Felix Hernandez, Jered Weaver or Dan Haren
Mariners or Angels Acquire: Jesus Montero, Delin Betances or Manuel Banuelos, Andrew Brackman, one or two other pieces
If the Yankees were to attempt to trade for one of the three above-named superstar pitchers, the cost would be tremendous.
Four of their top-10 prospects would most likely have to be included, and additional players may be required as well to satisfy the lofty asking price. By taking on unwanted contracts in the previous trade scenarios, the Yankees would not be forced to give up as much.
Simply put, the asking price for these players by themselves could be cost-prohibitive.
Closing Thoughts
11 of 11Some of these trades have a much lower risk-factor than others, but there is a risk involved with all of the players mentioned.
Trading within the American League could be a huge risk, especially if the prospects included do in fact turn out to be as good as advertised. While the Yankees will have gotten the piece or pieces that they wanted for this season, their competition has gotten stronger going forward.
Brian Cashman needs to figure out whether or not these are risks worth taking.
What say you, Yankee Universe?
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