New York Yankees Trade Rumors: Bombers Backing Away from Ubaldo Jimenez

As the talk about the Yankees starting rotation has begun to deteriorate into screams of frustration from some fans (and media) alike, occasionally teetering on the border of desperation and in some cases insanity, it appears that Brian Cashman is a far smarter GM than most would give him credit for.

Ken Rosenthal reports that the Yankees had not spoken to the Rockies at all today—a statement that invokes visions of a spurned teenager sitting by the phone, fidgeting as they impatiently wait for it to ring on a Friday night.

But he also finishes his tweet by mentioning who has had the Yankees attention for most of the day: the Los Angeles Dodgers and starter Hideki Kuroda, though the prevailing thought remains that he will not waive his no-trade clause.

Joel Sherman of the NY Post says that the Yankees would only package Jesus Montero and Delin Betances for a sure thing, and that the Yankees simply do not view Jimenez as one.

I believe we can safely assume that Kuroda also does not fall under the title of "sure thing" in the eyes of the Yankees.

Additionally, Sherman speculates that the Yankees suspect that there could be some underlying physical issues with Jimenez, especially as the Rockies continue to increase their efforts to ship their "ace" out of town.

So as the Detroit Tigers and Boston Red Sox, among others, continue to pine after Jimenez, the Yankees have smartly decided to look at other options—options that, like Jimenez, are no sure thing—but options that come at a much more reasonable price.

Brian Cashman has insisted that the Yankees "would not do anything stupid" at the deadline.

By walking away from the Colorado Rockies and Ubaldo Jimenez, he made the smartest decision possible.