Brian Cashman had things to say, so I’ll say things about the things he said.
Cashman specifically named four big league players who teams have called about: , , and — when asked — Cashman said that, yes, teams have called about .
Of those two, Gardner and Swisher are the only ones I think the Yankees would seriously consider trading. I’m sure they’d trade Burnett, but the cost they’d have to pay in terms of picking up salary may not be desirable. In terms of getting effective pieces back, Swisher and Gardner are the best bets. Still, I don’t see either one of them playing anywhere but the Bronx in 2012. Both are reasonably priced and fit well with the team.
As he searches for ways to bolster the rotation and add depth to the bench, though, a trade is obviously a consideration. His most valuable trade chip remains prospect catcher Jesus Montero, but that sort of deal remains unlikely.
“I’ve had his name mentioned earlier today in a text message,” Cashman said. “Somebody proposed an idea and said, ‘Hey, if you don’t do this, I’d have to ask about a guy I know you’re going to say no on, and that’s Montero.’ … It’s easy for me to trade him, it’s just hard to part with him. So it makes no sense for me to define what I would or wouldn’t do. It’s in our best interests to keep him, and that’s how I’ve always felt unless a unique circumstance happened. (Cliff) Lee was a unique circumstance and prior to that, and post that, nothing has presented itself that would make me think about it.”
This just gives us confirmation of what we knew before and what we know makes sense: You don’t trade Jesus unless it’s for something very special. That probably isn’t going to happen.
• Wilson’s agent, Bob Garber, seems happy with today’s conversation with Cashman. He told Marc Carig that the Yankees have asked for another meeting in New York to talk about Wilson. Garber said that today’s conversation had much more to do with Wilson than .
That’s certainly an interesting development. It doesn’t quite mean that the Yankees are on the verge of anything, but it shows they have at least moderate desire for . I still think at the end of the day, he’ll end up somewhere else, but it doesn’t hurt to take a look. As for Roy Oswalt, I’d like to see him on a one year deal, but I don’t think that’s going to happen.
I expect [the rotation] to be CC, AJ, Hughes, Nova and the rest of it is going to come from that pack below or it will come from an outside source that we have negotiated with or trade for.”
More confirmation of what we knew, but I’ll believe this rotation when I see it. Maybe it’s wishful thinking, but Cash saying both A.J. and Hughes will be in the rotation smacks of “ is our centerfielder” to me.
Cashman once again said he’s interested in bringing any of Chavez, , and back to the Yankees, but some of those might price themselves beyond what the Yankees want to spend.
All of them would fit for one reason or another, and I think we’ll see at least two of them back. I’d bet on Jones and Garcia rocking Pinstripes again.
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but Cash saying both A.J. and Hughes will be in the rotation smacks of “Bubba Crosby is our centerfielder” to me.
I don’t know. I think, based on today’s realities, this is a definite possibility. They may get Darvish or Buerhle, don’t seem likely to get Wilson or Oswalt. I’m not confident they’ll get 2 starters to fill a hole and replace one of A.J. or Hughes. And that also leaves you with the “what do you do with him?” dilema. I’d take the comment at facevalue, as opposed to the Bubba Crosby comment, which almost everyone didn’t believe.
I’ll split the difference; I don’t believe both AJ Burnett and Hughes will be in the rotation — someone from outside the organization will likely be brought in — but I do believe that one of those two will still be in the rotation next year. Replacing both is quite unlikely and thus Cashman’s comment can be taken at face value.
If both are on the team and one isn’t in the rotation it will be Hughes going to the pen. They simply don’t have the luxury of dumping Burnett right now, and Hughes has had a history with the pen. If you plan on putting Burnett in the pen you might as well eat his whole salary and trade him for nothing, or DFA him right out. You’d get no return from him in the pen, and he likely would no longer be the happy go lucky go around the clubhouse he has been.
I hope we stay away from Oswalt, even on a one year deal. With the state of his back nothing good can come from signing him at this point. Back problems like his are always chronic and don’t go away after one year. You are simply asking to sign a DL spot when signing Oswalt at this point. There is a reason the Phillies are showing almost no interest. I also don’t care for bringing him to the AL for the first time in his career. He would have to face deeper lineups, so when he was on the field he would be less effective than he has been in the past. He just seems like a really bad fit with the Yankees. He’s best off on a NL team that needs a middle to back of the rotation pitcher.