Trading with the NL

For an introduction to this post, check out last night’s item on the Yanks’ recent trades with AL teams. Tonight, I’m tackling the NL. Some thoughts at the end.

Arizona Diamondbacks: The Yanks and Diamondbacks have made a few key franchise-defining trades over the years. Two of them involved Randy Johnson, and a third sent Ian Kennedy to the desert where he has blossomed. The most recent deal between these two clubs saw Juan Miranda head to Phoenix in 2010 in exchange for minor leaguer Scottie Allen.

Atlanta Braves: The Boone Logan trade on December 22, 2009 was the last deal between these two teams. I will say nothing more of that transaction. Before that, the two teams hadn’t exchanged players since a 1995 deal sent Luis Polonia to the Braves for a nobody.

Chicago Cubs: Matt Garza seems to be available, and Brian Cashman‘s buddy Theo Epstein is now in charge of the Cubs. Over the past ten years, the Yanks have acquired Matt Lawton (2005) and Glenallen Hill (2000) from the Cubbies.

Cincinnati Reds: On July 31, 2009, the Yanks acquired Jerry Hairston for Chase Weems. They haven’t won a World Series since Hairston left. Coincidence? I think not.

Colorado Rockies: The Yankees and Rockies haven’t done much on the trade market together. Their biggest deal involved sending Mike DeJean to Colorado for Joe Girardi back in 1995. In April 2010, the Yanks acquired Robby Hammock for a PTBNL who was never actually named later.

Florida Marlins: The Yanks and Marlins have made three trades, and one of them was absolutely awful. In 1999, the Yanks sent Mike Lowell to Miami for for Todd Noel, Mark Johnson and Ed Yarnall. Their last deal came in 2005 when the Yanks Ron Villone for Ben Julianel.

Houston Astros: On July 31, 2010, the Yanks sent Mark Melancon and Jimmy Paredes to the Houston Astros for Lance Berkman. Should of kept.

Los Angeles Dodgers: In 2007, the Yanks took Scott Proctor away from Joe Torre and turned him into Wilson Betemit who eventually became Nick Swisher. Despite their intertwined histories, the Yanks and Dodgers have consummated only 29 trades.

Milwaukee Brewers: On June 29, 2011, the Yanks purchased Sergio Mitre from the Brewers, and there was much rejoicing in the land.

New York Mets: The Yanks have traded just 12 times with their crosstown rivals. Most recently, the clubs swapped southpaws in 2004 when the Yanks shipped out Felix Heredia for Mike Stanton.

Philadelphia Phillies: The Bobby Abreu fleecing marks the most recent trade between these two perennial contenders. In 2006, the Yanks acquired Abreu and Cory Lidle for C.J. Henry, Jesus Sanchez, Carlos Monasterios and Matt Smith.

Pittsburgh Pirates: After a flurry of trade activity in 2008-2009, the Yanks haven’t made a move with the Pirates since they landed Eric Hinske for Casey Erickson and Eric Fryer in June of 2009.

San Diego Padres: Money in exchange for Chad Gaudin in 2009 was the last dealing between these two teams. The Hideki Irabu deal stands out as the biggest between these two teams.

San Francisco Giants: The Yankees and their former executive Brian Sabean have not traded together in ages. The last deal between these two teams came in 2001 when the Yanks sent Jay Witasick, after his disastrous appearance in Game 6 of the 2001 World Series, to the Bay Area for John Vander Wal.

St. Louis Cardinals: Not much dealin’ going on here. In June of 2003, the Yanks sent Sterling Hitchcock to St. Louis for Ben Julianel and Justin Pope. I guess they liked that Julianel guy.

Washington Nationals: In February, the Yanks sent Adam Olbrychowski to D.C. for Justin Maxwell. But remember when the Yanks got Javy Vazquez for Randy Choate, Nick Johnson and Juan Rivera? It seemed like quite the deal at the time.

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So that’s the Yanks’ recent trade history. As I’ve gone through the transactions from the other 29 clubs, I’ve noticed that franchise-changing trades happen every few years, and they’re never as expected. In back-to-back seasons, the Yanks landed Curtis Granderson and Nick Swisher and tried the same with a well-intentioned Javy Vazquez trade. Otherwise, though, most trades are minor moves that have only tangential impacts on the big league club, and they don’t happen all that often.

Now, we wait. Perhaps the Yanks will make a big splash on the trade market. It seems likely than via free agency this year. But we don’t know what the moves will be or when. Trades that actually happen come together without the media fanfare of rumored deals. It could be Nick Swisher, it could be Mike Lowell or it could just be Chad Gaudin.