Not So Baseless Speculation Update: Asdrubal Cabrera

December 11, 2012 by Mike Axisa 16 Comments

During the Winter Meetings last week, Paul Hoynes of The Cleveland Plain-Dealer reported the Indians had the framework of an Asdrubal Cabrera trade in place with an unknown team before things fell apart. They would have received an big leaguer pitcher and two prospects for their shortstop, who would have been moved to a new position by his new team. I connected the dots and speculated that the Yankees may have been that unknown team give their needs and surpluses.

In an update today, Hoynes reports that no, it wasn’t the Yankees. It was the Phillies. They offered the Tribe right-hander Vance Worley and two prospects before backing out of the deal when the Indians asked for a fourth player. Philadelphia has since traded Worley to the Twins for Ben Revere and would have used Cabrera at third base in deference to Jimmy Rollins. The Yankees, meanwhile, seem likely to fill their various roster holes through free agency (on one-year contracts) rather than with trades.

Jimmy McNulty

When Manny and Betances went down and Sanchez didn’t finish the full season their chances of making a deal for a real player this year pretty much disappeared.
- dkidd
  
  i agree, and i’m hoping by 2015 we’ll look back on that as a good thing
  - Jimmy McNulty
    
    Yeah because keeping Hughes, Joba, Betances, Brackman, and Banuelos worked out so well.
- Ted Nelson
  
  yeah, three top 50 prospects get you nothing.
  - Jimmy McNulty
    
    What three top 50 prospects do they have? Williams is top 50, Sanchez is arguably top 50 and the rest barely belongs on the top 100 list. Sanchez is coming off a meh-ish year in high A and I could honestly see him finishing in the 75-100 range.
    - Need Pitching & Hitting
      
      From the BA midseason list:
      Williams #28
      Sanchez #30
      Austin #39
      
      http://www.baseballamerica.com/blog/prospects/2012/07/midseason-top-50-prospects-list-2/
      - Jimmy McNulty
        
        That’s awfully fucking optimistic on Tyler Austin. I like Austin but I don’t see him being better than Xavier Nady. That’s a fine player but top 40? Please. Sanchez and Williams are def top 50 though.
        
        jsbrendog
        
        doesn’t matter what you think.
Murderers’ Row Boat

The Yankees can’t trade for anyone at this point, they can only trade away.
- Cris Pengiucci
  
  They can trade for young cost controlled players (provided they give up someone of similar value, say a Nova or Phelps type) or they can trade for players with one year left on their contract. It leaves them in a tight place, but they can certainly trade for someone.
- Ted Nelson
  
  What the hell are you talking about?
wup

What do people think of trading Granderson to Seattle if they lose out on Hamilton and Swisher?

Granderson – OF
Romine – C

for

Gutierrez – OF
Jaso – C
Seager – 3B/2B
Pryor – RP

We get our starting Catcher, right-handed hitting OF, Insurance at both 3B/2B and a young hard throwing reliever.
- Need Pitching & Hitting
  
  I’d do it.
  I don’t imagine Seattle would.
  
  Also, I seriously doubt the Yankees would use Jaso as the starting C. More likely primary DH/occasional C.
- Deep Thoughts
  
  Gutierrez has been spectacularly mediocre outside of one very good season and hasn’t been able to stay on the field recently (132 games over the last two years). I’d rather pay 1/15 for Granderson than 2/14 with Guti (or even 1/7.25).
  
  Jaso would be an acceptable platoon partner for a righty like Cervelli but he’ll be 30 and he’s arb-eligible. You’re giving up a lot of team control and a lot of potential with Romine.
  
  Seager would be a nice prize but the Yankees already have a 3B signed for several years, and their lineup is already lefty-heavy. And frankly I don’t see the Mariners trading away young cost-controlled bats.
  
  I appreciate what you’re doing but I don’t see it working out for either side.
Adam

The Yankees backed out of trade talks with the Indians once they found out Asdrubal Cabrera has more than one year and $1 million left on his contract. No thanks.
tbord

To quote Cashman: “Beggars Can’t Be Choosers”. The farm system is as thin as it has been in many years. Coupled with all the old men in pinstripes, Cashman’s comment makes perfect sense.