Stark: Yankees asking “almost exclusively” about starters in trade talks

by 47 Comments

6/20-6/22 Series Preview: Baltimore Orioles
Game 72: Avoid the Trap

Via Jayson Stark: The Yankees are asking “almost exclusively” about starting pitchers in preliminary trade talks with other teams. Stark doesn’t mention any names or anything fun like that. The need for rotation help is clear at this point, same with infield help. A right fielder with some pop belongs on the shopping list as well.

The non-waiver trade deadline is six weeks from yesterday and I think we’re still in the posturing phase. Teams are just now starting to feel each other out — remember, so many clubs believe they are in contention and just about everyone is looking to add pitching — and I don’t think the Yankees are ignoring the infield just because they’re prioritizing a starter. Kelly Johnson, Rob Refsnyder, and Jose Pirela represent internal infield options, but the pitching well is dry due to injury. The sooner they upgrade the rotation, the better their chances of playing into October.

6/20-6/22 Series Preview: Baltimore Orioles
Game 72: Avoid the Trap
  • Short Porch

    Cliff Lee? With Utley?

    • nycsportzfan

      I don’t know who we’ll get but people were giving me crap for saying the Yanks have plenty to get a deal or 2 done at the deadline awhile back. I wonder if those people still feel our farm system dosen’t have much to offer in trade?

  • Jorge Steinbrenner

    From the “no shit, Sherlock” department. :)

    • Chip Rodriguez

      Yup, but if this wasn’t posted, someone would be calling Cashman out for failing.

      Wait, that’ll happen even with this post.

    • Macho Man “Randy Levine”

      Why must you always personally attack my dog in this way?

  • Chris

    Did anyone pick up Cahill after he was designated for assignment?

  • TWTR

    If true, I think this is a big mistake.

  • mustang

    The starting pitching thing is useful in baseball.

  • Bill

    Hope we have the right price for Price

  • Wayne

    I heard Jayson Stark say the yankees are not going to give up the farm for a Samardzija and likely they will target Kimmel from Cubs.

    But i will believe it when i see it!!!
    One way or the other i expect Gary Sanchez, Mason Williams, Aaron Judge to be the major position players off this teams minors along with Brady Lail, and Ian Clarkin this year or next season or whenever Jeff Samardzija signs an extension with Cubs. The yankees would get him in a trade under contract so they will give up all these guys i just mentioned for Jeff Samardzija eventually!!!!!!
    All these top yankees prospects gone!!!!
    Just gone!!!!
    Just like that!!!!!!!!!
    It is just a matter of time!!!!!!!

    • TWTR

      Hammel? No thanks unless it’s like free.

    • Macho Man “Randy Levine”

      I didn’t even understand what half of that meant.

      • Chip Rodriguez

        I don’t think Wayne did either.

        • Macho Man “Randy Levine”

          Considering his subsequent post, I’m sure he didn’t.

          • Old Man Time

            What if Wayne (!!!!!!!) is from the future and was sent to warn us?

            • Commenter from the Future

              That’s still my job.

              Has the age of Dalek Jeter begun yet in your times?

              • Old Man Time

                We’re in year 2 of the Dalek period.

                How’s Trout looking in pinstripes?

            • Cheval Anonyme

              No, he seems more like the Brad Pitt character than the Bruce Willis character.

    • Old Man Time

      Now who can argue with that? I think we’re all indebted to Wayne for clearly stating what needed to be said. I’m particulary glad that these lovely children were here today to hear that speech. Not only was it authentic frontier gibberish, it expressed a courage little seen in this day and age.

      • Macho Man “Randy Levine”

        I wash born here, an I wash raished here, and dad gum it, I am gonna die here, an no sidewindin’ bushwackin’, hornswagglin’ cracker croaker is gonna rouin me bishen cutter.

  • Wayne

    David Price the first chance he gets will leave the yankees as fast as he gets here.
    Dude hates the yanks.
    He considers yanks to not be a place for young stars or new school guys!!!

    • Preston

      Who cares, let’s trade for 18 months of prime of his career David Price and then let him walk and get the draft pick and let somebody else pay for the wrong side of 30.

  • http://RBA Rick

    Agree that they need a starter. But, somewhere you keep mentioning Hammel. He will fizzle out. Go for the good stuff. Samardjia is the better one in my book. Price a close second.

    • Preston

      Depends on the price. Samardzija is going to be expensive. Hammel would still be an upgrade over Nuno. If Hammel costs a non elite A ball player or a bullpen depth guy and salary relief then I don’t have a problem with it. If they want a significant prospect then I agree he’s not worth it.

    • FIPster Doofus

      Nothing in Hammel’s peripherals suggests he’s going to fizzle out. He’s having a legitimately excellent year. Would he be as good in the AL East as the NL Central? Doubtful. Would he be an eminently useful upgrade for NYY? Yes.

  • Raza

    We should call the Padres and ask about our old friend, Ian Kennedy. We may have bad memories about Ian, but he’s a different pitcher now than what he was. Kennedy-Headley for Mason Williams – Mark Montgomery and another prospect, perhaps?

    • TWTR

      Yes, plus stuff. I don’t think that will get it done, but that’s what I would offer.

    • FIPster Doofus

      Not a good enough offer, but I do agree that Kennedy should be a target. Might as well ask about Headley, although he’s having an absolutely miserable year.

      • TWTR

        That’s a potential opportunity to buy low.

        • FIPster Doofus

          Depends. San Diego might rather qualify him and get a first-rounder than take an underwhelming trade package.

  • willie w

    aren’t most teams willing to give us their ace pitcher for our discards ?

    how about soriano for kershaw ?

  • willie w

    I think more GM’s need a fan advisory committee to come up with trade ideas.

    the fans usually have ideas based on solid reality on what the other team’s GM is looking for.

    I am sure we all know what Theo wants more than he knows himself.

  • stuckey

    David Price for the entire Scranton roster?

    • Preston

      I actually wouldn’t make that trade and I don’t think the Rays would either. John Ryan Murphy, Rob Refsnyder are both look like they could develop into MLB regulars. Almonte and Flores are solid OF prospects. Claiborne is a useful MLB reliever and Buruwa looks like he could be too. Anna, Pirela and Sizemore aren’t sexy but are useful depth. And the lesson that the Yankees should have learned from 2010 Zach Mcallister is we shouldn’t give up on 2014 Shane Greene yet, sometimes it takes a year to figure it out at AAA. That’s a lot of MLB impact to trade away. Conversely the Rays are probably looking for more upside, and they can get it. I’d rather the Yankees traded away more speculative pieces to get Price then trading away pieces that should be used to help supplement and improve the team for the year and a half while we have Price.

  • fred robbins

    I agree with the notion that Price hates the Yankees and he seems to be one of those pitchers who can be great in a small market no microscope level, but not really as great in New York. And it’s hard to imagine being at your best when you can’t stand the team that signs you. It’s ok to sign him and let him walk if you are confident that he will be pitching his heart out for your team. I think he feels he is better than the Yankees.

    I don’t get the Cliff Lee talks. That ship sailed a few years ago and he might not be any better than CC. at this point in his career. But outside of Samardzija, I don’t really know who would help the most.

    It’s nice to hear Rob Ref mentioned as someone who might be called up as compared to trading him for someone else who might not be any better and also cost a prospect or two.

    Sometimes it seems other teams go to the Yankees with the same attitude as little kids who go to the big corner house on Halloween first, trying to get the most for the least.

    • FIPster Doofus

      “he seems to be one of those pitchers who can be great in a small market no microscope level, but not really as great in New York.”

      Based on what?

      • Paisa

        Hahah yep. Incredibly asinine

        • willie w

          NOW THAT’S RUDE !

          • Old Man Time

            Go take your meds, willie.

          • Jorge Steinbrenner

            Tip of the iceberg, bitch.

      • Preston

        All those times he folded under the WS pressure and how he hasn’t been able to deal with the nastiest sports fans in Philly.

  • Daniel

    For the first time in a while I find myself getting attached to some of our guys. Particularly Judge, O’Brien, Refsnyder, and Sanchez. And even Pirela actually. Let them have any of the pitchers. I don’t want to waste these bullets.

  • Slap-Ass

    Jason Hammel would be my target. He’s pitched in the AL East before and shouldn’t cost anything close to what Samardzija, Lee or Price will.

    I’d also try to buy low on Headley. Given his last 2 seasons the asking price can’t be nearly as high as it was previously.

  • willie w

    I would hate to give up top minor league talent to the team that signed Hammel as a free agent several months ago to a ONE year contract

    that would seem kind of stupid

    Cubs Sign Jason Hammel
    By Jeff Todd [February 13, 2014 at 1:32pm CDT]

    The Cubs have officially signed free agent starter Jason Hammel to a one-year, $6MM deal. The 31-year-old Octagon client can earn an additional $1MM in incentives.

    • Jorge Steinbrenner

      Good think you copy and pasted that news item. We’d thought you were lying otherwise.