Yesterday, I posted this about Curtis Granderson‘s ineffectiveness hitting against left-handed pitching. One of the potential solutions I tossed out there was trading for Jayson Werth, who is rumored to be on the trading block.
Lo and behold, today Buster Olney tweeted that the Phillies are aggressively marketing Werth and looking for a starting pitcher who they can slot in as their #2 or #3 guy. Buster may work for that other Evil Empire (ESPN), but his rumor reports are usually accurate. This sets up two potentially block-buster deals, if the Yanks are willing to swing for the fences. This particularly holds true as Werth has long been mentioned to be on the Yankees off-season short list of potential free agent signings.
The key to the whole thing is, in my opinion, the other probable free agent that is supposedly a foregone conclusion to sign with the team this coming off season. You know – a certain left handed starter currently wearing the Seattle Mariners colors – Cliff Lee. Here’s how I see it potentially playing out:
The Mariners are reputed to be looking for a young catcher with a major-league ready bat, which is why the dominant trade rumor has centered on the Twins and their prospect Wilson Ramos. (Ramos is blocked by Joe Mauer). However, the Yanks have two pretty good catching prospects, one of whom is considered to be a potential 25 HR/100 RBI type hitter in Jesus Montero. The other is Austin Romine, whose offensive skills aren’t as good as Montero but is much better defensively. I know this is sacrilege among most Yankees fans, but I’d much rather see Romine become Jorge Posada’s heir, but regardless, either of them makes an interesting component to pry Lee from the Mariners.
Once that trade is done, the Yankees would have a surplus of starting pitching – with six proven ML starters. So why not trade the one that most of us agree is the least dependable in the post-season for Werth? That would mean sending Javier Vazquez to Philly, but getting back a proven run-producer who seems to want to play in NY for the long-term. The only problem I see with this is the Phillies will likely want a youngster in return, since Javy is due to be a free-agent this offseason. Since they need some infield depth right now, I propose sending Kevin Russo. He’s a nice player, but not really a long-term solution in pinstripes.
The only other potential deal-breakers would be Brian Cashman’s ability to get long-term deals done with Werth and Lee, since there is no way they would go through these manipulations for only a few months of service.
So, in a nutshell:
Yanks send either Montero or Romine and an A/AA pitcher to Seattle for Cliff Lee.
Yanks send Vazquez and Russo for Jayson Werth.
That leaves the Yankees with a starting rotation of CC Sabathia, Cliff Lee, Andy Pettite, AJ Burnett and Phil Hughes. The rest of baseball would shudder to think of it. It also gives the Yankees an extra outfielder, most likely Granderson. Curtis would be a terrific LH pinch hitter and defensive sub, if he is willing to accept that role. If not, then he makes a very marketable trade chip for middle relief or IF depth.
Of course, this is all speculation from the right-field bleachers. But it is an intriguing solution to strengthening the team for both the present and the future.
Author’s note: quick update – as I was posting this, Mike Axisa of River Avenue Blues was posting similar thoughts. You can view them here. Maybe I’m not as crazy as I thought!
M. B. Rozell
Kevin Rozell
Very interesting information.
I would just add one note, and correct me if I am wrong but it was my understanding that Reggie Jackson is very close to Werth’s father on a personal level and the Yanks were going to target him anyways after the ’10 season???
Might play into Cashman’s thinking and dynamic here, too…I concur with you about Granderson’s deficiencies against lefties being a prolonged issue we are going to have to deal with.
Pretty good- I’m sure the Phils would take a non-prospect and guy who craps his pants in big games for a top 5 right-handed hitting outfielder-keep dreaming.
Brendan, the Phils are looking for a #2 or #3 starter. Vazquez fits that bill, especially in the NL. I’m not exactly a fan, but over the past two months he’s 6-3 with a 3.10 ERA and has held hitters to a .537 OPSa.
I think if presented with this, they would jump on it. They realize they don’t have much of a shot of resigning Werth – they simply don’t have the money, after paying Howard, Halladay, Ibanez, Utley and Victorino. Javy still projects as a class A FA, which means when all the dust settles they get Russo and the two picks they would have gotten for Werth, anyway.
I was thinking the same exact scenario. Vazquez is an NL pitcher. He would do great with the Phillies. I’m sure they would gladly take him in return for Werth.
They could trade either Montero or Romine for Lee. I don’t think either one will be anything more than very good rather than great. I’ve seen Montero look like a little leaguer against pretty lame Charlotte Knights pitching.
As for Granderson, I was against that trade from the beginning. If he doesn’t want to platoon, then assign him to a maintainence crew. Him and Nick Johnson. I could be just as bad for 1/20th the money.
Then we could use Granderson in another trade. He’s not hitting righties or lefties.