The Yankees brass will meet today in Tampa to discuss possible moves with the non-waiver trade deadline looming just 8 days away according to the NY Post.
The only possible blockbuster deal at this moment seems to be a deal for Mark Teixeira. Teixeira is a good fielding, power hitting, first baseman that would not only be the answer to the question of who’s on first for this season, but hopefully for many seasons to come. The problem with this deal is that the Rangers seem to have been asking for prospects the Yankees deem untouchable. The strategy now is one we’ve seen implemented last season with the Phillies and Bobby Abreu when they insisted on getting Phil Hughes only to back down at the last minute and accept a smaller package.
Beyond acquiring Teixeira the Yankees have taken many phone calls from the White Sox who are seemingly shopping their entire roster. While they are not interested in bringing back either Javier Vazquez or Jose Contreras, Jon Garland has raised eyebrows. Garland is one of the better young pitchers in baseball and has a 2.03 ERA pitching in Yankee Stadium. Up to this point the White Sox have been asking for Joba Chamberlain which appears to be a deal breaker.
While a move for Garland would make sense for the future of the ball club the starting rotation is not a pressing issue for a team who expects Hughes and Jeff Karstens back as early as next week. Although to have somebody to replace Roger Clemens when he “retires” or Andy Pettitte and Mike Mussina as they get older would make sense. Perhaps they will follow-up on Garland in the off-season.
While both of those deals appear to be long-shots the team is discussing more practical moves as well. The team is still interested in trading one or the entire trio, Proctor, Farnsworth, and Bruney but cannot find any takers. The Devil-Rays have been mulling a deal for Proctor which would send Ty Wiggington to New York and the Colorado Rockies have reportedly been interested in Kyle Farnsworth, but the Yankees don’t want to pay the $5.5 million he is owed next season.
They are focused on moving one of the three ineffective middle relievers apparently to make room for Joba Chamberlain or Ian Kennedy on the roster. Both pitchers were sent to Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre today according to the Journal News a move which may be more of a test to see if they are ready for the big show. If all goes well and the Yanks can open up some space for one of them in the bullpen they may see some action even earlier than a September call-up.
This is a move that some on the team are wary of including Joe Torre. "First off, I know it's important to do what's best for the team, but you have to make sure that the kid is equipped for it, and I'm not talking about the physical aspects," Said Torre in the NY Post. "I'm talking about the emotional stuff. You certainly don't want to bring somebody up and find out he's going to take a step forward and four steps back."
If the team decides the youngsters are not ready names like Al Reyes of Tampa and David Weathers of Cincinnati have surfaced as possible external replacements according to the Newark Star-Ledger.
Less likely than those two could be a trade with the Kansas City Royals who are shopping former Yankee Octavio Dotel and Zach Greinke as a possible package deal according to the Kansas City Star.
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