SU has had a little time to digest and ponder the Starlin Castro trade by the Yankees. I am not that familiar with Castro. I know he was a highly regarded player who was elevated to the major leagues at a young age. He had a couple of good years in Chicago and then plateaued and probably wore out his welcome. He will only be 26 at the start of next season and appears to have some pop in his bat. He will play 2nd base and given that he is really a shortstop, he can back up Didi Gregorius.
One of the bonuses of this trade is that Brendan Ryan gets moved out of NY. He was brought in a couple of years ago as part of Cashman’s initiative to have a team of just utility infielders. Just another .200 hitter who was always on the DL. Probably good buddies with Stephen Drew.
But here is what makes SU a little uncomfortable. Adam Warren has proven that he can pitch in NY – both out of the bullpen as well as in a starting role. And unlike CC, Pineda, Nova, Tanaka and Eovaldi, Warren has been healthy. This is the part that I don’t get. The Yankees’ rotation, health-wise, is a mess. None of these guys can make it through a full season and Tanaka has a tendon that can go at any point. Wouldn’t you want to hold on to a pitcher that can be slotted in a variety of places including the rotation?
SU says there has to be another move coming for a starting pitcher involving Brett Gardner. There has to be. Otherwise, come mid-May, you will be hearing the following: “I’ll bet the Yankees wish they had held on to Adam Warren now.” Thus, SU will hold final judgment til then. IF there is no other trade, I don’t like this move as they will be scrambling to fix the rotation all year or scrambling to fix the bullpen.
Thoughts? Opinions? Anyone care to weigh in? The floor is open.
Sports Update Intergalactic 
This is a no brainer for the NYY, Adam Warren=supremely replaceable
A huge upgrade at 2B so why not. I liked Warren’s versatility but honestly you can’t build your team around moving a guy back and forth from the bullpen to the rotation. It was nice that he could do it but it was problematic in that he would have to be “stretched out” before starting and then there was a hole in the bullpen each time he left. Again, it was a nice benefit but it can’t be the plan.
I kept hearing how Ryan was a defensive wizard when the Yankees got him but never saw it on the field. He won’t be missed.
When you list out the Yankees rotation and forget about injuries, that happens to be a very exciting list. Even CC will be a story if he’s coming back from rehab. But injuries are going to happen, and with this group it won’t be a fluke.
Clearly, Adam Warren is not feeling the love this morning on this blog. I agree that he isn’t so unique but in relative terms, he has skills and durability. And I agree that on paper, the Yankees’ rotation is good – same as it was last year on paper. I also think that Cashman believes that Mitchell is a better pitcher than he is. He is either going to be a 5th starter or a key late inning reliever and I am not convinced he is going to make the next step.
As a Mets fan who is very familiar with Castro I can honestly say this is a steal of a deal. Maybe I am drastically under valuing Warren, he seems like that classic # 4 or 5 starter, not quite good enough to have a major impact and highly replaceable. At last years winter meetings there was talk of the Mets moving Wheeler or Syndagurd for Castro. If you add up the numbers there are very few middle infielders who can provide his offensive numbers and still be considered a decent fielder. Only 25 and multiple All Star games already. The new regime in Chicago never really showed him much love and a change of scenery may do wonders for him. Expect an All Star season.