As stated here many times, SU is all in on the youth movement with the Yankees. They (finally) have a stable of top prospects as the result of last year’s trades and as far as I am concerned, they are playing with house money in 2017. SU had predicted a record of 80-82 this season so anything better than that is a pleasant surprise.
There is lots of talk about Blake Rutherford who was the top prospect sent to the White Sox in the deal and how he is rated as the #30 top prospect in all of baseball. That may be true but the reality is that the Yankees have a lot of prospects who are closer to joining the Major League club in the next year or so. SU is not against moving one of the lower level guys in order to improve the team now. I have always been a David Robertson fan and he will help no doubt. Betances is a mess right now and there is something wrong with Chapman although he’s not admitting any physical ailment. If they actually start winning some games (as in more than 2 games in a row), they will need more of the better relievers pitching more often. Apparently, the other reliever, Kahnle, is really good and is younger as well. Those are both good pick-ups. Todd Frazier? Look, the dude is hitting .207 although they say he has been better of late (as in .234 for the last several weeks. (Say what??!!) Has Chris Carter lowered the bar that much?
There is also addition by subtraction here as Tyler Clippard is gone. Let me say this about Clippard: he earned it. He was terrifying. SU got excited last night (as in very excited) as Joel Sherman started tweeting that Chase Headley could even be part of the deal. But as many have reminded SU of late, “Headley is hot!” Hitting .300 for the last several weeks and his rbi total is steadily creeping towards 40 for the season.
I like the kid Cooper at 1st base but he will likely be a casualty in all of this. Girardi may platoon Headley with Frazier at 3rd base now or else stick him at 1st base and hope for the occasional home run. Look: he’s gone after this season as a free agent so I suppose it’s worth the risk. But the Yankees still need a starter. Thinking here is that they will bring up Chance Adams from Scranton to have a go at that spot in the rotation and SU is all in on that.
SU would also trade Brett Gardner now to open up an everyday spot for Clint Frazier who can play. If you watch Gardner, he is back to only hitting with his upper body which eliminates the home run swing he had going earlier in the season. He is a .250 – 260 hitter plain and simple. He is better than Ellsbury but he is still owed $1.2 billion in salary for a few more years (Ok, I exaggerate). They really miss Hicks who can put Ellsbury on the bench.
Soooooo, SU is ok with the trade but not jazzed. Bring up Adams as the starter they need and I will be happier. There were rumors last night that the Yankees tried to include Carmelo Anthony in the deal but the White Sox balked.
What do you all think?
Sports Update Intergalactic 
The Youth Movement is fine….. I get it. But at the end of the day if you have a decent chance…..doesn’t have to be a no brainer type chance, but a good chance to make the playoffs then you should make the effort. The Yankees are doing that without wiping out their Youth. Sometimes you need to move a few pieces around if you feel it will fill glaring holes. It appears they might have done just that. We are only a bit more tghan half way through the season. These are the NY Yankees and it has been long enough since we have appeared in the playoffs. We just split 4 games with the Red Sox… and should have won 3. We can compete with anyone so by being a Yankee fan and also having some of George’s blood in your system LETS WIN IT NOW….. but not to go beserk and wipe out the farm system.in doing so.
Andy, I think your comments about the Red Sox carry a lot of weight with Cashman this year. The Yankees have played them tough this season and they are not world beaters by any means. Their bullpen is not great and the Yankees took two of the better available relievers off the market as well in this trade.
I’m OK with it too. This is not the deal that’s going to put them over the top for a playoff run. It’s not the deal that unloads older players or big contracts in exchange for youth. And it’s not the deal that sacrifices the future for a short term gain. This is a deal between two teams looking to move some players who just aren’t working out while trying to address some holes in their current roster. It signals that the Yankees are pretty much staying the course with the youth movement but they recognize it’s no good for anyone’s development to see lead after lead blown by a bullpen that can’t get outs.
I wouldn’t put him quite in the Carmelo Anthony category but I don’t know how many teams are calling Brian Cashman with inquiries about Brett Gardner. He’s an OK player. Had a great run earlier. Less productive now. I like how he plays. But even with him on the team, they should be giving Frazier more playing time. Now is the time to see what they have.
Yankee fans, don’t you realize how good you have got it? Your team is willing to do what ever it takes to win! Add $12 Mil to the payroll, who cares? Worry about Robertson’s 2018 salary or Kahnle being eligible for arbitration? No problem!
Be thankful for what you’ve got.
1 Top prospect and 2 marginal kids plus the addition by subtraction of Clippard is a great deal for the Yankees. Compare this to what the Yankees received for Chapman and Miller last year. Frazier is a low average guy but coming home should help him. He was an All Star not too long ago. Robertson is not an elite closer but is very good, especially for a 7th or 8th inning role. Finally, Kahnle may be a real sleeper in this deal. His strike out numbers this year are outrageous.
More moves like this and my jealousy and hatred of the Yankees may return!
Jeff
The rumor of Carmelo going to the Trailblazers is a perfect fit. I am just disappointed that Damian Lillard thought of it before I did.
Remember Scottie Pippen’s post-Bulls years? His stint in Houston was a disaster and his time in Portland allowed him to be a large part of the offense and participate effectively on defense. The fans loved him and he enjoyed the twilight of his career there (even though I thought he would eventually end up in LA with Phil).
Even though Carmelo plays limited defense (perhaps Terry Stotts – a very effective coach – could turn that around), he would fit into that offense and actually may enjoy playing basketball again. Plus, who does not want to make $28 million a year and live in Portland and get your shots on offense. It seems like Portland actually has “enough basketballs to go around” to satisfy Carmelo.
I know he is dying to play with Barkley and Hakeem… I mean Harden and Chris Paul… but even Carmelo should be able to see that going to Portland could resurrect his career. And, if family is an issue I am sure that Los Angeles would be palatable (and close) and an effective alternative to New York.