Even though the New York Yankees are in 1st place in the AL East and currently hold the best record in all of Major League Baseball, there are still a plethora of trade rumors and debates taking place in the Bronx.
With the main areas of concern being the bullpen, the bench, and the outfield; everyone seems to have their own opinion about what the Bronx Bombers should do on their quest for their 28th World Series Championship.
Over the weekend, after the Yankees took the series from the Mets, the Bronx was abuzz with potential mid-season trades that the Bombers could execute. There are three main players that most of the radio personalities, sports writers, and fans seemed to be talking about.
The first player is right-handed, utility infielder Ty Wigginton on the Baltimore Orioles. At 32 years old, Wigginton has batted .274 with 13 home runs and 39 RBI for the O’s this season. He is currently in the middle of his 2nd year of a two-year contract worth $6 million dollars.
Wigginton is a good player and can play most of the infield positions and even play some left field if needed. However, Ramiro Pena and Kevin Russo are already in place as the back-up infielders with the Yankees.
If the Yankees decide that they need a veteran, right-handed batter, then Wigginton may be their man. He would probably jump at the chance to move onto a championship contender, especially when he’s currently on the worst team in baseball.
It’s hard to say what it would take for the Yankees to get a player like Wigginton, but you can’t think it would cost too many top prospects or cash. The Orioles are in need of young talent and Wigginton will probably not re-sign with the O’s after his contract expires at the end of the 2010 season.
The main questions would be whether or not Baltimore would be willing to deal with their divisional rivals and whether the Yankees are looking for another infielder to add to their bench.
The second player is right handed, outfielder Marlon Byrd from the Chicago Cubs. So far this season, Byrd has been batting .320 with 83 hits including 9 home runs and has driven in 34 men.
Also at 32 years old, Byrd is in the first year of a 3-year deal with the Cubs. The contract is worth $15 million over the three years.
Byrd would provide a talented outfielder for the Yankees, who could easily start in place of Granderson at center field when facing left-handed pitchers. The problem with trading for Byrd, is that he would presumably come with a hefty price tag.
The Cubs will probably fall completely out of the NL Central race in the coming weeks, but that won’t help the Yankees ability to bargain with the North-Siders. Byrd will still be owed $12 million dollars on his contract and new Cubs owner Tom Ricketts won’t be giving him up for cheap.
A trade for Byrd would likely take many more prospects and an exorbitant amount of money. It may not make sense to make the move for an expensive fourth outfielder, especially if it comes at such a steep price.
The last player is left-handed, starting pitcher Cliff Lee from the Seattle Mariners. This season, Lee is 5-3 with an ERA of 2.55. In 10 games, Lee has struck out 67 hitters while only allowing 4 walks.
Lee is the most coveted player in the MLB right now, especially after his performance for the Phillies in the 2009 season and playoffs. With the Mariners continuing to flounder in the AL West, many teams are looking to deal with M’s for their stud ace.
The 31-year old pitcher is set to make $9 million dollars this season and would only be a rental for the Yankees, as his contract is set to expire at the end of the 2010 season. The Yankees have the money to make the move, but they would need to find room for Lee in the rotation.
This move probably makes the least amount of sense, especially with the way that the Yankees’ starting rotation has been pitching this season. Unless they want to move someone to the bullpen, there are no spots open for Lee to fill. The Yankees already have CC Sabathia and Andy Pettitte as left-handed starters, combined with Javier Vazquez, AJ Burnett, and Phil Hughes as right-handers.
The debate will continue and will probably include a list of other players before the trade deadline comes up. It’s hard to say if any of these players make sense based on their contracts, salaries, and positions.
Before Brian Cashman goes and makes any of these moves, he has to remember that the New York Yankees still are the best team in baseball. Alex Rodriguez and Jorge Posada have been battling injuries, while Derek Jeter and Mark Teixeira have been having slow seasons. Yet, the Yankees continue to win games.
Who knows what will happen in the coming weeks and months?
It’s the Yankees. Anything is possible.
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