Yankees Acquire Curtis Granderson

The New York Yankees have acquired Curtis Granderson from the Detroit Tigers in a three-team trade.

Here’s the trade:

Yankees Receive: Curtis Granderson (Tigers)

Arizona Diamondbacks Receive: Edwin Jackson (Tigers) and Ian Kennedy (Yankees)

Tigers Receive: Max Scherzer and Daniel Schlereth from the Diamondbacks, and Phil Coke and Austin Jackson from the Yankees

Analysis: Love the move for the Yankees. The Yankees are essentially getting a better version of Jackson and giving up Ian Kennedy, who has been often injured but still has a bright future, and Phil Coke. Coke is not a necessary piece for the Yankees, of whom have Damaso Marte, Mike Dunn and Zach Kroenke.

OTHER NEWS:

-Jack Curry has left the NY Times.
-Peter Gammons has left ESPN.
-Ivan Rodriguez has signed with the Washington Nationals.
-The Mariners are “unlikely to get involved” in the Jason Bay sweepstakes.

UPDATE: 3:30 PM: Looks like each team got a fair amount in the trade. Jackson will most likely have a solid MLB career, as long as he can get some of his power back. Kennedy will likely be a 4th starter or 5th starter in the MLB if he can heal from his injuries. Coke will make a good lefty specialist for the Tigers.

As for Granderson, with the short porch in right field, he could hit up to 35 HR. Add about 20-25 SB and 70-80 RBIs, I’ll take it. If Jackson can hit better against lefties (.183 Batting Average, .239 Slugging, .245 On-Base) he can prove to be a nice acquisition.

Don’t forget Granderson hit .302 as recently as ’07 and hit .280 in ’08.

Prediction: Granderson hits .268 with 32 HR and 75 RBI in ’10.

Plea to the Yankees: Tigers Edition

There are reports coming out that the Detroit Tigers are considering trading Edwin Jackson and trading Curtis Granderson. If so, I plea, PLEA to the Yankees to trade for not one, but both of them.

Here is why:

Curtis Granderson would eliminate the Yankees need to re-sign Johnny Damon, or Hideki Matsui, and he would add pop to the lineup AND speed. Granderson, who hit .249 with 30 HR and 71 RBI, is only 28 years old. Granderson was signed to a five-year, $30.25 million deal with a club option for 2013 with the Tigers in February 2008. The Yankees could easily pay that contract.

Edwin Jackson was an all-star in 2009. He went 13-9 with a 3.62 ERA. The Yankees could use Jackson as their 3rd starter, which would eliminate the need to sign a John Lackey, or Jason Marquis type of pitcher. Jackson is being paid about $2 Million a year.

So the question remains: What would it take to get BOTH in a trade?

Here is my offer:

CC Sabathia, Alex Rodriguez, and Derek Jeter for Curtis Granderson and Edwin Jackson.

Kidding.

Here is my REAL offer:

Melky Cabrera, Reegie Corona, Josh Schmidt, and Austin Romine for Curtis Granderson and Edwin Jackson.

Is that too much? Too little? Good trade? Bad trade? Explain in the comments!

UPDATE: 2:01 PM: Apparently I don’t know enough about prospects, as it seems like it will take either one of the Yankees big prospects (Hughes, Joba) and an additional prospect/OR a bunch of major prospects such as Zach McAllister, Ian Kennedy, etc.

The Future of Jon Papelbon

With the Yankees win over the Minnesota Twins yesterday, they will go to the ALCS to play the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim.

Once the Angels swept the Redsox, an interesting question came up: Will this be the last game Jon Papelbon pitches in a Redsox uniform? I hope so!

Here are teams that would be good fits for Papelbon:

TAMPA BAY RAYS: Would be a great fit, but would NEVER ever happen.

DETROIT TIGERS: May be the best fit if the Redsox are willing to send him to an AL team.

PHILADELPHIA PHILLIES: Great fit if the Phillies are willing to do it. They would have to get rid of Lidge first.

CHICAGO CUBS: Maybe the Cubs would be a good fit, but they have both Kevin Gregg and Carlos Marmol.

HOUSTON ASTROS: Need a closer with Jose Valverde becoming a free agent.

PREDICTION: The Redsox keep Papelbon and let Billy Wagner go as a free agent.

UPDATE 9:08 PM EST: The reason the Redsox would get rid of Papelbon is because they feel that Daniel Bard is a capable MLB closer.

UPDATE 9:10 PM EST: Check out this prediction in the Miami Herald….bottom of the article…CRAZY!

Yankees Win the AL East, Root for the Twins

Congrats to the Yankees, as they defeated the Boston Redsox 4-2 today to win the AL East. I was watching the game from start to finish and let me tell you it was exciting. I don’t know why, but this game had some special feeling to it.

-Twins and Tigers both lost today

-Root for the Twins to win the AL Central. The pitching is much worse in Minnesota and the Tigers have Justin Verlander.

As the Yankees Keep Winning, the Redsox Keep Fighting

The Redsox are currently in a battle with the injury-stricken Texas Rangers for the wild card. The Rangers, with Michael Young and Josh Hamilton both out, are 79-60 this season. Currently two games out of the wild card, the Rangers have surprised all of the MLB this season. Michael Young said after his injury “I could get upset about missing some time or I could visualize the impact I could have on the last two weeks of the season. As down as I was about it last night, what I was told today was very uplifting. It’s only going to give me more energy about being aggressive with my rehab.” It seems like this team is going to grind it out until he and Hamilton return. The Redsox, on the other hand are used to this kind of situation.

How does this play out for the Yankees?

If the Rangers win the wild card the Yankees will play them (if the yankees get home field advantage), while if the Redsox win the wild card the Yankees will play the Tigers, most likely.

I’d rather face the Rangers, due to their not-so-great pitching staff.

Predicting how the Yankees Playoffs May Play Out

The Yankees completed a four-game sweep of the Boston Redsox last night. That got me thinking….if the playoffs were played starting tonight….how would the Yankees fair?

First of all…here would be the playoff matchups.

1. NYY
vs.
3. DET

2. LAA
vs.
4. BOS

So…lets say the Yankees play the Tigers. Here’s what the pitching matchups would be:

GAME 1: CC Sabathia vs. Justin Verlander

This matchup was played out earlier in the year at Yankee Stadium and the Yankees won that game 2-1. Still, Verlander and CC are both aces, but I’d call this even. I’m going to give the Yankees the win on this one.

GAME 2: A.J. Burnett vs. Edwin Jackson

This is another great matchup of aces. Jackson pitched against the Yankees twice this season, losing one and getting a no-decision in the other. Through the two games combined Jackson pitched 13 Innings giving up 9 Hits and 2 Runs. Burnett faced the Tigers once (I was there) pitching 6 innings giving up 3 runs on 6 hits in a No-decision. He was not all that great. I’m going to give Jackson the win in this one.

GAME 3: Jarrod Washburn vs. Andy Pettite

I’m giving Pettite the start in case the Yankees want Joba to get extra rest. Washburn has had a great year, but he is struggling of late. Pettite has had a rough year but is amazing of late. Still, I will give the win to Pettite due to his proven post-season track record.

Game 4: Rick Porcello vs. Joba Chamberlain

Both pitchers are young phenoms that will one day probably (hopefully) be game one starters. I’ll give the Yankees and Joba the win, though.

*Based on records as of this day I have the Angels beating the Redsox*

Game 1: CC Sabathia vs. John Lackey

I’ll give Lackey the win, beware Lackey, he is playing for a contract.

Game 2: A.J. Burnett vs. Jered Weaver

I’m a big Jered Weaver supporter, as I believe he is one of the best in the game. I think that Weaver loses this game, however, as A.J. Burnett pitches a solid game.

Game 3: Joe Saunders (healthy) vs. Andy Pettite

I don’t care how much Joe Saunders struggles, or battles with injuries, I still think he is a great pitcher. I can see Pettite struggling against LA, with his career ERA vs. LA is 4.70.

Game 4: Ervin Santana vs. Joba Chamberlain (or possibly CC Sabathia)

Whichever one of CC or Joba pitches…will be firing. They won’t let themselves lose this game.

Past that game the series repeats itself pitchers wise, which makes it too difficult to predict.

I will leave you with this stat, though: The Yankees 4 main starters (CC, A.J., Joba, Pettite) have a combined 4.50 ERA vs. the Redsox, Angels, and Tigers.

Trade Deadline Deals, Roster Moves

Here are the biggest trades that occurred today on trade deadline day:

-Tigers acquired Jarrod Washburn for Luke French and a minor-league pitcher

-Redsox acquired Victor Martinez for Justin Masterson, and two minor-league pitchers

-Redsox acquired Casey Kotchman for Adam LaRoche

-Twins acquired Orlando Cabrera for a minor-leaguer

-Reds acquired Scott Rolen for Edwin Encarnacion and a few minor-leaguers.

-Brewers acquired Claudio Vargas for Vinny Rotino

-Rockies acquired Joe Beimel for two minor-leaguers

-Marlins acquired Nick Johnson for a minor-leaguer

FROM YESTERDAY:

Late last night, the Dodgers acquired George Sherrill for two minor-leaguers.

YANKEES MOVES:

Saved this for last, but the Yankees made a few moves today, only one trade.

-Yankees acquired Jerry Hairston Jr. for minor-league catcher Chase Weems

-Yankees called up Shelley Duncan.

-Yankees will have two more moves to make to free up room for Duncan and Hairston Jr.

The Yankees did add to their infield/outfield depth with Hairston and the call-up of Duncan, which is always good. Duncan plays 1b/lf/rf, while Hairston plays 2b/3b/ss/lf/cf/rf.

I would expect the Yankees to DFA Cody Ransom and option out one of Mark Melancon or Jon Albaladejo. Also, they will probably transfer Xavier Nady to the 60 day DL.

ONE LAST PIECE OF NEWS:

Shocking news out of Chicago. The Whitesox have traded for Jake Peavy….again….pending his approval. The trade has Clayton Richard, Adam Russell, Aaron Poreda, and Dexter Carter for Peavy. Richard is scheduled to start tonight against the Yankees. I’d expect Peavy to approve it if they made the deal again. When the original deal was made, the Padres had a better record than the Whitesox.

MY ANALYSIS

My immediate analysis is that the Redsox came away as the big winners of the trade deadline. The Yankees also did well, filling a utility need, but they did not acquire the starting pitcher they needed.

Josh Anderson Traded to Royals and Other Related Notes

–Josh Anderson was traded to the Royals for cash considerations today. If the Yankees really did want him, I feel horrible for him. Goes from being a Brave to a Tiger to a ROYAL?

–John Grabow and Tom Gorzelanny were traded to the Cubs today.

–Jarrod Washburn is apparently available and the Mariners originally asked for one of Joba Chamberlain or Phil Hughes. Once the Yankees balked at that, they will now look for a B-type prospect.

–David Ortiz and Manny Ramirez were two of the names in the infamous 2003 “list.” The reason this isn’t going to be all over my blog today is because-well-this isn’t news. Everyone knew Manny used steroids and everyone basically knew Ortiz did but he never admitted it or was caught. Don’t go quick to call their world series “tainted”, as I would have to agree with Peter Gammons on this one. He said since 1989 all world series can be viewed as “tainted” in one way or another.

-Shelley Duncan was not in the lineup for the 2nd game of a doubleheader for AAA Scranton and appears to be headed for Chicago.

Here are two very inspirational stories, one about baseball, one about football.