Trading for outfield help
November 8, 2009, 11:00 am by iYankees · 5 Comments
This winter, if the Yankees choose to steer clear of expensive free agents such as Matt Holliday and Jason Bay, and, given the lack of fully developed talent in the organization’s farm system (Austin Jackson isn’t ready yet), how will Brian Cashman address a bereft left field in the Bronx? While there are cheaper candidates, like Johnny Damon or Mike Cameron, that are currently available, they too suffer from their own respective flaws (e.g., age). Therefore, perhaps a trade would ultimately serve as the most effective method for dealing with the left field situation?
Bob Klapisch (Bergen Record) offers his thoughts on the subject:
Instead, Cashman’s biggest challenges will be tending to the surplus. He has two DH-outfielders — Hideki Matsui and Johnny Damon — and there’ll be room for only one. That’s hardly a revelation, but Cashman could have more interesting choices if he wants to proactively deal for a younger, more athletic outfielder to replace Damon, 37, or Matsui, 35.
One of them has to go to free up the DH spot on a rotating basis for Jorge Posada, Alex Rodriguez and whoever survives the Damon-Matsui game of musical chairs.
How would, say, Rangers right fielder Josh Hamilton look in pinstripes? Even with his history of substance abuse and a season-ending back injury that required surgery, Hamilton’s left-handed home-run swing would be of interest to the Yankees if they are willing to trade Joba Chamberlain.
It remains to be seen whether the Bombers are open to moving Chamberlain and willing to gauge other teams’ interest. No consensus will be reached until the Yankees’ organizational meetings, which still are a few weeks off. But one major league talent evaluator said he has “questions” about Joba’s long-term trend line, even as a reliever. But he added, “The Yankees have so much invested in the guy” it might render such a discussion moot.
Could trading Joba Chamberlain be the answer to the team’s outfield problem? I’m not sure, really, and there aren’t many outfielders—left fielders, specifically—that seem appealing or that are appealing and simultaneously available. Josh Hamilton should never be considered due to his sobriety issues, however, if the Yankees could have a Shin-Soo Choo or a Hunter Pence, would Brian Cashman bite and deal Chamberlain? Joba’s star has fallen this season, yet I’m not sure if it has fallen enough to warrant a trade. It’s definitely more of a possibility at the end of 2009 then it was after 2008, though—that’s at least certain. He’s nowhere near as “untouchable” as he once was.
To close, I want to stress that I’m not advocating for trading Chamberlain or Hughes or any other Yankee, but, as Klapisch outlines, it is necessary to exhaust all options in order to find the best possible player for one’s team, in both the short and long term. Plus, if the Yankees were to make a smart play for a young and athletic outfielder, which remains a distinct possibility, Chamberlain and Hughes would be the main pieces in any Yankees package.
I guess, in the end, it’s a matter of spending. What are the Yankees willing to spend in order to address this particular need (left field)? Money or young pitching? I should, of course, note that, for the Yankees, one of these two resources seems to be more abundant than the other. Maybe that, then, should serve as their currency for acquiring a left fielder.
Photo by Jared Wickerham/Getty Images
Trading Joba now would be a horrible idea. His value is low because of his perceived failure as a starter, and I say perceived because he is very young and still learning what it takes to deal with starting for a full season, and just logging the innings he did last season is a huge positive. He could start next season and if he had an innings cap it would be around 190 innings, that’s a fulltime starter right there.
Not to mention, they only have 3 SP other SP on the roster right now who could be expected to start from game 1 next season (CC, AJ, Hughes).
Joba for a corner OF, coming off back surgery, who is more likely to break down than Cameron or Damon because of his substance abuse history (The Rangers had their medical staff researching substance abuse and its impact on athletic performance, so if they are suddenly willing to trade Hamilton, there is probably a reason).
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I think Klapisch was just using Hamilton as an example of acquiring an outfielder (not that he’s actually available). Also, I don’t necessarily think that Joba’s value is very low. Most baseball people seem to think he had a poor year because of the way the Yankees bounced him back and forth between reliever and starter. I think he could still be traded as if it were the end of 2008. He has potential and everyone knows that, regardless of his “rough” 2009.
If the Yankees were to move Chamberlain—it’s unlikely but not impossible—I would then expect them to acquire at least one other free agent starter. They’ll likely have CC, Burnett, Pettitte and Hughes, therefore, fleshing out the final spot would be a necessity (unless they want to use Gaudin, Aceves or Mitre, which is very unlikely).
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What FA SP other than Lackey (who is talking AJ or better contract) is going to be more effective than Joba was this year?
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I think the point is that you’re not just losing Joba. You’d get an upgrade in left. If you can get an adequate starter on the free agent market to hold down Joba’s empty spot then that works. I can’t think of an available outfielder that’s worth it though.
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Joba was a 1.5 WAR player. Randy Wolf, John Smoltz, maybe Jarrod Washburn, there are guys who can possibly match that (or do a bit better or worse). I think Joba will be worth more than 1.5 WAR in 2010, though. But, if you’re only trying to fill out the final spot in your rotation, assuming Hughes is a good number 4 starter, I think the Yankees would be okay with one of those free agents penciled in.
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