Would You Make This Deal?
Over on ESPN's GM's Office (subscription required) Jim Bowden has posted five trade ideas that he sees as fair for both teams. One of them is Felix Hernandez to the Yankees for Ivan Nova, Jesus Montero and Dellin Betances. So, if you are the Yankees, do you make this trade?
Personally, I would and here's why. I think the Yankees are selling high on Nova. Sure, he was awesome in the second half last year, but he also didn't strike out a lot of guys. It's very hard to be a great pitcher in this era if you don't get your K's and I view Nova as a nice back of the rotation guy rather than a #2 or #3. I could be very wrong about that and if he stays in the Yankees rotation I hope I am, but the jury is still out on him.
Montero is obviously the big hit in this trade, but I still don't think the Yankees view him as a catcher. To me, the fact that they sent Romine across the country when Martin and Cervelli went down in September tells you all you need to know. And, if he can't catch, his value to the Yankees goes way down. I should also note that I saw Brian Cashman on TV get asked about putting him in rightfield and Cashman basically said he didn't think Montero could handle it. So, it's catcher or bust with Jesus and unless the Yankees have had a change of thinking about his abilities there, better to trade him while the illusion that he can catch still exists.
Betances would hurt too, but of the remaining "B'" I would much prefer to hang onto Banuelos. If you got Hernandez you would have a dominant 1-2 punch to couple with Hughes, Burnett and Garcia. I think you have to do that trade if you are the Yankees.
Comments
I'd do this trade, Peter. Hernandez is a proven commodity and still young (25 or so). Nova is a nice kid, but long term I see him as a #3. Betances has lots of potential but again, Hernandez is young and proven. Montero may prove to be quite a special hitter one day, but he is a DH. The Yankees do not need another DH. This is one of those trades where each team can give up what it has to get what it needs. You don't trade Montero for someone of lesser quality, you trade him for someone like Hernandez.
Posted by: Greg | December 15, 2011 05:53 PM |
Under the heading of completely random post comes this bid of weirdness from the cold wilderness currently known as North of Boston:
So I am sitting at a social function enjoying a wonderful beverage when the conversation turns to Yoenis Cespedes. Not his stats, not his probable team - but the guy's first name. It seems that his first name is considered quite funny, especially among the Smokey and The Bandit crowd. Why? Little Enos, Big Enos and Yo Enis. This was such a weird conversation to me that I almost choked on my beverage. Yo! Yo Enis!
I love baseball, don't you? LOL.
Posted by: Mitchell![[TypeKey Profile Page]](http://yankeesredsox.com/nav-commenters.gif)
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December 16, 2011 09:30 AM
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back on track - I would trade for Hernandez in a heartbeat, proven stud pitcher that is young enough to be around and effective after he has his Tommy John surgery (not yet scheduled but all pitchers go through it at some point, right?).
Posted by: blmeanie![[TypeKey Profile Page]](http://yankeesredsox.com/nav-commenters.gif)
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December 16, 2011 10:09 AM
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Mitchell
Find any beer drinker under 35 and have them watch that movie. I bet the first question you get is why would anyone go to all that trouble for some Coors?
Posted by: Peter![[TypeKey Profile Page]](http://yankeesredsox.com/nav-commenters.gif)
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December 16, 2011 11:01 AM
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