Yankees Trade Deadline Thread

Mark Melancon was the prospect involved in the trade. Not really a "non-prospect" but giving up a relief prospect isn't the end of the world

 

And now Austin Kearns for a PTBNL(???).
http://www.rotoworld.com/content/playerpages/player_main.aspx?sport=MLB&id=3391
The Yankees have traded for Indians outfielder Austin Kearns, reports SI.com's Jon Heyman.
Multiple outlets are reporting that the deal is done. Kearns was removed from Friday's game for a pinch runner. The Bronx Bombers are looking for some depth on their bench and Kearns fits the bill. Before tonight's game, he was batting .268 with eight homers and 42 RBI on the season. Joel Sherman is reporting that the Indians will acquire a player to be named later. Stay tuned for more details.

 

As the Mets fan I really don't care that the Yankees go out and get everyone. Kudos to them for trying to win..

But why does every team just lineup to give these guys to them? Every fucking year.

Astros aren't even saving money by dealing Berkman. Why bother?

 

The simplest explanation is that Ed Wade's an idiot. I have no idea why give away Lance Berkman and pay $4 million to get Melancon, who can't throw strikes in AAA.

Say what you will about Cashman's payroll advantage, but he's ripped a ton of teams off over the pat few years, including cases where money wasn't much of a factor.

 

It's all about next year with Berkman. They are saving millions next season by trading him. They don't have to pay the buyout, plus they can sign him for many millions cheaper than the $15 he is due. They are essentially saving $7 or so million bucks, right off the bat, plus whatever they save with a new deal.

Plus they get a nice prospect. It's win-win.

 

I like the move, Berkman is a switch hitter so that always helps. Also there is the "I'm a veteran who is late in my career and wants to win a championship" mentality. It worked pretty well for Hariston and Hinske last year. I've personally liked Berkman through out his career.

 

Except they're paying $4 million of the $7 million owed to Berkman, so they're only saving $3 million. And Melancon is hardly a good prospect--he's been unable to stick in the majors, and right now he's struggling badly at AAA. Melancon will be a decent middle reliever at best.

I get the rationale of moving Berkman. I just find it impossible to believe that there wasn't a better deal out there for him. The Yankees got a steal.

 

They're also saving the contract buyout next year, which I can't remember, is either $2 million or $4 million bucks.

Also, they had a better deal with the White Sox, but Berk invoked his 10-5 rights and veteod it. He had a very small group of teams he would OK a deal to, and the Yanks happened to be one of them.


I can't understand why you're surprised the market wasn't bigger for a 34 year old NL DH with a big salary and buyout, and 10-5 rights.

 

Berkman is nothing more than what I said. A panic move because Cashman couldn't get Dunn and wanted to look like he is still relevant. And I know you know that is true. He will take Cervelli's ABs and maybe, maybe, account for one more win over the remainder of the season. You are stat whore, run it through your stat machine. All of this so he can absorb another 15 mil/yr contract. In the meantime we will have more of Posada behind the plate so we can watch the balls go whizzing by him to the wall when he isn't throwing them into center field. He will lose more games for them then Berkman will ever win.

 

Hardly a good prospect? Really? The guy was pegged as our closer of our future and known for his 3 + pitches. He's got a mechanical hitch this year that our AAA team couldn't fix. Houston scouts obviously saw what's wrong and know how to fix him.

This isn't some throwaway deal. Melancon is a legit prospect. He, unfortunately, is having a down year.

 

*shakes head*

It's like you invent things to bitch about.

1. Taking Cervelli's ABs is not a bad thing, although I doubt that is what happens.
2. One more win over the course of the season is hardly insignificant.
3. The Astros are actually paying the bulk of the remainder of the contract for this year, and part of the deal is that the Yanks are not going to pick up his option for next year. So it costs the Yanks next to nothing.
4. It's probably not going to be more of Posada behind the plate; it's going to be more days off for Posada. They're not going to ask Posada to catch 6-7 games per week at this point of his career... especially if he's got a knee issue. Being able to rest him for the playoffs without sacrificing offense (because Berkman can DH instead of Posada) is just another plus of this deal.

 

You say I make things up? Whose ABs do you think they are going to be, Jeter's? Of course it's going to be Cervelli's and of course that means more of Posada and his end of the line catching ability behind the plate. Can't wait until they have him catching Burnette again.

The salary part I will agree with. So it will only cost them 3 or 4 million to reduce their ability to win.

 

Are you freaking nuts? Lets see Cashman has as many WS rings as my team has had GMs since he took over and your complaining about the Yankees stealing Berkman from the Astros.

BTW WTF are the Astros doing? They trade away Oswalt and pick up most of the salary and now they trade away Berkman and pick up a huge chunk of his salary.

 

What part of this don't you understand? They're not running Posada out behind the plate any more than he currently is. I'll eat my hat if that's the case. This is pretty simple. Either Posada will lose the ABs and get more full days off (a good thing), or Posada will DH and Berkman can sit. Either way, the bench is much better.

But the most mind boggling part of this is that you'd actually give a shit if Cervelli lost ABs.

 

When I saw the Yankees had traded for Berkman yesterday I was like "Oh come on! WTF did they do that for?

Then I saw that they basically gave up nothing for him and Houston ate almost all of the contract and said "Oh. That's why."

This was a very good move by Cashman. Especially if the rumor I saw that between Kearns and Berkman that Thames' days in pinstripes are done.

Cervelli probably will lose some games as a result, but the Yankees are stronger today than two days ago. I'll only miss him behind the plate not at bat.

And Melancon has been awful. He wasn't even a prospect anymore.

 

He is a first baseman. They aren't sitting the current guy playing first base so that means he will be the DH. Who is the DH now? Posada, Arod, Jeter..so that means none of them DH and Berkman still plays. So for once put 2 and 2 together and come up with something other than 3.

Oh, and I'm not sure what this means but it sounds like the Yankees are picking up his option for '11. Course it is ESPN .

"The Berkman deal likely will be completed before Saturday's trade deadline. The Astros will pick up $4 million of the $7 million owed to Berkman this year and in his 2011 option, sources said."

http://sports.espn.go.com/new-york/mlb/news/story?id=5424350

 

For a Mets fan you let yourself get sucked up into the hype. Cashman had nothing at all to do with the team that won in the 90s. That was all Michael and Watson. He also had nothing to do with last year's team. That was Hal and Hank Steinbrenner saying spend the money to get Texeiera, Sabathia and Burnette. That is why he wears 5 rings. He does things like bring in Park, Granderson, Johnson, on and on. They give him the ability to make minor deals and that's what you get while he trades away the best prospects in the organization. George had it right when he wouldn't let him do a thing on his own.

 

*facepalm*

Yes, Berkman is the DH. That's obvious.

You said Cervelli will be losing ABs. Not A-Rod or Jeter or Posada. Posada catches 5 games per week right now. You think they're going to up him to 6-7 games per week at 38 years old? Hell, no.

Berkman will be the full-time DH (against righties, at least). Posada will still catch five games per week or so. When they want to give Jeter or A-Rod a break, they can either sit Berkman, or they can give those guys full days off without sacrificing too much in the way of offense. Either way, the team is improved. This is what I've been saying from the beginning.

You are not making any sense and are changing your story. Just admit you don't know what the hell you're talking about and move on.

Actually, it's the opposite of picking up his option. The $7M owed to Berkman covers the rest of his salary this season, plus the $2M buyout on the mutual option. Berkman's salary - if his option was to be picked up - would be $15M next year. That's not happening.