Yankees, Sellers?

From Bill Madden:

As it is, with each ensuing injury or pratfall by a Yankee starting pitcher, GM Brian Cashman’s trading deadline priorities seem to change by the day. For the longest time, the target was always a big-time starting pitcher. Then it was a high-quality set-up man. Now that the bullpen appears to have stabilized, the back end of the starting rotation is collapsing again. And lately even Cashman admits the Yankees’ hitting has always been a concern as he has begun combing the outfielder market. It may just be, however, there are so many holes in this leaking Yankee clipper that Cashman may have to conclude he’d be better off trying to be a seller at the deadline, especially if it’s possible to procure some legitimate prospects for the still-barren farm system.

Madden makes a pretty decent point here. While the Yankees had a tremendous win yesterday, at what point do they look at the standings and say, “hell, it’s time to pack it up” and start selling the aging components of their underachieving roster? Now, this is a touchy subject for all of us (no Yankee fan wants to concede a season), especially with the AS break approaching, as we’ve proven to be a second half ballclub these past few years. But, if the Yanks lose again to the Sox and then get swept by the Rays (I’m talking worst case scenario), does the team start rethinking it’s strategy with the trade deadline nearing?

Many are quick to say, yes, let’s sell. We can get rid of Bobby Abreu’s declining bat/eye, lose LaTroy Hawkins (who would want him?), punt a few pitchers, maybe, and then gather some prospects. However, while the current situation looks grim, with two teams to compete with in the AL East (and the Orioles are inching close), you also have to consider the newness of it all and take that into account. The Rays are winning and will continue to win. They’re a real team with real talent, nevertheless, they have never seen a playoff push before, so how exactly will they react when the Sox (or even the Yanks) begin winning more ballgames? Will they buckle? Will pitchers figure out Longoria? Will Troy Percival hold up? Will James Shields be able to pitch on the road? These are all things that must be thought of and taken into account.

No matter how bad the team looks right now, this is why (or at least this is part of why) the Yankees will not start dealing away pieces of their misshapen puzzle. Also, let’s not forget that the Yankees don’t have the easiest contracts to send away and their $200 million dollar payroll would be the laughing stock of sports if the team was to trade away players and concede the season. The team is all about payroll pride, which is why Kei Igawa, Jaret Wright, and other disastrous clowns have gotten tons of chances to keep playing (they got paid a lot, so they had opportunities to play). I guess you can also argue that with the new stadium opening up, the Yankees would never sell for that reason, however, I’m sure if the team sold a ton of its parts and then signed Pat Burrell, Mark Teixeira, and C.C. Sabathia in the offseason (or a mix of those players), you’d have the stadium filled on opening day, as well as every day after that.

So, the NY Yankees won’t sell anytime soon, no matter how good of an idea it may be down the road (the end of the road is coming up quick).