Melky Or Gardner For Washburn

From Ed Price:

A person familiar with the Seattle Mariners’ plans, who asked not to be named because of the sensitive nature of trade discussions, said a possible trade of lefty Jarrod Washburn to the Yankees has “got legs” and predicted “something will happen there.”

The person said talks have progressed between the sides. The Yankees today held meetings between the baseball-operations staff and ownership in preparation for trade-deadline moves and thus could be prepared to pull the trigger soon.

Kei Igawa’s name has come up, as a way to offset Washburn’s salary ($10.35 million next year and about $3.4 million for the remainder of this year), but the Mariners aren’t sold on Igawa. One area of need for Seattle in in center field, and while the Yankees have put Double-A Trenton’s Austin Jackson off-limits, Brett Gardner or Melky Cabrera could be discussed.

Cincinnati’s Bronson Arroyo and Texas’ Vicente Padilla also interest the Yankees. But they mean even more of a financial commitment; Padilla will make $12 million next year with a $1.75 million buyout on a $12 million option for 2010, and Arroyo has a contract that calls for $9.5 million next year and $11 million in 2010.

Washburn has a partial no-trade clause that includes the Yankees, but the Mariners have discussed it with him, and it doesn’t seem to have hampered talks.

Although Washburn is 4-9 with a 4.75 ERA, the Mariners have scored just 74 runs total in his 20 starts, 3.7 per game. He has a 2.65 ERA over his past eight starts, with just four homers allowed in 51 innings.

Melky has been hitting well since the break and Gardner hasn’t shown much since his call up. He’s got a .150 AVG and a whopping .390 OPS in 20 AB’s since the break and hasn’t been the spark many of us thought he would be (it could be his lack of regular playing time though). The Mariners have had Jeremy Reed and Willie Bloomquist playing CF these past few weeks so I would assume that they’d like either player. I would think that, at this point, the Yankees would feel comfortable flipping Gardner for Washburn. With Austin Jackson waiting in the winds and with Melky Cabrera entrenched in CF with his defense and offense (not great, but hitting .333 since the break), that seems like the sensible move.

I’d still be hesitant to move Gardner, though.

UPDATE (11:44) — The more I think about it, is it really worth it to move Melky or Gardner for a back-end starter? These two, while not as valuable on their own, could be packaged down the road for a bigger player. Is it worth it to waste either of them on Jarrod Washburn? Maybe I’m overvaluing Brett Gardner a bit, but I don’t think it would be smart to move him now when we’re still trying to figure out what he can offer. Melky is Melky and he’s more of a known commodity than Gardner, so moving Melky probably won’t happen. Why not just take on Washburn and Vidro (straight up salary dump)? That way, you don’t lose anyone (except for maybe a low level prospect).

What would you do?

Hank Will Consider Bonds

Yankee management will meet in Tampa today and Hank Steinbrenner says they will leave no stone unturned as they search for a way to better the team. Hank also says that Barry Bonds will be mentioned in the meetings, which doesn’t mean anything right now, other than he hasn’t been totally ruled out (Cashman seems to think otherwise). It’s still highly unlikely that Barry will be in the Bronx, anytime soon, even though it’ll cost next to nothing (a league minimum salary).

Yankees Suck

Kevin Cullen, a writer for the Boston Globe, believes that it’s time for the “Yankees Suck” chant to die. While he makes some valid points, who cares? I like hearing Boston fans chant such a nonsensical phrase, over and over again. It makes no sense, which is why it’s funny to me. I went to school at UMASS Amherst (where Cullen, I believe went as well) and I heard that chant everyday. Hell, you could go to your friends funeral and hear it. It’s a telltale sign of a team that is still obsessed with the Yankees and their winning history, even though the Red Sox have been the ones winning as of late.

Red Sox fans define their fandom through the Yankees. It’s that simple. Therefore, the chant will live on. And, as Yankee fans, we should be proud.

Yanks Trying To Save Prospects, Spend Money

From Jayson Stark:

Jarrod Washburn, Bronson Arroyo and Vicente Padilla might not quite be CC Sabathia, Rich Harden and Joe Blanton. But there’s a reason you’re hearing all of their names attached to the Yankees: Money. The Yankees are the one team out there with no reservation about taking on Washburn’s remaining $14 million, Arroyo’s $24 million or Padilla’s $18 million. When you slurp up all those dollars, the price tends to go down. And that’s always the Yankees’ M.O. this time of year.

“Let me ask you something,” says one GM. “When was the last time the Yankees traded good prospects to go get somebody? They’re not used to dealing prospects, because they can buy anything.” So what’s the correct answer to that question? Jan. 11, 2005 — the day the Yankees traded Dioner Navarro and Brad Halsey (along with Javier Vazquez) to Arizona for Randy Johnson.

Hmm, Vincent Padilla is a new name. Anyway, the Yankees have money to spend and they do have pitching prospects to burn, but by letting the Rich Hardens, CC Sabathias and Joe Blantons of the world, slip by, they’re demonstrating a rather reserved approach. Spending money is one thing, but depleting your farm system is not something the Yankees want or are willing to do anymore.

Yankees Will Probably Watch Braves

The Braves are 6 games out of a tight NL East race and are trying to figure out who they are. Are they buyers or sellers? They’re perennial buyers, as last year shows, and they could go that route again this year. However, their team isn’t playing up to its potential (see Jeff Francouer) and yesterday, they learned that Chipper Jones will likely sit out with a hamstring injury and that Tim Hudson is experiencing elbow tightness (always a bad sign). These injuries are popping up at an integral moment, as the Braves will face league rivals–the Phillies– this weekend for a 3-game set. Their season and the theme they choose come the trade deadline (buyers or sellers) will hinge upon that 3-game series.

If they believe that they’re out of contention, it will be interesting to see what happens to Mark Teixeira. While the Yankees can probably sign Tex in the offseason, he could be moved by the trade deadline, this year. He would be a perfect fit for NY (a powerful switch-hitter), taking over at first base and allowing Jason Giambi to slot in as the everyday DH (problem solved). However, the Braves would want a lot in return (pitching) and the Yankees know that Tex will be a FA at the end of the season (he’d be a rental). If the Yankees could somehow work out an extension with him, such a trade could be worth it, but it’s doubtful that would happen (Scott Boras is still his agent). Either way, if the Braves don’t sell Teixeira, they do have lefty reliever Will Ohman, who could be dealt instead (he’d be cheaper than Fuentes).

Dodgers Like Cano?

From George King III:

Dodgers have an interest in Robinson Cano and might be willing to deal Derek Lowe and outfielder Matt Kemp, but the Yankees aren’t inclined to part with the red-hot second baseman unless there is a front-of-the-rotation-type starter coming to The Bronx. Lowe, who has the stomach for big games and has AL East experience with the Red Sox, doesn’t fit that bill.

Kemp, 23, would be viewed as a replacement for Bobby Abreu in right field next year. Kemp is batting .287 (104-for-362) with 11 homers and 55 RBIs in 94 games this season. His biggest downside is striking out 107 times.

I doubt this rumor will go anywhere. The Yankees need Cano and don’t have an replacements for him waiting in the minors (unless you consider Alberto Gonzalez a replacement). While I like Derek Lowe’s consistency and Matt Kemp’s upside makes me salivate (he’s only 23), Cano is proving that he’s worth the wait. Also, Cashman knows that there are solid pitching options hitting free agency at the end of the season, so he won’t deal one of his best young talents. However, if the Dodgers are willing to move Kemp and Kemp alone, for some prospects, then the Yankees should definitely jump into those talks.

Yanks Ready To Deal

Here’s a rather interesting bit of info from Mark Feinsand (Daily News):

With the trade deadline looming a week from Thursday, the Yankees’ brain trust will gather Thursday in Tampa to discuss potential moves.

The meeting will include co-chairmen Hank and Hal Steinbrenner, president Randy Levine, general manager Brian Cashman, special adviser Gene Michael, pro scouting director Billy Eppler and senior VP Felix Lopez. Manager Joe Girardi isn’t expected to be at the meeting, but he is expected to have some input.

A source with knowledge of the situation said that the Steinbrenner brothers have been pleased with the team’s recent play, so they want to show the players that they are committed to winning this year by making moves to bolster the roster.

“They’re ready to do whatever they need to do at the deadline,” the source said. “They want to make a run this year.”

During last week’s All-Star break, the source said, Hal Steinbrenner instructed Cashman to make whatever moves were necessary before the deadline, even if it meant dealing some of the organization’s highly touted prospects.

You would have to assume that Phil Hughes, Ian Kennedy, Mark Melancon and maybe Austin Jackson will stick around. However, Brian Cashman basically has the green light to flip a few other promising guys for that righty bat or that back-end starter. Brad over at the Yankee GM Blog runs down some of the possible candidates that may not make it past the trade deadline.