Sport Chit Chat

It’s not a news story with me if a draft pick signs as they are expected to. Coverage is more geared toward prospects not signed as all is generally forgotten when they do in fact sign the dotted line even if it happens at the last minute.

Aaron Crow the 9th overall pick didn’t sign. The kicker? Only 700k. This is bad move by the Nationals. You just can’t lose out on prospects especially one like Aaron Crow. They do get back the 10th overall pick (9a) and Crow was looking for a deal better then the #4 overall pick in Brian Matusz. Still though, the Nationals would have to move their budget over to next year. They can still get the same quality of picks at #10 and they’ll have another pick around the same area. It’s never good business not signing a 1st rounder though. What do some Nats fan think? Check out the comments at Federal Baseball. Either way we may have to see how this plays out for all parties as Crow heads back into the 09 draft. Bowden should be fired though.

Gerritt Cole didn’t sign with the Yankees. He opted for living the high life with the hot girls at UCLA. Not as much reaction or not many people believing it until the deadline passes. Apparently Cole refused to listen to any offers period. It may or may not work out for him. Yanks receive the 28A pick in the draft. Which will be 30th. At least prospects dropping to the Yankees finally doesn’t pay off and for that I can smile as a Jays fan.

With Jorge Posada done for the season the Yankees have been looking hard for a number one catcher that will take them to the end of the season, and, they hope, into October. Names such as Gregg Zaun, Rod Barajas, and Gerald Laird had been bandied about. Those guys would make decent temporary replacements but they provide nothing too spectacular.
But then again, these are the Yankees. So while it’s shocking that they went out and got Ivan Rodriguez, because he wasn’t being mentioned at all in any trade talks, it’s not surprising considering that the Yankees mantra is to go for the top, come hell or high water. Adding the future Hall of Fame catcher to the lineup in exchange for embattled reliever Kyle Farnsworth, as first reported by espn.com’s Buster Olney, essentially amounts to gaining Jorge Posada’s services back just days after he shut it down for the year. They are both veteran catchers who have pretty similar numbers when healthy, and as a bonus Pudge is an all-time great at fielding his position. As well, this season Pudge is hitting .295 with 5 home runs and 32 RBI. Those numbers might seem small, but consider the combined production from the four Yankee players who have spent time behind the plate this year: a paltry .245 with 3 home runs and 34 RBI. So getting him as a fill-in for half a season and surrendering only Kyle Farnsworth is an incredible coup by the Yankees, and proves once again why Brian Cashman is the most underrated general manager in baseball — and why he will most likely try and go to a club where he can have total control after this season, as opposed to working beneath the Steinbrenner clan.
The wild card for the Yankees is still their pitching. The starting rotation has been up and down, although Joba Chamberlain has provided a bright spot when he’s not attempting to behead Kevin Youkilis, and despite the solid pitching of Edwar Ramirez and the addition of Damaso Marte the trade of Farnsworth leaves a big hole in front of Mariano Rivera — who is having one of the best years of his career. So regardless of what Pudge can do for the Yankees during these final few months, their pitching will ultimately decide whether Yankee Stadium will see one last run of October baseball before they move to the new ballpark.
Meanwhile, the Tigers get a right-handed reliever who is probably overjoyed to be getting out of New York — until this year Kyle Farnsworth had been the target of frustrated Yankee fans’ wrath — and who they know as well (Farnsworth pitched for Detroit during the 2005 season). Brandon Inge, who began his career as a catcher before being shifted around the diamond various times, will take over catching duties for Detroit.
Overall, this is an incredible short-term rental for the Yankees, who are now officially back in the race. The Tigers shored up a major weakness in their bullpen and are still hanging around in the tough AL Central, but that’s really only because Cleveland has fallen so fast. Don’t look for the Tigers to make any moves up in the standings now that Rodriguez has left town; next year is just about here in the Motor City.

Son of a bitch! The major news outlets screwed up by jumping the gun on a deal that was thought to be done. Instead of the previously reported trade which had the Pirates get back Tabata and Ohlendorf like previously reported but instead of Coke and Kontos, they get Dan McCutchen and Jeff Karstens.

The bastards at Sports Illustrated quietly changed their article. Nice.

Dan McCutchen is a better prospect then George Kontos. His statistics in the minors are great. He’s pitching great in AAA and looks like a player that will at least help the back of the rotation or as a bull pen guy right away. He’s a solid older prospect in this case with some good upside.

Jeff Karstens is a 25-year old pitcher that does have a chance but his opportunity may be floating away. He’s had some success in ‘06 as a starter but in ‘07 he struggled as the spot starter/long man. He’s had a really good year in AAA. He may not be valuable in anyone’s eyes but for Pittsburgh he’s good for the depth and sometimes these pitchers do pan out.

A better trade for the Pirates but I still think it’s even. The Yankees give up two top 10 prospects (McCutchen was listed #10 by some) and some depth. I don’t think Nady/Marte are going to play out of this world and the Pirates are bottom dwellers so sucking more may be better (they better sign Alvarez) when the next draft in June comes around.

People are taking the Pirates getting fleeced overboard such as bringing up the compensation, that’s two years away and there is no guarantees of that happening. We’re not looking at Nady’s 2008 numbers and he should revert back to the norm.

The Yankees finally made a move to shore up some much needed holes in their team. They probably aren’t done but they got two very important pieces. Xavier Nady and Damaso Marte are both capable players playing for the laughing stock Pittsburgh Pirates and could help push the Yankees to a playoff spot. The trade? Nady and Marte for Jose Tabata, Ross Ohlendorf, Phil Coke, and George Kontos.

Let’s take a look what the Yankees get:
Xavier Nady turns 30 years old later this year and has 1 year more of control. He’s a player capable of playing all 3 outfield potions. He has having a career year batting .330/.383/.535. Well above his career average, he is in line for a substantial raise next year. He replaces Hideki Matsui’s roster spot as the Yanks desperately needed someone to replace Matsui as his injury can be season-ending. Nady’s a solid guy but this is his peak season. He probably won’t be as good as he is ever again but he’s still a decent player.

Damaso Marte is a solid left-handed pitcher that is not just a loogy but can be used in those situations. The Yankees were in dire need of a set-up man as they moved Chamberlain to the rotation (a good move for the future). I expect his numbers to go up a bit (lots of relievers can’t pitch in NY) but he’s still a solid bull pen arm. I take Pittsburgh numbers with a grain of salt since they are playing at a lowerage situation. Marte is the type of arm you want for the playoffs if you make it there. The Yanks bullpen has good numbers but it’s a whole new ball game in October and it’s wise to acquire a veteran like Marte. He has a 6 million option that is worth picking up next season.

Both players may be Type A players but the real question is whether the Yankees would offer arbitration at all as I could see either player accepting.

The Pirates got 4 prospects:
Jose Tabata: is the top prospect in the deal, some could even say a blue chipper. He was untouchable the last few seasons but has since struggled mightily with injuries and the like. He was ranked #2 by John Sickels and loved by many fans. He’s turning 20 soon and is in AA but finally struggling this season. He doesn’t have much power…yet but hits well for average, gets on base and a lot of people he will project into a great player even a star. He was definitely the centerpiece of the deal.

George Kontos was rated the 15th best prospect in the Yankees system. He’s a 23-year old in AA having some alright success. He’s not really spectactular but could be an end of rotation or reliable bull pen guy. Reliable bull pen guy could mean closer for the Pirates. As a prospect he’s a very good acquisition as he’s close to being major league ready and is still quite young.

Ross Ohlendorf is a soon to be 25 - year old who has sucked and failed in the Yankee’s pen. He may be given a shot with the Bucs but to be honest I would like to see him spend considerable time in AAA before receiving another chance. He has a chance to be a reliable bull pen guy if handled right.

Phil Coke is a 26-year old lefty who does not throw hard but is having a successful campaign in AA this season and looks like a bullpen guy or a loogy.

Personally I find this deal to be even. Tabata is a top flight prospect that the Yankees held back from most suitors. The Yankees get non-rental players for their prospects which may help them win this season and next. They aren’t great players by any means but the prospects they gave up for the most part do not have high enough of an upside. Tabata isn’t a stud but may be which makes it even.

Tabata could make this trade a landslide deal for the Pirates but due to his risk and with what the Yankees are getting now, very very even. All four players may end up helping the Bucs and guys like Marte and Nady aren’t of much use to the Pirates as they just block roster spots for their future.

Some reaction: Pinstripe Alley called it a great deal by Cashman. After some though, Bucs Dugout likes the deal.