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Someone has to explain to me how Cashman pulled this one off.  I mean seriously, getting anything for Hawkins is amazing and I feel sorry for the Astros' fans out there because I have no idea what your GM is doing.

The prospect isn't a great prospect, he ranked 29th in the Houston system (which was rated the worst in baseball) but there are doubts that he can do anything more than hit.  Hey, it doesn't matter, this was truly something for nothing.

I would like to point out one last thing about Cashman and the Yankees.  They seem to have a fairly unique ability to make trades without anyone knowing about them ahead of time.  Think of the countless rumors you have read the past week or so and did you see any about Nady, Marte or Pudge before the trades happened?  I don't know how they do it, but it is worth remembering.  Who knows what will happen tomorrow. 

Posted by Peter (Yankees) at 11:20 PM | Permalink | Comments (5)

Cashman is on a roll, Pudge for Farnsworth?

Farnsworth certainly improved himself this year, but losing him is no great shakes and Pudge drastically upgrades the cacthing situation.  He is a free agent at the end of this season and he is having a nice year .295/.338/.417 for a catcher and that OPS of .755 is almost .200 points above Molina plus you don't lose any defense.

The question is who goes to the 8th inning now?  Is it Veras or Marte?  Does this mean that JB Cox or Patterson are on their way from Scranton?   

UPDATE: Girardi and Farnwsorth both cried on camera over the deal.  I have no idea what to make of that.  

Posted by Peter (Yankees) at 04:43 PM | Permalink | Comments (3)

On the field, the Yankees woke up too late.  Off the field, the Angels just got a lot better and the Yankees have 10 games with them.  Not a good night in either aspect.

I guess the good news is that Hughes went three shutout innings in Charleston.  Some guy named Pavano pitched too, but that's probably a typo in the box score.  In addition, Kennedy pitched very well at Scranton tonight.  Sidney Ponson is definitely on the clock. 

Posted by Peter (Yankees) at 10:31 PM | Permalink | Comments (3)

Tonight will be a big night for the Yankees off the field.  Phil Hughes is taking the mound for Charleston and Chien-Ming Wang is getting his boot off.  Hughes will throw about 35 pitches in the first step towards rehab.  Assuming it goes well, he should start again next week and you could probably expect him to be back in the majors around the end of August. 

Wang will take longer, he will be on crutches until next week and then start throwing.  I wouldn't expect him on any mound until mid-August and then it is a matter of getting back into game shape.  

I don't think the Yankees feel a lot of pressure to deal for Washburn because they can always claim him on waivers and I don't think many other teams would risk assuming his salary.  Remember, he would be offered to every AL team first in reverse order of the standings, so if things stay as they are, the Yankees get a shot at him before Boston. 

If Hughes shows them something tonight, it will lessen the need for a trade.  And, remember Ian Kennedy is pitching much better at AAA.  At some point the Yankees will give him another chance in the bigs, it could be very soon if Ponson bombs again.   

Posted by Peter (Yankees) at 11:44 AM | Permalink

Kim Jones just announced on YES that Posada will undergo shoulder surgery soon.  Apparently, the acquistion of Xavier Nady led the Yankees to this decision.  It's a good move because with a six-month recovery, any further delays would put 2009 in jeopardy.

Jones also reported that the trade for Washburn "is probably not going to happen".  

Posted by Peter (Yankees) at 07:01 PM | Permalink

The Yankees may still trade for Washburn, but he is currently pitching for Seattle in the third inning.  Lester versus Ponson is not a matchup that looks very good for the Yankees so it may be a long night, but you never know.

Posted by Peter (Yankees) at 01:53 PM | Permalink

The Yankees went into the All-Star Break 5.5 games out of the wild card and with three teams above them in those standings.  The standings still show them a game back, but they are even in the loss column.  They have jumped ahead of Oakland and Minnesota and at worst they will only be three games behind Tampa for the division lead tomorrow morning.  In addition, they have made a trade that will improve their chances in 2008. 

I think the Red Sox have the easiest path to the playoffs of the three AL East teams (more home games/weaker opponents) but this is going to be a horse race.  For a team that lost 60% of its rotation and probably has lost 2/9th's of its lineup, that's a great position to be in.  This will be a fun race to the finish. 

Posted by Peter (Yankees) at 07:24 PM | Permalink

Marte is wearing #34 which was Phil Hughes' number the last time we saw him.  I wonder how that happened. 

Meanwhile, game is in commercial, but I am not a fan of Ramirez vs. Ramirez.  I would have liked to see D-Rob here.   

UPDATE: Apparently, I should stick to my day job.  Nice work Edwar.

UPDATE (Monday 11pm) Here's how the number switch happened.  Hughes is going back to #65

Posted by Peter (Yankees) at 06:30 PM | Permalink | TrackBacks (0)

Buster Olney is reporting that the Yankees are close to acquiring Jarrod Washurn from the Mariners. This makes sense because the Yankees passed Igawa through waivers and took him off the 40-man roster today which gives them only 39 players on the 40-man.  It doesn't sound like they think Bruney or Kennedy is ready to help, so something else must be in the works. 

I will save my analysis for when a trade actually happens, but I hope they aren't giving up a lot to get him. 

UPDATE: Jon Heyman pointed this out, but look at the Yankees schedule and probable pitchers.  No one is listed for Sunday where Sidney Ponson was scheduled.  Washburn is scheduled to start for Seattle tomorrow...hmmmmm.  (Seattle's schedule still lists Washburn)

UPDATE 8:40pm: Ponson listed as a starter again for the Yankees tomorrow.  Sounds to me like a poker game here between Cashman and Seattle.  We will see who blinks first, but I don't think Cashman is sending Melky or Gardner to the Mariners for Washburn. 

Posted by Peter (Yankees) at 05:25 PM | Permalink

Ok, apparently the trade has changed and in place of Coke and Kontos are McCutchen and Karstens.  I would rather have Coke or Kontos than Karstens, higher upsides even with the problems, but McCutchen is a better addition for Pittsburgh. 

This doesn't change my opinion of the trade at all, still a very good one for the Yankees.  And, remember that Hughes and Kennedy are still Yankees.  If they live up to their potential and you have a rotation of Joba, Wang, Hughes and Kennedy plus someone in 2009, the Yankees will be just fine. 

UPDATE 3:05pm: Nady is in the lineup and Gardner has been sent down.  Hawkins has been DFA'ed as well so the news is good.  

Posted by Peter (Yankees) at 01:45 PM | Permalink