Yanks Want Three Arms For Unit

Yesterday for the East Valley Tribune, Jack Magruder indicated that the Yankees want a trio of young arms from the Diamondbacks in return for Randy Johnson.  They want one reliever in the group.

Brandon Medders, a 27 year-old right-handed reliever, is said to be a target.  Medders posted a solid 3.64 ERA in 71 innings in 2006, though his 1.68 K/BB ratio is cause for concern.  Magruder indicates that Arizona wants to substitute the pricier Luis Vizcaino instead of Medders.

The other pitchers would come out of this group: Edgar Gonzalez, Enrique Gonzalez, Dustin Nippert, Ross Ohlendorf, and Micah Owings.  What, no Juan Cruz?  Baseball Prospectus's Kevin Goldstein lists Nippert as a "good prospect" and Owings as an "average prospect."  The others aren't in the team's top 10.  That might be a testament to all the young talent in the organization though.

Magruder doesn't expect the D'Backs to meet this Yankee demand, but perhaps the teams can meet in the middle.

Comments

[bobo]

Eh, none of those names are more than slightly inspiring. Medders is ok, and I like Edgar Gonzalez a bit. But none of those starters have much of a chance, maybe Nippert aside, of being more than 4th or 5th starters in the NL West, let alone the AL East.

If that's the bounty, I'd just as soon keep Johnson. If we're not getting a true top prospect or at least one pitcher who can immediately step into the rotation, I don't see the point.

The Yankees are hardly desperate, I say offer them $9M + Johnson for either Jackson or Quentin, let the DBacks take if they're dumb, and otherwise keep Johnson.

[melyrules]

Can quentin play first base?

[Not Joe Morgan]

Arizona isn't giving up Jackson or Quentin for RJ

[bobo]

From what I understand he's not anything special in the field - I'm sure he could play first, then maybe move to the OF.

This is all a pipe dream, of course, but if Melky is traded (sorry), he could play 1B (possible platoon with Mientewicz), DH, and play the OF, then settle on a position in 2008.

[henry14theking]

Hmm.. don't the Yanks have enough average to good RHP starters in the minors? Why do they want 2 more?

As said above, I'd rather they eat a huge chunk of RJ's salary and move him for Jackson or Quentin. And I'm sure Quentin can play first... or Matsui can.

[henry14theking]

Quentin, for whatever reason might be obtainable (maybe not for Randy but you know...) because the Diamondbacks think their 3 OF in the minors are all better than him I believe. I might be wrong. The kid's good though. Would love him on the Yanks.

Jackson might be harder to pry away, but he'd be perfect.

[Baseballfan79]

Quentin is worth more then Randy Johnson fully paid for and a prospect.

The kid is a monster. Unless you guys are giving up Hughes or Tabata and Johnson I dont see you getting Quentin.

That is a dream dude.

[henry14theking]

Lol I know Baseballfan.

What I was talking about was that for some reason Arizona thinks he's the worst out of all their future OF possibilities (or so I remember reading somewhere). So maybe they'd get suckered in to trading him. I highly doubt it however. Same goes for Jackson.

Hughes and Tabata are not going anywhere... especially Hughes.

[Baseballfan79]

Agreed they shouldnt. I love them. I cant wait to see them both in pin stripes for the future.

Sorry for that dude you just confused me there I guess. They wouldnt move Quentin last year in trades for top flight SP, not sure what Johnson is worth anymore.

Honestly Ownings, Nippert and a middle reliever would be an excellent Hall.

Ownings is a 3-4-5 type guy that could eat innings.

Nippert is injury prone but has good raw potential still (top 100 prospect SP). He could be a 2-3 if he filled out perfectly if nothing else he would make a team consider him in a trade at the deadline for a real piece you need.

If the yankees can ditch that contract and get even just 2 those. I would call it a win for them. But then I think despite his whip last year Randy is in for a rough year, specially if he gets extended.

[henry14theking]

Sorry bout the mix up. I tend to just throw out random suggestions in order keep the discussion going. I can't wait for the young guys to come up and play for the Yanks. The past few years I've come to almost hate the Yankees even though I've always been their fan. I was not a huge supporter of the big money signings and the corporatization of the team.

Randy I think has 1 or 2 decent to good years left especially if he goes to NL.

With that said, I agree. If the Yanks can get 3 arms, 2 of them being young and capable that would be a great deal. I'm curious to see what Cashman would do with all those arms though.

Hughes, Rasner, Karstens, Clippard, Chamberlain, Kennedy, Sanchez + 2 more if this deal goes through. Not to mention the 3 relief arms they have that are supposed to be quality.

[bobo]

I think I like Quentin more than Jackson - almost as good a hitter, more power. I'd consider Johnson + Tabata for Quentin and a pitcher. The Yankees would have to be very happy if Tabata turns out to be Quentin.

[bobo]

Henry, exactly. It's nice to have depth, but what's the point of having 150 potential #4 starters?

For those who thought I was suggesting that Johnson for Quentin was fair, you misread. My point is that it doesn't make sense to trade him unless we're getting something we can really use. The contract is NOT bad, and we really do need him in our rotation. The only issue for me is if he's desperate to get out of NY - which the case may be.

[henry14theking]

I think Randy does want to get out of NY but doesn't want to cause a huge uproar just yet. If he isn't traded though, I hope he doesn't become a huge nuisance in the clubhouse.

I think for the future (if all goes well) the top 3 of the Yankee rotation will be Hughes/Wang/Clippard. The other two spots will be up for grabs but I don't see Rasner or Karstens getting them. They're mediocre 4/5 guys at best.

[Not Joe Morgan]

Madden is on WFAN right now saying he wouldn't be surprised if an RJ deal is done by the end of the week and that the Yanks main target is a lefty arm for the pen. Yanks would be interested in Zito but not at crazy money or more than 5 years. Rodriguez is staying (and he had a solid Jeter defense for the whole situation).

As for above, if Chamberlain pans out he'd slot in above Clippard just based on raw stuff. Also, Tabata for Quentin doesn't make much sense to me (although not for talent reasons). The age difference actually works in our favor; by the time Tabata is ready to come up, Matsui and Damon will be coming off the books naturally opening up a slot for him. Quentin would have to be forced into the lineup now and would most likely mean we have to move Cabrera/Abreu.

[Aduncaroo]

You know that they will never have all 5 starters from thier system, they never do. There will always be at least 2 free agents in there. I can't believe that they wouldnt substitue Juan Cruz in there, plus maybe 2 prospects. He isn't as young as he once was, but still throws heat and even if he doesn't start, would be a great long reliever out of the pen.
I think RJ has a very solid year if he comes to the NL, especially in the west. There is not a team that really scares you with thier offense in that division, so I think he would have an ERA under 4. Barely, but still, I think a much better season rather than pitching in the AL East where every team can rake.

[melyrules]

"Hmm.. don't the Yanks have enough average to good RHP starters in the minors? Why do they want 2 more?

As said above, I'd rather they eat a huge chunk of RJ's salary and move him for Jackson or Quentin. And I'm sure Quentin can play first... or Matsui can."

Every line in this post in right, exept for the last three words. The yankees already tried sheffield at first, and how did that turn out? The only way mastui would play first is if the yankees whole infield got hurt. I know you werent being all thet serious about matsui playing first, but it makes me gag even thinking about it.

[Not Joe Morgan]

Atleast Matsui is an unknown at first. Giambi is painfully awful and Phillips just doesn't have the bat to play 50-75% of the time. Unless a free agent is brought in, you'd have to think one of the excess OFs will get a look and Matsui is the most likely candidate of the 4.

[melyrules]

Perhaps......... Juan Miranda can play first?

[Yankee Fan 88]

now that zito has signed - i am sure arizona is itching to get RJ...everyone is complaining about the yanks having a lot of young arms in the minors - but we always use these kids as trade bait for deadline deals, also they can be used as trade bait if someone major were to get hurt etc. i am happy with the young guys we got now - can't wait to see some of them on the hill

[Not Joe Morgan]

I forgot about Josh Phelps. Not that he necessarily matters, but I guess he's a factor at 1B as well.

[David]

I don't like this deal. The Yanks already have more promising young pitchers than they can use. Why give up a potentially excellent starter for something they already have a surplus of?