Time For Yankees/Phils Rumors?

With the Yankees struggling so much to assemble a healthy five-man rotation, it was only inevitable that rumors will begin to surface about a trade between the Yankees and Phillies, given the latter's surplus of starting pitchers and Brian Cashman's regret a few years ago at letting Jon Lieber get away.

Not only does Philly have six starters on the big league roster, but J.A. Happ -- another lefty -- has been dominating International League hitters (2.05 ERA, 10.23 K/9, .194 BAA) providing the appearance of organizational depth when it comes to starting pitching.

But unless the Phillies get a deal that is decidedly in their favor, it's hard to believe they can afford to move a starter.  The reassignment of Brett Myers to the bullpen has coincided with the team's stretch of good play, and Freddy Garcia is still struggling to move the radar gun above 90.  While Happ has been good, he's also walked 13 in 22 innings.

The bottom line is that the Phillies' depth at starting pitching isn't as strong as it appears on the surface.  And since the team is winning, perhaps the Phillies shouldn't fix what ain't broke.

Tom Goyne is the author of Balls, Sticks, & Stuff, a Phillies-centric site, and maintains the Phloggers' Pheeds page, a source for the latest commentary from around the "phlogosphere".

Comments

[J-Boogie]

It's just a matter of time before these rumors heat up. I actually brought up this scenario late last night on my Yankee blog. It seems like there'd be a match, and with the Yankees hard pressed to get a solid rotation, who knows what they'd do?

J

http://www.boogiedownbaseball.mlblogs.com

[usctrojans31]

Well last time the Yankees and Phils made a deal, Pat Gillick essentially bent over and let Cashman stick it in him.

Jon Lieber and Carlos Carrasco for Sean Henn. I can see it now

[PeteRose]

Jon Lieber, Jesus Sanchez & Carlos Monasterios for Bobby Abreu will pick up the difference.

[jerseyballer]

farnsworth for leiber...
thinks that works for both teams, i think salaries are close to even - lieber making a lil more- and both are in the last year of their contract. yanks need pitching, phils need bullpen...lieber played good for the yanks in the past and farnsworth could be great again in the nl?

[moebarguy]

Farnsworth isn't good. The Phils wouldn't do that. Lieber has proved that he's still a servicable starting pitcher, so getting a streaky, overpaid middle reliever for him is not a good trade. The Phils would either want a good prospect or a guy like Proctor. I'm not sure if a trade would work between the two teams (the Phils will want too much, and the Yanks will offer too little).

[xxxJamesxxx]

Gordon is headed to the DL, let's hope Gillick doesn't panic and trade Lieber for a washed up arm like Farnsworth.

[moebarguy]

Assuming that the Phils let Myers close, this is his chance to prove he's the "closer of the future" the Phils claim he is...