Yankees Rumors: Teixeira, Igawa, Sabathia

I haven't been following Kei Igawa, how bad is this guy? Everyone seems to hate him but if some team could get the Yankees to eat just a little of the contract, it seems like a decent deal. Or is he that bad?

jlowrance: Igawa has been terrible at the ML level. He's done well in AAA. His problem is that his main pitch in Japan was a slider. The seams on the balls in Japan on higher which gives pitches more break. His slider was flatter when he used the American ball. I can't explain why he's done well in AAA. Might be using his slider less or the hitters aren't as good. Or he's just a Quad A player.

To echo; his stuff doesn't play up to the major league level so he either nibbles or challenges up and gets burned. Probably doesn't even have the stuff to be a LOOGY. If he can learn to keep the ball down, he might be an ok middle relief lefty but I can't imagine him being more.

Igawa has to have negitive value at this point, I don't think the Yankees could move him for even a organizational filler type player even if they picked up his entire contract. Horrible signing. At least Lugo offers some speed and could be a solid bench guy.

Maybe get Giles thrown in there too. He'd be a nice replacement for Abreu.

I'd rather Pettitte on a 2 year deal than Mussina for 3 (if he's serious about retiring or going for 300). Of course, Pettitte is one of those athletes I have a huge blind spot when it comes to.

"Brian Cashman says nobody has asked him about Kei Igawa, who has three years and $12MM left on his contract."

Not true. Just the other day Theo said to him, "So Cash, how's that Igawa guy working out for you?"

Please, lets stop this Cano for Kemp (which was stupid enough) or Cano for Martin (which is even worse), because we dont want the Yankees overrated trash. Ok, Cano is good, he is just lazy as he ll, and I dont want him.

Next up from the NY Post:

Matsui for Chad Billingsley or Clayton Kershaw

Cano for Ethier and DeWitt

Maybe the Yankees can trade him back to Japan; to the Ham Fighters for Yu Darvish. lol

I don't see why the Yanks would obtain Matt Kemp. Russell Martin makes sense but Kemp? Nah! I'd rather stick with Cano.

When I see the names of the possible trades, it makes me sick. Why trade away the few promising farmhands that we have? Our farm system is in shatters thanks to the policy of winning it all now (Thanks George!). IMO the Yankees must build their farm system and forget the must win it now policy for a while. I think that the Braves of the nineties, the Twins (several times) and the Rays have proven that you can build a strong team out of your own farm team. If there is a missing link in the end, you can go after a free agent. But acquiring big names, doesn't necessarily make a winning team.

ya know honestly, I think Igawa would do better over in the NL where the hitting isn't as plentiful.. It's not just his pitching that's making him terrible for NY.. it's his head... granted it was only one appearance that I can think of.. but it was against Boston where he came in, in relief and threw a gem after an injury in 2007... him and his sunglasses. He didn't time to think he just went out and did it.. He has also publicly said he is home sick and wants to go back to Japan.. so maybe that might be it.. but if i was a GM on another team with a guy that is probably going to bolt back to Japan first chance he gets.. i wouldn't wanna give anything up for a project that's going to take off first chance he gets...

Casper-

Since the Mariners have a big Japanese fan base, maybe it is not a bad idea to trade Igawa to Seattle together with Matsui. That would make four Japanese on the team. I bet he won't feel homesick anymore.