Wednesday, August 24, 2016

Brian Cashman Making Good on the Justin Wilson Trade


I have to eat a little bit of crow today because I was one of those fans, writers and Monday morning quarterbacks that were killing Brian Cashman when he made the head-scratching decision to send relief pitcher Justin Wilson to the Detroit Tigers for RHP’s Luis Cessa and Chad Green. Well hindsight being 20/20 and all the New York Yankees did pretty well in the trade and got just what they wanted out of the deal, true starting pitching options for the team going forward.

Having a great bullpen is one thing but if you don’t have an arm or two that can eat innings to save the bullpen and pitch well enough to hand the bullpen the lead what do you really have? Also, where would the Yankees be right now and this season without Cessa and Green? Probably dumpster diving for a starter well past his prime, that’s where. Think Chris Capuano.

Now have Green and Cessa been aces in waiting? Well aside from Green’s last two starts, no, but they were never donned future aces in waiting either. In fact most teams only have one ace on the staff and the rest of the team is filled out behind that ace. Cessa and Green are likely #3 - #5 starters based on projections but isn’t that and all six years of team control worth more than any relief pitcher? Especially when that relief pitcher is not a closer? I have to say the answer is yes, especially after seeing the two young guns pitch lately.

No matter what you say or think six years each of a 4th and 5th starter, worst case scenario, is still better than a few years with a left-handed specialist reliever. Every day of the week. Kudos to Cashman. 

7 comments:

  1. I was the biggest complainer about this trade and I think you are looking at this in the wrong light. First off you have only seen a small sampling of theses two pitchers and I'm sure you are aware there have been many one hit wonders in baseball especially with the Yanks. Names like Dan Pasqua, who I played against. Kevin Mass, Aaron Small, Shaun Chacon so before you anoint them as the 4th and 5th starter lets see a bigger sampling. I'm not sold just yet

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    1. I did say they would be in those positions based on projections. It may have come across that way, and if it did I apologize, but I am not anointing them after a start or two each by any means. Just saying if they become reasonable starters for the Yankees, even at the back end, the trade is an absolute win for NY.

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    2. IF that comes to fruition, you are dead on Daniel! I for one, want to see pitchers that can win a game without wondering when they will blow-up.

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  2. I too, am in the wait and see mode with both of them. It takes me about 10/20 starts for me to anoint anyone as a starter of some repute! I do hope they are up to the task, it would make life much essayer for the team.

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    1. I agree Reed. Mark this one down on your calendar!

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  3. The Justin Wilson Trade of Dec. 2015.
    Such screaming, and anger. It was nuts. A revolt in the making.
    Flash forward....Justin Wilson....W/L 3-4....era 4.37. So far.
    I'll keep what we got back in that December trade.

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Sorry for the Capatcha... Blame the Russians :)