Monday, October 17, 2016

Yankees Potential Trade Partners: Arizona Diamondbacks


The Arizona Diamondbacks are one of those teams that I’m not entirely sure even they know what direction the team is going. The team gets younger and starts to build a core before they trade Dansby Swanson, first overall pick Dansby Swanson, for Shelby Miller and before handing Zack Greinke huge money on the free agent market. To be completely honest I don’t know if the Diamondbacks will be coming or going here in 2017 but if they are looking to move a few pieces as they progress either way I think the Yankees have to at least be listening.

Unfortunately the bigger named pieces like Shelby Miller, Zack Greinke, AJ Pollock and Paul Goldschmidt are likely off the table but what about their third baseman Jake Lamb? If the Yankees move Chase Headley, and they could seeing as he does not have a no-trade clause written into his contract, the team could fill the gap with 26-year old Lamb. Lamb is a left-handed hitter who somehow found a way to hit 29 home runs and drive in 91 RBI without anyone on the East Coast taking notice. Lamb comes with his issues of course, his .249 batting average and 154 strikeouts lead that list of concerns, but in the era of sabermetrics you take that for driving in runs and hitting it over the fence any day.

The Yankees would lose a step or defensively in the hypothetical Lamb for Headley swap  but Lamb is still at least two years from entering his prime while Headley is at least three years from his which could make up the difference in the long term. Lamb is not arbitration eligible for two more years which means he is going to cost a ton. How much is a ton? Well suddenly the once shortstop heavy Diamondbacks need middle infielders and it has been speculated already that the team would move Jorge Mateo in a deal this winter. I don’t want to give up on or give away Mateo but for a 26-year old power hitting lefty like Lamb you always make the deal, especially for a player who has never seen Double-A.


Arizona also needs a catcher and the Yankees have three on their 40 man roster with Kyle Higashioka soon to be added per the team. Why not include Austin Romine in the deal and bring back a prospect or two in the deal while Brian Cashman is at it? This is one of those “too good to be true” sounding deals for New York but you never know until you ask so Cashman, ask. 

3 comments:

  1. Daniel, not to criticize as I understand we don't agree on this one player, so what, that makes the world go around, so, here goes!
    I have come to the conclusion you have the idea we have many, too many SS and should trade one of them. We have too many Catchers also, trade one of them.
    Dig a bit deeper and you will see we only have two good SS, Gleyber Torres and Wilkerman Garcia and one very productive 2nd/SS baseman, Mateo!
    The thing is, Garcia and Torres need work at 3rd and SS as well as Mateo at 2nd base. None of them will be ready before 2018 or so. Although if need I think 2017 mid season call-up at 2nd base is not out of the question for Mateo.
    Remember; "Speed Kills"!
    I admit I like Mateo more than some do but, I see a player that has great confidence in himself and what he can do, a fighter, and hard worker. His drawback is to, learn the difference between confidence and Ego.
    With the stuff he pulled this year, he will need to show that he got the message! IF not, he will be traded, no matter how good he could be.

    A fine man once said, "Learn thyself, believe in thyself and know your limitations"!---1st Sgt Greg Sta---es...back in 1961.

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  2. Hey Reed.

    Sorry I've been absent but we are about to do inventory at work so I guess that means everyone in the world has to send everything they can into our plant the week before inventory just because they can. Assholes.

    Anyway, I don't mean to sound down on Mateo. I like Mateo. I just think he makes the most sense to trade right now because of the attitude problems and all that. You also can still get value for him at this point. If he's not traded and Torres is, or any other shortstop, it's whatever to me.

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  3. Daniel, have you heard Tiger Woods is no more, he done got to the big party in the sky!

    IF the attitude problem is worse than I thought...let him go! IF it is just blowing off steam there are too many ways to put his talent on the team...CF, SS, 2nd base. The same goes for DiDi, when one of the younger guys starts pushing for playing time in the infield.

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