No Rentals!

"Yankees GM is too tough. I think I should go back to being a bartender."

Yes, we all want the Yankees to win, so it makes sense that some people want the Yankees to make a big trade. But, and I've said it numerous times on many different platforms, the 2017 season is about a lot more than just the 2017 season. 2017 is, first and foremost, about preparing for the future. It's about guys like Aaron Judge, Gary Sanchez, and Luis Severino. It's about prospects such as Gleyber Torres, Clint Frazier, and Chance Adams. 2017 is about building a dynasty... not going all in for a shot at one World Series title.

1996 was incredible. 1998 was unreal. 1999 was great. 2000 was... just pick another synonym please. But what made being a Yankees fan so much fun was all those years put together. It was looking back at four World Series titles in just five years. Heck, even though they lost in 2001 and 2003, it's still amazing to look back at all those teams accomplished.

And those titles didn't occur because of mid-season trades. Sure, they helped, but it was a strong core of players that allowed the Yankees to add a piece here or there to make a championship happen.

Do you realize that Starlin Castro and Didi Gregorius (1095 and over 531 games played, respectively) will be part of the Yankees' veteran leadership next season? For reference, Gary Sanchez, Aaron Judge, and Greg Bird have played a combined 226 games.

Of course, we may still have guys like Brett Gardner, Jacoby Ellsbury, and Chase Headley next year. Yeah... "may". The Yankees are reportedly already looking to replace Headley at 3B, and I would be surprised if both Gardner and Ellsbury were still in pinstripes by Opening Day 2018.

So you have to take that information into account when talking about trades. The Yanks are doing a great job of implementing what I think is an outstanding plan. I'm not going to anoint anybody as part of the new Core Five, but we're already seeing a strong core of young players that the team can build around for a long, long, time. Don't mess that up by bringing in somebody to block Gleyber Torres, Clint Frazier, or Chance Adams.

And they sure as hell better not mess that up by trading away a top prospect for somebody that would likely be wearing a different uniform a year from now.

Rentals, at least good ones, do not come cheap. Mike Moustakas, Eric Hosmer, Yu Darvish... those three, and others like them, are not going to be acquired for a handful of B and C-level prospects. If you really want those guys on the Yankees, then you better be prepared to lose something of value. You better be prepared to look back on that trade and wonder "what if".

I, for one, hope like hell that I don't have to prepare myself for something like that.