Tuesday, June 19, 2018

Everyone Wants Hamels, But Bring Me Tyson Ross Instead



The New York Yankees will be in the market for a starting pitcher before the July 31st trade deadline comes and goes here in 2018. Now let me preface by saying that this does not necessarily mean the team will acquire a starter, only that they will be in the discussions for many of the top available starters this trading deadline. One thing Brian Cashman, the Yankees GM, has shown though is an unwillingness to “lose” a trade and trade away top talent just because. Cashman won’t make a deal just for the sake of making a deal, and that includes any deal that could potentially bring a starter like Cole Hamels to the Bronx. Hamels is the name I have seen thrown around the most when discussing who could potentially be on the radar for the Yankees this winter, but he isn’t the top arm on my radar. While everyone wants Hamels to be donning pinstripes on August 1st I’d much rather have Tyson Ross of the San Diego Padres personally, but maybe that’s just me.

Ross is set to reach free agency for the first time in his career after the 2018 season meaning that the right-hander is a true rental for any team that could potentially acquire him. Where Ross is especially attractive to the Yankees where Hamels may not be is in the financial department. Ross is making just $1.7 million this season, which any team who acquires him would be on the hook for roughly half that with a pro-rated salary, while Hamels comes attached to not only a $23 million base salary for the 2018 season (pro-rated to about $12 million for whichever team acquires him) but the lefty also comes with a $20 million option for the 2019 season as well with a $6 million buyout. 

Ross is 31-years old and has undoubtedly benefited from pitching in one of the biggest and most spacious ballparks in all of Major League Baseball. I truly believe if the Yankees were to acquire Ross that they would not be acquiring the ace that the San Diego Padres may be selling him as, but I also truly think that Ross could be better than CC Sabathia, Sonny Gray, Domingo German and Jonathan Loaisiga.

I am not an expert on the farm system of the San Diego Padres, but the team seems to be in full rebuild mode meaning they may simply take the best available package rather than a package heavily weighted towards a certain position or pitching. The Yankees have plenty to offer in terms of prospects and I truly believe that the team could acquire Ross for a reasonable price, maybe a package of Chance Adams and Tyler Wade for example. Ross would be the better fit in my opinion for the Yankees this season while also giving the team a sneak peak of his abilities before he hits the free agent market next season.

2 comments:

  1. I'd rather have a proven lefty (Hamels, if they can figure out the money part of it, or Happ).

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    1. Happ is going to cost much more than he is worth just because of the whole inter-division thing. That alone will make the trade unlikely, expensive, or both.

      I wouldn't scoff at Hamels, I just prefer Ross to Hamels. Hamels is postseason proven, sure, but his best times in the postseason were 9 and 10 years ago. Plus, I hate the idea of paying him $6 million to go play somewhere else in 2019 or $20 million to play for us.

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