TGP Prospects Month Open Thread featuring Yankees Hot Stove

Join the Yankees Hot Stove guys on the YES Network including Greedy Pinstripes follower (on Twitter) Michael Kay, Jack Curry and Bob Lorenz as they discuss how youth and the Yankees farm system will affect and help New York this season. Curry is a name in this industry I absolutely trust while Kay is someone I enjoy listening to. He may be a bit cocky on his radio show but he's smart as hell and I can overlook it most of the time. With that said, enjoy!

Cole Hamels Just Got Super Expensive

The New York Yankees have acquired the Philadelphia Phillies ace left-handed starting pitcher Cole Hamels in a trade involving RHP Ivan Nova, catcher Gary Sanchez, 2B Robert Refsndyer and 1B Greg Bird. When I woke up from this dream I was obviously disappointed because I thought the Yankees had shocked the world and pulled a “George Steinbrenner” at the trading deadline but that proposed deal in my dream got me thinking, Hamels is going to be awfully expensive if he’s traded in 2015.

The Kansas City Royals set the bar pretty high when they acquired two months of Johnny Cueto for their #1 prospect in a deep system and two more left-handed starters meaning that any potential trade option with team control could cost a lot more than that. Add in the fact that Hamels threw a no hitter against a team in contention for a Wild Card spot, the Chicago Cubs, and a GM in Ruben Amaro Jr. that already asks for the sky with his players and this may get expensive pretty fast.

Think about the package my subconscious proposed to Amaro Jr. though because it makes sense. Nova is still young, controllable and would be a better pitcher in the National League then he is in the American League while he automatically gives Philadelphia a replacement in the rotation. Meanwhile Refsnyder, who I would absolutely hate to give up, gives the Phillies an immediate replacement for the aging Chase Utley while Bird essentially replaces Ryan Howard on the depth chart. Sanchez could step in as soon as 2016 behind the plate for the Phillies giving the team a nice head start in their rebuilding phase.

Will this be the deal that lands Hamels? Probably not, although if the Yankees could as reluctant as I am to give up Refsnyder I think you have to make this deal. One thing for certain though is that if Philadelphia does decide to sell Hamels and that huge deal he still has attached to him he is going to be awfully expensive. Maybe too expensive for the Yankees blood. If the team is going to sell of major pieces of the farm honestly I think I’d rather it be for Hamels then for a rental like Price or Cueto. 

Mat Latos to the Yankees?

The July 31st trade deadline is just around the corner and the New York Yankees are expected to add at least one player before the deadline closes. New York seemingly wants an upgrade over Stephen Drew at second base, even if that means calling Robert Refsnyder back up, and may also look to upgrade their starting pitching. New York has been linked to just about every starting pitcher on the market including Johnny Cueto, Cole Hamels and David Price but one name we're not hearing enough about is the Miami Marlins RHP Mat Latos. There is probably a good reason for that too.

This weekend the rumors began that New York was scouting and somewhat interested in the Marlins starter Latos. Latos, at the time of this writing, has posted a 4-6 record with a 4.48 ERA while striking out 74 batters in a shade over 84 innings pitched. Keep in mind that Latos pitches in a pretty pitching friendly Marlins Park and also faces the oppoising team's starting pitcher once every time through the order before we start comparing those numbers to current Yankees starters. An old rule that I used to go by, and whether it is really accurate or not is anyone's guess, is that you add a full run to his ERA after going from the National League to the American League with non-ace starting pitchers. If this holds true that would put Latos more closer to a 5.48 ERA than a 4.48 ERA if he was pitching inside Yankee Stadium in 2015.

Latos is not an ace, he is closer to a third starter with the Yankees and maybe a number two starter in the National League even with his struggles and injury history this season, but he would be a nice fall back option for New York. Latos may never start on an Opening Day for New York, and he's a free agent after 2015, but if the Yankees make the playoffs you have to think right now he would start a potential Game Three of Game Four in a seven game series and that at least means something.

ICYMI: Didi Gregorius on Yankees Hot Stove

Just in case you missed it Jack Curry interviewed the new Yankees shortstop Didi Gregorius on YES Network's Yankees Hot Stove recently and it was a great interview. I won't spoil what was asked and how he answered so click the video above and watch it for yourself. It's a quick five minutes and really makes you see Derek Jeter's replacement in a whole new light, at least it did for me. Enjoy.

Garrett Jones Talks Being a Yankee on YES Hot Stove

Garrett Jones sits down with the YES Network's Bob Lorenz and talks about his career, his trade to the Yankees and so much more. Great interview and the more I read and hear the more I like Mr. Jones and his wife Cassie. Enjoy, consider this an open thread for the rest of the night.

Yankees Hot Stove: A Rod Suspended 162 Games

It was today on this day last season that Alex Rodriguez learned that he would miss the entire 2014 season including any playoff games due to a steroid suspension and his attachment to the Biogenesis clinic. Yankees Hot Stove had plenty to say about the issue and since it's a slow news day on this Sunday morning so let's watch it all over again, shall we?