New York Finally Has a Second Baseman

How convenient is it, spoiler alert it's not a coincidence, to make a blog post about the New York Yankees finally finding a potential second baseman not only for the present but for the future as well while the last second baseman the team thought that about is in town for a three game series? After just two weeks of the MLB season, and after many rants from myself a self-professed Robert Refsnyder fan boy and his biggest fan, it seems like the Yankees may have finally found their second baseman to finally replace Robinson Cano in Starlin Castro.

The Yankees tried multiple people at the position including Brian Roberts, Yangervis Solarte, Kelly Johnson, Martin Prado, Brendan Ryan, Jose Pirela, Dustin Ackley, Robert Refsnyder and Stephen Drew before finally settling on Castro after an offseason trade. The Yankees seem to be a fan of having Castro at the position and Cano himself does to as he revealed in an interview this weekend. Cano said Castro was "fun to watch" in an interview with Chad Jennings of LoHud.

Castro is still new to the second base position, I think a lot of people forget that defensively, and is still just 26-years old despite playing in his 7th MLB season in 2016. Castro already has surpassed the 1,000 hit plateau for his career and has already made three All-Star Games in his career with the Chicago Cubs. Castro may not even be into his prime yet and he currently sits here with some impressive stats and achievements already in his career.

Castro may be the second baseman of the present and he may be the second baseman of the future. He may grow out of the position and grow into the third baseman of the future and his bat seems good enough to possibly be the Alex Rodriguez type DH of the future. Either way Castro has a future and the Yankees may have finally found a second baseman after Robinson Cano left via free agency for Seattle and it's finally a beautiful thing to say out loud.

Former Yankees Update: Stephen Drew Signs w/ Washington Nationals

Stephen Drew Sucks! Okay, I’m sorry I had to do it. It was meant as a comic relief and a throwback to the following on twitter that would not let a single Drew at bat go by without me saying that, regardless of the outcome. No hard feelings Stephen and we wish you well!

Drew was a member of the New York Yankees for a season and a half after Brian Cashman brought him over in a trade with the Boston Red Sox for Kelly Johnson in 2014. Cashman re-signed Drew for the 2015 season but he won’t be doing the same for the 2016 season. No, the Yankees have moved on and so has Drew as the Yankees second baseman signed a one-year deal with the Washington Nationals this week to presumably work off their bench next season.

Congrats on the new gig Stephen, I truly wish you well and I mean that. 

Recapping Stephen Drew’s Tenure as a Yankee

In all my years of being a fan of the New York Yankees I don’t think I’ve ever seen such a tenure for a player than that of Stephen Drew. The Yankees have shown Drew the utmost confidence, respect and patience during his season and a half tenure with the team and I have not, for that I apologize. I never truly meant anything by it, the “Stephen Drew Sucks” tweets and such, I am just a fan at the end of the day who happens to put his opinion on the internet in a blog form. Sometimes I was unruly and rude and sometimes I was just plain out unreasonable, I apologize. My sudden change of heart comes after the news that Drew may or may not have a concussion and has been battling a dizziness that may end his tenure and season with the New York Yankees.

Drew was acquired by the New York Yankees at the July 31 trade deadline in 2014 when the team sent Kelly Johnson to Boston straight up for the shortstop. Drew was moved to second base for the Yankees, a position he never played full-time in his career, and after a few early missteps actually took to the position well. Drew’s defense was never the concern, it was always his hitting and his seemingly inability to hit above .200 for any stretch of his tenure here in the Bronx. Drew only played half a season in 2014 after declining a qualifying offer that attached him to draft pick compensation as a free agent and left him unsigned until after the draft that season. That was the reasoning and what caught most of the blame for Drew’s lackluster 2014 campaign so the Yankees decided to take a waiver and give him a one year deal worth $5 million for the 2015 season.

Unfortunately for the Yankees the lack of hitting for average continued in 2015 despite him having a full spring training and even with him playing the full season. Drew did manage 17 home runs this season but barely kept his batting line above the Mendoza line finishing at .201. Home runs are nice but #TooManyDamnHRs is bad and in a lineup that hits far too many home runs, solo home runs at that since no one gets on base consistently, Drew just did not fit into the lineup. Drew finished his Yankees tenure with the below batting line and may or may not be back in 2016. Stay tuned.

Year	G	PA	R	H	2B	HR	RBI	SB	BB	SO	BA	OBP	SLG	OPS	OPS+
2014	46	155	7	21	8	3	15	0	13	36	.150	.219	.271	.491	38
2015	131	428	43	77	16	17	44	0	37	71	.201	.271	.381	.652	79

Provided by Baseball-Reference.com: View Original Table

We wish Drew nothing but the best as he battles these dizzy spells. Even if he hit .000 his health and his life after baseball and away from baseball far supersedes anything that goes on in the stadium. Get well soon Drew and maybe we’ll see you in October. 

So Robert Refsnyder Has An Attitude Problem, Huh?

"Uh, yeah... Stephen Drew sucks."

Brian Cashman’s new name is officially ‘The Reacher” so remember where you heard it first. Cashman reaches his hands into the bargain basement bin year in and year out and pulls out players like Esmil Rogers, Chris Capuano, Andruw Jones, Brendan Ryan and Stephen Drew to name a few while ignoring the obvious talents that he has at his disposal in the minor leagues. He also reaches for excuse after excuse when it comes to not calling up players, Chris Dickerson was a great example of this in 2013 and Robert Refsnyder is a perfect example of this now. The latest reason, because they can’t bag on his defense as much as they used to be able to, is that he has an attitude problem. Really? Say it isn’t so.

Would you have an attitude problem if you hit your ass off in 2014 and got generally ignored while the team rolled out Brian Roberts, Yangervis Solarte, Dean Anna, Stephen Drew, Kelly Johnson and others at the second base position? Wouldn’t you have an attitude if the team’s offense was a wreck in 2014 and you rotted away in Scranton/Wilkes Barre because of “defensive concerns.” Wouldn’t you have an attitude problem if you shored up the hole that was keeping you from the Major Leagues, his defense, and still got ignored for the most part while the incumbent battled with the .175 Stephen Drew Line for much of the season? Wouldn’t you have an attitude if you were called up and showed confidence by the manager only to be sent back down and ignored once again by the GM? I know I would, I do have an attitude about it and I’m not even Refsnyder.

I have mentioned multiple times this season that the Yankees organization is doing more harm than good by sending Refsnyder down to rot in Triple-A. There is such thing as “over-grooming” a prospect forcing reverse development. We saw it with Austin Romine and we’re seeing it now with Refsnyder, it’s damning and potentially career ending in most cases and it’s not something you want to mess around with. New York has to call him up or they have to trade him, bottom line. Refsnyder has attitude problems, that’s why you’re not calling him up? I have an attitude problem too, maybe I should stop buying your tickets, wearing your jerseys and hats and paying my YES Network and MLB TV subscriptions. You’re hitting Refsnyder in the heart and right in the gut and maybe it’s time for the fans to start hitting you in the wallet. Let’s see the Yankees be able to afford another three year contract at an enormous salary for a GM when the people stop coming out to the ballpark or watching on television. Attitude? Attitude reflects leadership Mr. Cashman and your attitude sucks!

So You Need Power on Your Fantasy Team?

The biggest thing to have and the hardest thing to find recently in fantasy baseball is power and if you struck out with it in your draft have no fear because I think I have a few players that could put some pop into your lineup and save or pad your team this season. Some may be obvious and some may be a bit of a stretch but if you’re still reading this after reading just the headline it’s obvious you need some sort of advice and help and are likely to try anything if it works. With that said let’s take a look at a few players that could add some home runs to your totals and are likely on your waiver wire or the free agent market in your league.

Kyle Blanks of the Texas Rangers is a player I wanted the Yankees to pick up a couple seasons ago when they went from #TooManyDamnHRs to #CanWeScoreOneRun in a matter of months. Blanks is up with the Rangers right now while Mitch Moreland is injured and has shown tremendous power in his limited sample size. Blanks already has three home runs and a .719 slugging percentage in 32 at bats.

Logan Morrison of the Seattle Mariners is finally healthy and has hit .360 with three home runs, two doubles and a triple this week. Buy the hot start and sell high in June or July. Same can be said for the new Braves third baseman Kelly Johnson. Johnson has six home runs and 17 RBI this season in only 68 at bats replacing the injured Chris Johnson in Atlanta. Buy now, milk his production and sell him later as he can play three positions in fantasy baseball, third base, first base and now left field. One last hot hand right now is the Dodgers third baseman Justin Turner who hit three home runs in the span of four games. While Turner is only eligible at third base as far as fantasy goes he plays all over the diamond in Los Angeles giving Don Mattingly plenty of opportunities to give him at bats.

Carlos Perez is the new catcher in Los Angeles with the Angels right now and while it’s hard to project his MLB numbers his .361/.418/.714 in Triple-A is encouraging. Speaking of catchers hard to project Jarrod Saltalamacchia was recently picked up by the Arizona Diamondbacks and seems destined to get called up to the major leagues relatively soon looking to go from a pitching friendly Marlins Park to a more hitter friendly park in Arizona. The final player on the list is Astros outfielder Preston Tucker who is filling in for George Springer. Tucker hit 10 home runs with 32 RBI in 21 games in Triple-A and looks primed to hit more than a few out of Minute Maid Park this season.

Meet a Prospect: Stephen Drew

Stephen Drew was the latest member of the Boston Red Sox to either die a hero or live long enough to see himself become the villain as he switched sides and joined the New York Yankees. Obviously Drew didn’t have much choice as he was traded but still, it’s always fun to watch the responses of Red Sox fans when their players become Yankees. Anyway, I digress… Drew is part of the only trio of siblings in major League Baseball to be selected in the first round of the MLB Draft. Drew is the younger brother of former outfielder J.D. Drew and former pitcher Tim Drew. Drew has come a long way since his father found his first baseball glove in a dumpster and is now a member of the New York Yankees. Well he will be after we introduce him to you anyway, this is meet a prospect the Stephen Drew edition.

Stephen Oris Drew was born on March 16, 1983 and spent him high school years in Valdosta, Georgia while attending Lowndes High School. Following in the footsteps on the aforementioned JD Drew the younger Drew played college baseball at Florida State University. Drew caught the attention of the Arizona Diamondbacks and was drafted out of college. Drew was polished so he started his professional career in High-A ball in 2006 and ended the season all the way in Triple-A. Drew was a player in the 2006 All Star Futures Game after tearing up the minor leagues. Drew was called up in 2006 when Craig Counsell injured his ribs and made his major league debut on July 15, 2006. In the same game against the Milwaukee Brewers was another player making his own major league debut in Tony Gwynn Jr. Drew would have a strong 2006 season ending with a .316 batting average with five home runs and 23 RBI.

Drew couldn’t follow up his successful 2006 season in 2007 and only hit .238 with 12 home runs. Drew had another disappointing season in 2008 that was only highlighted by hitting for the cycle on September 1, 2008 against the St. Louis Cardinals. On the same day the Seattle Mariners Adrian Beltre hit for the cycle. Drew bounced around with average numbers in 2009 and 2010 before the injury bug hit him hard in 2011. Drew missed the first four games of the season with abdominal pain and then on July 20 he slid into home plate and fractured his right ankle. Drew would miss the remainder of the season and ended the season with 86 games played and a .252 average with five home runs and 45 RBI. The ankle injury caused Drew to spend the early parts of the 2012 season on the disabled list as he did not make it back onto the field until June 27 of that season. August of the 2012 season the Diamondbacks traded Drew to the Oakland Athletics for minor league shortstop Sean Jamieson.

Drew finished the 2012 season with just a .223 batting average in 79 games with seven home runs and 28 RBI. The Oakland Athletics declined Drew’s $10 million option on his deal and instead paid a $1.35 million buyout making Drew a free agent for the first time in his career. Drew would sign with the Boston Red Sox before Christmas in 2012 on a one year deal worth $9.5 million plus incentives for an additional $500K. Drew had another typical Stephen Drew season in 2013 batting .253 with 13 home runs and 67 RBI and even hit a home run in the series clinching Game 6 of the World Series. This was Drew’s first World Series ring of his career and the Red Sox third in nine seasons. Drew was offered a qualifying offer after the 2013 season that was ultimately denied making him less attractive as a free agent.

Drew declined the one year deal worth $14.1 million and could not find a deal until May 20, 2014. Any team that signed Drew except the Red Sox would have had to forfeit a draft pick to sign Drew and Drew ultimately signed with Boston on a one year $10 million deal with the Red Sox when it was all said and done. The deal equated to a prorated version of the qualifying offer that he declined earlier in the winter. Drew struggled through May and June before turning it on offensively in July just in time to get traded at the July 31 trading deadline. The Yankees and Red Sox swapped Drew for Kelly Johnson and Drew will be the Yankees every day second baseman.

Drew is back for the 2015 season on a one year deal worth $5 million to stopgap the second base position while keeping it warm for Robert Refsnyder. Drew will need to earn his second half with the Yankees because if he is hitting below .200 again in June or July I can see him going the same route as Brian Roberts did in 2014. 

Former Yankees Update: Kelly Johnson

Somehow I (purposely) missed this little bit of news Wednesday regarding a former member of the New York Yankees. Kelly Johnson signed a minor league deal with the Atlanta Braves continuing the mass exodus of former Yankees players to Atlanta. The 33 year old Johnson received an invite to spring training and will compete for a roster spot as a utility player.

Johnson began his career with the Braves after making his major league debut there back in 2005 where he stayed through the 2009 season. Johnson played for the Yankees, Orioles and Red Sox in 2014 playing second base, third base, first base and the outfield. Combined Johnson accumulated a .215 average with seven home runs and 27 RBI in 2014 in his three stops. 

$500 Million Doesn't Buy What It Used To

The New York Yankees went on an absolute shopping spree this winter and spent in excess of $500 million bringing in the likes of Jacoby Ellsbury, Carlos Beltran, Brian McCann, Masahiro Tanaka, Brian Roberts, Kelly Johnson,  and others but the team actually did worse, record wise, than the 2013 Yankees did. Is the record column the only place where the 2014 Yankees were lacking in comparison to the 2013 Yankees? The answers may surprise you, keep reading.

2014 Yankees: record 84-78 (-31 run differential) -- Pythagorean W/L 77-85

Rk	Pos	Name	Age	G	R	H	2B	3B	HR	RBI	SB	BB	SO	BA	OBP	SLG	OPS	OPS+
		Team Totals	32.9	162	633	1349	247	26	147	591	112	452	1133	.245	.307	.380	.687	93
		Rank in 15 AL teams			13	13	13	8	7		3	9	4	11	14	10	12
		Non-Pitcher Totals	32.9	162	633	1347	247	26	147	591	112	452	1127	.246	.308	.381	.689	94
Rk	Pos	Name	Age	G	R	H	2B	3B	HR	RBI	SB	BB	SO	BA	OBP	SLG	OPS	OPS+

Provided by Baseball-Reference.com: View Original Table

2013 Yankees: record 85-77 (-21 run differential) -- Pythagorean W/L 79-83

Rk	Pos	Name	Age	G	R	H	2B	3B	HR	RBI	SB	BB	SO	BA	OBP	SLG	OPS	OPS+
		Team Totals	31.9	162	650	1321	247	24	144	614	115	466	1214	.242	.307	.376	.683	88
		Rank in 15 AL teams			10	13	14	5	14		5	10	9	12	12	14	13
		Non-Pitcher Totals	31.9	162	650	1321	247	24	144	613	115	466	1202	.243	.308	.377	.685	89
Rk	Pos	Name	Age	G	R	H	2B	3B	HR	RBI	SB	BB	SO	BA	OBP	SLG	OPS	OPS+

Provided by Baseball-Reference.com: View Original Table

So $500 million got you an older team by a full year, although Hiroki Kuroda, Ichiro Suzuki, and Derek Jeter all returning from 2013 another year older did not help. The team also scored 17 runs less, won one less game, drove in less RBI, and had comparable numbers pretty much everywhere else across the board. Was Robinson Cano THAT valuable to the Yankees and their offense or were these stats skewed a tad by Alfonso Soriano's incredible second half? I don't really think it matters, both teams missed the playoffs when their All Star's were retiring. 

McCarthy's Struggles Doom Yankees in 5-4 Loss to Orioles

Brandon McCarthy surrendered five earned runs in 5 1/3 innings and three different opponents hit home runs tonight as the Yankees' last spark of playoff hope died with a 5-4 loss to the Orioles.

Going into this one's top of the second, after Ubaldo Jimenez (5+ IP, 2 ER) recorded a walk and an HBP in New York's first at-bat of the evening, things were looking alright for McCarthy and the Yanks, who came into the day with a bit of momentum following yesterday's blowout.

Nonetheless, once ex-Pinstripe Kelly Johnson homered to begin that frame and Nick Markakis contributed a two-out RBI Single it was clear McCarthy wasn't in for his best performance. Indeed, from then on things only got worse for the veteran right-hander, who would also got taken deep for a two-run shot by Markakis in the fourth and by Nelson Cruz for a solo one in the fifth.

Fortunetaly, a Chris Young groundout, a Stephen Drew sac fly, and a Brian McCann two-run homer with Derek Jeter on between innings 4-8 would still keep the hosts from getting shut out on the night, but since the Royals simultaneously blew out the Indians over in Cleveland and Zach Britton was able to pitch a scoreless ninth their doing so didn't really prove relevant. Granted, the Yankees aren't yet mathematically eliminated, but considering it'd take a perfect last five days for them along with a nightmarish last five ones for Kansas City it's definitely likely that their season will end Sunday, an unfortunate fact that also means this is probably Jeter's last home series.

Irresponsible Use of Robertson Punished in Ninth as Yanks Fall 3-2

Hiroki Kuroda gave up just 1 earned run in 7 innings and Brian McCann broke a 1-1 tie with a solo home run in the top of the ninth, but since David Robertson was doubled off of three times in the bottom of that frame the Yankees fell in the toughest of tough fashions tonight to the Orioles, 3-2, to drop this weekend's series.

For just about all of this contest, though they didn't actually play that well, the Yanks led 1-0, a lead they jumped out to early when Martin Prado lined one over the left field wall in the top of the second.

Nonetheless, once Kuroda blew the lead in the bottom of the sixth after looking near-perfect in Baltimore's first five at-bats a general sense of unease seemed to fill New York's dugout, something that apparently wasn't changed by McCann's late shot. 

Indeed, throughout this one's last three innings the Yanks just looked tired. And unfortunately for them, the bullpen wasn't there to save them this time, with Robertson allowing the aforementioned three doubles (walk-off one was hit by ex-Yankee Kelly Johnson) in the ninth to hand Baltimore the W.

In other words, this evening the Yanks seemed to finally break. No, this defeat doesn't completely knock them out of the playoff race, but still, it definitely makes them rallying for a spot that much more unlikely, a depressing fact we all must now admit.

Quick Hit: Maybe Stephen Drew Isn’t All That Bad

Just a quick FYI for everyone this morning to try and lift your spirits and make you feel better about having Stephen Drew on the team. On July 31^st Brian Cashman sent the Boston Red Sox GM Bill Cherington a text message that said something to the effect of “hey how about Kelly Johnson for Stephen Drew.” Obviously you guys already know the rest as Drew plays second base for the team and Kelly Johnson came off the disabled list and has played sporadically in Boston.

As bad as Drew has been in New York, and when I say bad I mean horrible, he has surprisingly been better than Johnson has in Boston. Since the trade Drew has hit .156/.225/.313 for New York while Johnson has hit .160/.160/.200 for Boston. Drew has two home runs and 10 RBI while walking six times and playing a pretty damn good second base for someone who has never played it before while Johnson has zero home runs, one RBI, zero walks, and hasn’t seen the field much at all.

I have been skeptical of Drew as much, if not more, as the next guy but it could be worse… we could still have Kelly Johnson. Have a great day Yankees family and keep in mind that it could always be worse, you could be Boston. 

Chase Headley Has Been Just What The Doctor Ordered

Chase Headley has been just what the doctor ordered in New York. Headley came over from the San Diego Padres and immediately helped with an infield defense that was severely lacking. Headley took over the hot corner and has played Gold Glove defense over there replacing the revolving door of Kelly Johnson, Yangervis Solarte, and others. Headley also played first base out of necessity on Monday in place of the dizzy Mark Teixeira and filled in admirably. Headley actually almost looked comfortable over at first base and could be a legitimate backup for Teixeira with the addition of Martin Prado.

Headley played shortstop in college and could back up for Derek Jeter at short or Stephen Drew at second if need be in a pinch. Headley came up as a left fielder in spacious San Diego and could easily translate into an outfielder in New York if need be as well. Headley has not excelled with the bat like some would have hoped for but his presence alone helps.

Headley is a switch hitter that along with Carlos Beltran and Mark Teixeira brings us closer to the glory days of when it was such a headache to matchup with the Yankees because of the numerous switch hitters. Headley can get it done with the bat and genuinely looks like he wants to be here, and that counts for a lot in my book. Headley adds versatility, flexibility, professionalism, and may be just what the doctor ordered for 2014 and beyond for the New York Yankees. 

Meet a Prospect: Stephen Drew

Stephen Drew was the latest member of the Boston Red Sox to either die a hero or live long enough to see himself become the villain as he switched sides and joined the New York Yankees. Obviously Drew didn’t have much choice as he was traded but still, it’s always fun to watch the responses of Red Sox fans when their players become Yankees. Anyway, I digress… Drew is part of the only trio of siblings in major League Baseball to be selected in the first round of the MLB Draft. Drew is the younger brother of former outfielder J.D. Drew and former pitcher Tim Drew. Drew has come a long way since his father found his first baseball glove in a dumpster and is now a member of the New York Yankees. Well he will be after we introduce him to you anyway, this is meet a prospect the Stephen Drew edition.

Stephen Oris Drew was born on March 16, 1983 and spent him high school years in Valdosta, Georgia while attending Lowndes High School. Following in the footsteps on the aforementioned JD Drew the younger Drew played college baseball at Florida State University. Drew caught the attention of the Arizona Diamondbacks and was drafted out of college. Drew was polished so he started his professional career in High-A ball in 2006 and ended the season all the way in Triple-A. Drew was a player in the 2006 All Star Futures Game after tearing up the minor leagues. Drew was called up in 2006 when Craig Counsell injured his ribs and made his major league debut on July 15, 2006. In the same game against the Milwaukee Brewers was another player making his own major league debut in Tony Gwynn Jr. Drew would have a strong 2006 season ending with a .316 batting average with five home runs and 23 RBI.

Drew couldn’t follow up his successful 2006 season in 2007 and only hit .238 with 12 home runs. Drew had another disappointing season in 2008 that was only highlighted by hitting for the cycle on September 1, 2008 against the St. Louis Cardinals. On the same day the Seattle Mariners Adrian Beltre hit for the cycle. Drew bounced around with average numbers in 2009 and 2010 before the injury bug hit him hard in 2011. Drew missed the first four games of the season with abdominal pain and then on July 20 he slid into home plate and fractured his right ankle. Drew would miss the remainder of the season and ended the season with 86 games played and a .252 average with five home runs and 45 RBI. The ankle injury caused Drew to spend the early parts of the 2012 season on the disabled list as he did not make it back onto the field until June 27 of that season. August of the 2012 season the Diamondbacks traded Drew to the Oakland Athletics for minor league shortstop Sean Jamieson.

Drew finished the 2012 season with just a .223 batting average in 79 games with seven home runs and 28 RBI. The Oakland Athletics declined Drew’s $10 million option on his deal and instead paid a $1.35 million buyout making Drew a free agent for the first time in his career. Drew would sign with the Boston Red Sox before Christmas in 2012 on a one year deal worth $9.5 million plus incentives for an additional $500K. Drew had another typical Stephen Drew season in 2013 batting .253 with 13 home runs and 67 RBI and even hit a home run in the series clinching Game 6 of the World Series. This was Drew’s first World Series ring of his career and the Red Sox third in nine seasons. Drew was offered a qualifying offer after the 2013 season that was ultimately denied making him less attractive as a free agent.

Drew declined the one year deal worth $14.1 million and could not find a deal until May 20, 2014. Any team that signed Drew except the Red Sox would have had to forfeit a draft pick to sign Drew and Drew ultimately signed with Boston on a one year $10 million deal with the Red Sox when it was all said and done. The deal equated to a prorated version of the qualifying offer that he declined earlier in the winter. Drew struggled through May and June before turning it on offensively in July just in time to get traded at the July 31 trading deadline. The Yankees and Red Sox swapped Drew for Kelly Johnson and Drew will be the Yankees every day second baseman.

This is truly an audition for Drew who could be the man who replaces the great Derek Jeter after his retirement this season. Will Drew be the next Yankees shortstop? Will he even want to be? Only time will tell but for now, welcome to the family Drew. Make us proud. 

The Greedy Pinstripes Had The Martin Prado Deal First

I don't generally like to toot my own horn here on the blog but toot freaking toot. Bryan Van Dusen and myself had Martin Prado coming to New York months ago, weeks before anyone else even mentioning his name. Yesterday as we all know Peter O'Brien and a player to be named later or cash was sent to Arizona for Mr. Prado and I felt inclined to remind people where this all started. Right here...

Bryan Van Dusen brought up the fact that the Yankees should try and trade for Prado on June 22. CLICK HERE. Here's an excerpt:

While Prado's batting line so far in 2014 is not impressive (.274/.318/.377, with only 1 SB in 2 attempts), he's hit pretty well this month (.307/.338/.427). Along with having a solid bat, Martin's versatility would work well in New York, since last season he played over 200 innings at both 2B and LF, while playing almost 900 innings at 3B.
Improving in the infield may not be the Yankees most pressing need, but Yangervis Solarte's fall from grace and Brian Roberts being... well... Brian Roberts, should make Brian Cashman take a hard look at Prado.

The fire got going again on June 30 when I reminded fans that the Prado trade rumors were heating up and that they started here. CLICK HERE. I asked fans to remember where they heard it first when it happened and it happened, so remember....

Many thought we here at The Greedy Pinstripes were just pulling this awful idea out of our behinds and then Pinstripe Alley, one of the biggest and best Yankee blogs, wrote a piece on it. Now The New York Daily News and Billy Madden wrote about it. Now it's on MLB Trade Rumors. The fire is spreading, remember where you heard it first.

I even went as far as to ask Prado to be the new Kelly Johnson. Johnson was traded for Drew but Drew will be the new Roberts and it seems like Prado will be the new Johnson. Don't be mad at me for being happy for getting one right, it doesn't happen often. CLICK HERE.

Welcome to pinstripes Mr. Prado. I've had your name for a long time.