July 12, 2016
Peter Solari
A few weeks ago,
reports were circulating that the Yankees were unlikely to trade relief pitcher Andrew Miller, but what's happening today was always inevitable.
With the trade deadline coming up and their season going nowhere fast, the website
12Up is reporting that the Yankees have entered into discussions with the San Francisco Giants for the talented 31-year-old's services, though nothing appears imminent. The two teams have also been in discussions about Yankees reliever Aroldis Chapman.
The Giants have five of baseball's top-100 prospects in their system, including three pitchers, a shortstop, and a first baseman, but the two sides can't agree on what a fair deal. The Yankees' asking price for Miller, Chapman, or Dellin Betances is expected to be high, and rightfully so.
Of the Giants' top five prospects, two of them can be scratched from the Yankees' list. The team already has a shortstop on the rise in Didi Gregorious, and they plan to move forward with their own prospect at first base, Greg Bird, when Mark Teixera's contract ends. That leaves the three hurlers, who the two organizations apparently have differing opinions on.
Perhaps Yankees general manager Brian Cashman is just being stingy, but it's almost refreshing to see out of this organization.
The Yankees are in a pretty good spot here. They aren't desperate to deal anybody, and would likely be perfectly content finishing the year with all three of their big arms in the bullpen. While Chapman will be a free agent at season's end, the Yankees have the resources to bring him back via free agency, if they want to. They've really got nothing to lose by standing pat. However, there is the possibility of something to be gained by making a trade, if the Yankees can acquire prospects to build a future around. Cashman should listen to every offer that comes his way, but he should remain prudent as well. If the Yankees get the right offer from somebody, then they should pull the trigger. If they don't, then they should just move on.
Contrary to the Yankees, the Giants are kind of up-against-a-wall here. They have the best record in baseball at the All Star Break, but their bullpen is questionable, and the trade market is thin. San Francisco could be one Yankees reliever away from their fourth World Series title since 2010, and they'll likely have to make some tough decisions. That doesn't mean the Yankees have to make it any easier on the Giants, nor should they be in a hurry to make any deals.
A lot of people around baseball are under the impression that other contenders, such as the Chicago Cubs and Washington Nationals, have better prospects in their farm systems than the Giants do. Cashman may want to check in with those two organizations, before coming to any conclusions.
The trade deadline is a time of year when teams who believe they have a legitimate chance to win the World Series, will do all they can to better position themselves to do so. Often times, it comes at a high price, but if you're the last team standing in November, is it worth it?
For many years, the Yankees were one of those teams looking to improve themselves for a postseason run, at the deadline, but things have changed and so has New York's approach.
The current Yankees regime is hellbent on reducing the team's payroll and building a championship contender from within. Doing that requires smart, well-calculated moves (sometimes well-calculated non-moves) in the front office. Cashman should put the other 29 teams on alert today, that everybody in his clubhouse is available for the right price, and stick to it.
If another team bites, and Cashman has the opportunity to improve his ball club, then great, but there's no need for him to rush into anything. The Yankees will be no worse off by standing pat.
