Before this deal, the Yankees probably were in a position where they had to pick up Sheffield. Lee and Soriano would have been very expensive, long-term commitments.
Picking up the option would have been a shaky thing because then Sheffield is playing without a contract. He would have b*&ched and moaned and been a real distraction next year. Sheffield has been a great, great player and he was fun to watch, but he has always created more problems than he should. It will keep Sheffield out of the Hall of Fame. He’s sort of a poor man’s Dick Allen in that respect.

I have good news and bad news for you, MJ:

The good news is that Torre said Bernie would move back into his role from earlier in the year — more of a bench player.

The bad news is that Torre mentioned Bernie playing centerfield.

So it sounds like Melky will be in left until Matsui gets back… but part of the role-manipulation (getting Bernie, Melky, Bobby, Matsui and Giambi at-bats) will involved Bernie playing some center.

Also, I think we can now count out Sheffield coming back this year. He knows he’s gone. And I’m sure he’s pissed off about that.

The things I’m most worried about are:

1. Torre playing Bernie over Melky in LF
2. Giambi playing more 1B
3. Abreu going from little power to even less now that he’ll actually face good pitching for the next six weeks.

Also, I’m very upset that Melky will either lose time or be traded in 2007. I don’t care what the WPA or RCAA stats say, Melky’s been a breath of fresh air for this team.

I suppose you can’t really complain about this deal. Giving up on a first-round draft pick this soon is pretty odd, though.

The only problem is that Melky won’t have a place with the team next year. Which means he’ll either be here as a fourth outfielder or back in AAA (or traded).

I hope I’m surprised, but I seriously don’t expect ANYTHING from Cory Lidle. Maybe he’s a slight upgrade over Ponson and Chacon, but it’s slight.

On a side note: I hope getting Abreu means Giambi will get a day or two off to rest his knee. It’s obvious that he can’t drive the ball. He’s popping everything up. Can’t Torre see this? This is definitely not one of those times where someone can “work through it.”

it seems a pretty good deal right now. what is cory lidle? the 5th starter? the long reliever?

if so, who’s gone? ponson? chacon?

unfortunately, this spells less playing time for melky, which i dislike. however, he can be used as a pinch-runner/hitter & defensive replacement. i hope they do NOT trade him.

score one for Cashman.

Info on Sanchez and Monasterio:

Sanchez is an 18 year old C for the GCL Yankees — obviously very raw. Monasterio is a 20 year old P for the GCL Yankees. I suspect these guys are filler for the Phillies — to make it look like they got more.

Abreu has 16 RCAA, which would tie him with Damom for fifth place on the Yankees.

This will be the best deal made by any team at this deadline.

According to FOXSports.com’s Ken Rosenthal, the Phillies will get SS C.J. Henry, LHP Matt Smith, C Jesus Sanchez and RHP Carlos Monasterio from the Yankees for Bobby Abreu and Cory Lidle.

I hope it’s White, but rotoworld is notoriously inaccurate. ESPN says Matt Smith.

ESPN.com says it’s Matt Smith instead of White.

http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/news/story?id=2534459