antone, the Yankees survivied horrendous downturns from Cano and Posada(injured). If even one of them returns to form, that will do wonders for making up for Giambi.

Yes, getting Teixeira would be nice. But let’s not act like chickens with their heads cut off if the Yankees field an outfield of Damon/Gardner/Nady and don’t pick up Teixeira. Trust me, it’s worlds better than letting Abreu do anything but DH (that includes running, god was he awful on the basepaths this year) for the next 3 years.

You guys are missing one thing and that is Nady was in the lineup for 59 games last season, so I don’t think the Yankees are really replacing Abreu with Nady. To me they are replacing Abreu with whoever ends up in CF. That’s where most of the at-bats that Abreu had last year are going to go. I guess part of the production would be made up by Matsui, but I’m not sure we can count on him for 500+ at bats anymore and if they don’t get Teixeira at 1B then they’ll have to worry about making up for Giambi’s offense too. They still don’t have a 3 hitter if they let Abreu go and don’t sign Teixeira either.

I’ll concede that there’s something to be said for the draft pick compensation and what was actually given up, but even looking at a declining Abreu, he’s a better option than Nady (or put better, Nady as his replacement is a big downgrade). Consider OBP – Nady is mediocre in that department, Abreu in decline remained pretty darn good. Nady was a pretty mediocre corner OF before having half a season of All-Star numbers. I don’t think there’s any reason to think that wasn’t a fluke. The only thing that lessens the impact of a lesser offensive player in RF is the presumed defensive improvement, which I don’t think is huge but you can’t dismiss the difference between a man terrified of the wall and a man who isn’t.

You have to look at the team as a whole. In this case, you’re replacing Abreu with Nady. I’m not convinced that’s a downgrade.
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I don’t see how you can think it’s not a downgrade. Defensively, outfielders do not seriously affect a game very much. Abreu still has acceptable speed and a decent arm, even if he is magnetically repelled by the wall.

Offensively (which is what really matters), it’s not even close. This year was Nady’s best year, and he had 76 runs and 39 walks (with decent HRs and RBIs) and an OPS+ of 128. And this is his best year ever! Abreu’s career OPS+ is 133 (‘only’ 120 last year.) He hasn’t had fewer than 100 rbis since ’02 and has basically had 100 runs every year for a long time.

I think you could argue that for the next 3 years Nady is preferable. However, I don’t think he will get on base, score runs, or drive in runs next year at the same rate as Abreu. Really, I don’t like Abreu and wish we could get rid of him. I just don’t think Nady is the proper replacement. (Maybe i could just think of Tex as replacing Abreu and Nady replacing Giambi and comfort myself that way.)

You can’t look at each position and say “you CAN’T have that guy there”. You have to look at the team as a whole. In this case, you’re replacing Abreu with Nady. I’m not convinced that’s a downgrade. Abreu was the worst defensive outfielder in the game in 2008, and his offensive numbers, while still quite good, have been on a steady and predictable decline.

The Yankees *can* have an outfield of Damon, Gardner and Nady. They just need to upgrade other parts of the team to make up for their outfield offensive deficiencies. Thankfully, there’s an elite first baseman and an elite pitcher on the market that can do just that.

I agree with everything about the how the trade was good. I don’t think we gave up very much and got 2 everyday (as much as a reliever can be ‘everyday’) baseball players. Marte have proven to be a very solid reliever and Nady is definately a starter.

That said, Nady’s offensive numbers really do not compare with Abreu. Abreu’s numbers are on the way down and we can hope Nady’s are on the way up. However, everyone seems to think that Nady is the player from the first half of the year with Pittsburgh. His overall numbers with the Yankees we OK but not great and certainly not as good as Abreu.

The outfield CANNOT be Damon, Melky/Gardner, and Nady. That outfield offers unacceptably low production. You would see, at most, 45 HRs between them. A resurgent Matsui and Posada (not to mention Cano) would do a lot to alleviate the pressure off Nady (as would Tex). I just worry that the Yankees have him pegged as a #5, maybe #6 hitter. Honestly, on a championship Yankees team, he should be hitting 8th, 7th at best.

What’s even sadder is that they decided to downgrade from Coke and Kontos to Karstens and McCutchen.
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I would think it’s because they wanted ML ready arms? Pirates have been having a hard time with their rotation.

But I agree with the overall point about the Pirates franchise.

Pat F-

Totally. Even without the draft picks, the Yankees got two major leaguers for Tabata, a 20 year old who, while talented, hasn’t done much of anything above A-ball, and, while he was with the Yankees, had the mentality of Manny without any of the production. That’s how you trade up.

Frankly, I still think it was a horrendous trade for Pittsburgh, a sad team that’s continuing to drive itself into a lake. What’s even sadder is that they decided to downgrade from Coke and Kontos to Karstens and McCutchen. I feel very sorry for Pittsburgh fans.

andrewyf – i totally agree with you. the only way it would kind of sting is if tabata really turned out to be something. but like you said, that’s a long shot, and you have to consider that the change of scenery could have been impactful for him. and even still, we would have the huge draft pick haul, which in itself makes the trade highly productive.