Sanchez trade: Sanchez released, he was acquired with the idea that he was an oft-injured pitcher, but worth the risk given the upside. Yanks got two other pieces in the deal as well. It was at minimum a lateral move, a getting something for nothing move along the lines of Wright for Britton a couple of years ago.

Igawa was signed to be a back of the rotation starter, for whatever reason he wasn’t able to do the trick. No big deal, it happens. Every GM has a pitcher like that on their resume.

It’s far too early to declare a Wang/Kennedy – Santana nontrade a bust. And certainly not after a handful of innings thrown by Wang, and definitely not with Kennedy still figuring into the Yanks’ plans.

The Marte deal was a perfectly reasonable contract, and it’s too early in the season to call him a bust.

As for Rodriguez, given that he was supposed to miss a part of the season, I’m not concerned that Ransom, Berroa & Peña are holding down 3b. I am curious to see why Berroa is starting over Peña. But given that the offense really hasn’t been the problem, averaging 5.7 runs a game despite having the revolving door @ 3b & Gardner in CF, the Yanks can tread water until Rodriguez returns. Now had he been out for the season, and they went with these 3 guys, then certainly I’d have a problem with that.

We’re not even 1/3 into the season, they’re only 4 games out of first. The Rays are in last place. Let’s chill out a bit, it’s early.

@ Raf:
Raf, the point here is this Brian has to be held accountable for the moves he makes. Did this work out, no it didn’t. We have a pitcher at triple AAA (Igawa) that the Yankees spent $46 million on, did that work out? He could have traded Wang and Kennedy to Minnesota for Santana, did that decision work out? He signed Marte to a ridiculous 12 million dollar deal over the winter instead of just renewing his option, after he performance last year shouldn’t Brian have been a little more careful?

Does it concern you that AROD misses a month plus and there is no available infielder in the Yankee system outside of the retreads they have turned to. Look out in center field does Gardner seem like a major league worthy starting player? There is one outfield prospect (Jackson) in the whole system. Take a look at what Boston has done. Brian has to be held accountable for his decisions.

Well, did they consider his injury history?
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I’m sure they did. Like the Indians did with Pavano, like the Red Sox did with Penny & Smoltz, like the Jays did with Clement, so on and so forth…

Sheffield’s contract was over if Brian hadn’t exercised the Yankee option. He did that with the idea of trading Sheffield to the team willing to offer the most attractive package.
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And the Tigers did.

So in the end, the Yanks got a package deal for Sheffield when the alternative was to get nothing for him. I don’t see what the problem is or was.

@ sean mcnally:

The problem with your response is the fact this was Cashman showing the world what a screwd GN he was. Sheffield’s contract was over if Brian hadn’t exercised the Yankee option. He did that with the idea of trading Sheffield to the team willing to offer the most attractive package.

This was Cashman’s game, Cashman’s rules and he has to be evaluated by the return. How does this guy continue to get away with this kind of stuff over and over again.

Regardless of what the Front Office got for Sheffield in tangible assets, let’s not forget that the most valuable thing the Yankees received from Detroit was the ability to NOT pay a cranky, semi-credible outfielder/should-be DH $13 million who had a history of being an agitator and pain in the ass in contract years when they had better (or at least contractually entrenched) options for both the outfield and DH.

That’s the real win in that trade – regardless of how Claggett and Whelan produce at the big league level.

Raf wrote:

Who’s to say those metrics weren’t considered?

Well, did they consider his injury history?

I never liked Wang mechanics…
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Interesting, I thought Wang’s mechanics were as simple as they come.

Show me a GM who weighs minor league pitchers by K-rate, ERA, and OppBA alone
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Who’s to say those metrics weren’t considered?