NakamuraUpdate - 12/8/09
Curtis Granderson - There have been multiple reports that the star center fielder has been dealt as part of a three team deal. The trade would send him to the Bronx. The Yankees would send Austin Jackson and Phil Coke to Detroit while the third team, the Arizona Diamondbacks, would send Max Scherzer. Arizona would get pitchers Ian Kennedy from the Yankees and Edwin Jackson from the Tigers. To make things clearer:
To Yankees: Granderson (DET)
To Tigers: Max Scherzer (ARI), Phil Coke (NYY), Austin Jackson (NYY)
To Diamondbacks: Edwin Jackson (DET), Ian Kennedy (NYY)
Who got the best of the deal?
Nakamura: Detroit. They dumped a large salary in Curtis Granderson and with Edwin Jackson's contract coming to an end soon, they got a huge push forward. Phil Coke is an above average reliever and Scherzer is still a young developing pitcher. A former first round pick, Scherzer can still become a solid top-of-the-rotation type of pitcher. But best of all, they got Austin Jackson. In a previous blog, (Off Season Out look - Roy Halladay) I compared him to Curtis Granderson. Well, I must have been pretty close, because he's the centerpiece of the trade for the Tigers. Austin may not be ready until 2011 or 2012, but he has shown signs of
becoming a great ball player.
Just to top everything off, Detroit can know that their team accomplished what they set out to do this off season. They dumped a bit of salary to give them some breathing room. Before the 2008 season began, Granderson signed a 5 year, 30.25 million dollar extension. After two years of having an all star patrol center field, they have paid Curtis a grand total of 3.5 million dollars. A smart move by Detroit. Tigers fans may not enjoy the idea of losing their icon, but this is a great move for the near future.
The Diamondbacks got a good chunk out of this deal too. They received Edwin Jackson, who is a solid number two if not an ace in the national league. Combine that with a healthy Brandon Webb and Dan Haren, you have one of the best 1-2-3 starting pitchers in your rotation in the National League. Not to mention Ian Kennedy, who can help round out that rotation in a couple years. That kind of a rotation has the ability to compete with Lincecum - Cain or Wainwright - Carpenter.
The Yankees didn't exactly lose out either. They got a star center fielder, but they were the only ones to really pay a price. They lost their #1 prospect and a decent reliever. Ian Kennedy wasn't a huge loss, considering how Phil Hughes turned out. But already working on a thin bullpen, Phil Coke will be missed. But with Curtis Granderson in center field and at the top of the order, the Yankees are an even bigger force for the 2010 season.
Daniel: This was a pretty fair trade throughout. The Yankees were finally able to acquire All-Star talent center field, the Tigers finally were able to cut payroll while receiving a bevy of premium prospects, and Arizona now has a lethal 1-2-3 that can compete with teams like the Giants and Phillies. The Tigers got the better end of this deal by far. When you can acquire a team's top prospects its always great. But when you acquire two TOP prospects, you have to make that type of deal.
The Yankees finally have someone they can depend on day in and day out to guard the outfield. Granderson can be a 30/30 player and his character is second to none. But most of all, he allows the Yankees to negotiate on their own terms with both Damon and Matsui. The Dback's while not "losing", didn't come out of the deal more prepared for 2010. They have given up a cost effective player in Scherzer who can and is projected to be better than Jackson later on in his career. Edwin Jackson will be a dominant number 3 in the NL west and Ian Kennedy will be a nice number 4-5 starter on that team. Overall, a nice bounty for all three teams involved.
Marco Scutaro - Has signed a two year deal with the Boston Red Sox. This deal seems rather simple. Sign a decent shortstop that can fill in until either Jed Lowrie is healthy or Iglesias is ready. If Jed can come back without wrist problems, then Marco will still be available to give third baseman Mike Lowell a breather from time to time. Scutaro is a Type A free agent, so the Blue Jays have received Boston's #1 pick in the upcoming 2010 draft. But Boston already received a 1st round pick when Billy Wagner signed with the Braves, so it does not affect them much.
Placido Polanco - signed with the Philies to play 3rd base. But at a surprising price of 18 million dollars for 3 years. After winning a gold glove, he only makes 6 million a year. Polanco has the bat to hit at the top of the lineup, so I would expect a deal aroun 8-10 million per year, depending on the length. He is virtually flawless with the glove and he can drive the ball to right field just as well as anyone. Great pick up for the Phillies. But Polanco could have gotten more.
-Written by: Nakamura. This article is copyrighted © by Nakamura and may not be reproduced, recopied, or used in any form without permission from Nakamura
To Yankees: Granderson (DET)
To Tigers: Max Scherzer (ARI), Phil Coke (NYY), Austin Jackson (NYY)
To Diamondbacks: Edwin Jackson (DET), Ian Kennedy (NYY)
Who got the best of the deal?
Nakamura: Detroit. They dumped a large salary in Curtis Granderson and with Edwin Jackson's contract coming to an end soon, they got a huge push forward. Phil Coke is an above average reliever and Scherzer is still a young developing pitcher. A former first round pick, Scherzer can still become a solid top-of-the-rotation type of pitcher. But best of all, they got Austin Jackson. In a previous blog, (Off Season Out look - Roy Halladay) I compared him to Curtis Granderson. Well, I must have been pretty close, because he's the centerpiece of the trade for the Tigers. Austin may not be ready until 2011 or 2012, but he has shown signs of
Curtis Granderson
Just to top everything off, Detroit can know that their team accomplished what they set out to do this off season. They dumped a bit of salary to give them some breathing room. Before the 2008 season began, Granderson signed a 5 year, 30.25 million dollar extension. After two years of having an all star patrol center field, they have paid Curtis a grand total of 3.5 million dollars. A smart move by Detroit. Tigers fans may not enjoy the idea of losing their icon, but this is a great move for the near future.
The Diamondbacks got a good chunk out of this deal too. They received Edwin Jackson, who is a solid number two if not an ace in the national league. Combine that with a healthy Brandon Webb and Dan Haren, you have one of the best 1-2-3 starting pitchers in your rotation in the National League. Not to mention Ian Kennedy, who can help round out that rotation in a couple years. That kind of a rotation has the ability to compete with Lincecum - Cain or Wainwright - Carpenter.
The Yankees didn't exactly lose out either. They got a star center fielder, but they were the only ones to really pay a price. They lost their #1 prospect and a decent reliever. Ian Kennedy wasn't a huge loss, considering how Phil Hughes turned out. But already working on a thin bullpen, Phil Coke will be missed. But with Curtis Granderson in center field and at the top of the order, the Yankees are an even bigger force for the 2010 season.
Daniel: This was a pretty fair trade throughout. The Yankees were finally able to acquire All-Star talent center field, the Tigers finally were able to cut payroll while receiving a bevy of premium prospects, and Arizona now has a lethal 1-2-3 that can compete with teams like the Giants and Phillies. The Tigers got the better end of this deal by far. When you can acquire a team's top prospects its always great. But when you acquire two TOP prospects, you have to make that type of deal.
The Yankees finally have someone they can depend on day in and day out to guard the outfield. Granderson can be a 30/30 player and his character is second to none. But most of all, he allows the Yankees to negotiate on their own terms with both Damon and Matsui. The Dback's while not "losing", didn't come out of the deal more prepared for 2010. They have given up a cost effective player in Scherzer who can and is projected to be better than Jackson later on in his career. Edwin Jackson will be a dominant number 3 in the NL west and Ian Kennedy will be a nice number 4-5 starter on that team. Overall, a nice bounty for all three teams involved.
Marco Scutaro - Has signed a two year deal with the Boston Red Sox. This deal seems rather simple. Sign a decent shortstop that can fill in until either Jed Lowrie is healthy or Iglesias is ready. If Jed can come back without wrist problems, then Marco will still be available to give third baseman Mike Lowell a breather from time to time. Scutaro is a Type A free agent, so the Blue Jays have received Boston's #1 pick in the upcoming 2010 draft. But Boston already received a 1st round pick when Billy Wagner signed with the Braves, so it does not affect them much.
Placido Polanco - signed with the Philies to play 3rd base. But at a surprising price of 18 million dollars for 3 years. After winning a gold glove, he only makes 6 million a year. Polanco has the bat to hit at the top of the lineup, so I would expect a deal aroun 8-10 million per year, depending on the length. He is virtually flawless with the glove and he can drive the ball to right field just as well as anyone. Great pick up for the Phillies. But Polanco could have gotten more.
-Written by: Nakamura. This article is copyrighted © by Nakamura and may not be reproduced, recopied, or used in any form without permission from Nakamura
