Granderson-to-Yanks hits snag, and I think I’m glad
by Mike G- Yankees get Curtis Granderson, one or two prospects from the D-backs
- Arizona gets Ian Kennedy, Edwin Jackson
- Detroit gets Austin Jackson, Phil Coke, Mike Dunn, Max Scherzer
The package has apparently been rejected by one team and I hope to God it was the Yankees. I don’t like this. Kennedy, Coke, and Austin Jackson (and Dunn) for Granderson seems like way too much. I’d rather stick with Gardner and Melky until Jackson is ready. Also, it’s been said that the Yankees won’t be spending money on the bullpen (filling slots internally). But, there’s not much left. You’ve already traded Bruney, Hughes is going to start, and now you’re trading away Coke. Okay, you’ve got Robertson and Marte?, but after that…? Can they be counted on?
1 comment December 08 2009 9:10 am | Mike G | Discussion |
The “Too much” comment needs to be analyzed further…. Two lefty relievers, a starter and a 5 tool outfielder for a marquee Centerfielder and two “prospects”
Coke is a mirage. He gives up way too many HRs for a reliever. But he is a lefty and has a K rate of about 7.4 per 9 innings.
Kennedy – We’ve seen him before and he’s shown flashes of competance (i.e. maybe fourth starter stuff) but he throws too slow and strikes out too few to be successful in the AL East in my opinion. But he just finished the Arizona Fall League with 29 2/3 AFL innings, 28 Ks, 5 BB, and a 4.25 ERA. He’s 24. Kennedy’s average fastball in the AFL was 90.66 mph.
Mike Dunn – He’s the unknown. A converted outfielder, Dunn is a lefty who just finished the Arizona Fall League striking out 20 in 10 1/3 innings. But he also walked 10 in 10 1/3 innings. He’s a power lefty. He’s already 24, thows in the mid 90s and has a fastball, slider and change. Baseball America clocked his high fastball speed at 96.6mph and average at 93.85mph
Austin Jackson – He’s 22 now, and at Scranton last year in 132 games and 504 PA he batted .304/.354/.405 with 23 2B, 4 HR, 24 SB (4 CS) and 123Ks and 40BB. (For comparisson Melky Cabrera at age 21 in 31 games and 135 PA for Columbus hit .385/.430/.566, 4 HR, 6 2B (10 BB, 9 K), Derek Jeter at age 21 123 games, 558 PA, .317/.394/.422 66BB, 56 K). So while I wouldn’t give up on Jackson just yet, he’s not showing the plate discipline yet.
Granderson is a talent that might be worth the risk. You have to remember that with the Departure of Matsui and Damon, the Yankees are losing 53 HRs. Granderson hit 30 last year, and hitting between Jeter and Tex will probably lead to a bounce back year.
The Detroit side of the deal is the one that I think works out best for them. They would get a 5 tool prospect, two lefty relievers and a great young starter in Scherzer, and they get them all on the cheap, while getting high value for Jackson and Granderson.