http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/news/story?id=3511535


Good thing Pudge sucks and has for a couple years.


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His numbers have actually reached decent levels, though he started cold.

.295/.338/.417 (.755) 5HR 6SB

Will they get decent picks for Pudge? This was a smart move that came out of nowhere. Reminds of the David Justice trade.

I am very impressed with Cashman's last two moves. Pudge may not be what he was in Texas but he is a step up from Molina.

Both this and the Marte/Nady trade were really decent under the radar moves, which makes me think everything we hear about Manny and the Dodgers, Phillies, etc., is probably baseless speculation. Farnsworth had been pretty effective of late (well, he wasn't that effective that one inning against us) but, as just about everyone knows, has been a big disappointment in the Bronx. You have to wonder if Cashman has taken a firm hold of baseball operations. NY is quietly making some pretty good moves, not the moves of old when Old Man Steinbrenner would demand to get big-time Player X at all costs.

A nice move in my mind... a really nice move. I wish he could do something about another starter, but I imagine that's easier said then done.

So who's going to pitch in the 8th for them? The Yankees didn't need more hitting.

It's a step up at the plate. How is IRod's defense these days?

More importantly, wasn't Farnsworth pitching well, and an important part of the pen?

Probably a decent move, but I'm hoping another relief pitcher in the Yanks pen starts to falter, and all of a suden a strength becomes a weakness (like the Sox pen)

How about that Marte guy they traded for?

There's also Edwar Ramirez, who will likely be suspended for going headhunting on Kevin Millar today...


EDIT: That was sarcasm. Marte is very good. Im regretting not making a Joba joke now.

You're right, they'll probably rely on Marte, who has similar numbers to Farnsworth - in the NL. Ramirez may be the answer though.

Pudge should fit right in.

Ramirez will get more innings, I'm sure, but Farnsworth has been red-hot.

This is a net-win for New York, however, overall.

It is.

Farnsworth has been red hot, and in fact I originally was going to say it was a mistake... I actually typed out "I think Id rather have Farnsworth." Then I saw Pudge's numbers and reconsidered. He's a pretty big upgrade for them - at bat, behind the plate(even though Molina has been good, too) and in the clubhouse.

I really agree. By having a bullpen with several good arms, Cashman put the team in a position where they could be both a buyer and a seller. He's done very well so far.

Brian Bruney will replace Farnie in the pen, maybe not right away as the 8th-inning guy, but eventually. He's just finishing up his rehab with Scranton this week.

Farnie was the only righthander with experience in the Yanks' pen. They are going with rookie David Robertson, and near-rookies Edwar Ramirez and Jose Veras right now (with Marte more of a LOOGY than a full-inning guy. The question again becomes ... can the bullpen get the game to Rivera successfully?

Farnie was a big part of the bullpen's recent resurgence. I never really trusted the guy but I respected what he accomplished this season under his pal Joe Girardi.

Molina could never have caught five games per week down the stretch. He's carrying too many pounds for that to happen. This whole trade was instigated by Dave Dombroski, who knew what he needed in Detroit and has the luxury of Brandon Inge as the fallback guy behind the plate. I always thought Inge didn't like catching.

a real nice move by the yanks

hard to say much more then that without being pissy given the state of the sox right now, and the wonderful performance going on in boston tonight

The trading deadline usually provides a jump-start for several teams every year. The Yanks got a big lift from the Abreu deal two years ago. I wouldn't get too down over the Sox. If they can move Manny, that will be a big lift for everyone on the team, because it's pretty apparent his teammates have been pulled down into the abyss by their left fielder. They will get a spark of energy if Jason Bay comes over from Pittsburgh and Manny heads down to Miami.

I can't help but chuckle a little to think that Edwar Ramirez is supposed to be the Farnsworth replacement. Isn't this the guy who Kevin Millar just dissed, saying "I was upset they threw him out of the game because he’s really good hitting. He’s a cute little fella, he didn’t throw that hard and he doesn’t have very good stuff. So it’s probably a good idea they threw him out, because it probably would’ve been in Monument Park.” (bad example, I know, Millar has K'd 3 times in 4 ABs against Ramirez, but it's what he said...)

Another mental picture: I-Rod doing his patented snap throws from behind the plate to 1B to try to catch baserunners napping... Pudge's improvement on defense is partially negated by the Giambi/Sexson combination. I can see a few of those snap throws ending up in RF because Giambi or Sexson muff the throw.

Farnsworth was a favorite NY whipping boy, but he made very undervalued contributions to the team. He pitched a lot of innings and was a bridge to Mariano.
I-Rod does not at this point bring a much upside to the lineup, and defensively is not a huge upgrade over Molina.
With a staff of guys who are not going to pitch deep into games, I think this is not a great trade. You've weakened your poorest position and slightly improved a strong lineup.

It must be nice to actually win the occasional talent-based trade. For all of the bashing that Cashman takes from Red Sox partisans, he seems to come up with at least one good trade every July, which is more than we can say about our own favorite team (I'm a big Theo fan, but when was the last time that more talent came in than he sent out via trade? Mirabelli-Loretta?).

It's funny, just last week Cashman was getting a lot of grief from Yankee fans for valuing prospects too much and not making any trades. Just goes to show how quickly things can change.

Did I see Girardi and Farnsworth crying on ESPN about Farnsworth leaving? I know Girardi caught him when they were both with the Cubs. A first baseman that can't even catch a ball? I know what you mean, but I thought Giambi's main defensive problem was throwing the ball. Sexson I don't know so much about.

Sexson's a very good first baseman. He just can't hit. You're right about Giambi. Throwing the ball is when things really get interesting for him.

Girardi caught Farnie when he was with the Cubs and then stood behind him this year, a direct opposite approach to the way Joe Torre handled him. Girardi was also emotional over Farnie when he announced the trade to the media after the game.

Pudge's Tigers have led the league or been near the top in wild pitches the past two years. Tigers pitchers didn't think he moved around very well behind the plate, for whatever reason, but one Detroit FO type said he expects Pudge to be great for two months with the Yankees because he'll be trying hard again. Pudge is apparently another pending FA who made things tough on his team as his contract was running out.

What, based on your observations of Sexson in a Yankee uniform, jackson?

Tom Tango begs to differ with you.

Until the M's got rid of Sexson, they had 4 of the worst defenders on the field in all of baseball. It wouldn't hurt my feelings if Ibanez was taken out of LF by either a trade (today, hopefully?) or a direct order to accept what's best for the team, to DH. Then they can dump Vidro. Yeah, I'm suggesting they not even try to trade Vidro...

Maybe the Yankee infielders are brain-damaged after guiding their throws over to Giambi for the past 7 years but they all agree Sexson is a great target over there. I think even a stats geek would have to agree that being 6-foot-8 is an advantage when fielding high throws, or wide ones. Just like in basketball, you can't teach size.

Of course, Richie cannot hit anymore. I give you that.

Our observations the past few years is that Richie's range is pretty much limited to that 6-foot-8 plus however much his arms add to that. He rarely dives for balls and when he does, he usually misses. He sure ain't John Olerud...

Tango also lists Chris Duncan as 2nd best LFer, when in reality he is AWFUL.

There will always be some weird results mixed in with good ones when it comes to defensive metrics. I'd agree that Sexson doesn't have much range though.

He's a statue out there, no doubt about it. A tall and long one who is becoming increasingly inconsequential to any discussion of the Yankees' playoff chances. He's a backup first baseman. With the righthanded Pudge in the lineup, Girardi might be less inclined to throw Sexson in against lefty pitchers and just keep Giambi in the lineup. Sexson hasn't shown much at the plate thus far. His only value is as a pinch-hitter and late-inning defensive replacement at first base.

Yanks need to add a starting pitcher to replace Rasner and/or Sidney. Maybe they can do this from within. Kennedy is ready at Scranton and Hughes is about three weeks away and Wang five weeks away. Don't know if they can help but they are options at some point.

It took a while, jackson, but I think you finally got it right.Maybe whoever dug those stats out didn't separate them into LF/RF/1B -- Duncan has spent a quarter of his time at 1B, and that has altered his total defensive stats, for sure.

He has his moments... When he was with the 2003 World Series Florida Marlins the guy was just flat out awesome.