2 :45 PM Eastern
As we near the halfway point of this year’s Winter Meetings, we finally have a trade to report, and it’s a pretty big one. The New York Yankees, Detroit Tigers and Arizona Diamondbacks have gotten together on a three-way deal that will send Curtis Granderson to the Bronx. The Tigers get Yankees’ prospect Austin Jackson and bullpen lefty Phil Coke, along with Diamondbacks’ prospects Max Scherzer and Daniel Schlereth. Arizona gets Tigers’ starter Edwin Jackson and Yankees’ young starter Ian Kennedy.
We wish a hearty mazel tov to all involved for getting the process underway and breaking up what’s been a very, very quiet day in Indianapolis. Before this trade, the biggest news was that the massive blizzard that is pounding the midwestern U.S. and heading up into the Toronto area soon will bypass us down here in Indy.
So, what does this trade mean for the Blue Jays? It means the Yankees have a much better centrefielder now than they did an hour ago, and he’s locked up for another five years if the Yanks want him that long. Granderson tops Melky Cabrera in every facet of the game, with the exception of being able to hit left-handed pitching. Austin Jackson is the biggest chip that the Yanks moved in the trade, and he had been talked about as a big piece in a potential Roy Halladay trade, but you have to think that: A – the Yankees would rather have Halladay than Granderson, and so wouldn’t ruin their chances to obtain Doc in order to get Curtis, and 2 – the Yanks would still be able to build a package around Joba Chamberlain or Phil Hughes and Jesus Montero, even without Austin Jackson involved.
Good for the Tigers for picking up three very good young pitchers to add to their big three of Justin Verlander, Rick Porcello and Jeremy Bonderman. Granderson seems a big price to pay, but if Jackson (who turns 23 in February) is ready for the bigs, it should be a net plus for Detroit.
Arizona gets Edwin Jackson and Kennedy for Scherzer and Schlereth, so two young starters for their top young starter and a first-round lefty reliever. Kennedy is a good post-hype buy, a guy who was touted as a future star a year ago but about whom no one was excited after a year that was taken off the rails by surgery to repair an aneurysm in his right shoulder. Jackson had a good year for the Rays in ’08 then got traded to the Tigers for Matt Joyce, and he had an even better year in Detroit. One has to wonder, though, why a 26 year-old with a fantastic arm gets traded twice in the space of one calendar year – and three times so far in his career. Maybe it’s because he is one of only three active big-leaguers who were born in Germany (I don’t even know what that means).
There’s nothing going on on the Blue Jays front. Well, there’s probably a lot going on on the Blue Jays front, but Alex Anthopoulos is bound and determined not to let anyone know about it – and he’s doing a great job. The Toronto assemblage will meet with him again this afternoon at 4:00 to try to pry any nuggets of info out of him that we can, knowing that he’s going to be very careful not to comment on any specific players or any specific trades. Maybe we can get him to talk about potential free agent signees – Miguel Olivo? Yorvit Torrealba? Reed Johnson? Eric Hinske?
Back with more after we talk to Alex! Now go vote for Tom – www.facebook.com/baseballhall, then go to “poll”.
Rational, reasonable comments are always welcome!
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Clearly it’s Hinske’s destiny to wind up in Baltimore. Or on a World Series bound team. While certainly not one to jump to pre-mature predictions, I would imagine the two aren’t one and the same.
MW: Not this year, anyway. Unless Hinske comes to town!
- WDMAA has another Presser at 4pm? Save your time and just replay one of the 157 interviews he has done with the Fan already! The guys says nothing new except to answer his own questions. BLAH BLAH BLAH! I can not believe this guy is the new GM. I forgot he stole Alex Gonzalez from the Red Sox after he signed a similar shortstop only days before. This guy really is sharp!
MW: Did you not see the request for “rational, reasonable comments”?
- tony43I find the new GM approach refreshing and even though I’m itching to hear any jays news like everyone else, I would rather have a deal that benefits the jays more.
I think JP became unrespected around the league and I think Double A is earning respect with his no talking policy.
My confidence in Double A is growing everyday…Now it is time to see what he can do.
- MathewMike,
Overbay is considered a piece that the Jays could afford to move and get a worthwhile piece back for. Any rumours about him alone or as a package attached to any trades?
–Telfer
MW: I don’t know that the Jays could get a “worthwhile” piece back for Overbay. There haven’t been any whispers about him since the failed deal with Arizona for Chris Snyder.
- B TelferIf Halladay doesn’t go before the end of the Winter Meetings.. when is he likely to go? I think it would be a huge mistake to keep him until the all-start break.
MW: According to Halladay’s agents, if he doesn’t go by the start of spring training, he’s not going at all.
- GeoffYou want rational and reasonable?
I just went to vote for Tom again…
MW: Nicely done.
- GaryMike
In the reports of a possible trade with Tampa, it was mentioned that Upton would be flipped if included. Why is that? Notwithstanding his underperfoming bat, would he not fill a need with the Jays?
MW: He would – he wouldn’t necessarily have been flipped in that scenario.
- DanI can’t believe so many people are slamming a thoughtful, intelligent guy like Alex so quickly. Sure, he hasn’t done anything, but I’m just glad we have someone running the Jays who isn’t talking down to the fans, and seems to have some semblance of a plan. That he’s NOT running his mouth should be a welcome change!!
- IainHey Mike,
Do you think this first trade might get the ball seriously rolling? Also I haven’t heard anything about any interest in Overbay lately, have you?? I think Lind would be great at first!!
Keep the updates coming Mike!!
Jamie
MW: I don’t really think the Granderson deal will open any sort of floodgates. What makes you think Lind would be great at first?
- JamieMike, I agree that the Tigers did well in this trade, but I’m not sure how you can call Jeremy Bonderman one of the Tigers’ “big three”. The guy pitched all of 10 innings last year, 71 the year before that, and even when he was healthy from 2003-2007 he only had one (slightly) above average year. His lowest WHIP in any season is 1.299. He just isn’t a very good pitcher, despite reaching the bigs at such a young age, and now he’s got major injury concerns as well.
MW: I’ll give you the major injury concerns, but I don’t think it’s fair at all to say that he “just isn’t a very good pitcher”.
- XaveHey Mike, just saw that the Mets and Brewers were talking a trade that sends Corey Hart to the Mets and John Maine to the Brewers. Just wanted to know if that one will be finalized or if it won’t happen. The Mets have been good in stealing trades the last year. Remember they aquired Jeff Francouer last year and he had 10 homeruns when the Mets aquired him in just 75 games abd hit 311. Even though I am not a Mets fan I think that if they pull this one off and get Hart. THey are going to be a very good young team next season if they stay healthy. With Wright,Reyes,Francouer,K-Rod,Pelfrey, and Hart. They will make some serious noice for the future and even in 2010. Minaya really knows what he is doing.
MW: There must be something the Mets really don’t like about Maine if they’re going to deal him straight up for Corey Hart. As for the Francouer praise, I think Church is the better player. I can’t support a guy who simply refuses to take a walk.
- Davei’ve read that the mets and brewers are working on a deal that will see a swap of Maine for Hart. do you think a blue jays offer of Rzepczynski for Hart would work for both teams. Hart is 27 and has a good bat, but he has reached his abratration years does that mean AA would not be interested.
I personally think that an outfield of Lind/Sinder/Wells is a good one. but people seen to think that it needs to be changed would Hart be a guy worth going after.
keep up the good work!
MW: Despite the name, I don’t love Corey Hart. He’s hit over 20 homers just once and has had an obp over .335 only once in his career. That doesn’t scream top-notch corner OF to me.
- mimeAlthough I was disappointed to see Jackson moved I still think the Yanks could offer a real good package in return. I’d like to see Melky get a full season of atbats under his belt. Last year he hit 13 bombs and had 68 rbi in a 485 ab platoon situation. And don’t forget Gardner stole 26 bags in limited play last year. Joba is clearly a reak good talent. Hughes scares me. I guess this means the Yanks don’t want Vernon!
MW: I’m sure the Yanks don’t want Vernon.
- lukazCould the Granderson to Yankees trade be part of a piece needed to get Halladay. Hughes, Granderson, Romine for Halladay. The Blue Jays get young controllable, major league ready talent plus a catching prospect and the Yankees get to keep Montero and not totally gut their minor league system
MW: I doubt that very, very much.
- BrettAre you planning on establishing a “Wednesdays with Alex” show this year?..cause if you are, you may want to rethink it…I imagine it would sound something like this:
caller: Alex, what are your feelings on this teams infield needs
Alex: uhh…no comment at this time
…not as entertaining as his predecessor
MW: I don’t think it’d be quite that bad, but one of the things that got his predecessor in such hot water was his penchant to be “entertaining”.
- jpWhy would detroit trade edwin
jackson… he’s a young kid and relatively cheap. I just wanted to let you know I live in florida and follow your blog weekly…you are the future of blue jays baseball.
MW: Only weekly? Thanks for checking in. I gave a couple of reasons as to why the Tigers would trade Edwin in the post on which you’re commenting.
- lukespeakhi mike ..can you create a direct link to facebook to vote for tom cheek?
MW: No, I can’t.
- lfrankbaum