First, let me just say that I feel like George Costanza after eating a piece of papaya...it’s like a shot of B-12...I’M BACK BABY!
What has me so excited? Hot Stove action, that’s what. And the Yanks kicked off one of my happy seasons with a bang, trading Gary Sheffield to the Detroit Tigers for three minor league pitchers. As part of the trade, the Tigers agreed to extend Sheffield’s contract by two years. Terms of Sheffield’s contract extension have not yet been announced.
Not only do I like this deal because Gary Sheffield had worn out his welcome in New York, not only do I like this deal because the Yankees got to place Sheffield on a team that they will only face a maximum of seven times in 2007 (playoffs not included), not only do I like this deal because Comerica Park is a pitcher’s park which could mitigate Sheffield’s return to elite status, but I like this deal because the Yankees are fortifying their minor league pitching with three appealing righty pitching prospects.
Humberto Sanchez, Kevin Whelan, and Anthony Claggett represent the kind of young, power arms the Yankees will need, either as trade bait for established starting pitching, or as cheap, efficient help down the road for their bullpen. Of the three, Sanchez is the only one who is major-league ready right now and could contend for a roster spot coming out of spring training. He was rated as the #5 overall prospect in the Tigers organization in 2004 and as recently as this past July, Baseball America had this to say about him:
“Right-hander Humberto Sanchez leaped so far forward he could easily have been picked as the Tiger organization’s best player for the first half of the season. Sanchez had a 1.76 ERA and more than a strikeout an inning in 11 starts at Double-A Erie, then went 4-1, 2.05 in his first five starts at Triple-A Toledo.”
But I’m most excited about Kevin Whelan. He had a solid career at Texas A&M and has been reported to have a mid-90’s fastball, good slider, and developing splitter. He could be a nice setup man of the future.
Bottom line, this is EXACTLY the kind of trade I like seeing from the Yankees. They got younger, cheaper, and better. With the kind of market power the Yanks have, as long as they continue to use the long-view with respect to minor league development, there is no reason to think that the Yanks can’t reel off another championship run in a few years.
In other news, the Houston Astros agreed to a one-year, $5.15M deal with Craig Biggio. This keeps the longest-tenured Astros player in franchise history and its leader in games played in Houston for a 20th season. Most notably, however, this gives Astros fans the opportunity to cheer for their hero as he guns for 3,000 career hits. At 2,930, Biggio is only 70 away, something he should be able to do by early to mid-summer. Assuming Biggio will retire after the 2007 season, and with 3,000 hits on his resume, he might be able to punch his ticket to Cooperstown for induction in July, 2013.
What has me so excited? Hot Stove action, that’s what. And the Yanks kicked off one of my happy seasons with a bang, trading Gary Sheffield to the Detroit Tigers for three minor league pitchers. As part of the trade, the Tigers agreed to extend Sheffield’s contract by two years. Terms of Sheffield’s contract extension have not yet been announced.
Not only do I like this deal because Gary Sheffield had worn out his welcome in New York, not only do I like this deal because the Yankees got to place Sheffield on a team that they will only face a maximum of seven times in 2007 (playoffs not included), not only do I like this deal because Comerica Park is a pitcher’s park which could mitigate Sheffield’s return to elite status, but I like this deal because the Yankees are fortifying their minor league pitching with three appealing righty pitching prospects.
Humberto Sanchez, Kevin Whelan, and Anthony Claggett represent the kind of young, power arms the Yankees will need, either as trade bait for established starting pitching, or as cheap, efficient help down the road for their bullpen. Of the three, Sanchez is the only one who is major-league ready right now and could contend for a roster spot coming out of spring training. He was rated as the #5 overall prospect in the Tigers organization in 2004 and as recently as this past July, Baseball America had this to say about him:
“Right-hander Humberto Sanchez leaped so far forward he could easily have been picked as the Tiger organization’s best player for the first half of the season. Sanchez had a 1.76 ERA and more than a strikeout an inning in 11 starts at Double-A Erie, then went 4-1, 2.05 in his first five starts at Triple-A Toledo.”
But I’m most excited about Kevin Whelan. He had a solid career at Texas A&M and has been reported to have a mid-90’s fastball, good slider, and developing splitter. He could be a nice setup man of the future.
Bottom line, this is EXACTLY the kind of trade I like seeing from the Yankees. They got younger, cheaper, and better. With the kind of market power the Yanks have, as long as they continue to use the long-view with respect to minor league development, there is no reason to think that the Yanks can’t reel off another championship run in a few years.
In other news, the Houston Astros agreed to a one-year, $5.15M deal with Craig Biggio. This keeps the longest-tenured Astros player in franchise history and its leader in games played in Houston for a 20th season. Most notably, however, this gives Astros fans the opportunity to cheer for their hero as he guns for 3,000 career hits. At 2,930, Biggio is only 70 away, something he should be able to do by early to mid-summer. Assuming Biggio will retire after the 2007 season, and with 3,000 hits on his resume, he might be able to punch his ticket to Cooperstown for induction in July, 2013.
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