From NY Baseball Digest:
Our sources down in Tampa have informed us that the Yankees will be exploring trade possibilities with the Giants for center fielder Aaron Rowand. It is pretty well known that the Giants are interested in upgrading their hitting, which was anemic at times last season, and the Yankees could send a package of players for the speedy outfielder.
It remains unclear as to what it would take to bring Rowand, one of the Majors best center fielders, to the Bronx, and no, Robinson Cano’s name has not been mentioned in any possible trade for him.
One would be a package of at least three minor league prospects. The other would have Rowand coming to New York for an established player off the major league roster, with possibly a minor league prospect.Like I said, this rumor may or may not be true, I'm just passing the info along.
One player that the Giants have long coveted is Hideki Matsui. If you remember, last winter, media reports circulated that the Yanks were prepared to send “Godzilla” to San Francisco in exchange for two pitchers. Since Matsui is coming off an injury plagued season, one in which he appeared in just 93 games, it is highly doubtful that he would be traded straight up for the energetic and tough-as-nails Rowand, who is three years younger. Matsui is also in the final year of a four year deal, and would most likely want an extension if he is traded, although he has stated that he would most likely retire after the end of his current contract.
But let's say it is true, would you like the Yankees to get Rowand, and if so what would you give up for him?
I think Rowand is a good ballplayer, and he also plays the game as hard as anyone. But his .271/.339/.410 with 13 HR and 70 RBI this season isn't too impressive, and defensively he's not what he once was. On Bill James' Fielding Bible Plus/Minus system he ranked 24th in baseball with a -9. So I wouldn't want to give up too much to get him.
Instead of making a trade for a center fielder I'd like to see the Yankees give Brett Gardner a chance. With his speed and defense I think he could be a huge asset to this team next year. I know there are some concerns with his bat and his .228 average this year, but we should remember that it was only 127 AB, and after coming back up from the minors he hit .294 in his final 58 AB of the year.
10 Comments:
Didn't I warn you guys already about trade rumors from Frank Rizzo! He's a crafty prankster as has been documented and his lamby nipple chops are not to be trusted.
Rowand is due $48 mil thru 2012 and has a limited no-trade.
No deal, Howie.
I send Matsui, Cabrera and a pitching prospect or Betemit and also pay for a portion or all of Matsui contract for Rowand and a B+ pitching prospect.
i am a rowand fan. he's a better hitter than he showed this past year, he played in bad hitting ballparks in the nl west and had no one on that team to protect him. he also plays great d and has a very good arm. i would do it if the giants would eat some of the salary, 2 or 3 mil a year. if we could put matsui in the deal, a dh spot would open up for a certain manny rameriz. just a thought.
Eliezer:
Betemit is a free agent. (Thank God!)
Keep in mind that Matsui has a full no trade clause and it's highly unlikely that he would want to go to a scrub team.
Like you Greg, I'd like to see Gardner get a shot. However, if we can deal Matsui to the Giants for pitching, I'm all for it. Especially if Sanchez or Cain (I know it's a long shot) could be involved.
NO THANK YOU!!! Get somebody like Victorino or Sizemore or stick with melky for another year.
Mike,
YES!!! BETEMIT IS A FREE AGENT. Hopefully the Yanks waste money on him.
This is interesting, because I wanted the Yanks to give him a look when Rowand was a free agent, but the market and his super season with the Phils in the banbox known as Citizen's Bank make him too expensive.
Now, that being said, if you could give up not a whole lot for him, I say why not?
He'd surely hit better being surrounded by better hitters.
As far as Bret Gardner, he's a likable player, but I'm afraid he's in the same category as Shelly Duncan and Bubba Crosby. You want to see them succeed, but I just don't see it happening.
Matt, what are you basing that on? 127 at-bats?
Here's something to think about; Dustin Pedroia hit .181 over his first 144 AB. If the Red Sox gave up on him they wouldn't have one of the best 2nd basemen in the game.
You have to be patient with young players.
I'm not trading Matsui for Rowand. Rowand is already into his decline years with time remaining on his contract. Matsui has one year left as a DH, and then he's off the books giving the team more flexibility. Not to mention that if Matsui is healthy, he's a 100 RBI lock.
Rowand has always been a mediocre OBP guy outside of 2 "good years' amongst 6 blah years. He's started striking out more in recent years, too.
I'm not going out of my way to trade a potential 100 RBI player to obtain a career .795 OPS hitter who doesn't get on base very well and doesn't steal bases when we have Brett Gardner who can already do that.
Rowand had a .749 OPS last year. Brett Gardner had a .698 OPS in September. It's not much of a stretch at all to think that Brett could match Rowand's OPS in 2009, giving the playing time. Not to mention he's probably Rowand's equal at this point defensively, as well as being a potential 40-50 base stealer.
No way I trade for Rowand.
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