**Trading Deadline Thread **

[MattSuspect]

The only negative in this trade is the reduced playing time of Melky Cabrera. First place by Wednesday!

[CharlieDontSurf]

From Buster Olney

The Abreu deal is another aspect of the new approach the Yankees have been taking the last 15 months -- and if they follow in the same vein, don't be surprised if they exercise the $13 million option on Gary Sheffield for 2007.

The Yankees made a mistake in letting Jon Lieber get away after the 2004 season. They could've retained him had they exercised a one-year, $8 million option, but they thought that Lieber wasn't worth that kind of annual salary. And they were right, partly; Lieber didn't get an $8 million salary. He got a $6 million salary, for each of the three years, from the Phillies.

Here's the lesson: It would've made more sense for the Yankees to overpay Lieber somewhat on a short-term deal, rather than go out and spend $40 million on a Carl Pavano in a long-term deal.

So as you consider the landscape for the free-agent market this fall, you see Carlos Lee perhaps in line for $75 million over five years, Alfonso Soriano looking at $65 million over five years. Abreu may not be as dynamic as either of those players, offensively, and he may be overpaid slightly for his power production, at $15 million for next year. But the obligation is only for one year.

Now Sheffield's option is about to come due, for $13 million, and there is no question he is a productive player. Don't be surprised now if the Yankees exercise the option -- this way, they can limit their long-term obligation, while still having a very solid offensive player.

And it may be that as Sheffield comes back, they will try the former shortstop and third baseman at first base. This is the Yankees wielding their financial power -- only a couple of teams would've even been in position to consider the Abreu deal -- but in a different manner.

2. Abreu may or may not hit for a lot of power while in New York, he may or may not produce like a $15 million player. But there is no question that the addition of Abreu is going to transform the Yankees' lineup into an absolute meatgrinder against starting pitchers because of his extended at-bats, as the Red Sox lineup was in 2004. Abreu will be the Yankees' version of Kevin Youkilis in this regard, except he's going to hit in the middle of the lineup.

The average number of pitches per plate appearance in the big leagues is around 3.75. Consider how tough the Yankees' lineup will be once Sheffield and Hideki Matsui come back from their injuries:

Pitches per plate appearance (with current major league ranking in parenthesis, when applicable).

Johnny Damon: 4.02 (30th)
Derek Jeter: 3.74 (94th)
Jason Giambi: 4.32 (3rd)
Sheffield: 3.78
Abreu: 4.47 (1st)
Alex Rodriguez: 3.74 (94th)
Matsui: 3.83
Jorge Posada: 3.74 (94th)
Robinson Cano: 3.15

That means an average. 34.79 pitches to get through the order one time. You can forsee a scenario in which opposing starters need 19-22 pitches consistently to get through innings. That means the starters will go out more quickly, and the Yankees' hitters will have chances to feast on the soft middle-relief underbellies of opposing teams.

[samjjones]

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The only negative in this trade is the reduced playing time of Melky Cabrera. First place by Wednesday!

[/ QUOTE ]
Melky Cabrera is not a long-term solution in the OF for the Yanks.

[CharlieDontSurf]

Melky should be traded for a reliever
Bubba is a solid defensive outfielder plus he can pinch run.

Somebody should teach Gary to play first while he's recovering

[bugstud]

[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
The only negative in this trade is the reduced playing time of Melky Cabrera. First place by Wednesday!

[/ QUOTE ]
Melky Cabrera is not a long-term solution in the OF for the Yanks.

[/ QUOTE ]

he probably should be.

[Evan]

[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
The only negative in this trade is the reduced playing time of Melky Cabrera. First place by Wednesday!

[/ QUOTE ]
Melky Cabrera is not a long-term solution in the OF for the Yanks.

[/ QUOTE ]

he probably should be.

[/ QUOTE ]
Even after Matsui comes back?

[JordanIB]

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[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
The only negative in this trade is the reduced playing time of Melky Cabrera. First place by Wednesday!

[/ QUOTE ]
Melky Cabrera is not a long-term solution in the OF for the Yanks.

[/ QUOTE ]

he probably should be.

[/ QUOTE ]
Even after Matsui comes back?

[/ QUOTE ]

It's kind of cute when Yankee fans read "long-term" and think "2 months".

[samjjones]

If you like corner outfielders who hit .280/.320/.450, then I guess Melky is fine. This is not acceptable for the Yankees, though.

[Triumph36]

I don't think Melky will be a long-term .280/.320/.450 player. Something like .290/.360/.430 is more likely.

Here's a question: how does insurance work in baseball? In hockey, if a player misses a significant portion of the season, that portion is paid by insurance and not by the team. Does baseball have a similar system? If so, the Yankees really aren't adding much payroll with this trade - Matsui and Sheffield's contracts would be covered by insurance, and Sheffield's gone next year, Buster Olney's silliness notwithstanding.

[Evan]

[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
The only negative in this trade is the reduced playing time of Melky Cabrera. First place by Wednesday!

[/ QUOTE ]
Melky Cabrera is not a long-term solution in the OF for the Yanks.

[/ QUOTE ]

he probably should be.

[/ QUOTE ]
Even after Matsui comes back?

[/ QUOTE ]

It's kind of cute when Yankee fans read "long-term" and think "2 months".

[/ QUOTE ]
I'm not sure I understand what you're saying. Where did I imply that 2 months was long term?