Bobby Abreu to the Yanks.
Of course there had been talk about it for a bit and especially after Sheffield and Matsui were both DL’d, after Melky became the default left fielder they tried a few in right ending up with Bernie playing quite a bit out there, until this trade, wonder who predicted that well it was a bit of a no-brainer.
So the Yanks finally got there man, paying up the rest of his contract this year along with all of next years $15.5m but are not obligated to take up his option for 2008 at $16m after the Phillies paid out $1.5 to Abreu to waive his no trade deal and the option obligation.
Cliff Corcoran over at Bronx Banter has a breakdown of Abreu’s stats as the third youngest .300/.400/.500 hitter currently in the majors.
It’s an upgrade on poor old Bernie, without a doubt, for quite a bit of cash which they have and a few players that may or may not have made it in the bigs.
If, when Matsui and Sheffield are fit – along with Cano – then a possible line up for the Yanks of
CF Johnny Damon
SS Derek Jeter
1B Jason Giambi
DH Gary Sheffield
RF Bobby Abreu
3B Alex Rodriguez
LF Hideki Matsui
C Jorge Posada
2B Robinson Cano
Is pretty damn impressive, left right mix with a lot of power and on base potential. But the main talk now is that it signals the end of Sheffield’s stay in the Bronx as they won’t want to pay up on the $15m option they have on him for next year.
Well with Abreu now out in right he’d have to be the DH, got to have Giambi back at 1st his batting isn’t the same when DH’ing but then Matsui could be the DH and keep Melky in left field. It’s a big bat to lose, Sheff, if fit and firing…well we’ll see.
Along with the bat that Torre wanted there comes an arm, that everyone else said they needed, though I have a feeling Phillies Cory Lidle isn’t the one they were thinking of. You gotta feel, especially with his last couple of starts, for $1.5m he’s a better bet in the rotation than Sidney Ponson, can he be this years Chacon – that is of course the Chacon of last year not this year 😉
As the Chacon of this year is off to the Pirates in a trade for 1st base/outfielder Craig Wilson
Chacon played his part last season and a big part it was, along with Small (Aaron that is) in getting the Yanks to the offseason, shame neither could match it this year.
Seems like a good trade for the Yanks and thankfully the Rocket to Red Sux didn’t come off.