WHY THE YANKEES WILL SNAG GIO GONZALEZ

I've now written 3 posts about Gio Gonzalez, all have been complimentary and all have made my argument. Read them:

GIO GONZALEZ: MAKING OF A YANKEE SUPERSTAR?

WOULD YOU TRADE FOR GIO GONZALEZ?

As you can tell, I want this stud on the New York Yankees. We need a lefty, we could use a stud and he is, to me, Andy Pettitte Part II. Brian Cashman loves this kid and if he didn't, there wouldn't be rumors floating around. Cashman and Billy Beane know each other, Cashman and Billy Beane like each other and at the end of the day, Billy Beane knows that Cash has kids that he's willing to give up. The question is who?

Sean Hartnett of CBS Sports writes a smart piece HERE and highlights 2 players that can pry Gio Gonzalez away from Oakland. He mentions Dellin Betances and Jesus Montero. Now before you get all crazy, you need to understand something; Kids are kids and while they look good on paper, or while you were encouraged by what they did on the field last September, you can't base a career on that. I'm not agreeing with Hartnett's choice, but I am agreeing that the Yankees can pull this off. It's just the shell game that Brian Cashman needs to play and if he can put something genius into affect, and the Lord knows he can, it will be great. But, it's going to be hard to pull one over on Billy Beane.

I like Dellin Betances and the Yankees do too, but let's not forget, they also liked Andrew Brackman and they cut him loose. They also liked Jose Tabata a lot a few years back and they traded him away for Damaso Marte and Xavier Nady. Hell, we can go back to the 90's when they thought for sure that Roberto Kelly was the next best thing for the Yankees, yet, they traded him for Paul O'Neill. No one is untouchable and the kids aren't either. Those past moves proved championships, Damaso had a huge performance in 2009 and well, we all know the run Paulie had.

Now, Cashman is no dummy and he's not going to just trade away a kid like Jesus Montero unless the fish is big...like a Tim Lincecum, but that's another post. Personally, I don't think Gonzalez for Montero is a smart idea, but I would consider Austin Romine. I would consider someone like Hector Noesi or Betances and if a deal could be made with minimal damage, I would try and get Gio Gonzalez to be our other ace in the starting rotation. There is no doubt that Gio is blossoming and I believe he'd be a huge asset in the Bronx. I think he's got some great stuff and I believe he'd handle the spotlight with class and grace. Gio's no Yankee yet, but he knows the Yankee way.Bottom line, the Yankees can do what the Miami Marlins can't, they can give up young talent of tomorrow for a winning pitcher for now! I've said it a million times... you don't play to win in 2014 if you're the New York Yankees...you play to win now and if that means you need to trade away some pieces that may or may not shine in the future, you need to pull the trigger and get immediate quality and that could be Gio Gonzalez, I swear.

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