Before the Yankees pulled the trigger on the Michael Pineda trade, GM Brian Cashman tried to pry away the bigger prize from the Mariners. Who was the bigger prize you ask? Well, that bigger prize was no other than Felix Hernandez. Instead, the Yankees “settled” for Michael Pineda. I’m a huge King Felix fan just like a lot of you out there, but I’m here to tell you that I’m glad they didn’t get him in the end.Over the last several years Brian Cashman and Co. haven’t been so loosey-goosey in terms of dealing prospects away in trades, especially guys like Jesus Montero. But, according to this tweet last month from Jon Heyman (HERE), the Yankees were willing to part with Jesus Montero, Manny Banuelos, Dellin Betances, and “etc/etc” for Felix Hernandez. My guess as to who “etc/etc” would probably be Ivan Nova and Brett Gardner, which to say the least, is way too much for any starting pitcher in the big leagues, but Cashman offered it. Hell, if George were alive, he’d offer much, much more. I don’t see him taking no for an answer in a situation like this.
We all know King Felix is great. How great? Just look at what the 25 year old has done the last three years…- 101 starts, 46-31, 2.73 ERA, 722 IP, 147 ERA+, 8.4 K/9, 2.6 BB/9, 1.13 WHIP
There’s no denying that Hernandez is a great pitcher that has many, many peak years ahead of him. I just don’t think he’s worth a guy in Montero, who will likely be a big-time bat in the years to come, Manny Banuelos and Dellin Betances--who are both top starting pitching prospects—to go along with Brett Gardner and Ivan Nova, who are both key pieces at their respective positions that any team would like to have.
Of course you would have to find a way to fill those holes if this trade went through. Losing Banuelos and Betances just depletes some of the farm system, which obviously isn’t a good thing, but you don’t necessarily have to replace them right away. Although with Montero--who was supposed to be the regular DH for the Yankees in 2012--Gardner, and Nova would need to be replaced ASAP. Nova would have been replaced by the signing of Hiroki Kuroda, but I have no idea who replaces Gardner. All I know is that the Yankees would be losing a lot of youth if they made this trade, and to me, having at least some youth on a team filled with veterans is key.Luckily, for folks like myself, we don’t have to worry what’d happen if this Felix trade went down. Instead, we acquired Michael Pineda and pitching prospect Jose Campos in exchange for Montero and Hector Noesi. While Montero is hard to give up, some believe that the Yankees stole Pineda, considering what the Cincinnati Reds and Washington Nationals had to give up for Mat Latos and Gio Gonzalez, respectively.
For now, we’re just left to ponder about how Michael Pineda will handle his career in the Bronx. And quite frankly, I’m OK with that, considering the Yanks would have to give up a lot more for a pitcher that could very well not be that much better compared to Pineda if he reaches his potential.
--Jesse Schindler, BYB Staff Writer
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