REMEMBER WHEN JOSE TABATA WAS THE "NEXT BIG THING"?

Remember when Jose Tabata was on the Yankees farm and he was the next Derek Jeter? I was just thinking about it this week when the Pittsburgh Pirates suddenly decided that it was time to shop Tabata because they found alittle something extra in prospect Gregory Polanco. It's amazing how quickly time flies.

It was July 26, 2008 and the Yankees made a move to trade Tabata, Ross Ohlendorf, Daniel McCutchen, Jeff Karstens to the Pirates, even after they hyped up Tabata as being the prospect that was "untouchable" and someone they "wouldn't move". Well, we did move him... and that's something the Yankees seem to always do.  In return, we received Xavier Nady and Damaso Marte.

(In Photo: Damaso Marte)
Now, Nady didn't give us much, but Marte was part of that Yankee pen that put us over the top in 2009 when we won the World Championship.

But before that trade, Tabata was supposed to be the "next big thing". Tabata was psyched to be a Yankee an if you read Mark Feinsand of the New York Daily News from back when the trade went down, you almost felt bad for Jose:

"... Jose Tabata was considered the top prospect among position players in the Yankees' system. A trade to the Pirates ended Tabata's dream of playing in pinstripes, but the 20-year-old believes the move was the best thing that could have happened for him. 'I think it's better for me,' Tabata said Tuesday night before playing right field against the Yankees. 'I have more of a chance here. There's less pressure, where with the Yankees, there's a lot of pressure. I feel good.'"

It was good for Tabata for alittle bit. But now, according to CBS Sports, his baseball career almost comes full circle and we see a new guy in town for the Pirates and their eagerness to ship him out:

"The Pirates top prospect Gregory Polanco really impressed the team with his performance in spring training this year, to the point that they’re now reportedly shopping Jose Tabata."

Does this affect your life in any way? No.  But I am always fascinated by certain things, one of which is how the Yankees have always given away their farm system even after they prop them up.  It's strange. I mean sure, Marte worked out, but what if he didn't? And what if Jose Tabata became larger than life in Pittsburgh, much like Jay Buhner did in Seattle, what then? All I'm saying is, I hope the Yankees learn to keep our guys and develop them right.  We actually have a lot of potential, whether Baseball America thinks so or not. Sometimes talent is part of it, but giving chances and believing in yourself help as well.

Whatever the case, Tabata's back in the news... not a Yankee anymore, but still playing and we wanted to report it, like we try to do with our former Yanks... Good luck to him.

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