THE WORST TRADE IN YANKEE HISTORY

In the storied history of the New York Yankees, a franchise synonymous with greatness and championships, there exists a blemish so egregious, it makes even the most ardent fans wince in collective disbelief. Enter the trade of Jay Buhner for Ken Phelps. Yes, you read that right. The Yankees traded away a future star for... well, Ken Phelps. Buckle up, because this tale of woe and incompetence is as snark-inducing as it gets.

Before donning the pinstripes, Ken Phelps was, let's say, an "acquired taste." With a swing that could charitably be described as "awkward" and a batting stance reminiscent of a man trying to avoid stepping on a tack, Phelps was not exactly setting the world on fire. Sure, he had some power, but his career up until joining the Yankees was a testament to mediocrity.

Ken Phelps' pre-MLB days are often glossed over, but they're worth noting. Phelps was always rumored to be a standout softball player, known for his prodigious power and keen eye at the plate. His powerful swing and ability to crush pitches into the stands were well documented in local leagues and drew significant attention.

However, being a great softball player and succeeding in Major League Baseball are two entirely different challenges. The transition from softball to professional baseball, especially at the highest level, is a monumental leap. While Phelps managed to parlay his softball success into a professional baseball career, his journey to MLB prominence was anything but straightforward.

Phelps spent his best years in relative obscurity with the Seattle Mariners, where his stats were modest at best. He hit for power sporadically, clubbing 51 homers in his three full seasons with the Mariners, but his batting average hovered around the .240 mark. He struck out with alarming frequency and wasn't exactly a Gold Glove candidate at first base. To be fair, Phelps did have a decent on-base percentage, but let’s face it: you don't trade a promising young outfielder for a "decent on-base percentage."

And then there's Jay Buhner. Oh, Jay Buhner. The man who would go on to haunt the Yankees for over a decade. After the trade in July 1988, Buhner took his talents to the Pacific Northwest, where he blossomed into one of the most feared sluggers of the 1990s. He became a cornerstone of the Mariners' lineup, teaming up with Ken Griffey Jr. to form a dynamic duo that terrorized American League pitchers.

Let's talk numbers, shall we? From 1989 to 1997, Buhner averaged 27 home runs and 82 RBIs per season, peaking in 1996 with 44 homers and 138 RBIs. He earned three consecutive Gold Gloves (1993-1995) and was an All-Star in 1996. In short, Buhner became everything the Yankees needed and more, but alas, he was smashing dingers and robbing homers for Seattle instead.

The fallout from this trade was as epic as you’d expect. George Steinbrenner, the mercurial owner of the Yankees, was livid. The trade would go on to make Steinbrenner's blood boil like a teapot left on high heat. As the seasons passed and Buhner's legend grew, Steinbrenner's regret became palpable.

In a legendary moment immortalized by the TV show Seinfeld, the trade was mocked when Frank Costanza berated George Steinbrenner for trading away Jay Buhner, saying, "How could you have traded Buhner for Ken Phelps?! He had 30 home runs, over 100 RBIs last year! He's got a rocket for an arm... you don't know what the hell you're doing!"

Steinbrenner, for all his bluster, likely shared Frank Costanza’s sentiment. The trade epitomized the shortsightedness and mismanagement that occasionally plagued the Yankees during Steinbrenner’s tenure. It was a stark reminder that not every move the franchise made was golden, and that even the mighty Yankees were not immune to catastrophic blunders.

The Jay Buhner for Ken Phelps trade remains a cautionary tale in the annals of baseball history. It's a prime example of why patience and long-term vision are crucial in building a successful team. Buhner's departure left a void in the Yankees' lineup that was felt for years, while Phelps' tenure in New York was a forgettable blip on the radar.

So, next time you hear about a trade that sounds too ridiculous to be true, just remember: the Yankees once traded Jay Buhner for Ken Phelps. And somewhere, George Steinbrenner is still shaking his head.

--Alvin Izzo
BYB Yankee History Contributor

TURNS OUT GIO URSHELA IS NOT JOSH DONALDSON. HE'S BETTER!

In 62 games with the Angels, Gio Urshela is batting .299 with a .703 OPS. Respectable.  Josh Donaldson batted .142 this year and was out a hell of a lot. I always hated getting rid of Gio, but I was hopeful that Josh Donaldson would have a good few seasons with us.  

Defensively I loved Donaldson at third, but I gotta tell ya, defesne was always Gio's strong suit. So, when Josh showed up and literally hit worse than Gio, and still played great defense, I was like "What's the point of this trade?"

Gio shouldn't have been traded away. I remember Brian Cashman's stupid comments about Josh and Gio.

"We appreciate what Gio has done but he's not Josh Donaldson."

Infamous words from the great Brian Cashman pic.twitter.com/NlBq6MRIM2

— 4 Train Savages (@FourSavages) August 29, 2023

Turns out Josh Donaldson is not Gio Urshela.  This may be the worst trade the Yankees have ever made... right up there with Jay Buhner for Ken Phelps.  Disaster.  

You know what I'd love? If Cashman was a man and just came out and said "You know what? I really blew that trade, I regret it, I'm sorry." I think the fans would respect him more.

Donaldson send a note out after being released today. 

Look, no hard feelings. This guy's a gamer even though he can't play too well anymore. I wish Josh well.

Oh, and by the way, I was accused of being a total asshole earlier when in my post JOSH DONALDSON GONZO! when I said that I loved today after reporting that Josh got released.  I want to explain. I wasn't being heartless; I was merely suggesting that I loved today because I see movement in the Yankees organization to better the team.  This is a good step.  

Anyway, that's that. I can't wait to see what's next. Maybe we can win a few games? How special would that be.

THE CUBS MUST BE KICKING THEMSELVES

When the Cubs traded Gleyber Torres to the New York Yankees for Aroldis Chapman, they needed help and in the end, the Cubs won the World Series.

The Yankees got a top prospect, but as you know, saying a player is a top prospect means nothing until you actually see these kids perform at a major league level.

In the end, the Yankees got Chapman back, developed Gleyber Torres... and as you saw last night, Gleyber Torres is an animal and he's on a tear.  And right about now the Cubs must be kicking themselves.

Yesterday was a good day for the Yankees, but especially Gleyber Torres and Brian Cashman.  Torres performed incredibly... and ESPN has that:

"Gleyber Torres continued his decimation of the Baltimore Orioles on Monday, hitting a three-run home run in the sixth inning that moved him into Major League Baseball's record books. The home run in Game 2 of a doubleheader was his second of the game and gave him 13 total homers against the Orioles this season. 

The 22-year-old also hit a homer earlier in Game 1 on Monday."

Cashman not doubt has been smiling ear to ear about it.

Meanwhile the Cubs and Cubs fans are regretting moving Torres.

Cubbies Crib is a great site.  They write:

"In 2016, the Chicago Cubs needed a ‘lockdown’ closer. Aroldis Chapman was available, but it was going to come at a high-price. The Cubs ended up doing a 4-for-1 deal, sending Gleyber Torres, Billy McKinney and Rashad Crawford to the Yankees for Chapman.

The trade worked for the Cubs as they dramatically won the 2016 World Series against the Cleveland Indians. But Torres was one that we hated to let go. It’s becoming apparent why...It took two and a half years for Torres to develop into the player the Cubs anticipated. It was expected, but it doesn’t hurt any less."

MLB.com writes:

"That was the riskiest [trade] and in some ways the least rational one," Epstein told MLB.com's Mark Feinsand…"

And that's the thing. Theo Epstein had a shot to win the World Series, but Cashman wanted their best prospect. Epstein blinked. Yes, the Cubs won, but right now it looks much different for the Cubs.  While they may be in first, they're only 2 games ahead.  Addison Russell has started to fizzle, a perfect opportunity for Torres to come up. With Torres in their lineup it could be much different.

Meanwhile the Yankees are dominating, much of it because of the explosive Torres.

Hey, I'm not saying the Cubs are morons. I respect that organization. The Yankees have had bad ends of trades too you know... Ken Phelps for Jay Buhner still hurts.  But it is amazing how this kid is single handedly reminding the Cubs every single day... "You should have taken a chance on me."

I'm happy for Torres. I'm thrilled the Yankees have this kid. I just hope he keeps dominating. It's fun to watch.

Thank you Brian Cashman.

IT'S MORE SUNNY WITH SONNY: MY TAKE

Photo: Getty Images

Never do I stay as close to my phone as I do at the trade deadline. I end up checking it minute after minute when there's an update. I feel like a kid on Christmas Eve wondering what great toys Santa will bring me.

I love to look at the endless chatter wondering if there is anything to it. A lot of what is put out there is nothing more than various writers speculating on what is going on. That's why BYB chief Robert Casey asks many of us to wait on rumors without checking, or at least attributing it to the writer, getting snarky about it too, but still... as he says, be right, not first.

Bottom line, many of the ideas being leaked by any "anonymous source" are bogus. The trade deadline can be as nerve racking as it is fun watching various rumor sites and live trade update articles.  But something great really happened for the Yanks on July31st.  Brian Cashman accomplished what he set out to do. For the second straight year, he has delivered to us, the fans, what we have long been waiting for.

Photo: Getty Images / Dustin Fowler

The Yankees are younger and better without losing very much in the long haul. While I hated to see James Kaprielian and Dustin Fowler go, in the end, Billy Beane ended up being Marlon Brando and giving Brian Cashman and the Yankees an offer they just couldn't refuse.  New York Daily News writes:

(Kathy Willens/AP)

"In the end, Brian Cashman would have been foolish to say no to the trade that he finally agreed on with A’s GM Billy Beane.

Think about it: in Sonny Gray the Yankees got a difference-making pitcher who, in concert with the bullpen trade of two weeks ago, just might give this team a chance to win a championship — and then be here for at least two more years while still under age 30."

I know, just recently I wrote an article stating that I wasn't too crazy about a deal for Sonny Gray. Well, that was mostly a knee jerk reaction to who I saw Billy Beane was asking for. I really didn't believe that Gleyber Torres or Clint Frazier would be worth it. In fact, many didn't. It turned out that neither did Brian Cashman and the Yankees either. Somehow Mr. Cashman pulled a bunny out of his hat and made it work without including them.  Genius.  Read BOSS MAN, for that perspective.

As we've stated here on BYB, you have to give to receive. Sometimes it works and other times it's a big Ken Phelps belly-flop into the shallow end. Sometimes the prospect that was given up turns out to be nothing more than a prospect a.k.a. Jesus Montero. No one really knows until they start to train and play.  But I feel good about this trade.  It's sunnier now... we got Sonny!

I wish the prospects that were given up nothing more than the best of luck.  I would also like to wish speedy recoveries to James Kaprielian and Dustin Fowler.

But for now, time to root for Sonny Gray!

--Michael Carnesi
BYB Writer
Follow me on Twitter: @sevn4evr

YANKEES NEED TO DO SOMETHING – JUST NOT “ANYTHING”

The Yankees are clearly in a tailspin and the fan base is looking for some fast, immediate fixes. The pitching especially looks completely unreliable. Even guys like Michael Pineda, who were rock solid until the recent skid, have come apart. It does not help when Masahiro Tanaka and Jacoby Ellsbury, arguably our best pitcher and best hitter when healthy, are on the mend. Never mind all the fielding errors. I could sit here and crank out a bunch of moves the Yankees could make to bring up kids from AAA or some trades they could make. Instead, I want to focus on what is going through the minds of the leaders. Recent events around baseball have reminded me of how much this is gut-check time for the front office as well. Many have criticized them when they sat idle and not made moves. Many others criticize the moves they do make. Everybody has an opinion. While it is not clear what they will do to get this team back on the rails, pressure is mounting to do something. “Do something – ANYTHING!” the saying goes. That “something” has the potential for huge success as well as a complete disaster.

Look at what is going on in Miami with Jeffrey Loria and the Marlins. There is a reactionary leader if ever there was one. At the end of April, he publicly supported then-manager Mike Redmond after he was riding a 5-game winning streak, then proceeding to win four of the next five after Loria’s comments. Almost two weeks later, Loria fired Redmond and replaced with the now demoted former General Manager Dan Jennings. I do not know Jennings, but what I have read says that he is a good guy. Still, you have to question the leader’s judgment when they place a manager who has no experience in the job. He never held a job at the major league level of manager, coach, player, or anything at all that would require him to put on a uniform and step into a major league dugout or ballpark. If you follow the thinking that doing something is better than nothing is, then take a picture because this is what it looks like. The Marlins had lost 8 of the last 11 games Redmond managed before being fired. That should sound somewhat familiar to Yankee fans. For the record, Jennings has lost his first five games as manager. I feel bad.

Now look at what the Oakland Athletics have been doing. This year has been terrible for them. As of now, their record is 14-30 and they are in last place. The team has many issues to deal with, but they identified defense as being a top priority – they are worst in the league in fielding percentage (.972) and errors (46). In fact, the second worst team in errors is the Milwaukee Brewers with 37 – almost 20% fewer. That is how far off the mark the Athletics are. So who do they look at for help? Well, Ron Washington helped the 2006 team come in second in the league in fewest errors and highest fielding percentage. Many players responded very well to his coaching in those years. Eric Chavez credits him for making him the fielder he was. Remember that he had a run of six consecutive Gold Gloves that ended when Washington left (he never won another). This team knew they would benefit from a veteran presence with a successful track record in the exact areas where they need help. So, they went out and hired a person who wasn’t even looking for the position - because they knew he was the person for the job. It is too soon to tell how much of an impact it is going to have, but I expect things to improve significantly. That kind of dynamic thinking and strategizing gets me excited. Besides, Ron Washington is a nice guy and he deserves another run on a major league baseball team.

The Yankees are in a bad place right now. Something needs to change to get the team playing to where they should be with the players they have. I have read a lot of stuff about how George Steinbrenner would have never stood for this, and that he would have dealt with this by now. Not to take anything away from his legacy, but remember that George Steinbrenner dealt with the problem when he traded the unproven Jay Buhner for the solid Ken Phelps. This was not the only example, but you get the point. They say that you make the worst decisions when you are under pressure and not thinking rationally. I do not know what Brian Cashman and Joe Girardi are thinking, but I know they are under pressure. I fully expect that change is coming, and soon. So it falls to them.

Do something. Just not “anything”.

--Ike Dimitriadis, BYB Senior Staff Writer
Twitter: @KingAgamemnon
My blog is: Shots from Murderer's Row







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SURE THE YANKEE DEFENSE IS SHODDY, BUT WHAT TO DO?

Eric Boland of Newsday has a piece out about the Yankees, their 'shoddy' defense and Brian Cashman being surprised. Really Brian?  He writes:

"Brian Cashman certainly didn't envision a 3-6 start to the season. The primary culprit, he said Thursday, is easy to pinpoint.

Pretty much everything. 

'We have fumbled, whether it's running the bases, defense, starting pitching, the bullpen,' he said by phone. 'All of it in some form or fashion has factored in the six losses.'

But one area, he said, has surprised him the most.

The Yankees have been poor defensively, committing a major league-high 11 errors entering Thursday. Nine came in the first six games."

Now, look... as fans, we're all a bit surprised.  We really didn't need an article about it, but the question is, how do you fix it?

There's been rumblings that the Yankees are high on this Braves kid, Jose Peraza. he's a second baseman, a top prospect, a ton of upside, but is it a panic move?

The names that would be included in this potential trade are Gary Sanchez, who the Yankees clearly have passed by, and Luis Severino, which, in my opinion, would be foolish. 

Look, the Yankees have 2 second baseman in the minor leagues... Rob Refsnyder and Jose Pirela.  It's my opinion that they really don't have much of an interest in bringing up Refsnyder, but from a fan perspective, there is so much buzz about this kid brought on BY the Yankees, I'd love to see them hand him the keys and see what happens. Logically, it wouldn't be much worse than what we have right now.  If we did that though, it would be obvious to me that Stephen Drew, who's playing well, would move to Shortstop, and Didi Gregorius would either be sent down, or benched, or what... I don't know. 

The same moves would be made if the Yankees traded for Peraza, but here's the thing about that... we'd give Severino and Sanchez away.  The move for Peraza really messes up the entire idea of raising Yankee farm hands to shine, but I guess the Yanks don't have the patience anymore. They clearly haven't had it for years.  Look, I'm not opposed to Peraza, but I just want consistency. We used to wait for things to blossom.

Remember what it was like when the Core Four came up? There were errors, there were mistakes, but they stayed with them and soon enough, things got better.  Repetition happened.  Consistency happened.  Wins happened and that's because there was no jerking around of kids up and down to the minor leagues.

They brought them up, ready or not, and they learned from the veterans and from playing daily in the Big show.  We don't have that anymore.  We go out and get Stephen Drew, who, I'm telling you... his lucks about the run out. 

We go out and get Didi Gregorius, who, I believe still has time to shine, but right now we look like we just got Ken Phelps for Jay Buhner.... Shane Greene is fantastic in Detroit.  You know what I mean?

(In Photo: Ken Phelps signed baseball)
We need to wake the F up. If Chase Headley is having alittle trouble at 3rd fielding a baseball, guess what, throw Alex Rodriguez at third alittle more.  Sure he's old, but he's been dynamite for us this season... showing up and playing and not saying anything dumb. 

You can still use Headley's bat, rotate he, Garrett Jones, ARod, Mark Teixeira between 1st, 3rd and DH and let's get things moving here! Big bats, decent fielding with this group... LET'S GO!

Look, if we're gonna try things, I'd rather do it now.  I just don't know what else to do. Do you?

I do know this... the Yankees have zero patience, and maybe that's because us fans are annoyed so quickly.  Hey, maybe it's a good thing, maybe they're listening.  I'll tell you what though... Yankee fandom is dwindling... empty seats, no faith. It's obvious and it's only April.

Hey, say what you will about the Mets, but the Mets are looking good right about now.  What does that say about the Yankees? Sure, Brass will say "We don't worry about the team across town." Sure... maybe not, but notice what they're doing.  Raising kids to play.  Sure, it took awhile for them, but things are starting to fall into place.  Why?  Patience. 

Maybe bring our own kids up. What do you say?  Bird's waiting in the wings.  Refsnyder is too.  Severino could be the next big stud... but I don't want to find that out when he's a star on the Braves.  I want him in pinstripes.   You feel me?

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NOT ANOTHER "PHELPS" DEAL!

It is being reported that the Mariners were scouting David Phelps’ spring start on Tuesday.   Speculation has begun that given the Yankees need for infield help and the Mariners need for starting pitching (they have two starters injured), a deal might be in the works.

I couldn’t help but hearken back to the last time a Yankees/Mariners trade involved someone named “Phelps”.

The year was 1988 and George Steinbrenner was running the show for our Bombers.  At the time, we had a young, powerful outfielder coming up through the ranks named Jay Buhner.  He had played in just 7 games in 1987 and hit a paltry .227.  In ’88 he put 25 games under his belt and his average remained low (.188), but he did manage to hit three home runs and drive in 13.  Still, he was only 23 and his ceiling remained high.

On the other side of the continent, the Mariners had a 33-year-old first baseman/designated hitter that had never played in more than 101 games for any of the three teams he had been associated with.  Ken Phelps batting average to that point had never gone above .259, but he displayed decent power in hitting 51 home runs during the 1986 and 1987 seasons.  As a left-handed hitter, his power-stroke seemed like it might translate well in Yankee Stadium.

Timing is everything, and Phelps slugging percentage (.547) through the first 72 games of the 1988 season was the highest he’d ever had.  He was well on his way to another 25+ home run season and our owner was itching to make his team better.

With George “being George”, the Yankees owner looked past the fact that the team already had Don Mattingly manning first base and Jack Clark hitting in the DH spot, and dealt Buhner to Seattle for Phelps.

BYB writer Ike Dimitriadis wrote this article last June about the deal and I recommend giving it a read...  "WHAT THE HELL DID YOU TRADE JAY BUHNER FOR?" It accurately portrays the atmosphere and attitude of that time in the Bronx.

Needless to say, Buhner would go on to become a Mariners’ legend, hitting 307 home runs in a 14 year career on the west coast.  Phelps would become the poster-child for the failed Yankee clubs of the 1980’s, lasting a little more than one season with the team and hitting just 17 home runs in 131 games.

For Yankees fans (like myself) that remember that particular dark period of our franchise, we cannot help but feel the hairs on the backs of our necks stand straight up when we hear about another potential “Phelps” deal with the Mariners.

Even if all this much ado is about nothing, I’d prefer that any trade involving someone named “Phelps” occur with a team not named the “Mariners”.


    

--Steve Skinner, BYB Writer
Twitter: @oswegos1

   

 
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OH GOOD. NOW WE'RE COMPARING TANAKA TO AROD

Joel Sherman is the king of the provocative.  You can't fault the guy, he does it better than anyone... in fact, he and Bob Klapisch are a tie in my eyes. What am I talking about? I'm talking about the thread that suddenly runs through newly acquired Masahiro Tanaka to Alex Rodriguez and the big splash Alex made in the Bronx in 2004.  Suddenly... Tanaka is a bad idea... and Joel Sherman is a Debbie Downer...

Sherman writes in his NY Post piece today in reference to the ARod signing 10 years ago and Tanaka now:

"...The Yanks essentially held a group high-five. They not only had snared the best player in the game at 28, but had pulled him away from the clutches of the Red Sox. The theme was that they had Ruth-ed Boston yet again, assuring another eight decades of misery in New England, more parades in New York.

George Steinbrenner hailed this “a big, big one,” calling it another Reggie moment, praising Rodriguez as “an outstanding young fellow.” The general manager then and now, Brian Cashman, used the word “ecstatic”... 

 ...the Yanks have scouted Tanaka for several years, including every one of his home starts in 2013. Their analytics department broke him down mathematically and saw no shot at Kei Igawa II. Every overturned stone screamed the righty is uber-competitive, drawing favorable comparisons to Hideki Matsui and Orlando Hernandez for poise and self-assurance even in strange environs.

And he is 25. Boy did the Yanks love that. A chance to get the full prime of a player they project — whatever Cashman’s No. 3 public proclamations — as a top-of-the-rotation cornerstone.

So they acknowledge, yet mostly dismiss the other stuff. The absurd buildup of so many innings already in Japan. That he never has worked every fifth day. That he never has worked regularly with the bigger MLB baseball. That he never has faced lineups like he will face now. That you never know how $155 million truly will impact anyone or the fame or the pressure or the failure that is inevitable on such a stage...“This is big,” Cashman said. “This would make The Boss proud. This is Yankees big, this is Steinbrenner big.”

Now look, there's a much bigger picture to all of this.  Sure, thanks for stating that the Yankees big signings haven't always worked out Joel. No kidding. I mean, we all know that... Ken Phelps ring a bell?

Randy Johnson? Need I go on? The fact of the matter is, you never know what you're going to get.  Who knew that CC Sabathia would win 20 games for us 2 years in a row while AJ  Burnett would shit the bed?  Who knew Hideki Irabu would be one of the worst signings of the Yankees' history.  Who knew ARod would have been the biggest disappointment ever. You can all tell me you did now, but did you really then? Back then, the signing of ARod was a great idea and you know it.

Truth be told, when the Yankees signed Alex Rodriguez, they netted the biggest fish in baseball at the time. Not only that, they saw the All-Time home run record finally coming home to the Bronx. ARod was going to do it. Little did they know, or maybe they did, that PEDs would be a problem and the end for ARod.  Sure, he's now a disgrace years later, but teams don't know until the team is in it.

 Enter Masahiro Tanaka, a signing the Yankees HAD to make.  Why? Because if Tanaka became Yu Darvish Part II with another club, Yankeeland, the fans, would have never forgiven them. We're Yankee fans... After last season, there was absolutely no excuse why Hal, Hank and company shouldn't sign every big name free agent out there.  It was now a necessity.  If the Yankees didn't do anything this off-season, there would be a mutiny; Fans not going to the ballpark, not watching the Yankees, not wanted to spend on a loser.  The Yankees needed to prove to the fans that we're winners... hence the spending.

Jacoby Ellsbury, Carlos Beltran, Brian McCann and Tanaka we all on the table, and you know what? The Yankees over spent, but trust me when I tell you, that if Masahiro Tanaka shits the bed, the Yankees, and us fans will need to suck it up because we believed the hype and rolled the dice.

But there's 1 more part of this, that Sherman refuses to address... What if Tanaka saves the Yankees?  What if he IS actually good and that workload on his 25 year old arm doesn't affect him? What if we become champions again? Will Sherman eat crow and say he was wrong, or will he just carelessly continue to write negatively and throw it the Yankees way?  He'll ignore it... because that's what he does. All I'm saying is it's way too early to insinuate that the Tanaka signing won't work... we haven't even started Spring Training man!

Let's wait and see what happens. In the end, the Yankees needed to do something, and yes, they overspent, but they did it to better the team and they did it for the fans... because last season was an embarrassment... and in Yankeeland... we can't have that.

On a side note... anyone want Joel Sherman becoming the Mets beat writer? I vote yes...

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