Saturday, December 5, 2009
MLB.com: Yanks’ prospects more than trade chips
While the Yankees set up camp in Tampa, Fla., to outline a spending budget for the Winter Meetings free-agent blitz, general manager Brian Cashman could be secure in knowing that the defending World Series champions have several valuable inventory pieces within their own farm system.
That remains by design. Part of Cashman’s overhaul of the “splintered” organization from the middle part of the decade, as he called it, was to renew the emphasis on making wise selections in the Draft and keeping that talent flowing throughout the pipeline.
Update (SG): In other news, Anthony McCarron has this in the Daily News.
New York Yankees insider: pitchers Roy Halladay and John Lackey are on team’s radar
After finishing their budget meetings in Tampa Friday, the Yankees are ready to dive into both the trade and free-agent markets and their priority is pitching, according to one insider.
With that in mind, the Yankees will “see what’s there” in the Roy Halladay trade sweepstakes, the person said, and likely will be engaged in talks on the Toronto ace.
The Yanks also hope to resolve Andy Pettitte’s status as soon as possible and they will look at John Lackey, the top free agent starter, the person said. All of the Yankees’ own primary free agents - Pettitte, Johnny Damon and Hideki Matsui - are “in the game,” as well, the person added.
Less likely are bids for slugging outfielders Matt Holliday or Jason Bay, unless the Yankees are unable to retain Damon to fill left field.
I’m pretty much at the point where I wouldn’t trade what it would take to get Halladay. Unless Toronto is willing to accept a package that has none of Montero, Joba or Hughes I don’t even bid for him. Lackey’s not as good as Halladay, but he’ll only cost you cash and a draft pick. While losing a draft pick stinks, the Yankees can probably use whatever money they had budgeted for said draft pick to sign an extra international free agent so it’s not really that big of a deal. More Latin American catchers!
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