Tuesday, July 31, 2007
Newsday: Yankees trying to land Gagne
The Yankees are one of four finalists to acquire Rangers reliever Eric Gagne before Wednesday’s 4 p.m. non-waivers trade deadline, major league sources said Monday night. They are trying desperately to upgrade their bullpen, and the Devil Rays’ Dan Wheeler and Al Reyes could be fallback options if the Yankees can’t land Gagne. . . . .
Gagne would be the Yankees’ first choice. He was a dominant closer from 2002-2004 for the Dodgers, then missed most of 2005-06 with injuries. This season, he has been healthy and successful for the Rangers. He has a 2.16 ERA in 34 games and has converted 16 of 17 save opportunities.
But Yankees general manager Brian Cashman remains steadfast in his vow not to trade top righthanded pitching prospects Phil Hughes, Joba Chamberlain and Ian Kennedy. There is a chance he might relent on Alan Horne, which might be enough to get Gagne.
Talks of Proctor for Betemit are back too:
The Yankees also were in discussions with the Dodgers about a trade of righthander Scott Proctor for infielder Wilson Betemit. A major-league source indicated that a deal was 50-50.
A Yankees source has reported that the bullpen is the primary concern. Which makes a Proctor for Betemit trade quite perplexing. I’m not sure Wheeler or Reyes really improve the bullpen much over Proctor, either.
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