Sheffield trade in process with an "American League Team"

[Domino]

Report: Yanks have Sheffield trade in place
FOXSports.com
Posted: 18 hours ago

New York Yankees' general manager Brian Cashman has a potential trade in place for slugger Gary Sheffield, according to a Newsday report.

The Long Island, N.Y. newspaper reported the news citing an unnamed official from another American League team.

But it appears that Cashman is not ready to pull the trigger on a trade. In fact, a person familiar with the Yankees' plans reportedly told the newspaper that "there is no urgency to the process." The team apparently wants to wait to see if Sheffield's trade market value improves.

more...

http://msn.foxsports.com/mlb/story/6124630

What team do you think it is?

[Yoda]

That's very interesting. I think we can rule out Boston. With the Yankees needing pitching, I wouldn't rule out the Tigers at all.

[estrepe1]

If he is healthy he is an amazing hitter. I am not sure if it would be the Tigers but it doesn't sound like the offer is very high right now... I am guessing this is a plant story to get more interest in Sheffield.

I wouldn't trade for him unless you talk to him first and make sure he isn't going to cause any problems.... He is going to want a 3 year contract too.

[tiger337]

My immediate reaction is that Cashman is putting a story out there to create fake competition. If it's true, I'd be interested in Sheffield but not for 3 years and not if they have to give up an important pitcher to get him.

[LeFlorean]

Sheffield's gotta be one of the last resorts, right (please?)?

[ypsieast]

Trading for Sheffield is a big mistake, IMO. First of all, we don't want to make the Yankees better. Secondly, I don't think Sheffield is good enough to justify trading away assets.

Compare Sheffield to a guy like Moises Alou. Alou is a free agent, has played for Leyland and (I can't remember where I read it) has been rumored to be interested in playing in Detroit. Like Sheff, Alou is right handed, old, and really only good for DH. Unlike Sheff, he could probably be had for just a 1/2 year contract and be a positive personality in the clubhouse.

But, consider the numbers. These are for the past 3 seasons.

Sheffield (38): 1308 ABs; .291/.378/.515 ; .893 OPS
Alou (40): 1373 ABs; .304/.373/.551 ; .924 OPS

IMO, Alou as a FA for 1 year > trading talent for Sheff for 3 years

Note: I don't know if Sheffield pees on his hands.

[pfife]

They're talking to Tampa Bay.

Seriously - what about Chicago? Don't they have some pitchers on the block?

[estrepe1]

Alou is an interesting option that has not been named around here.

[SpartanValor]

My first guess was the LAA.

[ypsieast]

Alou is an interesting option that has not been named around here.
Yeah, I read about him a couple weeks ago. My first reaction was that he is too old and washed up, but then I looked up his recent numbers.... Baseball-Reference (http://www.baseball-reference.com/a/aloumo01.shtml)

I also heard that he killed lefties last year, batting .400. Moving to DH would be good for his health, too. The idea is certainly growing on me.

[zachcadillac]

Alou is an interesting option that has not been named around here.

Yes indeed. Until he was mentioned in a Buster Olney article the other day, I had no idea he was still so productive. He would be an interesting option.

[qsilvr2531]

Alou is an interesting option if he isn't to expensive. He is right handed and he really kills lefties, but presumably he'd be brought in as a DH, in which case is he really any better than Thames?

Alou has also struggled on the road the last three years. His home splits the last three years are .407/.653 vs. .337/.452 on the road. Of course, the same was said about Soriano last year when he went to Washington, so maybe focusing on the splits (as a proxy for park effects) isn't a great idea.

[baseball3]

Sheffield is from Tampa

[baseball3]

Alou is a professional hitter, Thames does not have the hitting pedigree that Alou has..........I like this idea for a 1-year speciality.........................things happen when he's at the plate.

[estrepe1]

Alou is an interesting option if he isn't to expensive. He is right handed and he really kills lefties, but presumably he'd be brought in as a DH, in which case is he really any better than Thames?

Alou has also struggled on the road the last three years. His home splits the last three years are .407/.653 vs. .337/.452 on the road. Of course, the same was said about Soriano last year when he went to Washington, so maybe focusing on the splits (as a proxy for park effects) isn't a great idea.

I wouldn't pay him a lot either. But I don't think it would take a lot. Which is part of the reason I find him to be an interesting option.

Isn't San Fransisco one of the worst parks in the majors for power hitters?

[ypsieast]

First, Domino, sorry for hijacking the thread to Alou.

MLB Trade Rumors (http://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2006/10/2007_mlb_free_a_2.html)

Alou will enter his age 40 season in 2007. All sorts of injuries limited him to just 221 games with the Giants for the life of his two-year, $13.25MM contract. Despite making only 378 PAs this year, Alou was the 9th best RF in the game according to VORP. He played left field in '05, and his offensive output ranked 6th at the position.

The Fielding Bible described Alou's work in left as adequate, as his speed, range, and arm do not impress. I can only imagine what they'd say about his work in right field, a tougher position.

It seems clear that Alou would benefit from designated hitting. It'd be his first time with an AL team. Alou's .571 slugging percentage in 2006 was best among all free agent hitters with 300 PAs, Aramis Ramirez and Alfonso Soriano included. The beauty of Alou is that his deal would probably be for just one year. Low risk, high reward, just like Frank Thomas was entering this season.

Almost any AL team could make use of Alou at DH. The only teams I'd rule out for sure are the White Sox, Devil Rays, and Royals. The latter two because they're not a few pieces away from contending, and the Sox because Thome can't move to first. It follows that the Red Sox and Indians are unlikely suitors, as Hafner and Ortiz are pretty well entrenched at DH. I'd still leave those two in the mix as Ortiz and Hafner could still be used at first.

If we take those five teams out we have the Orioles, Blue Jays, Yankees, Tigers, Twins, Angels, A's, Mariners, and Rangers. I've yet to find whether Alou has made any indication on whether he intends to play in 2007; maybe some Giants fans can help out.
------------------------------------------

I imagine a Frank Thomas like 1-year contract with incentives (mentioned in link) which would be plenty affordable. You have to think he would want to sign with a contender, would prefer DHing to playing OF, and would be more than comfortable playing for JL.

[qsilvr2531]

Alou is a professional hitter, Thames does not have the hitting pedigree that Alou has..........I like this idea for a 1-year speciality.........................things happen when he's at the plate.

Thames got paid to hit last year, and did a pretty good job of it. I also saw quite a few things happen while he was at the plate. Thames can hit and he's shown the ability to hit in the majors and minors. He's also younger, cheaper, and less likely to miss half a year due to injury.

Remember when we got Greg Jeffries because he was a "professional hitter?"

[tigersfandm]

I heard cubs or phillies as the possible destinations sheffield. Maybe the Cubs are shipping prior to the Yankees to give him a fresh start? I can't think of anybody on the phillies pitching wise that the Yankees would want other than Hamels.

[JonBenke]

Maybe the Cubs are shipping prior to the Yankees to give him a fresh start?
If that's all it'd take to get Prior, forget New York .. let him have this so called "fresh start" in Detroit.

[Bubba]

I heard cubs or phillies as the possible destinations sheffield. Maybe the Cubs are shipping prior to the Yankees to give him a fresh start? I can't think of anybody on the phillies pitching wise that the Yankees would want other than Hamels.

Prior would get eaten alive if/when he hits the DL again... ala Pavano. I don't see that happening.

[ballmich]

Trading for Sheffield is a big mistake, IMO. First of all, we don't want to make the Yankees better. Secondly, I don't think Sheffield is good enough to justify trading away assets.

this is silly. i highly doubt that the Yankees are going to be able to get major league pieces for Sheffield. all indications so far is that they are not going to get much more than some marginal low level minor leaguers in return. so how exactly are we going to be making them better by coughing up a few A ball pitchers? obviously if they want more than that, then we just walk away.

i'm all about going after free agents as opposed to trading for a big bat, so that we can continue to build towards the future while trying to win next season. but giving up a couple of low level, marginal prospects isn't going to deplete our farms system at all.

if you like alou better than sheffield, then okay. i'm not against trying to sign alou. but let's not overstate the consequences of trying to acquire sheffield.

[ewsieg]

Prior would get eaten alive if/when he hits the DL again... ala Pavano. I don't see that happening.

People know what they're getting when they get Prior. One of the top 5 pitchers in baseball IF healthy. No one expected Pavano to have the physical issues he's had, that's part of the reason he's been ridiculed so much. Prior would have a longer leash.

[Johnny Mac]

i dont really want prior with his arm troubles

i think its funny how this thread evolved from about Shef to about Alou to now about Prior

[ballmich]

People know what they're getting when they get Prior. One of the top 5 pitchers in baseball IF healthy. No one expected Pavano to have the physical issues he's had, that's part of the reason he's been ridiculed so much. Prior would have a longer leash.

actually, that's not true. Pavano is as oft-injured as Prior has been. the only difference is that Pavano was able to string together two injury-free season in a row (03 & 04), that coupled with the exposure of the world series, earned him a huge contract. prior to 2003, he was never able to get through a full season without some sort of injury. i don't know that many people expected Pavano to stay healthy for the long term.

if healthy, obviously Prior is the better of the two. but Pavano was highly thought of too but could never kick the injury bug.

[ballmich]

i dont really want prior with his arm troubles

i think its funny how this thread evolved from about Shef to about Alou to now about Prior

i think it's funny that people think the cubs would actually trade Prior for Sheffield.

[Johnny Mac]

i think it's funny that people think the cubs would actually trade Prior for Sheffield.

that is pretty comical

[zachcadillac]

Not to cast aspersions, but I don't see where the article says the Yanks have a deal with an AL team. The sources are AL general managers, but both teams mentioned by name are in the National League.

Am I missing something?

[thewave84]

I don't understand how the Yankees have a deal in place. What they have - according to this article - is an offer which they have chosen not to accept. To me, that is quite a bit different than having a deal in place.

[jives1789]

Sheffield for Perez straight up.

[Edman85]

Alou is a professional hitter

Thanks. So is Marcus Thames. He gets paid to hit. Hell, even Pedro Cotto and Cody Collet are professional hitters.

[LeFlorean]

Sheffield for Perez straight up.

Hmm

[ballmich]

Not to cast aspersions, but I don't see where the article says the Yanks have a deal with an AL team. The sources are AL general managers, but both teams mentioned by name are in the National League.

Am I missing something?

i think an earlier version of this article stated it was an AL team. but i'm not positive and don't really care enough to try to figure it out. however, after i read this article either late last night or early this morning, i too was under the impression that it was an american league team. it doesn't matter though, since cashman is going to wait and see if a team that gets shut-out of the key free agents gets a little more desparate and will part with more. i don't expect Sheff to be traded until December or January.

[ballmich]

Sheffield for Perez straight up.

the yankees are going to pay some of Sheff's salary, right?

[tigersfandm]

i think it's funny that people think the cubs would actually trade Prior for Sheffield.

It's the Cubs.. They would do many odd things such as this.

[estrepe1]

Not to cast aspersions, but I don't see where the article says the Yanks have a deal with an AL team. The sources are AL general managers, but both teams mentioned by name are in the National League.

Am I missing something?

You are missing the fact that the story was likely made up by Cashman to garner more interest in Sheffield.

[jadefalcon]

If that's all it'd take to get Prior, forget New York .. let him have this so called "fresh start" in Detroit.

Does Prior have anything left? He looked awful last year, but was that just because he was coming off of injury/in a bad situatiion with the state of the Cubs and all?

[Big Toe]

I just read an interview with a former NYY beat reporter today in which he mentioned that you had to be really careful with information because you'd routinely be fed outright lies that served the interests of whatever party was telling them. This does sound suspiciously like one of those cases.

[tigerkid23]

Does Prior have anything left? He looked awful last year, but was that just because he was coming off of injury/in a bad situatiion with the state of the Cubs and all?

He does. He's only 26 and his stuff is still decent. 90-92 mph fastball, decent change, and a very good 12-6 curve. I really believe his struggles were based on him coming back from injury. Even in 2005, he put up very good numbers. So, if we could get him for cheap, DD needs to pull the trigger.

[Barrie]

No thanks to Sheff. I'd like to see a left handed bat, especially if Casey doesn't resign, we have to many right handed hitters.