It’s early June but it’s never too early to start talking about MLB trade rumors and, specifically, Yankees trade rumors.
According to the New York Post, the Mariners are reportedly expecting the Yankees to make a run at pitcher Cliff Lee and the Mariners have their eyes set on a minor league catcher and Triple-A shortstop Eduardo Nunez in return. George A. King III of the Post makes a great point how if the Yankees are to give up one of their top catching prospects, Jesus Montero or Austin Romine, they better be assured Lee, who is in the final year of his contract, will sign a long-term deal.
Lee is 4-2 with a 2.77 ERA in eight starts with the Mariners this year. He was traded to the Mariners from the Phillies in the offseason. The Yankees know Lee well since he beat them twice in the World Series last year.
King also brings up how the Yankees may be looking to add a bat before the trade deadline:
As for adding a bat, the Yankees have scouts following the Astros in the event that club holds a fire sale and wants to move first baseman Lance Berkman, who would be a DH for the Yankees.
Berkman is batting .253 with 6 home runs and 28 RBI this season with the Astros. He is due to make $14.5 million this year.
You can never have enough starting pitching, and with the likely possibility of Andy Pettitte retiring after this season along with the most likely departure of free-agent-to-be Javier Vazquez, the Yankees are going to need another starter. But adding Lee before the trade deadline means that Javier Vazquez would most likely be the odd man out of the rotation, although he has really started to pitch well of late. That would leave the Yankees with a staff of Sabathia, Lee, Burnett, Pettitte and Hughes.
Adding Berkman would definitely lengthen the Yankees’ lineup and he’d become the team’s full-time DH. The lineup becomes Jeter, Swisher, Teixeira, A-Rod, Cano, Berkman/Posada, Posada/Berkman, Granderson, Gardner.
Right now there’s not a glaring need for either player, especially if it’s going to take top prospects to get deals done, although I could see the Yankees eventually going after Cliff Lee.
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I love the Idea of Berkman in the Yankee line up, he can bat anywhere between 2 and 7 and has a great swing for that park
Not sure how I feel about Lee for a few reasons
1. Not really a spot or a need for him at the moment in the rotation…
2. They can go get him as a free agent in the off season and keep the inventory in the farm
3. The Mariners aren’t going take garbage heap prospects and cash for Lee. They will want Romine and a arm as well. too much.
I agree. Unless there’s an injury in the rotation, it’s not time to get Lee, especially since the price is going to be major prospects. The Yankees have done fine to this point with what they have, they can keep doing so as long as they remain relatively healthy.
I think the yanks can get away with something here…the only reason the mariners are trading cliff lee is because he is obviously not coming back. Instead of just letting him leave, they want something in return…anything.
If the yankees work smartly, they can get lee for just one prospect. It would be great if we could get him for Vazques…but I doubt that would happen.
Berkman is a great addition…GET HIM
Great point. Maybe the Yanks can find a way to steal Lee away from the Mariners.
I would trade for both Berkman and Lee. For Lee, I would trade Jesuse Montario and Edrodo Nunez. I would trade for Lee because he can be a fin 3rd or 2nd starter in the rotation. For Berkman, I would trade Joba Chamberlain, Mark Meleancome, and Kevin Russo. I would trade for Berkman because he can be our new starting DH for many years to come. He would not have to worryabout bing a full time PH like Jim Tome did when be was traded to the Dodgers. Do you argee?
Hey Alex, thanks for the comment. I can’t say I agree with either. Right now there is no need for Cliff Lee and I wouldn’t trade Joba or Melancon for Berkman (and they won’t take Russo). Maybe if the Yankees got desperate they’d make a trade for one of the two, but right now, it doesn’t seem as though a trade is likely.