Creating a Yankees' trade package: Brad Hand
Last year Cashman acquired Sonny Gray, Jaime Garcia, David Robertson, Tommy Kahnle, and Todd Frazier before the July 31st deadline, which helped drive the Bombers to game seven of the ALCS, but they gave up some of their better prospect in the process. The team has its sights set on a championship, so GM Brian Cashman will undoubtedly upgrade the team's pitching at the deadline, but who and for what?
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| AP/Gregory Bull |
The Yankees currently hold the MLB best winning percentage in the league at .671 with an offense that is on pace to shatter the Mariners single-season home run record. While the team seems almost unbeatable, there are some big chinks in the armor, specifically in the rotation. The Yankees lost Jordan Montgomery to Tommy John surgery last week, and Masahiro Tanaka is still out with two damaged hamstrings. Luis Severino is a strong candidate for the CY Young award, and CC Sabathia is still fighting off father time, but Sonny Gray is still unreliable.
The tricky part on predicting who will be available for the Yankees come July is predicting which teams will throw in the towel. The shortlist of possible available pitchers are as follows:
Player
|
Hand
|
Team
|
Record as of 6/29/18
|
L
|
San Francisco Giants
|
42-40
| |
L
|
Texas Rangers
|
36-46
| |
Chris Archer
|
R
|
Tampa Bay Rays
|
39-41
|
Blake Snell
|
L
|
Tampa Bay Rays
|
39-41
|
Francisco Liriano
|
L
|
Detroit Tigers
|
36-46
|
Michael Fulmer
|
R
|
Detroit Tigers
|
36-46
|
Brad Hand (RP)
|
L
|
San Diego Padres
|
36-47
|
L
|
Toronto Blue Jays
|
37-43
| |
R
|
New York Mets
|
32-46
| |
R
|
New York Mets
|
32-46
|
In this series of articles, we will look into various trade possibilities for the Yankees before the July 31st deadline.
Note: It is incredibly difficult to predict these trades exactly, as preferences of both teams involved are mostly unknown, so guessing prospects traded is not an exact science. What these articles provide is an entertaining exercise to get to know some possible trade targets and pieces. Enjoy!
We have looked at a few additions to the starting rotation in recent articles, but what if Brian Cashman surveys the available starters and doesn’t like what he sees? Cashman isn’t one to stay still and let his competition improve, and so it is likely he will look to the bullpen instead. The Yankees’ bullpen is currently the best in baseball so it may seem a bit excessive to add strength to strength, but when has that stopped Cashman before? The Yankees added the MLB home run king and NL MVP Giancarlo Stanton to an already stacked outfield this offseason, so for the right price, Cashman could do the same with the bullpen.
Who could that be? Padres' closer Brad Hand is reportedly a trade target for several contenders, counting the Boston Red Sox and possibly the Houston Astros, as well as the Yankees but maybe bringing him to the Bronx is the best option. If the Yankees acquire the lefty reliever, they would not only create a ‘super bullpen’ that would virtually be unbeatable, but they would hurt their fiercest competitors in the process.
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| YES |
The 28-year-old has four years left of control and a team option after the 2020 season. During these four years, Hand will make $4 million, $7 million, $7.5 million, and $10 million, which is a small price to pay for a player of his caliber. Over 37 appearances this season, Hand sports a 2.75 ERA, 22 saves out of 26 opportunities, 13 K/9, 1.1 HR/9, and a 1.042 WHIP. Hand's numbers have stayed pretty much the same since coming to the Padres from Miami in 2016, so its safe to say what you see is what you get in the eight-year veteran.
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| USA Today |
Hand would also be a considerable upgrade over currently left reliever, Chasen Shreve, who many Yankee fans want to be shipped off to the moon, and could be used very much like lefty Andrew Miller is on the Cleveland Indians. Hand is decimating lefties, as opposing batters have a .085 BA and are striking out in more than half their at-bats against the reliever.
However, the Padres won't part with their star reliever for pennies so it would cost quite a bit for the Yankees to create this super bullpen. In rumored trade negotiations with the Boston Red Sox, the Padres want Rafael Devers in a swap for Hand. Although the Red Sox are not expected to entertain such a steep price, one could assume they would ask for a similar amount from the Yankees. Cashman will have to part with up a top prospect, along with a couple other mid to lower level players.
One of our writers, Andrew Natalizio, looked into how the logjam of pitchers in the Yankees farm system will factor into the trade deadline negotiations, and his article is going to play significantly into my proposed trade package.
One of our writers, Andrew Natalizio, looked into how the logjam of pitchers in the Yankees farm system will factor into the trade deadline negotiations, and his article is going to play significantly into my proposed trade package.
The Trade: San Diego Padres send LHP Brad Hand to the New York Yankees for RHP Albert Abreu INF Brandon Drury, Billy McKinney OF/1B
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| Jennifer Stewart/Getty Images |
Since Andrew Miller in 2016 is the best comparison for 2018 Brad Hand, the trade package should be close to that. The Yankees gave up Miller for Clint Frazier; Baseball Americas 21st ranked prospect at the time, Justus Sheffield, 69th, and JP Feyereisen and Ben Heller. Miller in 2016 had a full run lower ERA than Hand does now, had better strikeout/walk ratio and strikeout per nine ratios, among most other significant pitching categories. One can glean from this that Hand won't fetch quite as big of a prize as Miller did in 2016. Albert Abreu is the 67th rated prospect in baseball, and moving up the rankings with his plus fastball that hovers in the upper 90s.
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| NJ.com |
Brandon Drury, everyone favorite trade piece for the Yankees, should start for the Padres right away and has three years of arbitration left as well, making him a valuable bargaining chip. Billy McKinney is a fan favorite and parting with him will likely aggravate a few of you but a necessary fourth trade chip to avoid parting with Estevan Florial or Clint Frazier.
This trade package is may be a bit tough for prospect huggers to swallow, but to be perfectly honest it is probably a bit cheap. If the Padres are asking for players like Rafael Devers, they are going to expect similar type players in return from the Yankees as well. On top of that, teams like the Astros and Red Sox are more desperate for bullpen help than the Bombers and will likely drive up the price for the star reliever.
With all of that said, this is about the most expensive I expect the Yankees to go for Hand as any more expensive they might as well go for an ace instead. The Padres add a future top end of the rotation pitcher, a young and controllable starting infielder, and a versatile outfielder with power hitting upside.
With all of that said, this is about the most expensive I expect the Yankees to go for Hand as any more expensive they might as well go for an ace instead. The Padres add a future top end of the rotation pitcher, a young and controllable starting infielder, and a versatile outfielder with power hitting upside.
Stay tuned for more trade possibilities with a reported Yankee trade target, Tiger Michael Fulmer
Article by: Maxx Hotton
The Padres are going to have zero interest in McKinney. Their OF is currently jammed just as bad as the Yankees if not more. The only OF that will interest them is a pretty much can't miss player like Frazier. I doubt they would even take Florial since he is so far away and not quite a sure thing yet. Most of your trade scenario's have been pretty spot on (imo) but this one is fairly weak. It is going to take Frazier or Sheffield to get him. Their farm is stacked from top to bottom and should be coming out of their rebuild next year. So, they will be looking for a young MLB ready stud for Hand. Although, they seem to be on the hunt for quality rotation pieces. I wouldn't be surprised to see Preller willing to take Sonny Gray as the headliner for Hand. Gray can't pitch in New York but I would bet Preller would see him as being able to return to his previous TOR self with a move to San Diego.
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