from SI.com:
The Mariners have reportedly asked the Yankees for Melky Cabrera and Brett Gardner in a deal for Jarrod Washburn.
Apparently, they're also not looking to be saddled with Kei Igawa's contract. The Mariners have plenty of money, so they can hold out for an offer they like rather than simply dump Washburn's contract. However, this is a guy who is 22-38 with a 4.55 ERA over the last three years despite working in a pitcher's park. He wouldn't make the $10 million he's due next year if he were a free agent.

Now I'm not the biggest Melky fan(I love his defense, but I don't think he'll ever be more than a 4th outfielder Endy Chavez type) but no way I would do that deal.

Now I'm not the biggest Melky fan(I love his defense, but I don't think he'll ever be more than a 4th outfielder Endy Chavez type) but no way I would do that deal.

Agree 100%

Posted by djsunyc:

NEW YORK -- According to SI.com's Jon Heyman, the Yankees have acquired outfielder Xavier Nady and reliever Damaso Marte from the Pirates for Jose Tabata, Ross Ohlendorf and two other minor league prospects.

While the trade has been agreed upon, according to Heyman, nothing will become official until all six players have been granted medical clearance.

Wow, thats a friggen steal!

Tabata has had some character issues and Jackson had passed him. With Matsui's situation up in the air the Yanks needed a corner OF badly. Nady has been a stud this year- .920 OPS and .330-12-57. Marte has been a solid lefty reliever. Yanks really bolstered the big league club with this move.

I was pretty down on Ohlendorf.

ok, it's now tabata + ohlendorf + coke + kontos. 3 pitchers + 1 OF.

tabata is a prime prospect but there were issues with attitude and he hasn't done great in the minors.

good trade for the yanks as nady will be the everyday LF, damon moves to everyday DH. posada probably gets surgery. and marte is an AWESOME lefty arm...

I agree DJ. The acquisition of Nady definitely means that Posada is going to have surgery.

Man, I still can't believe this trade was done, what a damn steal.

credit to cash for stocking up the far to pull off a trade like this.

Posted by VDesai:

Coke and Kontos were fungible as far as the Yankees were concerned. They had a lot of pitching prospects ahead of them, even if they aren't bad prospects.

Tabata hasn't developed his power yet and was hitting really crappy this year. Like a .630 OPS.

Tabata's only 19 years old... he woulda taken a couple years to develop but u can't give up on a kid w/his potential for a mediocre veteran like Nady... look at his past history, he's not all that good of a ballplayer... the Pirates got back great value in this deal if u ask me... it's not a steal from our standpoint, if anything it's a total wait & see.

[Edited by - TMS on 07-25-2008 5:50 PM]

Posted by TMS:

Posted by VDesai:

Coke and Kontos were fungible as far as the Yankees were concerned. They had a lot of pitching prospects ahead of them, even if they aren't bad prospects.

Tabata hasn't developed his power yet and was hitting really crappy this year. Like a .630 OPS.

Tabata's only 19 years old... he woulda taken a couple years to develop but u can't give up on a kid w/his potential for a mediocre veteran like Nady... look at his past history, he's not all that good of a ballplayer... the Pirates got back great value in this deal if u ask me... it's not a steal from our standpoint, if anything it's a total wait & see.

[Edited by - TMS on 07-25-2008 5:50 PM]

Nady has been straight raking this year. In the past what made him mediocre was that he had trouble against righty pitching (he's good against lefties), but this year he's evened that out quite a bit and is having a real nice year. Yanks are riding the hot hand and really needed a bat in the corner OF right now. Marte is obviously a solid addition as well. Hate to have to sell low on Tabata, but his value dipped considerably this year. He hasn't hit in a while.

like i said Nady's having a great year but past history tells me this is more of the exception rather than the norm for him... i think he's a nice role player guy & will be a good piece to have but at the cost of 1 of our top prospects i woulda wanted Bay instead, just MHO... like u said we're selling low on Tabata, which isn't a good thing if u ask me.

Posted by TMS:

like i said Nady's having a great year but past history tells me this is more of the exception rather than the norm for him... i think he's a nice role player guy & will be a good piece to have but at the cost of 1 of our top prospects i woulda wanted Bay instead, just MHO... like u said we're selling low on Tabata, which isn't a good thing if u ask me.

He might not bounce back and the org has been concerned about his character issues. I think the arrow is pointed up on Nady. If his hitting against righties has truly improved (as it seems to have), he could be a very solid hitter from now going forward. Once upon a time he was one of the best hitters in college baseball. Adding a .930 OPS and .330 batting average into the corner OF helps a great deal this year with Matsui and Posada up in the aire. The Yankees are right there in contention for first and could be even closer after this series.

And jeez, how much of a stud is Joba- its awesome that this is only the beginning.