Yankees trade for Soriano

[jacksonianmarch]

They're taking advantage of the same loophole they did with Wells and having the Cubs pay for nearly all his salary next yr while taking on his salary this yr. He's better than Wells, but can we f***ing stop trading for guys way past their prime? This trade just reinforces the fact that we're staying under the lux tax for next yr and we're gonna suck

[BSN07]

The Yankees and Cubs are nearing a deal that would send Alfonso Soriano to the New York, according to George A. King III of the New York Post. Soriano is owed roughly $24.9MM over the remainder of his contract (roughly $6.9MM in 2013 and $18MM in 2014), and King reports that the Cubs would pick up the majority of the remaining tab in exchange for a mid-level prospect.

 

I don't understand how a mid level prospect would be worth 18M next season? If I'm the Cubs that's not a very good deal imo. We will see I guess. I just thought they would be able to get more for him since there aren't that many big bats available and they are apparently showing they will pick up a huge part of the money.

[jacksonianmarch]

Soriano went on a 1 week tear, otherwise, his season has been pathetic. He's a mid .700s OPS guy who might steal 20 bags, but brings pathetic defense and strike zone discipline. We're just throwing s*** against the wall and hoping it sticks. I bet this is the bell sounding Hafner's final days in the Bronx. Once Jeter comes back, I think Hafner gets DFA'd

[BSN07]

Ya Hafner is one foot out the door right now

[jacksonianmarch]

He had one hell of a hot month. Then, he sucked dick for the last 3. He needs to go

[BSN07]

So is this trade official yet? Any names of who's going back? Anyone you not want to see going back Jacko?

[a700hitter]

The Yankees have made a habit of getting guys like this for free. The other teams have been picking up the salaries and the Yankees give up some palooka of a prospect.

[Standing Room]

At no point was it reported that there was actually a trade. The two sides are discussing a deal, but it's reportedly not close.

 

http://www.chicagotribune.com/sports/baseball/cubs/chi-chicago-cubs-alfonso-soriano-yankees-20130723,0,5149488.story

 

I understand the luxury tax manipulation, but Soriano doesn't seem like a guy worth giving up anything of value for. He's 37 years old and he's essentially a league average hitter at a position most teams try to get above average production out of.

[Standing Room]

Joel Sherman reporting that the Cubs scouted Yankees prospect Chase Whitley. Also states the Yankees feel they have a surplus of young, right-handed relievers such as Claiborne, Kelley, Betances, Burawa and Kahnle.

[jacksonianmarch]

I'd be okay with moving Whitley for the right piece. I don't like the idea of brining in Soriano, especially since we'll get Grandy back soon. And let's face it, we aren't winning s*** this yr. Stop trying to get players for this yr!

[Standing Room]

Yankees are actually on the verge of acquiring Soriano now.

 

6:33pm: Alfonso Soriano has been scratched from the Cubs' lineup tonight because he is close to being traded to the Yankees, Cubs manager Dale Sveum confirmed to Paul Sullivan of the Chicago Tribune (Twitter link). Sullivan adds that Sveum referred to the trade as "99 percent done."

 

6:56pm: ESPN's Buster Olney reports that the Cubs are likely to receive a lower-level pitching prospect for Soriano and that they will eat the majority of the money remaining on Soriano's contract. The two sides are waiting for the formal waiving of Soriano's no-trade clause (Twitter links).

[italstallianion]

I'm happy with the Yankees getting Soriano and I like the idea of Theo getting some young prospects, between the Garza/Feldman and now Soriano deals.

[italstallianion]

Yankees are actually on the verge of acquiring Soriano now.

 

I assume that "lower level" means like Single A rather than "lower level" as in a C prospect, especially if the Cubs are eating a majority of the money.

[yankees228]

Had a more than respectable year in 2012. Worth a shot.

[User Name]

Yanks should be tanking for better draft picks, not getting more over-the-hill players.

[yankees228]

Yanks should be tanking for better draft picks, not getting more over-the-hill players.

 

That's a bit silly, no? I'm not saying I expect the Yankees to make the playoffs, but there's a good chance that by the end of the day they'll only be 2.5 games out of a playoff spot. I don't blame them for one second for trying to acquire some offense.

[Youk Of The Nation]

All of the Yankees' fan giveaways for the rest of the season are going to be stale hard candy and coded messages about how the nurses are stealing.

[User Name]

That's a bit silly, no? I'm not saying I expect the Yankees to make the playoffs, but there's a good chance that by the end of the day they'll only be 2.5 games out of a playoff spot. I don't blame them for one second for trying to acquire some offense.

 

I'd agree with you if Fat Sabby wasn't making me look like an idiot and Soriano could actually make a completely positive impact with his bat. Remember that a lot of the runs he'll add on offense, he'll subtract on defense. Then again, there's obviously a bit of wishful thinking on my part to see the Yanks suck it up as much as the Sox did last year. Not even gonna deny it.

[yankees228]

Except according to UZR Soriano not only grades out well this year, but he has consistently graded out well for his entire Cubs tenure. And we could make this about one pitcher, but I think the larger, and more important point is that the Yankees, as a staff, pitch well enough to be a playoff team (9th in ERA, 5th in xFIP). They just need to hit and right now that's a tall task ... but the addition of Soriano and some of the injured guys returning should help.

 

Again, I'm not making the case that this team will make the playoffs, or is even likely to make the playoffs. But considering where they currently stand, acquiring a bat to help make a run is reasonable.

[Standing Room]

As I've already said, anything can happen. The Yankees still have time to make a run, and equally bad teams have gotten hot and won championships. That being said, giving up a prospect, hurting their draft position and locking Vernon Wells and Alfonso Soriano in to starting spots until 2015 is counterproductive to their longterm success. Is that really worth gambling on a team that has something like a 13% chance of making the playoffs and a less than 1% chance of winning a championship? Probably not. But this is the only way the Yankees know how to operate. They don't know how to rebuild or create a team from within. And they may even believe that those lightning in a bottle deals that they did with Colon, Chavez, Freddy Garcia, etc. is a repeatable skill. When in fact they just lucked out.

[User Name]

You've seen Soriano play.....do you really think he's a good OF? Don't get me wrong, i like UZR, but it's not perfect, and he currently sports a sub .300 OBP.....ewwww. As for the rest of your post, it's "just one pitcher" but he's the ace of that staff, and Kuroda and Petitte are older pitchers who could realistically break down at any moment. The cards are kinda stacked against the Yanks. Stranger things have happened but it looks really implausible that the Yanks make the post-season.

[Standing Room]

Both UZR and the eye test suggest Soriano's gotten a lot better defensively than he was with the Yankees. And Kuroda's had a pretty strong record of durability, despite his age. But I agree with the rest of what you said.

[User Name]

He never played the OF when he was with the Yankees. He got moved there when he got traded to the Nationals.

[yankees228]

You've seen Soriano play.....do you really think he's a good OF? Don't get me wrong, i like UZR, but it's not perfect, and he currently sports a sub .300 OBP.....ewwww. As for the rest of your post, it's "just one pitcher" but he's the ace of that staff, and Kuroda and Petitte are older pitchers who could realistically break down at any moment. The cards are kinda stacked against the Yanks. Stranger things have happened but it looks really implausible that the Yanks make the post-season.

 

I do think Soriano is a pretty good outfielder, even by the eye test. As for UZR, it's not perfect, but I think it can be trusted when the sample size is so large.

 

As for the rest of your point, I agree with it. But remember, the position I'm arguing against isn't "the Yankees probably aren't going to make the playoffs" it's "the Yankees should completely give up on trying to make the playoffs". That's the part that seems silly.

[User Name]

It'd be awesome though.

[jacksonianmarch]

I don't like the idea of acquiring Soriano, but I'll wait to see the specifics. If they can get Soriano for free in 2014 and don't have to give up a big arm, then I'll be happy. I've heard Chase Whitley's name going around. The guy would make an immediate impact in Chicago and will likely be a solid long term reliever, but that's a price in willing to pay for an upgrade. I'm just not sure Sori is that much of an upgrade

[Divinity]

I'm just not sure Sori is that much of an upgrade

 

He's definitely a noticeable upgrade, since June he's hit more home run's than the entire Yankees lineup combined (8 vs 10)

 

Also I have a feeling A-Rod is getting either a 50/100 ban within the next week or two.

[Palodios]

The word is that the Cubs are "paying more than half" of his salary. If the Yankees end up having to pay 10 of the remaining 24 and give up junk, I'd still say that's exactly the kind of move they should be making, given that they want to contend this year.

 

That being said, they're in a lose-lose situation. Even if they decide to tank it, and get prospects for their best players... their attendance is tanking fast already. Their organization is popular because they're winners... if they have a s*** team, their fans will look for other teams to root for quickly.

[Standing Room]

The rumor is that the Cubs will be getting Corey Black in return. 21 year old, projectable righty who's already hit triple digits with his fastball. Needs polishing, he's only recently converted to pitching fulltime. Not a top prospect but he's not exactly the kind of non-prospect you'd want to give up on a deal like this either. The Yankees liked him so much they invited him to major league camp in Spring Training.

[Standing Room]

Soriano's an upgrade, but why trade a projectable young righthander for a 13% chance of making the playoffs? The Yankees may only be a few games out of the second wild card spot, but they also have a run differential of -4 and have gone 24-29 since May 26th. This move might save them some money on the luxury tax next year, but having Soriano and Wells on the team limits the Yankees options of how they can attempt to improve. If Soriano improves the Yankees by a win, and that moves them back in the draft, remember this move next year when the team ahead of them takes prospect you guys wanted.