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Steve, I've thought about him as a possibility as well. He has a rather severe lefty-righty split, so he'd make for an interesting platoon with Betemit. And I think he can play some first as well. I do worry about his defense.

All it took for San Diego was Josh Barfield. Why would the Yankees have to throw so much at San Diego to get a 26 year old so seems to be a slow developer?

I know there's a tax for being the Yankees and no one will trade with us without being able to say they extracted an ounce of blood. But you're giving up WAY too much for this kid.

~~~I do worry about his defense.~~~

He's not as bad at third as Ryan Braun or Miguel Cabrera with the glove. And, he's better than Garrett Atkins too. Sure, he's not in the Mike Lowell or Eric Chavez class with the leather. But, he's probably closer to them than he is the terrible guys like Braun or Cabrera.

MJ -

In 2004 and 2005, Baseball America listed Barfield as the Padres' number one prospect. In 2006, he fell to third in the organization. At the time of the trade, Barfield was a true blue-chip prospect.

The Padres trading him at that time would be the same as the Yankees trading Jose Tabata now.

Alan Horne, Kyle Farnsworth, Brett Gardner and cash is not like trading Tabata.

Steve, I understand that. But that was last year. 2 minor leaguers, a MLB reliever and cash is still too much to pay for a guy that some people think is just a platoon type of player.

So, let's review:

26 year old with 500 major league at bats: worth trading for.

24 year old perennial All-Star with comparisons to Henry Aaron: not worth trading for.

I would be very upset if Cashman traded more than one player for Kouzmanoff, and he better be lower on the totem pole than Horne.

~~~So, let's review: 26 year old with 500 major league at bats: worth trading for. 24 year old perennial All-Star with comparisons to Henry Aaron: not worth trading for.~~~

Yes - because the cost for each, and the baggage to deal in each case, is very different.

~~~2 minor leaguers, a MLB reliever and cash is still too much to pay for a guy that some people think is just a platoon type of player.~~~

Well, some would also see Frans leaving as a plus in itself too. So, it's two bushers that may turn out to be nothing for a guy who you know can play 3rd and hit big league pitching. It's not a huge price.

So, let's review:

26 year old with 500 major league at bats: worth trading for.

24 year old perennial All-Star with comparisons to Henry Aaron: not worth trading for.
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Good point. I have to say that I haven't been thrilled with any of the rumors so far. I would do a Keenedy-Melky-centered Cabrera deal, but I don't think that would get it done. Even if it did get it done, I wouldn't be overjoyed.

Kouzmanoff is a nice role player, but Steve's proposal is far too much.

I don't know -- maybe the brilliant Abreu deal skewed my perception of what the Yankees can expect to give up in trades.

If the cost were low enough, I would take a flier on Andy Marte. He's two years removed from being considered a top prospect. He'll only be 24 next year. I know that his performance over the last two years has been very disappointing, but, if the cost is low enough, why not go into next year with a Betemit-Marte platoon or see in the spring if either of them can win the job outright?

Given what's available, the Yankees should not do anything rash for 2008. What the Yankees need to do is find a few junkyard bargains -- they should try to get what the Red Sox got with Kevin Millar.

re: Kevin Millar-types. If the persons and/or process that allowed the Yankees to come up with Wilson Betemit this summer are still floating around the front office, then, yes, there's a great deal of fertile ground to cover there...see Billy Beane. But not since the days when Gene Michael was our "super scout" on the ML level have we shown the kind of skills needed to find hidden gems like that. It'll be interesting to see how Cashman operates now, putatively without either the Tampa mafia or Torre looking over his shoulder.

Hey Steve, a little off-topic, but what do you think of Adrian Beltre as an option? Any chance you could do an analysis of him?

I'm a big fan of him, and I'm hoping the Yanks somehow manage to pry him away from the M's for cheap.

Totally off-topic, but if the Gold Glove award had any merit left, it's gone. They awarded David Wright the Gold Glove for third base in the NL. I guess they never saw his throws sail into the stands or heard Delgado's advice to "hit me in the chest." People thought Jeter's GGs were egregious. Well, it just got worse.

What's the point of this award at this point? They just give it to the same people every year without any real consideration. Pudge Rodriguez? He hasn't been good in five years. Torii Hunter? Guess they missed all the balls he's dropped.

I guess the one new guy they got it right with was our baldheaded friend Youk.

But not since the days when...have we shown the kind of skills needed to find hidden gems like that.
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I guess this is the Clintonian argument of it depends what your definition of "is" is. I'd say Brian Bruney was a productive find for getting the Yanks a bridge to Rivera in 2006. I'd say Shawn Chacon was a productive find for getting the Yanks into the playoffs in 2005 when their rotation was horrendous.

Johnny, if we're talking about true Kevin Millar types, guys who stick around for 2-3 years and contribute then, no, the Yanks haven't found anyone to stick. But your reference to Wilson Betemit could even be construed as premature since he's only been here for two months and it remains to be seen how much he contributes in 2008 and beyond.

I can't quarrel with the job Cashman has done in this respect. He's found a number of random pieces that have worked for a little while. What's wrong with that?

The thing that is telling is that there is talk about third base because of lost production from Arod.It is important for the Yankees to keep the 3 newbie pitchers(Joba,Hughes,and Kennedy) because of Andy' "departure".If they even think about it their pitching will not be enough to get to the playoffs or if they do,they cannot compete with just Joba,Wang,Mussina,and Hughes in the playoffs.They need to concentrate on middle relief and resigning Andy,Jorge and Mo!Those are their immediate needs,if they can get a Cabrera at a reduced cost a la the Abreu/Lidle trade then so be it.My solution is that they can sign a player who has 3 World Series rings for just money:Mike Lowell!

~~~Hey Steve, a little off-topic, but what do you think of Adrian Beltre as an option? Any chance you could do an analysis of him?~~~

From what I've heard, the M's are not interested. So, to me, it's a moot point to even mull him.

Steve, where did you read that the M's weren't interested in listening to trades for Beltre?

Oh never mind, I found the article. Dammit.

I think you're way off on the value of Kouzmanoff. Remember, they gave up Josh Barfield to get him. I think the offer should start with Horne, and if they want more then they can offer someone like Colin Curtis.