AS of yesterday, the best starter available in a trade was Pittsburgh’s Kris Benson. Asked to quantify the rest of the current market, a GM from a contender said, “Sludge. Pick a bad guy and he’s out there.”
This could change before the July 31 waiver trade deadline, which is the Yankees’ hope. George Steinbrenner – threats about tampering fines or not – will persist in his long-distance flirt to entice Randy Johnson to abandon last place in Arizona (and his no-trade clause) and add to his Hall of Fame plaque as a Yankee.
Houston GM Gerry Hunsicker said yesterday, “We’re on the verge of falling out of the race,” which could turn the Astros from buyers to sellers. Carlos Beltran is most mentioned in that scenario.
But what about Andy Pettitte or Roger Clemens? Both have no-trades and strong ties to owner Drayton McLane. But both also have postseason yens. Heck, Clemens could rent himself to the Yanks for a few months and go back to the Astros again next season.
Hunsicker would not touch individual cases yesterday, but a person familiar with the Astros’ thinking cited the disappointment and expense the team is dealing with and said, “It is not totally far-fetched. It is a long shot, especially because I think [McLane] has such affinity for the two players.
“It would be very complicated in such a short period, but crazier things have happened.”
Also, executives from several teams persist in saying Oakland might deal disappointing Barry Zito.
The strong likelihood remains that no front-line starters will be available and, besides, the Yanks might not have the prospects to land one. Johnson, if he decides to move, is more likely to go to prospect-deep Anaheim; then the best the Yanks might get is lefty Jarrod Washburn in a salary-washing ricochet.
So if the Yanks cannot fix the front of the game, they should upgrade the back. It makes no sense to obtain Jamie Moyer or Zach Day just to prove you can. The Yanks have those types of starters now, and Orlando Hernandez might be better than anything obtainable. So the advice here is to go get Seattle closer Eddie Guardado.
John Smoltz would have been ideal. He still has great stuff plus a superb postseason record (13-4, 2.77 ERA). Smoltz yearns to start, and the Yanks could motivate him to waive his no-trade by picking up his $12 million option with the promise of starting him in 2005. But in the past few weeks, the Braves have gotten back into the NL East race.
Baltimore’s Jorge Julio and Detroit’s Ugueth Urbina are said to be available, and could be Yankees options.
But Guardado is the man. He is a southpaw who dominates lefties (3-for-34 with no walks this year, no homers over the past two seasons). His nickname is “Everyday,” and Joe Torre craves another reliable arm after having to overuse Tom Gordon, Paul Quantrill and Mariano Rivera in the first half. With an elite foursome in the pen, the Yanks could further shorten the game and lessen the rotation’s responsibility.
Seattle already is familiar with the Yankees’ system, having scouted it before dealing Freddy Garcia to the White Sox, and the Yanks should be willing to move what is necessary. Florida gave up top prospects for Urbina last year and won it all. Plus, Guardado potentially has two years left on his contract (there are options), and the Yanks can deal Guardado again after the season to recoup some young talent. Seattle has not put Guardado on its untouchable list and his agent, Kevin Kohler, said yesterday “Everyday” is itchy, having not pitched in nine days (closers on last-place teams are lonely) and definitely would consider forgoing his blanket no-trade clause for the Yanks.
“Eddie Guardado is old school and thinks being a Yankee means something,” Kohler said. “I don’t think he’d squelch a deal.”
The Yanks need to start thinking “Everyday” today.
