Trade Rumors Thread

[Heltonfan]

Drew, the Yankees are currently starting Doug Mientkiewicz at first base. And their bullpen, aside from Rivera and Brian Bruney, is pathetic. I'd be awfully surprised if anything actually happens on this front, but to suggest that the Yankees don't need Helton and Fuentes is absurd.

[LancheMob21]

The Denver Post - Injury may put Fogg on DL

Trade winds from N.Y.

Yankees general manager Brian Cashman told reporters this week that although trades are always possible, nothing is warm right now. Still, multiple scouts said Wednesday the Yankees are interested in Rockies first baseman Todd Helton and closer Brian Fuentes, though nothing is brewing.

If the Rockies don't rebound, many teams will be calling to see if they want to unload salaries. Helton has rebounded nicely this season. He ranks second in the big leagues in on-base percentage and first with 21 multihit games. Fuentes has already established a club record with eight saves this month.

[BigRapidsJackass]

The problem is the Yankees don't have a whole lot to give us in return ...

... except the one thing that really matters to the Monforts: salary relief. They'd be able to take on 2/3 of Helton's remaining contract without batting an eye. Remember, Bobby Abreu's $14 million per yer comes off the books after this season.

Even with nothing but salary relief in exchange for Helton, I'd make the deal, if only because what the Rockies are doing so far clearly ain't working.

[TheIncredibleRox]

If the Rockies freed up $12 million for next season, they'd probably blow it on Hawkinses (Hawki?), Foggs, and Lopezes.

[hiaspire]

Originally Posted by Heltonfan

Drew, the Yankees are currently starting Doug Mientkiewicz at first base. And their bullpen, aside from Rivera and Brian Bruney, is pathetic. I'd be awfully surprised if anything actually happens on this front, but to suggest that the Yankees don't need Helton and Fuentes is absurd.

Absurd is rather harsh, as I agree that if the Yankees are going to make a big move (with what little resources they have/want to part with in order to do it) that they would be far more inclined to invest that into starting pitching which is by far their biggest issue. They can get by with one of the best offenses in the game as it stands without desperately needing Helton in it. Fuentes would certainly help but he'd have a smaller role than he does here and probably not the impact of a strong SP instead in their rotation.

The Rox definitely need to explore that possibility because there are so few teams that would consider Helton, but I don't think there would be a fit in terms of what I would want back compared to what some other organizations could offer in terms of MLB-ready young talent. With their pitching woes in general, I can't see them dealing away young arms that we'd probably be asking for. Tabata is their best positional prospect and a possibility to shoot for perhaps. I also don't think the Yankees would be Helton's cup of tea in order to agree to waive his no-trade clause in mid-season (as he said he was opposed to anyway to even more attractive options to him personally). The zoo there would probably drive him nuts with his grounded personality.

Salary room is over-rated, especially if they just sign more over-priced mediocre scrubs as mentioned or just replace one big contract (on a proven solid contributor) for another big gamble. That's off-the-field poking around in other people's wallets. On the field, Helton is more valuable to this franchise than he's given credit for IMO, and we're seeing that his struggles last year were mostly odd health-related circumstances as he bounces back again to one of the best pure hitters in the game.

Something that might fly would be trading Helton and a okay pitcher/prospect for an all-star replacement but with a shorter contract plus a stud prospect. That gives them some competitive cover for not totally throwing in the towel (with a big veteran name coming back in the deal to replace Helton) plus another young asset for their rebuilding. Across town from the Yankees, Delgado is struggling on a team with championship aspirations. Helton+R.Lopez for Delgado+Milledge with whatever other pieces might be needed to balance things out might be something that could help both organizations. Rox could argue Carlos Delgado has a more powerful HR bat than Helton to hit cleanup and a financial commitment only through 08 (to meet that budgetary interest), and allows them to get a strong young CF prospect.

[Dante Bichette]

Originally Posted by hiaspire

Something that might fly would be trading Helton and a okay pitcher/prospect for an all-star replacement but with a shorter contract plus a stud prospect. That gives them some competitive cover for not totally throwing in the towel (with a big veteran name coming back in the deal to replace Helton) plus another young asset for their rebuilding. Across town from the Yankees, Delgado is struggling on a team with championship aspirations. Helton+R.Lopez for Delgado+Milledge with whatever other pieces might be needed to balance things out might be something that could help both organizations. Rox could argue Carlos Delgado has a more powerful HR bat than Helton to hit cleanup and a financial commitment only through 08 (to meet that budgetary interest), and allows them to get a strong young CF prospect.

If we can get Miledge and Delgado for Helton and Lopez than we should do it.

As for the Yanks, why not make it a blockbuster. We give them Helton, Fuentes, Matsui, and Cook (plus a mid-level prospect or two) for Canoe, Hughes, and a reliever and pitching prospect. Canoe becomes our 2nd baseman, Corpas our closer, Stewart, Baker, or Koshansky takes over at 1st, Hughes replaces Cook in the rotation.

Yanks get a pitcher who can help them now in Cook (and a guy who is still young by their standards), Fuentes as their set-up man, Matsui replaces Cano at 2nd, and obviously Helton at 1st.

[John Cocktoston]

I think we have a better chance of getting Steinbrenner's daughter included in the deal than we do Philip Hughes.