bmaninc
12-08-2009, 06:27 PM
The D-backs, Tigers and Yankees agreed in principle Tuesday on a deal that would send Tigers center fielder Curtis Granderson to New York in the first major deal of this year's Winter Meetings, according to sources.
The D-backs would receive right-handers Edwin Jackson and Ian Kennedy from the Tigers and Yankees, respectively, while the Tigers would get pitchers Max Scherzer and Daniel Schlereth from Arizona and outfielder Austin Jackson and left-hander Phil Coke from New York.
A source said that the Yankees were piqued by the idea of installing the left-handed-hitting Granderson into center field at Yankee Stadium, where his power bat could play nicely with the short porch and help reconstruct their lineup for a defense of their World Series title.
Granderson hit .249 with 30 home runs, 71 RBIs and 20 stolen bases in 160 games for the Tigers in 2009. After earning an affordable $3.5 million this year, he is due for a sizable pay jump on a back-loaded contract, as he is scheduled to receive $5.5 million next season, $8.25 million in 2011 and $10 million in 2012.
Granderson is also largely neutralized by left-handed pitching. Last season, Granderson hit all but two of his home runs off right-handers, batting just .183 in 180 at-bats against southpaws.
Interest in Granderson was reported as early as the General Managers Meetings in November, and may have grown more attractive as the offseason continued.
The D-backs entered the Winter Meetings searching for a starter to slot behind Brandon Webb, Dan Haren and Scherzer in the rotation and about $10 million to spend. Their plan seemed to call for them to spend the bulk of that money either on a free-agent pitcher or taking part of a large pitcher's contract off another team's hands via trade.
If the deal is indeed structured as believed, it would allow the D-backs to spend their remaining dollars on shoring up the bullpen and bolstering their offense, which has underperformed the past few seasons.
Kennedy missed much of last season after having surgery to repair an aneurysm under his right armpit on May 12. He pitched in four Minor League games for Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre last year and tossed a scoreless inning in his one appearance for the Yankees.
BLOCKBUSTER BREAKDOWN
Team Acquires
D-backs
RHP Edwin Jackson (from DET)
RHP Ian Kennedy (from NYY)
Tigers
RHP Max Scherzer (from ARI)
OF Austin Jackson (from NYY)
LHP Phil Coke (from NYY)
LHP Daniel Schlereth (from ARI)
Yankees
OF Curtis Granderson (from DET)
The right-hander pitched well in the Arizona Fall League and the D-backs appear to have favorable reports on him.
Jackson, 26, made $2.2 million last year and will be eligible for salary arbitration this winter for the second time, which could push his salary into the $5 million range. Jackson cannot be eligible for free agency until after the 2011 season.
Jackson was 13-9 with a 3.62 ERA in 33 starts last season for the Tigers. A former GM described Jackson's makeup as "off the charts."
Yankees vice president of baseball operations Mark Newman said last week that the club was enthused to see the 22-year-old Jackson succeed at Triple-A, batting .300 in 132 games, and many in the pipeline expect that Jackson will eventually be a dependable Major League player.
"He's a lot like [Robinson] Cano was as a Minor League player -- good hitter, uses the field," Newman said. "He's a guy who's going to get stronger as he matures into his body physically. We think he's going to hit some home runs. He's a pretty good hitter now and the power will emerge over time."
Jackson would have come into camp competing for the center field job but easily could have started the year at Triple-A. The Yankees have never declared Jackson untouchable, but rather have been waiting for the right offer -- one that now appears to have presented itself.
Scherzer, 25, was the D-backs' first-round selection (No. 11 overall), out of the University of Missouri, in the 2006 First-Year Player Draft. He broke into the Majors in 2008 and was a regular in Arizona's rotation last season. The right-hander went 9-11 with a 4.12 ERA, striking out 174 in 170 1/3 innings.
Schlereth, a 23-year-old left-hander, was also a first-rounder, going 26th overall in the 2008 Draft. He joined the D-backs during last season and appeared in 21 games, all in relief. He struck out 22 batters in 18 1/3 innings, but he walked 15 and had an ERA of 5.89.
Kennedy, taken 10 picks after Scherzer in the 2006 Draft, burst upon the Yankees scene in late 2007, climbing from Class A through the Minors in a single season and making three impressive starts. That gave the Yankees belief that he could be a part of their starting rotation in 2008, but he went 0-4 with an 8.17 ERA in nine starts and one relief appearance.
Coke, 27, evolved into a reliable left-hander in the Yankees bullpen last season and pitched well in five of six postseason appearances.
Discuss. Source = http://mlb.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20091208&content_id=7774288&vkey=news_mlb&fext=.jsp&c_id=mlb
The D-backs would receive right-handers Edwin Jackson and Ian Kennedy from the Tigers and Yankees, respectively, while the Tigers would get pitchers Max Scherzer and Daniel Schlereth from Arizona and outfielder Austin Jackson and left-hander Phil Coke from New York.
A source said that the Yankees were piqued by the idea of installing the left-handed-hitting Granderson into center field at Yankee Stadium, where his power bat could play nicely with the short porch and help reconstruct their lineup for a defense of their World Series title.
Granderson hit .249 with 30 home runs, 71 RBIs and 20 stolen bases in 160 games for the Tigers in 2009. After earning an affordable $3.5 million this year, he is due for a sizable pay jump on a back-loaded contract, as he is scheduled to receive $5.5 million next season, $8.25 million in 2011 and $10 million in 2012.
Granderson is also largely neutralized by left-handed pitching. Last season, Granderson hit all but two of his home runs off right-handers, batting just .183 in 180 at-bats against southpaws.
Interest in Granderson was reported as early as the General Managers Meetings in November, and may have grown more attractive as the offseason continued.
The D-backs entered the Winter Meetings searching for a starter to slot behind Brandon Webb, Dan Haren and Scherzer in the rotation and about $10 million to spend. Their plan seemed to call for them to spend the bulk of that money either on a free-agent pitcher or taking part of a large pitcher's contract off another team's hands via trade.
If the deal is indeed structured as believed, it would allow the D-backs to spend their remaining dollars on shoring up the bullpen and bolstering their offense, which has underperformed the past few seasons.
Kennedy missed much of last season after having surgery to repair an aneurysm under his right armpit on May 12. He pitched in four Minor League games for Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre last year and tossed a scoreless inning in his one appearance for the Yankees.
BLOCKBUSTER BREAKDOWN
Team Acquires
D-backs
RHP Edwin Jackson (from DET)
RHP Ian Kennedy (from NYY)
Tigers
RHP Max Scherzer (from ARI)
OF Austin Jackson (from NYY)
LHP Phil Coke (from NYY)
LHP Daniel Schlereth (from ARI)
Yankees
OF Curtis Granderson (from DET)
The right-hander pitched well in the Arizona Fall League and the D-backs appear to have favorable reports on him.
Jackson, 26, made $2.2 million last year and will be eligible for salary arbitration this winter for the second time, which could push his salary into the $5 million range. Jackson cannot be eligible for free agency until after the 2011 season.
Jackson was 13-9 with a 3.62 ERA in 33 starts last season for the Tigers. A former GM described Jackson's makeup as "off the charts."
Yankees vice president of baseball operations Mark Newman said last week that the club was enthused to see the 22-year-old Jackson succeed at Triple-A, batting .300 in 132 games, and many in the pipeline expect that Jackson will eventually be a dependable Major League player.
"He's a lot like [Robinson] Cano was as a Minor League player -- good hitter, uses the field," Newman said. "He's a guy who's going to get stronger as he matures into his body physically. We think he's going to hit some home runs. He's a pretty good hitter now and the power will emerge over time."
Jackson would have come into camp competing for the center field job but easily could have started the year at Triple-A. The Yankees have never declared Jackson untouchable, but rather have been waiting for the right offer -- one that now appears to have presented itself.
Scherzer, 25, was the D-backs' first-round selection (No. 11 overall), out of the University of Missouri, in the 2006 First-Year Player Draft. He broke into the Majors in 2008 and was a regular in Arizona's rotation last season. The right-hander went 9-11 with a 4.12 ERA, striking out 174 in 170 1/3 innings.
Schlereth, a 23-year-old left-hander, was also a first-rounder, going 26th overall in the 2008 Draft. He joined the D-backs during last season and appeared in 21 games, all in relief. He struck out 22 batters in 18 1/3 innings, but he walked 15 and had an ERA of 5.89.
Kennedy, taken 10 picks after Scherzer in the 2006 Draft, burst upon the Yankees scene in late 2007, climbing from Class A through the Minors in a single season and making three impressive starts. That gave the Yankees belief that he could be a part of their starting rotation in 2008, but he went 0-4 with an 8.17 ERA in nine starts and one relief appearance.
Coke, 27, evolved into a reliable left-hander in the Yankees bullpen last season and pitched well in five of six postseason appearances.
Discuss. Source = http://mlb.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20091208&content_id=7774288&vkey=news_mlb&fext=.jsp&c_id=mlb
