Groan… Marte Due Back

Damaso Marte, the 2009 Yankees original lefty setup guy, is scheduled to complete his rehab assignment in the next several days and the big question is what are the Yanks going to do with him?  Marte has been unimpressive in his Yankee career, allowing 11 earned runs in 18 innings with the team last year, after being included in the Xavier Nady trade with Pittsburgh.  Somehow, those totals got him a three year contract with the Yanks, much to my disappointment.  This year, he got hurt in the World Baseball Classic, returned to the Yanks only to allow nine earned runs in five innings pitched, and has been on the shelf since.  In his rehab stint, he’s allowed three earned runs in 10 innings and his 30 days maximum rehab time are about to expire.

If this doesn’t show Brian Cashman that you should NEVER give a multi-year deal to a veteran middle reliever, then I don’t know what will.  With a bullpen of young guys this year, the Yanks have done quite well.  In fact sending David Robertson, the MLB leader in K/9 IP, to Scranton would be a crime and weaken the pen.  The only other move that I can see happening, though, would be designating Sergio Mitre for assignment as soon as he gets his spanking in his start this weekend.  Marte was put on the 60-day DL as a paperwork move to allow the Yankees to activate Chad Gaudin, so he’s not on the 40-man roster, necessitating a move.  They could move Chien-Ming Wang to the 60-day DL and option Robertson or Ramiro Pena down, as well, but I don’t think there’s room for both Gaudin and Mitre, so one of them is likely to go.

Wang Done For Year

In his only two full seasons in the big leagues, Chien-Ming Wang won 19 games each season and was the runner-up in the 2006 Cy Young award balloting.  Despite his struggles in the early part of 2009, the Yanks will miss Wang, who is scheduled to undergo season-ending shoulder surgery today.  Wang could also be out until the all-star break next year, a fact that doesn’t bode well for his future in pinstripes.

For now though, the Yanks are going to have to figure out how to replace Wang.  In spring training, starting pitching depth was something the Yanks were proud of, having a rotation six or seven deep.  Then, Phil Hughes was sent to the bullpen, where he has become an irreplaceable bridge to Mariano Rivera.  Ian Kennedy is likely out for the season because of an aneurysm.  Alfredo Aceves is in the bullpen (and has shoulder soreness, himself).  For now, Sergio Mitre is the fifth starter, but he’s given up 17 hits and seven earned runs in 10.2 innings through two starts.

As much as I’d like to see Hughes moved to the rotation, he’d need to be stretched out (same with Aceves), which could take some time in the minors.  The bullpen would be substantially weaker if either Hughes or Aceves would be moved to the rotation.  So for now, do the Yanks stick with Mitre?  They might have to since there are no answers in AAA Scranton/Wilkes-Barre.  Making a trade before Friday’s deadline is a possibility, but it won’t be Roy Halladay or Cliff Lee, who both come with steep asking prices.  Personally, I hope Brian Cashman keeps some prospects untouchable.

As for Wang, he’s in his arbitration years, so the Yankees and Wang would have to come to an agreement on a contract for 2010 or go to salary arbitration.  One option they could take is to non-tender him, making him a free agent.  Notice how the Yankees haven’t reached out to Wang to sign him to a long-term deal.  After missing half of 2008 with an injury, a forgetful 2009, and a possible late return in 2010, would you blame the Yankees if they gave up on him?

Don’t Trade for Halladay

Since the Blue Jays recently announced that they would begin listening to offers for star pitcher Roy Halladay, I have a simple message to the Yankee brass: Phil Hughes, Joba Chamberlain, Austin Jackson and Jesus Montero should all stay in the Yankee organization.  In fact, I would not trade for Halladay at this point.

Trading for Halladay would deplete the young talent in the Yankee system that GM Brian Cashman has worked so hard to develop.  Not to mention, Halladay is 32, so how many great years does he have left?  The reason why the Jays are looking into moving Halladay is that he’s only signed through 2010.  By trading for him, the Yanks wouldn’t be using their strengths to acquire a great player.  How did CC Sabathia get to New York.  MONEY.  If they want a 34 year old Halladay, then the Yanks’ best bet would be to throw money at him when he’s a free agent.  Selling off the team’s future for a 32 year old pitcher doesn’t make any sense.

I get it.  Halladay is great.  He’s the best pitcher in the American League and maybe baseball, but he’s not worth a Chamberlain/Montero/Jackson deal that Peter Abraham mentioned in his blog.  You can’t just deal a 23 year old pitcher with electic stuff, a 19 year old hitter (a catcher… for now), and the organization’s best all-around athlete for a 32 year old pitcher.  The Jays aren’t going to want to trade him in the AL East anyway and set themselves back more, but I thought the Yanks were getting smarter than this.  They have to call Toronto to ask what they want, but that should be it.