I wrote yesterday about why I didn’t like the Yankees giving up 4 young prospects for Curtis Granderson. Some of the names you heard possible on the move were Phil Hughes, Austin Jackson, Michael Dunn, Phil Coke, and Ian Kennedy. NYBD contributor Frank Russo asked around and was told by a Yankees source that “Brian (Cashman) has been very hesitant to include Jackson and Hughes separately in trades, so sending both of them to Detroit for a Granderson goes against all logical thinking.” He believes that ”it makes no sense to trade their center fielder of the future and their setup man for someone like a Granderson, especially when A-Jax is predicted to be better than him. The only way Hughes and Jackson both go in the same deal would be for someone like Halladay.”

When told of the second rumor, which didn’t include Hughes, but the A-Jax plus three prospects package he said “the one where we trade Dunn, Coke and Kennedy makes a little more sense, but remember we traded Bruney yesterday. I don’t think “Cash” wants to weaken the bullpen even more by trading away Coke as well”

I saw many people dismiss trading Dunn and Coke because they are replaceable relievers. Oh really? Any good left handed reliever will make about a million dollars and the Yankees had to give Damaso Marte a three year contract for about $12 million dollars. You can get plenty of situational lefties, but will they be any good? Coke has great splits against both sides. Giving one away I could see, but two seems excessive. It doesn’t sound like Ian Kennedy is a huge sticking point. After his failed stint as a starter in 2008 many in the Yankees organization have soured on him. The injuries weren’t his fault, but I don’t think the attitude went over well. The big choice is Austin Jackson and whether they want to give him up in a deal. Personally if the name coming back is not a big time pitcher (i.e. Halladay) I pass.

Granderson is tempting, after all his lefty stroke is tailor made for Yankee Stadium, but the strikeouts and inability to hit left handed pitching bothers me a great deal. Could his defense make up for it? Perhaps, but you are giving up four young prospects, including one of your best positional prospects, for an average offensive player. If Detroit sends Edwin Jackson back as well it makes more sense, but according to Joel Sherman the Yankees didn’t like the prospect cost during the initial conversation on the three way deal. An Edwin Jackson/Granderson package would definitely require Hughes to replace Max Scherzer who was going to Detroit in the original three way.

Mike Silva is a freelance writer and radio host since March of 2007. This website is his own personal "digest" of New York Baseball He's also hosts NYBD Radio on Blog Talk Radio and 1240 AM WGBB. Check out his sports media commentary at www.sportsmediawatchdog.com. Check out his official website, www.mikesilvamedia.com

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Tags: Austin Jackson, Curtis Granderson, Detroit Tigers, Ian Kennedy, Michael Dunn, New York Yankees, Phil Coke, Phil Hughes