Feed Cano to the Tigers
By Mike Silva ~ December 18th, 2008. Filed under: Mike Silva.
The incomparable Lane Meyer of Nomaas continues his offseason trade proposal series. Earlier this year, Lane suggested trading Robinson Cano for Matt Cain. Now Cano’s name has resurfaced, this time in a six player proposal with Detroit . Lane proposed the following:
Robinson Cano, Ian Kennedy, Jose Veres/Edwar Ramirez, and Austin Romine
for
Justin Verlander and Carlos Guillen
You could read Lane’s entire analysis here, but the main point is he believes this deal will make the Tigers younger and gives the Yankees a pitcher with huge upside. Verlander had a down year in 2008, mostly due to a huge increase in walks.
The only debate in this deal is Cano. Are you comfortable with essentially a Cano for Verlander swap? Guillen is a short term solution at first base, and the prospects in the deal play positions that the Yankees have a tremendous amount of depth. A free agent, like Orlando Hudson, could easily replace Cano at second base.
It appears that the Yankees have floated Cano’s name to teams. Obtaining a pitcher, like Verlander, makes your rotation younger, better, and have greater depth. If you’re the Yankees you have to consider this deal. Detroit however, would have to think twice. Verlander has, as Lane puts it, “solid mechanics, top-tier velocity, and filthy movement”. All these traits make for a “top of the rotation starter”, which Verlander was in 2006 and 2007. My final analysis: great deal the Yankees would have to make but, if I am Detroit, I pass. Top of the rotation pitchers don’t grow on trees and are becoming harder to obtain due to their scarcity. Good work by Nomaas with another thought provoking deal proposal.
December 18th, 2008 at 2:05 pm
I don’t like the idea of trading Cano, but I also would not include Austin Romine. Forget about Jesus Montero, Romine is the Yankees future catcher. Montero will be the DH/1B who can also catch in a pinch.
I do like Verlander, though, who has been pretty good since he entered the league. His off year in 2008 is explained away by certain times he had one bad inning (usually the 5th or 6th – third time thru lineup?) in many of his starts, but dominated the rest of the game. This trade would alleviate the need to sign another free agent pitcher.
December 19th, 2008 at 6:41 am
If Dombrowski took this deal he would rightly be run out of Detroit on a rail. Nothing against Cano, but like you said, top of the rotation talent like Verlander doesn’t just grow on trees.