Yankees/Tigers swap Pudge for Farnsworth

[browntown653]

ESPN - Yankees find their catcher for stretch, trade for Rodriguez - MLB

Didn't see this one coming.

[BuckFoston]

Neither did I but this is pretty sweet.. Its going to be weird seeing him in pinstripes and not Posada. Does this mean the Tigers are giving up though?

[redsrbetter]

Although I am intrigued about seeing Pudge in pinstripes, I don't like how much the Yankees have given up from their bullpen. Hawkins and Farnsworth are gone. Who is left to setup? Molina is the better defensive catcher than Pudge and it's not like the Yanks needed more offense.

Not that this was a bad move, but I fear the bullpen is getting a bit weak.

[Kingdom_of_Zito]

Last time Farnsy was a tiger, he was.. actually very good.

[perforatededge54]

Originally Posted by redsrbetter Although I am intrigued about seeing Pudge in pinstripes, I don't like how much the Yankees have given up from their bullpen. Hawkins and Farnsworth are gone. Who is left to setup? Molina is the better defensive catcher than Pudge and it's not like the Yanks needed more offense. Not that this was a bad move, but I fear the bullpen is getting a bit weak.

Allow me to ease your concerns; we DFA'd Hawkins because he was terrible and hadn't pitched in a game that wasn't a blowout since May. Farnsworth was good this season but he's always one pitch away from disaster. With the rise of Edwar Ramirez and Brian Bruney looming in Scranton...we dealt away from strength and filled a need.

[love_that_reefer]

Did George Steinbrenner pay off every club in MLB?? Seems like every year the Yankees make terrible decisions but some team always bails them out. The Pirates took very little in quality when trading Nady and Marte and now the Tigers bail them out by giving up a future HOFer. This is just ridiculous!!!

As for the Tigers, they are not giving up. They got a much needed bullpen guy even though it is Farnsworth and according to Buster Olney, Pudge wasn't a happy man. Inge can catch and provide just as much offense so its not a real loss for the Tigers.

[NYgiantsfan5689]

Originally Posted by redsrbetter Although I am intrigued about seeing Pudge in pinstripes, I don't like how much the Yankees have given up from their bullpen. Hawkins and Farnsworth are gone. Who is left to setup? Molina is the better defensive catcher than Pudge and it's not like the Yanks needed more offense. Not that this was a bad move, but I fear the bullpen is getting a bit weak.

They did just get Marte, so I imagine either he or Veras (or Edwar?) will set up.

Originally Posted by love_that_reefer Did George Steinbrenner pay off every club in MLB?? Seems like every year the Yankees make terrible decisions but some team always bails them out. The Pirates took very little in quality when trading Nady and Marte and now the Tigers bail them out by giving up a future HOFer. This is just ridiculous!!!

How is it ridiculous? Farnsy's been quite good of late, and Pudge isn't the HoF catcher he was in his prime.

And please explain to me the terrible decision of this year you're referring to.

[ljshorty89]

I don't think this is a big deal, I don't even think Pudge is as good as people think he is. He's got a good average, but even his defensive skills have wained. To me, the Yankees gave up too much for something that (I didn't think) was that big a need. They could traded Farnsworth for more.

[love_that_reefer]

its ridiculous that teams bail out the Yankees all the time. The terrible decision this year? Overpaying for Posada, signing LaTroy Hawkins, not getting enough starting pitching and the whole Joba fiasco. That's just this year. Teams have been bailing them out for a while now. You honestly think the Nady/Marte deal was a good one for the Pirates?

[perforatededge54]

It'd be a good one if Tabata lives up to his talent.

Pudge isn't great anymore, but he has still thrown out 36% of attempted base stealers and hits at a league average clip. League average from your catcher position is an advantage and it's better than the black hole of Fat Jose the Great. Now there is only one automatic out in the Yankee lineup: Melky Cabrera. Luckily Matsui took some swings the other day and reportedly feels swell so maybe the Melkman will have to grab some bench soon.

[love_that_reefer]

McCutchen is the only good thing thta came out of it. Tabata is a huge risk has already come close to quitting baseball and is only 19!

Pudge is head and shoulders better than Molina offensively and that's what they want. Plus Pudge has won a ring before(against the Yankees) so he knows what October is all about.

[NYgiantsfan5689]

Originally Posted by love_that_reefer its ridiculous that teams bail out the Yankees all the time. The terrible decision this year? Overpaying for Posada, signing LaTroy Hawkins, not getting enough starting pitching and the whole Joba fiasco. That's just this year. Teams have been bailing them out for a while now. You honestly think the Nady/Marte deal was a good one for the Pirates?

Joba FIASCO?? What Joba FIASCO? How can you possibly describe the situation as a fiasco? That one needs explaination.

As far as Posada and Hawkins, yes Hawkins was a mistake. And now he's DFA'd. Posada is a lifetime Yankee, and still a very good player. He deserved almost that much, and I'm sure a bit was saying thank you for being a Yankee.