Why do other teams give up practically nothing for decent players?

[Yankee Steve]

So, the Red Sox are apparently on the brink of sending Doug Mirabelli to San Diego for 2nd baseman Mark Loretta. How does that happen? How is a backup catcher, who only catches Tim Wakefield, equal value to Mark Loretta, who only one year ago hit .335 with 47 doubles, 16 homers and 76 RBI? How do the Red Sox always seem to get better players for practically nothing? Beckett, Lowell and Mota for what? Schilling for Fossum? What goes on here? How can Juan Pierre be traded to the Cubs for three minor league pitchers and the Marlins want Cano or Wang from us? I am really getting tired of the "Yankee Mark-up"...

[Babe Rules]

How much Loretta is owed?

[ryanthe13th]

Contract Summary Date Signed:
Signed with: Padres
General Manager: Kevin Towers
Length: 2 years ('05 - '06)
Guaranteed Value: $5.75 million
Maximum Value: $5.75 million

[whalers]

So, the Red Sox are apparently on the brink of sending Doug Mirabelli to San Diego for 2nd baseman Mark Loretta. How does that happen? How is a backup catcher, who only catches Tim Wakefield, equal value to Mark Loretta, who only one year ago hit .335 with 47 doubles, 16 homers and 76 RBI? How do the Red Sox always seem to get better players for practically nothing? Beckett, Lowell and Mota for what? Schilling for Fossum? What goes on here? How can Juan Pierre be traded to the Cubs for three minor league pitchers and the Marlins want Cano or Wang from us? I am really getting tired of the "Yankee Mark-up"...

The Cubs gave up Mitre in the deal for Pierre. He is better than Wang. As for the Loretta deal...I dont get it.

[MattUNC2003]

It's a massed government conspiracy designed to prevent the public from knowing the truth.

The truth that Larry Lucchino is really an alien who is trying to spread his offspring (players such as Doug Mirabelli, Anibal Sanchez, and Hanley Ramirez) across the league so that they can be better seated to conquer all of humanity when the time is right.

[Yankees13]

Makes you wonder if there's some sort of collusion against the Yankees.

[noneckwilliams]

The Mirabelli deal is really amazing. What does SD get out of that deal?

The Yankees need to stick to their guns and not overpay. In the short run it will be frustrating but the message must be sent. The value of developing a farm system laden with prospects (or at least seemingly laden with prospects) has never been more apparent.

[BJG]

Loretta picks up $500K as a trade bonus, so he will make $3.75M in 2006. He is 34 and coming off a down year with the bat and his health.

Mirabelli is better than a backup, cheap, and Towers doesn't like Olivo enough to not have a serous backup plan. Mostly, thouhg, he needs the money for Hoffman, as he can't sign him without moving salary.

It makes sense for both teams. We aren't talking about gerat players on either end and the Padres are dumping cash, so one wouldn't expect exactly equal talent.

[terminator]

Makes you wonder if there's some sort of collusion against the Yankees.

No doubt. It's a massive conspiracy - spreading across all of baseball. The teams, Commissioner's office, umpires, writers, sabremetricians. Even hot dog vendors.

First they go after the Yankees. When they are done with that, they will come after the Yankee fans.

I would tread softly if I were you.

[RhodeyYankee2638]

Loretta picks up $500K as a trade bonus, so he will make $3.75M in 2006. He is 34 and coming off a down year with the bat and his health.

Mirabelli is better than a backup, cheap, and Towers doesn't like Olivo enough to not have a serous backup plan. He also needs the money for Hoffman.

It makes sense for both teams. We aren't talking about gerat players on either end.

Hoffman is supposedly extremely close to signing with the Indians, the Pads dont want to give him a 3rd year, so I doubt it has to do with signing Hoffman.

They also traded Burroughs, it looks as if they may be white flagging next year, although they could probably still finish 2nd in that awful divison

[Mark19]

Believe it or not, there isn't a conspiracy against the Yankees.

• Mirabelli is cheap and one of the best backup catchers in baseball. Loretta is 35, owed $4 million and missed 50 games last season.
• The Cubs gave up an end of the rotation starter, 1 very good pitching prospect and 1 mediocre one for 1 year of Juan Pierre.
• The Red Sox gave up 2 of their top 5 prospects for a wildly inconsistent Mota, an overpaid slumping Mike Lowell and young stud who almost failed his physical.

Furthermore, Cano is a promising young infielder with decent power and average. He also struggles with the glove and lacks plate discipline.

Wang is a 26 year old sinkerballer who has been very successful but also has shoulder troubles.

Cano projects to be the next Ronnie Belliard and Wang's ceiling is probably somewhere around Jake Westbrook. We're not exactly talking about the next Soriano and Santana here.

Face it, there is no free lunch in baseball. If we won't give up a lot, we won't get a lot.

[RhodeyYankee2638]

Believe it or not, there isn't a conspiracy against the Yankees.

• Mirabelli is cheap and one of the best backup catchers in baseball. Loretta is 35,

He is an outstanding backup catcher. And unless the Pad's resign Hernandez, he will be their starter.

[BJG]

Hoffman is supposedly extremely close to signing with the Indians, the Pads dont want to give him a 3rd year, so I doubt it has to do with signing Hoffman.

They also traded Burroughs, it looks as if they may be white flagging next year, although they could probably still finish 2nd in that awful divison

It's my understanding that Hoffman is playing with the Indians to push the Padres and that this deal was all about the money from SD's standpoint.

Burroughs hit 250/.318/.299 last year. They basically gave up on him.

EDIT: ESPN News apparently reporting that Hoffman has indeed resigned with the Padres. Rosenthal saying the same thing. 2 years with a vesting option. It's so hard to be right all of the time

[Yankees13]

No doubt. It's a massive conspiracy - spreading across all of baseball. The teams, Commissioner's office, umpires, writers, sabremetricians. Even hot dog vendors.

First they go after the Yankees. When they are done with that, they will come after the Yankee fans.

I would tread softly if I were you.

You cannot deny that the Yankees pay extriobant prices for players. Or that the Red Sox get players much cheaper, however you look at it. Maybe it's not collusion and just GMs being assholes, but either it's annoying as hell.

[swityak11]

I'm not a conspiracy theorist. The fact is that outside of Cano/Wang/Duncan/Hughes we have nothing that interests other teams.

It's a bit unreasonable to want to trade for quality players then balk when the other team suggests one of the top four. Don't want to trade any of them? Absolutely fine. But expectations have to be kept in check on the quality of player you get in return when you don't include them.

[RobbiMan]

You cannot deny that the Yankees pay extriobant prices for players. Or that the Red Sox get players much cheaper, however you look at it. Maybe it's not collusion and just GMs being assholes, but either it's annoying as hell.

Maybe it's just that the GM's value the players in trades differently than you do. You can't look at prospects in trades in a vacuum. Sure there may be better options out there in some of the trades, but are they better options for the team on the receiving end of the trade?

[JeterRodriguezSheff]

Believe it or not, there isn't a conspiracy against the Yankees.

• Mirabelli is cheap and one of the best backup catchers in baseball. Loretta is 35, owed $4 million and missed 50 games last season.
• The Cubs gave up an end of the rotation starter, 1 very good pitching prospect and 1 mediocre one for 1 year of Juan Pierre.
• The Red Sox gave up 2 of their top 5 prospects for a wildly inconsistent Mota, an overpaid slumping Mike Lowell and young stud who almost failed his physical.

Furthermore, Cano is a promising young infielder with decent power and average. He also struggles with the glove and lacks plate discipline.

Wang is a 26 year old sinkerballer who has been very successful but also has shoulder troubles.

Cano projects to be the next Ronnie Belliard and Wang's ceiling is probably somewhere around Jake Westbrook. We're not exactly talking about the next Soriano and Santana here.

Face it, there is no free lunch in baseball. If we won't give up a lot, we won't get a lot.

Cano overall has the potetional to be considerably better than the most overrated active player in Soriano overall

I think average is very overvalued but cano should be a good average hitter, as he hit .290 in his rookie season. He had a highes obp than Soriano did last season, even though he needs to work on his defense he is better than Soriano and he doesnt get the benefit of playing in the AL version of Coors field and one is 23 the other is 30. Further more lets compare rookie seasons.

Sorianos rookie season: .268/.304/.432
Sorianos 2005: .268/.309/.512

Cano's rookie 2005: .297/.320/.458

So yeah I think saying Cano can be better than Soriano isnt any long shot by any means. He is already a better defensive player and was a lot better than Soriano was in his rookie season and Id still take Cano's rookie season over Sorianos 2005 in the AL version of Coors field.

IMO Cano>Soriano

[BomberBrian]

• Mirabelli is cheap and one of the best backup catchers in baseball. Loretta is 35, owed $4 million and missed 50 games last season.

Mirabelli is also 35 and coming off a terrible season.

I don't buy into the Mirabelli hype.

He's an average backup catcher.

[JeterRodriguezSheff]

BTW we shoulnt be complaining as we got a former all star pitcher and first round pick who put up decent numbers in Coors for pratically nothing last year. Yes im talking about Chacon. That was a steal and we arent complaining about that now are we? Dont forget getting A-rod for only Alfonso Soriano which is a fricking amazing deal for us.

[AJW]

Makes you wonder if there's some sort of collusion against the Yankees.

I have been thinking about that for a while. ................ you Selig!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[TommyK8]

If you think there is a premium that the Yankees must pay to obtain players, I can give you a list of tremendous players that the Yankees picked up for very little that contributed mightily to their championship years. The Yankee fans who feel there is a conspiracy have short memories. Look back at what the Yankees gave up to obtain Roger Clemens in 1999, who had just won back-to-back Cy Young Awards with the Blue Jays. Look at what they gave up to obtain John Wetteland, who was arguably the best closer in baseball when they got him. Look at what they gave up to obtain David Cone, and Scott Brosius, and Chuck Knoblauch and Paul O'Neill. You still think there's a premium the Yanks pay? More recent examples needed? How much did the Yanks give up for Alex Rodriguez, in addition to getting $67 million from Texas in the deal. How about Randy Johnson?

There is no Yankee premium. None. Other teams are trying to improve their own teams.

As for the Loretta for Mirabelli trade, this one is really quite simple. The Padres have a youngster they think is ready to take over at second base, and he will do so at the minimum salary. They need a catcher, but don't want to spend big money. They look around the big leagues for backup catchers who they think can be a productive everyday starter. The Red Sox have an excellent defensive catcher in Mirabelli, who outside of last year has shown himself to be a very good hitter. There are few, if any, backup catchers who can become everyday catchers, and Mirabelli is one of them. If the Yankees had a Doug Mirabelli as their backup, they could have made this trade. They didn't. They had John Flaherty. They wouldn't have had a need for Loretta, but the point is that the Red Sox backup catcher had trade value, and the Yankees' backup catcher didn't.

[ppa79]

Yankee tax

[SoCal Pinstriper]

Believe it or not, there isn't a conspiracy against the Yankees.

• Mirabelli is cheap and one of the best backup catchers in baseball. Loretta is 35, owed $4 million and missed 50 games last season.
• The Cubs gave up an end of the rotation starter, 1 very good pitching prospect and 1 mediocre one for 1 year of Juan Pierre.
• The Red Sox gave up 2 of their top 5 prospects for a wildly inconsistent Mota, an overpaid slumping Mike Lowell and young stud who almost failed his physical.

Furthermore, Cano is a promising young infielder with decent power and average. He also struggles with the glove and lacks plate discipline.

Wang is a 26 year old sinkerballer who has been very successful but also has shoulder troubles.

Cano projects to be the next Ronnie Belliard and Wang's ceiling is probably somewhere around Jake Westbrook. We're not exactly talking about the next Soriano and Santana here.

Face it, there is no free lunch in baseball. If we won't give up a lot, we won't get a lot.

I think that Mark 19 has it right. The Pads see Mirabelli/Olivo as a cost effective tandem at catcher, and Loretta was a salary dump.

They needed the cash as they just signed Hoffman.

DALLAS -- Trevor Hoffman will stay with the San Diego Padres, agreeing Wednesday to a $13.5 million, two-year contract that includes a club option for 2008.

http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/news/story?id=2251623

[JeffWeaverFan]

The Cubs gave up Mitre in the deal for Pierre. He is better than Wang. As for the Loretta deal...I dont get it.

Mitre is far from better than Wang.

Mitre's ERA last season was 5.37 and he had an ERA+ of 80. And that was in the NL. Wang's was 4.02 with an ERA+ of 111. Saying that, I do like Mitre and think he will become a pretty good pitcher. And, not knowing anything about the other two pitchers in that deal, the Cubs got ripped off.

The Red Sox traded their top position prospect (who I don't think much of, but other teams still held in high regards), their 2nd best pitching prospect (who has very good number), and another guy that throws like 98 MPH in that deal. With those 3 prospects, they got back a very talented pitcher in Josh Beckett who has loads of potential, but has had some big injury problems and has never thrown more than 180 innings in a year, a third baseman that has $18 million left on his contract that had an unbelievably atrocious year last year, and a pitcher that doesn't throw strikes (that also has talent, but had a bad season).

As for the Mirabelli for Loretta deal, well, Mirabelli is a cheap catcher that teams think can be a quality everyday catcher. You talk about Loretta being a guy that was a year away from having a very good season, well Mirabelli is a guy that in 2004 also had a very good season. .281/.368/.525/.893 with an OPS+ of 124 is fantastic for a catcher. Loretta is going to be 35 next year and it seems like his age caught up with him. The Padres need a catcher and the Red Sox need a second baesman so the deal makes sense for both teams, although I do think the Padres should try to get more than Mirabelli.

But seriously, I don't think other teams are deciding to take less from a team than they could get from us. We don't have any ML ready prospects except the 2 guys that came up last year and we are not willing to give up our top prospects that are a year or two away like Duncan and Hughes.

[PittsburghYankeeFan]

Cano projects to be the next Ronnie Belliard and Wang's ceiling is probably somewhere around Jake Westbrook. We're not exactly talking about the next Soriano and Santana here.

Face it, there is no free lunch in baseball. If we won't give up a lot, we won't get a lot.

Wang already has exceeded Jake Westbrook, who actually pitched OK this year for the Indians.

Cano hit great under pressure as a rookie and didn't do that badly in his first half year in the field. Give him a break--he's only a rookie. The next Ronnie Belliard? Let's see what his averages are September 2006--I am guessing around .300-.310 with 80-90 RBI.

Why should we give up our best young pitcher and young hitter? For what? To look good to Mike Lupica et al? To get "back page news"? Why? What is out there that is so special? Thin does not describe the current market--it's anorexic.

We need middle BP help (very hard to trade for) and a CF (we have a cheap one now, and we can afford to wait until July 31 or 2007 to see what comes up, and CF isn't going to make or break us next year).

If the Twins, for example, we're to offer us Torii Hunter for a decent AA prospect and Pavano--maybe that's one to think about (it will never happen). Maybe we get Hunter July 31st. Maybe Bubba is hitting .260-.270 and fielding decently by July 31and we can wait until 2007.

I like this postseason.. Doing nothing in the face of lots of pressure from Tampa takes balls. Keep it up, Cashman.

[YankeePride1967]

Please, enough with the "conspiracy against the Yankees" crap. Yankee fans acting like that are no different than how we have accused Red Sox fans of being like over the years.

[PittsburghYankeeFan]

Please, enough with the "conspiracy against the Yankees" crap. Yankee fans acting like that are no different than how we have accused Red Sox fans of being like over the years.

I agree.

Why should anyone trade with us to make us even better than we are now?

The Yankees have a pretty damn good team as it stands, and likely will win at least 95-100 games next year if the starters stay healthy and they do nothing else this postseason.

Leave the team alone, tweak it a bit, and try to figure out the middle BP (which is an art to predict year to year).

[noneckwilliams]

[/list]He is an outstanding backup catcher. And unless the Pad's resign Hernandez, he will be their starter.

Career .328 OBP for Mirabelli.

[RobbiMan]

Career .328 OBP for Mirabelli.

Career 714 Homeruns for Babe Ruth

[TommyK8]

Please, enough with the "conspiracy against the Yankees" crap. Yankee fans acting like that are no different than how we have accused Red Sox fans of being like over the years.

Thank you. For years, it was the Yankees who made trades like this, and they were able to do so because of 2 reasons: 1) They were willing to take on salary, and 2) They had marketable prospects. Now the Red Sox are doing exactly the same thing, although the Loretta trade is not a huge salary to take on. But I can assure you that Red Sox fans were frustrated when the Yankees were able to pick up the likes of Wetteland, Justice, Cone, Clemens, Knoblauch, Brosius, etc. for pennies on the dollar, but in those days, the Yankees actually had many prospects that other teams wanted. Somehow, that changed in the last few years, probably because the Yankees lost so many draft picks for free agents they signed, and it's come back to hurt the Yankees. There is no conspiracy. The Yankees have very little flexibility when it comes to trades because most of their starting players have immovable contracts, and the Yanks don't want to part with the ones who can be traded. End of story.

[Jace]

Career .328 OBP for Mirabelli.

And if Flaherty had done that last year we all would have rejoiced, because it would have been good production out of a backup catcher. That OBP is like the league average, thats awesome for a backup catcher.

[38Special]

I dont think its a conspiracy, but Towers must need to do the Sox a favor.... because Loretta had to have a greater market than a 35 year old backup catcher who sucked this year.

And if Flaherty had done that last year we all would have rejoiced, because it would have been good production out of a backup catcher. That OBP is like the league average, thats awesome for a backup catcher.

And we would have been able to then trade Flaherty for an all-star 2nd baseman right?

[Yankees13]

BTW we shoulnt be complaining as we got a former all star pitcher and first round pick who put up decent numbers in Coors for pratically nothing last year. Yes im talking about Chacon. That was a steal and we arent complaining about that now are we? Dont forget getting A-rod for only Alfonso Soriano which is a fricking amazing deal for us.

Yeah and Chacon had one win when we got him.

[jimmykey2]

Mitre is far from better than Wang.

Mitre's ERA last season was 5.37 and he had an ERA+ of 80. And that was in the NL. Wang's was 4.02 with an ERA+ of 111. Saying that, I do like Mitre and think he will become a pretty good pitcher. And, not knowing anything about the other two pitchers in that deal, the Cubs got ripped off.

The Red Sox traded their top position prospect (who I don't think much of, but other teams still held in high regards), their 2nd best pitching prospect (who has very good number), and another guy that throws like 98 MPH in that deal. With those 3 prospects, they got back a very talented pitcher in Josh Beckett who has loads of potential, but has had some big injury problems and has never thrown more than 180 innings in a year, a third baseman that has $18 million left on his contract that had an unbelievably atrocious year last year, and a pitcher that doesn't throw strikes (that also has talent, but had a bad season).

As for the Mirabelli for Loretta deal, well, Mirabelli is a cheap catcher that teams think can be a quality everyday catcher. You talk about Loretta being a guy that was a year away from having a very good season, well Mirabelli is a guy that in 2004 also had a very good season. .281/.368/.525/.893 with an OPS+ of 124 is fantastic for a catcher. Loretta is going to be 35 next year and it seems like his age caught up with him. The Padres need a catcher and the Red Sox need a second baesman so the deal makes sense for both teams, although I do think the Padres should try to get more than Mirabelli.

But seriously, I don't think other teams are deciding to take less from a team than they could get from us. We don't have any ML ready prospects except the 2 guys that came up last year and we are not willing to give up our top prospects that are a year or two away like Duncan and Hughes.

Thank you for correcting whalers on his wildly incorrect assumption. Wang had a bad shoulder and still pitched more innings in his 1st season than Mitre pitched in his last 2. Let's not even compare the ERA+. Mitre's 5.37 ERA last season was a career best!!!!

Without knowing the minor leaguers, it's a safe assumption that the Marlins screwed themselves here.

I love reading from non-Yankee and even some Yankee fans that Cano will never amount to anything more than an average player. Is it me or do 22-year old 2B who slug and hit in the clutch (i.e. September BA/HRs/RBIs and postseason hits) grow on trees? Regarding Wang, the only knocks on him are health and K/9 ratio. Otherwise, who can knock his consistency last season? Both of these players performed well in the playoffs while players like Mitre and Hanley Ramirez have these mythical upsides that have never seen the light of day.

I truly believe that most teams in baseball have such a hatred for the Yankees, that they won't do the team any favors by making balanced trades. As much as I liked Juan Pierre (I was one of his biggest defenders here), he wasn't worth either Cano or Wang. Why should the Yanks be forced to give up young players who have already performed in the bright lights (unlike Pavano or Kenny Rogers) while other teams give up players who haven't proven a thing?

[BJG]

Without knowing the minor leaguers, it's a safe assumption that the Marlins screwed themselves here.

Mitre wasn't the best pitcher in the trade, if that helps.

[jimmykey2]

Mitre wasn't the best pitcher in the trade, if that helps.

I guess they're hoping for another Dontrelle Willis. That last trade didn't work out too badly for the Cubbies either.

[BJG]

I guess they're hoping for another Dontrelle Willis. That last trade didn't work out too badly for the Cubbies either.

The problem with your post, though, is that you made a big thing about the Marlins getting screwed while admitting you know nothing about the players involved. Basically, it seems you had a conclusion, and you were going to make it no matter what.

[RhodeyYankee2638]

Career .328 OBP for Mirabelli.

Thats pretty good for a backup catcher, but for a starter, which he will probably be, it may not cut it

[dabomb2045]

it does amaze me how teams ask us for our entire farm system for one player...then make a trade with another team and get crap in return

[Evil Empire]

Career 714 Homeruns for Babe Ruth

[jimmykey2]

The problem with your post, though, is that you made a big thing about the Marlins getting screwed while admitting you know nothing about the players involved. Basically, it seems you had a conclusion, and you were going to make it no matter what.

Actually that was one sentence in the entire post. 1. One. Uno. The line also started with "without knowing", meaning I admitted to not knowing the prospects. With that ignorance, the Marlins looked like they got screwed.

The post has more to do with Cano, Wang, unproven prospects, and Yankee baseball relations.

[Ghost of Thurman]

Sorianos rookie season: .268/.304/.432
Sorianos 2005: .268/.309/.512

Cano's rookie 2005: .297/.320/.458

So yeah I think saying Cano can be better than Soriano isnt any long shot by any means. He is already a better defensive player and was a lot better than Soriano was in his rookie season and Id still take Cano's rookie season over Sorianos 2005 in the AL version of Coors field.

IMO Cano>Soriano

Remember also -- Soriano was 25 when he had that rookie season; Cano was 22 during his (turned 23 in late October).

Cano's got the potential to be a real stud. I think he's the rare under-rated Yankee.

[noneckwilliams]

And if Flaherty had done that last year we all would have rejoiced, because it would have been good production out of a backup catcher. That OBP is like the league average, thats awesome for a backup catcher.

If Flats had done that (assuming for the sake of argument he was still under contract) you know damn well no one would have traded us say, a starting CFer (we need a CFer, RS needed a 2Bman) for him.

[Yanknut023]

Why do other teams give up practically nothing for decent players?

It is called the Yankee Tax (not to be confused with the Yankee tax known as by Bud as "Revenue Sharing")

If you look back in history you will see that even if the Yankees offered a better package for a player the team trading that player accepts a lesser player just so the Yankees do not get him.

Take a look at the deal that sent Pedro to the Sox. Many people said that the Yankee deal was better but he Expos still traded him to the Sox.

It is just the price you pay for being a fan of the model (and most successful) sports franchise

[buntsalot2]

scene: Movie Moonstruck - everyone at the table confesses - the ole patriarch of the family finally gets his turn to say something profound...
"I'm so confused!"

if there's no confusion this offseason, there certainly is collusion IMO.

[Jace]

If Flats had done that (assuming for the sake of argument he was still under contract) you know damn well no one would have traded us say, a starting CFer (we need a CFer, RS needed a 2Bman) for him.

I'm glad you know what I damn well know, but if Flaherty had the same career numbers as Mirabelli and San Diego had a 35 year old centerfielder that was good a couple years ago but was injured a bunch of last season and cost too much this season for a team that wanted to spend that same money on resigning Trevor Hoffman, then yes I think they would have made the same trade with us.

Flaherty isn't as good as Mirabelli, so he isn't valued as much by other teams. I agree that this trade seems like an overvaluing of a backup catcher, but I think half of the value for San Diego was the salary dump.

We don't have anything of that much value to give up other than Cano, Wang, Duncan, Hughes, and maybe Pavano. Our farm system is also just not well thought of, because other teams read BA and ESPN I guess. I hate that the Red Sox seem to be basically getting everyone to bend over like they owe the Sox favors, but what the hell are we going to do? When we try and offer Henn and Proctor for backups, we get counterroffers of Wang/Cano and that's that.

We could worry about a conspiracy because every single free agent/trade case seems to have not gone our way, or we could look at the specifics of each instance and realize there is usually a good reason.

[DZal]

Is there a joke here? The claims of anti-Yankee collusion are beyond belief? What is the basis for the belief that GMs are vindictive children, or that MLB has an agenda against NY? NY is the biggest cash-cow in existence for MLB, it would be incredably poor buisness sense to actively work against NY success. In addition, the claims are demonstrably false.

-First, the NY farm system has an advantage that no other system has: an overenthusiastic pro-Yankee press corps, willing to hype any prospect ad nauseum. Does anybody remember the claims of Nick Johnson being the next Babe Ruth? A reasonable analysis of three major chips discussed here would reveal a huge overvaluation on the part of the average NY fan.
-Cano is a defensive butcher with poor plate discipline and production contingent on a good BA, something he did not produce consistently in the minor leagues. He has power at a premium defensive position though, so he has value. Just not future HOF value as some here would like us to believe.
-Duncan put up good numbers in A, struggled mightily at AA, and is on the lower end of the defensive spectrum. Good prospect. Not a sure-fire thing though.
-Wang has very poor peripheral stats, and his success last year in a small sample screams "flukish." In addition, he has been injury plagued.

Asking for any combination of these prospects is not outrageous for any player with value. Claims of anti-yank conspiracy are just so absurd for so many reasons. For years, people decried pro-yankee institutional bias with the quantity of overwhelmingly positive trades as described above.

...