I know what I am about to say is going to get every Yankee fans panties in such a big bunch but it might be the best gamble for the team.
Robinson Cano is a free agent at the end of the year. Mariano Rivera is retiring. The team still owes ARod a ton of cash if he isn’t banned from baseball. Jeter is coming off a broken ankle and will be retiring in a few years. Their big money first basemen can’t stay healthy, and their minor league system is not over flowing with top end talent.
Let’s start with Cano. All reports and rumors say that the Dodgers could be willing to go 200 million for Cano because they print money some place in the basement out there in LA. Teams like the Cubs, Phillies, Mariners, Mets, Nationals, O’s and maybe a few other teams could come out of the shadows with a pile of cash. The Yankees prob are the front runner for Cano but he will still listen to all offers in the offseason.
The Yankees are sixth games back in their division and they are fourth in the wildcard race. It might be too early to say they are out of the playoffs but I think it is easy to say that even if they make the playoffs they will most likely not do anything once in the playoffs.
Ok, now comes the part where I piss off all of Yankee Nation and most baseball writers. Oh, lets not forget Bud. The Yankees would be taking a huge gamble by allowing Cano to see what life could be like in LA, Saint Louis, Pittsburgh, Arizona, Atlanta, Boston, Oakland, Baltimore, or Tampa.
The Yankees could use the talent they would get back in the deal to help rebuild the farm system and shed a small contract or two in the deal. The Yankees agree to trade Cano with a wink wink long term deal already in place with Cano. The Yankees will get back some good talent back and probably can get a team to over pay with the idea that they can convince Cano to stay.
This idea is an omission that this year is dead which will anger most fans. The last part of this deal is where everyone is going to hate me. You trade Mariano. Ok, now before you send the hate mail think about. Yes, he is a life long Yankee, yes he will go into the hall as a Yankee, yes he should retire as a Yankee, but the return on him could be huge.
Mariano could be on a championship team one more time to end his career, he could single handedly restock the Yankee farm system by pitching for another team for 3 months.
If Mariano really wants to do what is best for the Yankees he will allow them to trade him. It is not only good for the team but it is good for him. Yes, it will be odd to see him in a new teams uniform but get over it.
What would a team like Saint Louis, LA, or Arizona give up to have Mariano close out games? Most rental players do not bring a ton of value back to a team but I would bet that Mariano could bring back two top tier prospects plus several other lower level guys from a team with a strong farm system and issues at closer. Yes, I am talking to you Saint Louis. Instead of going out and trading for another backend starter these teams could simply take that package of players and add 2 or 3 of their top 10 prospects to get the deal done. Yes, it is a situation where you are trading away tomorrow for yesterday but someone would be willing to do it.