Nady and X-Factor?

The New York Yankees acquired outfielder Xavier Nady and left-hnaded reliever Damaso Marte from the Pirates in exchange for pitchers Ross Ohlendorf, George Kontos, and Phil Coke, and outfielder Jose Tabata.  The Yankees were in need of some offensive help after Jorge Posada and Hideki Matsui went down with injuries.  Nady fits what the Yankees were looking for, a right-handed hitter with some power.    With the Pirates this season, Nady was hitting .330 with 13 homers and 57 RBI's.  Nady also has a .318 AVG and 39 RBI with runners in scoring position.  The Yankees have been terrible in that department this season so Nady does represent an upgrade there.  Not a superstar, Nady is a nice player who should be able to fit in very nicely in the Yankee clubhouse and on the field.

The real interesting player in the deal is Damaso Marte.  Marte, originally a Yankee farmhand who was sent to the Pirates for Enrique Wilson, is a solid lefty out of the pen.  The Yankees, this season, have not really had an effective lefty out of the pen.  Billy Traber and Sean Henn both failed miserably in their role as the lefty specialist so Marte will be a welcome addition.  However, I can't help but wonder if Enrique Wilson was really worth the price back in 2001.  Is Nady, a man who hit 20 homers once in his career and has never reached 100 RBI's worth Ohlendorf and Tabata?  

Tabata was the Yankees #3 prospect according to Baseball America and, at 20 years old, has loads of potential.  However, Tabata came close to quitting baseball this season after beig mired in a horrible slump.  He then injured his wrist, two alarms for the Yankees who may actually have been wise to unload him when they did.  

Overall, I can't see this deal hurting the Yankees in the long run.  Getting Marte back solves a problem that has existed since Mike Stanton left.  Xavier Nady should become a fan favorite at the Stadium.  He is the player with heart that has been lacking in the Yankee clubhouse since Paul O'Neill retired.  If it cost the Yankees the potential of Tabata and Ohlendorf then so be it.  Right now the Yankees are poised to make a run at the Rays and Red Sox.  If the Yankees make a the playoffs this deal will be well worth it.