What the....?

It seems that the Yankees and Pirates adjusted their deal for Xavier NAdy and Damaso Marte.  Instead of George Kontos and Phil Coke going with Jose Tabata and Ross Ohlendorf it is now Daniel McCutchen and Jeff Karstens that are headed to Pittsburgh.  McCutchen was just beginning to excel and had been talked about as a potential replacement if Sidney Ponson had faltered.  

Jeff Karstens is a fringe player so his inclusion does not effect the Yankees much.  However, I think including McCutchen in this deal will come back to haunt the Yankees, much like trading Damaso Marte for Enrique Wilson.  

As for Tabata, I think the Yankees were turned off by his almost giving up on baseball.  Potential or not, the Yankees don't need a 20 year old prima donna.  Besides, Austin Jackson is the true prospect of the Yankees outfield.  He almost made the Yankees out of Spring Training and has not missed a beat at AA Trenton.  It will only be a matter of time before Jackson rightfully takes his place as the starting center fielder on this Yankee team.  Think Bernie Williams, at least I do when I hear about Jackson.  

Don't get me wrong, I think Nady will prove to be an X-Factor on this Yankee team.  I think he gives the Yankees a scrappiness they desperately need.  I just hope Brian Cashman realizes what he gave up to get it and that it does not come back to haunt the Yankees for years.

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.