Another Major League Baseball trade deadline has come and gone, and it seems many pundits are singing the praises of the New York Yankees and heralding them as one of the big “winners.” Well, I for one don’t know what they’re looking at, because from my point of view it seems like they’ve just injected more chaos into an already volatile situation. Sure the Yankees managed to nab another big name player, making a lot of money. But has anyone been paying attention to his output lately? If fans think that A-rod is no good, then wait until you get such a loadout. Although perhaps Bobby Abreu has already achieved his ultimate goal in life. I mean what baseball player doesn’t put in all those years of practice so that one day he can hit 24 home runs in the first round of the home run derby, not to mention win it all. Frankly, I’m surprised he didn’t pull out right then and there.
First of all, if you think most major league players are taking some kind of performance-enhancing drug, then you’d be a complete idiot not to expect them to be using all kinds of corked bats for an exhibition like the derby. of home runs. So the very notion that he should be considered this all-powerful home run hitter because of a performance in the home run derby is laughable. Don’t get me wrong, he’s a good player with speed to boot, but can anyone seriously tell me he’s the missing piece of the Yankees puzzle? I bet if you asked the Red Sox which new Yankee they’re most concerned about, they’d say Cory Lidle hands down. I hate to burst your bubble George, but whoever told you that it was a rule that the Yankees had to pick up all outfielders who are considered an offensive threat, don’t play defense, and have a high salary, was lying.
And I’m sure this new move by the Yankees will do wonders for their team’s morale. I guess Gary Sheffield was the first to greet Abreu when he arrived in town. I mean, what player heading into his option year wouldn’t love to see his team trade for another big-ticket player, who plays the same position as him and will effectively trade said player to the DH role once he’s out? finally come back from disability? list. Although I suppose the good news is that Sheffield don’t have to worry about a protracted off-season negotiation. I think it’s pretty clear the Yankees have used him and will be happy to send him on his way after the season. Of course, I’m sure Sheffield, being the accomplished professional team player that he is, will do everything in his power to help the Yankees be the best team they can be once he returns from the disabled list. Not that he’s the type of player who would hold a grudge and quit his team. Thank God for that at least.
So once again the Yankees have made the “safe” deal. You know, the deal that could make most ignorant fans happy anytime soon (Yes, that would be the same Yankees fans who boo Alex Rodriguez despite his continued above-average offensive numbers). . The same philosophy that brought Jason Giambi, Gary Sheffield, Alex Rodriguez, Javier Vasquez, Randy Johnson, Jared Wright and Johnny Damon. With the exception of Damon, who is playing his first season with NY, the other players on that list never seemed to bring that World Series title back to NY. However, they managed to dilute the talent pool in the rest of Major League Baseball, but that’s another conversation entirely. When all is said and done, the Yankees, like all great teams on the market, will be judged on whether they win the World Series or fall short. Fans may be happy now, but it’s only a matter of time before there’s something else to complain about. And when they fail to win the World Series once again, the trade that brought Bobby Abreu’s power bat to the NY Yankees will be a distant memory, and the focus will once again be the highest-paid, big-name free agent they’ll bring. in the next Because after all, it doesn’t matter if you win or lose, but how many newspapers you can sell in New York.
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You can contact Dick Richards at [email protected]