Doc Makes Little Sense for Yanks

In typical YankeeLand fashion, a good player is available and Yankee fans want him. The drums have been beating on the New York airwaves for the Yankees to make a move for Roy Halladay.  Just this morning, on WFAN (which is getting harder and harder to listen to), Boomer and Carton were explaining how the Yankees should jump at the opportunity to trade Joba Chamberlain, Ian Kennedy, and Melky Cabrera for Halladay. Whether Carton realized that Ian Kennedy has been out recovering from aneurysm surgery or not wasn't readily apparent, but I think I know the answer. The logic here, if you can call it that, is that Joba's future has not been established.  At this moment, he is a slightly above average starting pitcher who has shown little consistency. That much is true. What wasn't said, and is just as important, is that Joba is a slightly above average pitcher at the age of 23.  He has a grand total of 28 starts in the major leagues.  His 4.04 ERA places him at 22nd in the AL among starters with 80 innings or more, ahead of Gil Meche who makes roughly $11 million more than Joba. Yes, Joba's future is a bit uncertain right now.  But his value as a league average starter at $432,000 for the year, combined with his potential to be something greater, is a certainty. It makes little sense to bring Joba into any trade discussion.  Pete Abe made the most logical argument a few days ago when he said:

Brian Cashman wouldn’t trade for the younger Johan Santana. Now he’ll reverse course and trade for Halladay? That makes no sense. The Yankees will play the game and stay in it, just to make sure the price is painful for whoever does get the ace.

Exactly. The Yankees have way too much invested in Hughes and Joba at this stage to turn around and dump them for a great pitcher in the waiting room of decline.  Add to that the additional money they would have to sign him to over way too many years and you have the makings of a bad deal. There's another, less player oriented reason.  Brian Cashman's reputation and job are firmly tied to the success of Joba Chamberlain and Phil Hughes.  Giving up either of them (or both... *shudder*) for Halladay when Johan Santana was available just a few years ago would be an admission of failure.  Cashman has never come across as a guy who puts himself ahead of the teams needs, but a trade like that would likely put Cashman on the outs in YankeeLand. Jon Heyman, ironically enough, made the most sense on the Fan this morning.  When asked if the Yankees were in talks about Halladay, Heyman replied that of course they are.  So are the Texas Rangers, even though they don't have any money.  The Yankees will do their due dilligence and keep their ears on what's happening.  That doesn't mean they're actively trying to get him unless there is a bargain to be had.