New York Yankees Should Trade With The Washingon Nationals, Not Chicago Cubs

By Mike Calendrillo | Jun 15, 2016

Mandatory Credit: Reinhold Matay-USA TODAY Sports /

The New York Yankees should be picky when it comes to who they trade with and what they get in return, and the Washington Nationals fit the bill.

In what has emerged as an unfavorable trend, the New York Yankees, try as they might, cannot seem to climb above the .500 mark. And even though this season isn’t even halfway finished, it’s hard to imagine this club finishing with anything better than an 81-81 record.

I’m not saying by any means it’s time to sound the alarm and abandon ship, but perhaps now would be the time to take advantage of another team’s misfortune; that club being the Washington Nationals. Nats’ closer Jonathan Papelbon is headed to the 15-day DL with an intercostal strain he suffered while warming up over the weekend, leaving ex-Yankee Shawn Kelley or Matt Belisle to pick up the slack.

Papelbon ranks seventh in the National League with 16 saves in 25 appearances, but don’t let that number fool you. The biggest concern for the Nationals to this point has to be the fact that Papelbon is hittable, giving up 25 hits in 24.2 innings. With an ERA of 3.28, while only striking out 19 batters faced, Papelbon, who used to reach the upper 90s with his four-seam fastball, now rarely cracks the 90’s at all.

With his repertoire consisting of a slider and splitter that sit in the mid-to-low 80s, Papelbon’s more suited for a setup role than that of a shut the door stopper, especially on a club with aspirations of playing deep into October.

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So this is where the Yankees come into the equation. There is no doubt many a team will come calling for one of Yanks’ big three out of the pen. We’ve already gotten word that the Chicago Cubs would love to work a deal, but aren’t willing to move any one of their top three possessions, namely Javier Baez, Kyle Schwarber or Willson Contreras.

So why should the Yankees send a proven commodity to Chicago, one that might catapult them to their first World Series appearance since 1945, if they’re not serious about exchanging talent for talent?

As a matter of fact, it’s a bit insulting that the Cubs wouldn’t trade Schwarber, who’s out for the season after tearing the ACL and LCL in his left knee. This is a man without a position. And no, he can’t play left field, as he routinely turns deep fly balls into doubles. Also, do the Yankees really need another DH? Especially one who is 23 years of age, that will be coming off major knee reconstruction.

The answer is a resounding, no! As for Baez, where too does he fit defensively? He seems to play a little second base, a little shortstop, a little outfield. But does he play any of them well? As for Contreras, the Yankees have their own young power-hitting catcher in Gaby Sanchez down in Triple-A that they don’t seem to know what to do with.

And please, please, don’t even think about accepting a trade package around the likes up Jorge Soler. “Baby Puig” may have all the potential in the world, but in 653 career plate appearances, he’s batting .258 with 181 strikeouts and only 20 home runs.

I realize all the aforementioned players are still young, and any one of them could turn the corner and the be the next great whatever, but to break up the best part of your team, the bullpen, the Yankees should demand more.

That’s why the Washington Nationals make the most sense for trade partners. Not only did Dusty Baker manage Aroldis Chapman when he first broke into the majors with the Cincinnati Reds, but the Nats are flush with minor league talent that Baker won’t play anytime soon, yet could help the Yankees right away.

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As I’ve said before, Chapman is the arm I push off on anther club because of the concern he doesn’t resign after this season. Andrew Miller is a trooper; besides that, he’s signed through 2018. How many other guys do you know that saved 36 games the previous year, would be willing to move to the setup role because it’s what is best for the team?

I mean, Jonathan Papelbon wouldn’t do it last year after being acquired from the Philadelphia Phillies. And as for Dellin Betances, if the Nats want him, they’ll have to back up the proverbial truck to make that trade scenario work.

The first two names on my wish list are shortstop Trea Turner and pitcher Lucas Giolito. Both appear ready to make an immediate impact; Giolito, who is only 21-years-old, was recently named the Eastern League pitcher of the week, striking out 12 batters in seven innings of work. Yes, it’s only Double-A ball, but in Giolito’s last seven starts, he’s 5-0 with a 1.48 ERA, bringing his season’s earned run average to a fantastic 2.64, for fifth-best in the league.

Turner, on the other hand, was recently called up from Triple-A for a three-game series when Ryan Zimmerman went on paternity leave. All he did was was go 3-3 with a double and a walk. I get it if the Nationals are reluctant to deal their top two prospects, but if you’re the Yankees, you have to at least ask. Standing firm in your demands could potentially yield you a cornerstone type player.

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Quite simply, the Washington Nationals can ill-afford to mess around with an already thin bullpen. If they wait for Papelbon to return from the disabled list and he pitches at the same quality level or less, this club could once again find themselves blowing a sizeable lead in the National League East to the New York Mets.

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