(King)George Steinbrenner! You are a total asshole.

The BBQ Pit
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I should stress that as a Blue Jays fan, I would NOT make the trade at this point, for the simple reason that Burnett is a much better pitcher, and a much better long term risk, even with his health history. Burnett missed about ten starts and he was still as valuable as Wang this year (34 fewer innings, but a lower ERA, and was spectacular once he was healthy.) Given the K rates I’d take him over Wang in a heartbeat.

I was talking about what would make sense to the Yankees. Right now the Jays would never trade Burnett for Wang; they’re not that stupid. However, if we get into July of 2008 and the Blue Jays are 14 games out, dealing away Burnett’s salary and opt-out would look a lot more logical to them at that point than it does now.

My idea, though, was that Wang could be dumped on a different team in exchange for young talent, and then Burnett acquired from the Blue Jays for something the Jays actually need, such as an outfielder. The financials of the deal are such that you could probably get X for Wang, and trade less than X to the Blue Jays to get them to part with Burnett, thereby winding up with

  1. A better pitcher,
  2. More talent overall, but
  3. A higher payroll.

The Yankees have payroll coming off the books in 2008 so they can afford Burnett. The Blue Jays aren’t maxed out on payroll, but dealing Burnett offers some free agency options. This just makes great sense to me; What Exit! was way, way overvaluing Wang and undervaluing Burnett.

I don’t think this is realistic, though, because I think the Blue Jays would demand Melky Cabrera and the Yankees might refuse (although that trade might actually make sense for New York, if they can get outfield youth in exchange for Wang.) The Jays need a decent outfielder and a better shortstop, and Cabrera is the only person at either position who’s worth Burnett AND not too expensive for Toronto. I know Cabrera’s batting numbers don’t look great but he’s only 22 and I think he has huge upside.

I’d love the Yankees and Blue Jays to make a trade that would benefit both teams. I hate the Red Sox, you see.

62

Torre is proving that he’s George’s lapdog by not resigning already- show some dignity Joe, and tell him to shove his job up his swollen prostate!

63

Jack McKeon was 72 in 2003. (I guess Jim was blocked that year out!)

Plus you have Ozzie Guillen 2 years ago as an example of a moron managing a winning World Series team.

Boy, are Girardi, Mattingly, and TLR really the top 3 choices to manage the Yankees? That seems bleak.