Crazy Trade deadline day sees the Yankees get better

Martin Prado

Stephen Drew

The Trade deadline was pretty crazy today with some blockbuster moves happening, namely the A's acquiring John Lester from the Red Sox for Yoenis Cespedes and the Tigers getting David Price in a three team deal. The Red Sox were particularly busy today as they also sent John Lackey to St. Louis for Allen Craig and Joe Kelly, and most importantly they sent Stephen Drew to the Yankees in exchange for Kelly Johnson. The Drew trade was the first trade that the Yankees and Red Sox have made since 1997 and I would expect that the Yankees will try and sign him to an extension so that he can be their Shortstop next season, but they will probably wait and see how he does in the Bronx based on his terrible season so far in Boston.
The Yankees also acquired Martin Prado from the Arizona Diamondbacks for slugging 1st base prospect Peter O'Brien, Prado is under control for the next two seasons and is a very versatile player having played at every position except catcher and Center field, he also adds a much needed right handed bat. I know fans will be disappointed that O'Brien was traded because of his 31 homers but really that is all O'Brien is, he has no real position, doesn't walk, doesn't hit for average but he does have a lot of power so selling high on him is a good thing. Their is a funny thing here that Prado will likely be the regular right fielder but he has only played two innings in Right Field although he has played over 2000 innings in left field so the transition shouldn't be too big of a change. Next season the Yankees will have the ability to play Prado at either 3rd, 2nd or in RF depending on their need and I expect that he will backup 1st base as well. In order to make room for Prado the Yankees DFA Brian Roberts who had been their starting second baseman and has been terrible offensively and defensively. The Yankees also claimed RHP Esmil Rogers off waivers from the Blue Jays and he will join the bullpen, but no word on who he will replace but it will probably be either Chase Whitely or David Huff. 
Despite fan complaints Brian Cashman has been very good this season in terms of trades trading
Nuno/Solarte/De Paula/Johnson/O'Brien for McCarthy/Headley/Drew/Prado which is a great haul for the Yankees and while the rotation was not improved Michael Pineda starts his rehab assignment on Sunday and hopefully we can get some good news about Masahiro Tanaka as well.

Yankees shuffle roster with Nuno trade and Soriano DFA

After missing out on Jeff Samardzija the Yankees traded Vidal Nuno for Brandon McCarthy in hopes of getting some more innings out of there rotation, McCarthy has pitched poorly in Arizona with a 5.01 ERA in 18 starts but the Yankees are hoping that he can turn it around in New York but he will likely be better simply because he can throw a lot of innings and this team needs an innings eater. The Yankees also designated Alfonso Soriano for assignment, this was only a matter of time as Soriano had followed up his monstrous half season with the Yankees last year by hitting .221/.244/.367 with six homers over 238 PA. I don't expect that Soriano will be claimed on waivers as he is still owed a good chuck of money even with the Cubs paying a large part of his salary, but he can sign with any team after he clears waivers. The Yankees called up RHP Bruce Billings as the bullpen has been very taxed the last few games and its expected that RHP Shane Greene will come up tomorrow to start in Cleveland. After the pitching staff gets settled the Yankees will call up another position player and it will probably be one of Zoilo Almonte, Yangervis Solarte or Jose Pierela. If the Yankees hope to contend then these cannot be the only moves they make but honestly the team would need to see some improvement before making bigger moves.