Oakland Athletics’ Top Four Trade Destinations For Scott Kazmir
Jun 23, 2015; Bronx, NY, USA; New York Yankees starting pitcher
CC Sabathia
(52) reacts after giving up a three-run home run by Philadelphia Phillies third baseman
Maikel Franco(7) during the fourth inning of an inter-league baseball game at Yankee Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Adam Hunger-USA TODAY Sports
The New York Yankees
Why the Yankees?
To put it bluntly, CC Sabathia has been terrible. Over his last four starts, he has a 6.65 ERA through 23 innings. Only six of his 16 outings this year have been quality starts. The Yankees are only half a game out of first place, and they certainly intend to take advantage of their weak division to make a run for the playoffs this year. This will not be possible if, every fifth day, their starting pitcher goes 4.2 innings and gives up five runs.
The Yankees are second in the Majors in runs scored, as well as home runs. They are getting great performances from Mark Teixeira, Brian McCann, and Chris Young this season. They are missing a little something that is keeping them from being a team that will go deep into the playoffs, but that something sure isn’t their offense.
Like the Blue Jays, the Yankees also have a starting pitcher ERA of 4.37, which ties these clubs for 23rd in the Majors.
With such good hitting and such inconsistent starting pitching, the Yankees are actually a remarkable parallel to the Blue Jays. Since both of these teams are competing for the same division title, they will probably be racing each other to fix their pitching woes.
What do the A’s get in return?
It would be a hefty price, but the Yankees might just be desperate enough to be willing to deal Jorge Mateo in exchange for a package including Kazmir.
Mateo is supposed to be the Yankees shortstop of the future. He has a lot of Billy Burns’ characteristics. MLB Prospect Pipeline notes that he has blazing speed, which is his key feature. He is also skilled at hitting the ball into gaps and away from shifts.
Mateo represents the most untouchable piece of all the players listed here, but that is also what the Athletics thought about Addison Russell leading up to the Fourth of July last year.