22 Dec 2017 04:04:08
NYY acquires: RHP Gerrit Cole

PIT acquires: OF Clint Frazier, RHP Chance Adams, RHP Domingo German.


1.) 22 Dec 2017
22 Dec 2017 05:11:06
I don't think Pittsburgh does it w/ o Torres. I saw they were asking for Torres, Frazier, and Adams.


2.) 22 Dec 2017
22 Dec 2017 11:56:29
If what Chi Sox said was true, than the Yankees won't do this.


3.) 22 Dec 2017
22 Dec 2017 13:28:01
Actually the Pirates are asking for Torres alone with other prospects, the Yankees will not do that, they are offering Frazier and other prospects.


4.) 22 Dec 2017
22 Dec 2017 16:49:42
It goes back to the fact that the Yankees won't be able to acquire a top of the line young starter without including Torres.

That's the downside to having a top farm system: teams will demand the top.


5.) 22 Dec 2017
22 Dec 2017 18:07:23
They honestly don't even need Cole with Severino and Gray. Would prefer a veteran.


6.) 22 Dec 2017
22 Dec 2017 21:09:55
Stat- you never learn. Remember Sonny Gray trade? How stupid you looked. Now-"Yanks won't be able to acquire a top of line young starter without including Torres. " Who else has interest in Cole? Who are they bidding against? How about a bet? If yanks get Cole (or other top starter) AND give up Torres-I will not post for a month-after saying you know more than me and you were right. BUT-if they get Cole without giving up Torres you will do the same. One month and admission. Let's finally show everybody who knows what.


7.) 22 Dec 2017
22 Dec 2017 22:27:31
From what I've seen, Torres, as well as Estevan Florial are off the table.


8.) 22 Dec 2017
22 Dec 2017 23:43:53
I'm good, but thanks.

Who are they bidding against? Literally any team that wants to offer up elite talent for a frontline starter with two years of control.

They aren't up against any deadline. They have three more months to field offers, and if they don't like them, they can begin the 2018 season with Gerrit Cole on their team. At an estimated $7-8MM cost, that's a bargain. It's not like they HAVE to trade him.

Every indication suggests the Pirates won't budge on their asking price. If they wanted Clint Frazier and Chance Adams, the trade would have been settled already.

I could very well be wrong. But again, if the proposal the Yankees want to give up was acceptable to Pittsburgh, they'd have a deal already.

The Pirates have plenty of time to field offers.


9.) 23 Dec 2017
23 Dec 2017 00:13:43
Also, you need to give up this whole Sonny Gray thing. You were "kind of" right, good for you. You know who keeps bringing up the one victory they had? People with only one victory.

I'm sure you'll lord it over every other MLB expert who believed the same return for Gray was necessary at the time? And while their at it, they should just give you their jobs, because they one win is enough to justify you're better, huh?

And of course you'll take the bet. It's a 90% you're right. You don't have the balls to take any actual stance that would be risky on here. Let me guess, you'll take the over on 85 wins for the Yankees? I bet you'll also bet the sun will rise in the east tomorrow? Because you're so knowledgable on everything and you're just better.

Most likely, Torres will be a Yankee come Spring Training. You're not charting any dangerous waters taking that stance. This is why I'm not interested in betting: I'm laying stakes on a whim.

But it's also because you're a punk-nosed weasel and I have no interest in trying to debate with you, as it is a fruitless path that only results in you getting wilder and more nonsensical takes.

Hope your obvious bets continue to pay off, you wild, wild gambler you.


10.) 23 Dec 2017
23 Dec 2017 02:19:08
Just ignore him statbook. He's just an arrogant little kid. (I'm 15, by the way)


11.) 23 Dec 2017
23 Dec 2017 12:34:59
Hey Stat, read this article and see why you are so misguided. It is written by Joel Sherman who has been covering baseball for over 20 years. He provides an easy to understand, even for you, synopsis explaining why Yankees don't need to trade Torres in Cole package. Please read and LEARN something. Hopefully others will also read this before posting Cole trades.

goo.gl/g99m8


12.) 23 Dec 2017
23 Dec 2017 12:36:02
This goes back a long way (as you can tell) .

I appreciate your input, Leo. We need more folks like you on this site.


13.) 23 Dec 2017
23 Dec 2017 13:59:20
I already read that article. Sherman writes for the NEW YORK Post.

For one, there’s bias. He’s in the business of selling newspapers. What else would sell papers in New York besides “hey, the Yankees could get Cole for almost nothing in return”? (The Post will say ANYTHING if it sells papers. You should apply, you’re a great fit)

Second, it’s the New York Post, the third, maybe even fourth ranked newspaper in New York. Sherman is a great journalist, but the NY Post has a putrid reputation. It’s like having a good work ethic at Wal-Mart. You can’t escape where you eork.

Third, it’s pure conjecture. It simply suggests the Yankees can hold out, but so can the Pirates. The Pirates don’t have to trade Cole, and they don’t have to trade him to New York. By waiting, they can draw in other suitors.

It provided nothing other than what your homerish Yankee ears wanted to hear. You got conned. Congrats.


14.) 23 Dec 2017
23 Dec 2017 14:23:02
Also, there are some glaring deficiencies in Sherman's article:

1. Let's start with the fact that Neal Huntington is not David Forst/ Billy Beane. The Athletics are known to pull the trigger quickly and not draw out trade talks. It's often why they get perceived low returns for their players.

The Pirates (at least Sherman hinted this) are more methodical. It's why you see Pittsburgh make far fewer trades than Oakland. Comparing the two returns is a bad take in that return.

2. Gerrit Cole and Sonny Gray are not the same pitcher. Cole, by almost every regard, is seen as better with far more upside. His size and velocity is an almost perfect specimen for a pitching coach. He is and will be seen as far more valuable than Sonny Gray.

3. The offseason and trade deadline are not the same. The Athletics were against the clock. They had to move Gray or run the risk of holding on to him and watching him get hurt (or get worse) . They also couldn't wait till Waiver Deadline, because there wasn't a chance Gray passed through unclaimed. They'd be working with one team (hello Detroit) and lose all leverage. The Pirates aren't up against any deadlines. They'd ideally love to move Cole, but they don't have to. And if the Yankees are pegging themselves as Cole or bust, they'll have to meet Pittsburgh's price tag. I wouldn't be surprised if they move on.

4. Not all trades are created equal. You can't simply say, "this trade happened last year, so this is the new price tag". Otherwise, we should see some articles of why the Braves should be able to extract Royce Lewis from Minnesota for some second-tier pitcher.

Moral of the story, Sherman may be right. Torres doesn't seem to be going anywhere, and the Yankees probably COULD find a way to land Gerrit Cole without him. But his article is chock full of comparative fallacies. I can't expect anything less from the New York Post.


15.) 23 Dec 2017
23 Dec 2017 18:26:12
I've been trying to catch up on this and here is my perspective.
1. There is definitely more than one team trying to acquire Cole, we've only heard about the Yankees.
2. I don't see the Yankees having to part with Torres in this trade, yes he is in demand, because A) he is the number 2 prospect in all of baseball, B) the Yankees system is good, so teams are going to target specific players. But because the Yankees system is so good other players are going to be equally valuable.
3. The Pirates are said to be highly motivated to trade him, this doesn't make them desperate, but willing to trade him.
4. The Yankees can wait this out for a while and get him on their terms like they did with Gray. Also the Yankees don't even have a need for another starter right now: Severino, Tanaka, Gray, Sabathia, Montegomery. Also have Adams, Sheffield, Cessa, Abreu, and others either ready or nearly ready.
5. Just to be clear I am disagreeing with almost everyone, If the Pirates trade Cole in the next week or the next year they will get a good return, Yankees will almost certainly not include Torres. 10 years ago they probably would have done a trade like that without thinking, they aren't going to be irresponsible with their farm system again.


16.) 24 Dec 2017
24 Dec 2017 04:09:55
Batman, good points all around, and good, balanced response. This is a prime example of how to banter on here.

Much of the demand for Torres is because the Pirates don't need Frazier. They have Meadows, Marte, and Polanco long-term in the OF. They need infield help, badly, and the Yankees don't have much after Torres that would be good to headline for Cole. This is why I don't think the Yankees could land Cole without including Torres. They probably don't line up for a trade.

As for Gray, they didn't wait it out. They struck at the opportunity where the Athletics either moved him for the best available offer or held on to him. Holding on to him wasn't ideal. The Pirates are up against no such timeline with Gerrit Cole. They can simply ride it out and trade him when they get an offer they like.

As for Torres, I honestly think it'll be tough to make any significant upgrades without his inclusion. Which is worse, long-term: giving up Torres (still a lottery ticket) and a few low-level guys, OR giving up MULTIPLE top prospects, leaving you with less lottery tickets, thus less chances?

In other words, which is worse, a Yankees future sans Torres, or a Yankees future sans Frazier, Adams, and Andujar, maybe more pieces?