Analyzing the components of Monday's trade that brought Sterling Hitchcock to the Bronx:
To the Yankees:
Sterling Hitchcock, LHP | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| What's to gain: A veteran lefty with playoff experience who should solidify the Yankee rotation. Hitchcock has pitched wonderfully since returning ahead of schedule from Tommy John surgery, winning his first two starts and allowing just one home run in 19 innings. His velocity is back and his elbow has responded well. He knows the pressure of pitching in New York as an ex-Yankee. |
|
||||
| What's to lose: Hitchcock remains a gamble. The Yankees have to keep him from pushing his arm too far while trying to get as much as possible out of an upcoming free agent. Lefties are 9-for-25 against him. His pitch counts in three starts were sporadic: 83, 101 and 94. | |||||
| What's his role: Take over the fourth spot in the rotation, likely at Ted Lilly's expense, and put in six good innings per start. A serious injury to Roger Clemens changes that. | |||||
To the Padres:
Brett Jodie, RHP |
|---|
| What's to gain: A 24-year-old right-hander boasting some of the best first-half stats in Triple-A. Jodie went 10-4 at Columbus, earning a start at Yankee Stadium last week. He rocketed from Class A to New York in a year and a half with a lively fastball. |
| What's to lose: Jodie wasn't regarded in the same class as Randy Keisler, Ted Lilly or Christian Parker. He wasn't on the 40-man roster to start the year and wasn't invited to spring training. He got shelled in his major-league start because he couldn't get anything other than his fastball over the plate. |
| What's his role: Here's hoping Qualcomm Stadium isn't as intimidating for Jodie as the House that Ruth Built. |
Darren Blakely, OF |
|---|
| What's to gain: A potential five-tool player with 12 homers and 24 steals at Class A Tampa. The Yankees acquired him this spring for Glenallen Hill as a fringe prospect and he was starting to pay off. |
| What's to lose: He hasn't hit like a legitimate power hitter, but he swings like one -- 389 strikeouts over the last 2 1/2 years. He's already 24 years old. Say, didn't this used to be Ruben Rivera? |
| What's his role: The Padres have had good luck developing outfielders, and here's their next project. |
| R E L A T E D L I N K S: |
Key players in the Rey Sanchez trade
Key players in the Ugueth Urbina trade
Key players in the Mike Williams trade
Key players in the Pedro Astacio trade
Key players in the Reed-Lawton trade
Key players in the Jason Schmidt trade
