Yankees' trade strategy

The MLB trade deadline looms and the names just keep on coming. Don't believe the blather--Hank Steinbrenner throwing the media a bone by dropping Bonds name is a ploy. Balco Barry, in the Big Apple, to close out the House That Ruth Built, while brandishing his legendary people skills defies all logic.

The Yankees' organization wants the public to believe that they will do anything possible to provide a champion to the fans paying the elite prices. Let the actions do the talking: "Cashman has not made a truly risky move before the trading deadline since 2004, when he traded a future World Series ace, José Contreras, to the Chicago White Sox for the disappointing Esteban Loaiza.
Since then, Cashman’s boldest July move was in 2006, when he got Bobby Abreu from the Philadelphia Phillies, who had no other takers for his high salary."

The play it safe strategy continues with the acquisitions of Ponson and Sexson. If you're looking for bold and decisive action, disappointment is a guarantee. This is corporate C.Y.A. strategy at it's finest. Should a refugee from the bargain bin produce something, it will be hyped as shrewd action. Should yet another failure ensue-- look we didn't give up anything but money.

It has been suggested that this is all part of some long-term master plan. Stocking the farm with slot bonus busting dollars is a no brainer. It takes years of trial and error to reap the benefits of a strong system. Do Rivera, Jeter, Posada and company have the time to wait? Is it reasonable to expect viable replacements in the foreseeable future? The New York Yankees have the resources to restock the farm and pursue bona fide players for the present. It takes talent and skill to evaluate prospects and decide which ones will bring a greater return in the trade market than the diamond. Deploying a gun shy strategy of risking nothing, isn't good enough.