Trade Review: Eric Gagne

Were getting to the end of the MLB Season, I’ll have a playoff preview up for you soon. For now, the Yankees are two games back in the division to the Boston Red Sox.

One move that looms large in this entire ordeal is the Eric Gagne move for the Red Sox and the non-Gagne move for the Yankees.

At the time, I said the trade made no sense for the Yankees to make it. The Rangers were asking way to much for Gagne. Giving up Melky Cabrera or Ian Kennedy would’ve been extremely stupid and a smart GM like Brian Cashman wouldn’t do it.

But, I also said it was a steal for Boston. Here’s why: Boston gave up nobody. They traded Engel Beltre (barely has his driver’s license, way to early to project if he can do anything on a diamond), David Murphy (non-prospect) and Kason Gabbard (non-prospect). It was a clear steal; they gave up very little an gained the best bullpen arm available.

That being said, there is always risk with a pitcher who has had injury problems. It was a pretty good risk to take with the minimal value they gave up.

Anyway, Gagne went to Boston and made Theo Epstein look stupid, when in reality he got Gagne relatively cheap.

The Yankees sat back and didn’t make a move for Gagne because of the crazy asking price and knowing they could fill the hole in their bullpen with Joba Chamberlain.

Since the trade deadline, here are the numbers for Gagne and Chamberlain:

Gagne: 17.2 IP 21 K 26 HA 9 BB 14 ER

Joba: 23.2 IP 34 K 12 HA 6 BB 1 ER

Now, the Yankees have a solid 7-8-9 combo meal in Luis Vizcaino, Joba and the Great Mariano Rivera and Boston is left with the decision of weather or not to put Gagne on the playoff roster.

It’s safe to say that the Yankees got the better end of this scenario.