Last night ESPN's Buster Olney tweeted that the Yankees were closing in on a trade for a starting pitcher:
Heard this: Yankees working very hard tonight on deal for starting pitcher. Remember that they came close to deal for Aaron Harang in summer
The Harang rumor was shot down by Mark Feinsand from the New York Daily News:
Yankees are apparently close to a deal for a starting pitcher, says a source. Still working on who, but I'm told it's not a salary dump deal
If its not a salary dump, that could rule out the Reds Aaron Harang and the Braves Derek Lowe. How about the Cubs Carlos Zambrano? While driving into work yesterday, Holden Cushner and Jom Bowden were talking about the Yankees interest in Zambrano and mentioned that the Cubs had interest in Brett Gardner to play CF (another good speed, good D, no power outfielder).
The Cubs MLB.com beat reporter Carrie Muskat posted the following on her blog yesterday:
According to a story in the New York Post, GM Brian Cashman asked Jim Hendry about possibly acquiring Carlos Zambrano but the Yankees did not like the asking price. Zambrano, who has a full no-trade clause, is owed $53.75 million over the next three years. Another report says the Yankees did not even inquire about Zambrano.
What is certain is that Hendry never asked Zambrano's agent, Barry Praver, about whether the pitcher would waive the no-trade clause to go to New York. Praver said Monday that Zambrano is not interested in doing so.
I am sure Jim Hendry asked for the moon to try to make up for his signing of Milton Bradley last offseason. We all know how that turned out. Hendry recently dealt Bradley to the Mariners and took on Carlos Silva's bad contract in return. Could Hendry revisit the Yankees trde proposal for Big Z now that he had to take on Silva's contract and is still looking for a centerfielder?
I think it is very possible. I think Big Z reconsiders and waives his no-trade clause to get traded to the Yankees. He would have a great chance at finally winning a World Series also. Plus, the Yankees have to answer the Red Sox signing of John Lackey last week with a big name. Big Z is a big name.
Update (10:00 am) tweet from Joel Sherman:
so the trade is vazquez and boone logan to #Yankees for melky cabrera, mike dunn and arodys vizcaino, that is now confirmed by Post