Yankees Get Better

On Friday, December 3, 2004 the New York Yankees made two trades. In the two trades the Yankees acquired RP Mike Stanton and $975,000 from the Mets for RP Felix Heredia. In the other trade, the Yankees acquired RP Felix Rodriguez from the Phillies for CF Kenny Lofton and $1.525 million.

To break down this trade, the statistics of each of the players must be looked at first. So here are each of the player's career, and 2004 statistics--translated, and un-translated:

Yankees Receive:

Mike Stanton (38 in 2005):

2004: 3.16 ERA, 77.0 IP, 70 Hits (8.2 H/9), 6 HR (.7 HR/9), 33 BB (3.9 BB/9), 58 K (6.8 K/9)
Translated: 3.54 ERA, 8.2 H/9--.7 HR/9--3.4 BB/9--6.3 K/9

Career: 3.76 ERA, 946.0 IP, 892 Hits (8.5 H/9), 82 HR (.8), 360 BB (3.4 BB/9), 780 K (7.4 K/9) Translated: 3.79 ERA, 8.4 H/9--.8 HR/9--2.9 BB/9--7.5 K/9

Felix Rodriguez (32 in 2005):

2004: 3.29 ERA, 65.2 IP, 61 Hits (8.4 H/9), 8 HR (1.1 HR/9), 29 BB (4.0 BB/9), 59 K (8.0 K/9)
Translated: 3.63 ERA, 8.1 H/9--1.0 HR/9--3.9 BB/9--6.6 K/9

Career: 3.41 ERA, 524.7 IP, 461 Hits (7.9 H/9), 43 HR (.7), 247 BB (4.2 BB/9), 479 K (8.2 K/9) Translated: 3.74 ERA, 7.9 H/9--.8 HR/9--4.1 BB/9--6.6 K/9


Mets Receive:

Felix Heredia (30 in 2005):

2004: 6.28 ERA, 38.7 IP, 44 Hits (10.2 H/9), 5 HR (1.2 HR/9), 20 BB (4.6 BB/9), 25 K (5.8 K/9)
Translated: 5.91 ERA, 9.5 H/9--1.1 HR/9--4.5 BB/9--5.3 K/9

Career: 4.44 ERA, 455.7 IP, 447 Hits (8.8 H/9), 45 HR (.9), 231 BB (4.6 BB/9), 349 K (6.9 K/9) Translated: 4.85 ERA, 8.5 H/9--.8 HR/9--4.3 BB/9--5.8 K/9


Phillies receive:

Kenny Lofton (38 in 2005):

2004: .275/.346/.395, 3 HR, 27/31 (0.84/1) K/BB, 7/3 (70 %) SB/CS
Translated: .282/.360/.405, .270 EqA

Career: .297/.372/.425, 118 HR, 882/812 K/BB (1.09/1) , 545/145 (79 %) SB/CS
Translated: .304/.379/.444, .289 EqA

Just by looking at the numbers above, we can see that the Yankees are getting some quality bullpen arms--one being a southpaw (Stanton), the other being a right-hander (Rodriguez). Combine that with the fact that they rid themselves of Heredia, and the Yankees already have a better bullpen going into 2005.

Also, with the Yankees having Bernie Williams and the money to afford free-agent Carlos Beltran, they could easily afford to lose Lofton.

We can also see that the Phillies are getting a very good center fielder in Lofton, with the only question mark being his age.

Lastly, we see the Mets are, far and away, getting the worst end of the trades. Heredia had a horrible year last season, and does not have good career statistics either.

So after looking at the numbers, we see how each team fared in the trades. As we all know though, “quality of player” is not the only factor considered in trades; saving money is considered also. So, if you’re wondering why the Mets made this trade, or just wondering how each team's payroll is affected, we must look at the money side of the deal.

Here are the numbers:

As stated earlier, the Yankees received $975,000 from the Mets to help pay the $4 million Stanton is due next season--the final year of his contract.

With Heredia's contract paying him $1.8 million in 2005, with a $2.5 millon option for 2006, and him being due $200,000 in 06' (regardless if his option is picked up or not); the Yankees are shipping out a guarenteed $2 million combined salary in 05' and 06'. Then, including the $975,000 sent to them by the Mets--the Yankees end up adding $1.025 million to their payroll through 2005-06'.

In the other half of the deal Felix Rodriguez and Kenny Lofton are both signed through 2005, with both making similar amounts of money next season, with Lofton getting $3.1 million and Rodriguez getting $3.15 million.

With the Yankees getting the player being paid $50,000 more, why are they giving the Phillies $1.525 million next season? I guess that the benefits of having the largest payroll in baseball.

In this deal, with Rodriguez’s salary adding $50,000 to the Yankees payroll, combined with them sending $1.525 million over to the Phillies, the Yankees are adding $1.575 million to their payroll next season.

Combine the two deals, and the Yankees are adding ($1.575 + $1.025) $2.6 million to their payroll through 2006.

In a quick look at the Mets, they save themselves $1.025 million the next two seasons by ridding themselves of Stanton's $4 million salary next season, picking up Heredia’s $2 million salary in 05’ and 06’, and combining that with their sending of $975,000 to the Yankees. (Stanton's $4 million, minus Heredia's $2 million on 05', and 06’, minus $975,000 sent to Yankees)

Then, to finalize the analysis of the money side of the deal, the Phillies, by saving $50,000 because of the difference in Rodriguez's and Lofton's salary, and by receiving $1.525 million from the Yankees, have an addition $1.575 to spend in 2005.

After looking at the quality of players exchanged, and the money aspects, the Yankees are the winners of this trade.

Even though they added the most money to their payroll (which they can afford--but for this argument I will pretend they are a normal team), they are getting two high-quality bullpen pitchers, while subtracting a player who was very expendable (Lofton), and also subtracting the troubled Heredia.

The Phillies come in a close second to the Yankees. They receive a very good player in Lofton, and added $1.575 million to their payroll next season. Even with the added money though, I'd have to say that, with Lofton and Stanton both being 38 next season, age affects a hitter more than it affects a bullpen left-hander, so the Phillies are getting more of a "question mark" than the Yankees.

The only team left is the clear and concise loser of the trades, the New York Mets. The old saying "One man's trash is another man's treasure," does not apply to the Mets picking up the Yankees trash (Heredia)--even though they saved $1.575 million. Heredia has shown no quality, or consistency throughout his career. If he were a right-hander, he might be out of baseball.

I guess the Mets are hoping that their pitcher-friendly ballpark, combined with the pitcher-friendly National League, will combine to make Heredia into a good situational left-hander. Good Luck.

Thank you for reading.

Frank Bundy III

If you have any questions, comments, concerns, or suggestions, please do not hesitate to email me at frnkbndy@yahoo.com.