a perfectly nice outing from Ivan Nova–who has really looked good, hasn’t he?

Sell. Sell. SELL.

[1] Sell Nova? He's still young...

Great discussion on Jazayerli&Sheehan's podcast about our man Robbie. Maybe the first $30million per year player if he takes a 6 for 180 deal, assuming teams are not stupid enough to offer 10 years. I really hope he stays, want to see him retire a Yankee as one of the 5 best 2B ever.

Robbie is one of the 5 best second basemen ever?

[3] He's getting there. Look at those XBH numbers year after year. Robbie lacks speed and he'll never catch Morgan, Alomar, Hornsby or Robinson..but he'll be right behind them. Most the other contenders are deadball era guys. The big Q is can he avoid the post 33 drop off..

[2] I wasn't referring to him specifically.

[4] According to baseball-reference, Cano is currently the #32 2B all time in WAR (by comparison, Chase Utley is #16), #16 WAR7 (best seven seasons), #24 JAWS, #20 OPS+. Of course, Cano has only played 9 seasons, so he has more time to pile up counting stats, but top 5 all time is likely a stretch.

[6] Will check that out, but am sure a lot of those guys played in baking-glove small-ball days.

MP, seems the Yanks may get Alfonso Soriano. Can we have your extended thoughts please? And remember, while a family site, the Banter strongly encourages profanity!

[7] Soriano! That would be most symbiotic as he the player who brought us A-Rod to begin with.

I know he strikes out way too much, and refuses to walk, but I used to love watching him bat. Taking those huge cuts with that huge piece of lumber.

Maybe top ten? He'd have to pass his namesake, and Willie Randolph.

[7] It all depends on what they give up, because at this point it just doesn't matter. It does make me wonder if they actually carry any OFs at AAA, though.

[10] It all depends on what they give up, because at this point it just doesn't matter.

By this I mean, if they give up nothing, who cares. But if they actually trade anything useable---assuming they carry useable players in the minors these days---I'll probably go ballistic.

This looks like a move made to show the paying customers that the organizations is willing to go out and make moves.

looks like the Cubs would be getting Chase Whitley. AAA RHP, 3.52 ERA, 8.7K/9, 3.1 BB/9. I mean yeah I guess that's "useable" but not really anything you don't get from Kelly or Phelps.

I say go for it, it softens the blow for next year if Granderson walks and if A-Rod is suspended that opens up the payroll space (and then some). or you could look to sign Grandy to a 1 year deal in the offseason and flip Gardner for something, giving you Ichiro/Soriano/Granderson in the OF with Wells as a backup (which, fine whatever, his defense is passable and he can occasionally run into one). Someone is gonna be willing to give you something of relative value for Gardner, I feel like.

Don't see top 5 of all time. Top 5 yankee 2b, sure.

12) Nats are deep in prospects, and would love Gardie. Spahn has not been the solution. They wanted him last off-season, but Yanks said "no."

[12] with Wells as a backup

I'm increasingly on board with this. I mean, I simply loooove the idea that the premiere organization in baseball, and the richest, will employ arguably the worst more or less regular OF in the game over the last three seasons (and possessor of one of the worst contracts in the game) as a starter one season and the primary backup the next, because they have not managed to find a single minor leaguer who can at least match his production. It's absolutely delicious.

(15) well it's that or outright release him and pay him anyway, take your pick

[16] They should outright release him, since the Angels are basically paying him for next year. Of course, they should have never signed him to begin with, but that's a dead horse I've been flogging, um, to death this whole season.

Son, that nag is long past glue ...

Atta boy, Melky!