The trade deadline is barely over a month away, and the Yankees, as usual, are expected to be buyers again this season. Thanks to a payroll over $200 million, they really don’t have many needs, but they do need some bullpen help and another bat.
One player on the trade block who could help the Yankees is Ty Wigginton. Even though we don’t know if the Orioles would trade him within their division to the Yankees, we do know what the O’s are expecting to get back for him, thanks to Ken Rosenthal of Fox Sports.
Rosenthal has reported that the Orioles won’t trade Wigginton unless they are getting back a young shortstop.
This could be good for the Yankees depending on exactly what quality shortstop they are looking for. If they are looking for an elite young prospect, then they are probably out of luck, but the Yankees might have a number of players who might interest Baltimore: Eduardo Nunez, Ramiro Pena, Kevin Russo, or Reegie Corona.
Again, the Orioles might be talking a top prospect type of shortstop. Or they might be talking a Nunez type. If the Yankees are really lucky they’d settle for Pena, but that seems unrealistic, even if he were packaged with another prospect.
One thing you can be certain about, Andy MacPhail, the Orioles president, knows that Wigginton is one of the more attractive veterans who will be available. That means he’s going to wait, probably right up until the deadline, and get the best package he can for Wigginton.
So if the Yankees do get him, it won’t be cheap.
Related Stories
March 2, 2010: 5 Yankees Spring Training Battles (4)
April 12, 2010: David Adams Not Helping Minor League Logjam (1)
November 20, 2009: The Yankees Finalize Their 40-Man Roster (0)
June 22, 2010: Yankees Trade Rumors: Focus is on the Bench (7)
Read more MLB news on BleacherReport.com