Tabata is a FAT 19 year old with a slugging % below .300. Orendorf is worthless, coke is a relief pitcher and who knows who the other prospect is. If it’s McAllister then it’s an even trade.

I think Ohlendorf is a middle relief/long man type. I’m not all that impressed with Coke, who I think is a LOOGY at best. That said, I like Kontos as a late inning arm or a mid-end of the rotation type starter, and Tabata still holds enough interest. From a value perspective, I think it is about equal. I’m not sure Tabata was the right guy to build a trade around for the Bucs, though, but if he pans out, McCutchen/McLouth/Tabata in a couple years could be superb.

I’m extremely happy as a Yankee fan:

Jose Tabata: even if he does turn out to be a good baseball player, he’s only 19, so it won’t happen in what? 3-4 years?

Phil Coke: 26 year old lefty in AA; back-of-the-rotation in NL starter at most likely; or a LOOGY

George Kontos: I do like this guy; he seems like he can be a solid starter

Ross Ohlendorf: Yankees are set with the pen, he got destroyed in the AL East; no problem with him gone

is highly over-rated and that if this deal was done with the 17 year old or 18 year old Tabata…I could understand the deal. But two years later Tabata has significant injury issues with his wrist and make-up issues to boot.

I think the Pirates really should have held out for Kennedy as well as Tabata. Making this trade makes no sense on the Pirates part, they could have waited another few days and this offer would still have been on the table.

Huntington has really disappointed me with this move.

All of the Yankee prospects have question marks, although I do wonder when Nady will fall back to Earth.

The Pirates didn’t even get the extremely overrated Kennedy in return? I’ll tell you what, I don’t believe in “New York Hype” but these Yankee prospects are extremely overrated, and it worked here.

good deal, sadly, for yanks

everyone, anytime any trade is made, has to find who “won” or “lost” a trade.. especially when phrased in a ridiculously hyperbolic manner.
That isn’t what MLB trades are about.

I think both teams got an even deal. The Pirates really weren’t giving up THAT much talent anyway, so to say they got “fleeced” is going really, really overboard. They gave up a solid OF and a good LOOGY who weren’t in their future plans anyway. The gave up no current superstars and no one who they needed down the road.
The value of .5 year of a solid LOOGY and 1.5 years of a solid OF are worth plenty more to the Yanks right now than the Pirates.
From the PIT perspective..
The Pirates got a talented but questionable 19 yo OF. That is a fine risk for them to take in a deal like this. If he works out, great, if not.. losing Nady/Marte isn’t anything the franchise is going to look back on and shed a tear about. They weren’t going to be pirates much longer anyway.
The Pirates got a 26 yo setup man with MLB stuff who isn’t currently getting the job done. Another risk they can easily take. They could get a very good pitcher out of Ohlendorf, worth a shot.
In Kontos they got a guy with some control issues but solid MLB stuff who could possibly be a solid starter.
I’ll admit I know nothing abot Coke other than his numbers. I would guess he is probably a fringe MLBer who could maybe pan out into a 5th starter or setup man.

From the Yanks perspective..
You got two guys who could definitely help you win right now.
The only one of the guys you gave up who is a potential star also has a world of problems right now. You can afford to part with that.
The other guys you gave up have potential but they aren’t guys who are irreplaceable.

according to the last Elias Rankings was very close to being an A type FA at the end of last season. Barring a really poor 50 games with the Yankees, he’s likely an A at the end of this season.

Nady might be an A also. When you calculate the fact that the Yankees might get more than one first round pick to add onto this trade…I think its lopsidedly in the Yankees favor.

Everyone would say what a good trade it was for Beane. The Pirates are not going to be playoff contenders overnite.

The NY Post is reporting that Daniel McCutchen and Jeff Karstens are being sent to Pittsburgh in this deal, not Coke and Kontos.

My opinion is that this makes the deal slightly better from Pittsburgh’s perspective, but doesn’t really change things much from the Yanks’ perspective (if that somehow makes sense).

Tabata and Ohlendorf are still in it, but rather than Kontos/Coke it is being reported that the Yankees are giving up Jeff Karstens and Daniel McCutchen (sp?). Makes the deal a little more even, but I would rather have Kontos than Karstens

Usually it takes a few more years to suggest it, but maybe part of getting Tabata is that by putting him in a more low-key environment where he doesn’t have to deal with NY Media wondering whats wrong with him, he may be able to become a better player.

Plus, I like Ohlendorf and think thats a good arm for Pirates that they can immediately plug into their bullpen.

McCutchen is having a solid season between AA/AAA and a switch to the NL may make him useful as a back of the end starter. Karstens is very similar.

I think the problem is that the Pirates were rumored to be looking for at least “one sure prospect” for each guy and got no sure big name prospect. But, if Karstens or McCutchen becomes a useable 4th/5th in the NL, if Ohlendorf can be the shut down reliever he’s capable of and Tabata becomes even close to fulfilling his potential, then the deal is dead even. You rarely can get the sure fire prospects anymore, they just aren’t traded (save a few exceptions)

In a straight trade for talent, I think it’s pretty close with the Yankees winning slightly only due to the low chance Tabata reaches his ceiling as a perenial all-star. When you factor in the value of Pittsburgh losing at least one draft pick this off-season and at least one next off season (and a pretty good chance at two each off season), the Yankees got a steal. Karstens, McCutchen, and Ohlendorf probably aren’t worth much over the next few years, besides being rotation fodder and bullpen arms. They’re better than what they’re replacing, but not collectively worth much more than 2-3 wins a year over what they’re replacing. And none of them will add much value to a future Pittsburgh contender. The guy who may is Tabata.

Gambling on him rather than four picks in the top 50 is rash, though I can understand Huntington’s interest in adding a high ceiling player to the organization. You won’t find a Tabata in the draft where they’d be picking, but I’d rather take my chances with 2-4 players than 1. Not that this was a bad trade. The Pirates save ~$7 million on Nady and Marte and gain some return for them. I’m just not so sure that they wouldn’t have been better off keeping Marte and getting the pick and dealing Nady alone. You have to imagine he could’ve pulled back Tabata at least.

The Yankees on the other hand made off like bandits. Nady replaces Matsui pretty well over the next 60 games and breaks up a righty heavy Yankees lineup. Controlling him for next season and his ability to play both corners and first base are bonuses. Marte gives the Yankees a legit lefty power arm to shut down Papi, Morneau, Thome, or Pena in a playoff battle. Add in the draft picks with the Yankees ability to spend well over slot and you have the best trade of the year.