Yankeetorial: No, NO, NO!!! on a trade for Urbaldo Jimenez

Yesterday, George King of the New York Murdoch -- obviously hacking the phone of Brian Cashman, and/or bribing Hank Steinbrenner with a pack of Camels -- slathered into print a rumor that Yankees want Colorado pitcher Urbaldo Jimenez, a man who -- (breathless typing, now) -- started last year's All-Star game!

Wow. Hold me back. He started last year's All-Star game. For the National League, no less. Yep, in spring of 2010, Urbaldo Jiminez was the Second Coming of Sandy Koufax. Thus, we will trade for him -- Jesus Montero or Betances or Banuelos -- we will the World Series.

Yeah, right.

Jesus, God, Jesus, noooooooooooooo. Please, I'm begging you, no.

Listen: This year Jiminez has pitched like the Second Coming of Sandy Duncan -- except for a few recent starts. Yep. He's pitching well, so they want to deal him ASAP. What does that tell us?

Baseball history is filled with guys like Jiminez: A magnificent two months, loss of speed, smacked around, brief resurgence, shoulder surgery, mediocrity. Nothing here says he'll be better than Ivan Nova, whom we -- unlike everybody else in baseball -- seem obsessed with disregarding. (Hello again, Sergio Mitre!!)

Today, we hear that Kansas City is scouting our system. What are we thinking? We'll trade for Grienke?

Listen: I donno much about arms. Obviously, you trust your baseball scouts, and I am not one. But here's a thought that baseball scouts might not be having:

We can never measure up to the amount of money we spend until we start looking long term, not just for the next few weeks.

And deadline trades always give the sellers the advantage.

Last winter, the Redsocks dished prospects to get Adrian Gonzalez. They did it the smart way, at a time when the buyer has the advantage (if any advantage exists at all.) Today, if Colorado puts Jiminez out for bids, it's because they know what he's got, and they want to deal it, and they know they'll get the best deal possible for the long run.

The long run. Let me repeat those words. THE. LONG. RUN.

We cannot continue to trade the future for the past. How much better would we be this year if we had not traded Mark Melancon for Fat Elvis Bergman. To win, to dominate, to build a dynasty, we must develop our prospects and sign the occasional free-agent. Do NOT trade the kids. Let them evolve.

Today, there seems to be a bandwagon saying that 1) Jesus Montero will never catch, and 2) he's not playing well. Thus, say the experts, trade his fat ass -- yes, when his stock is low.

Please, nooooooooooooooooooo. Folks, this is exactly why we should NOT trade Montero. He's 21, a catcher, in Triple A. This is great. The fear all along was that his bat would propel him to the majors before his glove was ready, thus, he'd never find a position. This year, when he hasn't been knocking down fences -- (BTW, he's "only" batting .290) -- has been a godsend. It's given him another season to learn the position. In other words, he's doing fine. If we trade him to Colorado for a slab of used up meat, we will watch Montero star for 10 years, while we lick our wounds and think, "What if..."

Listen: This was a rebuilding year. We knew this. We signed Colon and Garcia. We kept our stud prospects. We're within striking distance of the mighty Socks. The playoffs will be a crapshoot. We could win it. We could lose it. But we'll win with what we have, not with what we trade for. 

Oh, and you know who else was the stud pitcher in early 2010? His name was Phil Hughes. He's back. If he's got it, he's better than Jiminez. If not, we're screwed. Wither goest Ivan Nova? Helloooooo, Serio Mitre?