Prediction Numbers 1& 2

The first chip you will see Cashman deal this week is the afore-referenced ( see Christmas message of Alphonso ) Eric Almonte.

He is young, fast, had an excellent winter in the Dominican league, and displays 4 tools ( I don't think he is a big HR guy ), which is 3.5 more tools than any other Yankee outfielder who will survive spring training.

It is, of course, Almonte, whom other teams do covet.  Why covet Almonte, you ask?  Because he is young, somewhat proven from his time with the Yankees last year, is from the Dominican, and has plenty of upside.  The Yankees won't use him because they have Vernon Wells who is cheap, slow, and finished but a great, veteran clubhouse presence.

The Yankees actually still believe they can win with resumes.

I see Almonte either going alone or, more likely, packaged with some other prospect ( the name Sanchez comes to mind).  In return, we get a formerly average, national league starting pitcher who, now well into his 30's and with lingering injury issues, will rarely see the fourth inning.
That "free out "every 9th batter ( the pitcher has to hit in the real game of baseball ) just doesn't happen over here.

The second trading chip, per El Duque, has got to be Brett Gardner.  The Yankees are bound and determined to field a team that has no original Yankees on it.   Gardner has the grit and hustle we just don't want.  If he can't hit 30 homers ( just like Tiexiera, I might add ), the Bronx Bombers ( choking on my egg nog ) , don't want him.  Once Derek retires, and Brett is traded, I think David Robertson becomes the lone ranger of original Yankee chips.

The team, accordingly, will soon be re-named, " The New York Amalgum," or, " The Melting ( I think, "melted" is better)  Pot."  We'll have time to run a poll.

Remember back in the late 1800's, out on the prairie, when our grandparents were rooting around trying to carve out a life, and the grannies would stitch together old, used up rags and pieces of worn out clothing to make a quilt for warmth?  Their way of getting some value out of detritus.

That's how the Yankees build a team.

Only today they use discarded Fendi bags and scarves from Bloomingdales.