Today Wallace Matthews analyzes the Yankees trade of Martin Prado to the Marlins for, among others, Garrett Jones. He notes that the presence of Jones may reduce the number of at-bats for A-Rod from the DH and/or backup first base slot. Which I think is fair to say is absolutely going to happen.
Of course, it can’t just be a baseball move. It has to be something . . . more sinister:
Call me crazy, but maybe rather than scheme and plot to “humiliate” A-Rod, perhaps the Yankees are simply trying to put together the best possible roster they can? One that provides Joe Girardi with the best possible options given the strengths and weaknesses of the team and the uncertainty presented by A-Rod’s age, health and time off? And, if they make enough moves -- or if A-Rod shows he can’t help the Yankees win games -- they’ll simply DFA him. Indeed, I’d give it even odds at happening before Opening Day at this point.
Or is that naive of me?
In other news, when a writer says “there is a school of thought that . . . " or “some say that . . .” you can rest assured that it is the writer’s own opinion. And, in this case, the writer definitely comes from a school of thought that is very, very interested in reading too much in to what are pretty simple and sensible baseball moves.