Curtis Granderson to the Yankees: What Are the Diamondbacks Thinking?

According to Jon Heyman, via Twitter , the New York Yankees, Detroit Tigers, and Arizona Diamondbacks have agreed to a three-way trade. The deal will be officially announced once medical records check out.

Here is the breakdown of the trade.

Yankees receive: Curtis Granderson

Tigers receive: Phil Coke, Austin Jackson, Max Scherzer, and Daniel Schlereth

Diamondbacks receive: Edwin Jackson and Ian Kennedy.

My initial take on this trade is—great for the Tigers, very good for the Yankees, awful for the Diamondbacks.

When I wrote my “Curtis Granderson: What’s His Trade Market” piece a couple of weeks ago, I had the Yankees as a likely destination for the Tigers’ center fielder. As a matter of fact, I also had the Diamondbacks on that list as well.

Granderson should do extremely well in New York, both on and off the field. He is very smart, well spoken, and could see his life outside the game grow.

Despite his OPS declining three straight years (.913 to .858 to .780), Granderson should thrive in the Yankees’ lineup. Plus, with his new power approach at the plate, Granderson should find the right field at the new Yankee Stadium more appealing than Comerica Park.

The trade for Granderson also gives the Yankees a lot of options moving forward. They can put Granderson in center and re-sign Johnny Damon or if Damon leaves, they can put Melky Cabrera in center and put Granderson in left.

This move hurts Damon’s negotiating power with the Yankees. Now if he wants more money and more years from the Yankees, the Yankees can just walk away.

The Tigers did very, very, well in this deal. They were able to shed Granderson’s and Jackson’s salary and get a lot of quality back in return.

To get top prospects Austin Jackson, Max Scherzer, and Daniel Schlereth is very impressive. The acquisition of Scherzer was a steal by the Tigers.

Why the Diamondbacks traded him is beyond me. Scherzer was the 11th overall pick in the 2006 draft and last year, in 170.1 innings, Scherzer struck out 174 batters and only gave up 166 hits.

This kid is a stud and can easily replace the production from Edwin Jackson. With Scherzer, Justin Verlander, and Rick Porcello in the Tigers’ rotation, the Tigers will have three flame throwers at the top.

Schlereth, who was the Diamondbacks’ third best prospect going into 2009 (according to Baseball America ), and Coke give the Tigers two lefties to put in their bullpen.

With Austin Jackson, the Tigers get the Yankees’ best prospect going into 2009 according to Baseball America and a replacement for Granderson in center. A lot people will say Jesus Montero has passed Jackson, but Jackson is a top prospect none the less.

In 2009 for Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre, Jackson hit .300/.354/.405 with four home runs and 24 stolen bases in 132 games.

For the Diamondbacks, however, this trade is a disaster. I have no idea what they are trying to do.

To give up two of your best prospects for two middle of the road pitchers is puzzling at best. I don’t want to hear about Kennedy. He is not very good.

Kennedy seems to me another product of the Yankee prospect hype machine—an average pitcher that because he is a Yankee, people assume he will be great.

The Diamondbacks are in rebuilding mode and yet, they became older and acquired a more expensive player. It makes no sense.

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