The Yankees, who have climbed back into the AL East race since the All-Star break, continue to make trades in a bid to regain the division title they lost to the Red Sox last season.
With catcher Jorge Posada out for the year as he undergoes shoulder surgery, the Yankees picked up future Hall of Fame catcher Ivan Rodriguez from the Tigers yesterday. The Yankees didn't have to give up any prospects this time, surrendering only reliever Kyle Farnsworth.
Rodriguez, who can be a free agent after the season, isn't the offensive force he once was. But he still represents a huge improvement over Jose Molina, who inherited the job by default after Posada was injured.
The Yankees picked up outfielder Xavier Nady and lefthanded reliever Damaso Marte from the Pirates last week.
It was only a couple of weeks ago that the Yankees had said they were planning to stick to their plan of developing prospects and no longer chasing high-priced talent from other clubs. But their prospects haven't developed as quickly as the Yankees hoped, and now they may be losing faith in their ability to replenish their roster from within their system.
"It's about taking chances this year," Yankees GM Brian Cashman told MLB.com after the Rodriguez deal was announced. "We want to be able to cross the finish line when this is all said and done. That's why we have to make these tough decisions on the run."
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