Evaluating the Granderson Trade

The Yankees turned many heads this off season when they were involved in a 3 team trade that landed the defending champs All Star outfielder Curtis Granderson. To get Granderson, the Yankees had to part with phenom outfielder Austin Jackson, reliever Phil Coke, and would send Ian Kennedy to the D'backs. Arizona would also get starter Edwin Jackson and send young starter Max Scherzer to Detroit. It seemed that the Yankees had gotten the best of the deal, at least for the next few years. However, one of the players the Yankees traded is tearing it up.

Austin Jackson is proving himself in his rookie season. The youngster is second in the AL with a .369 average, which won him the AL Rookie of the Month. Yes Jackson is batting late in the order and will see better pitchers than Miguel Cabrera and Magglio Ordonez, but the kid is doing his job at age 23 and is establishing a name for himself. On the other hand, Curtis Granderson is struggling, hitting only 2 homers and is batting a low .225. Add to this his current injury that could sideline him for up to one month. Edwin Jackson has not received a warm welcome to the NL, going 1-3 with a 8.07 ERA.

Granderson is a very good player, but I think the Yankees will be disappointed when Austin Jackson turns into a great lead-off hitter and all star player. So the Tigers get the better end of the trade this season, and in the future. Austin will be a big help if the Tigers plan on contending in the AL Central.

Early Trade Grades:
Yankees- B- (Granderson will have to put up numbers similar to his 30 HRs last year for this trade to be a success)
Tigers- A (Austin Jackson is the real deal and maybe they can find something out of the young Scherzer)
Diamondbacks- C- (Edwin Jackson has been terrible, but hopefully for the D'Backs he can turn it around. Maybe Ian Kennedy will turn out to be something, after the Yankees gave up on him.