Soriano & The Missing Arm

The Independence Day weekend was great for the players on the field, but not for the executives behind the desks. After struggling to keep a consistent batting average and performance in the field, Alfonso Soriano was designated for assignment Sunday morning, and Diamondbacks' right-hander Brandon McCarthy was traded to New York in exchange for lefty Vidal Nuno.

Soriano soared throughout the second half of last season, posting seventeen homers in fifty games after being traded by Chicago at the July deadline. This season for Soriano has been difficult to watch. The 38 year-old sat around .220 at the plate, and found difficulty with the amount of playing time Joe Girardi granted him. Soriano was frustrated with his role, but his time out on the diamond did not convince Brian Cashman to see him through another couple of weeks. Many speculated Soriano as trade bait within the month, but considering how ugly his statistics have been this year, it is possible that the front office attempted a trade not to long ago, and could not reach an agreement with any other club.

Now, back to the problem. You can never have enough pitching, and as the All-Star Break approaches, the Yankees find themselves in a pickle to find that one top-tier starting pitcher.

With CC Sabathia shut down indefinitely, the starting rotation will find difficulty in remaining consistent come October. The rumors around baseball have murmured the names of Phillies' Cliff Lee and Rays' ace David Price. Cliff Lee was once among the list of wants for the Yankees in 2010, but the negotiations were not in the Yankees' favor, and ultimately, Lee was sent to Texas for the remainder of that season until he signed with Philadelphia the following year. Lee's name has been among the elites for the last decade, but his struggle with injuries has left many uncertain of Lee's performance.

David Price has dominated the Yankees since his debut with Tampa in '08, and although he poses as a potent threat to the opponent's bats, his spot on the roster will also be as costly as Lee's. Tampa is waiting to shop Price, and the front office has made it clear that they are interested in potentially trading the lefty within the division.

The question that remains is this: Do the Yankees want to trade for these big names while giving away the few top prospects that remain in the minors?

Not only will the Phillies want the Yanks' to pay half of Lee's remaining salary, but they will also request for a talented prospect, such as Gary Sanchez or Mason Williams. Tampa Bay will also want a well rounded prospect in return, but most likely not to the same caliber. The only name that should be up for discussion is David Robertson.

Although Robertson has positively impacted the Yankee bullpen since the World Series run in '09, Robertson remains on constant watch as rising phenom Dellin Betances has controlled the bullpen. Betances is the future closer of the Yankees, and now would be a better time than ever to send away David Robertson in swap for an outfield or infield prospect.

The Yankees still wonder where they will stand by the trading deadline, and as the brand names remain on the trading block, look out for the expensive rentals to be in pinstripes this late July. The Yanks' are looking for a championship, but the costly trades may not be worth the time this season.