Ian Kennedy

With free-agent outfielder Johnny Damon reportedly signing a one-year, $8 million contract with Detroit, it appears as if two former Yankees will be prowling the Tigers' outfield in 2010.

Earlier this offseason, Austin Jackson was traded to Detroit in a three-team deal that also sent pitcher Ian Kennedy to Arizona and outfielder Curtis Granderson to the Bronx.

Jackson, a highly-touted prospect, hit .300 with four homers, 65 RBIs, and 24 steals in 132 games for Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre last year.

There is much teeth-gnashing among Yankees fans as they mourn the departure of Hideki Matsui and probable loss of Johnny Damon .  Even here at the Bleacher Report, writers accuse management of penny-pinching at the expense of the team on the field .  These writers are wrong.  Brian Cashman's moves have made the 2010 Yankee

Hello once again!

Well, the hot stove fire really sparked and crackled for the Yanks during the General Managers' Winter Meetings this past week, so let's do a quick recap of the biggest deal made, so far, in this offseason.

Three Team Trade between the Yanks, D'Backs, and Tigers

Here is how it broke down for the Yanks: New York received OF Curtis Granderson from the Tigers, while shipping out Ian Kennedy to the D'Backs, and trading prospect Austin Jackson, and LHP Phil Coke, to the Tigers.

At first glance, it seems like the Yankees get the best part of today's three-team trade because of Curtis Granderson's name, experience, and All-Star potential.  Let's look at this trade from each team's perspective a little closer:

New York Yankees

Yankees receive 28-year-old Curtis Granderson.

Late last night, I had reported that the Yankees, Diamondbacks and Tigers were dicussing a three-team blockbuster trade at MLB's Baseball Winter Meetings.

Last night, the trade was vetoed and the teams went back to talking to work on it.

Today around 1:30 p.m., the trade was finally executed.

The Yankees landed center fielder Curtis Granderson.

Pitchers Edwin Jackson and Ian Kennedy were acquired by the Diamondbacks.

The Tigers were able to pick up outfielder Austin Jackson, and pitchers Phil Coke, Max Scherzer and Daniel Schlereth.

While some sources reported it as a rumor earlier, Jon Heyman of Sports Illustrated has confirmed via his Twitter that the New York Yankees, Arizona Diamondbacks, and Detroit Tigers have agreed on a deal that will send OF Curtis Granderson to the Bronx and P Edwin Jackson to the desert. The details are as followed:

There is a 3-team deal in place that would send CF Curtis Granderson to the Yankees; RHP Ian Kennedy and RHP Edwin Jackson to the Diamondbacks; and LHP Phil Coke, Daniel Schlereth and CF Austin Jackson are sent to the Tigers.

This deal is horrible for the Yankees. Austin Jackson was their top ranked prospect and set to start in CF for the squad this upcoming year. In Scranton-Wilkes Barre he hit .300 with 4 homeruns and 65 RBIs. He added 24 stolen bases in 132 games. He currently is 22 and will be 23 starting the '10 season.

Some things are rock solid for the New York Yankees going into the 2010 season.

To begin with they have the best infield in all of baseball both offensively and defensively.

Mark Texeira - First Base.  Robinson Cano - Second Base.  Alex Rodriguez - Third Base. Derek Jeter - Shortstop.  No need for any changes there.

Jorge Posada will back behind the plate but don't expect him to catch more than 100 games. He will DH a great deal more and they will give his aging legs a lot more rest.

I don't know what to do right now, as we still have two more days until Yankee baseball. 

This should help you kill some time (it certainly helped me).

I'm a big Ian Kennedy fan. He absolutely tore up the minor leagues in his first full professional season, something that very few pitchers do. No, Kennedy doesn't have the front-line potential that Hughes and Joba have, but he still is a valuable asset. Check this out, his numbers speak for themselves:

The Scranton Yankees-AAA affiliate of the New York Yankees beat the Lehigh Valley Ironpigs yesterday by a score of 2-1 in 11 innings. Ian Kennedy made his first start of the year and went a strong six innings giving up one run on four hits with 0 walks and 11 strikeouts.

Dave Robertson had a strong two innings of relief giving up one hit, 0 runs, and three strikeouts. Brett Tomko pitched two innings giving up two hits, 0 runs, 0 walks, and had three strikeouts and JB Cox closed it out with a walk and hit but no runs allowed.