According to Jon Heyman of SI.com, the Yankees have added all-star center fielder Curtis Granderson in a three-team trade involving the Detroit Tigers and Arizona Diamondbacks.
The Diamondbacks receive starting pitcher Edwin Jackson from Detroit and former first-round pick Ian Kennedy from the Yankees, while the Tigers claim left-handed reliever Phil Coke and outfield prospect Austin Jackson from New York and starter Max Scherzer and set-up man Daniel Schlereth from Arizona.
Granderson had 30 HR and 71 RBI near the top of the order last season for Detroit, despite hitting just .249.
The Tigers, who had the fifth highest payroll in the league in 2009, were the talk of the Winter Meetings thus far, as they looked to cut excess salaries by dealing some key players. Granderson is due just $5.5 million in 2010, but his salary could rise to up to $15 million in 2013 if he hits potential performance bonuses.
The Yankees gave up prospect Austin Jackson, who was expected to crack the team heading into 2010. Many people inside the Yankees' organization compared Jackson potentially to Granderson, so dealing a player who may become as good as the one you're getting back makes fiscal sense.
Granderson figures to start in center field for the Yankees in 2010, which may mark the end of Hideki Matsui's time in pinstripes. The Japanese-born free agent had been relegated to just DH duties in 2009, and Granderson's speed and versatility makes Matsui all the more expendable.
Phil Coke will join Jackson in Detroit. The lefty reliever had an up-and-down 2009 season with New York, finishing with a 4.50 ERA and 49 K in 60 innings pitched. The Yankees also dealt Ian Kennedy to Arizona. Kennedy has a career ERA of 6.03 in three disappointing seasons with New York after coming up as a highly regarded prospect.
The Diamondbacks will also add starting pitcher Edwin Jackson from Detroit, while sending Max Scherzer and Daniel Schlereth to the Tigers in return.
Jackson is arbitration-eligible this winter, and his salary could increase to up to $5 million from the $2.2 million he made this season. He went 13-9 with a 3.62 ERA, good for seventh in the American League. Jackson also had 162 strikeouts in 214 innings pitched.
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