What was Cashman thinking?

It is always interesting to watch what the Yankees do around the MLB trade deadline every year. Last year, Brian Cashman made some small moves to help the Yankees towards the World Series championship, those players weren't big named but they were big contributors to the Yankees down the stretch and winning the championship. Eric Hinskie, Jerry Hairston Jr, and Chad Gaudin, did their jobs in helping the Yankees achieve their ultimate goal.

Now this season, Cashman again brought in three players, Lance Berkman, Austin Kearns and Kerry Wood. Berkman is a great player and everyone knows that, and it was a great move to get Berkman, kudos to him. Berkman fits great in the Yankees lineup batting 2nd. Kearns is also another great pick up by Cashman, a 4th outfielder, who can hit and maybe finally convince Giradi not to put Thames in the outfield ever again.

Now the one move that bothers me beyond anything is why Kerry Wood. Everyone knows that the Yankees needed help in the bullpen, especially in the 8th inning. Joba Chamberlain has been horrible in that role and David Robertson has been not as bad as Chamberlain but not that good either. So it’s understandable why they went after a guy for the 8th inning, but why Kerry Wood, he’s horrible straight up. The Rays went and got Chad Qualls who is decent, and the Rays gave up a player to be named later, I'm sure in all the Yankees organization we could have found a player to be named later, come on. Also Matt Capps was traded to the Twins for a decent prospect, who are the Yankees kidding holding on to these prospects. I am just saying that Kerry Wood was not the best the Yankees could do. This just reminds me of when the Red Sox traded for Eric Gagne at the deadline to be the 8th inning man for Jonathan Papelbon, how did that work out for them? Not to good, because Gagne was washed up and Wood is everything that describes a washed up pitcher, and it has nothing to do with his 6.30 ERA this season it has to do with the fact that he was activated off the DL again this season as recent as Saturday.

Also what was Cashman thinking not pulling the trigger on the Dan Haren deal? The deal was all set and ready to go, but Cashman wouldn't deal Chamberlain. At this point I think I would be ok with trading Joba to the Diamondbacks for their washing machine. What do they see in Chamberlain, it boggles my mind. Fine I understand why you didn't trade him to Minnesota after the 2007 season for Johan Santana after he was lights out all that year, but I think its pretty out there that he is nothing more than a middle reliever, a decent one at best. Does he still show the flashes of dominance? Absolutely but he’s a major league baseball player, he should be that good.

I hope for Cashman's sake that Wood pitches well, because Yankee fans will point fingers and the fingers will point to Wood then to Cashman. I just don't feel comfortable at all with this bullpen in the playoffs. Unless the Yankees starters go 7 plus innings in the playoff games and Mariano Rivera can pitch 2 innings in save situations then we will win games or if we out score teams by 5 runs or more. But if it comes down to Game 7 in the World Series against the San Diego Padres and in the 8th inning in a one run game and Kerry Wood is coming into the game, I will have my eyes closed and my rosary beads in my hand praying.

PS- Great move by Cashman to finally release Chan Ho Park, it was long over due.