According to the New York Post's Joel Sherman, the Yankees are close to acquiring Detroit Tigers All-Star center fielder Curtis Granderson in a three-team deal that also includes the Arizona Diamondbacks, pending the review of medical reports.
The Yankees will receive Granderson in exchange for top prospect and center fielder Austin Jackson and left-handed reliever Phil Coke. The Yankees also will send right-handed starter Ian Kennedy to the Diamondbacks.
Aside from acquiring Jackson and Coke from the Yankees, the Tigers will receive Max Scherzer and Daniel Schlereth from the Diamondbacks in exchange for Edwin Jackson.
Granderson hit .249 with 30 home runs and 71 RBIs in 160 games in 2009 for the Tigers. He signed a five-year, $30.25 million extension on Feb. 4, 2008, with Detroit. He is set to earn $3.5 million in 2009, $5.5 million in 2010, $8.25 million in 2011 and $10 million in 2012. There is a club option on Granderson for $13 million in 2013.
The move is bad news for free agent Johnny Damon, who is hoping to return to the Yankees. But with Granderson in the mix, the Yankees have the flexibility to create an outfield that includes Granderson, Melky Cabrera, Nick Swisher and Brett Gardner. The Yankees could start Granderson in center or left next season, and Cabrera in left or center, greatly hurting the chances of Damon returning to the Bronx as the left fielder in 2010.
Information from Cot's Baseball Contracts was used in this report.
