Yankees Join The Sweepstakes For Ted Lilly

Chicago Cubs starting pitcher Ted Lilly is quickly becoming the most coveted pitcher on the market right now. The Twins, Tigers, Mets, and Dodgers all have strong interest in Lilly and scouted his last outing on Friday. But, they may all be upstaged by the New York Yankees. The Yankees lost their top starter Andy Pettitte today and it appears that he is going to miss a lot of time with a groin injury. According to Bruce Levine of ESPN Chicago, the Yankees are going to look into trading for Ted Lilly.

Lilly, who is 3-8 with a 4.07 ERA this season, has been the victim of poor run support and should have a better record than what shows. Ted Lilly spent 3 season with the Yankees before through 2000 and 2002. During his time Lilly went a combined 13-19 with an ERA around 4.80. However, Lilly later spent 3 seasons in the American League east with the Toronto Blue Jays and had a cumulative ERA of 4.64 but was had 10+ wins in each three seasons. When Lilly hit the free agent market in 2007, the Yankees were heavily interested in him and at one point were considered the favorites to sign him. As we all know, however, Lilly ended up with the Chicago Cubs.

After questions arose over what the Cubs will get in return for Lilly, it appears now that they will be able to get a very solid package for Lilly. Bruce Levine suggested that the Cubs might ask for Yankees young catcher Jesus Montero. Montero entered the 2010 season as 4th overall prospect in baseball according to Baseball America. Montero in Triple A this season is hitting .259/.333/.429 with 8 home runs and 39 RBI’s. Montero appears to be a catcher who has a lot of power, something Geovany Soto has lacked over the past two seasons.

It appears that the Cubs may be looking for a young catcher in any package for Ted Lilly. As they have been linked to Josh Thole of the Mets, Wilson Ramos of the Twins(However it appears unlikely that the Twins are going to trade him), and now Jesus Montero of the Yankees. The Cubs don’t know if Soto is their catcher of the future, as they are really concerned over the lack of RBI’s Soto has had over the past two seasons.

Ted Lilly is set to pitch next Wednesday, in what could be his last start as a member of the Chicago Cubs.