Claggett Talks Trade
Everything changed for Thunder reliever Anthony Claggett when he was dealt from the Tigers to the Yankees on November 10, 2006.
In the deal, Claggett, Kevin Whelan and Humberto Sanchez were all sent to the Bronx in exchange for controversial future Hall of Famer Gary Sheffield.
Whelan is on the disabled list after a sub-par 2007 season, and Sanchez has still yet to throw a pitch under the Yankees vast umbrella of farm teams.
It’s Claggett who’s carrying their collective flag, marching on to Double-A after spending the first four weeks of the season on the disabled list with a hamstring injury.
“That trade, I don’t know if it’s turned out too well so far,” said Claggett after a recent game.
“The other guys, they’re still rehabbing and I’m sure they’re going to come back strong. They’re itching to come back.”
Despite being involved in such a high profile trade, the 23-year-old has never let it go to his head.
“There’s not any more pressure,” Claggett said.
“When it happened, I came over and they said they were happy to have me and everything. I wouldn’t say there’s more pressure, but they might look at you a little different. But they treat you like anybody else.”
If anything, the trade may have come at the perfect time for the righty, considering that only over the past several seasons have the Yankees been promoting from within and focusing on developing their farm system.
“When I got traded, I heard a lot of things about how they don’t bring guys up from the minor leagues,” Claggett admitted.
“But now that’s changing, and it’s good to be with them right now. I’m glad to be a part of it.”
Mike Ashmore, mashmore98 AT gmail.com
May 12, 2008 at 7:52 am
I still think the trade will work out well for the Yankees. It may be that all 3 Pitchers end up as relief pitchers. But that will be fine, especially if they can contribute to the Yankees cause someday.
Sheffield was not happy here, especially after it was obvious that the Yankees were not extending his contract.
May 12, 2008 at 9:57 pm
Sheffield was leaving one way or another. It was either he leaves as a free agent or the Yankees get something for him. So the trade really had no downside.