Sports Thread #1 For 12/8/09: Curtis Grandson To The Yanks

In a three team trade at the winter meetings, Detroit Tigers' talented centerfielder Curtis Grandson is headed to the Yankees

In the seven-player trade, SI.com's Jon Heyman reported that the D-backs would receive right-handers Edwin Jackson and Ian Kennedy from the Tigers and Yankees, respectively, while the Tigers would get pitchers Max Scherzer and Daniel Schlereth from Arizona and outfielder Austin Jackson and left-hander Phil Coke from New York.

From a Yankees' fan standpoint, it wasn't a bad thing at all to part ways with Ian Kennedy, who showed nothing meriting a future front line starter for the Yankees in 2008. Between poor pitching and injuries, Kennedy is a lost that really isn't merited at all.

And despite pitching well throughout the latter end of the regular season, Phil Coke didn't show the stuff in the playoffs to make him an untouchable in the bullpen at all for the Yankees.

The only part that will make Yankees fans potentially cringe a little is the lost of super prospect Austin Jackson in the deal. There was a chance that the top prospect could have started with the team next season to provide some needed youth in an outfield that, outside of Melky Cabrera, had none at all.

But Curtis Granderson, along with being an established major leaguer, is just 25 years of age, making the departure of Jackson to another organization definitely easier to handle. Despite his deficiencies with facing left handers, and his batting average and OBP being low this past season (as well as his strikeouts being up), Granderson is not only a more proven product than Austin Jackson, but his upside is just as equal in my mind to the 22 year old in the minors.

And through you could easily debate Tampa Bay Rays' center-fielder Carl Crawford being better than Granderson (and worth going after than the former Tigers outfielder), Granderson has all the tools though to be another valuable star in a line up chalked full of them.

In regards to both the Diamondbacks and the Tigers, Arizona will come into next season with as formidable as a Top 3 rotation as anyone in the sport. Edwin Jackson has really improved in the last two seasons and is a great edition behind Brandon Webb and Dan Haren. And Kennedy still has time to turn his young career around and provide another decent arm for that organization.

Meanwhile, the Tigers strengthen their bullpen while getting plenty of quality young talent in this deal. The question through has to be asked: Who will play centerfield for them if Austin Jackson is not ready for the big leagues yet to start the season?

For a team that has already lost Placido Polanco last week, losing Granderson, even with his struggles this year, will not make some Tiger fans happy with giving away their key players.

But hey, it makes me happy that any sports report with the word "Tiger" in it can actually being sports (and good) news.