Trade help- Verlander

I would counter with Byrnes in place of Ellsbury.  Just to see.  To me, Verlander is a definite keeper even with his bad season so far.  Ellsbury is probably a keeper among the names you have mentioned.  Byrnes is not a keeper, one good season and now he is back to his normal.  And Maine is rounding into a pretty solid young pitcher on a good team and should be considered a keeper so you would be losing two keepers for one, although the one is better than the 2 you lose.  But you could use that losing 2 keepers to 1 as your argument for putting Byrnes in place of Ellsbury.

McLouth should be considered a potential keeper at this point too.  Have to wait to see if he can stay at an elevated level for the whole season.  I would put Joba on my keeper list now.  He will do fine when he is put into the rotation.  And even if they don't put him there this year, the Yankees will make a move this off season to get a better set-up man so he will be in the rotation all next season.