Former Yankees prospect Karstens nearly throws perfect game
When the New York Yankees traded a handful of prospects to the Pittsburgh Pirates for outfielder Xavier Nady and Damaso Marte, many figured the Bucs got fleeced like every other team that deals with the Bombers.
But maybe not. One of the prospects the Yankees gave up in the trade was right handed starter Jeff Karstens – a player NY was willing to part ways with due to his recent struggles with a groin injury.
On Wednesday, Karstens made his Pirates’ debut and took a perfect game into the eighth inning before Diamondbacks’ outfielder Chris Young hit a double down the left field line. Karstens wound up completing the game (a 2-0 Pirates win), yielding no runs on just two hits and striking out four.
Kind of ironic how Joba Chamberlain goes on the DL the same day a former Yankee prospect almost pitches a perfect game for another club. What NY needs most right now is pitching and how fitting is it that they gave up a starter to acquire yet another bat. (I’m not a Yankee-hater, I just find the irony in the situation.)
Media outlets like ESPN jumped all over the Nady trade because they thought the Pirates made a horrible deal (and maybe they did). But let’s wait to see how these prospects perform before we just assume the Yankees fleeced another team at the trade deadline.





NICE ! Maybe Karstens can see the plate now without all the crap around.
Why can’t a deal be good for both teams? One team doesn’t have to fleece the other. The key to this trade for the Pirates was Tabata. The Pirates took a high risk bet that somehow he grows up and can play up to his potential. That is a reasonable gamble to take.
As for Karsens as part of the deal, one game is not a career. He will probably be a low end #5 on a staff, or a good long man in the pen. He won’t be the next great pitcher.