YANKEES LAND DEFENSIVE WIZ RYAN
The New York Yankees acquired infielder Brendan Ryan from the Seattle Mariners for a player to be named later.
What does it give the New York Yankees
Simply put, Ryan is one of the best defensive shortstops in baseball. If he hit a little better, he'd remain in the lineup every day and rack up Gold Glove awards. Alas, that's not the case, as Ryan struggles to keep his batting average above the 'Mendoza Line' (.200). Still, he will provide insurance down the stretch for the Yankees, who are uncertain about {P Derek Jeter}'s status due to a recurring ankle problem.
What does it give the Seattle Mariners
The Mariners decided to give {P Brad Miller} a legitimate shot at winning the shortstop job for 2014 (and beyond) in late June, and he's done a decent job in his baptism-by-fire. The 23-year-old can really mash, but his defense at the shortstop position is a little shaky. By moving Ryan now, the M's will give Miller a bit more time to prove himself worthy of being Seattle's shortstop of the future going forward.
Fantasy impact
Ryan is a strictly-defense shortstop, so there's no fantasy value here. The big loser here could be {P Eduardo Nunez}, who has filled in for Jeter much of the season but doesn't have Ryan's glove (who does?) at shortstop.
