Yankees-Diamondbacks trade

The Yankees have traded minor league first baseman Juan Miranda to the Arizona Diamondbacks in exchange for right-handed pitching prospect Scottie Allen.

Miranda, who will turn 28 in April, hit .285 at Triple-A in '10 with 15 doubles, 15 homers, 43 RBI, and a .371 OBP in 80 games. He played pretty well defensively at first base, posting a .992 Fld%. Miranda also hit .219 in 30 games with the Yankees, with 2 doubles, 3 homers, 10 RBI, and a .296 OBP. He didn't make any errors in 13 games at first base.

Allen, who will turn 20 in July, was Arizona's 11th round draft pick in '09. He worked out of the bullpen at Rookie ball in '09, going 1-0 with a 0.51 ERA and 16 K's in 12 relief appearances and 17.2 IP. He walked 7, a few too many, but still managed a 2.29 K/BB ratio. He was so dominant because he allowed just 9 hits, good for an amazing 4.6 H/9 (hits per 9 innings) ratio, and 0 homers. In '10, Allen was a starter at Short Season-A, and went 4-4 with a 4.73 ERA and 79 K's in 16 starts and 78 IP. He walked just 22 and posted a 3.59 K/BB, but struggled because he allowed 88 hits, which amounts to a bad 10.2 H/9 ratio. He also allowed 5 homers, which comes out to a 0.6 HR/9 ratio.

At 27 years old going on 28, Miranda isn't really a prospect anymore and the Yankees had no need for him. So, the traded him to the D-backs, who for the moment don't have a starting first baseman, and got a prospect, Allen, in return. Allen has potential. He has posted good K/BB ratios both of his years in the minors, and when he allowed less than a hit per inning in '09, he did very well. If he does that consistently, he will be a great prospect and potentially a great major league pitcher.