Sell, Sell, Sell

The Yankees should not be looking to trade for a starting pitcher or a slugger this July. They should be looking to get the best prospects they can.

Yes. I'm saying it: The Yankees should be sellers at this trading deadline.

With a team that can't get out of its own way like this one, where there is a grand total of one starting pitcher left from the five who began the season with the team (remember when that was going to be a strength?), when the infield has people name Yangervis and Zelous and the outfield has people named Zoilo and Ichiro (who still has a little baseball left in him), it's time to move on.

Let's say they have a run in them. It won't be much of one, but in the new American League East (mediocre division) it won't have to be. Maybe the Yankees can even reach the playoffs this year if they patch problems with what they can pick up for money (always an asset for this team) and the few prospects they have (Gary Sanchez, whatever happened to you?).

Do you seriously believe that this team, if by some miracle it entered the postseason, would be able to get past the first round?

Oh, but the team is still easily within striking distance of the playoffs, you'll say. Four games from a wildcard spot. Only five out of first place, with about 70 left to play. The Yankees don't fold. The Yankees don't give up. The Yankees don't rebuild. And what about our valiant Captain and his quest for a sixth championship? How can we turn our back on him?

Like this: Trade away what you can. There are teams that need experienced starting pitchers. Give them Hiroki Kuroda. There are teams desperate for a closer. David Robertson will be a free agent at the end of this year. Send him out. Someone might find some value in Brian Roberts or Ichiro. Get rid of them. Francisco Cervelli is starting to hit. A team might take a flyer on him.

I'd say try to trade Beltran, Teixeira and even Ellsbury, too, but those contracts aren't movable.

In return for the players you send away, you want good prospects. Starting pitchers who are a year or two away from the majors. A second baseman or (dare I say it) a shortstop who can really fill the holes left by two departed (ing) stars. A third baseman, because the idea that Mr. Rod is coming back next year to immediately be an All-Star again is ludicrous.

Look what happens when teams rebuild: They get into a position where they can be the Oakland A's and the Baltimore Orioles of 2014. They have a shot at being the new kind of dynasty, where the stars don't stay forever until they're shells of their former selves. (Sabathia, Teixeira, Beltran). They stay until they're ready to be ridiculously expensive (which isn't a problem for the Yankees) and demand too many years in a contract (which really, really is), and then they leave.

The Yankees did it with Robinson Cano this past winter. We'll pay you the money, they said, but we won't give you the years. In 2014, it looks like a tremendous mistake. In 2020, it won't.

Going forward, the old Yankee model of success doesn't sustain. You can't throw money at every problem and expect it to solve itself. Beltran, McCann, Ellsbury. A boatload of cash. This team isn't doing as well as the one from 2013 that had none of those names, no Teixeira, no Jeter, no Tanaka for the first half.

It's time to cut bait and head for shore. Wait for another day and come with younger worms.