November 14 – Happy Birthday Xavier Nady

I remember not being thrilled with the July 2008 Yankee trade that brought Nady to the Bronx. It wasn’t so much that I felt New York gave up too much to get the guy. I just thought one of the four players sent to the Pirates in the deal, Russ Ohlendorf would become a good big league pitcher and I didn’t think Nady was that good. I had remembered taking a bit of interest in him when he played for the Mets because his first name caught my attention. He was a decent player back then but I knew his acquisition by New York most likely meant good bye for Bobby Abreu in 2009 and I thought Abreu was still the better all-around player. Then just three days after the deal was made, the Pirates gave up Jason Bay to Boston in a three-way trade that netted Pittsburgh Andy LaRoche, Craig Hansen and Brandon Moss. Theo Epstein really out-maneuvered Brian Cashman that week. Nady played OK for New York during the second half of 2008 while Bay was playing terrific for the Red Sox. Then Xavier had the misfortune of getting hurt in 2009 and missing the entire season.

In the mean time it looks like I might have been wrong about Ohlendorf. After a good first season in Pittsburgh, he’s looked pretty bad the past three. Instead it has been another pitcher the Yankees included in the deal for Nady, the right-hander Jeff Karstens, who could be evolving into a solid starter in Steeltown. As for Xavier, he’s still keeping his suit case packed and moving. After New York didn’t offer him a contract for 2010, he signed with the Cubs and then in 2011 he played quite a bit of first base for the Diamondbacks before breaking his hand. He started out 2012 playing for Washington and then ended the year as a utility outfielder with the World Champion Giants. He turns 34 years-old today.

Nady shares his November 14th birthday with this now infamous cousin of Mariano Rivera.