As noted by Hyatt here, the Yankees' Alex Rodriguez looks to be out 10+ weeks due to hip surgery.  The Yankees, who have spent nearly a quarter billion dollars this season in payroll, are expected to start putting trade proposals together, as they're not likely to entrust their 2009 playoff chances to a free agent third baseman no one else wants.

That Jeff Sackmann character first thought of Bill Hall --- and he wasn't the only one envisioning Hall in pinstripes.  In a phone interview with SportsCenter, Buster Olney was speculating on whom the Yankees would try to acquire to play third, and his first --- and only --- thought was C.C. Sabathia's best friend, Bill Hall.  Olney also suggested that the Yankees would still be interested in trading outfielder Nick Swisher and Xavier Nady.  (You'll recall that Swisher would address two big holes in our lineup: in addition to having home run power, he's also a switch hitter who gets on base.)  Swisher plays all three OF spots as well as first base.

Of course, the Brewers have changed a little since the last time Hall was rumored to go to the Yankees, and his trade doesn't make as much sense now as it did then.  Consider:

• After an offseason of eye-juicing, I believe Hall was expected to get the lion's share of ABs at third.  If we trade him, our in-house options to play third are Mike Lamb, Mat Gamel, Casey McGehee, and Craig Counsell.  I haven't heard anything to suggest that Gamel is ready to handle 3rd base full-time in the majors.  Lamb and McGehee bat on opposite sides of the plate, though, so maybe a platoon would be in order.
• The original Hall-to-New-York rumor was an offshoot of the Melky/Mike Cameron rumor.  With Braun/Cameron/Hart and Fielder entrenched in the outfield and at 1st base, we don't have a particular need for Nady, Swisher, or Melky for that matter, nor is there a particularly pressing need for Kei Igawa right now.  (This is especially the case if Lorenzo Cain will be ready to play center in 2010.)  The only way I could see a Hall-for-Swisher trade going through would be if Cameron went as well.  If you were wondering, Cameron and Hall will make $16.8 million this season.  I have to admit, with opening day only 3+ weeks away, I have a hard time envisioning such a major trade.

I would love to hear confirmation that Cashman has gotten in touch with Melvin again...