ESPN

First thing, they need Jim Bowden to leave his burgeoning career as an on-air personality on ESPN and Sirius-XM. Then, they need him to be hired by the Seattle Mariners to run their team.

In the meantime, Bowden has an Insider column where he says the Yankees and Mariners should make a deal. This is what he says:

• Yankees acquire: RHP Felix Hernandez
• Mariners acquire: RHP Ivan Nova, C Jesus Montero, RHP Dellin Betances

Seattle Mariners GM Jack Zduriencik says he's not going to trade Hernandez, but if the Mariners eventually want to become legitimate contenders they might have to. A blockbuster four-player deal with the Yankees would point the Mariners in the right direction.

Nova and Betances would go fit into a young rotation of Michael Pineda, Danny Hultzen and Jason Vargas -- a formidable five that should develop into a quintet of 15-game winners. Montero would give them a long-term, middle-of-the-order bat they would control for the next six years. And with the money saved on Hernandez, they could put that toward signing Prince Fielder.

The Yankees, on the other hand, would have one of the best 1-2 punches at the top of the rotation in C.C. Sabathia and Hernandez, and instantly improve their chances of getting back to the World Series.

One problem with this happening is that Zduriencik told me during the Winter Meetings that he isn't trading King Felix. Still, what do you think of Bowden's proposal?

To me, Brian Cashman is right. You can't do something just to do something. You look at someone like C.J. Wilson and it just screams as if for $80 million or $100 million it will be a "stupid" move.

If the Yankees are truly going to try and push their payroll beneath $189 million, then they have to be smart in what moves they make. Overreacting leads to silly moves that handcuff you in later years.

The Yankees have to bide their time and wait for a King Felix or someone of that ilk shakes free. If they can acquire a Jon Danks using their more middling prospects, then it is worth it. But for major pieces, he is not worth it. Patience is what will lead to smart moves.