Today at the Trop
Posted by: Peter Abraham - Posted in Misc on Apr 24, 2007 
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Phil Hughes will wear No. 65 on Thursday. He was offered 19 but wanted his spring training number. … Kevin Thompson was optioned out. Joe Torre said they did not consider Melky Cabrera. … Scott Proctor is getting a break and (supposedly) won’t pitch tonight. … Alex Rodriguez, in a fairly long pre-game interview, said he would stay in New York.
I’ll post the audio of that shortly.
wow- Can’t wait for the audio on ARod’s comments, Pete. Can we get him to waive the opt-out clause now? Don’t really expect that to happen, but what a cloud lifted (bc we can tell how much pressure he’s working under) for everyone’s sake if he did.
Thanks for the great update Pete – as always, you rock!
Peter, thats a pretty cruel thing to throw in at the end of the post “arod said hes staying in new york”. What did he say exactly?
You know what, I really hope A-Rod keeps his word and stays in New York. I think he’d really take a media/image hit if he all of a sudden signed with, say Boston for a ton more money after going on and on about how he would stay a Yankee.
Is 65 a good pitcher number? I prefer my pitchers in the 40′s. (not age, dear god!)
Pete,
Don’t listen to some of these guys around here, you do a great job. It’s much appreciated. I come to your blog first to get Yankee news and updates. Keep the what you’re listening to in music updates coming as well. Arod will keep it going tonight with another bomb.
Wow… Boras won’t like that quote.
I don’t think there’s any way he waives the opt-out because it gives him leverage to get years tacked on from the Yankees, if nothing else.
I think it would be hard for Cashman to extend his deal mid-season after refusing to do so for Rivera and Posada.
But if A-Rod means it, this is definitely great news. Without him, the Yankees would be in much worse shape.
Man, I hope he’s serious. And I hope the Yankees handle this well.
I take Alex at his word – at this point in time. Things can change, as we have amply seen. Personally, I would love it if he did stay. He’s one of the, if not, the greatest ballplayer of this era.
not extending Rivera’s contract is the only good thing Cashman has done recently.
Somebody please tell me Karstens is not going to start on Friday. Why give away a couple games by throwing him and Igawa out there only to get thumped?
He’ll be here for many more years with a FAT extension coming. And I said the same thing before the season and his absolute distruction to start the season.
asweepandnothingbutasweep, you’re right. Bringing back Pettitte, has proven to be a huge mistake.
Lizzie –
What are the choices?
I think Arod realizes that hero-worship is at its best when in NY. He’s no fool though. He may not opt out – but might work something out where the Yanks tack on 3 years at 28 mill per at the end of the deal. That would kick in after the 3/81 expire on his current deal. Yanks wouldn’t mind paying the big bucks later – new stadium revenue + this way Texas still foots the bill for the next three years.
This off-season is gonna be real interesting…
If I’m Cashman… give Mo a 2-year deal. Give Posada a 2-year deal. I’d take a declining Jorge over 75% of backstops in the league. Same with Rivera. Lock up Cano and Wang long-term. Take care of Arod.
I’m torn on Abreu. Part of me wants to see Melky everyday in RF (he’d be keeping the seat warm for Tabata anyway) but part of me wants to see Abreu back – he fits the lineup perfectly.
However – he’s 33 and some team will give him a dumb 4 or 5 year deal. I’d give him two but I think someone will give him more and he’ll go.
Trade Farnsworth – he’ll be in the last year of his contract. Maybe he fetches a prospcet? Maybe a catcher? Farnsworth to Cleveland (Yanks eat half his $$) for Shoppach?
Shop Giambi. He’ll be in the last year of his deal. If you can deal him (Yanks would have to eat a lot money) – you can still get something back. Angels need a big bat. Plus you can then sign Abreu and play Melky every day by rotating the OF’s among the DH spot.
Trade Pavano. Final year of his deal too. Not sure what you can fetch. But that may have been the worst signing in franchise history. (At least Kenny Rogers fetched Scott Brosius).
You go into the season with Wang, Hughes, Pettite, and Moose in the rotation. Igawa becomes an expensive long man. Gotta eat that one. And you let one of the other young guns battle it out for the #5 spot.
I want to get a Hughes t-shirt from Yankees.com, but I’m just worried if he’ll actually stick with # 65, or if he’ll switch to another number next season if he’s really good.
Giambi has a no trade clause. He isn’t going anywhere. IMO, Farnsworth won’t be on this team past the July trading deadline. Meantime, it would be nice to have Torre pitch him, if only to give the guy in the ‘pen who can pitch, a rest every now and then.
Who knows, if Farnsworth pitches more, he might pitch well enough to get something more than a live body in return.
Pavano? I am sure they would love to trade him. Only problem is, he doesn’t pitch, has no market, and makes $10 million per year for such accomplishments.
Kinda difficult to make a deal in that situation.
Just say “NO” to Melky Cabrera as an everyday, starting outfielder.
“Just say “NOâ€? to Melky Cabrera as an everyday, starting outfielder.”
What are you talking about? He’s the best outfielder we’ve got!?!?!
Melky Cabrera is far from the best anything we’ve got.
thats interesting from hughes, maybe its a kind of mental thing for him, like he has to earn the low number in his mind. if that’s the case I can certainly see how his mind set is that of a guy who will be here for a long time. we’ll see
melkey is far from the best outfielder we have..The american league pithcers have figured “la leche” out
Hughes wants No. 45 (His high school number) but that’s taken by the Rajah of Rehab as Pete likes to call ‘em. Don’t get that tee shirt just yet. Maybe I can get you one from Scranton. I am 40 minutes from the field.
-J in PA
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Adam April 24th, 2007 at 6:25 pm
I want to get a Hughes t-shirt from Yankees.com, but I’m just worried if he’ll actually stick with # 65, or if he’ll switch to another number next season if he’s really good.
defensivley, i’ll give you this
melky > damon
melky > matsui
though matsui’s throw to the plate looked pretty good, if it weren’t for that f$#*(@ng astro-turf hop.