A tango starts with Texas
Posted by: Peter Abraham - Posted in Misc on Jun 19, 2007 
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It’s interesting to note that Texas owner Tom Hicks gave general manager Jon Daniels a one-year contract extension today. It’s a vote of confidence for the GM, who frankly hasn’t done much to deserve it.
Will this show of faith embolden Daniels to deal away Mark Teixeira and Eric Gagne to bring back the prospects necessary to rebuild the franchise? You would have to think so.
Teixeira would be a good fit with the Yankees in many ways and they gave the young pitchers Texas needs. But before anybody gets carried away, a few things to keep in mind:
-Brian Cashman is a patient man and waited until just about the last second last July before trading for Bobby Abreu. The Red Sox don’t need Teixeira, so the Yankees can afford to wait until the market calms down.
-Teixeira is on the DL with a quad and won’t be ready until the All-Star break.
-Teixeira is a Scott Boras client and a true believer. He will go on the free-agent market once the 2008 season is over. He will be eligible for arbitration after this season.
-Phil Hughes is not going anywhere. We have all seen the rest of the prospects. Is there anybody remotely as good as Hughes? No. The Yankees need to start finding replacements for Roger Clemens, Mike Mussina and Andy Pettitte.
Right now the rotation for 2009 is Chien-Ming Wang, Phil Hughes, TBA, TBA, TBA. You can’t trade Hughes for a first baseman unless it’s Albert Pujols.Teixeira is a good player but he’s not worth Hughes.
I believe the Yankees will get a first baseman before July 31. But think more along the lines of a player like Hillenbrand, Sweeney, Young or somebody like that. Cashman didn’t devote himself to finding so many young pitchers to trade them away for a rental first baseman.
I thought Teixeira wasn’t a free agent until the end of the 2008 season.
“Teixeira is a Scott Boras client and a true believer. He will go on the free-agent market once the season is over. So if you’re trading for him, it may only be for a few months.”
Hey Pete just letting you know that big Tex isn’t a FA til after the 08 season. He doesn’t have enough service time to be a FA after this season.
Would love to see him here though for the right price. Young, can hit, and most importantly can field.
what would it take to get carlos pena?
looks like King Pete’s entire decree above needs to be modified now.
The Yankees have enough pitching prospects to acquire Teixeira . Eric Duncan would also probably have to be in any deal for Tex. Maybe something like Jeff Marquez, Tyler Clippard, Eric Duncan? If I were the Yankees, I wouldn’t trade anyone named Joba, Horne, Betances, or McAllister.
Also Mussina is signed thru next year. And Pettitte has a player option.
Hillenbrand is a terrible hitter (check his OBP) and a notorious red-ass. He’s not an upgrade.
DJ you forget to add Kennedy to your list of untouchables.
The gist of Pete’s story is correct. Cashman will wait it out and he won’t trade Hughes.
If we are taking bets for the 2009 rotation, mine are as follows:
Hughes
Wang
Chamberlain
Kennedy or a lower cost FA (if Kennedy is dealt)
Johan Santana
JMO but, I believe the Yankees will put all their money into Santana. With all the money coming off the books after next season, I believe he is the guy they will target.
I don’t believe Hughes or Chamberlain will be traded to anybody. High ceiling arms like that aren’t getting dealt, as long as Cashman remains in charge.
I think a package of either Britton or Ramirez, to with either Marquez, Clippard or Horne, and a lower level prospect (think Michael Dunn or David Robertson in Charleston) would be enough to get Tex.
In fact, if the Yankees offer Ramirez, Marquez and Dunn for Tex, and Daniels doesn’t go for it, he’s crazy.
Hey Pete,
Have you ever heard of Joba Chamberlain? He’s just a step below Hughes right now, and is easily a Top 20 if not Top 10 prospect right now.
With Ian Kennedy and Alan Horne not far behind, a rotation of Hughes, Wang, Chamberlain, Kennedy, and Horne is 2009 is downright nasty.
You have not seen the rest of the prospects. You’ve seen the rest of the prospects that the Yankees are willing to bring up right now. The rest of us are watching AA ball and realizing that in Horne, Joba, Ian, and Marquez, we have some big time starters coming through the pipeline. With Dellin beginning pro-ball tomorrow night, this system is absolutely stocked.
Dunn is a crap prospect man. He’s been getting lit up, meaning he’s probably hurt. No one is trading for him right now. A package of Ramirez, Marquez, and Horne should do it though. I don’t know if I like giving that much up for a guy who has a HUGE payday coming to go along with his woeful home/away splits.
If the cubs continue their strugggles, what about Derrek Lee as an option?
Derrick Lee has a no trade and the Cubs won’t trade him, regardless of their record.
I think Hughes and Sanchez will be in the 09 and 2010 rotations.
Maybe Ohlendorf or Kennedy, too.
Wang is unbelievable. He is as good as any pitcher in all of baseball. A 95+ sinker AND the ability to strike 10 out while getting double plays at will? He’s better than Kevin Brown when he was in his prime, and he’s not even in his prime
Dunn is 8-3, with a 3.50 ERA after 14 starts in Charleston. The league is hitting .260 against him and in 73 innings, he has given up only 18 walks and has 73 K’s. His WHIP is 1.26.
I wouldn’t say that’s being “lit up”. He’s pitched well in his first full season of pro ball.
He’s also lefthanded, which increases his trade value.
Guys I love Joba Chamberlain as much as the next guy but Top 10, Top 20 Prospect in Baseball?
After 2 AA starts? Please get real.
BTW, I really hope to god we don’t go after Dimitri “Stone Legs” Young or any other big 1B who can hit but can’t field if his life was on the line. Rockies are talking about moving Helton, please please please stay away from his hideous contract. 16-18 Million through 2010. If Rockies pay 40-50 % then the Yankees can scratch that itch.
In the end I hope Cashman sticks with Cairo/Phillips/another smalltime 1B til Doug M comes back. It’s funny because I bashed Alphabet soup for most of the season for his pathetic hitting but once we lost him I truly realized how much we needed him. A Platoon of Doug on the Left and Cairo on the Right would be fine. People this offesne can get by with a weak offensive 1B!
Cash should focus on the 5th starter if Igawa blows up or more importantly the bench(backup C?) and bullpen. Trade Farns already please!
So no one heard Regis say on his show about the Yankees getting Tod Helton?
I am the man I will not be traded. The ladies in NYC are way to good to me.
Chamberlain has dominated on every professional level thus far. He hit 97-98 on NINE consecutive pitches in his last start, and that was in the latter innings. If he stays healthy he is easily a Top 20 prospect. Guy who throw like Joba does do not come around very often.
Global,
This offense is performing at peak now and cannot get by with continued lack of hitting from CF, DH and 1B positions. Posada and A-Rod are hitting well above norms, these guys will not continue on this pace. The Yankees are prone to offensive team slumps and when that comes the inability for CF, 1B and DH to produce will become even more obvious.
Cairo is a utility guy, he will get overexposed if treated as a regular and obviously, the Yankees don’t think highly of Phillips or he would’ve been called up already. They are not the solution until Mvich comes back or afterwards.
The yankees need a stop gap 1B who can supply decent offense until a legitimate and long term 1B becomes available either through a trade partner (ex: Texas/Texiera) or via free-agency.
Rotoworld is suggesting that Melky, Ian or Joba and a lessor pitching prospect could get Teix.
i wish theyd sign brackman so he could pitch for staten island with betances and mcallister ..that would be a really big 3
Take a look around the minors of other teams. You would be surprised how many pitchers can throw 95-98.
He has 1 good pitch now. He needs to work on his secondary pitchers and get more starts under his belt in AA before anybody anoints him the next big thing.
sj44:
i would hope to replace marquez with bret smith and cross my fingers to slip that by daniels.
of course that is hoping, but smith looks good on paper this year and IMO his trade value is at its peak now.
plus i like marquez and horne *MUCH* better than smith as prospects for the Yankees.
people really think pettitte is out of here after one year?
i hope not. the way he just takes ortiz out of a game is reason enough to throw tons of $$ at him at the end of the season — and make up for the shaft they gave him after 2003. I pray he’s back, i couldn’t have been more thrilled to hear about the return of a NYY player as andy this year.
until wang’s performance on sunday, I would swear he’s been our ace this season.
Mussina is signed through next year. If he is done or not, that’s another issue, but the yanks already committed 12 mil next year on him. About the Red Sox not needing Tex, I won’t be so sure. The could move Youk back to to 3rd base and do some shuffle there. Lowell could be moved to another position, or Lugo could be traded. They need a bat NOW, and more soon when Manny leaves. I wouldn’t discard a Boston run for Tex. Sure, our movements can’t be based on a “what the Boston Sox will do” basis.
I agree with the logic of waiting and not getting stuck with an expensive “rental” in a free-agent-to-be. However, anybody but Hiilenbrand, please …… *anybody* but…..
“Phil Hughes”:
impostoring is not allowed. King Pete has already condemned this kind of silliness.
Plenty of guys can throw 95-98, you are right. Just not many guys can sit at 98 and then come back at you with a excellent slider. He’s also working on a changeup that he leaves up a bit too much right now, but which should be an above average pitch. Make no mistake about it, the kid has ace potential.
Don’t talk to me I do what I want… are you going to report me to your mommy Pete
I wonder why so many people that post here are not scouts for major league teams. Everyone seems to be so good at projecting how these minor leaguers are going to perform once in the bigs.
Please….the Yankees have always, and will always, go for proven major leaguers over prospects in most cases.
What do you guys think Cashman will do to help the bench? Or catcher? One injury and we’re back in crisis mode since the only once sitting on the bench with now is Phelps & Nieves….dont you think we need a big bat? Or is that Giambi?
Trading Melky in any deal is foolish.
I have projected 3 Yankee prospects as stars in my lifetime. Nick Johnson, Phil Hughes, and now Joba Chamberlain. I think I’ve done OK so far, and I have no reason to believe that Joba will not turn out to be just as successful. Like I said, health is the only issue with him.
Keith Law already has Joba in his Top 20 prospects, BTW.
What about:
Texiera and Padilla(salary dump, think Mike Lowell in the Beckett deal)
for
Proctor or Bruney
Clippard
Kevin Koffaman from SD
Trade w/ SD
SD gets
Johnny Damon + cash (if he’s healthy enough)
for
Clay Meridith
3B Kevin Kouffaman(sp)
another prospect
Meridth replaces Proctor/Bruney in the bullpen
TEX get a closer, SP, and a 1B (Kevin moves to 1B)
SD gets their leadoff-hitter and LF
I love how people make rotations 3 yrs down the line. Who would have put Wang in the 2006 rotation in 2004?
You stockpile pitchers to give you options. Just in case someone breaks out and become a stud ala Wang.
In a perfect world you would have 5 home grown kids but baseball isnt perfect. We could ahve Santana in the 2009 rotation for all we know right now.
Now we got to read lame brain trade proposals like neils from now til July 31???
Say it ain’t so!!
“He’s better than Kevin Brown when he was in his prime, and he’s not even in his prime”
man, pass me some of whatever you are smoking, it sounds awesome.
So Mike you projected Phil Hughes and Nick Johnson to become stars.
Way to be out on a limb there.
I bet you had Mark Prior, Joe Mauer, and Felix Hernandez too.
Cashman isn’t trading anyone worth a damn for any 1b this year. This is his show now and we’ve all watched him run the ship. It ain’t happening. He should save any chip he has for guys like Brad Lidge anyway. They need bullpen help before they need a 1b.
Kevin Millar
cheap RH 1B bat
a winner
Tex – gonna cost a fortune in prospects and $ and we have no idea if he even wants to play in NY
That said, I doubt the O’s help the Yanks out in any way
“TEX get a closer, SP, and a 1B (Kevin moves to 1B)
SD gets their leadoff-hitter and LF”
so let me get this straight. the Yankees trade Proctor, Damon, and Clippard for Cla Meredith, Teixeira, and Vincente Padilla??
you have won the award for most insane trade proposal ever.
As long as Moose keeps pitching like he has the past few starts, Nieves is going nowhere.
The non-Teixeira options at 1B look dismal to me. Young would be an ok choice, but his contract is so low that the Nats have no reason to give him up unless we overpay for him.
Cashman is not going to give anything away for a player like Hillenbrand, who will not solve any of their problems.
Precisely Jake. I’m not talking about some guy that I’m projecting to come out of nowhere. He’s a proven entity whom “experts” are also pegging as a future ace.
As for “going out on a limb, I’ve had Hughes pegged before just about any other Yankee fan I’d predict. After watching a video of him the day he was drafted, I’ve been hooked. I truly have thought he would be the future #1 of the NY Yankees from that day forward, and everything that has occurded thusfar in his career has made me look pretty good.
Joba will be in the Yankees rotation for 2009, I can’t see Cashman being dumb enough to trade him.
I’ve been told a couple of new rumors from my source…
The Yankees have been talking to Tampa about Carlos Pena and Al Reyes… The Yanks would likely have to give up Sean Henn and a SP prospect (in the lines of a Matt Desalvo not a Clippard or Hughes)
The Texas rumor I was told about is Akinori Otsuke (sorry if I spelled it wrong) for Brett Gardner and Steven White….
The thing is the Yankees will make a move for a 1B and a RP… Also, The Yanks have continued to ask about Damaso Marte..
“people really think pettitte is out of here after one year”
i think he’ll be back. he has a $16M player option and seems to be having fun.
we need bullpen help:
what about Brett Smith to COL for Jermey Affledt?
Hughes is what they all call a “can’t miss”. Even before the draft. So I wouldnt go patting yourself on the back for calling him an ace, Mike.
You dont trade 20 yr old aces for 1b.
It just doesnt happen. Especially in todays climate and todays game where young pitching is the best commodity.
If I take anyone from Texas I’ll grab Otsuka before Texeira.
I think the pen problems are a little more important than getting a 1b.
Trading Melky in any package is foolish.
I’m sorry, but why would the Yankees employ a dirtbag like Shea Hillenbrand?
Is he that much better than Cairo…doubt it.
If you’re going to get a 1B, get someone worthwhile. Trading for Teixiera is a bad move unless it is at the expense of Matt DeSalvo and Kevin Reese.
Rosenthal might just be the biggest moron to write about baseball! Or it my be the GM he quotes about Hughes topping out as a three or a four starter.
http://msn.foxsports.com/mlb/story/6938410
You sure Hughes was a “can’t miss prospect” coming out of High School and before the draft? If so, how did 22 other teams pass on him then? It wasn’t signability that led him to falling that far.
In fact if you go back to message boards and analysts alike, most people were praying the David Purcey (he who is struggling mightily in AA right now) would fall into our laps.
HS pitchers are very rarely can’t miss. Josh Beckett was the last one to come out of high school. Rick Porcello looks like another. But Phil Hughes was hardly can’t miss, as his HS stats don’t match up with alot of the other pitchers from that draft.
I agree, we can live without him, but I like Melky and we need more like him, not less. I would love to see some more speed out and arm strength out there with him.
I may be wrong but I am under the assumption that players on the DL cannot be traded. Is this true?
Is Nick Johnson off the DL yet? Soon? His lefty power and OBP (and good glove) would fit nicely into the Yankees lineup.
I think the answer is much more modest, Ty Wigginton in TB. They don’t need him and he has great numbers. He also plays every position. I think they would deal him. Before you poo-poo it, look at his numbers.
Ahhh, Nick Johnson, casualty of the RJ experiment… Loved being a Yankee, didn’t he?
Nationals site says 60 Day DL..
Teams passed on Phil Hughes because Justin Verlander, Jered Weaver, Stephen Drew, Josh Fields, Billy Butler and Homer Bailey were also in that same draft. The 2004 first round was fricking insane with talent.
“Ahhh, Nick Johnson, casualty of the RJ experiment”
Nick Johnson was actually traded to Montreal for Javier Vazquez not Randy Johnson.
Okay, you’ve named 6 players. There were 22 other players taken ahead of him. If he was can’t miss, why were they chosen first?
After Hughes had his bout with tendinitis his first half year, alot of people were very nervous about him. Don’t make it sound like Phil’s future was guaranteed in the least.
But whatever, this thread has been hijacked pretty badly. Get back to discussing Rosenthal’s ridiculous article.
he didn’t go with Vasquez to Arizona for RJ?
As an add-on, teams passed on Hughes because he was a high school graduate. Those guys are signability concerns because they really want to go to college, and who can blame them. Justin Verlander and Weaver the Greater were proven college pitchers.
Oh, and San Diego is idiotic and chose Matt Bush over all of those guys. Stupid San Diego.
Nope, Nick was they key component to getting Javier Vasquez. Hence why he plays for the Nationals now.
nevermind, i don’t know what the heck i was thinking about… considering johnson is on the nationals not the dbacks………………….. brain not working.
The Rockies GM was just on M&MD. He basically said the Rockies ownership has no plans to trade him. He has been told to not look for deals for Helton, by the ownership.
Andrew,
High School pitchers are also the most volatile commodities in the draft. For one to be “can’t miss” he has to be completely overwhelming, ala Beckett or Porcello. Hughes was not.
Randy Choate, Juan river and Nick Johnson for Vazquez
Vazquez, Halsey and Navarro for Johnson
Mike, are you completely dense? Hughes was a great high school pitcher, paired with Bailey as the best in the draft. Teams pass on prospects all the time because their scouting department sucks (see: San Diego and the 2004 draft) or they know they can’t afford the signing bonus they’d have to give to a high school graduate.
Hughes became an even better prospect as he rocketed through the minor leagues, his age giving him the boost into the ‘can’t-miss’ prospect status. You think Detroit would have traded Justin Verlander for a first baseman? Teams don’t just trade their can’t-miss pitching prospects. It just. doesn’t. happen.
Navarro… that’s who I was thinking of.. Thanks Dave.
Like I said, brain not working today.
The Yankees would have a hard time dealing with the Nationals for Nick Johnson or anyone else, the reason? Jim “Cold Pizza” Bowden.
He was such an idiot last year with Soriano that he couldn’t manage to trade him for anything because he wanted too much. They are going to start trying to move Dmitri Young and anyone else for prospects.
If Cashman can handle the Rangers like he handled the Phillies last year it would be terrific.
1. teixeira will be a f.a. after the 2007 season.
2. i dont want to trade any prospect , especialy hughes for a half yr. rental .
3. i would love to try to sign him when he becomes a f.a. to play 1b for the 2008 season .( we can get back to having quality fisrtbasemen who can hit ie . mattingly , martinez , gehrig ect…)
4. is this the real melky ? .242 in 190 a.b.’s
Also, Joba has become a top prospect because he’s putting up insane numbers, along with being able to throw 98-99 when he wants. He couples this with great control. He doesn’t have one pitch, he has a rather good slider, and he’s working on a changeup that will probably be good just because he throws his fastball in the upper 90s. You clearly don’t have an understanding of either Chamberlain, or how pitching prospects are rated, or both, when you say that lots of minor leaguers throw upper 90s and that Chamberlain has one pitch. He is a rare talent, and has done everything to propel him into the top pitching prospects in the game.
Teams pass on players for signability issues, agent issues, etc.
The Yankees drafted Carmen Angelini in the 10 round this year. He is a first round talent.
Why did he last until the 10th round? Because most people felt he would attend Rice no matter what.
Hughes was thought of as one of the three best HS pitchers in the country when he was drafted. He was always thought of as a stud.
Nick Johnson’s career is in doubt because of his broken leg. It isn’t healing well. They aren’t trading for someone who isn’t healthy.
Teixiera is going to be a FA after the 2008 season. Not after this season.
“1. teixeira will be a f.a. after the 2007 season.
2. i dont want to trade any prospect , especialy hughes for a half yr. rental .
3. i would love to try to sign him when he becomes a f.a. to play 1b for the 2008 season .( we can get back to having quality fisrtbasemen who can hit ie . mattingly , martinez , gehrig ect…)
4. is this the real melky ? .242 in 190 a.b.’s”
Chris,
Teixera is a Free Agent after the 2008 Season so he’s not a half year rental. He doesn’t have enough service time to be a FA after this season.
Secondly, Melky has played ALOT better as an everyday player.
“1. teixeira will be a f.a. after the 2007 season.”
false.
Jeff, I have been thinking about Wiggy for a few weeks now. Tampa Bay has been historically tough to trade with though that may have changed now with a new ownership. Here are Ty’s numbers for the year:
Games: 66
AB: 264
Hits: 74
2B: 17
HR: 11
RBI: 33
Runs: 33
BA: .284
OBP: .329
SLG: .473
OPS+: 108
If you can get him cheap, he is better that Cairo and he can play 1B, 2B and 3B.
Phil Hughes is going to turn into the Yankee version of Bryce Florie…and we may never hear from him again.
Sox will give up Schilling next year, but the Yanks will take him in order to add to their stable of fat, aging free agents.
Fixed it. He’s arb. eligible after this season.
i bet Tex stays put and hillenbrand is a yank
I agree with Pete.
Much as I would love to have Teixeira, unless by some miracle Cashman and Boras agree to an extension without letting him test the market after 2008, it’s not going to happen. I think when he’s an FA, if he’s still as good, he will be on the radar. I think that’s why Cashman went with basically stop-gap guys at first. Minky was not supposed to get hurt; the Yankees were not supposed to have to go looking for a 1B this season.
What starting to win has done for Cashman and the Yankees, however, is put them in a much better position than just a couple of weeks ago as far as the trade deadline is concerned. They are no longer viewed as desperate, and that is big. They can take their time, they can wait. And Pete’s right again, I don’t know anyone as patient as Cashman, plus he really doesn’t make rash decisions. He will bring Andy Phillips up here before he loses any of this stockpiled arm for a quick-fix this season.
Just wait and stick Giambi at first when (if) he gets healthy…
Defensively he is better then Hillenbrand or Phelps.
No matter what…NO NO NO to Hillenbrand! He is a shaky player and we don’t want him. Go with Andy Phillipe before him!
“Defensively he is better then Hillenbrand or Phelps.”
no he isn’t.
Thanks Mike. Wiggy can also play the OF. He’s a good all around player, I would really like to see him on the Yankees.
At one point in the article Rosenthal equates the value of Chase Wright with that of Joba Chamberlain, and that’s just not right.
NOTE TO BASEBALL WRITERS: Prospects are now a HUGE part of the baseball story. You have to LEARN about them before you write about them. And that doesn’t mean getting an anonymous quote from a disgruntled GM. Do some homework, because most of you are doing a horrible job!
OMG! Fire ken Rosenthal!
Giambi or Phelps defensively is like choosing between the two fattest chicks left in the bar at 4 am (no offense to the ladies on here)… both terrible choices (defensively)… I don’t know about Hillenbrand, but didn’t think he was as bad as those two.
As far as Giambi vs. Phelps, I don’t know which one is going to make you leave quicker in the morning, but does it really matter?
Doesn’t Wiggington give us a little bit of trouble when we play the Rays too? One of those pesky type guys?
Quan, shush, if he wants to spread the rumor that Chase Wright is as good of a prospect as Joba, let’s not bother correcting him. Chase is lefty! And he has a cool name! And he is from Texas! Wonder if we can do Chase for Teix straight up? Worse case we throw in Cairo and Nieves. That seems more than fair Daniels, come on down.
Giambi might have zero range but he does have good hands and can scoop bad throws out of the dirt and infielders can be comfortable throwing to him. Phelps looks like a butcher and Hillenbrand is not much better.
I agree with giving Phillips another chance though.
What about trying to make a deal for both Wigginton and Carlos Pena? I know it’ll feel a little silly trading for a guy we released last year, but Pena’s mashing righties this year and he’s a stellar defensive 1B. Wigginton can play first against lefties. Wiggy’s hitting .306/.394/.629 (that’s a 1.023 OPS!) with 5HRs against lefties this year. Pena is hitting .331/.412/.710 against righties (1.122 OPS!) with 15HRs. That’s a pretty nice looking platoon that also allows for flexibility.
On days Wiggy starts, that gives the Yanks a left handed power bat off the bench/defensive replacement. On days Pena starts, Wigginton can either spell A-Rod at third, Cano at 2nd, or one of the outfielders.
I’m not sure what the d-rays would be looking for in a deal for them, but they’d definitely both be good pickups.
2009 Yankees rotation:
1. Johann Santana (free agent after next year, new Yankee Stadium opening in ’09)
2. Wang
3. Hughes
4. Pettitte
5. Mussina
I think Pettitte and Mussina will will themselves to make it to the new Yankee Stadium opening in ’09 with Mo.
Mussina will have to perform some kind of ritualistic murder in order to be able to pitch for the Yankees in 2009. He will retire after 2008.
For the 2009 Yankee Rotation, you’re leaving out guys like Chamberlain, Kennedy and Horne. Alan Horne, I think, will be a Wang-like underdog who no one will know about but will perform admirably. For some perspective, Horne, 24 in AA, is currently having a comparable season to Jon Papelbon when he was 24 and in AA.
Rosenthal’s article is a waste of keystrokes….
Tex would represent a serious upgrade for the next 1.5 years at first base. Is he worth some of the high ceiling arms? I am not so sure. It has been awfully difficult find quality starters (forget about front line guys)on the open market. The good thing is that the performance of Horne, Marquez, Joba and Ian solidify the Yanks ability to make a move and not empty the cupboard. Imagine if the arm surgery crew (Sanchez, Melancon, Cox, etc) were healthy? That’s a lot of internal solutions and chips to buttress the serious spending power that the Yanks enjoy.
If Daniels wants a fair deal than Cash should talk, if he wants the farm, then wait him out or pass.
Re: Teixeira
If the Yanks acquired the switch-hitting Teixeira that would pretty much rule out any 1st base platoon with Giambi, assuming he returns in ’07. (Forget Phelps and Minky).
Add to that the fact that Johnny Damon’s defense/physical condition this year is such a liability that Melky really has to play CF and Johnny has to DH. Will Damon be significantly more healthy and fit in ’08? Doubtful.
So, assuming that the Yanks acquire Teixeira, and assuming that Giambi overcomes his foot problem and returns, Jason would be relegated to fighting with Damon for DH time. Either that or Torre would be forced to weaken the CF defense by playing Damon just to get Jasons’ bat in the lineup. Sorry, but Jason’s bat has not been so sorely missed that degrading the CF defense is justified on a regular basis.
Thus, IMO acquiring Teixeira means either Jason or Johnny would have to go. But who’s taking them and what could we expect back?
I like how in the Rosenthal article he says that the Red Sox have done a better job of developing and holding onto young talent. Hey KEN ever heard of CMW, Cano, Melky, not too mention jeter, rivera and posada. Plus our farm system is loaded. Ken was obviously out of his mind when he wrote this article.
Looks like Phillips is up and Phelps is gone…
Andrew
Really? Last I checked, Mussina is signed for next year thus has next year to show he can be the 2009 Yanks #4-5 starter.
If/ when Pettitte picks up his $16M player’s option for next year (I think he will cuz that’s too much money to pass up), he has next year to show he can be the Yanks #4 starter. Neither will have to compete with anyone save other free agent starters and even then Andy and Moose would have the edge from being known, proven quantities. Since when has Mussina said he’ll retire after ’08 or Pettitte said he’ll retire after 2007 or 2008?
I’m leaving out guys like Chamberlain, Kennedy, and Horne because they’re all in AA ball this year.
Did you know all three guys have to
1. get promoted to AAA next year
2. be very good there
3. not fall to an injury cutting into development time
to even get a shot at winning the #5 slot for ’09 then
4. win the #5 job in spring training
5. not get hurt there
6. keep the job
??????????????????????????
I hope 2 of the 3 could win jobs but it’s highly unlikely.
If even one does, hey, I’m thrilled, but none are locks.
M.L.B. experience and aptitude overrides kicking ass in AA, period, end of story. Youth is overrated: just look at
Clippard, DeSalvo, Igawa, Wright, Karstens, Rasner, and 2007 Hughes. Hughes is on to his first M.L.B. win and a possible no-hitter then the poor kid has to be taken out after no-hitting the Rangers for 7+ IP in his homestate of Texas. So don’t tell me about how Pettitte and Mussina would be too old by 2009. Old doesn’t mean bad or even injury-prone -look at Clemens. The guy is a warrior who will have made more starts than Hughes this year Sunday. Higher likelihood of injury? Hey, what if a guy’s 23 and healthy as an oaktree but sucks as bad as any 34-year old veteran retread?
Pettitte and Mussina are who they are and don’t have to win shit from anyone. If either or both do well enough next year
(I firmly believe Pettitte will be back for his $16M player’s option for ’08 and way more than that), either or both will be in the ’09 rotation if they want to return, that’s it. You probably wouldn’t like it, but that’s just how the Yanks work. They’re not giving the #4 and #5 slots to rookies, ain’t happening. Hughes would barely be a M.L.er himself (second full year in M.L.B.)
If Helton was a righty, wouldn’t cost too many prospects, and we won’t have to pick up his $23M option for 2012 I would say we go for it. But since that’s not the case I think we should look for someone else. I’m going to throw in a couple of names and let me know what you think:
Berkmann (Astros) – has NTC and pretty big contract until 2010 ($15M option for 2011)
Pena (D-Rays) – having career year, so would be buying high
Young (Nats) – same as Pena
Sweeney (Royals) – free agent after season, not great in 2007, so probably won’t cost too many prospects
Konerko (ChiSox) – ChiSox having an aweful season, they may want to rebuild the team.
Teixeira (Rangers) – great first baseman.
If a trade won’t include the following prospects I think we should go for Teixeira: Hughes, Chamberlain, Kennedy, Betances, Garcia, Montero and Miranda (of course Cano, Wang and Melky are untouchables too)
Young? As in Dmitri Young (sp?)? Uh, no thanks. I’ll take Sweeney for a few months but not for a solid prospect, especially a pitcher of substance. All the others are fairly unrealistic. Texas will want someone substantial for Tex. While I’d love to have him, dealing with Boras is a nighmare. I say we keep our team as is aside from tinkering with the ‘pen and a bargain bat off the bench. I’d like to give Tomo Ohka a shot to see what he can do. Perhaps he’d be motivated to perform now that he’s been cut by Toronto. A though.
Oh, and I love Moose but he’s not going to be around in ’09. He’s on his last legs. He works HARD for every strike.
I’ll say ’til I’m blue in the face, Yankees need a power hitting righty to offset the lefty-heavy lineup( As you could see recently with Mets Perez). Texiera, a switcher, would be ideal, but only if Cashman can sign him to a minimum 3-4 contract and the trade package excludes guys like Hughes, Chamberlain, Betances and other AA pitching prospects. Tex is only 27 yrs old and one of the brighest 1B prospects in MLB. Maybe a deal offering Clippard, Kennedy and E. Duncan would get it done.
I agree that Hillenbrand is a waste! Marginal fielder, clubhouse cancer, and lousy OBP. With today’s move in bringing up Phillips and returning Phelps, I really think Cashman has decided to wait until the trading deadline (unless run scoring gets desperate again) to add players.
I don’t think we can say that the 2009 rotation is Wang, Hughes, TBA, TBA and TBA. Not with the way prospects like Clippard, Kennedy and Chamberlain are climbing up the organization ladder.
I would think that at least two of those three could be in the rotation by 2009 and you know the Yankees will find a way to land a 3rd starter behind Wang and Hughes via free agency.
In addition, Andy Pettitte is only 35 years old tomorrow. He could easily pitch next year and sign an extension for a chance to pitch in the new Yankee Stadium in 2009. What pitcher wouldn’t want to start Opening Day 2009 in a new Yankee Stadium? I’m not buying that Pettitte is looking to retire at 36 or 37 years old. If he thinks he’s got a shot at winning another title in New York he’s not going to leave anytime soon.
The only reason Andy left was because the Yankees never made him a reasonable offer. They were too in love with Sheffield’s bat to pay attention to Andy. And we all know what a big mistake that was.