Comments on: So, who is going to play 3B next season?

By: Andrew

Andrew — Sun, 04 Nov 2007 21:50:35 +0000

i think the yankees could get by with a rotation anchored by hughes pettitte and wang and a bullpen consisting of ramirez sanchez chamberlain and mo. id also like to see a trade for tanklersely or olsen as a good lefty on the team. they have both played for girardi. since A-rod isnt coming back a good signing at first would be casey since doug isnt that necessary.a casey/phillips platoon is aslo a good mix in the clubhouse.

By: Rusty John

Rusty John — Tue, 30 Oct 2007 04:17:25 +0000

Wow, don’t know who you could find on the market who would equal Cano’s production at second and all the third-basemen free agents are on the downside of their career and will probably want 3 or 4 year deals. Who is available as a FA at short? Would rather see Jeter move to third and get a SS with range- isn’t Khalil Greene a FA? I thought he signed a 1-year deal before the 2007 season.

By: wallypip

wallypip — Mon, 29 Oct 2007 23:10:22 +0000

The Yankees are going to need to fill two positions in A-Rod’s absence. Obviously 3B, but they also will not get away with having a bottom of the lineup 1B anymore.

I’d say try to add a righthanded bat to compete/platoon with Betemit at 3B. Ty Wigginton would be an interesting choice and Morgan Ensberg could be a real sleeper and should coome cheap. Ensberg had a horrible season, but his career suggests that he should bounce back and would at least maintain a quality right side of the platoon. If Betemit rounds out his right handed numbers, then you can use Ensberg or Wiggington as righthanded options at other positions.

The Yankees absolutely have to get a middle of the order hitter for 1B. Unfortunately, they really need someone right handed and that’s going to require a trade. I’d do Kennedy for Lance Berkman in about half a second.

By: jbomb

jbomb — Mon, 29 Oct 2007 18:32:30 +0000

I’d have betemit play 3rd base and then sign adam dunn to play first. Adam hit 40 hrs last season and with his power to left at yankee stadium he could easily hit 45-50. But say he has a mediocre year getting used to AL pitching with that short porch at the stadium you can still mark him down for 30- 35 hrs.

By: RDE

RDE — Mon, 29 Oct 2007 18:23:23 +0000

I have heard Cano’s name bandied about. Leave him at 2nd base and on the Yankees! This kid is the real-deal and a franchise player worthy of the being mentioned in the same breath as A-Rod. When he gets hot, he could put a .400+ month together and hammer 8 – 10 HR with 25+ RBI.

That being said, we need a power, right-handed bat. Rolen and Crede are great options but still don’t scare opposing teams in a lineup. Miguel Cabrera does but, he has serious discipline issues. We are overstocked on lefty batters. If we keep Bobby in right, I think Damon and our own Cabrera become tradebait. This would clear the way to signing Torii Hunter.

Regardless of the speculation … we’re nothing without Posada and Pettitte. They should be priority #1. 3rd base could be filled in with overloading the Rockies with pitching prospects for Atkins at any time.

By: Mike

Mike — Mon, 29 Oct 2007 18:17:03 +0000

One thing that everyone fails to realize is that Miguel Cabrera went on record saying he does not want to be a Yankee due to the corporate attitude if I recall correctly. So based on Hank’s reasoning for not negotiating with A-Rod here forth, why would they want Miggy. Lowell as aforementioned is doomed to be the next Damon.
Does anyone remember when we had third basemen that didn’t even get 100RBI’s? What was his name again? That’s right Scott Brosius. We just need a good defensive third baseman with a little bit of pop.
Those who think Jeter will move to third base at this point of his career are out of their minds. The vast majority of his errors came in the first month of the season. Additionally it isn’t like he’s on his way out to retirement and has to make room for young talent.
Cano to third seems like a good move because he’s young and has time to adjust, not to mention has an above average arm for a second baseman already. The only thing that worries me is having an ADD third baseman seeing as how his concentration falters from time to time. This does not bode well for the hot corner.
At the end of the day A-Rod does not make or break the Yankees. While he was a nice luxury, he is not a necessity. Without him we still have a very offensive minded team with up and coming young pitchers (whoever wants to get rid of Kennedy is crazy btw) much like the teams that have been winning of late.

By: YankeePadre

YankeePadre — Mon, 29 Oct 2007 18:09:29 +0000

With all these questions of trading, who precisely do the Yankees have that they are willing to give up? Hughes? Chamberlain? Clippard? Tabata? The Yanks NEED good young ball players and can’t, also, give up their draft picks since they need to rebuild their farm system.
Two other things
1. Someone mentioned Kouzmanoff and CHase Headley, both with the Padres. Kouzmanoff has played great and is finally solidifying the 3B spot for the Pads. Headley’s the best prospect. NEITHER will come cheap and the Pads don’t seem willing to give up either EXCEPT for a king’s ransom.
2. Here’s an option for you guys – Morgan Ensberg. He was getting healthy and should be 100% at the start of the new season. He plays solid defense and hits the ball very well. He would be cheap and you could platoon him with Betemit if you want, and keep Cano at 2B.

By: Brian M

Brian M — Mon, 29 Oct 2007 17:25:33 +0000

And I definitely want ARod in Boston. I know it is asking for trouble. But I kinda like Ortiz, Lester, DiceK, Ellsbury and Pedroia. And Manny is crazy, you cant really hate crazy. Be good to have a real villain on the team, esp with Schilling possibly leaving. Plus he’ll choke in October.

His numbers in Boston would be sick though with the green monster there. Might make him want to go. Although he has always hit well in Anaheim too.

By: Brian M

Brian M — Mon, 29 Oct 2007 17:19:30 +0000

I think Scott Rolen and Eric Chavez are two interesting vet options. Both have struggled with injuries in recent yrs and given their big contracts might be obtainable for not too much talent. Both are outstanding defenders and have never had the sort of protection they’d have in this lineup. 120 RBI if healthy is possible for either of them.

The talk is that Chavez has had the surgery he has really needed for yrs and will properly heal this time and could be ready for another 100+RBI season. He has 3 yrs left on his deal and I’m guessing Beane would let him go given how many of his young guys are looking for long term deals now. I think Chavez would be a good club house guy and another solid vet to balance all these young guys coming through over the next year or two.

A 3 way deal might be needed if Oakland want young bats though (maybe send pitching to the Mets who send Lastings Milledge to Oakland?). If Cash could somehow include Street or Harden in the deal even better. Word is Oakland like Igawa. Desalvo, Horne and some of our relief prospects might also be a good fit there.

St Louis might be a better fit for a trade since they have more pop in their lineup and might be willing to make a deal for pitching. Rolen and La Russa dont get along anyway.

Girardi will know if Miggy Cabrera is a good bet having managed him in Florida.

Another option might be to make a deal with Arizona for someone like Callaspo or possibly Tracy. They wont give you as much production but would be solid enoughy if we can upgrade at 1st base.

By: Brian M

Brian M — Mon, 29 Oct 2007 16:39:13 +0000

Part of me is glad to be rid of the ARod circus. We were probably going to have to overpay hugely, esp towards the end of the deal. And although I think he was sometime unfairly picked on for playoff fefeats, it had all gotten into his head and was affecting him. Now we can have a more balanced lineup and I’m guessing give Boras his money next yr for Texiera.

Plus we will get 2 more good draft picks next yr.

I just pray we dont have a panic kneee jerk reaction and sign one of the many overpriced outfielders on the market.