An offer that Rivera can’t refuse?
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- November
- 13
The always-reliable Tyler Kepner of the Times reports that the Yankees have offered Mariano Rivera three years/$45 million.
If Mo needs a pen, I have a bunch on the desk here. $15 million a year is a lot for a 38-year-old reliever coming off what for him was a rocky season. How has he not taken that yet?
Along with wrapping up Rivera, Brian Cashman said he wanted to sign RHP Luis Vizcaino and catcher Jose Molina. Cashman also said he would be in contact with Mike Lowell.
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on Tuesday, November 13th, 2007 at 12:08 pm by Peter Abraham.
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Peter Abraham
Q: If Mo signs elsewhere, can he still wear #42? Hopefully, we’ll never find out.
Have to sign Mo.
Hopefully he sees how good this offer is and takes it.
Please Cashman, stay away from Lowell! He’s going to want a ton of money and he’s only going to be an average player.
WOW….that’s a lot even for Mo. Cashman, please don’t sign Lowell…..PLEASE!!!!
thats huge. 15 mil to pitch 1 inning here and there???
if he pitches 70 innings (which is a lot for a reliever his age), he would average $215K per stint.
yankees have always respected him, whats his deal??
Wow, that’s a lot for closer.
Can’t see him saying no to that deal. Can I have some?
Wow! That’s a lot of money for 75 innings of work a year whether your name is Mariano Rivera or not. Hopefully it’s worth it.
I’m insulted.
The Steinbrenners are a bunch of cheapskates.
Well, there’s always Joe in LA.
Not negotiating with Po and Mo during ST or the season is going to cost Cashman and the Yanks bigtime. I suppose Cashman has nobody to blame but himself.
Mr. Cashman has been a busy busy man re-signing Jorge, then upping Mo’s offer, then trying to re-sign Jose, and trying to meet with Lowell.
Talk about overpaying.
If its true (which Kepner is usually always on the ball) then Mo will be signed by the end of the day. And if he doesn’t sign that contract, then see you later! Mo is the man and thats more than enough dough to make up for any “disrespect” he may have felt.
I would personally rather trade Kennedy, Cabrera and another prospect for Miguel Cabrera in a heart beat than give Lowell a contract similiar to Jorge’s. Lowells D is INCREDIBLE but it won’t make up for his bat (Look at the numbers outside of Fenway and career at Yankee Stadium) for that amount of money. Now if he could be had for something reasonable (which if he was willing to take would most likely be with the Red Sox then) then I would take him.
I like the plan here. Sign Mo and Jorge, sign a few of the smaller pieces (Molina, Viscaino), than shoot at the bigger guys. I’d like to see the Yanks sign Lowell (4 yrs if they can get him cheaper—45 mil or so). Than focus all their efforts on acquiring Santana. Is there any way the Yanks can acquire Santana without giving up Hughes, Chamberlain, or Cano. I will be a happy camper if the Yanks start the season with this rotation: Santana, Petitte, Chamberlain, Hughes, Wang. A little wishful thinking.
I’m worried about getting Lowell more for the fact that it would put the redsux in the arod hunt than I am for his numbers at the stadium
By the way whoever thinks that 30+ Million is going to keep the Yankees from giving A-Rod an offer is nuts.
This F.O doesn’t care about loyalty. One minute they are saying ” We don’t want anybody who doesn’t want to be a Yankee” and the next minute they are overpaying two guys. They don’t hesitate to add a 4th year to a 36 year old catcher but give an incentive based contract to Torre? Oh yes, but that was a “fair” offer.
I loathe the Lil Stein Yanks.
Really bad deal for a reliever who is already in decline. No one will pay him near this. Dumb.
for that matter, since Lowell and the redsux aren’t reaching a deal does that mean that they’re already persuing arod?
15 million a year? Nuts
Both Jorge and Mo wanted to extend during the year. ARod did not. Plus he didn’t even sit down with the Yanks before hitting FA. He clearly chose to not be a Yankee.
Than focus all their efforts on acquiring Santana. Is there any way the Yanks can acquire Santana without giving up Hughes, Chamberlain, or Cano. I will be a happy camper if the Yanks start the season with this rotation: Santana, Petitte, Chamberlain, Hughes, Wang. A little wishful thinking.
I agree with that plan of attack. Santana is the only, somewhat available, guy in the game who will instantly turn the Yankees into WS favorites. I can’t imagine the Twins asking for less than Hughes, Cano, and a Tabata-type prospect.
GW—I don’t think the Yankees will make A-Rod an offer that exceeds their original offer, less the Texas money. As for Mo and Jorge, I have no problem with them trying to get paid. I don’t think it means they are disloyal.
Matt-
The Yankees aren’t getting Santana without giving up either Hughes or Joba..
I wouldn’t be surrpized if they asked for both Hughes and Kennedy.
Wow, the Riveras should seriously thank Cashman for snubbing their dad/husband during spring training. That family just got $20 million dollars richer!
I hope Mo doesn’t get distracted by the Kim Kardashian show and forgets to return C-Money’s call.
I’m in the wait until Santana hits the “Free Agency Jackpot” camp. Also, in the “See if he can keep the ball in the park” camp. j/k on that last one.
Mo will sign….I believe I read that he was on his way back from Latin America.
I would stay away from Lowell for the reason that his stats are not great at Yankee Stadium. He has flourished in Fenway and also batting behind Ortiz and Manny. Check out his hits spray charts on other mlb sites. I think if Lowell leaves Boston then expect them to go after Pay-Rod – even though they will deny it to all ends of the earth. PR line will be Youklis to 3B but they will go hard after $-Rod as they need RH bat as Manny’s contract ends after 08.
I would love to get Santana but not if it includes Joba or Cano. Cash-money should work that deal with Hughes or Kennedy + Melky + 2nd tier pitcher (Ohlendorf, et al).
3B – lot of opportunities out there….Rolen and Tejada are probably good options. I would love to get Cabrera from the Marlins but his price is way too high. I agree with team philosophy of no young pitching for position players.
This is one great Hot Stove season.
Chet
The only problem with waiting for Santana to hit free agency is, it may not happen.
If a large market team acquires him, it won’t be for a one year rental. They will get a deal done with him.
I doubt a large market team would acquire Santana, giving up several of their best prospects, for a one year rental. The deal will be contingent on an extension or there won’t be a deal.
I have no problems with the money they are giving Mo. He deserves it. The guy is probably the biggest reasons a LOT of guys have rings, money and fame. He has gets his big payday at the end and good for him.
Its not like he’s going to go into the tank (ie: Carl Pavano) after signing the deal.
If you think its too much money, ask yourself who would be closing for them the next two years. Its not too much when you think about it that way.
Have you noticed – all quiet on the ARod front.
The Boras PR circus is silent.
Can only mean one thing, there’s another deal already in place, waiting to be announced in late December or January.
CASHMAN YOU SIGN LOWELL I’M CALLING FOR OPPENHEIMER TO TAKE YOUR JOB !!!
i think mo is trying to seem like a hard negotiator, but he comes off sounding like a dork.
lets remember this is one of the nicest guys in all of baseball. i can almost see his agent feeding him the line to sound tough.
Yes, I too have a pen right here! Please sign on the dotted line MO, you need to retire in pinstripes, and we need you!!
The money is a bit on the high side, but I don’t care. As has been pointed out many times it’s not like this $$ is going to charity if it isn’t given to the players. And who deserves it more than Mo? If the Yankees can pay Giambi a ludicrous 20 mil a year, and Farnsworth 7 mil, then they can certainly give Mo 15. Also, if the length of the deal is one year longer than Mo is actually gonna be the closer, I only see that as a good thing. There’s no one I’d rather have grooming Melancon to take over the position than him!
SJ44,
What do you think the bullpen will look like next year? Which kids will be at ST with a realistic shot at making the 25-man (Ohlendorf, Sanchez, et al)? Please don’t include the names Britton, Henn, and Ramirez!
oh and let me echo the sentiments of others – NO LOWELL PLEASE!!! Still firmly on the trade train as far as a 3b is concerned. Hope Cash is also kicking the tires on Beltre and Tejada while he is looking into Lowell!
time to start saying it:
Well, in ‘10 the jeter and mariano contract comes off the books and then in ‘11 the posada contract comes off the books. Watch out FA class of 2010, the yankees will start spending their money….
Rivera has been underpaid his whole career. If the Yanks extended him before spring training he would have signed a 2 year deal for less money (and Posada would have signed cheaper too). But in the end, who cares what we’re paying them. I wouldnt worry about Mo’s deal, I think the Posada deal will come back to haunt us more than Mo’s. But, the Yanks had no choice. They needed to sign both of them and I’m happy that both will end their careers with the Yankees. By the way, he’ll sign this deal. He’s just making the Yanks sweat a bit like he said he would. He said he would enter free agency and he did. It’s funny, I thought Posada would have been more resolute, but he caved and signed before the midnight deadline.
Mel –
What I’m excited about is the potential 2009 Yankee pen. It could include guys like Mark Melancon, Humberto Sanchez, Kevin Whelan, David Robertson, and J Brent Cox.
I’m just hoping that Cashman doesn’t mortgage the future in an attempt to go for it in 2008.
I still say Wilson B. for Third Base.
‘Save the Prospects’ campagin is in full swing!
Migames,
Jeter isnt going anywhere (except to a new position). He’ll be extended before he ever gets close to hitting the market.
Ducky: “Not negotiating with Po and Mo during ST or the season is going to cost Cashman and the Yanks bigtime. I suppose Cashman has nobody to blame but himself.”
....and I respond, what if both would have had POOR years. What then? It’s easy now in hindsight. It’s the chance Cashman took. What if Posada hit .238? Or Mo had an ERA of 4.15? Could easily have happened. Why pay when you don’t have to?
As for the deal…$15 mil/yr., 3 years for a 38 year old. Mo, what are you waiting for. That is MORE than generous.
Scooter,
So what you’re saying is that I’m stuck with Britton, Henn, and Ramirez? What about Rasner, Karstens, Clippard, and DeSalvo. Is that the starting rotation at Trenton?
I’ve said this before, but before I christen Betemit as our starting 3B, I’d like to see him want it. He needs to lose about 30 lbs and fix the big hole in his swing. He strikes out way too often for a starting position player. I hear Kevin Long is pretty good Betemit… try giving him a call over the winter and put down the twinkie. If he does those things, he could be league average and a decent stopgap. Cash needs to start drafting some decent IF prospects. Wonder if Gonzo can make the shift to third?
“and I respond, what if both would have had POOR years. What then? ”
But it didnt happen, and now they are paying what they are paying and they can still have poor years….
Make that Rasner, Karstens, Clippard, DeSalvo, and Wright.
I’m also on the record as not caring what the money is. 3 years is fine for Mo. Unless he totally loses his stuff, he’s not a bad investment. Just get him signed and keep adding to the pen.
The 4th year to Posada was a mistake, but I guess they determined they had no other choice.
I don’t expect Posada to be a productive anything on this team in year 4.
Those of you thinking he’ll be manning 1b are deluded. The Yankees will have a real 1b who is younger and better than Jorge. If they don’t we’ll be in trouble.
Jorge will have about the same role as Giambi does now in year 4. A part time DH/pinch hitter.
I really wanted the Yanks to go after Joe Nathan if he makes it inot free agency.
Maybe 15 million a year might make it easier to swallow for Mo if/when the Yanks go get another closer in years 2 and 3 of his potential deal with them? I don’t know.
I’m guessing this deal if it happens takes them out of the Nathan sweepstakes next season.
That said, I tend to think Mo will be getting outs until he retires. He’s 38 and throwing 94mph with control. He’s a freak.
I know it can’t go on forever, but outside of the early season struggles, I don’t see him losing it.
You would think that if age were affecting him, his 2nd halves would be worse.
Get him signed and let’s continue to build this team up. Make than Marte trade happen with Pitt. Get an 8th inning arm. Viz isn’t the 8th inning guy.
Farnsworth is supposed to be that 8th inning guy. Wouldn’t it be great if he turned out to be a really great 8th setup guy this year? It’s his contract year so maybe it could happen. Look what Alex, Lowell, and Posada did.
$50 bucks says that 3 years from now, half the posters here will be
lamenting daily about the $28 million worth of albatross contracts hung
around the necks of 1) a .255 hitting catcher with mediocre power, a bad arm that can’t even throw
slugs like papi out, plus a penchant for passed balls + todd
jones v2.0 whose cutter no longer cuts.
And some will wish those $28 million would’ve been given to Arod
instead, who’ll be receiving a hero’s celebration after bashing
HR 661 to move past Willie Mays for 4th on the all time HR list,
on his way to his 4th striaght 50+HR season and 3rd AL MVP in 4 years…
Did Teixeira sign an extention when he was traded? While it may be the desire of the team signing Santana, if a deal is made, there is no guarantee that he would sign an extention. Why should he?
Gagne didn’t sign an extention when he was only a couple of months rental (darn it).
The Twinkies may decide to keep Santana till they see how their year is going as well. They can trade during the season or pick up draft picks.
Meanwhile, Santana won’t have any idea of how much he can actually make without going to Free Agent auction. It gives him the control of what team he goes to, and that doesn’t mean it has to be the highest bidder.
The player doesn’t have to do anything, regardless of what the team wants them to do. He didn’t sign an extention with the Twins either, and this after buying a house there near the stadium. That seems to indicate his lack of desire to sign any kind of extention. He can get more years and dollars on the open market than through any deal internally, including him going to a large market team.
For those of you talking aobut the Bull Pen don’t forget about Veras, Ross Ohlendorf, David Robertson, Humberto Sanchez. Also look for Igawa, Wright and T-Clipp to get a shot.
Mel,
I think they will sign Affeldt as a FA contract to fill the lefty slot in the bullpen. Its hard to trade for lefty relievers because everybody wants them and the asking prices are too high.
If they bring back Viz, they have their “everyday” guy.
I think Farnsworth stays. Girardi was close to him in their Chicago days and has always talked about being able to “fix” him. It wouldn’t surprise me if he gets that chance.
Unless he is included in a deal, I think Ohlendorf is in the bullpen next year. He’s on a part-time schedule in the AFL and is throwing the ball quite well.
Veras and Ramirez (only if he can add a year to his fastball and refine his curve) are also possibilities.
Depending on how fast he is recovering, I could see Humberto Sanchez in the bullpen by mid-season.
Three sleepers from within to keep and eye on: Scott Patterson, David Robertson and Mark Melancon. Patterson is a minor league FA whom the Yankees would like to keep. Kind of bounced around independent leagues until the Yankees signed him. He is 6-7 and has really pitched well since getting into the system. Good fastball, hard for hitters to pick up.
Robertson was the second best college closer in the country (next to Melancon) in 2006. He’s under 6 feet (which turned some teams off) but had a dominating year in A ball and in limited AA work last year. He’s a kid that could move quickly through the system with a good spring. Outside shot he’s in the Yankees bullpen at some point in 2008.
Melancon is the best unknown arm in the organization. He missed all of last season with TJ Surgery and is in Hawaii right now. I don’t think he’s pitched yet but is slated to pitch at some point during their season.
He has dominating stuff and the presence to match. If he is healthy (and reports are he is) he is going to be a factor in the bullpen at some point next year. He is the real deal. Health is the only thing standing in his way of having a very good ML career.
I echo everyones words. What is the deal Mo? 15 Million a year is a nice chunck of change. Jorge’s sticking point was he wanted 4 years. What is your’s?
If he doesn’t take that offer (if its true) then they shouldn’t go after him any harder. No other team will cough up more money than that, and if they do they can have him. Move Joba to closer and go get another pitcher.
”$50 bucks says that 3 years from now, half the posters here will be
lamenting daily about the $28 million worth of albatross contracts hung
around the necks of 1) a .255 hitting catcher with mediocre power, a bad arm that can’t even throw
slugs like papi out, plus a penchant for passed balls + todd
jones v2.0 whose cutter no longer cuts.
And some will wish those $28 million would’ve been given to Arod
instead, who’ll be receiving a hero’s celebration after bashing
HR 661 to move past Willie Mays for 4th on the all time HR list,
on his way to his 4th striaght 50+HR season and 3rd AL MVP in 4 years…”
That could and can happen. But we are pyaing Giambi 22M and its not really affecting this team. Its not like we cant sign whoever based on that contract. The yankees are one of the few teams that can let this happen
You get paid more to play in NY. Besides, Wagner is making 10+ million and Wagner sucks.
um.. who would that be? Carlos Silva?
My opinion on Lowell depends entirely on the asking price. If he wants what he reportedly wanted from Boston, I’m not sure he’s a good idea. But is he a Better idea than trading the farm? Even if his numbers don’t stand up, he’ll still put up good at bats and play some great defense, something I don’t really hear about Miguel Cabrera
SJ44,
Wow! Thanks for the prompt, encyclopedic reply. Very impressive.
Sounds like, at the very least, there are options many of which are inhouse.
Thanks again.
SJ44-
How about Eric Wordekemper for the BP?
Hes in the fall league right now, but he seems like a pretty solid BP guy.
Is he far off?
Seems the Yankees are willing to pay big this year. Is this an effort to start pricing some FA’s of next year out of the market for a number of different teams?
“Both Jorge and Mo wanted to extend during the year. ARod did not. Plus he didn’t even sit down with the Yanks before hitting FA. He clearly chose to not be a Yankee.”
yes, and last season the yankees and EVERYONE here including Pete wanted to trade A-Rod.
so it cuts both ways, doesn’t it?
i think it’s hilarious that almost EVERYONE here wanted A-Rod shipped off last offseaon and the same people are now irate over a lack of loyalty.
there is plenty to criticize A-Rod about without re-writing history. A-Rod did not “not want to extend” during the season. before the season even started the Yankees announced they would not extend him. it was only when he started hitting HRs in every other AB that they changed their mind.
Interesting thought re: big Yankee contracts.
Rob Neyer: (12:10 PM ET ) Yes, of course four years for Posada is (at least) one too much. For any other team, that is. The Yankees have the luxury of being able to carry some dead money at any particular time. The reason they don’t win 100 games every season is because there’s usually a big chunk of payroll that’s not actually helping them. As for Mo, that offer will still be there in a week, so he might as well see what else is out there.
Hopefully, Posada will catch for 2 plus and help break in a new catcher along with some DH duties the last year and a half. Or maybe he’ll be another Fisk and catch until he’s 45.
Even with the Mo and Po deals, the Yanks have Giambi, Abreu, Moose,and Pavano coming off the books after `08 and that’s a lot of coin. Also, they’re opening up a new money factory in 2009, which will make them even richer.
Foo you don’t get it do you. The Yankees wanted to negotiate with him, he didn’t return calls. He cost the Yankees alot of money. Just because the Yankees are the richest team doesn’t mean that 30 million is chump change. And as others have pointed out, it was alot more than 30 million when you factor in luxury tax. And it doesn’t matter what he does in the regular season if he can’t get one HIT with a runner in scoring position!! Let him go to the LA Angels of Anaheim Oakland Califonia, or what ever they will be calling themselves. He could hit 6 homeruns in one game at 1 am est and no one will care. But if will add to his homerun total so he’ll be happy. He’ll be ringless but it won’t matter cause he’ll have the record.
Alex didn’t return calls because he didn’t want to be “insulted”.
You have to love the yankees:
HIGHEST PAID CATCHERS….that .1 is not only worth $100,00
1. Jorge Posada, Yankees, $13.1 million
2. Ivan Rodriguez, Tigers, $13 million
I just read Ross Ohlendorf is working on a splitter. Hopefully he can get it down, and make it a out pitch.
Eric Wordkemper is another guy to watch. He’s working on refining his split and if he can, he will move through the system quickly. He needs another pitch to get big league hitters out because he’s only got a 90-91 fastball.
I think he is a better bet though for 2009 than 2008. A guy like that usually has to prove to organizations he isn’t a fluke.
Which is why I believe they will keep him in the minors all of 2008.
I would have put Kevin Whelan in that group but, he’s been shutdown with forearm soreness. That’s usually a sign of trouble.
He’s another guy I believe they will keep in AA/AAA all 2008 to see if he is healthy and is able to continue the growth he showed toward the end of last season.
I just wanted to respond to Hmmm’s noting that Pedro’s 1999-2004 numbers were the best in the history of MLB…And I tend to agree with that , minus the greatest, Sandy Koafax…However, Santana is just reaching the age when Pedo went on that reign of terror….If you examine their first 8 years or their accomplishments f by age, you’ll see that Johan is ahead of Pedro’s pace….In fact he’s just reaching the age that Pedro was in 99…..Plus he has 2 Cy Youngs, his whip is better….So the point I’m failing to make is that now’s the time to get him, his best is yet to come…....
The difference with Texiera was that he had another year on the contract before free agency so it was/could be a year and a half rental not just 1 year. Also I think the position makes a huge difference ie pitcher versus position player.
I would include Melky in a trade for Cabrera (3b) or Santana if Hunter was on our payroll. Sounds like a good way to upgrade our offense while Hunter in CF would be sweet!
Jennifer, how the heck does 21 million, the actual amount of money that the Yankees were going to get for the last three years of that contract equal more than 30 million when you factor in the luxury tax?
The total amount is about 30 million with the luxury tax added in.
A-Rod had done great in the post season appearances he had with Seattle. Other players have had great post season play that struggled with it prior to them being golden.
Without A-Rod this past season, there simply would not have been a post season chance whatsoever. No matter how you play it, in order to do ANYTHING in the post season you have to be in the post season.
If 30 million is such a large amount of money to the Yankees, how the heck is Igawa still wondering around the minor leagues with what they are paying and have paid for him?
The A-Rod hatred on this site is almost to absurd levels. The double standards are beyond compare. Mo and Jorge hold out, went into free agency and are given long contracts for big bucks, and that is GREAT news. A-Rod makes a business move, but emotions take over.
If the Saux end up bidding for A-Rod then the Yankees will jump right in there.
Wow Mike and mad puppy are saying that Mo should get a 4th year. And people were screaming when Jorge got the 4th year. At least Jorge could be come dh in the 4th year or back up catcher. What would Mo do in the 4th? Teach?
AAV (Average Annual Value) is the mantra of salaries in baseball. Its what players, owners and agents utilize to set the market.
Some of it is ego but, most of it is being able to set the market at each respective position.
Its important to agents because many of them have multiple clients. Guys who will benefit when AAV goes up at certain positions.
For guys like Boras, the more his clients set the AAV at their respective positions, the more he uses it as a recruiting tool to obtain more clients. Its all one big game.
I am sure the Red Sox aren’t too happy today with the AAV for closers going up to 15 million per year. Going to make those Papelbon negotiations very interesting in a few years.
wow Rowand 100 million for 5 yrs. from SF according to Chris Russo !!
PAT M.,
Sandy Koufax did it in a pitcher’s era. Pedro did it in the Steroid era. Much more impressive, in my opinion.
let me guess 5th period lunch right ?
If Rowand is really getting a 5 year, $100 million deal from the Giants then Sabean has officially lost the plot. What a terrible, terrible deal.
That isn’t a large difference between 1 season and 1 and 1/2 seasons. Its three months of playing time. It was still a large deal for that period of time, and he didn’t sign an extention. Most likely he won’t, as he knows the market for him is pretty big.
How does a position player not signing an extention come out different than it does for a pitcher? Its the same thing, they are going to get the deal with the team they want to play with.
“wow Rowand 100 million for 5 yrs. from SF according to Chris Russo !!”
if that is true, arod will be the first 400 million dollar man
SJ44,
Thanks a lot for the info. on the young arms that can possibly help out of the pen next year. The one guy you didn’t mention, JB Cox, is the one that has been my sentimental favorite, as far as prospects go, for a long time. I know he was out this year recovering from non-TJ elbow surgery. Do you think he has a chance to contribute next year, or even if it will take longer than that, do you think he has a future with the big club in general? And what spot in the bullpen does his stuff appear to best translate to? I have read that Melancon profiles as more of a prototypical closer than him, but does he have a future as a setup guy perhaps? If I’m not mistaken he was the closer at Texas over Huston Street, which is interesting…
A-Point I don’t know where the article was/is maybe someone else can repost it.
I was an Arod supporter since he came and through-out his “bad” 2006, I stood up for him! When people bashed him I called them crazy!
Alex snubbed the Yankees! He could have stayed they would have extended him 5 years! He didn’t want to listen! He walked away from us! So now i’m ticked. If somehow he returns I will only hope for him to do well because he plays on the team, not because of who he is.
Have you seen Igawa pitch? If you have you want to poke your eyes out he is so bad. So the Yankees never should have picked him up. But are they supposed to run a piece of garbage out there every 5th day when he can’t get the job done?
13 million per yr. for Carlos Silva from the Mets
Santana has a no trade clause. If the Yankees or another big market team that can pay him don’t deal for him outright this year, he will wait out free agency.
Yankees should try to get him if they are serious about making a decent offer.
I would give up Kennedy and Melky for Santana.
“If 30 million is such a large amount of money to the Yankees, how the heck is Igawa still wondering around the minor leagues with what they are paying and have paid for him?”
Igawa’s posting fee doesn’t count against the luxury tax. I believe I saw one calculation that without the $30 million from Texas, a 10 year $300 million deal for A-Rod would cost the Yankees something like $440 million.
“13 million per yr. for Carlos Silva from the Mets”
Is this real? If it is, things have officially gotten crazy.
Brandon are they smoking crack? Rowand is a nice player, but 20 million a year!! And they say the Yankees hand out insane contracts. If Rowand gets 20 million a year does that mean Alex could get 40?
They would be better served giving that 100 to Alex. I’d rather have him in the Nl west coast as to never hear from him again.
BBB,
Cox was the closer at Texas after Street left.
The Yankees got him cheap the last contract for $10 million rather then Wagner for the Mets who got about $13 million.The reason Mariano signed that cheap contract was beacuse the yankees did it during the post season or regular season.Brian could have gotten Mariano for about $10 million if they did it during the spring training.
So right, as far the BP goes we have Farnsworth and Rivera..
Lets say they sign the Viz..
So Bullpen would be
Mo
Farnsworth
The Viz
Then what?
You need a few more setup men, and right now it looks like they’re all going to be rookies..
Maybe you throw Karstens in there, and don’t call him a rookie, but still..
Do you bring a few long relivers like Igawa, Rasner, Wright, T-Clipp or Sanchez?
Or do you bring shoter relivers like Ohlendorf, Veras, or Edwar?
It’s definitly going to be something to keep an eye on..
it looks like SP is going to cost alot this yr., and Jennifer I think Sabean has been on crack for awhile now
Brandon another team smoking crack. What did they hand out in the gm’s meetings. Carlos Silva!! Now if Andy wants to come back he can ask for 20!!
Yeah, he did it against the likes of Mayes, McCovey, Frank Robinson, Henry Aaron, Eddie Mathews…The greatest era for sluggers in MLB…...I watched hin as an 11 year old whiff the first 5 Yankee hitters in game 1 of the 63 WS. as he went on to whiff 15 that day…..Or what he did in game 7 of the 65 WS, on 2 days rest vs. a very powerful 65 Twins lineup…..Yes Pedro was great for those years, but it’s unfair to compare him to Koufax…....
No, Tex didn’t sign an extension when he went to ATL. His agent is Scott Boras, he will without a doubt stick his toe into the free agent waters after the 08 season.
Look for NYY, BOS, both CHI, both LA, poss Mets, BAL all to be in on him. Prob become first $20-$23M first baseman taht actually plays the position (Giambi’s making $21.2M this tear, but he ain’t no 1B!)
For 3B this year? Miggy Cabrera won’t happen—he’ll cost too many of the prospcet the NYY will eventually send for Johan…., i.e. Phil Hughes, Ian Kennedy, Melky Cabrera, etc.
Look for the Yanks to make a salary dumo deal to secure 3B: give up minimal prospects for a Miggy Tejada (2 years, $26M), Eric Chavez (3 years, $36M) or Scott Rolen (same as Chavez). Its all about saving prospects for Johan.
Lowell wants four years? Yeah, I want a night with Lindsay Lohan….
And if they send Mely for Johan, think Mike Cameron for two years, MAYBE Aaron Rowand (whose just 30) for a three or four year deal.
I don’t see them going after a Torii or Andruw…
If they give Rowand that kind of money I would think that they would be out of the A lame sweepstakes. That would leave Anaheim and L.A.
Regarding Posada- Am I the only one who thinks that he would have resigned with a 3 year deal? His last 2 years are not going to be productive. Too slow for third or first. And with the loss of power, not good enough for d.h. Can we say Giambi. 13 million for a pinch hitter. I would have used the money for 2 catchers (Torrealba and Castro). Made a trade for Kouzmanoff to play first(power position). Lastly,got Rolen from the Cardinals for cheap(saved out prospects). I think this move was more to save face than anything. So is the Mo contract.
oh, and just a comment about Farnsworth…it would take a serious 180 from him to get me to the point where I DON’T feel compelled to nervously chain-smoke every time he takes the mound in a non blowout game. However if Girardi thinks he can fix him I am willing to give him that chance.
The only thing is though, from what I have heard, O’s president Andy MacPhail, who was w/the Cubs when Farns was drafted and came up through the minors I guess, is also thinking along the same lines about wanting his guys to get their hands on Krazy Kyle. So, while I do think it’s possible Joe G. could smack some sense into Farns, lol, I don’t think the possibility is worth keeping him out of a trade if it is gonna land us Tejada.
As far as possibly signing FA Affeldt, would they really put him and Farns together in a bullpen after their brawl a few years ago? Is that something that would be considered a dealbreaker?
I would definitely be just as happy to have Damasco Marte, I wanted Cash to trade for him last year and if he could get him in a Sanchez deal, that’d be sweet.
B, thanks for the clarification on Cox.
How much could Andruw make on the open market? He had a horrid year!
SJ a question, what is the story on J brent Cox? I heard he is good, what have you heard or seen??
Why bring back Viz? He is like 33 and I am not that impressed with him. And he will cost more then a Ohlendorff or the others will cost
pass on Lowell….I like tejada for 2nd tier players…...
Cox projects as a setup guy. Think of him as a smaller (in size) version of Jeff Nelson.
He suffers from the same problem Craig Hansen has with the Red Sox.
The college baseball is different from the pro baseball. The seams are larger on the college ball. Meaning, breaking balls, especially sliders, have a lot more bite with the college ball than the ML ball.
Teams sometimes either forget to account for that or ignore it entirely. The Red Sox ignored it, drafted Hansen in the first round (on the advice of his agent, Boras) and Hansen’s slider has flattened out in pro ball. Making him much less effective.
Cox used to throw a big, looping breaking ball. At the college level, it was a dominating pitch.
Once he came to the Yankees, Nardi Contreras eliminated that pitch from his arsonal has had had him work on a slider and more conventional breaking ball.
He was still working on it when he suffered two injuries. One was a broken hand (pitching hand) in a bar fight and the other the elbow injury.
Mariano had the same surgery as Cox when he was in the minors. I believe he is in the Instructional League now but have not heard of his progress yet this Fall.
O.K. if all these rumors are true, then it has to be payback for all the Yankee haters who laughed at us when we spent big money in the past.
if Rowand makes 100 million I can just imagine Tori Hunter
Just on a side note, I wanted to say something about Boston.
Everyone waxes poetic about what a great loyal family organization they are. How they are one big happy family.
Yet, year after year they push their aging veterans out the door with calculated coldness.
The Yankees don’t do this (outside of the handling of Bernie last year).
They go out of their way to try to reward players who have shown loyalty and have won for them. Guys even get 2nd chances here.
Yet look at the Red Sox. They’ve lopped off Pedro, Damon, Derek Lowe, Bill Mueller, Orlando Cabrera, Trot Nixon, Bronson Arroyo just to name a few.
They made Schilling take a way below market value contract in order for him to stay with the team and in the city.
It’s actually commendable that Schilling would do that, but 8 million for a starting pitcher who pitched big in the post season is a joke. I almost feel like they are begging these guys to walk.
Now their stance with Lowell shows they are gently pushing him out the door by telling him he’s not worth the 4th year.
While in one sense they are great businessmen who know when to cut their losses on aging vets, in another sense they are hardly the happy loving loyal collection of talent they and the media purport them to be.
It’s why Arod and Boras are perfect fits for them.
I would say they are more cutthroat in their handling of their own players than most organizations.
Their way may be the right way, but I think they are getting a huge pass in the media.
When they go and sign Arod (and they will sign Arod), they’ll be hailed as geniuses who saw the true value of the iconic player and how smart they were to get him at a discount.
It’s kind of ironic, but to me, they are more the Evil Empire than the Yankees ever were.
Hopefully, they go and make the mistakes we’ve made in the past few years. I hope they go out and grab every big name they can and have the highest payroll. We all know where that leads.
I just find it comical that the media perception of that organization is such a direct opposite of who they really are.
Mike doesn’t think the Mets want to trade Aaron Heilman. I don’t know why anyone would want him. He doesn’t impress me.
Lowell not worth 4 years, but Arod gets 10? And they are only a year apart in age. Who was the WS MVP again?
One of Neyer’s best salutations:
Until next week, don’t forget: “Never go with a hippie to a second location.”
Hey Pete,
A friend of mine out on the west coast said he heard several reports that the Yankees were meeting with A-Rod behind closed doors today. Any validity to that???
Its pretty clear Posada wouldn’t have agreed to a 3 year deal because he was going to get 4 years from the Mets.
Look at the timeline:
Yankees offer him a 3 year deal….
Posada, his wife and his agents meet with the Mets yesterday. Yes, they can’t talk money. However, they can talk “permeters”, meaning years.
Yankees offer Posada the 4th year last night and he agrees to the deal…..
Its pretty clear the 4th year was coming from the Mets so the Yankees anted up.
Glove, and everyone who leaves the Soxs leaves on a bad note.
G Love how the sux treat there old players is the right way.. The Yankees are sentimental saps and it hurts them. as someone posted today no complaining in 3 yrs. on the jorge and mariano contracts…..jorge will be friggin 40 yrs old…..........
Alex is in Fla.
HE
CAN’T
HIT
OUTSIDE
OF
FENWAY PARK !!!!!!!!!!!
Jennifer,
At the Yankee complex???
I don’t believe the Yankees are meeting with Alex. I believe the issue is closed with him.
Honestly, I have no concerns about Mo’s deal. The guy can still pitch.
His “off” year (helped more if he infielders with range on the right side) is still better than most closers career years.
Its not like Mo got hit hard last year.
The 4th year for Jorge? Not great but, what can you do, that’s the market this year.
All in all, they are players you want your young players to emulate and learn from. This is important as the Yankees transition the next few years. They can also still play at a high level, which helps a lot.
not according to some reports. and do you really, really think we have heard that last of mister A-Rod. Once Boston starts acting like they are going to make him an offer the yankees will get involved. I don’t think we have heard the last of Jerk-Rod
wait a minute. Ichiro got $20 mill per year from Seattle, and baseball mavens said that was overboard. If SF really offered the same money kinda dough for Rowland (he ain’t as good as Ichiro), and more than they paid Bonds, then something is very wrong.
G. Love,
There’s such a hatred of the Yankees by the media, that they will take up any cause. At first they were the underdogs with the cute 86-yr old curse, but now they’ve created a monster that cannot be contained. I’ve read some articles that have pointed out that Boston fans across the country are unbearable and that the Sox are the new Evil Empire. But, no matter how bad the other teams behave or are mismanaged, the Yankees will always be looked upon with disdain.
“Look for NYY, BOS, both CHI, both LA, poss Mets, BAL all to be in on him.”
Konerko and and Lee arent going anywhere, if bos signs Lowell, Youk will be at 1st. If Angles sign Arod, i dont see them going after Tex. The dodgers have a very good 1b in james loney. so, Tex might fall in the yankees lap
Jennifer how do you know this?
What reports Sara? I hadn’t heard anything.
One of the papers put his tail number, you can look up to see where the plane is.
Alex is in Fla.
At the Yankee complex???
not unless there’s a Gentlemen’s Club on the compound.
Very, VERY interesting…
HE
CAN’T
HIT
OUTSIDE
OF
FENWAY PARK !!!!!!!!!!!
I’m pretty sure the Red Sox play there aren’t you?????
the Yankees will always be looked upon with disdain.
it’s not disdain – it’s envy.
Why are people down on Britton? The two times he’s gotten a shot at the MLB level, he’s put up an ERA in the mid 3’s. And he was dominating AAA for much of last season. Sure, he’s chubby, but…who cares?
He’s 24 and is a solid middle reliever.
Well, Mons Venus (Gentleman’s Club) is down the street from the Yankees offices.
Just sayin’........
SJ,
What do you think of Eric Wordekemper? His numbers were great in Tampa and now in the AFL but do you think he will ever get a shot with the stuff he has???
?????
As for people saying that santana will be an FA next season even if he’s traded….BS.
Remember the Johnson deal? You CAN make a trade contingent upon agreeing to an extension. The Yanks made the deal and had a 72 hour window to negotiate. If they hadn’t come to terms, then the deal would have been voided.
It’s possible that Santana will only be moved for a rental, but only if no one can make a deal and lock him up.
?????
whozat,
Britton’s weight and minor league success have nothing to do with us being down on him.
People clamored for him hear to the point where he became a cult hero.
So he got his chance in the majors. He had a couple of outings that were memorable and not in a good way.
To me it’s what wasn’t advertised. If there are no better options then hey, he’s our guy. But it was a letdown for me.
It’s looking a lot like 1996, isn’t it?
With Posada roped in and Rivera in sights, this team has reclaimed its lost soul. Build the team with true Yankees. Topple the me-first mercenary era that was A-Rod.
Those two moves – resigning Posada and Mariano to lucrative deals – will do more than anything to boost morale in the clubhouse. Pettite will be next.
The Yankees overpaid for both ballplayers. But after six years of watching lesser-character ballplayers enrich themselves at the alter of Steinbrenner, don’t Posada and Mariano deserve some reward? Sure they do.
Torre was a great manager, but his time had passed. Girardi will bring the intensity that this club needs for another title.
The core of this team is in place, its heart restored. The rest of the off-season is just filling in the pieces.
Check out the careers of Doug Decinces and Todd Zeile if you want to look into Mike Lowell’s future…I really don’t want the Yanks to sign this guy to 4 years. How is Damon’s 4 year contract looking at this point? Damon was 31 when we signed him…
“HE
CAN’T
HIT
OUTSIDE
OF
FENWAY PARK !!!!!!!!!!!”
this isn’t true at all.
Thanks for the Cox info. SJ. The Jeff Nelson comparison is music to my ears, and I must admit it puts somewhat of a smirk on my face that the Yanks seem to have been much more astute in their handling of his development than the Sox were with Hansen. That poor kid, their rushing him up to the majors really messed him up.
I’m not saying the Boston way is the wrong way. I admire the fact that they take hard lines with players and only make the deal they are willing to make.
I’m just saying that the media like to spin yarn about what a folksy organization they are in their approach to baseball when they are more corporate and cutthroat than the Yankees have ever been in recent years.
They go through SS’s like Spinal Tap went through drummers.
If the Yankees were like Boston, Jorge would be putting on a Mets hat today because they wouldn’t go 4 years.
I do think that Boston has made a shift in their philosophy and it is working for them. They are not making decisions with their hearts, but with their heads.
However, the head starts to get bigger and bigger after winning and they start to think you just plug in player X and we’ll win. We have a formula!
I want them to think that way.
What I’ve learned from the past 14 years of the Yankees is that the collection of players and their abilities has more to do with winning than just their abilities alone.
I just think that Boston is not the old wool cableknit sweater with leather armpatches on the elbows people like Gammons and ESPN would like you to think they are.
Top prospects
1. Humberto Sanchez (left)
2. J. Brent Cox
3. Mark Melancon
4. Ross Ohlendorf
5. Edwar Ramirez
6. Kevin Whelan
7. David Robertson
8. T.J. Beam
Tier two
9. Mike Dunn
10. Eric Wordekemper (left)
11. Michael Gardner
12. Garrett Patterson
13. Anthony Claggett
14. Steven Jackson
15. Jonathan Ortiz
16. Jonathan Hovis
THE BEST 3RD BASE SOLUTION.
3rd base Cano
2nd base Hudson(Mets trying to get him)Gold glove,plenty of speed and can hit.
Sj,
I think Mo struggled alot more last year than the past. His cutter wasnt cutting much.He had lefties hitting him likenever before. Maybe im spoiled with the dominance that hes shown. He does worry me.
Being best friends with Jete, comming from out system and the true yankee that he is. I truly believe he would have taken a hometown discount and stayed. Who knows. You wonder if A JINX hurt us more than we know. No leverage in the Posada negotiations.
Out of the 2 players, i think Mo can still help in 2 years(setup man if he loses some of his cut) where Posada will be more of a player coach. Sorry more of a coach than player.
(left) referred to a picture at left.
CAN’T
HIT
OUTSIDE
OF
FENWAY PARK !!!!!!!!!!!â€
this isn’t true at all.
your not hmmm… even he knows Lowell is a bad investment
I think some are forgetting that Melencon has barely pitched in the minors. To have him with the Yankees next year would mean that he was really rushed. When he got hurt he was pitching in Staten Island. I would love to see him next year in the bull-pen but it’s not that realistic. To tell you the truth I look forward to 09 as a Yankee fan than 08.
As for Britton I still have somewhat high hopes for him. Obviously he’s not as good as he was hyped to be here, but I always looked at the “Great Britton” stuff more as a joke than an actual indicator that he was great. (He’s certainly great in girth though, lol…would love to see him shed some pounds, perhaps Girardi can lay the smack down? haha but I definitely don’t see his weight as a dealbreaker.)
Anyway I’d like to see him get another chance in the majors, it’s just important for Joe G. to remember that he is what he is. A decent middle reliever, not someone to be used in extremely high leverage situations. As in, don’t pitch him with the game on the line in a “give up a run and you lose” situation!
Migames- isnt Tex an Oriole fan? I think they would be on the top of his list.
I would love to hear more about A-rod being in Florida. Even if its just speculation.
Does anyone recall my rumor last night?
Miller I wouldnt read too much into it. He is from Flordia.
Miller I was thinking about yor post last night too after someone today said Alex is in FLO I hope it’s true
Yankees must not pursue lowell and let the sox sign him. If they drive up the price on him and end up acquiring him it will force boston to go after rodriguez.
As much as we want to label a-rod a “postseason failure” a lineup with Ortiz Rodriguez and Manny will allow a-rod to hit roughly 70+ hrs a year in that little league park they play in.
Also, OK, I have to put this out there and I hope someone tells me that I’m reading too much into it, but…does it make anyone else a little nervous that Mo’s offer is already public but he still hasn’t signed yet? Is he still on his way back from the DR? I can’t imagine any other team matching this offer but you never know what the Tigers will do, since Zumaya is out maybe they signed Jones with the intention to use him as a setup and offer the world to Mo.
If the offers were even close I’m sure Mo would want to stay a Yankee but I’m just getting a bit antsy that he hasn’t signed yet. Lock him up already Cash! If he left I would cry for a week.
“Miller I was thinking about yor post last night too after someone today said Alex is in FLO I hope it’s true”
isnt cashman in the bronx. so it doesnt make sense if he is in florida?
Miller I was thinking about your post last night too after someone today said Alex is in Forida I hope it’s true…I need a new keyboard
besides, the one who told us about that rumors is talking about sun cakes on a different thread…,
Are you talking about me?
Sun cakes??
People are reaching. Doesn’t A-Rod have another home in Florida? No big deal.
jennifer- Hip Hip Jorge
November 13th, 2007 at 1:27 pm
Glove, and everyone who leaves the Soxs leaves on a bad note.
Jennifer, I think that is a generalization that is not always acccurate. Certainly didn’t look like Millar who now plays for Baltimore had bad feelings about Boston during the playoffs as he announced the line up on television and threw out the first ball at one of the games.
There will always be some players who badmouth a team when they leave. For example, look at what Sheffield has said about the Yankees since he left.
Okay you are right on Millar. Sheffield bad mouths every single team he has left. Just wait when he leaves the Tigers he will bad mouth them too.
Mo deserves all he can pry out of Littlt Stein’s hands.
On a good note Sabathia beat out Dirt Bag Beckett for the Cy Young, there is a baseball God.
In terms of pure athleticism, nobody on the Yankees is better than Mariano. Watching him spring off the mound like a cat to field a ball or his moves to cover 1st base is something to behold. Never out of shape. There’s kids in their 20’s that can’t keep up with him in spring training drills.
Yankfan – you make a good point. If Cashman is trying to drive up Lowell’s price than he’s being foolish. The Yankees should WANT the RS to re-sign Lowell.
Any Yankee fan who wants Mike Lowell playing 3B in the Bronx next year and ARod playing 3B in Boston is crazy.
If the Yankees do not resign Mariano Rivera again, the NYY will really be in trouble because they already let the best manager in baseball go, Joe Torre. Please do not make another mistake, Yankees! Mo is the best closer in baseball history!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!