Austin Jackson impressive in Hawaii
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- November
- 20
Baseball America named Austin Jackson as the No. 2 prospect in the Hawaii Winter Baseball League.
Here is what BA wrote:
After having a breakout season during which he hit .304/.370/.476 across three levels of the minors, Jackson reported to Honolulu and never slowed down. A premium athlete, Jackson finally grew into his tools in 2007. A line-drive hitter with gap power, Jackson’s profile is likely as a No. 2 or No. 3 hitter with the ability to drive in runs. He is an above-average defender in center field, getting good reads and jumps on balls while running quality routes. While he doesn’t always get out of the batter’s box quickly, he’s a graceful runner. “Once he gets underway he’s a plus-plus runner,” an NL scout said. “He’s the best athlete in this league. He doesn’t have that first-step explosion, but this guy is a real crowd pleaser on the bases.”
If you’re interested in checking stats on prospects, including winter ball, try Minor League Baseball.com.
Chad Jennings, who covers the AAA Scranton Yanks, has several informative posts on his blog that give a good look at who the Yankees have.
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on Tuesday, November 20th, 2007 at 9:50 pm by Peter Abraham.
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Do not trade Jackson!
That said – Feinsand reports the Yanks are interested in Linebrink. (3yr $12mil+) – but he’s a type A meaning we’d have to give up the 18th pick… is Linebrink worth our first rounder??
As much as Linebrink is tempting, I’m thinking the Yanks with the way they’ve been drafting in the past few years, that would be the better way to go. Now or the future? Hard to say.
28th pick – sorry – typo.
No Way save that pick for a big pitcher or not at all.
I would encourage anyone who seriously follows the Yankees to read Chad Jennings blog, as recommended by Pete. He’s really on top of what’s going on in the minor league system, answers many of the questions that pop up here.
If the Brewers don’t offer Linebrink arbitration, then you go after him hard.
One of the first times I am unfamiliar with a player. Can anyone give me some info on Linebrink?? I have heard of him, but never heard much about him and have not seen him pitch.
Also- Any specualtion as to when Jackson will hit the majors?? 09’?
I consider him an untouchable along with Hughes and Joba.
Linebrink is no longer that good. Pass.
” is Linebrink worth our first rounder??”
no.
While draft picks are a great thing to have, this isnt the nba or nfl. I highly doubt that cashmoney is worrying about losing a pick to sign a reliever who he feels may be able to sure up the bullpen right now.
I’d have to defer to Cash on this question (since I’m not a scout and I’ve not seen him pitch), but does Linebrink definitively add anything (apart from resume) beyond Ohlendorf, Veras, Britton, Humberto Sanchez, etc?
I think losing a pick is a huge part of the decision process of Cashman, I think most teams will wait to see if a player is offered arbitration unless it’s a major acquisition.
But wasn’t Hughes a first rounder?I’ll give up a first rounder for Santana.But only if the reliver is Jenks.
I also like what the Yankees do as signing “high-risk high ceiling” and “most likley not to sign” players.I believe Joba was a high risk pitcher due to his weight and health record.And there was a short stop out of highschool who was gonna be a first rounder but was determined to go to college so the Yankees offered him a $1 million dollars.Now he is the Staten Island Yankees
“While draft picks are a great thing to have, this isnt the nba or nfl. I highly doubt that cashmoney is worrying about losing a pick to sign a reliever who he feels may be able to sure up the bullpen right now.”
I completely disagree. FA reliever signings never work.
By the way, the last few #1 picks:
2007- Andrew Brackman
2006-Joba Chamberlain and Ian Kennedy
2004- Phil Hughes
Actually, a late first round pick is more likely to yield a very good player in the MLB because good players drop as a result of signability issues.
yeah, not to mention that linebrink just isn’t that good.
Opening Day is …. 1 hour away !
im not saying linebrink is the great savior here, but my point is that if there is a player worth signing, then you cant worry about the picks when you have a hole to fill.
Hey Pete, thanks for the link to Chad Jennings’ very informative website. Cash and David Oppenheimer have done a fantastic job stocking our farm system.
It looks like we have plenty of depth to make a run at Santana.
Possible ‘08 Rotation & Bullpen:
Santana
Pettitte
Wang
Chamberlain
Kennedy
Rivera
Humberto Sanchez
Krazy Kyle
Baseball Prospectus had Austin Jackson as the #1 prospect in the HBL.
im not saying linebrink is the great savior here, but my point is that if there is a player worth signing, then you cant worry about the picks when you have a hole to fill.
You have to weigh the value of the FA against the value of the pick. When it comes to signing a marginal reliever, it’s in a team interests to keep the pick.
In the BA chat, Chris Kline said that Jackson would be the Yankee CF opening day 2009 at the latest. Yankees have been aggressive promoters the past few years so I wouldn’t be surprised if he plays a prominent role this year.
Signing Linebrink is not the way to go. He will cost the Yankees their 1st rounder and is not that great a rhp. His era in the NL in the last few years is around .375 which translates to .480 in the AL and they have many young arms which are as good if not better. A better choice is Mahay, who had a better ERA last year and a lefty who will not cost a draft pick.
Someone mentioned before that Baseball Prospectus ranked Austin Jackson as the top prospect in Hawaii – that’s particularly remarkable because Matt Weiters had a terrific winter ball season there.
Weiters was considered the best college position player prospect (and arguably the best position prospect overall) in this past draft. He fell to number 5 or 6 in the draft because Boras is his agent. He’s a switch hitting catcher with a great stroke.
That BP would consider Jackson a better prospect than a switch hitting catcher of Weiter’s stature really says something.
Give Cashman a lot of credit here. Jackson was committed to going to Georgia Tech to play basketball. Baseball was his second sport. The commitment to basketball made him fall to the 8th round. Cashman took a risk and gave him a then record $800,000 signing bonus for an 8th round pick in order to pry him away from Georgia Tech and basketball.
They took him based purely on athleticism and this past year he made the transition to being a baseball player.
Draft picks matter, especially for the Yankees now. Their commitment to investing in the draft and going over slot makes it very, very likely that they’ll be able to draft a high ceiling talent at least in the first round every year.
They lost Andy Pettite to Houston and turned the pick they got from the Astros into Hughes.
They lost Gordon and turned the first round pick they got into Kennedy and the supplemental pick into Joba.
Think about that – they essentially traded Tom Gordon for Joba and Kennedy.
Action better be at CF in 08’ or 09’
Thanks CB, that really puts a lot into perspective especially since Pettitte can help tutor the trio if he comes back, that may be a huge incentive to hand off the torch of all his experiences to Joba, Hughes, & Kennedy.
I think you have to give Torre some credit too. If he hadn’t run Gordon into the ground, they probably would have re-signed him.
Chad Jennings’ SWB blog is an incredible source of solid and useful information. I first saw it last week when somebody posted a link to it here, and if I knew who it was, I’d want to thank them. Everything that Pete is for us in covering the parent club, Chad seems to be for coverage of the farm system. His site is a must-read for me now.
Meanwhile this is what the Red Sux are up to
http://www.elfyourself.com/?id=9562375593
There is a reason why Kevin Towers got rid of Linebrink. Pass. Sign Troy Percival, Marc Kroon, and Kerry Wood(only if it’s a one year incentive deal).
I can’t wait to see AJax in 2009, hopefully.
I remember reading somewhere a team can only sign three type A free agents so i doubt we would be that interested in linebrink. we have already signed 2 type a’s mo and jorge and the third needs to be pettitte. i also read somewhere that were interested in ron mahay and we definitely need some lefty relief that is not ron villone. with austin jackson proving himself i think this only adds to the trade status for the melkman. while i would love to see him stay we need an ace for the staff and if we could get johan for melky, ipk, and some other pitching prospects i would do it in a second. just save cano, hughes, joba, and tabata.
“Can anyone give me some info on Linebrink?? I have heard of him, but never heard much about him and have not seen him pitch.”
Linebrink was an elite setup guy a few years ago. He fell off in the last two years to being merely solid in the NL. So, that’s worrying. He had a WHIP of 1.5 after his trade to the Brewers. He also started giving up more homers in the last two years…despite pitching a lot of games in PETCO, a severe pitchers park.
Really doesn’t seem worth signing. And draft picks DO matter. Especially given the dearth of position players in the system. The Yanks really need some infielders and catchers, preferably ones that can start in AA.
“we have already signed 2 type a’s mo and jorge and the third needs to be pettitte.”
Your own FAs don’t count. If they did, ARod would be the third and the Yanks wouldn’t be able to sign Pettitte at all.
And this folks is why Melky Cabrera is not untouchable.
I would trade any member of the Yankees’ OF because every one of them are deeply flawed.
Sadly true.
I will pray tonight, tomorrow, and the next day that the Yankees will not go after Rowand/Hunter and increase their surplus of aging OFers.
Whoa,
I hope you’re talking about the old guys (Matsui, Damon, Abreu) when you say “I would trade any member of the Yankees’ OF”.
I do think Yankees will sign an outfielder, just so they can trade a surplus outfielder, like Melky Cabrera in a package for a big time player like Jenks or Santana or Broxton.
Whoa,
I hope you’re talking about the old guys (Matsui, Damon, Abreu) when you say “I would trade any member of the Yankees’ OFâ€.
The only other one is Melky, who also is flawed in that he isn’t a great defensive CF, although he’s good, and he is inconsistent offensively., I like him, but if he had to be included in a non-Hughes/Joba/Jackson/Cano package for Santana or Cabrera, I would not be opposed to trading him.
I wouldn’t trade Melky for Jenks.
hmmm… Marquez is on the 40 man ? I guessing Wang might get traded
The Yanks have interest in Jenks and Melky would fill one of the White Sox voids.
“hmmm… Marquez is on the 40 man ? I guessing Wang might get traded”
This is sarcasm? I hope? For your sake?
Subtracting Melky would create another void on the Yankees.
I have no interest in acquiring overweight pitchers who lack discipline in their personal lives. That the White Sox would trade him should raise a ginormous red flag.
Whoa—Bobby Jenks hasn’t been in trouble since 2002. There are many pitchers out there who were or are ‘’overweight’’ that have successful careers.
whoa,
let’s get Jenks. Then Cashman should send him “To The Biggest Loser”.lol
Melky’s a nice player, but lets get real; he is replaceable.
he provides an average bat, with less than average power, average to slightly above average speed, and slightly above average defense, because his arm strength makes up for awful route he takes to fly balls.
If the White Sox miss out on Hunter and Rowand, and dont want to go down the Andruw Jones route, and they ask for Melky plus a pitching prosect for Jenks, you deal him.
meanwhile, for all those like me holding out hope that Cashman might be able to get something useful in a trade sending out Kyle Fanrsworth, the Mets sent Guillermo Mota to the Brewers for a serviceable, albeit defensively inept catcher, Johnny Estrada.
there is hope.
I think we can trade Farns, but Girardi said he thinks he can get some production out of Farns.
If Brett Gardner were clearly major league ready then Melky could be considered in a deal but chances are Melky will be a special project for Kevin Long this spring.
Turn Two,
People like to talk about getting serviceable players, but when push comes to shove, they’re just as antsy to get rid of them. Think about the players most people here want to trade. All of them are good but not great. Andy Phillips, Wilson Betemit are both serviceable players, but both have their flaws and neither one is looked upon here as an adequate 1B.
Plus, Kyle Farnsworth could also be described as serviceable, too.
For the life of me, I don’t understand why the Mets didn’t just re-sign LoDuca. Can he be worse than Estrada, or was there something else going on with him in Queens?
I never said I wanted to get rid of players like Betemit or Phillips. By serviceable, I can point right to the Andy Phillips’s and Wilson Betemit’s of the world; not quite an everyday player, but used correctly, they can play a role in the overall success of a team over a 162 game season. You’re not paying a lot for them, but you’re also not asking them for a lot; to spell a regular player once and a while to catch them some rest, come in the 8th and sure up the defense.
Kyle Farnsworth was paid and brought in here specifically to be the 8th inning guy, and spell Mariano as closer should he get injured or need a day off, etc. He’s not serviceable; a guy in his position cant be considered serviceable when you dont trust him with a 5 run lead in the 6th inning to come in and get 3 outs without giving up a HR.
Turn Two—
Allow me to correct myself—I wasn’t trying to say that “you” wanted to trade players like Phillips or Betemit – just that many others do, because while what you say is absolutely correct, that these players used in the right way do play a big role in helping a team succeed, there are, unfortunately, too many people who don’t think that role players have a place on the Yankees, except in theory. They continue to argue that 1B has to be an offensive position, in spite of the fact that the offensive production lacking at first is more than compensated for at various other positions.
Your point on Farnsworth not being what he was paid well to do is well-taken.
Shelley Duncan hospitalized and now released. Yankees won’t comment on what he was in for and have asked his family not to comment as well. Get well soon Shelley!!!!
http://www.nypost.com/seven/11212007/sports/yankees/yanks_duncan_leaves_hospital_453188.htm
Linebrink would be awful in the American League.
I hope Shelley is okay. We’re going to need him.
YOu have got to be kidding me!!
http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/news/story?id=3121663
The Yankees should be extrememly angry at this. Making a joke out of it. We LOST THE GAME BECAUSE OF THIS!!
Get well soon!!
Jennifer,
We lost the game in the 11th inning. Joba might have been shaken but he did not lose the game. The Yankees did due to their inability to score runs.
“unfortunately, too many people who don’t think that role players have a place on the Yankees, except in theory. They continue to argue that 1B has to be an offensive position, in spite of the fact that the offensive production lacking at first is more than compensated for at various other positions.”
This is incredibly aggravating. I’m one of the people who believes in the need to upgrade at 1B – BY GETTING A ROLE PLAYER. Not someone flashy, someone who can play average defense and provide average right-handed offense. Not a big slugger, not a guy with an OBP above .400, but a guy who’ll get on base around .350 and slug around .460.
He needs to be a righty because of the overwhelming left-handedness of the lineup. We need the offense because we can’t count on Posada having another career year and must guard against our aging players’ likely decline. I hope Shelley Duncan is that guy, because Cash seems like he thinks that he is.
Betemit is a role-player that has value. Lefty side of a 1B platoon, backup IF, some lefty pop…sure. I like Betemit. Duncan can play a little corner OF and adequate 1B…if he can keep pitchers from exploiting the holes in his swing, can be a good righty power threat in part time play and off the bench.
Phillips, on the other hand…he’s just not a valuable player. He’s a UT infielder that can’t play SS, he’s a singles hitter that’s not that fast, and he doesn’t take a lot of walks. He doesn’t even hit lefties particularly well.
My worry is that Duncan will turn out to be the career minor leaguer the team thought he was and that we’ll be left with no first baseman that can hit against lefties, because Betemit, Giambi and Phillips all have bad splits against lefties. I’d much rather get a guy who hits lefties hard, holds his own against righties, and can pick all the throws at first. Play him five days a week, Giambi 1-2 days a week and let Betemit be the backup IFer. Hang on to Duncan to see if he can hit his way into more playing time getting spot starts in the OF corners against tough lefties. Let Andy Phillips go.
Jackson is more talented than Tabata IMO.
Ed we would have won the game 1-0.
I think the Yankees can find answers to their bullpen problems from within the org.
Handing out big contracts to middle relievers is generally a bad idea.
“Jackson is more talented than Tabata IMO.”
This is based on…what? Your reading of a few scouting reports? He may be more athletic and faster, but all report indicate that Tabata is the more gifted hitter. If he doesn’t develop the power that everyone expected, Jackson will probably be the better player. But if Tabata DOES develop the power that scouts project, then he will be the better player.
Neither A-Jax or Tabata will be ready until 2010 at the earliest. Both have to see if they can hit AA and AAA pitching first.
Gargoyle –
Correct assessment. Except for lefthanded pitching, the competition in the bullpen will come from within.
“Jackson is more talented than Tabata IMO.â€
This is based on…what? Your reading of a few scouting reports?”
This is a classic, unnecessarily rude comment on this board.
One poster says that in his opinion that Jackson is a better prospect than Tabata and another poster essentially accuses of him being wrong because:
“This is based on…what? Your reading of a few scouting reports?”
What a joke. Of course the person being critical has personally scouted both players extensively and is a professional evaluator of talent, rather than someone going off his own opinion which is based on scouting reports off the internet.
People seriously need to get off their high horses. Everyone here is just a fan.
Well I still think he’s a little more talented than Tabata. And I am not saying Tabata is going to be bad. I just think Jackson has better tools and better work ethic. I didn’t like Tabata being out of shape this past year. They both can it for power but I do think Tabata has a better arm. Really I wouldn’t trade either.
Keith although it was limited Jackson has hit AA pitching. He played for Trenton in the playoffs. He did well. It’s not like he embarrassed himself in the AA playoffs.
If Jenks is so reliable, why do the Sox want to trade him? Maybe because the velocity on his fastball has declined.
Going back to an OF of Damon, Abreu, and Matsui is just to scary from a defensive perspective, and Melky needs to be saved in case he is needed for a Santana trade.
“They continue to argue that 1B has to be an offensive position, in spite of the fact that the offensive production lacking at first is more than compensated for at various other positions.”
i know this wasn’t directed at anyone specifically, but just to clarify previous arguments, i don’t want Betemit playing over Phillips just because i think you “have” to get offense from 1B.
i would want to play Betemit over Phillips b/c i think Betemit CAN play a good 1B. he is an average 3Bman and when he played 1B last year, he made several outstanding plays. i believe one was in Anaheim in a game they wound up losing in extras.
Phillips is 31 in April. he is not young. he is most likely already become the player he will be.
Betemit is still only 26. he has flashed good power at a very young age. he looks capable of playing the position while providing league average offense.
you can’t just take partial seasons and extrapolate, but this is a guy who hit 14 HRs in 240 ABs last year. the year before he hit 18 HRs in 373 ABs.
spotted correctly, i.e. protecting him from tough lefties by playing Duncan, maybe using him every 2 weeks at SS/3B to DH Alex or Jeter, if he got 500 ABs i think he can hit 20-25 HRs.
i think that is all anyone is saying.
“This is incredibly aggravating. I’m one of the people who believes in the need to upgrade at 1B – BY GETTING A ROLE PLAYER. Not someone flashy, someone who can play average defense and provide average right-handed offense. Not a big slugger, not a guy with an OBP above .400, but a guy who’ll get on base around .350 and slug around .460.”
as much as it pains me to say this as a yankee fan, the guy you are looking for is Kevin Millar.
I continue to wonder why the prevailing thought around this blog is that these guys are awful outfielders when in reality it’s simply not true. All three of these guys are above average outfielders in reality and Abreu is the eigth best RF in the game. I know hard to believe but true.
Don’t believe me? Go here -> http://www.baseballmusings.com/
Scroll down until you get to the probability models of range for outfielders, the numbers don’t lie. If anything Melky is the worst of the outfielders. Hard to believe but true.
I dont think the Sox want to trade him. That was made evident in the actual article that was written, that it was a long shot, but the Yankees had inquired about him.
I dont think they would, especially if they land the CF they think they need to put them back into contention. but even so, any player has a price if another team wants him that bad,
“I continue to wonder why the prevailing thought around this blog is that these guys are awful outfielders when in reality it’s simply not true”
people think Abreu is a bad outfielder b/c he shies away from the wall on 7 plays a year and doesn’t “get his uniform dirty” even though all of the advanced metrics find him average to a touch below average.
they think Damon is a poor outfielder b/c he doesn’t have Melky’s arm despite still possessing good range, and they don’t understand that superior range is worth more than a good arm over the course of a season.
Matsui isn’t very good. most metrics seem to agree even if that link thinks he is ok.
No way do I want Millar on this team! He is still connected to the soxs.
Defensive stats seem a little hard to swallow for me. You just use your eyes and you can see that Melky is much better in CF than Johnny – similarly, do the stats take into account the fact that Abreu curls up into a nervous blob near walls, fences, teammates, etc?
The intangible I like about Melky is the positive attitude and energy he brings to the game which I think helps Cano and A-Rod stay sharp. Who knows whether that holds up or what effect a new manager will have on that.
Does anyone know anything or can point me in the right direction for the Dominican league baseball. I have a friend going to the DR and they want to see some games.
ALso if Melky and Cano are playing do you know which team?
not a chance ! and that’s not me being rude Tabata is 19 yrs. old, Jackson soon to be 21 still young but Josse Tabata’s ceiling in hitting is Manny Ramirez to Miguel Cabrera like, w/ a broken wrist all season he was hitting .305 w/ over 50 RBIs, Action this season broke out, but Jose Tabata is still the most talented hitter out of the position players
Don’t believe your lying eyes.
“do the stats take into account the fact that Abreu curls up into a nervous blob near walls, fences, teammates, etc?”
yes. of course they do. why wouldn’t they?
they count how many times this happens and weighs them accordingly.
that way, we actually KNOW how good Abreu actually is instead of someone who simply guesstimates it b/c those are the plays that stick out in your mind b/c you get angry about them.
“No way do I want Millar on this team! He is still connected to the soxs.”
yeah, me neither. but that was basically the guy he was describing.
You can measure anything in the world now but that doesn’t mean that measurement provides meaningful information.
Statistical analysis of defense in baseball is extremely problematic. Many of metrics are ad hoc and contrivances. Manny Ramirez had one of the highest Fielding Percentage of any left fielder in the American League this year. Now I know, people will say Fielding Percentage is meaningless and that you have to look at “advance metrics” etc. Manny’s zone rating was awful. But then Barry Bonds, Adam Dunn and Hideki Matsui had close to the same zone rating.
Is Barry Bonds as good a left fielder as Matsui? Just watch a game – Bonds is awful.
Ultimately defense is, to a much greater degree than offense, a qualitative matter. Statistics can add to one’s understanding of it but they have to be taken with a big grain of salt.
blockquote>I continue to wonder why the prevailing thought around this blog is that these guys are awful outfielders when in reality it’s simply not true.
Actually, it is true. Check out their UZRs.
This is sarcasm? I hope? For your sake?
no not really if a package is considered for Santana or Kazmir or Bedard or Peavy Wang would definitely be in it, MArquez added to the 40 man means the Yanks scouts believe he can pitch in this level under Girardi. Jeffrey Marquez was completely dominant in the AA playoffs lead Trenton w/ Action Jackson to their first EL championship
Peavy, Bedard & Kazmir are not coming to the Yankees via trade. Not going to happen.
Marquez was added to the 40 man roster only because he was eligible for the rule 5 draft.
Given his success and talent he would have definitely been selected by some team very early in the draft and put on their 25 man roster for the year. Teams like Tampa and Pittsburgh would have loved to have a guy like marquez fall to them.
I didn’t say they were but it’s definitely not impossible
CB, good point I forgot he was Rule 5
HEY, if the Red Sox are pursuing Kerry Wood for their 8th inning role (check out today’s mlbrumors.com), why aren’t the Yankees? Do the Yankees know something we don’t? Anyone think Kerry Wood a better option than Vizcaino? I’m not sure. I’d love to hear someone knowledgeable to compare the merits of each.
I’m a big Abreu fan, always have been. I suspect because his personality recalls Bernie’s, albeit without Bernie’s command of English. I’ve always loved his approach at the plate and how little he fears a two-strike count. What fascinated me about him this year was how he had to adjust to AL pitcher’s approach to him around mid-season. Aware of Abreu’s reluctance to swing at the first pitch, pitchers began to throw first-pitch strikes to him in almost every plate appearance. Bobby adjusted by swing more on the first-pitch to prevent pitchers from taking an immediate 0-1 advantage.
As for his defense, if it’s not an asset, necessarily, I don’t consider it a liability either. Abreu is no worse than Sheffield and has a better arm. He’s also struck me as one of the guys who take a while to grow accustomed to his environment. It wouldn’t surprise me if, this year, he starts to track balls near the Stadium’s wall much better than last year.
Kill-Schill(ing), I think the DL awaits Wood again and again
I think Kerry Wood is being looked at upasa setup guy, especially with Giardi having an ?in” with Wood from his time with the Cubs, that would be a strong selling point.
Bedard & Kazmir are not going to be traded to the Yankees simply b/c they are in the same division. You think anyone wants to help the Yankees?
Zone Rating
Melky 2007 CF: 903
Matsui 2007 LF: .823
Damon 2007 CF: .888 (but that fails to account for his terrible arm)
Abreu 2007 RF: .858 (the most wall shy OFer ever)
Do we know the Yankees aren’t pursuing Wood? I read an article early this offseason that noted the Yankees would be at the front of the discussion if he didnt resign with the Cubs because Kerry Wood had a close relationship with Girardi from back during their Cubs days. Thus far, I believe Wood is still negoitating from a position that he wants to go back to starting games instead of working out of the pen, anyway.
Just because nothing is being printed doesnt mean discussions arent being had.
I wish people would stop thinking like that Baltimore and Tampa are rebuilding franchises, it doesn’t matter where they trade thier stud pitching because financially they’re not going to be able to afford them after arbitration. So yes it is possible that Bedard or Kazmir become Yankees, YES IT IS
“So yes it is possible that Bedard or Kazmir become Yankees, YES IT IS”
no, it really isn’t.
that’s not to say those guys won’t be traded. they simply won’t be traded to the yankees.
it’s not going to happen.
you don’t trade your young, stud LHer to your division rival unless you are extracting a king’s ransom.
good to hear, turntwo. Do you remember what news source printed it? I’d love to read it.
His arm problems are a risk, I concede. Is it really true that medical experts attribute all Wood and Prior’s medical problems to their overuse at a young age.
I don’t watch much NL baseball. But I’m reading Buzz Bissenger’s “Three Days in August” and his portrait of Prior and Wood reminded me jut how dominating they both once were. In their early 20’s, those guys had stuff comparable to Joba’s and could throw it for 7+ innings.
Again, just to clarify my position on 1B, I was using Betemit and Phillips as examples. Although I like Phillips, I don’t think of him as being any more than what he’s shown. Hmmm, you are correct in stating that he is no longer “young,” at least not in baseball years. But he does offer good defensive skills, and works hard, and if they Yankees can do no better, they certainly could do worse.
Betemit is certainly intriguing. When he first came over, he was very impressive, but the fall-off was so quick and so deep that you do have to wonder what he could sustain over the course of a season. You also wonder with him was the fall-off due to a decrease in playing time, which would seem to make the idea of him at a platoon on 1B not so good, unless he is the larger percentage player.
My initial point, really, in response to Turn Two, was how there are a lot of people who “say” they wouldn’t mind a lesser-talented player, but when it comes down to it, they really don’t. And I guess in a perfect world, most of us would prefer all position players to be adept both defensively and offensively.
yeah, as much as you think, “hey, if the deal works for both teams, then why wouldnt they?”
it just wont happen. Especially Bedard.
KS- it’d take me a while to try and dig it up, because it was real early this offseason. and right now, i just dont have the time to get the link. i’ll try and get it later if i can find it.
Wood came back last season and was strong and extremely effective. I think Olney today commented about how Wood could ask and get 3yrs/$15 million right now in the market, and considering what JC Romero got, and what Mahay and Linebrink would prob get, I’d rather take my chances with Wood and his poss upside coming back from injury than what we all can reasonably expect by overpaying the other RP on the market.
“You also wonder with him was the fall-off due to a decrease in playing time, which would seem to make the idea of him at a platoon on 1B not so good, unless he is the larger percentage player”
in theory, he would be. he hit right handers well and there are a lot more righties than lefties.
also, Betemit got a grand total of 84 ABs with the yankees.
i wouldn’t make too many judgements until we see him get 400-500 ABs. i think the yankees owe it to themselves to try to find him those ABs and see if he jacks 25 HRs.
Linebrink’s inning totals over the last few seasons makes me nervous. He wasn’t especially effective in Milwaukee after Towers’ traded him and Towers ranks among one of the best GM’s in baseball. I know the Padres couldn’t afford to re-sign Linebrink but I can’t imagine Towers would have traded him mid-season while they were in a pennant race unless he anticipated Linebrink’s regression.
Apparently the Cardinals organization, according to Bissenger’s book, believes that 70+ innings over multiple years usually saps a middle-reliever and renders him ineffective.
Linebrink’s inning totals over the last few seasons makes me nervous. He wasn’t especially effective in Milwaukee after Towers’ traded him and Towers ranks among one of the best GM’s in baseball. I know the Padres couldn’t afford to re-sign Linebrink but I can’t imagine Towers would have traded him mid-season while they were in a pennant race unless he anticipated Linebrink’s regression.
Apparently the Cardinals organization, according to Bissenger’s book, believes that 70+ innings over multiple years usually saps a middle-reliever and renders him ineffective.
“Don’t believe your lying eyes.”
it depends on whose eyes it is and how much experience they’ve had. on the other hand, if someone hasn’t played much( or been around the game in some on field capacity ) and they have an aptitude for numbers, statistical analysis is another way into the game.
the ideal thing to do is use both.
i think matsui is below average,damon a hint above, and abreau slightly above average. melky clearly above average. that’s without looking at any numbers.
until they they put gps devices on each player and in the ball, fielding stat methodologies are often ironically limited by being subjective.
At some point, people have to put away their fan interests when discussing possible trades and look REALISTICALLY at the possibilities.
The Rays hate the Yankees. Hate the fact they train in Tampa, have more fans at Tropicana Field when the Yankees are there, and hate the fact they are in the same division as the Yankees.
Its why they always ask for the moon when they seek to trade with the Yankees and why no deals between the two teams ever take place.
They aren’t trading Scott Kazmir to the Yankees. That is 100% fact. Not rumor, fact.
Its never going to happen.
Eric Bedard? In the last 15 years, the Yankees and Orioles have initiated ONE trade. Jared Wright for Chris Britton last year. How did that work out for the Orioles? They paid Jared Wright 7 million bucks and he didn’t throw a pitch for them.
You honestly think they are going to trade Eric Bedard to the Yankees? Again, its not going to happen.
Just because you want another team’s player doesn’t mean its realistic for it to happen. Examine the history between the Yankees and these teams and you will realize, its fantasy to think these teams are going to trade their best pitcher to the Yankees.
Getting upset at people who point out why these mythical trades can’t occur is a waste of time. There are reasons why they can’t and its easy to see when you look at things outside of the fan prism.
I tend to agree about Kazmir and Bedard but the reason why trades of either or both help the Yankees indirectly is because they dilute the Santana market. At the very least, it will remove the team acquiring Kaz/Bed from the running if not diminish what the Twin can command in return.
I heard a very disturbing report by John Heyman on WFAN yesterday: THE RED SUX, not only will offer the Twins a package for Santana if the TWINS trade him, but also if they offer Buccholz and Soggy stand to be the front-runners. Santana-Beckett would keep me up at night.
Please someone debunk the possibility.
I tend to agree about Kazmir and Bedard but the reason why trades of either or both help the Yankees indirectly is because they dilute the Santana market. At the very least, it will remove the team acquiring Kaz/Bed from the running if not diminish what the Twin can command in return.
I heard a very disturbing report by John Heyman on WFAN yesterday: THE RED SUX, not only will offer the Twins a package for Santana if the TWINS trade him, but also if they offer Buccholz and Soggy, the SUX become the prohibitive favorite to acquire him. Santana-Beckett would keep me up at night.
Please someone debunk the possibility.
if by Soggy, you mean Coco Crisp, then yeah, i think a Crisp/Bucholtz package trumps Melky/Hughes package in and of itself.
but it’ll come down to the 3rd and even 4th player that will be involved, should these two teams go head to head and Santana actually be placed on the market. I think for any discussion of additional pitchers to add onto that package, the Yanks can offer what the Saux cant.
If the Twins want another positional prospect, the Saux have a highly rated IF Jed Lowrie that could be included.
The offense and the defense are fine.Concentrate on the pitching,especially the bullpen.
is there a FA reliever out there that IS worth giving up a draft pick for?
So I read in the POST that Joba is a sure thing to be starting next year. Could that be the reason why they have Marquez on the 40 man roster. I for one was for Joba staying in the pen. But after seeing Beckett dominate in the playoffs like he did. I have had a change of heart.
We need a pitcher who can blow away the competition and strike fear into them. To me that is the Cornhusker.
As I mentioned yesterday, why not try Igawa in the pen. His strikouts are high(lefty). Hopefully Eiland can tweek him a little where he has more control of his pitches.
IMO i would do Jenks for Melky and sign Jones for a year deal till AJAX or Gardner are ready to go.
saucy, IMO the only relievers that might be worthy of giving up a draft pick were, rivera … luckily we didn’t have to, and maybe, just maybe cordero. but that’s a tough call.
marquez was added on the 40 man strictly to be protected by the rule V draft. hes a good pitcher but hes pretty far behind in the depth chart for SP next year.
Sorry meant to say Joba isnt a sure thing to be a starter.
The white sox released Podsednick. How about bringing him in for a 4th outfielder and pinch runner. Matsui share d.h. duties with Giambi, Damon(if not traded) left field. It would be like Boston having Brian Roberts in 04. Thoughts?
Why would you think Crisp/Bucholz trumps Melky/Hughes?
I think people forget how highly regarded Hughes is. You have to look back to the pitcher he was before the hamstring/ankle injury. He was pitching an MLB no hitter while Bucholz was still in AA. Yes, Bucholz has enjoyed success at the MLB level, but, IMO, not enough to leapfrog Hughes in the pecking order.
At the very worst, the packages are equal.
if you pick up Podsenik, IMO you might as well just call up Gardner… same exact skill set.
Bucholtz has several plus pitches that are rated better than Hughes’s, and Crisp to me is a Gold Glover who trumps Melky.
I guess you could rate Melky higher, but only on the fact that he comes at a cheaper price, and can be controlled for a longer period of time.
The reason you dont call up Gardner is because he needs playing time. With Podsednick we dont have our future(gardner)sit the bench and continue to develop in the minors.
There is a sleeper in the FA/RP market that no one has mentioned, but I think he would be really good RH/RP for the Yanks. David Riske posted a 2.45 ERA for KC, so we know what he can do in the American League. And alas, He is a type B agent that would not cost any picks. Riske is minimum Risk!
I know they need a CF, but why would the Twins want Crisp? I would think they want young, good, major league ready prospects. No way I accept that package from the Red Sox if I’m the Twins. Give me Ellsbury,Bucholtz and Lester.
I would take Hughes over Bucholz hands down.
At some point, people have to put away their fan interests when discussing possible trades and look REALISTICALLY at the possibilities.
At some point, you need to GET OVER YOURSELF.
You posts aren’t particularly informative.
Hi all,
Happy Thanksgiving to Pete and everyone here!
I wanted to know if anyone else is wondering if maybe A-Rod’s negotiations hit the skids? The evasion of questions and cryptic “I’ll reveal everything when it’s time” statements during his interview the other day coupled with the Angels’ moving OC to the ChiSox has me wondering if he is LA-bound after all?
Hope I am just being paranoid.
Best,
Percy
It is becuase they needed to add other players to their 40 man. That is why Jorge and Mo aren’t officially announced either.
i think it may be the same reason the Mo and Po deals weren’t announced and the same reason 4 guys were added to the 40 man roster yesterday. that being their 40 man roster spots are being used temporarily to protect minor leagers (the 4 added yesterday) from the Rule V draft. i could be wrong though.
Bucholtz has only started 3 ML games. I don’t know how he is better than Hughes. Sure he has a great curve-ball but Hughes curve isn’t exactly Swiss cheese. Some of you are looking too much at his performance after he got hurt where he probably lost some confidence in his stuff.
BTW the Red Sox farm system is little over-rated.
dammit, jennifer beat me to it.
Who gets dropped off the 40 man to make room for Mo, Po, and Alex?
Beam
Bruney
I would guess Clippard could be taken off without any problem?
When are we allowed to move players back to the dl?
but the thing is, i’m guessing a lot of GMs may be looking at the same thing…
saucy
There is nothing funnier than reading the trade proposals from most of these morons. Just moronic.
How about Pavano for Santana while you’re at it???
Eric,
Throw in Morneau and you got a deal.
Are you trying say GM’s aren’t that high on him anymore? That is completely not true. His confidence came back in September where he had a 2.70 era and we all saw him pitch well in October. Other teams would love to have a young pitching prospect such as Hughes.
Jax
November 21st, 2007 at 1:25 pm
Bucholtz has only started 3 ML games. I don’t know how he is better than Hughes. Sure he has a great curve-ball but Hughes curve isn’t exactly Swiss cheese. Some of you are looking too much at his performance after he got hurt where he probably lost some confidence in his stuff.
BTW the Red Sox farm system is little over-rated.
It’s so overrated they just won a title. With Ellsbury, Papelbon, Bucholz, Youkliss, Pedroia. Yeah, its so overrated.
Hughes and Bucky are about equal. Bucky has 2 plus pitches in addition to his fastball. Hughes has one. But Melky is much better than Crisp and younger and much cheaper.
Why would Podsednick come here to be the 5th OF? When he can start for half the teams in the game?
I wonder what it would take to get Haren, it sounds like Oakland is close to making some deals involving Haren, Blanton, & Street.
Eric, I said their FARM SYSTEM NOT THEIR MAJOR LEAGUE ROSTER.
Why would the Twins prefer a Bachholz/Crisp package over a Hughes/Melky package. If you consider Hughes and Buchholz to be a wash, it still would make no sense for the Twins to pay $4.75M next year and $5.75M the year after that for Crisp when they can get similar or better production from Melky for 1/10th of that.
As Yankees fans we usuualy dismiss $5m as pocket change, but for a team like the Twins it is a significant amount of money. They can use that money towards a push to re-sign Joe Nathan, or pick up a FA.
Those guys just came from their minor league system, Jax. Unfortunately they have a pretty good system now too. Baseball America has their system in the Top 10. That’s pretty good isn’t it?
These are the only notable within division trades that the yankees have done since 1995, there are a couple more, like trading mariano duncan to the blue jays and the jared wright deal. Judge for yourself:
On July 28th, 1995, the blue jays traded david cone to the yankees
On August 13, 1997, the red soxs traded Mike Stanley to the yankees
On Feb 18th, 1999, the blue jays traded David Cone to the yankees
On July 1st, 2002, the blue jays traded Raul Mondesi to the yankees
This is all assuming that Boston wants to trade Bucholz. It’s not like they have a need for Santana or a starting pitcher. And he would cost 20 mill less a season.
Why would Podsednick come here to be the 5th OF? When he can start for half the teams in the game?
Podsednick shouldnt be within 100 miles of a mlb ballpark next year, the guy sucks, plain and simple
I wouldn’t mind having Joe Blanton in pinstripes.
People, Buchholz does NOT have three plus pitches. He has two: his curveball and his change-up. His fastball has good movement and velocity, but bad command. That has been a knock on him through the minors. He loves to pitch backward, and ML hitters will use that to expose him as they see him more.
Hughes also has two plus pitches: his curve and his fastball, and his fastball command was always superior. He also has a developing change. It’s always easier to develop secondary pitches than it is to develop fastball command. Just ask Edwar.
Forget Bedard. The O’s would NEVER trade him to the Yanks. Unless they gutted half their system.
Eric – I think that Jax’s point is precisely that places like BA have the Red Sox in the top 10 when alot of people don’t think that they are THAT good. Not to say they aren’t good, just not top 10 good. Hence being “overrated”.
Plus BA hasn’t posted their system rankings for this year so the top 10 ranking was probably for 2006.(When the system was more loaded than right now.) If you take away MAtsuzaka, Ellsbury, DelCarmen, Buchholz and Gabbard from that list it is obviously going to be thinner.
From Chad Hennings blog (linked above):
“In my mind, you can make a case for Phil Hughes having a brighter future, but among players with less than 50 innings or 130 at-bats in the big leagues, it’s hard to make a case that anyone in the system is a brighter prospect than this guy.”
People forget how highly regarded Hughes is, probably (as others in this thread have said), because he was shaky his first few starts after coming back from 2 different injuries. Those same people must also be forgetting how nasty he was his last couple starts and in the playoffs. His curve was absolutely filthy, as it normally is. Annoys me to no end how many people on here have thrown his name around in trades as if Joba is more “off-limits” than Hughes. At the very least, they are equal.
If you have ever seen Buchholz you would see his fastball is definately major league worthy. Don’t make it seem like he’s throwing it 88 and straight. Because that’s just a lie.
The guy is a legit top of the rotation prospect.
E-Roc – I think the only people that would mind having Blanton in pinstripes are Yankee haters.
Migames-
Cone was traded once to the Yankees in 1995, not twice.
Yeah it’s pretty good actually it’s solid farm system. But I hear too many people whether they’re TV analyst, anti-yankee scouts/people,news paper writers etc…make their farm system out to be great. It’s a solid system NOT great. Their are teams with more highly regarded prospects than they have and their system is put up there with other team systems and they just shouldn’t be.
I love following minor league baseball and I can tell you some people are going over board with how good their farm really is.
Who doesn’t think the Sox’s system is any good???
I think they have proven they are legit. And no one worth their salt has ever called the guys presently in their system overrated besides fans and bloggers.
Jax,
Why do you say the Red Sox farm system is overrated?
Eric – No one is comparing Buchholz to Tyler Clippard, but the Guy has an above average ML fast ball. He lacks the command for it to be plus.
Cone was traded once to the Yankees in 1995, not twice.
_
yeah, i meant roger clemens on that one…thanks
The guy is a legit top of the rotation prospect.
Eric,
Learn to read what I wrote before replying. There is a difference between a major-league worthy pitch, and a PLUS pitch. He may have an above average pitch, but it’s damn sure not plus. And to answer your question, I have seen all of his games in the majors, and have seen him on more than one occasion in AA. To quote myself:
“His fastball has good movement and velocity, but bad command. That has been a knock on him through the minors.”
If you had watched him for an extended period of time instead of jumping on the bandwagon post no-hitter, you would understand what I am talking about.
Migames-
Who was the GM of the Blue Jays then? Gene Michael?
I assume it was Pat Gillick, can’t believe he would make those deals unless he really hated the Red Sox more than the Yankees.
We don’t need Blanton. We need an ace. Blanton is solid but he’s not a difference maker and that’s what we are missing. His name is Santana.
The Red Sox have guys like Daniel Bard. Alot of scouts would rather talk about his plus stuff and that arm, and how much potential he has than talk about how he couldn’t get that “Plus Stuff” anywhere near the strike zone all season.
Justin MAsterson is another example. The guy’s nickname is “The Master”. He is a good looking propect, but alot of scouts have said he could probably fit in a middle relief role in the bullpen. That’s great to have and he looks to have a solid future their, but again the mainstream media talks about him as if he were the second coming.
Finally Jacoby Ellsbury. The guy has a huge ceiling and has been compared favorably with Johnny Damon with a better arm. That is great praise, but when the “analysts” at ESPN talk about him they call him a Phenom and a future all star. Could he acheive that? Maybe, but they are all to willing to loft that kind of praise prematurely.
Maybe you should watch Bucholz pitch PK before you trash his fastball. Which you obviously have not seen. I get it that you are anti Sox and Mr Yankee but be a little objective and give a little credit where it is due. Bucholz is a legit, top of the staff starter. Don’t take my word for it? How about reading every respected baseball publication. Use that head of yours for once, Pk.
And Mike R. Lacks command??? Says who? Looked really well when he pitched for the Sox. Ask the Orioles.
Anderson – No one said that we need Blanton, but we wouldn’t mind aquiring him if he was available. He would come much cheaper (prospect wise) than Santana. Would you rather give up Melky/Kennedy for Blanton or Hughes/Cano for Santana?
These are examples. They should not be taken as trade proposals that I think would work. It was strictly to point out the differnce in price.
I can see why Yankee fans think Hughes is better but Buchholz is more than his equal. He’s a very good pitcher. Read the scouting reports. He dominated the minors and had a few pretty good pro games this year before getting shut down.
So the new rumor is Blanton and Street or Haren and Street as a package. WOW!! What would it take to land Haren and Street? How would Street look as a setup man to Mo.
Would they have to part with Hughes to get Haren? I know most of you would not trade Hughes for him, but I would pull the trigger to land a top 5 pitcher in the game. As far as Street is concerned, I know he was hurt last year but when healthy, hes good. Thoughts?
Why waste prospects on a #3 starter like Blanton? We have enough #3 starters. You win with aces. Save those chips for the guys that really make a difference. Hughes, Joba, Kennedy should all be able to equal or pass Blantons performance this year and for the next 6.
I agree Jeffrey. I think that Hughes and Buchholz are on par, they both have strengths and weaknesses. I just resent the fact that alot of people have “gievn up” on Hughes and are ready to carve Buchholz’s name on the 2009 Cy Young plaque because he threw a no-hitter.
“Are you trying say GM’s aren’t that high on him anymore?”
i’m a little late here (lunch), but yes, at least compared to how highly they regarded him prior to injury. and i’m not saying all GMs, just some.
Anyone disparaging Bucky the No No Guy hasn’t watched him pitch.
Who’s given up on Hughes???
They are talking about him being the centerpiece of a deal for Johan Santana. That’s pretty big.
Tell me Eric, how many of his starts have you seen in person? I have personally been to 3 of his minor league starts while he was with Portland and Pawtucket. So don’t accuse me of never “having watched him pitch”. One no-hitter doesn’t mean the guy has 5 plus pitches and incredible command and control. It means the guy had ONE good day.
Follow his career through the minors, and read what BA and BP had to say about him. To quote Baseball America:
Now, care to get off the bandwagon and see him for what he is? A pitcher with two good secondary pitches and mediocre fastball command.
I would think the Yankees need an innings eater because of the big three being capped innings possibly and Pettitte might not be back either. I like Santana, but I wouldn’t trade for him though because that would cost Hughes or Horne and a couple of other prospects.
Exhibit A in defense of Hughes being eventually an ace.
Check the stats of great pitchers from when they were 21 yrs old and in their first major season. Clemens, Glavine, Maddux.
You will find Mr Hughes compares very favorably. Which is impressive especially since he basically toughed it out and pitched on one leg all year.
SOS. If Street is traded for he would pretty much have to do anything the Yankees asked him to. He is still three years (I think) away from FA. By that time we could re-sign him to be our closer because Mo would be gone. I don’t know if we’d have enough to land both Haren AND Street. That’s alot of pitching right there.
Name me A level type of prospects they currently have in their system that in comparison rates ahead of the Yankee A level prospects.
After Ellsbury and Bucholtz there’s a huge drop off in their system.
I can’t imagine Street setting up at this point, a team would give more to have him close. In other words, he has way more value to the A’s as trade bait to acquire more talent in return if he goes to a team that needs a closer.
I hate defending the Sox but they got a deep minor league system right now and if they did Ellsbury and Bucholz they could top our Santana offer.
Toby-
Agreed, but I don’t think they would trade Ellsbury at this point.
A deep minor league system means they have depth. All of their good prospects have already been called up. They have no one in the minors right now that is a decent prospect.
Someone brought up Jed Lowrie, who is probably their next best prospect. He just finished posting a .163/.236/.245 line in the AFL. If that’s their best prospect right now (and keep in mind, I said prospect), they would rank nowhere close to the top 15 farm systems.
From everything I’ve read the Twins want Cano and Hughes. To me that trumps anything the Red Sox could offer to the Twins.
For the record there’s no way I would do that trade, but I don’t think there would be a better package than those two if that’s what the Twins got.
We have the players to get both Santana and Kazmir if we wanted.
You have to be kidding me, Jax. You should really read some BA and Prospectus and minor league reports. They are flooded with high level prospects.
Michael Bowden pitcher great stuff
Lars Anderson huge power guy
Justin Masterson ground ball machine
And that’s just three off the top of my head. Sorry to say but the Sox have just as good a system as we do. A lot of value and tradeable parts there.
I don’t think they’d move Ellsbury either but they can.
jennifer, we most certainly have the prospects to get two players like Santana and Kazmir but why would we gut our farm system? Why trade 2 of the 3 young pitchers and 6 grade A prospects?
There is a reason teams are careful trading high level prospects. The value is just too much because you control them for so long and they are so cheap.
I’d be hesitant to trade anyone on the top level for anything less than Santana.
I’m not saying that we should. I am merely pointing out that our farm is stacked, even beyond Joba, Hughes, and Kennedy.
They have said Cano is untouchable. Heyman confirmed it yesterday.
I would rather have Scott Kazmir.
I hate to defend anything about the Sox but I must say judging a prospects status based on what he does in the AFL is pretty silly.
Lowrie probably had 600 at bats this year so I’m sure he was tired.
Now excuse me while I go chew on a bar of soap to get the vomit taste out of my throat.
Kazmir wouldn’t be traded to the Yankees, look up thread for multiple explanations.
Don’t sleep on the Yanks prospects who are coming along slow due to youth or injury. Guys like Betances, Cox, Sanchez, Melancon, and now Brackman the #1 pick out of NC State
These guys are all Grade A prospects especially Betances.
Kazmir over Santana, no way!
Not only do I read BA and BP I actually watch the games.
Do you realize those writers that supposedly “watch games” are very bias. Especially Jim Callis. Those guys love to prop up Sox prospects and down play how good some Yankee prospects are.
Didn’t I tell you they have a solid system? I said they don’t have great system and it’s certainly not deep like someone else mentioned.
I wouldn’t mind trading Kennedy or Hughes for Santana (obviously) because we have the depth now to replace them. People keep forgetting but Horne is on that level too. Just a little behind them.
The Yankees don’t have the players to get both Santana and Kazmir. Not unless they want to trade away Cano and Wang along with all their pitching prospects and that wouldn’t be prudent.
Boston and the Yankees basically have the same package for Santana. The Red Sox can offer Buchholz and Crisp. Ellsbury isn’t getting traded. The Yankees can offer Melky and Hughes. If the Twins like Austin Jackson better than Melky, you can switch those guys. I think the Yankees want to keep Jackson because he is a RH hitter and RH hitters are few and far between (with his ability) in the game today.
The Yankees package is probably a little better because Melky has more upside and is cheaper, than Crisp. That tips that deal in the Yankees favor.
However, the Red Sox can improve their offer with a guy like Ned Lowrie, who is a very good middle infield prospect. Important for the Twins because their middle infield propsects and current ML players aren’t very good.
The Twins are in a great spot. They can play off the Yankees and Red Sox and see which team offers the largest package.
If Billy Beane decides to rebuild and puts Haren and Street on the market, the loser of the Santana Sweepstakes may go to the head of the class for those guys.
Its amazing to see an off-season where its not inconcievable to see guys like Dan Haren, Miguel Cabrera and Johan Santana traded.
Been a long time since we have seen names like this on the move.
I could see the Mets overpaying to get Santana.
Okay Eric, since you seem to be determined to argue this point, let’s go through their prospects:
Michael Bowden pitcher great stuff:
Are we talking about the same guy that put up a 4.28 ERA this year in AA with a 1.43 WHIP?
Lars Anderson huge power guy
How about we let some prospects get past low A ball before talking about how awesome they are?
Justin Masterson ground ball machine
A 4.34 ERA in AA at the age of 22? Let’s compare that to Jeff Marquez, who isn’t even in our top 3 pitching prospects still in the minors who put up a 3.65 ERA at the same age this year.
I’m backing up my arguments with facts, Eric. I don’t see you doing the same.
Crisp? You could see him in the deal for Santana? I don’t know about that.
The Yankees also have a ton of talent right now at the Single A level. I know that is pretty much fools gold to count on 18 yr olds but if you have enough talent there some players will break through. Strength in numbers approach. It beats having nothing in your system like we had from 98-2004. It’s amazing we have made the playoffs the past 3 years because that was supposed to be our rebuilding phase.
The problem with some of the publications is they are run by Red Sox shills such as Jim Callis.
Alan Horne is a classic example of Callis’ Red Sox bias. There is not a scout I have talked to that thinks Justin Masterson is a better prospect than Alan Horne.
Yet, Callis talks of Masterson as if he is some super stud prospect. He is not. He got shelled in the EL Playoffs this year and completely lost his composure on the mound. I was at his start and needless to say, scouts were not impressed.
There are some scouts in the game who believe Horne is as good a prospect as Hughes or Kennedy. In fact, if he was 21, and with the Red Sox, folks like Jim Callis would froth over him. Horne is a victim in the BA and BP world of being 24 years old. To me, age is meaningless. If a guy is a good prospect, he is a good prospect, regardless of age.
In fact, Horne is really 22, from a baseball perspective, because he lost 2 years in his collegiate career because of injuries.
One of the reasons why the Yankees can even think about trading Phil Hughes in a Santana or Haren deal is because of Alan Horne.
Its one of the benefits of the current state of the Yankees farm system. They have a lot of pitching depth throughout the system. That makes them viable trade partners for the ri