If Melky goes to Minny, what then in CF?
-
- November
- 28
For blogging sake, let’s say the Yankees trade Melky Cabrera to the Twins as part of the package for Johan Santana and keep Austin Jackson.
What should they do for a center fielder in 2008?
Here is why I think Melky is readily expendable: They have Johnny Damon. After his awful spring last season, Damon will show up ready to play in February. Put him in center, Matsui in left and use Giambi, Duncan and others as the DH. Melky has a great arm and he saved a few runs with throws. But Damon covers just as much ground and his weak arm really doesn’t come into play all that often.
Then wait to see how Jackson develops.
In my mind, it would be foolish to sign a center fielder because anybody decent (like Aaron Rowand or Andruw Jones) is going to command a multi-year deal.
If Jackson has a chance to be a star, don’t block him. He’s on target to start next season at Scranton.
This entry was posted
on Wednesday, November 28th, 2007 at 8:03 pm by Peter Abraham.
You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed.
Print This Post
| 
Email This Post
Peter Abraham
Could not agree more, Pete. But because Minny picked uo the outfielders from Tampa, the trade including Melky seems much less likely. Makes me worried that the Twinkies will want 2 of the big 3. Cash better not do that.
Don’t forget, the Yankees have Brett Gardner to play as the 4th outfielder should Melky get traded. He brings speed and defense to the table and should hit about the same as Melky.
If I were Cashman I’d force Jeter to play CF and put the Attorney General at short. I would sell Jeter the ideal of following in the footsteps of Mantle and how much of a team player he’d be for moving to CF.
Jeter is great at tracking down flyballs and I think he’s be pretty good as an outfielder. I know this idea will get lambasted but I think it’s a good one.
One of the rare times I agree with your take, Pete.
I don’t think the Yankees will sweat this point out.
Damon starts the lion’s share of games in CF, switches over to LF replacing Matsui in the late stages of a winning game and Brett Gardner can slip into CF late in the game and grab some spot starts to help spell Damon and Matsui.
Very solvable challenge without resorting to Rowland.
Correction on last,,, should have been Rowand.
Great Point Pete.
My bigger fear is sending great talent away and letting them develop elsewhere. Also another long contract with too much money on the back end is the last thing we need….I feel like half of the team is going to be there 2 years longer than they should be.
sounds fine to me, pete. i don’t think damon will show up in shape and i think you’re underplaying how big a liability his arm is, but he’d be fine as a one-year stopgap.
either way, signing rowand or jones would be a mistake.
to pete fielding is critical when you play first base but “doesn’t come into play often” in CF. =)
I agree with you tho in this post. Fielding is over rated.
What happened to Jose Tabata? Wasn’t he going to be the next great Yankee outfield product? Why all of a sudden does it seem like Austin Jackson has supplanted Tabata?
keep melky, hes going to be phenomenal in the future
Any confirmation of Austin starting in AAA and not AA?
Senor A. Boy: Tabata is a RF, while Jackson is an above average CF with a big bat.
Couldn’t agree more, the only thing that worries me is Damon and Matsui staying healthy enough to play their respective positions for the entirety of the season. That’s where I think we may have a problem because we might be spreading our outfield to thin (Duncan wouldn’t make a good everyday centerfielder). It looks good right now, but I hope injuries don’t ensue early (like they have). We do have good kids in the minors, but hopefully we won’t have to bring them up right away.
Here in Boston we will trade you Crisp for Chamberlain!!
Don’t shoot me….just kidding.
I would be OK with seeing if Andruw Jones Would accept a 1 year deal to improve his stock. Risky, but it does keep Jackson unblocked.
get a clue jacksons starting in trenton
AJAX will more than likely start in AA pete, he finished the season in High A Tampa. no reason for him to skip AA. i can maybe see him in AAA at the end of the year but starting there? no way.
if melky is gone look for gardner to get a major look during ST
Trenton Not Scranton Pete…..
Damon won’t last a whole season in CF. He keeps breaking down and we need his healthy bat at the top of the order. Leave him in LF. I really think we should keep the kids and not do the deal with the devil for Santana. I honestly think we have the best if not one of the 3 best farms in the majors. Let’s give the big 3 a chance on the mound and let Melky play center.
I have no problem trading Melky and I agree that Damon will come to camp in shape but there is no way Damon & Matsui hold up playing the OF everyday. You almost need to rotate them in the LF/DH slot. So now the problem is that you weaken 2 defensive spots by trading Melky, take a chance two outfielder who will be 34 during the season will last, add $20 million to payroll.
Plus, Matusi and Damon won’t be getting any better – as players get older, their slumps last longer & hot streaks are shorter (Matsui) and Damon has a lot of miles on him.
Melky’s win shares is 13, Santana 18. Is the $19.5 million in salary difference worth 5 wins? I take the $19.5 million and invest in the bullpen. How many games did the bullpen blow?
If anything, blow Andruw Jones away with a one year offer – I haven’t seen a report with him having any offers – only if Melky is traded. But make sure he comes to camp in shape (for once).
Lastly, all the veterans said how great it was to have the energy of the young guys – Melky, Cano, Duncan especially. Does this team need to have another “stoic veteran” as Santana appears to be especially with an uptight manager (who I like but I wanted Pena)?
How bout we wait a year, dont trade anyone, then offer Santana money, that way we don’t give up any players. Santana could just sign with a different club after 08. In the short run deal makes sense, but in the long run its foolish, wait one year, see if these pitchers develop, that way we could have wang, santana, chamberlain, highes, kennedy, pretty, pretty good
According to Boras, Jones is not taking a one year deal. Take that for what it’s worth.
I’m definetly not opposed to waiting a year before making a move towards obtaining Santana.
Ray we’ll trade the fine Wilson Bettiment for Beckett.
KevinKM – Santana won’t hit free agency. Minnesota will trade to get something back and the team that gets him won’t trade the prospects needed without getting him locked in for a while. I’d like to do what you suggest too but it just won’t work. I think the price will drop by the trade deadline so maybe we give the kids a chance until allstar game to see if they can do it and if not then trade out for Santana.
KevinKM – Whomever trades for Santana is going to insist upon an extension window. Plus Santana has full no-trade so he’ll be open to an extension and has only a few teams he’ll go too.
My guess – Omar does something stupid and Santana winds up a Met.
True, Santana if traded will receive a big deal, but he has a no trade clause so it has to be approved by him. We know he wants possible play in New York so who knows… He may just wait a year out…
Is there any chance Action would be ready this year? Are they going to give him a invite to st?
I agree with folks on Gardner as he profiles similarly to Melky, except, by most accounts, he covers more ground with a little weaker arm.
Rowand is a terrible option as overpaying a guy for his career year when he played half his games in a bandbox in the NL no less is ridiculous. Jones should only be considered as a one year option as he will be motivated to cash in after next year.
As for Tabata, his season was cut short when he needed hand surgery (hamate bone). He still hasn’t hit for much power, but it should develop as he hit over .300 in a pitcher’s league at age 19.
A-Jax really responded after his promotion last year even though he wasn’t hitting particularly well (@.270) when he got moved up. He also tore up the Hawaiian Fall league and was named the ‘best prospect’ there (Joba took the title last year). That is why he is getting all of the hype right now. He does project as a good defender with a pretty good stick (ie higher ceiling than Melk).
Jennifer – How about Pavano for Kazmir? Kazmir might as well complete the circle of NY teams for being traded for overprice, broken down righthanders. I think the Yankess could throw a million or two to the Rays to cover Pavano’s salary.
Jennifer – HIP HIP JORGE!
November 28th, 2007 at 8:26 pm
“Ray we’ll trade the fine Wilson Bettiment for Beckett.”
Jennifer I’ll have to check with Theo and get back to you on that! LOL
Unless Jones is willing to take a 1-2 year deal, I completely agree. If Melky is gone, they can try Gardner, or trade for a cheap replacement (Jason Michaels?)
Wiggum Fan They’d have to trade David or Jose with others in order to get Santana.
No, Ajax finished season at Trenton and even got an at bat in final play off game at Scranton. So if he starts at Trenton, I would think he’d advance quickly to Scranton.
Jones has a 5 year deal on the table from the Royals. He isn’t taking a one year deal.
Johnny Damon had a broken foot in 2006. He couldn’t work out all off-season and got fat.
I bet he comes into ST in great shape this year. You are talking about a guy with a lot of pride. Something we saw the second half of this past season.
If Melky goes, Damon plays center, Brett Gardner is the 4th OF and they will be fine.
They aren’t going to commit big dollars to Aaron Rowand with Austin Jackson on the cusp.
The Action Jackson will probably start next year in Trenton. That is, if he’s still with the Yankees. I don’t know that I see a scenario that the Yankees can keep Hughes and Jackson. And if it comes down to it, you keep Phil Franchise.
I’d love to see Gardner get a chance while AJax develops. The Yanks have enough offense, Gardner can cover a lot of ground and can steal bases. If he could hit even .240 in the No. 9 spot, it would be a success. I think that’s why Melky is truly expendable.
You cant let melky stand in the way of getting an ace such as santana, but there needs to be a way to get around trading him. He is such a fun guy to have on the team, is best friends with cano, and brings an energy to the clubhouse that is very unique.
If i were cashman, i would try to hold out with an offer around Kennedy, Tabata, Horne, and another prospect. unfortunately, the twins need a center fielder and im sure the mets will be offering chris gomez, but i really hope cashman can find a way to keep the guy.
of course, to get a guy like santana we need to give up something of value, but lets try and keep melky and hughes please.
Rowand is over-rated and an injury waiting to happen. Jones has a 5-year deal on from the Royals? Didn’t see that anyway but it makes sense from them.
one more note, i wouldnt be surprised of the twins tried to get a solid offer from the mets and traded him there (with johans approval of course) so that they dont need to face him again, if this trade doesnt go heavily in the twins favor then facing their former ace will surely be a sore sight for them.
It wouldn’t be unlikely to see Damon AND Matsui both unable to play outfield so I don’t like our chances without Melky. In a perfect world, Damon and Matsui are healthy but let’s not be foolish, they both aren’t going to be.
Also, if you want to see Tabata and some other Yankee prospects like Mark Melancon and Dellin Betances, got to youtube and do a quick search. There is some decent footage where you can see these guys in action a little bit and get a feel for their games without just relying on stats.
Joba the Great – you can never have enough offense.
The Royals are opening the pocket book? I’m shocked! If Jones goes there he doesn’t care about winning.
If they trade Melky, you sign Aaron Rowland, he doesn’t block anyone because Abreau will be gone by then. Remember Melky was a spare outfielder but stuff happens, having an extra outfielder can’t hurt.
jennifer- know the facts- the royals opened their checking account last year with gil meche and his $55 milion deal
MLB tarde rumors.com seems to think the Twins won’t need an outfielder now, unless they move Cuddyer back to 3B and go after a CF. Thinks instead they will go after a 3B/2B along with top pitching propsects.
Here is what Tim wrote, he’s pretty good, I just put this on the last thread b/c I didn’t know this one was up yet.
P.S.
And IF Melky STILL went in a deal to Minn for Johan, along with pitching, I would totally take Andruw Jones if he wanted to play CF for the Yankees for one year, at say, $15M to up his game/salary/value for a multi-year deal after next season…elsewhere when Action Jackson is ready to come up. But Borass said a one year deal is out of the question, appparently.
Anyway, here’s Tim’s take… I like this writer:
Matt Garza For Delmon Young Blockbuster Close
UPDATE, 11-28-07 at 4pm: Neal reports that the Twins have interest in Aaron Rowand, which is really surprising given his reported demands. I don’t see it. Neal adds that Craig Monroe may now be non-tendered and the Garza trade will not stop Bill Smith from shopping Johan Santana. By the way, talks for Coco Crisp persist.
FROM 11-28-07 at 2pm:
Wow! That rumor really didn’t die! La Velle E. Neal III says the Twins are close to a multiplayer deal. They’ll send Matt Garza, Jason Bartlett, and Juan Rincon to the Rays for Delmon Young, Brendan Harris, and Jason Pridie. I can’t remember any kind of young player blockbuster like this recently.
It’s exciting to see Bill Smith pull the trigger on a deal to get that possible elite slugger. Will he be more hesitant to trade Johan Santana now? Or maybe it doesn’t matter since he’d require an elite young hurler like Phil Hughes in return. Beyond Young, you also have to applaud Smith for getting Pridie, who immediately becomes the Twins’ center fielder of the future. The 24 year-old came back from injuries this year to rake in Triple A. Just like that, the Twins have an outfield.
I mostly agree with Pete here. Matsui in left hurts the defense since he’s become Frankenstein out there over the past couple of years.
The only thing I would do is possibly take a flier on Mike Cameron.
After the drug suspension (25 games) he probably only gets a 2 year deal in the market. I don’t think anyone is giving him more than that.
His defense is great, he’s a RH hitter with some pop, he has speed. He strikes out a ton, but burying him at the bottom of the lineup isn’t going to kill us.
I figure by the time his suspension is up, Matsui or Giambi will be on the DL.
I wouldn’t go long term on a Rowland or Jones at all.
I’d also give Toronto a ring and ask them if they’re ready to get out from under Vernon Wells just for informations sake.
Would you trade Wang for Wells?
I would. I doubt Toronto would make that deal though.
Never would I trade Wang for Wells
I do agree with you that you can never have enough offense, Chief Wiggum (or is it Ralph?) But I think Gardner could be a catalyst at No. 9 with his speed. At the very least, it would allow Damon to stay in LF and keep the outfield strong defensively. Let’s face it, right now, Melky’s greatest asset to the Yanks is in the field, not at the plate, and that’s an area that Gardner could be equally as valuable.
You have to hope a deal of Kennedy, Tabata and Gardner can get it done for Johan.
I agree with the poster who noted Melky’s energy in the clubhouse, an his fiendship with Cano.
And I totally agree on your last take, SJ44.
I am all for people offering up ridiculous trade proposals on here (they at least have comedic value), but I really think that it is going to be tough for the Yankees to make any trades within the division. The only way it is even remotely possible is if it becomes a straight salary dump. Toronto is looking to compete right now and they were happy that Wells chose to resign with them rather than hit the open market. I think that it is safe to say that he isn’t on the market and most certainly wouldn’t be traded to the Yankees. They have added significant payroll over the last 2-3 years and have developed some decent young arms and are looking for a contender.
What happened to Bronson Sardinha?
Remember this? http://youtube.com/watch?v=dCoGKkk_njg&feature=related
Hughes v Tabata
Wang for Wells never happens.
Also, do you go after Santana when the free agent class will include:
Mark Teixeira
C.C. Sabathia
Ben Sheets (ie Pavano Jr.)
I would rather take a chance on the young pitchers and sign Teixeira for $17 million a year, than trade 3 -4 prospects for Santana.
Why do people think this is Abreu’s last year with the Yankees?
Suppose he has another 100 RBI/120 runs scored year?
You think the Yankees would let him walk?
He’s far from done as a player and is a better offensive player than Aaron Rowand will ever be.
Torii Hunter set the CF market. Guys like Jones and Rowand aren’t taking under market deals. They don’t need to since they have multiple teams bidding for their services.
The Yankees will be fine with Damon/Gardner in CF until Jackson is ready.
I’ve been hearing for a while that Peter Angelos is all man crushed on Mark Teixiera, and thats why they are trying to do a series of salary dump trades in BAL.
He wants to go hard after Big Tex on the open market next year, sell the law firm if he has too. It will be battle for Tex…
Damn Tort lawyers…
honestly, it’s as simple as this.
… offense can be replaced ANY DAY OF THE WEEK .. pitching can’t!
The majors is absolutely FILLED with good bats, at EVERY position, and the minors are even deeper. Player development has never been better…. heck, even as good as AROD is, i was more concerned with his glove at third then his numbers at the plate. Losing a bat NEVER worries me, and never will.
If Minny wanted four offensive players for Santana, i don’t think ANYONE would think twice… even if it was Jackson, Tabata, Gardner, or whoever else.
Personally, i’d try my hardest to give them Cano, and keep Melky. Something about Cano’s quiet cockiness, his NEVER busting it out of the box, and his lackadasical approach to defense really irk me at times. He seems like he’d rather look ‘cool’ failing then look bad winning.
The guy has a good bat, maybe even a batting title in his future, but BIG DEAL – he can be replaced also!!
Remember, we won in 96 with Mariano Duncan at 2nd base.
I’m actually hoping the Yankees declaring Cano an untouchable is a ploy. This way, when the Yankees DO tell Minny they’d include him in a trade, they’d be able to pull Melky or Kennedy back.
…oh yeah, and Hughes better be here when opening day arrives – Johan or No Johan!
I bet CC will never hit the FA market, unfortunately…Though I’d love to get that big ol’ junk of his into pinstripes…
Would have to be a weight-incentive laden deal though..jeseues…
Not to say that Matsui wouldn’t go down with another bad injury and then we’d be streching the outfield.
Melky’s arm came up all the time, and so did Damon’s lack of one. Yankee fans know all about weak centerfield arms from years of Bernie and then Damon. Damon’s arm isn’t just average — it’s little league (at best). Having runners going wild on the bases because your centerfielder can’t hit a cutoff man in shallow center is a huge deal.
Also, Jackson will start in AA, not AAA. He was in High-A until that season ended and then they put him onto the AA team for their playoffs. So it’s Trenton, no Scranton, where AJ will be. (What’s that saying about getting the big bucks…?)
SJ, I asked this in a previous thread but it may have gotten lost. If you had the option of trading either Cano or Hughes (just one) in a package for Santana, who would you prefer the Yanks to include and why?
Agreed about Yanks being okay with Damon in Center for the year.
I just looked at Gardner’s AAA stats. Nothing too impressive but I agree if you can get Santana for Melky, Horne, Tobata/Jackson, then do it and give him the job.
Joba – I have never bent my Wookie nor can I make noises like this:
Yes, I agree with Jay. We can’t be satisfied with Damon manning Centerfield for the ENTIRE year. He’s no good there anymore, much more plausible as an everyday Leftfielder.
Not to contradict myself with my last post, i would like to also note that …
as far as trading Wang?…
i like him, i really do .. he’s real easy to forget about, and i was crazily7 disappointed with his 07 playoff starts, but i stil like Wang…
however, if anyone’s noticed ANY KIND of trend with the Asian pitchers, they PEAK within their first year or two – and after that, they’re just never the same.
Point being, i’d trade Wang, but i don’t know if it would be for Vernon Wells. With pitching as expensive as it is these days, Wang can get us back A LOT MORE then just Wells.
I think Gardner is a good asset to have, so I agree
Oh and hi Joba the Great…I remember you from Minor League Ball…
Josh,
If I was Cashman, I’d sit on Kennedy, Cabrera and Tabata for Santana as long as I can. If its either Hughes or no deal, I put Hughes in the deal and take out Kennedy.
I wouldn’t let Phil Hughes stand in the way of acquiring Johan Santana.
No way I trade Cano.
Phil Hughes may be a very good pitcher one day. Johan Santana is the best pitcher in baseball. Big, big difference.
The Yankees can cover the loss of Hughes or Kennedy, Cabrera and Tabata from within.
With the money Santana will command, and the fact that he has a full no trade, they can hold firm on the players end with the Twins.
The package I am presenting is as good a package as the Twins will get on the market. They may have a better alternative. However, it won’t be from a team Santana wants to go to so the offer is meaningless.
To shore up the bullpen, the Yankees can re-sign Vizcaino and still seek additional bullpen help (although guys like Veras, Ohlendorf, Melancon and Sanchez are all good in house options) outside the organization if they so choose.
Aside from a closer, teams don’t invest crazy money in bullpens because the guys in them are too unpredictable from year to year.
Okay, Syracuse is pissing me off…
i agree rebecca
and that foul was a bad call
Melancon for a bullpen spot? He just had TJ surgery and hasn’t really pitched since college. Until you have an idea of the farm system, please don’t spit such nonsense.
UGH!
SJ,
Are you saying that you are higher on A-Jax right now than Tabata? Or that you think that he is more enticing to the Twins?
Pete, have to disagree about Johnny’s arm. Teams regularly went from first to 3rd on Johnny’s arm. That abruptly stopped when Melky began throwing people out. There is the number of throw outs, and then there is the number of holds where guys stayed at 2nd instead of going to 3rd for fear they would be thrown out. Pete, I love your blog and your info, but this opinion is off base. Santana is not worth it. Even at 28 he is on the downside of his career. Somebody will say Roger Clemens at me, but Santana is not Roger Clemens, no one is.
Mike,
FYI Melancon has been pitching in the Dominican winer league and has recently resumed throwing his breaking ball. He has also been invite to big league spring training. He is closer to contributing to the big league ‘pen than you think. But way to ’spit nonsense.’
Bravo.
I forgot more about the farm system than you will ever know Mike.
I am not saying Melancon will be in the bullpen by the start of the season. I am saying he is an option for some time in the ‘pen at some point in the season if he regains his form.
He didn’t “just have” TJ Surgery. He had it in February.
He’s in Hawaii now and may pitch a little before their year is out. He has been on a throwing program from the mound since September.
If he isn’t traded, he will be a guy who moves up the ladder quickly because he has electric stuff.
These days, because just about every bullpen in the AL gets overworked, teams remake half their bullpens in the second half of the year.
If he is healthy and pitching well, he will be in that mix.
There has been some interest in single-game tickets lately. I spoke to John in the New York Yankees ticket office today, asking when single-game tickets will be available. His answer: “We’re looking at late February, early March.”
I also called the Pittsburgh Pirates, since I’d like to catch the Yankees when they play in the Steel City in June. The rep there said Pirates tickets will be available the first week of March.
Interestingly, the Pirates’ Web site offers a 1-800 number for tickets, while the Yankees’ site does not.
Couldn’t agree more about Jackson who from what I understand is a better fielder with a better arm than Melkey and don’t discount the possibility he could start on opening day. Some guys come fast and maybe he’d be worth playing for the defense and we can wait on his offense to develop. The Twins might be secretly more interested in Austin Jackson as well. The deal may hinge on him especially once Delmon Young is finalized they can afford to be more patient.
Correction, Melancon is in the DR not Hawaii.
Need that edit button! lol
bizz,
I rate Jackson and Tabata dead even. I love both as prospects.
I think the Twins like both. I just think the Yankees are going to hold off trading Jackson (if they can) because they see him as their CF of the future.
So is there a trade or what the heck is going on here?!?!
Jackson won’t be ready by Opening Day of this year.
Opening Day of ‘09? If he keeps progressing as he has, that is a real possibility.
Disagree entirely. Weak arm doesn’t come into play often? I don’t want to see runners going 1st to 3rd and 1st to home on Damon’s arm. I don’t want to see runners scoring on SF to SHORT CF.
Truth is, CF and Damon should no longer be used frequently in the same sentence.
You’re right rbizzler, he has. I’m glad you have a subscription to Pinstripe Plus.
He’s thrown 6.2 innings in the minor leagues (and that was in short season A ball). To bring him up as a major league option right now is absurd.
Damon in CF and Matsui in LF (Matsui’s D in LF went down in 2007 as well as Damon’s in CF) puts even MORE pressure on the young pitching staff. Both Damon and Matsui are slipping terribly defensively. The Yanks are best served with Damon’s legs in LF, and Matsui DHing. I’d love to dump the Big G. I know it won’t happen and that the big G will be the most expensive PH ever, but defensively, the last thing Yankee fans want is Matsui and Damon in LF and CF.
SJ44, you’re just flat out wrong. I’m sure you know a good amount of the farm system. But what makes you think you know more than I do? That you have more subscriptions to prospect magazines than I do? That you see more minor league games than I do? I doubt most of that to be true.
Melancon isn’t even a year removed for TJ. It takes a least a year and a half to get it all back. Knowing that, and knowing that he hasn’t even made it to Tampa yet, how can you bring up his name right now? Maybe for 2009 or 2010, but for 08 he looks like nothing more than a Sept callup, and that’s even doubtful.
SJ,
Just checking with you on Tabata/A-Jax. I personally cannot wait to see what Jose does after he recovers from surgery and has a full season of experience at high A/AA. Hopefully we see the power that he has flashed show up on a consistent basis. That is if he is still in the Yanks system by then…
As for Melancon and Sanchez, my understanding is that Mark is a ways ahead of Humberto, but Humberto has begun a throwing program and could possibly contribute down the stretch in ‘08 (although it is a bit of a stretch). Things are looking up for homegrown ‘pen prospects, so that is why long-term deals for mediocre guys like Linebrink are completely unnecessary.
With all the speculation back and forth with Santana, the fact remains that Andy Pettitte is still an important piece of the puzzle.
By his returning, it takes the pressure off the urgency of needing a deal done ASAP for Santana. It allows breathing room and the farm system to have further development at least until 7/31/08. Santana and his agent still hold the trump card toward what team is the best fit. Any concerns of what Boston or any other player in the Santana sweepstakes will do is pointless. The Yankees will not be topped in either players involved or long term contract money. When all is said and done, the pitcher would far prefer to pitch on the big stage than a tiny bandbox.
If Melancon pitches 25-30 innings in relief in AA/AAA, he could be in the Yankees bullpen in the second half of the season.
The kid is a beast. He has electric stuff, was the best college closer in the country in 2006 and has Chamberlain-like maturity.
You don’t need a lot of innings in the minors to come out of the bullpen. Huston Street didn’t need a lot of innings and neither will Melancon, if he is healthy.
That pick was a STEAL for the Yankees and fans will get a chance to see how much of a steal it was this year. He’s a stud.
Tickets are going on sale that late!!
Correction: Melancon just left DR. But he stayed a bit longer and feels great. He may very well be ready by the end of the season. But more likely ETA = 2009.
Houston Street came from Texas to the major leagues in under a year. Mark will be coming from the operating table.
Trust me, I’m just as excited as you are about the kid. But the fact remains that he probably won’t throw 30 innings in AA/AAA this year. The Yankees are going to take it slow with him, there’s no reason to rush.
Samsonite: That is the question du jour
To trade or not to trade, that is the question;
Whether ’tis nobler in the mind to suffer
The slings and arrows of outrageous proposals,
Or to take arms against a tide of rampaging fans,
And by opposing, silence the bloggers. To trade, to transact;
No more; and by a trade to say we end
The confusion and the Phil/IPK/Melky rumors…
Mike,
Melancon has a high-end college pedigree and guys like that move fast. Or at least that is what I read in Pinstripes Plus (I am actually not even a subscriber). Just to refresh you memory, guys like Huston Street and Joba (both high-end college starters), spent less than a year in the minors before getting the call.
And I understand that it may be a little optimistic to view him as a legit option for the ‘pen in ‘08, but it is not out of the question.
Thanks for the venom though, feel better now?
Melancon is further along than Sanchez. But, he had his surgery early than Humberto.
Sanchez is throwing off flat ground, and has been since July. A very good sign.
I think Sanchez is a guy that won’t be really available until August. He may get some work in after the AS Break in the minors. However, I think August is probably the earliest we see him.
I think Melancon is the kind of guy who moves quickly through the system. He is healthy and from what I have been told, throwing the ball pain free.
Mike: 4 weeks of Instructional League games, over 90 minor league games, covering all of the teams in the Yankees system, in addition to talking to a variety of scouts and Yankee personnel on the prospects in the system.
That was the summer total for this year. I feel pretty comfortable speaking about all facets of the Yankees minor league system.
Whoops, meant that both Street and Joba were high-end college arms. I know that Street was a closer at UT.
Melancon is at the 13 month mark now and his stuff was pretty much back in his last appearance in Dominican Instructs. Both Nardi and Newman think he will end up helping the Yanks this year.
See Jay T’s post from earlier.
Jay: If you think Gardner hits same as Melky, forget it. Gardner = Jason Tyner. No pop. Speed, yes. Pop, no. Think .280-0-35 with 25 steals for Gardner at best. Gardner just went through the AFL with a nice BA. Look at his hits. 35 singles. 2 triples. 0 doubles, 0 HR. The thing that gets me. Not one stinking double in 120 or so AB? That’s absurd. Think Tyner or Gathright when it comes to Gardner. If that’s what you want, fine. I don’t. I want a little more pop than that, and Gardner is a year older than Melky.
I NEED A V-8
And the difference between Joba/Street and Melancon? Joba/Street didn’t have major reconstructive arm surgery.
No venom, it was meant in a cruel way at all. I just completely disagreed with what you wrote. I apologize if it came off as an attack.
Agreed on the collective health issues of Joba/Street/Melancon. From everything that I have heard/read, it seems entirely possible that Melancon can contribute in ‘08. If he has a setback and won’t be ready until ‘09, fine by me. My main point is that things are looking up for the Yanks internal bullpen prospects and Melancon and Sanchez are a major part of my excitment. No need to overpay and dole out long-term deals to mediocre middle relievers when help is on the way.
13 months, that’s closer to what I thought. I didn’t think it was February, I had remembered it being sometime in October of last year. However I still can’t see him putting it all together and making an impact this year. I know Nardi and Yankee officials love to be extremely positive about every prospect in the organization, but I think that’s simply too quick of a recovery.
SJ44, I had no idea you were so accomplished. Good for you, I thought you were just another idiot reading a name off of a draft list, I apologize. Yankee “prospect evaluators” seem to be popping up everywhere since the offseason began. Since you seem to be in the know, do you know a definitive reason why Mark was kept out of Hawaii. I heard a few rumors, but I never heard an official reason.
Bizz,
I am excited to see a healthy Tabata. I watched him a lot last year and he had injuries all season. The wrist, a thumb injury, a hamstring.
Yet, as the youngest player in a pitchers league, he hit over .300 and drove in runs on a steady basis.
The power will come. He can hit to all fields and now that his wrist is healthy, I expect him to have a big season in AA.
He and Jackson are the real deal from a prospect standpoint. Great to see because it gives the Yankees more options.
The answer to this question is very simple Pete, trade for Haren instead of Santana.
Sorry if this was already posted but cbssportsline is reporting that the Twins deal is on hold because of elbow concerns with Rincons elbow. Hope this doesnt effect the Yanks if this deal doesnt happen.
I want them to keep melky wicked badly, I’m going to miss him dancing around the dugout with Cano.
There’s an excellent chance that Mark Melancon among others will be in spring training as non-roster invitees. If Humberto Sanchez is among the group, he’ll be allowed to work under a planned routine with no appearances in exhibition games.
dancing in the dugout doesn’t win championships. pitching wins championships. GET SANTANA ASAP
Even if the Santana trade does not go through, it is amazing the wealth of talent the Yankees have in the hopper just to be even considered the front runners for a guy like Santana.
A trade of this nature could not have happened for the yankees a year or two ago, can anyone recall the lack of bullets the Yankees had to make really any trades??
Tremendous job by the scouting staff, player development and Damon Oppenheimer under the leadership of Cashman.
Mike – I feel I should warn you that you are arguing with one of the most knowledgeable people about Yankee prospects that I “know”. SJ44 is very well known and respected on this blog by all of us. His opinions carry a certain weight.
Say no to Santana. Just my opinion. He is overrated. To call him the best pitcher in baseball is pathetic and shows that you odnt have a clue what youre talking about. He MIGHT crack the top 5. Im taking Beckett, Halladay, Sabathia, Verlander, Peavy and Webb before Santana. Maybe even a few other guys. The guy is basically a 2 pitch pitcher, let uptons of homeruns, has had little playoff success. Who knows how he will even fare in New York. We have seen it before. What are supposed to be top flite pitchers have come and failed. See Jeff Weaver, Javier Vazquez, Randy Johnson(Kinda different circumstances) But you get my point. I think we should continue what we have been doing, which is developing young pitchers that will be fixtures on the staff for maybe the next 10 years or so. I would only trade for Santana if we get to keep Joba, Hughes and Kennedy.
Does anyone else find it funny that the Sox want to give up Coco Crisp, not Ellsbury? Why would the Twins do that? Hopefully Johan ends up in the National League, preferably the Mets.
Sorry for the late warning.
Captain:
The TB/Minn trade is completed. Rincon is inconsequential and may be removed.
(Just thought I’d jump back in after that tidbit came in.)
Go NYY – Erroneous! Erroneous on all accounts.
I agree pete that not only would giving rowand 3 or 4 years would be ridiculous, but also the type A compensation. I would rather see Damon in center with Brett Gardner getting a chance at some point. Or if you need to sign a FA center fielder and have Gardner start in AAA then sign Corey Patterson(no Comp) or Mike Cameron(Type B).
What i don’t agree on though is that Minny wouldn’t want Melky even if they trade for Delmon. How does a RFer affect what they do in center. If i was Minny i would much rather have Hughes, Horn and Melky now that I’ve lost Garza. The Twins still don’t have a CFer unless Kubel or Tyner can play there. Put Melky in Center, Delmon in Right, move Cuddyer back to 3rd and play Kubel or Tyner in left. I wouldn’t be surprised to see Hughes and Horn both in the Minny rotation to start the season. Horn was the EL pitcher of the year
Erroneous! Erroneous on all accounts.
What?
Great job Bobcat. Thanks for the up to date info.
Aubrey,
Grab some Gatorade and sunflower seeds. Close your eyes. Breathe in. Breathe out. Picture Robbie dancing with Johan and his perfectly coiffed eyebrows. Never mind, ignore the eyebrows. Now, picture Melky doing the high, high five on the field with Mauer. Smile. It’s all good.
Go NYY – It’s a quote from a movie and my funny way of saying I completely disagree with you Santana rant.
Max: You do realize Cameron will miss the first 25 games of next year, don’t you?
Just saying.
mike r-you could say why and back it with some facts
SJ 44 :
I saw Jose Tabata as well and was impressed with the way he carried himself on the field. Excellent composure in the batter’s box and mature ahead of his time. He comes as advertised.
Francisco Cervelli also impressed and although he tailed off some with the bat, he remained in full charge behind the plate. Tony Pena will work him and all catchers hard this spring as always.
Bobcat,
I said in the previous topic-thank you for you information.
max:
The Yankees aren’t contemplating any more bats. Enough.
Watch what happens in Minnesota with the Nathan trade. That will tell you what the Twins will want from the Yankees.
Go NYY the fact that you compared Johan Santana to jeff weaver…. goodbye credibility.
Melky-IPK-AJax/Tabata >>> Crisp-Lester- other
Just so im clear nobody is saying Hughes = Lester are they? because if the deal is hughes from the yanks and lester from the sox… its not even close, and if we can get Johan for IPK i do it…. now
Bobcat – Are you sure Johan will veto a trade to Boston?
sj, may i ask. do you work with agents? Do you prepare reports for certain agents? Are you connected to some players? I know you dont have to answer, and thats fine. But it might gives us more insight from where you are coming from.
seymour:
The pieces aren’t there for a Boston trade unless Ellsbury goes in and you won’t see that. As sure as anyone.
Technically I really don’t have to, because it is just my opinion, and you really didn’t state facts as to why you would prefer your five pitchers over Santana, but without too much research I will say something.
Beckett – One geat year in the AL east does not a great pitcher make. Beckaett is awesome. I will give you that, but he was hit hard last year. If your basing it on the post season that takes me to my next point.
Peavy – Peavy is quickly earning a reputation as a choker due to his poor post season performances. Add to that the benefit of pitching in a weak league, a weak division in that league and home games at pitchers paradise and Santana is clearly better.
Verlander – He is also great, but very young. He’s had elbow issues and also benefits from a generous home field. His lowest ERA ever is 3.63. Santana had a 3.33 last year and people say he’s off.
Webb – Webb was impressive during his shutout innings streak, but again he is an NL west pitcher. You criticize Santana for being a “two pitch pitcher” but prefer Webb who lives and dies with his sinker.
I could go on, but I really don”t think enough people would agree with your opinion to validate it.
I don’t want to sound like an @$$, I just don’t agree with you.
Corey Patterson?
YUK.
Patterson in CF. .987 (his Fielding pct.) .988(league average) 2.14 (his range factor) 2.23 (league average)
162 Game Avg 587ab 18hr 62rbi 32sb 8cs 29 walks 135K .258BA .298 OBP .414 SA 83 OPS+
Like that walk to K ratio? How about the OPS+? (100 is average).
No.
Rob Ny- Apparently you have issues with reading comprehension. I never said they were alike in status. I was mearly saying that he was supposed to be a great pitcher,(had solid numbers with the Tigers who were terrible) came to NY and was terrible. I did not say he was anywhere close to Johan. I was making the case that some pitchers arent made out for this market.
Bobcat – I understand that you think that Boston doesn’t have the pieces. Assuming they did, would Johan veto a trade there?
seymour:
From all indications that I have access to, yes, he would veto a trade to Boston.
Dan:
You’re welcome.
SJ let me ask you this…. you think that all the injuries and specifically the nagging wrist are over with and are a bump in the road type scenario or are we looking at a year in year out type thing…… the “annual tabata injury” is what worries me about him reaching his enormous potential
So, I’m a bit outdated on everything-please correct me if i have this wrong-in the coming weeks, we are going to see:
1.) The Twins/Rays deal-this is nearly complete
2.) A deal involving Joe Nathan….?
3.) The Johan Santana to the Yankees trade that involves 3-4 prospects…
And deal 2 has to happen in order for deal 3 to happen?
bobcat; troy percival might sign with the brewers, thus making the cubs the main player to get nathan. If that scenario happens, the nathan’s value goes down. So percival might throw a wrench into who the yankees trade for santana. So, we should root for percival to sign with the rays or with us over the brewers?
Bobcat – anything develop within the last few hours?
migames,
ESPN radio reporting that the Rays are close to signing Percival.
Tampa Bay just pulled a rabbit out of their hat:
Edwardo Morlan was substituted for Juan Rincon. Wow.
A lot more going on tonight than we were led to believe.
Percival is going to sign with Tampa, it appears. The paperwork is alledgedly on its way to be filed.
Morlan substitues for Rincon. Huge difference in favor of the Rays.
Twins are really pushing Nathan hard on the NL Central.
Actually my source now says Phil will need to be included.
eduardo morlan: cuban pitcher, hasnt pitched over AA
yea really-Morlan is one of the better relief prospects in the game-talk about an improvement on Rincon and his declining ability.
Dan:
That’s pretty accurate.
Does Santana have full No Trade clause after the season starts?
We have a Bobcat sniper.
Bobcat –
That tilts the scales in Tampa’s favor in my opinion and probably affects what the Twins would want from the Yankees. Thoughts?
Bobcat
I bet that’s a deal killer.
bobcat,
does the fact that the Twins acquired Jason Pridie in the deal change anything for the Yankees?
This is not me:
Bobcat
November 28th, 2007 at 10:28 pm
Actually my source now says Phil will need to be included.
Bobcat –
So Percival going to the Rays will help the Twins trade Nathan which pushes the Yanks/Santana trade closer?
bobcat doesnt have sources, he is sources.
Bobcat – Run in diagonals and don’t stop. It makes you a harder target to hit.
Dan:
No.
Phil:
Not sure what you’re referring to.
Mike:
Not that we’re hearing.
Bobcat, I just wanted to to thank you for all of this insider info. Makes for very interesting reading.
So, the other position player the Twins got is a CFer who did very well at AA and AAA this year. So, they may no longer be interested in an OFer. But, they sent away a pitcher…so maybe they’ll be interested in more AAA pitching. They need a 3B still. Maybe getting an OFer lets them move Cuddyer back to 3B? Maybe they’d be interested in Betemit?
I mean…Kennedy, Horne, Betemit as a 3B option right now, Melky as a CF option right now if that kid isn’t ready and a LF if he is, allowing Cuddyer to play 3B and Betemit to play all around their IF.
It all depends on what the Dodgers and Angels have to offer after they make their trades for big bats. I really think Tejada will be with one and Cabrera will be with the other.
It looks like there may be some extra excitement in Tampa if the Garza trade goes through and they also sign Percival. This is the first time in forever that the Rays have actually shown a commitment to winning and getting better. Percival comes with a major red flag, though. Remember that he already had to retire once due to arm problems. Arm trouble can come back without warning.
percival going to the rays, keeps him out of the nl central. Where atleast the cubs and brewers both need a closer. as i understand it, if those two team fight for nathan, they will include better players for nathan. If that happens, the asking price for the santana wont be so high.
It’s comical that you make a point to say that Santana has had little postseason success then point to Peavy, Verlander, Halladay, Sabathia, and Webb as better than Santana.
Your logic makes no sense.
As for the homerun thing. Check 2 things.
Beckett 06 HR Totals
Santana Career Home Run totals.
It was one year.
hey real bobcat, any way i can ask you a couple of questions? my email is on the sidebar of my blog
this is a “whenever you get a chance” type thing
rjay:
Percival doesn’t affect the Twins or Yankees.
Neshek or Guerrier will close. The Twins hava a ton of front-line pitching.
I know no one cares about the Knicks with all this excitement but this is hilarious:
http://www.theonion.com/content/news/fire_isiah_chant_breaks_out_during
Bobcat,
I think if the Twins require Hughes, Cash will call their bluff and wait them out.
Bobcat-
Thanks for all your fascinating info, the way you have presented everything has changed the way I think about baseball, feel like I have more of an idea of how a GM thinks.
Maybe now I can win my fantasy league this year. lol
KG86:
You’re welcome.
migames:
We never heard anything about Percival to the NL Central. He’s not viewed as a contender-type closer. Twins still have the NL Central Trophy in their offices ready to be traded with Nathan.
and Percival is a few months OLDER than Mariano.
Mike R.
Beckett had one bad year when he was adjusting to the AL. Just based on stuff alone, Beckett>Santana Add playoffs to that and its not even close. Beckett is one of the best postseason pitchers ever. Even I will admit this.
Jake Peavy has been very solid. Plus, being a sinker baller, pitching in a “pitcher’s paradise” is not as relevant. He let up 13 homeruns to Santanas 31.
Verlander- You just gave a reason why you would want to take Verlander over Johan. Based stuff, plus the fact that he is nearly 5 years younger than Johan gives good reason why you would take him. He is only 24 and is an amazing pitcher.
Webb is also a great pitcher. I think an argument could be made that he is currently a better pitcher than Santana. HE let up 12 homeruns this season, compared to Johans 31.
I think the NL-AL argument may be somewhat important but it is extremely over analyzed.
Wonder if Nathan goes to the Brewers for JJ Hardy plus prospects.
Ken rosenthal said that he was offered a one year deal by the brewers….i know, ken rosenthal…i know
Bobcat – where did you get the Morlan news? I see it was posted on rotoworld before you posted it here – did you get this info from rotoworld or from your profession?
Buddy,
LOL. We’ve learned so much, we can all list “Bobcat” as a reference when we apply for front office jobs.
Real Bobcat today I had a feeling you would be impersonated,you had all the attention on the blog that , somebody wants.This is their way of getting the attention they desperately crave.We who were on thr previous thread know you are accurate,don’t sweat it.
1. Wonder what happened so quickly that made Tampa go for Morlan instead of Rincon. Since an earlier post – I think Bobcat, might have been SJ – said that the Twins were prepping Morlan to replace Nathan (hence the trade of Nathan), what impact does that have on Nathan? And Santana-Yankees?
2. Bobcat has never referred to a “source” that I can recall.
whozat:
What we’re hearing is that the Twins (correctly) believe that an OF is easier to find than a 3B, which they also need. Cuddyer will be fine at 3B for them. They do need an OF, and let’s see what Nathan brings them.
Phil:
Don’t count on it. Hughes is expendable, pending other pieces. It’s all about lists and combinations at this point.
Buddy:
You’re welcome.
I think I have my answer to my first question.
Bobcat
I am assuming that th inclusion of Hughes would lessen the demands on the position player side of the equation. Is that at all correct?
Bobcat,
I’m gonna go ahead and count on it. If what you have said about both the NTC and the Yanks is true, the Twins just don’t have the leverage to get Hughes.
seymour:
The ‘net services get the releases about the time we do. We have inter-office circulating emails that sometimes lag the inter-team announcements and confirmations from MLB.
Joe:
I think I referred to the plan that the Twins might mover Morlan to the back of the pen. Obviously, this is a moving target for them, too.
Mike:
Correct.
Tampa Bay is really building a formidable team. In a couple of years they are going to be a major competitor in the AL east. Even this year they may have a very surprising year.
A pitching staff of Kazmir, Garza, David Price, Jacob McGee and Shields could be one of the best in all of baseball. Possibly the best. Plus they have Jeff Niemann and Wade Davis as good to very good pitching prospects on top of that.
And they have the first pick in this years draft.
Hey Bobcat, when there’s a movie about you ala “all the presdient’s men” who will play you? Matt Damon or Leanardo DiCaprio?
Also:
Do you have an inside track on tomorrow’s lottery numbers? lol.
Anyway- I’m sticking to my prediction:
Kennedy, Horne and RP prospects.
Go NYY – You are focusing on one year of HR numbers and not the big picture. Over the past four years no pitcher in baseball has been better than Santana.
If Bill Smith pulls all this off, he will have really worked himself into a corner. How does he improve from here on out? And in the first month on the job!
Global- My logic makes plenty of sense. Im basing this on last season. Not the past. Why trade the farm away for Santana when he just came off his worst career season? Makes no sense. Why base an argument for trading for Santana on 3 years ago. What has he done lately? That is giving up homeruns. Trading away Hughes or IPK who has been compared to Greg Maddux scares me to death. What would you rather have? Kennedy and Hughes who could be just as good as Santana for 10-15 years or a declining Santana for the next 5 years?
CB:
Watch them play first. They still make mistakes that your Legion team wouldn’t.
Either the Twins didn’t think too highly of Morlan, or they know the Yanks are going to replace him. H Sanchez?
You know, I thought being a student was a full time job, but being a true Yankees’ fan takes way more effort.
“Don’t count on it. Hughes is expendable, pending other pieces. It’s all about lists and combinations at this point.”
What do you mean “pending other pieces”? Unless another potential ace is coming to the Yanks as a part of the deal, I don’t really see how Hughes could become expendable.
Joe:
Look at the big picture. The Twins will be immensely improved if Smith pulls all three of these deals off.
You have to give Bill Smith a ton of credit. Minnesota is a terrific organization. They do such a strong job of evaluating talent.
You can just tell that they were prepared for all of these contingencies and had worked out all the permutations of what they’d have to do if Santana didn’t sign.
I’d guess Terry Ryan had this all laid out with Smith before he left. Nonetheless, if this comes off its impressive.
Compare this to a guy like Bill Stoneman.
whozat:
The Yankees have replacements for Hughes.
Adam:
As you’ve heard me say, there are moving parts everywhere on these things.
so what’s the lastest on Santana?????
I meant “latest”
So lets see..the Mets don’t have the prospects, he might not want to go to Boston and they don’t need him anyway, the Angels and Dodgers wont pay him $25m a year and give up 4 prospects. So who does that leave?? I wonder if the Twins already asked Santana which teams he wouldn’t go to…?
Bobcat, if you have any pull at all, please please beg for Phil to be left out of any package for Johan. A year ago he wouldn’t have be even heard in trade rumors, and now a minor injury has him at the forefront of them? Phil is the future of this franchise. It’s not worth it for a nearly 29 year old pitcher.
bskul:
Who? He’s the last in line. There are others in front of him.
Bobcat
Okay, kids in bed, husband watching TV, back to my GM guessing.
Nathan to Cubs for Pie and Theriot or Fontenot? Is that enough ante upping or too much?
bobcat,
does it still stand 75% santana to yanks?
50% hughes to twins?
Well, let’s hope that the Twins think even less of Hughes than SJ44 does.
Damn you, Pete! Getting my hopes up by giving Hughes that stupid nickname. Now I can’t let it go.
Bobcat – I think you’ve created a monster. Everyone is analyzing everything now.
Captain:
Of course the Twins know who Santana will accept a trade to. They’ve known that all along probably.
Mike:
The suits in Yankeeland have determined what they will and won’t give up for Santana. Obviously, the Twins want a lot. They don’t, however, have a lot of leverage. They may prefer volume at A- level vs one A+. We’ll have to see what they prefer and where it goes. A lot depends on what they can get for Nathan.
Bobcat,
Good point. For the next couple of years they will no doubt be kind of comical.
Nonetheless – think about how desperately the yankees need a left handed premium starter, particularly if Andy does’t come back.
Tampa Bay will have 3 left handed starters in Kazmir, Price and McGee who could be front of the rotation stars. Then they’ll have Garz and Shields.
On top of that their position player talent has potential all stars around the field.
I know potential is just that – potential but that is an absurdly talented team.
Bobcat – That was my point (I was being facetious). From what we’ve read here, Smith really has a well thought-out plan in place, and is now executing it.
As Billy Loe once said, “You win 20 games once, they expect it every year!”
The expectations for Smith and the Twins going forward will be pretty high. But, they’ve always seemed to have a good organization. Imagine what they could do with a larger budget.
Bobcat – are the Mets a player for Johan? I know he loves NY, but does which team he plays for in NY make a difference?
Rebecca, truer words were never spoken, re:
You know, I thought being a student was a full time job, but being a true Yankees’ fan takes way more effort.
pat:
I won’t say you’re wrong. Those are names have been discussed.
migames:
Nothing has changed.
Mike:
I just try to get people to think like a GM. It makes it easier to digest.
whats the big deal about melky. 15 homeruns in 3 years in the bigs. not that impressive. melky is way over hyped. more so than any spankee prospect I have ever seen, and Ive seen alot.
Mike,
Are you really asking bobcat to try and push for hughes to not get traded? you really think the guy has any actualy connection to the team? come on man, dont be so naive.
Pete – -reading this blog today has been the high point of a very tiring and depressing day. Thanks for organizing it, and to all you posters for interesting comments and analysis. Esp Bobcat, but to all who contributed.
this is hysterical, all you people who are believing the info that bobcat is saying as fact. He may be right, he may be wrong, but he doenst know anymore than anyone else who is not involved with the team. come on people, this is ridiculous
CB:
What we like is that we’re seeing a willingness on the part of the Rays to actually trade. They have bettered themselves.
Joe:
Sorry, I missed the tone of your post. Trying to get through the emails and post replies here. We need more smilies?
seymour:
If Reyes is on the table, yes. So, no.
So now that the Twins traded for a centerfielder in Delmon Young, can we expect Melky to be chip in any Santana deal? Who else would the Twins consider?
What kind of package do the Yanks put together?
And does the Delmon Young deal actually help the Red Sox because the Twins won’t insist on Jacoby Ellsbury in any package taking away a potential dealbreaker?
Twins want volume. One A+ prospect is not a good bet that he’ll end up an A+ player. But 4 B+ to A- players is a good bet at least one of them ends up a good player. Kennedy & Horne are good prospects. I mean Kennedy has command and pitches. He can be taught HOW to pitch. Horne could be dominating. He’s actually Hughes-esque, but the command isn’t consistant yet. Lots of teams would love those two guys starting for them.
jorge:
I never said I was connected to the team. I work for all of them, on a contract basis. You are welcome to believe what I post, or not. America, what a country!
jorge-read the hall of fame post from yesterday, it starts there…
Dennis:
Delmon Young is a RF, so no, that does not effect the Sox.
Garza is absolutely horrible – he had a whip of over 1.5. Delmon is the number one ranked prospect even tho he never walks he has power, speed, a canon for an arm and he bat 288 in a full season. He was second in ROY voting. I dunno why the rays made that trade. Garza will not add much to their rotation and he is only a third starter on that team. They should have traded for a closer if anything. And now the twins will ask for a starter from the yanks for santana. The only question is which one? It seems like they dont really favor hughes over kennedy and if they do, it is not by much or the media just isnt portraying it that way.
BOBCAT,
Does it seem like the twins prefer Hughes or do you think they would be content with kennedy. They will obviously get better prospects or more prospects if they take kennedy than if they take hughes.
If they are looking for quality and quantity in the minors they could go with kennedy and get two high prospects like Horne and Tabata along with Melky most likely. With Hughes, no way are the yanks giving up two high level prospects as well. I hope they go with kennedy! With Santana, Wang, Hughes, Chamberlain and Moose/Pettitte we have no need for kennedy (he becomes expendable) And our only issues after the trade is finding a centerfielder to replace melky which will be tough
and of course, shoring up the pen which may be even tougher – Percival and Riske seem like decent options and they are only class B free agents. Troy had an outstanding 2007 and obviously a better career so he is probably the safer bet. Riske had a good yr and a great 2005 but that was three yrs ago already. Mahay, affeldt, hawkins alfonseca, benitez all suck. Really, we need percival or riske or both, there is no other feasible options on the market. And staying in house for an eighth inning guy is far too risky i think. We held auditions last yr and i dont think any one passed with flying colors and i wouldnt trust any one within the organization with the ball in the eighth inning currently.
bobcat, i am not getting on you as much as the people who are taking your words as pure fact and the be all end all
Jorge – You should really make sure you know what you are talking about before you make statements like “He may be right, he may be wrong, but he doenst know anymore than anyone else who is not involved with the team. come on people, this is ridiculous”
There is a reason so many of us ask him for info.
Twins hair-trigger acceptance to replace Rincon with Morlan means they have a replacement for Morlan already factored into a future deal. I don’t think that Morlan was necessarily “expendable” – not in a deal with Garza for Young.
I don’t want to see Hughes go – I really don’t.
Best case for fans is Yanks hand over Melky, Tabata, Kennedy and maybe another guy – hate to say it – Melancon or Horne. That’s the A- crew Bobcat refers to.
Adam:
You’re thinking like a GM. Good…LOL
The Twins don’t have the leverage to get Hughes.
The Cubs would be nuts to give up Pie for a 1 year rental. Also Young is more of a corner outfielder then a CF. So I dont think them getting Young has anything to do with CF, they would still need one.
Ok Horne isn’t Hughes-esque, more like AJ Burnett-esque.
i didnt want to sift through 200+ comments to see if this was mentioned already, but Ajax is set to start 2008 in AA Trenton, NOT AAA Scranton. fairly big difference. AA means we might see him in September. AAA means he could be up by May. 2009 is his eta.
I know I am in a minority with this position, but I would really rather protect Tabbata and Jackson. If trading Hughes allows me that I’m all for it.
I’m thinking the Brewers are going to be difficult to top in the Nathan deal given their depth of talent.
They’re moving Ryan Braun from third to left outfield. That really gives Matt La Porta no place to play. And La Porta can just rake.
I’m thinking Nathan for La Porta and Mat Gamel or Cole Gillespie depending is they want to keep Hardy at short or not.
you are all a bunch of losers, get a life instead of believing all this insane stuff you read here that is just opinion and taken for facts. you all live in cyber space, and not the bronx.
peter- you have a great blog here but i find almost every entry posted by someone other than you to be utter nonsense. i trust everything you post becasue you have access to the team that we dont have and during the season are constantly around them. but these blogs part with everyone contributing? its terrible nonsense..
Dave:
Both sides of that trade were “upside” trades. Garza was/is still highly thought of as a prospect.
jorge:
No problem. But, if I post it as happenin’, it’s happenin’.
Steve:
The Twins’ pen is the least of their problems. They have pitching a’plenty. They are parlaying same into bats.
Didn’t LaPorta get drafted last June? If so he’s not available to even be a PBNL yet.
All – someone correct if I’m wrong – but let’s be realistic about Nathan – he’s a one year rental, as well, is he not? Thought he was a 2009 FA?
CB – 1 year of Nathan for LaPorta?
CB – LaPorta (or any player) can’t be traded until the one year anniversary of his signing after the draft.
To TheBoss84 of nyyfans-
You trust Bobcat and now Buzah! and Snatch. I don’t know anything about this Snatch other than he’s correct in saying that trading Hughes is a possibility. I know Bobcat and Miller as legit, and well, Buzah! is a pretender.
Here’s the scoop on Buzah and his “possible†source! He’s made it known on other boards that he corresponds with Mark Kriegal, who is the very, very, very poor man’s Mike Lupica.
If you never heard of Kriegal, he currently writes a gossipy editorial for foxsports dot com and knows as much inside info as you and I. Whatever info he might happen to get, is the purposeful leaks (and misinformation) that all sportswriters conveniently get, the same mostly false leaks that Bobcat speaks of.
Kriegal is better suited to talking about 70’s songs by the O’Jays or The Blue Notes, as he often does. He briefly worked at the Daily News till they realized what a snore he was. he never has any breaking news. It’s not his job.
Hence, Buzah! knows squat about the Yankee FO and their doings, other than what he reads.
Captain:
It’s probably a safe bet that the ol’ 72-hour window would apply with Nathan, as it will with Santana.
CB: Not bad, but think more MLB-ready. Remember, the Twins needs. Look at the two teams on a depth chart.
Twins can get Hughes. But that’s all they’re gettin’.
They can get Hughes and some low grade A-AA “prospects” or get 4 good bet SP and RP.
Horne will be an MLB player, if he doesn’t work as a srtarter, that 94-97mph fastball is going to work well in the pen too. Why didn’t Cashman trade him for Gagne this summer? He needed him to trade for Santana.
And who says Nathan is NL Central bound. Seems Boston could pull off a Nathan trade, put Paps in the rotation and say FU to the Yanks if we get Santana.
Melky
Pete dismissed the A-Rod news as insane when a poster here was dead on with it. Sometimes info comes from the strangest places.
Bobcat – my latest proposed list: Melky, Tabata, Kennedy and Melancon or Horne, of which you state that the Twinkies dont need bullpen help.
Which means, working with your “volume” expectation, and the fact that the Twins instead need bats, then one of the following is more likely:
1. Cabrera, Kennedy, Tabata, Jackson
2. Cabrera, Hughes, Tabata
3. Cabrera, Hughes, Jackson
Adam:
The Red Sox can win the AL East without Nathan. The NL Central teams cannot.
Melky for ambassador:
What the heck are you reading it for then? Go to the Times website and knock yourself out. All the facts you want. Nobody says this blog is all facts. It’s all about opinions. That’s what blogs are. We think it’s fun. You don’t? SEE YA!
Mike R, Phil,
Thanks so much – I had a total brain freeze on that one. Of course La Porta can’t be traded.
I just can’t see where the Brewers are going to be able to play him and he was arguably the most major league ready bat in the draft since. And he seems to be coming very fast.
I smell a Rickie Weeks, or maybe a Corey Hart switch to Minnie.
Steve:
There are about 20 different combinations that we’ve seen, involving a lot of different players. I can’t really give you names, but you can imagine. You’re probably high on a couple of them.
bobcat
i dunno his peripherals were awful in 2007. 1.3 whip is ok, 1.4 is looking pretty bad, 1.5 is bad and he had a whip of 1.53 – thas not even good enuff to be a number five starter.
My question to you was would the twins be more interested in kennedy than hughes if they can get more prospects and more quality prospects if they take kennedy. If the get hughes that might be all they r getting or just hughes and melky. That is a big difference- kennedy and the number one pitching prospect in baseball.
Bobcat, true. But probably not if Santana is a Yank.
Mike:
I think those players would help the Twins. You might see more bodies than that, given the Cubbies would be involved.
Bobcat –
What other impact young players COULD NY offer, that are MLB-ready?
Melky, yes
Duncan, no
Cano, off limits, you say
Miranda, yes (where would that guy play with Morneau rooted at 1B?)
All others are not “MLB-ready” – 2 years off…
Bobcat:
You said, “There are about 20 different combinations that we’ve seen, involving a lot of different players.”
Are there any combinations not involving any of the “Big 4″(Cano,Joba,Hughes,Kennedy?
Dave:
Garza’s well thought of by those that write checks, so I’ll give them the benefit. The Twins’ final needs list will depend on what they get along the way. No one really has a sense of that yet.
Anyone know the system well enough to take stab at other position players which may have a near-term impact? Montero and others are simply too far off, and I dont see the need for a guy like Alberto Gonzalez.
Bobcat-
Your best guess on where Carlos Silva signs?
Steve:
I don’t think I said that all of the players on the Yankees’ lists to the Twins were “MLB-ready”. They aren’t.
Greg:
The two teams have agreed on various combinations of various levels of players, pending what the Twins ultimately want to do. Do you remember reading a quote from Hank Steinbrenner, saying, “it’s up to the Twins”?
It’s up to the Twins.
Folks, when the Twins look to trade Santana to the Yanks, they’re looking at our pitching prospects. When they’re looking to trade Nathan to the NL Central teams, they’re looking at their position prospects. Tabata and Jackson are good and all, but other teams have far more MLB ready position players. The Yanks have more MLB ready pitchers. They want our pitchers, not our position guys. I think Melky doesn’t even figure if they get what they want for Nathan. Melky is a nice player with a good arm, but this is Johan Santana, the Ace of Aces in baseball. They want pitchers from us.
Cashman saw this coming a long time ago and he knew he’d need good PITCHING prospects to trade for Santana. He has them.
Top NYY Position Prospects:
Jose Tabata
Jesus Montero
Austin Jackson
Shelley Duncan
Brett Gardner
Francisco Cervelli
Eric Duncan
Juan Miranda
Alberto Gonzalez
It drops off sharply from there…
I don’t understand a lot of the logic I read. Everyone wants the Yankees to get better, everyone. A lot of us want the Yankees to keep every young guy in the system, no matter what.
Now, I like Melky a lot but he’s just an average baseball player that has yet to reach a point in his career where he demands more money. He’s cheap and young, that’s it. Sure he has a cute name and a rifle for an arm but he’s replaceable.
I like the idea of holding on to all the young pitching prospects but treating them like THEY’ll ALL pan out and be great contributors is not realistic. One out of four or five really makes an impact. The fact that the Yankees have a few ready to help next season is almost a miracle.
Baseball is a business and it needs to be looked upon like that. If it takes a few young guys to get probably the best starter in the AL, you make that deal. It would be insane not to.
We can all sit around and keep our fingers crossed and hope that they all blossom into proven MLB players over the next few years or we can hope the management does it’s level headed best to make the team better, now.
Bottom line, I trust Cashman and I think the Steins do too.
Bobcat,
Link?
The position players in the Yanks’ system that are arguably close to the majors are Fransisco Cervelli, Brett Gardner, Austin Jackson and Eric Duncan. Juan Miranda could also be of interest, but I doubt the Twins would want an unproven player with a price tag.
A case could be made for Marcos Vechionacci, I heard some scouts say that he is only an epiphany away from making a giant leap in terms of offensive production.
Matt Carson and Reegie Corona also come to mind as well-but they are both a season/season and a half away.
how many more trades can they make this off season than two blockbuster ones with the rays and yankees … I cant imagine another one. And there is no one very good left in the FA market …
Garza may be highly thought of but the numbers dont coincide … it was only half of a season but numbers dont lie. He sucked last yr.
Was the the FAKE Bobcat?
Not me.
Bobcat
November 28th, 2007 at 11:22 pm
Breaking news:
Yankees trade Ian Kennedy, Melky Cabrera, and Philip Hughes to the Twins for Johan Santana
that was probably a fake bobcat
watch out that may not be Bobcat
Phil-
I think it’s another impersonator.
crap – can’t be right…
Pete get rid of these fake losers!!!
Bobcat
When you say that Hughes can be replaced, do you mean because the system refills itself year to year, or because some prospect could come along in another deal that is slightly less MLB-ready?
Is Cano’s value, which I think is justified, over and above Hughes purely because pitchers are more replaceable? As these lists contain Hughes on them, then Cashman obviously deems Hughes as less crucial than Cano…but that’s hard for me to wrap my mind around.
I guess the problem many posters have, like myself, without being emotional, is that Cano doesn’t really have equal value to Hughes in many respects, and yet he is an untouchable. Wouldn’t one solid, full year for Hughes raise that value-quotient, or do most believe he doesn’t have that in him? Obviously Minnesota would have to….
If we get Johan Santana, can we also get Carlos Santana to sing the Anthem. THat would kick @ss.
These impostors and phonies probably call for stricter registration requirements.
Bobcat,
Hank also made comments that teams up the asking price for the Yankees and that the Yankees “will not be robbed” in this deal.
This is moving at a pretty fast clip, but it won’t get resolved for awhile, huh?
Buddy:
We’re hearing a lot of Mets and Phillies, but don’t be surprised if the Royals jump in. Wouldn’t surprise me if the Mariners get involved, too. Right now, I’d say Phillies.
I think you folks know my writing style by now. You won’t see, “breaking news” from me.
I am hearing, that a deal is very close. The yankees will send Kennedy, Melky, and Jackson sometime tomorrow afternoon for Santana.
comments.. let Papelbon go to the rotation, if you think he will dominate in the rotation like the pen you are wrong.If he goes into the rotation it hurts Boston plan and simple..
Matt Garza does not stink, actually he has a very high cieling and BTW is buddies with Hughes.
Tampa pitching staff loaded!!Really they have many young untested arms Price, nieman, and others have no pro experiance. So they are loaded but the Yanks big 3 are untested, I get the logic there(not really).
I am against the Santana trade or most iterations of the players but whoever said Beckett is better then Santana is a fool.. Based on what? Santana can only pitch in the postseason when his TEAM gets there… I am guessing Beckett has about 50 less wins then Santana and his stats are not in Santana’s league..
SANTANA IS THE BEST PITCHER IN BBALL AS OF THIS MOMENT END OF DISCUSSION.
Who is this ego maniac that likes to lie in Bobcats name?
Bobcat never starts posts with “Breaking News:”. At least not that I’ve seen.
Thanks Bobcat.
Hey Bobcat, I’ve got a bottle of New Castle and 5 bottles of Saporro ice cold in my fridge. Which one should I drink?
I figure, I drink the New Castle and I can start fresh with the Saparro, but if I have a Saparro I can have the New Castle any time.
Ahh fcuk it, we’re talking santana here, I’m gonna get into the single malt scotch.
This impersonating seriously has to stop already. Not only is it annoying but it ruins the integrity of the blog and the people that post here.
Matt Garza is considered to be a top 20 prospect. Some young pitchers take time to develop. If you just jump off the ledge with them you’ll never get anywhere.
Wow.. must be a pretty big loser to troll Yankees blogs in order to impersonate somebody talking trade rumors. Might want to get a life, girlfriend or a noose whoever the loser Red Sox fan is that is impersonating Bobcat.
you have to love when someone tries to fake being someone and doesn’t even capitalize the name in the same way as the original
mel:
I still think we’re looking at a quick deal once Nathan get resolved.
Brian:
I meant that the Yankees’ suits believe they have less well-known prospects to replace Hughes.
Dave:
The position players that the Twins will want are all top-100 prospects, so it’s pretty easy to compile that list. It’s the combinations that get tricky.
Checkout this contest by Mark Feinsand of the NY Daily News:
http://www.nydailynews.com/blogs/yankees/
More fake BObcat?
November 28th, 2007 at 11:29 pm
I am hearing, that a deal is very close. The yankees will send Kennedy, Melky, and Jackson sometime tomorrow afternoon for Santana.
if you are right Bobcat melky, kennedy, and Ajax that is OK…
we will see how much inside info you all have.
no hughes and tabata I am happy.
Not me.
bobcat
November 28th, 2007 at 11:29 pm
I am hearing, that a deal is very close. The yankees will send Kennedy, Melky, and Jackson sometime tomorrow afternoon for Santana.
but hughes or kennedy thas the real question cuz its prolly one and hughes means less prospects at lower quality kennedy prolly more and better prospects
I don’t think it’s close at all. I don’t think they’re far down the road with the Twins yet.
Thanks Bobcat-
All your info may have helped me win a Yankees DVD set that I just posted about on Feinsand’s blog.
When we talk about the Twins’ list, does that mean that we might be getting more back from Minnesota than Santana??
Dude, guys, use common sense here.
If we’re arguing about whether or not the Yankees are going to trade EITHER Hughes OR Kennedy, it’s pretty unlikely they trade both, isn’t it?
Bobcat, Would the Twins be interested in this..?
Ian Kennedy, Melky Cabrera, Jeff Marquez, Brad Suttle
I already noticed some subtle differences between real and fake Bobcat. I don’t want to reveal them as to not alert the troll, but they are their.
we know Bobcat by now, guys be on the look out for the imposters and now for the imposters that post here there is a thing called TOS here, you better read that before you get into legal trouble..oh you didn’t know that
yes every computer has an IP yours can be traced to an email
keep going
Fake bobcat, they will send the prospects “sometime” tomorrow..what are they waiting for the bus to arrive??!!
Sean – Suttle can’t be traded.
Peter will ban whoever it is by the morning.
Bobcat, if the yankees do put a deal together for Santana, when do you think it will be done and announced?
Fake Bobcat posts are almost as fun as real Bobcat posts.
This just in:
Twins send Santana to Yanks for a bottle of Jim Beam and a size 36DD bra!!! Sounds like the Twins need better support!
get it, the Twins, size 36DD.
I love scotch.
That is right, he was just drafted. Alright
Captain – You read it wrong. He says “The yankees will send Kennedy, Melky, and Jackson sometime tomorrow afternoon for Santana.” This isn’t a trade rumor. Apparently Kennedy, Melky and Jackson are in a car pool with Santana.
DadinIowa:
The Yankees aren’t concerned with anything the Twins have except Santana. The “Twins’ lists” are those provided between the two teams.
Rebecca:
That scenario would only be applicable if someone got impatient or nervous.
Sean:
Suttle is not trade-able. Recent draftee.
Pete I wish when someone post under anothers name you ban them from the blog.It’s akin to lying.We waste time reposting correcions.
Real Bobcat posts usually never name names. And he’s substantiated because about 3 minutes later someone else is posting the story. ala: the Young-Garza deal.
If it’s something that sounds like Rosenthal or Heyman would say, then it’s fake-cat. Remember you hear what they want you to hear.
Bobcat, how about a deal involving Ian Kennedy, Melky Cabrera, Jeff Marquez and another hitting prospect not named Tabata, Jackson.
Bobcat:
Any thoughts on bullpen solutions? You also mentioned no more bats. I guess Rowand is not the solution in center. Gardner?
Yankeesrule:
There is no timetable. The Twins need to be ready, which they won’t be (shouldn’t be…) until they trade Nathan.
mel:
Correct. You hear what they want you to hear.
If it were up to Cashman, he’d hold out. Until the deadline if he had to. With Hank, who knows? Maybe Pete should call him. Heard he loves to talk.
Adam don’t even say it, just let it be I already warned them about the TOS thing but go ahead if you want to be sued
Adam: I’ve got some bras! do I get Santana?!? I’ve got better than Jim Beam too. I’ve got single barrel Jack Daniel’s.
Do I win the Santana bidding wars?!?
Peter, when you have the time, please take note of the Bobcat impersonator(s).
I sent you an email as well. Thanks.
I’m not Bobcat, but i wish i was…GO NYYFans
Hey Bobcat, nyyfans.com is here it’s at. Come over there.
I hope Bobcat is right, no more bats. I hate to sign 30+ year old FA position players. Particularly now that we have some good developing hitters in the minors.
Andrea- jack daniels is better but the Twins drink low class liqour.
Sean:
I really can’t release names that are on the lists. Just step back and look at it logically: if you put the farm together with the idea that it will be used to grab the big prizes, you don’t really care how much it takes, because you know you have more of the same waiting to move up.
coney:
The Yankees really like the idea of using the kids as middle releif, with Farnsworth, Viz and Mo at the end.
Brandon,
you shouldnt have even warned them about the TOS and just let Pete ban them. It is really infuriating being impersonated. I even shot Pete an email telling him who I was, my email address and everything just so he knew it was actually me and not an imposter.
Bobcat –
This is the last thing a REALY MLB analyst would and should be doing.
You’re fired.
Andrea – That is no way for a future Doctor to speak…but I guess writing it is okay. You win!!!
Bobcat-
Please don’t let the impostors and trashers dissuade you from sharing your invaluable info with the majority of us who respect and are grateful for all you’ve provided.
Not me.
Bobcat
November 28th, 2007 at 11:46 pm
Twins trade Johan Santana and Neshek to the Yankees for Joba, Phil, Cano, and A-rod.
to the NYYFANS.com guy:
Your site is lame.
Bobcat, please tell us the following:
1) Who killed Kennedy
2) If aliens really exist
You seem to know everything else so I was hoping you would know this as well. NYYFANS.com rules!
Boxcar:
Not to worry.
Bobcat, I understand that but you do that to an extent. Which is why Joba Chamberlain is off limits. Yankees can’t trade him because he’s a folk here to the NY fans. Hughes should be held in the same light.
Did anyone notice that the start of the Bobcat impersonations and the ceasing of Jorge’s heckling kinda coincided. Not an accusation mind you. Just an observation.
as stacked as the Yanks are in pitchers, they don’t have another Phil Hughes anywhere in they system as of right now. They have pitchers with great potential, but no one who cut up AA at 19/20 or who’s about to, unless Hario Heredia starts flying through the system next year and hits AA like a hurricane in 2009.
HERO***
DadinIowa:
That is exactly what Cashman has been saying.
I really appreciate your comments and insights, Bobcat. I hope you can keep up the good work throughout the long winter (how many days until pitchers and catchers?)
Between you, Pete and SJ (and so many others), its a lot easier for some of us to separate the crazies from those who know what they are talking about.
Sean:
That may be, but we’re not talking about the emotion and paternalistic feelings of fans. These are suits. They are detached and will do what they think is best for the organizational goals. Which is win NOW. So, some “heroes” may get traded.
That’s what I’m saying.
Bobcat – will you be around with some info for us tomorrow? How about throughout the winter meetings – thanks
Adam: hmm…I’ve got some Crystal Palace in the plastic bottle?
Bobcat, you have been on this site forever. Your significant other must be pissed. Looks like someone will be sleeping on the couch tonight.
Bobcat, even the hot cheerleader? Say it ain’t so!
I second that DadinIowa.
If nyyfans.com was any good we’d all be there. Pete runs a tight ship. This is a great site for Yankees and Springstein news.
Adam –
Pfft you wish you were good enough to post on nyyfans.
DadinIowa:
Some days are more condusive to posting than others. I expect that next week may be spotty, pending what happens at the meetings.
I’ll do what I can.
Here come the little kiddies from another board who are so stupid that they don’t realize that they are risking all Yanks fans from getting valuable information.
For those skeptics, all I can say is read the A-Rod threads here, a week before it was announced to the public that A-Rod and the Yanks were negotiating a deal. You’ll see just how legit Miller and Bobcat are.
If you don’t care and still want to play, go to back to that cesspool board of yours and go back to discussing whether or not we should include Eric Duncan in the deal. Or go back to posting pictures of owls. Just don’t ruin this board, where the more serious Yankees fans call home.
Thank you.
Thanks, Bobcat.
Wow, the Bobcat Era has arrived…
Mike R: I think that’s JUST the way for a future doctor to speak. And it’s not like I’m going to be a MEDICAL doctor!
Pete, seriously…please ban these impersonators and NYYFANS.com goons. And while you are at it, see if you can get that miserable joke of a site (nyyfans.com) shut down.
Thank you!
Miller,
At least they don’t bother you anymore, huh?
What I don’t get about the “DOn’t trade Hughes” people, is that Hughes is 21yo. He’s got a ton of potential but that’s it. He’s not winning the Cy next year. In the mean time, we’ll have Santana and he could easily win the Cy next year. When Phil Hughes is winning Cy’s the Yanks can trace for him then, or sign him off the FA market.
Maybe we believed the hype too much. THese were all chips to get Johan Santana at this very moment.
Dont hate us NYYFans.com people. We’re better then you. And we know it!
Bobcat’s Boss and Bobcat Hater have me peeing in my pants.
Funny stuff
you know what’s funny here we are trying to learn WTF is going to happen, we get a good source in Bobcat then the jokers from NYYFANS and some maybe from PSD and I bet a couple are Red Sox fans wanna F’ it up for everyone, but whatever your IP is going to be blocked off tomorrow enjoy it while you can
The Twins are about to close a deal that will send Matt Garza to Tampa for Delmon Young.
http://www.nytimes.com/2007/11/29/sports/baseball/29base.html?ref=sports
If the Twins now have Delmon Young, do they still need/want Melky?
ppa79…. GO AWAY
Adam,
We just feel that it can get done without giving up Hughes. You know? Having your cake and eating it, too.
Why all the hate for nyyfans.com? It has some very good discussions, as well as some people who waste your time. As does every forum on the internet, including this one.
At least they don’t have the impersonation problem. Don’t get me wrong, I like Pete’s blog and appreciate some of the posters here, but the impersonation is really annoying at times.
Mel:
I just wish theyd leave. Usually at night this happens with all the imposters. When I read and post at work, its much better.
What I seriously cant believe is that a gang of kids from NYFANS.com or whatever have actually come over here to declare internet war on this site.
How sad.
Pete is going to be mad in the morning. It may be time for registration and IP banning.
Also to the doubters and trolls. Miller knew the EXACT A-Rod $ amount AND bonuses for reaching/beating each HR record by the respective player a WEEK before it was made public.
Now go back to mocking and posting owl pics on your board.
I haven’t been to nyyfans.com, but I doubt that they’d be juvenile to come here and crap all over this blog. More than likely a troll from some provincial city…
Hey Bobcat
Do you think Hughes stays or goes ? I really hope Cash doesn’t include him since it looks like we have more power in this trade.
Maybe Pete could shoot an email to Jim Frasch of nyyfans to keep his rowdy kiddies in their place or risk having their IP’s banned from here.
Owl pics are cool. You are just jealous you can’t post them here.
Bobcat, are you going to stay on this thread or move to the next one?
Son, it’s almost time for bed. Stop creating internet rumors and do your schoolwork.
Hey,
Sorry for arriving late to the party, but who is Bobcat? And how does he know so much?
mel- me too.
Kennedy, Horne, +RP prospects for instance.
but Hughes and A-AA prospects NOT NAMED Jackson or Tabta isn’t a bad deal for us either. Cuz we’ll have a Santana, Wang, (Pettite), Joba, Kennedy, Moose rotation. With Horne, Sanchez and Melancon waiting in the wings, and more coming behind them. Which is not bad for us.
1)Santana
2)Wang
That’s good.
it depends on what the Twins want from us.
Melky aint the answer.
From the nytimes:
The Twins have been telling teams that have been pursuing Santana that they need a center fielder. The Yankees have been willing to deal Melky Cabrera as part of a package that did not include Joba Chamberlain, but that offer was rejected by the Twins.
The offer was probably Melky, Kennedy,—,—
Id love to go to playoff war with
1 Johan
2.Wanger
3.Pettitte
4.IPK and….Drumroll:
Joba setting up MO
I can’t believe this is not still an option.
Bobcat, Is Joba in the pen possible if Andy comes back?
what the hell is going on here???
we have alot of trolls here tonight
word got out to
RealGM
PSD
NYYFANS
immateur Red Sox & Mets fans
“I haven’t been to nyyfans.com, but I doubt that they’d be juvenile to come here and crap all over this blog. More than likely a troll from some provincial city…”
Read this thread:
http://forums.nyyfans.com/showthread.php?t=108012&page=9
I always thought of nyyfans.com as home to a dim-witted but well-meaning group of Yankee fans.
The posts there are pretty poor in terms of baseball analysis, but they seemed like good people and good fans.
Tonight’s stunt in this thread here and the corresponding thread over there is simply beyond pathetic.
But hey, keep up the “Don’t Trade Melky” threads, the juvenile dancing locks, the idiotic clapping emoticons, and the unrealistic trade proposals. You guys are champs.
PS. You guys don’t know it, but your board is a punchline on baseball sites where people actually know what they are talking about. And I don’t just mean Yankee sites.
Good Luck!!
C’mon Pete Ban the trolls!
Steve Howe You Doin
November 28th, 2007 at 11:18 pm
Anyone know the system well enough to take stab at other position players which may have a near-term impact? Montero and others are simply too far off, and I dont see the need for a guy like Alberto Gonzalez
_____________________________________________________
NYY has a minor leager in Scranton, a utility type much like Betimit, good at 1st, 2nd and short and fair at third, named Angel Chavez. a little power, some speed, decent bat. He’s bounced around, but, looks like he’s beginning to get it together. The only other infielder that might be ready is Juan Francia, a 2nd baseman.
It’s a few stooges from nyyfans who are trolling and then reporting back to their playground what they are saying and giving one another high fives.
One nyyfan poster, rodg12, seems very decent and posted this to the others: I’m not bobcat, sorry. Just someone who lost a lot of respect for this board and the people who post on it.
Now he is getting ridiculed by them. Goes to show you the mentality of some of them there.
We arent the ones who are taking what this Bobcat person is saying as Gospel. You guys are acting like he is Brian Cashman.
Bobcat, I echo everyone else in thanking you for taking the time to share your knowledge of these discussions with us. And I wish those impersonators would find something better to do.
Im going to sleep. Hopefully when I go to work tomorrow to not work (where I read and post) this mess will all be cleared up.
To Bobcat:
Pete will get rid of the other Bobcats, just like he got rid of the other Millers. Take it easy man.
Breaking news:
My balls hurt!
Can’t we all just get along? All i want to do is find out what is going on with the Santana situation. If Bobcat is telling the truth, thats awesome. IF i choose not to believe him thats cool too..But lets get back to the topic at hand.
HAHAHAH LOOK AT ME IM SO CLEVER I CAN DO THIS TOO!!!
I eat Bobcats for lunch and dinner
First of all, your nickname tells us you’re not to be taken seriously. And if you want to be taken seriously, why hate someone, regardless of whether you think he’s legit or not.
I will repeat this to you and your friends one last time. Miller and Bobcat ARE in fact legit and I can vouch for both. I won’t tell you how, but like I said, take a look at past transaction, including the A-Rod deal, that both knew well in advance of anyone, including sportswriters. I will tell you that Miller is a friend of a top agent in baseball.
You can say, “Hey, anybody could have guessed A-Rod would be coming back.” True….BUT would anyone have been able to guess the EXACT salary and EXACT bonuses?
FYI we knew ALL the particulars well before Madden reported that they were even talking to A-Rod.
So please tell your buddies to STOP ruining a good thing here. It only serves to give YOU and them good info well before anybody, including sportswriters, reports it publicly. Do you want to chase away good sources like this?
You can vouch for them but wont tell me how? Thats quite convenient. This is like saying “I have proof that aliens exist. But I cant show you”
bobcat
November 28th, 2007 at 11:29 pm
I am hearing, that a deal is very close. The yankees will send Kennedy, Melky, and Jackson sometime tomorrow afternoon for Santana.
Bobcat,
Who do we go and get to play CF? I don’t want Andruw Jones. Could Rowand be possible?
Why are some of you guys acting like pricks? If you don’t think he’s credible, then dont believe him…but to mock him is just unbelievable. I’d expect more out of Yankee fans.
Bobcat’s Boss
November 28th, 2007 at 11:45 pm
Bobcat –
This is the last thing a REALY MLB analyst would and should be doing.
You’re fired.
_____________________________________________________
A REALY MLB analyst? Nice.
I think you really, really better turn off your monny’s computer and go to bed. Santa Claus is gonna be pizsed at you if you don’t.
Don’t bash NYYFANS.COM because some rotten apples have ruined your discussions. I have been a member of that site since 2001 and it’s run very well and very tight. Jim runs a great site. That’s all for now. Goodnight. Listen to me every now and then on Steve Somers show. I call in as Anthony for New Jersey. I ask for them to say Piscataway (home of Rutgers football) but they never do.
Rowand would be a nice fit
I meant from New Jersey. I try to type too fast.
If Hughes and Tabata aren’t in the deal then I’m happy.
Pete, I think that having an outfield of Matsui – Damon – Abreu would be terrible. let’s even put aside the high potential for Matsui and Damon to miss a lot of time with injuries during the year and assume that all three guys play all season. Matsui butchers a lot of balls and has only a so-so arm. Damon has great range but can’t throw the ball once he catches it. Abreu has never even been introduced to an outfield wall, rarely breaks a sweat and has only a so-so arm. There really is nobody amongst those three who can cover for the others’ weaknesses as Melky does. We may have outstanding young pitching, but with that outfield, what happens to their ERAs and their confidence?
With all due respect Pete: trading Melky is nuts. “Damon’s arm doesn’t come into play all that much” ? How many times did Melky throw a guy out at home last season? And how many runs did he save with the threat that he could?
melky probably threw out about 10 men at the plate last year. if damon can catch 10 more balls that melky couldn’t have gotten to, we are back at the same place.
outs are outs.
i love melky’s arm, but you are overrating the importance of it. 10 outs over the course of the season won’t make up the difference in their abilities at the plate.
i’d love to keep melky, but he’s not an untouchable.
post i made yesterday (that nobody seemed to read
):
assuming Melky is gone by opening day, what would you think of Matsui, Damon, Abreu from left to right in the outfield, picking up Corey Patterson as a 4th OF? A great pinch runner or defensive replacement. Or just a holdover until we can call someone else up midseason.
i think it’s been a while since someone had a gun in CF and a lot of us are still in awe from Melky’s performance last year.
I’m as big a fan of Damon as anyone, and am very happy with how his season ended, but the guy’s getting old. He just can’t the grind it out for the whole season anymore. And sure, Melky can’t hit that well yet: (Damon has, what, almost a decade more experience at the plate?), but he should only improve.
Sure, Melky’s not untouchable, but he fits fine already and will only get better.
PS – I’m old, but I don’t remember seeing Melky drop any last summer.
Looks like Santana may be on his way to Boston.
Bobcat this is far from over.