Lefty in the bullpen: luxury or neccessity?
Posted by: Peter Abraham - Posted in Misc on Dec 10, 2007 
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If spring training started tomorrow (and thankfully, it does not), here is who the Yankees would have as left-handed relievers:
Kei Igawa
Sean Henn
Chase Wright
Igawa was not ready for prime time last season after coming over from Japan. He seems overmatched and nervous. Henn is a nice kid who tries hard but has a 7.53 career ERA over parts of three seasons. Wright allowed a home run to Mike Lowell in April that just now landed on the Mass Pike. That was the end of him.
So what should they do?
They could overpay and sign Ron Mahay for two years. The Royals, as it turns out, are not all that interested. They could go with all right-handers or they could try and force Igawa into the role and hope all that money on him wasn’t wasted.
Having a lefty for the sake of having a lefty is a waste of money. I’d rather use a power righty against a good lefty hitter than a soft-tossing lefty.
Igawa should be traded to some NL team with a big park (San Diego for instance) before whatever value he has disappears. Henn is at the end of his rope. He was tried as a starter and now as a reliever. This camp could be his last chance.
Wright, who will be 25 when camp starts, is too young to give up on. If he can’t start, they need to see how he does in the bullpen.
Cut bait with Henn, give Wright some more time for seasoning and give Igawa a shot at relieving, the one thing he can do is strike people out so he might be worth it in a key situation.
anyone have any word as to whether Cash is still talking to the Pirates about Marte? I would much rather have him than C. Wright, Igawa, or Mahay – all 3 walk too many, and if I never saw Sean Henn again in my life it would be too soon. Marte seems like a no brainer, why isn’t anything happening w/this?? Is Pittsburgh being crazy with their demands or something? havent heard anything about what they’d want in return…
I agree Pete. Yanks should send Igawa together in a package with Matsui to either SF or SD. Both are looking for a conrner OF with some pop, and could a young, lefty SP from Japan. They could both be rejuvenated in the west coast and the Yanks could use bullpen help from either team. SD has some really good relief pitching.
I think Igawa would be a terrible relief pitcher. The guy has walked way too many people during his brief MLB career. We don’t need another guy who is going to walk the side a la the entire Yankee pen in ’07(besides Mo’)
You have to give Chase Wright another go. Giving up those four hrs to Boston is scarring…hell, it’s scarring just to watch it…and C. Wright needs to be given the opportunity to overcome it.
oh Henn seriously sucks
Everyone wants Marte from the Pirates – almost every team in baseball would be interested in him.
The yankees inquired about him last year – he’s just not going to be easy to get.
Pittsburgh has few valuable players and a new GM who was a very controversial hiring – no front office experience – was an advanced scout. Pirate fans were not happy.
He’s going to be very cautious trading Marte or any of the other few decent players they have.
If the royals really aren’t interested in Mahay and you could get him for two years I’d seriously think about it. He’s not only a lefty specialist – he’s not bad against righties either.
The big, big problem with him is his control – its really awful.
The issue with the lefties is particularly acute with the yankees – same problem as always – who do you bring in to get out Big Papi in a clutch spot?
Last year at the end of the year/ playoffs they had Joba to do that. They won’t now.
Igawa’s numbers against lefties were terrible last year – look at his splits. Really bad. Henn isn’t going to get it done. Chase Wright – last year was very bad for his development. If he didn’t get set back so far with his confidence he may have been an option. After being rushed to the majors the rest of his season was an absolute waste.
It’s a tough spot – this is an area I wouldn’t mind them taking a chance and signing a guy to a risky contract. Mahay for two years? I’d think about it.
Ability is more important than handedness.
The Pirates asked for Fernando Martinez from the Mets when they inquired about Marte (Martinez is basically their equivalent of A-Jack or Tabata).
Basically, their asking price is way to high right now for Marte.
whoa: Well put.
Trade Matsui and Igawa to SD for 2 lefty RP Justin Hampson and Joe Thatcher. They look preety good but inexperienced. Not that Matsui is a slouch though, but the Yanks get rid of 13M + 4M = 17M and get a couple of young lefty relievers that could turn out good for them next year. If anything they can be sent to AAA to get them ready.
That’s quite something that the pirates asked for Fernando Martinez for Marte.
That’s just crazy.
The pirates aren’t going to trade him unless they make sure they are fleecing the other team.
Marte is not going to happen
Igawa in the bullpen would be a very good idea because if you look at his starting numbers, he gets worse as the game goes on. His effective pitches are fastball change, slider only, hitters seem to get used to them after the 2nd or 3rd time around.
I’m on the Igawa to the bullpen bandwagon. I think the guy could do well in that spot if needed.
I forget when he said it, but I believe it was Pete,who wrote that when Chase Wright got sent down after the infamous Boston game, he chose the number 4 because he knew the “event” would follow him so he didn’t want to run away from it, but he wanted to embrace it. That’s tough stuff right there.
what the crap! I wanted Igawa in the bullpen back in June!
don’t think i’ve seen this posted yet…
from mlbtraderumors.com
Bob Matthews of the Times-Union Democrat and Chronicle (yes we’re really digging for rumors) notes today that the Phillies have “mild interest” in Mussina. The 39 year-old Pennsylvania native may not want to leave New York, but it might not be a bad career move. He’s got 250 wins; 300 would be a grind. 280 seems within reach though. What could the Phils offer the Yanks for Mussina? $11MM off their books and some kind of low-level prospect, I’d imagine.
Dude…if you show me one more pictue of upChuckA, I am going to be seriously ill. Have some heart, Pete !
The Yankees need a lefty in the bullpen. If we had 3 dominant right-handers that’d be one thing, but if we’re going with mediocrity and question marks then why not at least have one of them be left handed? It’s not like the choices are Mo or Scot Shields, I’ll take my chances against Big Papi with Igawa before I trust Hawkins or Farnsworth to take him on in the 8th.
I am with Pete. TRADE IGAWA NOW, PLEASE! If they wait, by the end of next year, they may have to pay somebody to take him. SEND HIM TO SD NOW! While they are at it, send Henn together with him. Blue Light Special!
If Henn was the last resort I wouldn’t go with a lefty for the sake of having a lefty.
If we had to go inhouse it’s a toss-up betwen Igawa and Wright. Your first reaction is to say “Wright” because he’s not Igawa. But Wright is a little too green for me.
Igawa might do o.k. Although I’d be hesitant bringing him in for Ortiz. In fact, I would just dial up Chamberlain unless he pitched that night.
But then again, Igawa pitched 6 innings of shutout ball against the Red Sox, so he might do o.k. in the pen. Just has to learn to pitch down in the zone.
TRADE IGAWA TO SD NOW, PLEEEEEEEEEEAAASSE!!
agreed, but it’s funny that a former strike out champion needs to learn how to pitch down in the zone.
Last season left handed hitters hit better against Igawa than right handed batters:
Against lefties: .320 .407 .507 .914
Against righties: .264 .361 .543 .904
If you assume that last year was an aberration and Igawa will be a new pitcher I guess I could buy him in the bullpen but its a real risk.
There’s no evidence that he’d be good in the left handed pen role. Also, he walks so many people he’s doesn’t seem well suited to relief work in general.
Igawa might be the worst of all worlds – a bad pitcher whose given a spot in the pen because he’s a lefty but can’t get left handed hitters out.
I agree its not the handedness that matter as much as talent – but the yankees will be short on talent in the pen this year unless the prospects pan out in a big way.
So, ET2012, what do you think? lol.
Henn is a lost cause and should be traded to the Nationals for a bag of doritos… ranch flavor.
Igawa should be traded to anyone who’s willing to take on his salary. He shows flashes of brilliance followed quickly by flashes of stupidity. He’s a AAAA starter at best and would do well to go to the NL.
Wright is a younger and slightly better version of Henn… if he’s going to have any chance of making it, it’d be best to covert him to relief. And if it doesn’t work out, he’d probably (like Igawa) find greener pastures in the NL.
I have serious reservations about all three. I would rather find a better RHP than use one of those three and really not use any of them just so that I can say I have a lefty in the pen who couldn’t buy an out with Arod’s salary…
Yeah, ET2012, what are your thoughts on Igawa?
“agreed, but it’s funny that a former strike out champion needs to learn how to pitch down in the zone.”
Well, not really when you consider his best pitch is a feel pitch, and the mounds and balls are different in this country.
One would think the Yankees would have him on some kind of new-mechanics-brainwashing program…but they’re not saying ANYTHING about him. It would seem dumb to have just given up on him, though.
Let me put it another way…
I have more faith in Farnsworth pitching with his left arm that I do with Henn at all.
The Yankees need a lefty/setup guy and Marte should be the target.
The demands are high but Cashman must do everything in his power to figure out how to fulfill the Pirates weaknesses.
Why not trade Matsui for Lowry and J. Sanchez and spin Lowry to the Pirates. Lowry would become their 3rd starter. How can Marte hold more value than a young, cost controlled mid rotation guy (in the NL, on a sucky roster of course)?
sunny615: I could not disagree with you more. ranch flavored doritos are GROSS. it’s original nacho cheese or you get NOTHING.
Mel-
I think Joe Torre might take him along with Henn. He really seemed to like him!!! It sent chills down my spine every time he brought him out!
Andrea:
Andy came in for relief on his throw days a few times last year. Wanger closed an extra innings game in 2006. I’d love to see more of that. Hughes pitches 7 strong, Wang sets up Mo to shut the door, and then starts two days later.
Andrea: Kinda my point… Henn isn’t worth the regular Nacho doritos…
this blog is killin me… two of those posts didn’t appear the first two times I tried to reply, and then they both appear after I finally get one to appear…
psychotic blog server…??
nite
go with mahay, he’s the best available lefty
Buddy-
All experiments with Igawa should be done away from Yankee Stadium. REAL FAR AWAY!!!
isn’t mahay old? and have control problems?
sunny: but who the heck is gonna eat the ranch doritos?
Andrea: I hear Farnsworth is wacky like that.
I dont think we should give up on Igawa so quickly and I definitely dont think we should trade Matsui at all unless we are getting a huge steal. Everyone thinks our offense is going to be great next year when in fact we really dont have a great lineup except A-Rod, Cano and Abreu if he actually decided to try. Jeter has lost all his power, Damon is old and fragile, Jorge is 36 and coming off a career year and is a prime candidate for a regression toward the mean, you cant count on Melky to provide anything at all, and first base you cant count on any production whatsoever. So we have to keep Matsui just because he gives up the possibility of having a 4th bat in our lineup.
“Why not trade Matsui for Lowry and J. Sanchez and spin Lowry to the Pirates. Lowry would become their 3rd starter. How can Marte hold more value than a young, cost controlled mid rotation guy (in the NL, on a sucky roster of course)?”
So…you’re trading a LF with a >850 OPS every year for a setup guy and yet another guy who can’t throw strikes?
I mean, Marte looks good, but come on…Matsui’s a legitimate middle of the order bat signed to a reasonable contract. And, doesn’t it worry you that the last time Marte was in the AL he had a WHIP above 1.7?
And, don’t the Pirates have a bunch of good young starters? Or, at least, promising young starters?
Posts are coming in slow today. Must be sleepy – like me.
“Andy came in for relief on his throw days a few times last year.”
He did that out of sheer desperation. That was when the starting staff was giving them no innings and the pen was torched.
That was not motivated by sound baseball reasoning – it was panic.
There is no way they could do that as a strategy. Especially when three of their starters are going to be first year pitchers with inning caps on them.
Wang and Pettite are going to be under a great deal of pressure to throw a lot of innings this year as it is between the weakness of the pen and the innings cap the 3 rookies are on (which will tax the pen to throw more innings over the course of the season).
“isn’t mahay old? and have control problems?”
He is. 36 and close to 5BB/9, I believe.
But besides the walks his overall numbers aren’t bad – against lefites and righties.
There are no good solutions here. Only selecting the best from a bunch of bad options.
If Mahay would sign for 2 years and $6million I’d consider it – even if he doesn’t work out they could eat the contract or trade him to the national league (I think).
Rotoworld is saying the Brewers will be releasing Matt Wise before Wednesday, and he’s someone I would mind seeing brought in.
I’d gladly send some of the high-ceiling guys the Yanks have in A ball and lower for a guy like Marte, though.
The Pirates are so bad, and their system is so barren that I don’t even know what they’d want. It seems like giving them MLB-ready players is a waste…
*wouldn’t
“He did that out of sheer desperation. That was when the starting staff was giving them no innings and the pen was torched.”
Yes, I know. I was mostly kidding.
“That was not motivated by sound baseball reasoning – it was panic.”
That said, it’s something that used to happen not infrequently back in the 50s and 60s or so. I mean…if a guy was going to do his side work that day anyway…why not throw those pitches to some batters and get outs?
I like whozat’s idea, probably would never happen though, though the 6 man rotation sounds good too.
Could have gotten Marte for Alan Horne but like all our pitchers to many people here he’s gonna be a ace.
Should have traded and still trade Alan Horne.A 25 year old AA pitcher.
“Could have gotten Marte for Alan Horne but like all our pitchers to many people here he’s gonna be a ace.”
First of all, when was that deal noised around?
Second…what we think don’t matter. If Cash thinks he’s more valuable than Marte, that’s what matters. He could be in the pen this year himself.
The Yankees aren’t giving up on “Project Igawa” yet, and rightfully so…26 million in the posting fees, plus a 5 year 4 million dollar contract is golden if you ask me…a mediocre season out of him this year puts him at the top of his trade class next year whether it be for cheap starting pitchers not named (Santana or Sabathia) or for top of the line mediocre relief pitchers….for the money he makes it’s ridiculous to think of trading him now, when he has NO value, regardless of his value now(as Pete denotes being $0) Good to sell a guy who has no value to other teams(Sarcasm)
In a weird baseball version of wife-swap, LoDuca signed on with the Nationals, replacing Snyder who was traded to the Mets.
“if a guy was going to do his side work that day anyway…why not throw those pitches to some batters and get outs?”
Al Leiter does a very good job of analyzing pitching. Something he says over and over regarding work load of a pitcher – its not just the number of pitches thrown its the situation that they are thrown in that induces the most stress on a pitchers arm.
His point being – the tighter the spot the pitcher is in the harder he has to work to make a quality pitch.
That’s the kind of thing which makes throwing side work much, much less stressful than in game work.
People talk a lot about the work load pitchers had in the 1950′s and 1960′s – but its easy to forget how many great careers were lost or cut short due to injuries that were probably work load related. Mel Stottlemeyer is a good example Same thing with Koufax – what they did to him was awful. As great as he was – he could have pitched for much longer.
I want to keep Alan Horne as trade bait for Teixeira. The Braves are rebuilding their pitching rotation as evidenced by the Renteria/Jurjens swap.
I hope the Yankees trade for Teixeira at the trade deadline. I know he presumeably likes Atlanta but I think he’d accept a trade to NY and a longterm deal with the Yankees. Hopefully Atlanta still values young rotation help more than all-star position players like Renteria/Teixeira.
whozat-
http://www.mlbtraderumors.com/alan_horne/
Go down to Healys latest.
Alan horne is a projected 5th starter.And we got enough staters who will be converted to bullpen pitchers.
mel,
that was very weird. this puts omar in a really bad position – arguably he “traded” two more talented players in milledge and lo doca for two less talented players in Church and Schneider.
If Lo Duca and especiallly Milledge have good seasons it will be ugly in flushings. They loved Lo Duca there.
“Alan horne is a projected 5th starter.And we got enough staters who will be converted to bullpen pitchers.”
Who projects him as a fifth starter? Baseball people generally think very highly of Horne.
Alan Horne is considered to be a a small notch below Kennedy as far as prospects go.
He throws in mid 90′s and throw four pitches with command.
http://www.baseballprospectus......cleid=6957
“Go down to Healys latest.
Alan horne is a projected 5th starter.And we got enough staters who will be converted to bullpen pitchers.”
First of all…that was last July.
Second, Horne is NOT projected as a fifth starter to the best of my knowledge. It was my understanding he’d be the best pitching prospect in the system if not for Hughes, Joba and Kennedy.
I’ve actually heard many scouts have his ceiling slightly higher than Kennedy’s. Expect to see Horne pitching in the Bronx by the All-Star break.
“I’ve actually heard many scouts have his ceiling slightly higher than Kennedy’s.”
Yeah, I thought it was “if he can command his stuff, can be better than Kennedy”
But the question is whether he will command his stuff, which makes him less projectable right now.
Alan Horne can’t be a few notches above Kennedy he’s 25.Maybe he’ll end up as Brad Smith when he goes to AAA.
“Alan Horne can’t be a few notches above Kennedy he’s 25″
Thanks for your awesome, well informed opinion.
First of all, they said CEILING above Kennedy, but right now he’s below.
Still, you should call the guys at baseball prospectus and tell them they’re wrong for rating him as a 4-star prospect, along with Kennedy, Tabata and Jackson. I’m sure they’ll change him to “total bum” once they hear from you.
The fact that he is 25 takes away from his “ceiling” because he has less time to develop. If Kennedy is what 23 or so, he has a full two more years with which to develop and if Horne still rates as having a higher ceiling, then Kennedy must not have all that high a ceiling to begin with. So we missed out on tradig for Johan because of a 23 year old whose ceilig isnt higher than a 25 year old with less command. I feel better already about “the big 3″ or maybe we should call it “the big 4″ since horne has a higher ceiling than Kennedy. Or hell we could call it “the big farm system” since betances, sanchez, melancon, cox, ohlendorf are all going to be aces or shut down closers. I cant wait.
you guys are really putting stock in Mark Healey and Gotham Baseball? They’re a bunch of wanna-be sportswriters who are never right.
C’mon Alan Horne if he was so great the Yankees would have sent a 24 Alan to AAA during the middle of the season but they didn’t.He watched Joba and Ian fly by him.Good stuff but ceiling and stuff wise he and Kennedy are tradable.
Can anyone say Tyler Clippard.But hey there’s always the pen.
Wow Steve. If you ran this team, we’d trade all our prospects away because “this guy can help us now.” Your vision would lead us back to 1989. I remember those days. I don’t want to go back.
If there is anything to that Moose to Phillies rumor, they should try to net Mike Zagurski in the trade. A lefty who…get this…has good numbers against left-handed batters. Shocking, isn’t it?
oh god you too. Alan Horne could have been in AAA last season they held him back because of his innings cap limit coming off surgery, he already has better stuff than Aaron Heilman who is a projected #3 SP, he has better stuff than John Maine who is #2 in the NL, at worst he’s a #3 SP or an 8th inning guy w/ his stuff alone.
The reason Alan Horne was passed by IPK and Joba was because of his injuries (Tommy John Surgery). If he can stay healthy, he will have a midseason call up as a relief pitcher like Joba Chamberlain. His injuries have held him back and if it was not for that, his overall talent makes his ceiling a little higher than Ian Kennedy. Do not count Horne out, he can be a middle rotation pitcher (#2 or #3), but like all prospects, they can be better or worse, only playing in the majors will tell. Do not speculate anything until you see what he can do.
I’m outtie, am exhausted from finals and whatnot.
G’nite. We should know if Fukudome (who may have the most unfortunate surname ever) is heading stateside real soon, if we don’t already.
Rebecca we should know if who is heading stateside ?
Rebecca…. how did your finals go today? I haven’t been on until now, so not sure if you’ve informed the group.
Hopefully, you’re still optimistic!!!
The reason Alan Horne was passed by IPK and Joba was because of his injuries (Tommy John Surgery). If he can stay healthy, he will have a midseason call up as a relief pitcher like Joba Chamberlain. His injuries have held him back and if it was not for that, his overall talent makes his ceiling a little higher than Ian Kennedy. Do not count Horne out, he can be a middle rotation pitcher (#2 or #3), but like all prospects, they can be better or worse, only playing in the majors will tell. Do not speculate anything until you see what he can do.
Please respond to this comment.
Here is what I see. Yankee fans point out 5 or 6 prospects and say they all cant miss. And they dont want to trade any of them for the already best pitcher in baseball. I am not saying trade all of your prospects for over the hill middle of the rotation starters, I am saying be flexible and trade those prospects for the best pitcher in baseball. Under no circumstances should Kennedy, Hughes or Horne be a sticking point in acquiring Johan. Maybe if they asked for Joba who has already proven he can handle 1 or 2 innings at the major league level making him an ideal candidate to close, or Wang or Cano or all three of them I would say forget it but the Twins want guys who didnt contribute much or any to a team that had one of the best records in baseball last year. Why not give up guys like that for…..the best pitcher in baseball!!
People are willing to pay Kuroda 12 mio $ a year (Heyman even spoke of 15 mio $). And that guy was clearly the worse pitcher in Japan (compared to Igawa).
Why give up on Igawa so quickly? Let him pitch in spring training (actually he had a decent spring training last year).
Don’t we just wish, that one top Yankee prospect, Hughes, Horne, Chamberlain, or Kennedy was a left-handed pitcher. Just wish I saw a top prospect not be right-handed that is a pitcher.
I agree with Steve. While I dont agree with giving up Hughes AND Kennedy in a single package for Santana…..You do a trade of Hughes/Cabrera/Horne and whoever else.
Are we forgetting NY has the money to fill any holes that trading those guys away brings with virtual ease? Obviously I want them to build their farm, but like steve said…best pitcher in baseball, period. Hypothetically if Hughes and Kennedy end up being disappointments everyone will regret not trading for Johan. A prospect is just a prospect. Dont put all your eggs in one basket, but a few Hors d’Oeuvres makes everyone at the party happy.
The Yankees will get Santana, despite the Sox efforts to block the deal. The match is too good. That will be their lefty, with Pettitte.
Cashman will get creative, very, very creative to make this deal work.
Remember, the Yankees have plenty of money…that is the key to what will happen.
But Santana aint’ hors d’ouvres, he’s the main course, and if the main course aint’ good, that could ruin the whole party.
It’s in Santana’s best interest to reach free agency. He would be able to determine his price and dictate terms.
It’ll cost the Yankees about the same dollars-wise, either way, because I think Steiny’s got a set dollar amount in his head.
The difference is that we would be able to save some blue chips.
There is still a free agent reliever avialable who’s real tough on lefties. His name Louis Vizcaino.
I haven’t had a chance to read today’s comments in depth, but I just saw on ESPN News that Jayson Stark is reported that the Yankees talks with the Giants regarding Matsui have “heated up.”
It’s ESPN though, so don’t read too much into it. Sorry if this was already discussed.
I heard of this guy, now tell him he’s smoking some serious stuff if he thinks a 34 yr. old who pitched ok last season not great ok, maybe a bit more than that, he’s crazy if he thinks we would guarantee him 3 – 4 yrs., tell him we would gladly take the picks and he can come back after his soon to happen implosion in Colorado
I can’t blame Viz, what anyone do 4 million or 12 million hmmm
“There is still a free agent reliever avialable who’s real tough on lefties. His name Louis Vizcaino.”
Any relation to Luis Vizcaino?
I can’t blame Brian Cashman, 3 – 4 yrs. BP arm w/ concerns could get hurt in yr. 1 and never see yr. 2 & 3 especially at 34 and up, while we eat what 12 million..hmmmmmmm
Why not just give Igawa one more year to prove himeself? We all know he has proved he can be a top of starting pitcher in Japan, I still have high expectation on him. He got K rates, all he need now is more control ability, and he has showed he is progressing last season. Just look at Randy Johnson, he also has control issues in his earlier major career years…well, since both of them are not the same level pitchers. But, just give hime one more chance to prove himeself. I know he can do it.
No you misunderstand me I don’t want Viz. I don’t want Hawkins either I wanna go with the Kids. I don’t like chasing after a lefty just to say we have one. If they can get a good one than do that. Marte for instance. But its very telling to me that Mike Stanton who was washed up 7 years ago is still knocking around. It tells me most of the lefty relievers suck.
james,
Add Mike Myers to that list.
problem is Pittsburgh is asking for a house and 3 cars for Marte (that unbelievable they’d even breathe Alan Horne & Jose Taba…) lefty relievers cost alot nowadays, Hawkins is a 1 yr. project and eversince he refined his slider to his arsenal batters were hitting around .230 BAA I think
Matt Wise might be non-tendered by the Brewers. CashMoney might scoop him up too, just to have another veteran arm in the ‘pen.
What about Keith Foulke?
Steve-Prospects are not just prospects. Phil Hughes is a special prospect. I wouldn’t trade him for anyone. Santana had a poor second half and stopped throwing his slider. Those are major red flags. He was not the best pitcher in baseball next year. And pitchers that overly rely on change ups decline faster than power pitchers. And short lefties have the quickest declines. Odds are Hughes is better than Santana over the next 5 years and I predicts he’s better within the next three.
I remember some of us wondered what the “Director of Mental Conditioning” does…I guess Chase Wright is the reason guys like that have a job with the Yankees.
Enough with the Santana trade talk. Looks like Cash has made up his mind to keep Hughes and we should have faith in his call. If Santana really wants to play for the Yankees as his first-choice as rumored, then he should just stick to his no-trade clause. MN can’t force him to waive it and it’s not like MN fans will be chasing him out of town. Come 2009, Yankees will be a top-paying suitor as they always are and Sanatan’s agent can remind Cashman that his $23mill offer should be bumped up to $26mil b/c Yanks got to keep Philly Hughes. Everyone’s happy.
1. release henn when we need a spot for a-rod or mo.
2. try to reasonably sign mahay
if signed reasonably
-try to shop Igawa. Keep Chase in minors.
if cannot be signed reasonably
-Chase/Igawa spring training battle
–if one of the 2 is dominant/shows promise, use them. if not start the season loogyless….