The LoHud Yankees Blog

A New York Yankees blog by Chad Jennings and the staff of The Journal News


Sexson close to deal with Yankees

Posted by: Peter Abraham - Posted in Misc on Jul 17, 2008 Print This Post Print This Post | Email This Post Email This Post

It now sounds like the Yankees will have Richie Sexson on the roster tomorrow or by Saturday at the latest.

This is story is developing more, details to come.

UPDATE, 2:26 p.m.: Now ESPN.com is reporting that a tentative deal is done. No official word from the Yankees as of yet.

UPDATE, 2:30 p.m.: Same report from WFAN.

UPDATE, 3:02 p.m.: The Yankees would owe Sexson only the prorated minimum, approximately $161,000. The rest of his contract – about $6 million – would be paid by Seattle. … Meanwhile, there is apparently some bogus report out there regarding Barry Bonds. It’s not true.

UPDATE, 3:05 p.m.: This is a low risk/potentially high reward move. Sexson has hit left-handed pitching to the tune of .344/.423/.623 and is in the final year of his contract. Would you rather see him against LHPs or Wilson Betemit (.235/.257/.412)? With Hideki Matsui likely lost for the season, this makes sense.

The roster move is easy. You can option down Justin Christian or Billy Traber or DFA Chad Moeller.

 
 

Advertisement

351 Responses to “Sexson close to deal with Yankees”

  1. Rebecca--Optimist Prime-Mo for Cy Young 08 July 17th, 2008 at 2:27 pm

    On the surface, it’s not the best idea the Yankees have ever had.

    Then again, David Justice wasn’t supposed to be much, either, and then he saved their season.

  2. Nick in SF July 17th, 2008 at 2:30 pm

    True, it’s not as inspired as getting Babe Ruth, but it might be more inspired than getting Jose Canseco.

  3. RalphieD July 17th, 2008 at 2:31 pm

    a no risk signing that could have some reward

  4. melissa July 17th, 2008 at 2:32 pm

    Well hopefully he brings something ANYTHING =]

  5. S.A.- I believe in this team but can the offense stop being so offensive? July 17th, 2008 at 2:33 pm

    Can’t hurt, let’s see what happens with him.

  6. SomeGuy32 July 17th, 2008 at 2:33 pm

    Cashman quote (on 1050 radio earlier today) “We’ll probably look for Sexson to fill the roll he had hoped Shelley Duncan could provide”

    Considering Sexson’s monster numbers vs lefties… and the Yanks problems vs lefty pitching… the deal makes sense…

  7. chaossolver July 17th, 2008 at 2:33 pm

    lol at least we are trying…
    and he does come cheap… could be as cheap as 50 thou i think, and sexon has got to be better than ensberg right?

  8. SomeGuy32 July 17th, 2008 at 2:34 pm

    “**WE** had hoped” (not he)

  9. chet July 17th, 2008 at 2:34 pm

    This was a no brainer on Cashmoney’s part. It costs you tip money and has potential upside.

    Chet

  10. fuhgoobagaz July 17th, 2008 at 2:35 pm

    Oh I am so underwhelmed by this move.

    What is it with Cashman that he is only dealing by picking up rejects? Ponson? Sexson? Really?

    You would think that this was a team that was a bottom feeder rather than the Yankees. Picking up scraps from the garbage heap won’t make a positive difference with this team.

    Maybe Cashman is working hard to kill the Yankees so his next team will have an easier time beating them. It almost looks that way.

  11. gayle July 17th, 2008 at 2:35 pm

    if this happens I believe we need a 40 man as well as a 25 roster.

    traber goes back down perhaps for the 25 man and Matsui to the 60 for the 40??

  12. David C July 17th, 2008 at 2:36 pm

    Pretty much a must move if you want to do something with the offense/position players and hold on to the young talent in the organization BUT too little, too late. A platoon first baseman/DH is not going to do it. Once again, not enough but certainly worth a try. Hope I am wrong, think I am too right.

  13. Mr. Dobalina, Mr. Bob Dobalina July 17th, 2008 at 2:36 pm

    The Big Sexy…at least he has a cool nickname

  14. Rebecca--Optimist Prime-Mo for Cy Young 08 July 17th, 2008 at 2:37 pm

    Ponson might be a reject but we’ve won all three of his starts so far, so right now, it looks like a d—ed good signing

  15. Someone Else July 17th, 2008 at 2:37 pm

    “Oh I am so underwhelmed by this move.

    What is it with Cashman that he is only dealing by picking up rejects? Ponson? Sexson? Really?

    You would think that this was a team that was a bottom feeder rather than the Yankees. Picking up scraps from the garbage heap won’t make a positive difference with this team.

    Maybe Cashman is working hard to kill the Yankees so his next team will have an easier time beating them. It almost looks that way.”

    OMG I totally agree, Cashman should send Hughes, Kennedy, Melky, and Gardner and $40M to the Red Sox for Manny Ramirez OMG!

    The concept of low risk is lost on some people.

    If I gave you $5 for -free-, would you turn it down, because it’s ‘not enough’?

  16. fuhgoobagaz July 17th, 2008 at 2:37 pm

    He takes up a roster spot. Sexson being in the roster does nothing. Who goes for him?

    This is making a change for the sake of making a change. It doesn’t make any real positive impact to the team. In fact, I think this gives the message to the team that Cashman has given up on the season.

  17. Mark Alan July 17th, 2008 at 2:37 pm

    Oh, whatever. The Yanks can use another bat on the bench, and hopefully Chad Moeller will now get a chance to play every day at SWB.

    Hopefully, he will do no harm.

  18. saucY July 17th, 2008 at 2:38 pm

    predictions on Sterlings HR call?

  19. fuhgoobagaz July 17th, 2008 at 2:38 pm

    Low risk and low reward isn’t doing much.

  20. Derek July 17th, 2008 at 2:38 pm

    Pete… have you looked into this?

    http://www.mlbnewsonline.com/2.....inent.html

  21. Someone Else July 17th, 2008 at 2:39 pm

    “He takes up a roster spot. Sexson being in the roster does nothing.”

    Who would you rather have at 1B vs a lefty pitcher: Sexson, or Betemit?

  22. whozat July 17th, 2008 at 2:39 pm

    “You would think that this was a team that was a bottom feeder rather than the Yankees. Picking up scraps from the garbage heap won’t make a positive difference with this team.”

    Yeah, doesn’t Cashman see that the Yankees have a great glove at 1B and easily hit lefties? What good is a solid fielding, lefty-crushing first baseman to this team? It’s not like Girardi plays Wilson Betemit at first base every time we face a lefty starter!

    Unless you’re getting Albert Pujols or Roy Halladay, don’t bother making trades!

  23. AlbanyYankee July 17th, 2008 at 2:40 pm

    The Bonds thing has to be bogus, right?

  24. YankeesBen July 17th, 2008 at 2:40 pm

    Hey guys i happen to like this move, if not for the lone reason to have A first baseman, besides what does it cost, Noting, if he can find a little of his old form it’ll be worth, hey he can’t be any worse than Morgan Ensberg(still remember him?)or Shelley for that matter.
    As i started i like the signing just for defense itself.

  25. beatmode July 17th, 2008 at 2:41 pm

    So when we play lefties will Sexson be taking up the DH spot or will be in the field. I dont like this platoon of first basemen that we have going. One day we have the Stache’ out there, the next Betemit, and now Sexson.

  26. jennifer July 17th, 2008 at 2:42 pm

    How about that is a sexty homerun for sexton. :)

  27. Yankee Lover July 17th, 2008 at 2:42 pm

    I know they have to do it, but I would almost rather see Giambi in the lineup against lefties. Although Sexson has a better glove.
    Sexson always reminded me of a poor mans Dave Kingman. Kingman came to the Yankees for about 20 games or so and hit like 3 or 4 big homers. The only thing about this is that I`m surpirsed nobody else picked him up.

  28. kd July 17th, 2008 at 2:42 pm

    it’s a nice low risk move. if he catches fire, great. if not, then they just had some really big uniforms tailored. no problem at all with this deal.

  29. Mitch July 17th, 2008 at 2:42 pm

    Thank you Someone Else.

    Or, he’s taking Billy Traber’s roster spot. Wow. Quite a loss. It’s not like we could ever find another pitcher capable of a 1.6 WHIP and a 6.00 ERA …

  30. Fredo Corleone July 17th, 2008 at 2:42 pm

    “Yeah, doesn’t Cashman see that the Yankees have a great glove at 1B and easily hit lefties?”

    See your point Whozat, but Sexson possess none of these qualities.

  31. Someone Else July 17th, 2008 at 2:42 pm

    Last I heard, you need 25 guys, and no team has 25 All Stars.

  32. jennifer July 17th, 2008 at 2:42 pm

    Wilson might be the odd man out. Right now you need both Justin and Brett.

  33. Mitch July 17th, 2008 at 2:43 pm

    Ha ha. Exactly kd. I’m sure there are some big guys who are Yankee fans and would love the unis if Sexson gets cut!

  34. Nick in SF July 17th, 2008 at 2:43 pm

    If we do get Sexson, no more Betemit at 1st, please. Or in the lineup. I think we still want to keep Giambi in the lineup as much as possible.

  35. Someone Else July 17th, 2008 at 2:43 pm

    Of course, this now gives the whiners one more guy to blame for a loss. Because every loss is Melky/Gardner/IPK/Hawkins’ fault.

  36. Mitch July 17th, 2008 at 2:43 pm

    Jennifer, I think they’ll cut a picther to make room for Sexson.

  37. JT July 17th, 2008 at 2:43 pm

    He would also be the best fielding first baseman on the team. Betemit is terrible. Giambi fields what’s hit right at him and picks it well. But he can’t throw. Sexson will play against lefties and be a solid late-inning defensive replacement.

  38. fuhgoobagaz July 17th, 2008 at 2:44 pm

    “Who would you rather have at 1B vs a lefty pitcher: Sexson, or Betemit?” How about neither? Sexson isn’t good. Betemit isn’t good.

    How does putting a poor player in for a poor player make it a positive move?

    Remember Ensberg? So many were saying that he was low risk – how well did that turn out? Is he still a Yankee?

  39. whozat July 17th, 2008 at 2:45 pm

    “BUT too little, too late. A platoon first baseman/DH is not going to do it.”

    To fix this offense, you’d need to get superior production out of RF, 2B, C and CF. And, right now, LF. You’re not going to shore up all of those positions in trade. Damon’s return will hopefully help LF, but in all the other cases, the players we HAVE need to start playing like they can. Robbie, Bobby, and Jorge, primarily. If they all play like they can…do we really need a big splashy trade? If they DON’T start playing up to their ability…this isn’t a world series team anyway. So what’s the point of making a short-sighted trade?

  40. saucY July 17th, 2008 at 2:46 pm

    more reason to like him :lol:

    http://tinyurl.com/6b55ov

  41. whozat July 17th, 2008 at 2:47 pm

    “How does putting a poor player in for a poor player make it a positive move? ”

    Well…given that Sexson has destroyed lefties THIS season, I’m not sure how you could classify him as a poor fit for the “guy who hits lefties” role.

    As for Ensberg…it was a low-risk move. It didn’t work out. So what? That doesn’t mean it was a bad decision at the time.

  42. Doreen July 17th, 2008 at 2:47 pm

    Eh.

  43. Matt July 17th, 2008 at 2:47 pm

    Off topic, but this is a pretty cool NY Times op-ed by Doug Glanville about his baseball career and fans and fan mail: http://www.nytimes.com/2008/07.....=1&hp

  44. fuhgoobagaz July 17th, 2008 at 2:47 pm

    whozat, he had 60 something at bats against lefties. Did he hit 60 HR during that time? It isn’t a big sampling. And he isn’t that great a glove.

  45. pat July 17th, 2008 at 2:47 pm

    He’s a righty bat and 1st baseman with a really big wing span that costs the Yanks the same amount as Justin Christian. No downside.

  46. al arodien July 17th, 2008 at 2:48 pm

    As i started i like the signing just for defense itself.

    yankees ben…

    Wow since when is sexsen a defence guy?

  47. raymagnetic ®™ July 17th, 2008 at 2:48 pm

    “Remember Ensberg? So many were saying that he was low risk – how well did that turn out? Is he still a Yankee?”

    Do you understand the concept of a low risk signing?

  48. abcd July 17th, 2008 at 2:49 pm

    sterling’s call: “that homer was sextacular”

  49. fuhgoobagaz July 17th, 2008 at 2:49 pm

    If it didn’t work out, being that the whole point of making signings and moves are to improve the team, then what the heck is the point of doing it?

    He crushes lefty pitching? Really? 60 ABs and now he is the Babe against lefties? I don’t think so.

  50. Mitch July 17th, 2008 at 2:49 pm

    fuhgoobagaz,

    What did we lose by bringing in Ensberg? He failed. Costs us some money. Nothing else. He wasn’t taking the spot from anyone in the minors that would have done the job better.

    Do I think Sexson will help? No. But, one of the few good thigns about being bad is that there really is no risk. Seattle pays all but the MLB minimum of his salary, and Sexson takes ABs away from guys who didn’t desserve them. If he succeeds, great. If he fails, we’re no worse off.

    The only argument that this is bad is if it prevents the Yanks from making a movie they would have made otherwise, but I don’t think that’s true. If the Braves offer Tex to us tomorrow at a price we can handle, you do the deal and cut Sexson. Big deal.

  51. abcd July 17th, 2008 at 2:49 pm

    or “sexton hit it a ton…”

  52. Rebecca--Optimist Prime-Mo for Cy Young 08 July 17th, 2008 at 2:50 pm

    Wait, is someone here suggesting they think the Yankees will DFA Hawkins for Sexon?

  53. t July 17th, 2008 at 2:50 pm

    Question, do the Yankees have anyone in the minors that could possibly fill the role Sexson is going to? I would just rather see someone get a chance to prove them selves than Sexon if that is at all possible.

  54. SomeGuy32 July 17th, 2008 at 2:50 pm

    People who think Sexson can’t field obviously don’t know him at all…

    And he destroys lefty pitching… (1.046 OPS this season) something we’ve had a major problem with…

    A pitcher is obviously going off the 25man roster (we have 13 at the moment…. 1 too many… probably Traber or possibly Robertson) – Betemit is the only backup at 2B, SS, and 3B – so he’s going nowhere.

    As for the 40-man move – Matsui to 60-day makes the most sense – but we’re going to have to make another move soon, since Bruney is going to be set to come back in about a week

  55. gianthinker July 17th, 2008 at 2:50 pm

    I wont be sitting on the edge of my seat for this one but I will say its a no brainer. The Yanks need a righty who can hit lefties. Sexson fits that bill and he wont cost any prospects to get since he’s a free agent and can be signed cheaply. If he doesn’t work out he can be easily released.

  56. raymagnetic ®™ July 17th, 2008 at 2:50 pm

    “If it didn’t work out, being that the whole point of making signings and moves are to improve the team, then what the heck is the point of doing it?”

    So in your opinion the GM of a team must also predict the future and know for sure what moves will work out?

  57. Jason July 17th, 2008 at 2:51 pm

    Can’t Sexson still play LF? I know he hasn’t played there in 8 years or so, but he has started over 100 games, I think. How hard could it be to pick that back up? Or is he too slow now?

  58. StandingO'Neill July 17th, 2008 at 2:51 pm

    Positives:

    Well his line verses lefties this year is .344/.423/.623. Also even if his bat is a flop hes a pretty good defender (or at least was) and for $390,000 he’s as good as Dougie M as a defensive replacement.

    Negatives:

    That is only in 71 at bats though, which is a relatively small sample size. Plus his BABIP vs. LHP is .308. Since he doesn’t have a history of being that great against lefties, this is most likely a fluke.

    Plus his I’ve heard a lot of bad things about him lately regarding his attiude and a possible drinking problem. This may all be a BS smear campaign though.

    My verdict…why not, gotta try something with Matsui and Damon being out.

  59. Patrick â„¢ July 17th, 2008 at 2:52 pm

    Maybe Sexson is a good fielder compared to Betemit, Giambi and Duncan but he really isn’t that good. Definitely below average.

  60. Blargh July 17th, 2008 at 2:52 pm

    Minimal risk signing, can possibly fill a need; if it works, great, if not, oh well, only chump change was lost.

  61. Mitch July 17th, 2008 at 2:53 pm

    SomeGuy,

    If Robertson is demoted, I’ll be shocked. And mad.

    I think Traber is the guy. Unless Cash can find some sucker to take Hawkins.

  62. fuhgoobagaz July 17th, 2008 at 2:53 pm

    Raymagnetic, there comes a point when the only moves a team makes is low risk, that it becomes clear that they have given up.

    I know full well the meaning of low risk. It almost always goes with low reward. Is it a meaningful move for the Yankees? Is bringing Sexson in going to push them into contention? Is he even going to give any moderate improvement to the team?

    So big deal. He is low risk. Heck, why not get rid of all the other players on the team and sign nothing but low risk players, after all they are low risk.

    The only “positive” is that it will give Girardi some other player to put into the lineup and allow his creativity to flow.

  63. Yankee Lover July 17th, 2008 at 2:54 pm

    If signing Sexson means he will take ab`s away from Giambi against lefties, I`m against it. I`d rather Giambi play against both lefties and righties

  64. Brandon (Jeter GIDP: *15 even in All Star Games) (Johan HR count: 13 and a SP) July 17th, 2008 at 2:54 pm

    Wow since when is sexsen a defence guy?

    Please tell me your joking :?

  65. mko July 17th, 2008 at 2:54 pm

    To all of you saying “he has monster numbers against lefties”:
    Here are his career splits:
    http://www.baseball-reference......38;year=00

    He’s a little better against LHP, but not substantial. What else can you read from the splits…
    + He’s much better in the second half of the season, especially Aug/Sep.
    + He’s good when ahead in the count – let’s hope he can get to these situations often.
    + He’s best in high leverage situations but not really clutch.
    - He can’t hit power pitchers.
    + He’s good on artifial turf.

    But no risk…would be cool if it works out, but don’t expect any wonders. He’s a poor man’s Jason Giambi (when both are on). But a better 1B…

  66. CaptainsCorner July 17th, 2008 at 2:54 pm

    Not a bad move by Cashman..Girardi just better not play him against righties. Or maybe he will be motivated on this team and actually hit. Sexson hit .344 against lefties and he is a much better fielder then Giambi or Betemit. Also he can catch balls hit up to 7 feet in the air. They are paying him nothing so if he doesn’t hit then he gets released. Betemit is garbage so they will give Sexson a chance to hit against lefties. Cashman loves the walmart deals so you knew he was going to give him a chance.

  67. TKinDC (subtract one from Jete's GiDP) July 17th, 2008 at 2:55 pm

    Sterling’s call –

    RICHIE RIPS ONE!

  68. gayle July 17th, 2008 at 2:55 pm

    Glanville was always my one my Phillies favs not only because he was a bright guy, well spoken BUT he played the game the right way with respect to himself and his teamates, respect for the game and as you can see from the OP-Ed respect for the fans.

    he was a great member of the Philadelphia community always giving of his time.

    He may not have been the best player on the year and he would probably be the first to tell you that but he was the one with the most class.

  69. whozat July 17th, 2008 at 2:55 pm

    Sexson’s three year splits against lefties:

    .258/.374/.507

    That’s an .881 OPS. Still very good.

  70. Fredo Corleone July 17th, 2008 at 2:56 pm

    “Can’t Sexson still play LF?”

    This question implies that he actually could play left field. He couldn’t. That’s why it’s been 8 years.

  71. Jeter2007 July 17th, 2008 at 2:56 pm

    right-handed bat
    better-defensive 1b
    cheap
    no prospects lost

    i like it

    i dont see what everyone’s complaint is. if he doesn’t work out, we can cut him. what if giambi gets hurt? how does our team look now?

  72. SoCalYankeeFan July 17th, 2008 at 2:57 pm

    WHOA!!! Hold the press! We got Sexson!!! Start printing the playoff tickets…….SSHHEEEEESH

  73. CaptainsCorner July 17th, 2008 at 2:58 pm

    Traber and Hawkins will be the ones out of jobs. Traber for Sexson and Hawkins when Bruney comes back in a week. Robertson has done a good job and he will definitely get better I can’t see them sending down someone that has been good and is very useful. Traber stinks and Hawkins everyone knew would be exactly like how he has been.

  74. whozat July 17th, 2008 at 2:58 pm

    “He’s a little better against LHP, but not substantial. What else can you read from the splits…”

    But his numbers against lefties haven’t declined. That’s important thing. He’s always hit lefties well and still is. Would you NOT want a .880 OPS to replace Wilson Betemit when we play lefties? Sexson moves to 1B in those games, Giambi DHes, Betemit stays on the bench. The team is better. Ta da.

  75. fuhgoobagaz July 17th, 2008 at 2:58 pm

    Raymagnetic, no, the point is a GM should make moves that have a higher probability of suceeding than making a low risk move to fill the pitchers slots and pick up the batting woes.

    Cashman already did his “low risk” move by signing Ensberg. And Ponson. And Rasner. Of those the only one that might work for is Ponson, and its only been a few games. We already have seen that Rasner has returned to norms.

    If Sexson is such a good pick up, why is it that he has been on the DFA list for a while and only the Yankees have picked him up?

  76. pat July 17th, 2008 at 2:58 pm

    Not to split hairs but it’s pro-rated minimum so it will cost the Yanks about $170,000 not $390,000.

  77. saucY July 17th, 2008 at 2:59 pm

    wow, if this thread continues down the track it’s been on, we may have a contender for most mispelled last name of a Yankee on the blog….

    SEXSON ;)

  78. Mitch July 17th, 2008 at 3:00 pm

    Yankee Lover,

    I think Giambi won’t lose any ABs. Girardi has used tough lefties as a chance to rest Giambi. His body can’t take playing seven-days a week. I think that will continue. If Posada can catch in a game against a lefty, Giambi can DH and Sexson can play first.

    I think the big loser in the Richie Sexson experiment is Betemit. So, Betemit fans (are there any?) will not be happy with this signing.

  79. Sexsy the K July 17th, 2008 at 3:01 pm

    252 ABs, 76 Ks, .218 avg. If nothing else, he’ll give the team a few breathtaking strikeouts down the stretch.

  80. fuhgoobagaz July 17th, 2008 at 3:01 pm

    So this great move may end up meaning that Sexson gets one more hit a game than Betemit would against lefties. That is if he hits at his same level of the last three years’ average.

    Yeah, that is going to make a big difference.

  81. RayBlay July 17th, 2008 at 3:02 pm

    saucy, why don’t you check out posts last year with references to mientkiewicz? ;)

  82. whozat July 17th, 2008 at 3:02 pm

    “If Sexson is such a good pick up, why is it that he has been on the DFA list for a while and only the Yankees have picked him up?”

    Because it takes 10 days after being DFAd to clear waivers. Claiming him off waivers means you take on his salary. 15 mil for Sexson, no way. 170 grand? Ok.

  83. Fredo Corleone July 17th, 2008 at 3:02 pm

    “If Sexson is such a good pick up, why is it that he has been on the DFA list for a while and only the Yankees have picked him up?”

    I believe he needed 10 days to clear waivers.

  84. Jeter2007 July 17th, 2008 at 3:04 pm

    betemit is a bench player
    he gives infielders a day off & pinch hits occasionally

    sexson wil have a role
    vs lefties & late in games for defense over giambi/betemit

    i think betemit will remain w/ the team

  85. whozat July 17th, 2008 at 3:04 pm

    “So this great move may end up meaning that Sexson gets one more hit a game than Betemit would against lefties. That is if he hits at his same level of the last three years’ average.

    Yeah, that is going to make a big difference.”

    He also slugs a lot better. And makes outs less often. You act like this signing somehow impacts other moves. It doesn’t.

  86. Mr. Dobalina, Mr. Bob Dobalina July 17th, 2008 at 3:04 pm

    Anybody seen Richie?

  87. Mitch July 17th, 2008 at 3:04 pm

    fuhgoobagaz,

    Who said it’s a great move? It’s a move that became available, and given the choice of doing it or not, Cash did it. No risk, possible gain.

    Do you think because of this move he’s not looking for better moves? Do you think now if the Rockies offered Holliday for Hawkins straigt up, he’d say, “Nah, we’re done. We got Sexson.”

    Like any other GM, I’m sure Cash is in talks every day exploring other deals. I’m sure if he was willing to give up Hughes, Ajax, Tabata and Kennedy in one deal, we could have Holliday in NY tomorrow. Luckily, he is not panicing and making a bad deal.

  88. billy July 17th, 2008 at 3:05 pm

    Robertson is not going anywhere. He has put up respectable numbers in tough spots. Traber and Hawkins are dead weight.

  89. Rebecca--Optimist Prime-Mo for Cy Young 08 July 17th, 2008 at 3:05 pm

    Sexson isn’t really that hard to spell.

    Except when you’re me and keep calling The Dark Knight The Dark Night

    I’m hopeless :-D

  90. Don Capone July 17th, 2008 at 3:05 pm

    “It is high, it is far, IT IS SEXUAL!!”

    —future Sterling call.

  91. Brandon (Jeter GIDP: *15 even in All Star Games) (Johan HR count: 13 and a SP) July 17th, 2008 at 3:05 pm

    Richie Sexson since 2005 in Safeco

    .219/.308/.560
    100 XBH, 261 SO

    Away from Safeco

    .256/.350/.491
    111 XBH, 236 SO

  92. Nick in SF July 17th, 2008 at 3:06 pm

    I’m trying to find a link for Ritchie Saxstone’s career numbers and they’re not coming up.

  93. sunny615 July 17th, 2008 at 3:06 pm

    eh…

  94. Yankee Lover July 17th, 2008 at 3:07 pm

    the only one who will be upset if Betimet is cut is Cashman. he thought he was good enough to play 3b everyday if arod walked, so I doubt he`ll cut betemit, thats cashmans guy

  95. 86w183 July 17th, 2008 at 3:07 pm

    This is a very sensible pickup. It costs virtually nothing and has the potential of making them a better offense and defense against LHP. It gives you a guy on the bench who has the ability to hit it out of the park, which is not present at the moment.

    The important thing critics need to keep in mind is this is a “role player” pickup. No, it doesn’t change the balance of power, but it is a cheap improvement on the status quo. We read all over the price how high the price tags are on the top players on the market and the Yanks are not going there if it means mortgaging the future yet again.

    Stay the course, be patient and see if the price tag on a better RH hitter comes down.

  96. DFox July 17th, 2008 at 3:08 pm

    This is an awful move if it’s going to be Cashman’s excuse not to make any more moves. If this is just an experiment that has no baring on anything else he does, then fine, but if this is his move to “improve the offense”, then it’s terrible. This is no lift for the team. Matt Holliday is a lift, Nady is a lift, you know what, even Barry Bonds would be more of a lift. This is a fun little move that will probably turn out to be nothing. But if this is the creativity, and changes that Cashman has come up with, then he needs to go at the end of the season. But knowing him, there will be a better move made a little later on that no one sees coming. I hope.

  97. Rebecca--Optimist Prime-Mo for Cy Young 08 July 17th, 2008 at 3:08 pm

    Nick, try looking under “guys that probably can trace their lineage back to the Saxon raids on England”

  98. Jeter2007 July 17th, 2008 at 3:08 pm

    speaking of holliday… him + fuentes (even though he’s not doing great this year) would be good

    i’m sure they’d be asking for the world tho…

  99. raymagnetic ®™ July 17th, 2008 at 3:09 pm

    “the only one who will be upset if Betimet is cut is Cashman. he thought he was good enough to play 3b everyday if arod walked, so I doubt he`ll cut betemit, thats cashmans guy”

    Just like he thought Crosby was good enough to be the everyday CF a couple of years ago right?

  100. Ummmmm....... July 17th, 2008 at 3:10 pm

    I really don’t know how anybody can say this is a bad signing.

    It’s practically a non-existant signing. They are getting him for NOTHING.

    I guess this Yankees off day combined with the fact that Yankees fans always want to complain about sonething are factors.

    There is ZERO DOWNSIDE to this deal. If Big Sexy doesn’t produce then they will just throw him away because they’re paying him nothing. NO RISK.

  101. billy July 17th, 2008 at 3:10 pm

    “the only one who will be upset if Betimet is cut is Cashman. he thought he was good enough to play 3b everyday if arod walked, so I doubt he`ll cut betemit, thats cashmans guy”

    What was he supposed to say? We’re screwed with A-Rod gone?

  102. Matt July 17th, 2008 at 3:10 pm

    This is a great move. Ok maybe great is too strong but good/solid move. Worse case scenario Sexson bombs and in a week you release him and move on. Maybe he gets hot and hits some hr’s looking to rejunivate his career.
    this is the type of move Yankees should have made earlier with Colon and Lohse and hopefully will make with Freddy Garcia.

  103. Laura July 17th, 2008 at 3:10 pm

    “I believe he needed 10 days to clear waivers.”

    Supposedly, he was also mulling over offers. I don’t think the Yankees were the only people interested in him. The guy is going to cost us $170K. I really don’t understand all of the drama about it. It would be one thing if Matsui was coming back soon. I think that we all realize now that he’s gone for the season. We are taking a chance that this works out. If it doesn’t, who cares? He costs $170K. That’s like 10 dollars for the rest of us.

  104. Anthony July 17th, 2008 at 3:10 pm

    Really? Some of you are actually upset about this? It costs nothing, why don’t we give it a try?

  105. Blargh July 17th, 2008 at 3:11 pm

    Well, no reason for O’Dowd to not ask for the world for Holliday. He’s got plenty of time; from his position, he should be asking for a couple of A-list prospects at least.

  106. Ninja Burglar July 17th, 2008 at 3:11 pm

    Sexon can also act as a defensive replacement for Giambi late in games when not starting vs lefties.

  107. Dan July 17th, 2008 at 3:11 pm

    Richie effing Sexton???? Barf

  108. Mr. Dobalina, Mr. Bob Dobalina July 17th, 2008 at 3:11 pm

    Why did Richie do Bobby Luppo?

  109. Fredo Corleone July 17th, 2008 at 3:11 pm

    “We read all over the price how high the price tags are on the top players on the market and the Yanks are not going there if it means mortgaging the future yet again”

    Again??? Speaking of myths. Name the last trade the Yanks made that involved mortgaging the future.

  110. fuhgoobagaz July 17th, 2008 at 3:12 pm

    Exactly how many other teams were even looking at Sexson? If I remember correctly he was placed on irrevocable waivers.

    According to one news report I read, he was able to be picked up Monday by any team.

  111. ShamWow July 17th, 2008 at 3:13 pm

    We got a guy that was replaced by Miguel Cairo???????

  112. Rebecca--Optimist Prime-Mo for Cy Young 08 July 17th, 2008 at 3:13 pm

    If someone says, here, you can take my $10 for nothing, do you say no?

    The Yankees are basically getting Sexson for free. Seattle still has to pay his contract. If it doesn’t work out, there’s no harm. I mean, we might even get to dfa Hawkins.

    The ONLY downside is that if Sexson has a historic, MONSTER second half and then the Yankees are convinced to sign him to a long term deal. That could be a downside.

  113. TL July 17th, 2008 at 3:13 pm

    “This is an awful move if it’s going to be Cashman’s excuse not to make any more moves”

    I like this not only because it’s for peanuts but it gives them at least a look at what he can do before the deadline.

  114. Y's Guy July 17th, 2008 at 3:14 pm

    the moves i’d like to see cashman make would be to move abreu, giambi, damon and farnsworth for whatver young position talent they can find

  115. Wangawa July 17th, 2008 at 3:14 pm

    This is really a no-brainer move, i’m surprised it took so long.

    Left-handed pitchers have been killing us all year… our right-handed bats off the bench include betemit, moeller, christian, and molina.

  116. Rebecca--Optimist Prime-Mo for Cy Young 08 July 17th, 2008 at 3:15 pm

    Moeller and Rasner were both DFAd from the Nationals and Ponson was released by the Rangers.

    We apparently have a thing for castaways.

  117. saucY July 17th, 2008 at 3:15 pm

    hmm, according to THT’s RZR, he’s worse at 1B than Giambi…

  118. jennifer July 17th, 2008 at 3:15 pm

    per wfan the Yankees will not announce the signing as they have to make a roster move.

  119. Jeter2007 July 17th, 2008 at 3:16 pm

    don’t know about 2 A prospects + more for holliday, but 1A + 1B could be fair

    he’s a much better hitter in colorado and contract ends after 2009

  120. RayBlay July 17th, 2008 at 3:16 pm

    Is Aaron Guiel still in Japan? Because I would love for him to come back!

  121. TKinDC (subtract one from Jete's GiDP) July 17th, 2008 at 3:16 pm

    Sexson reportedly was going to review the teams interested in him and then choose to go to the team where he would get the most playing time.

    He gets paid by the Mariners no matter what, plus the league minimum pro-rated.

  122. YankeeDiva July 17th, 2008 at 3:16 pm

    Its not that bad of a deal…they are paying Sexton less than they are paying ARod per at bat. There is no long term committment (just 3.5 months). He hits well against lefties and actually knows how to play first base. And most importantly we don’t have give anything up for him.

  123. Yankees July 17th, 2008 at 3:17 pm

    The stats sound good, but he only has 61 At bat’s against lefty’s this year.

  124. Miller July 17th, 2008 at 3:17 pm

    The Holliday trade talk is very amusing. O’Dowd will start any trade talk with A-Jax. Just like Hughes’ name came up last year in any potential deal for a bigtime FA. Jackson is the new Hughes in the trading marketplace. Cashman’s not trading A-Jax so we won’t get a return call from O’Dowd.

  125. Buzz July 17th, 2008 at 3:17 pm

    what is betemit role now? platoon? sexson is not the answer so dont expect him to be the savior

  126. Brent (Yankees Need a Pick-Me-Up) July 17th, 2008 at 3:18 pm

    What is it with Cashman that he is only dealing by picking up rejects? Ponson? Sexson? Really?

    You would think that this was a team that was a bottom feeder rather than the Yankees. Picking up scraps from the garbage heap won’t make a positive difference with this team.

    Maybe Cashman is working hard to kill the Yankees so his next team will have an easier time beating them. It almost looks that way.

    Yep. Signing Sexson will kill the Yankees for years and years to come. Think about what you’re writing before you press “submit”.

    Nobody is arguing that Sexson is the best righty available. Instead, they’re saying “this guy has decent numbers against left-handed pitching, and he’s (pretty much) free. why not?”

  127. TurnTwo July 17th, 2008 at 3:18 pm

    “The ONLY downside is that if Sexson has a historic, MONSTER second half and then the Yankees are convinced to sign him to a long term deal. That could be a downside.”

    wow, good call. especially when Teixeira is gonna ask for $20+ million for 7 seasons, a monster 2nd half could be enticing for Cashman.

    beware of the lure that comes with the big sexy.

  128. Timothy Clougher July 17th, 2008 at 3:18 pm

    Sexton is another 218 batter with no on base percentage. Another easy out.

    Great…….

    Victor: Roger, Darryl, Micky, Gooden, Giambi, Pettit, Sheffield, didn’t hurt the Image of wearing pinstripes..

    Bad signing Sexton sucks…….

  129. Timothy Clougher July 17th, 2008 at 3:18 pm

    Sign Bonds………

  130. Patrick â„¢ July 17th, 2008 at 3:19 pm

    “He gets paid by the Mariners no matter what, plus the league minimum pro-rated.”

    I’m pretty sure the money Sexson gets from the Yankees goes to the Mariners but I’m not sure about that.

  131. Tony July 17th, 2008 at 3:19 pm

    Whos to say that this wont be the best thing for Sexon? Lots of ball players do a lot better when they get out of terrible situations and have some new eyes helping them out as far as hitting goes. Though if Kevin Long doesnt get somebody hitting soon he is going to be without a job at the end of the year.

  132. fuhgoobagaz July 17th, 2008 at 3:21 pm

    DFox, I hope you are right, but Cashman hasn’t shown that so far. Lately he has looked afraid to do any deal.

    That doesn’t mean that he should trade away everyone in the farm. Even if he doesn’t go after the Holliday or CC or Santana or Teixeira type players, there has to be some players that could be had for some of the extra players that are in the farm system.

    If this is a move to show that the Yankees “don’t need” a certain player to help reduce the asking price, fine. I doubt it though. He hasn’t shown he is willing to do any moves lately that are above the “low risk” line.

    So many keep asking “what does it hurt”? Turn that around to the whole point of what a GM is supposed to do. What does this move HELP? His job is to improve the team. To cover as best as possible for the holes that come up.

    I don’t see this as a help, unless its cover for another move. Given his track history, it doesn’t seem likely.

  133. William Buckner July 17th, 2008 at 3:21 pm

    This is a no brainer move. He is no worse then stop gap if he doesn’t work out. He also hits lefties well and is a better at 1st then G or Wilson.

    With Damon and Matsui out, it can’t be worse then Molina, Betemit, or Christian at the plate.

  134. Timothy Clougher July 17th, 2008 at 3:21 pm

    Unfortunatley this is Cashman’s answer. This ranks up there with Kevin Brown.

  135. raymagnetic ®™ July 17th, 2008 at 3:22 pm

    “According to one news report I read, he was able to be picked up Monday by any team.”

    So he was able to be picked up on Monday an off day and was instead picked up on Wednesday another off day. This really doesn’t boost your argument about taking so long to sign him.

  136. Jeter2007 July 17th, 2008 at 3:22 pm

    “Again??? Speaking of myths. Name the last trade the Yanks made that involved mortgaging the future.”

    last 1, i think, was jan/2005:
    j. vazquez, b. halsey, d. navarro for randy johnson

    vazquez had an all-star 1st half & a bad 2nd half
    halsey was 11-4, 2.63 era, for our AAA
    navarro is now doing well w/ tb

  137. Coach Jay23 July 17th, 2008 at 3:22 pm

    This moves makes no sense to me. If he plays 1st base against Lefties, then Damon will be the DH because how much field is going to be able to play?? If he DH than Giambi plays first and maybe Damon is outta the lineup. So the Yankees are gonna have to start gardner and Melky almost every game, This also means no trade with Pitt or Col will happen at least not gonna involve Holiday or Bay or Nady. Where do u bat him??? He cant behind AROD or after Giambi if you ask me so he bats what 7th is he really worth getting to bat 7th. Cashman wants to hold onto all these young players and really how many are gonna be Derek Jeter and how many will become Kevin Mass and JT Snow?? Cashman good luck next year in SEA

  138. Mr. Dobalina, Mr. Bob Dobalina July 17th, 2008 at 3:23 pm

    who is this sexton guy I keep hearing about?

  139. Blargh July 17th, 2008 at 3:24 pm

    Well, the most comparable recent trade I can think of to compare with a potential Holliday trade would be the Teixeira trade. Tex and Mahay for Salty, Neftali Feliz, and 3 other guys. I’m pretty sure Salty was A-list level. Feliz is looking really good. But, I don’t know about the other prospects.
    Or perhaps the Swisher trade, though I don’t know how the three prospects that Beane got were/are regarded.

  140. jon July 17th, 2008 at 3:24 pm

    Considering the Yankees weak bench, this is low-risk. They had to do this, considering Shelley Duncan’s uselessness this year (together with his uselessness in SWB…seems as if his chances are done).

  141. Phil July 17th, 2008 at 3:24 pm

    I find it comical that some people think Cashman and the Yankees can pull off whatever deal they want, while not giving up anything from the minors OR paying any substantial dollars.

    As has been mentioned by others, if higher caliber players were made available for something reasonable, I’m sure Cash would jump all over it. But does anyone really think it’s a good idea to trade high-level prospects as well as pick up salary for someone like Texiera for 60+ games? It’s that kind of thinking that has GMs thinking they can fleece the Yankees in the first place.

    Cash is doing what he can with what is available, without giving away the future or raising payroll back up to incredibly unreasonable amounts. He’s doing his job.

    Some people think they can do a better job than him, just like they think they can manage better than Girardi. I don’t agree with all the moves they make, but it’s their job and I trust that they make decisions based on information not readily available to the rest of us, as well as working with what is available.

  142. raymagnetic ®™ July 17th, 2008 at 3:24 pm

    “the moves i’d like to see cashman make would be to move abreu, giambi, damon and farnsworth for whatver young position talent they can find”

    Yes, because teams are just dying to take players making millions on the downside of their careers and trading good young position talent for it.

  143. No Sleep 'til Brooklyn July 17th, 2008 at 3:24 pm

    Why did Richie do Bobby Luppo?

    It wasn’t Richie Madano that did Bobby Luppo, it was the plump guy that threw the dog out the window of his car.

  144. Ian July 17th, 2008 at 3:24 pm

    How does this help the team??? How about Sexson hits lefties better than anyone on our bench and he is only going to cost $161,000. How is that not improvement rather than having someone like Christian, Moeller, Traber, or Hawkins on the team?

  145. Brandon (Jeter GIDP: *15 even in All Star Games) (Johan HR count: 13 and a SP) July 17th, 2008 at 3:25 pm

    Sterling: “IT IS HIGH IT IS FAR IT IS GONNNNNNE !” “Richie Sexson w/ a tremendous shot….Ohhhhh When I get that feeling I need Sexsual healing !”

  146. Whiff (Cano's bat) July 17th, 2008 at 3:25 pm

    Sure sign the Yankees will not make the playoffs this year.

    Their offense is mired in “lost in space” and the answer is Richie Sexton.

    That is the equivalnet of saying John Kitna is the answer to Peyton Manning being out for the year or Tom Brady being out for the year.

  147. Brandon (Jeter GIDP: *15 even in All Star Games) (Johan HR count: 13 and a SP) July 17th, 2008 at 3:26 pm

    And it’s Sexson not Sexton :lol:

  148. G. Love July 17th, 2008 at 3:27 pm

    I like this move. It’s something to help this offense. If Sexson can just hit his career numbers the rest of the season .260 with a .350 or some on base and some power, he’s worth it.

    A change of scenery might do the trick for him since Seattle was his hometown and it appeared the pressure of playing there was messing with him. Hopefully, the pressure of playing here won’t be similar.

    I just hope that Cashman doesn’t try to sell this move as his big move. He has more than enough minor league assets to continue to help the big league club.

    We get Betemit out of the lineup now, hopefully.

    He needs to work on getting an OF now who can get on base and drive in some runs.

    With Holliday, Nady and Bay out there, it’s time to deal some prospects and get us a corner OF with serious offensive potential.

    This organization is overpopulated with pitching prospects — there are more prospects than spots available. Considering the 40 man roster problem and rule V problem we’ll be having soon, it’s time to turn in some of those chips for a big bat.

    He has no excuse not to. Hughes, Melky and Ohlendorf for Matt Holliday is a good place to start.

    We don’t even know if Hughes can contribute this season, considering how poorly he pitched earlier, and next season he’ll be on a innings limit once again.

    If we dealt him for Holliday, we’d have an in his prime corner OF for the next 2 seasons who if we didn’t sign him, we’d get 2 first round picks for.

    Considering Hughes won’t be a factor if he’s healthy and can produce until 2010, I dangle him.

    Send him Colorado and his numbers take a hit anyway as a pitcher so it won’t look that lopsided.

    Holliday is an all star, a tough nosed player and a winner.

    Hughes isn’t any of those things now. He might be in the future. But anyone telling me it’s a sure thing is wrong. If he gets injured again next season, we’ll all be lamenting the fact we didn’t trade him for a Johan or other star player while his value was high.

  149. whozat July 17th, 2008 at 3:27 pm

    “Damon will be the DH because how much field is going to be able to play??”

    This is the assumption you’re making that may not be true. If Damon’s shoulder is too badly hurt to throw, he’s not going to be able to hit either. This wasn’t some stress tear down in his upper back like posada.

  150. Fredo Corleone July 17th, 2008 at 3:27 pm

    vazquez had an all-star 1st half & a bad 2nd half
    halsey was 11-4, 2.63 era, for our AAA
    navarro is now doing well w/ tb

    Halsey was crap, but I’d give you Navarro, especially given the state of the catching right now. They had to Vazquez out of NYC. He crapped out pretty hard when things got tense.

    Point is the idea that they’ve had a history of dealing A-list prospects for accomplished players is a misguided one.

  151. TurnTwo July 17th, 2008 at 3:27 pm

    “Yes, because teams are just dying to take players making millions on the downside of their careers and trading good young position talent for it.”

    and really, at this point, itd be a salary dump more than anything. Abreu, Giambi, and Farnsworth are FAs after the season, and you should get a couple picks for the group of them. thatd be better than anything youd pick up in a trade, even if another team was willing to take them on.

  152. rconn23 July 17th, 2008 at 3:27 pm

    Good move, I guess.

    Here’s a suggestion and I know I’m not the first one to say it.

    Giambi is the DH now. Or at least he should be. Bring up Juan Miranda, who destroys right-handed pitching, but can’t hit any lefties. Then you have Sexon, who smashes lefties, but can’t hit righties.

    Trade Betemit, for, whatever.

    Check out the splits for both Sexon and Miranda – they are crazy. You basically Frankenstein yourself a first baseman. I know it’ll never happen.

  153. PJH July 17th, 2008 at 3:28 pm

    Its so funny how the basis of everyone’s arguments are ALWAYS stats. But Sexson’s success (shown clearly by stats).344/.423/.623/1.046 in 61 ABs against lefthanders is quickly dismissed. Is rather have Sexson’s numbers against lefthanders than Betemit’s .235/.257/.412/.669.

  154. Ian July 17th, 2008 at 3:28 pm

    No one is saying this is the answer to all the offensive problems. However it is an improvement over what we have now and it is going to cost peanuts with no long term commitment.

  155. Miller July 17th, 2008 at 3:28 pm

    “Tex and Mahay for Salty, Neftali Feliz, and 3 other guys. I’m pretty sure Salty was A-list level. Feliz is looking really good.”

    Andrus is a sick infielder with all-star written all over him and Harrison looks like he’s ready for the major leagues. Harrison made the Angels looks bad. We don’t have enough horses in our system to even come close to matching what the Braves gave up. If we did make a similar move our system would be barren of potential stars.

  156. Rebecca--Optimist Prime-Mo for Cy Young 08 July 17th, 2008 at 3:29 pm

    …This ranks up there with Kevin Brown?

    Are you kidding me?

    Kevin Brown was like paying $40.00 at a restaurant for filet mignon and getting two bite size strips of undercooked steak with some weird sauce on it.

    Richie Sexon is spending $5.00 on a sandwich at Quiznos.

  157. whozat July 17th, 2008 at 3:29 pm

    “If we dealt him for Holliday, we’d have an in his prime corner OF for the next 2 ”

    We’d also have Holliday, Matsui and Damon all signed to be LF/DHes and no right fielder.

  158. stanzy July 17th, 2008 at 3:30 pm

    It’s not like Cash is going to stop looking now that he landed Sexton. $170k? Why not.

  159. Brandon (Jeter GIDP: *15 even in All Star Games) (Johan HR count: 13 and a SP) July 17th, 2008 at 3:30 pm

    Betemit is gone after this move I just don’t see a spot for him, he is now a bigger trade bait.

  160. just tellin' ya July 17th, 2008 at 3:30 pm

    Now on the bubble :

    Betemit, Giese, Traber, Hawkins and when Damon gets back, Christian. No telling with Moeller.

  161. fuhgoobagaz July 17th, 2008 at 3:31 pm

    Brent, talking about thinking (which you don’t seem to do) before hitting submit, don’t put words in my mouth.

    Signing Sexson isn’t going to kill the Yankees. Not by itself. Its all the other moves and non-moves. Signing Sexson sends a poor message to the whole team.

    Look at what Cashman did last season. Look at the rotation he had put together, and think about how those non-moves probably brought Hughes up far sooner than was their plan. How well has Hughes been doing in the majors? That is when he isn’t on the DL. This year it was all about the kids. How well has that worked out with out him having any kind of backup plan?

    The Yankees have not had great starting pitching for a while now. Years. They still don’t and the big move Cashman makes is to sign Ponson. Or bring Igawa up again.

    Its the cumulative things, and what is his fix so far? Signing Sexson. Signing Ponson. DFAing Ensberg.

    There are a lot of pitchers in the minors, yet his moves are to pick up the cast offs.

  162. TurnTwo July 17th, 2008 at 3:31 pm

    G. Love, glad to see I’ve got someone on the same page with me.

  163. RockinDaBronx July 17th, 2008 at 3:31 pm

    this is embarrassing, what a sad move, this guy stinks, another 1 dimensional player who’s saving grace is that can hit lefties, great another guy for Girardi to play around with for his matchup wizardly lineups.

  164. Jeter2007 July 17th, 2008 at 3:31 pm

    i want to keep hughes

    i was thinking kennedy + melky + horne + more (they can have ohlendorf if they want) for holliday + fuentes

    just off the top of my head, i’m not sure what the rockies have in terms of need

    just fun to talk about sometimes

  165. stanzy July 17th, 2008 at 3:32 pm

    Damn! I meant Sexson. I hate misspelling.

  166. jose July 17th, 2008 at 3:33 pm

    http://www.mlbnewsonline.com/2.....inent.html

    just saw this posted at mlbtraderumors thread
    i think its fake though

  167. whozat July 17th, 2008 at 3:33 pm

    “Considering Hughes won’t be a factor if he’s healthy and can produce until 2010″

    How is it not possible that he’ll “be a factor” next year? He was on a 180 inning limit. That’s pretty standard for a #5 guy who gets skipped every now and again. He’ll start next season at 22.

    Holliday’s bat outside Coors is basically Matsui’s bat circa 2005. Very good. Borderline all-star. But…would you trade Hughes and Jackson for a year and a half of Matsui? Especially when you already have a LFer under contract for next season? And at least one DH under contract for next season?

  168. TurnTwo July 17th, 2008 at 3:33 pm

    “We’d also have Holliday, Matsui and Damon all signed to be LF/DHes and no right fielder.”

    thats assuming Damon isnt traded, and Matsui plays the OF. Matsui would likely be the full time DH next year, with Giambi off the team, and Posada catching.

    you could slide Holliday to RF if you had to for one season, where he’d actually have to cover less ground, and could provide at least as much defense than what we’re getting from Abreu right now.

  169. rb15 July 17th, 2008 at 3:33 pm

    re: mortgage the future – didn’t we send dioner navarro and pena to tampa bay for somebody? the fact that i can’t remember who we traded then for speaks more to mortgaging the future than anything. (maybe justified, though, since when navarro was in our minor leagues he couldn’t hit water if he fell out of a boat).

    i like this move. or at least, i don’t hate it. what’s the big deal? you have a first baseman with pop. at the very least, gives us more options. i almost like a lineup of

    gardner
    jeter
    abreu
    arod
    giambi dh
    posada
    cano
    sexson 1b
    cabrera

    and if it sucks, then whatever – either way, can’t be worse than what’s been going on already.

  170. Paul M. July 17th, 2008 at 3:33 pm

    what are Sexson’s numbers in Yankee Stadium, Tropicana and Fenway?

  171. Y's Guy July 17th, 2008 at 3:34 pm

    there are other teams out there who are in the pennant race and are looking to go for it this year. there will be bidding wars for a few high impact hitters and pitcher over the next 2 weeks and the yankees should cash in wherever they can.

    this team isnt going to the playoffs and if they can get something better than what they will get in compensation picks for thier veterans from contending clubs, then they should do it.

  172. Fredo Corleone July 17th, 2008 at 3:34 pm

    “i was thinking kennedy + melky + horne + more (they can have ohlendorf if they want) for holliday + fuentes”

    No going to happen. Has to be at least one A-lister. There’s none in your proposal.

  173. greg July 17th, 2008 at 3:34 pm

    Not a bad pickup—it costs us zero prospects and he might actually win us a game or 2 with his bat and glove. Speaking of shaking up things—what about a true blockbuster trade; send A-rod, Kennedy, Cox, Hawkins, Ohlendorf and a couple of lower minor leaguers to Colorado for Holiday, Atkins, Fluentes and Cook. We would finally be rid of A-rod’s distraction and become a more balanced team in the process.

  174. Blargh July 17th, 2008 at 3:34 pm

    Miller: Damn, that move keeps looking worse and worse for Schuerholz

  175. Miller July 17th, 2008 at 3:35 pm

    “Hughes, Melky and Ohlendorf for Matt Holliday is a good place to start.”

    This is Matt Holiday. O’Dowd will want AJax included or no deal.

  176. Fredo Corleone July 17th, 2008 at 3:36 pm

    ‘there will be bidding wars for a few high impact hitters and pitcher over the next 2 weeks and the yankees should cash in wherever they can.”

    Which impact hitters??? Abreu? Giambi? Both are free agents. Yankees would get better return keeping them and taking draft picks than what they’d be offered for 2 months of these guys.

  177. AeroFANatic July 17th, 2008 at 3:36 pm

    I gotta think the moves will shake out like this :

    Sexon in, Traber sent down. 40 man move is Matsui to 60 day DL.
    Bruney in, Hawkins traded or DFA’d.
    Damon in, Christian sent down.

    I like the Sexon move. Starts at 1B vs lefties, and is a late inning D replacement at 1B.
    Nothing wrong with this move IMO.

  178. TKinDC (subtract one from Jete's GiDP) July 17th, 2008 at 3:36 pm

    I don’t think they are going to get rid of Betty – what if you need someone to give A-Rod or Cano a day off? (even Jete I guess.)

    They should move Traber back down or deep-six Hawkins.

  179. Phil July 17th, 2008 at 3:36 pm

    “This year it was all about the kids. How well has that worked out with out him having any kind of backup plan?”
    “There are a lot of pitchers in the minors, yet his moves are to pick up the cast offs.”

    Sorry, but I have to ask. Does this mean you WANT kids from the minors coming up or you don’t?

    Hughes was hurt BEFORE he went on the DL, which partially explains his poor start. PARTIALLY. Igawa didn’t work out. That’s on him, but he always said that people shouldn’t expect him to be Matsuzaka Part II. Unfortunately, he turned out to be Irabu Part II…

    To me, the “message” he’s sending is, I’m doing what I can to help the team. He’s not standing pat and doing NOTHING, and there are larger implications to just bringing up minor leaguers. As you alluded to in your post, bringing up kids before they are ready doesn’t help so there’s really no point in doing that, is there?

  180. G. Love July 17th, 2008 at 3:37 pm

    In the hypothetical that we get a guy like Holliday (notice I said hypothetical, Cashman doesn’t have the stones to do it) Matsui is out for this season most likely so it’s not an issue.

    Next season, with Giambi coming off the books, Damon or Matsui can DH (with Posada) most days.

    You put Holliday in right, get a real CF and Damon or Matsui play LF.

    Problem solved.

  181. The axe man July 17th, 2008 at 3:38 pm

    Show Betemit the door. He’s as useless as t**s on a bull.

  182. TurnTwo July 17th, 2008 at 3:38 pm

    “This is Matt Holiday. O’Dowd will want AJax included or no deal.”

    we actually have no clue what he’ll want. not fair to say he’ll hold out for Hughes and Ajackson or nothing.

  183. Miller July 17th, 2008 at 3:40 pm

    Hey Blargh, if these guys continue to develop it could be one of the all-time worst. Especially after they didn’t sign Mahay and Tex may not be close behind. Does Schuerholz save face and take a run at signing Tex?

  184. Mitch July 17th, 2008 at 3:40 pm

    fuhgoobagaz,

    Name one player the Yanks should pursue that won’t cost Ajaz, Hughes, Melancon or Tabata. You said they’re out there, so I’m asking you to name one.

    Do you honestly believe Cashman isn’t looking? Do you honestly believe he’s turning down good deals?

    Look at the market. It’s not like teams are giving away they’re good players. If the Pirates are expecting an A lister for Nady, then that shows you where the market is now. Nobody worth having comes for nothing.

  185. whozat July 17th, 2008 at 3:41 pm

    “not fair to say he’ll hold out for Hughes and Ajackson or nothing.”

    Why not? If you were he, why would you trade Holliday for less? He doesn’t need to trade him this season, even. Someone will put at least one A-lister into a deal for Holliday.

  186. Fredo Corleone July 17th, 2008 at 3:42 pm

    “we actually have no clue what he’ll want. not fair to say he’ll hold out for Hughes and Ajackson or nothing.”

    Fair to say one of them would have to go for sure.

  187. Coach Jay23 July 17th, 2008 at 3:42 pm

    WHOZAT… really think about baseball will you Damon is left handed so he swings with his bottom hand which is what?? RIGHT HANDED, he follows through with one hand which is what??? HIS RIGHT HAND.. so there you go thanks

  188. raymagnetic ®™ July 17th, 2008 at 3:42 pm

    “Look at what Cashman did last season. Look at the rotation he had put together, and think about how those non-moves probably brought Hughes up far sooner than was their plan. How well has Hughes been doing in the majors? That is when he isn’t on the DL.”

    Last year as a 21 year old Hughes was exactly league average. I always thought he was brought up last year due to all the injuries to the pitching staff. I could definitely be mistaken however.

  189. Jeter2007 July 17th, 2008 at 3:43 pm

    he could want high-ceiling guys like humberto or melancon or brackman, etc

    o well, i’m done thinking about it

  190. Y's Guy July 17th, 2008 at 3:43 pm

    funny how on here everybody assumes that other teams will get prospects for a guy whos going to become a free agent this year or next, but could never get anything for their guys in the same position.

  191. Laura July 17th, 2008 at 3:43 pm

    I think the roster move is to send Traber down. What’s the point of carrying a left handed specialist who can’t get out lefties? Didn’t we go through this already with Mike Myers?

  192. Coach Jay23 July 17th, 2008 at 3:43 pm

    Guys you all you say this move doesnt cost much which you are right however its a roster spot on r 40 man so if we make any more moves someone on are 25 man will have to go or get traded.

  193. whozat July 17th, 2008 at 3:43 pm

    “You put Holliday in right, get a real CF and Damon or Matsui play LF. ”

    Matt Holliday can barely handle left field, and you want him in right? LF is where the worst defenders go, pretty much. If the guy could handle RF, he’d probably be playing there already.

  194. Brent (Yankees Need a Pick-Me-Up) July 17th, 2008 at 3:44 pm

    Signing Sexson sends a poor message to the whole team.

    You’re too caught up in big, flashy stars. The bottom line is: If Sexson/Ponson can help the Yankees, why does it “send a poor message to the whole team”? Your point makes no sense at all. Do you really think that when the clubhouse catches wind of Sexson’s signing they’re going to say “AW MAN! BETTER LUCK NEXT YEAR!”. Of course they aren’t. For you to claim that a low-cost/low-risk acquisition sends a poor message to the whole team is just flat out stupid.

    You know who else the Yankees signed after being released by another team? Edwar Ramirez. The guy was on his last legs and the Yankees took a chance on him. Do you think the team said “GREAT! A NO-NAME, JOBLESS LOSER. WE’RE DOOMED!”? Of course they didn’t. The same situation applies to Sexson.

    I was serious though: Read your comments before you hit submit. That’s the second time you’ve made a fool of yourself.

  195. billy July 17th, 2008 at 3:44 pm

    It’s very funny that people can spell Saltamacchia and we’ve seen Sexson’s name spelled at least three different ways.

  196. Drive 4-5 July 17th, 2008 at 3:44 pm

    Folks are making too big a deal over a guy that’s costing the Yanks next to nothing. What hapens if Sexson hits like he did 2 or 3 years ago? In any case, he’s an upgrade over Wilson Betemit hitting right handed.

    Hopefully, this is the first of a couple of moves by Cashman. We need a left fielder badly. The sooner Gardner goes back to the minors, the better. Abreau, Melky, Jeter and Cano have to contribute much more than they have.

    I voted in the poll that the Yanks won’t make the playoffs. I think the Yanks can make a run without Matsui, but not without Damon. If Damon shows improvement, it may spur Cashman into making more moves. I think if Damon regresses and can’t come back, Cashman wont make any more moves and it’s gonna be a long second half for us.

  197. Patrick â„¢ July 17th, 2008 at 3:44 pm

    “WHOZAT… really think about baseball will you Damon is left handed so he swings with his bottom hand which is what?? RIGHT HANDED, he follows through with one hand which is what??? HIS RIGHT HAND.. so there you go thanks”

    Ahahahahahah

    Have you ever swung a bat?

  198. Pepitone July 17th, 2008 at 3:44 pm

    Mitch said-

    “Do you think because of this move he’s not looking for better moves? Do you think now if the Rockies offered Holliday for Hawkins straigt up, he’d say, “Nah, we’re done. We got Sexson.”

    ROFL!!!!! Mitch, you owe me a new keyboard, I was drinking my coffee when you posted. Yeah, Braves want to send us Tex for Farnsy, “nope, we got Richie at first.”
    Sometimes Yankee fans actually believe there is an unspoken reservation in the playoffs for the Yankees. Look, we will probably NOT make the playoffs this year, so get over it. Next year is looking good with the contracts off the books and money available for a few signings that make sense. Plus, we got some young talent ready to come up in September for a look, and perhaps a spot on next years roster. For me, this year is just a tune up for next year. If we make the playoffs, fine; if we don’t fine. This team has needed rebuilding for a number of years, now is as good a time as ever to start. Sexson is a nice pickup, he’s still young at 33, and could do for us what Kingman did for us in 78. I guess Cashman has to trade for the entire Tampa Bay roster, plus Santana, Pujols, and Halladay for these fans to be satisfied.

  199. Espresso July 17th, 2008 at 3:45 pm

    “We got a guy that was replaced by Miguel Cairo???????”

    Cairo is just holding down 1B for the M’s while a minor leaguer gets over an injury. They cut Sexson to make room for the rookie to see what he’s got for the rest of the year.

    CaptainsCorner- “Also he can catch balls hit up to 7 feet in the air”

    He’s something like 6’7″ With a 1B mitt he can probably get up around 10 feet without jumping. I can reach up to 8 feet flat footed and Big Sexy has 7 inches on me.

  200. whozat July 17th, 2008 at 3:45 pm

    “WHOZAT… really think about baseball will you Damon is left handed so he swings with his bottom hand which is what?? RIGHT HANDED, he follows through with one hand which is what??? HIS RIGHT HAND.. so there you go thanks”

    What? You think his left shoulder is irrelevant to hitting?

  201. G. Love July 17th, 2008 at 3:46 pm

    I think if Hughes was ever put on the table for Holliday, we get him without adding in Jackson.

    The team that could outbid us with Hughes would be the Angels, but they always seem reluctant to make these kind of deals and they are also trying to dump Gary Matthews on all takers.

    I don’t see the Red Sox getting into the mix unless they are willing to admit that Ortiz is done or Manny is not going to be picked up for next season.

    The Mets don’t have the prospects, outside of Fernando Martinez and the only way you get Omar to give him up is for another Latino all star.

    I don’t think Cashman would do it for a minute though. He’s hitched his wagon to Hughes and that’s his right…but Hughes has not proven that he is ready to be a major league starter yet. His secondary pitches are not all there and he needs development.

    Anyone penciling him in for 180 innings next year is being a bit too optimistic. What is your faith based on exactly? Last season?

    I’m not saying Holliday is the answer, but he’d be a good boost to this lineup and would balance it out nicely.

  202. DFox July 17th, 2008 at 3:46 pm

    For people who believe all of the high end Yankee prospects are safe, then you’re dead wrong. Phil Hughes and Ian Kennedy? I wouldn’t be utterly shocked if they get traded. Hank wanted them traded before the season, I’m SURE he would still trade them now.

    And until they stick George Steinbrenner in the grave, he’s still there. It’s still his team.

    And I doubt Cashman is done making moves. There’s no way he can honostly think he has a way to keep his job if the Yankees don’t make the playoffs and the only move he made was acquire someone who wasn’t good enough to play on the Mariners.

  203. fuhgoobagaz July 17th, 2008 at 3:46 pm

    With all the pitching the Yankees have in the minors they can do a deal to get a back of the rotation pitcher. Bring up some of the young arms for the bull pen, or make a move with them for other pieces missing.

    A number of the pitchers in the minors will soon have to either be brought up or let go. If they aren’t being planned on for helping out the Yankees team, then what are they there for? Either use them to aid the team or use them to get someone who can.

  204. TurnTwo July 17th, 2008 at 3:46 pm

    “Why not? If you were he, why would you trade Holliday for less? He doesn’t need to trade him this season, even. Someone will put at least one A-lister into a deal for Holliday.”

    wouldnt you say that Hughes is a better overall prospect than Jackson? there is your A-lister.

    not that you can have too many all-star caliber CFers, but the Rockies already have Dexter Fowler to play the CF of the future for them, maybe they’d rather stock up in lower level pitching? maybe they find Tabata a good prospect to play RF down the line here…

    we dont know. we shouldnt pretend like we know exactly what it will take.

    “Fair to say one of them would have to go for sure.”

    absolutely. one of them can go and its not gonna hurt the team long term.

  205. Patrick â„¢ July 17th, 2008 at 3:46 pm

    “Matt Holliday can barely handle left field, and you want him in right? LF is where the worst defenders go, pretty much. If the guy could handle RF, he’d probably be playing there already.”

    Holliday is actually a pretty good LF but okay.

  206. whozat July 17th, 2008 at 3:47 pm

    “its a roster spot on r 40 man so if we make any more moves someone on are 25 man will have to go or get traded.”

    So? You wouldn’t be able to part with Hawkins or Justin Christianson if another move is made?

  207. Mitch July 17th, 2008 at 3:47 pm

    Pepitone, I was making a point. Of course nobody would make that offer.

    I do not think the Yanks are going to make the playoffs this year, so I think you’ve misunderstood what I wrote completely.

  208. whozat July 17th, 2008 at 3:48 pm

    “Holliday is actually a pretty good LF but okay.”

    Worst in the NL except for Carlos Lee, actually.

    http://www.baseballthinkfactor.....s_defense/

  209. Laura July 17th, 2008 at 3:48 pm

    Somebody write this down – COL is not going to move Holliday this year. I want credit at the end of the year when he’s still with COL.

    :)

  210. Fredo Corleone July 17th, 2008 at 3:48 pm

    Dfox:

    Cahsman, while not the one of the best GM’s in the game, is good enough that he’d have a job about six seconds after the Steinbrenner AC lets him go.

    In fact, I’m nowhere near 100% certain he wouldn’t prefer another job.

  211. Mitch July 17th, 2008 at 3:48 pm

    Pepitone, I just read what you wrote again. My bad! Ignore my last messsge … (Too much going on today, not multitasking well.)

  212. whozat July 17th, 2008 at 3:49 pm

    “Worst in the NL except for Carlos Lee, actually.”

    Crap. My bad. That’s Jason Bay who’s worst in the NL save Carlos Lee.

    Holliday’s actually doing OK out there.

    Still, as far as I know the consensus is that he’s no RFer.

  213. TurnTwo July 17th, 2008 at 3:49 pm

    “I don’t think Cashman would do it for a minute though. He’s hitched his wagon to Hughes and that’s his right…but Hughes has not proven that he is ready to be a major league starter yet. His secondary pitches are not all there and he needs development.”

    completely agree. ive said i dont expect for one second Hughes is going anywhere, or that Cashman will make a big move in general. Hughes is Cashman’s legacy, and he’s gotten much more conservative since he’s taken over control.

    “I’m not saying Holliday is the answer, but he’d be a good boost to this lineup and would balance it out nicely.”

    a good boost, especially if you cant find a pitcher to fill out the back of the rotation before September. let the offense carry you into September, and hope Wang can come back and give you innings for the last couple weeks.

  214. Coach Jay23 July 17th, 2008 at 3:49 pm

    I have a swung a bat and actually coach Varsity baseball and throwing a ball is different than swinging guys get real will you know a little about the game before you make ur comments. More strain will be put on his right hand when he swings..

  215. Phil July 17th, 2008 at 3:49 pm

    Drive 4-5:
    I mostly agree with you. I don’t see why there such a big debate by some folks about the Sexson signing. Sure it does cost a roster spot, but whose spot is he really taking that should be there otherwise?
    The only thing that I might disagree about is Gardner. I think he can help the team, but maybe it’s just the fact that he’s young and has speed (unlike the rest of the team) that I really like.
    I’m not optimistic about Damon, but hopefully he’ll make a great recovery.
    More than anything, it’s the players that are already with the team that need to produce. As has been said by so many, they have the pieces to win, they just need to show they can.

  216. Jeter2007 July 17th, 2008 at 3:50 pm

    i also dont think holliday will be moved, but i do think atkins will be moving… doesn’t help us any though

  217. 86w183 July 17th, 2008 at 3:50 pm

    Fredo—- The Randy johnson trade is a good example of what I’m talking about… especially if you go back another step anbd look at Nick Johnson et al for Javier Vasquez in the first place.

    When I say “future motgaging” I mean a deal that makes you marginally better but costs too much in $$$ and prospects. The Tey Lilly for Jeff Weaver and Weaver for Kevin Brown is another example.

    No it hasn’t happened in a while because the Tampa Mafia failed to prduce prospects worth a crap for about a decade.

    I view Sexson as a bench strengthening move, nothing more. In that light, it makes sense. A REAL RH hitter would be significant, but not at the cost of AJax or Hughes.

  218. TurnTwo July 17th, 2008 at 3:50 pm

    “Still, as far as I know the consensus is that he’s no RFer.”

    neither is Abreu at this point, yet we put up with him.

  219. Boston Dave July 17th, 2008 at 3:50 pm

    not every move is going to shake the foundations…

    This is as low risk as it gets and if nothing else….

    It sends a message to the other guys that they aren’t getting the job done and could lose PT.

    If Sexson is horrible, they show him the door.

  220. AeroFANatic July 17th, 2008 at 3:51 pm

    Betemit still has a role on this team, as a utility “can play any IF position” guy. He’s valuable in that sense. When Damon comes back, you send down Christian and you’re left with a bench of :

    Gardner
    Moeller
    Betemit
    Sexson

    Gardner will be used to spell Damon and Melky on a fairly consistent basis. Moeller is insurance for Posada at this time. And Sexson is the vs Lefties 1B and great late inning D replacement. If Posada is ok, and they eventually DFA Moeller….you can choose either OF (Christian, Carson) or IF utility (Gonzalez, Castro).

    As for the pen, Bruney’s coming back should be at the expense of Hawkins. I dont see Cox or Melancon this season unless there is an injury.

  221. Mitch July 17th, 2008 at 3:51 pm

    fuhgoobagaz,

    Who is the “back of the rotation” pitcher(s) you are referring to who are:

    1) Available for lower prospects, and
    2) Better than what the Yanks have now.

    Names, please?

    And if these mythical hurlers exist, do you think Cashman really is purposely not dealing for them?

    Great point above: If Cashman is so awful, why will teams trip over each other to sign him if he opts to leave the Yanks at the end of the year?

  222. Brent (Yankees Need a Pick-Me-Up) July 17th, 2008 at 3:51 pm

    I don’t get how anybody could be “up-in-arms” over this move. It’s one thing if they heard the news and said “oh, whatever”. But to hear that they signed Sexson and go into an anti-yankee outrage is a bit immature. To everyone who is enraged over the Sexson signing, read this:

    1) The guy costs chump change

    2) If it doesn’t work out, you cut him loose and lose said chump change.

    3) If it works out AT ALL..even the SLIGHTEST BIT…say he has a couple big hits throughout the rest of the season..then it’s a success.

    4) In limited at-bats against lefties, he’s sparkled. We need righties who can be plugged in whenever Girardi decides to sit all the lefties when a LH-Pitcher is on the mound–He can be that guy!

    5) He has pop. Think “Shelley Duncan with more experience and the ability to hit the ball somewhere besides left-field foul territory”.

  223. raymagnetic ®™ July 17th, 2008 at 3:51 pm

    “In the hypothetical that we get a guy like Holliday (notice I said hypothetical, Cashman doesn’t have the stones to do it) Matsui is out for this season most likely so it’s not an issue.

    Next season, with Giambi coming off the books, Damon or Matsui can DH (with Posada) most days.

    You put Holliday in right, get a real CF and Damon or Matsui play LF. ”

    In your scenario how do they go about getting a real CF and Matt Holliday? If they trade for Matt Holliday what would they have left to trade for a “real” centerfielder?

    Who are these “real” CF types you’re looking for?

  224. fuhgoobagaz July 17th, 2008 at 3:52 pm

    Brent, you make an ass out of yourself with every post. Its probably time for you to go potty now.

  225. Coach Jay23 July 17th, 2008 at 3:52 pm

    I didnt say i was upset if they made another move all i said was that this moves means that if they do make a move than some1 on the 25 has to be let go most likely so this move is not as easy as people think it is thats all

  226. Yankeefanfoev13 July 17th, 2008 at 3:52 pm

    Hey guys,
    I am going to see the Yankees class A team, Charleston play tonight. I’m extremely excited about seeing Montero play. Is there any other good prospects that are with the team other than Montero and Bentances that I should have my eye on.

    Thanks in advance

  227. Mark July 17th, 2008 at 3:53 pm

    Oh good, another 35 yr old, over-the-hill 1st baseman DH. Just what this moribund offense needs.

  228. Brandon (Jeter GIDP: *15 even in All Star Games) (Johan HR count: 13 and a SP) July 17th, 2008 at 3:54 pm

    Whozat I was checking the Rangers forum, the rumors are Elvis Andrus will be called up to the big club, moving Young to 3B and since he’s 31 they may want to deal him. If Daniels decides the Rangers are in contention he will not blink to deal Micheal Young who would be out of a spot in Texas.

    So this will be interesting to follow Blalock, Bradley and Young might be put on the market this trade deadline.

  229. Rebecca--Optimist Prime-Mo for Cy Young 08 July 17th, 2008 at 3:56 pm

    How is Shelley doing in AAA, anyway?

  230. Brent (Yankees Need a Pick-Me-Up) July 17th, 2008 at 3:56 pm

    It’s very funny that people can spell Saltamacchia and we’ve seen Sexson’s name spelled at least three different ways.

    You mean “Saltalamacchia”? Oh, the irony.

  231. saucY July 17th, 2008 at 3:56 pm

    again, i have to ask

    a) is hughes still on the DL?
    b) if so, will he still be on the DL at the trade deadline?
    c) can you trade players who are on the DL?

  232. Patrick â„¢ July 17th, 2008 at 3:56 pm

    “Crap. My bad. That’s Jason Bay who’s worst in the NL save Carlos Lee.

    Holliday’s actually doing OK out there.

    Still, as far as I know the consensus is that he’s no RFer.”

    I was going to say, its weird that Holliday’s RZR is so high if he’s really that bad. 2.4 runs saved isn’t bad, looks about average. I have no idea what he’d be like in RF. He has plenty of range for the position (especially in yankee stadium) but I don’t know about his arm.

  233. whozat July 17th, 2008 at 3:56 pm

    “neither is Abreu at this point, yet we put up with him.”

    Well, he also doesn’t cost us prospects to put him out there.

    You want to talk about finding some way to bring RF production up to (at least) league average? Sure. Given that Nady would be a blatant buy-high move, that Holliday plays LF even though the Rockies have had some pretty heinous D in RF, and that Jason Bay is already a hideous left fielder (that the Pirates are uninterested in trading), who do we get?

    Brandon likes Frenchy. I’d like them to snipe Nelson Cruz and see what he has to offer. He’s tearing up AAA.

  234. David Cone's Labrum July 17th, 2008 at 3:56 pm

    Doesn’t Sexson = Shelley?

    How are they really any different?

    Think of this guy as Shelley’s replacement. It works.

  235. Mitch July 17th, 2008 at 3:56 pm

    Brent’s last post made a lot of sense. Why would you pick on him, fuhgoobagaz?

  236. Phil July 17th, 2008 at 3:57 pm

    Rebecca: I don’t know how he was doing stat-wise since he was sent down, but he’s hurt now. Possibly done for the year. Separated shoulder, I believe. :(

  237. whozat July 17th, 2008 at 3:57 pm

    “How is Shelley doing in AAA, anyway?”

    On the DL long-term.

  238. Brent (Yankees Need a Pick-Me-Up) July 17th, 2008 at 3:58 pm

    Brent, you make an ass out of yourself with every post. Its probably time for you to go potty now.

    Are you oblivious to all the posts above of people calling you an idiot or proving you wrong? If you don’t agree with me, that’s one thing, but there’s a reason that 85% of the people here are arguing with you..you just manage to say really stupid things on a consistent basis.

  239. Mitch July 17th, 2008 at 3:58 pm

    Saucy,

    The answer to all three of your questions is “yes.”

  240. Tank July 17th, 2008 at 3:58 pm

    Just sign Holliday as a FA after 09. No way Boras lets him sign an extension with a team, even if he is traded. He will be brought to FA.

    Tabata-Jackson-Holliday in ’10!!!!!

  241. MoBoy(aka McLovin) July 17th, 2008 at 3:58 pm

    Yankeefanfoev13-

    Heard Jairo Heredia was good.

  242. whozat July 17th, 2008 at 3:58 pm

    “I’m extremely excited about seeing Montero play.”

    Romine should play too. Angelini is raw but could be fun to watch. Almonte?

  243. Brandon (Jeter GIDP: *15 even in All Star Games) (Johan HR count: 13 and a SP) July 17th, 2008 at 3:58 pm

    How is Shelley doing in AAA, anyway?

    Out for the season

  244. Brent (Yankees Need a Pick-Me-Up) July 17th, 2008 at 3:59 pm

    Mitch–

    Thanks for the backup :-)

  245. TurnTwo July 17th, 2008 at 3:59 pm

    “Brandon likes Frenchy. I’d like them to snipe Nelson Cruz and see what he has to offer. He’s tearing up AAA.”

    Frenchy?

  246. pat July 17th, 2008 at 3:59 pm

    “How is Shelley doing in AAA, anyway?”

    Gone for the year with a seperated shoulder.

  247. David Cone's Labrum July 17th, 2008 at 3:59 pm

    Rebecca – MILB showing Duncan on the 7-day DL – not sure when it was effective.

    I thought he was likely done for the year.

  248. YankeeDiva July 17th, 2008 at 4:00 pm

    Greg- you want to get rid of Arod simply because his divorce info in on the front page of the news? LOL the “Yankees” are suppose to be tougher than that!! BTW if Alex was in Colorado I bet none of it would be front page news.

  249. whozat July 17th, 2008 at 4:01 pm

    “Whozat I was checking the Rangers forum, the rumors are Elvis Andrus will be called up to the big club, moving Young to 3B and since he’s 31 they may want to deal him. If Daniels decides the Rangers are in contention he will not blink to deal Micheal Young who would be out of a spot in Texas.”

    They’re going to trade their all-star SS — who they have for several more years — in order to make room for a 19 year old AA player with a .702 OPS? And a more than 2:1 K:BB ratio despite having little to no power?

  250. whozat July 17th, 2008 at 4:01 pm

    “Frenchy?”

    That’s what they call Francoeur in Atlanta :-)

  251. randyhater July 17th, 2008 at 4:03 pm

    Saying we’ll give Sexson a try and then cut him if he’s no good would be fine if the season were 500 games long. It’s not. We need immediate line-up help and of the guys available (Bay, Nady, Holliday, Bonds) Sexson is by far the worst.

    And spare me his numbers in 60 atbats against lefties this year. Does anyone really think this long-swinging, strikeout-prone beanstalk with a pissy attitude and a bad haircut is really going to be effective, or happy, playing once or twice a week? He’s not.

    Typical Cashman non-move. All it does is give him cover for not having the sense or stomach to take a real chance.

  252. CUYanks July 17th, 2008 at 4:03 pm

    Does anyone else feel like Michael Young is Derek Jeter? Not only is his profile as a player similar, but he also sounds and speaks the same way.

  253. BG July 17th, 2008 at 4:03 pm

    If Sexson comes here and starts mashing the ball against LHP and playing a better defense at 1B than Giambi or Betemit, I suppose it’ll look smart. I’m not a fan of the move though. At his best, Sexson is a feast or famine offense player and if there’s no role for him on Seattle why do we have one? He’s exactly the kind of one dimensional player we should be moving away from. I suppose we can send Billy Traber down or DFA Moeller and be no real worse off. I wouldn’t send Christian down until we’re sure Damon can play OF on a regular basis. We’re hopefully going to need to find a spot for Bruney soon though so I was assuming that would be when traber went down. So either way Moeller’s days are probably numbered.

    Personally, I’d rather not have to find the minutes for both Sexson and Betemit though. I’d rather just have Giambi play most of the 1B, even against most lefties and have Betemit spell him against the really difficult lefties. Betemit is a much more useful bench guy than Sexson given how many positions he can play and I’d rather he get semi-regular play to keep him fresh than have neither Sexson or Betemit play that much.

  254. StandingO'Neill July 17th, 2008 at 4:03 pm

    “Hughes, Melky and Ohlendorf for Matt Holliday”

    On what planet would a GM agree to this deal? I am huge Hughes fan but you don’t trade a guy who can net you 3 top prospects for a pitcher whose been injured all year and two pieces of garbage.

  255. Brandon (Jeter GIDP: *15 even in All Star Games) (Johan HR count: 13 and a SP) July 17th, 2008 at 4:03 pm

    Frenchy?

    Frenchy

  256. saucY July 17th, 2008 at 4:04 pm

    thanks Mitch…

    i didn’t think you could trade anyone who was on the DL

  257. E-3 July 17th, 2008 at 4:04 pm

    So if Shelly is out for the year, can he be put on the 60 day DL even though he is in the minors and on a minor league DL? If so, that opens up another spot on the 40 man.

  258. whozat July 17th, 2008 at 4:04 pm

    “they may want to deal him.”

    Also…the Dodgers NEED an SS, for the rest of this year and also going forward. They’re also a lot closer to the playoffs than the Yanks. You think they won’t go hard after Young? He’s already signed to a deal for several years, so it’s not like they’d need to trade for him and them give him a big extension.

  259. TurnTwo July 17th, 2008 at 4:04 pm

    “That’s what they call Francoeur in Atlanta”

    thats what i thought. not for nothing, but i actually thought Francoeur wopuld have been a great pickup, and that was before all this went down with the stupid send him down for 3 days nonsense.

    i always knew Brandon was a smart guy!

    but id like that move. Three of Atlanta’s best 5 prospects i think are OF’ers. They’d be a great fit, with Glavine, Smoltz, and crew prob retiring after the season, to send some pitching down and get a young, impact OF who would be under control for a couple seasons.

  260. Whiff (Cano's bat) July 17th, 2008 at 4:04 pm

    2 THINGS.

    1. Whozit is right – Worst in the NL except for Carlos Lee, actually. Living in Colorado I get to Holliday play everynight. He has poor routes to fly balls and on the road is not productive with RISP – what the Yankees don’t need for quality prospect and $15 million a year.

    2. In addition to the SexSON signing, it was reported today that Hideo Nomo has retired. Cashman is on the phone as we speak trying to enhance the middle relief and pull Nomo from retirement.

  261. Brandon (Jeter GIDP: *15 even in All Star Games) (Johan HR count: 13 and a SP) July 17th, 2008 at 4:05 pm

    They’re going to trade their all-star SS — who they have for several more years — in order to make room for a 19 year old AA player with a .702 OPS? And a more than 2:1 K:BB ratio despite having little to no power?

    They want to deal him to start the rebuilding and acquire SP for the future while his stock is where it is. Who knows if Daniels pulls the trigger but this is being talked about.

  262. Rebecca--Optimist Prime-Mo for Cy Young 08 July 17th, 2008 at 4:06 pm

    Thanks guys

    I just remembered he was on the DL right after I asked.

  263. Blargh July 17th, 2008 at 4:07 pm

    Trading an injured player requires approval by the commish

    Though I wonder, can the ‘player to be named later’ system be used to work around that?

  264. 86w183 July 17th, 2008 at 4:07 pm

    Yankee Fan—-

    Lotsa prospects in Charleston, probably more than in Tampa right now.

    C/1B Jesus Montrero .296 9 53 turns 19 in November

    SS Carmen Angelini .243 1 27 15 SB he’s 19

    RHP Jairo Heredia 5-3 2.66 71 IP, 65 K turns 19 in Oct

    LHP Wilkins De La Rosa 5-3 2.20 69 2/3 IP, 87 K he’s 23

    Add in 3B Brad Suttle, C Austin Romine, releiver Jonathan Ortiz and you have plenty to check out.

  265. whozat July 17th, 2008 at 4:07 pm

    “So if Shelly is out for the year, can he be put on the 60 day DL even though he is in the minors and on a minor league DL? If so, that opens up another spot on the 40 man.”

    I’d think so. Brackman is on the 60-day; I don’t see why Shelley’d be any different.

  266. TKinDC (subtract one from Jete's GiDP) July 17th, 2008 at 4:07 pm

    Heyman says sayonarra to Hideki for the year :(

  267. whozat July 17th, 2008 at 4:08 pm

    “Though I wonder, can the ‘player to be named later’ system be used to work around that?”

    Yes.

  268. jes July 17th, 2008 at 4:08 pm

    this will be like david justice part 2

  269. Brandon (Jeter GIDP: *15 even in All Star Games) (Johan HR count: 13 and a SP) July 17th, 2008 at 4:09 pm

    A href=”http://mlb.mlb.com/media/video.jsp?mid=200806162943230″>Frenchy does it again, that LF looks familiar

  270. raymagnetic ®™ July 17th, 2008 at 4:09 pm

    Jeff Francouer is no better than Melky Cabrera.

  271. PreteFunkEra July 17th, 2008 at 4:09 pm

    Why do I have a feeling this Bonds stuff isn’t crap.

  272. jennifer July 17th, 2008 at 4:09 pm

    Heyman said any Yankee official he asks about Bonds yells and screams at him. Seems they are pretty ticked about the story.

  273. Brandon (Jeter GIDP: *15 even in All Star Games) (Johan HR count: 13 and a SP) July 17th, 2008 at 4:10 pm

    Frenchy does it again, that LF looks familiar

  274. Tex Antoine July 17th, 2008 at 4:11 pm

    This signing is emblematic of what a pathetic farce the Yankees have become under Cashman. It’s the kind of move the Kansas City Royals make–the equivalent of a ruined millionaire scrounging under the couch cushions for loose change. How many of these “let’s try and catch lightning in a bottle” signings do we have to endure before our dunce of a GM understands this is no way to run a championship-caliber baseball team? For Christ’s sake, GET A FIRST BASEMAN WHO CAN HIT AND FIELD. It’s not that hard. Get a goddamned lefty reliever who can throw the ball over the plate. Build a bench that isn’t made up of guys off the scrap heap and drek from Triple A. It’s been years and this imbecile has done NOTHING to address any of this.

  275. DFox July 17th, 2008 at 4:11 pm

    Well said randyhater. Brian Cashman is simply trying to make up for all of his previous moves and he has all these farm-fanboys believing he is now “responsible” and can’t trade prospects anymore.

    Let’s see Cashman explain his sudden responsibility to the people who purchased $800,000 per year season ticket plans in the new stadium.

  276. Rebecca--Optimist Prime-Mo for Cy Young 08 July 17th, 2008 at 4:11 pm

    Matsui is probably done for the year. If there’s a chance he’s not, we probably don’t sign Sexson.

  277. whozat July 17th, 2008 at 4:11 pm

    “get a young, impact OF who would be under control for a couple seasons.”

    See, to me he looks like another strikeout-prone young slugger who struggles to get on base with any consistency. He’s athletic, sure, but…I dunno. I guess if it’s a move that doesn’t cost anyone I care about too much (Marquez, Cox, Ohlendorf, maybe McCutchen) and he goes to the minors to figure himself out…ok. I don’t see him as someone that can help the Yanks now. Maybe they could bring him over and see if he can get back in AAA, let him take over for Abreu next year.

  278. Carl Pavano Hearts Mike Hampton July 17th, 2008 at 4:12 pm

    Holliday is not the answer this year. Mortgaging the future (i.e. Hughes and or Ajax) for Holliday will not give us a shot at the playoffs. Jeter, Arod, Cano, Abreu, Posada. If we cant get consistent runs from these guys, what difference is having Holliday going to make?

    Ajax and Hughes are the future of the Yankees. Sending one of them off to try to compete this year is a waste if the group of stars we already have still continue to not produce as in the first half.

  279. Patrick â„¢ July 17th, 2008 at 4:12 pm

    By the way whozat, thanks for that BBTF link, its very interesting. According to what they have, Bobby Abreu is the absolute worst fielder in either league.

    Not really shocking that the Yankees are slightly above .500 when you look at their lineup. Shockingly Damon was rated the best LF in the AL, A-rod is the best 3B in the AL, Giambi is the third best 1B in the AL. Other than that though, its pretty grim. Cano is near the bottom among 2B, Abreu is easily the worst RF, Melky is near the bottom of CF. Molina is the best defender among C’s but Posada isn’t really pulling his weight with the bat.

    Bottom line, if the Yankees want to win then Jeter, Cano, Abreu and Melky have to step up at the plate.

  280. whozat July 17th, 2008 at 4:13 pm

    “Matsui is probably done for the year. If there’s a chance he’s not, we probably don’t sign Sexson.”

    These are totally unrelated. How does a lefty LF/DH impact our decision to sign a righty platoon 1B?

  281. whozat July 17th, 2008 at 4:14 pm

    “According to what they have, Bobby Abreu is the absolute worst fielder in either league.”

    That shocked me, I will admit. I’d read earlier in the season, maybe 6 weeks ago, that he was near the top in terms of defensive runs added. Maybe it was a different metric, but that’s a helluva swing. Maybe he’s hurting or in bad shape or something. He does look pudgy.

  282. Laura July 17th, 2008 at 4:14 pm

    Heyman said that COL wants Beltran from the Mets to get Holliday. Can you imagine what they would want for us? Probably A-Rod. LOL!

  283. Jorge Tabata July 17th, 2008 at 4:16 pm

    This collusion story has to be true…. no way that Bonds, who had a 1.045 OPS, is struggling to find work. Sexon, who hit .220 found work as soon as he cleared waivers.

    He costs nothing and there are so many contending teams who need offense like Arizona, Dodgers, Cardinals, Braves, Minnesota, etc. and yet he is receiving zero inquiries?

    He is being black-balled by MLB.

  284. whozat July 17th, 2008 at 4:16 pm

    “Sending one of them off to try to compete this year is a waste if the group of stars we already have still continue to not produce as in the first half.”

    This is THE point. They’re not winning anything without the guys they already have stepping up. This team has not shown that they are worthy of getting an import to make a playoff push. If they were getting on base a lot but not able to cash runner in…maybe. If they were not getting on base well, but hitting with with RISP…maybe. But they’re doing NEITHER. And you can’t fix all of that with one big splash, or even two big splashes.

  285. Laura July 17th, 2008 at 4:18 pm

    “This collusion story has to be true”

    It’s not considered collusion when no one wants you. It would be collusion if they all had agreed amongst each other not to touch him. I don’t think there is an agreement between the owners not to sign Bonds. It’s just a matter of common sense. I mean, really – why would anyone want to add Barry Bonds to their clubhouse?

  286. ANSKY July 17th, 2008 at 4:18 pm

    If NY’s only paying him a prorated minimum wage and Seattle’s paying him the rest, then it is a very low-risk financial deal. NY can always cut him if he continues to stink.

    As for the risk from a baseball standpoint, I’m very worried it’s probably going to be a mistake because he’s been doing so poorly for a while.

    Think about how badly some big salary guys have played here at times, sometimes for long stretches (JG) or sometimes not playing at all (CP) but the idea of releasing them & eating their salaries is a virtual impossibility. This guy was signed for a big wad of guaranteed money but he was so bad he actually GOT released.

    From a fan standpoint I genuinely hope he can do well in pinstripes. I’d love to see it, but I ain’t going to place a bet on him batting over .300 or becoming the team’s MVP.

    In the end, if he does well then we can look back and say it wasn’t a mistake of a baseball move after all. If he doesn’t, it was. At least he comes at a really cheap price.

    Still, signing Bonds would be a mistake from a moral standpoint no matter how well he did on the playing field.

    Can Sexson even play marginal defense at 1B? Is he at least better with a glove than Giambi?

  287. whozat July 17th, 2008 at 4:19 pm

    “He costs nothing and there are so many contending teams who need offense like Arizona, Dodgers, Cardinals, Braves, Minnesota, etc. and yet he is receiving zero inquiries?”

    Well a lot of those teams don’t have a DH slot. Bonds really can’t play the field anymore, so I can easily see why an NL team would decide not to get him. The Twins, though…

  288. Patrick â„¢ July 17th, 2008 at 4:19 pm

    “Heyman said that COL wants Beltran from the Mets to get Holliday. Can you imagine what they would want for us? Probably A-Rod. LOL!”

    That sounds a little fishy to me. Beltran is a better hitter and fielder than Holliday but he has a huge contract. I thought Colorado was going to trade Holliday because of his future contract demands so why would they take Beltran’s massive contract?

  289. Mitch July 17th, 2008 at 4:19 pm

    I love how all the Cashman bashers can never name one deal he should have made, or one he shouldn’t. The only two bad deals I’ve seen people list on this board weren’t even his (Brown and RJ).

    It’s so easy to say, “Cashman’s an idiot.” It’s much harder to say, “Cashman is an idiot because he hasn’t made X deal.”

    People think it’s still 1978, and the Yankees can buy a player if they need one. It’s not. In 2008, most teams are still in it (three divisions/wild card), teams have learned to rely on their farm systems, so teams no longer have to hand over their best players to the Yanks for 30 cents on the dollar.

    Plus, do you people really want to go back to the days of the Yanks pillaging the farm system for overpriced veterans? The team won in the 90s (and 2000) by making smart trades, medium-range FA acquisitions (like Jimmy Key) and, not incidentally, by making scrap heap pickups (Mariano Duncan, Chad Curtis, Jose Vizcaino, Luis Sojo, etc.). Then we became laden with overpriced, undermotivated vets.

    Since 2005, Cashman has been pruning them from the roster (RJ, Sheff, Wright, Kevin Brown, etc.).

    To get from the sorry state of affaris in 2005 (no farm system, aging vets, big contracts) to another winning era was going to take time and some short-term restraint.

    You can’t just snap your fingers and acquire great players just because you want to. We like the Yanks, but the other 29 GMs, shockingly, want their teams to win, not the Yanks.

    People are so unrealistic, it’s amazing.

  290. Brandon (Jeter GIDP: *15 even in All Star Games) (Johan HR count: 13 and a SP) July 17th, 2008 at 4:19 pm

    Heyman said that COL wants Beltran from the Mets to get Holliday.

    8O

  291. Mr. Dobalina, Mr. Bob Dobalina July 17th, 2008 at 4:20 pm

    the big sexy is not going to hurt or help the yankees this season. I really dont know what they can do to right the ship. Like Ive said, Ive accpeted the fact that the 2008 Yankees arent a very good team and will miss the playoffs.

    And I believe the Blue Jays will pass them in the standings in the near future…they might even take the wild card.

  292. kd July 17th, 2008 at 4:21 pm

    While I think this move is a decent one, I’d like to throw this out there. If anyone has a job opening where you’ll pay me $170,000 between now and the middle of October (best case scenario), I’m very interested.

  293. Carl Pavano Hearts Mike Hampton July 17th, 2008 at 4:21 pm

    I think Arod wouldnt mind if we signed Bonds.

  294. whozat July 17th, 2008 at 4:21 pm

    “Can Sexson even play marginal defense at 1B? Is he at least better with a glove than Giambi?”

    Yes yes. He’s not stellar, but he’s decent. Though he doesn’t seem to have been that good this season, at least according to BBTF.

  295. Pepitone July 17th, 2008 at 4:21 pm

    I would absolutely love to see ARod traded. He’s an unnecessary distraction – although Jeter is becoming one too – he’s all about the numbers and not about the team, he’s a huge…huge choke when the pressure is on. But, what fool GM is going to trade for his monster contract? No one! So, we are stuck with him.

    I would prefer Cashman try and make a deal for Ryan Zimmerman from Washington. They are hurting for pitching, and we have some good young pitchers to deal. If we must keep the ARod, then move him to SS where he belongs, put Jeter in the OF, and place Zimmerman on 3b. Our infield defense would immediately improve, and so would our overall power with those two guys in the lineup. Again, never happen, but it’s fun to speculate. :)

  296. Brandon (Jeter GIDP: *15 even in All Star Games) (Johan HR count: 13 and a SP) July 17th, 2008 at 4:23 pm

    Oh Shut up

  297. TKinDC (subtract one from Jete's GiDP) July 17th, 2008 at 4:24 pm

    Stuck with A-Rod and Jeter? Ok – you are lost.

  298. H July 17th, 2008 at 4:24 pm

    If this is such a no brainer, why did the Yankees end up with him and not someone else?

    Someone enlighten me on the procedure once a player clears waivers. Is it every team for himself?

  299. Whiff (Cano's bat) July 17th, 2008 at 4:25 pm

    He is being black-balled by MLB.

    Maybe but as a GM, why sign a guy that isn’t ready to play, could be gone for legal issues more often than someone on the DL, and most of all, it is just bad PR for any team.

    When you sleep with the Devil, your succes is short lived and never ends with you happy.

  300. Laura July 17th, 2008 at 4:25 pm

    “I would prefer Cashman try and make a deal for Ryan Zimmerman from Washington. ”

    I love how people want teams to trade their best players or the face of their organizations to us. WAS stinks to high heaven, but they are not moving Zimmerman.

  301. Pink Floyd July 17th, 2008 at 4:25 pm

    Richie Sexson ? … all in all he’s just another brick in the wall.

  302. whozat July 17th, 2008 at 4:26 pm

    “If this is such a no brainer, why did the Yankees end up with him and not someone else?”

    Because he looked at his offers and chose the place where he saw the best opportunity for playing time. Also, few teams have a lineup as lefty-tastic as the Yanks.

    “Someone enlighten me on the procedure once a player clears waivers. Is it every team for himself?”

    Yep. He becomes a free agent.

  303. H July 17th, 2008 at 4:28 pm

    whozat -

    Was any other team interested in him?

  304. Laura July 17th, 2008 at 4:28 pm

    Sexson is no Minky at 1B, but he’s not bad either. I distinctly remember him making some outstanding plays for SEA against us.

  305. whozat July 17th, 2008 at 4:29 pm

    “Was any other team interested in him?”

    That was the sense I got. Look on mlbtraderumors.com

    it’s not like we hear about every team who puts a call in to every player. The DBacks just traded for Tony Clark. They might very well have called Sexson’s agent, but I don’t know for sure.

  306. The Mad Prince in Pinstripes July 17th, 2008 at 4:30 pm

    I think what people fail to realize is that Bonds is not, in any way shape or form,the answer to the Yankees issues.

    A lineup like that can’t get it done? Call it an aberration.

    Their rotation is what needs a boost. Moose, Pettitte, and Joba aren’t going to hold down the fort and get us to the playoffs.

    TRANSITION YEAR!!!

  307. raymagnetic ®™ July 17th, 2008 at 4:30 pm

    “He’s an unnecessary distraction – although Jeter is becoming one too – he’s all about the numbers and not about the team, he’s a huge…huge choke when the pressure is on. But, what fool GM is going to trade for his monster contract? No one! So, we are stuck with him. ”

    Yeah, that monster season A-Rod put up a year ago was a tremendous distraction, no wonder they didn’t make the playoffs last year. Oh wait…….

    And Jeter’s a distraction now? Puh-leaze.

  308. Mr. Dobalina, Mr. Bob Dobalina July 17th, 2008 at 4:30 pm

    Id like him to come up in a big spot with the stadium crowd cheering “sexy”

  309. murphydog July 17th, 2008 at 4:32 pm

    “Bonds is being black-balled by MLB.”

    Bonds black-balled himself.

  310. 86w183 July 17th, 2008 at 4:32 pm

    How can anyone think Francour is no better than Melky? The guy drove in over 100 runs the last two years with right around 60 extra base hits. His career OPS is 50 points higher.

    Many in Atlanta are convinced he’ll never reach his potential there because he grew up in the city and has way too many “friends” distracting him from his career.

    He would be a welcome addition in my mind.

  311. Nick in SF July 17th, 2008 at 4:32 pm

    It’s baffling why some folks seem downright angry about this Ralphie Stetson move. If Cashman holds a press conference and says “This is the final piece to puzzle, Yankee fans can exhale, we are now playoff bound”, THEN it’s time to get angry. Now? No.

  312. AeroFANatic July 17th, 2008 at 4:33 pm

    I think the headline should read “Sexon In The City” when this becomes official Pete :) :):)

  313. Pepitone July 17th, 2008 at 4:34 pm

    Mitch, you are an oasis of good sense in a desert of stupidity. You are absolutely right about our championship teams and what has happened since 2005. We picked up a nobody third baseman (Scott Brosius), who would later become the cornerstone for multiple championships. Could you imagine the outrage today if Cashman traded for a guy like him today??
    This team needs to get young, and trading away our quality young minor leaguers for some “quick-fix” veteran is a losing proposition. History, and the past 8 WS champions bear this out.

  314. Brandon (Jeter GIDP: *15 even in All Star Games) (Johan HR count: 13 and a SP) July 17th, 2008 at 4:35 pm

    Many in Atlanta are convinced he’ll never reach his potential there because he grew up in the city and has way too many “friends” distracting him from his career.

    He would be a welcome addition in my mind.

    And at a low price.

  315. YankeeDiva July 17th, 2008 at 4:35 pm

    Oh Shut up

    Took the words right out of my mouth. LOL!!

  316. raymagnetic ®™ July 17th, 2008 at 4:35 pm

    “How can anyone think Francour is no better than Melky? The guy drove in over 100 runs the last two years with right around 60 extra base hits. His career OPS is 50 points higher.”

    Look at his career OPS+. He’s a right fielder as well so they are just about even. One of the years he had 100 RBI his OBP was under .300.

    Now I’m not saying he won’t get better, but right now he’s no better than Melky. This year his OBP is under .300 again. Doesn’t matter how high your slugging is if you make a TON of outs.

  317. The Mad Prince in Pinstripes July 17th, 2008 at 4:36 pm

    Ya, i can’t believe you people have the audacity to buy into this collusion BS. People aren’t signing Bonds because they know what he is about: himself, juice, and $$$.

  318. Brandon (Jeter GIDP: *15 even in All Star Games) (Johan HR count: 13 and a SP) July 17th, 2008 at 4:36 pm

    I think the headline should read “Sexon In The City” when this becomes official Pete :) :):)

    I think we found John Sterling’s HR call

  319. Steve Crowley July 17th, 2008 at 4:37 pm

    The Yanks can release Shelly Duncan from the 40 man roster.To all you Sexton doubters,remember the season Andy Kosco gave us in 1968.

  320. Jim from Dalton July 17th, 2008 at 4:39 pm

    question…if we let him go at the end of the season..will we get a draft pick?

  321. J-Boogie July 17th, 2008 at 4:39 pm

    Sterling’s HR call:

    “It is high. It is far. It is gone. Richie Sexson. Sexson time. It’s niiice.”

    Picture him saying that doing a Borat impersonation.

    http://boogiedownbaseball.blogspot.com

  322. Phil July 17th, 2008 at 4:41 pm

    Let’s remember some players that made impacts during “the run”: Brosius, Hayes, Justice, Curtis, Strawberry, Gooden, Key. I defy anyone to say that, AT THE TIME OF THOSE MOVES, they said “Awesome!! I would guarantee that if this blog existed then, it would have been on fire with the same kinds of things we’re seeing today.

    Is Sexson one of those guys? Most likely, no. But this idea that Cash is a moron, can’t do his job, he should “just go get XXX player from YYY team” shows an incredibly simplistic viewpoint of baseball and a fundamental lack of knowledge of how things really work.

  323. Pepitone July 17th, 2008 at 4:41 pm

    “eah, that monster season A-Rod put up a year ago was a tremendous distraction, no wonder they didn’t make the playoffs last year. Oh wait…….”

    How far did they get in the playoffs, Raymagnetic? Oh, that’s right, bounced in the first round… again. Also, the first team in the history of baseball to win the first 3 games of a seven game series, and then lose the next four straight – with ARod in the lineup. Check the great ARod’s stats in the playoffs? Yeah, he puts up huge numbers in the regular season, I never said otherwise. But in the playoffs he is a choke!

  324. Brandon (Jeter GIDP: *15 even in All Star Games) (Johan HR count: 13 and a SP) July 17th, 2008 at 4:41 pm

    Now I’m not saying he won’t get better, but right now he’s no better than Melky. This year his OBP is under .300 again. Doesn’t matter how high your slugging is if you make a TON of outs.

    career w/ RISP .305/.357/.490

    career w/ RO23 .333/.511/.433

    career w/ RO12 .330/.368/.560

  325. benfica356 July 17th, 2008 at 4:41 pm

    Dbacks acquire Tony Clark for Evan Scribner(simgle A)http://www.minorleaguebaseball.....pid=519267
    his stats
    http://www.mlbtraderumors.com/.....se-to.html
    the report

  326. The Mad Prince in Pinstripes July 17th, 2008 at 4:42 pm

    Sexson makes far more sense than Bonds for multiple reasons.

    What about pitching?

  327. G. Love July 17th, 2008 at 4:42 pm

    Mitch,

    Off the top of my head, deals Cashman should have not made:

    Kei Igawa, Latroy Hawkins, a million plus to Ensberg who we are still paying to play in AAA for the Indians, Pavano, Farnsworth and showing Cano the guaranteed money before the organization had to.

    Deals Cashman should have made:

    Ted Lilly who wanted to take less to come here last season. We passed on him and went waist deep into Igawa.

    As for other deals he should have made, we don’t know what they are. Could he have been in on Dan Haren during the off season? I think he could have. AZ backed up the truck, but at that time Hughes and Kennedy and many other of our minor leaguers were considered little droplets of gold in baseball and they could have been dealt for just about anyone and we’d still have depth in the minor league system.

    Cashman has no sense of projecting major league talent at this level. He’s just not astute enough in his player evaluations.

    For instance if Arod walked, our 3b plans were Betemit, signing Enseberg or someone Mike Lamb. All three of those would have been abysmal.

    He didn’t even want to part with a prospect for Crede who turned out to be an all star.

    He’s clearly hoarding prospects and thinks they are all worth more than they are to the rest of baseball.

    He also has too many minor league pitchers and needs to deal from this surplus or he’s going to have 40 man roster problems and risk losing guys close to major league ready in the rule V draft.

    The Deals he should have made? We don’t know what they are since he’s not making deals.

    He’s signing DFA’d guys which helps the team, but doesn’t build the team.

    Add in all that and the fact that he gave Posada that 4th year guaranteed which is another albatross contract situation staring us in the face and he hasn’t done much, other than in the draft, to help the major league club.

    The positives are clearly we are drafting better and he was able to bring back Mo and Arod.

    I’m just terrified what this guy is going to do with all the money off the books.

    I think he’s too full of himself to go sign a layup like CC and he’s going to try to show restraint on the market and get marginal players for reasonable dollars. Great.

    In that scenario, we’ll be a nice 3rd place team until the next GM comes around.

  328. Keith July 17th, 2008 at 4:43 pm

    Richie Sexson can be assured that when he enters the Yankee clubhouse, the stench of Papelbon will be removed.
    The clubhouse attendants took care of it yesterday.

  329. Phil July 17th, 2008 at 4:44 pm

    Yes. A-Rod lost all 4 games for the Yankees. By himself, no one else.

    ::rolleyes::

    Re: Bonds vs. Sexson (I can’t believe I just typed that) Bonds wouldn’t cost the Yanks spare change.

  330. H July 17th, 2008 at 4:46 pm

    Cannot believe how quickly some “fans” have turned on Derek Jeter.

  331. Rick July 17th, 2008 at 4:46 pm

    This pick up is not even worth talking about. Sexson is another bum. He will hit a few homeruns and bat .230 if he is lucky. This is the way Yankees do business now. They haven’t traded for a player worth anything lately.I think it has a lot to do with payroll. They made those big commitments to Rivera, AROD, and Posada and now they are holding salary steady so don’t expect them to take on salary. It will be interesting to see what they do on the off season when they have a huge chunk of salary coming off the books.

  332. raymagnetic ®™ July 17th, 2008 at 4:47 pm

    “How far did they get in the playoffs, Raymagnetic? Oh, that’s right, bounced in the first round… again. Also, the first team in the history of baseball to win the first 3 games of a seven game series, and then lose the next four straight – with ARod in the lineup. Check the great ARod’s stats in the playoffs? Yeah, he puts up huge numbers in the regular season, I never said otherwise. But in the playoffs he is a choke!

    You do realize that in order to choke in the playoffs you have to get to the playoffs no? Do you think the Yankees even make the playoffs without Alex in the lineup?

  333. raymagnetic ®™ July 17th, 2008 at 4:50 pm

    “career w/ RISP .305/.357/.490

    career w/ RO23 .333/.511/.433

    career w/ RO12 .330/.368/.560″

    Lifetim OBP in all situations is .312. You can cherry pick stats all you want but on a whole his lifetime OBP is .312 and he’s had full season OBP’s under .300 twice.

  334. Rick July 17th, 2008 at 4:51 pm

    Just another thought. When George ran the team the Yankees never thought about salary. They always went for the best. They shopped on 5h Avenue. Now they are K Mart shoppers with Cashman running through the store looking for blue light specials. It is kind of funny.

  335. Mitch July 17th, 2008 at 4:52 pm

    First, G. Love, kudos to actually putting some thought into it and listing specifics. Good job. It beats the “Cashman’s a bum” crowd by a mile.

    I just don’t agree with your asseesment. To me, a bad deal is one that keeps you from making other moves. The Giambi signing, plus the other bloated veteran salaries, kept the Yanks from addressing CF as Bernie got older, forcing us to pass on guys like Beltran (I’m not a Beltran fan, but it’s not like the Yanks passed on him because they didn’t want him).

    Deals like Engsberg and Hawkins don’t stop you from doing other things. They’re flyers. Hawkins was picked up at the end of the FA process. It’s not like they would have gone after Linebrink, but went for Hawkins instead. He let Viz go, took the draft picks, counted on the youngsters in the pen, and took a one-year flyer on Hawkins. Even with Hawkins sucking, it still didn’t hurt them, because it didn’t stop them from making other moves.

    Igawa over Lily was money. Lily’s whole salary counted for the luxury tax, only Igawa’s salary counted. Lily’s not exactly a front of the rotation guy, with a 1.34 WHIP, 4.68 ERA, and 21 HRs in 115 innings (in the NL). Would we rather have Lily? Maybe. But, it would keep us from making better moves. Igawa, with the posting money gone, isn’t stopping us from doing anything. So, while not a great move, this one isn’t stopping anything.

    And you don’t really believe he would have gone with Betemit at third if A Rod walked, do you? Remember how he said Bubba Crosby was the CF … until he signed Damon. He couldn’t come out and say, “No, we’re desperate now.” If A Rod didn’t sign, someone would have been here. Maybe Crede. Since the White Sox kept him, obviously they weren’t giving him away.

    And I wouldn’t trade Hughes for Haren now.

    We just disagree. I don’t think he blew any of the moves you think he did.

  336. rb15 July 17th, 2008 at 4:54 pm

    I know what we should do –

    We should trade for Chase Utley, Youkilis, Josh Beckett, Papelbon (setup guy), JD Drew, Jacoby Ellsbury and Lincecum.

    Kennedy, Melky, Traber, and some pine tar should get it done, right?

    ;)

    People are ridiculous today! This is a low cost move that might not help, but definitely won’t hurt. There’s room on the roster, Sexson’s been good in the past. Worst case scenario, the Yankees have someone who can reach the top shelf in the clubhouse. What’s the big deal, really?

    There is nobody else out there to trade for that won’t cost the moon (salary) and the stars (prospects). Let’s give this a shot and see how it works out. I find it hard to believe that Cash considers his job done and is out on the golf course.

  337. Shame Spencer July 17th, 2008 at 4:57 pm

    clearly this is just a small move that has very little risk as has been stated about a hundred times so far. but to all those thinking cash is just warming up i think you may end up disappointed.

    im torn because i cant help but feel like this year of all years, the year that yankee stadium is destroyed, is the year we should really be going for it. imagine on sept 21 if the stadium goes out without even a chance at a title? it would just be sad for the legacy. on the other hand, i do understand that there isnt a big market out there right now and we arent flooded with major league ready A,AA, or AAA guys like some of you believe.

    The on thing this entire thread is missing is that while hughes and kennedy are hitting speedbumps along their road to the majors joba has been nothing but as advertised and that is a testimate to cash. to have one in three come out and be the presence that kid has been for us this year and last, cash deserves credit for that. i still think at 22 hughes shouldnt be written off and kennedy may still be a back end guy that we can trade with, but joba is like a jeter. once in a lifetime. and just for that i cant say cash has done a bad job because to be honest i think the future of our next dynasty is in that kids arm.

  338. pat July 17th, 2008 at 5:02 pm

    Please tell me Pepitone was being sarcastic and some peoples sarcasm meter is on the fritz.

    He couldn’t really be serious.

  339. Pepitone July 17th, 2008 at 5:03 pm

    Look Phil, you can continue your ARod lovefest if you want. But, I distinctly remember the numbers he put up in the last four playoff series for the Yankees:

    2004 Boston .258 2 HR 5 RBI

    2005 Anaheim 133 0HR 0RBI

    2006 Detroit .071 OHR 0RBI

    2007 Cleveland .267 1HR 1RBI

    As I said – if you would have just taken the time to read my post – ARod puts up terrific numbers during the regular season, but is a choke during pressure situations, esp. the Playoffs. If you think he’s worth all of those millions for that kind of production, then you’re welcome to it. I don’t, and I wish we would’nt have signed him.

  340. Pepitone July 17th, 2008 at 5:10 pm

    ” Do you think the Yankees even make the playoffs without Alex in the lineup?”

    1. I’m not interested in just making the playoffs, I want to win the World Series, having ARod makes that goal less obtainable.

    2. Perhaps they would. Who knows what the Yankees lineup would have looked like. I never thought the Yankees had a chance in 96 either.

    The main point of my argument still stands (Alex Rodriguez, in pressure situations (playoffs) is a choke), and you have provided no counter-arguments to the contrary.

  341. Phil July 17th, 2008 at 5:15 pm

    Pepitone: I’m not saying he didn’t choke. He did. EVERYONE knows that and some, like yourself, are more than happy to remind all of us about that. However, you specifically mentioned the 2004 series and the 4 straight losses. My point being, if he WASN’T in the line up, do you think they would have won? It takes a TEAM to blow 4 in a row. A-Rod didn’t help, but neither did anyone else.

    If you’d have taken the time to read MINE, you would have seen that I made no mention or even disagreed with the idea that he didn’t produce. But the idea of laying the blame on A-Rod alone is ridiculous.

    Is anyone in baseball worth any of the money they are being paid? Of course not. However, let’s look at a couple of things:
    One: He is a member of the team for a long time. Wish all you want, he’s not going anywhere.
    Two: The games he helped win during the regular season in 2007 mean they probably don’t make the playoffs otherwise. Is that better?
    Three: He’s one of the few that have been hitting this season. Has he blown opportunities? Sure. They ALL have. But he’s still helped carry the team this year when he’s been in the line up. What would the record be if he was on the DL for an extended period of time? I shudder to think. We wouldn’t be talking about Sexson, we’d be talking about all the players they’d be dumping because they’d be under .500.

    Good for you that you know how to look up stats. It’s nice for you that you can fall back on that. But to single him out because he makes so much? That’s silly. I don’t begrudge him the contract because any one of us would have signed it if presented the opportunity. I was mightily disappointed that he didn’t produce but he didn’t pitch (and lose) againt CLE twice, so how about spreading some of that hate around, hmm?

  342. pat July 17th, 2008 at 5:29 pm

    Pepitone

    They didn’t win a WS the 3 years before A-Rod arrived in NY either. Maybe Mussina and Giambi are the guilty parties, (she says rolling her eyes). Pitching wins in the playoffs and the Yankees postseason pitching hasn’t cut it in the postseason in a long time.

  343. Pepitone July 17th, 2008 at 5:35 pm

    “Pepitone: I’m not saying he didn’t choke. He did.” – Thank you.

    ” It takes a TEAM to blow 4 in a row. A-Rod didn’t help, but neither did anyone else.” – Agreed, but I never said anything to the contrary.

    “Is anyone in baseball worth any of the money they are being paid? Of course not. ” – Huge agreement there!

    “He is a member of the team for a long time. Wish all you want, he’s not going anywhere.” – Yes, unfortunately, you are right.

    “The games he helped win during the regular season in 2007 mean they probably don’t make the playoffs otherwise. Is that better?” – Neither one of us can predict the future, so no, I don’t agree with that.

    “He’s one of the few that have been hitting this season” – Agree, but so what?

    “I don’t begrudge him the contract because any one of us would have signed it if presented the opportunity. I was mightily disappointed that he didn’t produce but he didn’t pitch (and lose) againt CLE twice, so how about spreading some of that hate around, hmm?” – I never begrudged his contract either. If Cashman and the brass are stupid enough to give him that kind of money, then he isn’t the dope, they are.

    Stop putting words in my mouth, Phil. Did I ever say that I hated Alex Rodriguez? My point is that he is not a team player, and I do not believe he will be an assest for us in the playoffs. IMO, He is a superstar in the mold of Bonds, Kobe Bryant, Brett Favre, and many others, those who is more interested in their personal stardom/ego than team success.

    I don’t believe the Yankees will ever win another World Series with him in the lineup. However, if they do, I will be the first to come on this site and admit publicly that I was wrong. Fair enough?

  344. The Mad Prince in Pinstripes July 17th, 2008 at 5:38 pm

    pat,

    you hit teh nail on the head.

  345. whozat July 17th, 2008 at 5:39 pm

    “those who is more interested in their personal stardom/ego than team success. ”

    Please tell me one thing that would feed ARod’s stardom and ego more than leading the Yankees to a World Series championship.

    Being the all-time homerun king, maybe. But he can’t get that for years.

  346. Pepitone July 17th, 2008 at 5:42 pm

    “Pitching wins in the playoffs and the Yankees postseason pitching hasn’t cut it in the postseason in a long time.” – Big agreement there!

    Pat, I never said Alex was solely to blame for the Yankees playoff failures, I only said that for the money he makes, and for all the worship he gets, he is a superstar choke in pressure situations, period.

    I didn’t want him, but the Yanks signed him, so we are all stuck with him.

  347. bru July 17th, 2008 at 6:11 pm

    it is a good move because it costs lillte money,it’s a right handed bat who hit’s lefties and balances the team more,he is a real first baseman,sexxon can play first and giambi can dh,sexxon replaces matsui,maybe not litterally and the most important point of all it is a fresh start and nothing motivates a player more than a contract year just look at giambi,mussina.i know their are many players that you can name that still stink in a contract year but as i said you can only benefit from this move so that makes it worth it.the yankees have to start considering packaging some of their prospects for an ace or they must sign an ace in the offseason.they are very close to building a great team for many years if you can see through the smoke.they have joba,hughes,kennedy,tabata,jackson,brackman,betances,sanchez,cox,melancon,horne,mcutchen,montero,romine,cervelli,heredia,acevez.i just named the good ones.montero is a monster catcher with 80 power on a 20-80 scale,brackman was neck and neck for going number one in the draft with price before his injury and is working his way back.if they can get weeks or cc then in 2009 they can have cc,wang,joba going 1-2-3,pettitte will probably be brought back as the number 4 and maybe hughes as the 5th or moose or someone else.the bottom line is that you need 3 great pitchers going 1-2-3 wher you can label all three of them aces a good 4th and a decent 5th and with a staff of cc,wang,joba,pettitte,mussina,hughes they will compete every single night and they are almost there,everything is in place except for cc,that is what i mean by being close,the rest will work itself out.i would trade matsui,let damon play left his last year of his contract,force posada to dh to protect the teams investment,get a real first baseman,get a catcher or bring one up,platoon molina ,if melky doesn’t get going trade mim,gardner in center or 4th outfielder,get rid of giambi,betemit,pavano,hawkins,see if abraeu will do a one year 8-12 million if not bye bye,pettitte no more than 11 million,same with mussina,farnsworth back maybe for the right price.pitching wins just look at the mets lately.if you have good pitching and you’re offense is middle of the league and up everything will fall into place,just like tampa bay,the mets and the angels.the worse thing the yankees can do is not get an ace and hold on to their prospects too long.i agree,keep the good ones like hughes,kennedy,jackson,brackman,montero,joba but with cc or an other ace,wang,joba,brackman,hughes,kennedy their is no way chas wright,desalvo and others fit in and even if you trade hughes,melky and a prospect for cc you are instantly better because melky is easily replaceable and cc is much better than hughes so GET AN ACE.CAN YOU IMAGINE CC,WANG,JOBA?,THAT WOULD EASILY BE THE BEST 1-2-3 COMBO IN BASEBALL.

  348. RER - 98 July 17th, 2008 at 6:18 pm

    George Steinbrenner said himself at the presentation of the 2000 World Championship trophy when the Yankees three-peated, that winning successive titles was no longer an easy accomplishment.
    He cited that 22 of the 26 titles were won when the regular season ended and the AL team with the best regular season record faced the NL for the whole pie.
    Once the 3 tiered playoff system started in ’95 with the addition of a Wild Card team, it made things all that more difficult.
    We may never see a three-peat again and in fact, no team has repeated since 2000.

  349. zellyanks91 July 17th, 2008 at 6:26 pm

    I like the move a lot. He dominates lefties and he can bring some pop to the lineup with Matsui and Damon out. I know he strikes out a ton, but can it really hurt? It’s not like he is going to play everyday anyway, and they got him for the bare minimum. I think it was a smart move.

    Kevin

  350. Espresso July 17th, 2008 at 7:29 pm

    Its asking alot, but I would like to see Sexson play himself into a regular platoon and then hit a big fly when the Yanks come to Seattle.

  351. 86w183 July 17th, 2008 at 8:21 pm

    Ray—- It’s clear you are obsessed with obp… obp never won a game, not once. I agree obp is a nice thing to have, but baseball is about scoring runs and driving in runs. Obp is an individual stat, RBI and Runs are team stats.

    Player A goes four for four with three singles and a double, but doesn’t score or drive in a run. Player B goes one for four with a three run HR. You’d take player A, I prefer player B…

    It’s why this Yankees team is struggling… their OBP is top five, but their RISP is crapola…

    Barry Bonds’ phenomenal on base percentage did’t lead to a lot of wins.

Leave a comment below

You must be logged in to post a comment.

Forgotten Password
Cancel

Sponsored by:
 

Search

    Advertisement

    Follow

    Mobile

    Read The LoHud Yankees Blog on the go by navigating to the blog on your smartphone or mobile device's browser. No apps or downloads are required.

    LoHud TV

    More Videos

Advertisement

Place an ad

Call (914) 694-3581