Meetings underway … but don’t get excited
-
- October
- 16
Based on e-mail, some people seem to expect news to come out of the organizational meetings, which started today and finish up tomorrow in Tampa.
I’m sure Hank Steinbrenner will have something to say via his enablers in the Associated Press. But don’t expect much else.
Making free agent wish lists is fine in October. But negotiations don’t start for another month.
Andy Pettitte has been saying for months he wants to come back and there is little doubt he’ll agree to a one-year deal. Mike Mussina, out of respect for the Yankees, will formalize his decision before too long. Most people in the organization still believe he will retire. But that could change.
The Yankees would welcome the return of Bobby Abreu if he’s willing to accept a reasonable, short-term deal. But why would he do that? The only real question among the free agents is whether to pick up Damaso Marte’s $6 million option.
That’s too much for him. But picking it up creates options. You can trade him or you can use him in the bullpen and let Phil Coke develop as a starter. As the Yankees have proven in recent years, finding lefty relievers is not easy.
Giambi, Pudge and Pavano? Good luck, good bye, don’t let the door hit you on your bruised buttocks.
Because the Yankees are the Yankees, the meetings have somehow become an event. But it’s really not a big deal.
This entry was posted
on Thursday, October 16th, 2008 at 2:03 pm by Peter Abraham.
You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed.
Print This Post
| 
Email This Post
Peter Abraham
We’re dying for some news or juicy rumors or even confirmation of who we will pursue.
We cannot wait any longer.
I understand Pete. The fireworks don’t go off until late November-December anyway. People are expecting Hank to come ot and say “We have CC’s pinstripes ordered already and we just fronted him half his first years salary so he can buy a house in Chappaqua.”
what do you think the mets could offer if we decide to pick up Marte’s option, only to trade him?
Pete,
I’m very disappointed that you’re not camped out at the meetings waiting for Hank to take his smoke breaks.
lol @ the door hitting buttocks comment.
Wasn’t last year’s meetings when we really got to know Hank? Stay tuned for Hank, Part II…
“what do you think the mets could offer if we decide to pick up Marte’s option, only to trade him?”
At $6M??? That price tag probably hurts his value a little.
Brandon suggested Marte for Ryan Church
Great line “His enablers at the AP’
Does the AP guy that covers Hank cover anything else, is he a sports guy, general guy??
it is like the AP guy in Virginia who got the big interview with George last year. He actually was a business writer who had interviewed him in the past and thats how he got it.
I wasn’t aware that the Yankees were open to the idea of Abreu staying on a shorter more reasonable contract. I thought it was just a question of ’should we offer arbitration or not?’
As suggested however, Abreu is probably looking to get a 3-4 year contract if possible as this will most likely be his last multiyear contract.
“At $6M??? That price tag probably hurts his value a little.”
wouldn’t he pretty much slide into their closer role? 6M is a lot for a set up guy, but reasonable for a closer, i would guess…
“I thought it was just a question of ’should we offer arbitration or not?’”
Actually there is no question about the arbitration. Yankees will offer it as they should. The question is would Abreu, who at his age is looking at his last shot at a big free agent payday, accept arbitration and agree to a 1-2 year deal. The answer quite likely is no, but if he went the other way, the Yankees are apparently interested in keeping him.
“wouldn’t he pretty much slide into their closer role? 6M is a lot for a set up guy, but reasonable for a closer, i would guess…”
$6M is reasonable for a closer. Marte may not be though. He’s got some minimal experience, but given their pen woes in recent seasons, I don’t think the Mets would be interested in closer who’s no better than 50/50 to succeed in the role. Further, they’d have a tough time selling it to their fans.
Cashman has been trying to get Marte for years, we traded a whole lot to get him and Nady. I doubt he is gone after 1\2 a season.
Relievers are so up and down anyway, chances are he will have a good year next year because he has a track record. And if nothing else, he has proved he is deadly against lefties.
No guarantee that Veras, Bruney, Edwar, Robertson, Coke etc. will be good next year. And who knows about Melancon? Too much pressure to put on a kid to make him the SU man right away. And if these guys do perform well, then we have valuable trade chips at the deadline. No downside to picking up his option.
Marte adds depth and insurance. We haven’t had a quality lefty in years and this pen has room for 2 lefties.
What killed the Yankees this year was their complete lack of any kind of depth.
One of the reasons Cano and Melky played when they should have been benched was this team’s lack of decent bench players.
There wasn’t any viable options for centerfield. Nor were there any real options for 2nd base.
Getting a couple of decent MLB quality bench players for the INF and OF would be a big help.
It could be that the Yankees offer arbitration and make a deal with Abreu if he’s not able to get what he wants.
That would be the best because you want good things for Bobby. As long as he’s not on a rival team.
Bobby would make a great DH. Watching Shane last night really brought home the point that we need someone else out there.
On the 400 foot fly out, he kept running & checking the wall, both visually and with his hand. For another spectacular play.
The Mets would love Marte. The Mets would take anything better than what they had.
Picking up the option gives us lots of options. Good move.
I’d rather have Abreu on the team than Matsui.
Pete: River Ave Blues has a great breakdown on which players should be offered arbitration and which ones should not.
“It could be that the Yankees offer arbitration and make a deal with Abreu if he’s not able to get what he wants.”
He’ll get at least a three year deal somewhere for sure. Don’t discount the Mets. They’re not very strong corner outfield-wise.
Fredo,
“Bobby and the Mets” would debut at #1 on the Top 40 list.
——————————————–
Swayne (Delmar NY): Keith, will the Yanks reverse their recent practice of not dealing top prospects to acquire major league talent? Is Joe the Plumber a legit prospect?
Keith Law: (2:20 PM ET ) I think the top guys remain unavailable, but the second tier is available. I wouldn’t be surprised if an Ian Kennedy was dealt. Tabata was moved when he slipped from tier one to two (or five).
Gus (NY): I hate your anti yankee bias its absurd, I dont know why I read your chats where you bash yankee prospects…first of all they WILL spend a lot of money second of all they did pretty well without Wang a guy who won more games than anyone over the 2year span before this season and they have some pretty good pieces including the best all around player in the world….im rambling because i’m outraged how can you not see them back in the playoff hunt next year?
Keith Law: (2:31 PM ET ) We were doing so well … I guess someone always has to ruin the party by bringing cheap whines. Seventh-best offense in the league, going to get older. Unclear who’s even in the rotation beyond Wang. Those great pen arms weren’t as great the second or third time around the league. And I’m sorry, but I’m not just going to gift them with Teixeira Sabathia and Burnett.
Rather have too much depth and too many quality relievers rather than a lack of depth and good relievers.
Outside of Bruney, I don’t have much confidence in anyone else— Veras, Edwar, Robertson, Sanchez etc. are no locks to be good or have a track record. Coke may be a starter.
Picking up Marte is the only move. If nothing else, we can trade him.
is a 3rd year really a straw that will break the camel’s back for the yankees? considering matsui and damon’s contracts end next year.
then again, maybe i’m just used to contracts being long, as a yankee fan…
“Picking up Marte is the only move. If nothing else, we can trade him.”
I’d declien the $6M option, offer him arbitration then see if a 2-3 year deal at $3.5M-$4M per can be worked out. $6M is ridiculous for what he gives you.
*decline
“is a 3rd year really a straw that will break the camel’s back for the yankees? considering matsui and damon’s contracts end next year.”
Scuttlebut is they wouldn’t want to go that long. FWIW, I think Abreu can get three years MINIMUM on the market.
Ok I am now officially turning off YES. If I wanted to watch a political debate I would have turned to CNN etc I want to hear about sports thus why I listen/watch sports
“I’d decline the $6M option, offer him arbitration then see if a 2-3 year deal at $3.5M-$4M per can be worked out. $6M is ridiculous for what he gives you.”
Fredo, we are in complete agreement here. The world must be coming to an end.
AJ hitting 3rd, Don Juan (DH) batting cleanup, Russo playing SS
Also, Buccholz pitching in the other game. He threw 3 no-hit innings in his AFL debut.
Coke’s going to be 27 next season and showed effectiveness as a reliever. I somehow doubt there going to waste his age 27 season so he could try to crack the rotation when he’s 28-29. That said, Marte’s probably gone.
thanks fredo! i was also just thinking declining and extending may be a good move
Coke is 26 next year
Im glad to hear that the Yankees are open to bringing Abreu back though I would have been surprised if they weren’t open to it.
I dont see why not to bring him back. Look at his stats since 1999, the guy is a consistent hitter. He doesnt have the same power he used to but he still hits for average, drives in runs, scores runs, walks and can hit gap to gap doubles. Also he steals 15-20 bags a year. He still has a pretty good arm too and its not like you need Vlad Guererro’s arm when RF is only 314. He is too cautious of walls most of the time but doesnt every player has their flaws.
Years are probably more important than money to Abreu so I think he’d be willing to take a good pay cut as long as he gets 3 years. This is Matsui’s last year so Abreu could always be moved to DH in 2010 to make room for Austin Jackson and/or a Free Agent in the outfield.
Enough with McCain Obama talk. Geez we all politicians lie Mike now back to sports…
“Years are probably more important than money to Abreu so I think he’d be willing to take a good pay cut as long as he gets 3 years”
Surely you jest????
Francesa’s show is painful today. More painful than usual
Seems Keith Law doesn’t have high hopes for the Yankees next season.
Marte has been classified as a type A. I’d decline the 6M option and offer arbitration. If he declines arbitration and wants free agency we could still sign him to a more reasonable/albeit lengthy contract, or go ahead and collect our 2 players in the draft. If we pick up the 6M option with the intent to trade him, then my guess is we get a bad contract back or we have to pick up 2-3M of his 6M to trade him.
We cannot afford to offer Giambi arbitration because if it goes to arbitor he cannot cut Giambi’s contract by more than 20% and Giambi is not worth 17M.
Pettitte- IMO we should wait on him, let him declare free agency and see what our other options are, as he clearly faded in the last few months.
Offer arbitration to Mussina with the hope he comes back for one year, or negotiate a 2 year contract with an option for a 3rd based on innings pitched.
Abreu had a good year, and is a 3 tool player[unless you count 18-20 homers , then he's a 4 tool player]. If the Yankees want to get younger, I can’t imagine they’ll be willing to give him 16 M/year and sign him for 3-4 more years, when they can fill the same need by possibly going after Teixeira, with more backloaded money when players like Matsui and Damon come off the books. No 7 year contract for him.
Their 1st priority will probably be to sign two free agent starting pitchers, then see what young athletic positional players they can pick up for some of their minor league pitching talent.
Manny-No for Yankees, and my guess if the Dodgers sign him, the’ll have to trade Kemp or Ethier, because no-one wants Pierre or Jones. I’ll guess he goes to the Phillies to replace free agent Burrell, especially with the extra cash flow coming in to them in these playoffs.
Thoughts?
“Surely you jest????”
Haha seriously, theres no way Abreu takes a pay cut, nor should he. He has shown enough to get some team to give him a nice deal.
Regarding Marte, I would pick up his option. 6 million is a lot for a lefty specialist/setup guy but if he hits the market he will get 3 and 4 year offers which I want no part of. Very few relievers are really good year in, year out so I think a 3 or 4 year contract for Marte would be pretty dangerous. Plus this is the Yankees we’re talking about, they can spend extra money to keep Marte. I just don’t want another Farnsworth situation where they signed him for 3 years and they were stuck with him for almost all of that time.
Bring back Bobby
Bring back Marte
Get some high quality bench players
Patrick:
Fair point on Marte. Guess one way of addressing that is talk with him ahead of the 12/1 deadline and see if something a little more reasonable (3 yrs/$11-$12M)can be done.
How’s this for a great story.
http://www.philly.com/philly/sports/20081016_Sheridan__Moyers_bubbly_dream_fulfilled.html
Patrick:
As a follow up to my previous post, it occurs to me that the option will have to be picked up or declined shortly after the Series ends, so they may not have the chance to talk before committing to $6M of for’09.
Philly was out of control last night. If you were dumb enough to drive your car down Broad Street, you were likely met with a mob surrounding you and crazy drunks jumping on your hood. Any cars parked on side streets around Temple U have foot prints and dents in the hoods and roofs. I was convinced a riot was about to break out, and in some respects it did.
Crazy night in Philly….can’t wait to see the mayhem if they win the WS.
Everyone’s favorite agent-Scott Boras…to be on with Michael Kay in a bit
Mike-
I was lucky enough to actually be at the clinching game the last time the Phillies won the World Series and actually went to the airport to greet the Sixers in 83 when they returned with the NBA trophy.
As you probably know Philly fans are just clamoring for any team to win anything at this point. I know in the past celebrations were just that pure joy. Not having lived there for a while now not sure how the reactions have changed, but was just down there this past weekend for dinner and you could tell the city was excited once again.
Do you really want to lock up Abreu for 3-4 more years when Crawford, Bay, Ankiel, Holliday, and possibly Dye and Ordonez become FA’s in 2010?
But then again, due to market conditions this might be a good year to sign free agents to lesser dollars as many teams might look to their farm system to fill gaps.
Also it’s reported that the Yankees want to limit their payroll to 180 million, down from 209 million which will give them, when you figure in raises, arbitration[i.e. Bruney] some 30-35 million to sign free agents. Marte eats up 6M, Abreu 13-14M, Pettitte 12M. We spend on the bench and we’re at 185M. Sign AJ, that’s another 16M. Sign CC, that’s another 22-25M. Sign Tex, there goes another 18-20M.
This all sounds great, but my guess is the Yankees will be fiscally responsible, since I’m sure they had corporations back out of their commitments on leasing skyboxes in the new stadium.
The Yankees cannot reveal any free ageny names until 15 days after the World Series concludes. The team can be fined for tampering otherwise.
Tom
October 16th, 2008 at 2:57 pm
Seems Keith Law doesn’t have high hopes for the Yankees next season.
There are some places you just dont go if you want an unbiased opinion. Keith Law and Mike Lupica are 2 of them.
Nick
October 16th, 2008 at 3:27 pm
The Yankees cannot reveal any free ageny names until 15 days after the World Series concludes. The team can be fined for tampering otherwise.
That’s true, but can’t A-Rod pick up the phone and call Sabathia and Burnett and invite them to his wedding to Madonna?
Yankee Trader did you just say that Dye and Ordonez will be free agents in 2010? Do you really think they’d want either of those guys if they let Abrue walk this year??
Didn’t Hank already name Burnett and Sabathia by name last month?
“Everybody is looking at Sabathia and Burnett, not just us,†Steinbrenner said Thursday. “We’ll see. I mean, our main concern is, are their arms going to be okay after this season?
http://www.nydailynews.com/sports/baseball/yankees/2008/08/28/2008-08-28_hank_steinbrenner_keeping_his_eye_on_cc_.html
Surprisingly, he never got penalized though. He must have got Selig on a good day.
“There are some places you just dont go if you want an unbiased opinion. Keith Law and Mike Lupica are 2 of them”
Disagree on Law. See him right down the middle on stuff. Seen him say good and bad about prospects in virtually every organization. Never offers an opinion on a player if he hasn’t seen ‘em (a rarity) and aside from his stint in the Jays front office, has no appearent allegiance to anyone but ESPN and Scouts, Inc.
God I hope we get Manny
listening Boras try to explain Manny’s exit in Boston is pure genius in PR
“what do you think the mets could offer if we decide to pick up Marte’s option, only to trade him?”
Beltran, in exchange for a package of Nady, Marte, and two prospects.
Let’s just hope this team starts getting younger, faster, and hungrier. Sadly, we have plenty more years of the Over-the-Hill Gang to look forward to. Posada, A-Rod, Jeter, Damon/Matsui. And just say no to Andy. Thanks, but no thanks, big lefty. Pretty soon Monument Park will be the nickname of the Yankees starting nine.
“I was lucky enough to actually be at the clinching game the last time the Phillies won the World Series and actually went to the airport to greet the Sixers in 83 when they returned with the NBA trophy.”
Still think that Sixers team is the best I’ve seen in the last 30 years.
Isin’t Law usually pretty objective?
Just because he doesn’t have an optimistic outlook about next year, doesn’t mean he is a Yankee hater. We are currently a 3rd place team in our division, if this off-season goes completely wrong (which is entirely possible), then we could face a long year next year. We’re banking a lot in the FA pitchers coming here, not a guarantee.
Scott Boras is really in his own league
Talking Tex now
Not sure I buy what Boras said about Perez ie him being a dominant pitcher his record certainly does not relfect that in looking at baseball reference he actually has a losing record
Boras is such a spin doctor… no wonder he hypnotizes all his clients.
“looking at baseball reference he actually has a losing record”
Yeah, but he was dominating while building that losing record.
Does Boras really believe everything he says?
Fredo Corleone,
I repectfully disagree with your disagreeance about Keith Law. I’ve never seen him miss a chance to take a pot shot at the Yankees.
“Seventh-best offense in the league, going to get older.”
Only an opinionated fool make a prediction about a team’s ‘09 offense on Oct 16, 2008. Who knows what the composition of the team evenwill be? Certainly not Keith Law.
“Unclear who’s even in the rotation beyond Wang.”
See above comment.
“Those great pen arms weren’t as great the second or third time around the league.”
True in the case of Veras,Ramirez and Robertson. There isnt a bullpen in baseball that wouldnt take Bruney or Mo, never mind potentially Joba.Not one.
“And I’m sorry, but I’m not just going to gift them with Teixeira Sabathia and Burnett.”
Sure sounds like someone who hopes with all their heart that it doesnt happen.
raymagnetic
October 16th, 2008 at 3:34 pm
Yankee Trader did you just say that Dye and Ordonez will be free agents in 2010? Do you really think they’d want either of those guys if they let Abrue walk this year??
No I don’t want either if their club doesn’t pick up their options, but I’d be interested in an outfield of Crawford Bay and Jackson in 2010.
What do you guys want him to say? He’s in the business of selling his clients and he does it better than anybody in the business.
His job is not to make life easier for teams. Its to get his clients the best deal possible.
If you are an owner, and don’t like what he is selling, you don’t buy.
However, he has to be doing something right. He turned down an offer of $500 million dollars to sell his firm last year.
Despite people hating on him, he has 6 of the Top 10-12 prospects in next year’s draft.
Does he go over the line sometimes, especially with draft eligible guys? Absolutely.
Then again, if you are a team and don’t want to do business with him, you just walk away. Many teams don’t do that.
It tells me that while folks may not like his methods, he’s clearly doing his job well.
Scott and Sam and Seth Levinson from Brooklyn, are far and away the most successful baseball firms in the business.
Bruney will be the 8th inning guy I believe next season.
Law is not a Yankee hater. He ticks off fans when he doesn’t fawn all over their favorite teams players.
What exactly did he say that was wrong?
They ARE getting older and were the 7th best offense in the AL this year.
They don’t have anybody firmly penciled into the rotation after Wang right now.
Their prospects didn’t live up to the hype this year.
It may be tough truths for some to accept but, he’s on point.
He isn’t penciling into Teixiera, Sabathia and Burnett to the Yankees because he hears the industry buzz that says its unlikely to happen.
He has no rooting interest for or against the Yankees. He just isn’t a suck up.
Marte is a useful left-handed reliever but the $6 million for 09 could be put to better use, either to starting pitching and offense or to payroll reduction.
With the Yanks indicating they will trim payroll we need to be more selective than in the past as to who we keep.
I’d offer him arbitration to grab the two draft picks – I doubt if he’d accept the arbitration offer.
“No I don’t want either if their club doesn’t pick up their options, but I’d be interested in an outfield of Crawford Bay and Jackson in 2010.”
That would be a good outfield if the Yankees get a decent hitting firstbaseman or DH.
Crawford and Jackson (if he’s ready) are two of the “athletic” type of player the Yankees need more of.
I’d offer Bobby arbitration and collect the picks when he goes. Nady did well in his time with the team this yr and although Abreu has a strong arm he is a below average defensively. Let Gardner start in centre – he can be a real spark-plug for this team – and Melky is a solid 4th outfielder, it isn’t worth trading him now with his value so low. Damon in LF and Matsui DH with Posada there sometimes to give Matsui rest.
I’d decline the option on Marte and collect a sandwich round pick when someone picks him up (it’d have to be a team with a protected pick cos nobody is giving up their first round pick for him).
I’d offer Pudge arbitration cos he isn’t coming back to be a back up and Boras will get him a similar deal elsewhere. Worst case scenario he accepts, we keep him around for a while to see how Posada does and if he is OK we trade Pudge (there will be takers). If Posada is struggling then we keep Pudge. Odds are though his ego won’t let him stick around to be 2nd choice and Boras will find him a 2 yr $12M deal somewhere else. We get a 2nd round pick.
So even if we sign Sabathia (and lose a 1st round pick) we’d have 6 picks in the first 2 rounds.
SJ44, I know Law isn’t a Yankee hater. He’s one of the few baseball talking heads who’s opinion I respect. It was more of a “bummed out” reaction to read that he’s down on the Yankees.
I would keep Marte because they don’t have another lefty reliever and its unknown whether Coke is the real deal or a pitching version of Kevin Maas.
One year at 6 million isn’t a big deal for the Yankees.
At worse, by picking up the option, you have a trade chip.
At best, you have a guy who is a pretty solid relief pitcher.
SJ44,
You’re right about Boras. Even being exposed for the slimeball that he is when he didnt tell client Kenny Rogers of the Tiger’s offer and was fired and the A Rod fiasco doesnt seem to phase his business one bit.
It was interesting watching him smile ear to ear from his field level Angels luxury box during the ALDS. It didnt matter to him one iota that the Angels were losing. His client Mark Texiera did well and they are about to become very,very rich…or should I say richer.
SJ–
All I am saying is that he is pure genius at what he does in terms of selling his clients on their high points or their perceived high points. If I am a player I certainly would want him on my team making the case for me.
I just cant believe that there are teams or GM’s that actually buy in to what he says about certain players.He out of hand dismissed everything that happened this year to Manny in Boston and he sounded like he totally believed it that is someone I want negotiating for me lol.
what’s another synonym for the word “effect” [noun]?
SJ44
Welcome back. In these market conditions which teams will be willing to spend, after figuring in their own payroll raises and arbitration eligible players, 30-40 million on free agents for next year. Yankees, Mets, Angels, maybe Dodgers. Any others, as I’m basing those on possible free agents coming off the books. Boston doesn’t really need a major FA, neither does Tampa. Of the 200 free agents this year, there are only a handful worth the dollars and years to sign them, and I suspect the unemployment rate will hit alltime highs in MLB, with some getting invites to report to their minor leagues.
I don’t think he’s down on the Yankees. He, like all of us, look at the team right now and see obvious areas of improvement.
I follow his stuff quite closely and know the guy a little bit.
Opinionated? Absolutely. However, unlike most of the people at the Bristol Clown College, he isn’t in the can for the Red Sox.
For example, he has a lot of respect for Cashman, LOVES Joba and Hughes, and thinks the Yankees are heading in the right direction.
He, as well as just about every significant talent evaluator I know in the game, got down on Tabata.
He likes Austin Jackson but, accurately as of now, states that he is behind in development compared to Rasmus and Fowler.
When you consider the fact that Jackson, unlike Fowler and Rasmus, was not a fulltime baseball player in HS, its not surprising he’s behind those guys developmentally.
He’s not saying Jackson is a bust. He’s saying that Jackson is behind two of probably the five best offensive prospects in baseball.
Two ways to look at that. You can say (inaccurately) that he is “down” on Jackson. Or, you can say its pretty damn impressive that Jackson is even in the conversation to guys like Fowler and Rasmus this early in his development.
Scouts I know in Arizona who have seen Jackson play believe he needs a full year in AAA. I don’t see that as a bad thing. I see it as using logic in the way they are developing him.
I meant to say “obvious areas of need”, rather than “obvious areas of improvement”.
I for one would want Boras to negotiate my next contract.
J Peavy: http://thesaurus.reference.com/browse/effect
Gayle and Drive,
He’s an agent. They have no rooting interest in teams. Only in their clients.
I’ve known Scott for 20 years. He’s brilliant. That said, I won’t have him represent my nephew because I don’t think he’s the right fit for him, much to Scott’s chagrin.
There is an old horse racing saying, “there are horses for courses”. The same holds true for clients and agents.
With Scott, he wants “true believers”. Guys who believe in everything he does and let him do his job with a minimal amount of interference.
For a lot of guys, Arod for many, many years, Tex, Bernie, Kenny Rogers to name a few, he’s perfect for them.
For other guys (like Jeter, Mo, Lowell, my nephew from a college standpoint), their personalities simply aren’t a match.
What Scott does do is make player in the entire industry a TON of money. Every record deal he signs benefits everybody in the game.
Baseball is probably the only business where trickle down economics truly works. At least for the players.
Didn’t Law grow up a Yankee fan or am I simply offering spin right now?
I think Law is one of the better analysts on ESPN personally.
I do think he’ll change his mind about the ‘09 Yankees if they get two of the three big free agents and make other minor moves.
Trader,
That’s the big question heading into the off-season. How the economy affects the free agent market.
I think its going to affect it more than others do.
How much? Unclear right now. However, I think there will be fewer players for the big guns in free agency than before the economy went in the tank.
“They ARE getting older and were the 7th best offense in the AL this year.”
I guess those that have already formed an opinion of any team, not the Yankees, ‘09 performance learned absolutely nothing about the December ‘07 predictions for the Tigers’ offense or the Mariner’s pitching.
No one could have predicted on Oct 16, 2007 that the Tampa Bay Rays would be one win from the World Series, nevermind be arguably the best team in baseball.
No one could have predicted the Yankee’s offense would rank 7th, just as no one can predict that that they wont have bounce back years from A rod, Jeter, Cano and Posada.
IMO anyone who predicts any team’s ‘09 performance on October 16, 2008 is not to be taken seriously and more often than not is biased. It has nothing to do with ” he doesn’t fawn all over their favorite teams players.”
Abreu is the “Anti-Reiser”
SJ44,
Have you heard much about the impact of the Wall St crash on luxury box sales for the Yankees or Mets?
The situation is going to impact season ticket sales on all levels. I know my wife & I are giving some thought about our 4 tix at the new Stadium. And the crash hasnt impacted us as of today. But like most folks we feel impending changes to our lifestyle.I’m sure we’re not alone.
Drive according to a story in Biz of baseball all Mets suites at Citifield have sold out.Not sure about Yankee Stadium but have heard that some of the suites still remain.
They have been following the sale of the cubs pretty good on that site and it seems the economy is having a rather large effect there
Drive 4-5
October 16th, 2008 at 4:38 pm
SJ44,
Have you heard much about the impact of the Wall St crash on luxury box sales for the Yankees or Mets?
The situation is going to impact season ticket sales on all levels. I know my wife & I are giving some thought about our 4 tix at the new Stadium. And the crash hasnt impacted us as of today. But like most folks we feel impending changes to our lifestyle.I’m sure we’re not alone.
My advice to you is buy low, sell high, and to put away enough cash to get you thru 6 months should you lose your job. Anotherwords, the time to be invested in equities might be soon, and then you’ll be able to afford better seats!
Drive,
He was talking about the Yankees as they are today. One thing he doesn’t do…..he doesn’t project or predict the future.
Obviously, if they make solid upgrades his position would be re-evaluated.
However, as they stand right now, it is an old team, losing Giambi and Abreu, Posada’s condition is unknown, and Robbie Cano is coming off an awful season. That’s where they stand right now.
Can it improve? Sure it can. But, he was talking about where they stand right now and its tough to disagree with his opinion at this time.
As with all opinions though, they are subject to change when/if roster changes are made.
I did hear of some sponsors looking for some relief with the Yankees. I don’t know if that’s true or not but, that’s the buzz going around.
Season ticket sales? I know they are stalling a bit on the pricier seats. Those $350.00 per game boxes are readily available.
I think they will end up doing some creative multiple game packages if ticket sales flatten out. They are going have to go that route because, with the financial community laying off an estimated 100,000 workers in NYC alone, they don’t have Wall Street to fall back on for ticket sales.
Fortunately for the Yankees, they chose one of the few independently solvant banks, Bank of America, when they did their monster sponsor deal earlier in the year.
They are also going to become a Nike team next season. That will also bring in more bucks than their Addidas deal did in the last couple of years.
Brian M…. offering Purdge arbitration means a minimum salary of just under $ 10 M… that’s a very expensive insurance policy.
Yes on Pettite… one year, $ 12 M or so for a 14-game winner who has never had a losing season is a pretty good deal.
Abreu may not have a great a market as your guys think… a mid-30s mediocre outfielder for $ 50 M over three years? No thanx. Offer him arbitration for sure.. if he says yes, which is highly unlikely, you have the same situation as this past year, but without the no trade clause
I can’t imagine the Yanks cutting Marte loose. Funny I got ripped for suggesting $ 12M for three years a month ago and now it’s everyone’s idea… guess I was just ahead of my time
Carl Crawford in LF in 2010… THAT would be awesome
Since Mike Stanton’s first departure, the Yanks have scrambled to find a halfway decent lefty, and have signed the likes of Chris Hammond and Mike Myers, and even traded for Jesse O (”Yes, Virginia; Jesse Orosco did pitch for the Yankees.”)
I realize $6M is a bit high, but if they let him go and Coke isn’t what we saw in September, I would hate to be scrambling for another lefty at the deadline next year.
I say exercise the option, and if Coke is as good as he seemed, then what’s the harm of having two effective lefties in the pen.
On the positive side, the cost of the new stadium helps the Yankees in paying less into the revenue sharing pool.
Isn’t there a hefty “franchise Fee” you have to pay before you secure seats in the new stadium, or is that just for the high rollers who will have access to parking and some of the finer restaurants.
86-
About Pettitte-he decided to take the Yankees up on their offer in December, while the Yankees were in negotiations for Santana, knowing full well that if the trade for Santana went down the Yankees would have probably taken the offer off the table. Soon after the Pettitte signing Steinbrenner signed A-Rod to his massive contract and two weeks later in December Rivera resigned. Santana was not traded until the end of January. Not to belabor this dead horse, but IMO, had Pettitte not come back, the Yankees would have made a deal for Santana, without having to include Hughes, as Minnesota was at the point of no return on Santana and spring training was nearing.
so what about first base? since Jason Giambi wont be back next year, who is going to be there? i keep saying Xavier Nady, but people keep saying Mark Texiera. But who knows.
so what about first base? since Jason Giambi wont be back next year, who is going to be there? i keep saying Xavier Nady, but people keep saying Mark Texiera. But who knows.
Trader—
Whether or not to sign Pettite for next year has nothing to do with the impact of Pettite signing last year. We’ll know in two years if backing away from Santana was wise… maybe less. Who knows what the Twins’ bottom line from the Yankees was? I sure don’t. without that knoweldge we can never truly evaluate the decision.
Nady at 1B is certainly one of the Yankees’ options. It would be less expensive than signing Teixiera, but I fail how to see that move making the Yankees better.
86w183 – ‘offering Purdge arbitration means a minimum salary of just under $ 10 M… that’s a very expensive insurance policy’,
- I know, but if Posada has a hiccup with his rehab, as much as I like Cervelli, there is no way the Yanks are rolling out him and Molina as their catchers going in to the season with the chance of another season of Posada feeling pressure to come back before he is ready.
Pudge will get a small salary drop, I forget the max drop allowed, but say for argument sake he gets $10M, a lot of teams, would be willing to make a trade for him in spring training, or if Posada is looking good in spring and we have Molina and Cervelli on stand-by, and we cant find a trade partner, we could cut him at the end of camp, since as Cash pointed out the contract wouldn’t be guaranteed. So it is a win-win.
Knowing these are possibilities there is no way Boras would let him accept the Yanks offer. Boras can get him close to a $10M deal somewhere else, or someone will roll the dice on a 2 yr, $12M deal.
I’m wondering how Peter Gammons is getting up in the morning these days.