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Tazawa now on the market

Peter Abraham
October
30

As he requested, Junichi Tazawa was not selected by any teams in the Japanese draft and is now free to sign with a Major League team.

Tazawa reportedly throws 97 and was scouted by many teams while playing in Japan’s Corporate League. Scouts and those knowledgeable about Japanese baseball have said he’s overhyped. But a 22-year-old free agent who throws hard will certainly get a chance with somebody.

This entry was posted on Thursday, October 30th, 2008 at 4:09 pm by Peter Abraham.
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164 Responses to “Tazawa now on the market”

  1. 56Bomber

    Any posting of bids required?

  2. Ed - looking forward to 2009

    any word if Yu Darvish will come to the states?

  3. Al from BK( CC watch in 2 weeks. Congrats Phillies.)

    Ed- Darvish wants to play major league baseball however his team will likely wait another couple of years before they post him.

  4. Ed - looking forward to 2009

    Al – oh okay. thanks.

  5. Tom

    “Any posting of bids required?”

    no.

    I’ve read that he’s still a project and should cost about as much as a top 10 pick.

  6. Al from BK( CC watch in 2 weeks. Congrats Phillies.)

    Ed- No prob. When do the Nets play next?

  7. raymagnetic

    I wonder if Stick Michael got a look at him when he was over there. Yankees are in a catch 22 with this one. They sign him and he’s another Igawa they’ll get hammered they don’t sign him and he pitches like Nomo when he first came over they’ll get hammered.

    He’s 22, throws 97 and only costs money? I say why not?

    I wonder when an American ballplayer is going to try to not get drafted and become a free agent? How’d the Yonder Alonso thing turn out? Anybody know?

  8. 56Bomber

    I think we have enough pitching projects.

  9. Brandon (TEIX IS NOT WORTH IT, GET CC !)..."Don't trade Robi !"

    Tazawa doesn’t throw harder than 95 mph according to other scouts and he has a raw like 12-6 curve, very risky.

  10. jennifer

    Kei Igawa part Duex, only has a fb?

  11. raymagnetic

    You can never have enough prospects.

  12. Brandon (TEIX IS NOT WORTH IT, GET CC !)..."Don't trade Robi !"

    http://mainichi.jp/enta/sports.....huyaku/10/

  13. Ed - looking forward to 2009

    Al -

    they will be playing against Golden State on Sat.

  14. Brandon (TEIX IS NOT WORTH IT, GET CC !)..."Don't trade Robi !"

    Very risky and it looks like a very hittable motion, he doesn’t hide is arm, he leaves it down the pipe in the states it’s HR derby.

  15. Ed - looking forward to 2009

    Brandon -

    Eiland and Harkey could improve him if Cashman does made a bid for him?

  16. Tom

    “How’d the Yonder Alonso thing turn out? Anybody know?”

    He signed with the Reds.

  17. Jeter's Edge (In Blaz'n Copper!)

    Sweet! I can see it now:

    “Yankees Taz beats Boston’s Dice-k in pitcher showdown!”

  18. G. Love

    After missing on Inoa and losing Cole, the Yankees need 1st round pick type signing.

    I expect them to be in on this — the Red Sox have been mentioned as scouting him and interested so it only stands to reason we will be there with the checkbook too.

    Just because Igawa is disaster does not mean the team should eschew Japan as a resource.

    It just means we need better people judging these players than the loons who thought Igawa was worth anything.

  19. Al from BK( CC watch in 2 weeks. Congrats Phillies.)

    “Al –
    they will be playing against Golden State on Sat.”

    That will be a good test game because the Wizards stink on offense meanwhile the Warriors are non-stop hopefully Vince and his accessories can outscore them. Knicks are playing at Philly I’m kinda concerned about Elton Brand running amok in the paint.

  20. JGNYC

    “Just Say No” to another over-hyped Japanese pitching prospect!

  21. Olde Town Glory

    I’ve never seen Tazawa throw harder than 93 mph and he’s never faced hitters more difficult than Japanese minor leaguers.

  22. TazMania

    We can’t win without him.

  23. vinny-b (Matt Holliday ----- NOT Tex)

    Yu Darvish, or no one

  24. Al from BK( CC watch in 2 weeks. Congrats Phillies.)

    I would always take a chance on a high velocity kid especially if the Sux are in on it.

  25. raymagnetic

    Sorry wrong draftee, I meant Pedro Alvarez, but it appears he signed as well.

  26. Tom

    Because Ian Kennedy was a college senior, should we not draft college seniors?

  27. Ed - looking forward to 2009

    “Knicks are playing at Philly I’m kinda concerned about Elton Brand running amok in the paint.”

    so am I. after watching replays of him on ESPN, he looks like he’s no joke this season. maybe he’s hitting into his prime career?

  28. Drive 4-5

    97 mph? Nahhh, doesnt fit the bill. Cash has more of an affinity for the soft tossers like Igawa/Kennedy/Marquez/Karstens/Horne/Henn/ DeSalvo/Cox/Clippard/Beam mold.

  29. saucY

    i would say go for it, as long as it’s nothing silly like a ML deal. it’s probably easier to teach a guy at his age, than an older, more established pitcher who requires a posting fee.

  30. 4 x 4

    Get him and stick him in the minors and let him develop.

  31. Tom

    If the Yankees had drafted a 22 year old kid who threw 93-97mph people on this place would be drooling.

  32. Ed - looking forward to 2009

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sxRKY_Xg5tQ

    nope Tazawa doesn’t throw hard.

  33. Z (sign Sheets)

    Drive -

    lol Sad but true.

    And the hard throwers that Cashman does get are injured.

  34. rumor monger

    Igawa wasn’t an over-hyped pitching prospect–he wasn’t a prospect since he’d been pitching in Japan for numerous years, and he wasn’t over-hyped since he was pegged by everyone as a 4/5 starter at best in the majors.

    If you want to call him a wasted, under-scouted reactionary signing (to Daisuke-san), then yeah that’s fair.

    The Yankees chasing Tazawa could seem a little reactionary as well (to the aforementioned Cole/Bittle/Inoa messes), but the facts that he A) only costs money, B) is young and C) throws hard, are always appealing.

  35. Bankrupt

    Tazawa = Ian Kennedy

  36. West side

    Yi Jianlian is a monster

  37. Rebecca--Optimist Prime--Staying to write the story

    Haven’t we had enough experience with Japanese pitchers? At least for a while? ;)

    Also, I broke 50,000 words on my novel, which is official novel length.

    So how should I celebrate?

  38. hurricane boy

    give him minor league contract

  39. pat

    If he costs no more than a 1st round pick, why not take a chance and see what you can develop?

  40. raymagnetic

    Yeah,

    Cashman only likes soft tossers, Joba, Betances, Melancon, Hughes, Brackman, etc. etc. all are soft tossers.

  41. saucY

    “Also, I broke 50,000 words on my novel, which is official novel length.

    So how should I celebrate?”

    congrats! :)

    as for celebrating, i’d avoid flipping over cars. but that’s just me…

  42. Ed - looking forward to 2009

    Rebeeca – tequila shots. :)

  43. Yankee Trader

    No to Tazawa-Watched You Tube-can’t even reach 90mph.

    Now that Royals have overabundance at 1B, do we have a possible trade for young Billy Butler or late bloomer 6′5″ Ryan Shealy? David DeJesus interest anyone?
    Born in Brooklyn.

  44. G. Love

    Rebecca — Congrats.

    How should you celebrate?

    Put it away for 2 weeks and don’t touch it, read it or edit it.

    Don’t show it to your parents or anyone related to you. They are going to love it no matter what.

    Then in 2 weeks start the rewrite process and be harsh on yourself and be prepared to kill some babies.

    And by babies, I mean long flowery prose that doesn’t serve the story as much your ego.

    :>)

  45. Al from BK( CC watch in 2 weeks. Congrats Phillies.)

    “Haven’t we had enough experience with Japanese pitchers? At least for a while? ;)

    Also, I broke 50,000 words on my novel, which is official novel length.

    So how should I celebrate?”

    Ge Becca, 50′00 words I complain when I have to write a 1K report 50K you deserve a medal.

  46. Ed - looking forward to 2009

    Yankee Trader -

    I brought that up on the previous thread. Butler is a DH at best, good bat but poor fielding. Shealy seems to have a problem staying healthy. Their rookie, Kilka Kaa’ihue seems legit though.

  47. Al from BK( CC watch in 2 weeks. Congrats Phillies.)

    Yankee Trader- Big interest in Dejesus but what would the Royals want? They couldn’t have Phil obviously but IPK is up for grabs.

  48. David

    Ed – looking forward to 2009: Thanks for the link to the video. It shows him pitching up to 149 kilometers per hour. If my math is right, that’s only around 89 MPH.

    I would like to know why he wasn’t signed by a Japanese team. If he turned down offers because he thought he was good enough to pitch here, that’s one thing. However, if he was rejected by the Japanese teams, then chances are he isn’t that promising.

  49. Tom

    “Also, I broke 50,000 words on my novel, which is official novel length”

    I hope to one day have it on my class syllabus. Or maybe present a paper on it. :grin:

  50. Rebecca--Optimist Prime--Staying to write the story

    Saucy: Well taken

    Ed: My friend’s making vodka gummy bears. No, I don’t know how.

    G. Love: That is something I will do when the draft is finished, but I’m not quite halfway done with it (It goes from February to the first of November and I’m up to the middle of May). And I don’t do the long flowery prose thing–not my style :-D

    Al: Haha, hardly. Maybe when I finish. I can invite you all to the signing or something :-P

  51. Mark in Tampa

    Is this MLB 97 MPH, or is it Japanese 97? Not sure of the current exchange rate, but I think Japanese 97 equates to 91 right down the middle!!

  52. Rebecca--Optimist Prime--Staying to write the story

    Tom: I can dream, right?

  53. Drive 4-5

    raymagnetic
    October 30th, 2008 at 4:46 pm
    Yeah,

    Cashman only likes soft tossers, Joba, Betances, Melancon, Hughes, Brackman, etc. etc. all are soft tossers.

    I never said “only”. Who are the ect? Mostly is a fact. Even his best find, C M Wang , doesnt throw hard.

    It was absolutley embarrasing watching the Matt DeSalvos of the world in ‘07. Also, Phil Hughes does not not overpower anyone with his velocity. His strikeout pitch is his breaking ball.

  54. Brandon (TEIX IS NOT WORTH IT, GET CC !)..."Don't trade Robi !"

    149 KM is 92 mph ..He is a 89-93 mph pitcher and at times can hit 95. No more than that and a bad motion for the ML hitters not to hit. Ok later people I’m off to home.

  55. Yankee Trader

    Mark in Tampa
    October 30th, 2008 at 4:59 pm
    Is this MLB 97 MPH, or is it Japanese 97? Not sure of the current exchange rate, but I think Japanese 97 equates to 91 right down the middle!!

    kilometers per hour x .621= mph

  56. Ed - looking forward to 2009

    Rebecca -

    I wasn’t even going to ask that. But thanks for answering it anyway. LOL. someone’s going to be drunk tomorrow night. :)

  57. rumor monger

    I think Billy Butler is the best option out of KC’s 1B/DH glut, defensively deficient yes, he could be at least average at 1st over the course of a year in the field. Offensively, he has a better upside than most first basemen readily available through free agency and trades not named Mark Teixiera. Plus, age is on his side and there is speculation (Rany Jazayerli, specifically) that their GM Moore is not high on Butler.

    If they wanted pitching prospects in return (including Mr. Kennedy), I think it would be worth it. If they are looking for an offensive prospect (which presumably is Austin Jackson or one of the young Charleston hitters), I don’t think it’s worth it.

  58. Doreen

    Congratulations, Rebecca!

    Vodka gummy bears sound good! Grown-up kid stuff. Perfect for celebrating!

  59. Rebecca--Optimist Prime--Staying to write the story

    Ed: Indeed.

    I don’t really drink normally but I am way in the mood tonight. A pity I’m too lazy to wander over four blocks and buy a bottle of something.

  60. Mark in Tampa

    kilometers per hour x .621= mph

    I realize that, what I am referring to is how overrated all of these Japanese pitchers are. Irabu was supposed to throw 99 I think. Exactly how many times has Matsuzaka(I refuse to call him that other name) thrown the “gyro ball”? Igawa was supposed to be a back of the rotation starter, they just didn’t say where AA or AAA. The guy in Seattle quit. And so on.

  61. Doreen

    Vodka or Drunken Gummy Bear Recipe:

    http://www.ehow.com/how_204125.....bears.html

    What are they teaching in college these days?!?!

  62. West side

    Well Hughes isin’t a hard thrower, don’t know why he is grouped with Joba, Betances, Brackman etc.

    Melancon is a reliever.

  63. Al from BK( CC watch in 2 weeks. Congrats Phillies.)

    Daily News live they tried to bring up the Mets getting CC. The whole panel just sighed and said no one is out bidding the Yanks. Benigno looked pissed :)

  64. Yankee Trader

    Early predictions:

    Manny to Philly to replace Burrell who had a terrible series. Dodgers a possibility leaving them with 5 outfielders-Pierre, Jones, Ethier, Kemp and Manny. Would need to trade Kemp or Ethier for 2nd baseman or pitcher.

    Teixeira stays with Angels. Gave up too much to let him walk. Had a good playoff.

    K-Rod goes to Rangers. Angels have a replacement.

    Fuentes to Mets, or stays in Colorado if Holliday/Atkins traded.

    Bradley resigns with Texas.

    Garland to the Royals.

    Burnett to the Yankees.

    Mussina returns to Yankees.

    Dunne-Dunno!!!

    Sabathia to the Dodgers, UNLESS, Yankees show him the money and let him DH twice a week!!

    Thoughts??

  65. Kyle

    If we get this Tawaza guy, he will probably another Hughes– throws 4-5 MPH softer than advertised.

    Stay away.

  66. Jorge Tabata

    Who has less value -

    Eddy Curry or Alan Horne?

  67. Rebecca--Optimist Prime--Staying to write the story

    Doreen: Not enough!

  68. Forntoso

    Highly doubt Philly brings in Manny. They just won the WS, no reason for them to risk poisoning their clubhouse which is big on chemistry and family-like structure.

    You’re probably right about CC going to the Dodgers though, but only if they can’t re-sign Manny. If they do re-sign him to $25 million a year, they won’t be able to even get involved in the CC sweepstakes.

    Thats why everyone should root for LAD to sign Manny and LAA to re-sign Mark Teixeria. That way, CC is right there for us because those other teams won’t hand out two $20 million dollar contracts in one off-season.

  69. Yankee Trader

    Tazawa rhymes with Igawa. You Tube of both of them, shows that neither has talent. Saw Igawa pitching in Japan on video two years ago.

  70. vtred

    Did Francessa talk about Davis Price’s 97 MPH slider today?

  71. Al from BK( CC watch in 2 weeks. Congrats Phillies.)

    Yankee Trader- I would love the Yanks to put together a very competitive deal for Kemp. The rest of your ideas seem very plausible, however if we don’t get Tex we need to get rid of IPK to get Garko.

  72. jimmy1138

    No he’s certainly not throwing 97 and I don’t think the Yankees will sign him. They don’t want to mess with NPB clubs.
    Top Japanese guy will be Koji Uehara. Tons of international experience former Giants ace but had some rough seasons recently. Awful at the start of this season but rebounded nicely (Moose style). Some NL team will give him a fact 3 year contract.

  73. OldYanksFan

    People should remember that a Japanese baseball is SLIGHTY smaller a MLB baseball. That might account for a 1-2 mph loss coming over here.

    According to the radar gun on 2 UTube flicks, Tazawa Junichi was indeed 89-92 mph. 92 was the fastest pitch he threw. And would it surprise anyone if the gun was a little fast to give the fans a thrill?

    Frankly, he didn’t even look as good as Iggy.

  74. Yankee Trader

    Al-

    Can we get Kemp, without trading Cano?

    Garko for 1st for some of our excess relief pitchers?

    Blake for 1st, until now catcher, behemoth, Jesus Montero, ends up at 1st in 2-3 years?

  75. Sea Net

    If the sticking point is CC wanting to hit… then I would definitely give him something in his contract saying he can DH once a week if he wants.

  76. OldYanksFan

    Nolan Ryan probably threw a baseball about as hard as anyone in recent history. Anyone want to guess his BEST year ERA+? Want to guess his career ERA+?

    People who think a pitcher is valuable because he throws hard know NOTHING about baseball and less about baseball history… where dozens of hard throwers never saw a day in MLB.

  77. raymagnetic

    Since when does throwing 91-93 not equate to being a hard thrower? Jake Peavy throws 91-93 and racks up the K’s.

    Wang throws in the 90’s.

    An above average fastball is 92-93.

    To say Cashman targets soft tossers is a myth. Even Kennedy’s fastball is considered to be average.

  78. 27 this year

    I think you guys also got to realize that this guy is raw. He is like a college pitcher maybe even rawer than that. He is not like Igawa who was taught that belt high changeups will get you strikeouts.

  79. John

    Jesus Montero, an A-ball catcher, should not stop you from getting a legit 1st baseman. I doubt he has even entered Cashman’s thoughts when evaluating the 1B. If he can trade for a long term option, he will.

  80. ZMAN7777

    Yankee Trader — Your ideas are plausible, but if all the Yanks add to the ‘09 rotation is Burnett, they’ll be watching the playoffs on TV again next October.

  81. Yankee Trader

    Nolan Ryan 2.28 ERA in 72, overall 3.19, unless you count the 1.69 when he threw only 149 innings in 1981 for Houston.

  82. Mark in Tampa

    OldYanksFan,

    I have no idea what his ERA+ would be, but I do remember that Billy Martin hated him, referred to him as a .500 pitcher(which he just about was), and said he wouldn’t want him on his team. Of course, he didn’t want Reggie either, and some of that is hyperbole, but the point is, 98-101 MPH and great K/9 don’t automatically create a winner.

  83. Caps

    Tawza is another Hughes/Kennedy

    Just get CC no need to settle for 2nd tier.

  84. Al from BK( CC watch in 2 weeks. Congrats Phillies.)

    “Al-

    Can we get Kemp, without trading Cano?

    Garko for 1st for some of our excess relief pitchers?

    Blake for 1st, until now catcher, behemoth, Jesus Montero, ends up at 1st in 2-3 years?”

    I would never give up Cano. I was thinking a Phil/Betances/Sanchez type trade. I think we need CC like Z-man said the Yanks are playing golf next October if Burnett is the only pick-up.

  85. Mark in Tampa

    How hard did Guidry REALLY throw? Radar guns weren’t much in use back then, I’m guessing about 92-93; but the killer slider made it all work.

  86. O*Line

    Zmann, I agree 100%

    It’s CC or bust for the most part.

  87. OldYanksFan

    Ryan had a career ERA+ of 111.
    Wang has a career ERA+ of 116.
    Moose has a career ERA+ of 123 (all during the steroids era).

  88. Fire Meachum

    I’d trade Hughes for Kemp. Don’t know if LA would though.

  89. Mark in Tampa

    Unfortunatly, I think that is Moose HAD a career ERA+ of 123

  90. OldYanksFan

    There are 3 things that make a great MLB pitcher.
    Command, command and command.
    #4 might be a variety of speeds.
    That’s why a guy can be 45, top out at 84 mph, and still be an above average pitcher.

    This, by the way, was why Phil was so highly thought of. Not because of his solid B- fastball, but because he had great command.

  91. dan 771

    Meachum,

    i would rather use hughes to get matt holliday

    matt holliday > teixeria

  92. ZMAN7777

    I don’t think LA would trade Hughes for Kemp. At least Kemp is a proven commodity. Hughes is a crapshoot. If I’m LA, it’s too risky.

  93. Yankee Trader

    Zmann, I agree 100%

    It’s CC or bust for the most part.

    I agree also- we need two quality free agent starters not named Mussina and Pettitte, and Sabathia and Burnett would make us very competitive in the AL East. Burnett tough on Boston and Tampa Bay, plus not winning 4 games against us.

  94. yankeefan91 (sign manny)

    i wonder if theres a pitcher in this universe that can throw a ball like Syd Finch he trew a 110mph fatsball accoding to illustrated

  95. ZMAN7777

    Personally, I don’t want Pettitte back. I also wouldn’t offer more than 1 year to Mussina.

  96. Yankee Trader

    OldYanksFan
    October 30th, 2008 at 5:48 pm
    There are 3 things that make a great MLB pitcher.
    Command, command and command.

    That’s true unless you have an umpire with a small strike zone that day. Maddux prime example of winning pitcher without a 90 mph fastball.

    But I’ll still take Bob Gibson and Sandy Koufax any day over Maddux, Glavine and other soft tossers.

  97. Fran

    On an earlier post it was said that Francesa has heard rumors of Damon being traded.
    Michael Kay just said the same thing. He said that it is a real possibility that Cashman tries to move Damon because he does not get along with Girardi. Apparently it started in Minnesota the night that Damon was not in the starting line-up and not told by Girardi.

  98. Yankee Trader

    ZMAN-

    Offer arbitration to Mussina. Agree with one year.

    Also don’t want Pettitte back, can’t give you 200 innings. If we need another lefty, beside Sabathia, would consider Randy Wolf who came on strong, and is a strikeout pitcher.

  99. Yankee Trader

    Damon has a NTC, and without him we have no lead off hitter and I don’t believe that Damon and Girardi don’t get along.

  100. Ed - looking forward to 2009

    Fran -

    did Kay said where?

  101. Fran

    Yankee Trader – just reporting what Kay said. But Damon does not have a full NTC. He has a partial and a list of teams he can be traded too without getting any further permission from him.

  102. ZMAN7777

    Fran — I would like to see the Yanks move either Damon or Matsui this offseason. I’d prefer to see Matsui moved, because he’s more one-dimensional.

  103. Fran

    Ed –
    Kay did not say where but Damon has a partial NTC which includes a list of teams he can be traded too.

    ZMAN –
    I agree. They don’t need both and if Posada can not catch, they need to have the DH spot for him.

  104. Bronx Jeers

    Yeah Johnny Damon seems like a real hard guy to get along with.

    If this is true, then Girardi may be more of a freak than we realize.

  105. Dirk from Rockland

    Keep Pettitte– could use another starting lefty– with or without CC. He will able to pitch more innings this upcoming year. He had to deal with a lot of drama at the beginning of the season. By the end of the season, he was running out of gas. Give him a full off-season– and he will get to the end of the year.

    CC
    Wang
    Moose
    Pettitte
    Joba– innings limit

  106. Yankee Trader

    Fran-

    08/02/07 12:30 AM ET

    Damon downplays trade talk
    Not in Wednesday’s lineup, outfielder ponders future in NY

    Apparently Damon upset not being in the lineup back in 2007 after the trade deadline.

    Thanks for clearing that up-12 teams[ don't know which ones], that he’s able to be traded to.

  107. mel

    So Damon was upset in 2007 and 2008?

  108. Yankee Trader

    Damon downplays trade talk
    Not in Wednesday’s lineup, outfielder ponders future in NY
    By Bryan Hoch / MLB.com

    NEW YORK — Johnny Damon wasn’t pleased when he saw a lineup card without his name in it on Wednesday at Yankee Stadium, warning off reporters with a playful “no comment” before any question could be asked.
    Damon had plenty to say prior to the Yankees’ 8-1 victory over the Chicago White Sox, according to a Newsday report, though he would later downplay his quotes as a misunderstanding with manager Joe Torre regarding his day off.

    “Unfortunately, Joe just couldn’t get to me and let me know what his thoughts were,” Damon said before the game. “I understand this game of baseball. We’re not going to reinvent it overnight.”

    With Shelley Duncan in the lineup as the Yankees’ designated hitter, Melky Cabrera having long secured center field and Jason Giambi expected to rehab at Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre beginning Friday, Damon reportedly suggested to the newspaper that the Yankees could explore trading the 33-year-old if he no longer fits into their plans.

    “I wouldn’t say I would like it,” Damon told Newsday. “I signed here to win a World Series, but I’ve always been a guy, if you’re not wanted in a place 100 percent, why stop the team from making something work?”

    After the game, Damon was asked to clarify his comments and insisted that he does not feel the Yankees should look into trading him, saying that “I really like what this team is and how we’re improving and how we’re playing very well.”

    Damon suggested that other clubs may have been interested in acquiring him before Tuesday’s non-waiver trade deadline, but acknowledged that it would be more difficult to finalize a trade now that the date has passed.

    “I think it’s totally whatever the team thinks is best for the team,” Damon said. “That’s what the Yankees always do. If it means moving me to make room for Jason, I can’t control that. I’m going to keep going out there and playing hard and trying to help this team win.”

    Damon is in the second year of a four-year, $52 million contract, which includes a partial no-trade clause — he cannot be dealt to all but 12 teams without his consent. Damon is batting .251 with six home runs, 39 RBIs and a team-leading 19 stolen bases in 94 games.

  109. ZMAN7777

    Who cares if Damon is/was upset. He’s a big boy making insane bucks.

  110. harwood

    If they signed this kid I wouldnt complain. A hard throwing prospect free of the MLB draft? Yes please.

  111. OldYanksFan

    But I’ll still take Bob Gibson and Sandy Koufax any day over Maddux, Glavine and other soft tossers.
    —————————————————-
    Would you rather have Nolan Ryan over Maddux or Glavine?
    I didn’t say speed was bad, just that command was more important.

  112. R-Tek

    Just bench Damon like Eddy Curry

  113. Tom

    Damon to the cubs for Josh Vitters!

  114. Fran

    Yankee Trader,

    The article that you posted was Damon and Torre. He also had a disagreement with Girardi this past season over playing time and according to Kay they have a strained relationship and do not get along.

  115. yankeefan91 (sign manny)

    wtf woulld u trade damon hes one of the best leadoff hitters in the league and who is gonna leadoff for us gardner hell no ill trade matsui sumwhere the giants or any west coast team

  116. AJ YANKS

    Sign him with the idea of development… not as a guy who can step into the rotation.

    Certainly intruging, but those guy is in no way compensation for not getting CC. If you can still sign CC and sign this guy too as a ‘project’ and not part of our ML budget, then go for it… nothing to lose.

  117. Mark in Tampa

    “Would you rather have Nolan Ryan over Maddux or Glavine?”

    No, I wouldn’t. I would also take Steve Carlton over Ryan. And Guidry. Guidry was 79 games over .500 in 300+ starts. Nolan was just 32 games over in 600+ starts. I know pitcher wins and losses are dependent on so much more than just the pitcher, but that is a huge difference.

  118. LLIME

    I love how Philly booed Alan Selig during the trophy presentation ha ha ha

    Good for them.

  119. Doreen

    Yankee Trader -

    You mean to say that in 2007 Johnny Damon was not in the lineup and was not told? You mean Joe Girardi was not the first manager to ever miscommunicate with a player? Sheesh. :)

    Anyway, I thought that it had been reported that it was brought to Girardi’s attention that the matter could have been handled better and he and Damon patched it up.

    But that wouldn’t serve the rumor of the day, would it?

  120. E-Rod

    ….

    Why is ESPN having Stephen A. Smith analyze the World Series?

  121. Doreen

    If you want to say that Damon could be available in trade because the Yankees feel he has value and they could get something for him, fine and dandy. That’s valid, that’s logical, that’s appropriate and I’m sure not even Damon would have a problem with that.

    But for Kay or anyone else to bring out the old garbage is ridiculous and absolutely unnecessary. You don’t have to justify a trade with a problem. Sometimes a cigar is just a cigar, you know?

  122. Fran

    Doreen – According to Kay there is a rift between Girardi and Damon. But you never know who to believe. There are always three sides to every story – each side and then the truth!

  123. YANKS IN 2010

    I say that if Damon is going to be traded…you have to look at needs a lead off hitter (not a CF or LF)

    The White Sox come to mind, since they searched for one all year…

    But what can we get back that would justify losing our own lead off hitter?

  124. Doreen

    Fran -

    Yes, three sides to every story. That’s certainly true.

    I thought Pete had written about this not so long ago, that the “rift” was settled. Not only that, but that Damon was recruiting, and would he do that if he didn’t get along with the manager.

    I wouldn’t be surprised if Damon and/or Matsui were traded, because there among the only players that might bring something of value back in the right package with the right team. I’m pretty much ready for anything. Even if it’s true that there’s still a rift (which I doubt), is it really relevant? I guess if Damon is traded for peanuts, we’ll get an answer of sorts. :)

  125. Doreen

    ** because THEY’RE among the players. (typo)

    Yanksin2010 -

    You’re right. Damon is the only leadoff hitter they currently have. Who would replace him. Certainly not Gardner. Don’t anyone say Gardner, please…. :)

  126. mel

    Doreen,

    I’m with you about Kay’s sensationalism there.

    Doubt Damon gets moved though. We need his offense and, unfortunately, his mediocre arm. :(

  127. mel

    Doreen,

    How about that kid, Brett something? :)

  128. Braintrust

    Damon has a partial no-trade clause. Matsui has a full-no trade clause. Arod I believe does not have a no-trade clause. Jeter has a no trade clause. Mo & Posada have no trade protection.

  129. Ed - looking forward to 2009

    Jeter back in the leadoff spot?

  130. mel

    And what is Damon getting all excited about? The Yankees put up with him when he showed up out of shape. They allowed him to go and take care of his personal problems without a gripe.

  131. YANKS IN 2010

    Ed…I think that would be the answer…

    Honestly…Damon had a really good year last year…I see no reason in moving him

  132. Braintrust

    Damon has one year left, and they most likely won’t sign him after next season. He’s coming off a good year, and is a good clubhouse guy. There are quite a few teams that would be interested in Johnny Damon for a season, and he would probably waive his clause if it were to the right team.

  133. mel

    When’s the last time the Yankees were sellers?

  134. Doreen

    mel -

    That Brett kid – well, sure. :)

  135. you gotta have faith (MOOSE FOR PRESIDENT!)

    keep damon, get rid of matsui while you still, so what if he had surgery, whose to say he’ll recovery fully, like posada?
    how about just have one unsure possible player and get rid of the other?

  136. YANKS IN 2010

    How bout just act as if he doesn’t exist…in other words..don’t pencil him into your DH spot

    If he does recover fully and is useful, than its a plus

  137. you gotta have faith (MOOSE FOR PRESIDENT!)

    yanks in 2010,
    if matsui doesnt hit like he used to, who do u think will become the DH?

    excluding posada, we are going with best case scenario here lol

  138. S.o.S.27 -FINALLY!!SHOPPING SEASONS HERE!!

    91mph on an american radar wont stop us from going after him. Cash will jump all over the advertising money he will make off of Tazawa. I cant believe noone has caught on to this yet.

    TAZ-MANIA T-SHIRTS/HATS AND ALL MEMORABILIA

    TAZ-MANIA coming to a stadium near you. Believe the hype.

    We love soft tossers. kph/mph dont make a difference.

  139. YANKS IN 2010

    You said, why don’t we trade him if we don’t think he can hit….um…who are we going to trade him for and what?

    If we don’t think he can hit, why would the team we are trading him to think he can hit?

    As a result, build your lineup without matsui as a consideration, like you should build your rotation without Hughes as a consideration…and if they produce then it is a plus

  140. GreenBeret7

    The idea that DeJesus of KC is a viable candidate to play center field for the Yanks is ridiculous. He’s a passable as a defensive left fielder, but, not much of a bat…..very little power and not much base stealing ability.

    Butler is no first baseman and although he’s supposed to be a big bat, he’s a DH and has zero speed.

    The only player on that team worth looking at is either Jose Guillen or, in particular, Ross Gload. Gload is a good average type hitter with some pull power, but, mainly, he’s got a great glove at first base and plays a good right field. If NYY fans on Teixiera, Gload would be a good choice for first base. As long as they shore up right field, Gload would make a good fallback. He would be what Chris Chambliss was in the ’70s for NYY.

  141. Joe from Long Island

    I don’t think the Yanks will trade Damon just because he doesn’t get along with the manager. Lots of players don’t get along with their manager. IF a particular deal makes sense, as Cash likes to say, that’s one thing. But to deal a valuable player because of something like this strikes me as how to create a losing team, as the other players pick up on it.

  142. RJPinstripes

    This guy (whatever scout you go by) definitely throws harder than our 08 # 1 draft pick that went to UCLA, so check him out and sign him. He can’t possibly be as bad as Iggy (and he throws it much harder too).

  143. YANKS IN 2010

    Greenberet7

    Are you suggesting (w/ the Gload suggestion) that we build flexibility into our roster? How dare you!

  144. S.o.S.27 -FINALLY!!SHOPPING SEASONS HERE!!

    “Honestly…Damon had a really good year last year…I see no reason in moving him.”

    That exactly why you move him. Sell high. Get me a young first baseman/young center fielder for him and hes yours. Same goes for Matsui. Either or.

  145. YANKS IN 2010

    That exactly why you move him. Sell high. Get me a young first baseman/young center fielder for him and hes yours. Same goes for Matsui. Either or.
    ________________

    If you trade Damon…name your leadoff hitter…and you win a prize

  146. mel

    SoS,

    Are you retarded? :)

    No one’s giving us a young, MLB ready position player for a year of Damon’s services.

  147. TurnTables

    I’d take Jose Guillen.

    Good fielder, RH power, good clubhouse guy.

  148. YANKS IN 2010

    Or Matsui for that matter…

    The only thing you could do with matsui or damon is trade them of a long term contract…i.e. matsui for rowand (that’s why it’s suggested so often); however I still don’t think the Giants would do it

  149. Frontier

    Hughes AND Damon for Matt Halladay

  150. GreenBeret7

    YANKS IN 2010
    October 30th, 2008 at 7:38 pm
    Greenberet7

    Are you suggesting (w/ the Gload suggestion) that we build flexibility into our roster? How dare you!

    _________________________________________________________

    Silly idea, huh? Gload would be only a gap filler, but, he’s not a bad option and KC really has little need for him. They have more need for a pitcher, in particular a relief pitcher.

  151. YANKS IN 2010

    TurnTables..

    lmao…good club house guy..I love the sarcasm

  152. YANKS IN 2010

    Greenberet7

    It’s an excellent idea…since we need a corner outfielder and 1B..

  153. S.o.S.27 -FINALLY!!SHOPPING SEASONS HERE!!

    “Are you retarded?”

    mel,
    Is that a trick question? Id go with the politically correct answer(not the R word). Sometimes on Thursdays.
    If thats the case then welcome back Johnny.

  154. ZZZZzzzz

    can we some how switch igawa with this kid?

  155. Tom

    this Ross Gload?

    http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/.....yerId=4500

  156. S.o.S.27 -FINALLY!!SHOPPING SEASONS HERE!!

    Ross Gload is 32. I thought we were trying to get younger? Id prefer age 22-27 “lightning in a bottle” natural first baseman. Go find em Stealth!!

  157. GreenBeret7

    YANKS IN 2010
    October 30th, 2008 at 7:48 pm
    Greenberet7

    It’s an excellent idea…since we need a corner outfielder and 1B..

    _____________________________________________________-

    Gload is no power hitter, only line drive and gap hitter. He makes a good fill-in for right field, but, not full-time. He’d be fine at the end of the line-up (8-9). He does have some speed…enough to not plug up the bases, anyway. He’s always been a platoon type because Chicago and KC always had somebody with power in the way.

  158. pat

    Did anyone else hear Micahel Kay saying Girardi told someone he knows that he loves Ben Sheets. When the person said to Girardi “but he’s always hurt”, Girardi said he’d rather have 22 starts from Sheets than 35 starts from other pitchers.

    If Sheets becomes a Yankee, that might be telling of the influence Girardi has over personnel decisions.

  159. GreenBeret7

    Tom
    October 30th, 2008 at 7:49 pm
    this Ross Gload?

    http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/.....yerId=4500

    ______________________________________________________

    He’s a left handed bat, but, he hits left handers better than right handers….311 against left handers and .281 against right handers. He’s not a game buster, but, he certainly won’t kill a rally, either.

    S0S27, he is a natural 1st baseman. If NYY has power in right field, 3rd, 2nd, DH and catcher, along with .300 hitters up and down the line-up, a singles/doubles type hitter isn’t going to kill them. NYY has some good first basemen in the minors and tat makes signing a less expensive choice an intelligent move. As I said, if NYY fans on Teixiera, Gload is a good fallback. Certainly better than somebody who can’t play the position.

  160. bigjf

    This ain’t the typical thing to say about starting pitchers but can he play CF?

  161. bigjf

    pat, I think the quick exit of Bobby Meacham already showed us just how much clout Girardi has right now. He’s a puppet at the moment.

  162. yanksince57-was this 1959 or is it 1965?

    meacham left 3rd base faster than any of the players he foolishly sent!

  163. Mike

    Cashman should be commended for honoring the gentleman’s agreement between Japanese baseball and the MLB.

    Let Theo and the Red Sox grab Tazawa. We suck and picking up Japanese pitchers anyway.

    Let Tazawa be a star somewhere else.

  164. Hitman

    Tazawa throws 97 like Hughes throws 97

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New York Yankees baseball fans cheer during a ticker-tape parade along Broadway celebrating their 27th World Series championship on Friday, Nov. 6, 2009,  in New York.   (AP Photo/Henny Ray Abrams) New York Yankees baseball player  Mariano Rivera, bottom, waves during a ticker-tape parade along Broadway celebrating their 27th World Series championship on Friday, Nov. 6, 2009,  in New York.  (AP Photo/Mark Lennihan) Floats carrying the New York Yankees baseball team make their way along Broadway during a ticker-tape parade celebrating their 27th World Series championship on Friday, Nov. 6, 2009,  in New York.  (AP Photo/Mark Lennihan) New York Yankees baseball players Alex Rodriguez, second from left,  Francisco Cervelli, third from right, and entertainer Jay-Z, left, celebrate on a float  during a ticker-tape parade along Broadway celebrating their 27th World Series championship on Friday, Nov. 6, 2009,  in New York.   (AP Photo/Henny Ray Abrams) New York Yankees baseball player Alex Rodriguez, right, and entertainer Jay-Z celebrate on a float during a ticker-tape parade along Broadway celebrating their 27th World Series championship on Friday, Nov. 6, 2009,  in New York.   (AP Photo/Henny Ray Abrams) Floats carrying the New York Yankees baseball team make their way along Broadway during a ticker-tape parade celebrating their 27th World Series championship on Friday, Nov. 6, 2009,  in New York.  (AP Photo/Jason DeCrow) New York Yankees' Hideki Matsui, the World Series MVP, celebrates from a float during a ticker-tape parade along Broadway celebrating their 27th World Series championship on Friday, Nov. 6, 2009,  in New York. (AP Photo/Henny Ray Abrams) Baseball fans cheers as the New York Yankees were honored along Broadway in New York on Friday, Nov. 6, 2009, with a ticker-tape parade celebrating their 27th World Series championship. (AP Photo/Craig Ruttle)
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Chad JenningsChad Jennings joined the The Journal News in October 2009, having spent the better part of seven years covering baseball in Scranton, PA. He is a graduate of the University of Missouri and an award-winning beat reporter and features writer. E-mail me at cjennings@lohud.com
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Sam BordenSam Borden is an award-winning journalist who joined The Journal News and LoHud.com in January 2008. He covered the Yankees for the New York Daily News from 2004-06, and has also worked as a columnist for the Florida Times-Union in Jacksonville. E-mail me at sborden@lohud.com
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Sam BordenJosh Thomson has done some of everything since joining The Journal News in March 2003. He began working for the Gannett weeklies during the winter of 2002 as a freelance writer. He joined the daily staff soon after and has since covered various high school and pro sports. E-mail me at jthomson@lohud.com
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