Cashman call in 15 minutes
Posted by: Peter Abraham - Posted in Misc on Nov 13, 2008 
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Brian Cashman will do a conference call with reporters in 15 minutes, so check back later for his impressions of the deal.
My quick impression: It’s impossible to quibble with the Yankees giving up three players like Betemit, Marquez and Nunez. Marquez is a former sandwich pick (2004) who had a solid 2007 season but never really got on track in 2008. He was in that second-tier group of pitching prospects, much like Karstens, McCutchen and Ohlendorf were.
Swisher finished the 2008 season poorly but he can play first base and center field. He has been an on-base guy in his career and hits for power. He is at worst serviceable option at both positions. We’ll hear soon where Cash sees him fitting in. I have predicted from the start that the Yankees would go the trade route for a 1B. Maybe this is it.
UPDATE, 4:39 p.m.: Cashman just said that if the season started today, Swisher is the 1B. … The more I think about this deal, the more it makes sense. Swisher has three years remaining on his deal – right about the time the Yankees could need first base as an option for Jeter and/or Posada.
Given the value Cashman places on roster flexibility, it was always hard to see them adding huge deals for two players this winter. Teixeira is an attractive player but at what cost?
UPDATE, 4:43 p.m: Cashman just said Swisher, in their mind, is more of a 1B and corner OF and only would played CF in an emergency. He’s their 1B, folks. They didn’t pick up a $22 million bench guy.
Swisher played in the Bay Area… does he have any connections to CC?
Maybe Swish will be a utility man off the bench and platoon with Gardner in CF against lefties?
So Pete, your saying the Yankees never had Tex on their radar?
If Swisher can play first bully for us.
I could care less about the more expensive Tex. The guy is happy where he is.
This better be for utility & not as the Yankees 1B as Heyman just said on Francesca.Swisher is Giambi lite!
This Texeria kid looks pretty good
22 years old reliever
Had a 2.01 ERA this year in AA with a ridiculous 2.82 GB-AO ratio. Struck out a batter per inning, pretty good control.
Please let this be the sign we are out of this Teixeira nonsense !
Not even the Yankees are paying 22 million for a utility player.
He’s either the starting first baseman or CF (most likely, first baseman) depending how the winter shakes out.
Heyman is probably just putting two and two together….
I mean, if Swisher doesn’t play 1B where does he play? Do they plan on moving Nady/Damon and playing Swish at the corners? Playing him in CF where he is below average? Maybe a bench guy?
Doesn’t look good for Teixeria unless they can make some corresponding moves.
By the way, to answer an earlier question, the signing period begins at 12:00 AM EST, meaning 9:00 PM CC time.
So Cash can enjoy the football game, crack his nuckles, and start dialing at 11:59.
November 13th, 2008 at 4:31 pm
This Texeria kid looks pretty good
22 years old reliever
Had a 2.01 ERA this year in AA with a ridiculous 2.82 GB-AO ratio. Struck out a batter per inning, pretty good control.
I can see the signs already:
OUR TEXEIRA IS BETTER
Cashman is gonna say this is a move for 1B because that gives him more leverage in the free agent market.
Before you freak out though, remember he also said Betemit was going to be the 3rd baseman last year right and Bubba Crosby was the CFer a few years ago right before A-Rod and Damon were signed.
swisher is a winning player and not just a paycheck
he is a great clubhouse guy and chemistry guy, like orlando hudson. high OBP, switch hitter.
“Swisher is Giambi lite!” except he’s not a liability in the field…
i’m interested in this pitcher they got. does Cash ever do a significant trade without aquiring a pitcher of some sort?
I don’t think Cashman will commit to Swisher’s role just yet. The shopping season hasn’t even begun yet. And if he does, it could be deflection.
“Before you freak out though, remember he also said Betemit was going to be the 3rd baseman last year right and Bubba Crosby was the CFer a few years ago right before A-Rod and Damon were signed.”
Neither of those two were locked into a $22M contract. Swisher’s playing everyday. The notion he’s been brought in to augment the bench is beyond ludicrous.
This reminds me of the Brosius trade ten years ago… Lets hope it works out half as well…
Hate to say it but Swisher is at 1B everyone. Not horrible, but not Tex. Honestly, we need SP more then hitting and Swisher is good enough in the hitting department. All the FA $ is going to starters: CC, Burnett or Lowe, Pettite. My guess is the plan is to throw $ at starters and hope the offense just had a collectively bad year. Also, Swisher is 28 in 2 weeks and an athletic switch hitter who can play the OF as well. Nady, Cano, now Swisher – Cashman is slowly restocking our position players with younger athletic types with decent contracts.
Is this Tex related to the real TEX? If so, it makes this trade even better– and gives TEX more of a reason to come.
even tho i hate Jim Rome:
“If someone told Paul O’Neill he had the heart of a poet, he would probably punch them in the mouth”
Rebecca,
I like my sign better (even tho’ they spell their names differently):
*2 Teixeiras r better than none!*
From today’s BP:
What Should They Do? If the Yanks can only go nine figures on one player it should be Teixeira, given the need for youth and the dearth of A-list first basemen in the free-agent pool. Otherwise they face unappealing solutions like Kevin Millar or an aging Giambi. One alternative would be to trade for the aforementioned Swisher, who can play first base, right field, or even center field; he’d provide flexibility as the winter market evolves. As for the pitching, Burnett’s legacy of injuries should make a team still smarting from the Pavano and Jaret Wright debacles think twice. Lowe, by contrast, is a reliable groundballer who’s every bit as effective and much more durable, with at least 32 starts in seven straight years.
http://www.baseballprospectus......cleid=8303
“swisher is a winning player and not just a paycheck”
I agree. The kid plays hard.
I too hope this puts and end to the other Texeira salivating.
Yeah, would be another display of Yankee fiscal restraint.
“Neither of those two were locked into a $22M contract. Swisher’s playing everyday. The notion he’s been brought in to augment the bench is beyond ludicrous.”
Fredo – and the best part of all is that Swisher is an every-day player. Anyone who’s watched him play should be excited about his exuberance alone. He leaves nothing on the field.
–Neither of those two were locked into a $22M contract. Swisher’s playing everyday. The notion he’s been brought in to augment the bench is beyond ludicrous.
That is what has me worried, Fredo. That’s too much money to spend on someone who isn’t playing everyday. They were paying BeteStrikeOut what, 1.5mil? Swisher will make 5 or 6mil next year. He’s either in CF (a mistake) or at 1B (Tex would be better).
Predictions on Gammons’ take?
~”Shame on Brian Cashman for upstaging the start of free agency.”
~”Betemit would’ve been the MVP this year”
~”How’d the Yankees manage to get Texeira so cheaply? There needs to be a congressional hearing.”
BeteStrikeOut has been replaced with Nick StrickOuter
in case of this trade, what is the point of a third piece being involved (Texeria and Nunez)
they’re both relief pitchers and appear to have similar peripherals. Don’t they basically cancel each other out??
The reliever we got is from Maui
If they add 50+ million dollars in salaries for starting pitchers (a distinct possibility), they aren’t adding another 20 million for a first baseman.
Well I guess the real Tex is probably out now, as is the long shot of Manny Ramirez. Looks like the Yankees will be focusing on pitching and more pitching only.
Agree Trisha. I think last season was an aberration. Even in a bad year he hit’s you 25 homers and put him behind some OBP guys (White Sox were among the worst OBP teams in the AL) and he can have the RBI’s to match. Average will never be high, but he will work pitchers to death, take walks and help the Yankees get to the opposition’s bullpen. He’s a good defender at first, cost effective, cost bupkus in the way of prospects, and allows the Yankees some roster flexibility and financial flexibility that signing Teixeira for a zillion years won’t allow.
Ok so if the Yankees are out of the tex signing who does Boros go to get the price raised??
Theres no way Swisher is the starting CF next year. He might get a spot start there but he’s definitely more suited as a corner OF or 1B. My guess is he’s the starting 1B on opening day.
He is a league average 1B which upgrades our defense. He is a career .800 OPS hitter entering his prime so its logical to assume that he will get better in the future. He has 30 HR power, can put up a .380 OBP and play okay defense at first. He is an above average starter.
I don’t think this eliminates the possibility of signing Tex. I could easily see the Yankees signing Tex and then trading Nady or Damon and putting Swisher in a corner OF spot.
The bottom line is the Yankees gave up next to nothing to get a very solid major league player.
I have no problems with Swisher at first. Frankly, its his best position.
Just add him to the winter visit for Kevin Long.
If he can fix his stroke, especially from the left side, he will be a very solid pickup for the Yankees.
–Anyone who’s watched him play should be excited about his exuberance alone. He leaves nothing on the field.
He must be leaving something on the field; he only hit .219 last year. Sounds like he’s leaving a lot of ground balls, fly outs and strikeouts on the field.
I don’t really think the trade was a bad one. He is a switch hitter with occasional power. He plays hard and plays for the team.
I bet if teams shifted on him and he was asked to bunt, he would, unlike Giambi.
This is a steal actually.
I love tex and want to see him in pinstripes but ask yourselves what is better:
Tex + CC for 45 mil
or
Swisher + CC + Lowe/burnett/sheets for 45 mil
I’m thinking they got enough $ for one of those combos
Also, if Swisher can move to the OF in 09 replacing Damon then 1B is open for Posda or Jeter if they really start to decline at their respective fielding positions.
Fredo, here’s the announcement by Bob Sheppard:
Playing first base. For the New York Yankees.
Nick
SWI-sher
YES!
vinny,
Very odd that they sent a talented AA reliever to us along with Swisher and got another talented AA reliever from us.
This isin’t like the NBA where you need to balance our salaries.
I think you guys are all wrong on this. I bet Swisher plays more games in CF than anywhere else. I just don’t think he’s the every day 1st baseman.
Pete, that’s a great additional point.
I am all for this deal. It comes at a relatively low cost, and leaves us with more $$ to go after CC or any other pitching dude.
It’s going to be a very different team next season. I’m kind of excited.
this trade makes sense except for 1 reason do you had to include jeffrey come on could it be someone eles
Next trade victums damon, melkey,matsui
“He must be leaving something on the field; he only hit .219 last year. Sounds like he’s leaving a lot of ground balls, fly outs and strikeouts on the field.”
Laura, actually you are referring to what he left at the plate last year.
The guy plays defense similar to the turtle freak Pedwarfia. He plays HARD.
That is what I want to see again. It’s been a while.
this is fine as long as cashman SPENDS the money on 2 big time pitchers= CC and Lowe/Burnett
“If they add 50+ million dollars in salaries for starting pitchers (a distinct possibility), they aren’t adding another 20 million for a first baseman.”
CC, Burnett/Lowe and Pettitte is probably your $50M. Swisher is another $6. Big arbitration bump for Wang (or a long term deal?) and that puts them in the $185M or so range Cashman talked about not long after the season. If he gets CC as expected, maybe we see Cameron come over for a year and there still under $200M with enough coming off the books next year to be in it on Holliday should they so choose.
EDIT – meant to say Swisher can replace Damon in the OF after 2009 if 1B needs to have an old Yankee parked in there
Miggs – except for what Pete reported above. Cashman said Swisher wouldn’t be playing much CF.
Swisher is one of those gamers/grinders. Watch him play… he is intense, leaves it out on the field, and sees a ton of pitches. He is a revered clubhouse guy. Every night on BBTN when they showed CWS or OAK (from 04-07) highlights, he was always having fun in the dugout.
The more chemistry guys the better. I’d rather have Swisher than Miranda, Garko, or some guy who has never played the position.
He is kind of what we thought Nady would be.
As an aside -
*PLEASE COME BACK MOOSE! PLEASE!!!!!*
Later y’all!
This is crap. Swisher over Teixeria.
CHAMPIONSHIP HERE WE COME! WOOT!
And he fills the West Coast Goofball void left by Giambi’s departure, at least Johnny Damon has someone he can hang out with and tell idiotic jokes to.
I don’t see them signing Tex and never did. Just don’t think Cash wants to tie up that many years/dollars on another position player.
I see them signing CC and either Burnett, Lowe or Sheets. They will probably bring Andy back.
Only change in that plan is if Moose decides he wants to come back. If he does, then I think Andy is the odd man out.
After that, I think they sit tight and see how the rest of the market shakes out.
If the rumors are true, a lot of teams are going to be dumping salaries/players in the off-season. If that’s the case, the Yankees can monitor that market and see if anything makes sense for them.
The more interesting case is Abreu. They will offer him arbitration, which will set his salary at about 17-18 million.
He won’t get an AAV of 17-18 person on the open market. He loved playing for the Yankees.
Does he accept arbitration and look to work out a 2 year deal with the Yankees, or does he go on the open market.
I thought for sure he would go to market but, I heard last week he is seriously considering taking a shorter offer from the Yankees.
That will be interesting to monitor. Would Bobby leave money on the table to return to the Yankees? My gut says no but, stranger things have happened.
Nick Swisher’s 3 years remaining could coincide with Jeter or Posada moving to first? I don’t think so.
Posada has 3 years left and that’s it for him. Maybe a year extension if he can still DH.
Jeter, perhaps. Unlikely it’d be 1B he’d move to … possibly RF but still perhaps.
I think Swisher’s really just an insurance policy in case Mark Tiexiera can’t be signed. Looks like a backup 1B / backup OF move to me.
Yanks don’t really need to replace Giambi, who’s a bad fielding & mediocre hitting 1B with Swisher, who’s a bad hitting & mediocre fielding 1B.
I think what just happened is that they replaced Betemit with a utility guy who can play 1B and OF. They can always trade Swisher for another player if/when Tiexiera gets fitted for pinstripes too.
I’m fine with this. More money for XXL Jerseys for CC.
I’d rather have Swisher at 1st anyways. I’ve watched some games and he is definitely a threat at the plate. He is our new Bobby Abreu in the way that he takes pitches and works the count. He may not have as high as an average or be able to steal a few bases, but he gets on base and can occasionally hit one out
Tex would absolutely be better at first that Swisher but that doesn’t mean that Tex’s cost/years make any more sense than they did two hours ago. Tex might still be in the cards, who knows.
But as I said before, you can’t really judge this deal in isolation, there are still many shoes still to drop. But at minimum, if Swish becomes the everyday first baseman, we just upgraded defensively (it would be hard not to, right?) with a versatile player who could have a nice upside.
I can see not loving the move or waiting to see, I’m not sure I can see hating it.
And in non-Swisher Yankee news of the day….Jeter and A-Rod won Silver Slugger Awards.
He’s our 1B?
What an awful trade
The fact that people are trying to quantify his worth by throwing out statistics is exactly what is wrong with our team and what has been wrong for the last several years.
Some of you judge guys like fantasy players and are obsessed with stats rather than looking at how they fit the team, their intangibles, and their role on the team. $200 million dollar sluggers don’t win championships.
You would think people learn there is more to the game than stats by now after we’ve been burned it for the past 8 years.
Somewhere, Scott Boras just shed a tear.
“Nick Swisher’s 3 years remaining could coincide with Jeter or Posada moving to first? I don’t think so.”
I’d guess it coincides more with Jesus Montero being ready to take over at 1B.
Nick: Very well said. As always, you have a way with words.
Still waiting for my lollipops.
–It’s going to be a very different team next season. I’m kind of excited.
I’m not. No Giambi. No Abreu. Returning from injury Matsui and Posada. League adjusted Nady. Gardner/Melky in CF. Good years might be behind him Swisher at 1B.
And we thought we had trouble scoring runs THIS season!
Roster Flexibility ? Is that code for “It’s OK if the Yankees suck” ??? We are talking about Mark Texeira, right ? Regardless of how much and how long they might sign him for, he would not be a problem for “roster flexibility” for at least 5 years.
Yeah, let’s go with Nick Swisher instead. That way they’ll have “roster flexibility” and lots of cash on hand to buy extra peanuts.
Good lord. I like this deal, but to think there is an actual downside to signing Texeira is insanity. The richest team in the league that no longer has to pay the luxury tax ? Nah, don’t sign any big free agents. Leave that craziness to teams like Tampa and KC.
How do you guys know that Swisher wasn’t acquired to be used in a larger deal this winter?
After all, he is a commodity and we got him for nothing. This may not be the end of the line. There might also be other moves with our OF’ers in the works.
Can’t judge this trade on face value when Free Agency is yet to even start. Plenty of winter left.
Wow. Way to slam the door on Tex’s dreams of playing for the Yankees. Unless, he really wants to for the right price.
Didn’t look at their stats, but Swisher and Tex are eerily similar.
1. close in age
2. switch hitters
3. 1B
4. some pop in the bat (advantage Tex)
5. good eye
Obviously Tex is the better player, but Swisher seems to have that infectious personality. He’ll be cheaper and offer more flexibility.
Let’s see…
Nady…bad against righties.
Swisher…bad against lefties. Hmmm…
I think there’s room for Texeira to still be in the mix. The Yanks would be absolutely insane to spend $50MM on FA starting pitching.
Very true caps.
As Nick says, don’t just the deal on its own. You have to look at it in the context of the other moves they will make this off-season.
For right now, to acquire a solid player for guys who have no future in NY, and a cost friendly deal at that, its pretty tough to complain about the trade.
Now, let’s see them get CC and another starter signed and continue the retooling process.
No offense but Cashman was against giving A-Rod 10 years why the heck would he give Texiera 10 years?
Yes there is an age difference but seriously, I would not have agreed with getting him for 10 years. He would be young and then old and too hard to get rid of if we eventually draft a quality 1B man.
I doubt the Yankees would have bit at the 10 years. Besides, the Angels haven’t offered him a contract because they are going to be like us with CC, offer him the most money so they know he will not turn it down.
I love the trade and Nick but does a lifetime 354 ob% make him a “good on base guy”?
The more I read, the more I’m liking this deal. I’m very excited to see what’s going to happen next.
I would just like to point this out … when the Yankees let Wade Boggs go, they traded for a 206 hitter named Scott Brosius and everybody complained backed then too. There is something to be said about obtaining a good character guy coming off a bad year who will have ZERO pressue on him here. No one expects this guy to be Don mattingly or Tino Martinez. Bat him 6th or 7th or 8th and see what he can do.
Laura – I am still pencilling in Abreu on my roster.
I said from jump street I wanted Abreu back and was assured by many it wasn’t going to happen. I was also assured Moose was retiring.
In my world, it is until it isn’t! So until further notice, Moose and Abreu are coming back.
Swisher is a grinder,a real competitor. I hated to give up Nunez,who has a real good arm but Tex is a minor league all star and one heck of a hula dancer.
We were never going to get Teix to begin with.
If you understand how Cashman works and read between the lines of his quotes during the Winter Meetings, you would have realized that. They had minimal interest in Tex.
Whereas he tipped his hand entirely that he was going after CC and the rest of the FA pitchers.
Cashman was never going to spend $180 million and clog up a position when he said he was trying to get away from that for years. You guys should know Cashman by now.
So the options were Swisher, a trade for someone else (Garko, Kotchman), or putting some aging player there (Matsui, Posada, Damon etc.). Teixeria was merely wishful thinking.
Conceding Tiexiera and acquiring Swisher could be an indication of how aggressively the team wants to go after 2-3 top pitchers. And then maybe trade young pitcher or two for a top flight OF too. I still can’t help but focus on Swisher’s batting average: .244 career, .219 last year. Giambi floating around .250 for a few years drove me nuts. How much time CAN he actually spend with Kevin long in the next few months?
In my previous post I was esctatic about the trade. My joy is definitely tempered if Swisher is the everyday first baseman and means the Yanks wont pursue Texiera.
Swisher is a huge improvement over Betemit, but is no where close to the class of Abreu or Texiera. If the Yanks part ways with Abreu, the closest offensive replacement would be Texiera.
I’m holding out hope that Swisher isn’t the replacement in the lineup for Abreu or Texiera. The offseason has just begun and it’s obviously going to be a very interesting one.
Caps,
The reason we’ve been burned is because their stats weren’t up to par when we needed them to be. Statistical analysis is the only sane way to build a baseball team. If you build a team on “heart” and other unquantifiable measures, you’re basically banking on luck.
If a team built on stats fails, it’s because their stats weren’t good enough (See the Yankees recent playoff exits)
At what cost indeed. Dollars, that’s the cost. One thing the Yankees have in greater supply than any other team in baseball.
BTW, Texeira is a year younger than Giambi was when the Yankees signed him, AND with no history of steroids. And even STILL, Giambi was still a solid contributor in the final year of a 7 year deal.
There is no logical reason to not sign CC AND Texeira. None. Unless somebody can tell me who the player(s) are that will be better at those positions on the FA market next year or the year after.
i was happy w/the trade until the part about Swisher being the 1B- corner OF came into the discussion. his stats suggest he’d be suited for CF. as a 1B or LF or RF, he doesn’t hit enough. unless you’re trying to build a 3rd-place team.
though what Cashman said about “if the season started today, Swisher is the 1B” is meaningless. he once said a similar thing about Bubba Crosby, right before Johnny Damon was signed. so hopefully Swisher is not the 1B plan
How are “good years” behind you at 28? 28 is supposed to be the start of the good years. Declaring Swisher done at 27 seems silly when he had a few representative years before his big ’08 dropoff. Nady is what he is which is 20 homers/80 RBIs, not a lot of walks, not a high average, but steady and capable of coming up with a hit or RBI when needed. I don’t think there’s any guarantee that Gardner/Melky is the certain CF scenario, way too early in the offseason for that.
yeah lets build a team around chemistry and heart…
1B tony clark
2B eckstein
CF gardner
C molina
YEAH YOU CAN SEE WHERE THIS IS GOING
And lastly the caveat “if the season were to start today” explicitly means that they are looking at other options at 1B. I wonder who that would be…..
The funniest part is that there are actually people who thought Cashman was going to spend $180-$200 million for a 1st baseman.
C’mon, not even the Yankees can afford CC, AJ/Lowe, Pettitte, AND Teixeria. If we did, that is about $75 million right there and all the flexibility that we’ve been trying to get is now gone.
There’s no reason to believe the Swisher deal means the Yanks aren’t interested in Texeira. The Swisher deal was a good deal without regard to Texeira.
There’s no guarantee we’ll get Texeira. Swisher is a good tactical pick-up because he can play 1B if we can’t sign Texeira, and if we do sign Texeira he can play in the outfield. I’m not attaching any real significance to Cashman saying he’s an emergency CF only. Swisher played 70 games out there last year. Plus, he could play RF and Nady could shift to CF some. Swisher provides roster flexibility.
So, don’t write off Texeira, there’s no reason to do so.
“They didn’t pick up a $22 million bench guy”
Whats wrong with a 22M bench guy Peter?
They’ve got a pitcher in AAA who was 46M.
LOVE this deal.
How we got a living breathing human being for Betemit is beyond me.
I like Swisher for one big reason — attitude.
This is the kind of guy that is going to drive the other teams mad.
You put a buy like Swisher in the dugout with Joba and we’re starting to see this team build an attitude that transcends the Jeter hugging and kissing everyone on 2b attitude of recent year.
I love Jetes, but he needs his edge back and I ain’t talking about a Ford.
Swisher is young, he gets on base and we traded NOTHING for him.
You couldn’t have gotten Swisher for Marquez and Betemit last year when Marquez had actual value.
Great deal and I hope this is the sign that Cashman is going to get some tougher players in that dugout.
Swisher has something to prove. If he’s at 1b or in the OF, I like this deal a lot.
If this means no Tex at 1b, so be it. I think Tex would be more of the corporate nonchalance type player that turns the other cheek and shows little emotion.
Give me some guys with their hearts of their sleeves to root for again.
That’s what this move does.
And I don’t have to see Wilson Betemit ever play as a Yankee again for the forseeable future.
It’s a good day.
Very happy with this deal.
Quite disturbed by some of the comments suggesting Swisher is a guy who deserves to be on a 3rd place team.
Once again, the Yanks do not need an all-star at every position. They need to be a solid character in the clubhouse and this helps.
I don’t understand all of the Tex-hating. If anybody had to put money down on which free agent would perform the most consistent throughout the life of a multi-year contract, who would you take: A)Tex B)CC C)AJ D)D.Lowe
I agree that Swisher’s strengths are similar to Abreu’s and that he’s also cheaper & younger. I hope he’s the CF’er because I don’t believe in Gardner vs Melky for ’09.
Also, Cashman’s strength as a GM is his ability to pull off moves when everyone thinks a position is already set.
The Yankees WILL NOT spend $300+ million on CC and Tex, they simply cannot do it. We are in the midst of a recession, and revenue WILL go down. They have to account for that, and adding CC and Tex will not increase revenue. With stars like Jeter and ARod already on this team, adding big time players won’t increase attendance or merchandise sales, it only improves the chances of winning. No businessman adds $50 million a year to increase his chances of winning.
If the thought of the Yanks not pursuing Texiera doesnt faze anyone, they should know that the Red Sox are very interested in him. Swapping out Swisher for Texiera may make financial sense, but it could leave the Yanks at a competitive disadvantage against Boston.
From the Povidence Journal:
“New York’s Newsday reported on Sunday that the Red Sox will make a serious run at Angels first baseman Mark Teixeira, who made $12.5 million this year but is expected to look for close to $20 million. The team showed some interest in the first baseman during the summer, when Atlanta dangled him, but pulled out after hearing that the price was Youkilis and pitcher Craig Hansen.
But if they could sign Teixeira, they reportedly would move Youkilis to his former position, third base, and try to shop the 36-year-old Mike Lowell.
“
–How are “good years†behind you at 28? 28 is supposed to be the start of the good years. Declaring Swisher done at 27 seems silly when he had a few representative years before his big ‘08 dropoff.
Not if the rumors of him being on PEDs while he was in OAK is true. Look at Varitek, Pudge and Gagne. They stopped juicing and turned into bums in uniform. There’s no proof that Swisher was on PED, but if he was, his best years could be behind him. It will be interesting to see what he does in 2009.
Rebecca: those lollipops will be all the sweeter when they finally arrive, which they will.
(Disclaimer: the sweetness of the lollipops will not actually be enhanced [or diminished] by the delay in arrival; however, the growing anticipation may enhance the shock and awe at their subsequent arrival)
“Once again, the Yanks do not need an all-star at every position. They need to be a solid character in the clubhouse and this helps.”
what allstar besides jeter and arod?
I’m also not buying the theory the Yanks are going to get both CC and another big name pitcher. That’s too much $$ on pitching and too neglectful of the offense.
What’s wrong with CC, Wang, Joba, Andy or Moose, and some other (cheap) guy for the fifth starter? That’s a great rotation AND money for offense.
I think the Yanks know that and that’s the direction they’ll go in.
Back when Ron Washington was the infield guru over at Oakland, they had Dan Johnson and Scott Hatteberg splitting time at first and Swisher playing the odd game there. Washington said that Swisher was easily the best 1st basemen they had, that he was a natural at the position.
It is good to have a guy who can add a little cover on the outfield corners though incase Damon picks up a knock or Nady goes through a rough patch.
Miranda is killing RHP and getting killed by LHP right now as always, maybe he’ll see some time against righties next yr as the back-up 1st baseman.
I am glad to get rid of Betemit who wasn’t adding anything to the team except an occasional homer. Ransom has some power, and although not a major upgrade, he certainly isn’t any worse than Betemit and is a little cheaper.
Somehow Cash seems to have gotten a potentially useful bullpen arm thrown in as well.
Swisher deal OK.
Keeping Carlos Pena would have been priceless!!
But, in the name of good overall balance its probably good we wait and see what FA’s can be signed and what trades are made to improve other areas.
If Tiexiera isn’t still in the plan (though I hope he is) and Swisher makes a good fit, and he can hit even close to .280 like Posada’s career average is, then they it might turn out to be a good move.
Still, .244BA/.332OBP are his career numbers. I didn’t realize he’s a respectable fielding 1B – .994 there.
Thank you, Senator McCarthy. Or, I guess the 21st Century baseball version is Senator Mitchell. He still managed to hit 24 HRs without his PEDs. I like how you cleverly acknowledge that “there’s no proof” he was on PEDs while in the same breath bringing it up as a reason why you believe he might not have a better offensive year in 2009. You also fail to acknowledge that Pudge and Varitek are both catchers, which doesn’t really hammer home the case for former steroid user performance drop-off. Gagne, there is little doubt about. Overall, I say that’s a pretty bogus card to be playing.
I don’t think Swisher is a ex-PED guy. He hit more home runs last season than he did the previous season with less at bats.
His batting average sucks, but he walks almost as much as he K’s and hopefully he rebounds to 2 seasons ago with 35 dingers.
I attribute the low batting average to playing for Ozzie in Chicago.
If he hits .260 with power and gets his walks, he’s a great fit for this lineup.
I think the Red Sox’s interest in Tex will disappear as soon as they see the Yankees aren’t involved ala Santana.
LOVE THIS TRADE
“Swisher homers in the NICK if time”
“SWISH…St. Nick delivers again!” It’s
Christmas in June!!!
“…It is high it is far it’s gone a SWISHER SWEET for Nick”
” a Nick nack paddywack gives the Yanks a lead!!!!!!!”
Just remember fellas. We havnt won anything with all stars at every possition. We won with hard nose players that wore out pitchers by the 5th inning. This is the type of player we need. No better time to acquire someone then after a bad season. If he had a good year we would be giving up some important pieces. Now we need the other Nick as our backup first baseman.
Food for thought. This also allows them to trade a Matsui,Damon or Nady for a need.
Lets use the cash for some shut down pitching. Good pitching always beats hitting.
THE NEW DYNASTY IS STARTING IN 09!!
My initial predictions:
Manny stays with Dodgers, second option Phillies
Teixeira stays with Angels, second option Orioles, third option Nationals
Sabathia comes to Yankees, second option Dodgers if Manny not signed there.
Burnett comes to Yankees, second option Braves
Sheets stays with Brewers, second option to Yankees if Burnett not signed.
Dempster stays with Cubs, second option Braves.
Mets sign Fuentes or Kerry Wood.
K-Rod signs with Rangers.
Abreu signs with Cubs, second option Mets.
Giambi signs with A’s, second option Angels, if Teixeira not signed.
That’s a start, welcoming comments!
They haven’t even started the FA stuff, guys. Chill a little. Like someone posted earlier, this is just the first move of the off-season. Have some faith.
Yankee Trader,
I agree with most of your predictions. Krod to Mets. Burnett possibly to the Sox.
I want to see Miranda batting against righties.
Jeter at 1B would be a bad move. In three years? Jeter would then be 37, going on 38, and do you really want a 1B without power (and at that age, most likely limited speed as well) who would probably put up .280-8-60 at best?
1B is a power position. Esp. in the AL.
Where to move Jeter will be a problem. This isn’t like moving Ernie Banks to first. Banks’ power projected well there. Jeter’s doesn’t.
I know the pitching needs to be upgraded first and foremost but the offense was a huge problem last year and it doesnt appear Giambi or Abrue are coming back so you are telling me picking up Swisher is the answer to the offense?? Cashman better get Tex or Manny.