Today in The Journal News
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- November
- 14
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The Yankees acquired Nick Swisher from the White Sox. At the moment, and probably moving forward, he’s their first baseman.
Free agency started today and Joe Girardi talked about some of the pitchers available.
Just FYI: Many people are commenting or e-mailing that they believe the Yankees are still going after Mark Teixeira despite getting Swisher. Sorry to be realistic, but Yankees were never going to spend every dollar coming off the books. They’re going to invest their cash in starting pitchers. They want CC Sabathia to be one of them and there is no chance they’re adding two $100 million + deals. Some people need to adjust their expectations.
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Mike Dougherty, who covers the Giants and The Journal News and LoHud.com, will have a live video chat today at noon. Go to our Giants Mogulus channel to check it out and talk some Giants football.
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I’m heading down to the Bronx to get a look at the new Stadium. Check back later for some photos and a report.
This entry was posted
on Friday, November 14th, 2008 at 9:35 am by Peter Abraham.
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Chad Jennings
Sam Borden
Pete with guys like Jeter and Posad most likely needing to move to 1B at some point, I think you’re right that Swisher is the 1B. With 1B and the corner OF spots seemingly covered with the addition of Swisher, is it possible Matsui is moved and Manny is signed (not my favorite idea) to DH?
The Yankees bought very low on Swisher and while there’s risk involved there’s a good chance that Swisher returns to his baseline career performance.
Keith Law had some very good observations on Swisher yesterday. Said Swisher looked kind of apathetic last year. His bat looked slow and sluggish. He said Swisher looked similar to the way Mike Lowell looked the year before the Sox traded for him. He also said Swisher looked a bit like Andru Jones in his last year in Atlanta.
Law’s point was to show the extreme’s of how a player can respond to a season where he looks horrible at the plate.
And the numbers back up a more encouraging scenario for Swisher than the negative scenario. That is he’s probably closer to the Lowell come back than the Jones debacle.
Before last year, when Swisher made contact he got at a rate of .293. Last year that fell to .251. In general, once a hitter makes contact the rate at which that contact produces hits is pretty similar year to year.
Last year was an outlier for Swisher. If he’d gotten hits at a rate of .293 he would have put up the following line: .258/.364/.458.
If Swisher does that he’ll be a very useful player.
The Replacement Level Yankees Blog has a terrific write up of Swisher’s season last year and what one can expect from him this year.
http://www.replacementlevel.co.....sher_trade
I cant believe it everyone has forgot the number one thing in baseball PITCHING WINS CHAMPIONSHIPS
Also why all the hate on Brett the jet at the end of last year his swing looked a lot better and he only needs to hit like .260-270 to be a big part of this team
With Swisher at 1B, do you think it is more likely that the Yankees will somehow re-sign Abreau to ensure a productibe 3-hole in the batting order?
One other point:
With Swisher landing 1B, that makes bringing back Abreau more of a priority if the decide not to go after Tex. You can’t afford to lose Bobby if you are not going to add offense.
Yes they are risking losing Bobby, but Bobby has made it clear that the Yankees are his first choice.
It’s already gearing up to be an unpredictable off-season.. I’m for one excited to see how this all turns out.
I like the Swisher move. However it doesn’t upgrade our offense with Giambi and Abrue gone ! . Maybe the Yankees should reconsider either Giambi or Abrue coming back.
Also . pitching is a need . i’d be happy with CC and Burnett
I think youre wrong Pete. Teixeira is worth the money and will be for the length of his contract. They Yankees cant just let that go to Boston. Maybe LA but not Boston (and WE need his bat in the lineup.) And yes, Boston I think will eat Lowells contract if they have to. He looks like hes falling apart. They cant very well run Kotsay out there every day in October and think about how they let Teixeira get away.
Pitching wind championships, Yes.
But your team needs to be able to score runs too.. Last year was a very frustrating offensive year for the Yankees.. It just may be a prelude for things to come with all the aging players on this team..
So how do you handle it? Upgrade your offense obviously, and don’t think for a minute the Yankee’s (cashman) is not aware of that. Brian said at the beginning of the season last year, that he was concerned about the offense. He knows what he is doing.
“With Swisher at 1B, do you think it is more likely that the Yankees will somehow re-sign Abreau to ensure a productibe 3-hole in the batting order?”
Probably not. They don’t want to go 3 or more years. This is Abreu’s last shot at free agency and he’s almost certainly going to require 3 years or more.
Not Burnett he is hurt to much and extremely inconsitient
Pitching wins championships, unless you have a lineup like say the Rays and can’t score runs.
A championship teams needs some balance. If you have a great pitching staff, say like the Blue Jays last season, and poor offense, then you aren’t going anywhere, and the results are there as proof.
You don’t need all stars in every position, but you need to have enough offense so that when you face the best pitching you can still produce runs or can drive the better pitchers from the game by working the counts.
Maybe the Yanks will trade for more hitting. That said, if they are out of Teixeira, I hope they trade one or two of their current corner OF’s and grab Adam Dunn.
Yeah and its not like the yankees offense it bad it was just average and they didnt hit bad they just hit bad with RISP so with that i think last year was a fluke if you look at all the years before
No props for the Jets? Come on Pete throw us a bone. You know if the Pats won you’d be crowing from here till tomorrow. No excuses right?
Yankee fans should adjust their expectations only when the Yankees drop ticket prices. this is the New York Yankees, the franchise is one long history of high expectations. give me a break.
My expectations are one more good hitter – good being Abreu-level, not Nady-level, and Sabathia & Burnett.
“No props for the Jets? Come on Pete throw us a bone. You know if the Pats won you’d be crowing from here till tomorrow. No excuses right?”
I’ll give ‘em props. Any group who can win with that dolt Mangini at the helm deserves it. Mangini was a coin toss from being vilified last night.
Great game by Favre and the offensive line. The defense is just awful though.
swisher?
November 14th, 2008 at 9:47 am
Swisher?
Well yes he is more valuable than Betemit, but heres what it does, it prevents the Yankees from getting a real first baseman who can hit. If the Yanks feel Swisher is an everyday player we are in trouble
Bring back Giambi
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Little Swish, getting Nick Swisher has no part in getting Teixiera. All Swisher is, is a backup incase NYY can’t sign Teixiera for one reason or another. At least with Swisher, NYY doesn’t appear to be in desperate need. If the sign Teixiera, Swisher can be moved to right field and NYY could trade Nady for something else that’s needed.
Ticket prices have no bearing on payroll. Learn about baseball economics before discussing them.
Ticket prices are solely based on supply and demand. Payroll has no impact on ticket prices. Never did, never will.
They already possess the highest payroll in the game and will have it again in 2009.
The key is being able to have roster flexibility. When the payroll is above 200 million, you lose that flexibility.
Its about spending money wisely.
If they don’t meet your expectations, go root for the Mets.
Its not like they are holding a fire sale. They just want to be smarter with the way they construct a roster.
To me, that’s called progress.
If Cash thinks Swisher is a viable solution to 1B as an everyday player, we are in trouble. With the Yanks $$$ and resources this is the best they can do? On his best day Swisher is a 270 hitter who K`s a ton. If they were bringing him in as a utility, well he is certainly an upgrade to Betimet. I would rather sign Giambi to another year rather than bring in this spare part. Cashman did the same thing last year wasting time and at bats with Ensberg, looking for Ensberg to do what he did a few years ago. Same thing here, its a leap of faith, I guess for low budget teams, you need to make leap of faith moves, the Yankees don
I don’t think the door’s closed on Teixeira yet either. I’m not saying its likely but I think Cashman would have to be foolish to completely close that door since a Nady/Damon/Swisher OF isn’t the worst thing in the world. It also would be beneficial for the Yanks to drive up the price on Teixeira for the Angels, Red Sox, O’s and whoever else wants him.
And here’s the thing why I don’t understand the Yanks thinking that CC is the better option—while getting CC and Burnett/Lowe may save some runs, you’re still losing your 2 most productive hitters from 2007 not named A-Rod in Giambi and Abreu.
And while Swisher on a good year may be a Diet Giambi, you still have a lot of production that has to be replaced. And Brett Gardner or Melky Cabrera isn’t going to do that.
Boy, there are a lot of unrealistic folks out there. Giambi is not coming back. If Abreu comes back, it’ll be because he accepts arbitration and he can probably do better elsewhere. They are simply not focused on adding offense.
Cashman believes that having Posada back will add to the offense along with Cano returning to form with his new approach and Alex not being hurt for a month, Matsui, etc.
They did not get Swisher to sit. He’s playing 1B. This is the lineup:
Damon LF
Jeter SS
Nady RF
A-Rod 3B
Posada C
Cano 2B
Swisher 1B
Matsui DH
Gardner CF
Something like that. No, they don’t have a great option as a No. 3 hitter. But people simply have to grasp this concept: Testing for steroids and amphetamines has changed the game. You simply cannot rely on guys in their late 30s any more. You need defense and pitching to win the way baseball is going to be played now. This is not a game where you try and score 1,000 runs and hope the pitching holds up.
Also, how much money do you think the Steinbrenner family has lost since Sept. 1? Hank, Hal, Jenny and Jessica have kids and are young people. They are not their father, just throwing money around for his legacy.
Believe what you will but the Yankees aren’t going out and dropping $80 million on free agents. They just aren’t.
“The Yankees formalized their coaching staff, announcing that Mick Kelleher will be the first-base coach. Tony Pena will be the bench coach and Rob Thomson the third-base coach. “Tony brings managerial experience,” Girardi said. “He will be a great addition.” ”
Girardi said “He (Tony) will be a great addition.” I guess he “forgot” that Tony was with the Yankees last season.
It will be interesting to see what actually unfolds. Our host is quite definite in his view that it’s pitching and that’s it as to the big money deals….no Tex, no Manny. We will see. Pete may be right (does he really know something most of us don’t, or is it simply his “seasoned professional” opinion?) Or…is ownership/management simply engaged in a conventional negotiating ploy with Boras, if not others? After all, it’s only the first day!
“On his best day Swisher is a 270 hitter who K`s a ton.”
And that’s still somehow better than they’ve had the last 3 or 4 years at a $15 million dollar savings and an upgrade on defense.
“Something like that. No, they don’t have a great option as a No. 3 hitter. But people simply have to grasp this concept: Testing for steroids and amphetamines has changed the game. You simply cannot rely on guys in their late 30s any more. You need defense and pitching to win the way baseball is going to be played now. This is not a game where you try and score 1,000 runs and hope the pitching holds up.”
Tell that to the 2007 Red Sox.
There you go Pete, applying logic to the situation.
Hater! lol
edit—I meant 2006 Red Sox
SJ44,
a litlle bit off-topic. Didn’t the Marlins kick A.J.Burnett off the team back in 2005? Wasn’t him a ‘disruptive presence” in the clubhouse? The Yankees might be signing a ballplayer with attitude issues.What is your opinion on A J Burnett? Thanks
This is a great trade IF they put Swisher in CF (or trade a corner outfielder to make room for Texeira)
Swisher has NO BUSINESS playing 1B. Texeira is a switch hitting gold glover with power, you don’t pass up on him! We already passed on Beltran and Vlad.. and now its time to not pass on Texeira.
What is the point of having a large financial advantage and $75 million coming off the books if you’re not going to SPEND IT on the ABSOLUTE BEST PLAYERS.
There is no 1B as good as Texeira on the market and there won’t be for a long time. He’s still in his prime and he fills a need.. SIGN HIM
If Swisher is our 1B then we have NO UPGRADE in CF, and an AVERAGE 1B.. great move!
This would be an abysmal handling of an off season if they don’t add Texeira.. we have no #3 hitter and the offense looks only slightly above average right now.
STOP PASSING UP ON BLUE CHIP FREE AGENTS IN THEIR PRIME THAT FILL A NEED WHEN YOU HAVE THE BIGGEST FINANCIAL ADVANTAGE IN BASEBALL.
they gave the money to an older, less balanced Giambi but not to a better all around, younger player IN HIS PRIME and not on steroids?
This is ABYSMAL if the plan isn’t to move Swisher to CF, ABYSMAL.
And how did the 2008 Red Sox make out when facing a younger, more athletic team?
Peter, while I somewhat agree with you, don’t forget that it was winning and putting a great team on the field that changed how much value the Yankee franchise was worth.
Investing in the team as Big Stein did is what brought in more dollars. People go to games to see a great team. It takes time to build that up, and once the paying customers are there, it costs money to keep them.
I don’t think they are going to be signing every FA out there, but the fans like seeing offense. Pitching is very important, but it gets boring to watch low scoring games every time you go out. The Yankees know this as well and its why they had a good offensive team. Plus, winning a championship or two in the next few years brings in more money and gains more fans.
There is no chance that lineup takes the field in 09
AJ is a guy that has a quirky attitude. A lot like David Wells was in his prime.
Its all in how you handle him. If you handle him well, he will be fine. If not, he can get moody and explosive. Much like Boomer did.
Nick Swisher is a BELOW average CF. He is an above average defensive first baseman.
So, why would the Yankees downgrade themselves defensively in CF? It makes no sense.
They will spend the money on pitching and then see what the marketplace yields after that.
If that is unacceptable for some of the fan base, the Mets are accepting fan applications at this time.
Much like it was in the 80’s, when Yankees “fans” became Mets fans, you can go to Flushing and hang out until the Yankees become more “acceptable” to you again.
“They did not get Swisher to sit. He’s playing 1B. This is the lineup:
Damon LF
Jeter SS
Nady RF
A-Rod 3B
Posada C
Cano 2B
Swisher 1B
Matsui DH
Gardner CF”
Newsflash, Pete. This lineup sucks and won’t get the job done. Nady will not get on in front of Alex much so and Posada isn’t scary enough so pitchers will either walk Alex or just throw him junk hoping he goes for it. Moving Matsui up behind Alex helps, but only if Matsui is healthy and mashing. Someone said either that pitching wins championships. Very true. However, you can’t win the game unless you score some runs. This lineup will probably score even less than this year’s did. Talk about not having anything to look forward to!
Pete, I understand your point but the fact of the matter is that the line up is just downgraded from last year. They don’t need to have 35+yr old guys BUT they do need to do something about the outfield if Swisher is the everyday first baseman. Nady as #3? are you kidding me? Nady is not an everyday player, he’s a player you give at bats to but not enough to have him as your everday #3 hitter. Jeter is older and so is Damon, nothing guarantees you that they’ll produce like they did last year (especially Jeter since he’s showing signs of aging). Plus you have NO ONE to protect Arod in that line up. he’s the only big bat there. I’m not saying go get Texiera but a trade for a bat wouldn’t hurt. Pitching wins but heck the offense is what killed them last year in spite of the lack of pitching.
george,
You bring up a valid point. I want to know who is going to tell the 30 -40 year season ticket holders who’s seats just went up 500% that they need to lower their expectations.
My seats are about to double in price from ‘07. For that we’re told to lower expectations? I’ve got news for them.This aint Kansas City or even Boston. There are other options competing for what little disposable income the fans have.
I’m not saying go out and buy every free agent on the market. But dont insult the intelligence of the hands that feed them by putting out anything other than the best product possible.Don’t cut your expenses and disproportionally increase your income. It’s never been more important for any business to deliver what they advertise.
–This is ABYSMAL if the plan isn’t to move Swisher to CF, ABYSMAL.
Perhaps you’ve missed the hundreds of posts that discussed how Swisher sucks in CF. It is believed that is why he had such a miserable time in Chicago this season. He’s been quoted several times saying that he’s no good in CF. Nady says the same thing. These guys know what they are capable of. If a guy is man enough to tell you that he can’t do something, you better believe it.
There comes a time when a team has to get value from existing assets. Going after Tex and giving him a blank check is simply foolish considering the money spent last offseason on Arod and Posada. I for one applaud the Swisher move and hope the Yankees focus on pitching.
Will
November 14th, 2008 at 10:33 am
This is a great trade IF they put Swisher in CF (or trade a corner outfielder to make room for Texeira)
Swisher has NO BUSINESS playing 1B. Texeira is a switch hitting gold glover with power, you don’t pass up on him! We already passed on Beltran and Vlad.. and now its time to not pass on Texeira.
__________________________________________________________
http://www.baseball-reference......ni01.shtml
***Which part of Swisher’s numbers indicate he has no business playing first base? His bat may not be equal to Teixiera’s, but, his glove is. What the difference, when combining Swisher’s offense and defense, he’s better than Giambi.***
jeezus lord, you’d think the Stein’s have to sign CC, AJ, Tex, and trade for Holliday, Peavy, Lincecum, Cliff Lee, and Pujols for some of these people to be happy. It’s day 1 of the free agency period people. Settle down.
Times change. The Yankees value as a franchise has nothing to do with winning right now. It has to do with assets.
The new stadium, the YES Network, and their new partnership with the Cowboys and Goldman Sachs will bring more overall value to the franchise than winning the next 5 World Series in a row.
The current financial crisis also plays a role.
Its not like the Yankees are reducing the payroll to Marlins-like status. They are just looking to prioritize better and allow themselves greater roster/payroll flexibility.
Its a logical next step for a franchise that spent over 1.5 BILLION dollars in salaries since 2001 with less than stellar results.
–If that is unacceptable for some of the fan base, the Mets are accepting fan applications at this time.
You have clearly gotten up on the wrong side of the bed this morning. People are allowed to have opinions that differ from yours without having to become Met fans.
“SJ44
November 14th, 2008 at 10:34 am
And how did the 2008 Red Sox make out when facing a younger, more athletic team?”
How did that more athletic team do when they faced the Phillies who had tons more offense?
BTW, when did the Yankees announce they were “lowering expectations”?
They are looking to spend RECORD money to try and upgrade the starting staff. The weakness on the team.
Unless of course you believe Rasner and Ponson are positives.
Just because they have no intention (and never did) of signing EVERY free agent on the market doesn’t mean they are lowering expectations.
A glove sitting on a chair next to first base is better than Giambi… but I’ll definitely take Swisher at 1st over the Giambi/Damon/Matusi mess that would have been every day of the week and twice on Sunday. Also, I don’t know why everyone is decrying Swisher before he even announced as the Yankees’ first baseman. No one has stated even where he’ll be playing.
Some of you need decaff.
Another view is the big picture…where will the Yankees and their ancillary interests (e.g., YES) be in 3 – 5 years? Some people believe you “have to spend money” (not disgorge it foolishly, but wisely) to make money. It’s a big engine to feed, and you do need fuel. Do Hal and Hank really want to “own” the Yankees? Do they have the passion that George has/had? Do they want to enhance the value of the collective enterprise over the next 3 to 5 years for an eventual sale/offering, by making sure the new Stadium is filled to capacity, YES revenues are maximized etc, as this nation works its way through and out of this steep recession, and an “obligation to Dad” is fulfilled and completed. By limiting the acquisition of “position players” to the Nady’s and the Swisher’s of the world are you accomplishing that? Or, would you have a greater chance by acquiring a more valuable long term asset such as Tex at a greater price amortized over the term of the contract? Do you have a better chance of winning championships which, as Hal said a few days ago, is the goal, and “if you have to spend money to do that, it’s obvious he’ll spend the money”. The rest is Economics 101, which does apply to the business of baseball.
We shall indeed see what unfolds.!
The Phillies are not a powerhouse offensive team. They’re a good team with good pitching. No Cole Hamels, no Myers. No WS.
–His bat may not be equal to Teixiera’s, but, his glove is. What the difference, when combining Swisher’s offense and defense, he’s better than Giambi.
Dude, I’m better than Giambi when it comes to playing 1B! That’s no ringing endorsement for Swisher.
I have no issue with his defense. I just don’t feel that he has enough offensive pop to make up for the loss of the Big G and Abreu. I know that everyone thinks that Posada and Matsui are going to come back and channel Ted Williams. Posada’s mega year was a fluke and is extremely unlikely to happen again (even if he hadn’t gotten injured). Matsui has a better chance of being himself, but nothing is guaranteed. I just think that Cashman is taking a big risk here by passing on Tex; one that may come back to rival his Santana risk.
A team with a 35 million dollar payroll beat BOTH the Yankees and Red Sox, and made it to the World Series, and you believe losing the Phillies is a “loss” for them?
If you don’t believe the game is changing, you haven’t been watching baseball.
Anything can happen in a short series. You don’t build your team for a short series. You build it for the long haul.
–No one has stated even where he’ll be playing.
Incorrect. Cashman said during a press conference yesterday that Swisher is at 1B.
I remember when Tino Martinez joined the Yankees, nobody had much use for him, either. Their first 2000 at bats are very similar.
Laura – Ready for ‘09
November 14th, 2008 at 10:48 am
—His bat may not be equal to Teixiera’s, but, his glove is. What the difference, when combining Swisher’s offense and defense, he’s better than Giambi.
Dude, I’m better than Giambi when it comes to playing 1B! That’s no ringing endorsement for Swisher.
I have no issue with his defense. I just don’t feel that he has enough offensive pop to make up for the loss of the Big G and Abreu. I know that everyone thinks that Posada and Matsui are going to come back and channel Ted Williams. Posada’s mega year was a fluke and is extremely unlikely to happen again (even if he hadn’t gotten injured). Matsui has a better chance of being himself, but nothing is guaranteed. I just think that Cashman is taking a big risk here by passing on Tex; one that may come back to rival his Santana risk.
_____________________________________________________
Do you know of any other single player in baseball that’s going to make up for 2 bats?
–I remember when Tino Martinez joined the Yankees, nobody had much use for him, either. Their first 2000 at bats are very similar.
If Swisher proves me wrong and has a monster season, no one will be happier than me. I won’t be holding my breath though.
Time to “Go John Galt”
November 14th, 2008 at 10:45 am
How did that more athletic team do when they faced the Phillies who had tons more offense?
——————————–
2008 NL Ranking
Phillies:
Batting Avg: 10th (.255) (Yankees: .271 – 4th)
Runs: 3rd (799) (Yankees: 789 – 7th)
OBP: 7th (.332) (Yankees: .342 – 3rd)
SLG: 2nd (.438) (Yankees: .427 – 6th)
OPS: 3rd (.770) (Yankees: .769 – 5th)
SB: 3rd (136) (Yankees: 118 – 4th)
TONS more offense.
Swisher walks more than Tino did.
I think the Yanks will trade one of their corner OF’s and sign or add through trade another bat or two. Cashman said it was “the offense” all season long. He hasn’t forgotten. Though, I do agree that Teixeira is probably out of the picture.
Pete, I mean no offense but really? Yes Swisher could be the first baseman going in, allowing jeter and posada to transition there at about the time his deal runs out. But, I think you may still be forgetting the Abreu angle here. Until the yankees bring back abreu, which to me looks doubtful, swisher is going to be in one of the corner outfield spots. It allows a good bit of lineup flexibility with nady, damon, and whoever else being able to DH or sit on any given day. That and its not like the yankees have been opposed to multiple huge deals in the past
–Do you know of any other single player in baseball that’s going to make up for 2 bats?
I’m not asking Swisher to make up for 2 bats. I’m asking him to be an offensive threat that’s going to hit 30+ HRs and drive in at least 100 RBIs.
SJ44 you build it with BALANCE.
You really are a condesending jerk sometimes. Honestly, if someone has an opposing view from you, you insult them and tell them to be Mets fans, and act like you are the only one who knows anything about business or baseball.
So now you are saying that the Rays feel fine getting to the World Series and losing? Losing is losing, and frankly much of the winning they did was through good luck with getting timely hits from a team that had average batters for the most part.
The Phillies figured out how to shut down Langoria and Pena and Upton.
The point is that you have to have offense in order to win games as much as you need good pitching. This year the problem the Yankees had was driving in runners. It LOST THEM GAMES. Tell me again how offense isn’t important.
Swisher upgraded defense some for 1st base, but it isn’t a great move. He isn’t a game changer and he isn’t a RBI machine. Also, General Girardi may be about as good a fit with him as Pinella was.
The WS isn’t a short series either. The first round of the playoffs is a short series. The WS is long enough that it can expose the weakness of a team as well as show its strength.
I have difficulty accepting the view that both of the players preceding and protecting A-Rod will be selected from the current roster. If so, our hold on 3rd in the AL East is tenuous.
Laura, look up Swisher’s defensive numbers, and you’ll see the difference. There’s only a minimal difference between Swisher and Teixiera on defense. His offense will be close to what Giambi put up over the last 3 years. Giambi had become a .245 hitter at best, with a ton of strikeouts.
You also have to consider that the signing of swish gives scott boras MUCH less leverage now that the yankees may be out of the running for tex
He doesn’t have to hit 30 HR’s and drive in 100 runs.
Is it an incorrect premise to assume Matsui, Posada, Arod, Jeter and Cano will have better seasons next year? If they do, they will have more than enough offense.
If they don’t upgrade their starting pitcher significantly, moreso than their offense, they won’t win.
I’m going to reserve judgment and assume that Cash has another deal in the works to address the offense. If I’m wrong and this is the starting lineup for next season, I’m going to be very disappointed.
This team needs one more bat Swisher is best served as a 4th OF/1B type guy he should not be a guy who plays in 160 games next year. Although CC is far more important I think Swisher doesn’t suffice for us losing 200+ RBI’s from Abreu/Giambi.
Here’s some irony:
2008 AL Rankings:
Rays:
Batting Avg: 13th (.260) (Yankees: .271 – 4th)
Runs: 9th (774) (Yankees: 789 – 7th)
OBP: 6th (.340) (Yankees: .342 – 3rd)
SLG: 8th (.422) (Yankees: .427 – 6th)
OPS: 7th (.762) (Yankees: .769 – 5th)
SB: 1st (142) (Yankees: 118 – 4th)
The Yanks topped the AL East Champion Rays in all but one offensive category. Hmmm… maybe it is the pitching…
Rays:
ERA: 2nd (3.82)
BAA: 2nd (.246)
OPS: 3rd (.715)
SV: 2nd (52)
WHIP: 2nd (1.29)
QS: 6th (82)
Phillies:
ERA: 4th (3.88)
BAA: 8th (.260)
OPS: 6th (.739)
SV: 2nd (47)
WHIP: 5th (1.36)
QS: 2nd (88)
Yankees:
ERA: 8th (4.28)
BAA: 8th (.266)
OPS: 7th (.733)
SV: 6th (42)
WHIP: 8th (1.36)
QS: 8th (78)
There’s a lot better chance of Swisher hitting closer to 2006 and 2007 than there is 2008. For starters, he’s on a better team than the ones he played on in Oakland. He isn’t expected to be the biggest bat in town.
–His offense will be close to what Giambi put up over the last 3 years. Giambi had become a .245 hitter at best, with a ton of strikeouts.
We’ve upgraded defensively at 1B for sure. The jury is still out in terms of offense. Swish hit .219 in Chicago. I’m hoping that was some sort of anomaly.
You don’t think a team that finished with the worst record in baseball last year isn’t happy about going to the World Series, despite losing it?
I’m not trying to be condescending. I just don’t follow logic that makes zero sense.
Despite a “bad” offensive season, a season in which Matsui and Posada lost LARGE chunks of the season, Jeter played with a broken wrist for two months, Arod missed almost a month, and Cano had an off year, the Yankees offensive numbers were still better than most of the teams in the game.
As Sunny points out, they were comparable to the Phillies. A team that was healthy all year and played in a weaker league.
Their imbalance came from having poor starting pitching. If they fix that, and the guys who were injured and/or had off years, bounce back offensively, the team is more than good enough to win.
Actually, Swisher played for the White Sox – not the Cubs – ergo Carlos Guillen not Pinella.
“Jeter played with a broken wrist for two months”
Broken wrist? This some kind of breaking news? I know he got hit on the wrist and it likely had an effect, but broken?
Stop believing everything Cashman is saying at this stage. I heard the comments and it’s clear that he didn’t close the door on anything else happening. Swisher is the 1B if the season started today… it doesn’t. And the Yankees aren’t going to sign the three most expensive FA… but he didn’t rule out signing 2 of the top 3 or 3 of the top 4. Let’s see how it plays out… some people are grading Cashman’s off-season after two days… ridiculous.
I agree starting pitching must be addressed, but they need to add a quality bat.
SJ — You make a valid point about relying on guys in their late 30’s. All the more reason to pursue Teixiera who turns 29 in April. He wouldn’t be in his “late” 30s until after a 7-year contract ran out. And to say ticket prices and gate revenue have no impact on payroll insults our intelligence and calls into question yours.
By the way, I’m not the least bit convinced there is a big multi-year market for Abreu. Who’s gonna give him $ 45 M ?
Would you guys take a team that had OPS’s like this at these positions???
C. – .944
1B.- .750
2B.- .751
3B.- .673
SS.- .897
LF.- .751
CF.- .957
RF.- .760
DH.- .790
The anomoly is… the Blue Jays rank 1st in almost all the pitching categories…
ERA: 1st (3.49)
BAA: 1st (.244)
OPS: 1st (.689)
SV: 4th (44)
WHIP: 1st (1.24)
QS: 3rd (90)
This was a great move by the Yankees. We’re still going to have a damn good lineup and does anyone remember we won 89 games last year with spare parts for pitching, injuries to 2 major hitters (Posada, Matsui), an off-year for another (Cano), and injury to yet another regular (Jeter’s wrist and don’t tell me that didn’t affect him)? I think our lineup as presently constituted is comparable to the one we had in the championship years and is set. Now we just need to focus on pitching.
Any chance the Yankees will pass on CC? I think he’s an awesome pitcher but 6 years for $150 million scares me — I don’t care how big and supposedly durable he is. You just don’t throw around that kind of money, yes, even if you are the Yankees and moving into a brand new stadium.
By the way, I’m not the least bit convinced there is a big multi-year market for Abreu. Who’s gonna give him $ 45 M ?
——————
My money in on the Mets.
–He doesn’t have to hit 30 HR’s and drive in 100 runs.
He does if we are going to struggle like we did this season.
–Is it an incorrect premise to assume Matsui, Posada, Arod, Jeter and Cano will have better seasons next year? If they do, they will have more than enough offense.
This is the big unknown. We don’t know what we are going to get from any of these guys. Frankly, I’m not expecting much from Posada.
–If they don’t upgrade their starting pitcher significantly, moreso than their offense, they won’t win.
They seem to have the pitching angle covered. No one is going to outbid us for CC so pencil his name in. Wang is on his way back. Pettite will resign and Joba is set to go as well. If we don’t land AJ or Lowe, they can give Hughes a shot. Believe it or not, I’m not worried about the pitching.
My money IS on the Mets.
Jesus. Swisher isn’t replacing both Abreu’s and Girardi’s bats. Only one. Like it or not, the other bat, at this time is being replace by Nady.
–By the way, I’m not the least bit convinced there is a big multi-year market for Abreu. Who’s gonna give him $ 45 M ?
1)The Mets
2)The Cubs (if they can unload Soriano or Fukedome)
Swisher is a good move. I think Marte for 3 years is to long but at $4 mill a yr. it is not a albatross contract.
Get younger, cheaper, and more athletic a foreign concept to most Yankee fans but a necessity.
If they get CC I then look at a real 2nd tier addtl starter and go with c, wang, joba, pettitte, to start. I ahve not given up on Pranchise and we will see about Aceves and others. The pen has many many good arms and therfore should be strong…
If Swisher can hit 260 with his normal OBP and pretty good power they will be fine. He see’s a ton of pitches and they need to get away from the melky, cano, betemit 3 pitch AB’s…..
GRIND…..
***correction: Abreu’s and Giambi’s bats***
I suspect picking up Delgado’s option may take them out of any major investments in every day players. Time will tell, but I bet a beverage next time I’m in NYC that Abreu accepts arbitration.
–Like it or not, the other bat, at this time is being replace by Nady.
Which begs the question – is the Nady we saw last year the real Nady or just the result of a fluke year? Towards the end of the season, it looked like maybe the AL pitchers had adjusted to him.
“By the way, I’m not the least bit convinced there is a big multi-year market for Abreu. Who’s gonna give him $ 45 M ?”
Thought the Mets might, but they seem locked in on pitching. Cubs commitment to Marmol as their closer and bowing out on Wood suggest they’ll get in on Abreu. They badly need that lefty bat.
–Get younger, cheaper, and more athletic a foreign concept to most Yankee fans but a necessity.
That’s not true. Many of us on here have been saying that all season; some even longer.
I agree with SJ44 to an extent regarding the new approach to retooling the ballclub…That being said, I have a concern about the # 3 hole as it’s projected that Nady will be hitting there…..He can walk after this season, I’m not that impressed with him hitting there in front of A-Rod…..So when a # 3 hitter that can be had for the next 4-5 years is available and is 28 years old, should that player ( Texeria ) be deemed a high priority ??? If not, we’re back to this issue next winter, and the winter after that….Beltran was the solution several years back and Cashman whiffed…..With the additional cash coming off the ledger next season, maybe you make the leap for one season ????
Jorge doesn’t need to duplicate his “mega year.” He was a very good offensive player before that year. And he gives tough at-bats.
Of course there’s a lot of chance involved – from one year to the next no one knows exactly what you’re going to get from one player, let alone a team.
I just don’t see the point in getting all hyper over one move. One move. They’re not done.
At least, worst case scenario, Teixeira goes to the Angels or some other team (which I would be willing to bet on anyway), the Yankees are not left with a revolving door of non-first-basemen at first base.
And since when is a 180 million dollar payroll not spending money? It’s still a lot more than a lot of other teams spend. And Hal stated that they would be spending money. But the need – the PRESSING need is pitching. Right now, they have 2 pitchers, maybe 3, in Wang, Chamberlain and perhaps Pettitte.
They now have a viable first baseman. CF isn’t settled, but it, too, is not a dire need. Let first things be first and then the rest will fall into place.
I just don’t get the angry vibe from so many of you.
And while up until this past season the Yankees have been to the playoffs for quite a string of years, they haven’t won a WS with the most expensive team in baseball since 2000, and haven’t even been to the WS with that same most expensive team in baseball since 2003.
It is more profitable to field a team that will contend and win, so I don’t think the Steinbrenners are going to start being foolishly grinch-like any time soon. But, you do have to be smart. I like the position that Cashman put them in by getting Swisher. It’s bad enough that the whole world knows they’re desperate for pitching.
Laura – Ready for ‘09
November 14th, 2008 at 11:15 am
—Like it or not, the other bat, at this time is being replace by Nady.
Which begs the question – is the Nady we saw last year the real Nady or just the result of a fluke year? Towards the end of the season, it looked like maybe the AL pitchers had adjusted to him.
__________________________________________________________
***I’m not doing anything all day, so we can play “What if’s’ until the cows come home. If nobody hits like they’re supposed to, then adding Teixiera’s bat won’t make a bit of difference.***
Great Jets win last night!!
Pat M, I think if matsui is healthy from the start of the season, he’ll be hitting 3rd, and not Nady. Same with Posada and hitting 5th, followed by Nady, Cano, Swisher and Gardner/Cabrera. Other than Rodriguez, there aren’t any big time mashers, but, the lineup is pretty well filled with guys that can hit 20-25 homers.
I wonder if CC got his offer yet? and how much?
Love the Jets win… shoulda stomped on their throats when they had their chances. Shotty-heimer is really starting to irk me. You do NOT let a team like the Pats back into a game… and him turning conservative just killed any Jets momentum…
ESPN’s Buster Olney says this initial Yankees offer will be in the $140-142MM range.
payroll doesn’t affect ticket prices 86. It’s about supply and demand. If the demand for tickets weren’t so high, they wouldn’t charge so much for tickets.
If payroll was tied to ticket prices, teams would reduce them when they reduce payroll.
In two of the three Marlins fire sales, they actually raised ticket prices.
If Swisher has no interest in playing CF then this is a terrible move. Swisher’s glove isn’t enough improvement over Giambi’s at 1B to warrant the decrease in his bat.
If Swisher is the starting 1B this is a terrible move because Texeira is an INFINITELY better option and we have PLENTY of room in our budget for him. Signing Texeira is a no brainer.
Now either trade matsui/damon, or move nady to center and Swisher to right… bottom line is that this is an absolute travesty if they pass on Texeira…
and if the sox sign Texeira than they DESERVE to beat us because they’ll still have a better rotation than us with a healthy Beckett + Lester AND a superior offense
please somebody tell me why swisher at 1B is better than texeira at 1B?
-please somebody tell me why swisher at 1B is better than texeira at 1B?
Nobody said he was better than Tex. I think people found that their stats were close enough that he’s not a downgrade from Tex (defensively that is).
Doreen,
Please! Give me some good news. Scrolling through the comments has me convinced that the season’s over.
I was really looking forward to a great season in the new stadium, but why should the team bother showing up?
SJ,
What was your prediction on the roster turnover rate? 30%? It’ll be interesting to see what the team will look like in 4 months.
“Sorry to be realistic, but Yankees were never going to spend every dollar coming off the books. They’re going to invest their cash in starting pitchers. They want CC Sabathia to be one of them and there is no chance they’re adding two $100 million + deals. Some people need to adjust their expectations.”
If they have the money and there are two premier free agents, in their prime, that would fill two important holes on the team then why not? It’s a short sighted decision that isn’t good long term. The last time they passed up on a top tier player in his prime that would fill a hole? Carlos Beltran. 4 years later CF is still a problem and has been for at least 5 years.
As anyone who pays attention knows, you want to avoid giving away large free agent pitching contracts. They are rarely a good value and that hasn’t changed. The Yankees are forced to make one exception to that rule this off-season because of the current state of our rotation but to hand out TWO large pitching contracts in one off-season? There are diminishing returns and that second contract is not close to a necessity if they land C.C.
Free agent contracts to position players are still FAR better buys. They succeed far more often.
Olney thinks our first offer is 6/$142
http://sports.espn.go.com/espn.....ney_buster
I love this strategy… scare off all the teams right off the bat.
GB7,,,,I loved Matsui always have as he very well be the club’s best clutch hitter….But my point of concern is that he too is gone after this season…So we’re back to finding another hitter for the 3 spot…..Having a consistent # 3 & # 4 hitters is key….That hitter is sitting out there..The Yankees are going to be always a team in transition for the next 5 years due to the aging issue to key personnel…They can reduce that factor by one with Texeria….I have always seen Jeter moving to Leftfield and that day is approaching within the next 2 years…So they’ll be looking for a SS, then a catcher…These are prime time positions..I just think this is revisiting the Carlos Beltran sitiuation all over again…And CF is still an ongoing issue as a result…..
I’m not smart enough to predict what the Yanks will do, but let me apply a little logic of my own.
The Yanks scored about 790 runs last year. Abrue and Giambi accounted for about 200 of them.
IF Posada, Cano and Swisher all bounce back to their 2007 numbers, and IF Nady maintains his 2008 performance and doesn’t fall back to his career averages, then yes, the Yanks can score more runs in 2009. Back of the envelope, maybe 50 more, which would be good.
But, Posada had a career year in 2007. Even if he comes back 100% from his injury, he is unlikely to come anywhere close to that level of performance. And, there’s a non-negligible chance he won’t come back 100%.
Next, it is unlikely Cano, Swisher and Nady all have upside results. Each is a gamble, and all three together are a real gamble.
Plus, Damon, Matsui and Jeter will all be older, Damon had a better than expected year in 2008, and Jeter’s power was down. More risk.
So, my best guess is that if the Yanks go with the current offense and focus on pitching, they will be lucky to score about the same number of runs they scored last year.
But, they are sure to have injuries, and the current offense has no depth. More risk.
But, if they sign CC and either AJ or Lowe, say, their pitching will be significantly better. Plus, if they have an injury, they will have some depth at AAA to help. However, Moose had a great year last year which won’t be repeated by him, even if he comes back, so pitching doesn’t improve quite as much as you’d otherwise think.
So, a pitching strategy could work. BUT, you are rolling the dice that the offense all comes back strong and there are no injuries. I think that’s a bad risk.
It makes more sense IMO to get Texeira, and forego AJ or Lowe. Then, your offense is sure to be better, and you have some offensive depth to protect against injuries.
Your pitching is more of a risk, but only because you are swapping out a guy like Pettite as the ffith starter for a AAA guy like Aceves or Hughes because you didn’t get AJ.
The overall effect of Texeira rather than AJ is probably an extra $8MM or $9MM dollars per year, and less “roster flexibility” 5 or 6 years from now. I just don’t see that as a bad deal, but I’m not running the Yanks. That’s why I would not have signed Marte, to have the extra $4MM for Tex, but that’s just me.
WIll
“If Swisher has no interest in playing CF then this is a terrible move. Swisher’s glove isn’t enough improvement over Giambi’s at 1B to warrant the decrease in his bat.”
False, Swisher has very solid defense at first, look up your stats man
The Mets need a right handed bat to play left field.
How does Abreu make sense for them? Cubs make far more sense.
mel
November 14th, 2008 at 11:38 am
Doreen,
Please! Give me some good news. Scrolling through the comments has me convinced that the season’s over.
I was really looking forward to a great season in the new stadium, but why should the team bother showing up?
SJ,
What was your prediction on the roster turnover rate? 30%? It’ll be interesting to see what the team will look like in 4 months.
__________________________________________________________
***WOW, Mel. You must have really be tired to have slept all the way through the 2009 season. Were you hooked up to IV’s?***
6/142 million, should not ’scare’ anyone. That is market value.
I’m okay with that offer. But if we have to top ourselves to sign CC. Forget it.
Another thing to remember about the final contract offer to CC is luxury tax.
That may be a real incentive to keep the payroll down. Anyone know where we’re at right now?
[b]“I just think this is revisiting the Carlos Beltran sitiuation all over again…And CF is still an ongoing issue as a result…..”[/b]
Exactly. Premier players in the late twenties don’t come along that often. When they do, that is the time to use your financial advantage.
Cashman is striking early compared to recent years. After the free agent acquisitions are completed, there’s still plenty of business to be discussed at the winter meetings in Vegas during Dec. 8-11.
By then Cashman will know exactly what the missing pieces are.
GB7,
What happened? Did Swisher swing at ball 4 in the bottom of the 9th with the bases loaded in game 7 of the world series? Maybe it’s better that I missed it.
“I just think this is revisiting the Carlos Beltran sitiuation all over again…And CF is still an ongoing issue as a result…..â€[/b]
Exactly. Premier players in the late twenties don’t come along that often. When they do, that is the time to use your financial advantage”
bad example. Mark Texeria does not play CF. And first base is not a premium position (no matter how many people try to say it is)
“False, Swisher has very solid defense at first, look up your stats man”
Ok…
Swisher’s Career ZR at 1b – .813
Swisher’s ZR at 1b the last two season – .805/.818
Giambi’s Career ZR at 1b – .835
Giambi’s ZR at 1b the last two season – .808/.801
And just for fun…
Teix’s Career ZR at 1b – .873
Teix’s ZR at 1b the last two seasons – .849/.921
SJ—-
Are you serious? You don’t think payroll is based on projected revenues? You don’t think ticket revenue projections are based on pricing and projected attendance? Yes, pricing is based on supply and demand, but to imply that’s a one-way calculation is absurd.
The Marlins get more money from revenue sharing and national TV contracts and other MLB revenue streams than they do from ticket sales many times over. They are not a esnsible comparison in any way.
Put it this way; is it your position the Yankees would not change their payroll if they knew gate revenue was going to drop 50 %?
–The Mets need a right handed bat to play left field. How does Abreu make sense for them?
He’s got a pulse. That should be enough for the Mets.
He can play RF for them since they’ve apparently soured on Church.
Payroll is (partially) a function of ticket prices. Ticket prices are not a function of payroll.
What is Brian Sabean up to go get some bats you fool, why are you this stupid to get in this type of a market for CC, get your boxing gloves up this won’t end pretty.
“He’s got a pulse. That should be enough for the Mets”
and he’s Latino
**So we’re back to finding another hitter for the 3 spot…..**
Pat M,
I think that’s where Nick Johnson comes in as our new DH. He has a very solid bat and take pitches like Abreu. Jim Bowden will put Johnson on the market for probably dirt cheap. He will most likely go with Willingham as his new 1B due to his surplus of OFers, and the not signing Mark Teixiera due to their low payroll. I think Cashman should talk to Bowden ASAP about Johnson’s price.
I’m sure someone will correct me if I’m wrong, but George Steinbrenner wanted Randy Johnson and he did not want both RJ AND Beltran.
Also, am I wrong that at the time, people were saying that Beltran had only really shown himself to be worthy of a large contract in the one playoff series, and that prior to that, he was not really worth a huge payday.
I’m not saying I don’t wish they had gotten Beltran, just that you really have to consider the situation as it was. I didn’t want them to get Johnson, but Steinbrenner didn’t bother to ask me.
[b]“bad example. Mark Texeria does not play CF. And first base is not a premium position (no matter how many people try to say it is)”[/b]
Agreed it’s not as bad as Beltran but because they passed on Beltran it makes this more necessary. If they had Beltran you could pass on guys like Teix and pick your spots better.
However you can’t worry about 6 years from now. 6 years from now Teix contract won’t look that large. Look at Beltran’s deal 4 years later. Wouldn’t you kill to get a CF of his caliber at $16 million a year? Torii Hunter got more than that last year.
You need to focus on their talent level and age in addition to position.
Pat M,
I also forgot to add, Cashman should trade for Nick now as our bench player, then have him be the DH going in 2010. Would you be comfortable with the bench with Ransom, Johnson, Miranda, and Cabrera (assuming Gardner is the CFer)? I would.
no one said Swisher is remotely as good as Tex because he is not.. SO WHAT.
Again you do not need stars at every position… Swisher see’s a lot of pitches, walks a lot, and has good power he will hit 8th or so…
PAT M
November 14th, 2008 at 11:39 am
GB7,,,,I loved Matsui always have as he very well be the club’s best clutch hitter….But my point of concern is that he too is gone after this season…So we’re back to finding another hitter for the 3 spot…..Having a consistent # 3 & # 4 hitters is key….That hitter is sitting out there..The Yankees are going to be always a team in transition for the next 5 years due to the aging issue to key personnel…They can reduce that factor by one with Texeria….I have always seen Jeter moving to Leftfield and that day is approaching within the next 2 years…So they’ll be looking for a SS, then a catcher…These are prime time positions..I just think this is revisiting the Carlos Beltran sitiuation all over again…And CF is still an ongoing issue as a result…..
________________________________________________________
Pat, I think Matsui can be productive for another two or three years. He’s got a great work ethic. He’s also the kind of player that may go for a 1 year plus option after next year. I think that he’s gotten to the point where he’s a step below icon figure around NYY. By all reports and interviews, the players love him and he enjoys them.
You’re right, though. NYY has got to start next year sprinkling in some of the best of the FAs, along with a rookie or two. Next year, they’ll need at least two outfielders. By 2010, hopefully Romine or Montero can come up and split the catching duties with Posada (hopefully).
The one thing about 2010, NYY won’t have to go after starting pitching, because at least one of the kids will be ready (Hughes) and Chamberlain will be almost ready to go full time. The bullpen is in great shape. Shortstop may be the only issue. I’d hate to see the Yanks go after a long term FA there, at least until they see how angelini and Maruszak develop.
Okay, I’ve wasted a ton of my workday reading all these comments, trying to see all sides, and this is what I can contribute:
The Yankees championships were won with guys that remind me a whole lot of Nady, Swisher, Damon.. good but not great players who can contribute to a team in different ways. Not necessarily perennial all-stars, but certainly not scrubs either.
Go get CC, re-sign Pettitte, and grab Ryan Dempster. Along with Wang & Joba in the rotation, I’ll go to battle with that squad.
ED: 2 first basmen on the bench?
We’re STARTING with an offer higher than Santana’s contract. Most people expected him to get slightly higher than Santana when it’s all said and done ($150 or so), and we’re basically saying that offer is our starting point.
And you people think it won’t scare away suitors realizing how serious we are that our first offer is the highest ever for a pitcher?
Besides, it’s not like the Dodgers or Angels will match anyway. They will use their West Coast lure and brainwash him about the dangers of coming East and will try and get him with an offer that is considerably below ours.
wadda ’bout Manny?
He would be a perfect #3 hitter.
Contrary to what is being bandied about, Cashman told us virtually nothing yesterday. “Swisher is a first baseman, Swisher can play the corner OF postions, blah, blah”. It says and means nothing as to whether the Yankees will sign a Big Bat from the FA market. Cash simply keeps his options open, though the press seizes on every word.
Likewise as to Hal and Hank. Take Hank’s comments of yesterday as to whether the Yankees will make an offer to Manny.. “Not yet. It might be advantageous to do at some point,†This certainly doesn’t mean they are not going to..simply, not now (meaning our initial focus is on pitching), but maybe when we satisfy our pitching needs, and we don’t get Tex if we would want him, and Manny is still out there it may be to our benefit to get a Big Bat to protect A-Rod. “At most”, this is what he said to “keep all options open”.
Don’t take as gospel anything you read anywhere. The lines are “throw-aways”, for negotiating purposes, and the like. Anything a member of the press writes or says is conjecture and not grounded in fact, absent a specific, definitive quote from a direct source, e.g., Cashman says “we have traded for Swisher”…that is a fact to rely on. Whether he will play first or corner outfield position is another story, and any said by Cash of that nature that sounds definitive, is for the beneifit of Boras and perhaps others.
At this juncture, rely on nothing and simply enjoy the process and speculate to your heart’s content.
Tom, I was thinking about having Miranda as the pinch hitter.
Everyone has made very good points….When the 2nd best 1b who is still quite young hit’s the open market, you have to make every effort to obtain him and control that position for the next 5-6 years……He also fills the # 3 spot in the order……I suggest everyone re-reading the Wave the hat posting a few minutes ago….I think his approach to the situation makes great sense…..
Brandon,
The Giants have always been a HUGE wild card in this. Their ownership has not shown themselves to be particularly smart or fiscally responsible.
I was always more worried about SF than I was the LA teams.
what’s with all the hostility in here…it’s NOVEMBER…
Can’t we just see how things play out / discuss (or, for me, read) hypotheticals with all the crankiness?
mel
November 14th, 2008 at 11:47 am
GB7,
What happened? Did Swisher swing at ball 4 in the bottom of the 9th with the bases loaded in game 7 of the world series? Maybe it’s better that I missed it.
________________________________________________________
That’s about what happened, Mel. Johan Santana struck him out after Teixiera knocked in the winning runs on a two run with two outs inthe top of the 9th after Swisher booted the ball. NYY lost 2-1.
Sea Net,
Are you okay with paying a pitcher more than $23M?
If he wants to walk away from that, then I think the Yankees did their due diligence.
So to summarize this morning:
Nadys good 2008 was a fluke but Swishers bad 2008 wasn’t.
First baseman who produce less than 30 HRs and 100 RBI need not apply.
Everyone needs protection in line-up except A-Rod.
Having money and not spending it is bad. (can someone forward that memo to my husband?)
If the Yankees had GM by committee from this blog, Hank might be one of the the most calm and rational people in the room.
Ed, I see. Don’t forget Molina. Most AL teams don’t go with a 5 man bench.
I don’t think the Yankees are going to carry only 11 pitchers.
J-E-T-S JETS JETS JETS!!!
I would add…until we hear something definitive to the contrary from a “primary” source, Tex and Manny are still in play, perhaps not now but later.
Manny will cost as much as Teix and doesn’t fill a hole. They already have a ton of corner OF guys that really should be DH.
–Go get CC, re-sign Pettitte, and grab Ryan Dempster.
No to Dempster. The AL would eat him alive.
Remember last year…”If A-Rod opts out, the Yankees will not re-sign him”.
Maybe Cashman plans to go after Holliday and Crawford next off-season because we’ll have 3 vacant OF spots and wants to go that route rather than Teixeria.
“And you people think it won’t scare away suitors realizing how serious we are that our first offer is the highest ever for a pitcher?”
I think anyone who was serious knows that 6/$138M (read: Santana’s deal) is the low water mark for a starting point. That alone may scare teams off. However, if it doesn’t then an offer that’s $750K more per year than Santana’s deal won’t either.
“The Yankees championships were won with guys that remind me a whole lot of Nady, Swisher, Damon.. good but not great players who can contribute to a team in different ways. Not necessarily perennial all-stars, but certainly not scrubs either.”
Berni – Great. Perennial All-Star.
Jeter – Great. Perennial All-Star.
Posada – Great. Perennial All-Star.
O’Neill – Extremely Good. Frequent All-Star.
Tino – Pretty good. All-Star.
Strawberry/Raines/Davis – Very good. Perennial All-Stars in their time and still extremely productive.
Brosius/Knoblauch – Solid.
Chad Curtis – Reminds me of Nady, somehow.
And the pitching was the strength of those teams.
You want to compare the 09 Yanks to that? Get real.
Irabu’s Son said:
“The Yankees championships were won with guys that remind me a whole lot of Nady, Swisher, Damon.. good but not great players who can contribute to a team in different ways.”
I agree a lot with this. We have cut down the number of “stars” for our position players, and have added a lot more role players. Our clubhouse is probably the strongest it has been since 2001 as well.
I am a little worried who will be hitting number 3 in our lineup though.
If Swisher replaces Giambi at 1B, and Nady replaces Abreu in RF, hasn’t the lineup just gotten worse? Why is Cashman so determined to hurt the offense?
Hank said he has always admired Teixeria (in that piss-ant article a few weeks ago).
Just like with Brett Favre, the Jets are never out of it. With Hank, the Yankees are never out of any race either.
–Nadys good 2008 was a fluke but Swishers bad 2008 wasn’t.
We don’t know that for a fact.
–First baseman who produce less than 30 HRs and 100 RBI need not apply.
Not on a team that’s losing two guys who hit 40HR and 200RBIs between them.
–Everyone needs protection in line-up except A-Rod.
Never saw that one.
–Having money and not spending it is bad. (can someone forward that memo to my husband?)
Having money and not spending it *when you need to* is bad.
–If the Yankees had GM by committee from this blog, Hank might be one of the the most calm and rational people in the room.
Perhaps, but not likely.
On the surface, this team looks very weak offensively next year. The bottom of the lineup is full of low average, strikeout hitters (Gardner, Nady, Swisher).
We will get anemic production from CF, below average production from RF and 1B.
And it really isin’t a given that Cano puts up his 2007 2nd half numbers or that Posada will be the impact bat he was in 07– he is 38 yrs old coming off shoulder surgery.
I hope Cashman knows what he;s doing and doesn’t believe that pitching is the end be all.
Tom, oh yeah Molina…lol, then probably Miranda would be in AAA until someone gets hurt or interleague games.
Anything can happen and usually does. CC may tell us he loves Milwaukee and will take the Brewers’ offer, Lowe goes back to Boston, Tex listens to his wife and goes back home to Baltimore, AJ, too, wants to and does go home, McCourt gives in and signs Manny to whatever Boras wants.
*A trisha gut feeling/prediction*
You read it here first.
I have a gut feeling we will get CC. Now the reason I think this is mention-worthy is because I really don’t have a horse in the pitching race. I am totally neutral on whether or not we get him.
My gut feelings about things USUALLY are on the money. (my disclaimer)
I had a gut feeling about the Rays and Phils making the world series; I had a gut feeling about the Phils winning despite my wanting the Rays to win.
Why do I mention all of this? *Because I have a gut feeling the 2009 New York Yankees will win their 27th world series.*
Here’s another disclaimer – if CC doesn’t come through, 2 out of 3 gut feelings ain’t bad! So you can still believe in my gut feeling about the 2009 world series!!!
GO YANKEES!!!!!
Cashman strongly indicated the Yankees will not even sign Sabathia and Teixeira in tandem.
“At the pricetags I have read, that is fantasy land, not reality land,” Cashman said yesterday of bringing in Sabathia and Teixeira. A Yankees executive said the club has not even created scenarios for assembling a 2009 roster in which it signs the most attractive starter and position player in the free-agent market.
A Yankees official said the club has no plans to spend all of the approximately $88 million coming off the payroll. The expectation is the $209 million 2008 payroll will be sliced to the $190 million range or lower.
“There has been speculation that we can pull down two or three of the top [free agents], and people are just getting carried away. That is not feasible. That is completely unrealistic.”
http://www.nypost.com/seven/11.....138588.htm
I still like the idea of getting Texeira, but am comfortable with the possibility of it not happening.
Swisher is not as good offensively, but he can provide some flexibility.
If and when Johnny D’s sexy calves start acting up, Swisher can move around.
I don’t have gut feelings regarding Moose and Abreu. I just know I want them back and hope that wisdom prevails and they both come back!
My opinion on what is wisdom, of course.
From north of the border . . . .
http://www.thestar.com/Sports/.....cle/536776
I love when people say, we don’t need all stars at every position.. which stars, because I only count arod and jeter.
If anything, the Yankees do in fact need a guy like Tex.
I still see a lot of people complaining about the weakness of the 2008 bench. I wonder if the fact that most of the bench was playing nearly full time, and what was passed off as a bench were minor leaguers, had anything to do with that?
“If the Yankees had GM by committee from this blog, Hank might be one of the the most calm and rational people in the room.”
The truest statemnt on this blog.
I still disagree with you Pete. I think the Yankees are focused on pitching but I dont think they would go with Swisher at 1B and an unproven CF and lose abreu. By the way I am a loyal reader of this blog and fellow yankee fan and season ticket holder-I just started my own blog yanks and more you can access it through this site under other blogs. Please give it a good luck and post some thoughts there too and vote on my poll,offer any suggestions you would like. Everyone is welcome including Mets fans LOL
IMO…they need either Manny or Tex
I belive they will sign 1 of them.
Trade Hideki to Seattle for Ichiro…work out the minor details.
sign: CC and Burnette/Lowe and Andy
rotation: CC, Burnette/Lowe, Wang, Andy, Joba/Hughes
line-up: Ichiro CF, Damon LF, Jeter SS, Arod 3rd, Manny DH, Posada C, Swisher 1B, Nady RF, Cano 2B
The A’s middle of the order could be lethal – Holliday-Giambi-Frank Thomas
**Holliday-Giambi-Frank Thomas**
Frank Thomas is a free agent and most likely to retire.
Swisher plays with HART, something the rest of our team doesn’t have.
The Yankees on a budget and cutting payroll? I will believe it when I see it.
They showed no restraint with Posada and Rivera last off season.
They plan to break the bank for Sabathia.
Lets see where the payroll settles.
This latest Cashman moneyball move is not an indication of any trend.
If they do wind up cutting payroll while socking the fans with significant ticket price increases, managemet will be taken to task.
Cashman (circa ‘05) – “You draft, develop, & trade for arms and you buy your bats.” I agree.
CC is an exception, but 28 yr. old switch-hitting, gold-glove fielding, high OBP & BA w/ RISP don’t come along but once a decade.
Peter, you have spoken with Cashman more times in a week than I will in my life, but until Teix signs elsewhere, I don’t believe we’re out of this. Remember when “Bubba Crosby will be our CF in ‘06″ and also when he called then-Texas GM John Hart inquiring about A-Rod under the assumption that Aaron Boone would be our starting 3B in ‘04?
We’ll see…….
I know that our 3 hole will look pretty weak in 2009 (if we don’t get Tex)… but here’s to hoping Cano produces like we all think he can…and moving into that spot in 2010
2010 Lineup:
Damon (part time DH)
Jeter (SS)
Cano (2b)
A-Rod (3B)
Posada/Romine (C)
Montero (1B)
Swisher (RF)
Nady (LF)
Gardner (CF)
Tim Clougher,
That is the best plan I’ve seen here yet.
However, Nady in right doesn’t excite me. I’d rather have Gardner out there. Nady would be desirable commodity on the trade market.
Gardy is a disruptive force on the basepaths and athleticism in the field. Gardy and Nady ended up with similar numbers with the Yankees (HR & SB being the exceptions).
“The A’s middle of the order could be lethal – Holliday-Giambi-Frank Thomas”
What year is this?!
“I love when people say, we don’t need all stars at every position.. which stars, because I only count arod and jeter.
If anything, the Yankees do in fact need a guy like Tex.”
I was the one saying they don’t need stars at every position, and they don’t. Look at the “Murderer’s Row plus Cano” lineup – it got us no where.
I, actually, and am (or was) an enourmous proponent of us signing Tex, not Sabathia. I think Tex is a once in a decade free agent, and fills what was a huge hole on the team. I think CC is not a clutch pitcher, and his lack of a fit body could cause injuries down the road.
Now, it has clearly looked like we are not getting Tex, and are getting CC. Accepting that fact, I think the swisher deal is a solid move. We really need a number 3 hitter (I am in favor of getting Abreu back – especially for two year, though unrealistic). But we are also restructering the makeup of the team. The top of the lineup will be the focus, not the entire lineup.
If Gardner can step up this year and assume the lead off role (HUGE IF), then Damom and Jeter can be the 2 and 3 hitters (respectively). I know that throws off the righty lefty factor, but it is always an option, and makes for a speedy lineup.
So let me get this straight.
According to the Post, Peter Abraham and all sorts of knowledgeable sources, the Yanks will not sign CC and Texeira, but they would sign CC and AJ or CC and Lowe.
Am I nuts? How much price difference is there in those scenarios? $10MM? Why in blazes did they spend $4MM on Marte then?
I’m just not buying any of this. I’m in the wait and see camp, rooting for CC and Tex.
Don’t take as gospel anything you read or hear…remember last year!!!http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2007/baseball/mlb/specials/playoffs/2007/10/28/rodriguez.contract/index.html
I’d rather have Gardner and Cameron in the OF rather than Gardner-Nady
Yes!!! The Yanks got Texiera!!! Huh? What’s that? They got Kanekoa Texeira. Oh. My mistake. Maybe next we can get T.T. Sabathia or Eric Lowe. Nick Swisher is a guy that the A’s and White Sox didn’t want. Two teams that struggle to score runs. And somehow I’m supposed to believe he’s an upgrade at 1st base? Come on, (Cash)Man!
mel
We could always trade Nady and maybe sign Dunn..it’s just a thought..
They fired Willie at 3 AM East Coast time!
I don’t understand how getting Nick Swisher a bad hitter with a ton of K’s and moderate defense can adequately replace both Giambi at first and Abreu in RF.
It is possible that the market will not be there for Abreu and he will accept arbitration and work out a friendly 2-year plus incentives deal with the Yankees. I don’t think it’s a certainty that he is on another team come 2009, just because I don’t know that the Cubs or some other team will be thrilled to give him a 3-4 year deal and I think, if seeing that kind of deal disappear, he would come back to the Yankees.
As has been discussed before, the biggest reason the Yanks didn’t make the playoffs last year was because Rasner made more starts than anyone not named Mussina or Pettitte. You’re not going to win when guys with marginal ability are counted on to be key contributers – Rasner, Ponson, Molina, Melky/Gardner.
In nearly all cases, deep pitching rotations get you to the playoffs… stud pitchers are needed to win in the playoffs. Simple as that – unless if you have all your guys pitching way over their heads, which you can never predict (’05 Sox for example).
Though it probably won’t happen, just picturing Manny penciled in behind A-rod for the next 3-4 years is very enticing.
If we don’t get CC, maybe we should push harder for Peavy trade.
Sign Burnette, Lowe, Andy
Peavy, Burnette, Wang, Andy, Lowe…
Is it time to break out the “You hear what they want you to hear” mantra from last off season yet?
Al from BK( Fit CC for pinstripes. Jets alone in first!)
November 14th, 2008 at 12:37 pm
I don’t understand how getting Nick Swisher a bad hitter with a ton of K’s and moderate defense can adequately replace both Giambi at first and Abreu in RF.
___________________________________________________________
You’re right. Swisher can’t hit enough to replace both Giambi and Abreu. Of course, neither could Teixiera or Ramirez. Babe Ruth in his prime might have come close to replacing two players.
Anything Cash says is for the ears of the agents. A good GM, especially in this day and age, will use the media to its advantage. However, any agent worth his salt will understand this.
You don’t think that Boras’ initial request for Teix being a 10 yr. deal has anything to do with our over-paying for A-Rod last year do you? Naahhh
Ed: signing Nick Johnson? If we have a place to play him in the field (or at DH) I love it.
Nady in the #3 hole?? riiiiight. Like you said, NYY needs a #3 hitter. Or Alex will have a heart attack, by end of May
pat
November 14th, 2008 at 12:40 pm
Is it time to break out the “You hear what they want you to hear†mantra from last off season yet?
__________________________________________________________
I’d be a lot happier if they (NYY) heard what I wanted them to hear.
I think to call people “unrealistic” is the wrong word Pete.
The Yankees are clearing 80M+ in payroll and they are adding 300M+ in revenue from the new Stadium. Asking them to sign two 20-25M players isn’t “unrealistic” considering the financial model they’ve run under.
Just because Cashman would like to build his legacy by playing with a smaller payroll doesn’t mean the fans are “unrealistic”.
Oh CC..
Where are you…
Maybe he is at the bank?
I don’t understand why people are obsessed with accounting for every single run produced by 2 players in 2008 by acquiring better players at their exact positions regardless of the ramifications. It’s a black-and-white stupid way of looking at the team–what, is it not possible for the Yankees to get more offensive production out of the catcher position next year to offset a drop-off in either RF or 1B? No, according to the train of thought playing out here, you have to replace Giambi’s 30 HRs and 90 RBI’s with another 1B who had that year or better, regardless of the fact that he will require a 10 year contract. Or what, is it not possible that Robinson Cano will improve on being below replacement level to offset the loss of Giambi or Abreu? No, you need to get Manny Ramirez to DH because you can’t lose those 100 RBIs that Abreu had!
Never mind the fact that the emphasis going into 2009 is looking to be on run prevention (i.e. good starting pitching), the alarm bell needs to be rung about the way the 2009 lineup looks right now on November 14. So since Swisher’s stats aren’t better than Giambi’s and are nowhere near Mark T.’s, it in no way can be seen as a good trade? No need to wait to judge it in the context of the way the team looks in March, or to just look at it in purely baseball/addition & subtraction terms. No, that would be too logical for people.
S.A.-Looking forward to 2009 and show CC the money (and food)!
November 14th, 2008 at 12:45 pm
Oh CC..
Where are you…
Maybe he is at the bank?
_________________________________________________________
If he signs this week, he’ll own his own bank.
Tim,
Sorry. Reread your post. Not in favor of sending Matsui. (sentimental reasons and consistent producer when healthy)
Dunn, I dunno too much about him. Is he a 1B that has a big bat when he actually puts it on the ball? A lot of chips would have to fall into place to grab him before he’s off the market. Tex is my first choice, but I’m comfortable with Swisher. If they choose not to go after Tex, they must feel comfortable with Miranda as a backup plan.
Bill,
It’s a strange phenomenon with Manny. He’s going to get too much interest from the AL for him to grovelling back to LA and their weak— offer. At some point does he actually look at where he really wants to play? Can we tell him that CC is actually Big Papi, but we’ve converted him to a pitcher?
“You don’t think that Boras’ initial request for Teix being a 10 yr. deal has anything to do with our over-paying for A-Rod last year do you? Naahhh”
Actually, I don’t. More likely because it worked with Hicks in 2001 and MLB revenues were in excess of 6 billion dollars last year.
Bill from N.J.,
“Though it probably won’t happen, just picturing Manny penciled in behind A-rod for the next 3-4 years is very enticing.”
_________________
Yes it is, nothing could be sweeter. You and I, however, are in the minority on this board. But, anything can happen, and it usually does. Imagine Manny, with dredlocks shorn, knocking on the Steinee’s door in mid-Dec saying, “I want to come home, it’s not the money”
vinny, Johnson would do well as a DH in my opinion due to his plate knowledge.
Pete’s lineup is pretty flawed, imo. He is relying way too much on Posada and Nady
Damon LF
Jeter SS
Nady RF
A-Rod 3B
Posada C
Cano 2B
Swisher 1B
Matsui DH
Gardner CF
I say,
Damon
Jeter
Matsui
Rodriguez
Posada
Nady
Cano
Swisher
Cabrera
Melky is better than Gardner, period. Hopefully Melky can return back to his previous level of play and Gardner can fill in occaisonally or pinch-run. Gardner is from my college, so I have all the reason to support him, but he is not the player that Melky is, defensively or offensively. He’s only better on the basepaths.
GB,
Honesttly, I think Sabatha already made up his mind to come to NY. I was watching Yankees Hot Stove last night, Joe Girardi didn’t give the usual Yankee script, like “We will look at every option since we are interested in each free agents”. Instead, he said “CC will be happy in NY and pitching in the new stadium”.
Mel, Dunn actually owns an outfielder’s glove and a first baseman’s mitt. Why, I don’t know. He’s like Michael Jackson…he wears a glove on one hand for no apparent reason.
Its inaccirate to say that giambi and abreu created 200 runs and that losing them will leave a gaping 200 run deficit. That’s not the way you do the calculation to assess their loss.
Giambi was around 12 runs better than a league average 1b. Include his defense and he was around one run or so below average.
Same for abreu. 15 runs better than average hitting. And 21 runs worse than average fielding for a net negative 6-7 runs below average.
In terms of offense losing giambi and abreu leaves a hole of around 25-30 runs above average. That’s the gap – not 200 runs. Factor in their defense those two are 7-8 runs worse than average.
No single player creates 100 runs soley by himself if you compare him to average. Last year pujols was by far the best player in baseball – he was 72 runs better than average. Neither abreu nor giambi are anywhere close to that kind of loss.
Both swisher and nady are likely to be at least league average as replacements to abreu and giambi. The loss is not close to 200 runs.
“If he signs this week, he’ll own his own bank.”
———————————
Hahahaha
mel
If we could move Hideki for Ichiro, that would clear up CF, and a high on base, batting average guy..they would need to sign Manny in his place..IMO he’s more proven than Hideki..
Peavy doesn’t want to be here. No way do I trade a boatload of talent and give a huge extentsion to some guy who doesn’t want to play in NY. Been there done that.
Have you noticed that Cash and the Steinees are not necessarily on the same page . ….nothing new in Yankeeland.
Posada in RF? Odd thought…
http://www.dugoutcentral.com/blog/?p=2049
Its inaccurate to say that giambi and abreu created 200 runs and that losing them will leave a gaping 200 run deficit. That’s not the way you do the calculation to assess their loss.
Giambi was around 12 runs better than a league average 1b. Include his defense and he was around one run or so below average.
Same for abreu. 15 runs better than average hitting. And 21 runs worse than average fielding for a net negative 6-7 runs below average.
In terms of offense losing giambi and abreu leaves a hole of around 25-30 runs above average. That’s the gap – not 200 runs. Factor in their defense those two are 7-8 runs worse than average.
No single player creates 100 runs soley by himself if you compare him to average. Last year pujols was by far the best player in baseball – he was 72 runs better than average. Neither abreu nor giambi are anywhere close to that kind of loss.
Both swisher and nady are likely to be at least league average as replacements to abreu and giambi. The loss is not close to 200 runs.
My lineup in a post Abreu world would be:
Damon
Jeter
ARod
Matsui
Nady
Posada
Cano
Gardner
Swisher
GB7,
Are you saying that Dunn would look very comfortable in a bloody apron and brandishing a cleaver?
Timothy,
I would look at Ichiro as a salary dump from Seattle POV. Although Matsui has said that he’d accept a trade if requested, he would never, ever accept a trade swapping outfields with Ichiro. He would retire first. Although he’d want to be honorable, as a Japanese person he’d have way too much pride for that. That would be viewed as total defeat.
“If we could move Hideki for Ichiro, that would clear up CF, and a high on base, batting average guy”
I would love to get Ichiro.
PS to Mike Francessa: if Ichiro comes here, he can be the biggest cancer he wants. Provided he brings his bat/glove.
The people who run the blog must be on drugs. Jorge in the outfield.
I think Jorge would even laugh at that. And that is not THE Jorge Posada. Probably another guy with the same name. WOW what a concept. Jorge Posada isn’t exactly a unique name.
People that want Suzuki for center field need to remember that he does not want to play center field. He didn’t like it and told Seattle as much. That’s why Jeremy Reed and Willie Blumquist played so much in center field.
I know that people think that Ichiro’s a cancer and that his teammates wanted to beat him up (which Putz said was totally false).
I think he’s just foreign. And reserved. I mean for heaven sakes, he eats rice balls made by his wife. So what?
I would love to watch Pete ask Ichiro questions to see if he can keep a straight face with his hilarious answers.
they should get rid of matsui and take whatever they can get for him then sign dunn to hit behind a-rod yes everyone knows dunn k’s ALOT but a guy who averages 40hrs along with a .899 OPS he should be able give arod more protection then anyone we have now without the price tag of a teixeira or manny plus hes a lefty which is always good for yankee stadium. the lineup should look something like this
1. Damon LF L
2. Jeter SS R
3. Cano 2B L
4. Rodriguez 3B R
5. Dunn DH L
6. Nady RF R
7. Posada C S
8. Swisher 1B S
9. Cabrera/Gardner CF S/L
cano will benefit from hitting in front of arod b/c cano is a notorious free swinger and hitting in front of arod will force pitchers to give him good pitches also sign cc and burnett so the pitching would be
1. Sabathia
2. Wang
3. Burnett
4. Pettite or Mussina
5. Joba
So is Ichiro the trade topic du jour? OK… I say SEA would ask for Nady and AJax *or* Nady and Kennedy + minor league arm. Just off the top of my head.
Bobby Abreu’s ship has begun to sail…..Time to move on…Just as pitchers in their mid 30’s start losing MPH’s on their fastball, so will a hitter’s bat….Signing him is a mistake I believe….Move on…Last season he was not catching up to the August / September heaters….
“I think he’s just foreign. And reserved. I mean for heaven sakes, he eats rice balls made by his wife. So what”
one of five best players, have ever seen play the game. That’s good enuf for me.
mel
November 14th, 2008 at 12:59 pm
GB7,
Are you saying that Dunn would look very comfortable in a bloody apron and brandishing a cleaver?
___________________________________________________________
I’d be very leery of allowing Dunn to handle a meat cleaver. He’d drop it. Let’s just say that he’s signed with a new glove company….United States Steel.
CC, Burnett, Lowe and Teixeira
.
ALL Playing on the Yankees in 2009…ALL OF THEM…You heard it here first, folks….now go enjoy your weekend…
Why is everyone comparing Swish to Tex? Like he was already fitted in pinstripes before this deal was made. Thats what amazes me with some Yankee fans. Memo to all fans complaining. We are not the only team with money!!! Just like we didnt get Beltron when everyone had him sized.Same goes for Santana. Not everyone wants to play for the Yankees for their traditions. Not everyone was born Yankees fans. Tex IMO had a better chance to go to Baltimore than here.
Can we instead compare him to Mr. hit to shifts. Mr.Cant turn 2. Mr. cant run worth a lick. Mr.dl if Pavano didnt hold that title. We upgraded our defense at first considerably for a third of what mr. Albatross cost!!
And dont get me started with Abreu’s lousy play in right. With his Wallitus syndrome.
Time to retool this OLD squad. This is a start.
Lets just hope C.C. wants to be fitted.
“If the Yankees had GM by committee from this blog, Hank might be one of the the most calm and rational people in the room.â€
The truest statemnt on this blog.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~I
I have to agree with the above …definitely the most true statement of all …funny too ..:o)
All the armchair GM’s are in full force and it’s only NOVEMBER 14th !!!
I’m with Trisha …Yankees all the way in ‘09. A positive outlook is so much nicer than being a negative Nancy (no offense to anyone named Nancy ..lol)
Go Yankees 2009 !!!
Jennifer,
Doesn’t playing the outfield require, you know, running? Jorge is not exactly not Speedy Gonzalez.
GB7,
Where did Ichiro play?
I got a feeling it’ll be CC and Dempster with the option of the third pitcher depending on what Moose does. Lowe & Burnett in order would be the next newcomers in line.
CC
Wang
Joba
Moose/Lowe/Burnett/Pettitte (in that order)
Dempster
With Hughes & Aceves waiting for a shot.
Age works against Lowe (Moose & Pettitte too) while durability and mindset could work against Burnett.
With Moose, Lowe & Pettitte being geezers in baseball years, I think the Yanks should only have one of the three in the rotation. Being 36 now, Lowe would have to be signed for 3 years at most.
They’ll lock in the pitching as best they can then deal with thinking about any additions to the OF.
Swisher just ain’t starting OF material … he’d just fill on the spot in if needed. As long as he can get his average back to his career average at least (hopefully to Posada’s baseline in the .270s) I could live with a good reliable glove at 1B, especially one who could also entice CC to come to NY. Maybe Swisher likes it here he might hit better than his career average.
I hate hate hate the idea of Manny coming to the Yanks.
CC, Burnett, Lowe and Teixeira
.
ALL Playing on the Yankees in 2009…ALL OF THEM…You heard it here first, folks….now go enjoy your weekend…
_______________
Did u fall and bump your head?
I am squarely in the Tex over CC camp (and with Joe Sheehan, Steve Goldman, Cliff Corcoran and Jay Jaffe, I consider myself to be in good company). However, history tells us that elite Boras clients don’t sign until January, and the Yanks can’t afford to sit on their money until then. So the Swisher trade accomplishes the following:
a) If the Yanks sign Sabathia (probably putting Tex out of reach) or if they otherwise fail to sign Tex, they have a viable Plan B in place (until yesterday, the plan of record for 1st base was a Miranda/Duncan platoon). Swisher at his best will give Giambi-like production while providing a significant defensive upgrade. They will then need to get another lefty-hitting outfielder. Alternatively, they could play Miranda at 1st and Swisher in right against righties (at least when Wang is not pitching).
b) If they fail to sign CC, they will have the funds to go all-out for Tex, and having Swisher in the pocket as a Plan B will give them leverage in negotiations. With Tex at 1st, Swisher could platoon with Nady in right and also spell Damon in left (against tough lefties and against running teams). This move may also free up Matsui or Damon for a trade for a young pitcher, shedding $13 million off the payroll.
Mel, Suzuki moved back to right field in late June.
Lets change the subject for a second.
Best Quarterback ever?
a.Montana
b.Marino
c.Elway
d.Favre
e.Manning
f.Brady
G.Starr
h.Unitas
“Sorry to be realistic, but Yankees were never going to spend every dollar coming off the books. They’re going to invest their cash in starting pitchers.”
The yanks are opening a new stadium. The ticket prices are going up dramatically while the seats are going worse. The sales costs at the stadium are also probably going to go up quite a bit. Shouldnt we expect the yanks to if nothing else, spend the same amount of money on the team that they spent last season? I think the yankee organization will be making more money than ever next yr. They can certainly spend 200 million on a team and have plenty left to invest in the farm system. And its not like no one is coming off the books next off season or every off season for the next three yrs after this. i think the fans deserve a 200 million dollar team and there is really no reason why they shouldnt spend spend spend this off season. Otherwise, Im going to start to wonder where the money is going – into the pockets of ownership perhaps? i KNOW BIG George was all about re-investing the money back into the team. But you know what? Hal has done and said little if anything to prove to me that he will be just as committed to this team. And it worries me that the guy who manages the finances of the organization at this point has little interest in the team and is basically doing this for his father. Not the kind of commitment that I like to see from ownership. This is the season they should prove to the fans that they are going to do anything it takes to bring a championship back to the franchise and that money is not object. Cheaping out on signing ted lilly to get the useless igawa shows us what can happen if you try to skimp out on a few bucks to avoid a little luxury tax. I like the trade because we didnt really give up anything. He also made only 3.6 mil last season so that leaves us with more to work with to get CC and one of sheets or burnett. Lowe in my eyes isnt worth the money he is asking for – he may not even succeed in the AL if healthy. See his last two yrs with the sox. We can also spend more on the pen signing fuentes or another eighth inning guy. We can also use some money to try to re-sign abreu or sign another right fielder who can bat third. I see swisher as a younger version of giambi with the skillset of the older giambi. Great obp when the Batting avg is up = solid power and little speed. But with 20 to 30 homers and a 380 obp he can do some damage. 20 homers with a 330 obp like he had last season and he isnt much of a threat at all. I like cash buying low however – its about time we traded for a player in a down year. All in all i see this trade working out but i hope this isnt a sign of things to come meaning the yanks are trying to get cheap and cut corners to save some money. They should be about to prove otherwise with their offer to CC and sheets and burnett. With a first baseman this cheap there is no reason we cant offer CC anything he wants to get him in pinstripes. Id rather have a slightly weakened but cheaper lineup in order to have the CC, Wang, Burnett/Sheets, Pettitte, Joba rotation that should hopefully be signed by new yrs. That is a dominant rotation with hughes and aceves and kennedy waiting in the wings if one of them gets injurred.
Manny behind A-Rod would make up for Giambi and Abreu. Its a better deal long term because we could sign him for only a 3 year deal. We would have to trade Matsui of course, possibly to Seattle for a reliever. Next years potential line-up:
Damon LF
Jeter SS
A-Rod 3B
Manny DH
Posada C
Nady RF
Cano 2B
Swisher 1B
Gardner CF
S.o.S.
November 14th, 2008 at 1:12 pm
Lets change the subject for a second.
Best Quarterback ever?
a.Montana
b.Marino
c.Elway
d.Favre
e.Manning
f.Brady
G.Starr
h.Unitas
_______________________________________________________
Steve Young or Y.A. Tittle.
“WIll
“If Swisher has no interest in playing CF then this is a terrible move. Swisher’s glove isn’t enough improvement over Giambi’s at 1B to warrant the decrease in his bat.â€
False, Swisher has very solid defense at first, look up your stats man”
I know he’s better defensively at first than giambi, but his bat isn’t as big as giambi’s… However that isn’t even the point!
the point is that texeira is a gold glove switch hitter with power IN HIS PRIME THAT FILLS A NEED. We have enough money for him so there is no point to not sign him!!!!
Somebody make the argument that it is better to have Nick Swisher at 1B than paying for Texeira when we have all this money coming off of the books, a new stadium’s revenue, the largest financial advantage in baseball, and we NEED him.
GB7,
Ah. Thanks. Even better.
Damon-Gardner-Ichiro
or
Nady-Gardner-Ichiro
Also, everyone’s assuming K-rod to the Mets. But Putz, Fuentes, & some other guys are on the market, too. Oh, yeah, that Hoffman dude.
IMO the Mets need to make the closer their top priority and build their bullpen backwards. That means calling up the Yankees. Nady and bullpen arms for whatever we choose!
The quarterback with the greatest potential was Greg Cook.
S.o.S.
Montana, then Brady
With the addition of Swisher. All we need is a slight upgrade in center to complete the possition player changes.
Dejesus would be that man.
mel
November 14th, 2008 at 1:16 pm
GB7,
Ah. Thanks. Even better.
Damon-Gardner-Ichiro
or
Nady-Gardner-Ichiro
_________________________________________________________
It would never happen, but, an outfield of Damon, Gardner and Suzuki would guarantee that no ball would ever fall into the outfield. A lot of no hitters.
And, as someone mentioned recently (Pete was it you?) putting Joba in the 5th slot in the rotation would keep his innings down by having him skipped once every few weeks.
Yes I KNOW he’s better than a ‘5th pitcher’. After the season starts, it doesn’t matte if he pitches before or after CC. Slotting him 5th (only for lack of a better term) would STILL have him and CC and Wang pitching on consecutive days, AND it would reduce his season’s inning load by 30 or 40 innings because his spot would get skipped occasionally. In a rotation, 5th comes right before 1st & 2nd doesn’t it? So you still get all 3 of your best guys in a row, at least 4 outta 5 times all season long. Great point by whoever made it.
I’m sure some of you are thinking ‘Gee … what about the playoffs … you can’t put a 5th starter in the rotation for the playoffs’ right?
WRONG. He’s Joba freakin’ Chamberlain. Get a grip! Start the playoffs with CC, Wang, Joba and anyone including Billy Crystal in the rotation (OK well maybe not Kei Igawa) and see how much the other team likes it. When he makes only 25 starts or so during the regular season, you can do that because Joba won’t have pitched a 200+ inning season too early in his career.
DeJesus is not a good center fielder and not much different than Damon in left field.
I think Cashman purposely acquired Kanekoa Texeira just so he can be a punchline to jokes all winter.
I love that Keith Law ranked K-Rod behind Kerry Wood and Jeremy Affeldt in his Top 50 Free Agents list that came out yesterday. K-Rod is going to be a dicey signing for whatever team gives him the deal he wants.
Tim Clougher
November 14th, 2008 at 1:19 pm
S.o.S.
Montana, then Brady
___________________________________________________________
Brady sucks and is injury prone.
GB7,
Why am i not surprised you went OLD OLD school on us. Never even heard of Cook and Tittle. Did they even have face mask when they played? Young over Montana?
I forgot to put my pick. Sorry Tim in advance.
1a Marino
1b Manning
Cano can’t bat 3 Ray.
He’s not a patient hitter and doesn’t get on base enough.
GB7,
Then sign Juan Rivera. A cheap move for an upgrade over Gardner is what im looking for.
The expectation isn’t that the Yankees “should spend the same amount of money” as last year just because they are moving into a new stadium.
The “expectation” is, they put together a more balanced, versatile and younger roster than they did last year. If that means, they do it for 180 million, so be it. Its not exactly like 180+ million is a “puny” payroll. Its still the highest in the game.
They also have needs in the OF for next season and two guys (Crawford and Holliday) who interest them greatly.
If they tie up too much money on long terms deal this off-season, it limits what they can/will do next off-season.
Again, it gets back to payroll flexibility.
In recent years, payroll has been an albatross for the Yankees. Because of the guys they had under long term and expensive deals, they had a hard time finding guys to sign for the bench. Bench guys didn’t see a lot of opportunities for PT. So, they went elsewhere.
I think some of you have the payroll issue confused. This season, the Yankees lost to a team that had a payroll nearly 200 million dollars LESS than their own. Payroll isn’t the “lock” to winning.
The idea is to put together a functional and balanced team. To that end, you have to make tough calls.
Right now, the priority with the Yankees is starting pitching. If they sign the two guys they want, and Tex is still on the market, they will probably make him an offer.
Its not going to be a 10 year/200 million dollar offer because he’s not a priority to them right now.
They also know the Angels will probably outbid everybody for him because they really want him back.
The Swisher deal lessens the need to immediately jump into the Tex Derby and allows them to continue to try and get 2 front end starting pitchers signed.
Nady, Marte, Kennedy for Beltran
So now we’re hot after a 35 year old outfielder who’s owed another, what, $70,000,000 over the next 4 years. Is that so he can go along with a 1B who will get $140,000,000 over the next 7 years? So they can grow old together?
I can just imagine the complaining in a year or two, as “we need to get rid of these big contracts” starts.
Elway carrying that star-less 1987 Denver team on his back to the Superbowl.
Something none of the others you named could do. Montana was a star among stars surrounded by some the best whoever played, Rice, Cross, Lott, Haley.
Heading off to the links, before the Santa Ana winds hit the South Beach area…..Bottom line is, Cashman must come up with a more effective and feared hitter to combine with A-Rod….The answer does not lie with Cano ( not for a few more years ) and certainly it’s Nady ( who’s a good stick )…Until that happens, I’m leary about the heart of the lineup….
Best QBs of all time?
Eli, Phil Simms, Jeff Hostetler (is my bias showing?)
Also, to me, Montana and Jeter are kind of similar… other guys have better numbers but your appreciation for them grows when you actually watch them play. Not to mention the fact that both were surrounded by great players.
Oh, yes, Carlos Beltran. He certainly has taken the Mets to the promised land.
As someone said before…
Cashman (circa ‘05) – “You draft, develop, & trade for arms and you buy your bats.†I agree.
This is the way to build a team that is younger and with more payroll flexibility.
Pete getting some mention from Keith Law:
Tim (Chicago): “The Yanks could still sign Teixeira and play Swisher in left, benching Hideki Matsui (often hurt and not very good when he plays).” Am I reading too much into this comment or do you actually believe that Swisher is better than a healthy Matsui? I’m curious as to what would lead you to that assumption other than heavily weighing their fielding abilities. At least Matsui has the excuse of injury to post a .294/.370/.424. What was Swisher’s excuse for his even worse .219/.332/.410? If the Yanks enter the season with Swisher as an everyday player their offense will once again fail to score runs. I would imagine Cashman is thinking along those same lines.
Keith Law: (1:28 PM ET ) Matsui can barely play LF at all now, and I know Pete Abraham (LoHud) said Matsui’s going to DH. I think a better-than-2008 Swisher, offense + defense, is better than Matsui and his bad knees as a LF option.
And the Mets would take that deal for what reason???
Like Joe from LI said, Beltran has really been a difference maker for the Mets, hasn’t he?
Classic example of a paying a good player great money off a small (his post-season performance with Houston) sample size.
Now, he’s a guy who can never live up to that contract.
Putting him in a Yankee uniform would only add to his stress levels.
I see the all star at every position “need” for some still won’t die, despite the non-results (from the Yankees standpoint) the last 7 years.
“Its inaccirate to say that giambi and abreu created 200 runs and that losing them will leave a gaping 200 run deficit. That’s not the way you do the calculation to assess their loss.
Giambi was around 12 runs better than a league average 1b. Include his defense and he was around one run or so below average.
Same for abreu. 15 runs better than average hitting. And 21 runs worse than average fielding for a net negative 6-7 runs below average.”
CB-
You misread my post. You can get to the same place using multiple routes. I said we lost 200 runs for Giambi and Abreu, then (optimistically) added back in about 160-170 for Nady and Swisher full time. The distributive property of math still works (or is the associative – it’s been a while since 9th grade).
I didn’t address the defense as I don’t know who’s playing where yet (we may lose some defensive runs in CF, don’t know) but I agree almost anyone is a significant improvement over Abreu.
S.o.S.
November 14th, 2008 at 1:24 pm
GB7,
Why am i not surprised you went OLD OLD school on us. Never even heard of Cook and Tittle. Did they even have face mask when they played? Young over Montana?
I forgot to put my pick. Sorry Tim in advance.
1a Marino
1b Manning
S.O.S., Tittle was the quarterback during the Frank Gifford days. Great quarterback for the Giants. He came after Charley Connerly and before Fran Tarkenton.
Greg Cook was rated as the best quarterback to ever come out of college. Sadly, he was hurt in his rookie year in 1969 and had to retire. He did try again in ‘74, but, just played part of one game and retired for good. First three games were great, but, in the 4th quarter of the third game, he tore his rotator in two places. He played in the next 8 games and was the top QB in the AFL for Cincinnati. He could’t take the pain and didn’t play again. He had it all. Throw, run, block, An amazing talent.
Should we be worried that the Mets might be in the C.C. runnings? An n.l.team where he could hit in the big city?
Can someone tell me what changes they are doing with Canos hitting?
The Yankees will make an offer to exceed Johan Santana’s $137.5-million contract today to top target CC Sabathia and closely follow that bold first strike with proposals within the next day or two to two more star free-agent pitchers, A.J. Burnett and Derek Lowe, SI.com has learned.
The Yankees’ aggressive three-pronged free agent pitching approach puts them in position to dominate the free-agent market.
The Yankees are hoping to blow away the field for Sabathia, who prefers to play in California if all things are equal, then fashion the rest of their rotation from a very strong free-agent market for pitchers. The Yankees don’t expect immediate acceptances from all three pitchers, but one competing executive said, “I wouldn’t be shocked to see the Yankees sign all three guys.’’ (That’s probably a long shot, however.)
http://www.fannation.com/si_bl.....osts/23422
I hate people who boast when they’re right, largely because they never mention all the other occasion when they’re wrong. So please forgive because this time I can’t resist.
Yet another off-season is underway in which Cashman, and the direction in which he’s taking the Yankees, aggravates and dismays me, nearly as much as it did last off-season.
I wrote multiple times here last year that if the Yankees did not acquire Santana and entered the season with Hughes and IPK as their 4th and 5th starter they WERE NOT going to make the playoffs. (Go look up my arguments in this regard with OLD YANKEES FAN and SJ44)
Well, folks, if Pete is right and the Yankees opening day lineup has Xavier Nady batting 3rd and a 37-year-old catcher returning from labrum surgery batting 5th, and Brett Gardner in CF, batting 9th, this team is NOT going to the playoffs, whether or not they sign CC Sabathia and AJ Burnett. (The latter of whom is a colossal waste of money because in the last 7 seasons, he’s pitched 200 innnings 3 times, and excluding the Yankees and Red Sox, had a 5.00+ERA last year.)
It’s this simple: No Abreu, No Teixiera, No 3 hitter, No playoffs.
If Cashman was so intent on going cheap, then he should have acquired Jason Bay last year. Damaso Marte is and was unnecessary, gratuitous luxury (another irrational Cashman fixation), and for the four prospects the Yankees surrendered, they could have acquired Bay and had themselves an adequate 3 hitter.
Cashman is not as smart as he thinks he is, never has been. He wants to be Billy Bean or Theo Epstein and he isn’t. Theo has outflanked and excelled him on every major move they’ve competed on for the last 5 years, with the exception of the Bobby Abreu acquisition.
Interesting the Yankees should spend less in 2009 when most estimates calculate their revenues will increase to $250 million next year to $700 million, even with the interest payments they’ll have to make on their bonds.
# SJ44 November 14th, 2008 at 1:35 pm
And the Mets would take that deal for what reason???
Like Joe from LI said, Beltran has really been a difference maker for the Mets, hasn’t he?
Classic example of a paying a good player great money off a small (his post-season performance with Houston) sample size.
Now, he’s a guy who can never live up to that contract.
Putting him in a Yankee uniform would only add to his stress levels.
I see the all star at every position “need†for some still won’t die, despite the non-results (from the Yankees standpoint) the last 7 years.
—-
So the Mets wouldnt take that deal because Beltran is too valuable to their makeup and he sucks and isnt worth it? Make up your mind.
Mets might be looking to dump someone and Omar really likes Nady and Marte. And they need arms (appartently starting too now) Give them Nady Marte + something other then Hughes.
With Beltran we get a #3 hitter, CF, and can pass on Tex.
SoS, I can’t see the Mets paying 50 mill a year for two pitchers when their bullpen is blowing leads. My money is for them to spend big on a closer and OFer (Abreu? or Ibanez?)
GreenBeret7:
Brady sucks??? I don’t know about that, 3 rings in 4yrs, this is his 1st real injury year..
Montana IMO is my #1 pick…
to me Brady
Marino Favre Elway
KS, if you read what PA wrote, he didn’t say that was the line-up order. He just put down names and about half the order is interchangable.
“I think some of you have the payroll issue confused. This season, the Yankees lost to a team that had a payroll nearly 200 million dollars LESS than their own. Payroll isn’t the “lock†to winning.”
A real bone-headed statement.
No one said payroll is a “lock” to winning. However, as Ring Lardner once said, the race isn’t always to the swift, nor the fight to the strong, but that’s the way to bet it.
Teams with bigger payrolls don’t always win, but they do more often than not.
We could finish last for 12 staight years, and collect a lot of #1 draft picks. Then, maybe, we could be the Rays. But given the Yanks’ track record at the draft, don’t count on it.
The Yanks’ comparative advantage is to spend more than anyone else. It makes up for a lot of mistakes. I for one hope they keep spending a ton.
I agree we need a 3 hitter, we need to move Hideki and sign Manny.
NYY isn’t likely to have three right handed batters in a row (2, 3, and 4).
Tim Clougher
November 14th, 2008 at 1:43 pm
GreenBeret7:
Brady sucks??? I don’t know about that, 3 rings in 4yrs, this is his 1st real injury year..
Montana IMO is my #1 pick…
to me Brady
Marino Favre Elway
___________________________________________________________
Calm down, Chauncey. It was a joke. Brady’s going to have to play longer than he has to be considered a great.
Why are the Mets going to trade their starting CF to the Yankees for players who aren’t as valuable as they can get from other teams if they were to put him on the market?
The Mets aren’t in the business of doing business with the Yankees.
If they were, Cano, Hughes and Austin Jackson would be their opening asking price for Beltran.
KS,
The off-season just started. Since when is the lineup set in stone on November 14?
Why don’t we wait until we see how the pitching shakes out (which is their priority right now) before complaining about the lineup?
There is plenty of time to work the lineup after the pitching situation is settled.
I would cringe if it’s Derek Lowe. That is not a guy that will survivve in the AL East.
Green Beret, the order is irrelevant, whether they slot Matsui, Nady or Posada in the 3 hole, it’s the same difference: someone will be hitting 3rd who is inadequate to the role.
In fact, it’s a perfect prescription for sending A-Rod to Bellevue by June.
SJ44, I hope to god you’re right.
Kill-
Great post. Almost totally agree, except that I don’t want Abreu back personally.
If the Yanks don’t get Texeira because they claim they can’t afford it, the $4MM on Marte is going to burn me up. Especially if they then sign two top FA pitchers in addition to Andy or Moose.
However, it’s all way too soon to say what the Yanks are going to do. I suspect there’s a lot of misdirection going on, and who knows, CC may go somewhere else, in which case we are all back at square one.
kill.schill(ing)
November 14th, 2008 at 1:49 pm
Green Beret, the order is irrelevant, whether they slot Matsui, Nady or Posada in the 3 hole, it’s the same difference: someone will be hitting 3rd who is inadequate to the role.
In fact, it’s a perfect prescription for sending A-Rod to Bellevue by June.
_______________________________________________________
If Jeter and the hitters in front and behind Rodriguez do their jobs, Rodriguez will do his.
Since when have the Yankees stopped spending? There is a difference between spending intelligently and just spending.
If you haven’t figured that out by now, watching the Yankees waste an awful lot of money since 2001, with no rings to show for it, I can’t help you.
Fact is, its highly unlikely their payroll will be north of 200 million this year.
If that’s unacceptable for some, nothing I can do about it.
There is little correlation with spending money blindly and winning. Its about being smart with the assets you have.
If they pare down the payroll 10% and upgrade the starting staff significantly, that’s a first step. That seems to be the direction they want to go.
If they hit their intended targets, its hard to quibble with that theory.
Pete,
You rate. You got a mention in a chat.
Tim (Chicago): “The Yanks could still sign Teixeira and play Swisher in left, benching Hideki Matsui (often hurt and not very good when he plays).” Am I reading too much into this comment or do you actually believe that Swisher is better than a healthy Matsui? I’m curious as to what would lead you to that assumption other than heavily weighing their fielding abilities. At least Matsui has the excuse of injury to post a .294/.370/.424. What was Swisher’s excuse for his even worse .219/.332/.410? If the Yanks enter the season with Swisher as an everyday player their offense will once again fail to score runs. I would imagine Cashman is thinking along those same lines.
SportsNation Keith Law: (1:28 PM ET ) Matsui can barely play LF at all now, and I know Pete Abraham (LoHud) said Matsui’s going to DH. I think a better-than-2008 Swisher, offense + defense, is better than Matsui and his bad knees as a LF option.
The past 5 years the Yankees have lacked a game changing player a guy who steps up in huge spots. The Sox had Ortiz and Manny, the Phillies had guys like Victorino and Utley, the Cards had Pujols back in 06. The Yanks have A-Rod and a supporting cast they need another big bat to have his back should he fail and Manny is the perfect fit. Granted he has his baggage but the commitment to him would be far less in years and money than to Tex also it looks like the FO has dropped out of the Tex market.
Why will Teixeira remain with the Angels ?
– They have no interest in signing K-Rod which is money to use toward Teixeira’s signing.
- If they didn’t sign Teixeira, they have nothing to show for trading Casey Kotchman except draft picks which is no justification to their fans.
who is available for free agency in 2010? time to think about building for the future. Get hughes, kennedy, joba some innings this year. 2010 they will rock. If we keep our money now (dont sign CC) then we lower the price of all free agents and go bananas in 2010. Who is out there and who can potentially be traded for mid-year?
The Yanks are likely to shed some more payroll as they’re adding this offseason.
Keith Law with the nod to PeteAbe:
Tim (Chicago): “The Yanks could still sign Teixeira and play Swisher in left, benching Hideki Matsui (often hurt and not very good when he plays).” Am I reading too much into this comment or do you actually believe that Swisher is better than a healthy Matsui? I’m curious as to what would lead you to that assumption other than heavily weighing their fielding abilities. At least Matsui has the excuse of injury to post a .294/.370/.424. What was Swisher’s excuse for his even worse .219/.332/.410? If the Yanks enter the season with Swisher as an everyday player their offense will once again fail to score runs. I would imagine Cashman is thinking along those same lines.
SportsNation Keith Law: (1:28 PM ET ) Matsui can barely play LF at all now, and I know Pete Abraham (LoHud) said Matsui’s going to DH. I think a better-than-2008 Swisher, offense + defense, is better than Matsui and his bad knees as a LF option.
If they sign CC, Tex or Manny, and Burnette or Lowe..
There payroll would still be south of 200 mill….
There is little correlation with spending money blindly and winning. Its about being smart with the assets you have.
If they pare down the payroll 10% and upgrade the starting staff significantly, that’s a first step. That seems to be the direction they want to go.
If they hit their intended targets, its hard to quibble with that theory.
——
Explain to me how the Marte contract was being smart with your money.
I dont buy this conservatism after we flat out say we are throwing more money at CC then he is ever worth. We are just doing that then stopping and leaving a gaping whole in the lineup while an all star goes off and signs with the competition? What direction is that? We arent rebuilding this is a win at all costs Hanks hair is on fire year.
The Yanks could have CC and Texeira and a payroll less than $200MM. That’s a red herring.
Spending for the best available offensive player seems quite intelligent to me. Especially when the offense is otherwise questionable. Another red herring.
Spending for two top FA pitchers seems questionable to me. Why do we need a rotation of CC, AJ, Wang, Joba and Pettitte? What’s wrong with CC, Wang, Joba, Pettitte and some cheap guy from AAA, like Aceves, or even Hughes? That rotation has the potential to be as good as any in the league.
If any of you are counting on Posada, Cano and Swisher to all bounce back, and Posada, Damon and Matsui to all stay healthy, and Gardner/Cabrera to give us something offensively, and for this all to come true at once, then I envy your sunny disposition and positive attitude. I, being a gloomy sort, don’t believe it will happen.
We need more offensively. It doesn’t have to be Texeira, but he’s the easiest way to improve.
The Angels dont have fans to answer to, its LA.
Al,
It’s not a coincidence that our offense took a major hit after Sheffield left.
Nady, Matsui, and a 38 yr old Posada surround A-Rod scares NOBODY.
I shudder to think how badly Halladay, McGowen, Litsch, Kazmir, Price, Garza, Shields, Beckett, Dice-K, Lester, will shut us down. The AL East is breathing a huge sigh of relief with this deal.
Looks like we’ll have to win a bunch of 3-2 games next year if we want to make the playoffs.
“Why do we need a rotation of CC, AJ, Wang, Joba and Pettitte? What’s wrong with CC, Wang, Joba, Pettitte and some cheap guy from AAA, like Aceves, or even Hughes? That rotation has the potential to be as good as any in the league.”
On paper, you’re correct. But what happens if two of those guys get injured (as happened this year)? Before you know it, Darrel Rasner is making more starts than all but two guys. Pitching depth is critical to make the playoffs. Stud pitching and/or hot players win in the postseason.
I have to say… if the lineup as presently constructed today goes into next season, it is very unimpressive and we will have troubling scoring runs and hitting in the clutch.
This doesn’t look like a Yankees offense. Nothing in CF, below average in right, nothing flashy at 1st, 38 yr old catcher etc. All we’re doing is putting more pressure on A-Rod to carry us, which is not good news.
“The Angels dont have fans to answer to, its LA.”
No, they actually do… but they’re not really good fans. Mostly bandwagoners, which makes keeping them relevant all the more important to Moreno.
A lot of negativity about a team that beat both the Sox and Rays in the season series last season. Sounds like nothing more than crying about not getting the new shiny toy for the offseason. Again I will say that there comes a time when a team needs to get value from existing assets (Arod/Posada) and stop worrying about the fans that are more interested in video game baseball.
“Explain to me how the Marte contract was being smart with your money.”
Sure, instead of spending 6 million dollars for one year, the Yankees will spend 3.75 million this year and then 4 million next year. If he has a good year, then he is a bargain. If he struggles, then the trade market for a left handed relief pitcher making 4 million dollars in 2010 is abundant when you will have someone like Brian Fuentes making a lot more on a long contract, someone like Scott Linebrink making more, and so on and so forth. It means Marte is under Yankees control for as long as they want him, and he is also not an unmovable commodity should another team value him more than the Yankees do. I don’t know HOW “his 4 million dollars could burn me up” that makes sense, when it has ZERO impact on anything other than saving the Yankees a couple million and not turning the entire bullpen over to Mo + untested younger relievers.
Wave,
Cashman made the mistake of allotting 2 rotation spots to kids last year, he isin’t going to do that again.
There is a reason he has made a point go to public with his desire to land 2 FA starting pitchers… he wants to make sure he has a rock solid rotation with 0 question marks. He also isin’t making Joba something he is not like a lot of the fans are— Joba is a #5 starter with a strict innings limit and injury history, he is not an ‘ace’ like people are making him to be. Cashman knows this thats why he wants 2 FA starters.
“I have to say… if the lineup as presently constructed today goes into next season, it is very unimpressive and we will have troubling scoring runs and hitting in the clutch.”
It’s not even Thanksgiving yet… stop worrying. This time last year Wilson Betemit was our 3rd baseman, Farnsworth our closer, and Molina our starting catcher.
“Well, folks, if Pete is right and the Yankees opening day lineup has Xavier Nady batting 3rd and a 37-year-old catcher returning from labrum surgery batting 5th, and Brett Gardner in CF, batting 9th, this team is NOT going to the playoffs, ”
I agree with this. Nady is not a 3 or 4 hitter. After this season we’ll see that Cashman traded for a bottom of the order/4th outfielder in Nady.
If people think that Giambi had slowed down at 37, wait til they see Speedy Gonzalez Posada at 37.
Vin-
If you go way back to my 11:41 AM post, you’ll see I acknowledged that getting two top FA pitchers hedged against pitching injury better, and was a possible winning strategy.
But you could have offensive injuries as well, which can hurt just as much, or even more. Right now, we don’t have anyone to fill in offensively if that happens, while we still have some pitchers in AAA who might be able to help if the pitchers get hurt. I just think the total risk is bigger if we don’t get more help offensively.
Now is the time to get rid of Nady
**It’s not a coincidence that our offense took a major hit after Sheffield left.
Correct me if I’m wrong, but Sheffield was not with the Yankees in 2007 when they scored over 950 runs.
Not saying Sheffield wasn’t a valuable offensive player. Just that they Yankees did fine without him in 2007.
In 2007, they lost Matsui and Posada for most of the season, ARod for a period of the season, and Jeter’s hitting was compromised for most of the season. Not to mention the other odds and ends that went amiss offensively. Heaven knows what caused it all, but it sure didn’t have anything to do with Sheffield not being there.
rumor,
Long term middle reliever contracts are all worthless.
I am very happy with the Swisher move.
The fact we were able to get an actual mouth breather for Betemit astounds me.
The one thing I want to caution is all this talk about, “We’ll have Matsui, Posada and Cano will bounce back” fixing the offense.
I have ZERO confidence in Cano bouncing back. How anyone can be sure he’s “fixed” is beyond me. He had a good few weeks at the end when the pressure was off and he dealt with a benching? So what.
He will no doubt start the season with 2 bad months, then get hot and cold…the only difference is I think the fans and media will crush him next year if he pulls his “sleepy Cano” act in April/May and the pressure will be bigger than ever.
As for Matsui and Posada being big parts of the offense I don’t have the same optimistic feeling that some of you have.
They are both aging and injured. Why are you so sure they are both going to be healthy and productive next year? They could both easily get injured or break down again. They are the older, slower baseball player we’re supposed to not count on in this day and age.
The one place I disagree with a lot of you is with Nady.
Here’s why. He’s playing for a long term contract and his agent is Scott Boras.
The only guy I think who spit the bit in that situation was Andruw Jones and Jones had already made bank many years before last off season.
Nady will be focused to secure the deal that sets up his family for life and Boras will be in his ear to motivate him.
I still think the offense is going to be problem.
As presently constituted, we need Gardner to succeed since we need someone in the lineup who can run and steal bases and create a run.
I love Matsui and Jorge, but I don’t sit here in November and say the offense is fixed because they are in it. I tend to think it’s more likely they (or Damon) get hurt.
As for Cano, he is what he is. He will take the first 2 months of the season off like he always does. I would still trade him for top young establish talent if I could.
Where is there any definitive proof that the Yankees aren’t going to get more offensive players before March?! NO ONE, not Cashman, none of the Steinbrenners, not John Heyman or Ken Rosenthal or some other pundit, has said that the team’s offense is set in stone going into 2009. All this garbage “oh my the team won’t score any runs! Damon-Nady-Gardner OH MY!” is premature posturing over completely unresolved issues. The focus is on starting pitching, how does that mean that that’s all else that will be accomplished between now and the start of the season?
They probably won’t but I would love to see them sign CC, Tex and Manny…Andy…
CC, Joba, Wang, Andy, Hughes
Damon LF, Jeter SS, Tex 1B, Arod 3rd, Manny RF, Hideki DH, Posada C, Swisher CF, Cano 2B
“Explain to me how the Marte contract was being smart with your money”
Pay attention to what Jeremy Affledt and JC Romero get.
“I don’t know HOW “his 4 million dollars could burn me up†that makes sense, when it has ZERO impact on anything other than saving the Yankees a couple million and not turning the entire bullpen over to Mo + untested younger relievers.”
Our bullpen was very good in 2008, and Marte didn’t really add much to it. Other than Marte, the bullpen stands to be the same in 2009, so it isn’t untested. So, Marte wasn’t a necessity. He’s a good reliever, and helps the pen, for sure, but he’s not a necessity.
I said the Marte signing would burn me up if the Yanks then went on to say their payroll limited their FA offensive options.
I still think so, since CC plus AJ or Lowe, and Marte, is barely less per annum than CC and Texeira. I personally like the CC and Tex option better.
Right now I think we need to pray they can convince Mussina to come back. If they can get Mussina and Pettitte for around $25M or $26M total then they might have a shot at C.C and Teix. That would also let them avoid more than one long term expensive free agent pitching contract.
“Long term middle reliever contracts are all worthless.”
Remind me again how 3 years at 4 million dollars is really setting the Yankees’ payroll back? Remind me again who the Yankees have had coming out of the bullpen as a lefty in the last 6 years? Remind me again how no team in baseball can afford a 4 million dollar player, especially a team that needs help in their bullpen? Or, do you want to just respond with another bogus one-line answer that doesn’t make ANY sense and doesn’t cover for the fact that you are just flat out wrong in saying that signing Marte is being fiscally irresponsible?
WFAN reporting Heyman says CC offer will be made today in excess of Santana money. Burnett and Lowe offers will be made also.
Also Giants Kareem McKenzie- DUI. Coughlin on at 3 with Mike.
Damn you Kareem !!! Damn you !
Cash please say no to Lowe.
Hey, all you NL people, what do you think of Adam Dunn’s defense? Is he a dreadful outfielder? Can he play RF? Is he an abysmal 1B? I like his offensive stats, despite the low batting average.
His offensive stats resemble Swisher’s actually but with more power. He’d be a curious addition to the lineup, although I don’t know how he’d tolerate NY. (SJ44, what’s Dunn’s personality like?) I also have no idea how much $ he wants or where he wants to play.
BTW, this tidbit from Heyman threw me a little.
“The Yankees remain interested in Manny Ramirez but are concentrating on the pitchers now with the expectation that Ramirez won’t sign quickly with anyone, certainly not the Dodgers, who bid $45 million over two years, far below Ramirez’s request for a five- or six-year deal. Meanwhile, the Yankees’ chances to sign star free-agent first baseman Mark Teixeira are greatly diminished after their acquisition of first baseman Nick Swisher.”
Manny? Hank’s got to be the one circulating that rumor.
Wave Your Hat,
I know the “what if he gets injured” is a slippery slope argument, but as John Sterling always (and I mean ALWAYS) says the most important player on the field changes every day, and that’s the guy on the mound – and I agree with that. Position players can be acquired more easily mid-season to overcome injury: Pudge, Abreu, Nady for example.
I think (and hope) that Cash belives that acquiring versatile position players to fill the various holes are the key to building a balanced team. Adding guys like Swisher to the established mainstays such as Jeter, ARod, Posada and Matsui will make the lineup more flexible day in and day out – and should improve the bench.
“Our bullpen was very good in 2008, and Marte didn’t really add much to it. Other than Marte, the bullpen stands to be the same in 2009, so it isn’t untested. So, Marte wasn’t a necessity. He’s a good reliever, and helps the pen, for sure, but he’s not a necessity.”
He added getting left handers out and being another quality reliever to it, unless you are making your judgments based on the way he pitched post-Texas when he nearly blew his elbow out throwing a ton of pitches. Also, the bullpen standing to be the same in 2009 means that some pitchers’ performances will drop off–bullpens are in no way exact sciences where you keep the same guys from year to year and expect them to pitch the same as they did last year. There is no guarantee that Brian Bruney or Jose Veras or Edwar will pitch well enough to have the bullpen perform like they did in 2008. The more quality arms you have around, the better, and the Yankees are certainly not having their spending inhibited by that bulky Damaso Marte contract. He’s making the same money LaTroy Hawkins was making last year, it’s not like he is some additional burden to the check book.
A lot of you complaining about the Swisher deal have some very weak arguments backing you up.
The team does not lose 100 runs from each Abreu and Giambi. I think CB addressed this best so I won’t go into it.
Looking at the offense last year, the problem wasn’t that we had a lack of sluggers. The problem was the overall approach to hitting and a lack of hitting with RISP. The offense as a whole was off for most of the year. Next year if the hitters can embrace a good offensive philosophy and stick to it the team will score more runs. Also I think a strong bench will be key next year. There are going to be a lot of good bench players on the market (free agent and trade) that Cashman can get.
Swisher was a cheap option that can hit fairly well, hit for power, take lots of walks and he can play good defense at first. He’s a very complete player and he brings some youth to the team. He is NOT a bench player or a role player. He’s an above average starting 1B, LF or RF.
I don’t think Cashman is done addressing the offense. I see potential upgrades at RF and CF. I could easily see Cashman trading Nady, moving Swisher to RF and signing Teixeira. I don’t think that will happen but its still on the table.
I love Brian Giles in RF and I hope Cashman trades for him if San Diego makes him available.
The lineup as it stands now:
Damon LF
Jeter SS
Rodriguez 3B
Matsui DH
Posada C
Swisher 1B
Cano 2B
Nady RF
Gardner CF
I could live with that lineup but I think there will be an upgrade at CF at the very least.
G. Love
You raise some good points. I don’t think anyone though is suggesting that Matsui and PO will have significantly more impact than last year, a year in which PO was a total non-factor and Matsui was hurt.
The key is can they approach 80-90% of what they were. If they do. The Yankees make up a huge part of the Offense that positively reaked in 08.
I think Nady will have a decent year. Not AS caliber but respectable.
Regarding Cano, I still advocate patience. He might be a late bloomer. There is simply no available guy to get if you ship him out and nobody at the top end of the system can come in and replace him.
Brandon — I’m with you on Lowe. I want nothing to do with him.
He’s made it clear he wants to go back to Boston so the only reason he’d be coming here is for the money. It wouldn’t be in his heart and I think he’d have the same waffling/crisis of conscience it appears Damon has had since he signed the deal here.
Dunn is an absolute butcher in the outfield. He lumbers after balls, his range is probably on par or worse than Abreu’s is right now. He can catch balls hit right at him, but putting him in right or left at Yankee Stadium would be a bad idea. At first base I don’t know how he is defensively someone else can probably speak to that, but personality wise I do remember last year J.P. Ricciardi got asked about the Jays acquiring Dunn and he went off about how Dunn doesn’t like playing baseball, has no guts, etc. etc. as the reason why they wouldn’t trade for him. So I don’t think he would be described as “gritty” by anyone.
Patrick:
Giles doesn’t like NY..
I read CB’s post. The problem with his argument is that he place a tremendous amount of reliance on sabermetrical defensive statistics the validity and reliability of which many statisticians dispute.
For example, James’ 2009 Baseball Prospectus identifies Jeter as the worst defensive player in baseball. Any statistical measure that comes to that conclusion is of dubious quantitative value.
Stupid move Kareem!
Call a friggin cab
By a parity of reasoning, if Swisher’s 08 year was an aberration, so too was Posada’s 07 year. When a 36 year old catcher, with a lifetime BA of .277, hits .338, it would be folly to believe his 38 year old performance following injury will, at best, be any better, but probably worse, than his lifetime average..and certainly not close to the outlier year. Interestingly, The Bill James Handbook, 2009, FWIW projects the following for the coming year:
Posada .277, 17, 78 in 139 games
Matsui .288 17 77 in 125 games
Swisher .240 23 71 in 142 games
Nady .284 23 86 in 147 games
Tex .299 36 102 in 154 games
Manny .301 34 113 in 150 games
KS – You know, Jon Heyman has been around the block for a while, and he has good Yankee contacts from his days covering them for Newsday. So I tend to believe him, even if nothing ultimately comes of it.
I know all the Manny baggage, but how can one NOT be intrigued by the guy? He’s going to the HOF as one of the best hitters of all time, and even at this point in his career he’s still one of the best; certainly better than Mark Tex.
I think Cash needs to listen to his manager on this one, especially, re:coexistence. But if Joe Torre can give the go-ahead to Albert Belle, as he reportedly did years ago, then anything’s possible.
pat -
They’ll make offers to all three today?
Patrick -
I agree about the offense in 2008. Oftentimes it looked like they didn’t have a plan, or their scouting was off or lacking, or other teams did better scouting them, and/or they just “tried too hard.” Whatever it was, it needs to be addressed.
“Giles doesn’t like NY..”
Oh sorry I didn’t know you were such good pals with him. Tell him I said hi next time you talk.
Joe,
Both Torre and Mattingly (in particular) gave glowing reports on Manny across the board in the interview last Friday evening. I don’t believe this was lost on Yankee management. I would like to believe they will wait until the pitching needs are fulfilled and then turn to Manny knowing full well that Boras will not do anything until the Yankees definitely say no. He knows the Yankees can and will top any offers if they choose to, and that Manny wants, and always has to come home. He was dissappointed in 01 when the Yankees chose to go another route, and regrettably, the only real option then available was Boston, where he was unhappy from the beginning.
Patrick
He said it not me, the last time he was a free agent…
Patrick-
The Yankees most certainly do lose 200 runs, offensively, from Giambi and Abreu. I think most of us understand that the Yankees won’t play without a right fielder and a first baseman, so we also understand that their replacements will account for some runs. I think you can expect Swisher and Nady to account for between 160 and 170 runs, so there’s a net loss of about 30 to 40 runs, IMO, of course.
We will need to make that up from improvements – Posada and Cano, most obviously. I think we stand to gain about 70 to 80 runs there, so that puts us up over last year about 30 to 40 runs. But Damon probably won’t be as good next year, and you have to account for Damon, Jeter and Matsui aging. So, that gets us back close to our 2008 numbers.
Plus, Posada may not be fully recovered, and either Swisher or Cano may not play better than in 2008, so I think the risk is that we may not equal our 2008 numbers.
The only real point CB made in the post you referred to was the defensive improvement we will get from losing Abreu and Giambi. I don’t know how big that will be, maybe 25 runs. I don’t think Nady is that good defensively and I don’t know about Swisher at first. Plus, if Gardner or Cabrera don’t cut it in CF, we may lose defensive runs there.
So, I think we need some help offensively. Based on all the reports coming out, it looks like it won’t be Texeira, which I was hoping for. But we still need real help offensively.
It will be a real kick in the pants if CC opts not “to follow the money”.
Doreen
They said CC today. Didn’t say the other 2 were today just soon. Wonder if they made that known with AJ and Lowe in a game of first to the table with a yes signs and the other offer gets withdrawn?
pat -
Wow – they could get stuck with 3 new pitchers!
Patrick
Padres Exercise Brian Giles’ Option
By Tim Dierkes [November 7, 2008 at 3:19pm CST]
As expected, the Padres chose Brian Giles’ $9MM option over the $3MM buyout today. Giles, 38 in January, hit .306/.398/.456 in 653 plate appearances this year. Defensively, he saved 20 bases compared to the average right fielder. Padres exec Paul DePodesta notes that Giles probably would’ve accepted an offer of arbitration.
Giles would be a great addition for teams like the Cubs, Phillies, Braves, and Rays, but he has full no-trade power. Before he was granted full rights, Giles could be traded only to the Braves, Giants, Dodgers, D’Backs, and Rockies without his permission. So maybe the Padres can work something out with Atlanta if the Braves if both parties have interest.
I did just read Giles said he wouldn’t just veto a trade, if he would play everyday…however he didn’t add NY to the teams he would go to.
Though Pete tells us to “fuggetabout Manny” Jon Heyman thinks otherwise:
“The Yankees remain interested in Manny Ramirez but are concentrating on the pitchers now with the expectation that Ramirez won’t sign quickly with anyone, certainly not the Dodgers, who bid $45 million over two years, far below Ramirez’s request for a five- or six-year deal. Meanwhile the Yankees chances to sign star free-agent first baseman Mark Texieira are greatly diminished now that they have acquired first baseman Nick Swisher.”
Interesting terminology. I wouldn’t say their chances of signing Teixeira are diminished; I would say the probabilities of signing him are diminished. I know – nitpicky!
You know I focused a lot of energy on making sure I could spell Teixeira’s name correctly. It may all be for naught. Oh, well.
I’m dying here! Sign someone. Lol. The Swisher deal was great because it gave me something to turn over a million times whilst thinking about 2009 being better than 2008, a year in which the Yankees won 89 games with a patchwork pitching staff. Sign C.C., Burnett, Manny and Tex. 120 wins in 2009 baby.
Seriously though, Demptster looked good last season and is available. Would he be a cheaper fall back if need be?
SI.com’s Jon Heyman says the Yankees will follow up their pitch to CC Sabathia with offers to A.J. Burnett and Derek Lowe in the next day or two.
Obviously, Burnett and Lowe won’t be offered the same kind of money as Sabathia, who is expected to receive a proposal that eclipses $140 million in total value, but the Yankees are prepared to sign two or the three if they
.
Yes..I fell and bumped my head….CC, Burnett, Lowe and Tex on 2009 Opening Day roster. The Steinbrenners are going to go ALL OUT to put another Championship Banner up a) Because it is the 1st Year in the new Stadium b) because George is not getting any younger c) Last year STINGS d) with all the revenue they are getting from the new stadium….THEY CAN !
Giles’ list is pretty clear. He’d go to division rivals (unlikely, but short trip for relocation) or the team where his brother was (at the time). If he could be had for a year I’d have no problem with that. He’s a better OF than Abreu and equivalent offensively.
I think everyone making assumptions about what the Yanks will or won’t do are just guessing. Cashman’s comments certainly give him “plausible deniability” if things turn out differently than implied. It’s quite clear at least one Steinbrother wants to make a dramatic move or three.
Signing Swisher is a great move to drive down the price of Tex…After the Yankees sign CC, Burnett AND Lowe….Tex will be dying to be a Yankee on the 2009 NYY World Championship team !
Shadow—-
You must have loved Gordon Gecko in “Wall Street”… “Greed is good!!”
I say,
Damon
Jeter
Matsui
alext
Rodriguez
Posada
Nady
Cano
Swisher
Cabrera
Melky is better than Gardner, period. Hopefully Melky can return back to his previous level of play and Gardner can fill in occaisonally or pinch-run. Gardner is from my college, so I have all the reason to support him, but he is not the player that Melky is, defensively or offensively. He’s only better on the basepaths.
MELKY is a stellar defensive outfielder, not merely serviceable, or merely good, as others would have it. Physically, he is not lithe and tall, but bulky looking, which influences how people rate him.
Offensively, I am disappointed, but haven’t reached any conclusions on this, either. If he can incorporate more drive with his initial contact ability, he can be salvaged offensively and prove an asset.
Trading for Swisher is a good move altogether. He is young, brash and has a cockiness the Yanks lack. OBP and power is there and good 1B defense. Is Peavy a dead topic still? I hear that the Braves and Cubs deal fell apart so. Peavy or Burnett? One requires money, other requires players and money. Peavy is a great pitcher, Burnett is AL tested with possibly the best stuff in the league. I pray this CC deal gets done quickly.
Looking into sheets rather than burnett or lowe would also be an option to avoid a second long term expensive pitching contract outside of begging Moose to come back. Sheets is looking for two or three yrs most likely. And by the way – he is better than lowe. They cant even be compared. Maybe someone should tell brian cashman that lowe and burnett arent the ONLY options outside of CC. The three pronged attack or whatever dumb name they are calling it should be directed towards CC, Burnett and SHEETS. This organization isnt always so bright in my eyes with all of the people they have.
So let me get this straight. Nick Swisher = 1B. So now you have to bring back Abreu. Why is a 34 year old at $16 Mil better than a 29 year old for $20 Mil ? And based on the rumors, there’s no way you are getting Abreu for less than a 2 year deal, and even money says it has to be 3. Yeah, that’s WAY better than signing Mark Texeira.
Is there something magical about a “100 million dollar contract” that I’m not aware of ? You do realize that no matter how big it is, you still only pay one year at a time.