Hot Stove Mailbag No. 8
-
- November
- 21
Daniel writes: I don’t know if I totally agree with your blog stating that we need to be patient with CC. I think the Yanks are being played. How can a player turn down that kind $$$$? This offer will not be matched it’s crazy money. He is waiting for another team to make him a offer close enough so he sign with them. If he does the Yanks will look like fools. I think the Yanks should pull the offer off the table and see what happens.
Answer: What is gained by CC deciding now unless he wants a signing bonus up front? The guy has never been a free agent before and he and his agent are taking their time. I see nothing wrong with that.
————-
Matt from Connecticut writes: Any veracity to this idea that the MLB players union will not allow a free agent to take a lower offer when a significantly larger deal is on the table? We keep hearing about this in regards to Sabathia, but are you aware of any other situation(s) where this occurred? Also, what, if any, would be the repercussions for a player that went against the union’s desires?
Answer: Good question, Matt. The MLBPA does not have the power to prohibit a player from accepting any deal. They often discourage young players from making team-friendly deals that give away their arbitration rights. In terms of a guy like CC, he’s free to make any deal he wants. But if he decided to leave $40 million on the table, I’m sure he or his agent would get at least an informal call. The MLBPA, obviously, wants salaries to rise and the best way to do that is to have somebody raise the ceiling.
————
Mike writes: I would like to know why the Yankees or any other team feel that A.J. Burnett is such a great pick up. Sure compared to his contemporaries he looks good but he is injury prone. Additionally Burnett seems to much like the Carl Pavano deal from a few years ago. Both players were average statistically and both only won 18 games once. Now Burnett unlike Pavano is a strikeout pitcher but both seem to have their abilities inflated because they were able to win 18 games. Picking up Burnett would be a risky move. Why not sign him to a three-year deal with a club option for a fourth if he reaches X amount of innings and a fifth year player option on another innings goal?
Answer: I agree with you, Mike. Teams like Burnett because he has great stuff and there are games when he is dominant. They’re overlooking his history based on his apparent promise. Your contract parameters are reasonable. But in this market, with so many teams needing starters, agents aren’t going to be reasonable.
————
Israel writes: With the need for a quality center fielder as a top priority why can’t the Yankees plug in Austin Jackson as the 2009 center fielder? In my opinion Brett Gardner is not the answer. He is at best a fourth outfielder/pinch runner.
Answer: Austin has played only one year above Class A ball. He will be 22 in February. He’s not ready for the majors quite yet. But if he has a great spring training it’ll give them something to consider.
————
Manny writes: I think the Yankees need a big time bopper behind A-Rod. Why aren’t they going for one and getting the most out of what A-Rod can offer? Swisher, Posada, Matsui, is not the answer.
Answer: Speaking of the Big Bopper, why wasn’t there ever a movie made about him? The Big Bopper died in the same 1959 plane crash as Buddy Holly and Ritchie Valens. There has been a Holly movie and one on Valens. But the poor Big Bopper gets no love. I should give up sportswriting and write a Big Bopper screenplay. Chantilly Lace is a good song, right? If there are any wealthy investors out there, send me an e-mail.
————
Brian in San Francisco writes: So you think the Yanks will sign Abreu? I read on your blog that Cashman says Nady is the starting RF? So, I guess they’re going to let Abreu walk?
Answer: I don’t think they’ll sign him, Brian. I do wonder if there is any chance he’ll accept arbitration. But I suspect he’ll get a solid multi-year offer from another team.
————
Ross and John write: We think the Yankees should sign Sabathia and Teixeira. And keep Mussina. (Note, this e-mail arrived after Mussina announced his retirement. I’m not kidding)
Answer: First off, it took two of you to write this? Secondly, Mussina has retired. They can’t keep him.
————
Thanks to everybody (except those last two guys) for writing in.
This entry was posted
on Friday, November 21st, 2008 at 1:51 am by Peter Abraham.
You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed.
Print This Post
| 
Email This Post
Peter Abraham
why take the time to write an email to pete if you dont even follow the team consistently? Some of these questions are pretty bad or the answer could be learned merely by reading the blog. Take a minute or even an hour to think of a decent question before writing it in. It pays off in the end because a day later you may think of an actual quality question and you wont have anyone to answer it.
For those of you who follow former Yankees, per Rotoworld:
“Reds sent infielder Andy Phillips outright to Triple-A Louisville.
The veteran refused the assignment and is now a free agent. Phillips hit .231/.294/.385 in 78 at-bats with the Mets and Reds last season.”
Does anyone see the FO picking off a prize or two off of other teams struggles with the Rule 5? (see, Lofgren, Charles). Why are we always the victim?
back bench
November 21st, 2008 at 2:51 am
For those of you who follow former Yankees, per Rotoworld:
“Reds sent infielder Andy Phillips outright to Triple-A Louisville.
The veteran refused the assignment and is now a free agent. Phillips hit .231/.294/.385 in 78 at-bats with the Mets and Reds last season.â€
Does anyone see the FO picking off a prize or two off of other teams struggles with the Rule 5? (see, Lofgren, Charles). Why are we always the victim?
________________________________________________________
No, for two ajor reasons…Either Washington or Seatlle would pick him up long before NYY got the chance, and, reason two…as of right now the roste is at 40 and there is no room to draft him. A team needs an open spot on the 40 Man Roster to chose a player and then keep hi on the 25 man roster for the year.
***No, for two major reasons***
Hey Phil, can you update your “Other Yankee Blogs”? Half those links are dead or aren’t updated anymore.
Or Peter, rather. Not sure why I said Phil.
Austin Jackson isn’t likely to be ready to be the Yankees CF this year. Unfortunately, I doubt that Brett Gardner is, either. Fast, yes. But you can’t steal first base.
Correct me if I am wrong, but if I guy is a free agent, why would you have to draft him in the rule V draft? But I agree with GB7, we don’t have any room at the moment and we’re probably not far enough up the “ladder” to get a struggling prize.
Looks like the Big Bopper will get his love next year:
http://bigboppermovie.com/about.html
I can’t imagine why there would be any interest in a second rate Texas disc jockey like JP Richardson, who made about five novelty songs (Chantilly Lace, Hey Little Girl With The High School Sweater and Little Red Riding Hood) and only one became a hit.
I don’t get all of the hype to put Ajax into CF this year. He batted .285 in AA this past season and followed that up with a rousing .246 in the AFL. In a combined 159 games he hit a total of 10 HRs and drove in 85 runs. He MAY be ready to take over center someday but I don’t see it as a sure thing.
Pete
Your answer to Manny got me thinking….
Do you know Billy Crystal? *61 is a great movie. It’s high time somebody made a movie about the life of Ted Williams. Seriously, it’s a great American story. Poverty, baseball star, war hero, world class fisherman. Maybe we’ll leave out the part where he moved in with a frozen turkey….
Yankee U
November 21st, 2008 at 8:13 am
I don’t get all of the hype to put Ajax into CF this year. He batted .285 in AA this past season and followed that up with a rousing .246 in the AFL. In a combined 159 games he hit a total of 10 HRs and drove in 85 runs. He MAY be ready to take over center someday but I don’t see it as a sure thing.
————————————————————
Have you ever seen him play?
Yankee U:
Nothing’s guaranteed of course, but the scouting cognoscenti seem to believe that, at a minimum, Jackson is a solid regular. Probably won’t be this year, but it won’t be long after that. His numbers at Trenton were quite good given that the EL is far more favorable to pitchers than hitters. His AFL numbers are disappointing, in particular the K/BB ratio, but I put more stock in the regualr season numbers and think there’s reason to be encouraged.
*regular
John in Ohio
November 21st, 2008 at 8:13 am
Pete
Your answer to Manny got me thinking….
Do you know Billy Crystal? *61 is a great movie. It’s high time somebody made a movie about the life of Ted Williams. Seriously, it’s a great American story. Poverty, baseball star, war hero, world class fisherman. Maybe we’ll leave out the part where he moved in with a frozen turkey….
————————————————————
Does everyone in your family have as much wit and class as you do?
“Have you ever seen him play?”
no, but he stayed a holiday inn express last night.
TurnTwo
November 21st, 2008 at 8:25 am
“Have you ever seen him play?”
no, but he stayed a holiday inn express last night.
———————————————————–
It sure didn’t help him very much.
helllllllllllllllo Baaaaaaaaaaaaabeee
GB7 just on TV. Don’t get me wrong, I hope that he makes it and is everything that some of his supporters project. It’s just that I think it is a mistake to assume that he will be ready to step in this year and possibly ever.
Fredo, are they the same scouts that had Hughes as the #1 pitching prospect. You can’t go a day without someone on this blog wanting to trade him.
“Have you ever seen him play?”
Good morning GB7. I thought that was a question you posed to person asking about Jackson.
I did have the opportunity to watch him play a game against the Sox double AA team and I have to admit that I was impressed with him. I am guessing it would take an awful lot for the Yankees to consider trading him!
And please don’t blow my cover again as a spy for Theo!!
Yankee U
November 21st, 2008 at 8:34 am
GB7 just on TV. Don’t get me wrong, I hope that he makes it and is everything that some of his supporters project. It’s just that I think it is a mistake to assume that he will be ready to step in this year and possibly ever.
Fredo, are they the same scouts that had Hughes as the #1 pitching prospect. You can’t go a day without someone on this blog wanting to trade him.
———————————————————–
He has the drive and talent to be a first rate center fielder. He can run, he hits and hits for some power, but, mainly, he’s an exceptional center fielder with an arm.
“Fredo, are they the same scouts that had Hughes as the #1 pitching prospect. You can’t go a day without someone on this blog wanting to trade him.”
1) Many of those scouts continue to view Hughes in that light or close to it.
2) Notice the return mentioned when people discuss trading Hughes. It’s generally very high end players. Proposing that he be traded improve the team in other areas does not = giving up on the kid.
Pete that is mean, maybe they were living under a rock and didn’t know.
“Proposing that he be traded improve the team in other areas does not = giving up on the kid.”
my guess is that this is prob one of the biggest, if not the biggest, source of disagreement amongst most people on the blog here.
Pete, you know you don’t have to publish and reply to every email you receive, right?
GB7,
I think the point was that can’t miss prospects miss all the time. Remember Lastings Milledge? The Mets gave him away, and he doesn’t look like anything special with Wash.
That being said, the Yanks need to give Ajax every chance to succeed. He is their best chance to have a true CF who can be a force offensively and defensively. Probably won’t happen this year, maybe in Sept. I did see him play, in the intra-squad game in Tampa last year. One game is not enough to get much of an idea though. However, I was sitting about 5 rows from Cashman and some other scouts. They were mostly joking around when lower level prospects were hitting/pitching. But, when Ajax and Tabata were involved, they did pay rapt attention, with notepads out, and stopwatches clicking on the bases.
Austin Jackson needs some AAA seasoning, since he’s never been there. but if he’s not over-matched and he’s putting up numbers I can see him being called up. Maybe a July/August call up.
ray (sox fan)
November 21st, 2008 at 8:42 am
“Have you ever seen him play?”
Good morning GB7. I thought that was a question you posed to person asking about Jackson.
I did have the opportunity to watch him play a game against the Sox double AA team and I have to admit that I was impressed with him. I am guessing it would take an awful lot for the Yankees to consider trading him!
And please don’t blow my cover again as a spy for Theo!!
———————————————————
Morning, Ray. No, I won’t be talking to Theo, today. We had an arguement over him trying to steal Burnett and Teixiera from us. Hopefully, somebody put some Super-Glue in his Preparation-H.
Yeah, Jackson has a lot of tlent. I get a chance to see the kids as they come through Charleston and Savnnah. They play some great ball down here. I caught a few of the Greenville games. Thy had a couple of really fine young hitters there in CF David Mailman and Jerad Stanley. I think he plays 1st base, too, but I saw him in right field. Only remember a really young pitcher named Doubront that gave Charleston some fits.
Trevor
November 21st, 2008 at 8:58 am
Austin Jackson needs some AAA seasoning, since he’s never been there. but if he’s not over-matched and he’s putting up numbers I can see him being called up. Maybe a July/August call up.
———————————————————-
Unless Jackson is blowing away the competition or somebody gets hurt, there’s still tings he needs to learn. Everything Jackson’s doing now is strictly done on talent. He’s still learning the finer points of baseball, since most of his life has been as a top of the line basketball.
***still things he needs to learn***
GB7, I hope that you’re right and that he’s the starting CF for a lot of years.
Fredo, I agree, I’m just saying projections and ratings from AA don’t necessarily project to the ML level.
why is it so cold!!!???
this weather is wacked out.
***top of the line basketball player***
He had a hot bat late in the season and was hitting 300 (Jackson) until he got hurt and sat for a week. Came back and his average slipped to 285. I wish people would watch the games instead of going by stats.
Trevor
November 21st, 2008 at 9:15 am
He had a hot bat late in the season and was hitting 300 (Jackson) until he got hurt and sat for a week. Came back and his average slipped to 285. I wish people would watch the games instead of going by stats.
————————————————————
Both minor league.com and youtube hcatches he made in the Eastern playoffs this year. They were things of beauty, robbing them a pair of homers.
Trevor and GB,
I saw him and I totally agree. He’s a player. He’s a kid who walks through the door and even looks the part.
That said he needs time and patience to learn – which he’s shown the ability to do. That’s why a move for a Mike Cameron type makes a ton of sense.
When I saw him at the plate, he reminded my a little of Soriano. Your thoughts?
AJax could also stand to fill out a little. When you see him live, you’re struck by what a rail he is.
When he fills out, he’ll be more of a specimen, but I think that body wouldn’t hold up over the long ML season just yet; he’d have to be used judiciously if his ST demanded a roster spot. He just needs to refine his baseball skills a bit more and literally, to grow more.
I guess I could stay in in some Holiday Inns and travel with the team, but since I live in NY and have to work that’s just not feasable.
Not often I agree with something Joel Sherman says (was his dig about Jeter not really writing the statement about Moose really necessary during the conference call?) but he wrote something in his blog today that has some merit.
If CC has any questions or concerns about pitching in NY, who better to call than Moose. He started his career on a smaller market AL team before coming to NY as a highly touted free agent and while reluctant to embrace the big city aspect of NY, developed a comfort zone and really seemed to enjoy the experience in the end.
He doesn’t have as long a swing as Soriano, and he’s got a leg kick that actually reminds me of ARod.
It’s pretty clear AJax is a helluva prospect as evidenced by the fact that every proposed trade to the Yankees on other team oriented blogs include him. He won’t be MLB ready for a year, most likely but I’m convinced enough to reject the idea of making a move for a long term CF.
Despite Pete’s incredibly weak attempt at humor the Yankees still need another bat, though that’ll come after the starting pitching has been settled.
I have no problem at all with Hal saying the offer to CC won’t be there forever. That’s a message to Yankees fans that they won’t be held hostage by any single player. It’s a message to other FA that the Yankees could come caling. And it’s a message to CC that while they are willing to lavish riches on him, he has to show some interest soon.
Would any of you make your best offer on a car or new house or something you really wanted and let the offer sit there indefinitely? Of course not.
William Buckner
November 21st, 2008 at 9:20 am
Trevor and GB,
I saw him and I totally agree. He’s a player. He’s a kid who walks through the door and even looks the part.
That said he needs time and patience to learn – which he’s shown the ability to do. That’s why a move for a Mike Cameron type makes a ton of sense.
When I saw him at the plate, he reminded my a little of Soriano. Your thoughts?
———————————————————–
The first time I saw Jackson play, just looking at him in uniform, the first two names that came to mind was Aaron and Banks. Nobody needs to get excited…I was referring to how he’s built and the strong wrists. He’s about 6′1″ and and about 185 pounds when I saw him play. He’s got a really quick bat. I don’t see 30+ homers, but, a steady 20-25 is a good possibility.
“If CC has any questions or concerns about pitching in NY”
I don’t think that is the case at all. Again, having a preference for pitching somewhere else doesn’t imply and negative feelings or concerns over pitching in New York.
Pete, maybe Ross and John were just kidding or worse employing Irony to make the point that the signing of both Teixeira and CC is no more workable than retaining Mussina since he has retired. Maybe secretly they’re just really smart and somewhat inscrutable! We are getting to the Christmas season, how about a little charity? And no, . . . I’m not their Dad.
i saw ajax play about 12 games this year and im very encouraged by what i see. he seems like a gamer, he’s becoming a solid outfielder and his hitting is developing. i think he can turn into a very good major league OF. but he’s a long way from a mlb OF at this time. he needs at least a year at scranton. its great that he’ll be invited to camp and get to play with the big boys, and he will also likely get a call-up or two during the season and he’ll get to see some mlb pitching. but people should tamp down thier expectations a bit. he’s not a sure thing, he has alot more learning, growing and developing to do. he’s quite young and is likely to hit a few snags on the way to the bronx that he hasnt hit yet. he did a fine job at trenton last year but he needed the whole year to get up to aa level, where most are older than he is. he likely will need all of next season to get to the aaa level plus some more time beyond that to prove himself mlb worthy.
yankees fans need to start to accept the slow development times of young kids and not rush them and give up on them before thier time.
i read here where people want to run phil hughes out of town, they’ve lost thier patience. jeez, the guy’s 22! he’s an infant in his baseball career who’s already showing some nasty stuff to go with a 95-mph fastball! and people want him shipped out to fill a hole for this season!?!
people think its unbearable to wait a month for a FA pitcher to make up his mind about a contract are never gonna be able to handle 4 or 5 years developing young mlb talent.
OMG, Fredo. Thank you for that. Someone actually gets it.
It may be that CC prefers to play closer to home. No disrespect to New York.
Fredo
That was the reason I wrote IF. They can’t do anything about moving the Bronx closer to the Pacific Ocean but they can make sure location is really the issue.
Pat:
Understood. I know you (or Sherman?) weren’t stating that as gospel.
IMO, there’s been nothing at all to suggest Sabathia has concerns about New York or how life may be as a Yankee is all I’m sayin’.
pat,, good post from 9.21.
I think one of the things athletes look at is how the fans and the city will treat them when they succeed and when they fail. The Yankees are infamous that this is the best place to play when you succeed and one of the worse, when you fail. See Arod, see Mo.
CC may not want the headaches AROD has had but he may want the praise MO consistently gets.
Trade-offs, trade-offs, such is the “challenge” with a 140m offer.
and with the needs the Yanks have they can’t sit and let CC ponder his options until mid-January… thus Hal’s comment.
No doubt people have to find some patience not only in player development but the trade market and FA decisions. Sure, we’d all like to see some major news go the Yanks’ way and that will happen. Just not today.
its hard for many yankees fans to consider that anybody would not make the yankees thier first choice for where to play. try this on:
if you were a multimillionaire who is not from NYC and traveled around the country for your buisness interests, would you pick NYC as your place to live? some would, alot of others would not. especially when money brings you into nyc on a regular basis anyway. and if you were from the west coast you’d either prefer california or at least phoenix or denver so its a shorter flight back to friends and family.
as far as facetime/publicity/endorsements, he didnt get ignored while playing in mlb’s smallest market this year did he? garnett got plenty of endorsment $ playing in minnesota!
contrary to alot of new yorker’s thinking, everybody doesnt want to live in new york
pat, one further point, CC talking to Moose about NY is relevant because Moose had an ugly, ugly 2007 and he definitely heard about it from the fans. Moose responded and had one of the best years of his career in 08 and became a huge fan favorite.
Arod’s tenure in NY has been marked by horrid lows and extreme highs,, IMO mostly lows. He is NY favorite whipping boy, and I have a hunch if CC fails and fails big, he will be hearing about it, can he handle failure in NY??
in the end CC, may just not want to put up with the BS that comes with playing in NY, and I would not be shocked if he took a 125m offer to play in CA.
At that level, does an extra 15 mil really worth it?
Only CC can answer that.
I’d wager that a lot of players dream about playing for their hometown. There’s a certain romanticism about it.
Personally, I’d think it would take time to make such a life-altering decision.
But the show must go on.
“His AFL numbers are disappointing, in particular the K/BB ratio, but I put more stock in the regualr season numbers and think there’s reason to be encouraged.”
I really hope that four percent drop in walk rate was an aberration. I’m excited to see what he can do at AAA, though.
“Personally, I’d think it would take time to make such a life-altering decision.”
Yes, it does. Which is why I really don’t get why people are freaking out about CC not accepting this offer immediately. I would do the same thing he’s doing and so would any one of us.
I agree with your logic, Y’s Guy. But then C.C. played in CLEVELAND Ohio for 7 1/2 years… which is not exactly West Coast atmosphere. Maybe Sabathia does not like the limelight. His Post Season performances would seem to indicate that.
In an unrelated matter during these difficult economic times:
My nephew was added to the Detroit Tigers 40-man roster yesterday. Starting the 2008 Season in Single A at about $40,000, he will now make the MLB minimum of $400,000. Now THAT is a helluva year! Congrats Casper!
yankee21
Look at it this way. A-Rod gets paid $15 million for performance, $5 million for marketability and $7.5 million to take the heat off of everyone else on the team. CC would be safe as long as A-Rod is in town.
LathamJoe,
Congratulations to your nephew. That’s big time indeed. It should be easy enough to figure out who he is (for some of us) and keep an eye on him.
I’ll go out on a limb and say he’s a pitcher?
pat, so true, but then again, living in LA with the sun and the fun, 125 mil or so will go a long way too, and you don’t need an arod to be around to serve as some sort of buffer.lol
mel
November 21st, 2008 at 10:17 am
LathamJoe,
Congratulations to your nephew. That’s big time indeed. It should be easy enough to figure out who he is (for some of us) and keep an eye on him.
I’ll go out on a limb and say he’s a pitcher?
——————————————————-
Power hitting outfielder.
Latham Joe
Congratulations to your nephew. Keep us posted on his progress.
“In an unrelated matter during these difficult economic times:
My nephew was added to the Detroit Tigers 40-man roster yesterday. Starting the 2008 Season in Single A at about $40,000, he will now make the MLB minimum of $400,000. Now THAT is a helluva year! Congrats Casper!”
That’s freaking great! Good for him.
Haha its not a big mystery who LathamJoe’s nephew is, he says the first name in his post.
Thanks mel, pat and GreenBeret7.
Beret is right. He plays 3 outfield positions and has recently been working at 1st Base in the AFL. He tweaked his batting stance and his approach to the plate in July. His power numbers increased in Double A Erie and found himself invited to Arizona. He’s a great kid, hard worker, so we’re all very proud and happy for him.
LathamJoe
November 21st, 2008 at 10:32 am
Thanks mel, pat and GreenBeret7.
Beret is right. He plays 3 outfield positions and has recently been working at 1st Base in the AFL. He tweaked his batting stance and his approach to the plate in July. His power numbers increased in Double A Erie and found himself invited to Arizona. He’s a great kid, hard worker, so we’re all very proud and happy for him
———————————————————-
I saw that his homers jumped to 27 in about 450 at bats this year.
Latham Joe congratulations, that’s exciting news. Found the info. below on Casper Wells if anyone is interested.
http://www.seawolves.com/seawolves-news/2008/10/arizona-fall-league-blog-casper-wells
PETE- Someone is one step ahead of you and there is a movie called “The Day the Music Died” in production- don’t know if it will focus exclusively on the Big Bopper though. It could be about his son shamelessly living off of his dead dad’s image and playing at county fairs in an attempt to make some scratch.
Regardless, if you need a producer and Jerry Bruckheimer is not available (imagine what the crash sequence would be if he were), I do have $7.48 left in my 401K, a camcorder and a model of a Super Cub. I’m sure there are some people in community theater who would love to act in exchange for some Top Ramen and bologna sandwiches
Thanks RonH. I read his Guest Blog and noticed that He forgot to mention that I struck him out a few times in Whiffle Ball several years back!
You are so right Pete. Chantilly Lace was a super song the Big Bopper rocked!
I don’t think CC will be playing for our team…I believe he will stay on the west coast possibly with the Dodgers…
pete, are these really the best crop of questions you could put together? lol
these are awful.
I think offering Abreu arbitration is an insult with the quality of ball he has given the Yankees over the last 3 years. So we will lose him and his 100 rbi’s, 20 homers a year, his patience at the plate his great arm and we will get Nady who has never seen a high fastball he hasn’t swung at. Of course Abreu will get a multi year deal with another team, they are not as stupid as the Yankees.