Comments on: Arbitration decisions due today

By: Yankee Trader

Yankee Trader — Mon, 01 Dec 2008 21:33:51 +0000

Pudge is a Type B, and if he accepts arbitration the most an arbitor could cut his pay is by 20%, which would give him a 2009 salary of close to 10 million. This is close to what he might make for two years as a free agent, and Boras might encourage him to accept even though he’d be a backup.

A buyout after 30 days would still cost the Yankees > 1 million, so tell adios.

Think Andy is going thru that “feeling unwanted” stage again. Would offer arbitration. If he goes to the Dodgers that’s OK. Last time he hurt his elbow was at an at bat for the Astros. I want him back, but in this economy, and based on his 2008 record, and that he’s playing in a brand new stadium, what makes him worth more than a long time Brave like John Smoltz. 11-12 million is more than generous.

See that Astros have signed lefty Mike Hampton, which probably means they’re out of the running for Randy Wolf, who pitched really well down the stretch for the Astros. IMO Wolf is a better, younger option than Derek Lowe!!

Thoughts?

And yes I’d be happy with Abreu for one more year, and I think he’d settle for a slight pay cut, if not offered a 2-3 deal elsewhere. I don’t see anyone paying him more than 12-13 million a year for 2-3 years.

By: Pancho

Pancho — Mon, 01 Dec 2008 20:08:16 +0000

Pete, I think that you should not be advertising gentlemen’s clubs on your blog, don’t you think? It is a baseball blog and there could be young kids logged in and participating in the discussion. In addition, I believe, given the Plaxico Buress incident, that a lot of these entertainment options prefered by athletes and fans alike are sometimes not the best example for society overall. Would love to hear your take on it. Thanks.

By: OldYanksFan

OldYanksFan — Mon, 01 Dec 2008 19:36:34 +0000

Andy has an average ERA over the last 2 years of 4.3ish… which is a tad better then league average. So what’s that worth on the FA market? My guess is less then $16m. I think they should offer him Arb, and then offer him $14m. At that price, he ain’t a bad deal. If he goes elsewhere, which he won’t, we get 2 picks.

Frankly, I don’t what the Yankees are thinking… especially as the CC front is not going that well.

By: 86w183

86w183 — Mon, 01 Dec 2008 16:27:56 +0000

I believe they can keep talking with him, but they lose any possible compensation if he goes elsewhere.

I expect them to sign Andy during the week ahead for something like $ 14 w/incentives that could get him a raise over last year…possibly 18 wins or 200 innings or 32 starts.. things like that.

By: Wiseman

Wiseman — Mon, 01 Dec 2008 16:24:56 +0000

I would offer Pudge arbitration – he will not take it and if he does he can be released at end of spring if Posada is OK with 60 days pay.

By: Rock Smoother

Rock Smoother — Mon, 01 Dec 2008 15:28:04 +0000

86w183

You make the best point about Andy…we are better off paying Andy one year at 16 million then the same-aged derek lowe 60 million over 4 or 5 years…..Andy’s 2nd half after his shoulder was hurt is distorting everyone’s vision of how effective he was before the shoulder probelm last year…12-7 w/ a 3.76 ERA until July 28th….hurt his shoulder first start of august…and pitched through it the whole way…..

Also if they don’t offer arbitration what kind of window does that give them to sign Andy?

By: Trevor

Trevor — Mon, 01 Dec 2008 15:26:55 +0000

They’re not going to offer Pettitte arbitration. If they did he will accept and it’s obvious the Yankees don’t want him back for $16 million. So we could kiss the 17th pick from the Dodgers good-bye.
The only picks they will likely gain is Abreu signing elsewhere. Which is fine because that will give them 2 guarantee first round picks and possibly 3 if they don’t sign a type A FA.

By: 86w183

86w183 — Mon, 01 Dec 2008 15:10:40 +0000

One year on Pettite makes more sense than 3-4 years on Derek Lowe, doesn’t it?

Jake — It’s not “defending A-Rod” to point out when you are full of it. You wrote “he doesn’t deliver in the clutch”; yet his career OPS with RISP is an excellent .957. He wasn’t good last year and ended up at .863, but in 2007 he was sensational at 1.138. He had a down year w/ RISP last year, but his career has shown him to be a very good clutch hitter.

Sorry to screw up your baseless opinion with facts.

By: bottom line

bottom line — Mon, 01 Dec 2008 15:00:46 +0000

Amazes me that nobody remembers just how good Andy was the first half of last year — won lots of big games, ending losing streaks, beating Boston, etc. Seems obvious he was hurting in second half. If med reports are OK, it is absolute no-brainer to extend arbitration. And yet the Yankees sometimes irrationally dig on their heels. They already did it once with Pettitte. Hope they don’t repeat mistake. Would you rather have Andy for one year? Or be stuck with Derek Lowe for four?

By: jake

jake — Mon, 01 Dec 2008 15:00:21 +0000

“Should that go for everyone that has decided Rodriguez is to blame for every Yankee team failure and quite a few player failures, such as being a bad influence?”

I would agree with that.