Jeter: Good deal for Yankees
Posted by: Peter Abraham - Posted in Misc on Dec 10, 2008 
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Derek Jeter, who ably represented his country and the game at the WBC press conference, stopped later to talk to Sweeny Murti and I about CC Sabathia.
“You know how it is, until it’s done you don’t want to say anything for sure,” he said. “But he would be a great addition. We need pitching. … He’s a No. 1 and (Chien-Ming) Wang is a No. 1.”
Jeter was part of the recruiting process, calling CC a few weeks ago.
here are some smart people who don’t think this is all that great news:
http://sportsillustrated.cnn.c.....l?bcnn=yes
http://web.yesnetwork.com/news.....038;vkey=6
Wow, we’ve got two number 1s. When was the last time that happened?
Great one two punch…
why do I feel a “Wang’s not an Ace” argument comming on?
Pete, are the Yankees still listed at 6-1 odds for winning the WS?
Thank you Derek! Intangibles
eom
#1, #2, etc. Wang is a terrific front end pitcher, and you need more than one of those to win in the American League.
Didn’t see the new threads…
“I don’t know but Ankiel would be an incredibly valuable addition to the Yanks for a year.”
I’m not so sure about that.
Ankiel is a very poor CF defensively and is a major injury risk.
Last year Ankiel was 12 runs above average at the plate. He was 16 runs worse than league average in CF. So Ankiel was at best league average and more likely a little bit less than league average.
Compare Ankiel to Mike Cameron a player who will be much cheaper to trade for (though more money to spend…). Cameron last year was 10 runs better than league average offensively. And he was 10 runs better than average defensively. So Cameron was a net +20 player. Which is way better than Ankiel.
Ankiel hits for a lot of power but doesn’t get on base much and is often injured. On top of that he’s more of a corner outfielder playing CF than a true CF.
why is it that everyone LOVES Jeter’s media skills so much? That is just something I don’t get. I always think he sounds childish and mundane
So, who starts Opening Day?
Wang(If ready) or CC?
Jeter better not tell Posada that Wang is a number one. As I always say, Wang is not an ace, he just pitches like one.
Bill Porter
December 10th, 2008 at 2:49 pm
Why will we regret the opt out?
dave
December 10th, 2008 at 2:56 pm
Al,
Give credit where credit is due. I am not a big cashman supporter at all but two days ago, it looked as if we didn’t have a chance in the world. Even with the 140 million dollar offer topping the brewers and forcing others out of the bidding. Somehow, whatever Cash and Giradi and whoever else said changed his mind from waiting for a west coast team to signing on the dotted line. Maybe it was just the fact that the other teams expressed their non-interest in him but I think that just the fact that CC is finally coming here warrants some credit to cashman and co. IT CLEARLY was not all about the money in this signing – if it was, this would have happened weeks ago.
Now guys;
My point is that CC came here only after the Yankees added the other year in the contract and that wasn’t enough he had to give him an opt out clause!!! That’s not a mastermind deal!! That’s like your father gives you 1 million do buy a house and you go out and buy a house… lets see your father give you only 500,000 grand and you still could buy the same house!!! Again they needed to make this deal but you cant give cashman credit!
AROD fan
December 10th, 2008 at 3:39 pm
why is it that everyone LOVES Jeter’s media skills so much? That is just something I don’t get. I always think he sounds childish and mundane
you are 100% right Jeter what ever he says is like programed 10 years before he said it!
Add in the fact that Ankiel’s supposedly a Scott Boras client who’s a FA next year – along with Johnny Damon and Xavier Nady (supposedly) – and it sounds like we might be seeing Mike Cameron in a few.
Does anyone think the Brewers might be interested in Jose Veras/Edwar Ramirez?
This is good but we aren’t done. I know Cash has more up his sleeve I just hope it isn’t Derek Lowe.
Keith Law’s thoughts on the opt out clause….
“The problem for the Yankees is the so-called “opt-out clause,” better understood as a player option. The Yankees gave Sabathia a three-year deal, and Sabathia then has a four-year option worth roughly $100 million. Player options are universally awful for the signing clubs: they cede control of a big portion of a team’s payroll to the player, and they represent a pure downside play, since the player will only choose to stay if he isn’t performing well or if he gets injured. There’s never a good reason to give a player an opt-out clause, and giving a player one as long as four years is (I believe) unprecedented and (I know) a terrible idea. “
Shut up Derek ! and do your panaramic vista roof commercials
(Because I didn’t want to brown nose)
It really is going to be great getting Posada back, as long as he comes back healthy and productive, as expected.
It’s easy to forget how much he means to the team and the offense having not seen him in the lineup for so long. Not that last year’s results don’t remind us.
CB,
Now I really really don’t want Ankiel.
Al,
The opt out was going to be part of any deal that was done with him. He asked for the same thing from the Brewers.
The Yankees didn’t “add” the clause. It was part of the deal.
If you don’t want to give him the opt out clause, he’s not coming to NY.
Is it worth losing the guy over? Three years is fine. If he decides to move on, you move on. If he stays, you deal with it.
You can’t complain about the length of the deal AND the opt out. It makes no sense.
The deal was simple. The Yankees were going to have to overpay to get him. They knew that. They also knew about the opt out because it was a requirement of teams in the bidding.
The Yankees decided they were not dealbreakers. That’s why they closed the sale.
They are a better team with him than without him. Worry about 2012 in 2012.
1A and 1B
OK….I’ll say it….
Has there ever been any mention/thought of transitioning Jeter to CF a la Robin Yount?
I know it won’t happen this year.
There’s no “supposedly” about it. Scott Boras is the agent for Ankiel and Nady.
http://www.mlbtraderumors.com/.....s-cli.html
Did I just commit sacrilege?
SJ44
Yeah, But what if he is really dominate and opts out after 3 years and forces the Yankees to sign him for like 7 more years
I really dislike this quote: “why is it that everyone LOVES Jeter’s media skills so much? That is just something I don’t get. I always think he sounds childish and mundane”. Mr.Arod fan, should realize that his hero is on the level of Benedict Arnold, a traitor to everyone except MAYBE $$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$. His media skills are nothing to write home about either (Hanging out with Madonna, opting out of his contract during the World Series etc). Not to mention choking in the playoffs (Unlike Mr. Jeter who has a WORLD SERIES MVP (A place Mr. Rodriguez NEVER visited)).
I hope for Mr. Rodriguez’s sake that they win a title, because it will likely be in spite of him (Unlike Derek Jeter).
Tom,
No thanks to Ankiel. We need a cost controlled guy out there.
As usual Cliff Corcoran has a great take on the opt out clause that so many of you are wringing your hands over:
————————————————————
The opt-out clause is one that, on its surface, benefits the player and the player only. If Sabathia gets hurt or underperforms, he won’t opt out of making $23 million a year. If he pitches anywhere close to expectations, he’s almost sure to opt out just as A.J. Burnett did this fall and Alex Rodriguez did a year ago. In the latter, more likely scenario, he’ll hit the free agent market again prior to his age-31 season having given the Yankees his age 28 to 30 seasons at a premium.
Then again, is that so bad? If the Yankees knew they could get Sabathia for three years at roughly $23 million annually, wouldn’t they have lept at the chance? And isn’t that essentially what they’ve done? The odds are much better that Sabathia will stay healthy for the first three years of his contract than for the final four. Doesn’t it benefit the Yankees to be able to reevaluate things after the 2011 season? We don’t yet know all of the details on the contract. If it’s backloaded, as most contracts are (Santana’s, for example, increases steadily from $19 million in 2008 to $25.5 million in 2013), then the Yankees are actually getting Sabathia’s peak seasons for less than the average annual value of Santana’s contract with an option to move on after three years provided Sabathia pitches well in those three seasons. Yes, the Yankees will be stuck with the contract if Sabathia gets hurt or underperforms, but that would have been true without the opt-out. With the opt out they can take three of Sabathia’s best years and say “thanks and good luck” when he opts out at age 31. As Stephen Colbert and Elvis Costello sang, there are much worse things.
http://www.bronxbanterblog.com.....#more-5654
Jeter’s already 35 (the day he hangs ‘em up is the day my childhood ends).
He’s not going to center.
They are a better team with him than without him. Worry about 2012 in 2012.
_______________
You can operate a fantasy roster like that…but not a business….business’ that are run with a short-term perspective fail in the long-run
With that being said…the opt out clause is fine because we do have pitching in the minors that will be ready (hopefully) in 2012…
Al,
The Yankees would LOVE to have that “problem”.
I think Corcoran’s POV is spot on.
You get the best pitcher in baseball for the next 3 years.
How can anybody be unhappy about that?
Worry about 2012 in 2012.
Agree with Law. The day Sabathia left $60M on the table over an opt-out is the day hell freezes over.
“SJ44
Yeah, But what if he is really dominate and opts out after 3 years and forces the Yankees to sign him for like 7 more years”
Thats sure better than resigning someone for another 10. SEE ARODS OPT OUT. Who knows if in 3 years the price for a pitcher hasnt gone down and he cant get any better than 23 mil per. Hopefully for those 3 years we’ve rebuilt the dynasty and all us Yankee fans have gotten back the championship fix, while making it harder for him to leave a good thing.
All i want to know is why do the Yanks always trump the Mets in the news? Mets sign krod for 3, we sign C.C. for 3. Must suck to be the stepchild.
Tom
You’re right. Yount was 5 years younger when he moved there full time.
Is it harder to play short, or center at 35? hmmmm.
What are you talking about? Its EXACTLY how the Yankees should run their business.
It gives them flexibility to be creative in making other moves on the roster.
It gives them the chance to develop, and not rush, their younger arms.
It also enables them to close THIS DEAL.
Besides, after 3 years, half the fan base in NY wants EVERYBODY, except for Mariano and Jeter, out of town.
You think CC hasn’t noticed that?
Its a compromise you make to get your #1 target.
It doesn’t hurt the Yankees business plan. It helps it.
IF he leaves after 3 years, they have 92 million dollars to spend in the marketplace AND two first round picks.
Not exactly, “leaving the cupboard bare”.
Bob (the orignal) :
“So, who starts Opening Day? Wang(If ready) or CC?”
I don’t care who starts opening day … I want to know who starts the opening game of the world series.
Only someone with an irrational dislike for Jeter can complain about his representing his country, his team and his game reliably and with decorum before the public eye.
True, decorum can be boring to sensation-seekers, and they will always prefer the attention-grabbing limelight-groupie to a dignified representative who keeps the focus on the topic and not on his personality.
That says much more about them than it does about the Captain.
“It gives them flexibility to be creative in making other moves on the roster.”
No it doesn’t, SJ. They don’t control the situation. It gives them nothing. Cashman would not have put it in unless he had to.
Jeter “stopped later to talk to Sweeny Murti and I?” C’mon Pete, you’re a writer. It’s “Sweeny Murti and me.”
CB (I didn’t see the new threads either)-
Well I guess we just disagree on this one.
Gardner quite possibly won’t even be able to hold down the job. He could be worse offensively than you project.
With Ankiel, Damon could get quite a few starts in CF and still not have to be the everyday CF. That would reduce Ankiel’s negative defensive impact. Ankiel could play out there when CC (strikeouts), Wang (groundballs) or Lowe (groundballs, if we get him) pitch.
The Yanks can’t have Cameron unless they are willing to have Hughes or Aceves in the fifth starter slot or spend a lot more in payroll than they are publicly acknowledging.
Kennedy is blocked every which way, and other teams are aware of that. He won’t have a chance to prove himself in the majors with us. We won’t be able to trade him for a lot.
So, as I said, let’s be content to disagree.
I think the Yankee community is way too concerned over the CF situation. Having two out of Nady, Damon, and Matsui play in the corners is pretty good. You have a huge hitting infield and catcher. You can deal with gardner @ #9 laying down bunts and stealing bases.
On CC, he’s going to be a wonderful pitcher in NY. We get him for 2 or 3 years before he opts out, which are his prime years that we get to enjoy at least. I don’t like how far the yankees how to extend the top end of the pitching market, especially in a tough economic environment. They should have offered a 5 year deal and then went up to 6 when he balked. But all in all, i’m happy he’s a Yankee, can’t wait till spring training!
Don’t forget one thing. After 2011 season, Wang, Cain and Verlander will be a free agent. On top of that, we have a lot of good pitching prospects in our farm system who may be ready by that time. If CC ready doesn’t like here and want to leave, it’s fine for us. We will have options
“…stopped later to talk to Sweeny Murti and I…”
-Sigh-
Two of the best pitchers in the business plus Joba. This season is sweet.
I am no expert on baseball, but it looks to me that Wang is an ace, or do you must have high strikeout rate to be consider an ace?