Giambi still hopeful of returning to Yanks
Posted by: Peter Abraham - Posted in Misc on Dec 11, 2008 
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I don’t see this happening. But Jason Giambi still has hopes of remaining with the Yankees. If the Yankees make no additions to the offense, The Big G is hoping to slide in the back door as a first baseman and designated hitter.
TBG plans to keep his apartment in New York and might agree to stay with the Yankees if the deal is right.
Nick Swisher’s versatility is such that the Yankees could use a group of players (Swisher, Giambi, Xavier Nady, Hideki Matsui, Johnny Damon) at first base, left field, right field and DH. You’d have five players for four spots in the lineup, meaning Joe Girardi could keep his troops fresh and always have a good bat on the bench.
That said, Giambi would be a good fit with the Rays, Jays, Athletics, Orioles or Angels as well.
Meanwhile, look for Kyle Farnsworth to sign with the Kansas City Royals.
I think he makes so much for sense for so many other ball clubs that I really doubt he would turn down what we would offer him for what some other teams would offer.
“Meanwhile, look for Kyle Farnsworth to sign with the Kansas City Royals.”
That’s a good team for him. No pressure to perform. He’ll be lights out for sure.
Giambi? LOL umm no thanks.
Ha! Sorry, Jason, I’ve always appreciated your years in pinstripes, but this is not happening.
Good work, Pete – thanks for the updates!
Nice to see Giambi still has a good sense of humor.
That came out wrong…he WILL turn down an offer from us b/c it would be trumped heavily by another club. I do not even see us giving him an offer though.
What’s the deal on this Cashman mystery trip? Did he really leave to go somewhere other than NYC or is this just a ratings boosting-ploy? I haven’t seen that news anywhere else…
why are people so opposed to a guy with high on base percentage and 40 hr power, driving in nearly 100 runs? because of his defense? no one gets on jeter and he drives in 60 runs with 10 homers and had a lower on base percentage while also having no range.
there’s a prejudice against giambi. having his bat in the lineup could not hurt anything.
Thanks but no thanks Jason.
How come there is never any mention or thought given to X-man getting some time at first? He did play a bit of first with the Mets and San Diego. Especially if the Yankees go after a corner outfielder in free agency or trade or in the unlikely event they plug Swisher into CF due to a lack of options etc.
bru
December 11th, 2008 at 2:57 pm
go critisize our goverment for overspending & taking money from us to cover it or businesses going bankrupt or being bailed out by the taxpayers.
the yankees are spending within their means.
that is the american way.
better yet that is the way of the world.
what would everybody say if the yankees had a 50 million dollar payroll with 350 million in revenue coming in????
how about the yankees destroying their revenue so they can lower payroll & make some people happy.
can they have a little lower payroll??? yes & they are trying but they are playing within the rules.
“there’s a prejudice against giambi. having his bat in the lineup could not hurt anything.”
Did you watch the last five seasons? The guy is D-O-N-E and has been for years. He is one dimensional. Mr. “1st-and-3rd, one out guaranteed strikeout” was one of the biggest reasons why the Yankees have failed in the postseason since 2002. Him and the Crybaby Moose.
michael, my reaction is that we don’t need Giambi because we already have Swisher to play first base. His defense is better than Jason’s. And the last thing we need is another DH, frankly. If the team’s truly trying to get younger and more athletic, there’s no reason to sign Jason. Plus, who would you take out of the lineup? Damon? Matsui?
If Giambi is willing to be a big bat off the bench, a la Darryl Strawberry. why not?
Post-2000 Yankees are ridiculous.
trade damon,matsui,sign tex,sheets,pettitte.
payroll at 187 million.
Oh, Jason. Denial is such a horrible thing. Delusion’s not far from it.
Pat or Gayle said it best this morning. CC’s taking Giambi’s allotment in the payroll. Nothing more needs to be said.
tim boat,
I’d rather stick Gardner in center. You need good up the middle defense in this game. We need speed behind Jeter. Gardner may not score as much as other CF, but I do believe he’ll save some runs. Even bringing them back into the park like he did for Pavano in Toronto.
If we moved Matsui, I’d love for the Big G to come back as the DH.
He would be perfect for what they are building.
Would require them to move Matsui though. Only spot for him on this roster is as a DH.
Maybe Cash went to visit Jason when he ducked out this morning!
Let the rumors begin.
That should read “Post-2000 Yankee FANS are ridiculous”
Phillies close to signing Chan Ho Park
See, I think the question isn’t is he willing to be a big bat off the bench, because I think he might be, but the question is whether he IS ABLE to be a big bat off the bench?
Is Jason Giambi a bench player?
Wait a minute. If there’s a rotation of players, that means Girardi won’t have the same lineup for every game! I thought this was essential!?
“If Giambi is willing to be a big bat off the bench, a la Darryl Strawberry. why not?”
If the contract isn’t ridiculous and they promise never to let him play 1B, I’d sign him to come off of the bench.
Giambi would be “perfect for what the Yankees are building.” Really?
Wow…can’t make this stuff up folks.
brewers asking about igawa,lol.
just fell off my chair.
I thought KC already signed Farnsworth (2yrs/9.25M) ?
and KC wonders why they are an embarrassment while other small market teams at least are semi-competitive.
Cash went home, not to visit a free agent.
http://weblogs.newsday.com/spo.....kees/blog/
I wonder if Cash is done at AJ’s house…..maybe hes taking him out to dinner next!!!
Adios Jason!
If Giambino cares so much about staying, why doesn’t he play for the love of the game and just accept his 5 million buyout as salary for 2009? Is that possible?
“brewers asking about igawa,lol.”
it makes more sense that the yankees tried to throw igawa in to even out the $$. The brewers didnt want to pay for any of cameron’s contract so the yanks said fine, then take igawa.
it least that seems like the most likely scenario.
If the Brewers want Igawa… what about expanding the deal where we can get Gallardo or Mat Gamel for Igawa and Justin Christian?
“Would require them to move Matsui though. Only spot for him on this roster is as a DH.”
SJ44, you don’t think he can come off the bench a la Ruben Sierra?
Would G take 5m a year to be the modern day Daryl Strawberry? I’d do that deal. Outside of something stupid like that I think both sides have to move on.
“If the Brewers want Igawa… what about expanding the deal where we can get Gallardo or Mat Gamel for Igawa and Justin Christian?”
are you nuts? or do you think the brewers are?
“Look for Farnsworth to sign with the Royals”
Wow. Thanks for the insider tip? Where’d you get it?
http://kansascity.royals.mlb.com/index.jsp?c_id=kc
Sheesh.
Very interesting. Just read 2 stories about the Cameron deal. One by Ty Kepner says the Brewers asked about Igawa; the second by Dan Graziano said the Yankees offered Igawa. Anyway, the whole thing is messed up because the Yankees wanted money from the Brewers to cover some of Cameron’s salary. I can’t say I don’t understand the Brewers getting a little miffed about that, since the Yankees seem to have enough money for other things.
But, since no two stories are the same on this issue, I’ll withhold any judgment of my own.
“If Giambi is willing to be a big bat off the bench, a la Darryl Strawberry. why not?”
Exactly what I think as well.
Igawa has NEGATIVE trade value. he is a throw in that benefits the YANKEES if they can shed his contract… (though so was Mike Lowell)
bru:
“trade damon,matsui,sign tex,sheets,pettitte.
payroll at 187 million.”
Really? REALLY? There’s pretty much no chance of moving Matsui, he is of limited trade value with two bad knees in two years and has a full no-trade clause in his contract.
Damon isn’t worth moving. Sure he’s costing us money, but it’s just for this one year and what we get out of him at lead-off and range in left field trumps what we could get in return for him.
We can only pray!!!
he’s not at the stage of his career where he’d be a bench player. guys witha .370 obp and nearly 40 homers and 100 rbis arent bench players.
I like Giambi because he was a great teammate, but his first half last year was brutal. He’s a straight pull hitter that can’t hit to the opposite field any more because of his bad knees. No thanks.
Cashman doesn’t need to visit with AJ anymore… there is mutual interest. This isn’t like CC where we had to convince him to come here and recruit him. All we need to do is submit our final offer and if its the highest, AJ will come here.
why not the brewers take kennedy,igawa & we throw in a million bucks.
that will be like getting 4 million for cam & shedding 5 million a year for 3 years on igawas contract?
Tell Jason to give us some of the money he stole of us in his last contract, to help get pay for Tex and we will sign him as a bench player.
Tell Jason to give us some of the money he stole of us in his last contract, to help get pay for Tex and we will sign him as a bench player.
For all the people who thought the Marte deal was overpaying at $4M x 3 years.
How about that Farnsy deal? He’s making more by AAV than marte by quite a bit.
Sorry about the DP.
Cashman: we want you to throw in some $$ for Cameron
Brewers: uhhhh, no
Cashman: then take Igawa
Brewers: uhhhh, no. straight up or no deal.
that’s where it stands
There are gonna be a boat load of bats begging for work come late January. Unless they adjust their expectations they will be unemployed come spring training.
Is Pete responsible for the Cash might be on a recruiting trip rumor?
And is Kat O’brien Hal’s mouthpiece/mole? She says a story from Hal Steinbrenner is forthcoming.
Thanks for the link, WNTBG
If Giambi didn’t have stonefingers and was willing to never again hit against the shift then he could be a maybe but not until.
Oakland is a good fit for him.
brewers asking about igawa,lol.
just fell off my chair
lololololol
Pete has been on an “anti-Big Bat” (really, “Anti-Manny”) crusade ever since this process commenced. It seems to go beyond simply “reporting” what is taking place. If it’s framed as “opinion” fine, but it’s not…e.g., “the door is shut”. Today’s jab (“Those unrealistic fans who thought the Yankees would keep pending on Mark Teixeira or Manny Ramirez will complain.”) was uncalled for. This is especially significant considering the recent “unrealistic “reports of some of the local journalists, most recently Dan Graziano last evening, who, to my knowledge, is respected in the industry. Don’t belittle or insult your constituency.
If it’s based on what Cashman said a month ago or so, we know full well what is said by the Yankees is etched in stone….e.g., “if A-rod opts out, he will no longer be a Yankee”.
Interesting, the sense on this board seems to have changed. For example, SJ44 who, IMO, is probably the most knowledgeable poster, noted a few threads back:
“1. However, given how they seems to be re-structuring things on the fly, it wouldn’t shock me if they made a run at Manny (if he is still on the market) after they address all their pitching needs.
I would have never thought that to be the case prior to the economy crashing.
But, if the Red Sox sign Tex, and all Manny has going for him are the Angels and Yankees, I could see the Yankees putting a 2 or 3 year offer on the table, even though they will deny it to the Gods.
If they went long term on Tex, that would surprise me. Short term on Manny? At this point, that wouldn’t be a shocker to me.”
SJ 44, I hope you do not mind the above, but to me it is most compelling.
One must always maintain an open mind in spite of his or her own predilections…..
This will probably be my last post.
how do you guys feel about this batting order
LF: Damon
SS: Jeter
C: Jorge
3B: Arod
RF: Nady
DH: Matsui
2B: Cano
CF: Cameron(if the deal goes final)
1B: Swisher
to me that looks like a pretty good order
“Pete has been on an “anti-Big Bat” (really, “Anti-Manny”) crusade ever since this process commenced. It seems to go beyond simply “reporting” what is taking place.”
Pete can posts opinions. That’s part of a blog. He also backs them up with stats. Read his post on the % of teams that win with pitching vs hitting. I can’t believe you are actually complaining that Pete gives his opinions. Weak.
second, Pete isn’t necessarily anti-Manny. he is anti-unrealistic.
Josiah, I like it.
though i think Nady and Jorge swap spots.
the key to that lineup is when you post the pitchers (incl a nasty pen)
Don’t be so sensitive ariel.
I thought this was more insulting: “Unless you frequent the local crack dealer, you realize by now that Mark Teixeira is going elsewhere.”
Who cares what Pete says, he’s right but who cares?
i think the point was that a short term offer to manny from the yankees would cause other teams to increase their offers. the dodgers are the only team likely to be in on the guy and the yankees have a chance to stick it to them and make them offer 4 year/ $100 million. worst case scenario, you get manny for 2/40 and arod provides serious protection. manny might get 160 rbis if jeter and damon are healthy
mel
Kat does seem to have the number for the BatPhone.
lolz:
Butch (Detroit, MI): Hey guys, what are chances the braves are going to get back in the running for Peavy?
Karl Ravech: (3:21 PM ET ) there is always a chance, but i believe he ends up in chicago, makes no sense that he will go to an american league team.
“This will probably be my last post.”
starting your own blog free of opinion, character, or rationality? can’t wait.
Ariel how come you are done posting?
The yanks will sign a big bat, either Manny or Tex…
Jorge batting 3rd? I don’t like it. He doesn’t walk enough. It should either be Swisher or Cano {once he gets some discipline}.
Josiah I have a problem with Jorge batting third not only because he strikes out so much but he is slow as molasses on the base paths
so the yanks are the highest bidders fro burnett ?
tim,
i hope you’re right. but i see them bringing back abreu as more likely. less money, less years, someone who really wants to be a yankee
Ariel, although we’ve disagreed about a few things, I hope you continue to post on here. You’re one of the more thoughtful commenters this board has.
ariel
December 11th, 2008 at 3:17 pm
One must always maintain an open mind in spite of his or her own predilections…..
This will probably be my last post.
————————————————————
Oh, be still, my quaking heart.
“For all the people who thought the Marte deal was overpaying at $4M x 3 years.
How about that Farnsy deal? He’s making more by AAV than marte by quite a bit.”
I have this to say about that:
1. Live long enough, I guess you’ll see everything.
2. Better them than us.
3. My mother once told me two wrongs don’t make a right.
4. I never said Marte wasn’t worth $4MM per year (although I wouldn’t give it to him), but I do think the Yanks could have invested the Marte $$ more wisely in other areas.
“If it’s based on what Cashman said a month ago or so, we know full well what is said by the Yankees is etched in stone….e.g., “if A-rod opts out, he will no longer be a Yankee”.”
I love how people like to hold this against Cashman. A-Rod came back on his hands and knees essentially begging to come back. How do you turn down one of the most talented players in the game after a 54HR, 145RBI season? Guess what? You don’t.
Timothy,
This one’s for you:
Stack (NJ): Forget CC, do the Yanks have enough offense?
Karl Ravech: (3:22 PM ET ) no they don’t.
=====================================
Steiny (NYC): Do the Mets have the best bullpen in baseball?
Karl Ravech: (3:24 PM ET ) it’s as good as any, yankees, red sox, angels..
LOL. They’ve got 2 pitchers to cover 600-650 innings?!
You have missed the point. Opinion, as I clearly stated is fine, and well it should be. But when it’s couched in the absolute “the door is shut” and/or those who believe otherwise are “unrealistic”, it’s not.
Whether Manny is or is not signed is irrelevant to this comment. It is a matter of expression of viewpoints absent any ad hominen response.
“Jorge batting 3rd? I don’t like it. He doesn’t walk enough. It should either be Swisher or Cano {once he gets some discipline}.”
so Jorge shouldnt bat 3rd bc he doesnt walk enough, but Cano should bat 3rd, although he doesnt walk enough… hmm.
Laura – Welcome, CC!
December 11th, 2008 at 3:24 pm
Jorge batting 3rd? I don’t like it. He doesn’t walk enough. It should either be Swisher or Cano {once he gets some discipline}.
————————————————————
Wait a minute….Posada doesn’t walk enough? He may be slow, but, he draws his walks. He’s not a #3 hitter, but, lack of walks isn’t the reason.
http://www.baseball-reference......jo01.shtml
mel,
you seem to be enjoying the chat. hahas
“but I do think the Yanks could have invested the Marte $$ more wisely in other areas.”
$4M for a proven left hander is a good deal these days. Phil Coke is not proven. The Yankees would have a gaping hole to fill if they hadn’t kept Marte. Then what? Trade more prospects to get someone who might be as good as Marte. A 3yr deal isn’t horrible. He would have gotten at least 3/12 on the open market IMO.
ariel
watch you’re mouth.
“Jorge batting 3rd? I don’t like it. He doesn’t walk enough.”
Despite having a lifetime .277 BA Jorge has a lifetime .380 OBP. How is it again that he doesn’t walk enough?
“so Jorge shouldnt bat 3rd bc he doesnt walk enough, but Cano should bat 3rd, although he doesnt walk enough… hmm.”
TurnTwo, I love how you ignored my comment about Cano needing to gain some discipline or did your PC cut that part off?
Ravich thinks the Royals will be a threat in the central with Furcal. Lol on that, but they do have some good, young guys. Going with that train of thought. I can see why the Royals splurged on Farnsy. He can be a decent setup guy for Joaquin Soria. As long as they knock out WC threats, I’m all for Royals to have success.
did the subject of Doc Gooden come up (with Straw Man?)
Respect The Giambino!!!
We lost 6 players in the rule 5 draft. Nobody has any pity for us when we invest that amount of money into 6 players and then another team benfits with a major league ready player.
I’m not looking for any, but everyone needs to relax when we spend our money and pay luxury taxes on top of that.
“Stack (NJ): Forget CC, do the Yanks have enough offense?
Karl Ravech: (3:22 PM ET ) no they don’t. ”
i beg to differ. they have enough to win. could they be better? sure. but that lineup still stacks up with most in MLB and their pitching, which wins titles, should end up being as good as any.
unless he means enough to score 1000 runs, he is wrong.
Karl Ravech is an idiot. The Yankees probably had one of the best pens in baseball last year. The Mets one of the worst of not the worst. ANd they get two pitchers and all of a sudden they have as good a pen as us. Okkkkkaaayyy.
isn’t Ravech a Boston fan?
Ravech is a hater.
Boston Dave,
It’s probably a matter of taste, but:
(1) the Yanks’ bullpen last year was the strongest part of their team,
(2) if we can’t get Cameron because of $$, I think the addition of Cameron would have brought us more wins per dollar than Marte,
(3) if we can’t get Teixeira because of the $$, the Marte money would have helped, maybe,
(4) middle relievers are just unreliable IMO and I don’t like spending that much money on any of them.
ed,
Yes, it amazes me that this guy hosts a big-time baseball show. Does he really think the Braves are in the American League or was that a misremembrance?
we need manny or tex.
i see our lineup struggling.
“Wait a minute….Posada doesn’t walk enough? He may be slow, but, he draws his walks. He’s not a #3 hitter, but, lack of walks isn’t the reason.”
I love how everyone on this board seems to have forgotten that we are posting our opinions. Our opinions, not anyone else’s! I don’t think that Jorge walks enough for a 3 hole hitter. I didn’t say he didn’t walk at all. I didn’t even say he didn’t walk a lot. I said he didn’t walk *enough*.
Geez, is today pick on Laura day?
Does Karl also forget that we were missing Jorge for almost the entire season. Hopefully he will be healthy and return to form.
“LOL. They’ve got 2 pitchers to cover 600-650 innings?!”
The mets could be set up to commit one of the great logical fallacies of modern baseball.
The notion that you can have a strong bull pen without a starting staff that provides innings.
That’s possible – but only if you have a great deal of bull pen depth. The yankees got by that way last year.
But the idea that somehow getting KRod and Putz solves their bull pen problems is crazy.
KRod makes them no better than they were last season – he just gets them back to where they were before Wagner gets injured.
Putz is a major upgrade. But he’s not going to be enough. In particular, if they lose perez they could struggle to get innings.
Bullpens are built on depth – both in the pen and in the rotation.
If they only get Putz without complementing him with better relievers and without adding depth to the staff they are still going to have problems.
They really should have taken a flier on Jeremy Affeldt as a complementary piece.
Teams fall in love every winter with the big move and then just ignore many of the smaller moves that would maximize the leverage those big players provide.
Is the Yankees offense better than the Tampa offense that went to the WS this past year?
I’d have to give that a resounding yes.
“I love how you ignored my comment about Cano needing to gain some discipline or did your PC cut that part off?”
didnt ignore it, but i love how Cano is just going to learn plate discipline, and he’s going to learn it in time for next season… if only it were that easy.
Verducci predicted the USA WBC Team
A plethora of good to choose from but here’s his guess:
C- Mauer and McCann
IF- Berkman, Pedroia, Jeter, Wright, Longoria, M. Young, Chipper (DH)
OF- Granderson, Sizemore, Upton, Hamilton
P- Lidge, Lee, Papelbon, Webb, Nathan + + + + +
Lincecum and Halladay said they don’t want to play but Team USA is trying to change their mind. They’re not sure if pitchers who changed teams are going to get the teams blessing to go or if they want them to come to spring training to get acclimated. Also, any player who spent 90 days on the DL in 2008 or had off season surgery is not eligible. Anyone who spent 45 days on the DL needs teams permission to play.
point taken Wave Your Hat.
I don’t think the Marte money is in the discussion with preventing a Tex deal though.
I find it semi-amusing that the Yanks are balking at the Cameron deal over $$ also. If that’s the only roadblock, I think they’ll make the deal.
Though like you said middle relievers are unreliable. That said, a guy who has been consistent over a long period of time like Marte may be worth even more.
it is not the numbers it is the feel i have about the team.
swisher,cano,matsui,nady,posada,jeter.
it does’t feel like it is built well.
ALso if memory serves me Bostons pen was awful last year. First the guy thinks that the Braves are an AL team, than he thinks the Mets pen is suddenly as good as ours…
“Our opinions, not anyone else’s! I don’t think that Jorge walks enough for a 3 hole hitter. I didn’t say he didn’t walk at all. I didn’t even say he didn’t walk a lot. I said he didn’t walk enough.
Geez, is today pick on Laura day?”
No one’s picking on you Laura. Just expressing our opinion that you are wrong if you think Jorge doesn’t walk enough. Jorge has a lifetime .277 BA and a lifetime .380 OBP. That is a tremendous amount of walks.
Paul O’neill was the 3 hitter for the Yankees for a number of years and his lifetime OBP isn’t close to Jorge’s.
Laura – Welcome, CC!
December 11th, 2008 at 3:35 pm
“Wait a minute….Posada doesn’t walk enough? He may be slow, but, he draws his walks. He’s not a #3 hitter, but, lack of walks isn’t the reason.”
I love how everyone on this board seems to have forgotten that we are posting our opinions. Our opinions, not anyone else’s! I don’t think that Jorge walks enough for a 3 hole hitter. I didn’t say he didn’t walk at all. I didn’t even say he didn’t walk a lot. I said he didn’t walk enough.
Geez, is today pick on Laura day?
————————————————————
I’m not disputing your opinion. I’m disputing the facts that you’re using to support your opinion.
CB,
You can probably argue that NL league teams need an even stronger bullpen that their AL counterparts.
I think I called it (small pat), that the Philly bullpen would be a major factor in the world series against the Rays.
In fact, Maddon may way to re-think his new-age thinking regarding his bullpen. I realize that the closer was injured, but they should’ve designated the roles more clearly. Closing by committee didn’t work out too well.
“Steiny (NYC): Do the Mets have the best bullpen in baseball?
Karl Ravech: (3:24 PM ET ) it’s as good as any, yankees, red sox, angels.. ”
How the hell does he have a job ! you got be kidding me, K-Rod dropped off in velocity can’t really pitch on back to backs, Putz has an elbow issue dropped 5 mph on his velocity…. I don’t even want to get into this.
P.S. The quote of the day
“Philly can talk the talk…..you know what you need to put this nonsense to rest w/ them !”
-Darryl “3:16″ Strawberry
“ALso if memory serves me Bostons pen was awful last year. ”
I dont think it was awful. Once they added Masterson to the pen, they were pretty good. They still had holes for sure, but Masterson saved that pen.
Get out of here Giambi.
Though that would solve our DH problem when Matsui leaves next year. Wonder what we can get for Matsui
Ariel,
Don’t you dare leave here. I enjoy your posts.
how do you guys feel about this batting order
LF: Damon
SS: Jeter
C: Jorge
3B: Arod
RF: Nady
DH: Matsui
2B: Cano
CF: Cameron(if the deal goes final)
1B: Swisher
to me that looks like a pretty good order
–
scary line up with not enough pop and certainly no speed in the middle. Not enough walks out of the 3 hole. Posada would be a DP machine there.
We need Tex or Manny in the middle. With Tex he would bat 3 and with Manny Arod would bat 3.
Damon DH
Jeter SS
Tex 1B
Arod 3B
Posada C
Swisher RF
Nady LF
Cano 2B
Gardner CF
Trade Matsui
“I find it semi-amusing that the Yanks are balking at the Cameron deal over $$ also. If that’s the only roadblock, I think they’ll make the deal.”
I see how you’re thinking. On the other hand, if the Yanks go ahead and sign two more pitchers of the quality of Burnette/Lowe/Sheets, the addition of Cameron would put their payroll close to 2008 levels. So I wonder.
if tex or manny don’t sign, then arod should hit third and matsui cleanup
The # hitter generally goes to the best combination average/power OB guy. Not always, but, usually. The #2 guy is the one that can run and move the ball around, take a few pitches to let the leadoff guy run. The real power spots are 4 and 5.
I think the offense we have right now is good enough to win it all. Provided of course, we have a rotation of CC, Wang, AJ, Joba, Pettite.
The #3 hitter
Even though the Yankees were on Cameron’s trail for a while, I don’t think they’ll be very upset if the trade is not consummated. There are other trades, other FA OF with power bats who haven’t signed, and they may want to see what Gardner can do.
However, it was a very excellent opportunity for them to deal Melky. Once you find a taker for a 4th OF, you’ve got to do it.
“Once you find a taker for a 4th OF, you’ve got to do it.”
Well put, Mel.
“I find it semi-amusing that the Yanks are balking at the Cameron deal over $$ also. If that’s the only roadblock, I think they’ll make the deal.”
I think it’s a substantial roadblock personally. The Brewers are asking for Melky plus another prospect and they want the Yankees to eat all the money on the contract. That’s asking for a lot in my opinion.
“A plethora of good to choose from but here’s his guess:
C- Mauer and McCann
IF- Berkman, Pedroia, Jeter, Wright, Longoria, M. Young, Chipper (DH)
OF- Granderson, Sizemore, Upton, Hamilton
P- Lidge, Lee, Papelbon, Webb, Nathan + + + + + ”
Yeah I don’t care much about the WBC but the USA should be able to put a great team out there.
I like the names mentioned but what about Rollins, Howard, Braun, Holliday, Sabathia, Haren, Beckett, etc?
I think the offense we have right now is good enough to win it all. Provided of course, we have a rotation of CC, Wang, AJ, Joba, Pettite.
—
yeah, we will be playing 3-2 games … yawn
I want 7-2 games
“I see how you’re thinking. On the other hand, if the Yanks go ahead and sign two more pitchers of the quality of Burnette/Lowe/Sheets, the addition of Cameron would put their payroll close to 2008 levels. So I wonder.”
true, but cameron is a 1yr fix. 1yr deals for those types of players are fantastic. low risk and leave plenty of flexibility. it leaves the door open for another FA signing next season or a prospect to take over. if cameron leaves, he may even be a type B and get them a draft pick.
“it was a very excellent opportunity for them to deal Melky. Once you find a taker for a 4th OF, you’ve got to do it.”
Melky only has one option left. They should trade him now before he becomes a very forced move.
I don’t see how they ask the brewers to toss in money for cameron unless the brewerers were asking for a very good pitching prospect thrown in along with Melky.
Back to Pete’s post…if he had rotations into and out of the lineup and “kept the troops fresh,” wouldn’t the players and media throw a fit? Wasn’t Pete one of the writers who reported that anonymous players didn’t like the constant line-up changes and even spoke to Girardi about it?
“The Brewers are asking for Melky plus another prospect and they want the Yankees to eat all the money on the contract. That’s asking for a lot in my opinion.”
well, it depends on the prospect so yes. looking at it as melky for cameron straight up, the $$ shouldn’t be as big of a deal. CF seems to be a commodity this season and cameron is one of the most easily attainable options for the yankees, not to mention they have liked him for quite a while.
lol. That edes guy is saying Boras is using the media to ratchet up Tex’s price. Nah?! Word is, too, that they’ll want an opt-out from the Nats. That’s very good news. How about a 1-year opt-out? Do you want Matsui-san’s locker or Damon’s?
Back in 2000 when they signed Giambi I never even considered that baseball players would use steroids. Oakland’s ‘bash brothers’ to me were legit. I have a friend who grew up idolizing Jose Canseco. When we inked Giambi I thought he was the most sure-thing in the game and the money didn’t matter at all.
He hit something like .344 in his last year with Oakland. He hit to all fields and always stayed healthy. I got choked up when he wore 25 in honor of Mickey Mantle. ‘Look dad, I’m a Yankee’. What an awesome moment for Yankees baseball.
Only a couple short years late he was asked by Cashman and Torre to accept an assignment to AAA Columbus. Despite being a great clubhouse guy and someone any fan could picture hanging out with, he never lived up to expectations and never won his ring.
Definitely a sad ending to what I thought would be a brilliant Yankee career.
I don’t really get the obsession many of you have with who the #3 hitter will be. Usually your best hitter should be #3 and that’s A-rod.
Damon
Jeter
A-rod
Matsui
Posada
Cano
Swisher
Nady
Cameron/Gardner (please get this trade done Cashman!)
“I see how you’re thinking. On the other hand, if the Yanks go ahead and sign two more pitchers of the quality of Burnette/Lowe/Sheets, the addition of Cameron would put their payroll close to 2008 levels. So I wonder.”
true, but cameron is a 1yr fix. 1yr deals for those types of players are fantastic. low risk and leave plenty of flexibility. it leaves the door open for another FA signing next season or a prospect to take over. if cameron leaves, he may even be a type B and get them a draft pick.
—
Save the money from Cameron and put it towards Tex. We could live with Melk/gard in CF for now.
How many times has our payroll decreased from year to year? Especially moving nto the new cash cow stadium.
Karl Ravech is doing a live chat?
And why isin’t he using capital letters or punctuation?
“I think it’s a substantial roadblock personally. The Brewers are asking for Melky plus another prospect and they want the Yankees to eat all the money on the contract. That’s asking for a lot in my opinion.”
Well, perhaps, but I doubt if you could give Melky away among the people who post on Pete’s blog.
this is from the post
BREAKING: CASHMAN FLYING TO MEET WITH PETTITTE
CB, Seriously I just want them to get that deal done. Give them Melky and a crappy pitching prospect and eat the money. $10 mil is a bargain.
Cash has to get another big hitter. He and Girardi keep saying they are happy with the lineup but I see them struggling again. Everyone keeps saying as long as Gardner hits .260, Nady and Swish have this average. But they need these guys to hit GOOD pitching not just pitching. These guys will hit the Orioles and Royals 5th starter but can they hit good pitching? There is a big difference between just hitting and hitting good starters when it counts. Yanks didn’t hit good pitching at all last year. Abreu is a big guy to lose if he and Giambi are going to be replaced with nobodies. I hope Cash addresses that.
Turntables,
This is for you:
fill thine horn with oil… and gooooooo: hey guys i miss hearing ravy say that anyways how would you rate my marlins offseason so far? do you see any potential FA signings? and will maybin hit the ground running in 09?
Karl Ravech: ravvy never says that, because i’m ravvy and i know what i say..the marlins are in a bad position because they can’t compete financially..their big contract was for hanley ramirez and compare his 70 million to cc’s 161 million
YankeeRay,
if the Yanks got Tex, it would be great…. but we said the same thing when we got Giambi. avoiding 10yr contracts is probably a good idea. Even ARod’s contract is a little scary and he is supposed to be as much of a lock as it gets.
Again, I dont think 1yr/$10M is enough to change the Yankees thinking on signing Tex to 10/$200 (or more)
sometimes the small moves you make (Cameron, resigning Marte, Swisher, etc) are just as important as the big ones.
link to Cash meeting with Pettitte
http://www.nypost.com/seven/12.....143723.htm
I don’t think there’s really any space for Giambi on the roster. He’s given us a respectiable seven years and despite the steroid and injury business in 03 and 04, he wore the Pinstripes well. We got the OBP and a good clubhouse prssence and he entertained Pete and the rest of the Press Corps. Wherever Giambi plays, I hope he keeps the ‘stache. I know other teams allow goatees and beards but the ‘stache must stay. I hope he doesn’t get one of those Mohawks that the Rays have.
pat
December 11th, 2008 at 3:38 pm
Verducci predicted the USA WBC Team
A plethora of good to choose from but here’s his guess:
————————————————————
“Plethora”…now there’s a word that doesn’t get tossed around on a baseball board very often. It’s been so long that I thought you were swearing at us.
Please, No more Giambi!!!
Bring Back Abreu instead!!
I’d be very curious to see who we’d be batting 3rd if the season started tomorrow.
Patrick, run your salary spreadsheet.
Payroll is holding this deal up. The Yanks may still want two more pitchers. I don’t think the issue is Melky.
I like the Giambino,,,,however Matsui is so much better as an all around ball player & a much better hitter…..
“Seriously I just want them to get that deal done.”
I think they will. Just a guess but I have a feeling that they think there is no substantial trade market for Cameron and that the brewers won’t want to pay him.
He’s 12% of their payroll. I think they picked up his option on the off chance CC resigns and if not to trade him.
Cameron has a no trade clause and is making $10M. I don’t think there’s going to be a lot of places to send him.
That’s my only guess for why they would drive such a hard bargain with the brewers. The brewers were understandably livid, particularly the day after they lost CC on an offer 60% higher.
The yankees are not going to go into the season with Gardner as the CF. I think that’s clear.
jorge posada walks more than your average 3rd place hitter, he has finished in the top 6 3 times in the past 8 seasons, his lifetime obp is 380…compare that to Don Mattingly’s 358.
Jorge Posada might not walk enough for a 3rd place hitter in your opinion, but the stats do not reflect that.
Boston Dave, but Giambi turned into a steroid benefitting player who was slow and not the defensive player that Tex is.
they are similar in how they work the pitcher but that is it.
Tex gives us a great defender a better runner and someone who hits from both sides of the plate minimizing Giambis weakness against left handers. He also appears to be clean and high character.
Did I convince you yet?
how does a swap for Edwin Jackson for Matt Joyce makes sense? Jackson stinks, if that’s the case we could had swap Igawa for him.
Everybody talks about the Yankees “lack” of offense.
However, if Posada and Matsui are back, you mean to tell me, a lineup with Arod, Jeter, Damon, Matsui, Posada, Cano, Swisher, Nady, and (perhaps) Cameron, won’t be able to score runs?
Additionally, couldn’t one argue that a staff which includes Chamberlain, Wang and Sabathia, plus two others, will give up less runs than a year ago?
Too many people are fixated on the all star at every position concept.
Their lineup, as presently constituted, while not a 1000 run lineup, is better than the Rays lineup that went to the World Series.
To paraphrase James Carville, its the starting pitching stupid.
If they add two more starters, they will have enough offense to win games. Especially considering their starting rotation will be markedly better than a year ago.
That’s assuming they don’t add another bat. Which, may not be the case between now and spring training.
I think it is possible that Pettitte is the key to Cameron.
The Yanks seem to want two more pitchers.
Burnett and Lowe will cost them in the neighborhood of $33MM-$34MM per year. If they can get Pettitte at a salary closer to the Yanks’ offered $10MM than Pettitte’s desired $16MM, that will free up $$ which can be spent on Cameron.
If they can’t get Pettitte at the Yanks price, and go with two of AJ/Lowe/Sheets, I don’t think they’ll want to spring for Cameron.
Haha my patented salary spreadsheet where half the numbers are pulled out of my you-know-what.
I actually made a post about this earlier today. If the Yankees trade for Cameron, sign Burnett and sign Pettitte the payroll will be about $205 million. That’s just slightly less than the 2008 payroll.
I think the best move would be to go for Cameron, get the Brewers to take some of the money if possible. I’d also probably sign Burnett but not Pettitte. The Yankees might have to go with someone like Paul Byrd to fill that last spot in the rotation. When you’ve got guys like Sabathia, Wang, Burnett and Chamberlain, the last spot doesn’t matter nearly as much.
Got to bring back PEDitte
Cashman flying to Pettite is a great gesture. If we offer him 10 mill with some reachable incentives then it is a fair deal for both teams. If he says no then move on to sheets or give Hughes the chance again.
I think Andy will say yes especially once Cash tells him that we will be signing Tex or Manny as well. Who wouldn’t want to be a part of that?
Sign Giambi? A one dimensional .250 hitter? One who either homers, walks or makes outs and double plays strictly hitting into the over shifted defense? One who plods around the bases and may actually be slower than Posada & Matsui pre-knee surgery? One who thus wasn’t much of a hitting threat behind A-Rod in the lineup? One who made several times his actual worth over the years? One who first signed a contract with the team based on steroid inflated numbers he couldn’t duplicate after quitting steroids?
Sure … and while we’re at it, let’s offer Carl Pavano a new 3-year deal for less money than he used to make, and hope he’s suddenly the final workhorse we need for the revamped rotation. Think of all the money the team would save.
Just read this,
“According to Yahoo! Sports, two top executives with one of the teams chasing Mark Teixeira expressed frustration Thursday that it appeared the Boras camp was using the media to ratchet up the price beyond what any team had actually offered.”
Haha what do they expect? That’s what happens when you deal with Boras. Hate the guy as much as you want but he really is a brilliant agent.
Thats what I get for not checking to see if Pete had posted anything new…
I think Wave is correct re: Cameron and Pettitte.
They are pretty set in their offer to Pettitte. Don’t see it changing much.
If he refuses, I think they move on.
They may give the money to Sheets or bite the entire bullet on Cameron and have Hughes, Kennedy and Aceves fight it out for the 5th spot in the rotation.
Assuming of course, the Burnett deal is done. If it is, Andy has little or no leverage if he wants to stay in NY.
If it isn’t, Andy has more leverage.
“Too many people are fixated on the all star at every position concept”
Amen! Just look at Tampa’s lineup that went to the WS. Especially their outfield, which was not great. Crawford had a down season. As good as Upton was in the playoffs he wasn’t that lethal through 162 and they had a number of people in and out of RF.
All you need is a good rotation and pen and decent fielding and offense and you can go far.
I didn’t expect to read the “bye Jason” comments, that really blew me away…
so we’re fine with…
Damon
Jeter/Ransom
Nady
Rodriguéz
Cano MR.0-2/Ransom
Posada – Shoulder
Swisher – Giambi Lite
Melky/Gardner
Who’s in RF?
and they aren’t going after Teixiera…
just send cano , melky, kennedy shelly duncan igwa horne for prince fielder cameron and hall
then sign hudson for 2nd base
give then nady too
cc and fielder = care bears
cant see anything wrong with brining giambi back long as he knows hes not an every day player giambi can still homer he doesnt hit for avg but i think he would be a good bench player/spot start for us i mean seriously you want ransom off the bench in the 9th or giambi? if giambi will agree to less money and can accept hes not an everyday starter the problem is???
damon lf, jeter ss,fielder,1b, arod,3b,matsui,dh posada,c hall,rf cmaeron,cf hudson,2b
I think the longer Giambi is out there the more likely he comes back.Tex and Manny aren’t coming.I’m all for the 5 for 4 spots theory because someone can get hurt and it provides rest.
Are you guys serious about Giambi? Let’s shift focus to pitching. Why don’t we disect the performance of Burnett over his career! The man has only pitched 200+ innings 3 times all in contract years. He is 11 games over .500 and 8 of those 11 came this year! Surprisingly again in a contract year. This guy wants 5 years at $16 + per! Are you kidding me? Why not make a trade for Oswalt. Burnett needs to go to the braves if he wants to have an era under 4.00.
C.C. will be gone after 3 years!! BIG BUST!!