Yankees make no arbitration offers
Posted by: Chad Jennings - Posted in Misc on Dec 01, 2009 
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Joel Sherman of the Post is reporting (tweeting?) that the Yankees have decided not to offer arbitration to any of their free agents.
UPDATE, 5:03 p.m.: A few minutes later comes official word from the Yankees: The Yankees announced today they will not offer arbitration to any eligible players (OF Johnny Damon, INF/OF Jerry Hairston Jr., INF/OF Eric Hinske, DH Hideki Matsui, C Jose Molina, OF Xavier Nady and LHP Andy Pettitte).
Not a big surprise. I thought Damon was a possibility, but the Yankees probably have a better feel for just how much Damon would have made in arbitration. I still don’t think it would have been the worst-case scenario, but there would have been some risk involved. None of the others made sense as arbitration possibilities.
Time for a post about Tommy Henrich. Come on guys.
Well that isn’t surprising.
About what I expected from Cashman. He doesn’t have to make a gamble like offering arbitration to Damon.
Predictable, but I still wanted to see Damon get an offer.
Not surprised at all.
With things the way they are right now, Boras would’ve thought Christmas came early if they did offer Damon arbitration.
i would have offered johnny arbitration.
jonathon i read that he would have gotten a pay raise to about 16 million. that is why you don’t offer.
Damon has a tough time in LF & a year older won’t help, possible part time DH & LF maybe but for how much money…Would like to move Melky over to LF and get a CF….They will bring Andy back.
don’t understand not offering Damon arb //
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Let’s say another team out there offers Damon an Abreu contract for two years at 9M/year and the Yankees offer arbitration. Boras might suggest, like he did with Maddux to take arbitration because you will probably get a raise of 20% which makes the year contract worth 15.6M, and file for FA following year. That would hamper the Yankees, because they could easily have spent that money on another FA-Bay at 16M, Holliday at 18M, or whatever!!
So we’re going to be waiting while Andy dithers over whether he wants to return? I love Andy, but his penchant for drawing this stuff out is annoying…..and Cash deciding that the Yankees are not going to do a thing until Andy decides is equally annoying. I don’t get how Andy can be the centerpiece of rebuilding a rotation. That tells me that there will be no Doc for sure. Also, why they are obsessed with lowering the payroll is beyond me……what the Yankees are essentially saying is what Yankee-haters have said for years, that they have bought championships. I mean, the team just raked in mucho diniero thanks to the WS and we’re going to not improve the team as much as possible in the name of lowering payroll? Fantastic…….
Pat, do you have a link to this news you posted about Cash? I’m not happy right now, lol.
thanks Yankee Trader
Pat M-
Thought you might be interested in Vernon Wells’ contract:
“The extension calls for a $25.5 million signing bonus, payable in three $8.5 million installments each March 1 in 2008, 2009 and 2010. He will receive a salary of just $500,000 in 2008 and $1.5 million in 2009, but his salary jumps to $12.5 million in 2010[plus 8.5M] and $23 million in 2011. Wells receives $21 million in each of the final three seasons.
Under the extension, Wells has the right to terminate his agreement after the 2011 season and become eligible for free agency. In addition, he will donate $143,000 annually to the Jays Care Foundation.”
Betsy, maybe Andy will surprise us and decide sooner than we think.
In any case, it’s pretty obvious they want him back, so the quicker he makes his mind up the better.
the Yankees will spend
It’s just like Abreu last year. You don’t want to offer arb. to a player that may very well accept. They would have had to offer 10.4 at a minimum. If Boras/Damon asked for 16M, they may well have gotten it, given that Damon’s numbers were better this year in many categories than they were in the years that got him the 13M per year deal. Chances are, they would be paying 13-16M for a player who will probably command no more than 8-10M per year on the open market. Maybe less if the Yanks are not involved at all.
Again, they are not spending money on the DH spot. That will be used for rotating the older players (mainly Jorge) and they’ll probably give Miranda 200-300 ABs.
I thought there was a chance they might offer to Damon but I’m not surprised. Looks like they’re going to keep all those options wide open. I doubt they’ll get Damon for only one year however.
Those quotes were from Francessa from the Cashman breakfast this morning, I think. Don’t think it was open to the media.
So lowering payroll is an admission of buying championships? But isn’t *not* lowering payroll also an admission? Like, we can’t do this again without reigning in our payroll? I don’t think the “buying championships” nonsense comes into play here at all. The Yankees want to field the best product for the least money to maximize what the big wigs can put in their pockets. Investing intelligently, vs. just throwing a ton of money around at the latest “hot” name, makes business sense, and is good for the team.
No arb for Nick Johnson.
“Again, they are not spending money on the DH spot. That will be used for rotating the older players (mainly Jorge)…”
And you know this how?
They must have thought that Damon would accept.
Guys like Molina, Hinske, Hairston, etc. can be cheaply replaced from within. The Yanks are no longer going to just hand out money for the sake of it. They will save where they can, and in this case, we can save on the bench by using our farm.
Phil
December 1st, 2009 at 5:17 pm
No arb for Nick Johnson.
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just heard he hurt his toe and is out until July
Yankee Trader,
If they sign Damon they don’t need Bay or Holliday…
Also why is Damon guaranteed a 20% raise? Arbitration is done by looking at stats and looking at how the player in question compares to other players in the league. Who hits as well as Damon, at his age and makes more money? His best comps are Raul Ibanez, Bobby Abreu and they both make less.
Well, as Chad says, Cashman has a better feeling for how much Damon would make than we do so perhaps I am wrong.
But even if Damon would have gotten $15 mil in arb, I would have taken that chance. You pay him a few mill extra but it’s only one year and the possible upside is 2 draft picks. With the kind of money the Yanks have, that’s a gamble they should take in my opinion.
NY Kicker
December 1st, 2009 at 5:17 pm
Guys like Molina, Hinske, Hairston, etc. can be cheaply replaced from within. The Yanks are no longer going to just hand out money for the sake of it. They will save where they can, and in this case, we can save on the bench by using our farm.
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just don’t bring back that guy that filled in for AROD early in the year
Not offering Damon arbitration was dumb…
Boras clients very rarely accept arb. Damon said he wants a multi-year deal, his agent wants one, and feels he can play for 10 years. His value is never going to be higher. He is only going to be a year older next year and if he gets injured, that could be it for him. This is his last chance to grab a multi-year deal. Also, if we offered him arb, the number of suitors after him would decrease. Teams won’t give up picks for a 37 yr old Damon.
Besides, having an overpriced Damon for 1 year is not the worst thing in the world if he does accept. It would buy us another year to find a long term solution. Also Damon is now more attractive to teams because he doesn’t require draft picks to sign.
Betsy-
Cano, Swisher and Jeter have raises due total 6.5M
Add arbitration eligible players Cabrera, Gaudin, Bruney and two that won’t be offered arbitration in Mitre and Wang.
Now if we don’t sign any of our players not offered arbitration, based on 2009 yankee salaries we’re likely starting at around 170M, and every dollar above that is an added 40% in luxury tax.
Home attendance was down, but ticket prices were up, so I don’t have a clue what renenue they brought in. I have read that Hal would like to below the salary of 2009.
If that’s the case we need a LF’er, two starters, a DH, maybe a backup catcher, an all purpose utility player all for 30-35M before luxury tax.
Arbitration doesn’t work that way with free agents. Everyone seems to think it works the same as when the players are still under team control, such as Wang. It doesn’t.
When a FA player is offered arbitration the team and player can either come to an agreement about what the salary will be, OR they go to an arbiter.
If it goes to an arbiter, the team and the player submit their salary proposal and the arbiter decides which salary is closest to what the player should get.
In this case, figure the Yankees submitted 10 million, Damon submitted 16 million. If the arbiter thinks Damon’s value is around 14 million, the salary that Damon submitted would be the salary. If the arbiter feels that Damon’s value is closer to 12 million, the Yankees salary of 10 million would be the number.
With FA that accept arbitration there is no restriction on the reduction asked for by the team nor the raise asked for by the player.
That is different than players that remain under the control of the team. There the 20% rule comes into play as per the union agreement.
Damon can hit & run ..but who don’t hold his or her breath everytime the ball goes anywhere near him
“So we’re going to be waiting while Andy dithers over whether he wants to return? I love Andy, but his penchant for drawing this stuff out is annoying…..and Cash deciding that the Yankees are not going to do a thing until Andy decides is equally annoying. I don’t get how Andy can be the centerpiece of rebuilding a rotation. That tells me that there will be no Doc for sure. Also, why they are obsessed with lowering the payroll is beyond me……what the Yankees are essentially saying is what Yankee-haters have said for years, that they have bought championships. I mean, the team just raked in mucho diniero thanks to the WS and we’re going to not improve the team as much as possible in the name of lowering payroll? Fantastic…….”
So much wrong with this post.
Why does it annoy you that they’re waiting? They waited last year and still signed both Burnett and Sabathia, so waiting has hurt them how?
How does them waiting on Andy mean their will be no Doc? Where’s the correlation?
They are not “rebuilding a rotation” They already have a number 1 and a number 2 and Joba and Hughes. What is their to rebuild exactly?
Do you know offhand what the payroll will be next year? How are you so sure they’re going to lower it at all?
Does anyone here know for sure that they aren’t going to resign Damon?
They didn’t offer arb to Pettitte last year, and signed where again?
Patrick-
You make a good point on keeping Damon if he accepts arbitration, even if it costs 15M. However if the White Sox sign him, as reported having interest, their 1st round pick is protected.
“Does anyone here know for sure that they aren’t going to re-sign Damon?”
Of course, not, but I suppose your post was meant to rhetorical.
Betsy,
I think you need to give Pettitte a break because Cashman will talk to his ownership later this week and get his offseason plans and payroll structure approved. Once that’s done he will contact Pettitte, Damon, Matsui and such to determine their interest in returning to the Yankees, but only if both parties can agree to the parameters of a contract.
Miranda gets 300 ABs next season? That’s news…
The Yankees can afford to wait on Andy because it is better than giving John Lackey a big contract or trading top prospects for Doc.
“The Yankees can afford to wait on Andy because it is better than giving John Lackey a big contract or trading top prospects for Doc.”
It may not be either or.
Miranda = Babe Ruth?
“You make a good point on keeping Damon if he accepts arbitration, even if it costs 15M. However if the White Sox sign him, as reported having interest, their 1st round pick is protected.”
Well they would still get 2 picks, just not a first rounder.
Those quotes were from the Cashman breakfast
With regards to Halladay, if he truly wants to stay in the AL, and with a team that has spring training in Florida, I think Hal will OK a payroll increase for a starting pitcher.
I would reject any plans to trade either Hughes, Joba, Montero and even Ajax for a 33 yo pitcher wanting a 4-5 year extension for 23M/year.
Oh, how I hate when I fail to notice a new thread!)
Repost:
Nick in SF -
We went to a rotating restaurant in EPCOT in Disney World. Food was “eh,” and there wasn’t much to see in the rotation. It was a novelty.
Seems to me, there should be some really incredible panoramic view for it to be worth it, plus the meal needs to take at least as long as one revolution
Sorry for being clueless, but can someone explain to me what exaclty arbitration is?
Cashman is on his own timetable, not ours, regardless of how anxious, bored, impatient, etc., we all are. This has been the slowest off-season in a while. No one wants to set the market, is what I’m thinking. Everyone is waiting for the other person.
Well, the winter meetings begin next week, and surely there will be news, if not some real action.
It’s only December 1.
Betsy, don’t get discouraged.
Was anyone offered arbitration today, on any team?
Lexie R, the link below is an “arbitration primer” posted at MLB Traderumors. It gives what the arbitration process is, how it works.
In brief its a process used to get players and owners to settle a salary for a player when the two sides cannot come to an agreement. Most times Free Agents do not accept arbitration. Many times FAs that do accept arbitration come to an agreement with the owners on salary before going through the full process.
http://www.mlbtraderumors.com/.....rimer.html
@Doreen: So what you’re saying is, you want a dedicated DH with pop, not some rotating novelty act that would leave us queasy and unsatisfied come October?
I agree.
Doreen, there are some who have been offered arbitration. The latest is Pudge Rodriguez from the Rangers (this is a big surprise).
It seems that more teams are not offering, at least so far. The economy has the teams being very careful with this.
Ray, if they are waiting to see what Andy decides…..then they may find that the moves they want to make aren’t available to them. I used the term “rebuild” because that’s how Pat put it in the prior thread…I don’t get how Andy is the linchpin of a rebuilt rotation -that’s all. Don’t kill the messenger, lol – that’s basically coming from the horse’s mouth.
As for the payroll, I’m not saying the team should spend unwisely and just burn $$, but I don’t get the need to lower payroll just to say they lowered it. If they don’t make a move that could help substantially because it might hurt in the pocket a bit, that could come back and bite them.
Craw, I understand that it hasn’t been all that long since the end of the season – it’s fine that Andy take some time to decide. I just hope he doesn’t take forever…which he often does.
Nick in SF -
Absolutely!!!
And if we get a trip to Disney World out of it (or, for me, better would be Disneyland) all the better!!!!
Nick I know you’re trying buddy but the rotation restaurant joke just isn’t working
Don’t worry, you still have more hits than Jose Molina and less misses than Alfonso Soriano
I think declining arbitration tells Boras that the Yankees are prepared to move on. It does, however, make Damon more attractive as a free agent. I’m beginning to feel he will not come back. I hope Cashman has a good alternative.
Al and Odyssey, thanks!
I’m not surprised the Yanks didn’t offer Damon arbitration and I’m fine with it……I’m not interested in paying him $15-17 million for 2010.
Jet lag?
Al, also….the Yanks I think intend to sign another SP even if Andy does re-up
If Hal is tightening the perse strings, then maybe we should forget about Chapman and expect him to go to the Sox…..
highly doubt cashman goes into next year with jobber AND hughes penciled in the rotation
2008 still rings loud… fool me once…….
so all of a sudden the yankees are looking to lower payroll!?!?!
maybe then they can start with NOT giving Jeter a 4 year contract worth 20 million a year…i love the guy and he’s a top 10 yankee of all time – but if you are crying poverty then pay the guy what he’s worth – about 8 – 10 million a year …12 at most….
YankeeTrader nailed it. You pocket the 15.6 and use it somewhere else. No reason to pay out Damon nearly the same amount Abreu got from the Angels when you only get Damon for 1 year and Abreu is locked down for 2. It’s not a wise way to spend money. I don’t care what some may say about Damon being a good ‘fit’ for the team’s plans moreso than Holliday.
If you look up “God awful contract” in baseball’s dictionary, you’re going to find a picture of Vernon Wells staring back at you. Who backloads a contract? Riccardi thought that Wells would get more valuable with age? Unreal.
Harden or Sheets would be nice. I like Harden Alot.
I have a feeling Cashman WILL go into 2010 with Hughes and Joba penciled into the rotation, especially since they have been groomed for a couple years now and the pitching depth in the minors has improved vastly since their initiation into the majors. Guys like McAllister and Kennedy are waiting patiently for their turn.
Not to mention maybe Cashman feels Wang can regain his old form by mid-season.
I don’t think the yankees are crying poverty. I do think they are getting tired of subsidizing teams who still end up crying about being small market and at a competitive disadvantage, and all that.
the Yankees will always pay a luxury tax to some extent, but I think they just want it manageable.
It hurts them competitively to continue to foot the bill for teams like the Rays, who take their money PLUS get great draft picks.
There’s nothing wrong with trying to find that magic budget number that they can live with.
They also know what their expenses are coming up in the next several years, and there’s nothing wrong with trying to forecast what their spending will be at that time.
I also think the Yankees will do whatever they need to do to put a winning team on the field and that their bottom line number is a flexible one depending on the player they’re contemplating and other factors.
Still can’t believe A-Rod signed with Texas
I have a commercial break for you. Some of you may remember our discussion about the best stuff to put on french fries? Guess what made the Daily News’s Top 20 “worst foods for your health”?
http://www.nydailynews.com/lif....._food.html
You have to go to #7…
If this rivetting information was already reported here, my apologies.
Bret-
You must be listening to Peter Gammons on XM MLB Sports radio, who actually believes Toronto might keep Halladay when they can’t get Bucholtz, Joba or Hughes.
If we want a high risk/reward pitcher, just bring back Wang. He wants to come back, has proven he can thrive here, and will probably be the cheapest.
Nat
December 1st, 2009 at 6:28 pm
If we want a high risk/reward pitcher, just bring back Wang. He wants to come back, has proven he can thrive here, and will probably be the cheapest.
********************
I would love the Yankees to work out something with Wang.
From Sherman -
3. At this point I would not be surprised if Derek Jeter won the Heisman Trophy, too.
Trisha-
The quadruple bypass burger, #16, at only $12.95 looks like a steal.
Doreen, of course I agree about the Yankees footing the bill for these pathetic franchises. It’s unfair to the Yankees, the Sox, the Mets, etc……that those small-time teams pocket the revenue and have no interest in improving their teams. THOSE teams are bad for baseball, not the Yankees. I just don’t see a need to reduce the payroll for the heck of it IF by doing so it hurts the team.
When I posted that rant, I just came out of a stressful argument with someone at work, so I probably should have cooled down first. As I have posted many times, I completely trust Cashman…….We know where he is at, but I guess we’ll find out in the next few years where Hal is at (what his priorities are and such).
Trisha-it’s a bad thing that I’m getting hungry looking at that list, right? The fried pizza looks really good.
If Hal is tightening the perse strings, then maybe we should forget about Chapman and expect him to go to the Sox…
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may not be a bad idea. Would rather take that money and spread it around for a bunch of IFA’s
I’m not sure if Damon would have accepted arb – I doubt it because at his age, he wants security. If he accepted arb and then got hurt next year, his value would plummet. He wants to strike while the iron is hot – he’s not going to be better next year than this, most likely. However, again, I’ve no problem with the Yankees not offering it. It’s no guarantee Damon would turn it down and it’s never a good idea to offer something that you really don’t want the other person to accept.
Rosenthal likes to spout rumors:-Says the Red Sox seriously going to pursue Harden who was a Type B not offered arbitration.
This one actually makes sense!
I wouldn’t expect Kevin Towers to be joining the Yankees; Hal is not going spend a lot of $$$ to bring him in and Towers is going to demand a lot of $$$.
I wouldn’t expect Kevin Towers to be joining the Yankees; Hal is not going spend a lot of $$$ to bring him in and Towers is going to demand a lot of $$$
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he is?
Tricia, After reading that, I don’t feel so bad after my trip to Nathans for a kraut dog with fries…..Then of course I just had to have a NY ptrezel before going into the Garden …..You have a nice Thanksgiving ???
YankeeTrader,
I haven’t but I do love satellite radio. A friend of mine has it.
I personally believe the Yankees feel comfortable enough with Joba and Hughes and the rest of the young arms that give us newfound depth…but I wouldn’t be surprised if the Jays keep Halladay and he does waive his no-trade clause when push comes to shove.
At this years deadline, if Joba and/or Hughes are struggling, Wang lost forever and McAllister/Kennedy unready, then a deal will be there for Cashman at the deadline to bolster the rotation with, if not Halladay, then Josh Johnson or Haren or somebody else.
I think the Yankees can bring back the same pitching rotation, add R. Soriano to the pen and improve the defense in all 3 OF spots if they sign Holliday, trade for Granderson and move Melky to RF with Swisher to DH.
Essentially, they’d be replacing Damon and Matsui’s offense with Granderson and Holliday while improving the pen with Soriano, Mo, a healthy Marte and a more proven Robertson and upgrading the entire outfield defensively.
The key to next season will be the maturation of Joba, Phil, Kennedy and McAllister and possibly the return of Wang.
Has anyone seen John Henry’s comments on Revenue Sharing/Luxury tax?
Apparently he is not pleased with the teams that pocket their money.
Sorry if this was discussed.
Hal needs to stop being cheap. Give Ca$hmoney as much $$$ as he wants. Let him decide the payroll, not you.
Don’t get me wrong. I’d love to keep jobber around but I don’t understand refusing to trade him of it gets you halladay.. Joba is talented and he may turn into a good pitcher but with him I think there’s just as good of a chance he ends up being a relief pitcher or a mediocre starter. I think its worth risking…
http://mlb.fanhouse.com/2009/1.....-proposal/
John Henry on Revenue sharing
The Jets brought in Girardi to teach Sanchez how to slide?
If the Yankees feel prepared to trade Joba or Hughes, I’d rather they target a younger pitcher and put together a package for someone like J. Johnson, F. Hernandez or even Danny Haren (who’s 29).
That’s not to say I’m not worried about Joba and Phil locking down their spots in the rotation and showing that their stuff is good enough to help the team win consistently when they start.
“The Jets brought in Girardi to teach Sanchez how to slide?”
Melky Cabrera was unavailable.
If everyone here wants to trade Joba over Hughes… then why would Toronto want Joba over Hughes?
If all the fans think he is the guy to get rid of over Hughes, then wouldn’t Toronto feel the same way about acquiring him?
Riccardi wanted Hughes over Joba last year as it is, at least that is what was reported.
Uncle E -
THAT is where I possibly see MLB making some changes. When a team like the Red Sox talks about the problem of the “lesser” teams pocketing money, surely it will become an issue.
The Yankees can’t (and usually don’t) complain all that loudly – it would SEEM disingenuous. They are the biggest spender and the biggest money maker. But the Red Sox aren’t at the very top, spending-wise, and so, attention will probably be paid.
If the idea is to make teams more competitive and baseball has gone out of its way to take from the haves to give to the have-nots so that they can field a more competitive baseball team, and then do not do so, that is a real problem. And then for those have-not teams to still cry, poor us, poverty, we can’t possibly compete, well, then, THAT is disingenuous, and MLB’s master plan is not working and it’s not the fault of the “haves.”
It’s not the over-spending that’s a problem but the underspending.
Betsy -
Towers might not be out of the question. It might just be player payroll that is being tightly held. Are executive salaries counted in the luxury tax figure? If they aren’t, then I don’t see why there would be a roadblock to trying to hire Towers.
Bill, you make a good point and I’m sure they would prefer Hughes over Joba. The problem for them is that have screwed around and lost a lot of their leverage.
I’m not sure of the exact rules, but I believe that when a team builds a new stadium, they don’t have to contribute to the luxury tax. Not sure if it’s just while under construction or for some specified time, but I do remember reading that somewhere.
Yankees, like every other corporation (and family) in America spent less in 2009 than in 2008, and plans to spend less in 2010 than in 2009. Why is that so hard to understand?
Further, they refuse to set the market this year, so are taking their time. They have their key pieces – did that last year. All that’s needed is a few tweaks, not a remake. 2010 Free Agents look more promising anyway, irrespective of what the economy does. If it gets worse, they’ll be cheaper. If it gets better, they’ll be more expensive. The point is that there are more of them and of better quality next off-season than this one.
That said, the Yankees are still in the best position of any team to take on any contracts (for good players of course) that smaller teams want to jettison. That’s how we got Abreu, and can happen this year as well.
Let’s hope Anthopolous is stupid enough to take Joba over Hughes for Doc.
Doubt it though. Their scouts can probably look past the glitz and hype of Jobamania and would want Hughes.
Correction. My sentence should read the 2011 Free Agents look more promising…
I’m sure they would want Hughes for the same reason we do but are they in any positiin to demand him especially if nobody else is biting either. I’m thinking Joba/Jackson might be the best offer they get..
When you build a new stadium you get out of revenue sharing, not out of the luxury tax.
Thanks Phil. So what revenue is being shared if it doesn’t come from the luxury tax?
Never mind Phil:
…all teams pay in 31 percent of their local revenues and that pot is split evenly among all 30 teams. In addition, a chunk of MLB’s Central Fund — made up of revenues from sources like national broadcast contracts — is disproportionately allocated to teams based on their relative revenues, so lower-revenue teams get a bigger piece of the pie.
http://www.bnet.com/2403-13502_23-210897.html
Baseball also has a competitive balance tax (aka “luxury tax”) on the portion of team payrolls that go above a pre-set ceiling, which rises each year. However, the thresholds are set so high that this tax typically only affects the top-spending New York Yankees and Boston Red Sox. Going by their opening day payroll of $209 million, this year’s threshold of $155 million and a special 40 percent repeat offender rate, the Yankees will pay $21.6 million in 2008 — equivalent to the entire payroll of the Florida Marlins
Bill, as far as Toronto wanting to get Hughes over Joba, that might be the case but if the Yankees say no deal, and Toronto wants to do a deal bad enough and feel that Joba is still very good they will settle.
You always look to start higher than you expect things to go.
You will set a high price with your minimum acceptable deals remaining hidden.
Its not like Joba can’t be successful. Personally, I am fine if he gets put in a deal for Halladay, or if the Yankees keep him. The plus side I see of Halladay coming is that it might improve AJ’s consistency on the mound. I can also see the benefit of Joba being given the chance to prove his worth.
Raw talent wise, I think Joba has more. Polished talent leans to Hughes. Both will have struggles as they continue to develop.
If Joba can get his act straightened out I think he can be the more dominating type pitcher, but the risk is that he can get in his own way too much.
I think overall, veteran pitchers tend to be more consistent over the longer haul. Less risk. The young arms can dazzle you with brilliance, sometimes you get one who catches on early, sometimes they are like lightning storms, occasional flashes of brilliance.
I think the Jays would be happier with a package built around Joba than one built around Buchholz. That is really the main thing to consider. What will the other teams offer, and how do they view your counter offer.
The Yankees won’t trade Hughes or Joba; the RS won’t trade Bucholz.
DaSaint007, that break from revenue sharing is only for a short period of time. I don’t recall how long it is for, but only a couple of years is what I recall hearing.
“If everyone here wants to trade Joba over Hughes… then why would Toronto want Joba over Hughes?”
Fans are a fickle bunch. Last year nearly everyone wanted Hughes burned at the stake and wanted Joba crowned on the mountaintop.
Who knows how executives view the two.
For fun I decided to look through some posts from this time last year.
November 30th 2008 – Why the hot stove is so cold. Sound familiar?
http://yankees.lhblogs.com/200.....n-so-cold/
Funny, funny stuff that day. I especially injured reading Dave writing an epistle for every post.
I enjoyed reading. Although my eyes were nearly injured from staring at Dave’s posts.
We need matsui. He’s a future hall if famer
i agree, jmk