Hello from Indianpolis
-
-
- December
- 6
-
When I got off the plane from New York, I wondered if I might be kicked out of the Indianapolis airport for not wearing a Peyton Manning jersey. They were everywhere. It’s a nice airport, though. Not that it matters, but it’s a nice place.
Now that I’m here, I’ll say that I tend to agree with Sam’s picks for the most important things the Yankees need to accomplish during these Winter Meetings.
The rotation should be the highest priority of the offseason, but that’s a multi-step process. The Yankees have to check on Andy Pettitte, evaluate the trade market for Roy Halladay (and maybe some others), make a decision on Chien-Ming Wang, figure out how much John Lackey will make on the open market and possibly kick the tires on some risk/reward types like Ben Sheets and Rich Harden. A rotation solution might present itself in these next four days, but I wouldn’t be shocked if it were slow to develop. Here and now, the Yankees rotation priority is surely keeping a pulse on the Halladay situation.
In theory, left field could be solved quickly. If this free agent market is deep at any one position, it’s left field (the third base crop was pretty deep, but it’s becoming thinner by the day). Bringing back Johnny Damon makes a lot of sense — he fits well in that lineup, serves as a nice bridge to the potential emergence of Austin Jackson — but only on a short-term deal. If that’s not going to happen, the Yankees have to move on. They owe it to themselves to check on Matt Holliday and Jason Bay, though I don’t see either one coming to New York (not to the Bronx anyway).
Everything else is secondary, even designated hitter and certainly the bullpen and bench. Indy might be a good place to check on what it will take to bring Hideki Matsui back – apparently that conversation is going to happen — but the rotation and left field should be the Yankees priorities.
This entry was posted
on Sunday, December 6th, 2009 at 7:15 pm by Chad Jennings.
You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed.
Print This Post
| 
Email This Post
Sam Borden
I think we’ll make at least one sensible deal this week.
Spell-cough-check…
Sigh…Halladay…sigh…
I don’t want Damon back for more than a year. I won’t begrudge him for wanting more, I just hope the Yankees don’t give in.
Hideki is important, but I think he’ll be reasonable. Or at least reasonably reasonable.
Andy! Sign on before the money runs dry!
Every year it’s the same thing with Andy.
Why do people think he is going to retire?
He never does. He loves the dough as much as the next guy.
No way Damon comes back for one year.
Take the Abreu offer.
Two years of Johnny is fine.
I might be in the minority but I would tender Wang a contract…They gave Igawa and Pavano alot of $$, didn’t do anything for them and they just absorbed the loss. With Wang you know he can handle NY and if he is healthy, he is a great 2 or 3 starter. So tender him a contract and hopefully he can get healthy. Remember is only going to be 30 in March and he is a groundball pitcher.
Sign Damon for a reasonable, short term contract or find a solution. Halladay, in my opinion, is not worth 23+ mill a year.
Def try to bring back Pettitte. Look into Holliday, but don’t kill the farm getting him. Boston is not giving up thier major prospects and a huge contract for a 32 year old, when they have to sign Beckett after this year.
2 years of Damon/1 year of Matsui could be fine.
In 2011, Damon could perhaps still play a little LF but mostly slide over to DH/Hughes Coach Emeritus.
Hideki’s agent (Arn Tellum) and Cashman have always been on good terms. A reasonable deal is reachable.
Not so much the case with Boras and his client, Damon.
It would be good to see the week finished with the desired starter in tow and Andy ready to sign.
All else can be sorted out VIA the trade route.
I think people are underestimating the value of Matsui.
He will not be replaced easily as a clutch hitting, classy, professional hitter and prescence protecting Arod and hitting lefties.
I’m sure he’ll go one year at a time as well.
Is there a Doctor in the house?…I mean, will there be a Doctor in the new House?
Not so much the case with Boras and his client, Damon.
———————————————————-
The one variable is: who will give Damon/Boras what they want?
The process of elimination says he will be back here.
Didn’t Alex come crawling back when he got no offers.
Life without baseball is like ……..?
Fill in the blanks.
If the Yankees only made three moves Halladay, holliday, and pettite, what would the payroll be?
That gives them the best rotation in baseball and locks down the LF situation. Ideally I’d like to have matsui back also to DH but that would probably be pushing it for sure. Cano could hit second (where hed see lots of fastball in front of Tex and arod) and you could fill the DH situation from within. This would probably increase the 2010 payroll a little but it would field a very good team also..
The story that Alex likes to tell is that he wanted to be a Yankee all along. But he didn’t feel like a “real” Yankee when Texas was paying part of his salary.
Sign Matsui for 1 yr 8mm
Sign Holliday and Lackey to back loaded deals
Sign Andy 1 7r 7.5 plus incentives
Sign Chapman
Let Halliday go wherever and hope he ends up in Anaheim worst case scenario. I don’t want Roy and give up all of those prospects. The Yankee way is to sign a FA and Lackey is very good, will log innings and is a bulldog.
I know this is a lot but this sets us in LF for a while, gives us DH flexibility next year and allows us to keep our prospects. Next year Andy is gone and then our SR will be CC, Lackey, AJ, Hughes and Chapman with Joba in the pen or traded. Joba in the pen this year saves us from having to sign a reliever.
Damon and Matsui are both not coming back and Damon for 3 yrs is not happening. Next year or this, Ajax comes up and Melky moves to 4th OF and gives us the option of trading Swish.
So we add 36 mm in Lackey and Holliday, 15mm in Pettite and Matsui with 30mm coming off the books. Lose Swish in this deal and maybe we can fit it in financially.
Um, no Aba – I do not have a reading comprehension problem. You responded to a post wondering what the Jays will want by saying the Yanks have an “in” – AJ. That makes no sense whatsoever unless you think AJ has a pipeline to Antholopous’ office. Would you care to explain why you think it makes a difference that AJ and other players have spoken to Cash about obtaining Doc? Would you care to explain why you even mentioned that?
Chad, agreed….Damon on a 1 year deal with a club option for another – that’s all I’m willing to do. Damon has to make up his mind fairly quickly as other options are going to fall by the wayside if they wait too long.
Hey Chad,
If you have time for a beer, first one is on me!
lol. We know these guys are all in Cash’s ear.
Cash admitted the guys were on him to get AJ. Just like they were probably on him to get other good players. No big deal.
Damon isn’t taking a one year deal. Someone else will offer him more and he will take it. I think it would be foolish to sign any outfielder until the market for holliday is established.. He could be a bargain in this economy if other teams are in no position to drive up the price.. Crawford (if he’s even available) may cost a lot more next year than holliday does this year, especially of the economy improves over the next year
HAve fun storming the castle!
This has got to be the worst part of the 12 month baseball season we all live in.
The rumours are old, it is the eve of winter meetings and we can’t wait for results.
Get Granderson
Get Halliday
Sign Andy
Sign Matsui
Move Melky to LF
Lets Roll
Mlbtraderumors says lackey is looking for more years and more money than burnetts deal.. if that’s true then ill pass… And I think most teams will
Like I said it’s a really slow and tired time of year.
Everybody must be watching football.
mick says:
December 6, 2009 at 7:54 pm
Life without baseball is like ……..?
Fill in the blanks.
“” dry turkey without gravy”"
Favre time!
York yankee December 6th, 2009 at 8:24 pm
mick says:
December 6, 2009 at 7:54 pm
Life without baseball is like ……..?
Fill in the blanks.
“” dry turkey without gravy””
—————————————
York Yank
Thanks for saving my life. I was looking for feedback and you saved the day. No one else seems to care.
You ask what I want, Andrew Eugen Pettitte,Halladay,Chapman,
Granderson signed with Phil,Joba,Montero,jackson still on the Yankees,and Damon shown the door!!
I know it’s a dream.
“” dry turkey without gravy””
————————————
kinda like that scene in the national lampoon movie where chevy chase sits down with that overcooked turkey.
were there bones in it too?
oh well no hope in here, bring on the favre.
M, I didn’t understand the point Aba was trying to make. He made the statement about AJ and co. talking to Cash about Doc in response to a question about what Anthopolous is asking form. In any case, I don’t have patience for people that jump down my throat for no reason.
Nick in SF……Did you watch the Texas / Nebraska game last night ???? Huskers got robbed, but they covered as did Pittsburgh …Cal Berkley Bears have cost me a few Binji’s this season………………Just resign Matsui and get that over with and then focus on the rotation and bullpen….Keep hearing that The Bombers are in love with Soriano to handle the 8th inning role…..If this is to be, then we can assume 1 of 2 things…..( 1 ) that the Yanks are filling that spot in the pen so they can move / trade Joba or Hughes to make room for Halladay or ( 2) Both Joba & Young Master Hughes will indeed fill out the rotation….I don’t think # 2 is as likely as # 1…..
http://toronto.bluejays.mlb.co.....id=5489933
This interview just makes me want Doc even more……but I’m trying not to even think about it.
Betsy, You are one of the more intelligen members here, certainly jut filter all the B.S out…..
I think we can forget Lackey – I wonder who will give thisw to him?
http://www.mlbtraderumors.com/.....-deal.html
Pat M, thanks! I do -and I’ve never had a problem with Aba, so maybe just a bad moment?
Pat M, I missed most of the Texas game, had to drive north as soon as the deplorable timesuck Cal game was over. Listened to the end on the radio, though. Too bad, I am no fan of Mack Brown…I do hope the Tide roll all over Texas.
Betsy, I honestly don’t think anyone will
Pat M. – If what you hear is correct – that the Yanks are serious about Soriano – then your conclusion is the only logical one. Something is up. Theoretically that could mean that both Joba and Hughes are being counted on for the rotation. I’ll wager, though, that it more likely means that a deal that is pending, with one of them a principal. Or, not.
If could mean that Bruney/Robertson/Melancon are being packaged for, say, Curtis Granderson, and Cash needs to retool the pen. Or Joba to LA for, say, Matt Kemp or Andre Ethier.
It could be a deal that no one has any inkling of. Cash does work very quietly.
An inking with no inkling???
YankeeRay,
I think you’re a little optimistic about Chapman pitching in 2011. Lots to drool over when talking about a 100mph throwing lefty, but the kid is young, untested, has control issues, and there are lots of questions about his maturity.
Betsy, I just watched that interview again & all I can say is that besides what he’d contribute on the hill, his mentoring of let’s say Phil Hughes would be an additional bonus……Everytime I think I’ve come to a clear decision as to which way I’d like to see the Yanks go regarding The Good Doctor, something like this comes along and my gut just tells me Cashman has to acquire him if possible…….Doc & CC, man what a shutdown duo they’d make…….
BigJoe44
December 6th, 2009 at 8:51 pm
YankeeRay,
I think you’re a little optimistic about Chapman pitching in 2011. Lots to drool over when talking about a 100mph throwing lefty, but the kid is young, untested, has control issues, and there are lots of questions about his maturity.
—————
Thats ok Joe, if we signed my other guys we could wait 2 yrs for Chapman
doc would make Hughes so much better in addition to what he would add to the team with his pitching.
The problem is Yankees need to be able to let the older players go.
Damon is asking for too much of a commitment to retain him.Damon wants money now.He should go to a NL team and ride out his 3-4 yrs leftand count his money,.
mick December 6th, 2009 at 7:54 pm
Life without baseball is like ……..?
Fill in the blanks.
========================================
…is like sex without mistresses
YankeeRay,
It’s going to be a big risk to sign Chapman because of the money he will want. I’m also concerned about having Lackey and Burnett in the same rotation. Both have long histories with injuries and it would absolutely kill a season if both were out at the same time.
I do agree with bringing Andy and Matsui back next year though.
While I would be hesitant to trade either Montero or Hughes for Halladay, I’d have no problem putting a package consisting of Joba, AJ, Romine, and perhaps one other minor leaguer. Sure, Joba could turn out to be an ace, but then again, he might not, and we might as well trade him while his value is high. As for the minor leaguers, who knows if AJ will be a solid major leaguer. And they are deep in the minor league system at catcher, so while I’d rather not give up Romine, I really do want Halladay.
Well one thing is for certain….If The Yanks were to pull this off the duo of CC & Doc would be the best lefty /righty combo since Joghson & Schilling…..Only younger….I’m quite certain we all remember that show….
Pat, you’re right and the scary thing is that the Yankees are much much better the the rest of that dbacks team was.
Yeah, CC and Doc would be a pretty scary 1-2 punch, followed by AJ, Andy, and Hughes. Of course that’s assuming everyone kept healthy, as while that was the case in 2009 for the Yankees’ starters, CC and Halladay, both pitched a lot of innings over the last few years, and I’m wondering how both AJ and Andy will hold up next year (especially Andy). But that’s another reason to sign someone like Halladay, as if we rely on just CC, AJ, and Andy, and one of them go down with a major injury, we’ll be in big trouble.
I noticed Jamie Moyer’s going to be a free agent in a year.
If he has (or switches to) Scott Boras as an agent, he could very well be looking for 5 years guaranteed …
Of course another option is for the Yankees not to sign Lackey or trade for Halladay, take the chance on Sheets and/or Harden, and then if the need arises, make a big deal at the deadline. Who knows, if Seattle has a problem signing Hernandez this offseason then they might reconsider trading him at the deadline in July.
if we sign Chapman to a minor league deal, it’s not a bad risk at all.
Betsy, go back and read your posts regarding Halladay.
_____________
…
AS to Doc, I don’t know what to think. We’ve spent hours trying to get into his head and into Anthopolous’ head…..No one knows what Doc really wants, what he will accept (for instance, say he prefers the Yankees….will he go to the Angels instead?) and what he won’t accept. No one knows what Anthopolous will accept. Sure we can speculate that he “has to do this” or ” he has to do that”, but he doesn’t have to do anything he doesn’t want to.
—————–
Abdababdaserser December 6th, 2009 at 6:43 pm
As to the Yankees having an idea of what Halladay wants, they do have an in… AJ.
AJ and some others have been talking to the Yankee brass about acquiring the Doc.
————-
# Betsy – high on pie December 6th, 2009 at 6:46 pm
Aba, AJ is not going to convince the Yankees to part with prospects they don’t want to. I think it’s pretty clear the Yanks would like Halladay – AJ doesn’t play any part in this anymore (if he did). Now it’s up to the Jays……..
________________
The above is the whole of the back and forth. You tell me where my comment mentioned one single thing about AJ telling the Yankees what prospects to trade.
You tell me who changed the whole response to be something entirely different.
AJ can certainly have some idea as to what Halladay wants. Discussions can go on between AJ and Halladay without there being any tampering. Knowing what Halladay is thinking and hoping for can certainly change the approach that the Yankees have toward a possible trade.
You addressed the response to me, and changed the point I was making into something it was not.
The real meetings list:
- Trade for Doc (hopefully not giving up Ajax or Montero)
- Sign Bedard > Sheets > Harden
- Move Swisher to LF, Melky to RF, Ajax to CF
- Sign bench players
- Win #28!
Good to know you’re going to be there.
bring back andy
bring back matsui at 1 year
bring back damon at 2 years
if the rotation doesnt shape up we can make a deal for king felix. im sure it wont cost more players than halladay, although halladay is a lot better.
austin jackson is hopefully waiting in the wings.
Carl Crawford is a FA next year he would be a good fit in the 2 hole.
IMO let Boston get Halladay (but get involved enough to jack up the cost for them) but get lackey and keep he young guns (Joba/Phi) we’ve got, and make sure to secure Chapman.
OK so they’ll have Halladay, who’d a certified ace. It’ll cost them – and cost them a LOT – somewhere. They’ll also have Lester, and what’s left of Beckett, Wakey & Dice-K and whatever potential young Laptop still has. Unless the cost of Halladay includes Lester or Laptop or both.
Who knows? A change in venue could turn out to be a good thing for Laptop, except that he’d be repeatedly facing both the Yanks AND the Sox if he’s traded within the division.
We’d have all 4 of Lackey, Joba, Hughes, Chapman. We’ll still have CC, Pettitte would probably come back, and AJ should have a good year provided he stays uninjured. That’s a butt load of good quality innings at Girardi’s disposal even if Chapman’s going to be a couple years away.
Boston wants a bat, not Halladay.
Boston wants to beat NY, and that’ll take more than one bat and Halladay.
Boston really needs other things more than starting pitching, that is their strength. I think of they go after Halladay it will be to try and block the Yankees for a changed because they know if Roy ends up in the Bronx then its game over for at least the next couple years.
BoSox want to resolve their 1st base situation ( Texeria just killed them by inking with the Yanks )…So they’ll be throwing all their chips ( prospects ) on the Padre’s table and hope to get Gonzo…..They will overpay for him…..They can only put together a package for one or the other…..Unlike The Yanks who could not only get The Doc, they can still go out and snag Granderson as well….
Pat M-
Rafael Soriano made 6.35M last year, and might accept arbitration with the Braves and probably get 8M, which is closer type money.
He’s good but was out most of the year in 2008.
The only Brave FA pitcher that they didn’t resign, that we took, that amounted to anything was Mike Stanton. Jared Wright, Chris Hammond, Kyle Farnsworth.
Don’t think Ajax who showed very little power and > 100 strikeouts is ready to take over in CF, and frankly wouldn’t offer more than Gardner right now.
Was on the fence about Halladay, but would be excited if we could get him.
If we don’t resign Matsui or Damon, getting Granderson for CF and having him work with Long, and getting DeJesus for LF, would be fine with me, moving Melky to RF and Swisher to DH. DeJesus hit .290 against lefties and had 13 assists and no errors in LF. Possible lineup could be:
Jeter SS
DeJesus LF
Granderson CF
A-Rod 3B
Teixera 1B
Posada C
Cano 2B
Swisher DH
Cabrera RF
Younger, faster, little loss of lefty power in YS, better OF defense.
Granderson at 5M and DeJesus at 4.75M with club option for 6M in 2011 look a lot better than Damon at 9M.
Thoughts??
It is definitely fun and interesting to speculate on what type of off season moves both the Yankees and Sox do this year.
But the bottom line is that no one can say with 100 percent confidence exactly what either team will do.
Last year nearly all the experts predicted that the Yankees would not be going for Tex partly because of the money already spent on CC and Burnett.
Folks understandably are saying that the Sox will not commit the money needed to sign Halladay. But who would have predicted a few years ago that the Sox would pay 50 million merely for the negotiating rights to Dice-K. I dare say no one saw that one coming.
So I just find it humorous when people state categorically that Halladay or any other player will definitely not be signed by the Yankees, Sox, or any other team.
Boston’s pitching for the most part was fine. Lester was down a bit, Beckett got off to a slow start, Penny & Smoltz were unmitigated disasters. But their pitching was pretty good and their bullpen was amongst the best.
Their weaknesses really showed up on the road. Say what you will about Yankee Stadium, but it played fair. Fenway? Not so much.
Whomever is saying that Boston needs to get a bat is probably on the right track.
Doc Halladay will not be a Pirate!!
Nick in SF in Fortuna, CA
December 6th, 2009 at 10:26 pm
Doc Halladay will not be a Pirate!!
________________________________________
Ok..ok Nick. I will grant you that one!
At this time last year CC was said to want to play on the west coast, with a new home going up. He was going to be an Angel or Dodger. A little sidetrip from Cashman from the winter meetings changed his mind.
Yankee Trader…I’m not on the DeJesus wagon yet, but I’m all in for getting Granderson…….The one area that I’ve been harping about is finding a # 5 stick to cover Alex……So in my mind I hope they finalize things with Matsui soon….Damon a 2 years I suppose would work from an offensive stand, but I not really that supportive in bringing him back…..He’s a one demensional ballplayer in many ways……However in your mock lineup, Texeria hitting behind Alex is interesting, with Jorge behind Mark hitting 6th……
PatM-
If we traded for Granderson and resigned Matsui, who would you have bat 2nd and where would Granderson hit against righty pitching?
“A little sidetrip from Cashman from the winter meetings changed his mind”
$$$$$$$$ made up his mind. Not sure he actually had a change of mind. Nobody ever heard Sabathia say anything one way or another.
squidward-
I think you’re one $ short!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Awh man Favre had gone without an interception.Chris Collins mention it,and guess what 2 interceptions so far.27-10 Cardinals.
Man, Soriano looks like he is really going to jam the Braves. Must not be much out there for him. Seems Cashman isn’t alone in his “I won’t give up a high pick for a middle/set up reliever” philosophy.
Yankee Trader, I’d try Curtis hitting 2nd regardless who’s on the hill….I think his splits are misleading…..
Now realistically what might it take to get Granderson?
Granderson and Edwin Jackson?
I like granderson a lot but I think they should see what hollidays market is first. If his price tag comes down which I think it might then he makes a lot of sense
Almost no one has mentioned Chien-Ming Wang in all these comments. Has he completely fallen off the radar? His value has never been lower, and if he can recover his 2006, 2007, early 2008 (prior to the foot injury) form, he can be a solid #3 starter behind CC and AJ. I don’t think he’s going to get too many big time offers from other teams. If he wants to stay in NY, I think he’ll sign for a reasonable offer. He might agree to a short-term contract to rebuild his free-agent value if he can regain his form.
I do not want to give away the farm system for Halladay. Montero is untouchable, IMHO, as solid catchers are so hard to come by. I think the Yankees should hold onto Austin Jackson, as he has great potential.
As far as Hughes, Joba are concerned, I’d rather see Joba back as the 8th inning setup guy, and Hughes re-groomed as a starter.
“Yankee Trader, I’d try Curtis hitting 2nd regardless who’s on the hill….I think his splits are misleading….”
In what way? He’s been nothing short of awful against LHP’s.
.210 average, .270 OBP, .344 slugging. Awful isn’t the fair word. What’s worse than awful?
Man, Soriano looks like he is really going to jam the Braves.
—————————————————-
Boras pulled that one on the Braves with Maddux telling him he would net almost as much for one year of arbitration than two years signing elsewhere. It certainly didn’t work for Varitek who was foolish not to accept arbitration.
With regards to Wang, where would you rate him amongst possible incentive laden deals and readiness to start the season?
Wang, Bedard, Harden, Sheets?
“With regards to Wang, where would you rate him amongst possible incentive laden deals and readiness to start the season?”
Bedard. He’s pitched in the AL East with some success and is an LHP. Sheets? Career 3.75 ERA guy in the NL and is 30. I know he’s been very good at times, but not entirely sure why the fascination. Wang would be last for me because he seems to be furthest away.
http://nybaseballdigest.com/?p=18626
I haven’t forgotten about Wang. But as far as I know he won’t be ready by April. I’m wary of counting on anyone who’s 1)coming off shoulder surgery 2) not under contract.
I’d love Wang to work his way back with the pressures of a deadline.
I’d rather him work his way back and take over for Hughes in the second half if he’s facing IP issues. Of course, Hughes can always go play in the ‘pen.
according to http://www.hotstove.com Mariners have begun extension talks with Felix Hernandez.
Rosenthal is reporting 4 yrs 45mm.
They won’t let him walk,poor beantown they really want him “sumpin bad!”
CC is quoted in that SI article from earlier this year as asking himself how he could justify signing with a team other than the Yankees if he really wanted to win…..
No Bedard – he’s clubhouse poison
Squid, Granderson had a down year in 09 for the most part…..He’d an immediate upgrade in CF, and will prosper hitting in this lineup and playing at The Stadium…..Rather chasing Damon, Granderson is not only a better ballpayer than the 36 year Damon, he’s also younger, far less costly, and is on the verge of blosomming at this stage of his career……Think Paul O’Neill only more versatile
The more I think about it, the less I want Damon back.
I don’t think Damon is their top choice for LF.
repost:
I’ll throw in my dreams:
Andy for 1 more year, as the #3 starter.
Ben Sheets signs a 1 year contract, and becomes the #4 starter.
Joba and Hughes compete for the #5 spot. Loser to AAA.
Wang signs a minor league deal, recovers at AAA.
Mike Gonzalez declines arbitration, and is signed by the Yankees to strengthen the pen.
Matsui resigns as DH for 1 year.
Cameron signs on for 2 years for CF, Swisher moves to LF, Melky to RF, Gardener becomes 4th OF.
Hairston resigns a 1 year deal as a super-sub OF/IF.
“They won’t let him walk,poor beantown they really want him “sumpin bad!””
So did not so poor NYC. Who wouldn’t. Kid’s the same age as Hughes and younger than Joba and is already a bonafide stud. Wondering whether 4/$45M is enough though. He’d be selling 2 years of free agency. They may have to bump that number closer to $60M.
Where does Doc live in the off-season? Does he live in Florida full-time?
Felix has been and it’s remarkable for a young pitcher, has been able to stay pretty much healthy considering that he jumped 100 innings after being called up the season before…..
Pat M. Granderson is nowhere near as good a hitter as Damon or O’Neill were. Fine CF with some pop and speed. But in 4 full seasons in the bigs he’s posted an OPS of under .500 against lefties twice and is at .614 for his career. That’s OPS! He can’t hit lefties, period.
Doc lives in Florida, 20 minutes from Legends field.
“Felix has been and it’s remarkable for a young pitcher, has been able to stay pretty much healthy considering that he jumped 100 innings after being called up the season before”
Actually he also threw 88 minor league innings in 2005 to go along with his 84 big league innings for a total of 172. That was after throwing 149 innings in the minors in ‘03. His progression innings wise was handled as it should have been.
Phil, thanks. I posted an interview Doc did with MLB in July – I’d never really heard him speak before. He struck me as a kind of guy who is quiet and prefers family time to gallivanting with the guys (like he said). I suspect those extra weeks in ST do mean a lot to him………..I know plenty of fans think Doc will go anywhere as long as it’s to a contender, but I think he really does prefer Florida teams.
Here’s my prediction. Halladay is traded to the Yankees, they win the WS in 2010, and with his newfound game from pitching in NY halladay does one of those Dr. Pepper “trust me I’m a doctor commercials”. I love those.
Did the Yankees try to make a trade for Felix that I missed? Don’t remember NY ever trying to get the guy like Boston did last summer when they tried to trade every prospect on their farm and were turned down.
Yaankees need to make it known throughout baseball,they won’t trade and give up prospects.You want on the team go to FA!!
Yanks priced King Felix out at the trade deadline.
about 2 hours ago from mobile web could be a wild west.
From Jon Heyman’s Twitter:
#angels will compete with #mariners for lackey, bay. wont bid $100 mil for lackey like did with cc, tho.
about 2 hours ago from mobile web 4 teams “kicking tires” on #marlins lindstrom. texas, tampa, 2 others
about 3 hours ago from mobile web could be a #mariners winter. theyre going to meet in indy with felix’s peeps. seek bay, lackey, beltre too.
about 5 hours ago from mobile web
Squid, You would rather have Johnny Damon in 2010 that Curtis Granderson ???? As for Paul O’neill, he had the same issues with the Reds before he came to the Bronx…..Pinnela platooned him and he never had the pop that Curtis has…When Paul came to The Bronx is when he evolved into the Paul O’Neill that you remember…….I’m not going to knit pick with you, however I don’t think there is any comparison to the 2010 Johnny Damon with Curtis Granderson on any level…..
http://www.newsday.com/sports/.....-1.1640717
blake
no no no,he’s going to Disney,!!!
According to Davidoff, it doesn’t sound like they will re-sign Wang after non-tendering him.
” but I think he really does prefer Florida teams.”
Teams that have ST near his FLA home, maybe.
“Squid, You would rather have Johnny Damon in 2010 that Curtis Granderson ????”
Definitely rather have Damon’s bat. But overall, I’d take Granderson, though that would be contingent upon the cost. Tigers aren’t really marketing him anyway and if they did move him, it wouldn’t be of the salary dump variety. Yankees would have to part with some legit prospects.
Rich, that’s what I meant, lol
zell has some yankee stadium demolition photos:
http://zellspinstripeblog.com/.....e-stadium/
If Wang is non-tendered, which he most likely will be, he could be offered a minor-league contract by the Yankeees. Now would he accept from them, or would he prefer a minor-league contract from someone else? That’s worth watching, but it would be sad to see him go, and in my mind a mistake. Wang can win 15+ games/year for a team and that’s saying alot.
Betsy
OK
“According to Davidoff, it doesn’t sound like they will re-sign Wang after non-tendering him.”
Is Wang permitted to talk to teams before being non tendered? I wonder if they’ll let him go see what’s out there for him and maybe consider signing him if they can do so on their terms.
At the rate they appear to be dismantling OYS, it may not be completely demolished until NYS becomes obsolete.
Yankees haven’t had the services of Wang for 2 seasons.Surely he knows they need to open space.Eiland doesn’t seem to know how to coach him either.
“Is Wang permitted to talk to teams before being non tendered?”
I don’t think so, because he won’t be a free agent until he is non-tendered.
http://www.mlbtraderumors.com/.....dates.html
This all reminds me of a fat lady at a buffet. “I’ll have one of each and a Diet Coke.”
Must be a lot of “Dream Team” Olympic basketball fans on here.
People, if you sign everybody, what are you going to do at the All Star break, when the next shiny thing comes up ala free agents to be.
Demolition is normally done in reverse of construction, but in this case the constraints were 1) 2009, including the post season, and 2) they wanted to make $$$ from everything inside, so they opted for an inside-out demo process. I know they are trying to get a significant portion done before the start of next season, but not likely.
Look at how sickly biased the Daily News is.
“A-Rod, since day one, he told me, ‘I’ll be there, Papi. I’ve got to support you. I love the cause. I’ll be there.’ He always wants to help the most he can,” Ortiz said. But no sooner had Rodriguez arrived, doled out embraces to current and past athletes and slipped Ortiz a check, he was slipping out the entrance into a white SUV.
Yuri’s in town?
Heyman thinks Halladay’s NTC will allow him to force where he wants to go.
He thinks the Yankees would give Damon two years at $20-$22m, but Damon wants more. I don’t believe that. If it were true, they would have offered arb.
Per Heyman on Miked Up
Damon is the Yanks first choice for 2 years/$20-$22 million. If Damon is looking for more than 2 years, the Yankees will go to Plan B.
I don’t understand the obsession with Austin Jackson. His strike out totals are god awful. He is not hitting homers in Scranton. He is like Gardner without the plate discipline. If we can use him in a package to obtain Doc or Granderson, I’m all for it. Lets sell high here!!!
I don’t understand the Damon love. He’s a liability in the OF and not your classic DH as Matsui is right there and cheaper. Why would the Yankees overpay for another aging player? I won’t repeat my posts on DeJesus but it’s puzzling.
[i]RS
December 6th, 2009 at 7:26 pm
My dream offseason would be:
Pettitte to the Yankees (1 yr)
Sheets to the Yankees (1 yr with a team option)
Damon to the Yankees (1 yr with a team option)
Matsui to the Yankees (1 yr)
Bay to the Mariners
Holliday to the Giants or Cardinals
Lackey to the Mets, Rangers, or Brewers
Halladay stays in Toronto
Red Sox get desperate and trade Buchholz and Kelly+ for Gonzalez.[/i]
I don’t think Bay’s defense is quite up to “Z standards”
Seems more likely the M’s would go after Lackey. They do have serious offensive needs – wouldn’t put it past Z to make a run for Gonzalez….
[i]Brian M
December 6th, 2009 at 8:47 pm
I want the Yanks to sign Bedard and re-sign Wang. Bedard might have said something stupid about the Yanks once, but he has the highest ceiling of any starter available. He is also AL East battle tested and a lefty.[/i]
I could be wrong, but I don’t see Erik being the least bit comfortable under the bright lights of NYC…
[i]No Bedard – he’s clubhouse poison[/i]
A common misconception, at least from what I have heard and read, Erik isn’t a clubhouse poison at all – his teammates like him just fine. It’s the media that have a hard time with him. His attitude toward them is, shall we say…. unique.
pat,
Thanks. Even though that first part is dismaying. Budget, smudget.
hmmmm…
apparently the “italics tags” don’t work the same on Safari as FireFox
Bo Knows….I understand the last image in most most people’s mind was that great 2 bag steal that put The Phillies on the ropes….However, just think back to how bad he was this season in leftfield…I mean he missed routine balls that were hit right at him…Every ball hit to him was a breath holder…The arm or lack of speaks volumnes….And for a portion of October, Johnny looked lost……For 10 million or slightly more, I just say goodbye, get the picks to offset any FA signings ( Lackey , Holliday , Soriano )…..It just seems he’s all about the contract anyway…..Time to move on, re-sign Mats and trade for Granderson…..
Bo Knows
Heyman is Boras’s lackey. Anything he says about one of his clients is almost always Boras’s spin.
“At the end of the first half of Sunday’s Cowboys-Giants game, Adams and Tuck got into a verbal exchange that forced the referees to flag Adams for a personal foul.”
Via ESPN’s Cowboys blog.
Gotta love bias. Adams shoved Tuck down from behind; because Tuck was unaware anybody was going to shove him, he could have had his neck whiplashed and injured.
Adams said that Tuck is a “nobody.” Funny, considering his and his defensive line teammates were most responsible for being SB champions.
Adams has been with the Boys his entire career and has never won a playoff game.
LOL
I don’t think Damon is the Yankees first choice for left.
Yeah, Tuck is a nobody with a huge shiny ring. Giants should have ended his career today, instead the league will suspend him tomorrow.
Heyman has always been a Boras pawn but he’s not promoting Holliday as Plan A for the Yanks which would serve Boras agenda better than Damon being the Yanks Plan A.
Phil
Is that your site that you have linked with your name?
Looking at it, I did not know Austin Jackson was black. That’s awesome! Shows how little ESPN gives any info about our prospects.
I know, from ESPN, that Casey Kelly is right handed, left footed, has a “Peter Gammons touched this” tattoo on his left butt cheek, and he has more heart and maturity than any 20 year old in the history of baseball.
Pat M
Thank you for a breath of fresh air. I still like De Jesus as the first coming of Jesus, as in Montero. I’m not a big Melky fan and Granderson would be pretty grand. Jack Z won a lot of games with pitching and defense. To me this is the way to go. A run saved etc. I’m still ambivalent on Doc, the Yankees win the next two out of three World Series and then disintegrate in a cloud of dust. Mo and Po won’t ride off into the sunset without a lot of kicking and screaming. Jeter wants to play SS until he’s 45. A Rod is signed for a long time. It could get ugly
“Heyman has always been a Boras pawn but he’s not promoting Holliday as Plan A for the Yanks which would serve Boras agenda better than Damon being the Yanks Plan A.”
Probably because no one thinks that the Yankees are even considering Holliday.
CR9, that’s my little site.
Also, cause in the case of Holliday, Yankee interest if publicized could scare off the other bidders. Tex’s desire to be a Yankee foild Boras’s whole offseason plan last year.
Very Nice site.
Glad to see you’re a NYG/Y/K/R fan.
Funny about today’s game, our defense for the most part, was awful. They just stepped up a few times when they had to. I think we let them convert something like 12 of 16 3rd downs into first downs.
After dropping a meaningless pass in a preseason game this year, I thought Steve Smith said that drop haunted him and we was not going to let it happen again. He said something like he had a picture of the drop that he carried around with him.
Yeah, but we stopped their run game completely and made them one dimensional. We just have to clean up 3rd down D.
Hey. Any thoughts on Connor Jackson or Jeremy Hermida. Both are apparently possible non-tender candidates. I have no idea how they are defensively. Hermida is a decent left handed bat (against righties), and Jackson is coming off a short season (injury?), but had a pretty good year in ‘08. Either might be a relatively inexpensive outfield option. Or would Dejesus, a a bit more expensive, be better than both?
And they’re both pretty young.
Didn’t the Sox already trade for Hermida?
Aikman is the worst kind of person— a Red Sox fan and a former Cowboy.
The D also hurried Romo a lot and played with some enthusiasm, which wasn’t the case v. Denver.
I would have liked to have seen Boss get the ball more. Nicks too.
CR,
You must have enjoyed seeing Brady and Bellicheat go down today. They look old.
Just a few seasons ago, Connor Jackson was the hot young prospect for the D-Backs…Nearly untouchable….Whe Alex opted out, Jackson’s name was much balley-ho’d here at The LoHud…..
I used to not mind Aikman, as I save all my hatred for the cheating Patriots. But the fact that he’s a Red Sox fan is disgusting.
Phil
The Red Sox did trade for Hermida. And Hermida is one of the future best OF in the history of baseball.
Sheridan is a huge problem. They need to find a real DC this off-season.
Yanks 78
How did you know?
The loss today was huge, for the reason that I do not want the Pats to get a first round bye.
This loss gives the edge to the Bengals and Chargers to get the 2nd first round bye.
Aikman is actually a good commentator. Pretty objective, unlike the NESPN trash.
Buck is what brings the broadcast down.
The Eagles game is the big one— this was only step 1. If we lose to PHI, it’s one step forward, one step back again. Then we’re going to need GB to implode for us to grab the 6th seed.
If we win against PHI, we’ll be in very good shape. Dallas’ schedule is pretty brutal too– Chargers, @ Saints, @ Wash, Eagles.
My favorite part of the game, was when Sheridan was clapping on the sidelines after the fumble recovered by the NYG that got overturned.
He was clapping like he had something to do with us getting a fumble and recovery.
And it was not even a fumble.
Sheridan and his blitz schemes and his blown coverages and missed assignments of our secondary make me sick.
Sheridan should not have flown back from Denver on Thanksgiving with the team.
I would have said “Happy Thanksgiving, Bill. You’re out of a job!”
I like how FOX made a point to show us Aikman with his Sox hat on during the Colorado-Sox WS a couple years ago.
He was commentating the Skins-Pats game… the game where Bellicheat ran up the score and was called out afterwards by Gibbs and the Skins players. They scored 52 on them and were throwing bombs in the 4th quarter leading by 40 points.
But we all know how that season ended for Bellicheat
E-Rod
You know, that’s amusing. They called Eli Manning a bad sportsman for signing the wall at someone else’s request, but the Patriots running up scores on any team, no less Joe Gibbs and this year Jeff Fisher, they were praised for doing so.
Also funny is, players sign the inside of the Monster at Fenway Field. It’s not disrespect.
The opening of that stadium was historic. I would not see a problem with Cliff Lee signing NYS for getting the 1st win with the Indians there. If it was Lee, IIRC.
Flozell saying Tuck is a “nobody” is the baseball equivalent of Gil Meche saying CC is a “nobody”.
Tuck has his SB ring to show for his career, what does Flozell have? Another holding penalty?
When healthy, Tuck is a top five defensive player in the NFL. Adams is only tops among lowlife slime.
No doubt, CR. They are just ticked that their palace opened with a loss. That was such a sweet win, to rip their hearts out like that.
And if those Cowboy defensive players were to upset, they should have stopped Eli on the final drive. They didn’t, so they should shut up.
Rich in NJ
So what you are saying is, Adams would fit well in the state of Massachusetts and/or on the Patriots.
Seattle is certainly making quick and decisive moves to remake their club…..Maybe Adrian Beltre goes to Beantown and they leave the dome head at 1st ….Angels are in a fight now over keeping John Lackey & Brandon Wood is not the answer at 3rd…..Great glove, he just cannot sustain his bat to stay in the MLB….
Lowell would most likely have to be moved for boston to get Beltre.
I like Seattle’s agressiveness thus far, and frankly I hope they get Lackey. Anything that weaken the Angels is good for me.
boston will probably wait out Bay and get him as planned, but for 5 years $75 million.
The Metsies, well they’ll probably get Bengie Molina and Jason Marquis.
Arb deadline for acceptance/denial is later today.
Night all.
I really like to see good management make over a team. Took Jack Z one year to clear out the deadwood and make Seattle a contender, mind you, the next ten wins are the tought ones.
On another note, if Conner Jackson is over his Valley Fever illness, there’s another option better than Damon. In 2008 he had an OPS of 823 and in LF a 6.7 rating in 77 games. The only drawback is that he’s a RH bat.
The Yankee IF isn’t going to get any better. This is as good as it gets and will go downhill from here. The offense will have to come from Montero and at least one stud OF. Possibly from Heathcott if the hype is valid. But that’s at least three years away.
Wang is a number one type pitcher…he not a ace,but if he rebounds from injury with his turbo sinker, i trust him more than AJ
Wangs sinker and groundballs is what we want in our stadium,and Wang is NY proven
giving up the farm for Halladay is crazy…target Harden or Sheets that just cost $$$
NO to bay, bedard, bradley, cameron, halladay, holiday and soriano (did i miss anyone lol?). YES to chapman and wang. cashman can finish up all the small things
Giants or Cowboys are dead, whichever team advances to the play-offs.
A-Rod was at Licey game yesterday and spent some time talking with Juan Miranda.
Sherman is reporting that Pettitte turned down the Yankees first offer to him. However, let’s not go crazy beating up on Pettitte because we don’t know if the first offer rumor is true or not and secondly, if true then what amount of money was it for. I would imagine that most first contract offers are rejected by one party or another anyway so let’s not get too upset about this possible development.
http://www.nypost.com/p/sports.....e14MgnJ5OL
I would let Damon and Matsui walk.They did great things for the Yankees but it’s time to move on.
Granderson could replace Damon in the lineup while Holiday could replace Matsui protecting A-rod.This way the Yankees get younger,faster and better
I would then resign Pettite and sign Sheets.To me..the Yankees don’t need Halladay.We already have CC so why give up guys like Joba/Hughes,A-jax or maybe even Montero.
lineup:
Jeter SS
Granderson CF
Texiera 1B
Rodriguez 3B
Holiday DH
Posada C
Cano 2B
Swisher RF
Cabrera CF
SR
Sabathia,Burnett,Pettite,Sheets,Chamberlain or Hughes
BP
Rivera,Chamberlain or Hughes,Robertson,Marte,Bruney,Coke,Aceves
I doubt the Yankees sign Holliday unless his price drops.
I meant Cabrera in LF and Granderson playing CF
Craw, the price has to be set before it can drop. I don’t think we should dismiss Holliday until we see what he will cost. There were rumors of him wanting a teixera type deal and that’s just not going to happen. If the red sox go with Bay then I can’t see another team even going to 100M
I can dismiss Holliday because I find it hard to believe the Yankees want to invest even 80M into him at 16M per season. The reason being is what might be on the table next season with other free agents along with Jeter, Rivera contract escalations for Cano and Swisher and possible arbitration cases.
What if the price for Holliday turns out to be 5 yrs 85M or something like that and you knew that Crawford would either not be available next year or cost significantly more than that? Would that change the minds of those against Holliday?
I doubt the Yankees sign Holliday unless his price drops.
……………………………….
With Scott Boras as his agent, don’t expect his price to drop.
Craw, the key word you said there is might be available next year. Even if good options are available next year they may cost a lot more especially of the economy turns around in the next year
“Craw, the key word you said there is might be available next year. Even if good options are available next year they may cost a lot more especially of the economy turns around in the next year”
IMO, what may be available are better players than Holliday. I just don’t think he’s worth 16M per year for the Yankees. If you feel differently that’s fine, but I don’t feel he’s worth at least a 80M investment.
“With Scott Boras as his agent, don’t expect his price to drop.”
I don’t expect him to be a Yankee either.
Interesting about Pettitte. Doesn’t seem anyone knows the number for sure as Sherman says “in the neighborhood of $10M” which could be $8M. Wonder whether Pettitte was disenchanted with the salary or is possibly interested in more than one year?
I don’t think it’s for more than one year. Let’s remember that the first offer is usually not the best offer, but is used as a baseline to begin negotiations with.
Craw, I think he’s a really good player. people have written him off because of half a season with Oakland on a bad team. He’s a .300 hitter with power that can steal bases as well and he’s an upgrade over Damon in LF. its just my opinion, I don’t think he’s worth 20M a year but 15 or 16 I do
http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/.....id=4721360
OK, one down. My guess is that the final number is around $11-12 million. He earned it.
“Craw, I think he’s a really good player. people have written him off because of half a season with Oakland on a bad team. He’s a .300 hitter with power that can steal bases as well and he’s an upgrade over Damon in LF. its just my opinion, I don’t think he’s worth 20M a year but 15 or 16 I do”
Blake,
I have no problem with you feeling that way about Holliday, I just don’t share that view of him or that the Yankees want to be stuck with another long-term contract right now for a position player of his caliber. When all is said and done, perhaps you might be right and that I’m wrong, but at this time, I can’t change my opinion about the chances of Holliday being a Yankee this offseason.
“Craw, I think he’s a really good player. people have written him off because of half a season with Oakland on a bad team.”
Wasn’t even a bad half season. It was really just a bad April. From May 1 thru the date he was traded to the Cards, he hit .300 with a .400 OBP and OPS around .900 while playing in a piss poor hitter’s park.
Squid, as I’ve mentioned before he hit .322 in interleague play while with the Rockies against the AL.
If you don’t get holliday this year then we will be going through this “who’s going to play LF” again next year also.
The off-season strategy hinges a lot on Pettite’s status and I suspect they already know what he wants to do. He earned $ 10.5 last year and will probably want that much guaranteed for 2010.
It doesn’t seem like the right time to take on another long term contract, unless it’s for Halladay. As the post-season showed starting pitching simply has to be the # 1 priority. They have to find out the player + prospect price and Doc’s demands and doing so over this week would be a good start.
The Yanks should sign one reclamation project and the priority order should be Sheets, Wang, Escobar, Duscherer.
Can Miranda play any OF at all? If so I could live with him sharing the DH role with a DeRosa type player who could also play a lot of positions. If money is an issue, better to spend it on a top starting pitcher than a DH.
If Damon doesn’t re-sign then DeJesus and Granderson trade options should be pursued.
Still the Yanks are the champs and they don’t have huge problems… just some challenges and opportunities.
I’m sure the Yanks and Andy will get something done, but I hope it’s sooner rather than later.
As to Doc, I still hate Sherman’s idea of getting him for 1 year and then taking the picks. The only way I see Doc not signing an extension is if he’s willing to go to a contender for 1 year, but a contender he doesn’t want to sign with long-term). If the team trading for him is the Yankees (for example as we know he’ll waive his NTC for them), then I don’t see Doc as agreeing to that. Also, I would rather have Doc for a few more years than the picks.
Hey folks, See PYF’s post of 7:55 AM. He’s got an ESPN link that says the Yankees and Pettitte have agreed to a deal.
Sherman is reporting that Pettitte turned down the Yankees first offer to him. However, let’s not go crazy beating up on Pettitte because we don’t know if the first offer rumor is true or not and secondly, if true then what amount of money was it for. I would imagine that most first contract offers are rejected by one party or another anyway so let’s not get too upset about this possible development.
http://www.nypost.com/p/sports…..e14MgnJ5OL
———————————————————
It seems hrd to believe that teh Yankees would make an offer to Pettitte this soon. I think they will wait until the Rule 5 draft is over before they resign him.
The Yankees have 39 guys on the 40 man roster. I suspect that the open spot on that roster is potentially for Doc Halladay should they trade for him before the Rule 5 draft.
Pettite rejected a one year 10M deal? I don’t see any other team offering him even that. Draw a line in the sand at 10M and day Andy we love you but that’s it if you want to pitch for us. He will either have to take it or retire but I can’t see anyone else going to 10M for him..
“I suspect that the open spot on that roster is potentially for Doc Halladay should they trade for him before the Rule 5 draft.”
If they trade for Halladay, it’s somewhat likely it’ll be for at least 1 guy off the present 40 man.
The ESPN doesn’t say anything about Andy and the Yankees agreeing to a deal – just that Andy has decided to pitch in 2010
If he’s decided to pitch in 2010 then they must be close to a deal because he’s not playin anywhere else
I think they are delaying signing Pettitte until after the Rule 5 draft on the 10th.
“The ESPN doesn’t say anything about Andy and the Yankees agreeing to a deal – just that Andy has decided to pitch in 2010″
I didn’t before. Somebody at ESPN must have jumped the gun, because they amended the piece at 8:30 AM.
Re: Matt Holliday
The concern with him all along was not whether he could hit AL pitching, it was whether he could hit when outside of the best hitter’s park in history. Every hitter is going to struggle at least a bit when switching leagues. That is what happened to him early season ‘09.
It is at least a little unfair to pair that along with going to probably the worst hitter’s park in the game, and say he can’t play in the AL. When he moved to St Louis, and a much more fair ballpark, with a better lineup, he took off. IMO, he answered the questions about him that were left hanging by his bad start in Oakland.
I am not sure if I want him as a Yankee, but he is a really good player who is available and still pretty young. For 7/180, absolutely not; but for 5/80, if it ever gets there, I think it is a no-brainer.
Betsy – high on pie
December 7th, 2009 at 8:29 am
The ESPN doesn’t say anything about Andy and the Yankees agreeing to a deal – just that Andy has decided to pitch in 2010
**********************
Betsy, you just made my day!!
Holliday for 5/80 > > than Damon for 1/10
“If he’s decided to pitch in 2010 then they must be close to a deal because he’s not playin anywhere else”
This development puts the ball squarely in the Yankees’ court. Now that he has made his decision, if he is not back next year, it is because they didn’t give him a fair offer. I think he gets 1 year between 10 and 12 guaranteed, maybe a player option second year. In the last 10 years or so, the only player-only option they have given was to Andy, so they could do it again.
Mark, agree 100%. That’s all I was saying. If the price tag drops them he makes a ton of sense
New post
Swisher can play left field too. What right fielders are available in the free agent market?
Anyone else noticing that the reply box isn’t showing up on the next thread?
I think Bruney winds up in Atlanta with Ryan Church coming here.
“I think Bruney winds up in Atlanta with Ryan Church coming here.”
Doesn’t make much sense unless they are sure Soriano is not accpeting arb. Even then, it doesn’t make a lot of sense. Braves are looking for a bat, not RP.
Yea the other thread isn’t working for some reason.. I wouldn’t trade bruney unless something descent is coming in return. He has talent, its a confidence thing with him
And so it begins is right – how am I going to get any work done
I don’t know why any team would want Bruney, but if we can get someone halfway decent, just do it.
As to the Sox, we know the are going to do something big this offseason, so why worry about it? They are always a very good team – the only thing Yankee fans ought to be concerned about is improving our team.
I really don’t see the Yankees as interested in Holliday at all…….
I’d love to get Andy taken care of as soon as possible……we all know he’s going to be back, so why delay the inevitable?
Blake –
Yankees have a lot of talented relief pitchers (especially RH ones) I think they believe that what they can get out of Bruney they can get from Robinson, Melancon, and Romulo Sanchez for the ML min.
Squid -
I don’t think Soriano’s going to accept arbitration. Some team will offer him a chance to close which he won’t get in Atlanta with Wagner there.
Betsy -
I’m not so sure about Andy right now. If he’s seriously turning down a 1 year deal I don’t know how much higher the Yankees go with him. If he gets to the 12-15 range there might be some voices in the organization that say “look, if we’re going to pay $15 mil would we rather spend it on Andy or go after John Lackey instead?”
Ryan Church is not very good and prone to injuries, I don’t want him.
Chip, what I was saying is that I wouldn’t just give him away.
Blake –
Oh I agree with that. But if the Yankees were to get a guy like Church (low cost, decent upside) I would deal Bruney for him. I think they could plug Church in RF and Swisher either in LF or DH – think of it as insurance if the team doesn’t bring back Damon or Matsui – much like picking up Swisher was insurance in case they couldn’t find a better option at 1b a year ago.
yea church would be a good return
Patrick -
An injury prone RF vs. an injury prone RHP – it’s a wash that way but like I said, Church is a guy who, when healthy, would be a low cost decent upside insurance guy for RF.
If Bruney is traded to Atlanta, my guess is that the Yanks will get back a player who will not take up a 40 man roster spot.
“Oh I agree with that. But if the Yankees were to get a guy like Church (low cost, decent upside)”
Church is cheap for now, but there is no upside there. He’s 31 years old. What you’ve seen is what he is.
“If Bruney is traded to Atlanta, my guess is that the Yanks will get back a player who will not take up a 40 man roster spot.”
Still makes no sense. Braves are an offenive starved team with the 7th thru 9th inning pitchers already in place.
Squid -
Upside might have been the wrong word. I’m just saying that when he’s healthy he’s a productive player.
I’m not saying he’s Paul O’Neill but if you look at Chruch’s stats to this point and Paulie’s before he came to the Yankees they’re pretty similar (and Paul was 30 when he came here too) so there is reason to believe that a guy, even at 30/31 can improve given a chance to play every day and taking him out of a division with big parks and playing him in a park that caters to LH bats.
Squid
It does kinda make sense – Church is up for arbitration – the Braves have McLouth and Diaz in the OF and want to play Schaefer too.
Getting Bruney also might free them up to deal another arm to find a bat.
I don’t think the Yankees are worried about space on the 40 just yet. They have a few open spots on it and if they need space they have plenty of guys who are options to be Designated for Assignment (Edwar, Albaladejo, Chris Garcia…)
True, trading for Bruney doesn’t make much sense from the Braves standpoint, squidward. However, I doubt that it’s a move that would prevent them from signing or trading for some offense. Having some depth behind Wagner and Saito may be wise because of their injury recent histories.
Perhaps, Cashman is just trying to find a taker for Bruney because he’s going to be non-tendered?