State of the Yankees: First base
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Two of my closest friends had their first baby last March. Schulyer Grace Anthony was not yet born when Mark Teixeira signed with the Yankees. If all goes well, she’ll be in third grade by the time the Yankees need a new first baseman. In short, that’s the state of the Yankees at first base. It’s Teixeira’s position, and wondering what comes next is the same as asking whether you have any plans for 2017.
Starter: Mark Teixeira
Backup: Nick Johnson
Veteran insurance: Juan Miranda
Almost ready: Jorge Vazquez
Low rising: Brandon Laird
I realize Miranda isn’t a veteran in the traditional sense, but after hitting .288/.375/.476 in the past two Triple-A seasons, he’s as ready as he’s ever going to be. He’s no Gold Glover, but he’s not the defensive butcher he’s sometimes made out to be. There could be worse options as Teixeira’s Triple-A caddy, especially considering Johnson and Nick Swisher can also handle first base. Vazquez has lived up to his power-hitting reputation, and 1B/3B Laird should bring his considerable pop to Trenton this season. But, obviously, first base is all about Teixeira unless an injury gets in the way.
Worst-case scenario: The last five words of the previous paragraph: “injury gets in the way.” At this point, Teixeira is a proven force. It’s silly to speculate a worst-case scenario of him falling on his face. He struggled early last year and finished as an MVP candidate. Teixeira can hit, he can field and he’s only once played fewer than 145 games in a season. He’s about as reliable as they come. If, for some reason, he can’t produce this season, then the worst-case scenario obviously involves some combination of Johnson being injured, Miranda struggling in his first real big league exposure and Vazquez stumbling in his second year in the Yankees organization.
Best-case scenario: Ladies and gentlemen, your 2010 American League MVP, Mark Teixeira. The best-case scenario at first base is that simple. Digging a little deeper, it probably also involves a dominant Triple-A season from Miranda, leading to his trade value soaring through the roof while Vazquez crushes home runs night after night in Trenton and Scranton. The best-case scenario for Laird actually doesn’t involve first base at all, it involves him proving he can stick at third.
The future: The only way the Yankees first base future gets murky is if Teixeira ages poorly, or if the Yankees need first base as a future home for either Alex Rodriguez or Derek Jeter, but all of that is wild guesswork and extreme speculation. Teixeira is signed through 2016, and for now, that’s the only first-base future that matters.
An attempt at the complete depth chart
An educated guess, but just a guess
Scranton: Juan Miranda
Trenton: Jorge Vazquez
Tampa: Brian Baisley? (probably several guys getting occasional starts at first)
Charleston: Rob Lyerly, Luke Murton
Extended: Reymond Nunez
This entry was posted
on Tuesday, February 9th, 2010 at 5:00 pm by Chad Jennings.
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Sam Borden
Remember the name Rey Nunez. They are very high on him. Hard working beast. Lyerly may surprise. He had a sports hernia or something right after he started last season, but the guy can hit. Murton came on strong down the stretch in SI. He’s a big kid. Vazquez and Laird both need to take their fricking walks.
Oh, and I think Vazquez will be in AAA and the good fielding weak hitting kid will be in AA with Laird. We’ll see what they do with Suttle.
I think Nick Swisher should be veteran insurance guy listed…
just reposting this, incase the joba discussion continues…
If Joba’s motion and body type allowed him to throw 97-98mph free and easy, then he would. 2 years ago he went out there and tried to throw the ball past everyone, so his velocity was up but ended up hurting himself in the process.
As a starter, you have to plan for longevity. You don’t go out there and “throw hard” every game or you wind up in one place… the DL. You have to go out there and throw what comes out easy, and learn to pitch around that. Joba just has to learn how to pitch now that he can’t rely on blasting the ball past people for 7-8innings per game. Most if not all of his struggles last year were due to this, add that on to the inconsistency of his workload at the end of the season and it was just about the worst possible scenario for him. Once he learns to pitch within himself for the length of a season, then you will see some of that velocity return as he gets naturally stronger and more durable.
Continuing the Joba/Phil conversation from last thread..
We can analyze why Joba got hurt, why his velocity was down, etc all we want but there will be no answers until he gets to pitch more. Maybe he was trying to throw too hard but those that saw him in the minors/college 97-98 then, too.
I still think both guys can be successful starting pitchers and for me it’s about choosing the guy that gives the team the best chance to win in 2010. Based solely on innings pitched I’d go with Joba for the fifth spot. If he succeeds, work Hughes into the rotation in 2011 and you still have room to sign Cliff Lee if necessary. If Joba fails, Hughes can take his spot and Joba goes back to the pen forever.
I just don’t want to be in a situation again at the end of the year where your fifth starter is at his innings limit and can only go 2-3 innings a start. I guarantee you, if Hughes is the fifth starter this will happen. Then we are depending on Mitre/Gaudin every fifth day. For me, the safe (and smart) choice is Joba for this year.
State of the Yankees: First base?
I almost thought you could have written:
Mark Teixeira.
And I’ll get back to you in let’s say 2015 or so.
Hopefully we’ll be able to “Ditto That!” for 3B as well.
Walks aren’t important in the minors. Its about swinging the bat.
You develop your eye more the closer you get to the big leagues.
In AA? Swinging the bat gets you promoted, not drawing walks.
Basically, first base is a trade position for the Yankees.
Tex is not going anywhere for years. If the other guys can put up numbers, they will be trade chips to improve the parent club.
Murton isn’t much of a prospect, IMO. Lots of holes in his swing and he is a terrible defender.
Nunez? That’s a kid to watch develop. He has some thunder in his bat.
Miranda and Vasquez? Wouldn’t shock me if one got traded for in season help this year.
The smart choice is whoever wins the job.
The difference between last year and this year is Javy Vasquez. They have another innings eater in the rotation. Something they didn’t have last year.
Unless there are injuries, the innings limit for a fifth starter will be a non-issue.
To me, I have no pre-concieved notion who will win the job. May the best guy win.
Whomever doesn’t win, goes to the bullpen.
Its a win-win for the Yankees because their best arms will be in the Bronx.
repost
champ809
February 9th, 2010 at 5:08 pm
EMPIRE STATE STRIKES BACK!!!!…..
starring
Joba Chamberlain as the 5th starter…”I’ve got ‘ya 200 bullets right here Skip! Just turn me loose!!!!
Phil “Phranchise” Hughes as the stopper!…”it matter when you call me Joe…they ain’t gettin’ no more on us! I got this!!!
Ace Aceves the Silent Assassin….” I been waitin so long to get in Capitaine que no me importa, I’ll give you whatever you need! Meteme!
Chad “Soulja” Gaudin the Longman….” I’ve got 60 pitches good pitches in me General Joe and I plan to go hard or go home, sir!yes sir!”
Dave DRob Robertson the Sharpshooter…”strike one, strike two, I’m knocking ‘em out!”
Mark “Ice” Melancon the Young Gun….”I’m not going to say too much,soon,everybody gonna be talkin ’bout me!
Damaso “Lefty” Marte the Specialist….”my LH kung fu is better than your LH karate,Lefty!”
Mo Hierro Rivera El Jefe….nuff said!
“Walks aren’t important in the minors.” That’s not what the Yanks think and I’m stunned that you said that. The Yanks are preaching OBP all the way up the chain these days as they did in the past, and they give all of their prospects “walks targets” every season, and grade all their ab’s. Walks are important. If you can’t take them when the pitchers aren’t throwing strikes, how are you gonna take them when they are? They don’t want to have to teach guys plate disc at the major league level anymore. They’re not sending kids over from the DSL who aren’t showing some plate disc.
EMPIRE STATE STRIKES BACK!!!!…..
starring
–
I’m embarassed for having read this
Maybe he was trying to throw too hard but those that saw him in the minors/college 97-98 then, too.
=========
I thought he was still throwing heat in the minors even in later innings. Free and easy is the term i recall reading here.
SJ44
February 9th, 2010 at 5:14 pm
I saw Miranda in ST last year and he looked like a great hitter. He can crush the ball. I think he could play as a DH now and possibly 1B for several teams as well.
They grade the guys differently at each level of the minors Phil when it comes to plate patience.
At the lower levels, you are going to walk a lot because the pitching is up and down.
Guys can be graded, and have been, as having great AB’s and don’t walk a lot as they move up the ranks.
The last thing the Yankees, or any other team for that matter, want to do is take away a hitters aggressiveness at the minor league level.
As guys move up the ranks, their hone their skills re: pitch recognition, plate patience, etc.
However, guys like Laird, Miranda and Vasquez are going to make it or fail on their ability to hit the ball and not on their ability to draw walks.
Miranda and Vasquez? Wouldn’t shock me if one got traded for in season help this year.
=======
I was just going to say. What do we still have Miranda for and what can we get for him? With Johnson, Swisher and Thames being signed. That doesnt leave any room for Juan in the bigs. There has to be someone out there that needs a first baseman that is really a dh.
I don’t think walks are all that important until you get to the upper levels of the minor leagues (AA and AAA). Similar to how stats in general don’t really matter until you reach those leagues.
I’m friends with a guy playing in the minors and he told me once about how the strike zone changes as you move up levels. First a bit of perspective – he’s a catcher so he knows the plate and he played low A in 2009 but he’ll be in high A in 2010. Granted he hasn’t experienced it but he has spoken with guys in AA and AAA as well as coaches.
Basically he explained that in short season ball the strike zone is huge, basically anything close gets called a strike. In low A it gets better but there’s still 4-5 inches on either side of the plate that’s considered the strike zone. Once you get to AA it tightens up a lot and in AAA and the majors the strike zone is as perfect as it’s going to get.
My point is, if you take a zillion walks or try to take a zillion walks you aren’t getting anywhere in the low levels of the minors. You are almost conditioned to swing a lot and make contact.
SJ,
I know exactly what their system is, and walks are important at all levels these days. They are the reason they didn’t promote Vazquez last year even though he was too good for AA. I know what you’re saying about their aggressiveness, but they only want to see it at strikes. Now Jesus has not walked a ton, but he also doesn’t swing at bad pitches and really covers the plate and as you know has rare bat control. They think he will be a good OBP guy with a high avg. component and more walks as the fear of him grows. But in general, they are hammering Romine, Ed Nunez, Laird, Vazquez, Mesa and others about plate disc.
I have a better understanding of what you meant, but the walks really are important to the Yanks these days.
Rey Nunez was overweight when he came in last yr. But he’s dropped 20ibs and is hard as a rock now…supposedly he hit a homer a few weeks ago at instructs that went over 480+ ft…he’s 19 with ARod’s body!
I think that Suttle may start out at Tampa being that he missed most of last season. Laird I think begins Trenton at 3b and maybe move to 1st if Suttle is tearing up Tampa and gets promoted..
I think that they should start Vazquez at AAA with Miranda and rotating them between 1b and DH as both of their future roles with the Yanks would be as DHs but If Thames starts the season in Scranton then Vazquez starts in AA Trenton DHing and playing some 1b along with Laird..
Phil is hardly going to be physically up to giving 200 innings. That automatically tells you that Joba has a huge leg up – what a surprise.
Nunez’s hard work really impressed them. He’s an absolute beast and could provide some laughs for us in the GCL this summer.
You can say let Joba and Phil compete in ST for the last starting spot but whoever is best in ST doesn’t say much about which of the two will be the best starter over the course of the year.
My guess is the Yanks will decide internally before ST which of the two will be the starter, and the “competition” in ST won’t be a real competition but rather only a chance for whichever of Joba or Phil the Yanks have already decided will start to be sufficiently bad that the Yanks will have to go with the other guy (or, conversely that the guy they didn’t pick is so magnificently good in ST that he can’t be ignored).
For me, I saw enough of Joba last year to hope the Yanks give Phil the #5 spot, but that’s just me.
Patrick, I don’t consider Phil to have failed as a starter yet since I believe he was injured in 2008. Joba has gotten more chances – you can’t deny that. With Eiland’s comments, either the Yanks intend to push Phil beyond where he’s physically capable of going(they’d better not) OR Phil is going to be stuck in the pen again as a short man. That means if Phil is even given an opportunity to start in 2011, he will have major innings limits – he certainly won’t be able to go 200 in 2011. I wonder if the Yankees are starting to think of converting Phil permanently to a reliever – that’s what it sounds like.
Question for all.
Everyone is waiting for Lee to hit the free agent market next year. I believe there is another big name that is coming out next year as well. What are your thoughts on Webb? Before he injured himself, he was being put in the same level as Holliday. Assuming he proves hes back. Would you throw money to get him?
Joba should have a leg up on Phil. It’s not Phil’s fault perse but he’s missed considerable time the last 2yrs due to injury and Joba’s made 43 starts so far(although only 36 real “starts”) and is further along in the process….I think that all us Yanks fans will be elated with the 200 innings that Joba gives us. I think Joba makes the all star team this year and is dominant this year. His upside this year to me would be similar to what Josh Johnson did for the Marlins last year. He’s got no pitch limits nor innings limits and I’ve got a feeling that he’s gonna bring it.
Betsy,
They’ve both have chances, they’ve both blown chances. We can go into the nitty gritty and say Joba has screwed up more but I’d also say he’s probably had more stellar starts than Phil. The bottom line is, neither guy has done anything on the field to prove they are better as a starter.
Phil would have the same innings limit in 2011 as he’d have in 2010. If you are willing to start him this year I don’t see why you wouldn’t be willing to do the same in 2011.
Lets say Joba wins the job this year, does well and is entrenched in the rotation come 2011. You still have 2 open spots in the rotation. In this hypothetical Joba is now a reliable starter so there would be plenty of room for Phil to slot in as the fifth starter @ ~140 IP. The same hypothetical could hold true if the roles are reversed.
Betsy I wouldn’t take that 200 innings statement too seriously.
Phil, could win the job and do what Joba did last season in terms of innings limits.
But if Joba wins?
I’m just curious as to what that would mean for Phil in terms of his development.
Any help here?
Joba and Phil have been talked about enough. If Joba shows up with his proper fastball, the sky is the limit. If Phil shows up with a change the sky is the limit, but so are the innings. That’s about that.
Hey Phil
I’ve got a real good feeling that a number of Yanks prospects really breakthrough this year. The teams for low-A to AA to me are stacked both position and pitching. That Tampa team that won the title next year are all mostly graduating to Trenton and along with some holdovers (Vazquez,DJ Mitchell,Humberto Sanchez,Phelps) should be even better.
This years Tampa team will have Banuelos,Brackman,Jeredia, with Corbin Joseph,Suttle,Abe Almonte,Pirela,Baisly,Higgy @ C,Melky Mesa
and Charleston may have the most Talent with Heatcott,D Mack,Medchill,Zoilo Almonte,JR Murphy,Jose Ramirez,Caleb Cotham,Bryan Marshall,Stoneburner,Sean Black,Brett Marshall…
Each one of those teams may be the favs to win their league title
Patrick, I don’t see how Phil will have the same innings limits in 2011 as he’d have this year…..Yet another year spent as a set up man and another year that he hasn’t been able to work on his pitches or learn to pitch through major league lineups more than once. He may be great as a set up man this year, but I believe he will be worse off as a starter in 2011. Speaking of, so many people want Andy to keep returning if he pitches well. If the Yanks re-sign Javy or sign Cliff Lee or whatever, then where does Phil go if Andy returns?
Hmm I don’t really think Phil’s change-up is the key to his success. Maybe it’ll help him go from a good starter to a great starter but his bread and butter is pinpoint fastball control.
champ,
I actually do, too. I think we’re gonna see a bunch of breakouts. They’ve been working on the right things in instructs, and we’re gonna see them applied. I think it’s actually an advantage that Torre Tyson will be travelling with so many of his players up to Tampa.
btw, Higgy’s not starting at Tampa.
S.o.S-
The Yankees rotation will need to be reconfigured again next year.
Decisions will need to be made based on a number of contingencies, i.e. Do Andy and Vasquez return ? ; How do Joba/Phil do ?
There would seem to be options ahead of Webb.
As far as if they decide to target him that would depend on how he does this year. If he does well the D’backs may try to re-sign him.
He is a very good pitcher when healthy. Similar to Wang. Slightly different repetoire.
I would think he would command 4-5 year @ 15 or more if healthy.
JMO
I read the other day that they are seriously thinking that Higgy could skip Charleston and play is Florida this year. it would make sense with Romine moving to Trenton because you have a hole @ C at the high-A level. I think they could go with Higgy/Gil- Tampa, JR Murphy/Farnham-Charleston, Sanchez/Tavares-GCL with Romine/Anson at Trenton
Thougts?
RE: SS and 3B from last thread
Ripken was asked about the move last week because of the Tejada situation in Baltimore and said many SS can learn to play a good 3rd but it’s a different set of skills. Footwork, angles, reaction time and throwing motion He says he always thought it was easier for a 3Bman to move to SS than the other way around.
At SS, you have time to react to a ball, take a better angle and set your body to make the throw. At 3B you are working on pure reaction and if you can’t catch the ball clean, the goal is to knock it down and count on your arm to still make the play.
Round and round we go on the Phil/Joba debate.
Have we come to the conclusion that it’s either or for all time for Phil/Joba ? They are both relatively young.
Has it also been certified that if Joba gets the nod that Phil automatically goes to the pen ?
It may be unlikely but Phil still could be kept stretched out at AAA. Especially when our rotation contains 4 innings eaters if healthy. We only beed 11 relievers early on.
IMO, if PH goes to the pen he need not stay there long term.
That isn’t true for Joba. If he hits the pen again he’s staying.
Last chance as a starter for Joba.
Didn’t Brian Baisley get cut last year? I thought it happened sometime last summer.
Meant to say 11 pitchers. sorry.
I think Sanchez and Perkins will be GCL and Taveras and Arcia will be SI.
I was told Higgy wouldn’t start at Tampa. Maybe if he lights it up this Spring.
““We want 200 innings in all five of our guys,” Eiland said.”
I don’t see the point of this comment.
Phil-
Who is considered to have the higher “potential” Sanchez, or Murphy ?
Sanchez.
That isn’t true for Joba. If he hits the pen again he’s staying.
Last chance as a starter for Joba.
=======
MTU,
I would have to agree with that. I would look at it as a demotion and the front office convinced that Joba is better suited for relief.
As far as Webb, i think he is a cut above Wang. I would dish out that money if he can relive those dominant years.
Imagine
C.C.
Webb
Burnett
Hughes
Vazquez(resigned)
No lefties. Andy reitiring and Lee resigning.
Who would you rather have? Lee of 08 and 09 or Webb when he was dominant?
Nick (Off topic) :
from MLBTR
“Wang Has Offers, Could Sign Soon
By Ben Nicholson-Smith [February 9 at 5:04pm CST]
5:04pm: MLB.com’s Bill Ladson reports that the Nationals are “aggressively pursuing” Wang, and that they are one of the finalists for his services (both links go to Twitter). Ladson adds that it’s unknown if they’ve made him an offer, though.
4:02pm: Chien-Ming Wang has received offers from two clubs and could sign soon, according to Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports. The Mets and Dodgers are not among the teams to offer Wang a contract. Rosenthal hears that the 29-year-old Wang would like to play for Joe Torre again, but Torre’s Dodgers are lagging behind in their pursuit of the right-hander. As for the Mets, they’re even further behind than the Dodgers.
The Orioles have discussed Wang and the Cardinals, Nationals and Phillies have all been connected to him this offseason. Rosenthal says the Blue Jays were in on Erik Bedard and wonders if they could pursue Wang, too.
Wang, who is recovering from arthroscopic shoulder surgery, will likely make a decision within a week or ten days.”
Just a tidbit of information: Jesus Montero will be 27 when Mark Teixeira’s contract expires.
S.o.S-
“Who would you rather have? Lee of 08 and 09 or Webb when he was dominant?”
Under your hypothetical I want the dominant lefty. All else equal.
What Lee did in the post season last year was phenomenal.
He is AL battle tested.
Webb is a nice plan “B” if he becomes available and the Yanks decide they need him.
S.o.S.-
Do the Rays re-sign Crawford, or does he hit the market ?????????
IMO, Crawford is resigning.
S.o.S-
IF no CC,and no Werth.
Who plays LF next year ?????????
Mark Teixeira wasn’t on the Yankees radar when Juan Miranda was signed out of Cuba.
With Nick Johnson and Nick Swisher available to back up Teixeira, Miranda seems to be in a quagmire and could be used as a trade piece if necessary at the 7/31 trading deadline.
MTU,
Thats where all those catchers in the minors come in handy. Front office has to know that if plan a and b fail there is option C. Unless they are planning to be the first team to have 5 man catcher rotation.
S.o.S-
Could be GGBG, or Grandy, or a TRADE. Depends on how the year goes.
You’re right in that the Yanks have the trade pieces if necessary.
The Yanks are gonna have a lot more trade possibilities by the deadline. Some of these kids are really gonna pop.
MTU,
The concerns i have with Lee is that hes going to be 32 next year. Will probably get a 6 or 7 yaer deal and has had only 2 stellar seasons. Can he be the next Zito? Just saying.
Phil-
Any ideas yet ????
Betsy,
Everyone (even the Yankees) say that once you hit an innings limit you are there. A pitcher doesn’t regress from that point supposedly. It’s speculated that Phil could go 140 innings or more this year. That’s based on his previous high of 146 IP in 2006!
Essentially he’s had the same innings limit for 3 seasons, I don’t see why that’d change with one more season of relieving – especially if he stays healthy and goes 100+ this year.
And about Andy Pettitte. I wouldn’t sign him in 2011 if Joba or Phil does well in a starting role this year. So that leaves you 2 open spots in the rotation. I just don’t see the issue here, if those guys pitch well there will be spots for them.
S.o.S.
Imagine
C.C.
Webb
Burnett
Hughes
Vazquez(resigned)
No lefties. Andy reitiring and Lee resigning.
Who would you rather have? Lee of 08 and 09 or Webb when he was dominant?
————————————————————
S.o.S. CC is a lefty.
But I think the Yankees would prefer 2 lefties in their rotation.
S.o.S-
He is just a year or so older than Webb, and his health history is better.
I don’t think Lee will get more than 4 from the Yanks, if they go for him.
I don’t see a strong comparison between Lee and Zito.
Don’t get me wrong. I wouldn’t be unhappy with a healthy Webb.
Given their payroll limits, any trades the Yankees make will probably be to restock the farm, unless key injuries occur.
phil,
of the kids who will ‘pop’ are there any that you’d consider to be untouchable? like a montrero or a romine?
Dasaint,
My bad, still groggy from the nightmarish superbowl.
Changing the subject for a second. Just saw Andy Roddicks wife(Brooklyn Decker). One word. WOW!! I dont blame Andy for not winning any tournaments. How can you focus on Tennis with a wife like that? I heard her on the radio saying that on shoots, when there is a slip up. They call out the code word PEPPERONI. Like no one would know what they are talking about.
Watch this.
http://sportsillustrated.cnn.c.....yn-decker/
If Pettitte has a similar winning season of say 14 or 15-10, with a near 4-4.25 ERA, is not retiring, and is willing to take $8-$10 million for a year, then the Yankees will resign him. You don’t find ‘Andy Pettitte’s’ out there.
CC (#1) and AJ (#2), with possibly Pettitte (#4) (presuming he doesn’t retire), are the core.
Lee (#3) will most likely be the top FA target, with Webb, Beckett, Vazquez and Lilly as backups.
The #5 slot, will be for Hughes or Joba should they deserve it. OR someone else should they deserve it.
But in no way do I think that Cashman would have more than 3 long-term contracts at the top of his rotation. Then a 1 year deal. Then an affordable kid.
The comparison between Lee and Zito makes no sense. Zito was in decline from his peak 2002 season (158 ERA+) to the time he left Oakland (116 ERA+ in 2006); plus his peripheral were declining as well (K/BB: 2.56 in 2001, 1.53 in 2006).
Lee, otoh, has gotten better since 2008.
I think Andy could be back, but I think it will be based as much on his durability as his stats.
Saint-
I agree on Petitte. If he has another quality year and wants to come back he’ll be back.
The rest makes sense to me also.
What happens if Nova and/or Z-Mac break out this year ????
Good problem, no ?
A few days ago, I opined that the only LONG-TERM openings on this team were LF/CF (that’s an either or, and all should know why), RF, and C.
I think the current infield is on lock for at least 4 more years. So if the Yankees already ‘have’ a catching heir – whomever that may be – then there’s only LF/CF, and RF that needs filling. All those talented arms in the minors, and some of the spare parts we have at various positions, including catcher, will be used to fill those 2 positions, and fill out the bullpen on an annual basis – for the next 4 years.
After that, all bets are off.
If one were to do a spreadsheet of Yankee payroll by year, you’d see that IF Cashman were to try to keep the payroll at around $200MM (which would be an increase from this year), he really doesn’t have much room to do so.
From an affordability standpoint, IF Pettitte would retire, AND Lee were signed for say $17MM/year, AND Crawford AND Werth were signed to $15MM/year contracts each starting in 2011, Yankee Payroll would jump to $215MM.
Which makes me think that next FA period the target would be 1 FA starter and only 1 FA OF, to be nearer to $200MM.
Somehow,
The chances both Jeter and A-Rod will be the SS/3B for the next four years are slim and none.
Chad – these position by position overviews are just fantastic – looking forward to the entire series!
Correction, 2011 will jump to $208MM, not $215MM.
Still don’t think they want to go too far over $200MM.
Rich,
Explain why you believe that.
And Rich,
Explain where you think A-Rod and Jeter will be playing between now and 4 years, and why. THx.
Rich,
What do you foresee happening? Alex or Jeter switch to dh? Or Jete going to shag balls in the outfield?
I have no idea who they might target in trades at the deadline, if they even feel they need one. But I think their biggest challenge over the next few years is to figure out who the Yankees are on the farm, and who the trade bait is, and to also bridge the era from the Jeter/Mo/Po to whatever’s coming next.
I don’t think Romine is untouchable, though it would take a lot to get him.
Patrick, ok – didn’t know that about the innings limits. I wouldn’t sign Andy either, even if he wanted to pitch.
Rich, can’t wait for your response, as I have a client showing up in a couple minutes.
Jeter over the past 4 years:
32 – 2006 14HR/97RBI/.343 34SB
33 – 2007 12/73/.322 15SB
34 – 2008 11/69/.300 11SB
35 – 2009 18/66/.334 30SB
If Jeter were to hit 12HR/65RBI/.300 15SB on average for 4 more years, the Yankees would take it, just so he could retire never having to play another position.
He’ll play the position for 4 years, if he wants to.
9 days until pitchers and catchers take the field for their 1st workout.
http://www.ballparkreviews.com/tampa/legends.htm
And A-Rod has a 10 year contract, last I checked. Few more years left, no?
Tex is clogging 1B till when? 2016?
DH will be very familiar to Posada, but they need him as backup catcher too, since DH position is crowded.
Don’t think Jete or Alex will be playing 2B.
DaSaint007, S.o.S.
To the best of my knowledge, there has never been a 40 year old SS playing next to a 39 year old 3B in MLB history. It’s not like Jeter can play defense like Vizquel.
The 3B has just undergone serious hip surgery, and while he may have made a spectacular recovery, it isn’t likely to aid his lateral quickness going forward.
The SS is being lauded for merely returning to having average range.
While they both may be outliers and keep themselves in wonderful physical condition, I think the odds are high that one or both won’t be able to provide even passable defense for four more years.
A team can probably get by with one such player if they put a spectacular defensive player alongside of him.
So I think at some point a difficult decision will have to be made.
A-Rod is not good at catching flyballs; Jeter is spectacular at it.
So I think it’s likely that Jeter will play a corner OF position, probably RF because it’s smaller. He could move to 3B if A-Rod becomes the DH, but if Montero can’t stay at C, he may need to be the DH, and he will probably put up a .950+ OPS.
Dasaint,
All i can think off is Jeter going to left after striking out the next few years trying to land a Crawford type player. Like you said, first base was an option till Tex signed and dh is all Posadas next year.
The Yankees need Joba and Hughes, and some of the other kids to do well to offset the high salaries projected by the veterans for the next few years.
I predict Lee and Crawford OR Werth as the targets, as I think only 2 more FA contracts can be handled next offseason. And a slew of current Yankees, including Swisher, Gaudin, Mitre, Johnson, Winn, Thames and others, will be wearing other uniforms next season, just to financially accomodate these contracts.
“If Jeter were to hit 12HR/65RBI/.300 15SB on average for 4 more years, the Yankees would take it, just so he could retire never having to play another position.”
I don’t understand why it’s that big a deal if Jeter has to change positions.
I think it’s about defense, not offense, except that if Teix wasn’t on the team, you probably wouldn’t want a 1B with Jeter’s offensive numbers.
Rich,
While I understand your statement about age, similarly, I don’t think that a 36+ year old player is switching postions from SS to 3B, where he’s never played. Maybe RF, which would fit in with my theory of not being able to afford 2 additional FA OF contracts.
But Yankees are in a pinch, position wise, and contract wise due to the length of their contracts. That’s my only fault with Cashman the last few years. But I only think Jeter moves if someone ‘better’ is available. Until then, he’s staying put. Maybe he’ll retire and make this a moot point, which is possible. Time will tell.
for all those we need to kill a bit of time. Can you name the players who appeared in at least one game for the New York Yankees during the 2009 season?
http://www.sporcle.com/games/y.....09_yankees
I don’t understand why it’s that big a deal if Jeter has to change positions.
I could be wrong, but I don’t think he’ll want to change positions. Maybe we’ll see him play the outfield occassionally this year, and that would convince me that it’s possible. But not until I see it.
Rich,
I agree that most shortstops statistically decline the closer they get to 40. But Jeter has argueably had his best season(range wise) at short and Alex played 3rd hurt the last 2 years and is finally at 100%. The only way i see a change is if Jeter retires before that. Which in all honesty, i wouldnt be surprised to see that happening.
“Can you name the players who appeared in at least one game for the New York Yankees during the 2009 season?”
I did that last week and missed an infielder and a few of the revolving door of relievers they used last year.
I think Jeter fittingly ends his career in RF. When that occurs depends on how well he continues to play SS.
I did that last week and missed an infielder and a few of the revolving door of relievers they used last year.
I forgot about freddy guzman and a couple of those relievers.
fwiw, Francesa LOVES the 2010 Yanks.
during one of his diatribes about the Mets today he compared them to the Yanks, saying this upcoming season NYY will be better than they’ve been in 10 yrs while the Mets will be losing even more market share to them.
DaSaint007
The switch to 3B would be a concession to his diminishing range.
“That’s my only fault with Cashman the last few years.”
Cash was strongly opposed to giving A-Rod ten years.
S.o.S.
I don’t think his range was as good as it was at the early part of the 2000s as well as prior to that time. It’s just that his range was abysmal from 2005-07, so average seems great. I’m skeptical that he can keep that up through age 40.
“I could be wrong, but I don’t think he’ll want to change positions. ”
DaSaint007
Does the time ever come when what he wants is a secondary consideration? He was already permitted to remain at SS even though A-Rod was clearly better when he was traded here.
I prefer to believe that Jeter wouldn’t out his ego above the team when that time comes. Hopefully that will be the case. I think that decision still lies a couple years down the road.
New post with a few notes about old friends.
Andy In Sunny Daytona
February 9th, 2010 at 6:11 pm
Didn’t Brian Baisley get cut last year? I thought it happened sometime last summer.
————————————————————
Baisley was demoted back to Charleston, last year and has pretty much bottomed out, so far. At age 27, he’s not making much progess and time is running out.
Posted Jul. 28, 2009 12:15 pm by Matt Eddy
Filed under: Transactions
This time: July 19-25
Previous installment: July 12-18
Released: C Brian Baisley
Thanks GreenBeret7, but like I said earlier, he was released.
Ur writing about the state of forst base…are you kidding me…