Notes from Sunday
Posted by: Chad Jennings - Posted in Misc, Podcast on Mar 21, 2010 
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On the day the Yankees were rained out, they also sent out the most highly touted prospects in camp.
Catchers Jesus Montero and Austin Romine packed their bags this afternoon, having combined for just 19 at-bats spread across eight games apiece.
“(Montero) has made strides in his catching,” Joe Girardi said. “He’s made strides in shortening his arm stroke. He can really hit. He’s just a young man like Romine. They just need to go play and mature and learn the finer points of catching, and the pitcher-catcher relationship. I was impressed with both of them. Their work. Their willingness to learn. Their ability to take what you give them and try to apply it in a game. Impressive.”
Here’s Girardi’s session with the media this afternoon. This was before the Yankees figured out their plan for tomorrow, so the first few minutes are Girardi talking the Yankees trying to come up with a plan.
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• Speaking of catchers, Joe Mauer has agreed to a $184-million contract extension with the Twins. He’ll be there through 2018.
• Today’s lineup had Curtis Granderson in center field. Girardi once again said he would prefer not to move Granderson around after the season starts. He wants to make a decision this spring and stick with it. “You’d like to be able to leave him in one spot, but I’m not saying that we have to,” he said. “You look at the combination of people and how they play together, not necessarily this guy’s better here.”
• Girardi on Nick Swisher’s adjustments at the plate: “Just took some of the movement out and it seems to have made a difference. He’s looked great at the plate. Left-handed and right-handed, very pleased. It could pay some big dividends.”
• This has obviously changed, but these were the pitchers scheduled to make the trip to Clearwater tomorrow: Joba Chamberlain, Damaso Marte, Chan Ho Park, Dave Robertson, Royce Ring, Jonathan Albaladejo and Mark Melancon. Four of those are now pitching in tomorrow’s intrasquad game, and there probably won’t be innings for the other three A.J. Burnett and Phil Hughes are making the trip.
• This also might change because of today’s rainout, but here are the position players who were scheduled skip the trip to Clearwater: Jorge Posada, Mike Rivera, Robinson Cano, Derek Jeter, Nick Johnson and Alex Rodriguez. Every outfielder was scheduled to make the trip.
• Here’s a cool AP picture of Greg Golson. It’s obviously from yesterday. There wasn’t that much sun today.
You know, I remember reading this blog back when Montero was among the first to be cut in Spring Training. Nice to see him hanging around the big guys for so long.
Montero will go north with the team next year.
Romine and Montero both showed off very well – which is great news for the Yanks. Chad, thanks for the info – and that is a fantastic shot.
http://sports.yahoo.com/mlb/ne.....ls-greinke
Chamberlain pitching against minor league team means nothing, officially.
Now the Sox can turn their attention to Pujols, who will almost certainly be too rich for the Cardinals
if only we had Mauer. We could have beaten the Twins in the ALDS in TWO games. (sobs)
Pat M
“Rich in NJ, If not Thames then who is the righty stick ??? Russo, Hoffman ???”
I really wish they would begin to give Russo some time in the corners, but if that’s not going to happen, yes, Hoffman.
“Now the Sox can turn their attention to Pujols, who will almost certainly be too rich for the Cardinals”
If they aren’t going to sign Pujols, why did they bid against themselves to sign Holliday?
The Mighty Red Sox do not need Mauer, Gonzalez, or Pujols.
They got Lester, Beckett, and Lackey.
What else do they need?
All three will win > 28 games (each) this season and be Cy Youngs.
If Pujols ever hits the market (which he won’t) the Yankees will open the checkbook wife open for him. Only reason he wouldn’t stay in st. Loius is because he wants the most money and that’s what the Yanks have. Sox fans can forget about that one.
Yeah, a franchise worth over 500 million dollars, which clears an annual profit of over 50 million dollars a year (and I’m being conservative) can’t afford Albert Pujols.
Keep dreaming. He’s a Cardinal for life.
ray,
I wasn’t joking.
Yanks are not going to move Teixeria anywhere. Yes I include the lineup. Pujols and Gonzo wont be a Yankee.
I am happy Joe stayed with the Twins. Now we have a real shot to see guys like Romaine and Jesus take over for Jorge.
Red Sox, on other hand, may need Pujols or Gonzo. Could be the latter.
Score update:
224-206
Ms Hewitt,
I think Montero will stay with Yankees longer than Romine. Romine is around just in case if Montero “cant play” behind the plate. I can see Yankees will move Romine when the time is right.
Looks like Barack Obama made it to the Sweet Sixteen after all.
Bodhisattva – Destiny Wears Pinstripes
March 21st, 2010 at 6:56 pm
ray,
I wasn’t joking.”
——————————————-
Ok, I didn’t mean to say that Manny’s bat is a joke. But there has been way too much water over the damn at this point to try to bring Manny back.
Too much bad blood now.
As far as Adrian Gonzales is concerned, Boston does not have a clear path to him in a trade. The White Sox have better young players that they can trade without totally stripping their farm system.
Pujols is going nowhere.
I am so happy to be spared the Mauer to the Yankees debates.
Now maybe the attention turns to Carl Crawford for next years free agency period. I lke the fact that now Montero or Romine can take a crack at catching in 2011.
Good for Mauer and the Twins!
AP will get his extension from St. Louis.
Jeter will get his 4-year extension from the Yankees.
Pres. Obama will get his landmark Health Care Bill.
But who will be the right-handed bat off the bench?
And will there be a second lefty in the pen?
Inquiring minds want to know.
Ok, I didn’t mean to say that Manny’s bat is a joke. But there has been way too much water over the damn at this point to try to bring Manny back.
Too much bad blood now.
====
I guess.
Too much religion, IMO.
As far as Adrian Gonzales is concerned, Boston does not have a clear path to him in a trade. The White Sox have better young players that they can trade without totally stripping their farm system.
===
White Sox have prospects? I thought they emptied the magazine for Peavy and Rios last year. Red Sox could start with Casey Kelly and Lars Anderson as a package for Gonzo.
Carl Crawford is next year’s Matt Holiday – the player many, many people will be convinced the Yankees will ultimately sweep in and get … until they don’t.
Why are people saying that Mauer staying in MIN is good for baseball?
Why is it good that a top 5 player like that is stuck in a mid-market team that is just good enough to get to the playoffs in a weak division, but never do any damage?
It would be much better for baseball if he was on a global stage like in NY or BOS, winning titles, playing in the postseason every year, getting endorsements, etc.
All good players should go to big market teams for the health and growth of the game.
There are quite a few teams that could outbid the Red Sox if they want to.
But do the White Sox want to give up Gordon Beckham and more, plus $180M ?
The huge contract, plus huge prospects, could allow only a team desperate for a big bat to get him.
The Red Sox are going to improve their team with a bat at some point. I hope they can’t get Gonzalez or anyone else, but I know they’ll get a slugger eventually.
Glad Twins/Mauer got it done. $23M AAV = to CC’s deal.
Can we please not talk health care on here.
“# DaSaint007 March 21st, 2010 at 7:15 pm
Good for Mauer and the Twins!
AP will get his extension from St. Louis.
Jeter will get his 4-year extension from the Yankees.
Pres. Obama will get his landmark Health Care Bill.
”
agree except the Obama health care part
A Rebecca sighting !!!!! Duke ouch…I need Xavier and Texas A&M…..Rich in NJ, really down on Marcus Thames ???
That wonderful 2010 free agent Class everyone was talking about in the winter is looking Less and less wonderful.
Did the Healthcare bill pass?
“Red Sox could start with Casey Kelly and Lars Anderson as a package for Gonzo.”
————————–
You cannot center a package for one of the best and right now cheapest 1B in baseball around a kid who has never pitched above A ball and another one whose performance was abysmal in AA last year.
I had to post this about Granderson. It’s from a poster named Mike on NYYFans.com:
I was short on time last time I posted. Granderson is a self made player. he will climb the fence in center and has a nack for stealing home runs to left center. He has done it to end the game a few times. He gets up for the big moments and has that extra gear most players dont have. He is made for the playoffs and playoff runs. The better the opps the better he does. His problem last yr was he was moved around the order and the tigers 7-9 guys couldnt hit at all. He is a center fielder. He can make the great catches in all directions and rarely misses a ball if he can get his glove on it. plus he can make up alot of ground due to quick jumps more than speed. He isnt a blazer at all but is a very smart baserunner which is why he can steal bases. In detroit he was the king of the triple. just check out his triple numbers. he is a gap hitter when he is on. Thats pull and away to the gaps. He starts rallies. dont worry about the lefty numbers he is the type who will work to make any hole in his game better. Great work ethic. His parents are both teachers and his desire is to be the best.
Martinez agent now has the Sox right where he wants them. Mauer just set his clients market like Arod set Jeter’s market back in 1999… My client has to be worth at least 1/2 of 184M right Theo?
LOL the Gammons articles about the future trades for Pujols, Hanley, Gonzo or Fielder should start soon.
Victor Martinez isn’t any where on the level with Joe. Victor isn’t a good catcher.
Victor Martinez is barely a catcher at this point – better off as a weak fielding 1B or DH. Mauer is a gold glove caliber catcher who could or should be a perennial MVP candidate.
You are right though, this can’t hurt VMart’s case for more $$ from somebody.
You cannot center a package for one of the best and right now cheapest 1B in baseball around a kid who has never pitched above A ball and another one whose performance was abysmal in AA last year.
=======
Both Kelly and Casey are lowest level of best prospects right now. That is where the trade talk begins and then it can become Bowden, Tawaza or Buchholtz as the offering increases.
Red Sox have about 5-7 prospects that are ahead of Kelly and Anderson. Minus Westmoreland, of course.
http://www.newsday.com/sports/.....-1.1823164
TAMPA, Fla. – On a team with few position battles, the Yankees’ competition for the fifth-starter’s job has gotten a great deal of attention this spring.
And why not? People love a good battle, especially when a team has quality options, and there’s not much to debate about spots one through four. The Yankees feel pretty set with CC Sabathia, A.J. Burnett, Javier Vazquez and Andy Pettitte.
As for the fifth spot: In Phil Hughes and Joba Chamberlain, the Yankees have potential young studs. In Alfredo Aceves, they have a valuable swing man who wants to be more. And in Sergio Mitre and Chad Gaudin, they have veterans who many teams would be pleased to have at the back of their rotation.
“Probably because of the number of people involved – you’re trying to figure out how to get them innings – it does take up a little more of our time,” manager Joe Girardi said. “But if we weren’t doing that, we’d be doing something else. First base, second base, short – you don’t have to worry about those spots. You go into camp knowing areas that you target.”
But just how big a deal is the fifth starter?
“It’s something we think a lot about,” Girardi said. “But I’m able to go to sleep every night.”
A review of the Yankees’ fifth starters over the last 10 seasons shows it’s often not that big a deal, actually.
Here are the last 10 pitchers who were the Yankees’ fifth starter out of spring training: Chamberlain, Ian Kennedy, Darrell Rasner, Jaret Wright, Kevin Brown, Jorge DePaula, Jeff Weaver, Orlando Hernandez, Christian Parker, Ramiro Mendoza.
Of that group, Chamberlain made the most starts, but many of his 2009 outings were truncated due to the Joba Rules. Wright was the only one to make a postseason start – and that was a disastrous outing in the 2006 ALCS against the Tigers.
Don’t remember Parker or DePaula? It’s OK. Both made just one start – Parker gave up seven runs in three innings, DePaula five in 6 1/3 – and neither had another start in the majors. Ever. In fact, that was Parker’s only game as a major-leaguer.
Kennedy was handed the job in 2008 and went 0-4 with an 8.35 ERA and never started another game for the Yankees before getting traded to the Diamondbacks this offseason. Rasner, an affable journeyman, made six starts in 2007 before fracturing a finger on a comebacker hit by the Mets’ Endy Chavez, costing him the rest of the season. He went 5-10 with a 5.40 ERA the following season, his last in the majors.
Wright, Brown and Weaver were part of the Yankees’ failed attempts at finding veteran starters in the mid-2000s. Hernandez was a key member of the championship teams of the late 90s and 2000, but 2000 was his last injury-free season and he spent the 2002 ALDS in the bullpen. Mendoza only pitched in 14 games in 2000 due to a shoulder injury.
If all goes well for the 2010 Yankees, the winner of the fifth-starter battle will be in the bullpen in the playoffs. If all doesn’t go well . . . then they’ll have more important things to talk about than the No. 5 spot in the rotation anyway.
Hughes, the assumed leader for the spot, was supposed to pitch on Sunday in relief of Burnett, but the Yankees’ game against the Tigers at George M. Steinbrenner Field was rained out. Hughes will instead follow Burnett Monday against the Phillies.
Chamberlain, who made 31 starts last season, will start an intrasquad game at Steinbrenner Field today. (He was bumped from facing the Phillies.) A decision should come sometime this week.
For Girardi and his staff, it’s been a hot topic all spring because of how it affects the bullpen. Does Chamberlain become the eighth-inning guy if Hughes win the job? Does Aceves, Mitre or Gaudin fill the long-man role? Or is one or more of them shipped to a pitching-poor team just before camp breaks.
“We don’t look at as just the fifth starter,” Girardi said. “You look at the staff combined. Every move that we make is not just based on that one spot. The other 11 spots in the pitching staff come into play.”
Victor Martinez’s defense is acceptable but he plays better at 1B. Gonzo is way way better than both Youkilis and Martinez as 1B. I can see Youkilis move to OF for Gonzo. Martinez’s big test this year is handling pitching staffs.
Mauer surely is a huge upgrade to Martinez at c position as well.
I remember Christian Parker, lol.
It is a big deal because of the talents involved. Both Joba and Phil are ultra-talented, potential studs; normally the 5th spot is given to a promising pitcher or it’s a battle between mediocrities. It’s also a big deal because whether the Yankees meant it to or not, the competition has raised questions about what it means to the loser.
Mauer = 184M as a complete C
Martinez = 80M+ as a flawed C
The Redsox will be regretting not giving Tex that extra 10M for years.
JK March 21st, 2010 at 7:40 pm
Mauer = 184M as a complete C
Martinez = 80M+ as a flawed C
The Redsox will be regretting not giving Tex that extra 10M for years.
Preach!!!!!
Martinez has never played more than 100 games at catcher.
That’s why Varitek will split time with him and still get plenty of ABs.
I dont remember Christian Parker but I do remember Clay Parker. DePaula had swing and miss pitch. Too bad that he could not become a solid starter.
If I’m not mistaken, AJ Pierzyski is a FA after the season. Boston may end up overpaying for him. Perhaps Epstein comes crying on Cashman’s shoulder for a catcher. I hear that he has a couple of extra catchers. Not sure that I’d trade Pilittere or Mike Rivera or any of them for a utility infielder like Pedroia, though.
Top tier (at least for some GMs)
Buchholz
Kelly
Second Tier
Anderson
Reddick
Iglesias
Third Tier
Kalish
Bowden
They’d really have to empty out their system to bring in an elite player right now, IMO.
GB – I don’t think there’s any way Theo and Cash do a deal. The politcal and PR fallout for whomever comes up short would be prohibitive.
Though, Cash could probably use a guy like Pedroia for minor league depth. Maybe Jose Gil?
AJ is indeed a FA after this season but Mets may need him as well.
Speaking of utility infielder was 2009 Scutaro the real deal or ?
One of each looks like a good deal for a team
Kelly, Anderson, and Bowden for a big bat would be fine.
“Both Kelly and Casey are lowest level of best prospects right now. That is where the trade talk begins and then it can become Bowden, Tawaza or Buchholtz as the offering increases.
Red Sox have about 5-7 prospects that are ahead of Kelly and Anderson. Minus Westmoreland, of course.”
——————————
This is not a video game or fantasy baseball though. Theo cannot call up Jed Hoyer and say hey buddy I will give you Kelly and Lars for Gonzalez unless he does it on April 1st.
Now that Westmoreland is off the table Kelly is very likely the prospect with the most value in a trade but he does not have enough of a track record to center or start a package with.
Pat M: Hah, its not that exciting.
Boston Dave…. what about Tawaza?
Have a feeling Beltran will be a met by the middle of the season. Mets might fall out of it and cut payroll. He has a NTC and would probably want to stay East.
Parker came up around the time Ted Lilly did.
“I can see Youkilis move to OF for Gonzo.”
————
Youk is a surprisingly good defensive 1b and good 3b (at least from what I’ve seen) but a miserable OF.
If Youk isn’t part of the trade to bring Gonzo to Boston (which I think is likely), he’d probably go back to 3B next year if/when Beltre departs.
The Red Sox farm system is so hyped in the media that any GM that acquires talent from them can sell it to their fanbase. “Look what Keith Law said about Lars Anderson. Look where Baseball America ranked Kelly, look what Buster Olney said about Lars Anderson, etc.”
LGY.
What I mean to say is that Red Sox have enough ammo to get Gonzo. Starting with Kelly and Anderson does not mean 2 for Gonzo. It could be a package of Kelly, Anderson, Bowden and Tawaza or Kelly, Anderson and Youkilis. Something like that.
Kelly… pitched 1/2 a season in a-ball and has a 87-92 mph fastball.
Westmoreland… He was their best prospect in my opinion. However, he has only played in short season ball and unfortunately he now has a serious medical issue.
Lars Anderson… 0-18 in spring coming of a disastrous 2009
Buchholz… turns 26 this year, it’s doe or die time for his prospect status.
Bard… reliever
Tazawa & Bowden… Back of the rotation throw in guys
Reddick, Espisito & Kalish… good not A level prospects
Rizzo… only played in A ball so far, and has not shown plus plus power @ 1B yet.
^^^^^ How are the Sox getting Gonzo again? The Sox don’t have the Montero, Heyward, Stanton uber level prospect at the upper levels to center a package around for Gonzo.
Vmart is Awful with a capital A as a catcher and he hasn’t caught a full season in many moons.
Rebecca, It’s good to have you visit….I kno wthhe regulars would be delighted….So Rebecca, is it going to be Young Master Hughes or will it be Joba The Hutter or the 5 th slot ????
“Boston Dave…. what about Tawaza?”
——–
I suppose he could go under Bowden, but Tazawa needs to pitch a little more to show what he can or can’t do.
I imagine there are some GM’s out there that do like the guy and others that don’t.. but he would only be a deal sweetener, IMO, not a major piece.
If I had to guess right now, and I’ll probably be slammed for this, I’d say a deal would look something like this:
Youk, Buchholz, Anderson, lesser prospect for Gonzo
I know how good Gonzo is, but I don’t think too many teams are going to give up much more in addition to the huge contract he’ll require.
Ellsbury will probably be apart of the Gonzo trade, or any 1B trade.
They can move Cameron to center (where he has the most value anyway), Youk to left, and plug whoever in at 1B.
I just can’t see Gardner as the full-time starting CF on a championship caliber Yankee team (which this one certainly is).
Therefore, it s/b Granderson in center to maintain continuity.
Youk is a surprisingly good defensive 1b and good 3b (at least from what I’ve seen) but a miserable OF.
If Youk isn’t part of the trade to bring Gonzo to Boston (which I think is likely), he’d probably go back to 3B next year if/when Beltre departs.
==
Is that right, he played LF. His struggle may be something to do with the Green Monster. Never mind if he struggled outside Fenway as LF.
You don’t have to throw 100 to be a star.
Kelly is perfect capable of being an above average pitcher with a low 90s fastball. He supposedly has filthy secondary pitches and good control.
“The Sox don’t have the Montero, Heyward, Stanton uber level prospect at the upper levels to center a package around for Gonzo.”
———–
I doubt Montero, Heyward, or Stanton would ever be in a package for Gonzo.
Gonzo probably wants a Texeira-sized contract in 2 years, no?
Devin,
There are only a handful of what you call big market teams (Boston, btw, is not technically a “big market, they just operate like one). You can’t turn a 162 game schedule for 30 teams into a 6 month exhibition league.
How can MLB sell thousands of games when in your optimal design, only a few teams have any real shot at contending?
To the American sporting public: my apologies.
Joe from Long Island
March 21st, 2010 at 7:47 pm
GB – I don’t think there’s any way Theo and Cash do a deal. The politcal and PR fallout for whomever comes up short would be prohibitive.
Though, Cash could probably use a guy like Pedroia for minor league depth. Maybe Jose Gil?
————————————————————
Joe, a couple of years ago, I thought Gil was going to really hit. His catching needed a little work but 12 homers in a little over 200 at bats in the Sally and NY-Penn League parks for a 20 year old was pretty impressive. He slipped back a lot, though. His defense improved greatly but the offense disappeared. NYYs do have a mother lode of youngk catching, though all throughout the system. No…no way will Cashman make a trade with Boston unless he’s getting the best of the deal. Boston will need to hope to get Laird from Detroit or Pierzynski. They should have gone after John Buck this past winter.
Jon Heyman thinks Joba is out of the rotation race ;/
Tex talks defense. Count him in the group that says he’ll trust his eyes before metrics.
http://www.greenwichtime.com/s.....416538.php
Youkilis makes twice as much as Gonzalez over the next 2 years. After that in 2012 and 2013 Youk makes 12 million and 13 million. For a team trading Gonzalez for money reasons it would not make very much sense at all to pick up Youkilis.
It would also not make much sense to trade Youk for Gonzalez. You are slightly upgrading 1B at the expense of prospects and very likely a huge extension for Gonzalez.
Yeah, no team willingly give up a phenom for Gonzo. In fact, most phenoms are with weaker teams. Impossible to accomplish.
SI_JonHeyman
joba is out of #yanks rotation derby. RT @JackCurryYES: No Joba-Hughes showdown Mon. Hughes will face Phils. Joba will work intrasquad game
11 minutes ago via web
——————-
Is that his opinion or is he reporting it as fact?
Gonzalez only makes $10 million over the next 2 years. A number of teams can trade for him in hopes of making the playoffs and then let him walk at the end of 2011.
He will have a ton of value at this trade deadline. 1.5 years and 2 potential playoff runs.
Gonzo has option clause for next two years. I dont know it is a team or player’s but if it is a player’s option then Padres have to take what is the best offer on the table. Cant afford to lose him and net extra 2 draft picks. Getting 3 players that can be ready for MLB level within 2 years is solid enough.
Buchholz would do very well in the NL West. That is a guy you can sell to the fans. I doubt Padres fans know much about baseball… so Hoyer can sell them on the fact that he has already thrown a no-hitter and did well last year in the rotation (despite pitching against the Jays and Os).
Buchholz AND Ellsbury would be too steep for Gonzalez, but Buchholz and someone like Kalish and Bowdwn would be adequate.
I know folks like to undervalue Sox prospects, but the Sox giving up Buchholz is like us giving up Hughes or Joba for Gonzalez. When you put it like that, it sounds pretty good for SD, no?
“For a team trading Gonzalez for money reasons it would not make very much sense at all to pick up Youkilis.”
———–
San Diego needs to get something for Gonzo if they can’t resign him and Youk is an all-star caliber player (I believe he’s been up there in MVP votes on occasion).
It’s not just about money reasons for SD. They’d love to resign him, they just can’t afford a mega contract, apparently. It’s not like they have zero money. They can afford a guy like Youk if they wanted to.
I see no reason why SD wouldn’t take that deal if there were no better offers.
Obviously, this is just my pure speculation and just for fun.
Carl, did he say that on MLB network? I still maintain that the Yankees have not made up their mind. People like Heyman and even Yankee beat writers are just speculating………..
Sea Net March 21st, 2010 at 8:01 pm
SI_JonHeyman
joba is out of #yanks rotation derby. RT @JackCurryYES: No Joba-Hughes showdown Mon. Hughes will face Phils. Joba will work intrasquad game
11 minutes ago via web
——————-
Is that his opinion or is he reporting it as fact?
Twitter Betsy
omg quilvo is back. Batten down the hatches.
“Gonzalez only makes $10 million over the next 2 years. A number of teams can trade for him in hopes of making the playoffs and then let him walk at the end of 2011.”
———-
that’s true. Should make for an interesting trade deadline this year.
If a team like Boston trades for him though, I think it would be with the intent of wrapping him up long term.
TBH, I’m kind of disappointed in Mauer. He had the chance to start a Yankees-Sox bidding war of epic proportions and get himself an A-Rod type contract and play for a contender. Why would he take less money to stay with his own team? I know he grew up there, but doesn’t this guy want the bright lights and big stage? It’s disappointing that he took such a discount for no reason. So much for trying to maximize your earning potential.
same heyman person who said Yanks did not mind giving up Montero as a part of package for Halladay? I dont count on it.
Carl, thanks! That’s just his opinion…how would Heyman know what the Yankees are thinking? Is there a leak in the organization? Heaven forbid, lol
Doesn’t sound like it is Heyman’s opinion. Though if it was official, he might have made a new post not just re-tweeted Curry.
Wouldn’t be surprised though… anyone with a brain could see that Hughes was the leader up to this point. This rainout might have made them expedite their decision because they couldn’t get them both into MLB games and might not want to wait till the next turn in the rotation.
Why would any team give up top prospects for Gonzalez only to let him walk? To get more draft picks? Picks that won’t be as far along as the prospects they gave up for him? I don’t see how that makes much sense.
” but the Sox giving up Buchholz is like us giving up Hughes or Joba for Gonzalez. When you put it like that, it sounds pretty good for SD, no?”
—————-
I have defended Buchholz many times on here when I’ve felt he was being unfairly trashed. Too often posters who talk as if he has no chance of ever being a quality starter because he’s already 25. Oh no!
He’s a good pitcher but I think the Padres could get a much better prospect than Buchholz for Gonzo. That’s why I think it would take Buchholz, 2 of the Sox #4-8 prospects, and a quality veteran to get it done.
pat March 21st, 2010 at 7:58 pm
Tex talks defense. Count him in the group that says he’ll trust his eyes before metrics.
http://www.greenwichtime.com/s…..416538.php
==============================================================
Great article Pat, thanks for posting it.
“TBH, I’m kind of disappointed in Mauer. He had the chance to start a Yankees-Sox bidding war of epic proportions and get himself an A-Rod type contract and play for a contender.”
————
and I sometimes wonder why other fans hate Yankee fans. ugh…
He’s the highest paid catcher in the history of baseball. He didn’t take a paycut.
There is more to the baseball world than NY and Boston.
I can t think of any other team than Red Sox can afford to have Gonzo. Mets may want him but their prospects shoot blank right now. Ike Davis and who?
“You don’t have to throw 100 to be a star.
Kelly is perfect capable of being an above average pitcher with a low 90s fastball. He supposedly has filthy secondary pitches and good control.”
————
Before he should be a top 25 prospect in all of baseball, shouldn’t he have succeeded at AA at least??
He hasn’t done anything yet. He may very well be a solid player one day, but it seems wild to me that he is ranked higher than guys who have done much more than Kelly has.
Why would anyone be disappointed in Mauer? He chose to not sell out his hometown team to start a bidding war for his services. Sport would be better off if more guys did the same.
Just my opinion….but I would be shocked if the Sox traded Youkilis.
My father told me months ago that Mauer was definitely going to be a Yankee. I insisted that he was not leaving Minny. LOL Now he tells me that maybe he said Mauer would be a Yanke IF he became a FA, but I called shenanigans on him. That’s definitely not what he said months ago – he never issued any such qualifier. So, me – a mere paralegal – won a debate vs. my father the attorney!
Pat M: My money is on Phil.
Ah 2011 5.5 club option…. Padres are not in hurry unless Gonzo stupidly holdout.
Sure, a lot of teams are better positioned than Boston prospect-wise. But how many of them can afford a Texeira type contract?
When have the White Sox given out that type of dough? Dodgers? Braves? Seattle?
If this guy is going to demand Teixeria money, he really doesn’t have a market outside of Boston. I suppose the Angels, if they even want him, their offense is good now.
Of course, no team has to extend him, but why would you give up a haul and not do it?
Betsy – Romine wasn’t built in a day
March 21st, 2010 at 8:13 pm
Why would any team give up top prospects for Gonzalez only to let him walk? To get more draft picks? Picks that won’t be as far along as the prospects they gave up for him? I don’t see how that makes much sense.
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Betsy,
It happens at the trade deadline every year. Like I said before, Gonzalez has great value because he is cheap for the next two playoffs.
Our very own 1B was traded 2 times under this scenario. Our Ace was also traded to help during a playoff push.
i wonder about the twins paying that much for so few games each year.
mauer only averages about 130 games a year.
it seems if you’re going to pay 23 million a year you’d rather have a guy like teixeira who averages 155 games or so a year .
i understand the native son thing, but the twins will have that much less for the rest of the team.
catcher is probably the worst position to put a lot of money in for offense if a team has a limited budget because the money could buy offense cheaper at other positions.
it’s no big deal to me because it’s the twins, but they have to be careful not to become mauer and the seven dwarves as time goes on. it’s what happened to alex in texas.
we may see mauer moved like alex if the twins don’t have the revenue to pay other quality players to continue competing at the level they have been.
i think the twins may actually do worse with mauer at this annual salary.
time will tell.
i wonder about the twins paying that much for so few games each year.
mauer only averages about 130 games a year.
it seems if you’re going to pay 23 million a year you’d rather have a guy like teixeira who averages 155 games or so a year .
i understand the native son thing, but the twins will have that much less for the rest of the team.
catcher is probably the worst position to put a lot of money in for offense if a team has a limited budget because the money could buy offense cheaper at other positions.
it’s no big deal to me because it’s the twins, but they have to be careful not to become mauer and the seven dwarves as time goes on. it’s what happened to alex in texas.
we may see mauer moved like alex if the twins don’t have the revenue to pay other quality players to continue competing at the level they have been.
i think the twins may actually do worse with mauer at this annual salary.
time will tell.
Obamacare is about to be passed and the IRS will be at your day anyday now making sure the individual mandate is enforced.
Gonna be an interesting November….