Notes from Day 3: Cashman edition
Posted by: Chad Jennings - Posted in Notes on Dec 08, 2010 
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Andy Pettitte called Brian Cashman today. The message was vague and uncertain, but the purpose was direct and to the point. Pettitte still hasn’t decided whether he’s going to retire, but he had to make sure his indecision wasn’t negatively affecting the Yankees offseason.
“If I had to bet at some point, I think he’ll play,” Cashman said. “But he’s telling me right now he’s leaning the other way. He just doesn’t want to hold us up.”
Cashman said there was nothing Pettitte said that gave him reason for optimism, he simply believes — because “this is what he always does” — that Pettitte will eventually have a change of heart and decide to pitch one more year. For now, though, it’s completely up in the air.
“He hasn’t put himself in play yet,” Cashman said. “We’re just going to stay in touch with one another… I’m focusing on what’s in play. He knows that.”
Cashman is not waiting for Pettitte. The Yankees are going to make the moves they have to make. What if Cashman spends all of his budget, and then Pettitte decides to come back?
“I never have a problem knocking on Hal’s door and asking for more money,” Cashman said. “I have a problem sometimes with Hal saying yes. I know my title is general manager, but I consider myself the director of spending for the New York Yankees. I don’t make it. I spend it.”
• While they’ve stayed in touch, the Yankees and Pettitte have never talked money. Cashman said he has no idea whether that will become a problem, but he doesn’t expect it to be an issue like it was two years ago. That, Cashman said, was a problem of communication, and there will be no such problem this time.
• Cashman would not confirm nor deny reports that he had dinner last night with Carl Crawford. His only comment on last night’s dinner: “I had steak.”
• For whatever it’s worth, Cashman never shot anyone down when they asked a Crawford question. He once again referred to the “wide net” he’s cast into the free agent and trade markets.
• Speaking of the trade market: “There are definitely pitchers out there available,” Cashman said. “And I know that we can line up with teams because of the deep farm system I think we have, and I think people recognize that. There are some players that are available on the trade market.”
• Cashman once again spoke to Kerry Wood’s agent, but said he has no idea whether Wood has been offered a closer job. He’s also not ready to push the Wood talks forward at this point. “Right now we’re going to wait on Cliff,” Cashman said. “By my choice.”
• I might have been wrong, but when Cashman said, “by my choice,” I took that as him making it clear that he’s choosing to wait right now. His choice could change at some point.
• It’s not only Wood who’s being put on hold. “There are different things that are within range,” Cashman said. “There are things that we could potentially conclude, but I described before (as) Hannibal Lecter in a straightjacket waiting on this Cliff Lee thing. It’s kind of restricting my movements a little bit.”
• Cashman would not comment on rumors of the Yankees being interested in Mark Prior.
• Cashman also would not say whether he has enough money to sign both Lee and Crawford.
• According to Cashman, Pettitte specifically said that he wants the Yankees to sign Lee.
• If some sort of opportunity presents itself and Cashman needs to stay in Orlando tomorrow night, he’s ready and willing to do that, but for now he’s planning to attend the Rule 5 draft and then get on a plane back to New York. Most likely, he’s done all he’s going to do at these Winter Meetings.
Associated Press photos
I cant see andy hanging it up off of the 2010 season. if he had retired after 2009 id completely understand. but 2010 was such a season of “what if’s??”. my bet is andy sees the roster and a legit chance to make a run at 1 more and comes back for a farewell tour.
http://sportsthunderdome.blogspot.com/
Repost
For a guy who played well in his first full season starting and exceeded all expectations for 2010, Gardner sure is a LoHud whipping boy.
There are only a handful of guys on the ENTIRE TEAM who exceeded expectations this past season (Cano, Gardner, Logan, Swisher, and Hughes) and two of them are constantly being dealt by the fantasy GMs here.
Don’t really understand that.
• Cashman would not confirm nor deny reports that he had dinner last night with Carl Crawford. His only comment on last night’s dinner: “I had steak.”
Yes, but what kind of steak? And how does he like it cooked?
It’s time to ask the tough questions, Chad.
One more year for Pettitte, with Posada as his personal catcher? Hmmmm…
# joeman December 8th, 2010 at 9:46 pm
Hey Joe Franco..ever make a wrong call or do you want be to dig
————
Dig all you want. Have a good time.
I’ve never declared the season over in May (the first week of May, no less, about 30 games into the season).
Who would be stupid enough to do something like that?
Oh yeah, you did.
i feel a trade is going to happen .. with or without Lee
• Cashman would not confirm nor deny reports that he had dinner last night with Carl Crawford. His only comment on last night’s dinner: “I had steak.”
Yes, but what kind of steak? And how does he like it cooked?
It’s time to ask the tough questions, Chad.
=LOL LOL BJK
Tomorrow is my birthday, and all I want is Cliff Lee to OK the Yankees offer.
# Giuseppe Franco December 8th, 2010 at 9:54 pm
# joeman December 8th, 2010 at 9:46 pm
Hey Joe Franco..ever make a wrong call or do you want be to dig
————
Dig all you want. Have a good time.
I’ve never declared the season over in May (the first week of May, no less, about 30 games into the season).
Who would be stupid enough to do something like that?
Oh yeah, you did.
———————————————————————-
how did the AG deal to Boston go…..never going to happen ?
West Coast Yankee Fan December 8th, 2010 at 9:52 pm
If Cliff Lee chooses Texas it sure won’t make Cashman look very good. That would be twice he didn’t get it done, whatever the reasons.
——————————————————————————–
I don’t think Lee choosing Texas would reflect poorly on Cashman.
I respect anyone who sets limits and sticks to them. First time he exceeded what Cashman wanted to spend talent-wise, now it’s what he and the Yankees determine he’s worth $$$-wise.
I’d rather invest in a gambler who only spends what’s in his/her pocket than one who is constantly going back to the ATM.
If Cliff Lee turns down that kind of money because he prefers to stay in Texas and shoot deer, to hell with him. Soon he will be a one horse stable down there.
Gardner may be the best “go get it” outfielder in the majors, and he’s a fiscally smart choice. Crawford in left, though….wow.
I’m not sure that Crawford is a faster runner than Gardner, though.
Happy Birthday SAS. Hope you have a great day tomorrow
Happy Birthday, SAS. Hope you get what you want….
When you do nothing but take a negative slant on everything Yankees, which you clearly do 24/7, you’re gonna be right on rare occasions like a blind squirrel or a broken clock.
But, really, it proves you don’t add anything to the discussion. Even some of the trolls have more substance in their arguments.
Fran,
Thanks. You always catch what I say; now catch Mr. Lee…lol
Thanks Joe…me too.
Happy Birthday SAS. I hope ALL your wishes come true.
*ALL your*
The difference in Gardner’s and Crawford’s base running, not just base stealing, is Crawford’s ability to cut the corners better. Gardner tends to round off the turns. Gardner, though, might be a half a step faster.
By the way, Cash, be sure to tell Cliff that there is plenty of wild life no an hour away from the Stadium although he may have to go a little further to hunt. Too bad, we have way too many deer here.
Ken Rosenthal reports Lee decision will come by the end of the weekend.
At this point, Cash should proceed as if Andy is NOT coming back. That probably means there is budget for Lee AND Crawford.
If Andy decides later in the offseason to play, it’s clear he only wants one more year. I doubt Steinbrenner would say no to a relatively small extra expenditure for just one season.
But that being said, I would pass on Crawford if his demands are too great. I’m comfortable with our outfield as is.
I wouldn’t be in any hurry to get back here.
It’s COLD!!!
Lee will decide on his next team by the end of the weekend, according to Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports.
jaysonst
An exec of team that’s inquired about Greinke says #Royals won’t deal him before Lee signs. That means that trade can’t happen at meetings.
6 minutes ago via web
A very Happy Birthday tomorrow, SAS…just in case you have too many adult beverages to remember to turn on your computer. Best wishes to you and hope you get that special wish.
sorry wesr Coast .., a little late
Ken_Rosenthal
Lee’s decision expected before end of weekend. http://tinyurl.com/2eawu5e #Rangers #Yankees #Nationals #Angels #MLB
10 minutes ago via web
Ken Rosenthal reports Lee decision will come by the end of the weekend.
**************************
SAS,
Looks like your birthday wish may be delayed by a few days.
Happy Birthday SAS
But since you revealed your bday wish now we all know who to blame if Lee doesn’t ok the offer tomorrow!
Hannibal Lecter? What?
GB,
Thanks. No booze in my life. I take too many meds, but no problem there, I have a good time anyway.
Either Chad Cash or myself need some sleep
Lee is staying in Tex & so is Andy……
LGY,
lol…I am blamed anyway…so no problem if I get the wish at the end of the weekend. I want Andy too. I am a bit on the piggy side.
joeman-
dream on
SAS December 8th, 2010 at 10:14 pm
GB,
Thanks. No booze in my life. I take too many meds, but no problem there, I have a good time anyway.
———————————————————————————————————————-
Erica will email you some of her PB.
PB = Pretend Booze
Lee is not a lock, but I still say he comes to NY.
I really doubt anyone else beat 6/140.
BTW, have I not been saying 6/140 was the number?
I guess Cashman agrees. We’ll soon see.
GB,
Thanks. I’ll take that.
SAS-
Have a great day tomorrow. I hope you get your 2 wishes.
I’m so curious as to what Texas offers Lee.
From Jack Curry over at YES
“While Cashman has waded through the Lee negotiations, he has also shown interest in Carl Crawford. Cashman had dinner with Crawford on Tuesday, which could be interpreted as a bluff. But people who have spoken with Cashman said he is serious about pursuing Crawford, the best position player on the market.”
Sweeney Murti at WFAN has audio links of Cashman.
Click here for a listen…
http://newyork.cbslocal.com/20.....ff-hanger/
Dee,
My gut tells me they match whatever offer the Yankees make, and it’s a big gut trust me
Bret:
Not buying on Crawford………unless they don’t get Lee.
Andrew Marchand: #Yankees have interest in Brian Fuentes as a lefty in pen.
Ledger_Yankees
Person with knowledge of situation says Yankees have “serious interest” in Russell Martin. Competing with Red Sox for the ex-Dodger.
2 minutes ago via Twitter for iPhone
Lee has no loyalty to the Rangers, so i don’t see why he would stay there unless they match the 6/140+
Would prefer feliciano to fuentes. Fuentes is such a disaster and coming to NY is another potential disaster.
“Lee will decide on his next team by the end of the weekend, according to Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports.”
I suspect that it will be sooner.
“Person with knowledge of situation says Yankees have “serious interest” in Russell Martin. Competing with Red Sox for the ex-Dodger.”
Heard earlier this evening that Gammons said the Red Sox were hugely unimpressed with the medicals on Martin.
Sox are still gonna get the competition from the Yanks over Martin they’re trying to avoid. Downplaying their interest.
Sox are still gonna get the competition from the Yanks over Martin they’re trying to avoid. Downplaying their interestd
Sounds like the Yankees can have him if they want him.
Mell,
I’m sure an injured Martin is still a better option behind the plate then a healthy Posada lol. I personally would like Martin and Montero to split the time behind the plate.
for $5 Mil, no thanks!
Well, as Peter has said many times, the Red Sox have the greatest medical staff ever created. If they lose out on Martin, just like Damon, it will be because the medical staff said he wasn’t up to snuff.
http://www.cbssports.com/mlb/p.....2010/21553
Fuentes splits-Pitch him at night without runners in scoring position.
Feliciano pitched in 92 games last year. No thanks.
As far as PA is concerned, Boston has the best tunnel in the world, too.
Huh? It was not Cashman’s fault that the trade didn’t go through…..and he can not hold a gun to Lee’s head. If Lee chooses to go elsewhere, it has nothing to do with Cashman; he’s done the best he can.
I too see the Yankees making a trade regardless of whether we sign Lee or not. If andy doesn’t come back they will need another SP. We also have other needs. I though don’t think it would look bad on Cashman if Lee signs elsewhere. That’s his decision if he want to play for NYY or not.
Even if Lee says “no”, I hope it happens soon………..players are not going to wait around for the Yankees to make a decision.
AC, how do you know he doesn’t have loyalty towards the Rangers? No one knows what he’s thinking…………
SI_JonHeyman
sounds like #rangers hope proximity/comfort win day in lee derby. not many greg madduxes in world. yanks seen as favorite. half a minute ago via web
Heyman tweeted it so I feel confident.
That said, MLB will rejoice when/if Lee turns us down. People will no longer be able to say “when the Yankees want someone, they get him”.
he played there two months. he may like Texas, but he has no loyalty to them, the way Jeter and Mo have loyalty to us, or other homegrown talent would to their team. Lee has been passed around like a cigarette at a club over the last 2 seasons.
The thing with Maddux was that the Yankees sucked back then; yes, he didn’t want to come to NY, but it’s not like we were any good. Therefore, why would he want to take our money to come to a lousy team? If Lee takes less, it’s not because the Yankees aren’t any good, it’s because he found a home and didn’t want to leave it for NY
Loyalty or not, playing in TX would have lots of appeal for him. He’s made friends, his family is settled, they love the area………….He may not want to leave. It’s not hard to see why he would stay.
http://trsullivan.mlblogs.com/.....e_cli.html
Nolan Ryan said the Rangers have asked LHP Cliff Lee’s agent, Darek Braunecker, to tell them what it will take to sign Lee. He said he realizes that it will take 6 years to sign Cliff Lee and the Rangers will strongly consider it.
The Rangers have not yet made an offer, but just want to know what it will take for Lee to come back to Texas.
Ryan said the Rangers need an answer from Braunecker as soon as possible.
He is still hopeful and thinks that Cliff Lee wants to come back to Arlington.
The Yanks current offer to Lee would make him the highest paid pitcher ever in annual salary…..23.3 AAV. I think the Rangers will struggle to match that offer.
I still don’t get why the Yankees didn’t trade Joba/ Nova for Haren.
If no one knows what Lee is thinking, how can anyone know he likes Texas and playing there would have lots of appeal to him.
I don’t see how this works.
It’s not possible to know if Lee does not like Texas because no one knows what he’s thinking.
But it is possible to know that he does like Texas?
Betsy:
Maddux turned the Yankees down between the 1997 and 1998 season. Yankees were pretty good around that time.
Mell, I’m talking about around 1990…………he spurned the Yankees for the Braves. I don’t recall him being courted between 1997 and 1998
“The Yanks current offer to Lee would make him the highest paid pitcher ever in annual salary…..23.3 AAV. I think the Rangers will struggle to match that offer.”
If the Rangers have yet to make an offer and they do decide to match at 6 years the yankees will up their offer to 150M/6.
I’d guess that was part of their thinking in offering 140 and sending out leaks of an offer in the range of 140-150.
And when the go up to 150m the Rangers need to make a decision if they want to get into an auction with the yankees.
The only way to win would be to commit to a price the yankees wouldn’t go to.
Please, lol. AC said Lee has no loyalty to the Rangers as if it was fact…………..I never said that Lee was definitely staying in TX; I said that I think he will. There’s a difference between an opinion and a fact.
Did Lee even move his family to Texas for his half a season there? Did they rent a place? Who knows if they were settled or not, every quote I’ve heard from Lee has been very ambiguous about his feelings towards remaining in Texas.
Mell December 8th, 2010 at 11:10 pm
Betsy:
Maddux turned the Yankees down between the 1997 and 1998 season. Yankees were pretty good around that time.
———————————————————————————————————————-
It was in Maddux’ first FA year in 1992
Betsy…..Diamondbacks didn’t want Joba
A good antidote for stress is Green Tea or Chamomile with 1/4 teaspoon of GABA powder.
Cliff Lee might have made some new friends, but his oldest friend is on the yankees.
You certainly stated your “opinion” as one would a “fact”
“Loyalty or not, playing in TX would have lots of appeal for him. He’s made friends, his family is settled, they love the area………….He may not want to leave. It’s not hard to see why he would stay.”
“Would have to…” is not stating something as an opinion.
In the same vein saying over and over what the yankees “should not do” is not particularly opinion. That’s pretty much a command.
CB,
I don’t see any team going to 6/150 other than the Yankees. I would imagine if there are 7 year offers out there then they aren’t for that much total money….I could be dead wrong but 25 million per is big time money that not money teams can swing for one player.
I feel like I’m perpetually on Valium for a fraction of the cost. I’m sinking further and further into hippyhood.
Pat M, they didn’t? I thought they’d asked for Joba, Nova, etc………Any idea who they did want?
Blake, I believe his wife and children did move there. There was an article on ESPN after the ALDS about it; I’ll try and find the link
Pat M,
Any interesting chatter from the golf club house the past couple days?
the rangers could also decide that they really want lee and offer a 7 year deal. if that’s what it takes for them to make it happen.
that being said, it’s hard to imagine that the rangers could even match the yankees offer
Staying in a place for 2 months is not “moving” to a place.
And when the go up to 150m the Rangers need to make a decision if they want to get into an auction with the yankees.
**************************
CB,
I agree with you. And it is probably an auction the Rangers can’t win.
blake-
I agree. 25M/year is an AAV which is very unlikely to be topped.
He might have a 7 year offer from a non-contender but I can’t see it being for more than what CC got which was 7/161.
6/150 vs. 7/161. I know it’s been said over and over he will take the most money, but between those two offers it’s really up to him how much he wants 11M guaranteed going into his age 38 season vs. trying to get another contract and how much that 1 year/11M is worth to him.
Andy pettite at the same age will make more than 11M.
The self flagellation about Cliff Lee that goes on here! And I thought Agent Nelson Van Alden had cornered that market on Boardwalk Empire.
Betsy,
Did they buy a place, rent a place, what? I mean how settled can you get in 2 or 3 months when you’re on the road for roughly half that time. I just don’t buy that stuff…….
Cliff Lee lives in a renovated mansion estate in Arkansas, his family did not move to Texas.
“It was in Maddux’ first FA year in 1992″
I stand corrected. Left $6M plus on the table as I remember.
“And it is probably an auction the Rangers can’t win.”
Who knows if it’s true, but Theo and the Sox have said over and over the reason why the Sox didn’t up their offer on Tex from 170 to match the yanks at 180 was because they didn’t want to get into a direct bidding war with the yanks because that was pointless.
Maddux did not like New York.
I think if the Rangers and Yankees offered the same money then maybe he would go back to Texas, but if the Yankees really want him then they will make sure that doesn’t happen and force Lee to chose to take less money to return to the Rangers.
Lee could truly prefer Texas with all things being equal….but I think its just as likely that he really wants to pitch for the Yankees and is using the Rangers as a bargaining chip because the Red Sox aren’t involved…..somebody has to drive the price up.
Blake, as much as the Yankees want Lee, I think they have their limits and won’t get into a bidding war for him.
“PeteAbe – Source: The Red Sox have a seven-year, $142 million deal done with Carl Crawford”
Can this be true?
Betsy….I remember that night well and I was certain the Yanks had Haren , then The Angels offered up Joe Saunders……With Nova in place as the starter Arizona wanted either Robertson or Brackman rather than Joba………LGY, what I did hear today was that the dinner with Crawford rattled the offices on Gene Autry Way today……I asked SJ had he heard anything about this but he hadn’t as of 6:00 EST…….I understand it’s a sport of sorts to rag on SJ44, but we should be thankful that he contributes here….The man has deep connections…….CB, if Cliff Lee does come to the Bronx with the current roster minus Pettite, how many additional wins do you project ????
Betsy,
They probably do have a limit, but that limit may be higher than everyone else. If the alternatives are giving up top prospects for Greinke or having a weak rotation then doing what is necessary to sign Lee may be the lesser evil.
Boston got Crawford? Man this is their Yankees 2009 offseason so far.
Red Sox signed Crawford
“PeteAbe – Source: The Red Sox have a seven-year, $142 million deal done with Carl Crawford”
oh my.
Pat M, hmmmm………….I would have traded Brackman and Nova. Robertson? Not sure about that – I think I would have. As I’ve seen raised on other boards, the Yanks could have traded for Haren and, if they got Lee/Andy returned, could have traded Haren for a good package. No sense in “what if”, though
Yankees are in BIG trouble if they don’t sign Lee
that’s a really interesting tweet by pete. if that’s the case, the red sox have likely gone over 200 million in payroll. they’re trying to score their way to the world series. they will not have much money for the bullpen.
and they better pray that the starters are awesome, if dice-k is who he is, they’ll have a really hard time
Nobody tell bret.
Mell December 8th, 2010 at 11:32 pm
“PeteAbe – Source: The Red Sox have a seven-year, $142 million deal done with Carl Crawford”
Can this be true?
***********
It came seconds after I added Pete on my Twitter and he knows I’ve been ranting about Crawford. That tweet was aimed at me!!!
Apparently he still reads LOHUD.
He misses us…
Cuz we’re cooler than Sox fans.
Right Pete?
Wow…..
The Sox are going to be very, very good – but I would never have done this deal. So much for Yankees’ plan B.
Boston saving the Yankees from themselves. Enjoy that 20 mil AAV contract.
so much for the little engine that could from Boston…..lot of lefties in that lineup.
Look there are people that don’t like NY, but Andy was raised in small towns in LA and TX. AJ also from a small town in the South. Lee can be in the country if he wants to be with great schools, etc.
I dont want to hear any Sox fan whining about payroll now that the Sox are pushing $200M.
I guess Crawford figured he was not going to get anything better from anyone else. I’m hating this off-season
Maybe Cash meeting with Crawford last night was to drive the price up on Boston?
This whole Cliff Lee loves Texas has less basis to it than CC loves the West Coast. Texas is not home for Lee nor is Arkansas as far from NY as California is.
No one has any idea what geographic location means to someone else.
No one has any idea if Cliff Lee made friends in Texas or if his family liked it there, etc.
All we can do for the most part is make generalizations that seem reasonable.
Living an hours private jet ride from Arkansas may be very attractive to Lee from Texas.
But let’s get serious. It’s not impossible to travel from NJ to texas. Private planes go very, very fast. Travel time is much shorter than commercial. How long can it take to get to Arkansas from NY/NJ. I’d guess it’s around 3-3.5 hours.
So for him it’s really a question of 2 marginal hours per plane ride home. That’s around what it boils down to. That’s what being “close to home” gets down to.
How much is two fewer hours on a private plane worth to Lee? 2 hours where you sit around on on leather seats built like beds and get custom ordered meals tailored to your preferences served to you as you like.
On the other hand, another generalization that is true is that free agents very frequently let out leaks about geographic preference to get large market teams to up their bidding. Especially the yankees.
Great time to have two stud lefties in Lee and CC for those matchups against Beantown
“Boston saving the Yankees from themselves. Enjoy that 20 mil AAV contract”
Agreed. Nobody else on this besides Pete Abe though. Not buying in w/o a 2nd source.
Green tea.
Unreal. AG and Crawford. And we sit and wait and scratch ourselves.
Ken Rosenthal just confirmed as well
LOL the Sox willl always be looked at as the little engine that could……..
Espn has Crawford going to the Halos as their latest info. I think Pete is reaching, he should eat a chulupa and call it a night.
And their is source #2:
Ken_Rosenthal
Confirmed: #Red Sox in agreement with Crawford. 7 yrs/142M. First reported by Boston Globe. #Angels #MLB
Well, thats devastating.
West Coast Yankee Fan December 8th, 2010 at 11:41 pm
Unreal. AG and Crawford. And we sit and wait and scratch ourselves.
__
You do know that we don’t have to do things just because Boston does right? That’s the Boston attitude, not the Yankees attitude.
Last year I remember sitting in a pizza place and they had ESPN on the TV.
When it scrolled across the bottom of the screen that the Red Sox had signed Lackey, I smiled.
I am having a very similar reaction to this news on Crawford.
I don’t want to ever hear “the Yankees buy their championships” from a Sox fan again
If Crawford goes to Boston that’s fine. It’s a huge overpay on their part. He’s not a 20M player.
And in LF in Fenway his defensive value will not be able to yield the kinds of benefits it did in Tampa.
The little engine that could narrative really needs to go away now.
The two seasons after the Sox didn’t make the playoffs recently they went out and spent like the mint was running out of cash.
So much for having that dinner with Carl and Cash the other night.
Unless Crawford plays CF this seems like a tremendous waste of money by Boston. Good for them.
Crawford
Pedroia
Youkilis
A-gon
Ortiz
Drew
Cameron
Varitek/Salty
Scutaro
Not nearly as intimidating as with Werth.
Here come the Angels to sweep away Lee now that their number 1 target is gone
It’s devasting?
LMFAO.
Ugh
Pretty good lineup:
Ellsbury-CF
Pedroia-2B
Crawford-LF
Gonzalez-1B
Youklis-3B
Ortiz-DH
Drew-RF
Salty-C
Scutaro-SS
* Bet you they add a catcher and pen help too.
I guess now I know how Sox fans felt in 2009, lol
Blake, the Yankees won’t (IMO) go after Greinke…………..just too many risks to take with him for what they’d have to give up. If they don’t land Lee, they’ll have to get creative. I hope they have a plan C and D in place, lol
Isn’t Crawford playing LF at Fenway kinda like putting a Great White in a swimming pool. Half his value is wasted there…..he’ll make them better but not nearly as much so as the Agon deal did.
You have to imagine the Yankees go all in on Lee now. This now becomes an auction if the Angels get involved.
I won’t believe crawford to the Sox until they have a press conference. I just don’t see him signing a contract so fast unless the angels and red sox have always been bidding against eachother without us knowing
Crawford wasn’t important piece for us anyway.
Nice rivalry will be tough and fully renewed.
I really don’t understand the Red Sox. They offered Matt Holliday a take it or leave it 81M offer last winter. They didn’t even try to negotiate with him.
Instead they funneled that exact offer to the Lackeye who was mediocre and turned out to be a huge over pay.
A year later they pay Crawford 150% of what they were demanding Holliday take?
That’s just very poor decision making. They are paying the inferior player much more than what they could have gotten Holliday for last season.
It’s not devastating……..Crawford is good, but he was already on an AL East team, and a very good one, so ok – he goes to the Sox. He’s just not worth that money………Watch, though, he’ll change his mind about CF just for them.
Don’t count on the Sox being treated like the Yankees in terms of them being some kind of monolith……they are still thought of as a cute, cuddly franchise, like the Cubs
The Sox definitely pushed Crawford’s agent to get a deal done before Lee made a decision. Boston knew if Lee signed with Texas the Yanks would be all in on Crawford. Now I expect the Angels to make Lee an offer.
The Red Sox could have signed Holliday last season for 120M and gone after Cliff Lee this season.
Instead they wound up with Lackey and Crawford.
I’ll take that trade.
ac1 – ok sorry, I didn’t realize that was good news. That our biggest competitor just added two gold glove all-star studs who are 29 years old. My bad.
?PeteAbe ? Source: The Red Sox have a seven-year, $142 million deal done with Carl Crawford?
I’m very surprised by this. It’s not like the Red Sox front office to dole out long term contracts like that. I’m guessing they felt pretty desperate after losing Worth, who as a right handed bat is a much better fit for them.
Before everyone panics, keep in mind that the Sox still have serious issues. They have no bullpen outside of Bard, are too lefty heavy in the lineup (a real problem when half your games are at Fenway), and have NO starting pitching depth if any pitchers miss time to injury.