Cashman: Crawford signing has no impact on Yankees plans
Posted by: Chad Jennings - Posted in Misc on Dec 09, 2010 
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Finally back in front of a computer.
Great job by Pete Abraham breaking the story. Carl Crawford is with the Red Sox as the highest-paid outfielder in baseball history. Seven years, $142 million. It’s a great addition for the Boston lineup.
Brian Cashman simply shrugged.
The Yankees general manager said the signing has no impact on his team’s plans for the winter. The Yankees were never really in the Crawford hunt. During my brief conversation with him, Cashman never specifically said the Yankees were bluffing, but that was certainly the feeling I got.
Let there be no doubt, Cashman and Crawford had dinner Tuesday night. The two sides were talking. But baseball’s offseason is its own sort of game. The Yankees have been making vague references to Plan B, which might also have been a bit of gamesmanship.
The Yankees have their target. And he’s still on the market.
I would have rather the Angels overpaid for Crawford, but the Red Sox overpaying for Crawford is still better than the Yankees overpaying for Crawford.
The Red Sox’s 7 year deal did what exactly? forced Cashman to bid the amount everyone and their mom knew he’d bid?
Crap, another AL team beefs up. Royals in the process of signing Melky Cabrera. Don’t tell bodhisattva
The Red Sox just paid what looks like $34 million over the next highest bidder for Carl Crawford the night after Cashman meets with him and floats a bunch of stories about how they can afford him + are serious about him.
Theo Epstein offers what amounts to a BS 7 year offer to try to bait the Yankees to go 7 years.
The Yankees issue countless statements through the media that they won’t go 7 years. Over and over again they say this despite being this 7 year offer out there.
The Yankees then stand their ground and offer the 6 years they planned all along.
But Theo masterfully plays Cash like a fiddle?
Incredible.
Why is Cashman shrugging when he should be trading the farm and handing out an 8 year contract to Lee?
C’mon Cashman, get it done!!!!!!11!!!!!
Crap, another AL team beefs up. Royals in the process of signing Melky Cabrera. Don’t tell bodhisattva
—————————-
Hahaha
“Serious question – do you ever slow down from making unfounded suppositions for even a minute?”
@CB
No less unfounded than your suppositions that the monument dedicated to GMS III was a political statement.
Or no less unfounded than your suppositions that reporters that break news which is different from your philosophies, then they must either be making up information or giving misinformation that a team or agent has leaked to them.
good for the red sux. good signing for maybe 4 years. they will trade someone from the OF now.
sux will be good, they have been more prudent with there $$$$$$$$$ and have not gifted there older players like the yanks(ie Jeter etc.).
Lee will sign with the Yankees by Friday, imo.
“But Theo masterfully plays Cash like a fiddle?”
Way to smoke out the trolls.
G. Love December 9th, 2010 at 1:30 am
Bret,
Unless all of the players come into the season with a different mentality, our feast or famine lineup will be the same problem it was last year. If a few guys stop hitting for average it all falls apart.
Cashman needs to find players who are more consistent performers.
What happens if Tex is a no show for April and May again? What happens if Jeter is the same player from last year? You can’t go through that again with 2 of your top 3 hitters.
The Red Sox are going to be better than last year. I realize matching stats with Vmart and Beltre look similar, but you’re not accounting for the fact that Gonzalez played in SD for his half his games and will be a more potent hitter in Fenway.
Cashman has to answer these moves with a 2 pieces of the rotation and a bat.
The prospects should all have their bags packed.
********
Crawford’s consistency is why I thought he’d fit. I preferred signing him to making Montero and the Killer B’s pack their bags.
The Sox are loading up on speed with Ellsbury and Crawford because they know Posada is cooked, they know Montero is an unproven YOUNG rookie and to top it all off…they get involved on Russell Martin who is strong at controlling the running game.
They really kicked our buttz with this move.
If anything, Cashman has masterfully fooled theo into giving a nice complementary player 20 million dollars a year.
Signing Crawford to a 7 year 140 million contract is not being “prudent” at all.
The 7 year offer Heyman was reporting was basically what everyone here said it was.
A ploy by Braunecker.
The Red Sox offer a complete fake offer so Braunecker can leak it to Heyman and stir up controversy to try to scare the Yankees.
Heyman fell for it.
But Cashman was too smart for that nonsense.
This crap is giving me an ulcer. One guy says Lee wants to stay in Texas, another guy says he’ll follow the money, another guy says there’s no way Texas adds a 6th year, and yet another makes it sound like Ryan will add a 6th, or even a 7th, to ensure that he comes back.
I really need to get off the internet. I know, deep down, that none of these guys have any idea what they’re talking about, and it’s all just speculating, and that they’re being manipulated by the agents and players to get the best possible deal…but the information is out there, and so I can’t help but read it.
Just sign already, so I can be either relieved, or pissed off and completely pessimistic about next season.
CB,
I don’t think I’m overreacting at this precise moment when our rotation is 3 deep (including AJ) and our lineup featured a lot of older guys who took steps back and an in his prime player in Tex who looked nothing like a cornerstone offensive player worth 23 million a year.
I totally understand Boston just blew out their payroll. I know the long term impact of Crawford’s deal is going to hurt them with their own players who want to be resigned and with other free agents. Not to mention they are paying him more than our OF.
That said, they just added Adrian Gonzalez and Carl Crawford and gave up Casey Kelly and a couple of minor leaguers. None of these acquisitions hurt them from a major league talent standpoint. They got younger and faster.
After spending all the time I do at the ballpark the past few seasons I’ve seen this offense we have perform enough to be worried. They are not consistent. They score double digits and pad their stats and then go struggle for days against inferior teams. I don’t like Posada as a DH at all and I’m concerned about Arod’s hip.
I’m also terrified right now that we’re going to trade Montero because we truly need to develop a bat like that.
I think Cashman is going to react to these signings and he’s going to trade the farm to do so. I’m not against that if he gets the right players. I just think making a deal just got harder than the normal Yankee tax he deals with.
I’m concerned.
start_wearing_pink December 9th, 2010 at 1:35 am
CB – Or no less unfounded than your suppositions that reporters that break news which is different from your philosophies, then they must either be making up information or giving misinformation that a team or agent has leaked to them.
***************
There you have it.
Crawford on the Red Sox is different than Crawford on the Rays.
The Rays are a weak hitting, high OBP team.
Crawford contract, not so good. Crawford the player on the Red Sox in a bandbox ballpark, good.
I don’t understand how the Sox paying 130% more for Crawford than the Angels – the team which supposedly loved him – is some shrewd stroke of genius.
They got a good player at a huge price. The highest paid outfielder in baseball is not close to being the best outfielder in baseball.
No one said Theo pushed Cashman to go seven. But he most likely influenced his AAV on the six year deal. And yes, that is just my opinion.
“There you have it.”
Give it up, dude.
We led the league in runs last year, and a lot of our players had down years. We don’t need to add another big bat, we need PITCHING! The Giants won the World Series, and their lineup wasn’t half as good as ours.
G. Love,
I would’ve felt MUCH better had we signed Crawford but the Sox overpaid for him because they knew it was a double kill. They bid an amount high enough to keep Crawford off our team and on their’s.
I am bored with the Yankees offense.. I have always believe that you need at least one new face or major change in a lineup from year to year for guys to remain energized and enthuiatsic… i didn’t think this lineup was good last year.. a lot of dead spots in the order and inconsistancy.. and now we’re bringing back the same cast plus Montero… just seems like we should have done more and I dunno what the answer is but im dissapointed that we are bringing back the same lineup that was unproductive in key spots last year.
So the way I see this situation now is that Yankees have become much more desperate now for Lee. However, another team say the Rangers still has to be able to push the envelope on NY for signing him to such a large amount. I don’t think the Rangers will push this envelope because the Yankees might call their bluff and then the Rangers would have to pony up the cash.
Hopefully Cashman stays cool here and doesn’t bid against himself out of desperation
Red Sox fan on my facebook posts:
“Sorry boys”
Ugh.
@CB
To correct your (lack of) math skills…
The Red Sox offered about 31% more than the Angels offered Crawford.
Not 130% more.
130% more would be a $250 million contract.
Regardless of how bad the deal is for Crawford, and it’s a bad one money wise, he’s still a very good OF’er who is going to help them win.
I really was expecting the Angels to sign him. I didn’t want him at these prices.
I wasn’t expecting Boston to ever give a contract out like that to that kind of player.
That said, he’s there and he’s going to be on a deeper 1-9 lineup than he was in Tampa. He won’t be asked to be the “guy” either.
Of course he may not fit in well in Boston and this could turn out to be a franchise killer, but based on what we know about him as a player he’s a good one. Not a great one. A good one though.
The one thing I do wonder is are the Red Sox concerned about Pedroia’s foot and him not coming back as strong as he used to be?
That could explain the overpay.
Lee will probably make his decision very soon. Now everyone knows that he doesn’t have a 7 year deal on the table and his agent can’t hold that over Cashman’s head. Texas knows that Crawford signing with Boston isn’t good news for them as the Yanks will up their offer to $150 for Lee if they have to. The Yanks won’t lose Lee on money. He would probably be leaving about $20m on the table to go back to Texas.
G.Love-
I agree that there’s reason to be concern. Look, last winter I really wanted the yankees to sign Matt Holliday if at all possible because of the age of the offense and the lack of power hitting prospects outside of Montero. So I hear what your saying about the bats.
But it’s only December 9th. And I don’t think Cashman is going to start making rash decisions all of a sudden. That’s generally not what he does and nothing he’s said so far indicates he will.
There are two ways of looking at these moves. Sure the Sox right now appear proactive but how do you think they are feeling about the Yankees possibly adding Lee to their team. That would give the Yankees arguably the two best pitchers in the division.
Boston has been worried about what the edge the yankees have had – that was a 6 game edge last season. That’s not small.
They lost VMart and Beltre – two players with huge production that cost them in total around 19M.
They paid VMart and Beltre less than they are paying Crawford next season.
Let’s see what happens with Lee. I think the Yanks have a high probability of getting him. I also think Andy is going to come back.
Until Lee makes his decision the yankees are still on course. And adding Lee and Pettite is going to have a huge impact on how they play Boston.
I don’t think the team is surprised by Boston signing him and I don’t think it’s going to make them deviate from plan.
What’s really going to make them deviate from plan is missing out on Lee. That’s the key.
Yanks will be fine providing health is restored to Jeter, Alex and Texeria……This gets down to filling the gap between CC & Phil……Lee is critical even before all the Boston moves….Stay the course and don’t stray too far from the plan regarding producing young pitching…….As Carlo and myself mentioned earlier, please no panic moves ……From Doug Drabek to Willie McGee in didn’t work in then and it will not work now…..Pay the toll for Cliff Lee thoough
Sabathia is going to have to stangle his pal Crawford this one.
You just know Crawford is going to stay productive and healthy throughout the life of that contract. How long did Varitek, Wakefield, then Lowell and now Ortiz stay productive? In that park, in that lineup, Crawford is going to kill us for many many years to come. I’m not holding my breath for 5 or 6 years from now when he starts to slow. Whoop-di-doo. And Adrian Gonzalez?
Bret The Hitman says:
December 9, 2010 at 1:46 am
Red Sox fan on my facebook posts:
“Sorry boys”
Ugh.
—–
That sucks. Everyone has commented on my facebook posts how they too dislike the signing, mostly they are Rays fans who are mad he went to a rival. I never wanted us to get him but I’d rather he had signed with the angels so wouldn’t have had to deal with him as much.
Earlier, Harold Reynolds was talking about how the Sox got better and how the AL-E will be hard to win for the Yankees and how Texas could very well win the AL-W for years to come and how that might influence Lee’s decision.
If the fear of competition influences Lee’s decision, I don’t want him on the Yankees.
Supposedly he decides by end of this weekend. We’ll see. But whenever it is, it is. He can take his time as long as he makes the right decision!
I’m worried about what happens if we miss out on Lee.
Cashman has to sign him. Has to.
If we miss out on him it becomes an overpay situation to get a team to give us a top starter.
And I don’t think for a second Seattle would ever give us Hernandez despite what we offered.
Not signing Holliday and acquiring Hallyday last year have also hurt us I think.
And boy must Hallyday be ticked at his agent for giving the Phillies a discount.
CB,
I was discussing this with Wave the other day.
If the Yankees only have money in the budget for Wood or a LHR like Feliciano who would you sign?
I think Wood because he is very effective against lefties and righties, he lengthens their bullpen more than just a LOOGY, and he is insurance for any Mo injuries.
Lee will sign with the Yankees. Relax.
GN. I’m out.
I have no insight to Crawford’s personality. Some people say he likes more low key place. Some say he likes the spotlight.
But one thing that stuck out with me was how defensive he got with the media when Golson threw him out at 3B to end the game.
I have no idea if that was just a one time thing for him.
But if that is how he typically handles the media, they won’t nearly be as kind up in Boston as they are in Tampa.
Just something interesting to watch.
Pat M. December 9th, 2010 at 1:50 am
Yanks will be fine providing health is restored to Jeter, Alex and Texeria……This gets down to filling the gap between CC & Phil……Lee is critical even before all the Boston moves….Stay the course and don’t stray too far from the plan regarding producing young pitching…….As Carlo and myself mentioned earlier, please no panic moves ……From Doug Drabek to Willie McGee in didn’t work in then and it will not work now…..Pay the toll for Cliff Lee thoough
———————————————————————————————————————-
Pat, not sure if you saw my post on the Cubs trying to get Garza for prospects or not, but a 3 way geal to get Garza would give NYYs a solid middle of the rotation pitcher. Taking Garza and one of their contract problems (Fukadome) may appeal to them, by offering 1 young pitcher, plus Swisher and and Chamberlain. If necessary, offer up a 2nd minor league pitcher.
Adrian Gonzalez 6-7, 2 doubles, 1 homer, 3 rbi lifetime vs Lee
Carl Crawford 4-11 lifetime vs Lee
doesn’t inspire much confidence.
LGY-
Can I say both?
In general I would pick Wood and probably still would anyway.
But there is so much LH hitting in the AL East now that there’s a very compelling reason to have a second lefty.
I don’t think it needs to be Feliciano nor does it have to be a guy who is going to be expensive.
Honestly, I was hoping they would sign Sherrill and just make him a LOOGY. He signed a 1.25M deal and even last year when he was awful he was good against LH pitching.
They could really use Wood. But they do also need a second lefty in the pen.
With all the work the Yankees have put in to rebuild the minor leagues and everything Cashman has seen and been a part of during his tenure with the Yankees, anyone that thinks he’s going to “panic” and “overpay” in a trade for someone doesn’t know what they’re talking about.
There’s chips to trade, but those suggesting a thrown together package of Swish, Montero, Brackman, etc… for Grienke are misguided, to be kind.
GB,
Did you pop a Chip pill?
# seeknay December 9th, 2010 at 2:00 am
Adrian Gonzalez 6-7, 2 doubles, 1 homer, 3 rbi lifetime vs Lee
Carl Crawford 4-11 lifetime vs Lee
doesn’t inspire much confidence.
===
Small sample size. Doesn’t mean anything.
SI_JonHeyman
tho i think werth fit #redsox slightly better as righty hitter who plays right field, #redsox currently have best team in baseball
2 minutes ago via web
CB,
I think it may actually end up being both
That is the one area where I think the Red Sox moves are going to directly motivate Cashman. I think generally he makes moves for the good of the Yankees and doesn’t really worry about what Theo does.
They want Lee badly and the Red Sox signing Crawford doesn’t change that.
I think the “answer” or “response” to these moves by the Sox will be increased focus on the BP. I think he will be more motivated now on that front. JMO.
I think they will invest in a set up man, probably Wood and go for a cheap LOOGY like you say.
Maybe Choate?
http://www.deweyshouse.com/arc.....-crawford/
Jerkface-
That’s what I was referring to earlier with Crawford’s power numbers. He is a dead pull hitter when he tries to drive the ball in the air. His power is largely pull power where he tries to turn on the ball to right.
He could change his swing, but trying to take advantage of that short wall has screwed up the swings of many hitters.
Correct me if I’m wrong, but didn’t Boston get “much better” than the Yankees last year when Damon and Matsui left and they got VMart/Beltre/Lackey/Cameron? How’d that work out?
For all we know, Crawford gets injured and misses the year. Or AGonz. Or Mighty Mouse isn’t the same coming off injury.
How about we let them play the games before handing them the AL-E (or WS) crown?
LGY says:
December 9, 2010 at 1:59 am
I have no insight to Crawford’s personality. Some people say he likes more low key place. Some say he likes the spotlight.
But one thing that stuck out with me was how defensive he got with the media when Golson threw him out at 3B to end the game.
I have no idea if that was just a one time thing for him.
But if that is how he typically handles the media, they won’t nearly be as kind up in Boston as they are in Tampa.
Just something interesting to watch.
—
You would be surprised at how the media gets with the Rays down here. They had 2 winning seasons and every media outlet compares them to the Yankees, expecting them to win every game. Nothing makes my day more than to read the newspaper after a Rays loss. One writer went so far as to refer as shoppach as mongo (which is highly derogatory) for striking out so much in the alds.
Tampa loves crawford though so maybe they had a softer spot for him. Now, probably not as much. Can’t wait to see the reaction on the news in the morning.
Gonzo > Teixeira
Cano > Pedroia
Jeter = Scutaro
A-Rod = Youk
Crawford > Gardner
Granderson > Ellsbury
Swisher > Drew
Montero > Salty
Projected rotations of
Boston: Lester, Beckett, Buccholz, Lackey, Dice-K
Yankees: CC, Lee, Pettitte, Hughes, Burnett
I’ll even call them equal.
Bullpen: Yankees have clear advantage
Things aren’t as bad as they seem, everybody. Relax.
# Bret The Hitman December 9th, 2010 at 2:04 am
SI_JonHeyman
tho i think werth fit #redsox slightly better as righty hitter who plays right field, #redsox currently have best team in baseball
2 minutes ago via web
——————————————-
He’s not wrong. We currently have 3 starting pitchers, and one of those three is still named AJ Burnett. As it stands now, our #4 is Ivan Nova. That’s NOT a good rotation.
We also have no idea what we’re going to get out of our offense. A-Rod, Jeter, and Posada are all a year older. Has Swisher’s knee injury cleared up? Will we get second half Granderson? Will we get first half Gardner? Will Tex sleepwalk through the first two months of the year ago? Is Montero ready to step in to the big leagues? Will Cano repeat his production from last year?
The only one of those I am fully confident in saying “yes” to is Cano. The others are HUGE question marks for this team.
Currently…if the season started today…we are nowhere near as good as Boston. It pains me to type it, but it’s the truth.
Love it, the Sox just signed another 20M per year player.
GB….No I didn’t see your scenero, however getting Matt Garza would take some doing I’d think but he’d be solid…..Overpaying for Lee is the luxury the Yanks can afford as help is on the way in 2 years I suspect……No Lee and things get dicey for 2011 …..Hughes will continue to rise up the charts and so much of the success for next season falls on AJ Burnett…..I really believe he’s going to come through and be the best # 4 pitcher in baseball next season……Nova will be a very nice if not better than that as a 5……It’s the starter behind Sabathia that is key
No longer can there be a day where a Red Sox fan says the Yankees are bad because they buy championships, unless they want to be hypocritical dopes.
The Other Phil – we could all do that and let the season actually start befor panicking, but panicking about the Sux is what Lohud bloggers to best. Did you miss the comment section at the end of the regular season last year? People here are so scared when it comes to that team in Boston that its pretty pathetic.
Pat M: Agreed wholeheartedly. I am confident Lee comes to NY but we’ll see…
I also have modest confidence in Burnett improving over last year. That he’s going to start working with the new coach already is a good sign that he’s committed to improving. Hopefully it translates to the hill.
Good pitching beats good hitting.
IMO, playing the waiting game on Pettitte is a waste of time. Somewhere in the budget is money in case Pettitte decides to come back, say maybe $ 10 mil. The hell with him and his process to decide, he has had two months plus to figure it out. Cashman can use that money somewhere else to improve the club.
Cashman should set his own deadline on Lee and if the Lee camp doesn’t wake up then pull the offer and make some deals to improve the pen and the bench. Sooner or later the log jam of AAA pitchers will need to be given a shot. Possibly in ST if the Lee deal falls through.
Cashman needs to tighten his grip on the steering wheel and be more agressive with his plan
UnKnown: I know. It’s de rigueur for some LHYB posters to lose their minds and call Cashman every name under the sun whenever Boston does anything.
“Cashman needs to tighten his grip on the steering wheel and be more agressive with his plan”
You’re too far away to gauge the tenor of those negotiations. Cashman knows what he’s doing so leave it to the professional negotiator to close the deal.
VY: There’s no reason for Cashman to start acting like a spoiled child. He has a good working relationship with Lee’s agent. He’s been in regular communication with him and been honest and direct, if all reports are accurate. Lee’s agent is meeting with Lee this weekend and some reports are he will decide before the weekend is over. Setting some childish deadline would be unnecessary and stupid.
As for Andy, Cashman isn’t waiting on him. He’s working on other things and if Andy decides to return, Cashman can go to Hal for some more money, as he said himself.
I agree that the minor league pitching needs to step up soon, but the last time they rushed players into the rotation, 1 got hurt, 1 went to the pen and 1 isn’t a Yankee anymore. I’d rather play patience with them and bring them along with a modicum of caution.
Not sure what the Ricketts family has as far as money in Chicago, but, I can’t see where they’ll get close any time soon and they have $130 mil tied up in Soriano and Zambrano alone until 2014. That’s a lot of nearly dead money. Swisher is owed $9 mil n 2011 and a $10 mil option in 2012 or a $1 mil buyout. They have talent in the system except for close to ready pitching. Losing Swisher would hurt, but, they can get part of that back in Fukadome. He’s signed for $13 mil thru 2011.
Repost:
Redsox pounced after Cash met with Crawford. They weren’t about to lose out on him and yet another player to the Yankees. Unfortunately, nobody so it coming. It’s a shame that we’ve been holding in limbo waiting for Lee, but sometimes that is how the song is sung.
Redsox might have given up a few talented prospects for Agon, but they were a few prospects. Personally I feel the deal favors the sox.. they got an extremely talented player for 4 prospects. I wouldn’t be surprised if Agon puts up 40+ HR’s this year.. and when he plays in the bronx he is going to love that short porch in left.
Some thoughts:
I did not like our offense in 2010, sure we scored a lot of runs but we were down aprox. 50HR’s and the majority of our bats had significant drop-offs in BA. There’s just way too many question marks for 2011. You can call 2010 a fluke, but you can’t overlook the facts.
Let’s break that down for a second (specifically offense):
Tex:
Last year became very painful “at times” to watch him. Then he suddenly smashes the ball for a few weeks and goes back into a funk. His streakiness became frustrating. Last year he finished with .256/33/108 not quite as bad as Carlos Pena (*grins), but there were times when he looked absolutely lost. I’m not liking his post season numbers at all either which signals to me that the pressure is impacting his bat. His BA was down 36 pts and worst of his career.
Jorge:
Had some big hits, but finished with .248/18/57. Sure he missed a bunch of games but he is our DH now and he’s not proven to excel as a DH. Arguably his worst season of his career and like Tex major drop-off BA.
Jeter:
Not much to say, but his worse season of his career. BA extreme drop off as well.
Arod:
Amazing he pulled off 30 HRs but finished with a fantastic 125RBI. I wouldn’t call his numbers bad at all, but also like the above he finished with the lowest BA of his career .270.
Grandy:
.248/24/67 – Again had some really big hits, but penultimate lowest BA of his career by a couple points higher than his worst.
Gardner:
Well, he’s not expected to be a bat, but .277/5/47 not all that bad considering.
Swisher:
Breakout year for Swish, there were many times where he carried the team and him finishing with .288/29/89 really was much better than most expected out of him
Cano:
Another fantastic season by Robbie. Like Swish he carried this team many games.
—–
So with all the above, Arod, Jeter, Grandy, Posada, Tex all had the lowest BA of their careers. Grandy I think was 2 pts higher BA than his worst season.
So I am only focusing on BA’s so don’t hand me. It concerns me just how much of a drop-off we had last year compared to 2009. Sure it may have been a fluke, but it leaves a lot of questions about offense and the need to take some action to do something about it.
I do not like that Boston got Crawford one bit as an addition to Agon. Their lineup has completely changed with those 2 bats. Wow! I should’ve saw it coming with Crawford that the sox were going to go-hard, I thought they would be in on him, but now what they just did.
Also, if our bats didn’t drop off so much in 2010, I wouldn’t really care to upgrade LF, replacing Gardner.. but even being optimistic still has me concerned.
If we miss out on Lee, I am not looking forward to trailing Boston next season.
Let’s sure hope we get Lee and Cash does pull that offensive rabbit out of his hat. We sure need it. This division changed this week and Boston just made their team much better.
Cashman:
To be kind, he is really not happy right now. Don’t believe that he is just shrugging this off. I mean what is he going to say publicly, I am livid and panicking? Trust me, That’s 2 LF bats he really wanted and didn’t get.
As they say, ‘time waits for no man’. Cashman has assembled a deep farm system of arms it may be time to see what they can do. There are no guarantees of getting Lee.
I can hear John Henry still crying poverty, haha
The Other Phil
December 9th, 2010 at 2:26 am
Setting his own deadline doesn’t mean he holds a press conference to announce it. He can set it and keep it to himself.
I hope Lee comes to NY, if not it will be very interesting to see what Cashman’s lan B is.
Going to Hal for extra money is fine regardless of who it may be for. Money for Pettitte is most likely already accounted for in the budget Cashman has. Playing the waiting game backs you into a corner and more and more players come off the board. Then trading your top prospects becomes an act of desperation and the other GM’s know it. Especially after the moves the Sux have already made.
Andy Pettitte Rumors: Thursday
By Luke Adams [December 9 at 1:30am CST]
A year ago today, the Yankees and Andy Pettitte reached an agreement to keep the left-hander pitching in New York for at least one more season. Whether that will be Pettitte’s last contract remains to be seen. Here are the latest updates on the 38-year-old’s talks with the Yankees….
•Brian Cashman spoke to Pettitte again on Wednesday, with the southpaw still on the fence about his decision, tweets Marc Carig of the Star-Ledger.
•According to SI.com’s Jon Heyman (via Twitter), Pettitte told the Yanks that pitching itself isn’t a problem, but following his groin injury, he’s not sure he can still do all the work necessary to pitch.
•Ken Davidoff of Newsday suggests that Pettitte benefits from waiting to see how the Cliff Lee sweepstakes play out – if Lee signs elsewhere, the Yankees will have an increased need for Pettitte, while if the Yankees do land Lee, Pettitte would have additional motivation to return. Cashman believes Pettitte will be a Yankee in 2011, according to Davidoff, who agrees with the New York GM.
The worse thing Cashman can do is panic. He has a plan that he’s going to stick to.
typo: s/b:………….Cashman’s Plan B is.
Crawdaddy:
“The worse thing Cashman can do is panic. He has a plan that he’s going to stick to.”
I don’t think he is panicking. It’s not in his nature. My point was that he is not going to publicly voice his concerns. Mark my words, he is none to happy right now. He’s also well aware of offensive issues. Let me repeat that. He is well aware of our needs to improve offensively and that’s just not an overnight feeling, he has felt that way for years now.
To be blunt, Cash has wanted an additional impact bat for quite sometime now !
Also, you can have all the plans in the world, but that doesn’t mean that will lineup with what you get.
“To be blunt, Cash has wanted an additional impact bat for quite sometime now !”
I don’t believe it! If it wasn’t then after the Werth contract I didn’t see the Yankees over spending on Crawford.
I wouldn’t expect him to panic, he is a highly paid professional. Not just looking at Lee playing the waiting game, what is preventing him from addressing the BP and the Bench needs ?
Getting Lee or not getting him has no bearinmg on those areas of need other than money that I’m sure is already budgeted for.
“Also, you can have all the plans in the world, but that doesn’t mean that will lineup with what you get.”
I think the guys he still craves the most are still available until they’re not his plan is still in play.
I’m not sold on Andy coming back either. I would say there is a 20% chance and that is being generous. Sure he might like the idea of pitching in a rotation with CC & Lee, who wouldn’t? However, Andy has had a long career, and this just may be the time for him to hang up the spikes, with or without Lee.
I sure wouldn’t bet on him returning for a final season.
That means Pettitte is returning.;)
I was all in for Crawford if Upton was not to be, however I never thought Carl was going to be a 20 miilion dollar a year ballplayer……Then again it’s been a wild hot stove season so far….Oh Matt Holliday where art thou Matt Holliday
I’m still trying to grasp giving Crawford 20M a year. What an overpay.
Crawdaddy:
Cash pushed hard for Holliday. He is only one voice of many. Hal chose to tighten the purse for more than just one reason. Previous to Damon and Matsui leaving, Cash emphasized the need for an impact bat. He knows the stats and the fact that that we were down close to 50+ HRs since they left. Mark my words, Cash considers an offensive upgrade a priority. Obviously our rotation takes precedence but that doesn’t negate the fact.
But you have to have options, and those are few and far between now. It would depend on a trade no doubt, and he has somethings up his sleeve. That doesn’t mean it will pan out, but if it does, folks here will be quite surprised.
Lost,
I’m not buying you as some kind of Yankee insider so save your typed words for somebody else.
If $ 20 mil. for Crawford is considered an overpay then 6 @ $ 140 mil. for a 32 year old pitcher will also be considered an overpay if and when we sign Lee.
If $ 20 mil. for Crawford is considered an overpay then 6 @ $ 140 mil. for a 32 year old pitcher will also be considered an overpay if and when we sign Lee.
–
Crawford is not the best outfielder in baseball. Cliff Lee is arguably the best pitcher in baseball. So, not really.
(and the next closest team for Crawford bid 15 mil)
The difference is everybody assumed Lee was going to get such dough, but not Crawford. Look at his stats, no player with a 20M year contract has those type of numbers in their best years.
Vineyard Yankee…..The difference is the Need for Cliff Lee…….I’m guessing much is being expected or at the very least hoping that Jesus Montero can make the transition to the Bigs quickly in 2011…..The thunder in his righthanded stick could be why they passed on Holliday to begin with……Had things gone well with Joba in the role as a starter there would not be a sense of panic or desperation right now…….Plus there would never had been the Javy sequel in 2010………I can only imagine the crap that will be tomorrow’s NYC sports page…..
Cliff Lee the best pitcher in baseball? Hardly.
WCYF……Right now he’s the best pitcher in baseball in the eyes of The NY Yankees……..Strange turn of events in the past 5 days
# seeknay December 9th, 2010 at 2:00 am
Adrian Gonzalez 6-7, 2 doubles, 1 homer, 3 rbi lifetime vs Lee
Carl Crawford 4-11 lifetime vs Lee
doesn’t inspire much confidence.
===
Small sample size. Doesn?t mean anything.
______________________________
Worse than that, wrong samples. Crawford is 8-36 (.222); no BBs, so a .222 OBP vs Lee.
AGon is 7-10, also no BBs.
Obviously Crawford has many more lifetime ABs, which should have been a clue the stats were wack.
Strange indeed. I remember a few days ago when the AGon deal was presumed dead and Boston was on a suicide watch. It’s Mardi Gras there tonight.
Red Sox fans are happy, but some of them aren’t happy about the contract.
Pat M:
“I was all in for Crawford if Upton was not to be, however I never thought Carl was going to be a 20 miilion dollar a year ballplayer……Then again it’s been a wild hot stove season so far….Oh Matt Holliday where art thou Matt Holliday”
I hear you. Werth was much more understandable being that he had to be paid a premium to go to a non-contender. I am shocked at Boston. I really think they hit the panic button once Cash had his face to face and info was starting to be leaked that the Yanks had serious interest. Boston has publicly stated just how much they can’t stand losing out to us time and time again. They didn’t want the Tex situation all over again and went in with fury and vengeance.
Although, they have the money and their ratings dropped significantly last season. Sure they overpaid, but what’s a few million to these flush teams.
FYI:
Crawford batted .324 last season at Fenway Park.
20.3 million for Crawford?
No thanks.
have to agree with the earlier takes by GLove. In particular, Mark Teixeria (aka Mr July). A player who doesn’t show up till May and then disappears in each of the last 2 post-seasons.
in contrast with Boston, unfortunately your view of the NYY lineup is realistic. I don’t like that NYY hitched their wagon to Jeter. Personally, don’t believe he has much left. Would’ve been nice to see Cashman make a strong bid for Hanley Ramirez. However, maybe their was simply no deal to be made on that front…
far as the Carl Crawford addition. It’s never fun watching the Yankees vs teams which run. With the Yankees transition at the catching position (Montero) Crawford will have immediate dividends in this regard too.
that said, for me this is not at all panic. I remain focused on what the Yankees continue to do in the next 5 years (development, young players etc) not in one off-season.
“Crawdaddy December 9th, 2010 at 3:02 am
Lost,
I’m not buying you as some kind of Yankee insider so save your typed words for somebody else.”
Happiness is a warm gun.
Cliff Lee the best pitcher in baseball? Hardly.
–
Whatever, he is far closer to the top by any merit than Crawford is to being the best outfielder.
And in his career he hits .275 .301 .406 .708 in Fenway.
24 doubles, 3 triples, 4 HRs
He loses a lot of power going to fenway.
Crawford 7 years $142M.
Gonzalez, 6 year extension $150+M.
But the Yankees buy championships. Love it!
On another note, Ellsbury and Crawford are going to run all over Posada, Cervelli, Montero, Romine and whomever else is behind the plate. If you thought Ellsbury’s steal of home was embarassing, just watch.
Time to stock up with lefty arms: Lee and Pettitte in the rotation, Logan, Fuentes, and Miller in the pen.
It’s always quite comical when fans complain about money and contracts when a very wealthy team can afford to overpay for any player they want. It’s quite moronic when people talk about contracts making them unhappy as if they are the ones signing the checks.
In case you haven’t realized this.. baseball profits are skyrocketing and some teams are so flush that they can have multiple 20mil players on their roster and laugh in the face of luxury taxes.
Yet, I often hear “I don’t like my team getting all-star player J. Smith because he makes us a much better team but is overpaid” So what?
Thank God the Yankees never overpay. I’d be a Mets fan if they did !
Royals sign Melky Cabrera = Dayton Moore strikes again
In case you haven’t realized this.. baseball profits are skyrocketing and some teams are so flush that they can have multiple 20mil players on their roster and laugh in the face of luxury taxes.
–
When this actually happens wake me up, I’d be dreaming.
At the end of the day, you are worth what a team is willing to give you……not sure if that makes anyone truly “overpaid”. The market determines the price for these players. Did the Sox pay a lot more than anyone else likely would have paid? Probably. But so did the Yankees with CC Sabathia. That’s how free agency has worked for years.
Face, Yanks sign Lee and the sting of Crawford subsides……The edge the Sox have on the Bombers lies in the rotation not in the lineup, nor in the bullpen……..Cliff Lee swings the scales back to The Bronx…….Besides Lee , Burnett and suddenly Montero’s learning and adjustmant curve begins to garnish some attention…..At least more than it did a few days ago……..
This could be a very bad off season. Boston lost players but loaded back up. So far the Yankees have lost Pettite and Kerry Wood. They have not added anything. And I am starting to believe the longer the Lee thing goes the worse it looks for the Yankees. I hope they have plan B.
Jerkface:
“When this actually happens wake me up, I’d be dreaming”
Not sure if you caught the sarcasm in that comment. In case you did.. would you prefer a wake-up call or a bat signal?
“vinny-b December 9th, 2010 at 3:46 am
Royals sign Melky Cabrera = Dayton Moore strikes again”
I never was a Melky optimist. Some here really were adamant about just how great his potential was. As a youngster, I appreciated his hustle, but truth be told.. Cano has matured a lot since his partner in crime was traded. I know how I am when it comes to working with my best friends, there always a lot more horseplay and going out after hours. I sincerely think trading Melky — who has proven to be ________ , well I’ll let you fill in the blank — was the best thing for Cano.
Dad, goto bed! I can’t believe you are still up at 4am.
Lost…..Some of the things I heard about The Melk-Man was discipline and ongoing dedication…..Too much success kind of took Melky of course……However after a sting in Hot Lanta as the 4th of and now on to KC as an unemployed ballplayer should tell him this could be the last roundup as a big league performer….Next wake-up call will be bus riding somewhere in Texas playing in AAA……
Not sure if you caught the sarcasm in that comment. In case you did.. would you prefer a wake-up call or a bat signal?
–
Is the sarcasm that no team other than the Yankees has the balls enough to spend past the luxury limit?
Grienke is my fave non-NYY pitcher. Have even pined for Cashman to move on him. Yet sadly, i agree with every word in the following post. And from a Yankees point of view, the price for him is simply too high:
“I can’t believe that there are really people out there that think a deal for Grienke is a good idea. We’ve been burned so many times by players (especially pitchers) who can’t handle NY
K Rogers
J Vasquez (twice)
K Brown
R Johnson
AJ (maybe)
J Weaver (I can’t believe he’s stll pitching)
I mean this guy said he was bummed he won CY Young because of all the attention it brought him…In KC!!!
I don’t know if there has ever been such a clear case of a player who is talented but simply would be a bad fit for the market, throwing the ball is only one aspect of a great pitcher.”
Face, Yanks sign Lee and the sting of Crawford subsides……The edge the Sox have on the Bombers lies in the rotation not in the lineup, nor in the bullpen
–
They don’t even need Lee, though CC-Lee-Hughes-Pettitte-Burnett is arguably one of the better rotations in baseball. Just 1 FA pitcher and then pettitte or a prospect/trade.
P…Is right, in a couple of hours the morning breakfast club will be hear flipping out at the news in Boston……Should make for some interesting panic in the streets of NY……..It’ll be fine, and inking Lee readjust es the balance of power…..
Face, sign Lee and give Nova the ball in February and tell him he can only pitch himself out of the rotation…..Nova is going to good, batter than what you unusually get in the 5 hole, 8-12 or 10-13…..He could actually be a 10-8 or 9 / 7 + 2 type arm which would be a coup and he’ll be another year along in his career…….Not getting Lee and no Andy , and I think the Clemens trial is the pain in his groin
I’m not so sure Ellsbury remains with the Red Sox.
So what will Bostons payroll look like now?
Cashman being cheap…our offense was not good last year, too inconsistent vs mediocre pitchers, too much age, ARod’s hip, Posada as the DH, Tex too streaky and of course a super slow starter….Posada might have to go on DL again and we will be left with no DH again like last year…..guys coming off the board like Diaz for the bench…we need to pay money for a bench and bullpen guys…Cashman gets too cheap with this and it hurts…hate to say it but the Red Sox are much, much better than us now…..
lets see no Crawford,no Lee,no Andy….not a bad off season so far….and Lee isn’t coming here….right now the Sox are better than the Yankees..better hitting,better SP
# Pat M. December 9th, 2010 at 4:26 am
P…Is right, in a couple of hours the morning breakfast club will be hear flipping out at the news in Boston……Should make for some interesting panic in the streets of NY……..It’ll be fine, and inking Lee readjust es the balance of power…..
Annnd here they come
Lee and Andy are both staying in Tex……Yankees just lost plan B, now it’s on to plan C
I have a feeling plan C is going to be Upton…but they are still going to need two SP
Well this Sucks !.. waking up to this story. I trust Cashman though ! . . i just hope he sticks to his plan and doesn’t over-react
I’m not really sure why no one saw Crawford possibly going to the Red Sox. I remember the talk being the Sox would trade for Gonzalez and be on in Werth and Crawford. Werth went first and fast. I’m not shocked that they got Crawford; I’m shocked it happened at 11 o’clock at night, and I’m kinda surprised the Angels didn’t try to top it.
Definitely the Sox made some good moves here. But neither one was totally unexpected and I’m sure Cashman isn’t surprised at all.
I was Crawford-neutral for the Yankees. Once Werth got his stupid contract, I really didn’t think they would spend on Crawford, nor did I think they should.
They Yankees HAVE dealt with Crawford and Upton on the basebaths for years and, yes, it’s not fun, but I see no difference in dealing with Crawford/Ellsbury. It won’t be fun, but also, remember, the Sox ran on the Yankees last year anyway. It’s not a new situation. The Red Sox offense really did fine last year – it was their pitching/bullpen that didn’t do so well.
Lee is the piece. He is the one player the Yankees went into the off-season with strong plans for acquiring. If they miss on him, that will be the bad news. Not the players who went to Boston.
However, I don’t think Cashman has been sitting in his office staring at the phone waiting for Lee’s agent to call. He’s been doing his homework. I believe that it’s most likely that the seeds of deals have been planted. It will take longer, and the team will end up with a different, unfamiliar look, but something will get done and it won’t be a desperation move (i.e., overpaying just because they lost Lee).
Also love how it’s okay/brilliant for the Sox (or any other team, really) to spend ridiculous money, but it’s ruining baseball when the Yankees do it.
As for the cat-and-mouse behind the scenes, the Yankees/Red Sox have been doing this for years. They both do it well. But ultimately, the Sox didn’t take a player the Yankees were seriously interested in when they got Crawford.
You guys still want to put a package together for Upton even though he is not on the block?
Put one together for King Felix instead!
Anyway you spin this, you have to give Boston their dues. They really went out and filled the holes they had. They are a stronger team today than they were yesterday. It remains to be seen if they can win though. The games are played on the field and not on paper.
This really forces the Yankees to do something particularly in the pitching department. Cliff Lee would be nice but there are other ways of addressing their problems. Signing Kerry Wood would be a good start and then looking at some good relievers like Balfour and Guerrier and Crain. They need a good 4th starter to go behind Sabathia, Hughes, and Burnett if they can do that maybe one of the kids will come around for a fifth. This can be a good team if age doesn’t catch up to them.
A lefty out of the pen would be enough.
Andy. Lee.
Keep an eye of King Felix if he gets unhappy in Seattle.
Scott Downs would be a nice sign but I believe he is an A type free agent. Ouch
Boston still needs a viable catcher, though. They’re wishing and hoping on Salty, but they’re going to end up counting on Varitek too much.
Anyway, Good morning, morning people.
Wow, lots of panic on the blog from the usual panic participants and a few new ones.
That’s a lot of coin to pay a non-power hitter whose best asset (his speed) gets neutralized playing half his game at Fenway.
It also busts the myth the media had about the Red Sox and their “plans”.
As the Yankees showed from 2002-2008, you can spend a ton, or a billion in the Yankees case, on players.
However, if you don’t spend it on the right guys, it’s not money well spent.
good morning Doreen and any other early birds!
well, what a shock when I flipped espn on this am…my first thought was that the sox can’t pretend to be a small market team anymore!
haven’t read thru the overnight comments, but I never thought Crawford was going to the Yankees anyway, altho I did think he was going to the Angels…wonder if that puts them in the hunt for Lee.
The Dallas area newspapers both report the Rangers are willing to go 6 years. Ryan has asked Braunecker what it will take for them to sign Lee. Make no mistake, plan A is very iffy, and plan B poise now a mystery. Call that panicky if you will, but that is reality.
If Lee goes to the Rangers which is not unlikely, how can the Yankees improve themselves? I don’t see a path. Another catcher is a must with the Sox speed addition. Other than that, a second tier pitcher via trade of minor league pitching prospects and a non-type A reliever.
Sorry folks, that would be an abysmal off-season while our main competitor adds the two best available position players. The Lohud brave response is “yes, but they paid a lot.” So did the Yankees before they won in 2009.
I don’t see the Angels in the Lee hunt….they loved Crawford, and quickly backed away from a monster offer………
If the Yankees sign Lee, Andy comes back, and they add a lefty out of the pen (Feliciano), it combats the Red Sox moves.
The Sox lineup is now heavily tilted to lefties, who neither have a high OBP, nor hit lefties particularly well.
When the shock value of the Crawford signing wears off, folks will see he’s not a great fit in Boston.
One thing many fans miss the boat on in free agency is, the money doesn’t make someone a better player.
Nor does it make them something they are not.
Personally, I like the Red Sox having the bullseye on them now.
Historically, they never play well as lead dogs.
Somedays you eat the bear…somedays the bear eats you….
Damn Bob Feller entering hospice care
oh well, at least Tori Hunter is ‘crushed’ by Crawford not signing with Angels..
I had seen Crawford to the Angels (so much for friendship!) and Werth to the Sox. So, it’s Crawford to the Sox and Werth remains in the NL with Washington.
Crawford, to me, doesn’t change the game plan of either the Angels or the Sox versus the Yankees. I’m thinking the Rays may not be an issue this season – or as much of one.
Seven years for Lee, if necessary. There is now no free agent addition to be made to help make the existing outfielders available for Greinke. A quality pitcher would require a great deal from the minors., and the Yankees do not want to gut the newly improved system.
if the sox were willing to over pay for Crawford, then why not keep V-mart? And Bay for that matter, he was a good player for them.
Good Morning.
I’m not worried due to the cc signing.
Plan A just got better is all.
and Plan B just became stronger too.
Well another blow from the Sox, what’s the big deal being made about the money? It’s a business, the Sox payed money to get a A level player that plays every year. We are off trying to spend the farm on a player that pitches every 5th game. Crawford is going to help the Sox alot more than our banjo hitter Gardner is going to help us. Better yet from their perspective he’s a Sox not a Yank or an Angel. We had better get Lee now, to at least offset what coulc become another Yanks winter train wreck.
My opinion: Hal better tear up that budget cap he’s been crying about. Boston just spent $300 Large on players and they aren’t done. Also they had so much room to on their payroll, they were @ about $131M before the A-Gon nightmare, that $5.5M contract and no extension for 2010 really helped them. To be honest they have enough money to sign Lee, they won’t but you bet Cashman will have to go minimum 7 yr’s. Also Reynolds and Williams picking Texas to retain Lee, they must sense something being on site in Orlando. I can see the Boston shill Williams with that take, but Reynolds isn’t a Redsox shill so that was an interesting take. Kristen might win out here. We also need somebody better then the 15% CS rate that Posada represented or the 22% rate Cervelli put up. Better get in on Martin, or Boston will scoop him up also. Olivo is going to Seattle.
austinmac December 9th, 2010 at 7:07 am
The Dallas area newspapers both report the Rangers are willing to go 6 years. Ryan has asked Braunecker what it will take for them to sign Lee. Make no mistake, plan A is very iffy, and plan B poise now a mystery. Call that panicky if you will, but that is reality.
If Lee goes to the Rangers which is not unlikely, how can the Yankees improve themselves? I don’t see a path. Another catcher is a must with the Sox speed addition. Other than that, a second tier pitcher via trade of minor league pitching prospects and a non-type A reliever.
Sorry folks, that would be an abysmal off-season while our main competitor adds the two best available position players. The Lohud brave response is “yes, but they paid a lot.” So did the Yankees before they won in 2009.
_________________________________________________________________________
Austin Mac right on post. Some of the spin here is fantastic, but I think you got it right.
Nobody should pin all their hopes for this upcoming season on Lee and Lee alone.
Would I absolutely love to get him ?
Of course.
Is he the ONLY choice to make our team better ?
IMO no.
Cashman always neeeded to and should have had other irons in the fire.
I believe he does. I’m expecting at least one big surprise.
The Sox TV ratings were down what 38% last year so its no surprise they made a splash this winter …..they needed to energize their fanbase.
It seems on the surface that they have greatly improved and they have to some extent…..but when you look closer what they really have done is replace two good players with two other good players. The net gain isn’t as much as it would seem because they replaced Beltre and Vmart with Crawford and Agon instead of adding them in addition to then. The impact bats in that lineup are very left handed now.
The Sox are better now for sure……but their fate will ultimately come down to what they get from Beckett and Lackey and how healthy they stay.
@ upstate kate.. IMO, they didn’t want to have a strict DH making 12.5M in 2 yr’s. I believe they were set to get Werth and A-Gon to replace V-Mart and Beltre’s production, but Crawford was plan B so they over bid for him. That makes them real lefty heavy and Crawford playing in that tiny LF is like sending an 18 wheeler on a pizza delivery. They spent $142M on a player who never hit 20 Hr’s. Crawford’s strength’s, his speed, will diminish on the back end of that contract. Let’s not get overwhelmed here, it’s still all about pitching, as we just witnessed the Giants win a Ring with a misfit line-up. All the brand names they brought in will hike their TV revenue, and yes they won it all in December, they still have to mesh and play the game. Crawford took the most money, but Anaheim was a much better fit for him.
It’s going to be a suicide watch on internet boards for certain Yankee fans until we find out about Lee.
A few things that need to happen IMO :
1 We need an excellent defensive BU catcher to neutralize the Sux new found speed game.
2 We need at least one top of the rotation type starter to pair with
CC.
3 We need another Right-handed impact bat
4 We need another LOOGY coming out of the pen who is a stone cold killer.
5 We need a nice rt. handed bench piece
6 AP
We have the means to make all of these things happen, and I hope they do.
MTU December 9th, 2010 at 7:35 am
Nobody should pin all their hopes for this upcoming season on Lee and Lee alone.
Would I absolutely love to get him ?
Of course.
Is he the ONLY choice to make our team better ?
IMO no
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MTU at this point the way things have unfolded the Yanks have to get Lee and then hope to get a a level everyday player or two. You have to give the Sox credit, the middle of their lineup is going to very impressive and I expect those guys to score lots of runs. If we face them with the SP we have today it’s going to be very tough to get them out.
And believe me I have ideas on the above.
I do not think a Rotation of CC, CL, PH, AJ, and Nova is going to cut it.
Too much uncertainty.
Crawdaddy December 9th, 2010 at 7:41 am
It’s going to be a suicide watch on internet boards for certain Yankee fans until we find out about Lee.
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Crawdaddy as I posted yesterday it’s the frozen aspect that is holding the Yanks hostage. People aren’t waiting for the Yanks to make a decision on Lee. Boston certaintly isn’t.
Like the Red Sox don’t have any uncertainty in their rotation.
I think 3 things happen now:
1) yanks will be all in on Lee
2) angels will be very aggressive with Beltre and Soriano
3) Rangers will try hard for a Greinke trade.
“Crawdaddy as I posted yesterday it’s the frozen aspect that is holding the Yanks hostage. People aren’t waiting for the Yanks to make a decision on Lee. Boston certaintly isn’t.”
For 142M, they can have him.
theOldCrow
I love that comment about sending in an 18 wheeler to make a pizza delivery
I wonder what happens to Ellsbury now.
Gary-
I have been on Lee as much as anyone on this board.
But one thing you cannot do is this life or any other is guarantee that
certain things happen.
I am confident that we get Lee but far from certain. There’s a difference.
Because of the small probability that we don’t we must be prepared.
There are several other unknowns al well.
that said, I’m still not too worried because I believe the bases will still
be covered, so to speak.
MTU,
Pettite will be back….especially if they sign Lee. May take him til January to decide…..but he’ll be back.
Gary – not one thing has happened that we would have altered with an answer from Lee right now. The pitching market is jammed up and paying 7 and $142 for Crawford is just silly.
Me. I’m not worried about what the Sux do. I concern myself more fully with what the Yankees do.
Blake-
The offense now needs to be kicked up a notch as well.
Are you feeling me ?
Good morning all! Great news, seriously, now that CC is gone we can stop reading about how the Yankees must have him. The Red Sox way over paid. Good for them. CC will break down in a couple of years from playing most of his career on turf.
Now lets sign Lee and Scott Downs.
C
The Red Sox needed to upgrade to match the Yankees, and they have. They’ve traded away prospects and paid big money, but they’ve done it. Nothing about that is surprising.
So now they might compete with us this season. Who cares? If we sign Lee and Pettitte, we’re still in good shape.
2 places I can see to do it.
At DH, and in the OF.
comprendo ?
MTU, your points are well taken. I have had this feeling all along that we aren’t going to get Lee, I hope I am wrong. I don’t dismiss as easily what others do here regarding the Sox. Last year they had a train wreck of injuries and Victor hurt them daily with his lack of defense now he’s gone also. It’s the opposite of us they felt they needed to improve their lineup and stay pat on what they feel is a good lineup of SP’ers. We feel the other way that our lineup is OK and that we need to bolster our SP. I guess time will tell who made the smarter moves, at this point though I’d have to say it’s advantage Sox.
Russell Martin come on down.
MTU,
yea if possible…..but if the Yanks can sign Lee and Pettite then I still they they have a comparable lineup with a better rotation and bullpen. Montero could be a X factor.
Im still holding out for a big trade…..don’t know who.
Gary-
Not for long !
Blake-
Don’t agree. Too much uncertainty on the offensive side of the ball.
As you know I do not believe in stalemates. I like to go for the throat.
I believe there may be surprises coming if we are forced to see what
Cash caught in his “big net”.
Well if Cliff Lee wants to be a warrior, we’ve got a nasty battle for him to join.
Yanks are probably going to have to sweeten the deal a bit but I bet you this guy’s lickin his chops thinking about joining this rivalry. If he wants to feel “the rush”, we’ve got it in spades.
Texas vs Anaheim? Yawn. I bet you they couldn’t even locate each others stadiums on a map.
Yankees vs Red Sox? World War III is on the horizon. Yanks are looking for another 4 star general. Wimps need not apply.
Cliff Lee, your destiny is calling.
A day late, a dollar short, and a drive-by.
As always, Doreen provided the (in my opinion) proper perspective.
“The Red Sox offense really did fine last year – it was their pitching/bullpen that didn’t do so well.”
Am I thrilled Crawford went to the Sux? Hardly. I am never happy for them when they get anything worthwhile, so why would I start now?
Is he the dealbreaker? Hardly. If you’re thinking it’s your offense that gets your there and keeps you there, I guess you are doomed to repeat the lessons of history.
Cliff Lee, come to mama. Lackey, Papelbon, Beckett et al. Keep up the good work…
Be well all.
Trisha
Crawdaddy,
Betsy actually suggested that Cashman was on suicide watch now. Seriously!
Heyman (I know, I know) is reporting Yanks have upped offer to Cliff Lee to 7 years
Rangers are reportably shopping Michael Young, they have $50M tied up in him in forward years and it could in their opinion bring the money necessary to resign Lee.
I’m glad the Red Sox decided to pay an outfielder with a career 107 OPS + 142 million dollars over seven years.
I like our outfield as its constructed. This is nothing more than an “okay, what else is new” deal to me.
Despite what Cashman says about it having no impact, clearly it does have an impact on what the Yankees do, which is evidenced by the fact that they just offered 7 years to Cliff Lee, according to Jon Heyman.
Have Cashman’s quotes/actions lately been striking anyone else as a little … off kilter? Especially for him? I’ve found his recent quotes (not to mention the whole dressing up as an elf and rappelling down a skyscraper episode) to be a bit out of character for him. I don’t know what is going on with the g.m., but something just seems a little off lately. Maybe it’s a good thing, I don’t know, but he just seems to be stepping out of character a bit. Or is it just me?
Devils advocate:
Lee can play closer to home in Texas in a weak division, in an org run by Nolan freaking Ryan.
The Rangers are set up to win the West for years to come.
Texas isn’t a bad place to be. Neither is NY.
I do think the Yanks get Lee. But it’s not as certain as some would like to think, IMO.
How fed up must the rest of baseball be with Boston and NY?
I mean, Philly and SF are legit, but how can any other team feel good when Boston is now loaded and the Yanks are poised to follow suit if they acquire Lee.