Girardi on Sabathia, Posada, Montero and the pursuit of pitching
Posted by: Chad Jennings - Posted in Misc on Nov 11, 2011 
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Joe Girardi hadn’t addressed the media since his end-of-the-season press conference last month. When he finally spoke at Yankee Stadium this morning, Girardi didn’t provide much news — or any news for that matter — but he commented on several things going on with the team.
“I think we will try to add some (pitching) depth like we did last year,” Girardi said. “This is an organization that feels that you never have enough pitching, and that’s the way we approached it last year.”
Asked if he could see the Yankees going beyond a depth move to sign an impact pitcher, Girardi said he expects the Yankees to look into every option.
“The way I look at that is, it takes two people,” he said. “It takes our organization, and it also takes a player wanting to come here and this being the right fit for him. I’m sure we’re going to be active, but it takes two. I know we have a great things to offer here, I do know that, and I think the players that have come here have been very happy.”
A few other comments from Girardi this morning:
• On re-signing CC Sabathia: “Obviously he had the right to (opt out) in his contract. I felt that, what he has done here in the first three years, and his love for this team, I always thought he would be a Yankee, that something would be worked out. I’m glad I was right. I didn’t want to imagine life without CC.”
• On Jorge Posada: “It’s hard to imagine him in another uniform, but it’s the desires of his heart if he wants to continue to play and there’s not a spot here, I would encourage him to do it because as a player, I think you have to make sure that all of that is out of you before you decide to retire.”
• On replacing Posada: “Our DH is something that might be a rotating DH a little bit next year. I’m not sure. You’ve kind of got to see how things shake out as we get into December and January.”
• On using Jesus Montero next season: “We believe that this kid has a lot of talent. He’s a work in progress. He’s got great bat speed, and we think that he’s going to be able to provide some offense for us… You’ve got to see how a young player does and how he approaches spring training, comes into spring training and does his job. We see him as a guy that can do some different things for us. You think about how old he is, we’ve heard about Montero for so long, I think we all think he’s 24 or 25. He’s a baby, and there’s going to be some growing pains as you go through with him, but I think the kid is extremely hungry, I think he’s talented, and I think he can help us.”
• On Posada’s Hall of Fame chances: “I think he has a very good chance, I do. When you look at the catchers over the last 15 years, Jorge’s been one of the dominant catchers.”
• On A.J. Burnett: “You look at the game that he pitched in the playoffs for us and you try to feed off of that… To me it’s just trying to shorten (the amount of time) when he does get in a little rut.”
• Girardi said he could see Hector Noesi being a rotation option next season, and he also mentioned David Phelps, Adam Warren, D.J. Mitchell, Manny Banuelos and Dellin Betances as pitchers who could compete for rotation spots if necessary. “If we need one, they’re all going to compete for a spot,” Girardi said.
• Girardi said the Yankees have not finished signing the coaching staff. Asked whether we should expected everyone back, he said, “I think our guys did a good job last year.” Take that for whatever it’s worth.
• Girardi has actually seen some of the Yoenis Cespedes viral scouting video. “Obviously he’s an impressive athlete,” Girardi said.
• Because he was busy with his family, Girardi said he didn’t see every inning of the World Series, but he saw quite a bit of it, including the Game 6 comeback. “I’m happy for Tony La Russa, for what he’s meant to this game,” Girardi said. “I had a chance to play under him one year – unfortunately I was hurt a lot of that year – but I was impressed with what he did and loved to pick his brain. I’m really happy for him.”
Associated Press photos
Got that one right, a whole lot of nothing. Sounds kind of like Cashman.
Girardi can crow all he wants about AJ and that playoff game vs Detroit, but without Grandy doing that circus routine in CF you got another AJ Meltdown.
jaysonst Sources say #Phillies showing “serious” interest in Papelbon as Madson deal disintegrates. More to come at http://ESPN.com
@jorgearangure: Attn: Red Sox starters RT @kfc_colonel: Follow @kfc_colonel to celebrate 11 herbs/spices on 11/11/11 & shot to win free KFC for year!
LGY-
# J. Alfred Prufrock November 11th, 2011 at 11:38 am
Imo,kershaw is the best pitcher in baseball now.60 less hits than innings pitched,0.98 whip,.207 baa,248 k in 233.1 innings.
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Kershaw is probably the only SP I’d consider parting with Betances for.
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There are a few pitchers I would Betances
JAP,
If you’re still around……the odds I would guess are that Halladay will still be better than Hughes in 4 years and that he might help the Yanks win a title in that time frame. I still believe in Phil but the chances he’s ever as good as Halladay aren’t very strong. I don’t have a problem with Cash holding off years ago…..but knowing what I know now Id deal Hughes and Joba for Doc without thinking twice about it and if Philly called and wanted to do it now Id faint first then personally drive them both to the airport. I respect your prospect huggingness though…
would trade*
Halladay does look like a guy that will age well. Of course you can’t guarantee it but…
You’re driving Joba and Phil both to the airport?
I hope this is after they’ve come back from the fat farm, or you’ll need a minivan.
Cash explicitly said Joba is a reliever the other day.
If they aren’t going to try him as a starter now, the dream is dead.
# LGY November 11th, 2011 at 12:49 pm
Cash explicitly said Joba is a reliever the other day.
If they aren’t going to try him as a starter now, the dream is dead.
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They should have moved him when they had the chance if all he’s going to be is an extra arm in the pen.
Nick,
They’ll fit in the back if the truck I think
Danks or Floyd: Take your pick
For teams seeking to trade for a starting pitcher, the White Sox can offer one from Column A and one from Column B.
Lefty John Danks appeals to high-revenue teams – he will get a raise from $6 million in his final year of arbitration, then hit free agency.
Righty Gavin Floyd, on the other hand, fits nicely for low-revenue clubs – he is signed for $7 million next season with a $9.5 million club option for 2013.
The White Sox are drawing interest in both pitchers, major-league sources say. Whether they trade one, both or neither likely hinges on the trade offers they receive.
Danks will hit the open market at 27 next off-season and pitch his first free-agent season at 28. His career numbers – 54-56, 4.03 ERA – might appear modest. But he averaged nearly 195 innings over the past four seasons, and his ERA, except for the first two months of 2011, was in the 3.70 range.
Free-agent lefty C.J. Wilson, who is expected to sign for a minimum of five years and $80 million, has been a starter for only two years. Danks, if he pitches well next season, presumably would be worth much more. A big-money team such as the Yankees or Red Sox could trade for him, then try to re-sign him.
Floyd, who turns 29 on Jan. 27, is not as accomplished as Danks and lacks the left-hander’s upside, but his price is right. Even a low-revenue club such as the Pirates could afford Floyd’s salaries in 2012 and ’13, and fit him nicely into the middle of their rotation.
The White Sox are entering a transition period – their new manager, Robin Ventura, has never managed or coached at any level, and the team will give him time to grow into the job.
Right fielder Carlos Quentin, entering his free-agent year, is perhaps the most likely White Sox player to be traded, but the offers for Danks and/or Floyd might be too good to resist.
One from Column A, one from Column B.
-Ken Rosenthal
Get Danks please.
I can’t imagine they think of Joba as just an extra arm in the pen, assuming there’s some thinking going on at all.
If they truly see him as best suited for the bullpen, they must hope he’ll have a major role to play if/when Mo retires and Soriano… does whatever it is he might eventually do.
Yes, yes, I know… Mo looks so great, one could imagine him staying beyond next year, and D-Rob could becomes a durable major force, and Soriano (pending Felix advice) may never leave, thus Joba should be stretched out again… I agree.
‘Cash explicitly said Joba is a reliever the other day’.
==================
Nothing new there, Cashman has said that same thing countless times over the last two years.
Joba is the 6th inning guy…..you have to have a 6th inning guy to win.
Can Girardi, Cash, and Co. please take the training wheels off of Montero this year. Let the kid play, my goodness.
blake November 11th, 2011 at 1:13 pm
Joba is the 6th inning guy?..you have to have a 6th inning guy to win.
******************
JoSoRoMo!!!!!
Sounds to me like showing up for spring training ready to play will go a long way for Montero. I expect him to take ARod up on his invitation to work out and hit with him during the off-season. I imagine that should start to happen after Christmas?
UnKnown at 1:14 pm
If they treat Montero the way they did after his September call up we are in big, big trouble. He had a dual set of of training wheels on that month.
Villa Nova- yeah, I think Camp A-Rod usually happens in early/mid January
Looking at his career numbers, John Danks = AJ Burnett (perhaps without the FB and the head case issues). Yanks would want him why?
I mean it’s not like we have all these other guys in front of Montero that should definitely be getting the at bats ahead of him.
It might be a stretch but the Yankees probably lost Game 5 and the ALDS because Montero was refuted a chance to PH late in Game 5 with the bases loaded several times. I could just see the kid earning his pinstripes with a huge opposite field gap shot or something.
At the very least as a fan its always entertaining to see your favorite team give the young kids a shot.
i would be dissapointed if montero is not on the opening day roster.
UnKnown at 1:24 pm
Since you mention it the only guy in front of him was Posada who did have a good series, they could have plugged him in for Martin who was struggling with the bat and I don’t believe the behind the dish defense would have suffered that much. Needed hits at the time.
I really don’t see any parallel with AJ and Danks……Danks has been a really good pitcher for 4 years and he’s just about to enter his prime.
The league batted .274 against danks in 2011,12 more hits than innings pitched,with a 1.34 whip.
That is not even as good as nova pitched,maybe not even noesi or hughes will give us.
All he can be counted on is debth or maybe if hughes or noesi gets bombed.
He certainly is not worth giving up any decent prospects for when garcia & colon pitched as well & better.
Danks was also not a really good pitcher in 2011.
He was pretty awfull.
Danks will be making around 15 million next season also.
No way i’m giving up anything for him & paying him 15 million when it is a huge risk.
Yes he can be great but it also has a chance to double or triple wack us.
Losing prospects,increasing payroll & not giving someone like noesi a shot.
We need a number 2 starter,not another 3,4 or 5.
Danks Actually was awful in May (0-4, 8.10) but pitvched to a 3.73 ERA the reat of the year.
He deserved a better record than 8-12 and has plenty of upside
ron at 2:13 pm
So what do you propose to give up to get that # 2 ?
Danks made $6 million last season. Don’t see how he would more than double his salary in arbitration.
RiverAveBlues Adieu. RT: @JSalisburyCSN: The Phils and Papelbon have reached agreement sources tell http://CSNPhilly.com. Pending physical.
Nick in SF November 11th, 2011 at 1:08 pm
I can’t imagine they think of Joba as just an extra arm in the pen, assuming there’s some thinking going on at all.
If they truly see him as best suited for the bullpen, they must hope he’ll have a major role to play if/when Mo retires and Soriano… does whatever it is he might eventually do.
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But the pen has been one of the strongest parts of the team since Joe G became the manager. I truly believe Joba can easily be replaced. After he went down did anyone stop and say man I wish Chamberlain was pitching in this spot right now.
FakePeteGammons A top source told me #Redsox officials believed Papelbon’s shoulder wouldn’t make it through Xmas. Buyer beware #Phillies #thisishowIcope
I am only going by articles that i read about him making 15 million.
Even if he does not make that,he will make more than 6,at least 9 million.
I don’t know if a number 2 pitcher can be signed but no way am i giving up anything special for danks with the year he just had when garcia had as good or a better year.Nova had a better year.
We might have to wait til after 2012,with no guarantees.
I would love hamels or cain but doubt we can get them.
Also,the phillies will try to extend hamels if they are smart.
Not a good start to free agency for the Sox.
Sources have revealed that I have signed an agreement with the Phillies. Details to follow.
oh i forgot #betterthanheyman
YankeesInk What? Philly? The Yanks and Yank fans won’t have Papelbon to kick around anymore? This Red Sox front office is killing all the fun.
FakePeteGammons In all honesty, I never liked Papelbon. Always thought he was better suited to sit on a porch plucking a banjo than be #Redsox closer.
@PeterHambyCNN: Was Sandusky still recruiting for Penn State – as recently as last year? A recruit in South Carolina claims yes: http://t.co/q1s2Kss9
Bad news, this makes Philly that much tougher to beat in the postseason.
Good news, this makes Boston that much easier to beat in the regular season.
Guesses? I think he demanded (and got) more than Mo. $48M/3 years.
No more fishy lips!
Would love to dump AJ on someone. So tired of hearing about his”one or two” good games a year.
Not sure Noesi is ready, hope so though.
Buerhle is still a good idea to me.
Also, I wish there was some way to trade our supposed set-up man SoRRYano ( he’s gonna disappoint as long as he’s here ) and sign Madsen.
Surely one of the young guys will have a good ST and make the team.
Wow. The Sox bullpen is almost guaranteed to be worse now.
Ron, look at the last 3 year sample on Danks…..not just last year. He had a horrible start to the season and was playing on a bad team with a crazy manager……he’s consistently been good for like 4 years and was good after the start if last year also.
Feels kind of nice to have Jaba waiting in the wings with a comeback sometime this year.
Hope he’s smart enough to come back in shape and that his arm is as strong as ever.
Joba
he’s gonna disappoint as long as he’s here
Look at all the time you just saved yourself, at least you don’t have to watch the games next year. Tell me, how did we finish?
I can smell a K-Rod landing in Boston… glorious.
Maybe paps didn’t like everyone saying that Bard was the Sox closer if the future…..when philly called…..cya
Irreverent Discourse November 11th, 2011 at 2:42 pm
he’s gonna disappoint as long as he’s here
Look at all the time you just saved yourself, at least you don’t have to watch the games next year. Tell me, how did we finish?
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I’d rather not watch him at all. Just not a good fit for whatever reason.
Phillies have a world class team and Boston has a low class team.
The days of home-town discounts are ovah!
4/50 for Paps……crazy. boston almost has to go after Madson now. Would be funny if they swapped closers.
Boston kinda treated Papelbon like crap…..they basically we’re telling everyone that Bard was going to close next year……he may have to now.
This is exactly why I would pass on both Danks and Floyd and give up only $$$ to acquire Darvish. Darvish is only 25, (younger than Hughes), and has already had 5 straight record setting seasons in Japan. ANY trade for an established SP the Yankees attempt to make, is gonna require Montero. Darvish avoids this, and he and Hughes become the Yankee 3 and 4 Slot SP’s. Frankly, Hughes is a question mark. At seasons end, there was a lotta talk about him showing up for Spring Training in 2011 outta shape, which may have accounted for his loss of MPH regarding the fastball.
-2012 YANKEE STARTING ROTATION-
(1) CC
(2) NOVA
(3) DARVISH
(4) HUGHES
(5) AJ
Awful, awful contract. If Pap is getting $12.5/year for four years you can expect the prices of free agents to completely skyrocket this winter.
That said, it screws over Boston which is nice – they now either have to overpay to get a lesser closer or trust the job to Bard who was terrible down the stretch last year and it shortens their pen. Now I will root for the Phillies to get another Type A free agent so that Boston doesn’t even get a first round pick for him.
“Darvish is only 25, (younger than Hughes), and has already had 5 straight record setting seasons in Japan.”
Danks is 26 and has 4 straight solid years in the big leagues. I want them both nut im greedy.
I think Papelbutt had to have known the RS weren’t all that interested in him to make a deal this early in the off season.
Either that or the players who can are looking to leave the RS after the melt down.
New Post- Report: Papelbon signs with Philly
Don’t look now but Boston is sitting on a wad of cash with Papelbon officially off the books, Mike Cameron, JD Drew, Marco Scutaro, Tim Wakefield, Jason Varitek, Okajima and possibly Big Papi.
They could put Reddick in RF, Lowrie at short and make Bard the closer.
That would leave them big money to splurge on a big bat.
I expect one of Reyes, Fielder or Pujols to be in Boston.
Reyes makes sense for them because they can switch Lowrie to 3b and DH Youkilis before he completely breaks down.