Getting started in Dallas
Posted by: Chad Jennings - Posted in Misc on Dec 05, 2011 
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Welcome to Day 1 of baseball’s Winter Meetings, where the Marlins already have a head start after last night’s agreement with Jose Reyes. The Marlins are spending big this winter — they’ve already agreed to a deal with Heath Bell — and they’re obviously generating the early buzz here in Dallas.
Most of the game’s movers and shakers have already arrived at the Hilton Anatole for four days of meetings both big and small. It’s the small meetings – the ones taking place behind closed doors – that we’re most interested in. With so many general manager and agents in the same spot, the Winter Meetings are an annual hot bed of hot stove action, hence the massive media presence.
So, what are the Yankees in for this week?
Brian Cashman has said he doesn’t expect to make much news during these four days. In fact, he’s not even arriving in Dallas until this evening. There are going to be conversations, and of course the Yankees will check on various targets, but there might not be the Curtis Granderson splash of 2009 or the Cliff Lee saga of 2010.
Cashman will likely meet with the Yankees beat writers once a day, and Joe Girardi will be here to address the media on Wednesday. Away from official interview sessions, there will be a lot of lobby loitering in hopes of seeing someone – anyone – who might have a nugget of information.
There are plenty of reporters here from every market, so even if the Yankees are quiet, there will be no shortage of information coming out of this place. The Rule 5 draft is on Thursday morning before everyone leaves. People usually clear out pretty quickly after the Rule 5.
The Winter Meetings are just getting started. Don’t forget, I’m hosting a chat at noon. Hope to see you all then.
Associated Press photo
Based on his history, when Cashman says that he is not expecting much, watch out. We could have a blockbuster on our hands this week.
Stats not very interesting: Perhaps his new girlfriend decided to cycle ahead after Alex started boring her with talk of on base percentages and slugging averages
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Erin-
Little tidbit to bore his new girlfriend with. Alex had a lower slugging%[.461] than Montero[.590], Granderson[.552], Cano[.533], Jones[.495], and Teixeira[.494] last year.
All the rumor mongers are in full work mode. The biggest surprise is if Jon Heyman or Buston Onley have nothing to tweet.
YT-
Read Cashman’s lips. Nothing of note is going to happen due to budgetary issues. I still think that is a mistake.
Yankees aim to trim payroll by 2014 to escape luxury penalties( 50% of that over 189M for years 2014 thru 2016)
Yankees aim to trim payroll by 2014 to escape luxury penaltiesRead more: http://www.nypost.com/p/sports.....z1ffWn9Sj1
This is actually a good article by Joel Sherman on why the Yankees might not want to add contracts now that are longer than 2 years. (in 2014 there are guaranteed contracts of about 80M if Jeter takes his player option of 8M)
Wonder if Kenny Williams has sobered up yet and lowered his asking price?
The whole basis of that article is that the Yankees believe the have enough young players to compete for championships and get the payroll under 189 million……that’s a great plan but if it doesn’t work out they wont be able to keep the payroll down at the expense of winning…….
blake December 5th, 2011 at 9:08 am
Wonder if Kenny Williams has sobered up yet and lowered his asking price?
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Teams always up the ante when it comes to dealing with the yankees. SMH!
Manny and Monty for Danks? I don’t think so.
SI_JonHeyman Jon Heyman
#yankees want andruw jones back. Righthanded pop and cohesive force in clubhouse
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Heyman’s inside info must be deep. It takes a lot to get the scoop on anything Yankees.
I can’t see NYY doing anything until after Thursday’s Rule 5 draft. They only have one spot open on the 40 man roster.
With the long term commitments that both Boston and Philly have……it may be much more difficult for them to stay both under 189 million and stay competitive than the Yankees. Both are under now…..but they also have some big contracts and worse farm systems…..so filling their future holes cheaply may be a problem…
Blake-
Have you read the above article? If they go after Danks it might not be with the idea to give him an extension, but to get the max out of him in a walk year, allowing another year for one or both of the killer B’s to enter the rotation.
Blake,
I honestly don’t see the yankees doing much. Think about it.
CC, NOVA, HUGHES, AJ, GARCIA. If they were to sign a pitcher like CJ Wilson, it would mean they would have to trade either AJ, GARCIA or Hughes to create space in the rotation.
However, they can still trade garcia if they were to do that but what would they trade for? Relief pitching? a BAT?
Before I completely forget, Christmas TV alert:
A Charlie Brown Christmas is on ABC tonight.
Carry on
Also, expect that Cashman might wait until the deadline, the 12th, for players that might be non-tendered.
Trader,
Yea I have and I agree…..that’s why I think he makes a lot of sense. They can use him to go for it in 2012 and then either try to sign him to a deal they like or just let him go…….of course that’s reliant on Williams being reasonable on the price and right now he obviously is not. Will that change? We shall see.
Gist of NY Post article:
For if they are at $189 million or less for the three seasons from 2014-16, they not only avoid paying one cent in luxury tax, which would rise to 50 percent for them as repeat offenders, but they also would get roughly $40 million in savings via the to-be-implemented market disqualification revenue sharing program. However, only teams under the luxury-tax threshold get reimbursed in this program, which is designed to prevent big markets such as Toronto and Washington from receiving revenue sharing dollars, which in turn will lower how much teams such as the Yanks pay (as long as they are under the threshold).
And even if they just went under $189 million for 2014 before going over again in 2015, the Yankees would receive serious benefits. They would get about $10 million in the revenue sharing disqualification program. Also, by simply going under the threshold once, the Yankees would go back to having a 17.5 percent tax rather than the 50 percent that begins in 2014 for them if they never go under. Keep in mind that since the luxury tax went to 40 percent for them in 2005, the Yankees have averaged paying $25.75 million in tax annually.
Of all the trades Heyman has broken, he gets scooped on this?
EricFisherSB
CBSSports.com is set to announce later this AM they have hired veteran baseball writer Jon Heyman away from SI.com.
What a crushing blow to Sports Illustrated.
Blake-
Trying to stay at the 40 man payroll of near 200M this year will be difficult and I believe the luxury tax went up to 42% for the next 2 years of the amount over 178M.
Danks expected to get 8M in arbitration?
No one ever accused baseball executives of being geniuses.
Cash has one more incentive to being laid-back and quiet in Dallas – to get the point home that the Yanks are serious about getting costs lower, and hanging onto young players. Kenny Williams and company, this means you.
I still think they will be in on Darvish. The catch would be unloading AJ and his salary.
Darvish is sounding like a bit of a prima-donna, less interested today than last week.
Got to go soon. Have a great day everyone. Until later.
My latest predictions on FA signings- simply guessing and able to change at any moment.
Buehrle-gets his NTC and signs 3 year deal with Nats
Pujols- after serious thought to signing with Marlins, signs with Cards
Ramirez- Angels
Fielder- now think he resigns with Brewers, if the Cubs don’t step in at last minute with better offer.
Joe and ID-
Sports Hochi is reporting that Yu Darvish (25) could ask the Nippon Ham Fighters to post him as early as some time later this week (likely after the Winter Meetings). And depending on the conditions (salary, bonus, planned usage) could opt to return to the Fighters next year — Arn Tellem and Darvish have apparently that if they can not get an offer that is considered “appropriate for Japan’s Ace,” they will simply withdraw from negotiations and Darvish will return to Japan in 2012. It is possible Darvish could be seeking at least US$8M a year.
http://yakyubaka.com/tag/yu-darvish/
Until later all.
Darvish and his agent have also now said that he won’t post until his club agrees to not accept less than Matsuzaka’s posting fee.
The Japanese and their “respect” need to seriously get over themselves.
“Darvish is sounding like a bit of a prima-donna,”
Sounds that way a bit……man that’s a big risk when all they’ve talked about recently is trimming the payroll….the way they operate now they can’t afford much more dead money…… so if they go after Darvish the scouts need to be close to 100% sure this guy is actually different and that he will be successful.
I think id rather take that money and throw it at all of the cuban players.
Darvish and his agent have also now said that he won’t post until his club agrees to not accept less than Matsuzaka’s posting fee.
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Actually an anonymous scout said someone told him that Darvish “apparently” feels that way.
Truly weak reporting from Rosenthal.
SIYanks BRR!! On 12/4 @SIYanks joined @SpecialONY for the SI Polar Plunge! Fun event and great day! pic.twitter.com/rOfNelLv
Why would Darvish care about the size of the posting fee??
Every $$$ that goes to his Japanese team is a $$$ that doesn’t go to him.
If a team decides he’s worth a 7-year, $ 105 M gamble, for example a posting fee of $ 49 M costs Darvish $ 7 M a year in essence
LGY – Regardless of the source or the reporting… do you doubt it? They are all about not being “disrespected” and I certainly didn’t think twice when i read it.
86w – because he will be “disrespected” if the posting fee is less than matsuzaka’s. and yes, they care about stuff like that over there.
I don’t believe the Yanks are going to become obsessed with saving luxury tax fees.
Hal has done a good job of keeping spending relatively flat for the last 4 years and I imagine that’s where it remains.
“I don’t believe the Yanks are going to become obsessed with saving luxury tax fees.”
I don’t think they’ll let the new tax affect putting a championship level team on the field
….Yankee fans wont accept it and they’ll stand to lose more money in lost revenue….
I don’t believe anything about someone’s character from some anonymous scout relaying what he was told by some unnamed person especially when he couches it in a term like apparently.
Everything I have ever read about Darvish’s personality by someone willing to put their name on it or at least state their connection to Japanese ball has been very positive.
Darvish and Hokkaido haven’t yet agreed on a posting fee, a scout tells Rosenthal.
“The player, I am told, is very quirky with a huge ego. Apparently, he will feel disrespected if the post is less than Matsuzaka’s was with Boston,” the scout said.
A different scout who covers Japanese players tells Rosenthal that Hokkaido wants Darvish to depart so that it can collect the posting fee. The scout adds that the team was planning to post Darvish last year and “had to scramble” to work Darvish’s $4.2MM salary into its budget.
I must be missing the word “apparently”. Obviously this is second hand information but… meh… it sounds totally believable is the problem, because they are a quirky bunch of people in Japan and this would not be out of character at all.
Unless of course it’s about Arod and/or reported by Wally World Matthews.
Because then it must be true.
LGY – If Heyman tweeted that the latest batch of twinkies went bad, would you question that? :p
blake -
I can’t see the Yankees giving up the talent necessary to get Danks, and be satisfied with a 1 year rental.
I prefer they go after Davish as a SP, and Yoenis Cespedes as an OF.
This way you don’t lose any top prospects, and it only costs money, not talent.
“I can’t see the Yankees giving up the talent necessary to get Danks, and be satisfied with a 1 year rental.”
We don’t know the real price yet…..all we know is Kenny William’s crazy first offer. If it stays there or really anywhere close to there then no they wouldn’t……but we still have to see if he wants to deal fairly or not……he may not and that’s fine.
Also “costing only money” still can become a big problem when there is a budget……and its become increasingly apparent over the last couple of years that there is a real budget.
If the prospect price is reasonable then renting Danks for a year is significantly less of a risk than giving Darvish 100 million dollars……if the prospect price isn’t reasonable then Cashman wont do it.
Benny,
I still think they’ll add a starter …..maybe im wrong.
Irreverent Discourse December 5th, 2011 at 10:10 am
LGY ? If Heyman tweeted that the latest batch of twinkies went bad, would you question that? :p
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I don’t know about LGY, but I would. Always question Heyman.
No surprise if Cashman waited until next Monday when the non tender deadline arrives and do a deal with his Arizona Snakes GM pal Kevin Towers in getting LHSP Joe Saunders for a better deal rather than get held up for more talent by Kenny Williams of the White Sox.
Towers might listen to a deal of (example) Ramiro Pena / Brandon Laird / Kevin Russo / expendable pitcher.
http://arizona.diamondbacks.ml....._id=434578
My only surefire prediction: Jesus Montero will not be mentioned as part of any Yankee trade package – not that I am expecting any trade to happen, but who knows on that. I see Montero as the Hughes of yesteryear (meaning they are going to protect that investment come hell or highwater).
Cano, Damon urging Ortiz to join the Yankees as DH? Am I the only one who thinks Ortiz looks like the Bumble?
http://compare.ebay.com/like/3.....8;var=sbar
Hassey December 5th, 2011 at 10:34 am
Cano, Damon urging Ortiz to join the Yankees as DH? Am I the only one who thinks Ortiz looks like the Bumble?
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He totally does.
“Always question Heyman.”
Bad Twinkies tweets with a grain of salt?
Erin – You and me….12/25….mistletoe…be there
Red Sox smut…………………..million out the window ???
ttp://news.yahoo.com/red-sox-clubhouse-chief-accused-90s-abuse-141402490.html
Hassey December 5th, 2011 at 10:39 am
Erin ? You and me?.12/25?.mistletoe?be there
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pat December 5th, 2011 at 10:39 am
?Always question Heyman.?
Bad Twinkies tweets with a grain of salt?
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Exactly!
Has there been a less interesting winter meetings (from the Yankees perspective) in the last 10 years?
does the offseason lower our posters’ blood pressures like Spock after Kirk died? Seems to be way fewer personal conflicts aired out on here since the ALDS ended…in fact, since August or September.
Hassey, I track it to the departure of West Coast Sux fan, whenever that was. But whatever the reason, it sure is a lot nicer this way!
Trish – Yes, now it’s like Woodstock on here. No, not the bird, and not the 1994 mud fest…you know, the first one
Melk Man, uninteresting might not be a bad thing, unless you are of the feeling that the Yankees really need major upgrading. I haven’t followed all of the hot stove out there but it seems to me that the only interesting postseason has been for the Marlins!
Hassey –
Brian Cashman has said he doesn’t expect to make much news during these four days. In fact, he’s not even arriving in Dallas until this evening. There are going to be conversations, and of course the Yankees will check on various targets, but there might not be the Curtis Granderson splash of 2009 or the Cliff Lee saga of 2010.
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Hassey……This has been the most mellow offseason here since the winter of 08 when the Yanks signed CC, AJ & Texeria…….And there was some great debates regarding the merits of the signings however it was very civil and informative back then….Sadly many good posters have left since those days……..I still wish that Chad when time permits could reach out to those posters who were regulars with tenure…..
JackCurryYES Ron Santo was elected to the Hall of Fame by the Golden Era Committee Election
Curry is a solid reporter and columnist so all I can say is why did it take so damn long ????? GB has to be happy !!!!!
Rotation: Sabathia/Burnett/Nova/Garcia/Hughes
Rotation Insurance: The entire AAA rotation.
Bullpen: Rivera/Robertson/Logan/Soriano/Wade/free-agent LHP/TBD in spring training (2 TBD if the Yanks don’t sign or trade for a lefty reliever.)
The Yankees should not waste Noesi in the bullpen, they should let him start in AAA so he’s ready to be called up if whoever after Sabathia falls to injury or sucks enough to be removed from the rotation, or if Sabathia falls to injury.
Bench:
Romine – Backup C (Montero gets some playing time here, too. I’d give Romine 27 starts at C, Montero 12 so Martin starts only 122 games and is fresh for the postseason.)
Nunez – Backup 2B/SS who plays a little LF. I’d give him a sixth of a season (27 starts) at SS so Jeter is rested (Jeter could DH in 15 of those games and rest or pinch hit in the other dozen and still get 150 starts plus pinch-hit at-bats.)
Chavez (re-signed) – Backup 1B/3B. I’d give him as many as 27 starts at 3B so A-Rod is rested (A-Rod could DH in 15 of those games and rest or pinch-hit in the other dozen and still get 150 starts plus pinch-hit at-bats.) I’m cool with Chavez and Nunez sharing 27 starts at 3B, but the more Chavez the better being he’s a 3B.
Jones (re-signed) – Backup OF
Starting Nine/Batting Order:
Gardner LF L
Jeter SS R
Cano 2B L
Rodriguez 3B R
Teixiera 1B S
Granderson CF L
Swisher RF S
Martin C R
Montero DH S (‘Could switch places with Martin if he hits well enough.)
If the Yanks had to trade for a starting pitcher, they should trade for an ace or #2. The most important thing is they don’t give up a top prospect for a #3. The minimum guys I would not trade for anything less than a #2: Montero, Banuelos, Betances, Nunez. The untouchables would be Robertson, Logan, Gardner, and of course Cano.
Good for Santo. Rights a wrong, IMO.
Of course would have been much better were Santo still around to see it.
Ron Santo finally gets in exactly 1 year after he passed away. It should never have taken that long. Jim Kaat missed by 2 votes.
Pat M. – I guess the more mellow the Yankees holiday shopping, then the more mellow the board. Speaking fo the olidays, I got back on ice skates this weekend for the first time in 35 years, and I was like Bambi
Cano is helping his buddy Ortiz with his Red Sox negotiations trying to get them to worry the Yankees might sign Ortiz. It’s not happenng, but if it worries the Red Sox I am okay with it.
I think we can tell what the Yankees plans are for this week by Cashman’s late arrival. He will wait to have someone accept his prior offers, and if they are not accepted, nothing will happen. In other words, don’t bother checking too frequently for Yankee news. If their is any, it will be along the Chavez or Andruw variety.
Hey Pat M. Couldn’t agree more. We really miss SJ44, Doreen, Angel, SAS, Erica, and all the others who left.
Hassy stay away from Erin, She’s mine!
Good morning Erin.
austinmac December 5th, 2011 at 11:17 am
Cano is helping his buddy Ortiz with his Red Sox negotiations trying to get them to worry the Yankees might sign Ortiz.
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As someone who hates Ortiz with a passion, I seriously hate that Robbie is such good friends with him.
What happened to SJ44?
This is probably very old news, so I apologize if it was posted and posted and reposted!
“Barbara Walters Presents: The 10 Most Fascinating People of 2011? will air as a 90 minute ABC News special highlighting some of the year’s most prominent names in entertainment, sports and popular culture on WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 14 (9:30-11:00 pm, ET), on the ABC Television Network.
Hosted by Barbara Walters, the special includes: American Reality Royalty the Kardashian family, the always provocative Simon Cowell, breakout stars from television’s hit comedy “Modern Family” Jesse Tyler Ferguson and Eric Stonestreet, MLB star and New York Yankees Captain Derek Jeter, American business tycoon/author/television personality Donald Trump, pop singing sensation Katy Perry, and quite possibly the most famous sister in the world — Pippa Middleton. The Number One Most Fascinating Person of 2011 will be announced on the program.
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Actually when I look down that list, it looks like Barbara Walters has finally given in to hype, as opposed to hip.
Morning Comet!
(I have to say, it is flattering to have two LoHudders fighting over me)
New Post: Santo elected to Hall of Fame
Hi comet, so nice to see you! I’m the one who hasn’t been around so much but I always like seeing you around these parts.
About the missing regulars. I can tell you that it was the work of the forum stalker that finally caused all of those people to leave. I and a few others have braved it back but I don’t blame them for staying away. You can never assume it’s totally safe around here since just a short while ago I noticed someone posting and once again providing personal information about me, albeit incorrect information. I can only imagine that the person in question is never going to totally retreat and that when he is going through some down period in his life will emerge and lash out. Having been the victim of that person on many many occasions, I can tell you that it is no fun. And despite promises from that person that he will never violate my privacy again, he comes back and attempts it again and again. So I can only figure that his problems are much bigger than he is. And you can never know when he is going to show up and attack. I suppose I’m being blamed for the Yankees not making it out of round 1…
Lohud can only do something about it after it happens as the person apparently uses different computers and hides his true IP address. So they don’t know until it is too late, each time.
I asked one of the former posters if she was willing to come back and she told me she had no desire to be here and didn’t miss it at all. That was totally from what she went through at the hands of the stalker.
Tricia…….Is this why Betsy left ???? I know about many of the others, and as you know I to had to deal with that crap however not to the extent that you endured though…..I’m going to give SJ a call today, but he’s seems to be done with this place……
Pat M – I don’t think Besty left, though I’m not positive. It seems that she comes around for any Hughes talk but then disappears after that. Not sure.
Yeah I think SJ finally got tired of it too. Not sure if he would be willing to come back though maybe when the new season comes around, he’ll be ready. Hope so.
Really happy for Santo’s family……now perhaps the voters who didn’t vote for him when he was alive can explain why they think he’s a HOFer now and why they robbed him of enjoying if before he died.
it’s sad that santo didn’t live long enough to see it. it has to be bittersweet for his family. and the guy never complained. just lived his life. i wonder how many of the people who put off voting for him would have done in their fields with having to deal with his medical issues.