Yankees move for Nakajima: “An area for us to pursue talent”
Posted by: Chad Jennings - Posted in Misc on Dec 07, 2011 
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The Yankees know what they’re getting into with Hiroyuki Nakajima. Of course there’s a chance his Japanese success won’t translate, but the Yankees have been watching him for several years. He was Japan’s shortstop in the 2008 Olympics and the 2009 World Baseball Classic. He’s been the captain of the Seibu Lions, and this year he hit .297 with 16 homers and 100 RBIs this season. Brian Cashman called him a “high character” guy.
Based on a few conversations today, here’s what I know about Nakajima: He knows how to manage the strike zone, he’s shown flashes of power, and he’s athletic enough to move around the infield. Cashman didn’t pretend he’s a superior defender, but said he can play shortstop, third base and second base.
“It’s an area for us to pursue talent,” Cashman said. “It’s having access to a middle-of-the-diamond type player, and in this game, that’s becoming rarer and rarer on a yearly basis… He’s not a starter for us. That doesn’t mean he’s not a starting player, but we have players that are better than him that are signed.”
Cashman agreed with Joe Girardi that there could be room on the big league roster for both Nakajima and Eduardo Nunez.
A few things to remember…
• The Yankees only pay the posting fee if they actually sign Nakajima. If he doesn’t agree to terms the Yankees find acceptable, they can move on, no harm done.
• The CBA restricts future international spending. This might be a good time to spend a relatively small amount of money on a depth move like this.
• Shortstop is a fairly thin spot in the Yankees system. Beyond Nunez, the Yankees have Ramiro Pena — who’s obviously limited with the bat — but they don’t have another touted shortstop prospect remotely close to the big leagues. Next closest is probably Cito Culver, who still hasn’t played in a full-season league.
• Nunez can play the outfield, and that adds some flexibility. If Nakajima fills the Eric Chavez role, the Yankees would still have room on their bench for a third catcher, a fourth outfielder and Nunez. Not saying that’s going to happen, just saying that would be enough for the Yankees to be covered with two backups at every position.
So what’s next?
The Yankees have until January 6 to negotiate a deal. Cashman wouldn’t guarantee a spot on the big league roster, but it seems clear — especially given his age — that the Yankees believe he has the potential to immediately help at the big league level.
“The purpose of this process was not for a sign-and-trade,” Cashman said. “I don’t even know if we can or can’t do that. If we sign him, we plan on adding his talents to this franchise, going to big-league camp and seeing where it takes us.”
Associated Press photo
JimBowdenESPNxm JIM BOWDEN
Unconfirmed report that C.J. Wilson waiting to hear if Angels will go to 6-years before deciding to accept Marlins last proposal
33 seconds ago
“Carlos Beltran price coming down or is it just Boras strategy to wait?”
Trader, There has been curiously little talk about him this winter.
Chad-Thanks for the timely updates.
Today saw the blog trading Burnett for Alex Rios.
Then there was a 3 way trade with the A’s and Phillies that netted the Yankees Cole Hamels at the expense of Montero and Mason Williams.
So see, Cahman has been very active!
Yankee Trader December 7th, 2011 at 8:01 pm
What is going to happen with Warren,Mitchell and Phelps?? Any guesses
————————————
GB- Any thoughts on them and who might be lost in the rule 5 draft?
————————————————————————————————————————-
Warren still has an option or 2 and Phelps and Mitchell are on the 40 man roster. I’d think they take one of Kontos or Whelan off of the 40 man or trade one before tomorrow. The Yanks have 39 spots covered on the 40 man and haven’t made Garcia finalized, yet. I’m guessing that they use that one spot to sign a lefty reliever from the Rule 5 tomorrow.
Interesting comments from Cashman. Wonder is something got lost in translation for Sherman?
Doubt the Angels go 6 with Wilson. Have fun in Washington, CJ.
I think Wilson really wants to go to the Angels, but how do you offer him more than the 85M their Ace,Jered Weaver, signed for?.
Can’t see the Angels going 6 when Weaver signed for 5….they need offense a lot more anyway. They should sign Ramierez. Wilson will go to the Marlins for that 6 year offer and they’ll have a pretty good rotation really if Johnson can stay healthy.
I doubt the Marlins are still in it. They just inked Buerhle for 4 years.
The Strasburgs will be decent…one day.
The Marlins 6 year offer to Wilson is still on the table according to several people.
Jon_Heyman Jon Heyman
#LAAngels people here have suggested they won’t go 6 yrs for cj wilson. If that holds, miami likely holds edge
23 seconds ago
Cashman does not appear to have a much money to spend.
The Giants won’t re-sign Carlos Beltran or Cody Ross this winter, GM Brian Sabean told reporters, including John Shea of the San Francisco Chronicle (Twitter link). Manager Bruce Bochy hinted as much, after yesterday’s Angel Pagan acquisition, saying the Giants seemed “pretty set” in the outfield, writes Andrew Baggarly of the San Jose Mercury News.
LostNYY Lost ..
@Jon_Heyman Burnett is gone. Might not be this week but he’s not coming back, that’s a fact.
1 minute ago
let’s see if it happens.
Oi, I totally read the first post as Nationals instead of Marlins. Thanks, blake.
LostNYY Lost ..
#Yankees Talking Burnett trade with a California team ? For who might I ask?
34 seconds ago
Heyman jinxing the Yankees again.
Blake-
Like I said earlier, what bank did the Marlins rob ?
Oops ! just realized it was the taxpayer’s wallets.
Is there anyone they are not in on ?
Can’t remember if I posted this link or not.
http://web.minorleaguebaseball.....97372-1038
MTU,
they are essentially buying it on credit…..if fans don’t come to the new stadium then they’ll have to firesale probably.
Burnett to California. Might have to uproot his family from that beautiful home in Maryland to the west coast
For bad contract barry Zito-gulp!
Blake-
The American way ! I see a bad Moon rising for them.
Must be someone NOT on AJ’s no trade list.
Otherwise he would likely nix any deal to the West coast.
“For bad contract barry Zito-gulp!”
nah…that would be counter-productive. The only way I see them trading AJ is if it’s a salary dump…..the reason they’d trade him would be to cut payroll and give themselves more room…..they’d just keep him before swapping bad contracts with a team
AJ would probably fair OK in Petco…..
Trader,
Please don’t even use the name Zito. He has even less likelihood of pitching well than Burnett. Thank you.
AJ would probably pitch well in Oakland also
Somebody must have Heyman’s super-secret Twitter account that only his friends have, It’s not posted on his regular account. I’ll call BS on this one for now. Would prefer it came from somebody that knows what they’re talking about.
GB-Thanks for the link to our bright stars in the minor leagues.
Any news on Bad luck pitcher Tim Norton, who was really close to being called up before another shoulder injury,I believe?
Mac-
Trader was referring to “Zitti” an Italian pasta that he likes.
don’t worry.
Perhaps Cash made the bid as a favor to the Seibu Ham Fighters in order to allow us to acquire Darvish at a cheaper rate (or to get them to nudge Darvish to post).
austinmac-
sorry about bringing up that pitcher’s name, just before dinner.
Try see if that’s Lost’s tweet to Jon Heyman.
Cash on MLBnetwork now….not sure if it’s live or not.
MTU-
Bailing me out again-thanks.
Its Lost’s tweet.
Blake-
I don’t get it but I can tell you what he’ll say :
1) it’s a process
2) I don’t have much money to spend
3) I’m not gonna tell you what I’m working on
Perhaps Cash made the bid as a favor to the Seibu Ham Fighters in order to allow us to acquire Darvish at a cheaper rate (or to get them to nudge Darvish to post).
–
Seibu Lions unfortunately. The Ham Fighters are in Hokkaido
But if they sign him it could be the step of giving Darvish someone to work with, like the red sox did with Okajima.
Trader, haven’t heard anything. It really hurts the system to lose 3 high powered arms in 3 years because they can’t stay healthy….Norton, Alan Horne and Chris Garcia.
Cashman on Montero:
“will catch next year some. Compared him to Jorge coming up and how they broke him in….also how the A’s broke in Suzuki…..he will catch but he’s behind Martin for now. “
Loser is no more in the know about the Yankees than my dog is. If this was a fact, it would be all over the news.
YT-
My pleasure. I’m sure you would do the same.
blake December 7th, 2011 at 8:24 pm
LostNYY Lost ..
#Yankees Talking Burnett trade with a California team ? For who might I ask?
34 seconds ago
————–
So who is that twitter account?
4) I like rapelling down the sides of buildings and next year I plan on doing it buck naked.
5) When prices fall I’ll be there to catch them.
Anything exciting happen the past few hours?
KURODA Yankee and CP3 a Knick yet?
If Burnett is traded, I’d be shocked it was to a team west of the Mississippi River (unless it was St. Louis)
Repost:
Ghostwriter December 7th, 2011 at 8:49 pm
I really like that Cash won the bidding on Nakajima. Leave it to Cash to come up with a creative, bang-for-the-buck idea that nobody saw coming. This is Cashman at his best. I hope that the Yanks manage to sign him. Nakajima could be a nice upgrade over Pena, and he also could free up Nunez to develop into an outfielder.
Ghost, going back on balls over his head in Nunez’ major problem. Not that he can’t learn it, though. Would have been nice to hook up with a DR team that would allow him to play in the outfield exclusively. Has a fine arm and all of the speed in the world, though. I’d settle for a Swisher-type glove.
AJ can only block 10 teams….there are more than that west of the Mississippi
I’m going over to Mike’s in 5 minutes to watch the hockey game. I should pick up some tidbits from Lost during the intermissions.
blake, believe that crap if you want to. Loser has made about 500 prognostications and has hit on one. If he has connections to the Yanks, who’s going to risk their job or friendship by putting this out? Only an idiot.
GB7,
I’m just not convinced that Nunez is an infielder. However, with his speed and arm, Nunez could develop into a fine corner outfielder. It’s It’s just a thought; I’m not married to the idea.
Ghost, he can do it….he just looks so unsure getting there. If Lance Berkman can survive without breaking his neck, Nunez can do it.
GB,
I don’t necessarily believe it…..however I can’t recall him ever really making any predictions….he just passed along what he’d “heard”…..no idea if its legitimate or not. Actually the reason I posted that was because it was an actual prediction…..may’ve we can see if it happens or not.
Thank you for getting me through my Zito crisis. I also decided Burnett to Seattle for Felix, but the Mariners must send money due to the Yankees budgetary issues. Ah, I feel much better.
Nothing new from Girardi about Montero but, here’s what he said.
http://mlb.mlb.com/news/articl.....um=twitter
When you look at the crazy prices on these pitchers -
The Yanks are going to trade AJ Burnett. They’ll be able to work something out to jettison him.
Teams are going to look at these prices – and AJ won’t look quite so bad…
And he’ll throw 200 innings with some “upside.”
I think the Yanks will wait to see if they can add an arm. But if they do – AJ will be traded.
In fact, it wouldn’t surprise me if the Yanks focus this winter will be addition by subtraction.
Blake, nobody’s taking on Burnett’s contract, even with NYYs taking on $8 mil of it and I doubt that Cashman plans to give him away for nothing. Maybe in another year, Cashman eats $4 mil and moves him. So far, it was a deal that has only worked one third of the time, but, NYYs needed a starter and Burnett was the best option to go with.
I’d rather the yanks put Burnett into the bullpen than just eat money and get nothing in return.
It would make zero sense to deal Burnett for an equally ugly contract with a player that doesn’t fit. That accomplishes nothing
“I’d rather the yanks put Burnett into the bullpen than just eat money and get nothing in return.”
I doubt he would be OK with that. Why would he just want to sit around as a mop up man and wait for an injury? Guys of his stature won’t just accept demotions. And we’d only be eating a portion of the contract – so we will get some savings regardless.
what would be a good return for aj? a b level prospect and his salary, like abreu?
a couple of outfield prospects with power and 1/2 his salary?
“In fact, it wouldn’t surprise me if the Yanks focus this winter will be addition by subtraction.”
AJ is one of the only places that Cashman can trim the payrolll……pretty much everything else is either needed or totally unmovable…..I think he will he dealt also
Braves set the bar with Lowe and ate two thirds of the 15M due him Yankees aren’t eating 22M of 33M left
I think Nunez’ speed plays in CF. He’s nearly as fast as Gardner, if not as fast. And his bat can play there, probably not so much in the corners. I know they have Gardner in LF, but that’s atypical, and they get away with it because they have an excellent bat in CF.
“what would be a good return for aj? a b level prospect and his salary, like abreu?”
Mainly just the salary relief…..you don’t do it to try and get anything in return in players……because you’re just not going to get much.
I don’t think the Yankees will have troubling replacing a guy with a 5.25 ERA over his last 400 innings. Let Noesi, Warren, or someone get those innings (assuming Cash doesn’t trade for someone).
The braves made the Lowe deal before all of these ridiculous deals were signed. They should have waited.
No one was guessing someone like Buerhle would command so much.
The Yankees try create a buzz around the team every winter.
I’m pretty sure trading AJ would create fan excitement equivalent to signing Prince Fielder.
Not sure anybody is offering up much for Burnett. If they got a mid-level prospect from the lowest minors, I would be satisfied, as long as the Yanks weren’t paying the entire freight. Just put him in the NL where he won’t come back and bite them.
Lowe’s stuff is terrible though and he is 3-4 years older. He also sucked in the NL in a huge ballpark.
Burnett still throws in the 90s and has that hook. He has shown he is durable and chews up innings. He also pitches in the AL East with all the hitters parks.
I would have liked Buerle for like 2/20…..he will be solid for thethe Marlins but its a big overpay for what he is….which is a solid 3 or 4 on a good team.
CB December 7th, 2011 at 9:37 pm
The braves made the Lowe deal before all of these ridiculous deals were signed. They should have waited.
No one was guessing someone like Buerhle would command so much.
—
True, but a big difference is Buerhle pitches well. With AJ, many teams probably have minor leaguers that could pitch to a 5ish ERA, so why would they pay even 5.5 mil x 2 (or whatever) for AJ? I’m for it though if Cash can do it, replace him with Noesi.
If you put AJ at the back end of say the Padres rotation in that ballpark I bet he’d do ok.
You look at what’s happening this winter – overall the Yankees are in very good position.
Teams are really reaching for players or just sitting by the sidelines.
But to sit, wait and watch you have to have talent within the organization.
The Yankees have that – both in at the major league level and in the minors. That puts them in a very good position to stay patient and buy when it makes sense.
I’m with you blake. Salary relief should be the primary object along with freeing up a rotation spot.
Basically, Burnett is worse than a replacement level pitcher.
GB-
I do not think AJ would be a candidate for the pen with his control issues.
It’s kind of weird how we have just heard absolutely nothing on some free agents.
Ortiz had no market, nothing really on Beltran, and can’t recall seeing a single piece of info on Edwin Jackson yet.
CB….Three years ago the debate here was over should The Bombers go for Lowe or AJ…..I was high on AJ after the season he turned in for the Jays in 2008……He just looked unhittable, he was healthy and it appeared that he turned the corner in his career…….He’s an enigma to the 10th degree……
LGY,
It is strange……I haven’t even heard Jackson’s name mentioned.
Pat M.-
What’s the enigma ?
He lacks control, refuses to throw his CU enough, and is easily rattled on the mound.
He is a .500 pitcher who is grossly overpaid.
Burnett’s control is usually fine in the first inning or two. It’s when he starts using that nasty curve. when he misses the plate, he usually throws a fastball and eases it up to get a cheap strike and it gets hammered. If all he has to do is throw that still very good fastball and shake ‘em up with a curve, he’d be fine.
“Three years ago the debate here was over should The Bombers go for Lowe or AJ”
Pat M.,
This is why you really have to think long and hard betting on a player’s “potential” when the cost is large.
At some point you’re just forcing a move – and the risk-reward tips in the favor of too much risk.
GB-
I don’t agree. You know never what you are gonna get from AJ. That’s the problem.
His FB command is just not very good either. He also rattles way too easily.
Pitchers like Jackson, Kuroda (if he stays) and other 2nd or 3rd tier pitchers are always the last to go. They’re left for the teams needing pitching and not a lot of money to spend. A lot of them are left standing going deep into January.
Remember – Burnett lives in MD and his wife doesn’t fly.
So he’s probably not going to Colorado or Los Angeles.
The only team in either Eastern division that makes sense is the Nationals (I can’t imagine the Marlins would do it, but maybe add them too).
Add a couple of Central teams like Cincinatti, Minnesota, Detroit… and that is pretty much his market. I doubt either rebuilding Chicago team wants him.
So it’s really only 3-4 teams that are even feasible.
The bottom line is that AJ Burnett is not even a replacement level Pitcher.
I hope we can do better.
“It’s kind of weird how we have just heard absolutely nothing on some free agents.”
The baseball market feels like it’s becoming “less liquid” over time. The currency that provided liquidity for transactions used to be prospects. But no one wants to part with those assets anymore.
At the same time – there’s so much bad experience with free agent contracts for older players teams are becoming more and more risk averse with regards to position players. For pitchers – it’s still a free for all. But not for position players.
Pitchers like Jackson, Kuroda (if he stays) and other 2nd or 3rd tier pitchers are always the last to go. They’re left for the teams needing pitching and not a lot of money to spend. A lot of them are left standing going deep into January.
——————
But there have been a bunch of teams tied to Kuroda. I haven’t see anything about a team even being interested in Jackson.
Boston is a likely spot for a guy like Jackson. They need pitching help and are so afraid of paying the tax that they’re afraid to do anything now. 2 years and nearly $30 mil for Ortiz will make it worse, and they still have no closer or middle relief, unless Andrew Miller can turn in the best ST bullpen session in baseball history.
Happily for us Boston is in a world of hurt.
So much so that they were asked to do the sequel to a movie “The Hurt Locker 2″.
The Titanic had a better chance of staying afloat.
The furthest Burnett would agree to go is KC. I doubt that he’d go to Houston. Not counting St Louis, there are 11 teams west of the Mississippi.
Jackson could fit in Baltimore, KC and Cleveland, too.
Damn. Sounds like CJ to the Marlins is getting close. I wanted them to sign Prince.
I can’t see how Boston is going to avoid paying the luxury tax this year
@clarkspencer clarkspencer
#marlins are meeting tonight with cj wilson
18 minutes ago via Twitter for Android
6 years for CJ is nutso
It’s easy to rag on Burnett now but let’s not forget the circumstances that led to his contract…….Being forced to bring up Hughes, Kennedy & Joba too early and the loss of Wang ( which still haunts the club ) brought him to The Bronx……..He came out of the gate very well until that epic meltdown in Fenway where he had a great track record prior…..I remembering posting that in 2012 he’d be the best # 5 in the game and the most expensive…..I just never thought he’d be this up and down…………I’ve never seen a pitcher who’s wheels come off the cart as quickly as AJ’s in 2011……Has pitched a few gems in October when the chips were down though…..
Stanton and Prince back-to-back would be awesome. Insane power.
The Marlins are a complete joke.
Spending money like a drunken Sailor.
Money they haven’t even realized yet.
And being managed by a certified lunatic.
Wonder who thought that one up Daffy Duck.
What a hoot. Great entertainment.
Boston is either going to have to pay the luxury tax or have some important holes on the roster.
Only other option is to pull a rabbit out of the proverbial hat and now that the manchurian GM is in Chicago getting coffee for the genius rather than in San Diego – that’s less likely.
Their lack of talent in the minors is going to cost them games or money this season.
Pat M.-
You’re right in one sense. The Yankees needed a starter and AJ was the best available at the time.
Most thought he had turned the corner. Too bad he didn’t.
I’ll trade him to you- cheap.
“Boston is either going to have to pay the luxury tax or have some important holes on the roster.”
if they go to arbitration with Ortiz then they’ll be around 165 before addressing any of their needs. They need 2 starters, a closer (or set up guy), and a RFer….and bench depth……
The Angels are going to get shut out of everyone they want and then sign Beltran to a $50 million contract.
DALLAS — Not wasting a moment to spice up the rivalry, new Boston Red Sox manager Bobby Valentine declared Wednesday how he feels about the New York Yankees.
“I hate the Yankees,” Valentine said while surrounded by a herd of media members at the Winter Meetings. “I don’t want to waste this valuable time talking about the Yankees. This is too valuable.”
http://espn.go.com/new-york/ml.....rk-yankees
They marlins are not messing around. Things just got really interesting for the phillies.
MTU December 7th, 2011 at 9:51 pm
GB-
I don’t agree. You know never what you are gonna get from AJ. That’s the problem.
His FB command is just not very good either. He also rattles way too easily.
============
I’m not sure that I buy this AJ is soft notion that is often mentioned. The guy can’t reliably repeat his motion. At least once a game, AJ will lose the slot on his release–I don’t think that’s nerves. He would do himself if he would feature the changeup and his fastball, and occasionally mix in the curveball.
The game 2 start in the 09 series was almost worth signing AJ….and he’s really pitched fairly well the last 2 postseasons also. I understand why they signed him but I also think you have to adapt and know when to pull the plug when it’s not working out anymore.
I think it would be good for AJ to get a fresh start somewhere else also.
“The Angels are going to get shut out of everyone they want and then sign Beltran to a $50 million contract.”
Alfonso Soriano seems like a perfect fit.
yanks 27 December 7th, 2011 at 10:11 pm
DALLAS — Not wasting a moment to spice up the rivalry, new Boston Red Sox manager Bobby Valentine declared Wednesday how he feels about the New York Yankees.
“I hate the Yankees,” Valentine said while surrounded by a herd of media members at the Winter Meetings. “I don’t want to waste this valuable time talking about the Yankees. This is too valuable.”
==============
Ugh. What a surprise– Bobby V is a boring loudmouth. Who cares about what he hates? It’s his problem. I’m really glad that the Sox fired Francona, and replaced him with this douchebag. I actually liked and respected Francona, and I thought that he was a heck of a manager. He was much to classy for that operation. The Sox and Valentine deserve each other.
GB-
true. His mechanics get out of whack rather easily.
one of his other problems is what I think is a stubborn streak, or a rather low pitching IQ.
He had such electric stuff he learned to try and get by on it alone. He never really was forced to learn how to pitch. He is still mainly a thrower. The joke is that his CU is actually a plus pitch. He just refuses to use it enough.
Basically reduces him to 2 pitch pitcher with relatively poor control. You see the result.
blake December 7th, 2011 at 10:13 pm
The game 2 start in the 09 series was almost worth signing AJ….and he’s really pitched fairly well the last 2 postseasons also. I understand why they signed him but I also think you have to adapt and know when to pull the plug when it’s not working out anymore.
I think it would be good for AJ to get a fresh start somewhere else also.
==============
I tend to agree. I actually like AJ. He seems like a stand-up guy. A fresh start somewhere else would do him a world of good.
Alfonso Soriano seems like a perfect fit.
——————-
True. Even better.
“The Angels are going to get shut out of everyone they want and then sign Beltran to a $50 million contract.”
Sounds like a familar theme for the Angels, no?
Last year they were supposed to sign Soriano, Crawford, Beltre…. and they ended up trading for Vernon Wells.
in ’10 they were supposed to get Holliday, trade for Roy Halladay… they end up signing Fernando Rodney and Matsui
in ’09, they were supposed to re-sign Tex, go after CC and Manny, etc. and they ended up with Bobby Abreu
etc. etc.
They are the ultimate boy who cried wolf. Big talk every winter and end up with no one of consequence.
Ghost-
My post to GB above was actually to you. Sorry. Brain fart.
MTU,
That changeup of his is probably his best pitch, but he doesn’t believe in it for some reason. It’s really a shame because he can be so effective when he throws the changeup.
Lost seems pretty adamant on twitter about this Burnett thing. Hope he’s right.
MTU,
No worries, I guessed as much.
Since they lost out on Pujols and are in spending mode, I wonder if Miami might be persuaded to take on A-Rod…
Ugh. What a surprise– Bobby V is a boring loudmouth. Who cares about what he hates? It’s his problem. I’m really glad that the Sox fired Francona, and replaced him with this douchebag. I actually liked and respected Francona, and I thought that he was a heck of a manager. He was much to classy for that operation. The Sox and Valentine deserve each other.
///
Ghost, LOL
GB-
Bobby V and the Sux is like fire meeting gasoline.
It’s perfect. For us. Can’t wait to see him get into Beckett, or Papi’s face. I can see him landing between the Patriot’s goal posts for a 3 pointer.
Should be fun to watch and laugh at. I hope I don’t hurt myself laughing that hard.
Jack Florham December 7th, 2011 at 10:22 pm
Since they lost out on Pujols and are in spending mode, I wonder if Miami might be persuaded to take on A-Rod…
==============
Who would replace him?
The Angels are lucky that Weaver gave them a discount and they are lucky that the Dbacks were dumb enough to gift wrap Haren for them………they haven’t made a lot of good decisions in the last few years.
What do you guys think about AJ ending up in Arizona. I think he would be a good fit there. Cashman would owe Towers bigtime for taking AJ though.
If Cash can deal AJ, the yanks will acquire a young, promising and cost controlled pitcher named Hector Noesi.
Addition by subtraction, indeed.
Valentine said on ESPN last season that Beckett worked too slowly and the righthander was quick to remind his new manager of that.
“He didn’t want me to say anything, so I’m not going to say anything other than after he got through telling me how pissed off he was, we had a really good conversation,” Valentine said.
Bucket’s just a good ol’ boy.
And Valentine’s already learned the Red Sox way of throwing players under the bus:
• Valentine also dismissed the idea of the needing to make some sort of grand gesture regarding physical conditioning, saying the players he spoke knew acknowledged that “got away” from the team last season and would be corrected.
http://www.boston.com/sports/b.....touch.html
Jon_Heyman Jon Heyman
Jorge posada still has it in his heart to play. If he can find the right situation, he will play.
13 minutes ago
Pat M. December 7th, 2011 at 10:07 pm
It’s easy to rag on Burnett now but let’s not forget the circumstances that led to his contract…….Being forced to bring up Hughes, Kennedy & Joba too early and the loss of Wang ( which still haunts the club ) brought him to The Bronx……..He came out of the gate very well until that epic meltdown in Fenway where he had a great track record prior…..I remembering posting that in 2012 he’d be the best # 5 in the game and the most expensive…..I just never thought he’d be this up and down…………I’ve never seen a pitcher who’s wheels come off the cart as quickly as AJ’s in 2011……Has pitched a few gems in October when the chips were down though…..
————————————————————————————————————————-
It’s really a pity that he’s had these issues, because he never gives up and never makes excuses for what happens. It pisses me off with the “people” on here that call him an idiot, moron, ret-ard among other names. He’s no dummy. He just has a concentration issue. No idea if he has ADD or not or was ever checked for it…..but, certainly seems this way. Watch him be on a roll and give up a bloop on a pitch that shouldn’t have been hit and then can’t figure out how to get back in rhythm and is lost. That’s not a lack of intelligence, that’s a lack of attention. It’s more of a birth defect than a mental issue. He had as much natural stuff as anybody I’ve seen in years, until maybe Verlander.
“If Cash can deal AJ, the yanks will acquire a young, promising and cost controlled pitcher named Hector Noesi.”
yup
I had a feeling Posada would be too stubborn to hang them up. I hope that he lands in a good place, and that he doesn’t embarrass himself or wind up regretting coming back for another year.
“It pisses me off with the “people” on here that call him an idiot, moron, ret-ard among other names. He’s no dummy. He just has a concentration issue.”
I’m not even sure it’s that primarily….I just think he can’t repeat his delivery well enough to throw the ball where he wants to…..and it’s been that way his entire career only now he’s getting hurt a lot more by it because he’s throwing 92 instead of 96. I do think he loses his concentration sometimes…..but I think his main problem is and always has been commanding the ball…..the headcase stuff is hogwash.
Just thinking out loud, but Teix started out his career at 3B, and 1B could be filled internally (Swisher?). And the big bonus is you get a lot of payroll flexibility going forward….
______
“Ghostwriter December 7th, 2011 at 10:24 pm
Jack Florham December 7th, 2011 at 10:22 pm
Since they lost out on Pujols and are in spending mode, I wonder if Miami might be persuaded to take on A-Rod…
==============
Who would replace him?”
Ken_Rosenthal Ken Rosenthal
Sources: Pujols in talks with #Angels, #Cardinals and a third, unidentified club. #MLB
40 seconds ago
gotta be the Nats…..Hank isn’t in Dallas is he?
Blake-
Let’s go over to AJ’s for a brewski and to watch a flick in his awesome media palace.
It’d be fun. We can bring some of the “special’ blend with us. I’m sure he’d appreciate it.
MTU,
yea he’s a good guy seems like…..I like him…..just don’t like watching him pitch.
Jorge should play as long as he desires to – he clearly has something left.
Losing his mechanics is a concentration issue. He can’t seem to stay in it long enough for it to be muscle memory….where he doesn’t have to think about all of that crap. He just can’t be robotic. Has nothing to do with not having a “high pitching IQ”.
If you mean Swisher, you could platoon Jones with a lefty or go FA (is Cuddyer availble still?).
______
Just thinking out loud, but Teix started out his career at 3B, and 1B could be filled internally (Swisher?). And the big bonus is you get a lot of payroll flexibility going forward….
______
“Ghostwriter December 7th, 2011 at 10:24 pm
Jack Florham December 7th, 2011 at 10:22 pm
Since they lost out on Pujols and are in spending mode, I wonder if Miami might be persuaded to take on A-Rod…
==============
Who would replace him?”
blake December 7th, 2011 at 10:32 pm
Ken_Rosenthal Ken Rosenthal
Sources: Pujols in talks with #Angels, #Cardinals and a third, unidentified club. #MLB
40 seconds ago
gotta be the Nats…..Hank isn’t in Dallas is he?
=======================
LOL!
Blake-
Same here. Forrest Gump out there. Box of chocolates.
“Losing his mechanics is a concentration issue.”
it is….but it’s also a physical one…..it’s an athletic movement just like anything else and some guys can repeat it better than others.
Cashman said earlier that if Hughes is healthy he thinks he can pencil in 15 wins for him.
Blake-
18
I think Posada was just having his last flash of being Jorge Posada…like Babe Ruth hitting a single and three homers in a game and realizing that he didn’t really find it again. I think that if he gets to ST and struggles, he’ll finally walk out on his own accord.
Jack Florham December 7th, 2011 at 10:35 pm
If you mean Swisher, you could platoon Jones with a lefty or go FA (is Cuddyer availble still?).
______
Just thinking out loud, but Teix started out his career at 3B, and 1B could be filled internally (Swisher?). And the big bonus is you get a lot of payroll flexibility going forward….
===========
Getting rid of that contract would really help the Yanks alot. However, it would be very tough to replace Arod’s presence in the lineup, and I wouldn’t be optimistic about Tex attempting to move to third base at this stage of his career.
K-Rod accepted arb from the Brewers. Ouch. He made $12,666,666 last year. Yanks may not have the most expensive setup man ever anymore.
blake December 7th, 2011 at 10:37 pm
“Losing his mechanics is a concentration issue.”
it is….but it’s also a physical one…..it’s an athletic movement just like anything else and some guys can repeat it better than others.
=================
Throwing across your body the way AJ does makes it really tough to repeat the motion consistently. Somebody really should have corrected his throwing motion a long time ago.
Blake-
Hughes is going to be BOSHL this season. His back is to the wall. I like that he is being underestimated.
Puts a smile on my face. Just watch the pop on his FB this season.
My goodness. Why would the Brewers offer arbitration to him?
“He just has a concentration issue.”
I’m in total agreement with GB on AJ.
I would love for the Yankees to hold on to AJ and for him to pitch well next year.
I’m just not sure if it’s to help the team, or to shut some of you up.
jacksquat December 7th, 2011 at 10:40 pm
K-Rod accepted arb from the Brewers. Ouch. He made $12,666,666 last year. Yanks may not have the most expensive setup man ever anymore.
=========
It was not a smart move for the Brewers to go with arbitration with K-Rod. For their sakes, I hope that they had some inside information that K-Rod would be likely to sign with another club.
Have a good evening everyone.
See you all Manana.
If there was anything about Burnett being traded to a California team, that crap would have been plastered all over the place by now. Let’s not pretend someone like Heyman is doubling checking for facts and verification. Neither has ever stopped him from posting idiocy before.
Sounds like someone’s lurking
@sportsJC16
I’ll save these #Yankees fans a lot of time. Here’s what not going to happen. They aren’t trading Arod to the Marlins or moving Tex to 3B.
Night MTU!
The Yankees will not, IMO, trade Burnett without a veteran replacement. Burnett pitched in the playoffs. They thought of him as their third most reliable pitcher.
All starters available for money presumably saved in a Burnett trade except Jackson are heading elsewhere. Oswalt has back issues.
Trade candidates are too expensive in players. They’re not moving him leaving Noesi, completely untested, as a must succeed pitcher.
“I remembering posting that in 2012 he’d be the best # 5 in the game ”
I was right there with you on that, but that was because we were supposed to be celebrating the awesomeness of Joba, Phil, and the recovered Chien-ming Wang, not because AJ had become less reliable than Ivan Nova, Freddy Garcia, and the enigma that is now Phil Hughes (I’m not bring Yu Darvish into the equation since he’s, technically, not yet a Yankee).
Gonna dream about next year’s rotation:
CC
Danks
Nova
Hughes
Garcia/Noesi
“Sounds like someone’s lurking
”
lol. Hi SJ!
The Marlins don’t care how much they sign these guys for or how long.
None of them will complete their contracts in Miami.
Ownership just needs a good team for 1 – 2 seasons to get fans into the new ballpark,
then…FIRESALE.
The knock on AJ three years ago right about now on this board was his injury track record……..GB, I saw Burnett pitch 4 times in 08 and a few times in 07 and what I saw was just mind blowing…..I’m on record for wanting the Yanks to sign him and I’ve stated many times that I just loved his arm…….And I still stand by that because the guy has voltage in that right arm of his……..If Cashman is trying to move AJ, it’s because he has someone coming in to replace him from outside the organization……Yanks need to beef up the staff ……And I don’t see that coming from Japan……..Oakland is a strong possibility
Tar December 7th, 2011 at 10:43 pm
“He just has a concentration issue.”
I’m in total agreement with GB on AJ.
I would love for the Yankees to hold on to AJ and for him to pitch well next year.
I’m just not sure if it’s to help the team, or to shut some of you up.
————————————————————————————————————————-
Tar, if he comes out and pitches to an upper 3 ERA and 18-20 wins, you’ll never hear a word about it on here unless it’s someone whining about him going to blow up one of these days and that’s it. Look at his 3 years. Almost alway 3 outstanding months and three brutal months….and he can’t explain why either happens. His managers and pitching coaches can’t explain why it comes and goes in such dramatic swings, either.
Highlight video of Nakajima. Seems to have some oppo power.
Woops. Here’s the link
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fD_3zgKA-UE
Tar….What’s happening pal ???? My Briuns are in ruins as Coach Howland suspended once again Reeves Nelson….The twins are doinf quite well though…….Are your Heels going to win the ACC ?????
Pat M.-
I’d rather trade for Danks with a negotiating window than Gio.
Beane is a pain the rear to deal with.
Sports Illustrated is reporting Jimmy Rollins and the Phillies just agreed on a 5-year, $70 million dollar deal
The Yankees will not, IMO, trade Burnett without a veteran replacement. Burnett pitched in the playoffs. They thought of him as their third most reliable pitcher.
——————-
Burnett was their 4th starter in the playoffs and only pitched b/c of the rainout.
Tar,
that kentucky game was tough to watch at the end…..they’ve gotten some wake up calls early this year.
Yu striking out his future teammate???
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iXrZdQsCakc
TBrownYahoo Can confirm Fox report. Angels are now in strong on Pujols.
“Sports Illustrated is reporting Jimmy Rollins and the Phillies just agreed on a 5-year, $70 million dollar deal”
that’s a lot of money and years
The only uglier uniforms that I’ve seen worse than the Marlin uniforms are the the Padre brown and mustard yellow unis, Indians Blood Clot Red uniforms and the Astro Rainbows.
Hiroyuki Nakajima. Baseball player? Magician? Maybe both?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KIJUZ9XAbqs
What’s to stop a team like the Pirates from bidding $500 Million for Darvish with zero intention of negotiating a contract…
…. just to block someone else from getting him?
Marlins are hiring……..
http://miami.marlins.mlb.com/c.....p?c_id=mia
“What’s to stop a team like the Pirates from bidding $500 Million for Darvish with zero intention of negotiating a contract…”
because if Bud didn’t think they were negotiating in good faith I’m pretty sure he could just take the bid away and give it to the 2nd place team…..you could win the bid and then negotiate hard….but I don’t think you could just not try to sign him.
What’s to stop a team like the Pirates from bidding $500 Million for Darvish with zero intention of negotiating a contract…
…. just to block someone else from getting him?
–
Commissioner can void their offer if they dont negotiate in good faith and give it to the next team.
The Pujols market has grown now to a point where it’s almost certainly going to be a bad contract for whoever signs him…..
@Haudricourt Tom
Agent Scott Boras says he has many proposals to take back to Prince Fielder, including some from teams that surprised him.
7 minutes ago via web
are we sure Hank isn’t in Dallas? How about Randy?
Bad link. For real Marlins help wanted ad
# of openings: 1
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Description
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@ESPNChiCubs Bruce Levine
Rangers and cubs conversations on Matt Garza for top prospects . No match yet
41 minutes ago via Twitter for iPhone
# blake December 7th, 2011 at 10:57 pm
“Sports Illustrated is reporting Jimmy Rollins and the Phillies just agreed on a 5-year, $70 million dollar deal”
that’s a lot of money and years
——————————–
SMH wow
I’m with you GB and Pat M on AJ.
I do understand why AJ frustrates so many.
But for little or no return, why give up on him now? He eats innings, and is by all accounts a good team-mate. He could also just as easily dominate next year a be solid number two pitcher. He’s a wildcard that you don’t just dump, unless there is a clear benefit.
Blake
I went into that Kentucky game thinking the Wildcats were the better team. After watching the game I was wrong. The Heels are the better team, and Come March they will prove it.
Pat M the ACC is just the beginning. Although Coach Roy really doesn’t care much about winning the ACC. It’s all about winning the big dance. Kind of like the Yankees
LGY, posted a highlight video of Nakajima. Granted everyone looks good in highlights, but I liked his swing. It looked balanced, compact and capable of hitting the ball hard to all fields. Why not be optimistic? He’s the only new toy we have.
BryanHoch Boras: Andruw Jones wanted more playing time than ’11 but understands he won’t be full time player
But for little or no return, why give up on him now?
–
Because he wastes a rotation spot which could be used for a higher upside player
And for every start in the postseason where he did well, he had 2 where he stunk out loud. He is just too volatile.
austin
His set up and swing really reminds me of someone in MLB but I can’t put my finger on who it is.
“He could also just as easily dominate next year…”
Is it really a 50/50 proposition?
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PeteAbe Pete Abraham
Scott Boras answers a few #RedSox questions: http://bo.st/vhSQuQ (complete with photo) #MLB #wintermeetings
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DanBarbarisi Daniel Barbarisi
Scott Boras says Andruw Jones knows he isnt an everyday player anymore, was ok with role last year – Nyy return seems more & more likely
BryanHoch Bryan Hoch
Boras: Andruw Jones wanted more playing time than ’11 but understands he won’t be full time player
“Because he wastes a rotation spot which could be used for a higher upside player”
Same can be said for Garcia. You can only allocate so many spots for “higher upside” players.
After CC, everything else is open.
My error. Not sure how the other stuff other than Andrew Jones info was copied.
Jerkface December 7th, 2011 at 11:24 pm
And for every start in the postseason where he did well, he had 2 where he stunk out loud. He is just too volatile.
————————————————————————————————————————-
Sort of like sabathia in the post season.
LGY December 7th, 2011 at 10:53 pm
Highlight video of Nakajima. Seems to have some oppo power.
LGY December 7th, 2011 at 10:54 pm
Woops. Here’s the link
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fD_3zgKA-UE
—
He got Darvish at 3:10.
“Is it really a 50/50 proposition?”
Probably not. Why don’t you set the line Nick.
great point earlier by Jerkface about the Japanese SS possibly being Yu Darvish’s Okajima. a security blanket sort of? familiar face, etc. plus it seems like Nakajima has some legitimate talent. man i hope that increases their odds of getting Darvish. that would be awesome.
@LoMoMarlins
Hows the CA state income tax Torii? RT @toriihunter48 @str8edgeracer come on home 2 the OC. U would luv it & fans will luv u 2. Alot of fun.
Jimmy Rollins saying on twitter that the report by SI is false.
Wow, gotta love twitter.
@str8edgeracer
Jeez keep your pants on RT @LoMoMarlins: Its 72 every day in our new domed stadium! RT @ballystar40: @toriihunter48 @str8edgeracer But what abt the perfect weather all yr round Lomo
Wonder what sort of articles John Harper has in store for his “Harper’s Bizarre” spots?
The rest of the LoMoMarlins and Toriihunter48 twitter “battle” for CJ is funny too.
Tar December 7th, 2011 at 11:30 pm
“Because he wastes a rotation spot which could be used for a higher upside player”
Same can be said for Garcia. You can only allocate so many spots for “higher upside” players.
After CC, everything else is open.
==================================
Freddy is much more consistent and reliable than AJ.
LGY December 7th, 2011 at 11:26 pm
austin
His set up and swing really reminds me of someone in MLB but I can’t put my finger on who it is.
—
He holds his leg up in the air a long time sometimes like Ichiro, but the rest is not like Ichiro.
Same can be said for Garcia
–
NOT REALLY since Garcia actually performs in the regular season with some consistency??? Its less than 50/50 that he is ever going to be good. And yes CC has also struggled in the postseason the last 2 seasons but this is after CY younging the regular season. Theres no comparison. He also had a pretty clean 2009 postseason. AJ has had 5 ERAs the past 2 regular seasons and his only ERA under 5 in the postseason is in the ALDS.
I don’t know, 50/50 seems high. He was supposedly puting it all back together before this season… maybe 5-1?
Let me ask you this, Tar. Do you believe that Cashman would get rid of AJ if the Yanks would eat somewhere between 1/3 and 1/2 of his salary?
That is, do you think Cashman would like to send AJ elsewhere? Or is he thinking that AJ might put it all together and be that solid #2 and eat all those innings?
Would Cashman rather see AJ stay or go?
“Freddy is much more consistent and reliable than AJ.”
Yeah but who is going to pitch better in 2012. I wouldn’t bet on Freddy over AJ.
@LoMoMarlins
I think I may have accidentally reignited the East Coast – West Coast Hip Hop Rivalry… #BadBoy4Life
@LoMoMarlins
@str8edgeracer I want to sing u a song. I’m so excited, I just can’t hide it and I know, i know, I know I want u I want u #nohomojustlomo
ooooops
I wouldn’t bet on Freddy over AJ.
———————-
Can I take that bet?
Nick in SF December 7th, 2011 at 11:50 pm
I don’t know, 50/50 seems high. He was supposedly puting it all back together before this season… maybe 5-1?
Let me ask you this, Tar. Do you believe that Cashman would get rid of AJ if the Yanks would eat somewhere between 1/3 and 1/2 of his salary?
============
I heard a report that Cashman was willing to eat $8 million of $33 million owed AJ, for openers. So, he would clearly be willing to eat a third of his salary, and half of his salary wouldn’t be out of the question.
LGY December 7th, 2011 at 11:51 pm
I wouldn’t bet on Freddy over AJ.
———————-
Can I take that bet?
==
I want in on that too.
“Do you believe that Cashman would get rid of AJ if the Yanks would eat somewhere between 1/3 and 1/2 of his salary?”
1/3 yes 1/2 not sure. For me it just Stein money, which is on par with monopoly money.
“do you think Cashman would like to send AJ elsewhere?”
No I think he genuinely likes AJ. Also that would admit a mistake on his part.
“Or is he thinking that AJ might put it all together and be that solid #2 and eat all those innings?”
I think that is a nugget deep in Cashman’s brain.
Tar December 7th, 2011 at 11:50 pm
“Freddy is much more consistent and reliable than AJ.”
Yeah but who is going to pitch better in 2012. I wouldn’t bet on Freddy over AJ.
===============
Like GB said: AJ will be great for three months and terrible for three months. OTH, Freddy will be solid for six (if he stays healthy). Put another way AJ is much more likely than Freddy to throw a no-hitter, and he is much more likely to get lit up for 7 runs. Freddy will give you a steady six innings with 3 earned runs, just about every time out.
“Yeah but who is going to pitch better in 2012. I wouldn’t bet on Freddy over AJ.”
————
BTW, AJ may be losing his fastball, and never learned how to pitch. Freddy has already made a successful transition to pitching with guile. AJ’s prospects over the longer haul don’t look much better than Freddy’s.
I will go record and say AJ will out pitch Garcia next year.
Tar December 8th, 2011 at 12:04 am
I will go record and say AJ will out pitch Garcia next year.
============
He might. But it’s a bad bet.
BloggingBombers Mark Feinsand
Source said Andruw Jones wants to return to New York; deal with Yankees likely in the coming weeks.
BryanHoch Bryan Hoch
Andruw mulling Yankees return http://wp.me/p1rXvG-8WEi
Ken_Rosenthal Ken Rosenthal
Sources: #Yankees in talks with Dewayne Wise on minor-league contract. #MLB