The Yankees roster as it is today
Posted by: Chad Jennings - Posted in Misc on Dec 13, 2011 
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After yesterday’s decision to non-tender no one, the Yankees roster sits at 40 players, a full mix of high-dollar veterans and unproven prospects. Depending on offseason additions — perhaps an Andruw Jones-type, or an additional rotation candidate, or Japanese infielder Hiroyuki Nakajima — the Yankees will probably to open a few spots before spring training. For now, here’s the 40-man roster, loosely grouped by player status.
Veteran players on multi-year deals
A.J. Burnett, CC Sabathia, Rafael Soriano, Robinson Cano, Derek Jeter, Alex Rodriguez, Mark Teixeira, Curtis Granderson
Burnett is signed through 2013, Granderson and Cano have team options for 2013 and Soriano has a player option for 2013. The rest are signed beyond next season (including Jeter’s player option for 2014). Not surprisingly, this group makes up the core of the Yankees including their ace, their MVP candidates, their top free agent signing from last winter and their heart of the order.
Veteran players in their final contract year
Freddy Garcia, Mariano Rivera, Nick Swisher
Garcia signed a one-year deal, Rivera is the second year of a two-year contract, and Swisher just had his 2012 option picked up. Depending on Garcia’s performance, Rivera’s desire to keep playing and Swisher’s price tag, the Yankees might or might not bring these three back beyond 2012.
Arbitration eligible
Joba Chamberlain, Brett Gardner, Phil Hughes, Boone Logan, Russell Martin, Dave Robertson
Some of the Yankees key, young players are starting to make serious money through arbitration. This will be Logan’s third year of eligibility, the second year for Hughes and Chamberlain, and the first year for Gardner and Robertson. Martin came to the Yankees last winter having one last arbitration year remaining.
Young, established players not yet arbitration eligible
Ivan Nova, Cory Wade, Francisco Cervelli, Eduardo Nunez, Ramiro Pena
These five have a year’s worth of big league experience, but they’re still making nearly the minimum as players not yet eligible for arbitration. Pena is kind of the outlier here as a guy who does not seem to be in line to win a roster spot out of spring training. Nova has clearly established himself as the biggest name of this group, while Wade is the only one who’s not homegrown.
Prospects
Dellin Betances, George Kontos, D.J. Mitchell, Hector Noesi, David Phelps, Kevin Whelan, Jesus Montero, Austin Romine, David Adams, Corban Joseph, Brandon Laird, Zoilo Almonte, Melky Mesa
Easily the largest group, it’s made up of players without a full year of big league experience, ranging from guys with some big league playing time to guys with no experience beyond Double-A. Of this group, obviously Montero and Noesi are poised to make the most significant, immediate impact. Mitchell, Phelps, Almonte, Adams and Joseph were added to the roster this winter.
Players without options
Cesar Cabral, Brad Meyers, Chris Dickerson, Justin Maxwell
Two Rule 5 pitchers and two out-of-options outfielders. There’s a solid chance none of these four will still be in the organization on Opening Day, but right now, there’s also a chance any one of them — maybe more than one — could make the team as a role player. Cabral is a lefty, Meyers is a potential long man, and both Dickerson and Maxwell have the ability to play all three outfield spots as bench players.
Likely out for the season
Pedro Feliciano
After shoulder surgery late last season, Feliciano’s two year deal looks like a complete loss for the Yankees. He didn’t pitch at all last year, and he’s not expected to pitch at all next year.
No thank you on “pitch to contact” Joe Saunders,
Short video today on Saunders from MLB.com and list non tendered players:
http://mlb.mlb.com/news/articl.....8;c_id=mlb
My guess on the out of option guys:
Barring another LHP pick up Cabral and Maxwell make the team – Meyers gets returned from whence he came and Dickerson gets traded for a similar player who does have an option left (as the Yankees did last year with Sergio Mitre)
Joelsherman1 Heard #Mets have signed former #Yankees reliever with Jonathan Albaladejo, who played in Japan last year.
Joelsherman1 Heard #Mets have signed former #Yankees reliever with Jonathan Albaladejo, who played in Japan last year.
Chad-
Good review on the current roster.
Maxwell could well be an ideal 4th OFer, as a righty with power and good fielder. His big problem however are the strikeouts and he’s coming off an injury.
Chad good breakdown.
Ideally these are the moves I hope the Yankees do, although I don’t expect all (or even most) of them to get done..
Sign Andruw Jones
Sign Nakajima
Trade Nunez for whatever (while his value is still inflated)
Sign Darvish
Sign Kuroda
Trade Burnett
That puts the roster at 42, I would drop the two rule 5 picks.
Thus my ideal roster is:
Jeter, Granderson, Teixeira, Rodriguez, Cano, Montero, Swisher, Martin, Gardner
Nakajima, Jones, Dickerson, Cervelli
Sabathia, Darvish, Kuroda, Garcia, Nova
Rivera, Robertson, Soriano, Hughes, Logan, Wade, Whelan
Last reliever would be Chamberlain when he’s healthy but for now it’s Whelan b/c I want Noesi starting in AAA.
OldHossRadbourn Given his proclivity for fighting in helm and armor, I have found the perfect place for J. Varitek to seek employment: http://www.medievaltimes.com/
Kevin Whelan, I’d drop him for Kuo in 2 shakes of an elbow. I’d cut Pedro Feliciano with ease.
“Plan B is patience,” Cashman said the next day. “The one thing The Boss has taught me personally is the fact that you have to get in the arena and fight. Sometimes you win the fight and sometimes you lose the fight… We’re not down and out at all.”
In the end, Cashman was right. The Yankees settled for a series of smaller names and smaller contracts to fill their rotation, and that decision — in some ways — led to the emergence of Ivan Nova and the discovery of Freddy Garcia. Losing out on Lee was a blow, and certainly the Yankees would feel better about their rotation going forward if they had him under contract, but the Phillies got no closer to the World Series than the Yankees did.
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Well patience didn’t really work Chad as the Yanks made a first round exit in the playoffs, this year we are hearing the same logic all over again.
What does the Yanks exit and the Phillies exit have anything to do with each other regarding Cliff Lees effectivity on either team? Yanks and Phils both lost in a heartbreak in the last game, Yanks 3-2, Phils 1-0. Haliday pitched the last game. Having said all that personally I think we send out Cliff Lee against Detriot in that series and we were moving on.
Putting a serious dent in the Kuo-might-get-a-minor-league-deal-argument: Brackman signs a MAJOR LEAGUE DEAL with the Reds. Wth
I watched Hammond on this mornings Hot Stove, just his opinion but he thought with posting something around $112M was about the right number. Darvish ending up with CJ Wilson type numbers.
He said Yanks, Rangers, Blue Jays. HIS opinion Yanks not a serious factor, it’s down to the other two, but you can’t ever coun’t out the Nats or the Mystery team. Hope he is wrong.
jerkface – you can always count on stupid teams to do something stupid
Well patience didn’t really work Chad as the Yanks made a first round exit in the playoffs, this year we are hearing the same logic all over again.
Gary, stop using this as a reason they lost in the playoffs. It doesn’t make any sense.
Kevin Whelan, I’d drop him for Kuo in 2 shakes of an elbow. I’d cut Pedro Feliciano with ease.
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Yes
The Reds have agreed to sign former first round pick Andrew Brackman to a Major League deal, according to Jon Heyman of CBSSports.com (Twitter link). The 26-year-old Cincinnati native will earn the MLB minimum plus incentives.
Gary
In game 5, Nova gave up two back to back HR because he tweaked a flexor tendon in his forearm. Without that, the Yankees would have won. It was that close. Detroit was a good team as well, and the Yankees were only 3-4 against them in the regular season.
Totally revamping the roster and spending a lot on older vets in long term contracts with panic moves does nothing, and make the team worse.
The Reds have agreed to sign former first round pick Andrew Brackman to a Major League deal, according to Jon Heyman of CBSSports.com (Twitter link). The 26-year-old Cincinnati native will earn the MLB minimum plus incentives.
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Watch Brackman become the right handed version of Randy Johnson
CDickerson_PFTP @Yankees after a great week of hitting with Mr. K Long last week, attempting to keep this hitting magic going this morning.
Joelsherman1 Sorry, #Mets tried on Albaladejo and lost out at end to Diamondbacks, who signed him. Mets and Az were last 2 bidders.
spida – First he would have to cut his walk rate in half…
Then he would have to cut it in half again.
Gary, stop using this as a reason they lost in the playoffs. It doesn’t make any sense.
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The Yankees were the best team in the AL season…the plan worked over the course of 162 games. There’s no proven way to construct a playoff winning team.
The Yankees pitching was better in 2011 than 2009, for example, but the line up wasn’t great this time around. Same with the Phillies. Yet in 2010, the Giants won on the back of their pitching, and absurdly timely hitting.
Most people guessed the Rangers would win the World Series, and look how that ended up.
Yankee Trader December 13th, 2011 at 12:17 pm
The Reds have agreed to sign former first round pick Andrew Brackman to a Major League deal, according to Jon Heyman of CBSSports.com (Twitter link). The 26-year-old Cincinnati native will earn the MLB minimum plus incentives.
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Hehehehe… I’m so glad we’ve spent so much time arguing semantics this morning or else I wouldn’t have found this at all amusing..
Yanks are gonna have to be Extremely lucky to get by Texas And the Angels with their current Rotation. A rotation chocked full of maybes usually ends up taxing the bullpen to boot. And additions of Kuo, Saunders, et al are gas on the fire. IF Bud adds the EXTRA WILD CARD in 2012, then Maybe the Yanks have a shot at that 2nd wild card slot, After making additions come July 31. As for right now, other than CC, that probable rotation is an absolute crap-shoot, and that don’t feed-the-bulldog in the AL East.
CC and that “crap-shoot” rotation was one of the best staffs in the league last year, what are you talking about?
Texas is going to have a hell of a time pulling off turning a closer into a starter for a second time without failing. Pujols and Wilson did not make up 15 games for the Angels…
The Yankees build their teams to win the division, not the wild card.
Don’t worry, the Yanks will get Darvish and Kuroda and go from being one of the best pitching staffs in the AL to THE best pitching staff in the AL
If the Yanks had signed Cliff Lee, they would not have signed Soriano. Money would have been invested where most needed (starting pitching) not where least needed (right hand relief). That would have been a very good thing for 2011-2013 at least.
It’s also possible that a Lee signing would have meant no money for Martin. Whether that would have been a good thing is more debatable.
And Lee’s presence on the roster may well have deterred CC from threatening to opt out. That could have saved the Yanks from incurring a $25-50M obligation to an old pitcher.
Why would anyone assume the Yanks will be worse off this season than last season? Is it more likely that A-Rod has surgery again this season? Is it that Montero live up to Posada’s great season at DH? Is it because we’ll have Joba back this season? Teixiera is going to get worse from the left side?
I don’t get the pessimism.
The Angels NEEDED to make moves, their offense was poor last year. The Rangers just lost their “Ace” and they’ve slotted their closer into the rotation, and signed an older closer. Are they set up to make a run of it now or something?
-ID-
Cashman caught lightning inna bottle twice with Freddy and CC last season. Expecting likewise= crapshoot, and that’s being kind.
Make that Freddy and Colon.
” IF Bud adds the EXTRA WILD CARD in 2012, then Maybe the Yanks have a shot at that 2nd wild card slot”
The Yankees have the best roster in the AL east if they do nothing else this winter…..and I still think they will.
Lounge Lizard,
We didn’t lose in the playoffs because of our pitching. It’s a total non issue.
Lee’s presence wouldn’t have stopped CC from opting out. He wasn’t going to opt out because he thought the team was in trouble, he was going to opt out to make more money. Signing another pitcher to another huge contract doesn’t deter that.
To boot, it would be hard for Phil Hughes to be as unproductive as last season.
Better luck next time, Mets.
How bad is it now for their fans? They even lose out on cast-offs.
They should post a sign as you enter Citi Field: “Abandon all hope, ye who enter here”
donnybrook – That means nothing to 2012. They also had the best record in the AL in 2011 while getting a horrendous August from Burnett, little to nothing from Hughes and a bad August/September from CC. How is this going to make the RedSox and Rays win more games this year? They didn’t win enough last year with arguably better teams. The RedSox were spotted 9 wins against the Yankees and still couldn’t make the playoffs.
Sorry, but there is no reason to believe the Yankees are in a “crap-shoot” situation. The RedSox and Rays are in a situation where they are not improving at all, they are the crap-shoot teams that will be fighting with Texas/LA for the wild card.
oh hardwired that was cruel
Yea the Mets have a long road ahead of them…..the NL east is trying its best to mirror the AL east and the Mets are in real danger of becoming the Orioles……just buried in a division where they are outclassed with no way to get up off the canvass ………the new CBA will make it even tougher……
I didn’t say anything specifically about the playoffs. Once one starts playing “back to the future”, too many variables change to know what the effect of any one variable would be. It’s certainly possible that a 2011 Yankees team with Cliff Lee would have advanced further than the ALDS. There’s really no way to know.
I do think Lee on the roster would have allowed the Yankees to call CC’s bluff on opting out. I don’t think CC could improve his contract on the open market and he would know that.
Wow, the Braves dodged a bullet with Rocker not pointing any steroid fingers at other teammates today.
Sign Cespedes and Nishikowa; trade Gardner and Nunez to the Mets for Niese, Parnell and Dan Murphy
Who is Nishikowa
RadioKev December 13th, 2011 at 12:42 pm
To boot, it would be hard for Phil Hughes to be as unproductive as last season.
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On the other hand – it’s hard to imagine Freddy Garcia being as productive as he was last season. And Ivan Nova could also come down too.
Patrick December 13th, 2011 at 12:55 pm
Who is Nishikowa
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Sorry – Nakajima
Sorry – Nakajima
Hopefully, Erin doesn’t see this. She’s likely to hijack a tractor-trailer full of groceries in Chicago and drive it to NY.
BryanHoch Bryan Hoch
Meet Robinson Cano & Joe Girardi at Yankee Stadium http://wp.me/p1rXvG-8WEE
First time Kuo is mentioned (other than Chip’s list of players) is by CB…
“They should really see if Kuo would take a non-roster invite/minor league deal.”
hmmmmmm
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I mentioned Kuo last night!!
Of course GB was in a particularly curmudgeony mood and threw a fit about a ST invite.
-BLAKE-
The game is about “pitching,pitching,pitching”. My concerns are about the SP. Your talking Entire roster. Apples and Oranges.
I wonder if GB has spazzed out on all the other people suggesting Kuo.
LGY December 13th, 2011 at 1:08 pm
First time Kuo is mentioned (other than Chip’s list of players) is by CB…
“They should really see if Kuo would take a non-roster invite/minor league deal.”
hmmmmmm
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I mentioned Kuo last night!!
Of course GB was in a particularly curmudgeony mood and threw a fit about a ST invite.
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That’s because he might take work away from some 27 year old AA pitcher who is just waiting to blossom into the next Johan Santana.
“The game is about “pitching,pitching,pitching”. My concerns are about the SP. Your talking Entire roster. Apples and Oranges.”
Entire rosters win more than pitching…..pitching is part of the puzzle….its an important piece but what the Yankees lack in high in talent in their rotation they help make up for in depth and with their bullpen……and that’s just currently……they still can improve their rotation.
Yes LGY did mention Kuo last night
-LOUNGE LIZARD -
Just don’t mess with the Time Space Continueum.
LGY December 13th, 2011 at 1:11 pm
I wonder if GB has spazzed out on all the other people suggesting Kuo.
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He had a little tantrum and then dropped it.
The Yanks have the best 1-10 rotation depth in the division aside from Tampa……that’s incredibly important in the regular season marathon.
Donnybrook
Where are the bid updates today?
-BLAKE-
A weak SP will likewise destroy a good Pen. Your way off here. History shows, the Game is about Pitching.
GreenBeret7 December 13th, 2011 at 1:04 pm
Hopefully, Erin doesn?t see this. She?s likely to hijack a tractor-trailer full of groceries in Chicago and drive it to NY.
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Too late, I already saw it.
Briefly considered buying a plane ticket.
donnybrook – You’re way off about how good the Yankees starters are. The game is built on precedent, and this staff is good.
My Darvish predicted bids.
Yankees : 55 million
Nats: 50 million
Rangers: 40 million
Red Sox: 30 million plus a Bobby V fan club membership
Erin December 13th, 2011 at 1:17 pm
GreenBeret7 December 13th, 2011 at 1:04 pm
Hopefully, Erin doesn?t see this. She?s likely to hijack a tractor-trailer full of groceries in Chicago and drive it to NY.
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Too late, I already saw it.
Briefly considered buying a plane ticket.
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I figured that any news on Cano would never get past you.
-LGY-
EST War Rooms are currently just returning from Lunch.
Reading through the Cliff Lee post it’s a bit testy in here today.
I’m about to eat some bacon. Definitely gonna lighten up my mood. Recommend everyone do the same
“A weak SP will likewise destroy a good Pen. Your way off here. History shows, the Game is about Pitching”
Thin and top heavy rotations like the 2011 Red Sox kill bullpens……deep rotations like the Yanks have typically do not. The Yanks rotation coukd use another front line guy for the post season…..its fairly solid for the regular season because they have so much depth
my guess – Yankee bid = $10 mil.
Personally, I do NOT even consider Nova an “established” player as listed above. The guy has yet to complete an Entire MLB season, and even broke down in the Yanks Hour-Of-Need.
blake December 13th, 2011 at 1:22 pm
“A weak SP will likewise destroy a good Pen. Your way off here. History shows, the Game is about Pitching”
Thin and top heavy rotations like the 2011 Red Sox kill bullpens……deep rotations like the Yanks have typically do not. The Yanks rotation coukd use another front line guy for the post season…..its fairly solid for the regular season because they have so much depth
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The Yankee pen is also very deep. Unlike the Sox who basically had to ride Bard and Papelbon, the Yankees had a group of guys they could trust in tight spots so no one pitcher got over worked.
Rivera needs a day – Soriano can close. Soriano’s thrown a few days in a row – let him sit and you still have Robertson and Rivera.
my guess – Yankee bid = $10 mil.
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The Yankees won’t bid such a low amount. If they were going to bid that low they’d likely just not bid! If its a ‘token bid’ it will be in the same area as their matsuzaka bid.
donnybrook – how about a little perspective? i think you are holding your nose too close to the book, so to speak.
Texas got worse. There is no way to weasle around that. They lose their ace and are turning a closer into a starter, which could result in any outcome, success not being the most likely.
Angels got better, but the Angels were AWFUL. Pujols isn’t turning that offense around by himself. They will battle Texas for their division, but there is no reason to expect that competition to take place upwards of 90 wins.
Boston got worse. Lost their GM, manager, closer, captain… it’s all falling apart in Boston. Their starting pitching is about the only thing carrying over from last year, and it is injury prone and not that great.
Tampa seems to be treading water. They will try to compete in the AL East with all pitching and no offense again (possibly less offense)… and they only made the playoffs by the skin of their teeth last year as a result of one of the worst collapses in baseball history.
The Yankees are returning their entire roster… a roster that won the most games in the AL last year. Yes they got lucky with Colon/Garcia last year, and Nova to an extent. Sure Nova should regress a little, Hughes/Burnett should also improve to counter that… and they still have 3 months to sign another starter to shore up the Hughes/Burnett/Garcia question mark. Overall this is… what… the third or 4th best staff in the AL behind LA, Tampa… maybe Oakland?
What were you worried about again? Seems to me like this year should be easier than last.
New Post: Just a few mid-day notes
Bottom Line = The Yankees are returning a team that exited the Playoffs in RD 1. Get me a 2 Slotter to back up CC and I believe the Yanks will be in position to advance deep into the Playoffs and maybe the World Series. Right now, the SP issa patched up innertube that could blow at numerous points. 162 is too long a journey to rely on what I currently see.
your bottom line means nothing to me, i’ve explained why like 100 times. if that’s all you got then we will never agree.
you’ve also now changed your arguement again, you are a slippery weasle.
Is a “2 slotter” going to pitch and drive runs in, too? Unless he’s a double threat, lack of a “2 slotter” wasn’t the issue.