Pinch hitting: Andrew Katz
Posted by: Chad Jennings - Posted in Misc on Feb 13, 2012 
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Our next Pinch Hitter, Andrew Katz, is from Scarsdale, N.Y. but went to college at Brandeis University in Waltham, Mass., right in the middle of Red Sox county. Andrew founded “The Louis Lunatic,” Brandeis’ first sports magazine, and he was sports director of WBRS, the Brandeis’ radio station where he co-hosted a sports talk show. Andrew has now returned to New York where he works as an Account Manager for a startup company. After seeing two of his fellow bloggers at NYaT get a chance to write a guest blog last year, Andrew was inspired to do the same.
For his post, Andrew looked back at the Yankees trade history. Instead of looking for done deals, he searched for those moments when the Yankees were glad they just said no.
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Over the past 20 years, the Yankees have made some great acquisitions. David Cone was acquired for three minor leaguers who never panned out. Glenallen Hill was picked up for two minor leaguers (and, without Hill, there may have never been a Subway Series). The Yankees traded Wilson Betemit for Nick Swisher and have been laughing about it ever since.
But once in a while, the trade not made is the best one. Sometimes the decision to back away from a trade is good sense, sometimes it’s good luck, and sometimes it’s a combination of both.
Here are a few trades that the Yankees didn’t make which turned out really well for them:
The “other” player in the A-Rod trade: Even casual Yankees fans remember that Alfonso Soriano was traded to the Rangers for Alex Rodriguez, but that trade could have been known for another player being included. The other player ended up being Joaquin Arias, but the Rangers chose him over another Yankees’ infield prospect: Robinson Cano. The Rodriguez contract is looking like it will develop into an albatross, but imagine how much Yankees fans would have been up in arms had they lost Cano in that deal? The Yankees dangled Cano in deals for Carlos Beltran and Randy Johnson as well but escaped a big mistake. Arias? He has played in parts of four MLB seasons and has zero home runs.
Saved from Eric Gagne: In 2007, the Yankees looked like they might be one or two pieces away from a championship, and with Eric Gagne on the block, the Yankees were engaged in a fierce battle with the Red Sox for the former Cy Young award winner. The Red Sox ended up getting Gagne for a package of David Murphy, Kason Gabbard, and prospect Engel Beltre, but they probably wish they hadn’t. Gagne was terrible the rest of the season and ended up on the Mitchell Report shortly after the season’s end. The one silver lining for the Red Sox was that they won the World Series in 2007, but they could have used Murphy the past few years.
No Mo? The Yankees playoff run began in 1995 and, looking to bulk up the pitching staff, the Yankees looked to trade for the young Tigers pitcher, David Wells. The trade bait for the Yankees? A young, lanky, straight-throwing starter named Mariano Rivera. As the story goes, Rivera found his fastball just in time and the Gene Michael decided to hang on to Rivera. The Yankees would sign Wells a few years later as a free agent, but without giving up the player who went on to become the greatest closer in baseball history. The Yankees also had left Rivera unprotected in 1992 so he could have technically been taken in the Rule V draft, but an arm injury kept any team from taking that chance.
Andy could have been Dandy in Philly: Despite almost winning a Cy Young in 1996 and helping the Yankees win the World Series, George Steinbrenner still felt like Andy Pettitte wasn’t built for New York and playoff baseball, especially after a bad start to the 1999 season. The Yankees discussed a deal to send Pettitte to the Phillies for Adam Eaton, Anthony Shumaker, and Reggie Taylor. Rumor has it the deal got stopped at the 11th hour when Joe Torre convinced the Yankees brass to let Pettitte stay and a rejuvenated Andy was Dandy for another decade.
And Jorge Posada was almost a goner too: At the trade deadline of 1997, then-Yankees GM Bob Watson was being persuaded by George Steinbrenner to make a big deal at the trade deadline with names like Ivan Rodriguez, Albert Belle, and even former Yankees, Mike Stanley and Rickey Henderson as names being thrown around. The trade bait? A pair of 25-year-olds, Jorge Posada and Ramiro Mendoza. One rumor had the Rangers asking for Pettitte and Posada in exchange for Rodriguez. The trade deadline passed and Watson held on to all of his chips. After the 1998 season the Yankees once again made a run at Albert Belle as a free agent, but opted to re-sign Bernie Williams at the last second. That was certainly a free agent non-signing that worked out as well.
Juan Gone or Sammy? Sammy Sosa and Juan Gonzalez were two of the top sluggers of the 90s and both could have been on the Yankees had trades gone through in 2000. Luckily, neither one of them ended up in the Bronx as their rapid decline would have been tough to deal with as the proposed trades were both contingent on those players signing long, lucrative extensions in the Bronx. Amazingly, it was Gonzalez who turned down the Yankees.
Those are only a few examples, but it shows sometimes the best trade is the one not made. So while Yankees fans bemoaned not picking up pitching at last year’s trade deadline, you wonder which prospect they held on to last year will end up on this list in 10 years. In 10 years we may be thanking our lucky stars that the Yankees didn’t trade Phil Hughes for Johan Santana or include Ivan Nova for Cliff Lee. Sometimes the best deal is the one you say no to.
Assoicated Press photos
Thank goodness for the trades you sometimes don’t make.
Randy will be in here at any moment to remind us that we should not have traded Jesus.
So I’ll just do it for him, and get it out of the way right off the bat, so to speak.
Yanks are very fortunate to have hung on to Cano…good thing the prior Rangers FO didn’t know what they we’re doing
Gammons tweeted awhile back that Rivera was also almost traded for Pedro Martinez at one point……that would have been interesting.
Chad-
You’re picking winning posters this offseason.
Andrew-
Terrific, well researched post.
Blake-
Apparently the Yankees did not even know what they had in Cano.
“I’d rather be lucky than good.”
I remember when, we the blogger people, were ready to trade Cano for Matt Kemp.
YT-
Chad has had his vacation. He needs to get his b*tt back in here so he can tell us what’s up with AJ.
YT-
I was never ready to trade Robbie for anyone at any time.
Besides Erin would have had my head.
I remember when, we the blogger people, were ready to trade Cano for Matt Kemp
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Yep. Don’t think fans of either team would consider that now.
The Yankees appear willing to eat up to $20 million to shed the righty from their roster and to create payroll relief, although they might agree to pay more if the Pirates part with a top-tier prospect.
http://www.nydailynews.com/spo.....-1.1021360
Cano for Kemp wouldn’t have been a disaster though……pretty even up deal even now. Glad they kept him
So it seems like they are getting closer on the money part…..around 12 or 13 million….but the hold up is the players……they aren’t getting a top prospect and pushing for one coukd blow the deal up….so Cash may drag it out awhile longer to get the best players he can….but sounds like the two sides are getting close…..gotta take the money and run soon.
From one Brandeis (and WBRS) alum to another: Great job.
I wish people would remember these non-deals when they complain about trades Cash “should” make.
Great post – lets see if Montero trade is a good one or should have been in your post.
If the Yankees save 12M by trading Burnett and get free Iron City beer in return, take the deal Cashman and send the beer onto the Red Sox as a show of appreciation for their questionable offseason moves.
Until later. Have a great day all.
YT-
Burnett is as good as gone.
Have a good day.
Yankee Trader February 13th, 2012 at 9:31 am
If the Yankees save 12M by trading Burnett and get free Iron City beer in return, take the deal Cashman and send the beer onto the Red Sox as a show of appreciation for their questionable offseason moves.
Until later. Have a great day all.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Sounds like a good deal. Meanwhile, Damon, Ibanez, and Matsui are waiting to see where they’ll report for spring training pending the Burnett outcome.
Andrew-great job! (Love the picture choice BTW)
Gossip Break:
http://www.people.com/people/a.....06,00.html
Damon over the others if he’ll take the reduced AB’s and money.
Matsui 2nd.
Ibanez 3rd.
Yankee Trader February 13th, 2012 at 9:13 am
I remember when, we the blogger people, were ready to trade Cano for Matt Kemp.
*********************
Erin-
I was never ready to trade your boyfriend.
eboland11 Derek Jeter hitting in cage on field for first time since he started working out at complex in mid-January.
MTU- that’s good. You were one of the few.
Id go….
1. Damon
2. Vlad
3. Ibanez/Matsui.
To me Damon is the obvious choice and hopefully they’ll get that done.
eboland11 In other area of complex, Hughes, Nova, Wade and Robertson about to throw bullpens
Erin-
That would be almost as bad as trying to trade a “Muppet”.
Dog walk time.
MTU- yes. Robbie is just as loveable as a Muppet. And you don’t ever trade a Muppet. Ever.
Good morning, all…
I didn’t get a chance to get on here yesterday, so I wanted to stop by this morning and thank you for the kind comments that were made about my PH post yesterday.
The experience I described was an emotional one for me. With the exception of 1 person, I never shared with anyone before because I was afraid of it becoming tainted if I shared it with someone who didn’t get it.
I knew that most of you would get it, and I thank you for that. Chad, thank you for the opportunity to share it!
Andrew, this was a really nice post. Thanks for sharing!
Actually Cano and Mo were both almost traded more than once.
In the Randy Johnson trade the Yankees offered Arizona either Dioneer Navarro or Robbie Cano. The D’backs took Navarro to spin to the Dodgers for Shawn Green.
And in spring training in 1996 when Tony Fernandez broke his arm there were some in the org who weren’t prepared to hand the SS job to Derek Jeter and they were considering dealing Rivera to the Mariners for Felix Fermin.
The Posada for Pudge deal was done. Both teams were ready to pull the trigger – it was stopped when Pudge broke from Scott Boras and walked into the GM’s office and said he wanted to negotiate a contract extension.
The Yankees were also on the verge of sending Andy to the Mariners for Randy Johnson before Seattle sent the Unit to Houston.
and if you really want to get interesting – the Yankees helped the Red Sox get Pedro Martinez. The Yankees traded Tony Armas to Boston for Mike Stanley in 97 – Armas (along with Carl Pavano) were both considered good prospects and it took both for Boston to get Pedro.
And if you really want to have some fun, what if the Yankees had agreed to deal Nick Johnson and Alfonso Soriano to Arizona for Curt Schilling and Junior Spivey?
Imagine how that would have changed things: the Yankees don’t trade for Javy Vazquez (who busts) and with Soriano gone, could they have swooped in and traded for Alex or would the Red Sox and Rangers have been able to work something out after the union shot down their first trade?
Tarheel – was that you? Nice essay, about a very memorable experience. Good – no, GREAT – for you!
Have a good one, today.
Troubling thing about this AJ deal is Yanks seem to think that THEY hold all the cards here but the Pirates are doing them a big favor taking AJ off their hands even if they pay only 10 mill. Cashman should take this deal before it blows up
Sounds like to me that Jordy Mercer is a guy they should target….25 year old SS that’s pretty close to the big leagues that coukd provide some depth or an alternative to Nunez and Pena…….probably not a guy that Pittsburgh will go long term with at that age.
Troubling thing about this AJ deal is Yanks seem to think that THEY hold all the cards here
===================================
Some in the media may be painting it that way, but the Yankees know better.
blake February 13th, 2012 at 10:05 am
Sounds like to me that Jordy Mercer is a guy they should target….25 year old SS that’s pretty close to the big leagues that coukd provide some depth or an alternative to Nunez and Pena…….probably not a guy that Pittsburgh will go long term with at that age.
—————-
I would be lying if I said I knew anything about him – but a cursory read-up makes him sound about right. The Pirates have better SS options and he would be a nice depth pick up for the minor leagues, someone to throw in the mix with Nunez, Corban Joseph and Laird to get a call if Jeter/Alex go on the DL
eboland11 A noticeably slimmed down & more muscular looking Hughes said he weighs 240. Said in offseason changed “body composition,” meaning less fat
Tarheel-that was your post yesterday? Very nice job.
Changed body composition is the new BSOML
AnthonyMcCarron Ramiro Pena is also working on the field with Jeter, as is Justin Maxwell
AnthonyMcCarron Austin Romine just ran by in Tampa. Killer Bs sighting in bullpens
Tarheel-
And all this time I thought you were a guy.
Too funny.
Joe from LI and Erin,
That was me. And thanks to you both very much
changed “body composition,”
———-
No more man boobs?
“Troubling thing about this AJ deal is Yanks seem to think that THEY hold all the cards here but the Pirates are doing them a big favor taking AJ off their hands even if they pay only 10 mill. Cashman should take this deal before it blows up”
You can’t make that determination from your computer.
Its make or break time for Hughes…..not only for his career with the Yankees but with regards to his Free agent contract……if he establishes himself as a starter this year and next then he makes himself a ton of money.
Tarheel,
Yes very nice….what part of NC you from?
You can’t make that determination from your computer.
==============================
There have been some pieces written that do sort of suggest it.
“Its make or break time for Hughes…..not only for his career with the Yankees but with regards to his Free agent contract……if he establishes himself as a starter this year and next then he makes himself a ton of money.”
I totally agree, this is probably Hughes last season to show the Yankees he can be a consistent MLB starting pitcher.
How about what almost happened in the aftermath of the Red Sox’ 2003 collapse?
Manny Ramirez & Jon Lester to the Rangers for Arod.
Magglio Ordonez & Brandon McCarthy to the Cubs for Nomar.
This is on top of the Bosox already dealing for Schilling and signing Ketih Foulke as a free agent.
“There have been some pieces written that do sort of suggest it.”
I don’t think they know what they’re talking about either. The only people that actually know whether Cashman is overplaying his hand are the ones doing the negotiations.
“this is probably Hughes last season to show the Yankees he can be a consistent MLB starting pitcher.”
I agree.
Which is why he must start. To prove just that.
If he does not get the 5 spot he should be kept stretched out at AAA.
LGY February 13th, 2012 at 10:23 am
changed “body composition,”
———-
No more man boobs?
—————–
lol
i would strongly encourage folks to read joel sherman’s article in the ny post. he makes some good observations about some new trends within the game.
two i found especially interesting are –
1. teams investing heavily in bullpens arms. the older thinking was that relief pitchers, being erratic by nature, were easily replaced year to year. now, some teams, like the rangers and red sox, seem to be stockpiling relief arms, to make up for possible deficits in other aspects of their teams, such as the starting rotation. will this new strategy work?
2. the new cba, and the effect it will have on minor league contracts. did you know that if you signa veteran to a minor league contract, and they don’t make the team out of st, you have to pay them $100k in order to send them down? how many teams will be releasing veterans, rather than pay them the bonus?
there might well be some interesting player moves the last week in march.
LOL @ MTU
No worries here! Gender isn’t always clear in the world of the internets 
Blake, I’m from Charlotte originally. I lived in various parts of western NC before I came to NYC.
Buster Olney Buster_ESPN
@
Sources: There is a settlement in the David Ortiz case, for the midpoint of $14.575 m. He had wanted 16.5m, club had offered 12.65m.
Papi cost himself 2 million dollars by simply not wanting to go to a hearing…..must be nice to be that rich…..Im 100% sure he would have won.
Tarheel,
Good ole WNC for me.
Blake,
Nice to “meet” you, brother
Joe,
Yea that Sherman article is good….
Saw on twitter Ibanez has hit .228/.292/.352 away from CBP the past two seasons.
i MUST admit, i miss Fat Pete. At least he was current. Now we don’t actually get breaking news on here anymore. Fat Pete was a tool. but at least he ran a good blog.
If you only checked this website, you’d never know the yankees are the verge of trading AJ
Joe-
Longterm I do not think that strategy would work.
Too many innings on a pen usually does not work out later in a season. Fatigue sets in.
As a stopgap emergency measure perhaps.
Not as a way of life.
My take.
Tar-
You didn’t live next door to the Biltmores did you ?
I have always wanted to visit Asheville. I’d love to go explorin’ out that way.
Maybe someday.
And I guess you like beer too ? If you have a ponytail and wear a baseball cap I’m in Love.
1. teams investing heavily in bullpens arms. the older thinking was that relief pitchers, being erratic by nature, were easily replaced year to year. now, some teams, like the rangers and red sox, seem to be stockpiling relief arms, to make up for possible deficits in other aspects of their teams, such as the starting rotation. will this new strategy work?
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Hm not sure how what the Rangers and Red Sox are doing goes against the fact that relievers are erratic and easily replaced. The Red Sox let papelbon walk and filled the space with more cost controlled guys. The Rangers let Cordero walk and filled the bullpen with cheap guys, trading for guys having good seasons but who were still cheap.
They are following the strategy of teams that believe the bullpen is erratic and easily replaced.
The idea isn’t to just pitch anyone in the bullpen, its to not sign papelbon to 4 year deal for double digits (or soriano) because you can have guys like David Robertson or Joba or Wade or Ayala throw 40-70 good innings.
- CURRENT TOP MOCK DRAFT SS’s -
(1) TROY TULOWITSKI – Runaway #1
(2) HANLEY RAMIREZ – Will also qualify at 3B shortly.
(3) JOSE REYES – Injury history gives bidders the Willies.
(4) ELVIS ANDRUS – Everything but HR. Avg should improve with experience.
(5) A. CABRERRA – Poor 2nd half lands him here.
(6) STARLIN CASTRO – Head’s just not in the game at this point. Bears watching.
(7) ALEXI RAMIREZ – Gump’s box of chocolates.
(8) JIMMY ROLLINS – Age factoring in quickly.
(9) DEREK JETER – FAR more valuable to the Yankees.
LGY February 13th, 2012 at 10:36 am
Saw on twitter Ibanez has hit .228/.292/.352 away from CBP the past two seasons.
——————
I know you don’t believe in it – but he’s going to play in a lot more parks like CBP if the Yankees sign him than he did in the NL.
Say no to Ibanez…..get Damon.
mtu – my own guess is that this is the latest fad. if these guys were truly dependable, in any sort of way, they’d be starters. it really is only a few who are dependable – mo, of course; and david robertson here in ny. shields in laa for a lot of years. but for many, it’s so uncertain.
we will find out if this is a new holy grail, or the latest false icon.
blake February 13th, 2012 at 10:33 am
Buster Olney Buster_ESPN
@
Sources: There is a settlement in the David Ortiz case, for the midpoint of $14.575 m. He had wanted 16.5m, club had offered 12.65m.
Papi cost himself 2 million dollars by simply not wanting to go to a hearing…..must be nice to be that rich…..Im 100% sure he would have won.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Times have changed. Teams are getting away from one dimensional players. At least Damon is still a good baserunner and in an emergency play LF. Ortiz is at the age and conditioning that could see his hitting skills go downhill …… fast. The Socks had no choice but to sign him for another year
Say no to Ibanez…..get Damon.
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I agree Blake
Joe-
We’ll see but I do not think it is a good longterm strategy.
I do like having a great pen like ours to shorten games when necessary.
That will work.
Mike Ri February 13th, 2012 at 10:46 am
Say no to Ibanez…..get Damon.
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I agree Blake
————–
I’m not endorsing either one of them – I’m just trying to warm to the reality that it is looking like it will be Ibanez.
“willwill February 13th, 2012 at 10:38 am
i MUST admit, i miss Fat Pete. At least he was current. Now we don’t actually get breaking news on here anymore. Fat Pete was a tool. but at least he ran a good blog.”
===================================
true dat! i had alot of problems with pete, but his coverage was incessent, even when he was on a trip or on vacation, he was all over whatever was going on. nowadays, i check other yankee sources for news first, then come here for the commentary. and to be honest, i dont really read chad’s posts much b/c of their lack of news and complete lack of insight. pete had a ton of opinions i disagreed with and we argued both here and in emails over some of them, but at least he had opinions and wasn’t afraid to post them and defend them. all we get now is stale news and fluff.
I’m Team Matsui, but I doubt that either he or Damon will be back.
The increased amount of inter-league play is a killer for guys without a position like Ortiz. Montero also Currently falls into this category.
I?m not endorsing either one of them ? I?m just trying to warm to the reality that it is looking like it will be Ibanez.
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gotcha Chip…. i prefer Damon. . but if its Ibanez….. then we’ll have to roll with him…
Sux look a lot like a piece of Swiss cheese.
Gonna take a lot of luck to keep that boat afloat.
I might be wrong but I figure them for no better than 3rd again. Maybe even 4th.
I think they are trying to get Damon to come down with his asking price…..if he comes down to 3 millionsish I think they’ll do it.
Times have changed. Teams are getting away from one dimensional players
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Teams with a DH would do well to go against this trend. The teams with the big stick in DH will be better than the teams with some multi dimensional schmuck that can’t hit. Just like the team that fills their bench with strong platoon hitters will reap the rewards against all these bullpen heavy teams. Latter will be harder, as platoon guys don’t get a very good chance to shine in the mlb nowadays.
“The increased amount of inter-league play is a killer for guys without a position like Ortiz. Montero also Currently falls into this category.”
They aren’t increasing the number of games in any significant way…..only spreading them out
The increased amount of inter-league play is a killer for guys without a position like Ortiz. Montero also Currently falls into this category
——-
The amount of inter league games are supposed to stay about the same.
damon went for a couple of months last year where his obp was under .300. he turned it on at the end so it didnt look so bad. his baserunning skills, while declining are still there but they don’t help much if you don’t get on base. i have a bad feeling about a damon return, i think it could tarnish his yankee image. idk if i want ibanez, but i like to remember johnny as a yankee in a better light than we are likely to see in a rerun.
I don’t feel great about any of the FA DH candidates…..but it is what it is and I think Damon has the most left and brings the most to the table.
- BLAKE -
Next season with Houston moving to the AL, the plan is to expand the number of inter-league games.
So the Ortiz deal puts Boston at 167-168 million range……if they add Oswalt they are looking at at least 175.
I like Damon and Matsui. Ibanez??? NIX
“I don’t feel great about any of the FA DH candidates…..but it is what it is and I think Damon has the most left and brings the most to the table.”
IMO, I think the Yankees don’t feel great about any of the candidates either which if they sign one of them, the price of his contract will matter greatly so they can cut him without reservation come June/July if they show nothing here. If Damon continues to say he wants 5-6M then that diminishes his chances of being signed here.
“Next season with Houston moving to the AL, the plan is to expand the number of inter-league games.”
No its not…..its to spread the interleague games out over the course of the season rather than play them all at once……this so that all 30 teams can play on the same day.
Next season with Houston moving to the AL, the plan is to expand the number of inter-league games.
–
Not guaranteed. Right now they are just going to do interleague year round, no increase.
Craw,
That’s maybe true and a good point…..maybe the Yanks would be less inclined to cut Damon or Matsui loose if something better came along at the deadline both for financial and sentimental reasons…..maybe they like Ibanez for 1 million bucks both because its cheap and because they wouldn’t feel as bad replacing him mid season if they wanted to.
“Next season with Houston moving to the AL, the plan is to expand the number of inter-league games.”
I don’t think so, they will increase the number of times they play league opponents outside of their division while spacing out the inter-league schedule throughout the season to alleviate situations in which AL teams are playing without their DH for nine games in a row like the Yankees did last year.
i think it’s very hard to differentiate between damon, matsui, and ibanez. given the ages of these guys, they could fall off the proverbial cliff at any time and be a wasted contract. signing branyan to a mil deal makes more business sense, imo. he might be a dud, also, but it’s not nearly the money.
with the cba item, that sherman was writing about, i’d think branyan gets an awful lot of abs early on in st. if they’re interested in saving the 100k, they will make up their minds ealry. also, they will be looking to see who else might be cut loose by other teams.
not looking like any of those guys – damon, matsui, ibanez – have a whole lot of bargaining power.
DONNYBROOK February 13th, 2012 at 11:01 am
I like Damon and Matsui. Ibanez??? NIX
—————-
Frankly I think all three of them are cooked. Yankees probably feel the same way since they’re trying to get the Pirates to give them Garrett Jones.
My solution – forget the obsession with the DH being left handed and just go after someone who can still hit.
Do the Burnett deal – take back whatever the Buccos are willing to include. Then turn around and offer Soriano and cash to the Astros for Carlos Lee. Garcia takes the fifth spot in the rotation, Hughes takes Soriano’s spot in the pen.
Your lineup is:
Jeter
Granderson
Tex
Alex
Cano
Lee
Swisher
Martin
Gardner
. if they’re interested in saving the 100k, they will make up their minds ealry
–
This is 1 area of the new CBA where the YAnkees can show some guddamn financial muscle. They should be able to sign anyone they want (and a lot of them) to minor league deals with plan to eat the 100k.
Is Derrek Lee still a free agent? I would go $5Mill for 1 yr on him without hesitation. Sure he’s not an OF’er, but still plenty of fire power, and putting that bat in Yankee Stadium would be explosive.
If they increase the Yanks inner of interleague games in any significant way then they’ll have to strongly think about unifying the rules and adding the DH in both leagues……you can’t have AL clubs building their team with the DH and then playing 1/3 of the season with NL rules or something like that.
DONNYBROOK February 13th, 2012 at 11:08 am
Is Derrek Lee still a free agent? I would go $5Mill for 1 yr on him without hesitation. Sure he’s not an OF’er, but still plenty of fire power, and putting that bat in Yankee Stadium would be explosive.
—————
Yes, Derek Lee is still a FA but no I wouldn’t sign him.
blake February 13th, 2012 at 11:08 am
If they increase the Yanks inner of interleague games in any significant way then they’ll have to strongly think about unifying the rules and adding the DH in both leagues……you can’t have AL clubs building their team with the DH and then playing 1/3 of the season with NL rules or something like that.
————
DH won’t expand to both leagues because the owners don’t want it to.
DH won’t disappear because the union doesn’t want it to.
Is Derrek Lee still a free agent? I would go $5Mill for 1 yr on him without hesitation. Sure he’s not an OF’er, but still plenty of fire power, and putting that bat in Yankee Stadium would be explosive.
–
The same derrek lee that hit .246 .302 .404 .706 in the AL last year?
*increase the number of interleague games*
- CHIP -
Thanks for the Lee update.
Chip,
So they can’t increase the number of interleague games then.
added benefit to my plan of dealing Burnett to the Pirates for salary relief and then dealing Soriano to the Astros for Carlos Lee is that next winter the Yankees would have a ton of money freed up, you can take a run at David Wright as a FA and move Alex to full time DH.
blake February 13th, 2012 at 11:11 am
Chip,
So they can’t increase the number of interleague games then.
————————
Right – and I think everyone’s right when they say that there’s no plan to increase the total number of interleague games – what’s going to change is that they won’t all happen over the same couple of weekends.
2 teams will be playing interleague at any given time throughout the season.
I thought they’re going to decrease the number of divisional games and increase the number of games played within your league outside of your division. The number of interleague games stay the same.
The 2013 plan is to increase the number of inter-league games, in order to have a more balanced schedule. With 15 teams in each League, your gonna have to have at least 1 inter-league game played almost every night.
The 2013 plan is to increase the number of inter-league games, in order to have a more balanced schedule. With 15 teams in each League, your gonna have to have at least 1 inter-league game played almost every night.
–
The 2013 plan is to spread out the normal amount of interleague games across the entire year.
What if the Yankees traded Burnett to Pittsburgh for Garrett Jones straight up where the Yanks pay $33M minus Jones’ 2012 salary so Pittsburgh pays the same for Burnett as they would for Jones, only across two years (half in 2012, half in 2013)? They’d get Burnett at a bargain basement price and clear half of Jones’ salary for this year.
Garrett Jones would be the Yankees’ primary DH, backup/insurance 1B/RF, pinch pop off the bench in games he doesn’t start, and Swisher’s possible replacement in RF for 2013, all at a low cost since (Jones) is under the Yankees control through 2014. If he sucks, he can always be traded or kept as strictly everything but a primary DH who could still be an insurance DH.
Jones being in the rumors of this trade tell me the Pirates don’t consider him untouchable or his name wouldn’t be in the rumors. All I’ve read is that they’re “reluctant” to trade him – that isn’t “he’s untouchable”. Maybe the Yanks have to throw in something to get Jones and if they have to, they should do it because bottom line is if they keep Burnett, he MUST be in the rotation because if he isn’t, who on Earth is trading for him, a guy pulling down $16.5M per year through 2013 who can’t even win the fifth starter slot? I just can’t see him adapating to and succeeding in a mopup./swingman role. Burnett in the rotation means Garcia and Hughes would have to be in the bullpen until one or two of the four starters after Sabathia suck enough to be replaced by one or both of them.
Maybe the Yanks should look at Burnett at a bargain price as the throw in to get Jones.
Crawdaddy February 13th, 2012 at 11:14 am
I thought they’re going to decrease the number of divisional games and increase the number of games played within your league outside of your division. The number of interleague games stay the same.
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Yes, the Yankee/Red Sox rule. Owners want the Yankees and Red Sox visiting them more often to drive up ticket sales and so they’re trying to do away with Bud’s unbalanced schedule which was an epic failure in my estimation.
MILWAUKEE — Season-long Interleague Play, set to begin in 2013 as a result of the Houston Astros’ move to the American League, won’t result in the sort of dramatic increase in AL vs. National League games that some have predicted, said the Major League Baseball official in charge of the schedule.
MLB senior vice president Katy Feeney said teams are likely to play “about the same number” of Interleague games under the new alignment. In 2011, AL teams played 18 apiece and NL teams played 15-18.
“All of that is still to be finalized, but there’s not right now, in general, a feel from the players’ side or the management side to increase the number of Interleague games,” Feeney said. “It will probably be close to the number we currently play.”
from mlb.com
http://mlb.mlb.com/news/articl.....8;c_id=mlb
“The 2013 plan is to increase the number of inter-league games, in order to have a more balanced schedule. With 15 teams in each League, your gonna have to have at least 1 inter-league game played almost every night.”
No, the plan is to spread out inter-league games throughout the season in which two teams from opposite leagues are playing almost nightly.
Duh Innings February 13th, 2012 at 11:16 am
What if the Yankees traded Burnett to Pittsburgh for Garrett Jones straight up where the Yanks pay $33M minus Jones’ 2012 salary so Pittsburgh pays the same for Burnett as they would for Jones, only across two years (half in 2012, half in 2013)?
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Pirates, from all reports, are willing to take back money – they are not willing to give up a decent player for Burnett no matter how much money the Yankees kick in.
Good article, Andrew. It is easy to make a bad trade. The Yankees don’t have that good of a track record. The Swisher trade was a good one. Can’t think of many others. The Tyler Clippard and Pirates trade weren’t too good, although Marte was a big contributor in the WS. How about the Melancon trade…not so good. Let’s hope that the Seattle trade works out.
“Pirates, from all reports, are willing to take back money – they are not willing to give up a decent player for Burnett no matter how much money the Yankees kick in.”
Teams almost never do in salary dumps.
The Yankees need to be prepared to put AJ in the pen.
‘Just checked COT’s Baseball Contracts and saw that Garrett Jones made only $455,500 last season, so the only way the Yanks could get him by trading Burnett is if they included at least one midlevel prospect as they shouldn’t and probably wouldn’t give up a top prospect for this guy (as much as what he could be for the Yanks at his price.)
So Burnett at a cost of $33M – $2X,XXX,XXX to his taker would indeed have to be the throw-in.
It would be interesting, and also annoying, if Burnett ended up like Michael Young and after all this trade noise was with the team to start the year. They’d probably put him in the rotation.
jerkface – i’m just pointing out they have that option. imo, i’d give branyan a lot of chances to see what he can do, and decided early one way or the other so they can move on.
chip – you’re plan has a lot of logic to it, and many would go that route. but, it assumes that houston would do that deal. that, and it means they’re giving up on phil hughes being a productive starter. don’t know that i’d make that move. they have invested a lot of time, money, and effort into phil hughes, and they need to see what they’ve got there. it’s now or never, imo.
Jones will make 2 million next season. Still really cheap, but also still a platoon DH bat.
pirates probably thinking that they can make another deal for jones at the trade deadline. so, yanks need to come up with a substantial player, or more money, for that to happen.
jerkface – i’m just pointing out they have that option. imo, i’d give branyan a lot of chances to see what he can do, and decided early one way or the other so they can move on.
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Yea no doubt, I’m just saying that this is one area of the new CBA where the Yankees could actually benefit. They could sign a bunch of these guys to minor league deals. The Mets apparently stopped signing OF candidates to MiL deals because they think some guys will shake loose in ST due to the 100k clause. The Yankees should be gobbling the guys that go unsigned up.
I think people like the memory of what Damon and Matsui were more than the players they might be now.
The Pirates probably don’t want AJ all that much. So unless the deal in on their terms, they’ll likely walk..
“I think people like the memory of what Damon and Matsui were more than the players they might be now.”
Not at all. Damon away from the Trop: .280 .345 .463 .807
So as long at they don’t share my view that they need a young impact bat, he’s the best option.
We will see what “dramatic increase” means. Interleague play has increased attendance and Bud has made mention of this numerous times in regard to the 15 team Leagues. A more balanced schedule is also part of the expanded interleague play rationale. Teams are getting tired of Not getting into the Playoffs simply because they are inna tough Division and play tough teams 18 times. The DH or not to DH is a problem in regard to interleague play.
JonLaneNYC I’m predicting Phil “Buff Bagwell” Hughes win a starter’s job and reaches new heights this season. He’s motivated, determined.
Rich in NJ February 13th, 2012 at 11:26 am
The Pirates probably don’t want AJ all that much. So unless the deal in on their terms, they’ll likely walk..
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The deal will get done. The Pirates are willing to take back plenty of money – the Yankees know they’re not getting anything for him.
Best indication that the trade is nearing its completion is Cleveland moving on and signing Jon Garland. They wouldn’t have done that if they still thought they could do an AJ for Pronk trade.
Damon can still play. He did have a 110 OPS+ last year.
the dh isn’t going to change anytime soon, both sides are intransigent. it’s so divisive that they can’t even bring it up at an owner’s meeting and didn’t bring it up in the negotiations for this cba, in which they tried to tie up all kids of loose ends. the dh is set to stay exactly as it is for this entire cba and probably beyond.
The Yankees need to be prepared to put AJ in the pen
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Please god no… Burnett to the pirates is going to get done… They are just posturing over the money… I highly doubt the yanks even get a decent prospect and that is fine by me to shed a good portion of aj’s contract
Joe from Long Island February 13th, 2012 at 11:22 am
chip – you’re plan has a lot of logic to it, and many would go that route. but, it assumes that houston would do that deal. that, and it means they’re giving up on phil hughes being a productive starter. don’t know that i’d make that move. they have invested a lot of time, money, and effort into phil hughes, and they need to see what they’ve got there. it’s now or never, imo.
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Joe – another way the Yankees could go rather than Hughes in the 7th is with Hughes in the rotation and Garcia as the long man, muddle through with a combination of Corey Wade and minor league pitchers in the 7th inning until Joba returns.
Chip
My point is really about why the Yankees probably aren’t getting Jones.
Apparently, the Yankees want to get AJ out of here at all cost. So yeah, a deal probably will get done, but seemingly on the Pirates’ terms.
The Yankees need to be prepared to put AJ in the pen
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Please god no… Burnett to the pirates is going to get done… They are just posturing over the money… I highly doubt the yanks even get a decent prospect and that is fine by me to shed a good portion of aj’s contract… Imagine Burnett coming into the game from the stretch with guys already on base… I think Burnett would make an even worse bp guy
“The Pirates probably don’t want AJ all that much. So unless the deal in on their terms, they’ll likely walk..”
That’s Cashman job to keep that from happening.
“Please god no… Burnett to the pirates is going to get done… They are just posturing over the money… I highly doubt the yanks even get a decent prospect and that is fine by me to shed a good portion of aj’s contract”
Well, if you want to involve the man/woman upstairs, there’s really nothing I can do to change your mind.
But consider this: A guy who eats as many innings as AJ has over the last five years has value. A guy who can still throw in the low 90s over six or seven innings has value. And if you then consider that he can likely throw harder for an inning or two out of the pen, it really doesn’t make much sense to just give him away.
Joe -
As for Houston – assuming Soriano picks up his own option he’ll make $22 mil over the next two years. Lee makes $18 mil this year.
They could work out a deal where it is phrased that the Yankees trade Soriano and cash to the Astros for Carlos Lee and a player to be named later.
That player to be named later would be determined by what happens with the Soriano option. If he opts out the player going back to the Yankees has a greater value because the Yankees ended up taking back an extra $11 mil on the deal. If Soriano does pick up his option, the value of the player decreases because the Yankees are only paying $4 mil in difference.
I do think the Pirates want Burnett. Believe it or not, but he would solidfy their staff. That said, they will not give up anyone of real value knowing the Yankees’ need to move him. I don’t, however, think the Yankees risk them pulling out unless the Yankees are intransigent.
Damon is my vote of the three know DH candidates. Whoever it is, let’s hope Swisher doesn’t get hurt as Jones is the only one who can play right.
So how much is Derrek Lee gonna cost? Still got Jones and Dickerson as extra OF’ers, and LEE hitting 30+ HRs with that short porch. Nunez plays utility IF’er, with Pena a break glass in case of fire guy at AAA.
Rich in NJ February 13th, 2012 at 11:31 am
Chip
My point is really about why the Yankees probably aren’t getting Jones.
Apparently, the Yankees want to get AJ out of here at all cost. So yeah, a deal probably will get done, but seemingly on the Pirates’ terms.
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I think both teams are getting what they want. Cashman’s been on the other side of enough salary dumps to know he’s not getting a player of value back.
I think the Garrett Jones thing was more of a test to see how interested the Pirates are. Consider that before it leaked that the Yankees wanted Jones the word was that Pitt was only willing to take back $5-8 mil. Now that number is up around $10 or 12 mil.
EVERY report I have read claims the framework for the AJ deal has Already been agreed on. Done deal. Dotting I’s etc.
Chip February 13th, 2012 at 11:17 am
Duh Innings February 13th, 2012 at 11:16 am
What if the Yankees traded Burnett to Pittsburgh for Garrett Jones straight up where the Yanks pay $33M minus Jones’ 2012 salary so Pittsburgh pays the same for Burnett as they would for Jones, only across two years (half in 2012, half in 2013)?
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Pirates, from all reports, are willing to take back money – they are not willing to give up a decent player for Burnett no matter how much money the Yankees kick in.
——————————————————————————————————
They definitely wouldn’t be willing to do what you said considering Jones made peanuts last year. I figured Jones was making way more than $455,500 at this point, but I forgot that he plays for the Pirates who give among the smallest if not the smallest raises to players under control in MLB.
So now I say the Yanks should trade Burnett and someone good enough to land Jones for Jones. Who should the Yanks give up if anything? My thinking is there is no one in the system who could be the Yanks primary DH, backup 1B/RF, pr pinch pop off the bench now, or heir to Swisher in 2012 – enter (getting) Garrett Jones. Jorge Vasquez is 29 but he’s a strikeout machine in AAA who can’t play the field.
I’ve been saying it for awhile now: the Yanks re-sign Chavez regardless of the Burnett and DH situations. At least they’d have a competent backup 1B/3B and multiple Gold Glove-winning insurance 3B. It’s a risk with or without the Yanks trading Burnett and/or signing a DH, and how is Matsui/Damon/Ibanez not a risk? Where is it written that two 37 year olds (Matsui and Damon) and a 40 year old (Ibanez) who can’t play the field competently anymore (anymore period in Matsui’s case) will be healthy all season? Chavez is 33-34 last check (I think he’s 34 now.)
Or maybe the Yanks just have to get rid of Burnett for whatever they can get for him, re-sign Chavez, start the season with Russell Branyan at DH, and see what Branyan has left. Branyan is certainly low-risk high-reward at only $750K if he makes the team and he has demonstrated excellent power at the new Yankee Stadium albeit in a very small sample. I’d be thrilled if he gave the Yanks a decent April-May even if he tanked in June cuz the Yanks could rotate the DH in June until they could secure a permanent primary DH for the rest of the season.
and LEE hitting 30+ HRs with that short porch.
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He hit 12 HRs with an equally advantageous hitters park in Baltimore.
Ozzie was made for primetime.
EricFisher
Not nec. a huge surprise, but sources pointing to the #Marlins as featured team in 2nd season of The Franchise on Showtime.
They definitely wouldn’t be willing to do what you said considering Jones made peanuts last year. I figured Jones was making way more than $455,500 at this point, but I forgot that he plays for the Pirates who give among the smallest if not the smallest raises to players under control in MLB.
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Last years salary is not in question for Jones, its next years. He will make 2.2 to 2.5 million.
There is no need for a ‘dramatic’ increase in interleague games. There needs to be one interleague game played each night. Over a 162 game schedule you only need to play 162 games. Last season, there were 252 interleague games played. Each team played 15 or 18 games.
Donny,
Hope you realize Lee is a righty. And that most of his HRs in Baltimore would not have been out of NYS.
There is no need for a ‘dramatic’ increase in interleague games. There needs to be one interleague game played each night. Over a 162 game schedule you only need to play 162 games. Last season, there were 252 interleague games played. Each team played 15 or 18 games.
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The dramatic increase is going to be NL teams that only played 15 games now have to play the standard 18.
- JERKY -
Stop the smear campaign regarding Lee. You need to present ALL Lee’s the 2011 stats. Your work would be amply rewarded were you working for Romney. Not here.
The dramatic increase is going to be NL teams that only played 15 games now have to play the standard 18.
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Only DONNYBRROK would consider that dramatic.
Stop the smear campaign regarding Lee. You need to present ALL Lee’s the 2011 stats.
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Oh we should present the stats (STATS?) from when he faced NL chuckers in a going no where busher team full of low paid hoodoobies? Not from when he was in the heat of the AL east?? Also he is a righty so short porch (what?) Dude OPS’d .700 the last 2 seasons for a reason.
Are you going to be crying for AJ Burnett to come back were he to also succeed on the Pirates?
DONNYBROOK February 13th, 2012 at 11:37 am
So how much is Derrek Lee gonna cost? Still got Jones and Dickerson as extra OF’ers, and LEE hitting 30+ HRs with that short porch. Nunez plays utility IF’er, with Pena a break glass in case of fire guy at AAA.
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I think you’re confusing Derrek Lee with someone else – he’s only been a 30 HR guy a couple of times in his career and that was when he was younger/healthier than he is now.
Smear campaign? I didn’t know his agent posts here.
- CHIP-
He finished up 2011 Extremely strong and more importantly Healthy.
Good morning. Good to see you finally make an appearance, Tarheel.
Agree that AJ has value and Pirates are definitely interested. Fangraphs had him over past 3 seasons at, on average: 195 IP, 7.9 K/9, 3.9 BB/9, 71.6% LOB, 45.6% GB, 4.15 SIERA
Yanks should hold out in order to get something more back than just AJ as a partial salary dump. Maybe a low A prospect with some upside or two. Problem is Pirates are enamored of their farm, and don’t want to give up prospects.
He finished up 2011 Extremely strong and more importantly Healthy.
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On the pirates. And now he is 36 years old. And a righty.
Aj would probably start opening say for the Pirates….their rotation is horrendous.
I think everyone here knows Damon isn’t the player he once was or even in 2009….however he’s still the best of what’s available.
As always, market value is not determined by how hard a player throws, how many innings he can eat, what upside he may have in the bullpen.
A player’s market value is based SOLELY on how much the other 29 MLB want him. Nothing more, nothing less.
And in fact, with Burnett, its not even 29, but 19. There are 19 other team the Yanks can trade Burnett do and the whim of those teams, and their whim only, is what determines his value.
If the Yankees are motivated to shed Burnett, be it just because of the drama he’s created, be it to clear the decks for Hughes/Garcia and then AAA kids (or all of the above), they’re going to have to move him according to what market exists for him, as opposed to some subjective determination in a market vacuum of what he should be worth given his stats.
If you believe Brian Cashman knows how to dial a phone and correctly inform those other 19 teams Burnett is available, then he’s going to get approximate market value for Burnett, IF such a thing even exists.
Derrick Lee’s bat has become a third Rate WHEAT REAPER dulled by the RUST of too many harvests!
blake February 13th, 2012 at 11:53 am
Aj would probably start opening say for the Pirates….their rotation is horrendous.
I think everyone here knows Damon isn’t the player he once was or even in 2009….however he’s still the best of what’s available.
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Charlie Morton, James McDonald, AJ, Erik Bedard and Jeff Karstens would be my guess at the rotation.
Time to shed tears for AJ yet ?
FWIW, Kevin Goldstein’s top 101 at BP is up:
Manny B. 29
Gary Sanchez 40
Betances 63
Mason Williams 99
(Montero 7
Vizcaino 62)
As for Goldstein’s ranking of the Cuban IFA’s:
“Q: Where would Yoenis Cespedes rank?
A: Number 20, ahead of Nolan Arenado.
Q: Where would Jorge Soler rank?
A: Number 38 (or number 39 if Cespedes was also getting ranked), ahead of Yasmani Grandal.
Q: Where would Gerardo Concepcion rank?
A: Concepcion has signed with the Cubs, so he is eligible for this list, but he’s not a Top 101 prospect for me.”
http://www.baseballprospectus......leid=16020
There’s a chat at 1PM.
“As always, market value is not determined by how hard a player throws, how many innings he can eat, what upside he may have in the bullpen.”
A player’s market value is based SOLELY on how much the other 29 MLB want him. Nothing more, nothing less.”
Market value is not a static concept, to the contrary, it’s an evolving one, as supply and demand waxes and wanes. So it’s reasonable to believe that the market for AJ may expand as supply wanes.
“And in fact, with Burnett, its not even 29, but 19. There are 19 other team the Yanks can trade Burnett do and the whim of those teams, and their whim only, is what determines his value.”
This is not a fact. If AJ knows that he will begin the season in the pen, he may agree to be traded to teams that aren’t on his list.
How much is a top 50 outfield prospect worth?
Jerkface February 13th, 2012 at 11:23 am
Jones will make 2 million next season. Still really cheap, but also still a platoon DH bat.
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Anyone the Yanks get would be a platoon DH bat because Andruw Jones hits well enough against lefties to sit whoever the DH is.
Jones makes $2M this season? Ok, Burnett and $31M of his $33M salary ($15.5M this season, $15.5M next) to Pittsburgh for Jones. Throw in a midlevel prospect and look at it like that prospect for Jones since Burnett’s gonna do nothing for the 2012 Yanks unless you consider being a $16.5M mopup/swingman or a 5+ERA fifth starter ” doing something” which I don’t. Done deal.
Where is it written that the Pirates are willing to pay substantial money for Burnett? Why would they be willing to pay more than what they’re paying Garrett Jones for 2012 ($2M) or what they’re paying their highest paid player whoever he is for Burnett? I bet they want the Yanks to pay at least $27M of that $33M and even that means they’re willing to pay $6M for Burnett across two years. Really? What’s their best starter making? Why on Earth would they pay Burnett even 75% of that? The Yanks will have to literally eat it or put the rest in Tupperware for Pittsburgh or anyone.
Under my trade proposal, Burnett costs the Pirates a mil a year. The Pirates pay the same as they would if they kept Jones ($2M), clear $1M for 2012 (Jones’ $2M minus the mil they pay for 2012 Burnett), and would save at least a mil and a buck for 2013 ($2,000,0001 minus a mil they’re paying for 2013 Burnett) assuming Jones made at least a dollar above his $2M salary in 2013 and they kept him. They get a prospect to boot who might be the real catch.
They and Burnett would be in a win-win situation. Even if Burnett has another 2010 or 2011 in 2012, hey, he cost the Pirates only a mil, he’s still being paid $16.5M for 2013, and he still has 2013 to show he has something left to land a decent year or two deal. If he has a 13-10, 4.50 ERA type 2012, the Pirates could take their pick as to who to trade him for since he’d cost only a mil and the Yanks are footing most of the bill. Or maybe they’d keep him, offer him an extension or not. I could see ALL MLB TEAMS save the Yanks wanting a veteran making only a mil for only one year, peanuts for the stretch run especially since the Yanks would be footing 90+% of the bill. Believe it or not, the world would be Burnett’s oyster if he repeated or topped his 2012 in 2013. I wouldn’t even trade the guy unless someone out there was really desperate and made the Pirates an offer they couldn’t refuse. He could very well be another post-Yankees Pavano. He’s certainly better than Pavano overall.
Anyone who wants to look at it like signing Jones for two years at $15.5M per:
1. Jones is under control through 2014.
2. He is exactly what the Yanks need for 2012: a lefthanded primary DH, backup insurance 1B/RF, pinch pop off the bench at an Andruw Jones price and price they reportedly are willing to spend or have left to spend on a DH. A player better than Matsui, Damon, or Ibanez at this point.
3. He could be the RF in 2013 or a cheap option for RF to at least start 2013 if the price is too high for Swisher and whoever else on the free-agent market.
4. The alternative is Burnett is either the most expensive next to last or last man in the bullpen on the depth chart in MLB history or a guy who could cost the Yanks the 2012 postseason with another 5+ ERA in 30 or more starts because what if Nova or Garcia doesn’t repeat or top his 2011? What if both don’t repeat or top their 2011s? What if Hughes repeats his 2011 or rebounds but once again, can’t last an entire season? As talented as he is and showed last season, Pineda is not 100% guaranteed to be good as he just came off his rookie season. Kuroda is old and has been a career NL pitcher. Yes, of course this rotation is a more solid rotation going into a season than 2011′s rotation, but each guy after Sabathia is a question mark to varying degrees. We always have to be mindful of the unthinkable also: Sabathia getting hurt or sucking for 7-10 straight starts or worse than sucking being a hard-luck loser for 7-10 starts and sucking for a stretch. He is a big, heavy man and not a kid anymore. Did any of us think Wang would be out for the season in 2008? So even Sabathia isn’t a 100% sure thing (more like 95%) – who is? Jeter and A-Rod certainly aren’t sure things anymore, as far as their ability to post star numbers. The only sure thing the Yanks have as far as I see it is Mo.
a2003pr February 13th, 2012 at 10:29 am
How about what almost happened in the aftermath of the Red Sox’ 2003 collapse?
Manny Ramirez & Jon Lester to the Rangers for Arod.
Magglio Ordonez & Brandon McCarthy to the Cubs for Nomar.
This is on top of the Bosox already dealing for Schilling and signing Ketih Foulke as a free agent.
“That didn’t fly, but discussions went back and forth over the course of the next two months and one week before Christmas, the Red Sox had two deals in place: Boston would send Garciaparra and reliever Scott Williamson to the White Sox for Magglio Ordonez and prospects; Boston would also trade Manny Ramirez to the Rangers for Rodriguez. Sox owner John Henry had met with A-Rod and Rodriguez allowed a restructuring of his contract which creatively lowered the annual value (from $27 million to $20 million) and enabled the Red Sox to skirt some luxury tax. That’s when player rep Gene Orza stepped in and killed the deal.”
Read more: http://sportsillustrated.cnn.c.....z1mMf3uQoe