The finishing touches
Posted by: Chad Jennings - Posted in Misc on Feb 18, 2012 
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On the day CC Sabathia signed his contract extension, Brian Cashman got on a conference call and promised a conservative winter. He said he had achieved his No. 1 objective. He felt no sense of desperation. He could approach the winter with patience and conviction.
Three and half months later, Cashman has traded away Jesus Montero and A.J. Burnett – two players who seemed all but untradeable (for very different reasons). He’s also signed Freddy Garcia, Hiroki Kuroda and Andruw Jones — three players in their mid-to-late 30s added to a roster that already has its share of aging veterans (and two more older players might be on their way).
It’s an odd brand of conservativism, and certainly not everyone agrees with the approach — where’s the big free agent splash?!! — but the consensus seems to be that the Yankees have improved their roster. The bullpen needed little work, and the rotation is clearly deeper. All of last year’s lineup is back with the exception of Jorge Posada, who underperformed so drastically that the Yankees will try to replace his numbers with a rotating cast of designated hitters and bench players.
The Yankees have traded youth for youth, admitted a tough-to-swallow mistake, and avoided long-term risk with high-risk players. This is what a conservative winter looks like in Yankees universe. Cashman patience has left the Yankees with a roster that’s still incomplete just one day before pitchers and catchers report to camp, but at this point, the blueprint is pretty clear.
We’re still a long way from knowing whether it will work.
Associated Press photo from the Yankees minor league complex
The AJ trade makes the Montero trade more understandable.
Baseball Tonight and the MLB network both think the Yankees made a huge improvement in their pitching w/ the moves they made this off season.
But, Cashman is on the hot seat and will lose his job shortly.
Have a good weekend, LoHud faithful (you too, Chad).
“Whoever they sign would be the third string LF behind Gardner and Jones.. this is NOT a decision about defense. It’s a decision about anticipated productivity vs RHP as a part-time DH and the comparative cost.”
Methinks you are corrrect, sir!
Me also thinks that whomever they sign will be an appropriate signing given the way the organization has structured its DH role.
The more important question is: Is ball-handling something that can be improved upon? I’d be lying to say that I have total comfort with 21 turn overs (or however many there were) with Lin being in the high numbers.
But as someone said earlier, there are adjustments he’s going to have to make, and it’s obvious that every competitor’s strategy is to cover him like darkness at night and freeze him out whenever and wherever possible.
In my mind Cashman had three mandatory objectives this off-season to prepare for 2012:
1. Re-sign CC
2. Trade AJ
3. Keep Montero
Anything else accomplished would have been gravy. So in this poster’s mind, Cashman failed this winter as he didn’t keep Montero.
Your objectives have little to do with Cashman’s though.
Good morning.
I’m ready for some real baseball.
Play ball !
The Yankees one objective this winter was to improve the rotation. They did that without question. I am much more confident with this team than last year’s.
Tar – “CC is exactly the example of what AJ isn’t. A man who wants nothing more than to win ( and be a Yankee), yet he still makes his family his number one priority.”
Either you missed the point or refused to answer the question. Let’s try it again. If CC’s wife refused to go to NY, And for example, wanted to stay in an area with a losing team & CC had the choice between 1) NY & not seeing his family OR 2) being with his family and playing on a losing team, which do you think he would pick?
A good article on Dante Jr. today in the NYP. Hopefully, this kid reaches his potential and makes the loss of Vizcaino a little less painful since Bichette’s draft choice came from Javy going free agent.
http://www.nypost.com/p/sports.....n6dFWSoEVJ
yankee21 – I would have agreed with you earlier on but after watching the way the trade played out, I now have to believe that Cashman’s strategy was a lot more far-thinking and sound than my own thinking would have been.
It appears to me that keeping Montero in the DH role would have merely given him an extra season in pinstripes and would have still left him a man without a home in terms of the team reality, that is needing to keep the DH spot fluid for the older stars on the team who still have lengthy contracts but will inevitably need to give up their spots on the field (think Posada at the end).
It’s a trade that pains me because of the offense that Montero brought, but one that I still understand as having to be made in order to put more the more necessary pieces in place, that would be shoring up the rotation. If you’re going to be a money team, it’s going to be with your starting pitching as opposed to your DH role, especially if that role doesn’t play out with a position on the field.
From my perspective, this has been a productive winter.
Mac-
Same here.
I hope this is the Rotation
CC
Kuroda
Nova
Pineda
Hughes
Picking family is never wrong whether one is a baseball player or plumber. To act as if that means he doesn’t want to win is very misplaced.
Crawdaddy-
He’s got the genes and is reported to have the makeup.
MTU,
That is the rotation I hope for as well. Freddy for the long man, leaving one bullpen spot open for either a logy or one of the young arms.
Crawdaddy-
Arodys Vizcaino currently projects to be in the bullpen as the Braves have plenty of young starters in Beachy, Minor, Delgado and Teheran.
Tar – I have to agree with the family pick. It’s apparent that AJ’s wife has a total aversity to flying. What good is his life if all he has to come home to at the end of the day is a team with a winning record?
Montero never got a real shot at playing catcher for the yankees. Playing DH while being broken in with some catching duties & learning 1B was what I was hoping. I still feel that signing Yu & keeping Montero would have been preferable to the trade. It’s sad to see such an incredible bat not being in the lineup.
Last night, just for fun, I asked Pat M. what he thought the win projections for oue starters might be ?
I was curious due to his experience and known tendencies to bet on things.
His projections were :
CC- around 20
Kuroda, Pineda, Hughes – 15 + each
He was concerned about Nova’s forearm but if he does stay healthy I’m sure he would have added
another 15 or so.
That may be be a tad optimistic but that’s a lot of wins.
I can actually see it too.
austinmac February 18th, 2012 at 9:17 am
Picking family is never wrong whether one is a baseball player or plumber. To act as if that means he doesn’t want to win is very misplaced.
—-
+1
My personal decision was staying back home & being with my sick grandmother or a great job. I know it’s not the same, but still…. In the end, I got to spend that final time with her I wouldn’t have been able to if I had gone. And I’m fine where I’m at today.
“Arodys Vizcaino currently projects to be in the bullpen as the Braves have plenty of young starters in Beachy, Minor, Delgado and Teheran.”
Yet, various baseball prospect publications are rating Vizcaino higher than those other pitchers this season and there was an article that the Braves are using Vizcaino as a starter this spring. IMO, his future is still to be determine.
86w183 February 18th, 2012 at 9:12 am
Hey Trish —-
Teams will now bait Lin into thinking he has a clearer path to the basket than he does and he has to learn to recognize that.
Additionally he has to keep dishing to shooters even when the shots aren’t falling and he got away from that as well.
Still fascinating to watch this evolve…. by the way, what was the ESPN headline people are squawking about?
————————————————————————————————————————-
“Chink In Knicks armor” above the picture of Lin.
ESPN should be embarrassed over that line and I expect somebody is going to lose their job(s).
Mac-
I fully expect the Yankees to have one of the best overall pitching staffs in baseball.
Especially if the Pen is included.
There O should be more than adequate with that level of Pitching.
Not only that, they can always try to upgrade further at the TD if they think they need to.
I’m expecting some improvement from Tex, and Swisher will be playing for meal money.
I also hope and expect that GGBG will contribute even more.
Craw,
Disney will have somebody’s head pver that one.
Lock, it seems to me that the Yankees evaluated their players and their needs and decided that Romine was who they needed more. I will tell you that I would much rather have a stellar defenseman behind the dish than an average one who wields a great bat. Those hits can sure look great, but if you’re letting the other team run around the bases like horses on a carousel, then your hits will soon be washed out.
Monday-morning QBing maybe, but it appears they weren’t paying Yu-type dollars. And unlike others who don’t value defense at 1B, I am the opposite. I want a Tex-type at first because if the guy doesn’t get to first, he doesn’t get past it. Can you teach Tex-type 1B skills? I’m thinking not.
Here I must own up to the fact that my penchant for pitching and defense far outweighs my desire for offense and given the choice, especially on a team that has strong offense, I will always go for the pitching and/or defense.
I have some questions about the offense…..but the Yankees COULD have the best staff (rotation +pen) that they’ve had in a long time…..like since the late 90s……
If the offense can remain solid and fight off injury and father time then the 2012 Yanks could be a very very good team.
GB – horrific. Hopefully you’re right about someone being fired for that.
Trisha-
“Here I must own up to the fact that my penchant for pitching and defense far outweighs my desire for offense and given the choice, especially on a team that has strong offense, I will always go for the pitching and/or defense.”
I freely admit that is my bias too.
smh over the ESPN – Lin
“If CC’s wife refused to go to NY”
Why would he not see his family? You’re being overly dramatic. AJ could have moved his wife. They are multi millionaires who could have found a balance, a way to make it work. I don’t buy what you are selling. Winning just doesn’t seem very important to him.
The fact is CC would not be happy playing for a perennial loser like the Pirates. He would have never signed a contract with a team like that. AJ would have, and that is what I’m selling.
The fact is CC uprooted his family from the West Coast to an East Coast team that paid him the most and gave him the best opportunity to win. CC wanted to be a Yankee and he found a way to make it work.
You can not compare the two.
I guess we just see it differently. Have to run have a nice day.
Lock – I was supposed to be working for the AG in Philadelphia, a job I really wanted and would have gotten me closer to my goal of federal prosecution, but sickness at home made it a no-brainer for me. I never could have had peace of mind being away from my family.
Crawdaddy-
From David O’Brien with the Atlanta Journal Constitution 12/21/2011:
Braves general manager Frank Wren reiterated Wednesday that Arodys Vizcaino is penciled in as a member of the bullpen next season.Vizcaino, 21, made his major league debut as a reliever this past season and posted a 4.67 ERA and 17/9 K/BB ratio over 17 1/3 innings. While he has a promising future as a starter, Wren thinks he’s better off pitching in the bullpen for now. Baseball America recently ranked the hard-throwing right-hander as the No. 2 prospect in the Braves’ organization.
FWIW Klaw loves Vizcaino…..ranks him higher than Teheran.
What did ESPN say about Lin?
Trisha, it should be whoever wrote the headline and the editor that was supposed to check it. Disney does a lot of business in the far east (billions) and people/good public relations are their livelyhood. Apparently, this is the second time a headline like that was posted. Years ago when The USA basketball team was playing in China was the other.
Blake-
If the staff reaches it’s potential with our Pen you don’t need nearly as much O.
I think we should have more than enough.
It would take a lot of bad luck for a team like this to miss the playoffs.
The depth and versatility is also built in.
Compare with the Sux, for example.
I already consider ESPN a waste of time but I hope more people realize they have become the TMZ of sports – way more concerned with being controversial than informative.
Lockdown,
Good for you and your grandmother. Those decisions are ones we don’t regret.
CC was not dealing with a wife whom can’t fly. That changes everything.
“I freely admit that is my bias too.”
And a mighty fine bias it is, my man!
Craw,
Thanks for the Dante link…..kid seems like a flat out winner. If he hits at Charleston this year then he will shoot up some prospect lists
“Picking family is never wrong whether one is a baseball player or plumber.”
It’s not about picking winning over family when you are a multi millionaire baseball player.
It’s about convenience, for crying out loud. We are not talking about playing in Japan or never seeing his family.
A plumber or you or me is totally different than a multi-millionaire baseball player. To think differently is naive.
Now, I am really out.
Yankee Trader,
A Yankee fan still upset about losing Vizcaino stated the other day that the Braves were going to keep Vizcaino stretched out as a starter this spring. I don’t remember the site nor did I read the link.
trisha – I too prefer defensive catchers. As I like Martin a lot. I also agree that Romine look to be a better defensive catcher over Montero. But it just feels like Montero wasn’t given a shot. Also, with the possibility of sanchez, them liking Martin & then Cervelli, is Romine going to be the future or another trade chip? If he’s a trade chip than having Monetro DH/BU2theBUC wouldn’t have been so bad in 2012.
As per Yu-type dollars, we’re looking at about 10mill a year. I guess time will tell what they do in the future, but I don’t see this as a formidable amount especially with monies coming off the book
Blake, it was the questionable taste of the headline…not the story.
It looks as if the Braves must be idiots like the Yankees are said to be by putting a potential starter in the pen.
“Teams will now bait Lin into thinking he has a clearer path to the basket than he does and he has to learn to recognize that.”
A Harvard grad? It will be a slam dunk!
MTU,
I agree….Pineda may not be quite ready to be Sabtathia’s running mate just yet….but their otchijg should be pretty darn good if they all stay healthy. It could be a situation this year where a bat added at the deadline (Ethier?) Could hopefully be the final piece to hopefully a title team……we shall see.
Blake-
Where did you get the Yankees possible projected payroll for 2013. Weren’t you around 115M???
If these players retire or are not signed there’s 52.75M coming off the books, but other players have raises and some of these will need to be replaced.
Rivera-15M
Swisher-10.25M
Kuroda-10M
Martin-7.5M
Feliciano-4M
Garcia-4M
Jones-2m
Lot of concern about the health of Hanson’s arm.
“It looks as if the Braves must be idiots like the Yankees are said to be by putting a potential starter in the pen.”
If you read Yankee fan sites, it’s only the Yankees that make that mistake and keep getting grief about it years afterwards.
GB,
Just saw the headline….wow….nlt sure how that made it part an editor.
Trader,
Cots…..they’ve already factored in the AJ trade and have 2013 at 118 I believe.
The Yankees are stacked with SP and arms in the minor leagues to fill BP roles. They should have a standout staff now that AJ has been jettisoned.
If the Yankees can find another legitimate impact bat they will be unstoppable. If they don’t then they will be fighting for their playoff lives with TB, LAA, TEX and DET and possibly TOR.
If Hughes, Nova or Pineda show signs they can assume the #2 SP role for 2013 and beyond by their performance this year,,, then say goodbye to Betances and other Minor league relief depth (other than Banuelos) as NY would have to consider packaging them in a deal for a young impact bat.
The more important question is: Is ball-handling something that can be improved upon? I’d be lying to say that I have total comfort with 21 turn overs (or however many there were) with Lin being in the high numbers.
But as someone said earlier, there are adjustments he’s going to have to make, and it’s obvious that every competitor’s strategy is to cover him like darkness at night and freeze him out whenever and wherever possible.
——–
Trisha
The Hornets packed the paint and played a bunch of zone defense. The only way to counteract those two things is to have shooters to keep the defense honest.
Melo and JR Smith will make a world of difference in that regard, because the Knicks current wing players are really bad shooters.
Tar, you are one of my main men here, but we don’t know what kind of conversations were ever had behind the walls of the Burnett house. And AJ seems like a very soft and sensitive guy. Not everyone is into displacing his family all the time, and maybe his wife has strong family ties.
I can’t get down on him for those decisions.
There are players who have flat-out said they would not play for the Yankees, for whatever reason(s). I don’t question their desires in terms of playing the game, and you know that you at least have a chance of winning when you play for the Yanks. Different strokes for different folks.
There may be some who actually play for love of the game….
Rivera will pitch in 2013, if he’s healthy and still effective
Trading Montero for Pineda is anything but conservative. A premium young bat is more reliable than a young pitcher as a rule and, in this case, Pineda has a number of risk factors specific to him. He doesn’t have the pedigree of a highly recruited prospect who progressed steadily through the minors. He does have the “inverted W” pitching motion and a history of forearm and elbow problems.
If the trade pans out well, all credit to Cashman. But, in this signature move of the offseason and possibly his tenure with the Yankees, he has rolled the dice in a very large way.
trisha – “I never could have had peace of mind being away from my family.”
I’m with you
I just have a feeling Mo might hang Uhm up after this year…..
Crawdaddy-
You probably are correct as the Braves have some concerns about Tommy Hanson’s shoulder. He is coming to ST and will be working on his delivery and mechanics to put less strain on his shoulder. Also, the Braves weren’t able to find a “sucker” team to take Jair Jurrgens, and there are major concerns about his right knee.
No argument from me.
Blake-
I hope they slot Pineda further down in the Rotation at least until he gets his feet wet.
Remember when Hughes was bringing gas and spotting his FB ?
Now consider this. Pineda’s command is probably about as good with an even higher avg. velo.
Couple that with the fact that he has a wipeout slider and you can see where I might be going with this.
I also think the kid has a solid makeup from what I have read. A hard worker.
I would not be surprised to see a 3rd pitch come along a lot faster than most people might expect.
It does not have to be a CU. Just something to give him another look to get guys thinking a bit more.
That said, I have my expectations set properly. Not expecting miracles.
Novak is the only active Knick right now that can spread the floor for Lin and he was just off with his shot last night. It happens.
Tar,
A baseball player 3000 miles from a wife that can’t fly will never see his family. That is not acceptable to most, but we are all entitled to our own priorities. Mine has always been family.
LGY, when someone turns the ball over that much, what does it indicate? Poor judgement? Lack of ability? Lack of experience? High anxiety? Can that be totally turned around? I am guessing yes but I’m not a real basketball aficiando so don’t know.
“I would not be surprised to see a 3rd pitch come along a lot faster than most people might expect”
Agree…..Im not as worried about it as some…..I also agree that they should slot him probably 4th to start the year.
Sabathia, Kuroda, Nova, Pineda, Hughes.
My family relocated for a bit. It was a temporary relo, however after the time frame was over, we had an opportunity to stay. Family concerns back home were paramount and we moved back.
It is never as simple as, “well, just move his wife to California.” She and his children would be in a And it’s rather incredible that some stranger would feel comfortable passing judgment on him because AJ made accommodations for his wife and family, accommodations that were agreed to by the team he chose to sign with (the Yankees).
Having lived away from my family for even a short time, I know first-hand that it is not easy. Telephones and skype do not take up the slack. And fitting into a new community is difficult.
I, like many, have always expected BJ Upton to become a star. If he does become a free agent, he will be tempting despite never having developed like I thought.
Could it be poor player development by the Rays? No, I forgot that only happens with the Yankees.
Blake-
Freddy as the 6th man followed by Phelps, Warren, or Mitchell.
Deeper and wider than the Colorado.
It’s really too bad that with the partial savings of Burnett dollars and the number of expiring contracts next year that the Yanks are scraping the bottom of the barrel (dollar wise) to fill the last two roster spots. Matsui would be a nice addition.
Blake-
Isn’t the current 2012 payroll around 200M after the Burnett trade. if you include Burnett’s 8M coming off the books in 2013, along with the other 52.75M that projects at close to 139M, and doesn’t account for raises due Cano, Granderson, A-Rod, Jeter and Soriano, plus arb cases.
Am I correct or am I missing something? The reason I ask, is that it’s going to hard for the Yankees to be below the LT threshold of 189M for the start of the 2014 season if they are starting at 139M for 2013, rather than 118M, and that’s without replacements for RF, Closer, Catcher if Swisher goes, Rivera retires, and Martin is not extended.
Having lived away from my family for even a short time, I know first-hand that it is not easy. Telephones and skype do not take up the slack. And fitting into a new community is difficult.
—————————————————————
It is part of being a pro athlete. She knew what it would be like going into it
I’d sure like to have me a little of the Upton brother! Imagine being able to snake him away from the snakes!
Mac-
It should be very interesting to see how Swisher and GGBG perform this season.
I’m expecting some improvement from both.
“It is part of being a pro athlete. She knew what it would be like going into it”
But if going into it they knew that she could not fly and decided that it would always be a team where driving would be an acceptable option, then there you have it.
Trader,
I think cots has them at 202 now…..but that’s not factoring in a few arbitration numbers like Cervelli etc…..so its probably closer to 204-205.
I think they can get under 189……but as i’ve said before they have to have most of their pitching besides CC to be in house…..or they’ll have to let Granderson walk most likely.
Trisha,
I join in wanting baby Upton. Why not dream the impossible(for several years)dream?
I question the need for Chavez now. Laird or Hall could fill the role, in my opinion.
trisha -
Exactly.
My nephew was supposed to be on CNN at 10 but I guess that’s not happening since its 24/7 Whitney
austin, I’m good to go no matter what name shows up. But I admit to liking Chavez a whole lot, partly due to his amazing abilities on the field. But if someone else can do the same thing, I’m good with that too!
I’m either easy to please, or I trust the Yanks more than I trust me. (I think a little of both.)
Triple – who is your nephew and why was he supposed to be on CNN at 10?????
Little Upton will be tough to pry away from the Dbacks as long as they are winning…..his contract is too good and he’s too good.
Trisha-
Towers owes Cash.
Seriously, If you really want that to happen hope that our 3 young guns have great seasons.
Along with Betances at AAA.
If they do, that might free up Betances to be the center of a package to the Snakes for JU.
“It is part of being a pro athlete. She knew what it would be like going into it”
and then you have kids and family members get sick and parents get old and all the knowing going in gets thrown out the window.
Triple – who is your nephew and why was he supposed to be on CNN at 10?????
——————————————————————
It is a CNN hero story on a special pre school for kids with cancer in which he attends. He is the kid wearing the captain America shirt.
http://www.cnn.com/2012/02/16/.....index.html
I question the need for Chavez now. Laird or Hall could fill the role, in my opinion.
——————————
Ditto. Hall has been working with Long this offseason, and either has to make the team by April 1st and go North or be given the chance to hook on with another team.
I wouldn’t be surprised if Russell Branyon has a better spring, than all the DH candidates we’ve talked about on the blog.
My guess is that Hughes will be awarded the 5th spot & that Garcia will be disgruntled and ask for a trade. Watching his many interviews & his slight attitudes, I don’t see him accepting this role. I believed he would have a set back even with him getting the auto 5th spot, but now with a back up role, I could see it being much harder for him to succeed.
Yankees are a great organization, but after last year, Garcia must feel he deserves to start… “Better to reign in Hell than to serve in Heaven”…. OK, maybe that’s an exaggerated quote, but I like the quote
Also, I feel Hughes is ultimately a reliever. he can’t maintain a secondary pitch & I don’t believe he’ll be able to maintain his velocity. IMO He’ll start and crap out midway through to be replaced by a frustrated Garcia. Yankees are better off starting Garcia in the 5th, but they need to pitch Hughes & see what he has or does NOT have
once and for all.
Hope I’m wrong, but time will tell
If the Yankees do sign Ibanez…..I think its probably an indication that they don’t want to spend too much on that spot because they’ll look to upgrade it during the season via trade……Damon would be much messier to part with mid season than Ibanez.
austinmac, Trisha –
I want baby upton too…
I also want Bryce
I’d be lying if I didn’t say it wasn’t a “concern” but at the same time I think a lot of things are contributing to it right now.
He’s very young and young PGs turn the ball over, there has been basically no practice time this entire season with the compressed schedule, he’s playing way more minutes than he’s used to, and probably some other factors as well.
It should get better but the degree to which I have no idea. He can still be very effective even if he’s a bit turnover prone especially in this system.
Whomever has the best chance to stay healthy and productive….Hall, Laird or Chavez. Chavez is a waste of a roster spot. He can’t and will not stay healthy. Chavez was done a couple of years ago.
JonHeymanCBS
Many tweeps, including @Emanon_22, wonder who will do walkoff pie duties w/ aj gone. My vote: $200M team should discontinue practice
RiverAveBlues
@JonHeymanCBS Yeah. Baseball is serious business. Only teams with low payrolls should be allowed to have fun.
Triple-
Just finished watching the CNN video. Thanks for the link
to this very touching story.
Justin’s salary jumps to 15 million in 2014 so the best chance at gettin him will probably be for the Dbacks to start stinking some time before then……that’s kinda unlikely to me though given the pitching they are stockpiling out there……also 2014 is of course payroll armagedeon as well.
Pat-
Didn’t it seem that even with the 97 wins last year, that the walk of pies were few and far between last year as compared to 2010?
Triple -
Poor little doll. I promise you I will be keeping him in my prayers.
I think its probably an indication that they don’t want to spend too much on that spot because they’ll look to upgrade it during the season via trade.
———-
So they just saved $5 mil. on AJ this year to scrimp on this roster spot ? Or trade more top prospects at mid season for who knows ?
One wonders how many if any of the top ml prospects in the system will ever see the ML as a NYY.
Everyone have a great day.
Attaching an article about an interview with Gene Michael from the NY Times today:
http://bats.blogs.nytimes.com/.....l/?src=twr
“So they just saved $5 mil. on AJ this year to scrimp on this roster spot ? Or trade more top prospects at mid season for who knows ?”
I think part of the money goes to Kuroda since apparently they expanded the budget to sign him…..also it gives then more flexibility during the season…..I think they should sign Damon…..unless they are planning on don’t something better via trade during the season and want to keep money open for that.
Maybe they think Damon would be too messy to part with if it doesn’t work out…..same with Matsui
Triple, stuff like that tears my heart out. I see that and realize how little worrying about the Yankees DH really matters.
I pray that your nephew is a success story, because we know there are definitely success stories with kids who have cancer. Such a cute little guy.
Poor little doll. I promise you I will be keeping him in my prayers.
—————————————————————
Thank you. His treatments will finally end this December and he is expected to make a full recovery. When childhood Leukemia is caught at a young age the survival rate is like 90 something percent.
Something I was totally not aware of when I first heard about it
Triple – GREAT news!
But Kuroda was already signed well before AJ being given the rubber key. Coupled with all the expiring contract next year they should be in good shape to line up for 2014 and the LT.
Why not spend the extra couple of bucks now to win with an aging team ?
It is disappointing to see all these has beens like Hall, Branyan, Chavez, Ibanez etc. even being considered.
YT,
Thanks for the Michael’s article.
“But Kuroda was already signed well before AJ being given the rubber key. Coupled with all the expiring contract next year they should be in good shape to line up for 2014 and the LT.”
For all we know the deal may have been that Cashman coukd only sign Kuroda if he then traded AJ to clear some money.
Why do I somehow believe that Ruby Red Sock isn’t disappointed at all?
Villa
You asked the other day about how many walk offs Derek had prior to AJ arriving. Here’s a website that appears to have the answer if it’s accurate.
http://www.replacementlevel.co.....009_part_2
Ahh….yes I am. Why mention it and why would you care ? Just cuz of my handle apparently.
————–
Like putting the cart before the horse ? Meaning the Kuroda signing first and then shipping out AJ ? Seems kind of backwards especially with very few teams interesting in trading and giving any kind of return for AJ.
Have a great day y’all. And remember that kindness, while priceless, costs nothing.
Trip – wow, my prayers go out to you & your family on his full recovery.
AJ will fit in great on the Pirates. They’re used to losing & now have veteran leadership on how to lose.
Triple
All the best to your nephew, and thanks for sharing that link.
“Like putting the cart before the horse ?”
The Kuroda decision was likely time sensitive and maybe they had a good idea they could move AJ.
Thank you everyone for the kind words
Alex’ contract is frontloaded
http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/.....id=3153171
In 2015 he’ll receive 21 million… in 2011 that number was 31….
Yankees only getting $5 Mill from the Pirates this season. Certainly not a lotta $$$ to buy a DH and a backup IF’er. Makes me believe Ibanez is gonna get the job largely due to his asking price. As in life, you get what you pay for. AJ always gave his best effort for the Yanks, but I gotta believe the Yanks feel they saw his best a while ago, and it only gets uglier from this point forward.
“As in life, you get what you pay for.”
This axiom applies to the Yankees overall payroll, yes?
Alex’ contract is frontloaded
http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/…..id=3153171
In 2015 he’ll receive 21 million… in 2011 that number was 31
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True, but for luxury tax purposes, AAV is used, thus Rodriquez’s lux tax number will always be $27.5M. It’ll be more when he hits those homer bonuses, one of which he could hit this year.
Arh ok
Didn’t know that
DONNYBROOK February 18th, 2012 at 11:10 am
… As in life, you get what you pay for.
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Didn’t we just get rid of AJ, because he wasn’t measuring up, even though we paid a pretty penny for him?
True, but for luxury tax purposes, AAV
******
That is why 2014 is being stressed – chance to reset the luxury tax clock
And btw… Only 6 years left on the Albatross contract!
After this season, the following are seen in savings:
Kuroda – 10 million off the books
Garcia – 5 million off the books
A.J. – 8 million is being picked up by Pirates
Swisher – 10.25 millionish
Andruw Jones – 2 million
Chavez/Ibanez – let us say 2 million
So that is around 37 millionish coming off the books or being freed up next offseason – but there will be raises for Cano and Granderson in their contracts, but I believe no increase for A-Rod. Arbitration raises will be due Phil, Joba, DRob, Gardner – but Nova, Pineda, and Nunez will still be pre-arbtirtation.
It appears Pineda and Campos will help pay dividends in keeping us out of the escalating pitcher’s market – and you can more easily supplement your offense with an Adrian Beltre or Mike Napoli type acquisition the same way the Rangers did in the 2010 offseason – than you can shore up your pitching staff.
That is why 2014 is being stressed – chance to reset the luxury tax clock
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Yep. Won’t be easy. The magic number is $189M. Arod, Teixeira, Sabathia and Jeter will eat up $88M of that. Both Cano and Granderson enter free agency after 2013. Let’s assume they keep Cano for $20M per season. That’s 5 guys eating $108M. Means the balance of the 40 man roster and benefits need to be squeezed into about $80M. It’s going to be tight.
pat -
Thank you for that information. It would seem an anomaly of sorts for DJ to not have had any walk-offs in three years!
Guess he really didn’t like pie!
“Means the balance of the 40 man roster and benefits need to be squeezed into about $80M. It’s going to be tight.”
Its doable…..but their young pitchers have to pan out and their pitching staff has to be cheap and offset those big salaries…….if Pineda, Nova, Banuelos etc aren’t holding don’t rotations spots then they arebin trouble.
Let’s hope A-Rod will be able to contribute come 2014….
- stuckey -
In my estimation, the only overpaid player the Yanks have is A-Rod. CC and Company earn their keep on the field and are Quality individuals in general. Most these guys are active in the community and represent the Yankee brand well also. But the A-Rod contract issa concern, and that concern will only grow as the $189\2014 deadline approaches. True, the Yanks would not have won that Championship in 2009 if not for A-Rod. But as my Father used to say, “One swallow doth not a Summerth make”.
If they don’t hit the 189 in 2014, they can try again to reset it in 2015, no?
“One swallow doth not a Summerth make”.
$$ wise- Superstar contracts cost the Yankees less to the bottom line than 2 midlevel contracts.
- Stoneburner -
I thought Russell Martin came off the books after this season? This is why the continued development of Romine is big. I just do Not see the Yanks bringing Martin back, if they are seriously gonna chase that $189\2014. Cervelli just aint a full-time MLB catcher. Cano is gonna break the bank, and the Yanks will gladly pay-the-piper. I also doubt the Yanks will chase Grandy, hence the interest in Soler of late. Gardner gives the Yanks a hedge\$$$ in CF, and issa bargain in comparison to what Grandy’s new deal will cost.