What did I miss? Ichiro’s preference
Posted by: Chad Jennings - Posted in Misc on Nov 26, 2012 
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At this point it’s clear the Yankees are focused on pitching, with catching on their radar. And for the time being, at least one right fielder seems willing to wait.
This weekend, Ichiro Suzuki’s agent made it clear that Ichiro is not close to signing anywhere and would prefer a return to the Yankees.
“They are going after pitching first which is what the Yankees normally do,” Tony Attanasio told the New York Post. “There has been a lot of interest (from teams), but he enjoyed playing for the Yankees so much it’s hard for him to say no to the Yankees. His preference is to stay there instead of going someplace else, but we will wait and see.”
Ichiro doesn’t perfectly fit the Yankees “big, hairy monsters” approach, but given their financial concerns for 2014, they might have to change their approach depending on what fits. If Ichiro will take a one-year deal, he’ll fit. Whether that makes him the best fit is up for some debate.
The Yankees also seem to have some interest in bringing back Raul Ibanez, and adding Ichiro and Ibanez to an outfield that already has Brett Gardner and Curtis Granderson (and Chris Dickerson) would make the Yankees entirely left-handed in the outfield. That’s not a problem if Ichiro, Granderson and Ibanez can hit lefties, but that hasn’t always been the case (Gardner has usually handled lefties pretty well, but he hasn’t always been allowed to start against them). Clearly the Yankees would want some right-handed balance there.
Adding Ichiro would also give the Yankees two speed-based outfielders who don’t provide much power. That might not be a deal breaker, but it’s certainly not the Yankees usual method of roster construction.
That said, Ichiro thrived late last season. He still covers quite a bit of ground, he’s can still have an impact on the bases, and he could give the Yankees some leadoff insurance should Derek Jeter be unable to play on Opening Day. That’s to say nothing of his popularity in the clubhouse, and his veteran presence on the field.
It’s clear that Ichiro would like to come back. We’re still waiting to find out whether the Yankees want him.
Associated Press photo
The New York Yankees and Johnny Damon have PARTED WAYS!!!!
$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$
i hope its not the bad news we were fearing in regards to gb7. i spent some time trying to find him unsuccessfully with help from the girls in the fantasy baseball league. i figured that in the short term at least, no news was good news. but as time goes on it becomes more ominous.
you guys are keeping your mitts over your mouths so i cant tell what you’re saying…
…and by girls i mean charming intelligent women, or i’ll be out on my kiester next year im sure….
Brian Cashman GMGMGM says:
November 26, 2012 at 7:39 pm
The New York Yankees and Johnny Damon have PARTED WAYS!!!!
Uhm yes…a long time ago
@MikeSilvermanBB: This is interesting @Royals_Report: KC & #RedSox have discussed Jon Lester-Wil Myers deal. Nothing’s close, but still: http://t.co/86WNbRR1
Brian Cashman GMGMGm seems to have dropped in for just a second from 2009….
…dude, just a word, if you’ve got any money in MF Global, get it out now….
Lester kinda stinks right now….I wouldn’t trade 6 years of Myers for 2 of Lester
@JonHeymanCBS: free agent Jeff Keppinger suffered a broken fibula in fall. had surgery, hopes to be ready for spring. http://t.co/0YZ0J9k
@SurfingTheMets: Source: Pete Mackanin, respected former MLB manager and Phillies bench coach, has accepted a job as major league scout for Yankees.
The Royals have already added Ervin Santana to their rotation and brought back Jeremy Guthrie this offseason, but Bob Dutton of the Kansas City Star writes that general manager Dayton Moore would like to add one more impact arm to his rotation. According to Dutton, Moore’s preference is to acquire that arm by dealing prospects rather than Major League talent, and there have been discussions about using top prospect Wil Myers to acquire James Shields or Jon Lester.
Dutton writes that the Royals are currently weighing whether or not six years of Myers is worth two years of either Lester or Shields. One Royals source told Dutton that it’s easy to project Myers as a 30-homer bat at the Major League level within the next two-to-three seasons. At the moment, the Royals, Red Sox and Rays are all said to be hesitant, and no deal is close.
Read more at http://www.mlbtraderumors.com/#R5dmk2reW01RdFsc.99
Shields is better than Lester…..
Winter Meetings next week could be crazy – - – -
a reclamation project for a prospect isnt a bad trade in general and the specifics can be evened out with other pieces or money. lester is a mess now but was among the best pitchers in the league for 4+ seasons and is only 28. meyers has alot of potential but we all know that nothing is guaranteed there.
shields has been better of late but lester when he was on his game was a better pitcher imo. and there is some good reason to think that a change of scenery could bring him back to form. or maybe it would take some kind of surgery, who knows.
either one would be a big pickup for the royals and then they’ll see what they gave up in the years to follow.
I wonder if the Yankees will be active at all at the meetings. If they sign Martin, Pettitte and Mo, they may then only work on the cheap for RF. Keppinger looks iffy now.
Pat M:
I post here rarely, but GB7 was one of true fans worth chatting with. Can you share re: his health for those of us who are concerned?
B.J. Upton’s name has dominated the conversation regarding free agent center fielders lately, but Jon Heyman of CBS Sports reports that the Indians, Rangers, Yankees, Giants, Rays, Red Sox and Reds all have interest in another free agent center fielder — Shane Victorino.
Read more at http://www.mlbtraderumors.com/#lk3AY1hluJPM9v35.99
id much rather see victorino than suzuki, but i dont think that’s gonna happen. despite heyman throwing the yankees into the victorino pool, i dont think they’re in on him unless they move granderson for a 3b.
Yankees close to one-year deal with Ichiro Suzuki
http://www.nikkansports.com/ba.....52293.html
According to this article Ichiro is close to accepting a 1 year 5 million dollar offer, and if he accepts it will be announced this week.
You missed this: Ichiro is almost finished with the negotiations. 1 year, $5 mil plus incentives.
http://www.nikkansports.com/ba.....52293.html
I had a momentary day dream where the Yanks Godfather offered the Marlins and the Yanks got Giancarlo – then the Yanks traded Granderson – and the OF for 2013 was LF Suzuki/Hairston, CF Gardner/Hairston, RF Giancarlo – - – -but then I snapped back to reality and am now left with watching the Knicks take on Bklyn – - – -
The gist of the article is that Ichiro found out there were more good things about the Yankees than money (who knew?) which is why he’d accept a lower price to come to the Yankees. His agent says a lot of teams are interested in him and that Ichiro is going to be 39 and is thinking of his accomplishments.
i have nothing against ichiro, i like him. but as i said earlier, this will make 6 of the 15 ‘starters’ (lineup + rotation + closer) at 37 or older. that’s crazy.
A one year deal for Ichiro would be good….use the extra money to lure Cody Ross in to platoon with him and DH
speaking of age, mariano will turn 43 on thursday i believe. has any 43 y/o ever saved more than say 10 games? even the ageless eckersley crapped out at 43. i love the guy but father time is undefeated.
That’s about what I thought Ichiro will sign for. I just hope this is not the end of the outfield additions.
Ys Guy November 26th, 2012 at 9:04 pm
speaking of age, mariano will turn 43 on thursday i believe. has any 43 y/o ever saved more than say 10 games? even the ageless eckersley crapped out at 43. i love the guy but father time is undefeated.
********
Yes
http://www.baseball-reference......ho01.shtml
stoneburner, good call! i forgot about old hoyt. so i guess the save record for a 42+ reliever is 14. (interestingly i see wilhelm finished 39 games that year with only 14 saves, what was that about?)
trevor hoffman saved 10 games at age 42
There are no comps for Mo.
“There are no comps for Mo.”
true but father time is undefeated.
Are you predicting Mo going down in 2013?
i dont know what you mean by going down but ill say i dont expect him to save 40 games.
Going down as in losing to Father Time, failing, not approaching his usual level of performance.
Brian Wilson has saved 171 games for the Giants dating back to 2006, but now, following his Tommy John surgery earlier this year, it appears likely that he’ll be non-tendered, according to Henry Schulman of the San Francisco Chronicle.
Read more at http://www.mlbtraderumors.com/#p4Zwy1RyLH7d8PBt.99
put it this way i think mo will be good when he can pitch but i dont think he’ll be able to go out there 2 and 3 games at a time regularly. i think the yankees will need a second closer or someone to step in and set up the set up man while he closes. i also expect mo to miss some time during the season.
while they’d never say that im sure the yankees have considered this.
ltl I too miss GB7. Pat M. posted that he’d been unable to establish contact with GB7 using the same route that Ys Guy is proposing.
Hope that helps.
melo missed his shot to win it in his first nba in brooklyn…its looking like OT
Woodson is awful at drawing up final plays
no, melo got the shot in his favorite place on the floor, he just missed it.
Thanks Comet. This place is rather boring without GB7.
Mo is special and it will be great to see him return. Aside,…my kid just chose to write about Ted hughes over Sylvia Plath. I’m not too happy and have just explained how he went on conversing about fluffy animals while the people in his life went down including a second partner who gassed herself as well along with a 5 year old daughter he refused to recognize. England’s poet laureat Hughes sucks, America’s poetess Plath rules. ( better technically as well )
Sorry, but poetry and baseball mix, and besides,..my Jays have been lazy this week.
Best to you, addicted Yankee fans!
Hi Comet! GB7 is a great equlizer with knowledge to boot.
Hey Gmills!
Victorino hits very well vs lhp, both career and last year, despite the down year, but I would guess he’d be too expensive for a vs lhp guy.
Hi Comet, safe driving!
jmills that an odd comment. I think your Jays will beat my Yankees in 2013 unless Mr. Cashman has something up his sleeve.
Keep Ichiro… send Gardner to KC along with Hughes for Wil Myers…..
better for them than either Lester or Shields