Late night notes and links: Chavez, Youkilis, Keppinger, Swisher
Posted by: Chad Jennings - Posted in Misc on Dec 04, 2012 
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A few late-night notes and links from here in Nashville.
• My good friend Dan Barbarisi — worth noting he’s a former Red Sox beat writer — reports that the Yankees interest in Kevin Youkilis is serious enough that they’ve requested his medicals. And with Youkilis, the medicals are a significant part of the process.
• Speaking of the Red Sox, Boston is reportedly interested in adding Eric Chavez to bring some left-handed balance to its infield. That said, Alex Speier notes that the Yankees can probably offer Chavez more playing time. I would add that they can also offer him more familiarity, which might matter for a guy who’s played for only two franchises in his career.
• Two reports about the potential price of Jeff Keppinger. Ken Rosenthal reports that the price is at two years, $8 million. Jon Heyman says he’s looking for closer to three years, $12 million. Hard to think the Yankees would go three years at this point, but I wonder if they would go two years for a guy with defensive versatility.
• Hard to tell whether this is news or speculation, but Heyman lists the Yankees as being in the market for Mark Reynolds. Heyman could be simply listing the market for any third base candidate.
• Rosenthal says the Yankees are still in the mix for Scott Hairston.
• Former Yankees right fielder Nick Swisher reportedly spoke personally with two teams today, while his agent spoke to four teams. The free agent market has really picked up steam this week, so Swisher could be on the verge of finding a team.
9m Lost .. ?@LostNYY
Cashman’s last comments were extremely discouraging, but don’t let it be. He is much busier than he is admitting. #pokerface
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5h Mike Maggi ?@MMaggiNYBD
@LostNYY Hearing Yanks are close to a deal with A.J. Pierzynski. Can you verify?
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12m Lost .. ?@LostNYY
@MMaggiNYBD not happening.
Mike Maggi ?@MMaggiNYBD
@LostNYY Also sounds like Jacoby Ellsbury may be going to the Phillies for Cliff Lee
@LostNYY Also sounds like Jacoby Ellsbury may be going to the Phillies for Cliff Lee
————
Cherrington is running circles around Cashman and this was supposed to be a free year for the Sox
blake….My mistake, Lee to Boston for (Ells) bury….Dodgers are all over Grenkie
Can Hal be thrilled to see tomorrow’s headline about the Yankees being beggars? I wouldn’t think they wanted to give that message to the fan base. Or was Cashman venting his frustration with the limitations he has?
Cliff Lee in the AL East would be a total nightmare for us.
I wouldn’t be surprised if the Dodgers traded AJ Ellis for Cliff Lee either. Dodgers want pitching and are going for it
Kershaw
Greinke
Lee
Nobody is beating that 1-2-3.
So Lee’s 25ish takes care of Agon’s old contract
Victorino and Napoli’s 25ish take care of Crawford’s contract
minus about 4-5 above from the above – Sox are left with somewhere around 13-14 million of what they saved from Beckett’s deal – - – -might spend that on Cody Ross – and then call it a winter – - – -
Let me understand. The Red Sox may get Lee and the Yankees may get a look at Youkilis’ MRIs. Another good day at the meetings. At least no one got hurt today.
So if Lee joins the Sox – can I now be worried about Farrell getting Lester back on track????
At least no one got hurt today.
*****
Not for the Brewers – their manager was shot by Robin Yount during a hunting accident – - – -
Better day than the Brewers. That’s hopeful.
Is Boston gonna take all of Lees money ? Otherwise I don’t know why Phillly would do that….Ellsbury is almost a FA and is made of porcelain
I guess Philly likes Ellsbury more than Granderson – dunno – - – -
Does Lee have a no trade clause?
Who is mike Maggi?
At this point, if the Yanks are just going to be content with doing nothing and holding onto their wallet, I’d rather they blow it up and look to 2014. Trade Cano and get a great haul back. Trade Grandy for a young haul. Let Romine or a young guy with a future catch. Do something with ARod and let Nunez play 3rd all year.
What’s the point of seeing guys like Ibanez, Youkallis, Ichiro, an aging FA Granderson, continue to get ABs on a team that is going to be mediocre? The team has no direction, no future, they don’t want to win now, their farm isn’t great.
Either go all in or blow it up. Trying to continually live month to month with these rejects like Youkallis is just painful. I mean, Brett Gardner who is 29 is our shining “young” player. This is the 80s all over again, not willing to properly rebuild just recycle the names each year and be not good enough to win a title.
Does Lee have a no trade clause?
*****
I think so – I believe it is limited though – - – -
DKnobler ?@DKnobler
Rays are favorites for Escobar
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Next year when the teams are even more flush with cash with the added TV contract money. Why then wait for expected higher player costs to fill spots for 2014?
The team’s logic escapes me.
Who is mike Maggi?
******
dunno – he was on Lost’s twitter going back and forth – he has a link to nybaseballdigest – but Pat M is now corroborating it – - – -
The Return of Stoneburner says:
December 4, 2012 at 10:21 pm
I guess Philly likes Ellsbury more than Granderson – dunno – – – -
Nah….the Yankees wouldn’t take Lee’ s salary…..anyway his just sounds like twitter speculation more than anything
Sherman wrote earlier the Yankees said they wouldn’t take on Lee’s contract so we don’t know if Granderson would have been of interest.
Nah….the Yankees wouldn’t take Lee’ s salary…..anyway his just sounds like twitter speculation more than anything
*****
hope so – - -
DKnobler ?@DKnobler
Rays close to deal for Yunel Escobar. Derek Dietrich goes to Marlins
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Jon Heyman ?@JonHeymanCBS
#chisox figuring to go with tyler flowers as catcher. Pierzynski market remains mystery.
Thanks Stone.
I looked it up Lee has a limited no-trade protection (may block trades to all but 8 clubs). No idea who the 8 are.
I would think teams including Philly would rather have a year of Granderson than Ellsbury simply because he’s much more likely to stay healthy.
Taking on Lee would be another big contract for Boston who just rid themselves of those….would make their rotation a lot better though…..I think Philly would want more for lee than a year of mr Glass
My offseason:
Re-sign Eric Chavez to platoon at 3B, sign Youkallis to to the RH platoon
Re-sign Ichiro to play RF
Sign Preyzinski to split time with Romine at C
Sign someone like Reed Johnson to be a RH platoon OF
Would be a great offseason
Cliff Lee can block trades to all but 8 clubs. Would think that the Green Monster would be on the list this lefty would not want to go to.
chavez can’t handle a straight platoon situation, he basically can’t play more than 2 games in a row without taking a game or two off. and youkilis is breaking down. so is arod.
if they go with chavez/youk/arod at third, you’d better make sure casey mcgehee is available…
Yeah Blake, I don’t exactly see how it would make sense for the Phillies.
Cliff Lee can block trades to all but 8 clubs. Would think that the Green Monster would be on the list this lefty would not want to go to.
****
With Cliff Lee we all know who is calling the shots – his wife Lady MacBeth – - – -
Sorry Tar-I see you just posted the limited no trade.
blake……maybe the Phillies would like to get from under the 90 million or so left on his contract…..Ellsbury and Rollins gives the top of the order huge speed, but the downside is too many lefthand hitting
for a guy with such great stats, cliff lee always seems to be the guy teams want to get rid of…
I do think they will probably sign AJ…that in house non sense is just Cash trying to create some leverage in a situation where he has none.
Deep down he knows they can’t go into the season with what they have if they plan to win…..they need a real catcher to pair hopefully with Romine.
AGREED!!!
If the phillies just want to shed the money then ok…. But trading lee for Ellsbury makes their team worse for me
My favorite headline of the day:
M’s Pushing To Make Felix “Mariner For Life”
Read more at http://www.mlbtraderumors.com/.....RjHSBah.99
Deep down he knows they can’t go into the season with what they have if they plan to win
——-
Bubba Crosby!
None of Felix, Verlander, and Kershaw will reach free agency
@Jim_Duquette: Ryan Ludwick deal with Cincinnati is likely 2 @ 14 mil.
definitely think the phillies want out of that contract. and then they will let ellsbury walk after this year and take the draft pick.
None of Felix, Verlander, and Kershaw will reach free agency
———
Truthfully, I wouldn’t want them to either. Yankees are no longer the team who will be in on top FAs so it will just be painful to watch the Red Sox/Angels/Rangers battle all over themselves for an elite starter while the Yankees sign Scott Kazmir to a minor league deal. So at least let Kershaw stay in the NL and Felix in Seattle rather than going to our rivals.
boston is DESPERATE for pitching.
blake….what is sad is that the club doesn’t feel comfortable with filling these voids from within the organization…….The real front office issue with Romine is they have concerns about his durability …..
“blake….what is sad is that the club doesn’t feel comfortable with filling these voids from within the organization”
With the catching situation I don’t see how they can…..maybe if Romine was healthier
“Truthfully, I wouldn’t want them to either. Yankees are no longer the team who will be in on top FAs so it will just be painful to watch the Red Sox/Angels/Rangers battle all over themselves for an elite starter while the Yankees sign Scott Kazmir to a minor league deal. So at least let Kershaw stay in the NL and Felix in Seattle rather than going to our rivals.”
Good point
Pat M-
Even if the Yankees sign Pierzynski they will feel Romine needs more seasoning at AAA.
@AndrewMarchand: I tend to doubt Yanks are getting Youkilis. I’d say Keppinger-Chavez more likely.
Lee’s a great pitcher, but how much trade value does he have when he is pulling down $25 mil a year?
Ellsbury would seem to have more value, even if he has just one year left. I imagine the Phills would have to eat some salary, or maybe there would be other players involved, too.
What is Keppinger like defensively at 2nd and 3rd?
Jon Heyman ?@JonHeymanCBS
according to @thejoshhamilton, hamilton has left the building. seems #rangers are trying for greinke at moment.
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Yankee Trader says:
December 4, 2012 at 10:57 pm
What is Keppinger like defensively at 2nd and 3rd?
Ok….
PeteAbe
Sources: #RedSox remain interested in Cody Ross and other RFs. No doors have closed there. Asking for time to seek Ellsbury trade
Free Mustelier! Give him a shot at third while Adams prepares in AAA. Rather see that then a beardless Youk in pinstripes.
blake December 4th, 2012 at 10:52 pm
@AndrewMarchand: I tend to doubt Yanks are getting Youkilis. I’d say Keppinger-Chavez more likely.
Introducing your New York Platoons!!! Yay! Starring Jeff (utilityman supreme) Keppinger/Eric (Ole Reliable) Chavez at 3B, Francisco (banished to the minors) Cervelli/Chris (they traded Kontos for me) Stewart at C, Raul (2 great postseason games) Ibanez/Scott (the other) Hairston in RF, with our mystery guest(s)???? at DH. A World Championship-caliber team for the ages! Brought to you by the letter C (as in cheap) and the number $189.
Doubrant/Lester/Lee feels a bit lefty heavy for Fenway park to me.
Having Youk in pinstripes would increase my game, beer intake, by a factor of five. So like my horse Midnight, I vote “Neigh”.
im excited for romine that there’s a spot on the yankees roster he can grab in ST or early next year if he’s healthy and plays well. but that job is chris stewart’s job, not the starting job. they cannot be thinking of him as a possible starter, he’s just way too iffy on several levels.
if the yankees get pyrzyinski, that is excellent for romine, all he has to do is pass cervelli and stewart and he’s a yankee. and there’s no worry that aj’s gonna be around to block him from the top job next year.
but the yankees need to get a major league catcher and if it has to be the dirtbag pyrzinski, then go get him.
Does a Lee, Dickey, Lester, Clay, Dubront rotation worry anyone?
seeing youkilis in pinstripes would be hilarious to me. and probably pretty humiliating to youkilis.
It will be an upset if the Rangers don’t sign Hamilton or Greinke, writes Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports.
Rangers GM Jon Daniels feels “very strong” that shortstop Elvis Andrus will be a
Read more at http://www.mlbtraderumors.com/#ljwrB5X1qBfU9m1S.99
Boston won’t get Lee or Dickey. The Lee-Ellsbury trade sounds like fiction (to me), and who would the Sox trade to land Dickey? Salty isn’t enough, nor is Lavarnway.
you get used to anything in pro sports.
once you’ve found yourself rooting for a holes like randy johnson and roger clemens, you realize you’ll put up with anyone who can help your team win.
bring on youkilis if he’s the next guy…whatever…
Lost .. ?@LostNYY
#Yankees talking potential Granderson trade w/ west coast team, but hearing 3rd team involved. #lukewarm
Boston won’t get Lee or Dickey. The Lee-Ellsbury trade sounds like fiction (to me), and who would the Sox trade to land Dickey? Salty isn’t enough, nor is Lavarnway.
*******
Xavier Bogaerts or Bradley – - – - -
Victorino will be a bust in Boston. He is way overrated. At his age and lack of power it is an overpay for the Sox. ….. I don’t see the Sox as competition.. Pitching wins and they got nothing…Lee is on the way down and Ellsbury is their best offensive player…
@AndrewMarchand: I tend to doubt Yanks are getting Youkilis. I’d say Keppinger-Chavez more likely.
Introducing your New York Platoons!!! Yay! Starring Jeff (utilityman supreme) Keppinger/Eric (Ole Reliable) Chavez at 3B, Francisco (banished to the minors) Cervelli/Chris (they traded Kontos for me) Stewart at C, Raul (2 great postseason games) Ibanez/Scott (the other) Hairston in RF, with our mystery guest(s)???? at DH. A World Championship-caliber team for the ages! Brought to you by the letter C (as in cheap) and the number $189.
Should I email this to the brothers Stein? Do you think they might lower ticket prices if I do? Survey says: Nope
Thought I read the Mets were looking for MLB-ready talent … Dickey for Arencibia seems more realistic.
Lost .. ?@LostNYY
#Yankees Trost and Levine still fight after all these years. Hal and Hank get along like Tom&Jerry, Cashman/Girardi pals. Torre/Boss missed.
Ken Rosenthal ?@Ken_Rosenthal
Source: Scutaro in agreement with #SFGiants, $20 million for three years.
There goes another option
Ken Rosenthal ?@Ken_Rosenthal
Source: Scutaro in agreement with #SFGiants, $20 million for three years.
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can we please stop talking about Lee for Ellsbury? no major outlet has anything on this hogwash.
Explain why u guys keep quoting lost? Does having a twitter account make one relevant? Guys tweets wreak of total nonsense.
Carlo December 4th, 2012 at 11:30 pm
Explain why u guys keep quoting lost? Does having a twitter account make one relevant? Guys tweets wreak of total nonsense.
********
You can also say that about a bunch of writers tweeting at the national meetings – - – -
waka….just whispered speculation on rather slow winter meeting…….
Seriously. that account has under 100 followers and is clearly a fan rambling and trying to make his own fantasies seem real. trusting anything you hear on the Internet about the winter meetings is stupid unless its from a reliable media outlet (and even then it’s risky).
so any new rumors?!??
I try not trust any rumors until the press conference – that being said – I am not going to get up in arms especially this time of year – it is all based on speculation and rumors – - – -it is part of the fun – at least for me – do not want to read any of them – just skim over it – - – -
To be fair he did have the Tex thing. I know anyone can get one thing right but he did.
Sure, u can, but they don’t post here also. Lost posts here and he’s a no one when it comes to real intel into the team. Why on twitter is it supposed to matter?
Jon Heyman ?@JonHeymanCBS
Dbacks and a’s among teams looking at ss nakajima
Diamondbacks cutting out the middle man and going after the ss themselves – - – - -
what Tex thing did he have?
NHL looks like it will be back
Tex to the Yankees
AAO we have him already ……..lol
DKnobler ?@DKnobler
Agree with @hankschulman that Giants now won’t be spending big on an outfielder (sorry, Swisher)
Swish is running out of teams……
lol before we had him
oak2455 December 4th, 2012 at 11:34 pm
so any new rumors?!??
Yes, thrilling and exciting ones. Phil Rogers of the Chicago Tribune said the Yanks were heavily engaged in talks with A.J. Pierzynski right before Cashman goes on the record as saying he will likely go with Cervelli, Romine and Stewart at catcher, squashing the Pierzynski rumor. Andrew Marchand said 3B will likely be a platoon of Eric Chavez and Jeff Keppinger. Finally, Ken Rosenthal has the breathtaking news that the Yanks are still in on Scott Hairston. So, definitely, very BIG rumors and ones that will surely shape a World Championship team.
actually I shouldve been on here…… because I knew that too
Pat M—- Are you watching the UNLV Rebels getting smoked by the Portland Pilots… Early in the game but Moser is out tonight…Anthony Bennett is the real deal..
thanks Coney…….but I wish you had new ones
Does Swisher come running back to the Yanks for a one year deal and try next year’s market? Better than going to a place like the Mariners – - – –
The Return of Stoneburner December 4th, 2012 at 11:47 pm
Does Swisher come running back to the Yanks for a one year deal and try next year’s market?
——————-
That thought ran across my mind.
Jeff Passan ?@JeffPassan
As @lonestarball asks, what’s better: Napoli and Victorino or Pagan, Scutaro and Affeldt? Both cost their teams $78M.
oak2455 December 4th, 2012 at 11:46 pm
actually I shouldve been on here…… because I knew that too
————————
Now all you need a twitter account
AAO I have one but rarely use it……lol
oak2455 December 4th, 2012 at 11:47 pm
thanks Coney…….but I wish you had new ones
Wish I did too oak but that would require our dear GM and el cheapo owner getting off their rear ends and trying to be competitive with this roster of assisted living residents.
is a *
oak2455 December 4th, 2012 at 11:51 pm
AAO I have one but rarely use it……lol
——————
I’m probably one of the few ppl that doesn’t have one
this weird Yanks being cheap….shopping at the dollar store
AAO I did it for days like this…. easy to follow tweets
Cheap Yankees adds to the speculation that the Yankees will be sold in 2014——Book it!!!!
ok
oak2455 December 4th, 2012 at 11:55 pm
AAO I did it for days like this…. easy to follow tweets
——————-
The tweets from who you’re following just pop up on your timeline right?
yup its pretty cool …..use it for all sports
whats even better is ppl follow you and I’m like who the hell are you……lol
3 1/2 Million attendance– soon to be 2 1/2 by 2014 and Hal and the family bow out….
Nothing wrong with that. It’s the fastest way to get news
JIM BOWDEN ?@JimBowdenESPNxm
Giants have now committed $78 million dollars to Scutaro, Pagan & Affeldt over next 4 years & remain loyal to the players that won WS for SF
thats funny alot of $$$$$
oak2455 December 5th, 2012 at 12:00 am
whats even better is ppl follow you and I’m like who the hell are you……lol
————————–
lol they probably I’m the pos following you
probably
Matt Pitman ?@mattpitman
@ProspectInsider tells Seattle Sports at Night on @710ESPNSeattle the Josh Hamilton sweepstakes may be down to just the #Rangers & #Mariners
~ ~ ~ ~
operative word here being *may*
here comes SuperCa$$$hman!!!!!!! get him!!!
The Return of Stoneburner December 4th, 2012 at 11:37 pm
Jon Heyman ?@JonHeymanCBS
Dbacks and a’s among teams looking at ss nakajima
Diamondbacks cutting out the middle man and going after the ss themselves – – – – -
—
Intercept and trade.
Laura – I Bleed Blue December 4th, 2012 at 6:05 pm
Fans calling for Hamilton to become a Yankee must be on the same drugs that he used to be on. NYC is no place for a recovering addict.
———-
What’s this all about. Seems unwarranted. Please when you have time Laura, tell me all that you know about addiction and where you can and can not recover in America.
I will be eagerly awaiting your profound knowledge on this subject. As I am sure no one who currently lives in NYC is a recovering addict and able to possibly stay sober. Right??
lol UK
Wednesday, 12:12am: Paul Hoynes of the Cleveland Plain Dealer adds that the Yankees are interested in Hannahan as well (Twitter link). The Yankees recently learned they’ll be without Alex Rodriguez for as much as half of the 2013 season.
Read more at http://www.mlbtraderumors.com/.....o5XXLVF.99
—
Really scraping the bottom of the barrel now.
“I’m not optimistic on the catching side that this market via trade or free agency is going to produce something that I can feel comfortable with,” General Manager Brian Cashman said
“Beggars can’t be choosers,” Cashman said.
http://www.nytimes.com/2012/12......html?_r=0
Not very comforting words from the GM of the “Greatest Sports Franchise.”
He’s bluffing on the catcher situation.
If they want to win in 2013 there is no way they can go in to the year with two bad back ups and a rookie with back problems…..and he knows it….my guess is that comment was just to try and create some sort of leverage with AJ
Blake …. whats the chances of Hamilton becoming a Yankee.??
NY Daily News: Yankees have been quietly shopping Curtis Granderson since the beginning of November.
Shopping him now one month and no deal? Guess there is not much interest in trading for him after a season in which he hit .232 and had an OB% .319 , despite the homeruns. Control for one year doesn’t help much either.
Most CF spots are quickly being filled thru FA.
Thought of the day (so far)
I’ve said that I think the Yankees should approach Hughes about a friendly extension ….3/24- 4/32 …somewhere in that range
If they did so and he declined it then perhaps they should consider trading him and then offering a similar deal to EJax?
Then you have the players you traded Hughes for and a fairly affordable mid rotation guy signed to replace him.
Nobody ever seems to want Jackson but he’s a bit undervalued….he’s durable and eats innings and still has some upside
Hamilton will not be a Yankee. The Yankees can’t free up money because there are no takers for Granderson. He’s getting 4 year offers. If Greinke signs with the Dodgers, he’s likely back with the Rangers.
Mike Ri says:
December 5, 2012 at 7:20 am
Blake …. whats the chances of Hamilton becoming a Yankee.??
15%? I don’t think it’s zero but I don’t think it’s great either….I think Cashman is in the weeds on him seeing where the number ends up
“Hamilton will not be a Yankee. The Yankees can’t free up money because there are no takers for Granderson”
We don’t know that there are no takers for Grandy…..Id imagine they could trade him but neither side is going to jump in until they see totally what their other options are…..
I say either sign AJ P or go with what they have. Barajas is still waiting to throw out a runner. He’s awful. Sounds like an expected sign.
This team has four holes in the starting lineup. Yet, they are solely looking at back ups as replacements. This will end well.
Jackson is only 28 and he’s got a pretty long track record of throwing around 200 inning with an era around 4.
If they can’t work a trade for a catcher then I don’t think the Yanks have a choice other than signing AJ if they want to win ….Stewie awful….Cervelli can’t catch….and Romine has a bad back.
If the Yanks go into 2013 without adding a catcher then to me it’ll be maybe the surest sign yet that the Yankees as we knew them are dead and gone
Blake-
Good morning, and to you too Mike.
Edwin Jackson is still a Boras client, I believe. He signed a one year deal last year and is looking for a multiyear deal now. Think smaller like a non-tendered pitcher-Lannon or Gorzelanny.
Pierzynski-Will probably require an enormous one year deal to sign as a Yankee after watching Martin get 8.5M/year and Napoli get 13M/year.
Right now the Yankees aren’t likely to sign Keppinger for a two year deal since Scutaro just signed for 3years/20M and he’s 37 yo.
The Yankees are not offering multi-year deals to Hughes or anyone else. Hal won’t have it. They have nowhere to go to fill them at the moment. They are waiting, poised to see who is left for post-holiday player discounts.
The Yankee team we knew is clearly dead and gone. Look at what they say and do. They have been gone since the cap mandate.
I have said all along they would want to make significant reductions this year on the road to get under the cap.
These holes cannot be effectively filled for short and cheap contracts, but with their payroll plans they can do nothing else.
“Edwin Jackson is still a Boras client, I believe. He signed a one year deal last year and is looking for a multiyear deal now. Think smaller like a non-tendered pitcher-Lannon or Gorzelanny.”
His situation is no different than last year though….he had another EJax season and nobody really seems to want him…..I wouldn’t pursue him unless they traded Hughes…..but if they did trade Phil then Jackson would be a nice replacement to eat innings and stabilize the middle to back of the rotation…..
They have to remember that Kuroda and Andy will likely be gone after this year and they’ll need innings from somebody …
in AAV signing a guy like Jackson may be cheaper than than scrambling for a one year deal ….Dan Haren just got 13 million!
Are they really gonn gone to 2014 with a rotation of Sabathia, nova, Pineda, phelps, Marshall?
Because that’s who they have under control beyond this year…..my point is that hey had better start thinking abou getting some reliable innings on the books for 2014…..because if they wait and try to sign a bunch of one year deals like they did this year then they will get taken to the cleaners in money for one year…..
Blake,
You are acting as if the Yankees have a plan to field a team in 2014. How many players will they have control of next year? 12-15? Insanity.
Good morning Austinmac-
It’s looking more and more like Team Greedy will not be enamored by this postseason.
No takers after one month of letting teams know Granderson was available to free up money.
Comments from our GM that “Beggars can’t be choosy.”
Likely signings Ichiro and Ibanez for an all lefty OF
No clue for 3rd base. Cashman did at least laugh when the agent for Juan Uribe called looking for a job for his client.
No Catchers out there that are worth taking a gamble on and the two teams with catching surplus are in our division.
As soon as Hamilton gets a deal, Swisher will be signed. Same for Greinke. Soon after he signs Lohse and Sanchez will have contracts-good ones-after seeing Haren get 13M.
I’m not a happy camper.
They have Pineda, Banuelos and Betances they can rely on, don’t you see?
CC, Kuroda, Pettite, Hughes looks like a pretty solid rotation…..problem is that 3 of those guys aren’t signed beyond this year!
austinmac says:
December 5, 2012 at 7:42 am
Blake,
You are acting as if the Yankees have a plan to field a team in 2014. How many players will they have control of next year? 12-15? Insanity.
You’re right…..I shouldn’t assume they actually want to win in 2014
austinmac says:
December 5, 2012 at 7:43 am
They have Pineda, Banuelos and Betances they can rely on, don’t you see?
Lol….for how many innings combined?
YT,
This is the destruction of George’s legacy. Will the reporters ever see it? Four open positional holes. Next year, most of the pitchers will be history too. But, they will have a low payroll and one of the worst teams in the league.
Team Beggar.
Typical Yankees will wait til Dec of 2013 and then say …oh crap we have no pitchers and we can t afford anybody
I’ve used this analogy before …but Hal is taking that great family owed Italian restaurant that his father built…..and turning it in to an Olive Garden
blake, austinmac,
When you have over half of you 189mm vested in 4 guys (ARod, CC, Tex, Jeter – assuming he gets extended or resigned @ 12-16mm) and still need to re-up on Hughes and cano, they can’t field a winning team.
In order to get below this magical number, they need to fill the spots with rookies and/or 50 year old veterans.
The whole concept of sacrificing 2 years (2013 and 2014) because the want to reset the luxury tax is ridiculous.
I’m not saying that they shouldn’t make a youth movement (THEY MOST CERTAINLY DO) but do so intelligently, over the next 4 years.
In 4 years, CC, Tex, and Jeter will be off the roster, only leaving ARod’s ridiculous contract and Cano’s extension.
in the meantime, you gradually bring the payroll down by backfilling with rookies.
“In 4 years, CC, Tex, and Jeter will be off the roster, only leaving ARod’s ridiculous contract and Cano’s extension.
in the meantime, you gradually bring the payroll down by backfilling with rookies.”
That would make too much sense and cost Hal too much money
blake –
Hmmm, I wonder if he can find someone to buy 49%-80% of his regional sport network?
If only that were plausible …
Brian,
There is no way to make a competitive team under the payroll mandate, existing contracts and expiring contracts. In 2014, they will have no pitching to balance out the no offense.
While pitching may be the keys to the kingdom, the entire kingdom is on fire. Too bad they wouldn’t pay for firemen.
What decline in attendance is acceptable? There will be a very significant decline this year and even more in 2014 when the average fan sees the team is uncompetitive. I also suspect corporate purchasers can entertain clients in a few other ways in NYC.
I think we are all in agreement.
Hal is using the Pirates/Brewers montra after signing ARod to a 10 year +mm contract.
If he wants to be on a strict budget, he can’t do so after spending his budget on a broken, aging player.
he and his brother bid against themselves.
It’s very difficult to see how they are going to make the 2014 roster work…..I hope they have a plan other than just cross that Bridge when it gets here
I really believe that the Yankee’s owners are preparing to sell the team in a few years and the cash incentives to them for staying under the 189M for 2014 and even thru the CBA agreement, years 2015 and 2016, are too enticing to them, and will make the team more salable, even if there is a drop in attendance, because new ownership will quickly spark ticket renewals epecially if it’s a progressive group like what bought the Dodgers.
Just my 3 cents.
austinmac,
The problem is we (the fans) are loyal to a flaw.
We know how hard it is to get good seats and we know, eventually, the team will be competitive again.
So we will still bu our season tickets.
It doesn’t mean that we will show to the games, but the I don’t know many people who will throw away their money.
The key is, even if we attend the games, we can’t spend the money on merchandise and have to limit the food/beverage intake.
Perhaps the best way to make the team younger and more competitve long term quicker would in fact be to trade Cano……I just don’t see how they could get enough back so that the 2013 team is good enough…..and the problem is that their window to win a title may close for awhile after this year
Trader,
If you are correct, it may be one of the dumbest decisions I have seen.
The Yankees brand is the 2nd most recognizable sports logo in the world (behind Man U).
It is a cash cow.
The make billions a year.
And their cost? Put a winning product on the field.
And even if we don’t win it all, and its a failure? keppign a competitive product on the field keeps the brand alive, keeps the money coming in.
I’m not saying its hard to run the Yankees, but I doubt George’s vision was to watch his sons sell the pieces of his franchise away with such callous
blake –
Even if you are correct (and it pains me to even admit that),
You owe a 20 million luxury tax payment to Jeter, Mo, and Andy.
Try (really try) to win this year.
We all know Mo and Andy are on their last years, leaving Jeter to chase 4000.
I’m gonna withhold judgement until I see what happens here…..maybe Cash is lying in the weeds on Hamilton….maybe he has a big trade up his sleeve….maybe they’ll make it work.
But if they do nothing….if they go into 2013 with a Stewie/ Cervelli catching duo….and Chavez at 3B and some platoon situation at DH and RF ….then I don’t think they will be a playoff team and I think attendance and YES ratings will tank…..
Yankee fans are loyal but they expect a standard to be upheld for all the time and money they invest…..so long as the comittment goes both ways were happy.
I know Dan Haren and Edwin Jackson is no Dan Haren.
WHIP in the AL of > than 1.4.
There’s a reason why nobody wants him. He’s not that good.
He’s certainly not worth a four year contract.
@jaysonst: One exec on $ Greinke will rake in: “I’m not sure it’ll all fit in a Brinks truck. It might be a semi-trailer.” Column http://t.co/QKEf0rnz
If they are seriously talking 160 for Greinke then I see no way Texas goes there…the dodgers are the only team that’ll pay that
The Yankees are now in a difficult bind. The one possible tradeable centerfielder had an off year and is a FA after next season, and has been quietly marketed for one month.
Other tradeable options liike Gardner are coming off an injury. Cano is a Boras client and also a looming FA. Also Jeter is returning from an ankle injury, Rivera is 43 returning from a torn ACL.
On top of that if they want to make a trade what major league ready, cost controlled, players do they have that other teams must have. Robertson, Joba, Hughes, Logan are all arb eligible. Nunez hasn’t proven himself. The best prospects are in A ball.
I just don’t see the vision for 2014.
If we don’t: (which is what I think we should do)…
- sign Hamilton
- trade Granderson
- resign Cano
- resign Hughes
who plays LF and RF in 2014? Granderson is gone, and the 1 year rental is gone.
who plays 2B?
and as mentioned above, who fills our rotation with Andy and Kuroda gone?
2014:
C – Romine
1B – Tex
2B – ?
SS – Jeter (?)
3B – ARod
LF – ?
CF – Gardner
RF – ?
DH – ?
Bench – Nunez
Bench – Stewart
Bench – ?
Bench – ?
SP – CC
SP – Pineda (although I think he never pitches for the big club)
SP – Nova
SP – Phelps
SP – ?
CP – Robertson
SU – Montgomery
LHS – Logan
LHS – Rapada
LHS – Eppley
Gone:
- Joba
- Aardsma
- Hughes
- Mo
- Andy
- Kuroda
- Cano
- Ichiro/ RF
- Chavez
- Granderson
“There’s a reason why nobody wants him. He’s not that good.”
He doesn’t have a bad back and bad hip though…..check out Jackson’s numbers….he’s not as bad as you think….not a top of the rotation guy but as I said he’s a guy that’s a good bet for 200ish innings and an era around 4.
The Yankees are gonna need innings going forward as they have zero established starters signed after CC beyond 2013.
A 3 or 4 year deal at a 7 AAV for Jackson at 28 is probably gonna be cheaper and better than looking for one year contracts for old or injured pitchers……
I don’t see the team being competitive in 2013 with the likes of Stewart, Hannrahan, an every aging Ibanez and Ichiro filling the four holes. I would prefer a rebuilding effort rather than a disintegration. Deal now.
Jackson is kinda the Swisher of pitchers…..he’s not great but he’s consistently pretty decent…..that has value
George loved baseball.
His son loves balance sheets.
Big difference.
Yankee fans expect ownership to be just as committed to winning as the fans are in rooting for them.
Fans will not pay a premium to go to a game, buy stuff or watch Yes if the product is boring and ownership refuses by choice, to improve the product instead opting to reduce costs at a time when this ownership group is raking I more revenues then ever. Fans will do something else when ownership talks BS.
Nothing wrong w a Kepp/Chavez platoon.
AJ P. at C is fine. Actually an O upgrade over Martin.
I counsel patience on the last piece. That is the difficult one. A young,cost-controlled OF’er.
But I still have hope that Cashman can pull something off.
Again, I think we would be on board (ALL of us):
If Hal came out and said, we need to get under the luxury tax.
We paid for some premium contracts.
Those mostly come off the books in 4 years.
We will make a great effort to get under 189mm by 2017 by building our farm and letting our prospects either draw in other young, cost controlled talent or come up to the big club.
Worst case scenario?
Hal sells the team?
Why is that a bad thing?
Maybe we get owners in the Yankee tradition, that’s a crapshoot, it could be CBS again.
Maybe it’s Cuban, you know he will spend.
In any case, we had our fun, even the newbies of the past 20 years.
Not that I want them to lose but they have to rebuild this thing.
This might just be part of the growth process.
Personally I’d like to see ca$h explore a trade for Danny Espinosa from the Nats to play 3rd this season with him eventually taking over SS after next season which is his natural position.
remember when we were the standard?
now we say Chavez and Keppinger could be too expensive?
really embarrassing…
and i would love if mark cuban bought the team but MLB will not approve him. they would rather have an owner like the marlins who is a joke to the sport.
MLB Network Radio is discussing our arguments right now.
They agree with us!
WTF is Cashman doing?
Sign Hamilton, trade Granderson for young pitchers or young corner infielders.
They see Granderson going to:
Texas
Philly (although they don’t have great prospects)
Cincy (for Homer Bailey)
SF (for Lincecum)
sorry, and Atlanta (and they have pitching!)
austinmac December 4th, 2012 at 10:17 pm
Let me understand. The Red Sox may get Lee and the Yankees may get a look at Youkilis’ MRIs. Another good day at the meetings. At least no one got hurt today.
———————-
Hehehehehe.. this is why I love you guys!
Good morning everybody.
Yankee Trader, I wanted to thank you for your reply yesterday to my question regarding insurance on ARod. I had to leave before I saw your reply and by the time I got back you seemed to be gone.
Anyway, I have to leave again now, but didn’t want you to think I didn’t appreciate your answer.
Things sometimes have cycles.
The Hindus believe all of life is cyclical.
Can’t get overly bent out of shape when the wheel turns.
That’s just the way it is.
A friend of mine calls it the “rollercoaster theory of life”.
A.A.O.
People are already talking about the Dodgers signing Cano next year….
http://msn.foxsports.com/mlb/s.....ngs-120412
Great article by Ken Rosenthal. This front office is a DISGRACE! You won’t see me at a Yankee game this year. I love my team but I hate what the FO has done to it. I’ll go to the Somerset Patriots where they at least promote the fan experience without raping your wallet while fielding a POS team.
Here is the problem as I see it. NY has holes all over the roster and has not articulated a clear plan to address them within the self-mandated payroll target environment.
It is really difficult to process the fact this ownership group just cut a megadeal which will add billions in yes revenue to the team while at the same time the GM is saying no to countless opportunities and saying beggars cannot be choosers.
The winter meetings have become a place where the Yankees announce their latest injuries and that the market doesn’t fit their budget
I hope Hal doesn’t expect the fans to fill the stadium while telling everyone they are going to throw out an inferior team while raising ticket prices….. I’d be shocked if there are not a ton more empty seats this year. And then losing Cano after next season?
@Ken_Rosenthal: Someone organize a search party for the #Yankees. Column: http://t.co/IXX94pFZ
Hal had a money bin pool party
blake December 5th, 2012 at 8:47 am
People are already talking about the Dodgers signing Cano next year….
—————-
Of course they are
We’ve been talking about it for over a year now as well.. only last off season it wasn’t nearly as much of a foregone conclusion that they’d be players. Now? I think it’s almost inevitable. Only way it doesn’t happen is if Texas decides to make a major splash. I think you’ll see the Dodgers, Rangers, Tigers, and Yanks trying to land him but ultimately I think the Dodgers will offer a chunk more money. Why not? They’re being great.
blake December 5th, 2012 at 8:50 am
@Ken_Rosenthal: Someone organize a search party for the #Yankees. Column: http://t.co/IXX94pFZ
———————
Even the writers are experiencing phantom limb syndrome…
I’m waiting, watching, and hoping.
Think it’s a little early to be throwing in the towel.
We’ll see.
Anthony Castrovince of MLB.com reports that the Indians and Diamondbacks have talked about a possible Asdrubal Cabrera-for-Trevor Bauer swap.
@Ken_Rosenthal: Someone organize a search party for the #Yankees.
———————-
ughhh.
New thread —>
New Post —>
You’re gonna see more and more articles like that one from Rosenthal and the fans are going to grow angrier and angrier …..have fun saving money Hal only to lose more with an empty stadium and nobody watching YES
ac1 December 5th, 2012 at 8:49 am
I hope Hal doesn’t expect the fans to fill the stadium while telling everyone they are going to throw out an inferior team while raising ticket prices….. I’d be shocked if there are not a ton more empty seats this year. And then losing Cano after next season?
AC1, I personally don’t think Hal cares what we fans think. I can’t believe I am saying this right now but the only one in the FO who can save us right now is Randy Levine. Perhaps he can ship Hal to Siberia for a few years. I know Cashman wants to build a winning team and he is clearly frustrated, even publicly, by making comments like “beggers can’t be choosers”. That comment, to me, is a shot at Hal. Girardi is your prototypical “company man” so he won’t say anything.
Good article by Rosenthal. The Yankees will be sellers at the TD.
Coney,
I agree the Cashman comment was letting Hal and the fans the untenable position he is in.
Jackson was a below league average NL pitcher last year.
He’s another AJ Burnett. You can sign him to a multi year deal on your team Blake. Hopefully the Yankees are smarter than that.