Looking ahead: The Cano decision
Posted by: Chad Jennings - Posted in Misc on Dec 08, 2012 
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Are the Yankees going to be able to re-sign Robinson Cano next winter? Do their financial plans make a new contract impossible, or are the Yankees limiting spending right now so that they can lock up their second baseman a year from now?
With reporters in the Dominican Republic and here in the United States, the Daily News today looked into Cano’s pending free agency.
“I don’t think he’ll be with the Yankees beyond next season,” one source told the Daily News. “He’s not giving them a hometown discount, and they seem to be more interested in keeping their payroll down than winning.”
No hometown discount is something we’ve heard before, and Cano has never said anything to suggest otherwise. He’s going to get a massive contract, that’s inevitable. Only question is whether the Yankees are going to give it to him.
It might not seem like it, but the Yankees have spent money this season. It’s been spent exclusively in re-signing players, but they have spent money. And by keeping that money limited to one-year deals, as the article notes, they have nearly $60 million coming off the payroll next season. That will give them flexibility to give Cano a massive deal if they choose to do so. Granted, doing so would limit their ability to spend elsewhere — and significantly increase the need for young, cheap players to emerge at other positions – but it could happen. In fact, the Yankees financial approach to this winter could be with Cano’s upcoming contract in mind.
At this point — knowing he’ll want a superstar contract, and knowing the Yankees want to save money — do you expect Cano to be back? Do you want him back?
Associated Press photo
It’s interesting, I think if you took a “generic second baseman” with offensive and defensive numbers like Cano, people would be a lot more interested in giving that guy uber money than Cano.
He’s never quite shed his rep as not a max-effort guy.
Chad, you are the hardest working and most creative of the New York writers. Impressive.
“He’s never quite shed his rep as not a max-effort guy.”
Lazy assumptions get made all the time about Hispanic players that prevent them from being approached as often as American-born white or black players.
And before somebody says, raymagnetic is bringing race into this, that line above isn’t from me, it’s from this article. http://espn.go.com/espn/commen.....-treatment
He will want at least 8 years and $200 M assuming a good and healthy season. The Yankees won’t do it and shouldn’t. We can see how long contracts kill a team.
I don’t think it’s the average dollars per year that’s going to bother the Yankees assuming it’s in the $22 to $24MM per range. What I think is going to be the kiss of death for the Yankees to re-sign him is the years. I don’t see any way in the world Hal and company go for a 8,9, or 10 year deal for Cano who will be 31 at the end of the 2013 season. I just can’t see them agreeing to pay a 38 or older 2nd baseman, even if it is Robby Cano. And the previous poster is correct. Cano does have somewhat of a reputation on not always giving a 100% effort.
Giving a 31 year old player an 8 year contract would be crazy. Just trade him now, please and thank you.
I really like Robinson Cano, but I would go anywhere near an 8 year contract for him.
Welcome to the new New York Yankees
i agree with ray. unless cano is willing to take less money on the back end of that contract, its a ridiculous # of years for a ‘max’ contract. you just can’t commit to paying a 37, 38 and 39 year old player like he’s an mvp candidate every year.
instead of agreeing ot this ‘soft cap’ they owners should have negotiated a limit to the length of a contract, imo
i like cano alot but the yankees should be shopping him right now. they have to at least explore what he’d bring back before they head for the cliff with him this season.
I’d be fine giving him 6yr/150mm. I just don’t like the idea of paying anybody past 37 after we see what a 37 year old Arod looks like.
ARod was a bad deal, Pujols will be a bad deal, Fielder will be a bad deal, and even players like Votto and Longoria will be bad deals by the end of their contracts.
We’ve had Cano’s prime years at a great price, lets not overpay him for past performance.
i do want to say that i don’t buy the ‘lazy’ tag cano has been stuck with. i think his effort is fine, he plays every day, never complains and keeps his nose clean so far as anyone knows. he may not be a max effort guy or run out every grounder, but that just puts him with the majority of major league players.
i really like him, but teams can’t let players hold them up for big annual salaries past age 35.
Dodger payroll is approaching 220M and here are the NEW YORK YANKEES pinching pennies. And how are you going to let your best player just walk?? No, you sign him and end of story.
Joelsherman1 profile
Joelsherman1 I know timing/supply-demand determine $$, but if you had to pick 10 SP to win game for your life, would Greinke even be in the 10? #Dodgers
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Good question by Joel how long before you get to Greinke?
are they ‘pinching pennies’ or just not signing stupid contracts with marginal players (scutaro? keppinger? shierholz, martin?)
by this point it seems like kevin youkilis is not really hot on the idea of playing for the yankees and is just shopping that offer so he can go somewhere else for more $.
pull the offer.
Yanks deserve credit for buying out Cano’s first two years of free agency. One of Cash’s best decisions. Even if he leaves, they know they got Cano through most of his prime years.
Cano does have somewhat of a reputation on not always giving a 100% effort.
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Our very own Bo Knows said it best on RAB ppl shouldn’t let the fact that he doesn’t run hard to first or dive for ground balls take away from the fact that he works hard in every other aspect of the game.
are they ‘pinching pennies’
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Based on the fact they started pulling back in the draft and IFAs before the rules kicked in I would say yea they are pinching pennies.
cano has missed 12 games in the past 6 years. he had almost 700 at-bats this past year.
that’s showing up!
not many ‘max effort’ guys come even close to that.
Nope and nope.
Great player but not worth the deal. Cards are doing fine without Pujols, and he is no Pujols during his prime.
Yes they are pinching pennies. Look at Russel Martin. The Yankees really could not match the Pirates offer??? come on man. I know we have to get younger, but damn.
If the Yankees sign Hamilton somehow, or get another impact bat, dont trade him and go for a WS run like the cards did. If not, trade him and get something in return
everybody wanted russel martin run out of town on a rail this year. then suddenly in the offseason, they’re idiots for letting him go..
what’s up with that?
and you only sign Hamilton for a 4 year deal max. Which isnt going to happen
Im not saying we wanted him back. Im pointing out the Yankees saying “we dont have the cash to match that”. really??
if the yankees manage to win the AL East this year (still the favorite in my eyes) then sign cano, get under the LT and then spend like crazy again in 2015 a whole lotta people on here are gonna look really stupid.
yankfan1 December 8th, 2012 at 9:58 pm
Nope and nope.
Great player but not worth the deal. Cards are doing fine without Pujols, and he is no Pujols during his prime.
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Cardinals are better run than the Yankees.
this is the thing, people say stuff like “i didnt really want martin back but why didn’t they spend the money on him”. when you do that you just show that there is no way to make you happy and you are just going to complain no matter what.
Jason A. Churchill ?@ProspectInsider
My prediction on how long Greinke hangs onto title of biggest contract for RHP — 68 days. #felix
I’d offer six years at $120 million. Cano will soon be on the downside of his career, and offering anything more is just asking for trouble. He may have one or two more career years, but the majority of his peak is now over. It won’t be pretty watching a 38-year-old who has lost his bat speed jogging down to first base while making $25 million.
I don’t agree with the Cano doesn’t dive for ground balls criticism.
He had one highly noticed “no dive” that cost a game. And the only reason he didn’t dive for that ball was because he thought he had it. 99% of the time he gets that ground ball standing up, that time he didn’t. I don’t blame him for that all. It was a misjudgment not lack of effort on that play. He also slides and knocks balls down going to his left when he needs to. I think the “diving issue” is more a bad rap probably caused by his rep for not running hard to first.
As for the not running hard to first, he does need to work on that. I believe it usually stems from frustration at not hitting the ball hard. I also believe that you could say a majority of major leaguers could be better at that. Off the top of my head from last year I know Swish, Alex, Martin, Jones all stand out as having frustrated moments where they toss the bat in disgust and trot to first.
The man is a hard worker, no way I’m buying the lazy label.
Ys Guy,
The Yankees do not want to sign anyone to a contract beyond a year. They need to cut $40 million by next year. They have three key players likely to leave next year as they have had this year. They have only offered money to a player who can’t stay healthy or play defense, not to mention a .234 BA.
You think all is well? Really?
“Travis December 8th, 2012 at 10:14 pm
I’d offer six years at $120 million”
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in that case, you have to trade him now because he’s not going to take that.
2nd happiest person tonight……Clayton Kershaw
Unless Cano get hurt he’s gonna get 200 million…..he’s simply going to have too many teams in on him and his agent is simply too good with elite clients.
The Yankees need to either prepare themselves to pay that…..of they need to position themselves for life without him
Ys Guy December 8th, 2012 at 10:19 pm
“Travis December 8th, 2012 at 10:14 pm
I’d offer six years at $120 million”
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in that case, you have to trade him now because he’s not going to take that.
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Exactly no way he takes that when his peers are getting more money and yrs. Hell let’s be honest if Hamilton didn’t have the drug issues he would get that too.
“Travis December 8th, 2012 at 10:14 pm
I’d offer six years at $120 million”
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he will laugh in our faces and say call me with a real offer. why low ball him??
it’s december 8th. i think all is as well as it is anywhere else in major league baseball. what matters is how are things around april first.
the yankees front office put together the team that had the best record in the american league last year. and they are in the PS every year.
these are much better times, year after year than under the elder mr s may he rest in peace.
im willing to wait till the dust settles before going crazy about russel martin and jeff keppinger.
Greinke going to LA does make Hamilton less likely….. But I still think they could if they wanted…..probably have to go 5 years though
@JeffPassan: Great question. Fascinating that few care about the Dodgers’ spending sprees like with Yankees. RT @StadiumInsider: where is the outrage?
I think the bidding for Cano is going to start at 8/$192m. Since Boras is his agent everyone knows that it’s going to be a long drawn out roller coaster. The Dodgers might take the bidding to $230m. Hal will have to offer the going rate or Cano will leave, it’s really simple. It will be interesting to see how far Hal is willing to go.
Whether or not YOU think Cano is a hard worker, the fact remains he has not been able to satisfy his critics on that point. It’s likely his playing style just isn’t appealing to some people, no matter what his numbers look like at the end of each year.
If the Yanks aren’t willing to pay market value for Cano then they should strengthen the 2013 team as much as possible and go for it this year…… Or they should trade him
I don’t really buy into the Cano-is-lazy narrative either. He shows up every day and is the most productive 2b in the game. If jogging to first on a ground ball that he has no chance of beating means that he will stay healthy, I have no problem with it at all.
We already see what the showman hustle of Pedroia
does for him. The guy can’t play a full season without landing on the DL. And when he’s on the DL, he takes infield from his knees. Hustle? Sure. Smart? Not really.
Captain Clutch December 8th, 2012 at 10:31 pm
I think the bidding for Cano is going to start at 8/$192m. Since Boras is his agent everyone knows that it’s going to be a long drawn out roller coaster. The Dodgers might take the bidding to $230m. Hal will have to offer the going rate or Cano will leave, it’s really simple. It will be interesting to see how far Hal is willing to go.
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i can see the dodger payroll close to 300M in the coming years
@JimBowdenESPNxm: According to Dodger source like Matt Kemp and Andre Ethier deals…..Zack Greinke did NOT get a no-trade clausep
“If the Yanks aren’t willing to pay market value for Cano then they should strengthen the 2013 team as much as possible and go for it this year…… Or they should trade him”
Exactly what I was thinking. Go all in, one way or the other.
@DCameronFG: Angels, last 365 days: sign Pujols (worst year of career), sign Wilson (elbow surgery), trade farm for Greinke (leaves for LAD).
Yea….rough year for mr Dipoto …..
It would be nice to see the Yanks connected to a RFer. If Cashman is trying to trade for one before he signs a free agent fine otherwise it’s very puzzling. I can’t see Youk being the only plan. What a weird off season….so far.
@JeffPassan: Great question. Fascinating that few care about the Dodgers’ spending sprees like with Yankees. RT @StadiumInsider: where is the outrage?
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Maybe there’s no outrage because it’s the first time the Dodgers have done it. They’ll pay luxury tax for the 1st time. Yankees have been paying it since it’s existed.
telling – - – -
JIM BOWDEN ?@JimBowdenESPNxm
According to Dodger source like Matt Kemp and Andre Ethier deals…..Zack Greinke did NOT get a no-trade clause
Very telling Stone
Marlins part 2 down the road if things don’t work out.
Probably no outrage with the dodgers because they have yet to win anything…..they didn’t even make the playoffs last year
Greinke’s contract is about all the no trade you need…..
Even though they’ve lost out on Zack Greinke, the Rangers still have interest in acquiring Justin Upton according to Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports (on Twitter). Jon Heyman of CBSSports.com says (on Twitter) Texas might also look into free agents Anibal Sanchez, Michael Bourn, and Kyle Lohse.
Read more at http://www.mlbtraderumors.com/#ufqWGSmmxhkg3gx7.99
I would not worry about 2014, when we can’t even get players for 2013. What do you think the Yankees would get for one year of Cano? No much. Grandy the same. Go as far as you can in 2013, then worry about 2014.
Interested to see what Texas does now and if they’ll turn to Hamilton…..or if Hamilton might be a little chapped that he was the 2nd option…..
I think they’ll try to trade for a pitcher….maybe Shields…..will they want to make two big trades in the same winter and to for Upton too? Maybe….but that’d deplete there system and also probably affect their big league roster also
Greinke is a very good pitcher. Probably one of the top 20. The Dodgers don’t seem to care about money.
Does it sound like the Rangers are still not all in on Hamilton? It sounds like it to me. The end of the year may have been very meaningful to them.
@JeffPassan: Great question. Fascinating that few care about the Dodgers’ spending sprees like with Yankees. RT @StadiumInsider: where is the outrage?
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Passan can’t figure it out? outrage will come when the dodgers start winning division every year for better part of 15 years. so far, they haven’t won jack and is probably not a favor over SF Giants in their own division.
I would float out a rumor that they are considering trade offers for Cano. Maybe if Cano really does want to remain a Yankee that will motivate him to come to the table for a reasonable deal. If not, look for a trade.
All teams should try their best to win. Good for the Dodgers. They are spending their own money.
blake, I think Kershaw was happy when CC signed his contract… he will get pay regardless of Greinke.
The Yanks should trade Cano for as many top prospects as they can get for him, a one-year rental but not necessarily that as whoever trades for him could always give him a contract upon his being traded to them.
Cano has never had what I call a “breakout” year which to me is at least .320 BA (midway between .300 and .340) and 1 OPS with an OBP of at least .400, 35 HR (midway between 30 and 40 RBI), and 120 RBI (midway between 100 an 140 RBI.) ‘Nice that he finally hit over 30 HR in a season in 2012, but he didn’t drive in 100 runs and he would’ve produced lesser numbers had he not had his torrid end of season run. So he’s never been able to put it together. How can you give a guy who never posted 30 HR and 100 RBI in a season in his career or twenties (since he’s 30 years old now) a prime Jeter or A-Rod-like contract?
And let’s talk about prime Jeter and prime A-Rod. Cano is a very good player but he is neither. A-Rod’s decline began in his age 35 season, so why on earth would/should the Yanks want to lock up Cano past that?
History shows HALL OF FAME secondbasemen decline after age 33, Cano is already 31. Joe Morgan, Ryne Sandberg, Bill Mazerowski, Roberto Alomar, and Rod Carew all declined after age 33 (Carew was still an excellent hitter after age 33 but he never played a full season after that.)
The Yanks should offer Cano five years and $100M paid like this: $15M for 2013 (the same amount as his 2013 club option), $21.5M a year 2014-17, take it or leave it and if he rejects that he rejects the second largest contract for a homegrown Yankee (second to Jeter’s 2001-2010 contract) and @#$% him.
Again, he is neither prime Jeter nor prime A-Rod thus should not be paid like either.
I mean $21.25M a year 2014-17. Edit button please!
I don’t think Cano is lazy and I don’t think he’s getting 200M.
which team is going to offer prime prospects and still have the chance to sign Cano? here ill wait for an answer
why would he take 100M? when he can get at least 180M in the open market.
Phil, you will change your mind after reading Boras’s treatise on Cano’s historical importance in baseball and his impact on humanity in general. Boras is still penning it but the salient work is almost done.
Cano is not lazy, just his style.
As good a ballplayer he is though, my max would be 6/140 and that would be a hard cut off.
If he really is seeking a moon contract, I don’t blame yankee ownership for not caving, however I do blame Yankee ownership if they let him walk and wind up just with a draft pick.
That would be the epitome of stupid.
6/140?? how can you offer that with a straight face?
like i said earlier if you aren’t going to go way over $100M then you have to trade him now. there’s no way he’s taking that, nobody in his position would.
i would start with…” here is to you Mr. Robinson, Yankees loves you more than you will know, how about 6 for 140″
everybody is assuming that the dodgers will be throwing big money at cano next year. but what if they get nothing special from beckett or crawford or grienke or 2 of the 3 and dont make the playoffs again? they could decide to lay off next year’s big tickets or even pull a marlins and move one or two of their biggest contracts.
Cashmoney December 8th, 2012 at 11:24 pm
i would start with…” here is to you Mr. Robinson, Yankees loves you more than you will know, how about 6 for 140?
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And at that point “Mr. Boras” laughs uncontrollably.
Either the Rangers didnt offer much money to Greinke or the Tax difference wasn’t as big a deal as Olney made it out to be.
Greinke might not understand the emotional tax of being in the same rotation as Beckett.
The dodgers now have the highest payroll in MLB history
Jerkface December 9th, 2012 at 12:07 am
The dodgers now have the highest payroll in MLB history
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…………F*CK THE DODGERS!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I don’t think any position player who’s over 30 is going to get a 200M deal again.
And the Yanks should have redone Cano’s contract and extended it a few years ago. That, by the way is how they should do it going forward with the homegrown’s, give them an introductory deal fairly early and just keep working so they never sniff FA while their valuable.
Doubt many fans on here are into boxing but I was watching the Marquez Pacquiao fight and boy what a punch by Marquez
Greinke to LA means Hamilton stays in Texas. He gets a blank check handed to him.
Odds who won?
Marquez with a strong right hand punch. Pac didn’t move for a while. It was scary to the point you thought he died. His wife was hysterical at ring side but he got up eventually. I’m glad he did
Thanks. Most thought Marquez got screwed in both the 2nd and 3rd fights. Glad there was a clear cut winner. Also glad no one got killed.
Sportswriters should stop carrying the water for Scott Boras. He puts out a story and the writers jump on it as news. Let him do his own negotiating. This is not a legitimate news story at this point. If Cano wants to sign and the Yankees want a deal it will get done. If not he can go to the other team Boras is using to up the price. Robbie is reading from the same script as all his other clients and of course his lackeys in the media print it as earthshaking news.
@JimBowdenESPNxm: Greinke has a full player opt out clause after 3 yrs & if traded during contract he can opt out at end of yr
You’re welcome.
Yes very glad no one was seriously hurt. Pac said he wants a fifth fight with Marquez
I think we should trade Cano, I think the Cardinals would be a great match, I would be looking for something along the lines of Cano plus Nova or Hughes for Oscar Taveras, one of Shelby Miller, Lance Lynn, or Trevor Rosenthal, and Matt Carpenter. The Cards would I think do it because he definitely improves their chances of winning a world series, probably adding 3 to 5 wins to that team. The Yankees do it because it gives them a future star in right field, it also gives them a young pitcher with a ton of potential, and it gives them a second baseman that can really swing the bat.
Hi folks.
The Daily News story is pure bunk.
You can write that same story about any big ticket free agent.
The Daily News is run by the Wilpons and their golfing pal, Mike Lupica.
All they do is trash the Yankees, encourage negative stories and wave pom poms for the Mets.
The Daily News staff is part of the Mets-Wilpon SNY TV channel.
They are all phony frauds.
They can lose just as easy without Cano, I wouldn’t give a hugh payday to any player that can’t hustle down to first base. I swear I saw Cano’s face on a can of Alpo.
Buenos Dias.
Any of you early birds up yet ?
@YYHochi: Otani, Japanese high school RHP,announced that he is joining the Nippon Ham Fighters. Not challenging to the MLB at this point.
morning Blake.
How is little one doing ?
I agree with brothertonandrew…
We should trade Cano and Nova to a team that can give us some young players who can play now for cheap… that’s how you win in today’s baseball….may seem hard to do but we have gotten Cano’s best years, sure he may have 2 more awesome years, but its not worth paying him 25 million a year for 8 years….let some of these new flush with money teams pay him and see how it drags down your payroll….we need something to revitalize this offense and aging before our eyes team which for years has been too homer happy and “unclutch” combine that with a GM who seems to be homer happy and who always says the offense is fine it was just a slump at the wrong time…..Hey Cashman, remember when we won 4 WS in 5 years, no Yankee was an offensive monster during a time when offense was juiced up….we had grinders who could truly hit…we started losing that starting with the Giambi signing, Oneill/Brosius retirement…..
Would have preferred Young to Youkilis.
Looks like the Yankees are going to sit tight and see what develops.
I’d bet they are discussing loosening up the purse strings.
Not saying they will though.
Though many players have already signed deals the Market is still evolving and a big trade is still possible.
I’d almost rather they go with the kids if they are not going to upgrade.
Certainly do not want to trade for mediocrity.
MtU?
Everybody is good…..for the moment
Don’t see the Yankees trading Cano.
It might make sense but it’s just not their style.
Not only that. They may be interested in retaining his services.
Expensive at that might be.
It’s hard to change the spots on a Leopard.
Pleased to hear that Blake.
Sorry bout the Hamilton thing.
Know you wanted it.
I think the chances are less for Hamilton now (if there ever was a chance)…..
Still maybe could happen but they’ll have to 5 years and maybe longer and that gets into the range where Id be much more uncomfortable signing him…..
Blake-
With everything that seems to be happening in this World of ours right now I really find it difficult to worry too much about Baseball.
It’s important to try to keep your perspective.
Things seem to be going to Hell in a handbasket.
It is interesting to note that during the last Depression 2 of the more popular things were the Movies and Baseball.
Guess people need their diversions.
I find it kind of interesting that it appears as though Cashman has been neutered.
That can’t be a good sign for him.
I always thought that Hal and him were tight.
Guess not.
If I were him I’d be thinking of moving on.
He did a great job rebuilding the Farm system IMO.
Having minimal financial felxibility has to suck.
Maybe he should see if he could get the Dodgers job ?
another day has passed and the biggest news on the Yankee front is that a FA 3rd baseman can’t make up his mind and Arod is pushing his surgery to mid January.
MTU December 9th, 2012 at 8:02 am
Don’t see the Yankees trading Cano.
It might make sense but it’s just not their style.
Not only that. They may be interested in retaining his services.
Expensive at that might be.
It’s hard to change the spots on a Leopard.
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well if they are not going to trade him they are going to have to sign him….5-6-7 year contract for a boat load
Joeman-
Yup. But they might just do that.
to bad they couldn’t trade Cano to the Nats for the centerfielder…Cano 30 yrs old where did time go
really can’t see Youkilis taking the Yankee offer…
Wouldn’t break my heart if Youkilis doesn’t become a Yankee.
I don’t hear of any sign the Rangers are not going for Hamilton. They may not want him back for big dollars.
Reading a little more about AJ. I think Youkilis will go to the Indians leaving money for him.
Or we could have another Groundhog Day, Week or Month.
MTU December 9th, 2012 at 8:57 am
Wouldn’t break my heart if Youkilis doesn’t become a Yankee.
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for sure
We have some in-house options at C and 3B.
None for RF.
We need to get a RF’er. Bad.
MTU,
I did play RF my first year in little league. I am experienced. Not in baseball, but in life.
No signs the Rangers are going after Hamilton. At some point, Hamilton will no longer wait.
the trick in reading tea leaves is seeing something that isn’t obvious, but i knew when the yankees traded montero thy were done as the yankees as we knew them.
letting cano go because hal is a cheap mo#$erf4%er is just part of what was in the montero tea leaves and why why some of us went ballistic who could see it.
it was never just about montero.
get rid of cano?
how about getting rid of hal instead?
MTU December 9th, 2012 at 8:59 am
We have some in-house options at C and 3B.
None for RF.
We need to get a RF’er. Bad
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RF is a must, 3rd base there are still options out there. catcher to me is also a must..Stewart is a backup nothing more, Romine don’t know about him and the other one couldn’t beat Stewart out …thats a bad situation there..
2012 playoffs, yanks down 2 games to none. Losing late in game 3. Cano, feet up, propped back in a chair. Coolest guy in the toorm. Just like O’Neill or Tino used to behave……………