Two years ago: One that got away
Posted by: Chad Jennings - Posted in Misc on Dec 13, 2012 
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Two years ago today, at about this time, I took a train into the city to meet Olivia Moxey. She was a few days old at that point, the first-born daughter of my high school neighbor Emily and my college roommate Brian. How do I know it was exactly two years ago today that I met Olivia?
Because within a few hours that night, this happened.
It was late night on December 13, 2010 that word began to spread of Cliff Lee’s decision to sign with the Phillies. The Yankees had been in the hunt. In fact, they’d made a huge offer. Lee was deciding between the Yankees, Phillies and Rangers. It was such a big deal that Brian Cashman had to do a conference all the next day to discuss a player he didn’t sign.
“Plan B is patience,” Cashman said that day. “We’ll engage the remaining free agent and trade market, and pursue what interests us at the level that we feel is appropriate.”
Of course, that patience lasted right up until the moment the Yankees signed Rafael Soriano.
Cashman is talking a lot about patience again this winter, but this time, there’s a sense that it might actually last.
I hope they maintain their resolve and don’t throw any money at bad contracts. They will get essentially 3 early picks this year (a 1st and two supplementals), and they should look to continue to build quality and quantity in the minors. Then make the smart moves to remain flexible and competitive. Don’t panic and throw stupid money at mediocre players.
Speaking of Mr Soriano – think he feels stupid for not taking the qualifying offer? There is a LOT of money flowing in this market, but it doesn’t seem to be flowing to guys that pitch fewer than 70 innings a season (and he is averaging fewer than 60 per season in the last 3 years). Personally, that makes sense to me…
Agree and next year they will get at least one more early pick when Granderson walks, though they should trade him for one high level prospect if possible.
Pettitte, Rivera and Kuroda will all likely retire.
2013 will be interesting, but at this rate 2014 should be ugly. Probably uglier than 2008 which was a transition year for pitching but not the offense.
Speaking of Mr Soriano – think he feels stupid for not taking the qualifying offer? There is a LOT of money flowing in this market, but it doesn’t seem to be flowing to guys that pitch fewer than 70 innings a season (and he is averaging fewer than 60 per season in the last 3 years). Personally, that makes sense to me…
Paco, there is always 1 dumb owner out there. Before the winter is up my bet is Soriano secures at least a 2/20 deal. Should be interesting which team, my bet is the Nationals.
Jerry Crasnick ?@jcrasnick
No special provisions in Hamilton deal to cover his history of addiction. He gets tested three times a week right now. #angels
Trade Granderson and lets start rebuilding…..if the Rangers will give Olt that potentially solves 3B for years
Again.
Who is pitching for the Angels?
Who is pitching for the Angels?
–
Weaver, Wilson, Hanson, Blanton, Williams
The Angels have 4 great players…..they a couple of good players and then a whole bunch of crap…..they are still really top heavy
How about offering Nova or Hughes for Trumbo?
After 1-Knicks on pace to score 160 points.
@jcrasnick: The #angels began making push for Josh Hamilton at winter meetings in Nashville — not this week as some have speculated.
Cashman went to the opry and hung out at the bar
tucker says:
December 13, 2012 at 8:39 pm
How about offering Nova or Hughes for Trumbo?
Id do Nova
Weaver, Wilson, Hanson, Blanton, Williams
===================
Not impressed. Reminds me of the 80′s Yankees.
Melo, a man possessed. 22 pt 1sr Q.
Something special is in the making at the Garden. Melo with 22 PTS in the first quarter…
Did I hear Dantoni say they have to play defense?
I can’t even imagine what 2014 Yankees will look like. 80 wins?
Blake, I think that’d be a deal that works for both teams. Angels shore up a suspect rotation. Yanks get that righty power bat to balance out the lefty outfield.
With all that’s being said about the Angels lineup, I think the Rangers had a better one…
tucker says:
December 13, 2012 at 8:50 pm
Blake, I think that’d be a deal that works for both teams. Angels shore up a suspect rotation. Yanks get that righty power bat to balance out the lefty outfield.
Yea…I guess it’d depend what the Angels think Nova is…. But they do need pitching and Trumbo could DH and platoon with Ichiro in RF.
If for example the Yanks could make that deal….and a Grandy trade for Olt then they are suddenly a lot younger
Night off for Kobe?
On the phone with Zen Master?
Angels said they are not trading Trumbo.
Remember also that they lost Torii Hunter who had a pretty good season, so Hamilton is not just a straight addition.
the lakers really have ‘antoni’s system down perfect. they’re gonna give up 150 points!
I doubt the Angels will want to just sit Boujous again though…..they probably should deal either he or Trumbo
Is Cashman thinking about trades such as this? Maybe is has considered many ideas. I hope so.
Younger please on the offense. Then sign Liriano for one year as insurance.
@AndrewMarchand: Ichiro close to 2-year deal with Yanks http://t.co/p9IkHSEI
Unreal
My guess is that Wilson was signed in the event the Yankees need to DFA either Cervelli or Stewart for a roster spot and lose that guy off waivers.
Granderson for Olt and David Murphy makes a ton of sense for both teams. The Yankees can move Gardner to CF, Ichiro to LF and play Murphy in RF. The Rangers replace the homers they lost in Hamilton and manage to get better defensively in CF in the process. They can also sign Mike Bourn and really improve their OF defense from where it was last year.
You must mean Soriano. Cubs will pay most of the freight.
Doubt he’d want to platoon.
I’d take Trumbo off of LAA’ hands, no problem.
Austinmac: Younger in Yankees’ speak is signing a guy like Youkalis- someone south of 36.
Also from Olney (Twitter link), “Hamilton’s medical records have been a concern for other teams.”
Read more at http://www.mlbtraderumors.com/#lURi8GdPFEPmqteX.99
Blake -
You should be thrilled with Ichiro getting 2 years. If the Yankees get themselves in a position where 189 isn’t realistic then they can go back to business as usual and call it a day. The next thing we need to hope for is a strong season from Jeter so that he opts out of his contract after this season and comes back looking for a multiyear deal with a bigger payday.
Yankees won’t get younger until they start trusting the players in their farm system.
“You should be thrilled with Ichiro getting 2 years. If the Yankees get themselves in a position where 189 isn’t realistic then they can go back to business as usual and call it a day. ”
I think 189 is happening no matter what
Well in that case the Yankees won’t be able to afford veterans like Kuroda or Youk or Grandy or Cano and so we’ll get to see that youth movement. Either way it gets us out of this rut and moves us in one direction or another instead of this asinine fence walking.
@FeinsandNYDN: Source says Yankees and Ichiro close to finalizing two-year contract worth $12-13 million. Two sides putting finishing touches on deal.
Melky only got like 4i million more
‘ “Plan B is patience,” Cashman said that day. “We’ll engage the remaining free agent and trade market, and pursue what interests us at the level that we feel is appropriate.”
Of course, that patience lasted right up until the moment the Yankees signed Rafael Soriano.’
Interesting interpretations that brings out, Chad: that Levine could use Cashman’s plan A failure to panic ownership into signing So. Doubt he interferes with the budget edict. One blessing of the fiscal planning: no room for kibbutzing. (Although one must admit, the expensive insurance paid off there.)
Another point – you folks who are ready to throw Ivan Nova or Phil Hughes away for a no-defense, no contact homer hitter like Trumbo are short-sighted, considering the tight payroll environment. Both those guys will pitch well, and well within budget, too. They are key. Pitching is gold.
blake December 13th, 2012 at 9:23 pm
@FeinsandNYDN: Source says Yankees and Ichiro close to finalizing two-year contract worth $12-13 million. Two sides putting finishing touches on deal.
Melky only got like 4i million more
————
Melky doesn’t bring the Yankees the marketing dollars that Ichiro does.
Andrew Marchand ?@AndrewMarchand
BTW, I think Yanks may regret 2 years for Ichiro. He hasn’t played that much good baseball the last few years
———–
Just not true – the marketing dollars Ichiro will bring the Yankees as he moves towards 3,000 will make them very happy.
Ichiro taking less to play here but will make more in endorsements than anywhere else.
He comes out ahead.
I don’t want player decisions to be made for marketing reasons. Color me old fashioned.
Granderson for Olt plus. I approve this message.
“Joel Sherman wrote this morning that the Yankees are considering a two-year deal largely because they’re intrigued by the idea of Ichiro reaching 3,000 hits as a Yankee. It could be a terrific marketing opportunity, a way to tap into the Japanese market with an iconic player, and based on last season’s jersey sales alone, it’s clear that Ichiro is still a potent money-maker. If this were strictly about spending money to make money, why not go for it?”
How come when this was mentioned during the Jeter negotiations it was basically dismissed as insignificant. It was all about current on field production. (blake can attest to this).
But with Ichiro its a “terrific marketing opportunity”. How come it wasn’t “terrific” for Jeter?
Plus the fans will love Ichiro, for supposedly leaving money on the table to play in NY, as they will come to love Youk for different reasons.
These guys will have more influence on the team than many people here give them credit .
The staff is better and we have situational hitters.
Just not true – the marketing dollars Ichiro will bring the Yankees as he moves towards 3,000 will make them very happy.
–
And if he hits like he did the last 2 seasons and doesn’t come close to 3000?
The loss of Martin and Swisher is greatly exaggerated.
They will be replaced.
Yankeesource ?@YankeeSource
Remember when Knicks fans were rooting for Kobe at MSG? My have times changed.
1h Hector ?@hecdaboss
@YankeeSource i hated everyone of the “fans” who rooted for him disgraceful
1h Yankeesource ?@YankeeSource
I agree. The same goes for those who were rooting for Lebron RT @hecdaboss i hated everyone of the “fans” who rooted for him disgraceful
****
A day of reckoning for some – - – -
For a 3000 chase to be worth anything you have to be close to it. No one buys tickets to see the 2920 hit. Ichiro is most likely going to get 3000 hits in 2015 or the very end of 2014.
Ichiro had nearly 300 hits in the year and half that people keep calling his “bad” years.
I’ll take those bad years
“Melky doesn’t bring the Yankees the marketing dollars that Ichiro does.”
Probably brings a better and 10 years younger player though….they could have signed both
“i hated everyone of the “fans” who rooted for him disgraceful”
I know different circumstances but for some reason this reminds of DR J’s last game at MSG. I was lucky enough to go and Knick fans cheered like crazy every time he touched the ball. Chanting his name and were really rooting for him. In fact in the first half the Knicks were really awful (down by something like 20 ) and got booed like crazy.
Of course the Knicks rallied late and came back and won. Great game
montero could’ve been the center of a trade piece for giancarlo
http://bleacherreport.com/arti.....fit/page/5
more I read more I dislike all the yankees front office. if pettite, mo, jeter weren’t on the nyy I dunno if I’d even care 1%.