Pass on the young guys now; have to give them a shot eventually
Posted by: Chad Jennings - Posted in Misc on Dec 15, 2012 
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Consider this a kind of follow-up or addition to yesterday’s post about the Yankees in transition…
Successfully making that transition — both on the roster and within the budget — might require that the Yankees fill their in-season holes with young, in-house options. Going after experienced players this winter makes sense. The organization’s upper-level prospects aren’t proven enough to trust they can handle a big league job right away, but if the Yankees are going to find cheap, cost-controlled players for the future, they’re going to have to let a few prospects sink or swim at some point.
Guys like David Adams, Austin Romine and Melky Mesa have yet to experience a full year at Triple-A and could legitimately grow with a few more months of consistent minor league at-bats, but if the Yankees have to find depth during the season, they might have to move away from the Jayson Nix, Dewayne Wise, Casey McGehee stopgaps. It’s time to take some chances on the kids, and the projected Triple-A roster should be full of options.
Need an extra infielder? Adams and Corban Joseph are waiting. Need an outfielder? Mesa and Zoilo Almonte are already on the 40-man. Chris Stewart or Francisco Cervelli struggling under the weight of regular at-bats? What better time to find out what you’ve got in Romine? Adam Warren, Brett Marshall, Chase Whitley and Mark Montgomery should be in the pitching staff conversation by the All-Star break.
Despite a myth to the contrary, the Yankees have not totally shied away from young players in recent years. Cervelli, Brett Gardner, Eduardo Nunez, Dave Robertson, Ivan Nova and even Phil Hughes broke into the big leagues because doors opened and the Yankees looked for internal solutions. In the past three years we’ve also see guys like Colin Curtis, Kevin Russo and Lance Pendleton get mid-season call-ups to help fill a position of need. Some guys have proven themselves and stuck around, some have exceed expectation and move into bigger roles, and some have faded away.
Considering their future financial plans, the Yankees have to figure out what they’ve got. And the only way to do that is to put some of these young guys to the test. That might not require a big league job out of camp, but it’s going to require a big league job at some point.
Associated Press photo of Adams
Chad,
According to some, or one, you can’t now be thinking of going with the youngsters, as you were for the Montero deal, correct?
heard the rumor that Cash wanted Hamilton, shot down by Hal. Take it or leave it but the one I heard from is knowledgeable
Take your gruel and learn to love it Cashman
mick December 15th, 2012 at 3:45 pm
i can see shame’s point on extending cano to 12/200 but they will want an opt out in 4-5 years for one more escalated deal.
it’s also the 1st 7 years at 160m which i don’t think they would do.
not thinking hal believes he’s getting what he’s paid for and can do it for less like the giants.
—————–
It depends.. not sure if Hal is concerned more with the real dollars or the AAV.
The fact that they would front load that type of deal wouldn’t hurt the LT at all. And, again, in 5 years Cano opting out would be pointless because he’d be worth a hell of a lot less.
3/75 or 4/100 don’t help you. It’s almost a $10 million higher AAV than what I’m proposing. And Cano would be stupid to do it because in 3-4 years he wouldn’t be worth a $25 million AAV.
Ronnier Mustelier hit better at AA and AAA last year than any of the guys listed in this article. At 28 he may not be a true prospect, but he could help.
“heard the rumor that Cash wanted Hamilton, shot down by Hal. Take it or leave it but the one I heard from is knowledgeable”
———
Yeah Lost said this. How knowledgeable he is has been debated.
mick December 15th, 2012 at 3:48 pm
Chad,
According to some, or one, you can’t now be thinking of going with the youngsters, as you were for the Montero deal, correct?
———————
The only way the youngster approach works in 2014 is if a few of them get enough playing time in 2013… hopefully Youk breaks his leg so we can find out if we have any 3B options in the system. Same I suppose goes for someone in the OF.
Would love to see players like Adams,Joseph,and Romine get to play with the Yanks next year.Really can’t wait and looking forword for the Yanks to Start using their top prospects in the next couple of years.
Once again— Stating the obvious… Its Turnover City for the Yanks…
I like the idea of starting Adams back in AAA – allows him more time to get use to 3b/2b combo role as well as get more games under his belt coming back from his ankle injury – they were very conservative with him in his weekly playing schedule – hopefully he gets to the point where the gloves come off – he could play a little Martin Prado role for the Yanks (without the outfield angle Prado offers) – - – -
There were no trade talks brewing this weekend between the Braves or Rangers on Dexter Fowler, a Rockies source told Troy Renck of the Denver Post (on Twitter). The Braves have been in trade talks this week with several clubs and are believed to be targeting Fowler.
Read more at http://www.mlbtraderumors.com/#OdghGsiWzlGUwkKg.99
randy l -
Before I read Chad’s post on at the top of this thread, I just wanted to respond. Don’t get me wrong. I’d love to see some young guys too.
But we got what we got, and I don’t like summer reruns, and I’m tired of Everybody Loves Raymond, so I’ll be watching a lot of the games. Might as well make the most of it.
Problem with playing more than a few young guys at the same time is,it is a different formula,and the chances they produce like a swisher,granderson,jeter,etc.. are remote,and it takes time to develop.
We are talking about 3 pitchers,if nova,and,or phelps are good enough,c,3b,2 o.f.,2b,ss,dh,bench.
The yankees are simply reacting to a new cba,instead of having a solid plan,when everybody knows the future cba’s are going to go after revenues even more than the previous one.
What do they do when the 2017 cba attacks revenues even more?
I know one thing,mlb is not going to give a team like the yankees a more favorable cba,especially after what the dodgers,angels are doing,and with all the new tv deals coming up.
You’re not going to be part of the Boycott Brigade, Doreen????
And now I’ve read Chad’s post and I agree 100%.
How much worse can one of their young guys do than, say, Casey McGehee?? Nothing against McGehee personally, of course.
But we do know young guys are susceptible to mistakes (due to nerves?) – see Melky Mesa missing third base. Gotta be willing to move on from those things and embrace the exuberance that youth brings.
Nick in SF -
I’m too selfish.
I suspect the boycotters will cave as well.
Everybody Loves Youk?
Peter Boyle was pretty funny!!!!
Problem is,they did not have to be in this position,and can still change it by making some key trades on soon to be expensive players for top prospects,drafting,developing,signing the right free agents.
So sad I missed the luxury tax post. Though if they really got charged 18.9 then their payroll was 222.47, not 223.3 as they would have been charged 19+ million otherwise.
Interesting thing is that if they keep this payroll they will pay 2 million less in Tax next season. Savings!
The reason why the Yankees are guaranteed to be making a profit is that YES posts annual profits of 150-200 million. 30% of which goes right back to the Yankees holding company and who knows how much else going to other partners. They also make profits off the parking & concessions, and get money from MLB for TV (which is around 50 million dollars).
The Yankees want to keep as much revenue off the Yankees team as possible, because it helps them avoid revenue sharing.
And those YES profits are after they have already paid the Yankees 85 million for TV rights!
Basically the Yankees probably come close to covering their payroll with TV money alone…..then the parking and concessions and tickets and merchandise go straight to profit……they make tons of money
Homer: Mr. Burns, you’re the richest guy I know….
Mr. Burns: Oh yes. But I’d trade it all for a little more.
And, again, in 5 years Cano opting out would be pointless because he’d be worth a hell of a lot less.
3/75 or 4/100 don’t help you. It’s almost a $10 million higher AAV than what I’m proposing. And Cano would be stupid to do it because in 3-4 years he wouldn’t be worth a $25 million AAV.
================================================
Remains to be seen, might as well have that option, it’s a Boras staple.
The market could increase as it always does and a 34-35 Cano could command more than the Yanks could pay.
My point is Yanks don’t want to shell out the big bucks for a while. Or as long as Hal is in office, so Cano looks like a goner to me.
George would have been all over Hamilton.
Of course we would also have a 300m payroll by now…
Why wouldn’t Cashman want JHam?
But what say does he have?
He was born to be a Yankee.
All valid points, Chad. The Yankees over the past six or seven seasons have been much more willing to work young players into their lineup, from Cano, Wang, Gardner, Robertson, Hughes, Joba and Nova. They’ve also moved some of their young talent to try and improve areas of need, allowing then to bring in Granderson when they needed more LF’d power.
The issue right now is their more interesting prospects are at the lower levels and are at least two years away from helping the big club. Austin, Williams, Sanchez, Banuelos, Campos, Hensley won’t start arriving for awhile. Even Heathcott, if he can remain healthy, probably won’t see any big league time until later 2014. Bridging that gap until some can either be worked into the lineup or used as trade material is the challenge. That means the Yankees will not be getting younger, or better in 2013, and even 2014, as Cashman will continue to look for veteran players to plug the holes, ones that promise to much bigger in 2014 than even this year.
“I suspect the boycotters will cave as well.”
Attendance was down last year at Yankee Stadium despite having a winning team. High prices and and a team that was..well not very entertaining are my guesses. They limped to the finish and were lucky to win the division. They didn’t suck offensively as much as Baltimore, so they moved on. Only to get embarrassed by the Tigers.
Just think about if and when they start a long term losing trend. Call them what you will, but I suspect they will stay away in droves if that happens.
Call them what you will, but I suspect they will stay away in droves if that happens.
======================
Can’t we say the same for all teams?
The issue right now is their more interesting prospects are at the lower levels and are at least two years away from helping the big club
===========================
God forbid we have a bad 2014.
We should be fine this year so we’re talking 0ne year of transition to the youngsters.
“Can’t we say the same for all teams?”
The Yankees are not “all teams”.
I’ve said it before but the Yankees are extremely lucky that the Mets have been irrelevant over the last few years. One thing George understood was the importance of winning the battle for the next generation of fans, especially in NY. Since the 80′s that hasn’t been a problem. I question the Yankees strategy in that regards. The have opened themselves up to be overtaken. Let’s see if the Mets are smart enough, or have the resources to take advantage of it.
Can’t we say that for all teams?
Absolutely.
Tar, I was referring to those among us who have said they will not watch one inning of Yankee baseball this season or otherwise support the parent club. We’ll see about that.
As for attendance, it may have been down from 2011 but it was still pretty high overall, no? Obviously the gate will suffer more if the team really flounders.
How bad do you expect this 2013 team to really be, though?
Let’s see if the Mets are smart enough, or have the resources to take advantage of it.
————————————————————————————————
Mets might be smart enough but don’t have the resources.
There attendance will continue to drop.
I will say they have a good looking pitcher in Matt Harvey.
Hal is banking that fans will show and feels the money he saves will compensate for a slight decline in att.
It will take awhile for a mass exodus and he must feel they will stay competitive enough to not warrant that exodus. After all, most teams are mediocre, with the parity they are striving for.
Tar, I was referring to those among us who have said they will not watch one inning of Yankee baseball this season or otherwise support the parent club.
===================
Those or the one?
When Trisha issues the challenge, I’m in for 94 Yankees wins.
Mr Tom, But what about 2014 and on and on and on……?
Nick
Yeah I don’t believe a real fan will not watch games. Maybe not as many though.
But not selling out a play-off game at Yankee Stadium was shocking in my eyes. I really am still having a hard time believing it. I think they are down over 225k from three years ago. I can see that trend accelerating.
As for how bad–I think they are an injury or two especially to the staff to being a third place or worse team. Otherwise If they stay incredibly healthy, and depending on the catching situation, they might make the play-offs. In other words a lot has to go right for them. Of course all just IMO
Last season they were incredibly injured and won 95 games.
Mr Tom might be correct in calling for 94 wins.
referring to those among us who have said they will not watch one inning of Yankee baseball this season or otherwise support the parent club.
****
If there are such fans – they don’t get to come back – - – -
Hal is banking that fans will show and feels the money he saves will compensate for a slight decline in att.
————————————————————————————————-
If Hal has a losing, unexciting, old, injury riddled team, I would think there would be a big drop in attendance.
Yankeesource ?@YankeeSource
I’ve always put him on top as the MVP of baseball because you can’t find 2B with that kind of production. You can at 1B, OF.
nodding head – - – -
Fans expect the Yanks to be in the playoffs and also have grown to expect them to lose.
The clamor to be at the playoffs, esp early rounds, has died down + the prices are too high.
They wait for stubhub and reduced prices esp day of game but many can’t arrange for the last minute so att. suffers.
If there are such fans – they don’t get to come back – – – -
=======================
they call those fans frontrunners.
Mr. Mick,
Que sera, sera. It can’t be as bad as the late 60s and early 70s, or most of the 80s, can it? Maybe out future stars were born in 1996 in Mali or Norway, or wherever.
George very much believed favorable news was very good for marketing the team. One always heard of wanting the Yankees to be on the back page.
I am no expert, but some of that must still be true. This winter hasn’t had any excitement. We will see if the first couple months attendance is down at all as a result.
2009 was the opening year of the new stadium. I wonder how the attendance decline from 2009 to 2012 compares with typical decline in the 4th year of new stadiums (stadia?) in general and in the subset of teams that made the postseason in all four of those years.
The SF Giants don’t fall into that second category, but attendance at AT& Park (ne Pacific Bell Park) was down after the first few seasons but was up again after the 2010 World Series title.
We should have an over/under attendance pool along with the win total pool so the pessimists can have a second method to cast a negative verdict.
If Hal has a losing, unexciting, old, injury riddled team, I would think there would be a big drop in attendance.
====================
Of course the fans want to see the YANKEES, not a replacement team.
They showed last season despite the many injuries.
The “real” fans that sold out the old stadium and formed the core is where they lost att.
A lot of them are dissatisfied with the stadium and the many faux fans that are there as tourists.
Naturally the older fans won’t go as much as they used to.
These are the major contributors to lower att. Hal is not stupid to let this team go to pot.
Nick in SF, the Yankees have led the AL in attendance for ten straight years. What’s interesting is the Yankees during their great dynasty run (which some have as ’96-’00, although I peg it ’94-’01) never once led the AL in attendance. 1996? The year they won their first World Series in 18 years? Smack in the middle of the pack, 7th out of 14 AL teams. Pretty lame fans. ’97, the year after winning it all? They nudged up to 5th, which is really kind of mediocre. The great ’98 season? They were still only 3rd in AL attendance. In fact, it wasn’t until the dynasty run was two years over that the Yankees led the AL in attenance, which was at the point when Randy Levine had arrived and the team got much better at packaging their tickets in plans to drive up attendance. The closing of the old Stadium had a very large impact for several years as fans, and non-fans alike, came from all over the country to be at Yankee Stadium.
The Yankees will never see those 4.2M attendance days again. The new park is smaller, although generates far more profit per ticket sold. They can’t fit 4.2M fans in the place, and the reality is if every thing was right, from the team on the field to the pricing, the team might sell 3.9M tickets. The days of 4M+ are gone and will never be seen in our lifetimes again, unless they Yankees add real seating capacity, not the standing-room nonsense.
So, yes, you’re right, it remains high. The best in the AL. They’re down about 100K from 2011, and I can see some more dips coming. Part of it is driven by StubHub, which undercut the velvet-rope strategy Levine was using that made it seem more difficult to get tickets. Yet that’s a small part, way overplayed by the Yankees. I think the lack of the new “big thing” will push attendance lower, and the Yankees are aware of this. Their goal is try to continue to put winning teams on the field until they have their next big push forward, which is a few years away. Face it, Yankee fans are spoiled. They’re unhappy when their team wins the AL East, wins 95 games, has the league’s best record, makes it to the second round of the playoffs and are one of the final four teams. Nearly twenty straight years of winning teams has perhaps caused some fatigue.
Maybe what Yankee fans needs is what we had twenty years ago. Losing. It’s a powerful reminder of how good you have it…I mean had it.
“Maybe what Yankee fans needs is what we had twenty years ago. Losing. It’s a powerful reminder of how good you have it…I mean had it.”
LordD
Nice post. I’m ok with having a losing year if it coincides with a strategy of getting younger and more athletic. I Just don’t see any evidence of that being the plan.
God forbid we have a bad 2014.
We should be fine this year so we’re talking 0ne year of transition to the youngsters.
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Mick, for the most part I agree with what you’re saying, although the problem is youngsters take time to develop. I can only imagine what this board would be saying about the Yankees and Bernie Williams when he first came up. It’s not like he was a superstar. Took several years. So when the Yankees start moving younger players into the lineup, they make take a while to hit their collective strides. I actually think 2015 is more realistic for many of the kids, and then it can take time beyond that.
Yankee fans should also not assume they can go and generate another set of players like Bernie, Derek, Mo, Pettitte and Posada, five core players who helped the team at a very high level for 15-20 years. Most rebuilding efforts either fail or fall well short.
I’m all for rebuilding. I lived through lousy teams. I like watching the young kids. I’ll do it again. Not sure most younger Yankee fans, based on their comments, are with me on that, or don’t realize how long it might take.
But while the Yankee fan base angst is certainly justified about a potential 2013 team that too closely resembles the one that was booed out of Yankee Stadium amid a blizzard of strikeouts against the Detroit Tigers last October, only a year older, perhaps one of the famous sayings of wise old Gabe Paul, the Yankee general manager from 1973-77, can put some perspective on all this: “It’s not the hole in the doughnut that counts, but rather the whole doughnut.”
Read more: http://www.nydailynews.com/spo.....z2FAOZio99
BLUE JAYS
Yes, the blockbuster deal with Miami greatly enhances their lineup with the speed of Jose Reyes and Emilio Bonifacio added to the top. And innings-eater Mark Buehrle and onetime Marlins ace Josh Johnson fill big holes in a starting rotation decimated by injuries last year. But Johnson’s velocity has dropped 2-3 mph since incurring shoulder issues in 2011 and it remains to be seen how he’ll fare going to the AL. The same can be said for R.A. Dickey, who certainly provides even more rotation depth, but is he the true No. 1 the Jays need to make the quantum leap from long-standing AL East mediocrity to the top of the division? Plus, they were also the worst fundamental team in baseball last year — perhaps the biggest challenge for new/old manager John Gibbons.
Read more: http://www.nydailynews.com/spo.....z2FAOqUJZs
“referring to those among us who have said they will not watch one inning of Yankee baseball this season or otherwise support the parent club.”
Not many fans will stick to this….and that’s what Hal is banking on
Very nice post, LordD99.
Tar, it sure seems like there’s a strategy in place to be younger — maybe a lot younger — in 2014, with 2013 being the bridge year while still remaining competitive. People can disagree about whether they’ll be competitive in 2013, of course. But I’ve got you down for being okay with losing in 2014.
But while the Yankee fan base angst is certainly justified about a potential 2013 team that too closely resembles the one that was booed out of Yankee Stadium
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Not feeling that. With Swisher and Martin gone so is some of that doughnut hole that was “non situational” hitting. Youkilis should get on base and be a tough AB as will a year of Ichiro. This type of hitting can be contagious.
“Face it, Yankee fans are spoiled. They’re unhappy when their team wins the AL East, wins 95 games, has the league’s best record, makes it to the second round of the playoffs and are one of the final four teams. Nearly twenty straight years of winning teams has perhaps caused some fatigue.”
I do think you are underestimating real Yankee fans here though.
If the year lasted any longer the division and best record was in severe jeopardy. They barely limped to the finish line. They only made it to the second round of the playoffs because the O’s sucked a little more offensively. And they we’re embarrassed by one of the other final four teams.
Last years team shortcomings were apparent from much earlier in the season BTW. So you may say spoiled, i would say sophisticated enough to see a flawed team.
The Return of Stoneburner December 15th, 2012 at 6:07 pm
referring to those among us who have said they will not watch one inning of Yankee baseball this season or otherwise support the parent club.
****
If there are such fans – they don’t get to come back – – – -
****
Meant to add – the threat alone constitues fan:
abandonment
the act of giving something up.
Lost .. ?@LostNYY
Chances #Yankees OF will be BG,CG,IS in 2013 ? #nil
*****
idk about this guy – - – -
Lord
Enjoyed your post and agree with 2015 being closer to when our youth could reach fruition.
Although some LoHud expert(s) think we as Yankee fans can’t wait for this youth as we disparaged the Montero deal but that is far from the truth yet consistent with the erroneous thinking that we are anti-youth.
What is wrong is putting the burden on one youngster who may or may not succeed. That is undue pressure.
None of our core were put under that type of pressure. They were allowed to develop and we were pleasantly surprised.
After reading about R.A.’S character, it would be an honour and joy to have his presence in Toronto. Heart out to all those families in Conecticut.
“But I’ve got you down for being okay with losing in 2014.”
And I’ve got you down that the Yankees are going to go the youth route in 2014. Because they certainly aren’t doing that this year.
If the Yanks are as injury riddled as some here say in 2013 they might have to force some of their youth up. Could be a good thing, could be bad. To start a youth movement prematurely is not the right thing to do if you don’t have to.
Tar, I don’t know that they’re going to go the complete youth route in 2014, nor do I know that they’re absolutely positively going to go under $189M that year, despite all the writing curretnyl on the wall. I don’t have a lot invested in predicting what they’re actually going to do.
But would you not agree that it’s a safe bet that they’ll be going younger in 2014 or 2015 given the current status of the hyped prospects and given the current composition of the roster? It would be tough to trade away the whole farm for a new crop of 39-year-olds next year even if they wanted to, though Cashman is no doubt targeting a bunch of promising 38-year-olds right now.
So yeah, I think they’ll go younger in 2014 just by necessity. Or they’ll do so well with this crop of old folks that they’ll want to go with one last rodeo with them in 2014. We’ll see!
Tar, thanks again for the Rush link – the guys are already pushing for Yes, King Crimson etc and have rightly called it a Hall of Music.
Nick
I’m ok with a rebuilding year or even two if it entails seasoning youngsters. However, I have no faith that the Yankees will start youngsters over veterans. Even mediocre veterans.
The catching situation this year will be interesting. My money (with the current roster)is on Stewart getting the job. Romaine will start in AAA.
Jmills
My pleasure. Catch everybody later.
I hope that this is a joke…
—————–
The Yankees, sources say, are among the possibilities for Wells — the teams discussed him at the winter meetings, and Wells could fill the Yankees’ need for a right-handed hitting outfielder.
To trade Wells, the Angels know that they must assume the vast majority of the $42 remaining on the final two years of his contract. Wells, 34, also has a full no-trade clause, but likely would waive it for the opportunity for more playing time elsewhere.
http://msn.foxsports.com/mlb/s.....les-121512
Tar, you don’t think they will ever integrate youngsters?
Barring any prospect trades, the Yankee Farm is set for a big year in 2013.
@Ken_Rosenthal: The #Angels’ preference with their outfielders – and how it could involve #Yankees. Story: http://t.co/nn6qlSLP
Of course the Yanks don’t ask about anybody good but the useless Vernon Wells
Mick, I agree with that. I don’t think LoHud posters here are anti-youth. Not at all. If anything, like all fans, we probably overvalue prospects, sure they’re all going to become the next big thing. Some will, most will not quite do what we hoped. People are still disappointed in Phil Hughes because he didn’t become the front-end rotation pitcher we wanted, yet lost is Phil Hughes has done better than most prospects of his similar rankings. That’s the tough part with putting too much hope in prospects. Most of them will disappoint, especially pitchers.
Heathcott may have the highest ceiling of any of the prospects in the Yankees system. Higher than Williams, higher than Austin. Yet he’s also the most likely to blow through a wall and go all Bump Bailey. Out of the entire group of young position players, there is probably a MLB superstar in the making. There is also going to be a huge bust. An underperformer. One or two will be traded. On the flip side, there could be a player or two who will advance forward and be better than expected, perhaps a Taylor Dugas or a Ramon Flores, whose power might spike. Trying to figure out which is which is the hardest part.
I do believe the Yankees are trying to get to the point where they can start tapping into that youth line, to some degree. I just think think they’re a couple years off, they know they’re a couple years off, and they’re going to try and patch together a winning team over 2013-2014, hoping that the Jeter’s and Rivera’s of the world can hold off father time just a little bit longer.
“Tar, you don’t think they will ever integrate youngsters?”
Nick
Have to run. But I don’t believe that under Cashman and Giradi we will see any kind of full scale youth movement on the Yankees. They will always go with the “veteran with a pulse” strategy.
If they go for a full scale youth movement, fans on message boards will start chirping about attendance declines.
Have a good evening.
The Yanks continue to shop at Walmart and dumpster dive. Of course the Yanks will take Wells if they can get him for cheap. I guess Hal wants to be a small market team now and will only spend money when he has to. Unreal.
Getting wells for almost free is not a bad thing,and will prevent us from spending on another outfielder,potentially.
PhiltheThrill says:
December 15, 2012 at 7:00 pm
Barring any prospect trades, the Yankee Farm is set for a big year in 2013.
Yea Im hoping….the Yanks could legitamitely have 4 prospects in the top 25 this time next year if everything falls right……
Tar, the question I would have for you is what do you mean by a full-scale youth movement? The second question would be how many years are you willing to put into the youth movement (as a fan), meaning losing years?
A full youth movement will pretty much require a collapse of the big-league club as we saw in the early 90s. When that happens, it’s easy to go youth. Continuing to win and integrate youth, the right youth, is a little more difficult. I mean, Adam Warren is 25 and Andy Pettitte is 40. I know who I want as one of the starting five in 2013. I’m not high on Warren. I think he will be a MLB pitcher, maybe a back-of-the- rotation, or bullpen guy, and maybe not in the AL East. Melky Mesa? Not a fan. The more interesting guys are further off.
The Yankees have certainly shown a willingness to work youngsters into the lineup. They just have gone full youth, and that’s for two reasons: 1) The team will lose more games as they transistion and 2) They haven’t had the right selection of prospects.
I wonder what it would take to get Wells, in terms of money and people. Would $5 million/year for two years plus a decent prospect be enough?
– ” I wonder what it would take to get Wells, in terms of money and people. Would $5 million/year for two years plus a decent prospect be enough? “–
probably not. if the Yankees have to pay $5mil/year of Well’s salary, the Angels would have to include a reuly first-rate prospect. possibly two.