Friday night notes and links: Hafner’s incentives could pay $4 million
Posted by: Chad Jennings - Posted in Misc on Feb 01, 2013 
Print This Post
| 
Email This Post
Just a few notes as we head into the weekend.
• Travis Hafner’s contract pays a $2 million base plus incentives. According to The Associated Press, those incentives are based entirely on plate appearances and could total $4 million. He would earn $100,000 apiece for 150 plate appearances, 155 and each additional 15 through 275. He would receive $125,000 apiece for 290 and each additional 15 through 425; and $175,000 apiece for 440 and each additional 15 through 575.
• Buster Olney reports that Hafner was choosing between the Yankees and Rays.
• For what it’s worth, Kevn Kernan has heard there are “rumblings” that the University of Miami might rename it’s baseball field, which is currently named after Alex Rodriguez.
• Mark Teixeira appeared in the musical Rock of Ages this week. I’ve talked music with Teixeira because we listened to a lot of the same stuff in college. Must have been hilarious to see him on that stage.
• ESPN’s first Grapefruit League broadcast will be the Yankees game against the Cardinals on March 11.
• Veteran catchers are starting to settle for minor league deals. Miguel Olivo just took one from the Reds. Not sure the Yankees are really interested in yet another uncertain catching option, but they could probably get one if they found one they liked.
Pronky
http://www.youtube.com/embed/1.....#038;rel=0
Oh’ boy. Good luck.
If Hafner stays healthy, he will abuse that short porch.
Hafner looks like one of those palooka type fellows.
Interesting that they gave him so many incentives. When I originally read it I thought the incentives would take him up to 4 million, but its actually 4 million in incentives! So potentially 6 million total for Hafner.
Jk, if he reaches those PA incentives, Yanks probably will get their money worth, If he does not, they don’t have to pay him. I rather he reach them. I remember a time not so long ago, he was one of the more fearsome hitter in AL. He can still hit and be a threat in YS every times he step up to the plate against a RHer.
http://www.youtube.com/embed/B.....#038;rel=0
Idont even like country.
Keith Richards loves Sir Parsons and so do I for that matter, sorta’ like Dr. Hunter in a dessert. Somehow,…..I think Deppp concurs
Karen Valentine etudes.
http://www.youtube.com/embed/0.....#038;rel=0
Hunter and, ….. Keith
It looks like it’ll be Juan Rivera vs. Matt Diaz for the righthanded outfielder/side of a DH platoon job.
I’d go with Rivera because he hits lefties well, makes contact (.118 strikeout rate), has some power, and guns down baserunners (67 career assists.)
Duh, Hafner was a big bat vs us little jays – no more I sure do wish!
Potential power numbers,
Granderson 45, Cano 40, Hafner 36, Texeira 35, Youkelis 25, Ichiro 20. That’s 201 homeruns, power shortage has been avoided, good work Cashman.
Yeah Jerkface, that is a lot in incentives. If he gets that many at bats, it probably means he’s doing something right.
You can’t possibly count on Ichiro for 20 HRs. His career high is 15, back in 2005. Short porch or no short porch.
Good morning Lohud.
Apologies if the following has already been posted. If so, I don’t know how many are ready to believe it and, if they do believe it, if it will bring them any comfort or cheer this Saturday morning
“No one should be surprised if the Yankees engage in a major spending spree during the 2014 offseason, writes Jim Bowden of ESPN.com (Insider sub. req’d). The Bombers held off on going after the big free agents this winter as they look to get under the $189MM figure next year for tax purposes, but they’ll get a clean slate on their luxury tax history after that point. General Manager Brian Cashman could reload his rotation in 2014 with a free agent class including Justin Verlander, Clayton Kershaw, Felix Hernandez, and James Shields. If they want to take that route again the following year, the 2015 class offers David Price, Cliff Lee, Johnny Cueto, and Yovani Gallardo. Here’s more from the AL East.
Read more at http://www.mlbtraderumors.com/.....U5MS3lW.99“
JRC – I like those numbers (!) but I’d be more inclined to guess at something like Grandy – 35, Cano 30, Hafner 25, Tex 35, Youk 20 and Ichiro 15 (because he showed he liked the porch last year
)
I think you could throw in a few more from Gardner, Jeter and whoever the heck is catching. Maybe another 20 or so?
Good morning yanks61,
I don’t believe it, mostly because barely any of those players will actually be free agents. It just doesn’t work that way anymore. Verlander, Kershaw and Felix will be extended.
Maybe I’m just being negative here, but if both A-Rod and Melky were connected to this clinic since 2009…there’s another guy that worked out with them too… I’m waiting for the other shoe to drop on this one. We’ll see once the investigation is done.
Wonder if we will hear “Pronkie and Yukie” from Girardi?
RadioKev – that’s the new problem, alright: so many young pitchers getting locked up early
Of course if Bowden turns out to be a prophet (in which case the Yanks rotation could profit) and there’s actually talent on the market, it will be interesting to see where this goes.
@AP: BREAKING: Pennsylvania groundhog Punxsutawney Phil doesn’t see shadow, forecasts early spring.
Spring Training gets under way in 10 days.
DocTodd February 2nd, 2013 at 7:39 am
Wonder if we will hear “Pronkie and Yukie” from Girardi?
———
When they both have big games we can declare them “Pukie”
“The Bombers held off on going after the big free agents this winter as they look to get under the $189MM figure next year for tax purposes, but they’ll get a clean slate on their luxury tax history after that point.”
False.
These guys really suck at giving out facts.
Goo morning-
With regards to possible “ex-Yankee” Alex Rodriguez:
“I don’t know if Alex Rodriguez was back on PEDs or if he ever got off them. I don’t know why his name is in the notebook. I don’t know if the notebook is real or fabricated. I don’t know if the fake doctor, as ESPN reported, carried syringes to Rodriguez’s mansion. I don’t know if Rodriguez is being set up, or why anyone would go through that sort of trouble, or what happens from here.”
Read the rest of this article I enjoyed from Tim Brown.
http://sports.yahoo.com/news/t.....20679.html
*Good* morning!
“The Bombers held off on going after the big free agents this winter as they look to get under the $189MM figure next year for tax purposes, but they’ll get a clean slate on their luxury tax history after that point.”
Hilarious
They need to stay under for multiple consecutive years to get a ‘clean slate’…. I hate everyone.
Did we get Chase Headley yet?
Shame Spencer February 2nd, 2013 at 8:31 am
They need to stay under for multiple consecutive years to get a ‘clean slate’…. I hate everyone.
————————-
everyone?
Yankee Trader February 2nd, 2013 at 8:27 am
*Good* morning!
—————–
good morning!
Must say I do like this Hafner move….if they can sprinkle whatever anti injury pixie dust they sprinkled on Chavez on him I think he could have a pretty big year for them….not like 1 OPS Hafner from years ago but like 20-25 homers and a .375 OBP is possible
GregD February 2nd, 2013 at 8:35 am
Shame Spencer February 2nd, 2013 at 8:31 am
They need to stay under for multiple consecutive years to get a ‘clean slate’…. I hate everyone.
————————-
everyone?
———————
EVERYONEEEE ROAAAAAAAARRRRRRR!!!!
No. Just kidding. I just hate the writers that can’t seem to get their facts straight about the subject they’re reporting on.
I still love y’all!
Shame-
Good morning. Didn’t you ask what would George Steinbrenner have done if still alive about the ARod mess?
He would have hired someone like Howie Spira, a known gambler with a large debt owed the mob, to dig up whatever “dirt” he could find on Alex. Look at this earlier picture of Spira-close resemblance to Jerry Seinfeld?
http://www.nydailynews.com/spo.....e-1.461881
EVERYONEEEE ROAAAAAAAARRRRRRR!!!!
No. Just kidding. I just hate the writers that can’t seem to get their facts straight about the subject they’re reporting on.
I still love y’all!
——————–
I find the whole luxury tax situation very complicated…..I just want to watch baseball and not analyze the budget
I’m ready for Headley to just be a Yankee.. but he’ll cost too much. Give Adams a shot if you’re not going to try to get Olt, Castellanos, or Flores.
blake February 2nd, 2013 at 8:36 am
Must say I do like this Hafner move….if they can sprinkle whatever anti injury pixie dust they sprinkled on Chavez on him I think he could have a pretty big year for them….not like 1 OPS Hafner from years ago but like 20-25 homers and a .375 OBP is possible
——————————
I agree, like Chavez, health is the key and if he can stay healthy, I believe he could be a big contributor
It is so cold out, the politicians have their hands in their own pockets……
Yankee Trader February 2nd, 2013 at 8:36 am
Shame-
Good morning. Didn’t you ask what would George Steinbrenner have done if still alive about the ARod mess?
He would have hired someone like Howie Spira, a known gambler with a large debt owed the mob, to dig up whatever “dirt” he could find on Alex. Look at this earlier picture of Spira-close resemblance to Jerry Seinfeld?
http://www.nydailynews.com/spo…..e-1.461881
—————————
He does look like Seinfeld!!! And you’re very likely right about the Boss.. he would have found a way to take care of Arod without it counting against the payroll. He may have gotten himself suspended in the process, but it’d be all for the greater good. OR he may have just eaten the money and gotten Chase Headley and said ‘screw the new CBA.’
Adams will get his shot. It just won’t be at 3rd base. He’ll be given the chance to play 2nd after the Yankees either trade Robinson Cano or lose him in free agency!
Blake-
Will Cano be a Yankee opening day 2014?
Will Cano be a Yankee opening day 2014?
———–
I’ll guess no.
Hafner, if healthy, a big IF, after stints on the DL for a foot injury[twice], an oblique strain, back injury, is getting paid to loft long fly balls over the Shift that he’ll be facing as a dead pull hitter.
The same shift that will continue to keep Granderson and Teixeira from raising their batting averages.
If they’re under the cap, they don’t pay luxury tax. That’s a clean slate. Then the next time they go over they only pay 17% and its gets higher every year if they continue to go over.
It’s the rebate % that get better with consecutive years under.
Bronx, the quote was that “they’ll get a clean slate on their luxury tax history after that point.”
That implies they get to operate on a clean slate after getting under for one year (which they aren’t doing this year, despite how the paragraph reads).
The real figure for 2014 is more like $189 million less player benefits which is projected to be close to $12 million- so for all baseball teams that “fiscal cliff” is anything over 177M in AAV salaries, counted at the end of the 2014 season.
New Post————–>