You many not know who to vote for, but you KNOW you should read the latest news:
- John Perrotto of BP.COM has some analysis of the Yankees off-season needs, and thinks the pressing issue is starting pitching, particularly with Mike Mussina leaning toward retirement. He notes there is some sentiment towards acquiring a center fielder, though many in the organization believe rookie Brett Gardner can ably fill that position. Ian Kennedy, Johnny Damon and Hideki Matsui are listed as top trade bait.
- SI.COM’s Jon Heyman has some educated guesses regarding the landing spots for various free agents. He thinks C.C. will end up with the Yanks (7 years, $160 million), as well as A.J. Burnett (5 years, $80 million).
- At FOXSports.COM, Joel Sherman noted this amazing comment by one agent, made without any hint of a joke … “(he) would not be surprised if the Yanks signed CC Sabathia, A.J. Burnett, Mark Teixeira and Manny Ramirez. Beyond having a conscious, there is no reason the Yanks cannot take their payroll to $250 million or more.”
- Over at the LoHud Yankees Blog, our buddy Peter Abraham thinks Pat Gillick might be useful in a consultant function for the Yankees.
- Ken Davidoff of Newsday suggests the Yanks hire Mick Kelleher for their coaching staff. Kelleher has “a long-standing relationship with Robinson Cano, and his easygoing demeanor would be a boon to a team that takes itself too seriously too often”.
- According to Boston.com, the Bombers have already tried to initiate trade talks with a few teams, such as Houston. The Astros said that Roy Oswalt and Lance Berkman were not available.
- Happy 36th birthday to one of 51 players to have pitched for both the Mets (333 games) and Yankees (9 games) … Armando Benitez. The big 4-0 for a guy who gave up 172 hits in only 127.7 innings over two seasons with the Bombers, Paul Quantrill. Happy 63rd to a pitcher acquired in a 9-player trade with the Orioles in 1976, Ken Holtzman.
- On this date in 1934, Lou Gehrig clinched the A.L. Triple Crown after hitting .363 with 49 homers and 165 RBI.
Good lord. Joel Sherman really did quote an agent as saying "Beyond having a conscious..."
I dunno. Do the Yankees have a conscious? Maybe Hank is a zombie.
Considering the state of the economy and the lowest WS ratings in history (by a whopping 20%), I don't think Bud Selig would mind very much if the Yankees, Red Sox, Cubs, Dodgers, Angels, or Mets went on a spending spree this winter. And we know that Selig has no conscious.
By the way, quite ironic that Selig blamed the low ratings on the weather. Considering that the highest rated night was the resumption of the suspended game -- due to rain.
[3]
mostly because the "game" ended at 10 pm, so people on the East Coast could actually make an investment in watching the "whole thing"
16 mil per for the right to see AJ Burnett 19 times a year.
Well, that would be awful.
And also, if the Yankees chose to spend wildly on injury risks and mediocrities, they'd be stupid, but its ludicrous to suggest that means they "have no conscious"
Mattpat, my happiest day of the offseason will be when no one can make any more Burnett to the Yanks rumors, because Burnett has signed elsewhere (St Louis?).
Second happiest will be when Manny signs elsewhere (Mets?).
I don't know if the team has a conscious or not, but they have a budget I'm sure.
[6] What's wrong with Manny? You think his personality issues overwhelm his talent? The contract might be expensive, but probably not in the way AJ's will be (too long and not enough performance/health - manny's will probably be short enough and he'll mash).
Should I even point out that had the Yanks signed Bonds last winter maybe they would've made the post season? Oops I just did.
I'd love for someone else to sign AJ.
Don't see it happening.
7, nothing wrong with Manny - I'm just tired of all the "Manny is going to the Yanks" rumors. On a two year deal, Manny would be an awesome fit - but he'll never sign for just two years, so I hope the Yanks don't sign him.
And while I'm not sure that even Bonds would have been enough to get the Yanks into the postseason, don't forget I'm the guy who started the "Cashman should sign Bonds" online petition! =)
I continue to say there's no way the Yanks sign Burnett.
I'm desperately looking for a reason to believe you
Anyone else think that 7/$160 is a bit much for Sabathia?
[11]
7 years on ANY pitcher, especially one worked that hard this past season ... is too much.
Some random thoughts:
How decent is next years crop of FAs? Is it possible with the economy, the 2010 FA market will be more 'reasonable', in terms of both cost and length of contract?
Man... this was a crappy October without a Yankee Post Season. I certainly hope Oct. 2009 is better. But how far should we go for just NEXT year. Are CC, Tex, 4 years of Manny, AJ and other goodies mentioned smart moves for the 2010 and beyond? Was 'money is no object' and 'we will worry about next year, next year' how we got here (except before, we had 5 young stud kids to anchor the dynasty, which we DON'T have now).
"....would not be surprised if the Yanks signed CC Sabathia, A.J. Burnett, Mark Teixeira and Manny Ramirez. Beyond having a conscious...."
Is anyone else a LITTLE disgusted with the above conspicuous consumption? Is our organization that lame that we need to spend $250m/yr?
I don't believe Cashman would do that. I think he is somewhat in line with my conservative thinking. This year's FAs are the definition of 'Buy High'. Part of me wonders if Cash will ONLY get 1 or 2 FAs and they stay pat.... see what happens with Po, Phil, IPK and AJax. See how some of the other young pitchers come along.
I'm not necessarily against any one player/contract, I just wonder if 2009 is really the year to make 'the Big Splash'.
JETER GETS NO GLOVE FROM SURVEY
FIELDING BIBLE CALLS HIM 'LEAST EFFECTIVE DEFENSIVE PLAYER'
http://tinyurl.com/5rqfrv
Wow... in 2008 we may have had FOUR of the worst defenders at their positions, in MLB. It's amazing our pitching did as well as it did.
AJ's a bad move for 2009, so I can only assume he's bad for 2010 and beyond.
From PeteAbe:
The Yankees are out to acquire two starters. “We won’t be one and done,” Cashman said. The plan is to have a rotation of New Guy 1, New Guy 2, Wang, Chamberlain and then Pettitte / Hughes / Kennedy / Aceves / assorted bums.
I have a number of thoughts:
1) Since when has Cashman come out and tipped his hand to a roomful of press? Remember Bubby Crosby is out CFer?
2) Well you can never have too much pitching, considering our declining offense and TERRIBLE defense, is it not a bit of overkill to have Wang as a #3, Joba as a #4 and Andy/Hughes and the gang as a #5?
3) Does this mean CC is out, because if we get him and another, thats almost $40m/yr for these 2 guys alone. I know we have a lot of money but that seems like a lot.
4) Is Cashman really trying to quell expectations for Tex and other position players?
Frankly, if we get just CC, I think we have a pretty decent rotation.