"A New York Treasure" --Village Voice

Sugar High, Sugar Crash

According to Joel Sherman, Cliff Lee is not coming to the Yanks.

Update 5:30pm: Now word is the Rangers have finalized a deal to acquire Lee, reliever Mark Lowe, and cash for 1B Justin Smoak, minor league pitchers Blake Beavan, Josh Lueke, and minor league 2B Matt Lawson.

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96 comments

1 Shaun P.   ~  Jul 9, 2010 3:53 pm

Yes! Montero is saved!!!

2 RagingTartabull   ~  Jul 9, 2010 3:54 pm

this has just been a fantastic 24 hours

3 seamus   ~  Jul 9, 2010 3:54 pm

well, i suppose that was entertaining.

4 Shaun P.   ~  Jul 9, 2010 3:55 pm

And Lee is always there to sign as a free agent. Which normally I wouldn't like (losing draft picks) but with some luck, Javy V. will be a type A free agent too, and so the Yanks will come out just fine.

5 Sliced Bread   ~  Jul 9, 2010 3:56 pm

there was no bad way for this transaction to end as far as I was concerned.
Keeping Montero. Good for us.
Getting Lee. Good for us.

6 NYYfan22   ~  Jul 9, 2010 3:58 pm

[5] only major downfall now is hearing all the buzz buzz if and when a Minnesota or a Texas trades for CLee and he knocks us down in the PS.

7 RIYank   ~  Jul 9, 2010 3:59 pm

Whew.

Although I do admit it was fun to think about October with Lee, Sabathia, and Pettitte all shutting everybody down, and Girardi's big decision being who was the fourth starter.

8 The Hawk   ~  Jul 9, 2010 4:01 pm

Yeah, better this way. I think it would be just too much of a good thing.

9 Raf   ~  Jul 9, 2010 4:02 pm

[8] You can never have too much of a good thing, especially ace caliber pitching :)

10 NYYfan22   ~  Jul 9, 2010 4:02 pm

personally, I wasn't thrilled about the idea of Hughes being relegated to the BP once again and us missing out on his continued development. Yes, yes, I understand that that wasn't a given, but in my mind, adding another SP--especially a #1/#2 guy--just increased the odds of that playing out. 'specially if Cashman couldn't move Javy in the next 22 days. TWENTY-TWO!

11 rbj   ~  Jul 9, 2010 4:04 pm

[1] Jesus is saved.

Just don't have him go to Tampa Bay

12 The Hawk   ~  Jul 9, 2010 4:05 pm

[9] I disagree though. I want the Yankees to be good, to be winners but it's kind of uninteresting if they're too good. Sure they might still lose but the more expectation of winning, there is s tipping point where it becomes kind of ho hum.

They all ready have a all stars galore. It's more than enough as is.

13 RagingTartabull   ~  Jul 9, 2010 4:06 pm

Montero having a killer second half in Scranton is really gonna soften the blow of staring at Lee on the mound in the first game of the playoffs.

14 RIYank   ~  Jul 9, 2010 4:08 pm

[13] Also, remember the beginning of the year when A-Jax was ripping up the league? That was kind of painful.
Of course, he's back down to earth now, but I figure Montero is the real deal. It would suck watching him rake for the Mariners.

15 The Hawk   ~  Jul 9, 2010 4:10 pm

[14] He's still doing better than Granderson. Granderson is a bust thus far. A stealth bust, but a bust nonetheless.

16 Jon DeRosa   ~  Jul 9, 2010 4:11 pm

let's hope the yanks get lee in the winter after another parade. that would be roses all around.

17 Raf   ~  Jul 9, 2010 4:21 pm

[12] Anything that increases their chances is fine with me. The 1998 Yankees won a ton of games, yet they added Clemens who was coming off back to back triple crown years. I'll take it :)

Winning never will become uninteresting, the games will still be fun to watch, and even with Lee in the rotation, it doesn't guarantee a WS win.

18 Sliced Bread   ~  Jul 9, 2010 4:23 pm

I'm still not convinced the Yanks and Mariners would let David Adams ankle kabosh this trade.
They can still make this happen.

The Rangers? pfft. Does Lee even want to play for them?

19 randym77   ~  Jul 9, 2010 4:28 pm

How is Montero doing behind the plate? There were reports that he showing signs of not sticking at catcher (lotta passed balls and stolen bases). Has that improved? (Though I must say, he looked good when I saw him.)

And is there anything to the Werth for Javy thing? Seems like they're going to have to get a pitcher somewhere, if they're planning to trade Vazquez.

20 monkeypants   ~  Jul 9, 2010 4:30 pm

17) I am sure that is not the reason. It seism to me that the two sides were farther away qn the price than what was initially reported. If reports were accurate, the Yankees offered Montero plus a couple of other very good prospects. The Mariners obviously wanted more, either multiple premier prospects or something off the ML roster in addition to Montero.

21 Raf   ~  Jul 9, 2010 4:30 pm

[18] I don't think Lee has a say in this; if the M's agree with a deal with the Rangers, Lee goes to the Rangers

22 randym77   ~  Jul 9, 2010 4:35 pm

I wonder if Sherman's report is reliable. Giving up Montero, McAllister, and Andrews seems like a lot. Did the Yanks really offer that? And if so, is another team really offering more?

23 Shaun P.   ~  Jul 9, 2010 4:44 pm

[14] [15] Austin Jackson by month:

.364/.422/.495
.297/.336/.396
.253/.298/.316
.280/.333/.400

So yes, he's hitting .306 on the year, but with only a .408 SLG (that's a poor isolated power; only 1 HR) and a .355 OBP. He's also got 85 strikeouts, which would lead the Yanks by a healthy margin (Swish has 69), and is 3rd in the AL. 85K and only 1 home run? Yikes.

Yes, Granderson has been bad, but its mostly because Girardi keeps playing him against lefties: .248/.338/.481 vs RHP, a horrific .214/.258/.298 vs LHP. Why Girardi isn't automatically platooning Grandy with Thames (switching Gardner to CF and putting Thames in LF) is beyond me.

24 RagingTartabull   ~  Jul 9, 2010 4:49 pm

the M's would really rather have Justin Smoak than Jesus Montero? Really??

25 Chyll Will   ~  Jul 9, 2010 4:50 pm

[23] Might be because Thames' glove is from Wonderland and often gets homesick when a play comes his way...

26 monkeypants   ~  Jul 9, 2010 4:52 pm

23) to be fair, though, Grandy was not brought in to be a platoon player. Even his numbers against RHP are very good but not awe inspiring, though he plays a fine CF. In short, so far he has not been the player that the team traded their second best non pitcher prospect for.

27 RagingTartabull   ~  Jul 9, 2010 4:58 pm

Sherman is saying its the Rangers.

I get that Texas probably won't be able to afford him longterm, but even so why the hell would you trade him in the division and take Smoak over Montero? Its not like Smoak is Mattingly at 1B. This is a very strange move for Seattle.

28 Diane Firstman   ~  Jul 9, 2010 5:02 pm

[27]

So they could have Smoak on the Water?

29 Chyll Will   ~  Jul 9, 2010 5:03 pm

And so NY waits... first Lee, then Carmelo, then Parker/CP3, then the W train...

30 Chyll Will   ~  Jul 9, 2010 5:04 pm

[28] To bad he didn't go to the Fish?

31 Raf   ~  Jul 9, 2010 5:05 pm

[27] I guess Smoak's a better fit. I'd like to see who else is coming along with him

32 NYYfan22   ~  Jul 9, 2010 5:06 pm

ahhh, the rangers. May the curse of round one continue.

33 thelarmis   ~  Jul 9, 2010 5:10 pm

[28] that is all kindsa awesome!

i've actually been listening to a bunch of 70's deep purple. even the coverdale and non-blackmore stuff. the 70's & early 80's whitesnake, which was mostly purple members, was really good rock 'n roll. not the 'hair metal' most people associate that band with, even though that was good, too...

i knew you would comment on the murcer thread!

got the rush movie dvd. hope to watch this weekend...

[16] perfecto!

34 Jon DeRosa   ~  Jul 9, 2010 5:11 pm

now pls mr lee, don't sign an extension w/ the rangers.

35 randym77   ~  Jul 9, 2010 5:13 pm

Sherman also reported the trade to the Yankees was a done deal. Maybe he's jumping the gun.

36 thelarmis   ~  Jul 9, 2010 5:16 pm

[34] i don't think he will. not with the ownership unsettled, the hitters park and the heat. like you stated earlier, hopefully he ends up in pinstripes after we bag #28!

now i can still hope montero hits a homer at the pale hose, so i can quote zz top and say: "jesus just left chicago"!!! : )

37 thelarmis   ~  Jul 9, 2010 5:29 pm

well, i guess it's official. lee's a ranger...

hope we don't get URP'ed tonight!

38 williamnyy23   ~  Jul 9, 2010 5:33 pm

[34] Lee can't sign an extension with Texas because the Rangers don't even have an owner right now. Unless the Yankees face them in the post season, the Rangers are an ideal landing spot because they likely wont be able to sign him in the offseason.

I am sure Nolan Ryan loves Lee's complete game mentality. The Rangers are now legitimate contenders.

Mixed feelings about the Yankees not getting Lee. 20-year old prospects are hard to gauge, but Montero seems legit. It would have been a shame to deal him for three months of a Lee, even as good as he is.

At least the Yankees don't have to face Lee tonight.

39 williamnyy23   ~  Jul 9, 2010 5:34 pm

Gotta love the media...someone writes an untrue story and then everyone follows suit. Lee is going somewhere, so eventually someone is going to be right.

40 randym77   ~  Jul 9, 2010 5:41 pm

Rosenthal has confirmed it. Sounds kinda strange, though. From MLB Trade Rumors:

The Rangers will acquire Lee and Mark Lowe for Justin Smoak and three others, according to Sherman (via Twitter). Lowe will miss the rest of the season with back surgery, so his inclusion in the trade is puzzling. Rosenthal confirms that the Rangers are acquiring Lee and says the Mariners are sending cash (Twitter link). Olney reports that the Mariners are sending $2.5MM to the Rangers (Twitter link).

And this update:

The Mariners also get right-hander Josh Lueke and second baseman Matthew Lawson, according to Jon Paul Morosi of FOX Sports (via Twitter). Multiple other reports confirm that the Mariners obtain Lueke, Lawson, Beavan and Smoak for Lowe, Lee and cash.

41 Diane Firstman   ~  Jul 9, 2010 5:41 pm

[33]

You'll enjoy the RUSH DVD ... its a bit shallower on the 2nd half of their career, but the never before seen footage of their earliest incarnations is worth the price of admission. The 2nd DVD has a really fun video of them having a long dinner together and just busting on each other.

One thing I did learn from the DVD was that Peart doesn't hate fans as much as he hates "celebrity". He kinda just wants to be a "regular guy".

42 Yankee Mama   ~  Jul 9, 2010 5:46 pm

Wow. I was on the road and came home to this. Glad I didn't have to experience the trade angst. As much as I would be interested in seeing Montero at YS someday, I would've been totally fine with Mr. Lee.

43 williamnyy23   ~  Jul 9, 2010 5:47 pm

[40] So Seattle liked Smoak over Montero? Interesting.

44 Chyll Will   ~  Jul 9, 2010 5:48 pm

[38] The M's balked on the offer and the Yanks said okay, peace out. Cash and Co. did seem to know what they were giving up in order to get Lee, and should not feel bad that the M's overplayed their hand.

45 williamnyy23   ~  Jul 9, 2010 5:51 pm

[44] I don't know...it almost seems like Cashman botched this. By not closing the deal, which I presume he wanted to make, he let the Rangers in the back door. Now, that doesn't mean it wont be a blessing in disguise, but Cashman has really had a miserable past 8 months.

46 monkeypants   ~  Jul 9, 2010 5:54 pm

I heard Texas was the most likely candidate days ago. Somehow I have the feeling that thia whole Yankees business was a bit of the rumor mill BS. In any case, in the end Leee went where he was going anyway, and the Yankees still have Montero.

47 williamnyy23   ~  Jul 9, 2010 5:56 pm

[46] If he doesn't knock them out of the playoffs, the Yankees are probably better off in the long run, especially because Lee is going to become a free agent and seems interested in going to the highest bidder.

48 Raf   ~  Jul 9, 2010 5:57 pm

[43] Not really interesting if you think about it. Smoak can play today, Montero needs more time @ AAA

49 Chyll Will   ~  Jul 9, 2010 5:57 pm

[45] I almost agree with you on how Cashman has had his lab experiment explode in his face the lately, but hey, let's see how the Chad Tracy signing works out first... >;)

50 Raf   ~  Jul 9, 2010 5:59 pm

[45] I don't know if it's so much a botch, it just so happens the Rangers put together a better package, one that was more in line with what the M's need.

I don’t see how the Yanks lose here. They miss out on a starter that was a luxury, Lee doesn’t go to a divisional contender, the Yanks keep their prospects, the Rangers get an arm they wanted, the M’s get the prospects they wanted.

Seems like everyone wins.

51 The Hawk   ~  Jul 9, 2010 6:00 pm

[41] Except he's not a "celebrity" outside Rush fans .... ;)

[45] Cashman can't force the Mariners to agree to his terms. He made a more than fair offer, or at least we can say in his mind, it was a good offer. Drawing the line means conceding the deal might not go down. I'm sure Cashman wasn't surprised someone else acquired Lee, once he knew the Mariners weren't going to take his offer. I don't see the failure here.

52 Mattpat11   ~  Jul 9, 2010 6:02 pm

I'm trying to figure out how the hell the day started with Lee and Werth and ended with Vazquez and the rotating DH.

That's kind of depressing

53 Chyll Will   ~  Jul 9, 2010 6:02 pm

[50] It's kindergarten all over again, yay!

54 Raf   ~  Jul 9, 2010 6:05 pm

[53] Juice and cookies for everyone!

55 Diane Firstman   ~  Jul 9, 2010 6:07 pm

[54]

no nuts in those cookies .... right? :-)

56 Chyll Will   ~  Jul 9, 2010 6:07 pm

[52] Yeah, I agree. We're right back where we started, in first place. Time to send Bobby Meacham down again...

57 randym77   ~  Jul 9, 2010 6:10 pm

So, who's pitching tonight?

58 Chyll Will   ~  Jul 9, 2010 6:11 pm

[55] Nope, Mel Hall and Chuck Knobluagh are... well, retired...

59 cult of basebaal   ~  Jul 9, 2010 6:16 pm

Great news, just great news.

I really didn't want to give up Montero for a 1/2 season rental.

60 randym77   ~  Jul 9, 2010 6:19 pm

MLB.com has changed tonight's probable pitcher from Cliff Lee to the ever-popular TBA.

I wonder if the Yankees might go after Haren, now that Lee is a Ranger. The Dbacks are supposedly having a fire sale.

61 cult of basebaal   ~  Jul 9, 2010 6:20 pm

Cashman can’t force the Mariners to agree to his terms. He made a more than fair offer, or at least we can say in his mind, it was a good offer. Drawing the line means conceding the deal might not go down.

This.

According to Sweeney Murti, the Mariners told the Yankees 3 prospects they would take in exchange for Lee.

The Yankees agreed.

The Mariners then told the Yankees they wanted to look for a better offer.

I'm not seeing how that's Cashman's fault.

62 jjmerlock   ~  Jul 9, 2010 6:37 pm

[61] Agreed.

Never sit down to negotiate without being willing to walk away from the table.

Otherwise, it's not a negotiation - just an extortion.

63 NYYfan22   ~  Jul 9, 2010 6:40 pm

[57] Phil Hughes v. David Pauley. Pauley has pitched 4.0 scoreless over 3 games for the Ms this season. He did a stint in 06 and another in 08--both with the Red Sox. He was horrible then as a starter, though. 0-3 in 5 starts.

64 monkeypants   ~  Jul 9, 2010 6:43 pm

63, et al.) Has Cashman made any statement or acknowledged that the Yankees even made a seriousmoffer for Lee? Until he does,mew have little confirmation that this was anything more than rumor from unnamed sources.

65 Jon DeRosa   ~  Jul 9, 2010 6:44 pm

[63] and i don't think adams ankle injury got worse over the last 24 hours....

66 Jon DeRosa   ~  Jul 9, 2010 6:45 pm

sorry [65] meant for [64]

67 monkeypants   ~  Jul 9, 2010 6:50 pm

66) maybe Cano's sudden injury syndrome is contagious?

68 randym77   ~  Jul 9, 2010 7:10 pm

Has there been any announcement about who's going to be at Old Timers' Day this year?

69 Chyll Will   ~  Jul 9, 2010 7:17 pm

[64] He's the cat's pajamas! >;)

70 williamnyy23   ~  Jul 9, 2010 7:40 pm

The reason I suggested Cashman may have botched the deal is because it seemed like the Yankees were nearing a deal and he let Seattle shop the offer. Also, once he agreed to put Montero in the package, the secondary figures probably shouldn't have been sticking points. A lot of speculation is involved on my part, but it seems as if Cashman could have closed the deal before letting Texas jump back in.

As I've said, it's really not a bad development, but I find it a little odd that Cashman agreed to part with the team's best prospect, but then allegedly allowed a secondary player to hold up the deal. If he really wanted his man, he failed by not getting him.

71 flycaster   ~  Jul 9, 2010 7:50 pm

[45] Interesting that you started the clock on Cash immediately after the team he built won the world championship. Convenient strategy :-)

Seriously, Granderson's only had half a season, much of which he was hurt, and we have no idea how much of Sherman's reporting is accurate. Give the guy a break.

72 cult of basebaal   ~  Jul 9, 2010 7:51 pm

The reason I suggested Cashman may have botched the deal is because it seemed like the Yankees were nearing a deal and he let Seattle shop the offer.

How exactly did he "let them" shop the offer? They told him 3 players they would accept. He accepted.

They changed their minds.

Just because you'd put Montero in a deal doesn't mean you stop considering whether the overall package is an appropriate amount to trade for a player.

If the Mariners had asked for Heathcott and Betances in addition to Montero, should Cashman have said yes, because he shouldn't have gotten hung up on a secondary player?

You seem to be implying that since Cashman was willing to pay the price to trade for Lee, he ought to have been willing to overpay the price (in his mind) to trade for Lee.

Can't say I agree in this case.

73 williamnyy23   ~  Jul 9, 2010 7:53 pm

[71] What's interesting? Every losing streak starts after a win.

I am a big Cashman supporter, but his decisions since the World Series have not worked out. You can't sugarcoat it.

74 williamnyy23   ~  Jul 9, 2010 7:55 pm

[72] Again, it's speculation, but if Cashman had given them an ultimatum, maybe they don't shop the offer. Of course, maybe Cashman wasn't completely sold on the deal anyway.

The other names involved were not of the Heathcott variety, so I don't think that's a valid point. It seems as if the Ms were caught up by a minor injury to one of the other players involved. Cashman is a master at closing deals...he wasn't able to close this one. Assuming he really did want to consumate a trade, then I think he may have overplayed his hand.

75 monkeypants   ~  Jul 9, 2010 7:56 pm

71) Also, he should get some kudos for going with Gardner over Damon and Melky, and then flipping Melky for Vazquez. I mean, if we are going to judge based on half a season.

Now, the NJ for Matsui deal hasn't really worked out so well...

76 randym77   ~  Jul 9, 2010 7:57 pm

Watching the Mets game. Melky's starting tonight for the Braves. He's improved a lot since his slow start. Average up to .260.

77 williamnyy23   ~  Jul 9, 2010 7:58 pm

[75] He could have had Damon and Gardner though. Besides, it's a lot harder to give him credit for keeping Gardner without knowing he was an advocate for him playing more. As much as I kill Girardi, he seems to be Gardner's biggest advocate on the team.

Also, it should be note that Vizcaino was in the Javy deal. Before he got hurt, Arodys was pitching very well and rising the ranks of many prospect lists.

78 monkeypants   ~  Jul 9, 2010 7:59 pm

74) You're being a bit harsh. The team has the best record in baseball---and that is despite, in your opinion, a terrible manager---so his decisions have more or less worked out. And more specifically, his decisions involving Pettitte and Gardner and Vazquez, and even to a lesser degree Thames, look pretty good so far.

79 williamnyy23   ~  Jul 9, 2010 8:00 pm

[76] Watching too...glad Melky has salvaged his season. I was always a big fan. He does seem as if he has gained a lot of weight though. I watched him tag from second and he didn't seem to be running as well.

80 monkeypants   ~  Jul 9, 2010 8:02 pm

77) Besides, it’s a lot harder to give him credit for keeping Gardner without knowing he was an advocate for him playing more.

This strikes me as cherry picking, or something. If we are going to evaluate Cashman on half a season, we have to take into account all of his moves and not selectively leave some out. It was an organizational decision to go with Gardner over Melky and Damon, and so far that has worked out pretty well.

Other decisions have gone awry, no doubt, including a couple that I agreed with at the time: NJ and Winn, to name two.

81 Raf   ~  Jul 9, 2010 8:04 pm

[70] I don't think it's all that odd. If anything, the hangup tells me that Cashman was willing to make a deal, but on his terms.

82 randym77   ~  Jul 9, 2010 8:05 pm

[79] I think he's steadily gained weight since he was first called up. Which I guess is normal for a guy in his early twenties.

Braves are tied for best in the NL. Possible that Melky will play a game or three in Yankee Stadium again.

83 williamnyy23   ~  Jul 9, 2010 8:05 pm

[80] Was that really the decision? Do we know if he didn't try to trade Gardner, but failed in doing so? Also, wasn't Winn brought in as a quasi-platoon player. I don't know how much Gardner factored into the grand plans at the beginning of the season.

And, even if you give Cash credit for Gardner, which he very well may deserve, that doesn't mean he had to replace Damon, who could have served as a DH.

84 monkeypants   ~  Jul 9, 2010 8:05 pm

Fuck..the Sox are pouring it on against the Jays. I am not so concerned about the result, but if this game goes long (it's still only in the top of the third), then it's gonna preempt the beginning of the Yankees-Mariners game at 10.

85 Raf   ~  Jul 9, 2010 8:09 pm

[83] IIRC, Damon didn't want to DH

86 monkeypants   ~  Jul 9, 2010 8:09 pm

83) Do we know if he didn’t try to trade Gardner, but failed in doing so?

Of course we don't know that, but it is impossible to disprove a negative, and I so don't see much point in dabbling in this particular logical fallacy.

And, even if you give Cash credit for Gardner, which he very well may deserve, that doesn’t mean he had to replace Damon, who could have served as a DH.

You're correct. So what you are saying is that some of his decisions since the world series have worked out and some have not, which seems to contradict your position at 73):

...but his decisions since the World Series have not worked out.

87 Raf   ~  Jul 9, 2010 8:11 pm

[83] Also, Winn was signed to be the 5th OF, primary appeal was that he was able to back up at all 3 OF positions. I don't think he would've started over Gardner.

88 Raf   ~  Jul 9, 2010 8:13 pm

Winn was to be the 4th OF, not 5th

89 thelarmis   ~  Jul 9, 2010 8:13 pm

Derek Jeter SS
Nick Swisher DH
Mark Teixeira 1B
Alex Rodriguez 3B
Robinson Cano 2B
Jorge Posada C
Curtis Granderson CF
Colin Curtis RF
Brett Gardner LF

90 monkeypants   ~  Jul 9, 2010 8:15 pm

[89] I love my man Jeter, but he is even starting to make a doubter out of me this season. He still adds value for his position, but I'm not sure he should be batting 1 or 2 anymore. Unless he suddenly gets hot, that is.

91 Evil Empire   ~  Jul 9, 2010 8:22 pm

I apologize for the long comment that follows, but it's after a long day that ultimately turned a bit sour. However, I can go either way on the deal-or-the-no-deal.

From scanning the comments it appears that most folks are glad the deal didn't happen. My thought this morning was that the Yanks are already the favorite to win the world series, if Lee stayed in Seattle, but would be the prohibitive favorite to win the world series if they got him. I was glad we were getting him. I didn't like the price much, but I rationalized that Jesus has no future at catcher or first base and is just a super DH.

The real reason to obtain Lee, in my mind, was to keep Tampa, Boston and/or the Twins from getting him. If the Twins got him and the Yanks had to face them in a 5-game ALDS, watch out! In fact, I was afraid of Tampa getting him but I was petrified of the Twins getting him because it's more likely the Yanks play the Twins in the first round than the Rangers AND they can't play the Rays in the first round.

I'm miffed that the Mariners apparently used the Yanks to up the ante so to speak (and apparently the Yanks are mad too), but we've been at this rodeo before. The Mariners aren't typically logical. Remember that they were supposed to "give" the Yanks Washburn in a salary dump a couple years back and then decided they wanted prospects.

And I think the offer the Yanks had on the table was superior to Texas's offer, not that I claim to be the prospect guru. I think Montero is a better prospect than Smoak, and Salty is just awful.

So, here are the things that I hope happen (only some of which are spiteful)

1. We win the 2010 world series
2. We sign Cliff Lee in free agency (he won't sign in Texas)
3. We offer arbitration to Javy, he declines, and we replace those lost draft picks from signing Lee.
4. Montero turns into a better major leaguer than Smoak
5. Smoak becomes very close friends with Milton Bradley
6. While I really don't wish problems for Smoak (it's not his fault the Mariners did this) if he turns into the second coming of Casey Kotchman or Richie Sexton, I will laugh my ass off
7. We no longer talk trade with Seattle. Ever. In fact, I think the Yanks should hold a press conference to this effect so the M's can't use the Yanks to jack up the price in prospects.
8. Every single time Seattle is interested in a future free agent, I hope we step in SOLELY to raise the price for the Mariners, simply to keep them pathetic. This is for no reason at all, other than to show that we can, and for the related punitive purpose of deterring other teams from "using" the Yanks as I perceive they've been used by Seattle. I don't think this would be tampering since it would be actual free agents.

92 Chyll Will   ~  Jul 9, 2010 8:33 pm

This from Was Watching:

Update 6:30 p.m.: According to ESPN.com’s story, Justin Smoak was the final piece to the trade puzzle between Seattle and Texas.

A source told ESPN.com that Seattle and Texas were very close to a deal for Lee on Wednesday. But the Mariners were pushing for Smoak, the Rangers balked and the deal stalled.

So on Thursday, the Mariners turned their attention to the Yankees and began closing in on that deal. But when those talks blew up, the Rangers — who by then were aware of all the reports about that Seattle-New York deal — got back into the picture and agreed to trade Smoak. So the pieces came together very quickly at that point because the two teams almost had a deal done 48 hours earlier.

I added the emphasis to highlight the fact that Texas relented on their initial objection to dealing Smoak for Lee. That alone should give Yankees fans comfort that, although they didn’t get their man, Cashman’s willingness to include Jesus Montero forced Texas to pay a higher price than they were initially willing to pay. That’s a good thing.

Not exactly a confirmed statement from Cashman, and I doubt we'll likely get a satisfactory statement from him anyway (like he needs to justify that to us), but I agree he likely did what he could without hurting his bargaining position, the M's took that and ran everywhere else with it and the Rangers then caved on their initial stance and offered more. It was a tough, but doable offer that forced the Rangers' hand. Ya can't win em all, but you lose nothing here either.

93 Evil Empire   ~  Jul 9, 2010 8:41 pm

[92] I just read the USS Mariner's fans comments celebrating how Seattle stuck it to the Yankees again. I swear every time I've ever been to that blog (and not much since the washburn deal blew up), I've gone away happy that the Mariners are losers and irrelevant.

94 Raf   ~  Jul 9, 2010 8:48 pm

[93] The Washburn deal blowing up was a good thing. I have no idea why the Yanks were interested in him. Not sure why they're celebrating sticking it to the Yanks, when they actually didn't. The Yanks didn't need Lee, it would've been nice to have him, but he was a luxury.

95 Evil Empire   ~  Jul 9, 2010 11:09 pm

[94] I agree with you Raf. They're just a bunch of smug know-it-all's at the USS Mariner site, but you might want to check their comments and you'll see that they think they really hurt the Yanks. Yeah, whatever, their team will win 70 games a year indefinitely. Woo hoo.

96 Raf   ~  Jul 10, 2010 9:53 am

[95] I'm familiar with USS Mariner, I've been reading Cameron's and DMZ's work since the strikethree.com days. As with anywhere else, those in the comments section range from knowledgeable to trolls, but I'd put their writers up against any other baseball columnist on the internets.

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"This ain't football. We do this every day."
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