Baseball is over for the year. Now comes the talk, lots of talk, accompanied by speculation and rumors and all that Hot Stove goodness.
Hal Steinbrenner took to the airwaves yesterday (giving interviews to ESPN and WFAN, respectively). Chad Jennings has the wrap up:
“I can safely say we’re going to stay within the same level, but I’m obviously not going to get into details,” [Steinbrenner] said during The Michael Kay Show. “We know we’re expected to field a championship caliber team and we’re going to do what it takes to do that. If we have to get creative in a trade, or we have to go after a big free agent, we’re going to do that. We do have some money coming off.”
A few minutes later, Steinbrenner was asked a similar question by Mike Francesa.
“I’m not going to get into specifics, but yes we’ve got a good idea of where we’re going to try to end up,” he said. “We have some money coming off the payroll. Obviously re-signing Derek and Mo is going to be a priority to try to do that, but we’re still going to have money leftover. These meetings are pretty initial at this point, but it’s all about prioritizing what we need to do and looking at the free agent market and eventually looking at possible trades to try to improve.”
Love me some Hot Stove. Helps the winter go by.
I'm not ready for it yet. I still miss the season.
Sniff.
Soooooo, how long until pitchers and catchers? I'm already hearing weather forecasts that include the word "snow."
If the Yanks want a championship team then they need sign the World Series MVP. That's what championship teams need, players who can hit Cliff Lee. Cash should trade the entire team for players that can hit Cliff Lee, we'll never have to worry about Cliff Lee again. And if we sign Cliff Lee then we'll never lose a game because we signed all the players that can hit him. Hal, ARE YOU LISTENING TO ME?
4) You mean Renteria should replace Jeter?
[5] Of course. (my entire message [4] was meant to be sarcastic)
I'm on the fence re: Lee. If they could swing a three year deal - which they won't - I'd be cool with it. I just can't watch another aging pitcher battle injury and ineffectiveness.
Then again, he could be like Pettitte and remain a plus in the rotation for another 5 years. Who knows.
I think it would be great if they could get someone solid but younger.
They need to solve this DH issue and all it entails.
It just doesn't seem right to sign a guy (Lee), who always beats you.
Maybe I'd feel different if the Yanks had beaten him this year. But they didn't.
To sign him now would seem like... not cheating but something close to that. Bad sportmanship or something. It's like if the Yankees had signed Pedro instead of getting the chance to be his Daddy.
I think someone like Cliff Lee will age fairly well. He doesn't rely on speed, so he shouldn't fall off a cliff . He'll lose some mph, but he seems like someone who could adapt (a la mussina, pettitte). Would a 5 year deal be so bad for 2 good years, 1 avg year, and 2 yrs as a 4th/5th starter? The only downside is that it blocks youngsters, but we don't have many of them vying for starter roles at the moment.