I am convinced the Yankees will sign either Torii Hunter or Andruw Jones. For some reason they believe they have to prove they are still the Yankees. Hopefully it's Hunter and not Jones. “We’re still big-game hunters,” Cashman said. “We’re still the Yankees, and we’re still the Steinbrenner Yankees.” http://www.nytimes.com/2007/11/02/sports/baseball/02pins.html?ref=baseball
I think the Yanks and the Red Sox will be butting heads a lot this off season. I expect the Sox to make a strong push for Santana. They have some pretty good expendable pitchers they can give up for him, like Clay Bucholz. I would love to see Hunter on the Red Sox, but I don't think they'll try and get him....we have too many OF already. It wouldn't shock me at all to see Jones go to the Yanks.
I don't trust Jones. He was lazy early on in his career and his production fell through the floor last year. If all of that wasn't bad enough, he's a Boras client. The problem with Santana for any team is that it will probably take multiple pitching prospects and position players to get him. I don't see anybody doing that and everybody waiting until he's a free agent at the end of the year. The bidding war then will be unbelievable and since he has a no trade clause he can force that to happen.
Torii Hunter = yes. Andruw Jones = no. Still, the outfielder I would really like to get in here is Carl Crawford. (Actually, if you discount Vlad, who will never be a Yankee, I'd most like to get David DeJesus from the Royals, but that's a pipe dream.) Honestly, I'd rather not pursue Hunter, move Matsui to DH, and leave Damon in left full time. He's still fast, so he can cover the ground, he did well the end of the year playing out there regularly, and his lack of a strong arm would be no big deal in left. Right now, Posada and Mo should be the priorities. After that, third base needs to be a focus (can we steal Lowell away from Boston?) Then the pitching needs to be addressed. By then, we'll know if Andy is coming back. In that case, our rotation should look like: Wang Pettitte Hughes Chamberlain Moose That would leave Kennedy, Ohlendorf, Farnsworth, and (hopefully) Mo in the pen. Villone and Vizcaino are free agents, and I've seen no indication that the Yanks plan on bringing back either. That's not a very good pen at all. If we're not able to bring back Mo, it ruins the entire staff. Chamberlain would come out of the starting rotation, and be replaced with Kennedy. That leaves Moose and Kennedy as our 4 and 5. I shudder to imagine that. Does Mientkiewicz return is another question. If not, do we rely on a rotation of Phillips and Betemit? Does Betemit wind up the full time 3B, thereby weakening our bench? Ugh. I wonder if people really realize just how big a hole Alex Rodriguez has left at third?
I think you're making too much out of Boras. The Yankees will deal with him in future. It's suicide not to. The ARod thing was what it was. The Yankees aren't going to snub the top agent in the game, not with his clientele.
If we steal Lowell then for sure Boston will make a strong move on Arod..I don't think we want that. The pen is the biggest problem. I'm not sure when Sanchez will be back but I don't think it will be before mid-season. He's another Chamberlain. Pitches 100+ and can either start or pitch relief. Betemit needs to get into shape or he will be traded. He's been told that. I can see either or both Damon and Matsui being traded if they want to go after Hunter or Jones.
They are already dealing with him. Cashman spoke with him yesterday but not about Arod. He has about 20-30 FAs this winter and a ton of them are pitchers. That wasn't my point. Dealing with him is pretty much a no win situation. Check out all the people he has on this list. http://www.mlb4u.com/freeagency.php
I'm not counting on anyone who isn't healthy right now. For too long we've played the "when he's healthy" game. It never works out for us. I didn't hear that about Betemit, but it's a reasonable request. He's not the most in-shape guy, and you can't play the infield beyond first if you're going to pudge out. Matsui isn't going anywhere. As was said earlier, a no-trade clause means he stays. Damon might go, but honestly, does Hunter give us that much to lose our leadoff hitter? Damon played well the last few months of the year. I'd just keep him, and let Hunter go elsewhere. Of course they're dealing with Boras. No team can afford not to. (Well, maybe Tampa Bay.) It's a no-win situation with any agent though, not just him. They're all out to get their client as big a payday as possible. Why not? When you're working on commission, you try to nab the best deal.
There arent any big name relievrs on the market, were going to have to take a chance and strike gold. I would offer Kerry Wood a 2 yr deal for 6 mil as a reliever
I read just recently that there are a ton of teams in baseball that won't deal with Boras under any circumstances, ever again. (not sure what a ton is but I think they meant more than 8 or 9).
Matsui would waive it if he thought he wasn't wanted here..at least I think he would. The problem with Damon is he is never healthy. Two years in a row he has had one problem after another. I would move him if we can and find another leadoff guy..no idea who.
There's another reason Matsui isn't going anywhere. Japanese money. The Yankees get a lot of revenue thanks to the entire country being interested in every Matsui at-bat. While I can't stand Matsui in left, there's no reason he shouldn't be our full-time DH. It's not a problem keeping him. As for Damon, yeah, he's had some health issues, directly related to the many miles he's put on his legs. I can deal with that. He's a good leadoff hitter. There's no reason to dump him. If it was for Crawford, yes, in a heartbeat. But to put Hunter in center, and move Melky to left? I'll pass and try to beef up the pitching instead.
I know it's twisted logic, but if you want to beef up the pitching, I think you have to sign Hunter or one of the other big free agent CFs. The pitching options available in free agency are quite limited, leaving a trade as the main way to improve your pitching staff. Signing Hunter would allow you to use Melky as a trading chip. If Hughes/Joba/Kennedy are off the table, how are you bringing in a quality starting pitcher without dealing Melky?
i agree, thats exactly what the yankees have to do if they want to make an improvement to the team this offseason. other than hunter (and mo and posada, of course) there is not one other free agent i would like to have. has anyone mentioned francisco corderos name yet for yankees bullpen help? hes old, will probably be overpriced, but he is a pretty good reliver and give us that 8th inning guy now that jobas starting. or else farnsworth will be pitching the 8th inning? vizcaino needs to get re-signed or the bullpen will be in a world of hurt next year.
Ian Kennedy isnt going in the bullpen, where did you get that idea? Mark my words, even is Pettite comes back, which i think he will...the three kids will still be in the rotation leaving moose out. The only changes i can see happening is realizing that Joba is better suited in the bullpen after a few starts and mussina is moved up to number 5.
WTF is that supposed to mean? --------------- On the subject of Kennedy, I'd love to see him in the rotation, but I can't see Moose being put in the pen. I wouldn't mind it, but the question is more whether he could handle it. We all know how mental the guy is, and he doesn't like not knowing when he's supposed to pitch, so the pen is not a place where he'd be any more successful. Unfortunately, that probably translates the way I said. --------------- As for Joba, I do not want him in the pen. You get more quality innings from him if he pitches in the rotation.
