I'd much prefer to keep Bay and let someone else gamble on Holliday not being a product of Coors. I'm not saying he's not good, but he's certainly not great and will likely command money that says he is.
Glad to see this. This would make this team as good as they can get this year. " According to several baseball officials, the Yankees remain in the Mark Teixeira hunt. But the same connected voices insist if the Yankees don't land the switch-hitting first baseman, they will turn their money toward controversial slugger Manny Ramirez. "If they can't get Teixeira, they are right there on Manny," an official with knowledge of the Yankees' plan said yesterday. Because the signings of Sabathia (seven years for $161 million) and A.J. Burnett (five years for $82.5 million) leave $48.5 million of the $88 million that came off the Yankees' payroll, there is plenty of glue left for more additions. " http://www.nypost.com/seven/12142008/sports/yankees/yanks_to_go_after_manny__teixeira_144124.htm
That's what I'm talking about! I'm getting itchy with Teixeira. All I want to hear is that the Yankees have signed him. That will make my holidays for this year. At that point, they can give Andy $12, test the Manny waters, and whatever happens, happens. Teixeira makes this winter a massive success though, rather than just a great one.
I really only wanted Sabathia and Teixiera to be honest with you. I don't see why the Yankees wouldn't sign Teix at this point.
I'm sort of in that same boat, but not exactly. I'd have been more than satisfied with signing just those two. However, adding Burnett is good and strengthens the rotation (injury history or not.) If nothing else, it pushes Joba back a day, which gives him more rest, holding down his innings. (Not to mention the side effect of pitching against backend rotation guys, putting less pressure on him to be perfect every outing.) I'll be really happy with either Sheets or Pettitte, since obviously, either is a hell of an addition to the rotation as it stands. Adding Manny on top of the above, plus maybe trading Melky for Cameron makes this a pretty amazing winter for Cashman. Getting Teixeira makes me happy enough though, even without the other additions. I've wanted him in pinstripes for years.
Here is a dilemma I see that makes me start to wonder whether the rumors are true. If they make the Cameron deal without waiting to see what happens with Teixiera then what the hell do they do with Swisher? He really is only suitable to play center or first. I suppose the could play him out of position in a corner, assuming they can trade Nady. I would really start to believe these things more if that Cameron thing gets put on hold.
Or, it could be what was said when Swisher was first signed. That he was brought in for depth, and will be more of a utility player who plays 4+ times a week to allow everyone rest.
That's not what they said when they brought Swisher in. They said they expected him to play first base. Regarding Teixeira, I don't see it happening, as much as I would like to see him play for the Yanks. The benefit of not signing him, though, would be much increased flexibility going forward. Think about it: if the Yanks win out on Tex, they will likely have given him a ten year deal. That locks up our corner IF spots for the next ten years, until one guy is in his 40's (A-Rod) and the other guy is 38-39 (Tex). I would imagine A-Rod is going to have to move to 1B at some point during this contract. Depending on what Manny is asking for, that might be a smarter move. I bet Manny has similar projections for the next 2-3 seasons than Teixeira does. Just looked it up... Bill James projects Manny to have a .955 OPS next year. He projects Teixeira to have a .956 OPS. Obviously, there's a defensive liability with Manny, while Tex is a gold glove candidate each year. But if Manny was the DH, that issue goes away. Of course, that just creates another issue regarding the logjam of OF/DH types on the team. Hmm. ETA: It should be noted that the logjam at the OF/DH positions would only be for this season, though.
Speaking of Bil James projections.... anyone else catch that he projects Hughes to have a 3.35 ERA next season?
I should have clarified that I meant that the ESPN guys were the ones saying he would be a depth signing. My bad. (I know the Yankees said he was brought in to play first.) You think the Yankees would have to give Tex a 10-year deal? I don't think I'd give him that, even as bad as I want him. Regardless of ARod, it's hard to justify giving any player a 10 year deal. Alex was an exception. One that even if his defensive skills deteriorate after 7 years, his hitting will still make the money worthwhile. I don't think you can really say that about Teixeira. I'd go to 7 years, but probably not more than that. Not unless the addition of a year would keep him out of Boston. I'd actually much prefer a 6-year deal.
I want Texiera bad. That would be so awesome to A. Get a great hitter/1st basemen and B. Sox don't get him.
Compare to Manny's contract with the Red Sox. 8 years, with 2 option years. at $20 million per. Teixiera is even a bit younger than Manny was when he signed with Boston. I'd do the deal for 6 or even 8.
3 years, $36M for Pettitte? Not from the Yankees http://www.fannation.com/si_blogs/hot_stove/posts/32601
Then he should take it because I agree that there is no way in the world we should sign him for 3 years. None.
1. Teixeira would only be a month and a half younger than Manny was. (Both were coming off their age 28 seasons when they entered free agency.) 2. Teixeira is a fantastic hitter, but isn't really close to the hitter Manny was when he entered the market. (Of course, who is? Manny is a freak of nature.) Manny's OPS+ with Cleveland in the years leading up to signing with Boston: '95 - 147 '96 - 146 '97 - 144 '98 - 146 '99 - 173 '00 - 186 His career OPS is 1.004. That. Is. Insane. For comparison, Teixeira: '03 - 102 '04 - 131 '05 - 144 '06 - 126 '07 - 150 '08 - 151 To illustrate the difference, Manny's career OPS is higher than any Teixeira has ever achieved in a single season. Not saying it's a bad idea to sign him. Just sayin' that Manny is/was a different beast. Hard to compare anyone to him.
While I wouldn't be able to post those statistics (because I haven't the foggiest idea of its meaning, and yes, I know it has been explained to me before,) the general point would be the same from me. While Teixeira is a great (really great) ballplayer, he is no Manny Ramirez. We're talking about one of the greatest right-handed hitters to ever put on cleats versus one of the best first basemen in MLB right now. 8 Years at the kind of money he's looking for is a bit more than I'd want to commit. 6 years, no problem.
For some reason I had it set in my head that Manny was two years older than Teixiera is now. But I wasn't comparing them either. Not in that way. My point was more that the 8 year term for Manny was pretty much dead-on to his production. He stole half a year and two option terms worth of value from them, but that's just another characteristic unique to Manny. But if you look at it as if you're spending that money somewhere in the market, and likely on one player, 6/2 or even 8/2 for Teixiera wouldn't be so terribly out of line. How many other players fit that scale? Maybe 10?
