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Manuel Corpas has been released by the Rockies anyone have interest for the Yankees? I would be open to a minor league contract with an invite to spring training because he could prove to be a cheap sign and if relived even half of his sophmore year he would be a huge addition, like I said though I would want a ST invitee only no guaranteed contract but I know that might not be possible so a 1 year deal with incentives on ERA, K’s and IP might be a better way to go. He obviously wouldn’t be a setup guy or anything I would give that to Robertson out of the guys we have right now but he could be a valueable piece in the pen and who knows maybe he re-captures some old magic and does become the setup man eventually. T.O. Chris(Quote)
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T.O. Chris Reply:
November 18th, 2010 at 5:29 am
Apparently Corpas had TJ surgery in Sept so maybe we could sign him to a minor league deal and stash him away to see if he comes back healthy for cheap. T.O. Chris(Quote)
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According to “sources” The Yankees offer stands at 3 years 21 million but Derek wants a minimum of 4 years and “prefers five or six”.
The which I say I would prefer to come home and lay in bed with scarlet Johansson every night but some things just aren’t going to happen and the sooner you realize what is fantasy and what is reality the sooner this deal can get done. T.O. Chris(Quote)
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Don Mattingly is managing the Devil Dogs in the AFL which is the current team of Yankee prospects Brandon Laird, Austin Romine and Manny Banuelos, Donny Baseball had this to say about Banuelos.
“He’s going to be good. He’s got a good arm, it’s not going to take long for him to reach the majors. He throws hard, sneaky hard it just jumps out of his hand. For a 19 year old kid I got to tell you he really held his own out their today.”.
What a ringing endorsment for a kid who is in the Yankee farm system from a former Yankee great and current manager, I have a good feeling about Banuelos going forward he may just be the ace pitcher Cashman has been trying to develop since being GM. T.O. Chris(Quote)
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According to MLB Rumor Jeter’s camp may not even respond to the 3 year 45 million dollar offer from The Yankees in order to force their hand on offering a bigger deal.
If Jeter really goes this route with this thing I’m going to lose a lot of respect for the guy, I always thought he was the kind of guy who would recognize when he was becoming more like a regular player and would allow the Yankees to keep him at a more appropriate salary and I never expected him to embarress himself on the field, however if he is planning on playing another 5 or 6 years than I’m afraid that can’t be stopped and apparently neither can his ego.
I have a feeling that Arod making cake until he is 42 years old has a lot to do with Jeter’s demands and it’s stupid pride and nothing more, to not even respond to a 45 million dollar offer would really drop him in my book. T.O. Chris(Quote)
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dlogan Reply:
November 22nd, 2010 at 10:29 am
I wonder if he’ll pull a Joe Torre….take less money somewhere else for his pride.
15 million a year for 3 years is overpaying by far.
The Yanks will be bidding against themselves again like they did for Arod. dlogan(Quote)
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T.O. Chris Reply:
November 22nd, 2010 at 3:57 pm
Can we all just stop comparing this with Alex please, yes we overpaid Alex in money and years but that is where the comparison ends, Alex Rodriguez was a 2 time MVP right before hand with us and is still to this day a huge part of the middle of our lineup. Most of us wouldn’t care and would in fact cheer if Jeter got dropped to 9th against RHP, comparing the situations is no where near the same we needed Arod just as much as he needed us honestly if Jeter leaves we wouldn’t lose much Nunez’s defense would almost erase Jeter’s bat being gone. T.O. Chris(Quote)
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dnt think so i obv no we dnt wanna over over pay but ?……if it is about pride i wouldnt b suprised if he walked ….geogre wouldnt mess this up lets see what happens dale(Quote)
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T.O. Chris Reply:
November 22nd, 2010 at 4:04 pm
If Jeter really wants to be a Yankee until the end he will brush his pride off and make the right decision BUT if Jeter only wants to stay a Yankee if we WAY overpay him 20 per year for 4 or 5 years then he has been lying this whole time and has no loyalty.
If Jete wants to go I’m at the point where he can leave and I won’t care… really at this point in his career no one would miss his play they would only miss the man in the uniform and if he leaves over 5 million dollars he’s a dick and I wouldn’t miss that either.
Does anyone know how many teams have made it to the world series with a starting everyday SS of 37? None.
I think we should get a new pole up.. Would you rather overpay Jeter so he’s stays no matter what or tell him to leave?
I really think it would be interesting to see how many people would rather keep Jeter even if he holds a gun to our heads and straight robs us, after the Lee pole I bet a lot more would rather give him 115 million over 5 years rather than let him leave. T.O. Chris(Quote)
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anyone think just giving him a 4th yr player option?(jeter)…i think he’d retire if wasnt hacken it..2009 was a real good year b 4 that people worried bout him but what if it was just a down yr an maybe he does have 4-5 pretty good yrs left……i could see if he was down right terrible but he wasnt DALE(Quote)
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T.O. Chris Reply:
November 23rd, 2010 at 5:27 pm
What makes you so sure he would turn it down? He already is proving how much he’s about money if he had a terrible year with a 21 million dollar player option he’d probably just assume he could play well and if not still pickup the check.
No way would I give any option other than a club option, Jeter obviously can’t recognize his value has already slipped so he probably never will, great players never see themselves as anything but the “prime” them just ask Michael Jordan.
2009 was an abiration, the one last final great season in a great career, 2008 wasn’t good and 2010 wasn’t good it’s more likely that those numbers are the “new norm” for Jeter than him hitting .330 again. No Jeter wasn’t terrible but he also was slightly worse than Marco Scutaro (who the Red Sox are trying to trade and replace with Lowrie) and he wants 3x Scutaro’s paycheck.
Hanley Ramirez is the highest paid SS in baseball outside of Jete at 11 million…. Jeter wants double what Hanley makes for as many years as Hanley has left on his deal!! T.O. Chris(Quote)
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T.O. chris Reply:
November 23rd, 2010 at 5:42 pm
Let me add this last thought, even if Jeter somehow manages to bounce back and hit better for the next 5 years than he did in 2010 at best he can play SS for 3 more years (maybe 2) and his bat won’t play at DH. T.O. chris(Quote)
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Happy Thanksgiving everyone! Have a safe and happy holliday, we’ll back to arguing tommorow
Also don’t forget to give thanks your not a Met or Red Sox fan! T.O. Chris(Quote)
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Anyone think that when Troy Tulowitzki finishes his essentially 9 year contract (7 year extension) the Rockies will give him 4 years at 25 million a year for being “the face of the Rockies”…. Come on man just pay him hahaha.
I also find it hillarious that potentially the best short stop in the league (if you think Hanley Ramirez eventually ends up in the OF) just got an extension of 7 years at 19 a year and Jeter wants more money than that for 1-3 less years. T.O. Chris(Quote)
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Looking over the non tenders for an outfielder I have come across 3 names I think would be of interest to the yankees the first being Scott Hairston, were familiar with his brother, he can play both corner outfield spots and he has a little power in his bat. He could fill a Marcus Thames role only instead of DH he can play outfield and he definitely would be a good cheap upgrade over Colin Curtis for the bench.
The other I saw non tendered that would be interesting are Lastings Milledge and Fred Lewis both can play all 3 outfield positions when push comes to shove (but both do better in LF) and they would bring something solid to the bench, obviously Milledge has more upside (even though he has never put it together) since his bat if it ever clicks was projected the be starting caliber but Lewis would provide a speed threat off the bench to pinch run for the older guys late in important situations.
My prefered target of the 3 is Hairston followed Milledge and finally Lewis, all 3 of these guys will be had on the cheaper side of things and they will all be looking for bench roles anyway, they play defense and provide an upgrade over Colin Curtis and a replacement for Thames on the bench. T.O. Chris(Quote)
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Moshe Mandel Reply:
December 3rd, 2010 at 1:44 am
I like all 3, in the same order you do. Another interesting name is Matt Diaz, who is basically Thames plus he can play corner outfield. I think he and Hairston have similar value. Moshe Mandel(Quote)
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T.O. Chris Reply:
December 3rd, 2010 at 4:26 am
Diaz is a nice option as well I think Hairston has more power potential and a little more upside but Diaz obviously has been a little more consistent than Hairston over his career and both had off years this season so I think both can be had on the cheap.
George Sherrill was officially non tendered so if we don’t get Fuentes I would love to see us go after him as a second lefty specialist.
I keep wondering if it would be worth takng a risk on JP Howell, the last 2 years he pitched he was fantastic and did it in the AL East, I just have concern over his shoulder I would feel better on a minor league deal but the Rays will offer at least that. T.O. Chris(Quote)
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According to MLB rumor Derek Jeter and The Yankees have agreed to a 3 year deal worth 16-17 million with a 4th year that becomes GUARANTEED based on the first 3 years…. Once again it isn’t a team option or a vesting option if get X hits in the 3rd year instead it’s based on work in the first 3 years and he will be getting his 4th year after all.
So the Sox steal A Gon from San Diego and now Derek gets 4 years at 17 million per….. what happened to the 3 years 45 that no one matched? I don’t understand this move if he refused to talk until a 4th year was guaranteed than he could leave IMO, eventually he would’ve come back and take 3/45. T.O. Chris(Quote)
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T.O. Chris Reply:
December 4th, 2010 at 3:43 pm
I understand Kelly is the Sox top prospect and Rizzo is probably their best power hitting prospect but if I was San Diego I would have taken nothing less than Clay Buccholz because I believe you could’ve got this same deal at the trade deadline, to give up Agon this early without being blown away smells to high heaven. T.O. Chris(Quote)
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I’ve read a couple times now from Jon Heyman that The Yankees may try and squeeze both Crawford and Lee into one offseason, now while I don’t believe that personally it is an interesting possibility according to Heyman either Gardner or Swisher would be traded to make room and he believes it would be Swisher moving on so I was thinking what would that look like?
VS LHP
SS- Jeter
LF- Crawford
1B- Teixeira
3B- Arod
2B- Cano
DH- Posada
C- Montero
RF- Granderson
CF- Gardner
VSRHP
SS- Jeter
RF- Granderson
LF- Crawford
3B- Arod
2B- Cano
1B- Teixeira
DH- Posada
C- Montero
RF- Gardner
It’s a hard lineup to place because Crawford’s real value will come out of the 2 or 3 hole, Jeter may need to be dropped VSRHP, Granderson does well in the 2 hole VSRHP, Cano should hit no lower than 5th but his real value is as a 3 or 4 hitter, because of Tex’s slow starts you’d like to see him hit somewhere besides the 3 hole and Gardner has earned a chance at the leadoff spot at the least against RHP. T.O. Chris(Quote)
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Looks like Jeter has agreed to defer some money on the deal to help with luxury tax…
Once again the deal has a 4th year but it is based on what happens in the first 3 years but isn’t a club or vesting option… I want to see the wording on this before I make up my mind because right now all I invision is like a 3 year hit total and/or total runs scored, either way I doubt he agreed with 100% believing he was going to be able to do it.
Basically I’m looking at this as a 4 year deal until I see the wording written up different.
The deal is finalized and is now being reported by YES. T.O. Chris(Quote)
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Well he wasn’t on our list but he was on the Red Sox list Jayson Werth has signed a 7 year 126 Million dollar deal with the Washington Nationals… for a 31 year outfielder and a small organization this is a huge risk, at least he’s off the Phillies and far away from the Sox! T.O. Chris(Quote)
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If I were Cashman I would make my first and final offer to Lee this week at 5 years 25 million per year with a club option for 10 and a 5 million buyout and tell him to take it or leave, he gets 5 years at the highest mark ever for a pitcher and he gets a possible 6th year which is made more reasonable at 10 million and worst case he gets 5 to leave. T.O. Chris(Quote)
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The Yankees have touched base with Bill Hall’s reps at the winter meetings obviously for a bench role I assume he would take on a Hairston Jr type of role from 2009 playing a little bit of everywhere but mostly someone with a bat to place at 3rd when Alex DH’s or full day rests.
I’m not against the Hall signing he played way too often for the Red Sox and got exposed some but even then he showed reasons why we would be interested but honestly I would rather have Hairston Jr than Hall for that role since Jr has done it on a championship team before. T.O. Chris(Quote)
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How about this contract offer to Lee?
5 year deal worth 23 million per year with a club option for 10 million with a buyout of 10 million which would be defered money from the 5 year deal but to be paid in 2 installments of 5 million a piece for 2 years starting once he retires.
This way Lee gets 25 million per year for 5 years but the contract gets written up as 23 million per year so that Sabathia doesn’t feel shafted and get the urge to opt out looking for 25 million a year, Lee would also get a possible 6th year but he would be paid just 10 million in the scenario in which the option is picked up.
The Yankees would be only locked into a 5 year deal like they want and they wouldn’t have to set a new bar at 25 million per, Lee gets 115 million for 5 years and then get an additional 5 million for 2 years of retirement it makes sense for all parties and there is some give and take for both sides. T.O. Chris(Quote)
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Moshe Mandel Reply:
December 6th, 2010 at 6:45 pm
I dont think Lee would go for that 6th year at 10 million. He’d likely prefer that it not be included at all. Moshe Mandel(Quote)
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T.O. Chris Reply:
December 6th, 2010 at 7:16 pm
That would actually suit me much better because I really prefer to just part ways after 5 years which is why I would be inclined to offer the 5 million for 2 years upon retirement I just assumed Lee wants the 6th year pretty badly, I think he would likely prefer the the 10 go up to 15 or 20 over dropping the option all together but I could be wrong. T.O. Chris(Quote)
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No really shocking news but MLB rumor has the Yankees meeting with Pedro Feliciano’s agent and Cashman says that the Yankees do want to re-sign Kerry Wood but he “isn’t interested in paying closer money” for him, I really think both of these moves make us better and while I would prefer a Fuentes to Pedro I think Fuentes is going to command multiple years (thanks Benoit). T.O. Chris(Quote)
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Apparently some mystery team haha is going to offer Lee a 7 year deal in the near future and it won’t be the Yankees, now while I don’t believe this for a minute (although maybe the Angels see Lee as a better 7 year invest than they do Crawford for 10) but saying it is true what is plan B? Andy is leaning toward retirement, in this scenario Lee is gone and I personally have no interest in Greinke.
The Yankees may be forced into making a decision of going with two rookies in the rotation (something they can’t do or trading Montero for a big splash type pitcher and going hard for this year (which I don’t want them to do) it’s really a bad spot to be in this pitching climate. T.O. Chris(Quote)
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I have been looking over Pedro Feliciano’s numbers recently to get a better feel of his play and the more I see on his numbers versus lefties the more I think he is a very good fit in our pen, I know he has had a decent work load over the last 3 or 4 years but with the Yankees he wouldn’t have as big a role as far number of outs he has to record and between him and Logan they could each ease the amount of pitches on the others arm since both can pitch to righties.
Feliciano over the last 3 years VS LHP .212/.273/.310, 110 K, 24 BB, 6 HR, 17 2B in 377 ABs that is some serious domination against left handed hitting and I really see no reason that should change going to the AL plus you have the added bonus of knowing how he pitches in New York. T.O. Chris(Quote)
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Does anyone have any possible rule 5 draft selections for tomorrow? T.O. Chris(Quote)
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Brad Emaus is one of the only names I’ve seen thrown out that would interest me since he has power and can play both 3rd and 2nd but I highly doubt a guy like that falls to our pick at the bottom of the draft.
Maybe the Yankees can pull off some kind of trade like they did with Bruney last year. T.O. Chris(Quote)
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BREAKING NEWS The Red Sox have signed Carl Crawford to a 7 year 142 million dollar deal. T.O. Chris(Quote)
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I wonder what the monetary value of this 7 year deal to Lee is, if it’s 140 it’s a lot but if it’s 160 they’ve lose their minds I think they have anyway giving this guy 7 years but I guess if Werth and Crawford get 7 then Lee gets 7 but I have to think health wise both Werth and Crawford have better probabilities of staying healthy late in their careers than Lee does at 39. T.O. Chris(Quote)
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Yankees select both Robert Fish a 6’3, 225, LHP who tops out at 94 from the Angels and Daniel Turpen 6’4, 230, RHP from the Red Sox in the rule 5 draft. Both are relievers from double and neither had a very good season their this past year, neither have a real chance of making the team but I suppose Fish has the best chance being a lefty. T.O. Chris(Quote)
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what u guys think if we land cliff lee an trade for greinke…with no word on andy ….think they move montero an prospects for greinke not as much pressure as 3rd starter ……an can possibly keep outfield together if montero is centerpiece DALE(Quote)
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T.O. Chris Reply:
December 10th, 2010 at 4:44 pm
Why is everyone so obssesed with Greinke? Have you even looked at his numbers without his Cy season? He will NEVER duplicate that year because nothing before or since. Says he should’ve been that good then, Zack’s numbers show a consistent 3.7 FIP in Kansas City a small market, pitcher’s park what would it be in media frenzy hitters park like New York?
Why would you want to trade Montero a 3rd starter? Montero even if he doesn’t stick at catcher has a chance to be the best slugging anything he plays, he’ll have opportunities at DH, RF, C and probably even a little 1B. Why trade that for a guy who will probably put up ERAs near 4?
Anxiety disorder is a disorder with an irational fear of failure, public humiliation and fear why that change being a second or third starter? No one is afraid he can’t handle game day pressure it’s what he will do living in New York having to face 10x the media every day.
In order to add a contract like Zacks’s we would have to trade Swisher just to clear up 10 million and in two years Greinke needs an extension and if you trade Montero and don’t plan to extend him it’ an even worse trade!
Do you really think a rotation of Sabathia, Lee, Hughes, Burnett and Nova needs Zack Grienke? T.O. Chris(Quote)
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The Angels have finally signed a free agent and have reach an agreement with Scott Downs on a 3 year 15 million dollar deal with 1 million in incentives.
Really I’m just glad to have him out if the East because that is way too much money (more than the money it’s the years) for a lefty reliever especially one who has never closed, I was worried Boston was going to sign him though so this isn’t bad.
This pretty much confirms what Brian Fuentes will get and that means the Yankees are probably out on him as well and even though I like him and Downs it’s just to many years/money, I would much rather have Pedro Feliciano and Kerry Wood over either one of those guys alone since I believe Wood and Pedro can be had on 1 or 2 year deals. T.O. Chris(Quote)
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Anybody getting ready to watch UFC 124? I’m hoping for the unlikely and after this card is over the Lee decision breaks but most likely this will run on until at least tomorrow if not Monday.
GSP by unanimous decision. T.O. Chris(Quote)
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CHRIS my situation is not that i love greinke at all in fact i dunno if i like him much i just would like to ee the pitching staff solidified with good pitching i would def worry about him here but i would no that the potential is there i men cc ,hughes,pet?,burnett?..huge potential there but ……where else are we gonna go? if the answer if young then that fine too but i do believe there always lookin to upgrade but really not much avail………anyone know anyone who may be avail an not beenn mentioned?…..then theres cliff?…..to be honest when i watch him pitch good i say wow causde i saw him when was bad in cleveland and buffalo and i didnt ever expect him to be demanded like this but hey gotta give it to him DALE(Quote)
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T.O. Chris Reply:
December 13th, 2010 at 7:58 pm
It’s really hard to read what you post…. not trying to be mean it’s just the truth….
As far as Greinke goes why would you trade a bunch of young high upside arms and bats like Montero and Banuelos and Betances for a starter your not sure you like and know has massive risk? Also there isn’t any untapped potential in Zack anymore he’s 27 and has pretty much shown us that outside of his one career year he is a 3.7 FIP kind of guy which is good but it’s not even close to a single year put up by Cliff Lee in the last 3 years, people (not you) talk about Zack likes he just as good as Cliff but younger but in reality outside of Kansas City Greinke is a high end number 2 starter and I wouldn’t bet my rotation on a guy who I don’t think can make you a world series team.
Now with us Greinke doesn’t have to be an ace and he actually can be a hugh end 2 but you have two problems in that and one is obviously the price tag, The Royals aren’t trading him for a package less than that of an ace’s package so it makes no sense to spend number 1 prospects on a number 2 pitcher. The other problem is that we don’t know what he will do in New York because it is such a big city and the media will be all over him even away from the park in a way they never have been in KC, so there is a chance he could preform in a manner less than that of even a high end number 2 and then your stuck with trading your system away for a 3 pitcher who will leave in 2 years after his contract is over.
Is there a world where none of these problems occur and he pitches great for years? Yes. Is it likely? No one knows and that is the problem, he’s too big a risk to trade the prospects it will take. T.O. Chris(Quote)
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I agree problem is i got alot i wanna talk about lol just sayin worried bout not getting lee an where were gonna be at i really dnt wanna trade the B’s or montereo really wanna see them as yanks just dunno DALE(Quote)
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If we can bring back Wood, sign either Fuentes or Feliciano and bring in a right handed bat for the outfield like Scott Hairston we should be fine to setup a wild card run, if we can add a guy like Russell Martin we might catch some lightning in a bottle and be solid defensively behind the plate for the first time since Jose Molina.
I read today that the Yankees have reached out to Jerry Hairston Jr he was brought up a couple weeks ago and I would love to see him back in pinstripes! He is a great utility guy and he can play almost every position on a baseball diamond the only problem is he can probably get starting offers somewhere else including maybe back with San Diego, I know he like playing for the Yankees and it’s the only time in his career he’s been to the post season so maybe he comes back.
Wouldn’t it be nice to have a Hairston brothers combo? Jerry handles the defense as a backup in the infield for Jeter and Alex and Scott mans the OF hitting occasionally against lefties and spelling guys along the way, the really enjoyed playing together last year in San Diego but Scott won’t be back, maybe it’s enough for them to both take reserve roles. T.O. Chris(Quote)
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Chris today I like everything u say lol wood an a good lefty would be nice both hairstons would also be nice still worried with andy’s decision ………..where u think were at cc aj phil nova …andy?……an ill say if not andy an nova an like we talked about not making a big move I think we should go with the young guys but where do u stand now on our starters? Dale(Quote)
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T.O. Chris Reply:
December 14th, 2010 at 5:25 pm
Sabathia, Hughes, Burnett and Pettitte isn’t as strong as it could be because of the question marks surrounding Burnett, Hughes coming off his first extended innings period and Pettitte breaking down last year but it’s definitely good enough to make the wild card if we stay healthy.
We already have an offense that can match the best in the league and if we can sure up the pen and bench and possibly bring someone in at the trade deadline we could make a push, it could be a tough year if someone in the front of the rotation goes down but that’s always a risk just a bit higher now. T.O. Chris(Quote)
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Have heard yanks plan to speand aggressivley on relievers now so will see Dale(Quote)
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Update on the Prior signing the deal is for 750,000 dollars and will get a spring training invite, Prior has agreed to go to the minor leagues if he doesn’t make the team out of spring training.
Maybe Prior and Rothschild can get Wood back on a discount? Not likely I know but we can hope. T.O. Chris(Quote)
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T.O. Chris Reply:
December 14th, 2010 at 6:49 pm
Prior apparently can earn another 750,000 dollars in incentives so the grand total to 1.5 million and if he pitches for any extended period of time out of the pen he should be able to more than earn that, I read a week ago that he wants to use this year to transition back to starting next season I don’t think that will ever happen but he is only 30 and could still be a decent setup man or at worst middle relief. T.O. Chris(Quote)
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T.O. Chris Reply:
December 14th, 2010 at 8:32 pm
What I’ve read about Prior is that in the Rangers system last year he was sitting around 90 MPH and topping out at 92 and scouts like what they saw… encouraging news but I’ll keep my expectations low, even pitching at all for Prior in the bigs would be a huge step. T.O. Chris(Quote)
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love the prior move cant expect much at this point but could def be worth the $ …………and ya i def see us lookin at the trade deadline…….cant wait to see what happens DALE(Quote)
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i like the martin move but where do u think this leave montero an cervelli?…….cervelli movin ?or montero in AAA to start? DALE(Quote)
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T.O. Chris Reply:
December 14th, 2010 at 10:31 pm
They both have options so it really doesn’t matter the best will play but if I had to guess Montero gets more out of triple A than he does being a backup. T.O. Chris(Quote)
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According to MLB Rumor Jerry Hairston Jr. told Dan Hayes of the North County Times that four to five teams are pursuing him and the chase is “heating up”.
I know the Yankees are one of the five teams but we will have one of the least attractive offers in terms of playing time but as I said the other day maybe we can sell the fact that he has only been to the playoffs once in his career and it was with us in 2009.
Bill Hall is another utility super sub the Yankees are looking at in the same mold but he also has starting offers from the Pirates and Dodgers and since he has no ties to the Yankee organization I doubt he passes those offers up for a part time role and less money. T.O. Chris(Quote)
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I read Kerry Wood is looking for a 2 year deal for 12 million total which is the exact number (6) that I was willing to give him for one year but a two year deal for someone with his injury history is iffy, however when you look at Benoit and Downs getting 3 year deals as a setup man and a possible lefty setup man then 2 years is probably what he will get somewhere.
We should probably go for it because it would solidify the 8th and 9th innings for the next two years and it woyld give us someone we trust to spell Mo for a save op here or there when he’s a little tired or sore, with Lee we have a bunch more financial flexibility to there is room for the 2 year deal with Wood.
If we could just get Fuentes to agree to a 2 year deal worth 10 million or so we’d have one of the best pens in the league, Feliciano wouldn’t be a bad sign either but he is weak against righties and Fuentes dominates righties quite well as a former closer. T.O. Chris(Quote)
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Russell Martin ended up turning down more money with the Dodgers when he declined their contract offer but if he reaches his incentives he will end up with more, overall the deal works out nicely for both sides Martin has 4 million base salary and 1.4 or 1.5 million in incentives, if he catches 120 he arms the whole amount but if he catches 120 games he will have EARNED the whole amount for sure. T.O. Chris(Quote)
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Well we may have lost Kerry, report is that the White Sox have offered him 2 years and even though they Thornton or Sale will close he could be told he can compete for that job and he could easily beat those two out for that spot. I read yesterday in an interview Wood said he couldn’t see himself going to the White Sox but things often change when multiple year deals are in play, he could be looking at this situation as leverage to try and force the Yankees hand on a 2 year deal if this is the case and the reports of 2 year 12 million is true I say you have to do it.
Jon Heyman reports the Yankees are currently seeing a lefty reliever as their main target and he mentioned Arthur Rhodes, Fuentes and Felicano as possible targets but I would want no part of Rhodes who is 41 and has just come off his first all-star and likely last really effective season. T.O. Chris(Quote)
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The Yankees are interested in Bobby Jenks but he is “no where near making a decision”, I think Jenks is probably a fall back if the Yankees lose out on Wood because they will cost roughly the same and both are former closers the Yankees obviously have the funds for both but if they are giving 2 contracts for 5 million a year I imagine it would be Fuentes and a righty. T.O. Chris(Quote)
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Well Kerry seems to have agreed to a contract with a Chicago team but it’s not the White Sox, yes it looks as if Kerry Wood will be going back to Chicago, I’m sure he’s going to be in the pen but that means he is probably setting up Carlos Marmol. I’m not happy he’s leaving but if he was going to go somewhere I’m glad it’s Chicago with the Cubs because he obviously really enjoys it their and he has a chance to finish what he started years ago as a promising starter striking out 20 against the ‘Stros.
This development makes Fuentes much more of a need than a want in my opinion, with Wood we could justify signing just a lefty specialist but now we need a setup man and with past history closing and good splits Vs both Left and right handed hitters Fuentes could be the 2nd lefty, setup man and occasional closer to spell Mo. If we sign Brian we also have the option of signing Feliciano in order to have Logan and Pedro for lefties and Fuentes as a pure setup man. T.O. Chris(Quote)
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Reports are Yankees close to deal with Feliciano Peter(Quote)
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T.O. Chris Reply:
December 16th, 2010 at 2:59 pm
Hopefully it’s a one year deal but knowing this reliever makret it’s at least 2, after Marte I’m wary of multi year deals on lefty relievers but I’m cool with 2 years just not 3 under any circumstances. T.O. Chris(Quote)
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The Red Sox have signed Bobby Jenks to a 2 year 12 million dollar deal it looks as if he signed to be the 7th inning guy with Bard abd Papelbon. T.O. Chris(Quote)
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Russell Martin is going to have knee surgery apparently the Yankees don’t feel the injury is too serious and signed him anyway, I guess this means Montero still needs to comes in ready to start because Martin could miss some time. T.O. Chris(Quote)
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Jon Heyman reports that the Yankees will not attempt a trade for Zambrano…
Personally I couldn’t be more relieved, he was clearly going to end up in a Javier Vazquez situation only with a nasty temper which could make things worse! He has been a good pitcher in the NL but his velocity has dropped steadily for the last 4 years and this season it dropped all the way down to 90 MPH and that was with some bullpen work. It is an almost identical trend as to Javy who’s velocity had dropped steadily for 3 years down into the 91 range the year before we acquiredd him and then in the 4th year like Z he dropped below 91 MPH (in Javy’s case down to 89) I see no reason to take another of those risks when it didn’t work last year.
I have read that the Yankees don’t like Brandon Webb and will not try for his services but that theyd don’t mind signing an injured starter.
In other injured starters news looks Chien-Ming Wang will be headed back to the Nationals on a 1 year major league deal this time, GL Wang. T.O. Chris(Quote)
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The Yankees have asked for medical records on Freddy Garcia…
I would not like this move at all! If Pettitte is coming back Nova has much more upside as a number 5 starter than Garcia and if Pettitte isn’t coming back Garcia isn’t good enough because he is nothing more than a 5th starter now and wouldn’t be much of an improvement over Mitre.
Freddy Garcia 2010- 157 IP, 4.64 ERA, 4.77 FIP, 4.59 xFIP, 1.3 WAR, 5.1 K/9, 2.58 BB/9, 40.7 GB%, 11.6 HR/FB%
Ivan Nova alone could probably duplicate those numbers and if not some combination of Noesi, Nova, Brackman and Joba can without a doubt, hell Joba already had a better year than in 2009.
Joba 2009- 157 IP, 4.75 ERA, 4.82 FIP, 4.56 xFIP, 1.8 WAR, 7.61 K/9, 4.35 BB/9, 42.9 GB%, 12.4 HR/FB% T.O. Chris(Quote)
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DALE Reply:
December 16th, 2010 at 9:01 pm
CC,AJ,Andy,Phil,Joba?……….or does he stay in the pen an go with Nova?……..we talked couple days ago about moves at trade deadline youn no anyone with expireing contract that could be on the move? DALE(Quote)
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T.O. Chris Reply:
December 16th, 2010 at 9:17 pm
I was actually just coming here to post that Brian Cashman was asked about Joba Chamberlain now that the rotation is so slim and he told MLB.com that despite the lack of rotation options at this point Joba will be in the bullpen no matter what.
I don’t necessarily mind this move (even though I think he should be given a chance in ST) I will be very very pissed if we sign Freddy Garcia over letting Joba start for less since he could clearly have as good or better a season than Garcia who is pretty much done in this league in the next couple years. T.O. Chris(Quote)
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MLB Rumor is suggesting that the White Sox would be willing to trade Edwin Jackson for payroll relief this is the type of acquisition that would be a decent buy for the back of the rotation, being as it’s for salary relief to loosen their budget room we would lose no real prospect we would just pay most of the last year of his deal.
Edwin has pitched in the AL East and with 3 total different AL teams and when you look at his numbers he has a bunch of positive trends including a 3 year increase in WAR, a 4 year decrease in FIP, a 3 year decrease in xFIP and his ground ball percentage has jumped from 39% to 49% which in turn meant he had the lowest HR/9 of his career suggesting he has grassped a better understanding of the 2-seamer and control which explains the good trends.
Considering he has thrown 200 innings in both of the last 2 seasons (and 180+ three seasons in a row) he would be a good “money” pickup that would only be a one year rental with no real prospect price tag and he comes with much much better “stuff” than almost any other trade possibility or free agent out their except Grienke.
Edwin also had a pretty low LOB% last year of only 69.6% down from 76% the previous two years in a row and his BABIP was also really high at .320 way up from his .281 BABIP in 2009 and even his .301 BABIP in 2008.
Sabathia
Hughes
Burnett
Pettitte
Jackson
Or
Sabathia
Hughes
Burnett
Jackson
Nova T.O. Chris(Quote)
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Jackson 2008- 183 IP, 5.30 K/9, 3.78 BB/9, 1.13 HR/9, 4.88 FIP, 5.03 xFIP, 1.3 WAR, GB% 39.1, 1.51 WHIP
Jackson 2009- 214 IP, 6.77 K/9, 2.94 BB/9, 1.14 HR/9, 4.28 FIP, 4.39 xFIP, 3.5 WAR, GB% 39.1, 1.26 WHIP
Jackson 2010- 209 IP, 7.78 K/9, 3.35 BB/9, 0.90 HR/9, 3.86 FIP, 3.85 xFIP, 3.8 WAR, GB% 49.4, 1.39 WHIP
He’s not going to be anybodies ace ever but for a number 4 or 5 starter for mostly just salary on a 1 year rental he is more than worth the potential risk with reward, how many other 4 or 5 starters have back to back 3.5+ WAR seasons? T.O. Chris(Quote)
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Jon Heyman reported today on Hot Stove on the MLB Network that the Cubs either gave or promised Kerry Wood a personal services contract on top of his deal which means he would be under contract for a front office job once he retires from baseball and this assurance that he would be in the organization for life was what got him to take the 1.5 million.
Boston also offered Kerry 10 million for 2 years. T.O. Chris(Quote)
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The Yankees are looking into Jeff Keppinger (30) 2B/SS of the Astros he’d probably be a utility man maybe even playing 3rd some, he’s coming off a career year but still probably wouldn’t cost much, I’ve seen him play and he isn’t anything special but he can certainly replace Pena or Nunez on the bench. T.O. Chris(Quote)
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Brian Cashman has told Jack Curry of the YES network that Pettitte is still leaning towards retirement and if he goes in that direction the team will fill his spot in the rotation “internally” and that the teams has very little interest in signing someone to replace Andy like Freddy Garcia or Kevin Milwood.
It’s good to know that Garcia and Millwood are long shots to end up on the team but it’s kind of disconcerting to know we might end up with Mitre at the back of the rotation at least to start the year, it’s looking more and more like this is going to be a hope for the best but expect the worst type of year that will pay off later on when we re-stock but for at least the first full half of the season if not the entire season we may not be a power of any kind… and I’m fine with it. Alex and Jeter are getting older so wasting any positive years they may have left is never a great idea but it sure as hell beats just trying to piece something together and giving away the future to just delay the inevitable and maybe this way we can speed up the future by really focusing on controlled development of young players, especially pitchers coming through the system, while I don’t want Betances or Banuelos making it to the bigs this season we have quite a few pen and rotation pieces that can come up and stake a place on the team. T.O. Chris(Quote)
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Does anyone else feel like Jerry Hairston Jr is now a more realistic option since the Padres signed Orlando Hudson and traded for Bartlett?
I figured he’d be a lot more likely to return to San Diego than come here because of the starting option but since they have filled both of those spots he’s probably down to looking at a bunch of utility roles or take a Bill Hall like move and go to a team that has no chance of playoffs just to start.
I’ve said before we should have some pull for Jerry as he has only made the playoff once in his entire career and he won the World Series with us when he finally did, he’d be a perfect replacement for Pena as first man off the bench and it would allow Nunez to stay in triple A all year. We would still need to sign an outfield bat as Hairston’s stick isn’t strong enough to make him the 4th outfielder but instead a super sub but signing Jerry might also help us get Scott and I think a double dip of the Hairston brothers would really strengthen our bench, we’d at least have one of the most defensively sound benches in baseball with Scott, Jerry, Ramiro and Cervelli especially when Frankie is probably the worst one. T.O. Chris(Quote)
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I was looking over some of Montero’s numbers last night and I came across a couple that were interesting to me for different reasons.
The first are his lefty righty splits now I think we all assumed he crushed lefties and that is one of the main reasons for wanting him in the lineup from the start of the season in some fashion, and yes he does crush lefties .284/.372/.530 but he isn’t that far off from those power numbers against righties although his OBP takes a bigger hit .292/.345/.511 (if you ever needed more proof that average is useless there you go).Now the main difference seems to be the fact that Montero walked 20 times with 26 strikeouts in 134 ABs Vs LHP but only walked 26 times with 65 Ks against righties suggesting that there is at least some hole in his swing righties can exploit that lefties can’t or it could simply be that he sees the ball better out of a lefties hand and therefore is able to control the zone better against a left hander because of the better pitch recognition, either way it doesn’t really bother me as he has solid numbers against both sides and I’m sure Kevin can fix any hole in the kids swing.
The numbers that really interested me though was his increasing production from bases empty, to runners on, to runners in scoring position which shows more and more focus as the stakes increase in the game, now it’s hard to put a number on a player and say he is or isn’t clutch but it always helps when your numbers go up the more men are on base.
Montero 2010 bases empty- .278/.336/.487
Montero 2010 runners on- .305/.376/.558
Montero 2010 runners in scoring position- .301/.382/.563 T.O. Chris(Quote)
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Has anyone seen this kid we signed today Leonel Vinas play? Or know anything about him other than what has been reported today? I’ve seen thus far that he is 19, throws a Fastball, curve and change, he threw 2 no hitters this year in the Amateurs for Hank Steinbrenner amateur baseball team and he is going to be a reliever in A ball.
I haven’t seen any MPH’s on the kid or why he was playing for an amateur league instead of going to college if he was good enough to be in a farm system, apparently the kid out-dueled Mariano Rivera Jr in some final game at Yankee stadium this year. T.O. Chris(Quote)
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In weird news that just doesn’t make any sense the Yankees are talking to Johnny Damon about a possible return as a part time DH and outfielder… I thought we needed a 4th outfielder who batted right handed and could field as far as I know Damon can do neither of these things and will demand playing time.
Posada bats best from the left side so he doesn’t make a good platoon bat at DH and both Gardner and Granderson field way better than him and hit left handed so he doesn’t make a good platoon with either of them, I guess the Yankees just like the man but seriously where does he fit?
Also the Yankees are interested in 30 year old LH starter Jeff Francis who missed all of last year after shoulder surgery. T.O. Chris(Quote)
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MLB network is revealing their list of the top 50 prospects in basebal with John Mayo and the first 2 Yankees to come across the list are Manny Banuelos at NO. 35 and Gary Sanchez at NO. 32 and with Montero left on the list we are well represented in the top 50. T.O. Chris(Quote)
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T.O. Chris Reply:
January 25th, 2011 at 9:45 pm
Jesus Montero got really shorted on this MLB network top 50 list as he ends up as the 9th best prospect in baseball, I think he is easily in the top 5 with his mix of power and average at a premium up the middle position but I guess not, worse than that though is they devote 2 minute segments to 4 players in the grouping Montero was in and never even talked about the kid.
Anyone else feel that 9th is too low for Montero? T.O. Chris(Quote)
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Moshe Mandel Reply:
January 25th, 2011 at 10:41 pm
Absolutely. To me, he’s 3rd or 4th. Moshe Mandel(Quote)
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T.O. Chris Reply:
January 26th, 2011 at 12:31 am
Apparently this is the MLB.com top 50 as well… Before I saw the breakdown of the list I thought he was probably 4th but looking at their list I wouldn’t even be mad about 6th but 9th?
Starting from reverse order here is the top 9 list including Montero at 9.
9. JESUS MONTERO
8. Eric Hosmer
7. Mike Moustakas
6. Arodlis Chapman
5. Dustin Ackley
4. Dominic Brown
3. Bryce Harper
2. Jeremy Hellickson
1. Mike Trout
I don’t have a problem with Trout, Harper, Hellickson (since he is a pitcher) or Ackley (still debating on whether I would rank Ackley ahead of him or not myself) being ranked above Montero and Dominic Brown is debatable but at the same time understandable since he has a legitimate position to play and there are no doubts about his D, however to rank Aroldis Chapman above Jesus Montero to me is a pretty big mistake when you consider hat Chapman is probably a career bullpen piece.
Honestly I don’t see Hosmer or Moustakas as anything other than equal to or below Montero’s overall ranking, they both have power and they both are projected to hit with some average but neither of the two project to hit with more average than Jesus and neither one blows him away with power. Now Hosmer plays 1B and there is no doubt about his defense at that position but if Montero can manage to play terrible defense at catcher for 10 years he is more valuable a bat than a gold glove first baseman with respective power. Moustakas is IMO a lot like Montero because many people see him as a future DH or 1B in his own right and if you are trying to decide between an awful 3rd baseman with 30-40 HR power and an awful C with 30 HR power I’ll take the catcher every time, now maybe they rank it this way because if both become first basemen or DH’s, then with more raw power possibly Moustakas could be a more valuable bat. T.O. Chris(Quote)
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Betances just missed the cut on the 50 man list as he comes in at number 53, so in the top 60 the Yankees walk away with 4 prospects. T.O. Chris(Quote)
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Guys,
Can anyone recommend a nice simple, entry-level Fantasy league system that I could use with some friends of mine? I’ve been getting steadily more engrossed in baseball over the last few years but, as a Brit, I’m still a relative beginner and of course don’t have access to the level of information that’s available in the US. Certainly I haven’t the bandwidth to be tinkering with my team on a daily basis.
Any suggestions?
Thanks
Tim Tim Haveron Jones(Quote)
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T.O. Chris Reply:
January 28th, 2011 at 10:19 am
Yahoo has a really easy fantasy baseball system and they allow you to pick which kind of league you want to run to make it as easy as you would like. T.O. Chris(Quote)
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Tim Haveron Jones Reply:
January 28th, 2011 at 7:25 pm
Thanks Chris. I’ve checked out the Yahoo! system and you’re right – it does seem pretty user-friendly. If you want to play a really advanced game you can do so, or if you want something a little more straightforward, that’s also possible. Thanks for the tip! Tim Haveron Jones(Quote)
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T.O. Chris Reply:
January 28th, 2011 at 7:35 pm
That’s exactly why I like it… Last season me and friend played and my friend had never done a fantasy anything before and he easily found his way into it and found no trouble picking everything up within the first day. T.O. Chris(Quote)
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The Yankees have signed Eric Chavez and Ronnie Belliard to minor league deals with ST invites, while neither is a huge move one or the other could prove to be a solid addition to the bench and give us a bat to sub in at 3rd base for the aging Arod. Neither is going to rake or play stellar D but they (I’m hoping Chavez) have a chance to contribute with the bat in a way that Pena and Nunez won’t.
If I had to guess right now the Yankee bench would consist of Jones, Pena, Cervelli and Chavez while the bullpen would be Mariano, Soriano, Robertson, Joba, Feliciano, Logan and Mitre (Yes I’m giving Freddy Garcia the 5th spot with Nova as the 4). It’s not the greatest overall team in the league but it has a chance to have a very solid bench and bullpen to go along with one of the best lineups in baseball. T.O. Chris(Quote)
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Alfredo Aceves has signed a major league deal with the Boston Red Sox of all teams, I thought he would at least give us an opportunity to give him a minor league deal but I guess he’s moved on to a team that will give him that major league deal. I liked Aceves a lot and he was a key to our bullpen but given his back injury his best days may be behind him. T.O. Chris(Quote)
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Joba has gained 15 pounds this off-season, anyone actually believe it’s muscle. T.O. Chris(Quote)
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