Have you seen the list of first-year eligible players on the Baseball Hall of Fame ballot? Not exactly a team of all-stars by any stretch. Let's take a look at the 13 first time eligible players:
Bernie Williams, CF, Yankees. Probably the most deserving of any of the new candidates for Hall consideration. I don't know if that is a compliment to Bernie or an insult to the rest of the field. Bernie was a very good player. He won a batting title in 1998, won 4 Gold Gloves, made 5 All-Star appearances, and won a Silver Slugger in 2002. He finished his career with a .297 batting average, 287 home runs and 1257 RBI. He eclipsed 100 RBI 5 times in his career and 90 RBI 7 times. He gets a slight boost because he did this without steroids. He only hit 30 home runs once in his career but hit more than 20 homers 7 times during his career. He also drove in a record 80 runs in the postseason which has to count for something. Is he deserving of the Hall of Fame? Probably not. However, he was a main cog on 4 World Series winning teams and did accumulate 2,336 hits and scored 1,366 runs. Not shabby but not enough to make the Hall.
Vinny Castilla, 3B, Rockies. He put up some monster years in Coors Field before they figured out the humidor. Leads all Mexican-born Major Leaguers in home runs (320), hits (1,884), runs (902), and RBI (1,105). For a power hitter those numbers just aren't enough to garner Hall consideration.
Jeromy Burnitz, OF. From 1997 to 2004 he averaged 31 homers and 94 RBI. Still, he only had 315 homers and 981 RBI in his career while hitting .253. Sorry, Jeromy, you don't make it.
Brian Jordan, OF. Jordan was a fairly good player. He also started 31 NFL games for the Falcons. Sadly, being a fairly good player doesn't make you eligible for the Hall. Neither does hitting 184 homers or hitting .282.
Ruben Sierra, OF/DH. Oh, Ruben. You came into the league with such promise. Then your ego got ahold of you. The Rangers once traded Jose Canseco for him, when both players were considered to be among the best in the game. The Yankees traded Danny Tartabull to the A's for Sierra, got sick of Sierra's attitude and flipped him in 1996 for Cecil Fielder. The Yankees won the World Series and Sierra famously quipped that he didn't like Joe Torre because all he cared about was winning. Wow. Ruben changed organizations a whopping 16 times, including 3 times with the Rangers and twice with the Yankees. His career numbers of .268, 306 homers, and 1,322 RBI are not worthy of a Hall election, especially after 20 seasons in the Bigs. He will best be remembered for changing his attitude and becoming a good bat off the bench for the Yankees in early to mid-2000's.
Brad Radke, P, Twins. Radke was a decent pitcher. However, he was also an unlucky one. He led the league three times...in losses once (16 in 2000) and home runs surrendered twice (32 in 1995 and 40 in 1996). Those kind of distinctions are not exactly Hall material. Radke did win 20 games once, in 1997 and played for the Twins when they were awful. Still, you can't sport a 4.22 career ERA into any Hall, let alone the Hall of Fame. It also doesn't help when you averaged almost a home run given up per start, 326 in 378 games.
Terry Mulholland, P. Terry helped the Phillies to the 1993 World Series. You know, the one where Joe Carter showed Mitch Williams what to do with his fastball? Terry was a mediocre starting pitcher. But, because he was lefty was able to carve out a 20 year career with 15 teams. Finished with a 124-142 win/loss record and a 4.41 ERA. Ummm, sorry Terry.
Javy Lopez, C. Lopez was an excellent hitting catcher. He was even a 3x All-Star, something not many first year eligible players can say this go-around. He even drove in 100 runs twice in his career! At least he can say he was a good player and has a World Series ring to show for it.
Bill Mueller, 3B. When your career is only 11 years long it either says you suffered a catastrophic injury or you were mediocre. I'm not even sure which category he falls in. He did win a batting title in 2003, never made an All-Star game, but did help Boston win their first World Series in 86 years. So, there's that.
Phil Nevin, 1B/3B/OF. I was amazed to find out he made an All-Star game (2001 as a Padre) and he did hit 41 homers once (also 2001). His career numbers of .270, 208 homers, and 743 RBI are nice enough to make you a few million dollars over the course of a career but that's it.
Tim Salmon, OF. Started his career off right, winning the Rookie of the Year in 1993. He then finished in the top ten for MVP twice (he finished 7th both times in 1995 and 1997) in his first five years in the league. Then the injuries started. From 1998 until his retirement in 2006, Salmon would play in over 150 games only once (158 in 2000). He missed the entire 2005 season as well. He was a very good player who never made an All-Star team, never led the league in anything and finished 1 homer shy of 300. He was a good player, one I wouldn't mind roaming the corner on my team. If he had stayed healthy he might actually garner some interest but alas...
Tony Womack, 2B (sort of). Womack might be most famous for driving in the game-tying run in Game 7 of the 2001 World Series. I was shocked to learn he made an All-Star team but then I saw it was with the Pirates back when I was the second best player on the Pirates and I never played baseball professionally. Womack did lead the league in triples once (14 in 2000) and stolen bases three times (1997-1999). So umm, yeah, at least he made $4 million from the Yankees for only hitting .249 and driving in only 15 runs while hitting 0 homers but he did steal 27 bases. Sorry, Tony, but you need to buy a ticket to visit the Hall.
Eric Young, 2B. He was a very good player and had some wheels on him. Unfortunately, when you are a base stealer you don't want to lead the league in caught stealing more than stolen bases (2 to 1). Still, Young was a nice player and there isn't much else to say about him.
So, ummm, wow. A player needs at least 5% of the vote to get on the next year's ballot and I think Bernie should get that. He was an excellent player on one of the best teams in baseball. That will count for something but not enough to allow him entry into the Hall of Fame but he should get his own plaque out there in Monument Park. He also plays a mean classical guitar.
Thursday, December 22, 2011
Wednesday, December 21, 2011
Yu Gotta Be Kidding Me
The Texas Rangers have won the rights to negotiate a contract with Japanese star pitcher Yu Darvish with a $51.8 million bid. That's a lot of dough for a an unproven commodity. Many thought the Yankees would be the favorite to land the Japanese import but the Yankees have become...wait for it...FISCALLY RESPONSIBLE! That's right, the Yankees didn't go out and spend like crazy for Yu Darvish, Albert Pujols, Prince Fielder, and C.J. Wilson. They were scared away by the money being thrown at Mark Buehrle. They didn't even glance in the direction of Jose Reyes. Why? Because baseball's new labor agreement is taking aim at teams that exceed the luxury tax. The Yankees are sick of paying for everyone else to field a team and, quite frankly, I don't blame them.
The Yankees plan is to get under the $189 million luxury tax threshold by 2014. That won't be easy. Currently, the Yankees have a ton of money invested in Alex Rodriguez, Mark Teixeira, and C.C. Sabathia. That's about $85 million when you factor in pensions and other benefits and the like. Three players, essentially $85 million gone. Rodriguez also gets a $6 million bonus for hitting home run #714 so if he does that, an unlikely scenario but a scenario nonetheless, add on another $6 million. That puts it at $91 million for the 2014 payroll and the Yankees haven't paid Robinson Cano yet. That could cost as much as $22 million or more. Now, the Yankees need to field a catcher, a center fielder, a left fielder, a right fielder, and a DH. Curtis Granderson should be a Yankee for a while but he could be very expensive in the future, at least $15 million. Derek Jeter also has an $8 million player option for 2014. This money is going bye-bye faster than a Kim Kardashian marriage.
I know what you are thinking, fellow Yankee fans. How do the Yankees actually get UNDER $189 million? Sure, the Yankees could try to trade away a contract or two. But, realistically, who will take on Rodriguez's contract or even Mark Teixeira's? A trade won't happen unless the Yankees eat most of the contract, kind of like what is happening with A.J. Burnett right now. By the way, Burnett will be off the books by 2014 in case you were wondering.
You know why the Yankees aren't giving up on their prospects? They are the replacements for the aging, high-priced veterans the Yankees have clogged their roster with. Figure if Jeter does come back in 2014 he will be in his twilight, most likely his last season or two. Also, who knows how long Rodriguez is physically capable of playing third base. His hips aren't getting any better and age will not help any. So, they could be in the market for a third baseman. Could Brandon Laird be that guy? Doubtful but possible.
Don't expect the Yankees to go crazy signing anyone in the next few years. Instead, start to get to know Manny Banuelos, Dellin Betances, Jesus Montero, Mason Williams, Gary Sanchez, Austin Romine, J.R. Murphy, Zoilo Almonte, Dante Bichette, Jr. and a host of other prospects in the Yankees system. They will be replacing the older veterans. There is no way the Yankees can re-sign Nick Swisher after his contract is up. There is no way they sign Cole Hamels next year. There is no way they can afford to bring in any big-name free agent. Instead they will be relying on the young kids to take their place.
This is a complete philosophical change from Yankee teams in the past. George Steinbrenner's Yankees are gone. These are Hal's Yankees now. Fiscally responsible. In a lot of ways this will work out in the Yankees favor. They have an excellent scouting department and have uncovered a lot of talent in recent years. It also means no more A.J. Burnett contracts. That's a good thing. It also means no more Pedro Feliciano contracts. No more giving $4 million per year to a lefty veteran who blows out his arm without throwing a big league pitch in Pinstripes. Did you see what the Yankees did with the bullpen this past season? Did you see Luis Ayala put up a decent season? How about Cory Wade? The Yankees bullpen was one of the best in the game and it featured guys taken off the scrap heap or developed in their own system. Rafael Soriano was the exception. Expect David Robertson, Joba Chamberlain, or some other prospect the Yankees bring up to get first crack at replacing Mariano Rivera. Don't expect the Yankees to go out and sign away some other closer from elsewhere. It ain't gonna happen. It can't happen if the Yankees are serious about this luxury tax threshold.
Free agents are not going to be raking in the kind of money they are now. No team wants to put themselves in a position to pay half of their payroll in luxury tax for being a repeat offender. On a $190 million payroll that would be $95 million in taxes. That is crazy. Think of it like a salary cap of sorts. Free agents will have to take less because teams won't offer as much. It's the way of the future in baseball. If the Yankees went into 2014 without changing the way they operate they would pay $105 million in taxes on a $210 million payroll. That's $315 million for player salaries alone. That is unsustainable. The Yankees need to change. They need to adapt. It starts now. This is why there was no Yu Darvish under the Christmas tree for Yankee fans and there will be no Yoenis Cespedes to ring in the new year. There will be no Prince Fielder at DH. No Cole Hamels to keep Yankees fans warm next winter. The times are changing.
Top Five Yankees Prospects
I am by no means an expert, just a man with an opinion and a love for Yankees baseball. That qualifies me to put in my two cents on future Yankee stars with my Top 5 Prospect List right? Well, you're here and I'm writing it so you might as well read it.
1. Jesus Montero, C. He finally got his taste of the Majors this year and did not disappoint. He hit .328 with 4 homers and drove in 12 runs over 18 games. He sported a slash line of .328/.406/.590/.996. To have an OPS of .996 in your first big league taste is sick, like off the charts sick. He showed great opposite field power, using right field like his own personal landing zone. The potential has always been there offensively. It was his defense that many people questioned. The Yankees let him get a feel for action behind the plate, having him catch in 3 games. They will allow him to catch more this year while giving him the majority of his at-bats at DH. He is going to be a spectacular player and the Yankees will be glad they never traded him, even for Cliff Lee.
2. Manny Banuelos, P. This small lefty has kept his spot in the Top 3 because he is still very young, he won't be 21 until March, still has a lot of talent, and should get his first taste of the Majors this season. He didn't have a phenomenal season last year at AAA but you can't expect a kid, and he was the youngest player in AAA after getting called up, taking the distinction away from Jesus Montero, to dominate at every level. His walk rate rose a little, allowing 19 free passes in 34.1 innings at Scranton. However, his strikeout rate remained the same. Pitching is about learning and Banuelos showed he is a learner. He still projects to be a top of the rotation starter and should see some time in the Majors this season.
3. Dellin Betances, P. Betances got his feet wet in the Majors this season and showed he needed more seasoning. He walked 6 in 2.2 innings and sported a 6.75 ERA. The good news? Opponents hit only .125 off of him in those 2.2 innings. Betances has loads of talent. He suffers from loss of control at times but that can be corrected. He didn't do especially well in Scranton, making 4 starts and walking 15 in 21 innings. If he can cut the walks down he projects to a top of the rotation starter. There is a reason his name comes up along with Montero and Banuelos in every trade discussion. The Yankees are right in holding onto him.
4. Mason Williams, OF. He really seemed to put it together last season at Staten Island. His slash line was very nice for a 19 year-old, ..349/.395/.468/.863. The power isn't there and I'm not sure he will become a power hitter in the future but this kid has tools to work with. He has speed, is very good defensively, can steal bases, and make contact with the ball. He can be a dynamic player for years to come if last season is any indication. He won't hit for enough power to be a corner outfielder but when he is ready to take over centerfield for the Yankees Curtis Granderson should be sliding over to left or right.
5. Gary Sanchez, C. He was one of the top prospects in all of baseball going into last season. Then, he decided he was too cool for school and started acting out. The Yankees sent him down a level and humbled him very quickly. Then, he started to produce again. He is very young, still only 19, and immaturity can sometimes be part of dealing with young players. When he slumped early he acted out and found out that isn't the way to deal with things. If he can realize he needs to work his ass off to get to the Majors and continue to work he could be Montero-like, or better. However, he needs to prove it.
Honorable Mentions: Dante Bichette, Jr., 3B. Austin Romine, C. Slade Heathcott, OF. Ravel Santana, P. J.R. Murphy, C/1B. Adam Warren, P. David Phelps, P.
1. Jesus Montero, C. He finally got his taste of the Majors this year and did not disappoint. He hit .328 with 4 homers and drove in 12 runs over 18 games. He sported a slash line of .328/.406/.590/.996. To have an OPS of .996 in your first big league taste is sick, like off the charts sick. He showed great opposite field power, using right field like his own personal landing zone. The potential has always been there offensively. It was his defense that many people questioned. The Yankees let him get a feel for action behind the plate, having him catch in 3 games. They will allow him to catch more this year while giving him the majority of his at-bats at DH. He is going to be a spectacular player and the Yankees will be glad they never traded him, even for Cliff Lee.
2. Manny Banuelos, P. This small lefty has kept his spot in the Top 3 because he is still very young, he won't be 21 until March, still has a lot of talent, and should get his first taste of the Majors this season. He didn't have a phenomenal season last year at AAA but you can't expect a kid, and he was the youngest player in AAA after getting called up, taking the distinction away from Jesus Montero, to dominate at every level. His walk rate rose a little, allowing 19 free passes in 34.1 innings at Scranton. However, his strikeout rate remained the same. Pitching is about learning and Banuelos showed he is a learner. He still projects to be a top of the rotation starter and should see some time in the Majors this season.
3. Dellin Betances, P. Betances got his feet wet in the Majors this season and showed he needed more seasoning. He walked 6 in 2.2 innings and sported a 6.75 ERA. The good news? Opponents hit only .125 off of him in those 2.2 innings. Betances has loads of talent. He suffers from loss of control at times but that can be corrected. He didn't do especially well in Scranton, making 4 starts and walking 15 in 21 innings. If he can cut the walks down he projects to a top of the rotation starter. There is a reason his name comes up along with Montero and Banuelos in every trade discussion. The Yankees are right in holding onto him.
4. Mason Williams, OF. He really seemed to put it together last season at Staten Island. His slash line was very nice for a 19 year-old, ..349/.395/.468/.863. The power isn't there and I'm not sure he will become a power hitter in the future but this kid has tools to work with. He has speed, is very good defensively, can steal bases, and make contact with the ball. He can be a dynamic player for years to come if last season is any indication. He won't hit for enough power to be a corner outfielder but when he is ready to take over centerfield for the Yankees Curtis Granderson should be sliding over to left or right.
5. Gary Sanchez, C. He was one of the top prospects in all of baseball going into last season. Then, he decided he was too cool for school and started acting out. The Yankees sent him down a level and humbled him very quickly. Then, he started to produce again. He is very young, still only 19, and immaturity can sometimes be part of dealing with young players. When he slumped early he acted out and found out that isn't the way to deal with things. If he can realize he needs to work his ass off to get to the Majors and continue to work he could be Montero-like, or better. However, he needs to prove it.
Honorable Mentions: Dante Bichette, Jr., 3B. Austin Romine, C. Slade Heathcott, OF. Ravel Santana, P. J.R. Murphy, C/1B. Adam Warren, P. David Phelps, P.
Sunday, December 11, 2011
Welcome to Bizarro World
I know it's been a while since I last posted and for that I apologize.
The baseball world has gone completely insane in the past couple of weeks. The Yankees announced they want to cut payroll to $189 million by 2014 to avoid hefty luxury taxes and the Miami Marlins and Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim have gone insane and have shelled out over $400 million on four players. The Angels signed Albert Pujols and C.J. Wilson within hours of each other and the Marlins, who offered Pujols more money than the Angels did, signed Jose Reyes and Mark Buerhle. The Angels alone spent almost $400 million in new contracts for two players. Owner Arte Moreno only paid $186 million for the whole franchise when he bought the team years ago. I bet they will regret those contracts, each team and each contract beofre they are all half-done.
The Mets were right to let Jose Reyes leave. He last played a near full season in 2008 when he appeared in 159 games. He has appeared in 36, 133, and 126 games over the past three seasons. He is a big injury risk with his hamstrings seemingly giving out every other month. That money is best used elsewhere for the Mets who are obviously rebuilding. I don't know if they should trade David Wright right now but they would be foolish not to listen to offers and see what falls in their laps. I think Sandy Alderson stole from the Giants in the Angel Pagan trade. Great job by him getting back Ramon Ramirez and Andres Torres. Torres is essentially the same player as Pagan and Ramirez will be a useful arm out of the bullpen. Alderson also did well in signing Jon Rauch and Frank Francisco. At worst Alderson might be able to flip those two at the deadline for prospects.
The Yankees are staying true to their word so far this offseason and have not gotten involved with C.J. Wilson, Albert Pujols, Mark Buehrle, or anyone else because they deem the price tags too high. Both Pujols and Wilson's agents contacted the Yankees but were rebuffed. Yankees GM Brian Cashman feels that the pricetag is too high on Edwin Jackson as well and has not shown any interest. In a thin free agent market, Cashman is being wise not to overspend for questionable talent. He could jump in if the price tag comes down but right now it makes no sense. He is also offering $8 million to anyone who takes A.J. Burnett off of his hands. So, who will the Yankees feature in their rotation next season? After C.C. Sabathia there are nothing but question marks. Hughes has to show he can stay healthy and can get back to being the pitcher of the first half of 2010. Ivan Nova has to show that last season was not a fluke. Freddy Garcia has to prove last season was not an enigma as he wore down late last season. A.J. Burnett has to prove he can be an above replacement level pitcher, something he has not done in the past two years. Hector Noesi is doing well in Winter Ball but has a lot to prove. Can one of the young, highly touted prospects out of Manny Banuelos and Dellin Betances step up? Will Adam Warren, David Phelps, or D.J. Mitchell be this year's Ivan Nova? so many questions, few answers. It remains to be seen if the Yankees put a bid on Yu Darvish but if they win the bid adding him should at least give another choice to the multiple choice question.
The New York Rangers are one of the best teams I have seen wear the blue sweater in years. They play team hockey, have an outstanding goaltender in Henrik Lundqvist, and have improved their special teams play. They still make stupid penalties here and there and will need to improve in that area going forward but at least they are overcoming their deficiencies. Also, they are playing without their number one defenseman in Marc Staal and are watching Brandon Dubinsky go through a recession in production. All in all, though, the Rangers should be in contention until the end.
Victor Cruz! That's all you need to say about that subject.
And finally, Jake Ballard and the giants were robbed of a TD in the Packers game. Instead of having a touchdown, the Giants had to settle for a field goal. Who knows how the game might have played out if the refs made the right call? Here is photo evidence of Ballard's knee being inbounds when it touched the ground:
The baseball world has gone completely insane in the past couple of weeks. The Yankees announced they want to cut payroll to $189 million by 2014 to avoid hefty luxury taxes and the Miami Marlins and Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim have gone insane and have shelled out over $400 million on four players. The Angels signed Albert Pujols and C.J. Wilson within hours of each other and the Marlins, who offered Pujols more money than the Angels did, signed Jose Reyes and Mark Buerhle. The Angels alone spent almost $400 million in new contracts for two players. Owner Arte Moreno only paid $186 million for the whole franchise when he bought the team years ago. I bet they will regret those contracts, each team and each contract beofre they are all half-done.
The Mets were right to let Jose Reyes leave. He last played a near full season in 2008 when he appeared in 159 games. He has appeared in 36, 133, and 126 games over the past three seasons. He is a big injury risk with his hamstrings seemingly giving out every other month. That money is best used elsewhere for the Mets who are obviously rebuilding. I don't know if they should trade David Wright right now but they would be foolish not to listen to offers and see what falls in their laps. I think Sandy Alderson stole from the Giants in the Angel Pagan trade. Great job by him getting back Ramon Ramirez and Andres Torres. Torres is essentially the same player as Pagan and Ramirez will be a useful arm out of the bullpen. Alderson also did well in signing Jon Rauch and Frank Francisco. At worst Alderson might be able to flip those two at the deadline for prospects.
The Yankees are staying true to their word so far this offseason and have not gotten involved with C.J. Wilson, Albert Pujols, Mark Buehrle, or anyone else because they deem the price tags too high. Both Pujols and Wilson's agents contacted the Yankees but were rebuffed. Yankees GM Brian Cashman feels that the pricetag is too high on Edwin Jackson as well and has not shown any interest. In a thin free agent market, Cashman is being wise not to overspend for questionable talent. He could jump in if the price tag comes down but right now it makes no sense. He is also offering $8 million to anyone who takes A.J. Burnett off of his hands. So, who will the Yankees feature in their rotation next season? After C.C. Sabathia there are nothing but question marks. Hughes has to show he can stay healthy and can get back to being the pitcher of the first half of 2010. Ivan Nova has to show that last season was not a fluke. Freddy Garcia has to prove last season was not an enigma as he wore down late last season. A.J. Burnett has to prove he can be an above replacement level pitcher, something he has not done in the past two years. Hector Noesi is doing well in Winter Ball but has a lot to prove. Can one of the young, highly touted prospects out of Manny Banuelos and Dellin Betances step up? Will Adam Warren, David Phelps, or D.J. Mitchell be this year's Ivan Nova? so many questions, few answers. It remains to be seen if the Yankees put a bid on Yu Darvish but if they win the bid adding him should at least give another choice to the multiple choice question.
The New York Rangers are one of the best teams I have seen wear the blue sweater in years. They play team hockey, have an outstanding goaltender in Henrik Lundqvist, and have improved their special teams play. They still make stupid penalties here and there and will need to improve in that area going forward but at least they are overcoming their deficiencies. Also, they are playing without their number one defenseman in Marc Staal and are watching Brandon Dubinsky go through a recession in production. All in all, though, the Rangers should be in contention until the end.
Victor Cruz! That's all you need to say about that subject.
And finally, Jake Ballard and the giants were robbed of a TD in the Packers game. Instead of having a touchdown, the Giants had to settle for a field goal. Who knows how the game might have played out if the refs made the right call? Here is photo evidence of Ballard's knee being inbounds when it touched the ground:
I promise to update the blog more often.
Tuesday, November 8, 2011
Yankees and Free Agency
The Yankees are entering this offseason without a lot of fanfare. There is no C.C. Sabathia (well, not since the Yankees re-signed him anyway), no Cliff Lee, and no Mark Teixeira. There is an Albert Pujols and Prince Fielder but the Yankees are not going to go after those two because they are set at first base. The general consensus is that Texas Rangers lefty C.J. Wilson is the best starter on the market. However, his October struggles this year might have scared a couple of teams away from offering him a big contract, including the Yankees. However, Wilson did go 16-7 with a 2.94 ERA with 206 strikeouts in 223.1 regular season innings. that stands in stark contrast to his postseason numbers of 0-3, 5.79 ERA, and 26 K's in 28 innings. He walked 19 batters in the postseason and gave up 6 homers after walking 74 and giving up 16 homers during the regular season. Which pitcher is Wilson? That is the question Yankees GM Brian Cashman needs to ask himself and find out an answer to. Is Wilson worth an offer similar to the one the Yankees offered Cliff Lee? No. Is he worth an offer similar to A.J. Burnett? Yes, I would say so. Surely Wilson is better than A.J. and better than John Lackey so he will get a bigger contract than those two. The question is, can Cashman afford to have Wilson, Sabathia, and Burnett on the same payroll? Not many teams would be able to. The Yankees can afford it but it hampers their long-term flexibility.
The Yankees need a number two starter. Ivan Nova certainly gave the Yankees a lot of hope down the stretch last season and they have to hope he continues to develop along those lines. However, young pitching can be very finicky as evidenced by Joba Chamberlain and Phil Hughes. Counting on young pitching is not something the Yankees can afford but will gladly take contributions from if available. Will Phil Hughes bounce back and resemble the guy who won 18 games only two seasons ago? Will Ivan Nova fall back to earth or will he continue to exceed expectations? Will A.J. Burnett contribute anything of value going forward or will he just be a newer version of Kevin Brown, Randy Johnson, Kenny Rogers, or Javier Vazquez? Will the Yankees roll the dice on guys like Freddy Garcia and Bartolo Colon again and hope they can contribute as they did last season? Surely Freddy Garcia deserves a new deal, nothing long term but something. There are so many questions surrounding the Yankees rotation for the second straight year. Cashman needs to find a solution. Wilson is the biggest name but is he the best solution?
Cashman has a couple of options entering the free agency period. He can avoid giving up a draft pick for someone like Wilson and bid to receive the services of Japanese ace Yu Darvish. There is a lot of talk about the Yankees past experiences with Japanese pitchers but Darvish is not Hideki Irabu or Kei Igawa. The Yankees admitted they didn't scout Igawa enough and reacted to the Red Sox signing of Daiske Matsuzaka. Darvish is only 25 years old and has pitched well in world tournaments like the World Baseball Classic. Sure, the history of Japanese pitchers having great success in the Major Leagues is not the best but it isn't devoid of success. Can Darvish buck the trend? Darvish is a high risk-high reward prospect, someone who can either be that top starter or someone who will remind the Yankees never to dabble in Japanese pitching ever again. Then again, nobody thought Japanese hitters could survive in the Majors and yet Ichiro is one his way to a Hall of Fame career and Hideki Matsui was the Yankees World Series MVP in 2009 so you can't judge one person based on the experiences of others. I would like to see the Yankees go after Darvish who I am willing to bet will be better than Igawa and Irabu. Most importantly, signing Darvish won't require the surrender of a draft pick. No matter what the Yankees do, if Darvish is posted they should make every attempt to get him. He might not be an ace but he might be good enough to hold down the fort while prospects like Dellin Betances and Manny Banuelos get more seasoning at AAA. Darvish also represents a safer option to C.J. Wilson because he is five years younger and has, at this stage, a more lively fastball.
Cashman has gone into this offseason preaching about being conservative. What this means exactly is anybody's guess. It could mean he will chase someone like Mark Buehrle, who has pitched his entire career in the American League and has shown he can shut down an opposing offense on any given day as evidenced by his perfect game. Buehrle has not pitched less than 200 innings since his rookie campaign in 2001 so health is not a huge concern. He is 32 years old so age and mileage might come into question if he is asking for a long term deal. However, he is a known commodity, one that will give your team a chance to win every time out. His career ERA sits at 3.83, not bad considering he played a majority of his career in the steroids era of the longball and big offense. He won 13 games last year for a horrible White Sox club and posted a 3.59 ERA and 1.30 WHIP while owning a 4.8 K/9, 2.0 BB/9 and .92 HR/9 and getting hitters to hit groundballs 44.9% of the time. Not terrible. On the surface Buehrle reminds me a lot of Andy Pettitte and, if he doesn't require a long term deal, could be just what the Yankees are looking for. He is no stranger to postseason play, having won a World Series with the White sox. His groundball numbers will not be a problem with the Yankees defense playing behind him so Buehrle could thrive in Yankee Stadium.
Right now the Yankees don't have much in the way of top prospects ready to contribute at the Major League level. Sure, Betances and Banuelos will be at AAA but they haven't exactly had much experience beyond a few starts at that level. Betaces got his feet wet this year and showed real promise but that is such a limited sample size you can't take anything away from that. Adam Warren and David Phelps are the two starters most ready for the majors but neither is projected as a top of the rotation starter. Granted, neither was Ivan Nova and look at what he gave the Yankees this year. However, do the Yankees want to enter the 2012 season with a rotation of Sabathia, Hughes, Garcia, Nova, and Burnett and Warren/Phelps battling amongst Garcia, Hughes, and Nova for a spot? Would the Yankees be better off with Sabathia, Buehrle, Nova, Hughes, and Burnett with Darvish/Warren/Phelps waiting in the minors to take over? Maybe Hughes goes to the bullpen and if he does that further complicates matters. Maybe the Yankees aren't planning on bringing A.J. along for the ride anymore. Maybe Cashman is comfortable using Warren and Phelps until Betances and Banuelos are ready. If I know the Yankees I think they will bring back Garcia, sign a pitcher or two amongst the Wilson, Darvish, and Buehrle group, maybe add another starter from among the second tier pitchers like Edwin Jackson for good measure, and hope that they have a surplus of pitching so that they can trade for any spare parts that pop up along the way while being able to retain top prospects like Jesus Montero, Banuelos, Betances, and Gary Sanchez. One thing is certain, the Yankees do not need much, if any help on the offensive side of the ball. This offseason should be all about stockpiling pitching because we have seen it is pitching that wins championships and having too much doesn't exist.
The Yankees need a number two starter. Ivan Nova certainly gave the Yankees a lot of hope down the stretch last season and they have to hope he continues to develop along those lines. However, young pitching can be very finicky as evidenced by Joba Chamberlain and Phil Hughes. Counting on young pitching is not something the Yankees can afford but will gladly take contributions from if available. Will Phil Hughes bounce back and resemble the guy who won 18 games only two seasons ago? Will Ivan Nova fall back to earth or will he continue to exceed expectations? Will A.J. Burnett contribute anything of value going forward or will he just be a newer version of Kevin Brown, Randy Johnson, Kenny Rogers, or Javier Vazquez? Will the Yankees roll the dice on guys like Freddy Garcia and Bartolo Colon again and hope they can contribute as they did last season? Surely Freddy Garcia deserves a new deal, nothing long term but something. There are so many questions surrounding the Yankees rotation for the second straight year. Cashman needs to find a solution. Wilson is the biggest name but is he the best solution?
Cashman has a couple of options entering the free agency period. He can avoid giving up a draft pick for someone like Wilson and bid to receive the services of Japanese ace Yu Darvish. There is a lot of talk about the Yankees past experiences with Japanese pitchers but Darvish is not Hideki Irabu or Kei Igawa. The Yankees admitted they didn't scout Igawa enough and reacted to the Red Sox signing of Daiske Matsuzaka. Darvish is only 25 years old and has pitched well in world tournaments like the World Baseball Classic. Sure, the history of Japanese pitchers having great success in the Major Leagues is not the best but it isn't devoid of success. Can Darvish buck the trend? Darvish is a high risk-high reward prospect, someone who can either be that top starter or someone who will remind the Yankees never to dabble in Japanese pitching ever again. Then again, nobody thought Japanese hitters could survive in the Majors and yet Ichiro is one his way to a Hall of Fame career and Hideki Matsui was the Yankees World Series MVP in 2009 so you can't judge one person based on the experiences of others. I would like to see the Yankees go after Darvish who I am willing to bet will be better than Igawa and Irabu. Most importantly, signing Darvish won't require the surrender of a draft pick. No matter what the Yankees do, if Darvish is posted they should make every attempt to get him. He might not be an ace but he might be good enough to hold down the fort while prospects like Dellin Betances and Manny Banuelos get more seasoning at AAA. Darvish also represents a safer option to C.J. Wilson because he is five years younger and has, at this stage, a more lively fastball.
Cashman has gone into this offseason preaching about being conservative. What this means exactly is anybody's guess. It could mean he will chase someone like Mark Buehrle, who has pitched his entire career in the American League and has shown he can shut down an opposing offense on any given day as evidenced by his perfect game. Buehrle has not pitched less than 200 innings since his rookie campaign in 2001 so health is not a huge concern. He is 32 years old so age and mileage might come into question if he is asking for a long term deal. However, he is a known commodity, one that will give your team a chance to win every time out. His career ERA sits at 3.83, not bad considering he played a majority of his career in the steroids era of the longball and big offense. He won 13 games last year for a horrible White Sox club and posted a 3.59 ERA and 1.30 WHIP while owning a 4.8 K/9, 2.0 BB/9 and .92 HR/9 and getting hitters to hit groundballs 44.9% of the time. Not terrible. On the surface Buehrle reminds me a lot of Andy Pettitte and, if he doesn't require a long term deal, could be just what the Yankees are looking for. He is no stranger to postseason play, having won a World Series with the White sox. His groundball numbers will not be a problem with the Yankees defense playing behind him so Buehrle could thrive in Yankee Stadium.
Right now the Yankees don't have much in the way of top prospects ready to contribute at the Major League level. Sure, Betances and Banuelos will be at AAA but they haven't exactly had much experience beyond a few starts at that level. Betaces got his feet wet this year and showed real promise but that is such a limited sample size you can't take anything away from that. Adam Warren and David Phelps are the two starters most ready for the majors but neither is projected as a top of the rotation starter. Granted, neither was Ivan Nova and look at what he gave the Yankees this year. However, do the Yankees want to enter the 2012 season with a rotation of Sabathia, Hughes, Garcia, Nova, and Burnett and Warren/Phelps battling amongst Garcia, Hughes, and Nova for a spot? Would the Yankees be better off with Sabathia, Buehrle, Nova, Hughes, and Burnett with Darvish/Warren/Phelps waiting in the minors to take over? Maybe Hughes goes to the bullpen and if he does that further complicates matters. Maybe the Yankees aren't planning on bringing A.J. along for the ride anymore. Maybe Cashman is comfortable using Warren and Phelps until Betances and Banuelos are ready. If I know the Yankees I think they will bring back Garcia, sign a pitcher or two amongst the Wilson, Darvish, and Buehrle group, maybe add another starter from among the second tier pitchers like Edwin Jackson for good measure, and hope that they have a surplus of pitching so that they can trade for any spare parts that pop up along the way while being able to retain top prospects like Jesus Montero, Banuelos, Betances, and Gary Sanchez. One thing is certain, the Yankees do not need much, if any help on the offensive side of the ball. This offseason should be all about stockpiling pitching because we have seen it is pitching that wins championships and having too much doesn't exist.
Monday, November 7, 2011
First and Goal
- I think Eli went a long way in quieting his critics with his come from behind win over Tom Brady and the Patriots this past Sunday. Eli now has the best 4th quarter quarterback rating in all of football. Not too bad for a guy who many Giants fans wanted to run out of town only a month ago.
- I don't think I have ever seen an implosion like the one that has been occurring in Boston since the beginning of September. Not only did they blow a huge lead but they blew up their team afterwards with GM Theo Epstein and Manager Terry Francona bolting from the franchise. Epstein is now in Chicago with the Cubs to tackle a bigger curse and Francona is free to take another managerial job elsewhere (Chicago?) or to get into broadcasting which he did pretty well in his limited use during the American League Playoffs. Boston now will be without John Lackey next season and is facing big free agent decisions on closer Jonathan Papelbon and DH David Ortiz. With all the tumult that is surrounding this team I can't envision big free agents rushing to Boston. Just ask Carl Crawford how that worked out last season.
- The New York Giants are facing the toughest schedule in all of football over the rest of the season. However, they currently hold a two game lead over the Cowboys for first place in the NFC East and bolstered their confidence by going into New England and beating the Patriots on their home turf, something no team has done since 2008 when Matt Cassell was the starting quarterback while Brady recovered from injury. Nobody expected the Giants to be where they are now at this point in the season, not after losing their best cornerback in Terrell Thomas and losing key players like Kevin Boss and Steve Smith and overhauling their offensive line over the condensed offseason. If the Giants can continue to play good football and force more turnovers than they give up they can be a Super Bowl contender. There are a lot of ifs and the Giants have been getting hit hard by the injury bug all season long but the chance is there and thats all a fan of any team ever asks for.
- The San Francisco Giants traded once top prospect to the Royals for Melky Cabrera.Sanchez struggled with his control this year but has very good stuff. IF the Royals can keep him healthy and Sanchez can find the strike zone the Royals might have a very good number two or three starter as they continue to introduce their young prospects to the Majors. The fact that Sanchez is still just 28 years old and helped carry the Giants to the 2010 World Series Championship represents a huge win for the Royals. Cabrera, although coming off of a career year, was made expendable by Lorenzo Cain who hit .312 at AAA this year and is a cheaper option for the Royals. Great job by the Royals. I have one mantra in baseball and that is never trade a possible impact arm for a fill-in bat.
- I don't understand how caddie Steve Williams' comments about Tiger Woods made global news. I don't believe there should be room for racism in sports but I also don't see how Williams' comment of wanting to "shove it up his [Wodds'] black arsehole" after winning a tournament with his new golfer was overtly racist. OK, so he mentioned the part-color of Woods' skin. Racially insensitive? Absolutely. Racist? No. I am sure Williams regrets those comments, something said in the heat of the moment in a relaxed atmosphere but I don't think the man is racist. I know he was a friend of Woods' through the many years he caddied for him and the two had a falling out after Williams left Woods following Tiger's sexual escapades and fall from the top in golf. One comment does not make a man racist. Silly, yes. I think the media is making way to much of this and should relax. Society has become so sensitive these days. Would there be any uproar if a black caddie had mentioned a white arsehole? Nope, probably not and rightfully so. Had Williams mentioned another golfer and said "white" in front of his statement people would have laughed and moved on.
- The New York Rangers look they are finding their stride. After a long and difficult road trip that saw them playing in Europe, then on Long Island, then on the West Coast, the Rangers returned home to the Garden and won 4 of 6 during that homestand giving them a 7-3-3 record in the teams first 13 games. Marian Gaborik seems to have found new life, Ryan Callahan continues to progress, Brad Richards is showing why he was the #1 free agent target of the off-season, and the Rangers have shown an ability to score on the power play as well, something that haunted them all of last season. And, they are still playing without Marc Staal, arguably their best defenseman. This team should only get better.
- It is looking like the Colts will be winners of the "Suck for Luck" sweepstakes. I can't see them discarding Peyton Manning and pinning their hopes on a rookie QB but I can see Andrew Luck sitting behind Peyton for a couple of years, like Aaron Rodgers did behind Brett Favre, and then taking the starting job. I can also see some team willing to give up three #1 picks to obtain the rights to Luck. Either way the Colts are sitting pretty.
- Does anyone really notice there is no NBA right now? I mean seriously? Football, on both the collegiate and pro levels has been phenomenal and even the NHL has been enjoying a slight resurgence. Personally, I'll wait for college basketball as the pro game has lost all credibility with me. First its refs fixing games, then its stars getting calls despite the lack of fouls, now its a lack of agreement on financials between owners and players. The NBA didn't learn a thing from the NFL lockout and probably won't. So long, NBA, who cared to begin with?
- I don't think I have ever seen an implosion like the one that has been occurring in Boston since the beginning of September. Not only did they blow a huge lead but they blew up their team afterwards with GM Theo Epstein and Manager Terry Francona bolting from the franchise. Epstein is now in Chicago with the Cubs to tackle a bigger curse and Francona is free to take another managerial job elsewhere (Chicago?) or to get into broadcasting which he did pretty well in his limited use during the American League Playoffs. Boston now will be without John Lackey next season and is facing big free agent decisions on closer Jonathan Papelbon and DH David Ortiz. With all the tumult that is surrounding this team I can't envision big free agents rushing to Boston. Just ask Carl Crawford how that worked out last season.
- The New York Giants are facing the toughest schedule in all of football over the rest of the season. However, they currently hold a two game lead over the Cowboys for first place in the NFC East and bolstered their confidence by going into New England and beating the Patriots on their home turf, something no team has done since 2008 when Matt Cassell was the starting quarterback while Brady recovered from injury. Nobody expected the Giants to be where they are now at this point in the season, not after losing their best cornerback in Terrell Thomas and losing key players like Kevin Boss and Steve Smith and overhauling their offensive line over the condensed offseason. If the Giants can continue to play good football and force more turnovers than they give up they can be a Super Bowl contender. There are a lot of ifs and the Giants have been getting hit hard by the injury bug all season long but the chance is there and thats all a fan of any team ever asks for.
- The San Francisco Giants traded once top prospect to the Royals for Melky Cabrera.Sanchez struggled with his control this year but has very good stuff. IF the Royals can keep him healthy and Sanchez can find the strike zone the Royals might have a very good number two or three starter as they continue to introduce their young prospects to the Majors. The fact that Sanchez is still just 28 years old and helped carry the Giants to the 2010 World Series Championship represents a huge win for the Royals. Cabrera, although coming off of a career year, was made expendable by Lorenzo Cain who hit .312 at AAA this year and is a cheaper option for the Royals. Great job by the Royals. I have one mantra in baseball and that is never trade a possible impact arm for a fill-in bat.
- I don't understand how caddie Steve Williams' comments about Tiger Woods made global news. I don't believe there should be room for racism in sports but I also don't see how Williams' comment of wanting to "shove it up his [Wodds'] black arsehole" after winning a tournament with his new golfer was overtly racist. OK, so he mentioned the part-color of Woods' skin. Racially insensitive? Absolutely. Racist? No. I am sure Williams regrets those comments, something said in the heat of the moment in a relaxed atmosphere but I don't think the man is racist. I know he was a friend of Woods' through the many years he caddied for him and the two had a falling out after Williams left Woods following Tiger's sexual escapades and fall from the top in golf. One comment does not make a man racist. Silly, yes. I think the media is making way to much of this and should relax. Society has become so sensitive these days. Would there be any uproar if a black caddie had mentioned a white arsehole? Nope, probably not and rightfully so. Had Williams mentioned another golfer and said "white" in front of his statement people would have laughed and moved on.
- The New York Rangers look they are finding their stride. After a long and difficult road trip that saw them playing in Europe, then on Long Island, then on the West Coast, the Rangers returned home to the Garden and won 4 of 6 during that homestand giving them a 7-3-3 record in the teams first 13 games. Marian Gaborik seems to have found new life, Ryan Callahan continues to progress, Brad Richards is showing why he was the #1 free agent target of the off-season, and the Rangers have shown an ability to score on the power play as well, something that haunted them all of last season. And, they are still playing without Marc Staal, arguably their best defenseman. This team should only get better.
- It is looking like the Colts will be winners of the "Suck for Luck" sweepstakes. I can't see them discarding Peyton Manning and pinning their hopes on a rookie QB but I can see Andrew Luck sitting behind Peyton for a couple of years, like Aaron Rodgers did behind Brett Favre, and then taking the starting job. I can also see some team willing to give up three #1 picks to obtain the rights to Luck. Either way the Colts are sitting pretty.
- Does anyone really notice there is no NBA right now? I mean seriously? Football, on both the collegiate and pro levels has been phenomenal and even the NHL has been enjoying a slight resurgence. Personally, I'll wait for college basketball as the pro game has lost all credibility with me. First its refs fixing games, then its stars getting calls despite the lack of fouls, now its a lack of agreement on financials between owners and players. The NBA didn't learn a thing from the NFL lockout and probably won't. So long, NBA, who cared to begin with?
Friday, October 7, 2011
Bring on the Offseason
The Yankees season is officially over. It still hurts a little to say that but that's what happens when you load the bases twice in a game with one out and fail to score one run. Now, it is time to look forward to next year, if we can do that already. The free agency picture isn't completely clear right now because there are a lot of guys with options and a few with opt out clauses. However, we know the Yankees will have to be busy this winter because some of those options and opt-outs are currently on the roster.
Right now, the Yankees hold options on Robinson Cano and Nick Swisher. Cano is a no-brainer but I'm not so sure about Swisher. Sure, Swisher hits well enough in the regular season but his post-season numbers are atrocious. He has hit .169 in 5 ALDS series, 3 ALCS, and 1 World Series. .169! This past ALDS he hit .211 for the Yankees with 1 homer and 1 RBI. He doesn't do anything particularly well, hitting between 20-30 homers but has hit over 30 (35) only once and that was in 2006. He isn't worth the $10 million that the Yankees will have to pay him if they pick up his option. Sorry, Swisher, but your days of saluting in right field at Yankee Stadium are over.
C.C. Sabathia can opt out of his contract and elect for free agency. I see him opting out but I don't know if the Yankees will let him walk away. Yes, his conditioning is a major issue. I don't think I've ever seen a pitcher add weight during the season since David Wells and it looks like Sabathia ate all of Wells' portions on top of his own. Sabathia made three appearances in this ALDS and gave up at least one run in every single appearance. Not good. Sabathia needs to learn about how to get fit. Imagine what he could do if he stayed in shape?
Jorge Posada's Yankee career is over. There is no reason to get nostalgic over a 40-year old DH who had a great ALDS this year. It seemed as if Posada was always starting or always in the middle of a rally. He will be missed, as all Yankee legends are, but it is time for the Yankees to bring Jesus Montero up and give him a shot. Montero is younger and is probably a much bigger offensive threat at this point. The time has come to let the next generation of Yankee stars show what they can do.
As for the Yankee rotation, well let's just say there is no sure thing in this rotation at all. Sabathia can opt out. Burnett is a disaster, ALDS start included. Nova had a great year but he hasn't shown he can do this year and year out. Phil Hughes was a complete mystery this year. Bartolo Colon is probably done, his fighting with C.C. over post-game spreads won't be tolerated and the Yankees really don't want to bring back a 40-year old pitcher with health issues. They were lucky this season and shouldn't roll the dice on him again. Freddy Garcia pitched very well and was probably the Yankees most consistent starter all year long. The Yankees wouldn't be going out on a limb to give him a one or two-year deal and see what he can do.
I would expect the Yankees to target at least one starting pitcher this offseason even if Sabathia opts out and re-signs. C.J. Wilson, a lefty who has done nothing but win the last two years is probably going to get the phone call from GM Brian Cashman, who the Yankees also need to re-sign. After Wilson the talent level drops off, depending on options and opt-outs. Mark Buehrle of the White Sox has hinted at retirement but is still 33 years-old and has the ability to shut down opponents. He might get a courtesy call this winter from the Yankees as well.
Right now, none of the Yankees top pitching prospects are ready for the Majors. Adam Warren and David Phelps might be the closest but they are middle of the road prospects, not like Manny Banuelos and Dellin Betances who projects as top two starters. Maybe the Yankees see what Warren can do, Nova, after all wasn't a top prospect either but he learned how to pitch. Either way I expect the Yankees to give one of Warren and Phelps a shot and for them to sign at least one other starter (Wilson) to go with Sabathia and Burnett and Nova. Phil Hughes will remain a question mark for the time being because of whatever arm issues he was dealing with. He pitched very well out of the pen and the Yankees could use him there. Having a bullpen that has Joba Chamberlain, Rafael Soriano, Phil Hughes, Boone Logan, David Robertson, Luis Ayala, Cory Wade, and Mariano Rivera in the mix is something to hang your hat on. Whomever doesn't make the team in Spring Training out of the Hughes, Wade, Ayala group could be used in a trade.
As for the offense, well there are a lot of question marks here even with Curtis Granderson, Brett Gardner, Mark Teixeira, Derek Jeter, and Alex Rodriguez being penciled in. A-Rod was not the same player he was before all of the injuries sapped him of his ability to hit. The Yankees might consider using him at DH more next year to keep him fresh. Eduardo Nunez was terrible in the field but was pretty good offensively and on the base paths. He could continue to spell A-Rod at third while he DH's. Another option might be to have A-Rod see what right field is like. Certainly he has the speed to cover ground out there and the wear and tear is nothing like it is at third. If A-Rod wants to show he is all about the team he should volunteer to take some fly balls out there. You never know, he could save his career out there. Jesus Montero showed what he was capable of and the Yankees will have to find a way to get his young, explosive bat into the lineup. He could be the backup catcher when he isn't DHing and should show the world why it was smart for the Yankees not to trade him. He is certainly better than Francisco Cervelli on both ends of the plate and it only makes sense for the Yankees to do this. If A-Rod DH's more than Montero can spell Martin behind the plate more often. The fact is the Yankees need to get his bat into this lineup. As for Swisher, he should not be brought back, as mentioned before. The Yankees would save themselves a lot of money and heartache in the postseason. Replacements for him aren't clear yet. I think the Yankees might kick the tires on Grady Sizemore or Jason Kubel. Sizemore has an injury history longer than Carl Pavano's, ok maybe not that bad, but this once promising player has seen his career go awry because he can't stay healthy. He is still only 29 or so and can be an upgrade over Swisher in right field if healthy. If the Yankees were willing to gamble on Colon, why not Sizemore who is younger? As for a utility guy I am a fan of bringing in Mark DeRosa who is a free agent. He can play anywhere on the field and has a .358 career postseason average. He is up there in age (37 next year) but can still hit, he hit .279 this season for San Francisco in a limited role and has shown his bat has some pop. He is also a Yankee fan who attended Bergen Catholic and he might be so excited to be a Yankee he surprises people. at worst you get a guy who plays solid defense everywhere he plays and will slap singles all over the field. He won't be expensive at all and has dreamed of being a Yankee since he was young. The Yankees need a guy like this who understands his role, has won a World Series and has performed in the postseason on a consistently great level.
The Yankees are in for a busy off-season. The first step is getting a GM in place, whether it is Cashman or a replacement. Then, bring in a starting pitcher, re-sign C.C., exercise option on Cano, hope Soriano opts out of his contract, stay away from ANY relievers in free agency, and find a new right fielder. It should be interesting to say the least.
Right now, the Yankees hold options on Robinson Cano and Nick Swisher. Cano is a no-brainer but I'm not so sure about Swisher. Sure, Swisher hits well enough in the regular season but his post-season numbers are atrocious. He has hit .169 in 5 ALDS series, 3 ALCS, and 1 World Series. .169! This past ALDS he hit .211 for the Yankees with 1 homer and 1 RBI. He doesn't do anything particularly well, hitting between 20-30 homers but has hit over 30 (35) only once and that was in 2006. He isn't worth the $10 million that the Yankees will have to pay him if they pick up his option. Sorry, Swisher, but your days of saluting in right field at Yankee Stadium are over.
C.C. Sabathia can opt out of his contract and elect for free agency. I see him opting out but I don't know if the Yankees will let him walk away. Yes, his conditioning is a major issue. I don't think I've ever seen a pitcher add weight during the season since David Wells and it looks like Sabathia ate all of Wells' portions on top of his own. Sabathia made three appearances in this ALDS and gave up at least one run in every single appearance. Not good. Sabathia needs to learn about how to get fit. Imagine what he could do if he stayed in shape?
Jorge Posada's Yankee career is over. There is no reason to get nostalgic over a 40-year old DH who had a great ALDS this year. It seemed as if Posada was always starting or always in the middle of a rally. He will be missed, as all Yankee legends are, but it is time for the Yankees to bring Jesus Montero up and give him a shot. Montero is younger and is probably a much bigger offensive threat at this point. The time has come to let the next generation of Yankee stars show what they can do.
As for the Yankee rotation, well let's just say there is no sure thing in this rotation at all. Sabathia can opt out. Burnett is a disaster, ALDS start included. Nova had a great year but he hasn't shown he can do this year and year out. Phil Hughes was a complete mystery this year. Bartolo Colon is probably done, his fighting with C.C. over post-game spreads won't be tolerated and the Yankees really don't want to bring back a 40-year old pitcher with health issues. They were lucky this season and shouldn't roll the dice on him again. Freddy Garcia pitched very well and was probably the Yankees most consistent starter all year long. The Yankees wouldn't be going out on a limb to give him a one or two-year deal and see what he can do.
I would expect the Yankees to target at least one starting pitcher this offseason even if Sabathia opts out and re-signs. C.J. Wilson, a lefty who has done nothing but win the last two years is probably going to get the phone call from GM Brian Cashman, who the Yankees also need to re-sign. After Wilson the talent level drops off, depending on options and opt-outs. Mark Buehrle of the White Sox has hinted at retirement but is still 33 years-old and has the ability to shut down opponents. He might get a courtesy call this winter from the Yankees as well.
Right now, none of the Yankees top pitching prospects are ready for the Majors. Adam Warren and David Phelps might be the closest but they are middle of the road prospects, not like Manny Banuelos and Dellin Betances who projects as top two starters. Maybe the Yankees see what Warren can do, Nova, after all wasn't a top prospect either but he learned how to pitch. Either way I expect the Yankees to give one of Warren and Phelps a shot and for them to sign at least one other starter (Wilson) to go with Sabathia and Burnett and Nova. Phil Hughes will remain a question mark for the time being because of whatever arm issues he was dealing with. He pitched very well out of the pen and the Yankees could use him there. Having a bullpen that has Joba Chamberlain, Rafael Soriano, Phil Hughes, Boone Logan, David Robertson, Luis Ayala, Cory Wade, and Mariano Rivera in the mix is something to hang your hat on. Whomever doesn't make the team in Spring Training out of the Hughes, Wade, Ayala group could be used in a trade.
As for the offense, well there are a lot of question marks here even with Curtis Granderson, Brett Gardner, Mark Teixeira, Derek Jeter, and Alex Rodriguez being penciled in. A-Rod was not the same player he was before all of the injuries sapped him of his ability to hit. The Yankees might consider using him at DH more next year to keep him fresh. Eduardo Nunez was terrible in the field but was pretty good offensively and on the base paths. He could continue to spell A-Rod at third while he DH's. Another option might be to have A-Rod see what right field is like. Certainly he has the speed to cover ground out there and the wear and tear is nothing like it is at third. If A-Rod wants to show he is all about the team he should volunteer to take some fly balls out there. You never know, he could save his career out there. Jesus Montero showed what he was capable of and the Yankees will have to find a way to get his young, explosive bat into the lineup. He could be the backup catcher when he isn't DHing and should show the world why it was smart for the Yankees not to trade him. He is certainly better than Francisco Cervelli on both ends of the plate and it only makes sense for the Yankees to do this. If A-Rod DH's more than Montero can spell Martin behind the plate more often. The fact is the Yankees need to get his bat into this lineup. As for Swisher, he should not be brought back, as mentioned before. The Yankees would save themselves a lot of money and heartache in the postseason. Replacements for him aren't clear yet. I think the Yankees might kick the tires on Grady Sizemore or Jason Kubel. Sizemore has an injury history longer than Carl Pavano's, ok maybe not that bad, but this once promising player has seen his career go awry because he can't stay healthy. He is still only 29 or so and can be an upgrade over Swisher in right field if healthy. If the Yankees were willing to gamble on Colon, why not Sizemore who is younger? As for a utility guy I am a fan of bringing in Mark DeRosa who is a free agent. He can play anywhere on the field and has a .358 career postseason average. He is up there in age (37 next year) but can still hit, he hit .279 this season for San Francisco in a limited role and has shown his bat has some pop. He is also a Yankee fan who attended Bergen Catholic and he might be so excited to be a Yankee he surprises people. at worst you get a guy who plays solid defense everywhere he plays and will slap singles all over the field. He won't be expensive at all and has dreamed of being a Yankee since he was young. The Yankees need a guy like this who understands his role, has won a World Series and has performed in the postseason on a consistently great level.
The Yankees are in for a busy off-season. The first step is getting a GM in place, whether it is Cashman or a replacement. Then, bring in a starting pitcher, re-sign C.C., exercise option on Cano, hope Soriano opts out of his contract, stay away from ANY relievers in free agency, and find a new right fielder. It should be interesting to say the least.
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