A bunch of details of the new labor detail were released earlier this week. And as someone who's on the record as a hater of all things CBA-related, I have to say that I'm liking a lot of the stuff I read about these new changes. It's nothing earth-shattering, but many of the changes are very simple, very reasonable, and stand to make the game better. If simple, basic logic was used like this all the time when making decisions about the game, I could probably get into the business side of baseball. For example:
- Instant Replay: Expansion to cover fair/foul calls, trapped catches, and fan interference (still needs to be approved by the umpires).
It's about damn time. Baseball has been and is the furthest behind the times of the 4 major sports when it comes to replay, and it seems like the more replay has been talked about over the past couple seasons the more we've seen plays happen where the right call could have been made if umpires could check the replay. Adding these situations as reviewable plays by replay is a big step forward in closing the gap and should help to ensure that it's the play on the field that determines the winner and not the umps.
- All-Star Break: Changed from 3 days to 4, with the option of moving the HR Derby back from Monday to Tuesday and the ASG from Tuesday to Wednesday.
Makes perfect sense to me. I mean, 3 days is hardly a break. That's just a long weekend in my book. Now everybody gets a little more time to rest, a little more time to see their families, and a little extra time to travel to wherever the ASG is being held. If this doesn't help bring a little more star power and relevancy back to the ASG, nothing will. Now if only they could agree to shrink the rosters back down so we aren't stuck watching the Watered Down Pool of Very Good Players Game every year, that would be something.
- Game Schedules: Re-alignment to six 5-team divisions, with each team playing 17 or 18 games against each divisional opponent and no more than 20 interleague games per team.
Another very simple, logical decision. Houston moves to the AL, all the divisions are finally balanced, and facing divisional opponents is still the most important part of a team's schedule. I'm a firm believer that the shtick of interleague play has long worn off, so the fewer interleague games the better in my book. Just keep it to the geographic and historical rivalries and let that be that.
- Scoring Decisions: A ban on players a/o coaches asking official scorers to change decisions. Instead, a formal appeal must be sent to MLB with video evidence.
No more home cooking from the stadium scorers. If you think you deserve a hit or an RBI, prove it and let the governing body make a decision. Nothing wrong with that. The less I have to see clips of David Ortiz barging into postgame press conferences to whine to his manager about a scoring play, the happier I'll be.
- Uniform Number Changes: Players must inform MLB 8 months in advance if they want to switch their uniform number while still on the same team, or be willing to buy up all the merchandise that has the current number.
This is the Chad Ochocinco Rule, right? I have to admit that I haven't heard of any situation where a baseball player has caused a merchandise-related issue by switching numbers mid-season, but in case anybody was thinking about it, now there's a rule for it. This should come in handy for the guys who get stuck with crummy numbers in the 60s and 70s when they first come up and want to switch to "real" number.
- Playoff Matchups: Teams from the same division can now face each other in the Wild Card round.
Duh. This is one that never made any sense to me. Record should determine playoff seeding, simple as that. But that goes out the window in baseball if the two teams that would match up based on record are from the same division? Why? What does it matter if they play in the Wild Card Round or League Championship? Truth be told, I'd rather see the Yankees playing the Rays in the first round as opposed to the ALCS. Get it out of the way early. Now that can happen.
- Tattoos: No tats allowed showing corporate logos.
Again, I didn't realize that this was such a potential epidemic amongst the players. But if Robbie Cano was thinking of treating himself to a big old CM Punk-style Pepsi tattoo on his forearm some time in 2014, he's going to have to think again. And really, MLB and the teams already do enough to pimp themselves out to corporate sponsors. The players were really the only thing left that wasn't being used to sell ad space.
- 40-Man Roster Perks: Everybody on the 40-man during Spring Training gets his own room.
Can you just see the Triple-A guys on the 40-man who are only there as emergency injury backups high fiving each other when they get to sunny Tampa? My own room?!?! NICE!! It's a little thing, but as somebody who despised having roommates I can see why this would be important to a player. You're a grown man working at your profession. You don't need to feel like you're at freshman orientation weekend in college.
It's not quite enough to make up for shafting the Yankees out of their monetary advantages, but if these changes help improve the product on the field as I expect them to, then I'm happy with them. Of course, this is just one man's opinion. What say you, Yankee faithful?
Thursday, December 15, 2011
Bidding Closed On Darvish
And all indications point to him wearing a uniform other than the Yankees pinstripes in 2012. David Waldstein reported last night that the deal was "not huge" and was only submitted in the final few hours before the 5PM deadline, and Jon Heyman called the Yankees' bid "modest" while saying the winning bid was "sky-high."
My guess? With the latest contract rumors for Darvish starting at 5 years/$75 million and the Yankees likely wanting to keep their total spent on Darvish below $100 mil, I think they probably bid somewhere between $20-25 million to keep themselves at the 100 mil ceiling. With some estimates on the winning bid being in the $40-50 mil range, there isn't much chance the Yankee bid will be the winner. Smart money would be on the Rangers. After losing Wilson they have the biggest need for a high-end starter.
To scout a guy who fits your rotational needs for 3 years and then submit a low bid in the final hours of his posting period is not the typical Yankee way of going after a target. This fiscally responsible, cost cutting initiative is starting to look more and more real each day.
My guess? With the latest contract rumors for Darvish starting at 5 years/$75 million and the Yankees likely wanting to keep their total spent on Darvish below $100 mil, I think they probably bid somewhere between $20-25 million to keep themselves at the 100 mil ceiling. With some estimates on the winning bid being in the $40-50 mil range, there isn't much chance the Yankee bid will be the winner. Smart money would be on the Rangers. After losing Wilson they have the biggest need for a high-end starter.
To scout a guy who fits your rotational needs for 3 years and then submit a low bid in the final hours of his posting period is not the typical Yankee way of going after a target. This fiscally responsible, cost cutting initiative is starting to look more and more real each day.
Wednesday, December 14, 2011
No Rush To Re-Sign Russell Martin
(Courtesy of Getty Images)
Russell Martin is all but guaranteed to be a Yankee in 2012 after he was among the group of players to whom the Yankees tendered contracts on Monday. He was almost a steal for $4 mil this past season, rebounding from his injury problems to put up a .237/.324/.408 tripleslash, .325 wOBA, and 3.1 WAR in 125 games and finally putting an end to the Jorge Posada Catching Era. And while his contract this year will be for more money, Martin is still going to be a bargain for the Yankees in 2012. Already, though, there is chatter starting to leak out about extending Martin beyond this upcoming season, to which I must say "shhh."
There is no reason to even entertain any thought of signing Martin to a multi-year deal right now. Yes, he's a solid all-around catcher still on the good side of age 30, but let's not forget that he's also just one year removed from being non-tendered by his former team thanks to his constant injuries and nosediving production. 2011 was a step in the right direction for him, but was still just one step. Before we start talking about guaranteeing more years and more money to Martin, shouldn't we wait to see how he does in 2012? Make sure that 2011 was not just a blip on the downtrend radar? This is where his one-year status works to the Yankees' advantage. It gives them another chance to assess his performance and health over a whole season and make an informed decision on where they'd like to go with him in the future.
The other benefit that Martin's one-year situation gives the Yankees is an in-house backup plan to any plans they might have to break in Jesus Montero and Austin Romine behind the plate. There are questions about whether either of those 2 can be full-time catchers at the Major League level, and 2012 should be the time for them to show what they can or can't do. If the Yankees decide Jesus or Romine can handle the job full time in 2013, then they aren't tied to Martin for more years and more money as a backup. They can let him go and move on smoothly. If the young'ns can't hack it, the Yankees have Martin right there available to re-sign, and after another year of seeing how he holds up. He might cost a bit more at that point, but it's money that the team can be more confident in spending.
The situation with Russell Martin is a win-win for the Yankees any way you look at right now. He provides stability and flexibility at the same time, and to extend his contract now would take that away. Cash has been big on preaching patience the last few years and that's exactly what the Yankees need to be in handling Martin. Patient. Let him go out in 2012 and earn that new contract.
Get Me Lou Piniella On Color Commentary, STAT!!
I missed it yesterday, but this story from The Daily News about Lou returning to the Yankees in 2012 as a ST instructor and YES commentator might very well be the best acquisition the Yanks have made this offseason. It also is the latest reason for me to curse myself for ever moving out to Wisconsin and missing out on the convenience of having the YES Network any time I wanted it.
The stable of YES guys is already pretty strong. I like O'Neill, I like Flaherty, I like Leiter, and I LOVE me some David Cone. Adding Sweet Lou to that mix is like including that one last ingredient on Chopped that brings all the flavor profiles together. He'll be the managerial yin to the other guys' yangs (gross) in terms of breaking down a game, he might be able to provide a little insight into what Joe is thinking when he makes some of his bizarre bullpen decisions, and he's still Lou Piniella. He's a crazy old guy who's likely to still have some of that old fire in his belly. I can't wait to hear him the first time he gets fired up about a bad play or bad call. It'd be like watching a game with your crazy uncle.
I also wouldn't mind seeing him pull one of these on Michael Kay in the booth the first time they disagree on something:
The stable of YES guys is already pretty strong. I like O'Neill, I like Flaherty, I like Leiter, and I LOVE me some David Cone. Adding Sweet Lou to that mix is like including that one last ingredient on Chopped that brings all the flavor profiles together. He'll be the managerial yin to the other guys' yangs (gross) in terms of breaking down a game, he might be able to provide a little insight into what Joe is thinking when he makes some of his bizarre bullpen decisions, and he's still Lou Piniella. He's a crazy old guy who's likely to still have some of that old fire in his belly. I can't wait to hear him the first time he gets fired up about a bad play or bad call. It'd be like watching a game with your crazy uncle.
I also wouldn't mind seeing him pull one of these on Michael Kay in the booth the first time they disagree on something:
Tuesday, December 13, 2011
Derek Jeter Is A Pimp In Every Sense Of The Word
"Yankee star Derek Jeter, one of New York’s most eligible hunks since his split with longtime gal pal Minka Kelly, is bedding a bevy of beauties in his Trump World Tower bachelor pad — and then coldly sending them home alone with gift baskets of autographed memorabilia....
'Derek has girls stay with him at his apartment in New York, and then he gets them a car to take them home the next day. Waiting in his car is a gift basket containing signed Jeter memorabilia, usually a signed baseball,' the friend dished." (courtesy of The Post)
This story is going around all over the sports blogosphere today, mainly with a negative spin to it, and I just don't get it. How is this supposed to be a bad thing? To me this is just Jeter playing chess in the booty-getting game once again while the rest of us regular guys are playing checkers.
Consider. Derek Jeter has established the all-time greatest list of celebrity conquests in the history of human existence. No everyday chick can bring to the table what some of his previous ladies can, and they know it. More importantly, he knows it. But he knows it's a big deal for them to get to meet, hang out with, and bang him. I mean, he is the guy who did this:
And he's a 5-time world champion, and he's a member of the 3,000 Hit Club, and he's still pretty damn hot. So what does he do? He treats them to a wonderful evening out on the town, takes 'em back to his place (discreetly, of course), shows 'em The Captain, takes care of business, and then sends them home with a little memento. It makes them feel more special and not just like another notch on Jeter's belt and also serves as proof for them when they tell their friends that they hooked up with Derek Jeter. It's genius.
This is the smoothest move I've seen since I decided to skip the tie at senior prom and rocked a badass button stud instead. It's just Jeter being Jeter and if you expected anything different you're either a moron or you're jealous. Now hit the fucking music.
'Derek has girls stay with him at his apartment in New York, and then he gets them a car to take them home the next day. Waiting in his car is a gift basket containing signed Jeter memorabilia, usually a signed baseball,' the friend dished." (courtesy of The Post)
This story is going around all over the sports blogosphere today, mainly with a negative spin to it, and I just don't get it. How is this supposed to be a bad thing? To me this is just Jeter playing chess in the booty-getting game once again while the rest of us regular guys are playing checkers.
Consider. Derek Jeter has established the all-time greatest list of celebrity conquests in the history of human existence. No everyday chick can bring to the table what some of his previous ladies can, and they know it. More importantly, he knows it. But he knows it's a big deal for them to get to meet, hang out with, and bang him. I mean, he is the guy who did this:
And he's a 5-time world champion, and he's a member of the 3,000 Hit Club, and he's still pretty damn hot. So what does he do? He treats them to a wonderful evening out on the town, takes 'em back to his place (discreetly, of course), shows 'em The Captain, takes care of business, and then sends them home with a little memento. It makes them feel more special and not just like another notch on Jeter's belt and also serves as proof for them when they tell their friends that they hooked up with Derek Jeter. It's genius.
This is the smoothest move I've seen since I decided to skip the tie at senior prom and rocked a badass button stud instead. It's just Jeter being Jeter and if you expected anything different you're either a moron or you're jealous. Now hit the fucking music.
Maximizing A-Rod In 2012 And Beyond
(The A-Horse swingeth)
After his fourth straight season of injury problems and declining production, this year's batch of injuries preventing him from even playing in 100 games, it appears that Alex Rodriguez is now moving towards the twilight of his career. Unfortunately for the Yankees, that transition is going to be a long one as he still has 6 years and $143 million left on the contract he signed after the 2007 season. Looking at the downward trend in his production and the upward trend in DL time over the past four seasons, we could be in for some ugliness before the sun finally sets on The Horse's baseball career. Knowing that, it makes sense to re-evaluate expectations for A-Rod moving forward and consider a more conservative approach to managing him as he declines in the interest of keeping him healthy. EJ started to touch on this point yesterday with his idea that A-Rod's health is what drives his production, and I want to take it a step further. Starting this year and moving forward, the Yankees need to focus on keeping Alex healthy and need to manage him in a way that allows him to stay healthy.
Since his 2007 MVP season, A-Rod has averaged just 124.5 Games Played and 538 PA per season over the past four thanks to his various injuries, and has seen his elite-level production fall as well. When he's healthy and on the field there's no doubt that The Horse can still produce at a high level, as evidenced by his April and June months in 2011 when he put up OPS values in the high .900s-low 1.000s and wOBA values in the low .420s. But once he starts getting banged up, that production suffers, both as a result of him modifying his approach and swing to compensate for his injuries and then due to the large chunks of time spent on the DL when the injuries become too much. The projections for 2012 all create a similar expectation for him to miss significant time next season and for his production to continue to suffer as a result:
- 2012 ZiPS: .264/.350/.474, 115 OPS+, 108 G, 456 PA
- 2012 CAIRO: .273/.363/.474, .351 wOBA, 106 G, 459 PA
- 2012 Bill James: .277/.373/.497, .376 wOBA, 134 G, 579 PA
Once again this year we are being treated to reports on A-Rod's new offseason workout program that will keep him healthy and productive. But at age 36 it would be unreasonable for us or the Yankees to expect a healthy full season from A-Rod in 2012 regardless of what that workout plan is, especially if he continues to be used the way he has over the past four seasons. Joe has finally started to make a conscious effort to give A-Rod more time at DH in order to keep him healthy, but that approach has usually come after A-Rod has already been hurt. This upcoming season should be the first where regular DH time and scheduled off days becomes a staple of his playing schedule. Implementing a strict plan that guarantees Rodriguez regular DH time and regular rest from Day 1 should help lessen the wear and tear his body accumulates through the 162-game season and keep him producing at a high level.
You Know You're A Diehard Yankee Fan When...
(My new night light)
A guy you work with out in Milwaukee, who doesn't even read the blog, steals a neon Yankee light from his buddy's bar to give to you because he remembers that you like the Yankees. It's old, it's dusty as hell, and there are probably spider eggs hatching out of it and hundreds of baby spiders crawling all over my apartment right now, but that's still fucking sweet.
I guess blowing off all my friends and social life during the playoffs to scream at the TV and jot down game notes is finally starting to pay off. And I thought there were no perks to being a blogger.
Monday, December 12, 2011
Yankees Try A Little Tenderness
The Yankees announced today that they plan to tender contracts to all 6 of their arbitration-eligible players: Brett Gardner, Phil Hughes, Joba Chamberlain, Boone Logan, Russell Martin, and Dave Robertson.
Wait, so the Yankees actually wanted to bring back their starting catcher, starting leftfielder, setup man, LOOGY, late-inning bullpen guy, and 1/5th of their current starting rotation, all guys who are under the age of 29, come at team-friendly prices, and produce at above-average, sometimes All Star-caliber levels? NO FUCKING WAY!! That's madness.
Wait, so the Yankees actually wanted to bring back their starting catcher, starting leftfielder, setup man, LOOGY, late-inning bullpen guy, and 1/5th of their current starting rotation, all guys who are under the age of 29, come at team-friendly prices, and produce at above-average, sometimes All Star-caliber levels? NO FUCKING WAY!! That's madness.
Do You Want Yu?
That's probably the question the top Yankee officials have been asking themselves since late last week. The reports of the Yankees' involvement in the Yu Darvish sweepstakes had quieted down some during the Winter Meetings, and since the Meetings ended and the Darvish posting was officially announced late last week the talks have gotten even quieter. So with a little over 2 days until the posting period ends, the biggest question right now is whether or not the Yankees are going to make a serious offer for Darvish.
On the one hand they've got what essentially adds up to a rookie or 2nd-year pitcher age-wise (25) who already has plenty of experience against the top level of competition available to him and plenty of innings built up on his young arm. He's got an array of above-average pitches that he commands very well, a mastery of his delivery and mechanics well beyond what many current Major Leaguers possess, and is currently the top free agent option available to help the Yankees accomplish Cash's stated offseason goal of improving the starting rotation. On the other they've got the big commitment in terms of money (likely somewhere at or over $100 million between the posting fee and contract) and years that it will take to get this pitcher, the uncertainty of how the transition will go to the Majors, and a seemingly serious goal of the team to cut payroll to get under $189 million by 2014.
So what's more important? Curtailing the spending to start getting the payroll closer to that $189 million line and go with the current rotation (CC, Nova, A.J., Phil, Freddy, Noesi) or be aggressive on a pitcher with the potential to be a #1-#2-type? Right now the Yankees seem to be leaning towards passing on Darvish, and they've been very guarded in their comments on him over the last 4-5 days. We'll have to pay close attention to what's said over the next 2 to see if they tip their hand at all.
Saturday, December 10, 2011
Winter Meetings Recap
The 2011 Winter Meetings have come and gone this week, with the Yankees taking an actively inactive approach. They were tied to almost every big name free agent available, especially the starting pitchers, were connected in some form to almost every stater reportedly to be on the trading block, and even added some potential depth in small deals . The Yankees had goals and areas for improvement, but they had already done the majority of their important work prior to these meetings. CC Sabathia and Freddy Garcia agreed to new deals weeks ago and so adding to the starting rotation was going to be a much more careful process where the Yanks were only going to make a deal if it felt right. In the end, no major moves were made by Cash, but that doesn't mean the Winter Meetings were a loss for the Yankees.
For starters, they put the finishing touches on the current rotation by making the Freddy Garcia signing official. He gets a boost in pay as a result of 2011's success but not enough that it's still not a good, safe deal for the Yanks. They also won the posting for a Japanese player, but not the one we expected. Hiroyuki Nakajima, a star infielder from the Japanese League, could be a replacement for Eduardo Nunez as the backup IF next year and could also fill the Eric Chavez role of caddy to A-Rod. He isn't a sure thing to sign, but this has to signal an attempt by the Yanks to make Nunez more of a trade chip.
The Yanks were active below the Major League radar as well. They added a pair of pitchers through the Rule 5 draft, righty Brad Meyers and lefty Cesar Cabral. Neither should be expected to be major contributors in 2012 if they even make the team, but maybe one becomes a useful bullpen piece. They did have to release Greg Golson to make roster room before the draft, but that's an acceptable loss. There were reports that the Yankees signed former White Sox OF Dewayne Wise, so a replacement for Golson's role shouldn't be an issue. And both Manny Corpas and Adam Miller, 2 other interesting bullpen possibilities, have also been linked to the Yankees.
Perhaps the biggest news to come out of the meetings was the report that the Yankees had been contacting other clubs and offering A.J. Burnett plus some salary relief. Many passed this off as a small story and say A.J. will be back in the rotation while I argued that the report alone meant A.J. had to go and I still stand by that argument. A.J.'s value could be easily approximated by a combination Hector Noesi and the other guys in Triple-A next year and a better season from Phil Hughes. And freeing up some more money by eating any portion of his salary, even significantly more than the $8 million the story mentioned, allows them to be more active in their pursuits for an upgrade through a trade. You can't tell me that getting rid of A.J., paying him less than you would have had to to stay in the rotation, and adding John Danks is not a winning scenario.
The meetings are over but that doesn't mean the Yankees are done. The posting period for Yu Darvish will end this Wednesday and New York is expected to a major player. The trade talks with the White Sox and Athletics should continue and eventually they will come to their senses and drop their incredibly high demands. And the potential still exists for the Yankees to fill out the bench through a small deal and maybe rid themselves of A.J. through another small one. What happened at the meetings this week probably helped finalize Cash's plan to attack these paths. Now we get to sit back and watch him really go to work.
For starters, they put the finishing touches on the current rotation by making the Freddy Garcia signing official. He gets a boost in pay as a result of 2011's success but not enough that it's still not a good, safe deal for the Yanks. They also won the posting for a Japanese player, but not the one we expected. Hiroyuki Nakajima, a star infielder from the Japanese League, could be a replacement for Eduardo Nunez as the backup IF next year and could also fill the Eric Chavez role of caddy to A-Rod. He isn't a sure thing to sign, but this has to signal an attempt by the Yanks to make Nunez more of a trade chip.
The Yanks were active below the Major League radar as well. They added a pair of pitchers through the Rule 5 draft, righty Brad Meyers and lefty Cesar Cabral. Neither should be expected to be major contributors in 2012 if they even make the team, but maybe one becomes a useful bullpen piece. They did have to release Greg Golson to make roster room before the draft, but that's an acceptable loss. There were reports that the Yankees signed former White Sox OF Dewayne Wise, so a replacement for Golson's role shouldn't be an issue. And both Manny Corpas and Adam Miller, 2 other interesting bullpen possibilities, have also been linked to the Yankees.
Perhaps the biggest news to come out of the meetings was the report that the Yankees had been contacting other clubs and offering A.J. Burnett plus some salary relief. Many passed this off as a small story and say A.J. will be back in the rotation while I argued that the report alone meant A.J. had to go and I still stand by that argument. A.J.'s value could be easily approximated by a combination Hector Noesi and the other guys in Triple-A next year and a better season from Phil Hughes. And freeing up some more money by eating any portion of his salary, even significantly more than the $8 million the story mentioned, allows them to be more active in their pursuits for an upgrade through a trade. You can't tell me that getting rid of A.J., paying him less than you would have had to to stay in the rotation, and adding John Danks is not a winning scenario.
The meetings are over but that doesn't mean the Yankees are done. The posting period for Yu Darvish will end this Wednesday and New York is expected to a major player. The trade talks with the White Sox and Athletics should continue and eventually they will come to their senses and drop their incredibly high demands. And the potential still exists for the Yankees to fill out the bench through a small deal and maybe rid themselves of A.J. through another small one. What happened at the meetings this week probably helped finalize Cash's plan to attack these paths. Now we get to sit back and watch him really go to work.
Friday, December 9, 2011
Freddy Officially Back
The Yankees made it official today with a press release. The Garbage Man will be back in 2012, most likely as the de facto #5 starter but probably closer to the #3-#4 he was in 2011 if A.J. and Hughes don't rebound.
Freddy's working on a $4 million deal this year, a significant increase from his non-guaranteed deal last last season, with another $1.575 million available in incentives. To make room for Garcia on the 40-man, the Yanks DFA'd Colin Curtis.
As of right now, the 2012 rotation is set. We'll see if that changes over the next month or so.
Cash Weighs In On Albert
"He's a special player. I don't know him personally, but I see what he does with that bat. It's Montero-like."
It was a quiet week for the Bombers at the Winter Meetings, but that doesn't mean Cash is going out lying down. No sir. He's always playing the game, 25 hours a day, 8 days a week, and I love it. Somebody get a slow clap going.
(Quote via Bryan Hoch)
It was a quiet week for the Bombers at the Winter Meetings, but that doesn't mean Cash is going out lying down. No sir. He's always playing the game, 25 hours a day, 8 days a week, and I love it. Somebody get a slow clap going.
(Quote via Bryan Hoch)
Thursday, December 8, 2011
Rule 5 Wrap-Up
Flying well under the "Albert Pujols/C.J. Wilson Free Agent Mega Orgy" radar today was the Rule 5 draft. The Yankees had a few guys out there who could have been taken, but ended up not losing anybody through the draft while adding 2 pitchers. Here's the quick recap.
- To clear space before the draft, the Yanks released Greg Golson. He wasn't much with the stick despite being a tremendous athlete (copyright: Jay Bilas) and solid defensive player. Just lessens the back end depth of the "4th OFer" pool.
- Yankees selected RHP Brad Meyers from the Nationals. Dude throws 4 pitches and has decent MiL peripherals, but injuries have derailed his progress. He'll be looked at as a candidate to fill the long man role out of the bullpen.
- Yanks also added a LHP through a trade with the Royals, who selected Cesar Cabral from the Fraud Sawx and then shipped him to New York for cash. Cabral's stuff and R/L splits don't make him an ideal 2nd lefty option, but his high K rate could make him a diamond in the rough.
It's likely that neither Meyers nor Cabral will stick with the Yankees, but it's always good to give yourself cheap options. I can't imagine they were expecting much from the Cory Wade trade last year and look how that turned out.
- To clear space before the draft, the Yanks released Greg Golson. He wasn't much with the stick despite being a tremendous athlete (copyright: Jay Bilas) and solid defensive player. Just lessens the back end depth of the "4th OFer" pool.
- Yankees selected RHP Brad Meyers from the Nationals. Dude throws 4 pitches and has decent MiL peripherals, but injuries have derailed his progress. He'll be looked at as a candidate to fill the long man role out of the bullpen.
- Yanks also added a LHP through a trade with the Royals, who selected Cesar Cabral from the Fraud Sawx and then shipped him to New York for cash. Cabral's stuff and R/L splits don't make him an ideal 2nd lefty option, but his high K rate could make him a diamond in the rough.
It's likely that neither Meyers nor Cabral will stick with the Yankees, but it's always good to give yourself cheap options. I can't imagine they were expecting much from the Cory Wade trade last year and look how that turned out.
The Stove Is Finally Heating Up
It isn't Yankee-related, but big news from the Winter Meeting is breaking this morning as both Albert Pujols and C.J. Wilson were signed by the Angels.
ESPN is reporting that Pujols' deal is for 10 years/$250-260 million and includes a full no-trade clause, and Wilson's is for 5 years/$75 mil, less than what he was asking for and less than most people thought he'd get. Hometown discount, anybody?
The Yanks didn't seem to be major players in the talks with either of these guys, but it will be interesting to see how, if at all, these 2 coming off the market influences their plans moving forward. With Buehrle coming off the market yesterday and now Wilson today, FA starter options are disappearing fast.
ESPN is reporting that Pujols' deal is for 10 years/$250-260 million and includes a full no-trade clause, and Wilson's is for 5 years/$75 mil, less than what he was asking for and less than most people thought he'd get. Hometown discount, anybody?
The Yanks didn't seem to be major players in the talks with either of these guys, but it will be interesting to see how, if at all, these 2 coming off the market influences their plans moving forward. With Buehrle coming off the market yesterday and now Wilson today, FA starter options are disappearing fast.
The Nail In A.J.'s Coffin
(Now that the word is out that the Yanks are trying to shop him, we should expect to see a lot more of Bad A.J. in 2012)
There's no point in trying to sugarcoat it. A.J. Burnett's Yankee career has been an absolute disaster. It's been dismal. A.J. has become the latest in the long line of failed Yankee high-profile free agent pitching signings and made himself the newest poster boy for the "He Can't Hack It in New York" argument that people love to use when guys fail in pinstripes. And with the recent NY Post report that the Yankees are actively shopping A.J. this week at the Winter Meetings and are willing to eat some of his remaining salary to sweeten the deal, the Yankees are now in a position where they basically HAVE to trade A.J.
Let's review his time as a Yankee quickly. In 2009, A.J. was mediocre in his first full season in The Bronx. He was more bad than good, and did not show the consistent results and dominance he had shown the previous year. In the end, though, A.J. was a part of a World Series-winning staff and even contributed to that title with a solid Game 2 outing in the World Series. In 2010, A.J. nose dived off the productivity ladder, putting up one of the all-time worst individual pitching seasons in Yankee history and almost being left off the postseason roster . And this past season, the downward spiral continued as A.J. put up comparably bad numbers to 2010, lost his spot in the rotation, and once again found himself the centerpiece of the Yankee playoff rotation as they tried to figure out a way where they did not have to use him.
More maddening than the poor performance, at least for me, has been all the baggage and BS that's come with the last three years of A.J. The bouts of inexplicable inconsistency, the failure against the Fraud Sawx, the constantly-changing mechanics, the personal catchers, the inability to be objective about his own performance, the different haircuts, the black eye, the arguing with his manager on the mound and cursing him out after being taken out a game in which he was pitching poorly, the 6-man rotation, and the constant efforts by everybody in the organization (teammates, Joe, Cash, Levine) to take turns playing CYA for him along the way.
And now after all of this, the Yankees are out at the Winter Meetings trying to do the baseball equivalent of giving A.J. away, and that's supposed to help him pitch better in 2012? Not on your life. This story, which appears to be true, represents the Yankees finally admitting that they don't have confidence in A.J. and don't want him anymore. And when they've spent the past 3 seasons trying to convince the media, the fans, A.J., and probably even themselves that they did and it hasn't gotten them anything from A.J., why would throwing up their hands and saying, "We've had enough of this clown. Somebody PLEASE take him!" work any better? The guy couldn't pitch worth a damn when he had support from the team. He'll barely be able to function on the mound now knowing that he doesn't, and the team can no longer step up and try to cover for him after this move. This has to be the end of A.J.'s Yankee career.
By outing themselves for their lack of support, the Yankees have effectively killed any chances they had of getting something positive from A.J. over the next 2 years. After making these offers, there's no way the Yankees can bring him back and expect anything from him. He's a wasted roster spot. And the $33 million they still owe him has now gone from being an opportunity cost to essentially a sunk cost for the Yankees. The majority of the contract is a sunk cost already, so if it's about money you're really just putting a lipstick on a pig at this point. This isn't the NFL where they can cut him and not have to pay him. One way or another, A.J. is getting his $33 million that's still owed to him and the Yankees are going to at least pay some of it. With the contract that Mark Buehrle signed today with Miami, all of the guys the Yankees could target are going to want more than the Yankees are going to be willing to offer. By admitting A.J. was a mistake and moving him, for anything, the Yankees will pass some of the cost off to somebody else, and give themselves a bit more payroll flexibility to use in the trade market that they seem more involved in anyway.
They'd still be left with CC, Nova, Freddy, a Phil Hughes that they're expecting a big rebound from, and a Hector Noesi that's been turning heads in the DR. Put that together with the bodies in Triple-A and some potential top-of-the-rotation trade targets, and it's not like the Yankees would be up the creek without A.J. Sure they're going to end up losers in whatever trade they make for him, assuming any trade gets made. But when the message the Yankees are sending as an organization right now are that they've given up on A.J., then they've already lost. And in this case, it'd be better for both sides to just cut the losses and move on.
Yanks Win Posting For Japanese SS
He isn't Yu Darvish, who could be posted today, but the Yankees did win the posting for Japanese shortstop Hiroyuki Nakajima yesterday for $2 million. Not a major move by the Bombers, but one that should help bolster the Yankees IF depth if they can negotiate a deal with Nakajima by January 6.
The most important thing about this move may be what other moves it signals the Yankees are interested in making. Allow me a minute to play hypothetical trade carousel. If they sign Nakajima, the Yankees essentially cover second base, third base, and short, filling both the Eduardo Nunez and Eric Chavez roles from last season. This frees them up to use Nunez as a trade chip and they include him in offers to bring in a John Danks or Gio Gonzalez while at the same time coming to an agreement with another team for how much of A.J.'s contract they will eat and moving A.J. for a bag of balls. That would leave the Yankees with their backup infield covered, some more flexibility to fill the other bench spots, and the upgrade for the rotation that they were looking for through both the addition of solid #2 pitcher and the subtraction of their worst pitcher.
I don't see any way any Yankee fan couldn't be happy with that playing out, but first things first, the Yanks have to sign Nakajima. If they don't, they just don't pay the posting fee and they're right back where they were. But if they do, I expect things to start happening and players to start moving quickly afterwards. Even if they don't make any moves after, adding Nakajima is still a smart, cost-effective move to help fill the bench for 2012. There's no really downside to this move by the Yankees.
The most important thing about this move may be what other moves it signals the Yankees are interested in making. Allow me a minute to play hypothetical trade carousel. If they sign Nakajima, the Yankees essentially cover second base, third base, and short, filling both the Eduardo Nunez and Eric Chavez roles from last season. This frees them up to use Nunez as a trade chip and they include him in offers to bring in a John Danks or Gio Gonzalez while at the same time coming to an agreement with another team for how much of A.J.'s contract they will eat and moving A.J. for a bag of balls. That would leave the Yankees with their backup infield covered, some more flexibility to fill the other bench spots, and the upgrade for the rotation that they were looking for through both the addition of solid #2 pitcher and the subtraction of their worst pitcher.
I don't see any way any Yankee fan couldn't be happy with that playing out, but first things first, the Yanks have to sign Nakajima. If they don't, they just don't pay the posting fee and they're right back where they were. But if they do, I expect things to start happening and players to start moving quickly afterwards. Even if they don't make any moves after, adding Nakajima is still a smart, cost-effective move to help fill the bench for 2012. There's no really downside to this move by the Yankees.
Wednesday, December 7, 2011
Ken Williams Smokes Two Joints In The Morning...
... And Billy Beane smokes two joints at night. That's really the only logical explanation I can come up with to explain the completely batshit insane trade requests these guys are making. I'll be honest, I thought Williams' "Jesus and ManBan for John Danks" idea was cute. I really did. I mean, I'm sure Williams is still salty over Cash giving him the business on the Swisher trade. It's understandable. But this batch of nonsense from Billy is just awe-inspiringly stupid. Jesus, ManBan or Betances, and Mason Williams. I understand wanting to take a big reach on your first go round to see if the Yankees are serious, but THAT big a reach?
Come on now, guys. Cut the malarkey. And fire another one up. My guess is, once you start feeling it and Cash calls back talking about throwing in some Beef Baja Chalupas and Jr. Bacon Cheeseburgers with D.J. Mitchell, you'll be singing a different tune.
P.S.- 4 years/$58 mil for Mark Buehrle? Really? Really???
Come on now, guys. Cut the malarkey. And fire another one up. My guess is, once you start feeling it and Cash calls back talking about throwing in some Beef Baja Chalupas and Jr. Bacon Cheeseburgers with D.J. Mitchell, you'll be singing a different tune.
P.S.- 4 years/$58 mil for Mark Buehrle? Really? Really???
A.J. Being Dangled? Will Anybody Bite? What Does It Mean?
(Could we be saying goodbye to A.J. Two Face?)
A story in The Post this morning discussed the Yankees' reportedly offering up A.J. Burnett to other teams and being willing to eat some of the money remaining on his contract. There's no mention of any specific teams or trade proposals that were discussed, and no real indication that there is a market out there for A.J., so before you jump for joy realize that the odds of A.J. actually being dealt are slim to none. But this does shed some more light on what the Yankees' plans could be to address the rotation this year.
First and foremost, I think this is a clear indication that the Yankees have given up on A.J. The Yankees, with their constant "win now" mentality, are the type of team to take on contracts through trades if they feel it can help the team, not eat their own contracts and pay players to NOT play for them. If the Yankees are openly stating that they are willing to pay money for A.J. to not be on their team next year, then it's a clear sign that they think they are better off without him than with him in the rotation. That $8 million number they threw out almost certainly wouldn't be enough for other teams to take them up on the offer, but coming out and giving a number establishes a willingness on their part to talk, and that's a bad sign for A.J.
Secondly, I think this play by the Yankees shows that they are more serious about adding a pitcher through a trade this offseason than through free agency. There is almost 0 talk right now relating to the C.J. Wilsons, Mark Buehrles, and Roy Oswalts of the world and any connection to the Yankees. There is plenty of talk, however, regarding John Danks and Gio Gonzalez, and Cash listening to trade proposals in general. And while the asking prices for both are incredibly steep right now, the Yankees must feel like they can negotiate a trade that is better for them and pursue that route to improve their rotation. If they didn't, they wouldn't be looking to remove a piece from their current rotation, and eat money for that piece, to open up a spot..
Again, this will likely result in a lot of nothing. But even from nothing can something be extracted, in this case some more clues as to what the Yanks might be looking to do to follow through on their efforts to bolster next year's rotation.
The Worst Part Of Hot Stove Season So Far
(Screen cap courtesy of ESPN.com)
I don't know why I was surprised to see this on my TV last night, but I damn near coughed water all over my screen when I picked my head up and saw Bobby V, unbuttoned tie-less white guy gangsta swag and all, chumming it up with Terry Francona as they talked about the stuff that comes with managing the Fraud Sawx.
Are they any lows that ESPN won't stoop to in order to keep their beloved Fraud Sawx at the forefront of their baseball coverage? I mean, we haven't heard a peep about what the team's offseason plans are other than offering arbitration to Big Sloppi and then BOOM! Fraud Sawx managerial ho-down right in your fucking grill. It's pathetic. The Marlins are trying to scoop up every big name player out there, Albert Pujols is weighing offers from them and the Cardinals, there's rumors surrounding the FA pitching group, Hanley Ramirez is pissed, the Yankees are laying in the weeds watching everything unfold, and yet ESPN decides the best thing to do is stick the current and most recent Fraud Sawx managers together to suck each other's dicks for five minutes. Hot Stove coverage at its finest, folks!
I'll make it real simple. Managing the Fraud Sawx is a shitty job because of all the prima donnas in the clubhouse, the upper management and ownership just waiting to cut your throat and smear you in the media, and the equally idiotic local media and fanbase. Working for ESPN is a tits job because you can come on the air, say whatever you want without any knowledge base or support to back up your theories, be completely subjective when talking about any team, ignore statistics that tell the true story, and not be held accountable for anything.
P.S.- I was shocked they didn't have Buster Olney standing by to give updates on the discussion between Francona and Valentine and what it meant for the Fraud Sawx moving forward.
Tuesday, December 6, 2011
Say It Ain't So, Jerry
(Best Jerry Hairston moment ever. Courtesy of Getty Images)
Say it ain't so!
I don't know why, but I always had this idea that Jerry Hairston would end up back with the Yankees at some point. Dude was here in '09, won a ring, played well, and would be a one-man bench to fill all the key spots the Yanks have. Play a little backup third base to A-Rod, little backup first for Teix. Play some left field or right field on days when Swish and Gardner need off. Shit, could probably cover Jeter at short in a pinch. And now that's all gone because the fucking Dodgers, who I thought didn't have an owner, a GM, people that cared, or even any money to spend this offseason, locked Hairston up to a 2-year deal. I thought it was a sign when the Brewers brought him in this year. A sign that I was meant to watch Jerry and Jerry was meant to be where I wanted to watch him. But I guess I was wrong. Damn.
P.S.- Ken Rosenthal breaking this story makes me hate Ken Rosenthal more than I already do.
The Sounds Of Silence
Leading into this week's Winter Meetings, the Yankees have been relatively quiet. This quietness on the part of the Yanks is just a small part of the overall sluggish offseason so far, but after they came out and openly declared that they were going to focus efforts on upgrading the rotation they have been very slow to follow up on the CC Sabathia deal and find the #2-type starter that they reportedly seek.
Let's remember that this is a team who, despite Cash's masterful ability to slow play the market and stir the pot to drive up deals for everybody else just by attaching his team to a particular player, has been very proactive in their attempts to follow up on recent efforts to bolster the rotation. They were fast and decisive in locking up CC and A.J. Burnett in the '08-'09 offseason, and the same in their efforts (albeit losing ones) to bring in Cliff Lee in 2010. They've tried to make trades for both Felix Hernandez and Zack Greinke in the last 2 years, and they took all the drama out of the CC opt-out story by squashing it and re-doing his deal this year. When this team says they need starting pitching, they get starting pitching, which makes this recent streak of inactivity a bit surprising. While there are pros and cons to all the available options in this year's FA class, and the cons associated with each pitcher could be enough for the Yankees to pass on all of them, there could be two other scenarios playing out in the background that are influencing the Yankees' tactical decisions this offseason.
1) Confidence In The Young Pitching
After missing out on Lee this past offseason and then scrambling to make some low-risk Bartolo Colon/Freddy Garcia moves to fill the rotation, the Yanks weren't going to risk not having a backup plan this year. And they didn't waste any time on that plan and executed it very quickly, declaring that both A.J. and Phil Hughes would be back to join CC and Ivan Nova in the 2012 rotation and then re-signing Freddy for another 1-year deal.
And behind that five, the Yankees have a growing number of capable Triple-A arms, some that could step up and be the 2012 version of 2011 Ivan Nova if needed. David Phelps is coming off of his 2nd straight strong MiL campaign, putting up a 3.19 ERA/3.69 FIP with a solid K/9 rate (7.55) and BB/9 rate (2.18) in 107.1 innings in Triple-A this past season. Adam Warren did a similarly solid job for SWB in 2011, putting up a 3.60/4.05 line with a 6.56 K/9 in 152.1 innings. His numbers represented a bit of a step back, but Warren is still capable of stepping into a spot in the back of the rotation. And Hector Noesi, after stepping up and becoming a key part of the 2011 Yankee bullpen, has been very good stretching back out to pitch starter innings in winter ball this year. Noesi has pitched to a 2.38 ERA and 2.70 FIP, while striking out 19 and walking 7 in 34.0 IP, and has shown some serious juice on the heater.
These three give the Yankees the depth behind their starting 5 that they didn't have at the beginning of this past season. With another year of experience at Triple-A under their belts, there should be no doubt that the likes of Warren and Phelps could fill in and cover the back of the rotation if needed. And with Noesi's strong performance in the hitter-friendly DR league, he could very well be in line for a rotation spot out of camp in 2012. The presence of these three young pitchers behind the starting 5 and the continued improvement that they've shown at each level could be lessening Cash's desire to spend money in a market of uncertainties. And that's before we even get to The Killer B's.
2) Preference For Next Year's Class
The potential list of starters who could be available as free agents after the upcoming 2012 season includes Cole Hamels, Zack Greinke, Matt Cain, Dan Haren, John Danks, Francisco Liriano, Brandon McCarthy, Anibal Sanchez, Tim Hudson, Gavin Floyd, Shaun Marcum, Jonathan Sanchez, and James Shields. That's a damn good list, much better than this year's. Included in that list is 1 legit ace, 4 no-doubt #2's, and a group of guys who could be solid #2-#3's with maybe a #4 in there somewhere. It's a much deeper, must more talented list than what the Yankees are choosing from this year, and it comes with the added benefit of many of the top guys being in their primes, similar to when the Yankees signed CC originally.
With the 2012 class shaping up to be this good and this deep, perhaps Cash and the front office are already looking ahead to then and holding back on the spending reins this year. I know I'd feel a lot more comfortable plunking the type of dough down that C.J. Wilson is reportedly asking for (6 years/$100 million) for Cole Hamels or Zack Greinke as opposed to Wilson. That kind of money for that number of years is a risky investment by itself, so better to spend it on a pitcher with fewer question marks and higher upside (Hamels, Greinke, Cain, Danks) than guys from this year's class with more question marks (Wilson, Buehrle, Oswalt). Because they've already re-signed CC and Freddy to fill out a rotation, the Yankees have less of a need to take a risk on those guys this year. They can stay patient, stay quiet, and see if a deal that's more friendly to them presents itself. If not, they can work with what they've got and wait until the next crop becomes available in 2012.
It's been said all along that this year's FA pitching class isn't the best one in the world. And after recent failings with A.J. Burnett and Carl Pavano, the Yankees should be looking to get the most bang for their buck from whoever they sign. And that's not to say that Cash isn't just pulling a fast one again and is going to swoop in this week and sign somebody, but adding up all the current factors doesn't make it look that way. Next year's potential group of pitchers should be much stronger than this year's, and with plenty of young arms in Triple-A ready to contribute and five guys in their rotation who they say they're confident in, the Yankees could be staying silent this offseason and waiting to make their noise next year.
Let's remember that this is a team who, despite Cash's masterful ability to slow play the market and stir the pot to drive up deals for everybody else just by attaching his team to a particular player, has been very proactive in their attempts to follow up on recent efforts to bolster the rotation. They were fast and decisive in locking up CC and A.J. Burnett in the '08-'09 offseason, and the same in their efforts (albeit losing ones) to bring in Cliff Lee in 2010. They've tried to make trades for both Felix Hernandez and Zack Greinke in the last 2 years, and they took all the drama out of the CC opt-out story by squashing it and re-doing his deal this year. When this team says they need starting pitching, they get starting pitching, which makes this recent streak of inactivity a bit surprising. While there are pros and cons to all the available options in this year's FA class, and the cons associated with each pitcher could be enough for the Yankees to pass on all of them, there could be two other scenarios playing out in the background that are influencing the Yankees' tactical decisions this offseason.
1) Confidence In The Young Pitching
After missing out on Lee this past offseason and then scrambling to make some low-risk Bartolo Colon/Freddy Garcia moves to fill the rotation, the Yanks weren't going to risk not having a backup plan this year. And they didn't waste any time on that plan and executed it very quickly, declaring that both A.J. and Phil Hughes would be back to join CC and Ivan Nova in the 2012 rotation and then re-signing Freddy for another 1-year deal.
And behind that five, the Yankees have a growing number of capable Triple-A arms, some that could step up and be the 2012 version of 2011 Ivan Nova if needed. David Phelps is coming off of his 2nd straight strong MiL campaign, putting up a 3.19 ERA/3.69 FIP with a solid K/9 rate (7.55) and BB/9 rate (2.18) in 107.1 innings in Triple-A this past season. Adam Warren did a similarly solid job for SWB in 2011, putting up a 3.60/4.05 line with a 6.56 K/9 in 152.1 innings. His numbers represented a bit of a step back, but Warren is still capable of stepping into a spot in the back of the rotation. And Hector Noesi, after stepping up and becoming a key part of the 2011 Yankee bullpen, has been very good stretching back out to pitch starter innings in winter ball this year. Noesi has pitched to a 2.38 ERA and 2.70 FIP, while striking out 19 and walking 7 in 34.0 IP, and has shown some serious juice on the heater.
These three give the Yankees the depth behind their starting 5 that they didn't have at the beginning of this past season. With another year of experience at Triple-A under their belts, there should be no doubt that the likes of Warren and Phelps could fill in and cover the back of the rotation if needed. And with Noesi's strong performance in the hitter-friendly DR league, he could very well be in line for a rotation spot out of camp in 2012. The presence of these three young pitchers behind the starting 5 and the continued improvement that they've shown at each level could be lessening Cash's desire to spend money in a market of uncertainties. And that's before we even get to The Killer B's.
2) Preference For Next Year's Class
The potential list of starters who could be available as free agents after the upcoming 2012 season includes Cole Hamels, Zack Greinke, Matt Cain, Dan Haren, John Danks, Francisco Liriano, Brandon McCarthy, Anibal Sanchez, Tim Hudson, Gavin Floyd, Shaun Marcum, Jonathan Sanchez, and James Shields. That's a damn good list, much better than this year's. Included in that list is 1 legit ace, 4 no-doubt #2's, and a group of guys who could be solid #2-#3's with maybe a #4 in there somewhere. It's a much deeper, must more talented list than what the Yankees are choosing from this year, and it comes with the added benefit of many of the top guys being in their primes, similar to when the Yankees signed CC originally.
With the 2012 class shaping up to be this good and this deep, perhaps Cash and the front office are already looking ahead to then and holding back on the spending reins this year. I know I'd feel a lot more comfortable plunking the type of dough down that C.J. Wilson is reportedly asking for (6 years/$100 million) for Cole Hamels or Zack Greinke as opposed to Wilson. That kind of money for that number of years is a risky investment by itself, so better to spend it on a pitcher with fewer question marks and higher upside (Hamels, Greinke, Cain, Danks) than guys from this year's class with more question marks (Wilson, Buehrle, Oswalt). Because they've already re-signed CC and Freddy to fill out a rotation, the Yankees have less of a need to take a risk on those guys this year. They can stay patient, stay quiet, and see if a deal that's more friendly to them presents itself. If not, they can work with what they've got and wait until the next crop becomes available in 2012.
It's been said all along that this year's FA pitching class isn't the best one in the world. And after recent failings with A.J. Burnett and Carl Pavano, the Yankees should be looking to get the most bang for their buck from whoever they sign. And that's not to say that Cash isn't just pulling a fast one again and is going to swoop in this week and sign somebody, but adding up all the current factors doesn't make it look that way. Next year's potential group of pitchers should be much stronger than this year's, and with plenty of young arms in Triple-A ready to contribute and five guys in their rotation who they say they're confident in, the Yankees could be staying silent this offseason and waiting to make their noise next year.
Monday, December 5, 2011
Hiroki Kuroda, Anyone?
(Courtesy of Getty Images)
Another free agent pitcher the Yankees could pursue is former Dodger Hiroki Kuroda. He's a name that's been mentioned before, but he can now officially be considered a potential target after the Dodgers signed Chris Capuano and spread some other money around elsewhere to fill their 2012 roster. He's a longshot, so I'll spare the in-depth stuff and just go with some quick Pro/Con bullet points.
Pros
- Solid peripherals: 3.45/3.55/3.62 career tripleslash in 4 seasons with the Dodgers; 7+ K/9 in each of last 2 seasons; at least 2.1 WAR in each of his 4 seasons.
- Good command: career 2.10 BB/9
- Reliable: 180+ innings in each season he hasn't been hurt.
- Good fit for Yankee Stadium: career 48.6% GB rate.
Cons
- Old and expensive. Kuroda is 36 now and will be 37 at the start of the 2012 season. And based of his recent contract, he's going to be looking for at least 2 years and at least $12 million per. Not exactly the commitment the Yankees are looking to make.
- Trending the wrong way: His GB rate dropped significantly in 2011 to a career-low 43.2%, which lead to higher LD and FB rates and a career-high HR/FB rate. Traditionally Kuroda has looked like a good match for Yankee Stadium, but 2011 casts some doubt on that.
- Preference: Kuroda has said all along that he wanted to stay in LA or as close as possible to Japan. The Yanks would be fighting another uphill battle if they really wanted him.
Kuroda likely plays as a #3 starter at best in the Yankee rotation, so he's not an ideal candidate to give multiple years and 8 figures to. He probably ranks somewhere around Edwin Jackson levels of interest as a last resort, and becomes even less likely for the Yankees to pursue given that they've already locked up Freddy Garcia to be their back-of-the-rotation older innings eater. But hey, he's out there and it's Winter Meetings week so we might as well address the possibility.
Noesi Killing It In Winter Ball
While the Hot Stove Season does a slow bubble and questions continue to surround the Yankees and their plans, assuming there are any more, to address the 2012 rotation, one man continues to fly under the radar as a possible rotation option.
That man is Hector Noesi, who after a few rough outings has really started to light it up in the Dominican Winter League, a league known for hitting. Noesi recently won Player of the Month for November in the Liga de Beisbol Dominicano after going 3-1 with a 2.22 ERA and 17 K to just 6 BB over 28.1 IP. For the season he has a 2.38 ERA and 2.70 FIP in 34.0 IP in the league with a 1.26 WHIP, just 7 total BB, and 0 HR allowed. He's been on strict pitch counts as part of the effort to get him back up to a regular starter's workload, but he's shown improvement each time out.
Perhaps the biggest bit of news to come out his Winter League performance, however, is the report that Noesi has been sitting mid-90s on his fastball, sometimes touching 97-98. Obviously this has to be taken with a small grain of salt, as there's no way to know how accurate the guns down there are. But if this is even remotely true, and Noesi has upped his velocity without sacrificing his calling card command (evidenced by the 7 BB), then the Yankees could be looking at Ivan Nova 2.0 in 2012 as I suggested in October. One things for certain, as my colleague Eric Schultz at TYA put it, A.J. and Phil better watch their necks.
That man is Hector Noesi, who after a few rough outings has really started to light it up in the Dominican Winter League, a league known for hitting. Noesi recently won Player of the Month for November in the Liga de Beisbol Dominicano after going 3-1 with a 2.22 ERA and 17 K to just 6 BB over 28.1 IP. For the season he has a 2.38 ERA and 2.70 FIP in 34.0 IP in the league with a 1.26 WHIP, just 7 total BB, and 0 HR allowed. He's been on strict pitch counts as part of the effort to get him back up to a regular starter's workload, but he's shown improvement each time out.
Perhaps the biggest bit of news to come out his Winter League performance, however, is the report that Noesi has been sitting mid-90s on his fastball, sometimes touching 97-98. Obviously this has to be taken with a small grain of salt, as there's no way to know how accurate the guns down there are. But if this is even remotely true, and Noesi has upped his velocity without sacrificing his calling card command (evidenced by the 7 BB), then the Yankees could be looking at Ivan Nova 2.0 in 2012 as I suggested in October. One things for certain, as my colleague Eric Schultz at TYA put it, A.J. and Phil better watch their necks.
Sunday, December 4, 2011
Yanks Hiding In The Weeds On International FAs?
Not to beat a dead horse, but it's been a slow offseason so far, both in general and for the Yankees, who went in with the stated goal of upgrading the starting rotation. With the Winter Meetings starting tomorrow and not a lot of talk connecting the Yankees with any of the big Major League pitching targets, perhaps Cash and his staff have been playing possum on the other 2 big fish in the free agent sea, Yu Darvish and Yoenis Cespedes.
Consider all of this: The Yanks have scouted both of them extensively; Darvish is a young, potential top-of-the-rotation talent who comes with the added benefit of not having his posting fee count towards the luxury tax and not requiring the Yankees to forfeit a draft pick; Cespedes is a young, power-hitting OFer who also won't cost the Yankees anything in terms of picks; both guys play positions that the Yankees could have a need for after this season.
And with news coming out yesterday that both Darvish and Cespedes could make themselves available some time in the next 1-2 weeks, it seems like the Yankees could be in prime position to strike on both of these guys if they truly have been spending time behind the scenes working on potential plans to sign both. Just something to think about heading into next week's meetings.
Consider all of this: The Yanks have scouted both of them extensively; Darvish is a young, potential top-of-the-rotation talent who comes with the added benefit of not having his posting fee count towards the luxury tax and not requiring the Yankees to forfeit a draft pick; Cespedes is a young, power-hitting OFer who also won't cost the Yankees anything in terms of picks; both guys play positions that the Yankees could have a need for after this season.
And with news coming out yesterday that both Darvish and Cespedes could make themselves available some time in the next 1-2 weeks, it seems like the Yankees could be in prime position to strike on both of these guys if they truly have been spending time behind the scenes working on potential plans to sign both. Just something to think about heading into next week's meetings.
Saturday, December 3, 2011
Reading Cash Between The Lines Part II
(Photo and all quotes below courtesy of Chad Jennings at LoHud)
Last month I picked apart what Cash said and turned it into what he was really saying when he spoke at the end of the year press conference. He was up in Stamford doing his rappel thing yesterday, and luckily for us he was a bit of a chatty Cashy. Let's see what he said and what he really meant this time.
What He Said: “I’ll make a recommendation to ownership and they can bless it or they can tell me no, but right now we’re going to go to Dallas, we’re going to continue to engage."
What He Meant: "Hey, Randy and Hal! You guys remember when I advised against Rafael Soriano last year and you guys overrode that recommendation? Yeah, how'd that work out last year? You should probably listen to me when I make my recommendations and follow my lead at the Winter Meetings. Morons."
What He Said: “… Right now, if you’re asking me do I expect to do something in the next week? No. But I’ve had enough conversations where I could wind up doing something today. A lot of work has been done. A lot of conversations have been had. If somebody bends or adjusts, then I’m ready to make a recommendation for us to make a move.”
What He Meant: "We know exactly who we want to target and exactly what we're willing to pay or give up to get them. Right now, asking prices are too high, but I'm not as stupid as these other GMs may think and I expect them to come down. And when they do, we'll make our offers to get our guys."
What He Said: “There’s not a primary, obvious, stated target that everybody knows about."
What He Meant: "You idiots think we aren't flying under the radar on some guys? Have you been around the last couple offseasons??? Duh!"
What He Said: "Obviously a big effort on our part was CC Sabathia and retaining him."
What He Meant: "Oh yeah, did I mention we signed the biggest potential free agent starting pitcher this offseason before he even became a free agent? Funny how everybody seems to have forgotten that move already."
What He Said: "At the same time, we’ve got a lot of talent on this payroll, I mean, on this roster. And our payroll is not limited, it’s just not."
What He Meant: "Any teams out there interested in Wilson or Darvish better be ready to come with the check books open. Because seriously in on them or not, I can spend more than you and I'm not afraid to fuck around in the rumor mills just to drive up the price you eventually pay. So if you think I'm bluffing on a better offer than yours, you better be guessing right."
What He Said: "If it makes sense, we’re ready to rock and roll, but if it doesn’t make sense, we’ll look at what we have and appreciate what we’ve got and be ready to go with what we’ve got.”
What He Meant: "I know what I'm willing to trade to get the guys I want and what I'm willing to offer to the free agents I want. If those scenarios don't come up, I know we can win with the team we have right now. That's why I re-signed Freddy quickly, and that's why I haven't been quick to offer up our young pitching prospects because I know they can do the job if and when they're called on."
What He Said: “As we continue to look outside for pitching, the next guy we’ve got coming is Noesi. Behind that is Betances and Banuelos and Warren and Phelps. We are producing some serious pitching that we’re proud of. Robertson and what he did this past year, just the continuation of what’s been a great pro career so far. We’re going to continue to look for ways to reinforce it, but we’re proud of what we’ve got and have high hopes for what’s coming.”
What He Meant: "All you other teams and scouts and ESPN personalities that think we can't develop young pitching can suck my dick."
Just Cash being Cash. Loves what he has, knows he can win with it, knows everybody else knows that too, and is still out there stirring the pot and preparing for any good situation that presents itself for the Yankees. The guy seems locked in and ready to do his thing at the Winter Meetings. It wouldn't surprise me if he swindled some other GMs out of their wives by the time he's done.
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