Joe Nathan

by andyroth on Jan 31, 2008 1:46 PM EST

This is the player the Yankees should set their sights on if they want to really compete for a World Championship this year and beyond. Not only would Nathan provide a great bridge to Mariano but he could close occasionally and save wear and tear on Rivera's arm in the latter stages of his career. Offer Ian Kennedy and whatever else the Twins are seeking and make the deal. Nathan is only 33 and has very little mileage on his arm having basically not pitched in 2001 and 2002. He has only logged 549 innings during his career. It is time for Cashman to think outside of the box and aggressivley pursue this deal. With Nathan in the pen you wouldn't even have to worry about having a quality lefty since his numbers against them are outstanding. The last three seasons lefties hit .191 against Nathan with a .285 slugging percentage. This deal is a no-brainer. Let's see if the Yankee organization can figure it out.

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Never happen

Nathan is a frontline-on-the-cusp of HoF status as a closer. There is no chance he'd welcome a role as a setup man at this stage in his career. And frankly, he shouldn't have to. I personally think he's a better closer than Mo at this stage.

"Baseball is the background music of my life." -George Will

by Ronster22 on Jan 31, 2008 3:48 PM EST reply actions

He is better than Mo

but it doesn't do any harm to explore this option. They have nothing to lose by doing it. If the money is right he may take the opportunity to be on a championship contending team, plus if Mo drops off at any state their roles could be reversed.

by andyroth on Jan 31, 2008 4:43 PM EST reply actions

why limit it to joe nathan?

we could go after K-Rod, or BJ Ryan, or JJ Putz, or Wagner. Let's talk to Wettland and see if he'll come back and set up for Mo. Despite their seemingly unlimited power and wealth, I think the Yankees would be hard-pressed to do a deal for Nathan. Clearly, the Twins front office are douchebags and, more importantly, Nathan would never want to set-up for Mo (especially since Mo just got 3 more years.) So stop dreaming, and don't blame it on Cashman when this trade doesnt happen.

"It's great to be young and a Yankee"

by stillmonster on Feb 1, 2008 11:06 AM EST up reply actions

Not so fast

Hate to agree with Mr. Roth, but I don't see why the Twins would hang on to Nathan.

His contract is up after this year I think, and closers' wallets are getting fatter and fatter.

They could get young players for him and spend the dollars saved elsewhere.

And if I'm not mistaken he's a New Yorker. He went to college at Stony Brook on Long Island and high school somewhere upstate.

It's not completely unrealistic.

by matthaggs on Feb 1, 2008 12:11 PM EST up reply actions

Nathan

And what about embracing the role of a set-up man? Sure, he will be setting up for the greatest closer ever, but these players have both egos and professional aspirations. I would guess setting up for Mo fulfills neither of those, even if he is on a team as storied as the Yankees. I would love to get him, and I understand why Minnesota might want to get rid of him, but I certainly don't think he would be happy about these trade rumors.

"It's great to be young and a Yankee"

by stillmonster on Feb 1, 2008 8:02 PM EST up reply actions

Well

He doesn't have a no-trade clause, so his opinion on which inning he should be pitching in matters not in 2008.

Let's see: pitch in Minnesota for a dog ass team, or pitch in front of 4 million people per year for a team in the run for a title (especially with him in the mix)? I'd trade the 9th inning for the 8th inning in that scenario if I were Nathan.

The Yankees could rent him for '08, and if he hates setting up so much, he can make a money grab and go someplace else in '09.

by matthaggs on Feb 1, 2008 8:38 PM EST up reply actions

Sounds great,

then we can offer the Padres Hughes for Hoffman and the Pirates Joba for Capps.

I really don't see what's not like either.

by Leviticus on Jan 31, 2008 10:15 PM EST reply actions

relievers

are and will always be fickle. there are handful in the history of baseball that have been good for their entire careers. nathan is very good and i could be wrong but i don't see him becoming one of them.

by tombradylikesdudes on Feb 1, 2008 5:10 PM EST reply actions

The reality is

the Yankees have NOTHING to lose by pursuing Nathan. If my memory serves me correctly didn't an American League team sign Goose Gossage to a big free agent contract in 1978 despite the fact their closer won the Cy Young Award the year before.

If the Yankees can come up with a package that would satisfy the Twins, they also need a negotiating window to sign Nathan to an extension. I would offer him 5 years, $75M.

If they want to legitimately compete for a World Championship this season and beyond they must do whatever it takes to secure Nathan.

Mariano did slip a little last season and what guarantee is there he doesn't take a precipitous drop sometime over the next 3 seasons with him now being 37? We don't know for sure if his rubber arm will hold up. Mariano and Nathan's roles could be switched at anytime where Mariano my not be a dominant close anymore but would still be a high quality setup man.

Why spend over $200M on your roster and got into a season with a bullpen that has the potential to be really bad, when you could turn a glaring weakness into one of the strengths of your team?

I write these type of stories out of frustration, knowing how many mistakes Cashman has made over the last seven years with the pitching staff, most notably evaluating pitching on the major league level. Why wouldn't you pursue a guy who has built up Hall of Fame type numbers? I'm tired of seeing big money spent on pitchers with no track record i.e. Hitchcock, Wright, Pavano, Igawa, Karsay, Farnworth. Nathan is a premier closer and you're very likely to get the bang for your buck out of him.

But once again to expect Brian Cashman to think outside of the box like this is pure foolisness on my part.

by andyroth on Feb 6, 2008 3:19 AM EST reply actions

That's an insane amount of money

Rivera just signed a 3/$45M contract and became the highest paid reliever ever by a wide margin. The only reason he got that much is because he's Mo and he's the greatest closer in the history of MLB.

Do you really think any team in their right mind would then go and spend 5/$75M on a setup man?

Ain't gonna happen. And Rivera will retire as the closer, not a set-up man, which means Nathan isn't going to sign a long term deal with the Yanks if he can't be the closer.

Now, it wouldn't hurt to kick the tires on Nathan to see what the Twins might want for him. However, that kind of cheddar and investment on a reliever would be grounds for commitment to a psychiatric institution - strait jacket, rubber room, maniacal laugh, and all.

The bullpen is a work in progress and they have a ton of young arms to fill those roles. The team that takes the field in April won't be the same team they have in September or October.

by anaconda on Feb 6, 2008 6:36 AM EST up reply actions

'Work in progress'

Watch Ohlendorf steal the show. 95 MPH sinker with control; I'm telling you believe in this guy.

"Have faith in the Yankees, my son. Think of the great DiMaggio."

by jscape2000 on Feb 8, 2008 3:00 AM EST up reply actions

Agreed

I think Ohlendorf has the best shot at nailing down that 8th inning role among the youngsters. He's got that very good slider and we both know he was trying to develop a splitter down in winter ball as well for another strikeout pitch.

Melancon, Sanchez, Horne, etc. probably won't get their opportunities until the second half.

by anaconda on Feb 8, 2008 5:19 AM EST up reply actions