Let's Start Some Rumors

by jscape2000 on May 12, 2008 10:43 PM EDT in Analysis Comment 7 comments

Last week, LateInningRelief put me in charge of finding a cheap veteran for the Yanks to pick up to eat some innings this season.

Here's a couple potential trades I'd sign off on:
Hideki Matsui plus $4 million for Randy Wolf.
Why trade an offensive asset for an injury-prone 31 year old lefty who is outperforming his career contact % by 5%?
Because Wolf is only signed to the end of this season, while Matsui is locked into the Yanks' DH spot this season and next. I haven't seen Jorge Posada throw yet- and until I do, I'm thinking that he catches maybe 90 games each year for the rest of his career. Matsui has a no-trade clause, and he would probably demand an extention. When the Yanks floated the idea of trading Matsui to the Giants, they showed me that he is not a vital piece of the long-term plan.

You know who the Mariner's DH is? Jose Vidro's emaciated .194/.248/.296.
Hideki Matsui for Cha Seung Baek and Miguel Cairo.
Now, I know the vultures are circling on the Mariners' season; I was one of those who never really thought the Mariners could outperform their Pythag by 9 games again.
I'm offering Matsui again, this time with greater hope that he will accept a trade to pair with his countrymen Ichiro and Johjima.
I'm after 28 year old Korean swingman Cha Seung Baek. He's got experience starting and relieving, and he's under team control until (I think) 2012, so he's easy to move around (rotation to pen, MLB to AAA) as the young guns develop.

I know there are other rumors swirling through cyberspace, but none of them particularly appeal to me.

What do you think? Do you a brilliant idea you want to float? Barring a deal like one of these, I'm inclined to parade out the minor leaguers and see who can cut it.

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Let me just say that I love Jscape

and I completely respect his opinion and creativity.

But the suggestion that Miguel Cairo should be part of any deal to the Yanks is enough to provoke the most civil and non-violent members of this community to throw a few of these at him:

by anaconda on May 12, 2008 10:58 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Methinks jscape put

Cairo into the package to swing sentiment back to the young guns. A sub-conscious decision, perhaps, to torpedo his argument?

Mr. Freud? Mr. Jung?

I always feel pressure. What I don't have is fear. -- El Duque

by LateInningRelief on May 12, 2008 11:29 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Am I brilliant

because I am brilliant or because you think I am brilliant? Is there a difference?

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

by jscape2000 on May 12, 2008 11:52 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Trading Matsui

is a lousy idea, especially for a bum like Wolf.

Matsui is still capable of playing the outfield, and might need to next year because Abreu probably will not return and who knows what the Yankees plan on doing with RF. He’s a good, relatively inexpensive insurance policy. Let’s put it this way: he can’t be any worse defensively than Abreu is.

Plus Matsui is the only guy on the team who has hit the ball consistently. They have to keep him.

With Rasner and Mussina doing well, I don’t thing pitching is a problem at all, the Yanks have plenty. I think (hope) we’ll see a different IPK Thursday night. And the bullpen has been solid all year long.

At this point they should do nothing but be patient. Pettitte will shake off the dreaded bad inning virus he’s seems to have caught. Cano will hit, ARod will return, Posada will be catching again (they showed him rehabbing yesterday and he’s already throwing the ball), and with any luck Giambi will pick it up (he has looked better this week).

"Well, that kind of puts a damper on even a Yankees win."
-- Phil Rizzuto after hearing about the Pope's death

by matthaggs on May 13, 2008 8:54 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

No way ...

do I trade Matsui. Right now he’s the only real bat working in our lineup. Taking him out of the mix would only make our offense—well, more offensive. That is of course unless Randy Wolf can hit .320 with 30 dingers, and hit .750 with runners in scoring position.

People, the ship isn’t sinking, so stop heading for the lfe boats. We are missing Arod, Posada, Cano, Giambi … Cano is showing signs of life, as is Giambi—although I fully expect him to flatline at any moment. Arod will come back strong, and Posada regardless if he catches, plays alittle first will rake.

We just need to relax and continue to play .500 ball for now. Our pitching isn’t bad (well, if you forget about that abortion that was Kei Igawa’s outting. I think Rasner is for real, and I think IPK will come around, and I’ve been amazed by Mussina.

It’s early May. Breathe everyone. Breathe. No wacky trade proposals just yet. Someone tell Miguel not to pack his bags—just yet.

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

by Ronster22 on May 13, 2008 9:07 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

If we bring in pitching

It should be up at the #1, #2 end of things. In spite of the early struggles by Hughes and Kennedy our problem has not been pitching. Our problem has been offense.

I think we have to wait for Cano to hit. But Duncan and Giambi are below .200 and Ensberg and Molina are below .225. Molina gets a pass from me because he’s such a stud catcher that I think he’s valuable playing. But the rest of the slugs need to hit, OR THEY NEED TO GO

A positive attitude may not solve all your problems, but it will annoy enough people to make it worth the effort. Herm Albright (1876 - 1944)

by Cbeck3 on May 13, 2008 11:56 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

the funniest thing...

you know how on yankees.com they have the video corner on the right that shows a highlight. even when the yanks lose, it shows a homerun or a couple of strikeouts for our pitcher, etc.

today it shows “damon grounds out to first to score a run.”

funniest shit ever.

by tombradylikesdudes on May 13, 2008 2:05 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs