Manny Thoughts on the Pending Offseason

by jscape2000 on Aug 9, 2008 2:02 PM EDT in New York Yankees Analysis

	2008	2009	2010
Posada	13	13	13
Giambi	21	(22/5)	--
Cano	3	6	9
Arod	27	32	32
Jeter	20	20	21
Matsui	13	13	--
Damon	13	13	--
Abreu	16	--	--
Pettitte	16	--	--
Rivera	15	15	15
Mussina	11	--	--
Pavano	11	(13/ 2)	--
Total	179	119	90

All of this, of course, is via Cot's (one of my favorite websites).

I've spent most of the season ruminating on how the Yankees could best invest the $60 million that will be coming off the books.

Like everyone else, I assume that the Yanks will start by giving Giambi and Pavano their buyouts (that cost is figured into the $119 million figure for next season).

We've all heard the Teixeira rumblings, and I admit I salivate a little when I think about a 29 year-old switch hitter who plays strong defense. But I think the Yankees need to leave the first base spot open. There's no guarantee that Jorge Posada's shoulder will be any good in the spring, and I love a good backup plan.

So if I'm the GM, in November I'll be mailing first baseman's gloves to Jorge, Hideki Matsui and Johnny Damon. The plan is whoever looks the best there can be the first baseman, either Hideki or Johnny can play left, while the third guy's the DH; I want to see another couple months of Pudge before I decide between him and Rod Barajas. 2 years/ $20 million. 2009 budget: 129

Assuming he can be talked into leaving the NL for the pressure cooker of the AL East, I'll sign C.C. Sabathia for (gah!) $107 mil/ 5 years (which is greater than the guaranteed value of Santana's contract, which should make his agent happy). 2009 budget: 149

Mark Kotsay is probably the best free agent centerfielder on the market, but his back troubles have undermined a productive season (.284/.333/.396). So I'm looking at the trade market to find an average centerfielder. Could we get Reed Johnson from the Cubs for Veras and some cash?

At the same time I'll be aggressively shopping our two left fielders, because if I can clear space on the roster I can make the offseason very interesting.

Now, if you haven't seen the Manny Ramirez wants to be a Yankee story already, be warned it comes from the king of making shit up: George A. King III. But I'd been daydreaming about the same turn of events even before Manny's trade to the Dodgers. Flip Damon to Seattle (to cover more ground in the outfield than FA Raul Ibanez) or Matsui to the Giants (so the Giants have at least one hitter in their lineup), and that opens up space for Manny as DH. 3 years/ $75 million. 2009 budget: 174.

I'm open to re-upping Pettitte and/or Mussina for 1 year/ $12 mil to fill out the back end of the rotation. And Hughes' performance in September will dictate how important I feel it is to add another innings eater. If he's good, he can fight for the fifth spot (or sixth, if we resign both Pettitte and Moose) with Alan Horne and Alfredo Aceves (IPK, we'll discuss your future as soon as I can watch you do a post-game presser without grinding my teeth).

If Hughes is lousy and either (or both) of Pettitte and Mussina decide to hang 'em up, Derek Lowe and Jon Garland figure to be the best pitchers available without initials for a first name, while cheaper (and less attractive) options abound.

This brings my budget to the 185-195 range, with a rotation of CMW, CC, Joba, Pettitte, Moose; the lineup runs righty heavy: Jeter SS, Cano 2B, Arod 3B, Manny DH, Matsui LF, Nady RF, Johnson CF, Posada 1B, Barajas C. Fill out the arbitration cases (Wang, Nady, and the bullpen) and I imagine it brings the total budget to around 215. And since New Yankees Stadium includes a money press among the amenities, that shouldn't be much of an obstacle.

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Comments

You beat me to the Manny stuff

I was going to mention it in the GameThread,

That “Manny being Manny” stuff would never fly in the Yankee clubhouse and he knows it. Besides, I want to play for the Yankees too – but that doesn’t mean they would be interested in signing me.

I just don’t see Cashman wanting to take on that kind of headache.

by anaconda on Aug 9, 2008 2:39 PM EDT reply actions

The Real Plan

First off, I have to say that signing Manny would be the dumbest decision in the history of sports. He is a complete jerk, not a hard worker, a clubhouse cancer, and just not a Yankee kind of guy. Nady should play left. They should not pick up Bobby’s option, but should re-sign him a tlike 12-13mm. I liked the first base idea, but we always have a ton of injuries. And with Giambi gone the Yanks will need another power bat. I say go for the lower risk of signing Adam Dunn. He can play first or the OF and could DH as well. Obvoiusly they should sign CC. But he is going to want seven years I think. 21mm/yr for seven years. We’re the Yanks we can afford it. Now comes the biggest move. When Yu Darvish gets posted. GET HIM. I mean 95mm posting fee. He is 22 and is crazy good. His ERA is always low. If Matsui is traded it keeps the Japanese fan base. He would be a great addition. If they can’t get him I think Ryan Dempster is better than Lowe and Garland. Another signing should be Will Ohman. Why not have two great lefties?
And if they got CC and Darvish just imagine….
Joba
CC Sabathia
Darvish
Wang
Hughes

Ummmm RIDICULOUSLY GOOD

by Kevin4292 on Aug 9, 2008 5:10 PM EDT reply actions

I think the Yanks will steer clear of Darvish

Japanese hitters have done well in the majors, but the same cannot be said for Japanese pitchers. Dice-K has been fine, but we’ll see what happens with him over the next few years.

Most Japanese pitchers have a good season or two and then regress quite a bit once the league figures them out.

I don’t think the Yanks are going to take a $100M+ gamble on Darvish to find out if he’s got the goods to pitch in this league.

Sabathia is one thing, but a completely unproven commodity like Darvish is quite another.

by anaconda on Aug 9, 2008 5:15 PM EDT up reply actions

You Know....

with all the money the Yankees do and will make, they can just sign Teixeira, Manny and Sabathia. Seriously*, what do you think the Yankees could get for Damon & Matsui, or do you realize they won’t get much for them, since they are old players who will do nothing but get older, and just take whatever you can get just to get one or both of them off the team so Posada has a place to finish up his career since his catching days are apparently over (unless he can underhand the ball around the bases)?

You should keep Melky around until it’s time for Jeter to play centerfield, which should be coming in a year or two, as he is not, nor has he ever been, a good-fielding shortstop (your best shortstop is playing third). When Jeter moves to center then you’ll need to find a shorstop. Who will be on the free agent market at shorstop two years from now?

You should keep the 28 year old pitcher Veras instead of flipping him over for a 32 year old centerfielder since you have a younger one already in place (who should be moved from there when Jeter is ready to accept the inevitable and move there, the team-first player he is—please see the previous paragraph). It’s not like the Yankees are super-saturated with good relief pitching (your second-best reliever is now a starter who is on the DL).

Manny, in some way, if not in “manny” ways (ha ha—I can be humorous, too!), is Sheffield-ian, so why do you want to recreate that whole scenario in Yankee-ville? And I wouldn’t be taking a flyer on Whirling Darvish, either. Anaconda is right when he states Japanese pitchers aren’t good for very long (yes, even the Japanese can export some bum products once in awhile). You might as well keep Rodriguez around then go find yourself a left-handed hitting catcher to platoon with I-Rod. There’s got to be one somewhere the Yankees can obtain, right?

So that’s what I think. And this is the end of my thoughts. Good day.

Actually, I’m being half-serious about the Yankees’ ability to sign all three—they really could and still turn a profit. So it’s extra luxury taxes and such, big deal. As Kevin4292 said, “We’re the Yanks we can afford it.”

"We praise or blame as one or the other affords more opportunity for exhibiting our power of judgment." Friedrich Nietzsche, "Human,All Too Human" (1878)

by wgarrett on Aug 10, 2008 9:51 AM EDT reply actions

Actually

The Yanks are saturated with relief pitching. Watch Melancon in the Bronx next season. And some of the current minor league starters will become relievers, especially if the Yanks sign CC or another free agent (Horne, Sanchez, maybe Hughes?).

I don’t think Jeter has the foot speed to cover center at this point. 3-5 years ago, sure. But he’s lost a step (check out his SB-CS the last couple seasons). And assuming Austin Jackson stays on track, we only need a 2 or 3 year centerfielder anyways.

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

by jscape2000 on Aug 10, 2008 4:10 PM EDT up reply actions

I

think you do not know anything about the yankees. So why don’t you go follow some other team.

Cano is a Pimp

by yankeechaser on Aug 10, 2008 10:14 PM EDT up reply actions

So....

are you agreeing with what I said, is that what you mean? I knew someone would see it my way!!

"We praise or blame as one or the other affords more opportunity for exhibiting our power of judgment." Friedrich Nietzsche, "Human,All Too Human" (1878)

by wgarrett on Aug 11, 2008 7:24 AM EDT up reply actions

What Are You....

stupid?!!? He’s trying to tell you that you don’t know anything about the Yankees! Why don’t you go away stupid Mets fan—go back to your Amazin’ Avenue and worry about your own team?? You’ll see—we’ll make the playoffs and your team will be home watching it once again—they better stock up on chips and beer!!! Ha ha ha!

by nettles9 on Aug 11, 2008 7:38 AM EDT up reply actions

Oh Yeah???

At least the Mets are in 2nd place—where are your precious Yank-Me’s, huh? What does a bird with a speech impediment say?? “Sweep Sweep”!! Hope your team doesn’t get too sun-burned too badly by those Rays! You’re the ones who’ll need the chips and beer, my friend! You can at least take comfort in knowing NY will be represented in the playoffs—by the M-E-T-S METS METS METSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS!!!!!!!

"We praise or blame as one or the other affords more opportunity for exhibiting our power of judgment." Friedrich Nietzsche, "Human,All Too Human" (1878)

by wgarrett on Aug 11, 2008 7:44 AM EDT up reply actions

Hey!!

Who’s made the playoffs every year since 1996? Who’s won 4 World Series since then, including crushing your Mutts??? We’re gonna be there again, my friend!! You’ll see—we are gonna come around and whoop everyone’s butt!!! The Mutts will look in the mirror one day and say “Hey, wait a minute—it’s September, right?? Time to COLLAPSE!!” We’ll leave some seats for ya in Yankee Stadium so David Wrong and the gang of Whiffers and Whiners can watch us win it all in person—you wanna come watch us, too??? L-O-S-E! METS WILL LOOOOOOOOOOOOOSE!!!

by nettles9 on Aug 11, 2008 7:53 AM EDT up reply actions

Jeter to second

Cano to first? Obviously this would make signing Tex unncecssary.

by njnick on Aug 10, 2008 6:11 PM EDT reply actions

They probably won't sign Teixeira anyways

Posada’s injury has really thrown a monkey wrench into any plans of signing him. If Posada’s shoulder doesn’t recover enough for him to be the everyday catcher next season, he’ll have to play somewhere.

And Matsui will be the everyday DH, so that leaves 1B as the only other option.

by anaconda on Aug 10, 2008 7:08 PM EDT up reply actions

imagination

is what Cash will need this offseason. he should flip Damon or Matsui. Keep Nady and figure out who plays CF. If Jorge can catch then we will have a big hole at first. I would sign Tex, we seem to always need more good hitting.

Cano is a Pimp

by yankeechaser on Aug 10, 2008 10:18 PM EDT up reply actions