Yankees 'boring' this winter? Never

by Ed Valentine on Nov 8, 2009 8:53 AM EST in New York Yankees Analysis

The euphoria over winning a 27th World Series title has already begun to fade, just a little. The focus is turning to 2010, and trying to win No. 28.

What will GM Brian Cashman do this winter? We know what most of the questions are. Hideki Matsui? Johnny Damon? Andy Pettitte? The makeup of the starting rotation?

I have been a Yankee fan for the entirety of the Steinbrenner era, and the one thing I can say is the off-season is never dull around the Bronx Bombers.

Yet, word seeping out is that might just be the case this year.

Here is Joel Sherman.

The Yankees found $181 million lying around last offseason, and made a late, victorious bid to corral Mark Teixeira, so never say never when it comes to the Yankees and spending.

But the initial read as the winter bazaar opens is that the Yankees do not intend to make a play for the three biggest free agents: Jason Bay, Matt Holliday and John Lackey. After signing the three biggest free agents last offseason (Teixeira, CC Sabathia and A.J. Burnett), the Yankees just might be boring this winter.

This is not about need, because corner outfield and starting pitcher are priorities to fortify what is now a champion. But based on conversations with multiple Yankees officials, I sense that financially and philosophically the Yankees will not big-game hunt in free agency.

Bob Klapisch agrees.

The Yankees will look remarkably similar in 2010, which is bad news for the rest of the industry. The free-agent crop is thin, and it’s unlikely that any team will dramatically remake itself during the off-season — and that includes the Bombers, who figure to stay away from the likes of John Lackey and Matt Holliday.
The Yankees had $75 million coming off the books after ’08, which allowed them to re-direct that cash toward CC Sabathia, A.J. Burnett and Mark Teixeira. There’ll be no similar windfall this winter, and Cashman would have a hard time justifying another payroll surge to the Steinbrenner family.

Others, though, are not buying that the Yankees won't be buying this winter. I can't blame them. We have heard it before.

Among them is Mike Lupica.

No one except the bookkeepers knows the real finances for the Yankees, how much they are propped up by YES, how much they make - or lose - just on the baseball operation, how much debt they incurred building the Eighth Wonder of the World. There are people in baseball who seriously wonder how long this team is actually going to stay in the Steinbrenner family.

We just know this: They sell winning and are willing to pay for it. There's nothing baseball can do to stop it, because all that the Players Association really has left is that they never gave in on a salary cap.

We'll hear now that the Yankees have got to get younger and can't keep both Damon and Matsui, and how they really aren't all that interested in Jason Bay or Matt Holliday. That's what we'll hear. But we'll see about all that. This is the one about how money can't buy happiness, but it certainly will finance an exhaustive search.

Here is an outside opinion, from John Shea of the San Francisco Chronicle.

Reports out of New York, one from longtime New York Post columnist Joel Sherman, suggest the Yankees might restrict their spending this offseason and won't hotly pursue elite free agents, maybe even try to pull that modest payroll under $200 million.

With all due respect to Sherman, who probably has more sources inside the Yankees than Hal Steinbrenner, we observers who think outside the Bronx are a little skeptical and offer two words of warning:

Just wait.

The Yankees can't help themselves.

Whether they buy or not, the Yankees won't be boring this winter. They never are.

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Comments

free agency

My preference is that the Yankees keep one of Damon and Matsui and go after Holiday but I can see the team bringing both of them back for one season at a lower salary or neither back.

They could go with Swisher, Gardner and Melky along with a resigned Nady if they let both players depart. That is two center fielders and three corner outfielders. Respectable and with and with no long contracts. Curtis and A Jackson could both see major league action next year.

Clearly signing Holiday and keeping one of damon and Matusi back gives us a beter lineup but if the Yankees do have a payroll limit it is worth exploring what our team would look like next Spring.

Let them go and no Holdiay scenarion looks like:

Posada and Cervelli: (Burnet liked pitching to Cervelli)
Texeira
Cano
Jeter and Pena
Arod
Melky. Gardner, Swisher and Hairston in the outfield
Nady and Miranda at DH.

We would have a very good offense with depth in outfiels and infield. I want to see what Miranda can do. I suspect that he can hit 280 with power and make himself good trade bait. soon he will be a a minor league free agent. If we cant resign Nady use shelly duncan as the right handed DH reserve outfielder.

As for the pitching staff I would have targeted either Sorian o or Mike Gonzalez earlier this summer but with mariano hinting that he isnt close to done I will stay the course and keep Andy.

My rotation would include:

CC, AJ, Andy, Hughes and Gauden, Acevas and Kennedy all serving as the occasional fifth starter, long reliever or substitute for Hughes to keep his innings below 180.

My bullpen would Include:

Mariano, Joba, Marte, Robertson and Cook.

!2 pitchers and 13 position players would make up my opening day roster.

AAA help might include:
Molina ( I hope)
Corona and Nunez
Curtis, Jackson and Duncan ( I hope)
Sanchez, Kroenke, and Melancon for the bullpen
McAlister as an emergenct starting pitcher.

Montero and Romine are probably at least one year away.

by Jtmc on Nov 8, 2009 10:55 AM EST reply actions

Johnny Damon is not coming back for just one

season. That would be silly on his part. He will get two and probably three years. Replacing Matsui at DH with Nady/Miranda would be one hell of a downgrade. He might go for oe year if the market stays depressed. And anyone who thinks that they will guarantee Hughes & Gaudin spots on the rotation has not been paying attention. The Yankees always play it close to the vest and then spring into action right at the end. No way that they let the Red Sox and Mets grab headlines making big signings and counter with replacing their own big names with rookies and scrubs.

by garp on Nov 8, 2009 12:14 PM EST up reply actions

Of course they won't be boring...

obviously, nothing’s gonna match CC, AJ and Tex.

Actually, I think there could be a few ’Swisher trade" type things. You also have the FA of Damon, Mats, Pettite, not to mention JHJ, Molina, even Hinske.

What do we do with all these guys?

I highly doubt they keep all of them. I also highly doubt there’s not a few new faces.

The Red Sox are going to be big players this offseason, I can see that. Lord knows what they do, but I wouldn’t be surprised if they spend “$453 million (why that’s always the number people cite…I don’t know. Maybe they should realize the Yanks payroll went down this year..”)

Of course, if the Red Sox spend $453 million….that’s OK.

DO WHAT JERRY HAIRSTON DO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

by FreeBradshaw on Nov 8, 2009 11:46 AM EST reply actions

....I can totally see Lacky wearing a Red Sox uniform.

Sadly.

Yankees all day.

"People ask me what I do in winter when there's no baseball. I'll tell you what I do. I stare out the window and wait for spring." ~Rogers Hornsby

by Onishadow14 on Nov 8, 2009 11:48 AM EST reply actions

Me too

…he’s of the Curt Schilling ilk.

by dorsal on Nov 8, 2009 11:49 AM EST up reply actions

Doubt it.

We need to spend money on LF. If we want to extend Beckett, we most likely cannot afford Lackey as well. The only chance at Lackey for the Sox would be if we chose him over Beckett (though that would be a scary rotation for next year).

"Ninety percent [of my salary] I'll spend on good times, women, and Irish whiskey. The other ten percent I'll probably waste."
-Tug McGraw

by BTLove on Nov 9, 2009 2:11 AM EST up reply actions

Pitching

Dont think the yankees wont lok at some pitching this offseason, if andy doesnt return.. Maybe a 3rd or 4th man. There is a lot of respecty pitching on the market this year tht the yankees wont need to really open the wallet for.

by Fluke on Nov 8, 2009 12:16 PM EST via mobile reply actions

the offseason will

be a surprise just like it is every offseason. Some random signing like swisher will definitely happen and no one will see it coming. The yankees always surprise me in the winter and this year will be no different.

by eddieo311 on Nov 8, 2009 12:31 PM EST reply actions

Variables

There are alot of variables this offseason that will affect the yankees’ roster this year.
1. Will Petitte come back or retire?
2. What to do with Joba and Hughes. Both guys have wicked stuff and should have more confidence pitching next year.
3. Wang is up for arbitration. It would cost the yanks 4m this year to keep him.
4. Damon and Matsui.
5. Is Kennedy and Ajax ready?

IMO i would love to see Andy come back, but i would understand if he retires on top. As far as Joba and Hughes, if Joba can throw 94+ fastballs consistently as a starter i say put him in the rotation. If not keep Joba in the bullpen and gives Hughes a shot. I also think the Yanks should bring back Wang for 1 more year. He’s still young and has proven to be a very good pitcher when healthy. For $4m i think its worth a try. I would like the Yanks to sign Damon to either a 2-3 year deal and Matsui to a 1 year deal. Damon can still play the outfield plus i dont think Gardner is ready to be a full time starter yet. I would like to see the yanks bring up Ajax and Kennedy to see how much have they developed. As far as signing Holliday, Bay or Lackey i wouldnt go for any of them. Too much money and the Yanks imo can do it again with the same roster they have now. Yanks should eye Mauer when hes available. The Yanks ace in the hole is Nady. He has proven he is a solid player when healthy.

So to sum it up id say keep the roster the same.

by miamiYankee on Nov 8, 2009 3:37 PM EST reply actions

You really couldn't

Warm to the thought of replacing Johnny Damon with Matt Holliday? Neither are great defensively, but getting younger in LF would be huge. He’d be a huge addition offensively. Tex, A-Rod, Holliday and Swisher would be an outstanding 3-6.

I agree with you on Lackey and Bay. Holliday, I think he’s the real deal.

by Yankees82 on Nov 8, 2009 4:59 PM EST via mobile up reply actions

Pitching depth

I would love to have wanger healthy, and Joba and Hughes being key parts of the rotation. But I don’t want to bet on it. Rich Harden is a type B free agent. He didn’t have a great year in chicago. However IF healthy hes an ace. Another attractive option is Erik Bedrard. If Pettitte leaves he would make a nice lefty starter at the three spot or below. Both are type b
free agents

People ask me what I do in winter when there's no baseball. I'll tell you what I do. I stare out the window and wait for spring. ~Rogers Hornsby

by sdhman11 on Nov 8, 2009 6:43 PM EST reply actions

pitching..d and get younger

Still think Hughes might be a yr away from becoming a starter and at this pt its foolish to keep playing with Joba..Leave Joba and Hughes in the bullpen (although one of them will prbly a starter in 10’)

Say Saynora to Matsui..Bring back Damon hopefully to a 2yr 10 mill deal..
Let Wang go..and sign Lackey..( Im not sure Wang will ever be a big time pitcher the way Lackey has been and if not I agree with the previous post that he may be a Red Sux)

I would really consider trying to trade Cano..( another guy that seemed to be lost despite a solid comeback season) great D but mentally reminds of Soriano

Resign Molina and carry Cervelli on the roster …say goodbye to Guzman ..bring back Hinske ( he has been on the last 3 AL Pennant winners and 2 out of the last 3 WS winners)

Mike Cameron is avail
I hear Dan Uggala maybe as well..

Pitching and D wins and the Sux and Mets will be super aggressive this yr both in the trade mkt and in free agency..

I personally can live without Bay or Holliday..but you cant let a Santana type trade for Roy Halladay go unchecked to the Mets or Sux …

A rotation of CC.Burnett.Lackey..Andy and Hughes/Joba with minor tweaks IMO puts us in a postion to repeat..

by MUSKRAT on Nov 8, 2009 10:26 PM EST reply actions

Trade Cano?

That’s all I took from your post…

Why on Earth would we get rid of him…seriously? And who do we get in his place? I’ll just pretend you typed that by accident…

by jigglytuffy on Nov 8, 2009 11:38 PM EST up reply actions

Trading cano is retarded.

Strikeouts are boring- Besides that, they're fascist. Throw some ground balls - it's more democratic.

by CasanovaWong on Nov 9, 2009 12:05 AM EST up reply actions

Cano

Obviously you dont just trade a young player with his upside ..I just never liked him ..dont think he plays with passion..and checks in and out of games..Last yr you guys were probably the first ones screaming bloody murder as Joe G had to basically bench him and send Melky to the minors to get their heads straight..

I dont think you get value for him so of course he isnt going anywhere however would you pass up a Beltran for Cano deal if the Mets would be stupid eneough to consider trading him?

by MUSKRAT on Nov 9, 2009 12:16 AM EST reply actions

Yes...I do.

YOu’d had Beltran cuz he doesn’t seem to play with ""passion""".

DO WHAT JERRY HAIRSTON DO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

by FreeBradshaw on Nov 9, 2009 6:18 AM EST up reply actions

**hate

DO WHAT JERRY HAIRSTON DO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

by FreeBradshaw on Nov 9, 2009 6:18 AM EST up reply actions

Cano pt II

Reasons I dislike him

Lacksadasical
Poor Plate discipline
THis yr couldnt hit a barn door when it mattered

reasons to like him

young
cheap
upside is tremendous

Im just saying if you can get value like a CF (which is much tougher to find than a 2b who can hit or a stud pitcher ) why wouldnt you consider trading him

Btw its that kind of thinking that let to SUX winning in 04’ when Soriano was deemed untouchable and Schilling was delivered to the Sux..

by MUSKRAT on Nov 9, 2009 12:19 AM EST reply actions

Lackadasical??

Stupidest crap I have ever read. You have absolutely no evidence of this. You don’t know how hard he works in the cage or how many grounders he takes after practice. All you see is a young Dominican kid who smiles alot, is immensely talented and routinely makes ridiculously hard plays look easy. Thus when he makes a mistake you call him lazy. He’s one of the elite 2b in the game and unloading him for some made up bullshit like being “lackadasical” is idiotic. The kid had a 126 ops+ and 25 homeruns. You’re not going to see production like that from a 2b anywhere else except Philly.

Strikeouts are boring- Besides that, they're fascist. Throw some ground balls - it's more democratic.

by CasanovaWong on Nov 9, 2009 1:11 AM EST up reply actions

Cano is fundamentally flawed

Can he improve? Sure. He improved his consistency defensively this season. He is still undisciplined at bat and this was exploited in the playoffs against the best teams who had a full season of scouting reports. After a mediocre 2008 he rebuilt his value and I would be in favor of offering him and Hughes as the centerpieces in a trade for guys like Felix Hernandez or Roy Halladay et al.

by Peter Lacock on Nov 9, 2009 4:20 AM EST up reply actions

so trading Cano

for Uggla? this is by far the dumbest ideas ive seen in a long time. Cano is great player with a good future. He had a very good year will have more to come as a yankee. What a dumb idea. Cano had a bad postseason but i woldnt trade him for any other 2B in the majors. As far as getting holliday or bay, im not sold on them. Something about signing those guys to a huge contract scares me. i would understand if cashman doesnt bring matsui or damon to get younger. As far as wang is concerned, the guy has alot of upside and im sure the yanks can help him pitch like the 19 game winner he has been in the past.

by miamiYankee on Nov 9, 2009 1:27 AM EST reply actions

Cano does have talent BUT, he is one lazy ass, lackadasical player with a big chip on his shoulder. He reminds me a lot like Manny Ramirez. Ask yourself this. When is the last time you saw him run out, at full speed, a ground ball, or, try and take out a player at 2nd base to break up a DP? And he is undisciplined at the plate. He certainly does NOT have the same attitude towards the game as Jeter, A-Rod, Tex, Damon, Gardner and just about everyone else on the team. Moving on, what NY really needs is starting pitching. CC is money in the bank. After that, we are in trouble. There’s a good chance Pettite will retire, Burnett is NOT the 85 million dollar man and cannot be counted on. Who knows what Wang’s situation is, Gaudin is unproven and Joba and Hughes belong in the bullpen.

by TimSnit on Nov 9, 2009 5:11 PM EST reply actions