New York Yankees notes: What will happen today?
The last two days have brought a trade for a new center fielder (Curtis Granderson) and a free-agent signing of an old starting pitcher (Andy Pettittte). What will today bring? Who knows? Let's look around the Inter-Google at stories about our New York Yankees while we wait to find out.
General Manager Brian Cashman finally spoke Wednesday about the Granderson trade, and admitted it was difficult for him to give up the young talent he surrendered.
"It was hard for me to do that, both for the depth that they provide, the insurance, the cost control, their ability, and what they object to be. But in this particular case, we are coming off a situation right now where we have two guys right now that are free agents, Matsui and our left fielder, Johnny Damon, that right off the bat is somewhere in the 50 home run range coming right out of our lineup.
So when you learn that there is a potential opportunity to bring in a premium position player, here is a centerfielder that's an above-average centerfielder with power: Hitting 30 home runs in that ballpark; left-handed bat; loves batting in Yankee Stadium; he's athletic.
It's one of those things where you really look hard at it. We had a lot of discussion. It did take a long time, a lot of creativity by the people here at this table to pull it off. So he's an exceptional character guy, too."
Speaking of Granderson, his former manager in Detroit, Jim Leyland, thinks Yankee fans will love him.
"In my opinion, Curtis Granderson is one of the things that’s all good about today’s baseball world," Leyland said. "He’s one heck of a player. He has a great face, he’s very bright, he’s very articulate; he’s everything that’s good about baseball. He’s the total package."
Pettitte told reporters he thought about retiring. Pettitte, though, sounds like a guy who will continue to pitch until the results tell him he just can't do it any more.
"There’s no doubt it did," he said. "For me, I couldn’t have wrote it up any better. I just could not have wrote a script any better than last year ended. I was like, what else is there to do? Why would you even continue to play? But, then you start talking to guys and it’s like, I want to make sure I’m done. I want to make sure I fully exhaust myself and I don’t want to regret not playing. I want to come back and help this organization win another one, basically. That’s what you play for."
It's pretty obvious that the Yankees are telling Johnny Damon they would like him back -- but only on their terms. At least one scout thinks Damon should take whatever the Yankees give him.
"He really has more value to the Yankees than anybody else," an AL scout said yesterday, "because his power is maximized in that stadium, and now he can probably split time between left field and DH. He'd be crazy to walk away from such a great situation over more money at this stage of his career. But plenty of Boras clients have done it."
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Damon
He would be a great fit for us. Perfect number 2 batter. But he has to come down and realize that he is sub par in the outfield and he has to be DH for more than 90% of the games he plays.
I think Damon would be the better fit than Matsui because he can sub in left every now and again, he is still fast, and smart ( how could we forget the great 2 base steal), and he does make the line up more complete at the number 2 spot.
So, what do you think Damon will sign for this year?
If he signs with the Yanks then he has to accept the above stated and of course, a pay decrease and in years as well.
I agree
Damon should come back. He’s a better fit than Matsui because he can play the OF still, as well as DH. He isn’t strictly a DH, so he can sub in the OF and the Yankees can have some flexibility with the DH (although when playoffs come around, I want Damon DHing every game except the NL Games in the WS).
I wold think Johnny comes back for 2 years, and 16 million, and the Yanks should go no higher than 20 million (10 million a year).
I have a feeling he’ll be back. I’ve had that feeling all year. Hopefully they can get something done fast, and then maybe look at bring Matsui back as well (to the Yankees, discounted price).
Oh Johnny
I am saying the Yankees offer Damon, 2 Years 16 million and going no higher than 18 million for him. With the second year being a team option. Which I believe would be a good deal for him. I am just not to sure if Damon thinks that would be a good deal for him. At his age he will be looking for a 3-4 year guaranteed deal, which in all likelihood is not going to happen.
With the Yankees just acquiring Granderson, Cashman has already come out and said that he would be the #2 hitter against RHP and bat towards the bottom of the lineup against LHP. So if Damon comes back, where does he bat? do the Yankees continue to bat him second and try and find a more permanent spot for Granderson, or does Johnny become bottom of the lineup material against RHP and flip flops to 2nd against LHP?
Id like to see Johnny come back, he is a very good player for this team and for this stadium. It just so happens that he is going to have to suck up his pride and take over the role Matsui played this year.
I was sold on Granderson
In my opinion, Curtis Granderson is one of the things that’s all good about today’s baseball world," Leyland said. "He’s one heck of a player. He has a great face, he’s very bright, he’s very articulate; he’s everything that’s good about baseball. He’s the total package.
When one of the managers I respect as much as Jim Leyland says this about the player I am even more confident that it was a great trade.
by HappyLuckyGoldenDragonNumber1! on Dec 10, 2009 9:34 AM EST reply actions
And I also
Agree as well…..
Rick
Goooooooooooo MSU BOBCATs
MONTANA STATE UNIVERSITY
Almost 60 years as a YANKEE Fan
If we did get Damon then what would we do with..............
Swisher, Gardner, and Melky?
I honestly think we should TRADE SWISHER. We will get the most value for him today. He had a career year and has decent numbers. I have seen some Rumors floating around regarding him because of his relatively low cost and his high on base %.
Swisher RF
Damon/Melky LF, Grandy CF
Gardy PH, Defensive replacement in 8th-9th.
IF we trade Swisher, we gotta go get another OF.
…there is no OF available, for his salary, to do what he does.
"It ain't over till its over"---
If there's anything I'm sure of, its the Sun coming up in the morning, and Steve Smith.
by FreeBradshaw on Dec 10, 2009 9:48 AM EST up reply actions
You mean Gardy- pinch run, right? Right? ;)
"Have faith in the Yankees, my son. Think of the great DiMaggio."
Nah man...
who else do you want with the last AB, down 2 and a man on first?
Gardy doesn’t even have to point to the RF upper deck, we all know where its going.
…yea, I meant Pinch Run.
Tho, in a bind having him be a pinch bunter, wouldn’t be bad.
"It ain't over till its over"---
If there's anything I'm sure of, its the Sun coming up in the morning, and Steve Smith.
by FreeBradshaw on Dec 10, 2009 12:41 PM EST up reply actions
again with this?
Swisher didn’t have a career year last year.
http://www.fangraphs.com/statss.aspx?playerid=4599&position=1B/OF
His stats last year are very comparable to what he did in 2006 and 2007. 2008 was the worst season of his career. His 2009 season was true to what he’s shown he can do in his career. He can hit 30 HR, walks a ton, plays pretty good defense, is young, and is a great guy in the clubhouse. I want to keep this guy.
Swisher isn't getting traded
so you can give up on that. Swish, unless they get a deal they can’t refuse that involves him, will not be traded. He’ll be out in RF again next year (and I agree with that. He’s earned it). So, if Damon comes back……..
you have Melky in LF, Granderson in CF, Swisher in RF, Damon as the DH
And the lineup will be like this
Jeter
Damon
Teixeira
Rodriguez
Posada
Cano
Swisher
Granderson
Melky
If Matsui comes back (which is highly unlikely if Damon also comes back), then this is the lineup.
Jeter
Damon
Teixiera
A-Rod
Matsui
Posada
Cano
Granderson
Swisher
Either way, thats one hell of a lineup
I say we trade Montero for Mauer.
And Manny Banuelos for Tim Lincecum.
DFA Jeter.
Send A-Rod to the Amazon jungle to find out if that tribe still shrinks heads.
Make Tex the water boy.
Trade CC to the NY football Giants to play RT
…and of course re-up Joe Girardi for the next 25 years.
"It ain't over till its over"---
If there's anything I'm sure of, its the Sun coming up in the morning, and Steve Smith.
don't forget...
I’d want a piece of Hanley Ramirez, and Utley too.
Maybe trade Melky for Sizemore? That’d be just fine with me too.
by Vancouverguy on Dec 10, 2009 11:58 AM EST up reply actions
Interesting trades and moves
, but seriously, i really think you have something there with the Lincecum trade.
But i dont think he will want to come cuz in NY weed is still illegal so………………..
weed is illegal everywhere
for whatever reason
in Cali at least you can get it medically for glaucoma and other “ailments”
by Brian5517209 on Dec 10, 2009 11:41 AM EST up reply actions
Mike Lowell to the Rangers
for catcher Max Ramirez. I THINK they’ve done this to add another chip for a Halladay deal.
by PortlandYankee on Dec 10, 2009 10:29 AM EST reply actions
we took some right handed hitter off the Dodgers for the rule V draft
25 years old, was drafted as a hockey player, great splits against lefties. apparently plays good outfield defense
cashman
said he will compete for final roster spot
by justinxyankeesfan on Dec 10, 2009 11:46 AM EST up reply actions
He has to...
or else he goes back to the Dodgers.
"It ain't over till its over"---
If there's anything I'm sure of, its the Sun coming up in the morning, and Steve Smith.
by FreeBradshaw on Dec 10, 2009 12:41 PM EST up reply actions
true
I didn’t read the rules until today. haha.
by justinxyankeesfan on Dec 10, 2009 2:12 PM EST up reply actions

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