Saturday News: The Tools of Ignorance

by jscape2000 on Jan 16, 2010 6:00 AM EST in News Comment 13 comments

The Tigers are counting on Austin Jackson. Is a Damon reunion growing more inevitable? Or by the time he falls into the Yanks' budget, will some other team have to go after a professional hitter with a 114 OPS+ over the last 3 seasons?

Why isn't Roy Halladay in the AL?

The Angels offered lefty Joe Saunders and catcher Mike Napoli, a low-ball, short-term bandage.

The Yankees offered catcher Jesus Montero – that's it, that's all. Dealing within the division one-for-one for the greatest player in franchise history would be a fan disaster.

The Red Sox, who left behind a nice multi-player offer in the summer, were now not even willing to make a one-for-one with Clay Buchholz. They were saving their financial bullets for one stud hitter, John Lackey, and/or Aroldis Chapman.

Across town, the Mets are having an '80s Yankees-Steinbrenner crisis. It's hard to believe that the Yanks have had 3 GMs in the last 19 years.

Fonzie Forever offers a look at the top 50 prospects in the Yankee system. We could quibble over the rankings, but if you want a State of the System, I know no better place to start. They've put together a paragraph on every prospect

h/t Pending Pinstripes.

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That's seriously what the Angels offered?

Glad Cashman wasn’t willing to give up Joba/Hughes AND Montero…but still, after giving up Jackson, he offers Montero for an aging pitcher? The Red Sox didn’t even offer Buchholz…could that have something do do with the fact that these 3 teams saw something negative in Halladay after he came back from the DL? (Medical recods, delivery, etc.)

I firmly believe that any man's finest hour, the greatest fulfillment of all that he holds dear, is that moment when he has worked his heart out in a good cause and lies exhausted on the field of battle - victorious.

Vince Lombardi

by moose35 on Jan 16, 2010 6:34 AM EST reply actions

Cashman has done an excellent job

at waiting out Damon, and seeing his market dry up. There’s no more point in waiting it out, seeing as how all potential suitors have pulled out. He’s not getting a 2 year deal from anyone, so the Yankees did well there.

Now, sign him already.

by FloridaownsFSU on Jan 16, 2010 8:46 AM EST reply actions

I think Cashman truly believes that if

he resigns Damon at a big discount Damon will have a chip on his shoulder, won’t feel appreciated, and his demeanor and play will both suffer.

I don’t think we are going to see anything happen here.

I wonder if Scott Boras is going to get heat for overplaying his hand. Until recently it seemed like all Boras did was make obscene amounts of money for his players.

Crowds are won and lost and won again, but our hearts beat for the diehards.

by Edwantsacracker on Jan 16, 2010 10:48 AM EST up reply actions

Maybe so but...

While Damon’s not rocket scientist he’s not a moron either. I’m sure it’s frustrating to get paid less than players you know you’re better than, but still, whatever Damon gets is going to be A LOT of money. He needs to suck it up and play hard or he’s not going to get a better deal next year. Damon’s pretty much one of the last guys I’d ever worry about not playing hard.

With each passing day I think Damon’s return is more and more likely. He’s not getting a 2-year deal anywhere, and I’d think a 1 yr 7 mil type deal would sound better to him from the Yankees than from the Tigers or Braves who don’t seem willing to pay more than that. The White Sox still need a DH so they might be the one wild card in this.

by Let's Talk About Tex Baby on Jan 16, 2010 5:27 PM EST up reply actions

I think the deal Damon is going to get

is going to be less than 7 million. Like 4-5.5 million ranger. Maybe they could work something out with a low base salary with incentives for production like they did with Andy Pettitte last year. That way Cashman can go back to the bosses and say if he is injured or stinks then it isn’t much more money and if he is great it will be worth the money.

Crowds are won and lost and won again, but our hearts beat for the diehards.

by Edwantsacracker on Jan 16, 2010 7:51 PM EST up reply actions

Tigs might find themselves in a bit of a bind if they're leaning on Ajax.

Unless he can cut down on the K’s he might not have a great season right out of the gate. I wish him the best of luck though.

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

by CasanovaWong on Jan 16, 2010 10:56 AM EST reply actions

Tigers were already in a bind.

Luckily the Ajax trade isn’t about this year, it’s about the future. It just so happens that Ajax is advanced enough where he could help Detroit this year, and get big league experience.

Crowds are won and lost and won again, but our hearts beat for the diehards.

by Edwantsacracker on Jan 16, 2010 11:24 AM EST up reply actions

Tigers

This is going to be a rebuilding year for them. They have a ton of money coming off the payroll after 2010 (Willis, Bonderman, Nate Robertson, Magglio Ordonez – that’s about 50 mil right there – and a few other guys) so it would be smart to try and let guys like Ajax develop and then become big players in a better free agent class next year.

by Let's Talk About Tex Baby on Jan 16, 2010 5:30 PM EST up reply actions

Exactly what I was trying to say.

Crowds are won and lost and won again, but our hearts beat for the diehards.

by Edwantsacracker on Jan 16, 2010 7:52 PM EST up reply actions

So...

Yankees come to terms with Baldelli.

Oops.

by FloridaownsFSU on Jan 16, 2010 12:06 PM EST reply actions

Yankees don't have a whole lot to spend

and Cash isn’t backing down. He’s done a great job at waiting out Damon. But it’s time to let him come back. His price is lower than the Yankees were originally going to pay. Now bring him back. I’m tired of this “budget” thing. If Damon really is going to come back for only one year, than his money will come off the books next year anyway. It won’t affect the Yankees ability to dive into the FA pool next year. So bring him back. I’d sure as hell rather have Damon hitting second than Nick Johnson.

by nyyrocks29 on Jan 16, 2010 5:38 PM EST reply actions

Amen.

Couldn’t have said it better myself.

by FloridaownsFSU on Jan 16, 2010 6:21 PM EST up reply actions

We have a budget?

That’s like Tiger Woods telling everyone he’s married. I agree with nyyrocks, pay the man and be done with it. I understand Cashman and the Yankees hate Boras (who doesn’t except for the players he represents), but the Yankees have a license to print money, and they should throw some JD’s way and have a big Kumbia hug to seal the deal.

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

by Ronster22 on Jan 18, 2010 3:14 PM EST reply actions