Let's Start a Rumor: Yankees Pursue Braden Looper
by jscape2000 on Dec 15, 2010 2:12 PM EST
in New York Yankees Analysis
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PrintThe Yankees are closing in on a deal with free agent starter Braden Looper, a source tells me. This person is allowed to remain anonymous to protect the fun of this post. Terms of the deal are still taking shape, but it is expected to be a one year deal for between $4M and $5M, with either a team option or a vesting option for 2012 at a higher rate.
Why it makes sense for the Yankees:
Looper had a bad year in Milwaukee last season, after 3 solid seasons in St. Louis where he moved from the pen to the rotation. While Looper has never topped 200IP, the sinkerballer averaged just under 6 innings per start over the last 3 seasons.
If Looper flops, he won't have cost the Yankees any draft picks or prospects, but if he succeeds he'll be under team control for another season.
Why it makes sense for Looper:
While the AL East will be a big challenge for the righty, it will also provide him with an opportunity to play for a winner and enjoy the early advantage of a pitcher facing batters for the first time. That plus a little bounce back (2010 2009 xFIP 4.87, in line with his Cardinals numbers), and Looper could be a big piece for the pitching starved Yanks.
Plus, Looper has a chance to be loved by New York fans, for being the anti-Cliff Lee (read: willing to sign with New York) while simultaneously being not Carl Pavano or Javy Vazquez.
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Hopefully this “rumor” falls by the wayside, the thought of looper in pinstripes gives me indigestion.
by MikeVickLovesMyPitBull on Dec 15, 2010 2:20 PM EST reply actions
Agreed.
Not happy about this at all. I’d rather Nova or Brackman get a shot than this guy..
UM....
Did Looper even pitch during the 2010 season? I don’ t think he did….
It isn’t April 1st, is it?
OK...
I guess he’s a sinkerballer who throws kinda hard and has thrown over 190IP before, so he might not be a bad 4/5 starter.
Then again that was in the NL and he didn’t pitch in 2010. Sounds like insurance just in case Sergio Mitre turns out to be Sergio Mitre.
Last night, a comedian died in New York. Somebody knows why. Somebody knows
Insurance in case Sergio Mitre turns out to be Sergio Mitre?
Isn’t that kind of like saying, in case I burn my ass sitting on a blazing fire?
"Have faith in the Yankees, my son. Think of the great DiMaggio."
It is
but by including the term “Mitre” twice, contains more cursing.
We don't play for the wild card around here kid
Thats quite an accomplishment
Should you choose to test my resolve in this matter, you will be facing a finality beyond your comprehension, and you will not be counting days, or months, or years, but milleniums in a place with no doors.
Looper
If I’m not mistaken… he pitched for the Mets?
Not a fan of the move…
March 31st can't come soon enough.
No Looper,Sell the farm for King Felix
Right now I would give Seattle anything for Hernandez. Chamberlain,Gardner,Montero, Nunez would be hard to say no to.
yea maybe Hughes, rather not though.
He will get a nice payday soon, the other guys are cheap for a long time.
You forgot that the Cardinals’ pitching coach Dave Duncan is a miracle worker and can make anyone useful. That may have been attributed to his success in St. Louis and flop in Milwaukee.
So maybe we should just throw all kinds of money at Duncan instead
Should you choose to test my resolve in this matter, you will be facing a finality beyond your comprehension, and you will not be counting days, or months, or years, but milleniums in a place with no doors.
I call bunk on this
While I could go with a successful #4 innings eater, I’d rather not go for an NL pitcher in doing so. Next…
If we are going make up a deal like this a more intriguing option is Jeremy Bonderman. At least he had success in the AL at one point but again another broken pitcher who needs to get fixed before he can even pitch. Perhaps Jeff Francis another guy coming back from injury but he did put up some respectable numbers in Colorado a notoriously hitter friendly ballpark. Those guys imo should get a look before Braden Looper a guy who has never really had the successes these guys did when they were healthy.
Nope
To be a “True Yankee” one has to be drafted by the Yankees (or signed as a free agent) and not played for another team prior to making it to the Bigs.
There's always next year
Reggie Jackson?
Paul O’Neill? Tino Martinez? Scott Brosius?
OH yeah…another one: BABE RUTH?!?!?
Let's cut through the crap, Vaughn. I only got one thing to say to you: "Strike this mother f*cker out."
Hmmm
I’m a rookie. Just noticed that this is completely made up. Fail.
March 31st can't come soon enough.
Nothing else to do until a move gets made, so yeah, there are a few more coming. I’ll try not to do any of this though:
"Have faith in the Yankees, my son. Think of the great DiMaggio."
Starting pitchers
Brian Bannister (30)
Jeremy Bonderman (28)
Brian Burres (30)
Dave Bush (31)
Bruce Chen (34)
Doug Davis (35)
Justin Duchscherer (33)
Jeff Francis (29)
Freddy Garcia (35)
Braden Looper (36)
Rodrigo Lopez (35)
John Maine (30)
Pedro Martinez (39)
Andrew Miller (26)
Kevin Millwood (36) – Type B, not offered arb
Brian Moehler (39)
Carl Pavano (35) – Type A, offered arb
Brad Penny (33)
Andy Pettitte (39) – Type A, not offered arb
Nate Robertson (33)
Ben Sheets (32)
Ian Snell (29)
Jeff Suppan (36)
Chien-Ming Wang (31)
Jarrod Washburn (36)
Brandon Webb (32)
Todd Wellemeyer (32)
Chris Young (32)
There’s a list of the remaining free agents.
Like I said Francis and Bonderman. Ben Sheets is available too. Wang, Webb, Young and Washburn are others. After guys like them your reach for the very bottom of the barrel.
i saw 'Braden'
and thought it would be about Dallas, not Looper. is the thought of trading for Dallas Braden too far-fetched? a 27-yo LHP, coming off two good years, holds LHB to a .676 OPS, one of the best at holding runners. he probably wouldn’t cost too much in terms of prospects since he’s arb-eligible next year.
He’s arb eligible this year…
I thought the same thing you did though. Dallas Braden was the first thing that came to mind. Regardless if the Yankees were to trade for one of Oakland’s lefty SP’s I would prefer it to be Gio Gonzalez. He has a much better K/9 (although his BB/9 is much higher too). Putting them head to head in terms of results and they are pretty similar Gonzalez is 2 years younger though and will be arb eligible for the first time next year. Now that I think about it Braden sounds like he’d be more likely to be moved since he will be arb eligible so his pay will go up and Oakland did just sign Rich Harden so they could be looking to make a move. I wouldn’t be opposed to Braden. I would prefer a lefty to help combat all of Boston’s lefties and he would certainly fit the bill.
It's a great idea
But I’ve always been down on trading with Billy Beane- during the Hudson trade, I really got the impression that he’d decided to deal less within the AL, especially the AL contenders.
Much like the Jays did with Halladay and the Twins with Santana, they were demanding more from direct opponents so they’d have to read fewer “Player X Returns to Oakland” headlines.
"Have faith in the Yankees, my son. Think of the great DiMaggio."
yeah but I doubt the A's will move another pitcher
They had a solid young 5 and gave up one for some offense. Now that they missed out on the import they’re looking to plug in a stopgap so I doubt they move their (arguably) #1 pitcher. The A’s think they can compete soon
Can we call him Barden?
Yes, well when I see five weirdo's dressed in togas stabbing a guy in the middle of the park in full view of a hundred people, I shoot the bastards, that's my policy.
No surprise here
March 31st can't come soon enough.
by Chris McKeown on Dec 15, 2010 9:04 PM EST up reply actions
So did I
Look at three of my comments above lol
March 31st can't come soon enough.
by Chris McKeown on Dec 15, 2010 9:04 PM EST up reply actions
I don't how legit Yahoo Rumors is...but Carlos Zambrano?
by BlackandGoldSSgt on Dec 15, 2010 5:00 PM EST reply actions
Blehhh
…and he would give the Yanks a name in their rotation.
MSM writers just pulling stuff out of their bungholes. The Yankees needs good pitchers, not big names.
Zambrano is owed $35.9M over the next two seasons. He also has a 2013 $19.25M player option if, by some miracle, he is 1st or 2nd in the ’11 Cy Young votings or if he finishes in top 4 in 2012 Cy Young votings and is healthy at end of 2012.
by Scooby Snacks on Dec 15, 2010 5:14 PM EST up reply actions
Didnt Zambrano say no last year to Yanks trade?
Should you choose to test my resolve in this matter, you will be facing a finality beyond your comprehension, and you will not be counting days, or months, or years, but milleniums in a place with no doors.
He has full no-trade protection. The Cubs may have dangled him but I don’t recall any serious interest.
by Scooby Snacks on Dec 15, 2010 5:45 PM EST up reply actions
Why not??
CMW?? Doesn’t that guy deserve another shot?? And he would probably cost less than Blooper!! He can’t pitch in NY.
And as for that right handed bat….Manny Ramirez @ 7-8 mil would be great IMO. Yanks paid N.Johnson what?? 6.5 for 8 games??
well...
Manny fits the description…his OBP is still high and forseen as a threat…why not?
by Joe G. Blows on Dec 16, 2010 12:09 PM EST up reply actions
FUCK YOU BLOOPER!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=in6RZzdGki8
"Son, Nobody is half as good as Mickey Mantle"
Manny Ramirez??
The Red Sox fans would be rolling on the floor laughing if the Yanks picked him up. He’s done, hardly a threat.
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