No Free Agents?
by jpoppejr on Dec 8, 2010 7:38 AM EST
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What do the Yankees need? Pitching. What is not available on the free agent market? Pitching. Lee should be an option the Yankees pass on unless when the final offer comes to them (and it will of course) and the annual salary is no greater than $20 mil and for only six years. But even then I would pass.
The Yankees are in dicey waters. No doubt their core is old. From a risk/reward standpoint I would like to see them pass on free agents this off season and roll the dice with a strategy of seeing "what they have." They can always tweak as the season progresses.
Here is my reasoning:
Current Roster
Offense
Very Strong Performers: Cano, A-Rod, Tex
Strong Performers: Grandy, Jeter (expect a rebound)
Average Performers: Swisher, Posada, Gardner
Question Marks: Jesus
Overall: Slightly Above Performers
Pitching
Very Strong: CC (18 - 20 wins)
Strong: Hughes (15 - 18 wins)
Average: AJ (better pitching coach, cannot be as bad as last year) (10 - 15 wins)
Question Marks: Nova, Pettitte, Joba (yes, I would like to see him back in the rotation - this is a very high risk/reward decision - if he performs at 4.50 era we are fine) (8 - 10 wins each; figure three pitchers substituting in the 5th slot))
Overall: Average
Bullpen: Average (10 - 15 wins from the pen / spot starters)
The above should result in 77 - 98 or an average of 87.5 wins and if we get some positive surprises we are right there in the hunt. Let the Angels overpay for Crawford (that is a win for the Yanks anyway - out of the division and he will be a good player but not great). Let Texas or Phila get Lee or even better the Nats - in three years whoever gets Lee will be crying with that contract.
Maybe add some bit players to strengthen the bench, but even that I would feel like let the youth play.
Many of posters will say I'm ridiculous and that this is a weak team. But I think I would rather a weak team with some upside then being saddled with horrible long-term contracts. It is time for other teams to choke on that.
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Good luck getting Lee for 6/$119.99M!
88 wins is not going to get it done. The Red Sox won 89 games last season and still missed the playoffs by 6 wins. While acknowledging that the core is old, do you really expect those guys and most of the other players to suddenly have career years to make up the difference in wins?
I agree, actually
I’m one of those who think for the long term health of the team let the young’uns have a shot. Let them mature and let us see what they’ve got. I will actually live another day if we don’t make the playoffs, but so many here act like they might not survive if we don’t. Spoiled or insensible? IDK.
There's always next year
Niether spoiled nor insensable
It is just a damn shame to know you are that close and not go for it. It is human nature to want instant gratification at the expense of long term stability.
I love a disaster you ravenous bastard. Been to 3 state fairs and watched 2 buzzards f$$k but just now have I seen it all.
by cashman bashman on Dec 8, 2010 9:48 PM EST up reply actions
I'm not so sure we both didn't misspel insenseable?
I will not look it up.
I love a disaster you ravenous bastard. Been to 3 state fairs and watched 2 buzzards f$$k but just now have I seen it all.
by cashman bashman on Dec 8, 2010 9:50 PM EST up reply actions
We don’t have any big pitching prospects that are ready to be in the starting lineup, other than Nova. If Pettitte retires, that still leaves a hole to be filled.
Montero will be our savior in 2011.
I wouldn't count Nova as a "big pitching prospect"
but you are right. The Yankees have a hole to be filled in the rotation regardless of Andy’s decision.
"I'll do whatever it takes to win games, whether it's sitting on a bench waving a towel, handing a cup of water to a teammate, or hitting the game-winning shot."- Kobe Bryant
Swisher, Gardner and Posada are not average.
Swisher and Gardenr had great years and Posada had the best year for a catcher not named Joe Mauer
Section 203 Row 15 Seat 1
Please tell me you are joking about Posada.
Writer for Pinstripe Alley, MLB Daily Dish
Follow me on twitter @nyybrandonc
The Yankees goal each and every year
is to go out and field a World Championship team. That should be the goal coming out of spring training. Win the World Series. I agree that they shouldn’t handcuff themselves with too many long term contracts. But when it comes down to it, I want to see the Yankees have the best team in baseball and I want to see them atop the division come October.
The current Yankees team, with 2 holes currently in the rotation and right now an average bullpen at best, is not a World Championship team. They need more pitching. I’d rather trade for Greinke, who is younger and more contract friendly, rather than go after Lee. But regardless of the approach, I want the Yankees team in 2011 to be, well, better than this.
This isn’t a knock on your post. But I don’t want the Yankees trying to save money if it means they’re going to be a weaker team. We aren’t the Marlins. We are the New York Yankees. I don’t want them spending too much, because even they have a budget. But I want them to put money into the team in order to produce a team I can expect to make a strong World Series run next year.
"I'll do whatever it takes to win games, whether it's sitting on a bench waving a towel, handing a cup of water to a teammate, or hitting the game-winning shot."- Kobe Bryant
Expect Greinke to be a Yankee consolation pickup if some team offers 7 years to Lee.
That is still a great pickup, and Gardner, Swisher, Granderson will be a terrific outfield if healthy. Last season they wer not in the lineup and healthy hardly ever. Tiexiera and A Rod will be over their injuries and each could hit 40 plus HRs. Cano could go for 20-30, mand Posada once through pouting might hit .290 with 25 dingers. They just need a top line starter, and Kerry Wood as a sageguard against Hughes and Joba flaming out this season. I really want Lee, but in 4 years he may be the highest paid .500 pitcher in baseball. Grienke is very young and very good.
agreed
Greinke is very young, very good (one of the best in the game actually) and at this point is very contract friendly. He’ll cost a lot of prospects. But he’s worth it so long as Jesus isn’t involved.
I think that Gardner, Banuelos, Romine, Joba and a mid level prospect may do it.
"I'll do whatever it takes to win games, whether it's sitting on a bench waving a towel, handing a cup of water to a teammate, or hitting the game-winning shot."- Kobe Bryant
I’m not saying the Yankees shouldn’t get Greinke, but the general belief around the baseball industry is that the Yankees wouldn’t get Greinke.
Writer for Pinstripe Alley, MLB Daily Dish
Follow me on twitter @nyybrandonc
Dayton Moore may be dumb enough (as evident to his recent Jeff Francoeur signing) and bite if the Yankees throw in enough young pitching arms sans Montero.
by Scooby Snacks on Dec 8, 2010 8:31 PM EST up reply actions
I’m not talking about any real specific reason, I don’t think it’s about the Yankees not having who to trade either. I’m just simply stating that I would be absolutely shocked if the Yankees traded for Greinke, based upon what I’ve heard and read so far from people with knowledge of Greinke negotiations.
Writer for Pinstripe Alley, MLB Daily Dish
Follow me on twitter @nyybrandonc
Meh. Cashman is pretty down-low with trades. No one saw the Granderson and Swisher trades coming before it was announced.
by Scooby Snacks on Dec 8, 2010 8:49 PM EST up reply actions
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