New York Yankee notes: Beckett a Yankee?
by Ed Valentine on Mar 24, 2010 7:55 AM EDT
in New York Yankees News
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PrintHow would you feel about seeing Josh Beckett in pinstripes next season?
Dan Shaughnessy figures the price tag for the soon-to-be 30-year-old right-hander will be too rich for the Boston Red Sox. That, of course, would put the Yankees in play.
Beckett is always an injury risk. But when right he is better than anyone the Yankees have other than CC Sabathia. And we have seen first-hand what kind of big-game pitcher a healthy Beckett can be. If the Yankees were willing to give A.J. Burnett $82.5 million over 5 years, my guess is they would go higher than that for Beckett.
At the least, it is worth serious consideration. Especially since the Yankees might need to replace both Javy Vazquez and Andy Pettitte next season.
- If you are not tired of reading about how Phil Hughes will be the fifth starter, check out Joel Sherman's column today. As Sherman explains it, the choice is all about upside. And it was Hughes' job to lose all along. Speaking of Hughes, check out this video of Hughes showing off the grip on all of his pitches. Kinda cool.
- River Avenue Blues follows its look at the best trades of the Brian Cashman era with its take on the worst deals ever made by the Yankee general manager. It really is based on players lost, not guys who flopped once they got to New York.
A few notes today about some former Yankees.
- ESPN's Jerry Crasnick has a look at how Johnny Damon and Austin Jackson are adjusting to Detroit.
- In Arizona, Ian Kennedy's approach to pitching is being compared to that of Greg Maddux. As long as the Diamondbacks don't expect Maddux-like productivity, that's fine.
- Joe Torre won't talk contract extension with the Los Angeles Dodgers for now.
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Beckett
Lee and Crawford would be a good start. Beckett not so much, injury prone,leave him in beantown.
lol
a good start. What is the finish then?
by yankeechaser on Mar 24, 2010 1:17 PM EDT up reply actions
Absofuckinglutely NOT.
And that’s putting it nicely.
Strikeouts are boring- Besides that, they're fascist. Throw some ground balls - it's more democratic.
Why beckett when cliff lee is on the market
Lee is a lefty, just as good of a pitcher if not better than beckett, only slightly older AND is good friends with CC. (easier clubhouse fit) Not to mention lee’s numbers in recent years have been much better than beckett’s who’s numbers are getting worse.
Hang on a minute
Both Cliff Lee and Josh Beckett are going to be looking for far more than 5 years/$82.5 million as free agents. They are both, inarguably, better than A.J. Burnett, and Josh Beckett will be two years younger than Burnett was when he signed his deal (Lee will be the same age, 32).
Let’s say the Yankees get extremely lucky and manage to sign one of them for 5 years/$100 million.
They will then have $87 million comitted to four players for the 2013 season – A-Rod, Mark Teixeira, AJ Burnett, and whichever pitcher they signed. And then remember that Jeter’s contract is up after this season and CC has the right to opt-out after 2011. Assume that Jeter’s annual salary will be at least $20 million per season. CC is even more troubling; if he pitches poorly the next two seasons, he won’t opt out, and if he pitches well, he will, and the Yankees obviously won’t want to lose him. So it’s reasonable to expect those to to earn at least $45 together in 2013.
So, six players, who are all over the age of 30 (3 or 4 of them (depending on which of Beckett or Lee they sign) over 35) will combine to earn something like $140 million on 2013.
I’ll pass on that.
wow
great analysis
makes the longer term emphasis on Joba AND Hughes as starters even more important
If we keep CC, AJ and Vasquez then having less expensive #4 and #5 starters could be required.
Tex, Jeter, ARod, Mario and Posada is a costly core already. Add the pitching staff and then add Crawford and even the Yankees have to pause.
He's a Red Sox
That’s true. But through our hate against Red Sox players we have to realise that Beckett is going to be the 2nd best pitcher on the market next offseason. He’ll probably fetch more than he’s worth, but didn’t we overpay A.J? Yes he’s injury prone, but that’s mainly blister problems that make him skip a start. AJ’s also injury prone, a lot more so than Beckett. Say what you want, but I’d be excited if we signed him.
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
I don't think the Yankees should sign another 30-something starter to a long-term contract.
The Yankees will have CC and Burnett leading the rotation with Hughes and Chamberlain to follow in the near future. The Yanks will probably offer arbitration to Javier Vazquez and if he re-ups, then that’ll work out well for the Yanks on a one year contract. If that doesn’t happen, I’m sure the Yankees can find someone on a one year deal instead of doling another huge contract.
What about Gary Matthews Jr.
I heard the Mets are shopping Matthews Jr. I would much rather him in LF than BG and at 2 Million doesnt seem like a bad deal.
except when said player making 2mill
sucks.
DWTDD
by FreeBradshaw on Mar 24, 2010 12:27 PM EDT up reply actions
They just released
Gaudin that freeded up 2 million right there.
I'd rather light the 2 mil on FIRE
Strikeouts are boring- Besides that, they're fascist. Throw some ground balls - it's more democratic.
by CasanovaWong on Mar 24, 2010 3:19 PM EDT up reply actions
Mets
I really don’t want any rejects from the Mets. He is another steroid case whose production has gone down. I’d play a kid from the minors b4 that washed up bum
by RollingThunder on Mar 24, 2010 1:50 PM EDT up reply actions
Horrible player.
Matthews Jr. doesn’t bring anything to the table except an inflated ego because he’s made a ton of money on one spectacular catch. I’ll take Gardner every day over this guy.
2 million
for a guy that’s been having a WAR of -0,5? Stick me in there, I’ll even take a pay cut.
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
The Bronx Poo
We should probably grab Matthews Jr., Milton Bradley, trade for Manny and immediately replace Joe G with Ron Washington because things just aren’t exciting enough.
Global domination, bizarre experiments on youth, our best player squatting in buildings drinking Bacardi, what you call the Evil Empire, I CALL HOME!!!!
by SteveBalboniHOF on Mar 24, 2010 8:51 PM EDT up reply actions
Meh...
depends on the contract, what Jobs and Huuoos do this year too.
I’d much rather see that bottom of the rotation be Joba, Hughs and Zach McCallister.
But if not, Beckett is a former Pissant, but so was Johnny Damon. We got over it I think.
DWTDD
This is Stupid...
One word….NOOOOOOO!!!!! I don’t want any players on this teams whose guts I hate. Really…I would have to say I would feel really dirty as a fan to have to root for another Red Sox ahole. We went through this once with Clemens. It wasn’t as bad though since he came from the Jays.
him being a Red Sock
doesn’t necessarily bother me, lest we forget Damon and even Bellhorn and Embree.
but i’d much rather sign Lee. if Pettitte retires, who better to replace him than perhaps the second best LHP in MLB.
There is no way Cliff Lee is the 2nd best lefty in MLB
Sabathia, Santana, and Lester are all better. He’s probably fourth best.
This sticker is dangerous and inconvenient, but I do love Fig Newtons.
WAR over the last 3 years
CC: 20.6
Lee: 14 (missed most of ’07)
Santana: 12.2 (missed part of ’09)
Lester: 11.6 (missed most of ’07)
weighting by ‘recentness’ (e.g., 5-4-3) =
CC: 6.8/year
Lee: 5.2/year
Lester: 4.4/year
Santana: 3.9/year
rest my case… (and i never said he is the second best, only that he’s perhaps the second best).
Well then I think I overreacted to your verbage
there is definitely a case for him being the second best. I would file Lee under “solid” and Lester and Santana under “potentially dominating.”
I realize that this is the subjective type of argument that I always hate, but I feel like Lee isn’t going to get any better, whereas Lester definitely will, and if he is healthy and can return to top form, Johan is a top 3 pitcher in MLB.
As this thread was about free agency, I kind of went the route of, “which lefty would you want to become a Yankee”, in which case I would rather have both Lester and Santana.
This sticker is dangerous and inconvenient, but I do love Fig Newtons.
solid?
did forget game 1 of the WS? That was down right dominant
by lololol on Mar 24, 2010 3:41 PM EDT via mobile up reply actions
Yeah it was
but he’s 32, throws the ball 90 MPH, and is only two years removed from not being able to keep a job at the big league level. A 5-6 year deal for Cliff Lee would be a mistake.
This sticker is dangerous and inconvenient, but I do love Fig Newtons.
true..
but he throws 90 which means age won’t affect him as much since he is a control pitcher. Guys like Aj or Beckett who are flam throwers have a higher chance if problems if their velocity dips. Lee is more about locating and pitching smart since his stuff isn’t overpowering. Even at a older age a dip in velociity wouldn’t matter, think 2007 mussina at an older age.
by lololol on Mar 24, 2010 4:19 PM EDT via mobile up reply actions
He is a control pitcher, but he still works off his fastball
he said that the biggest improvement that he made from when he was banished to the minors to his comeback was in spotting his fastball.
And while location on a fastball is much more important than ticks on a radar gun, the pitchers who survive with velocities in the 80s really only use their fastball as a token showing.
In 2007 Mussina was all about change ups and different breaks on his curveball. I’m not so sure Lee has the secondary pitches to overcome the inevitable drop in fastball velocity.
This sticker is dangerous and inconvenient, but I do love Fig Newtons.
Interesting?
Using your logic, "And while location on a fastball is much more important than ticks on a radar gun, the pitchers who survive with velocities in the 80s really only use their fastball as a token showing.
How did Greg Maddux win 355 games then? By the way, Mussina sucked wind in ’07, and won 20 in ’08, if you recall.
by Great Gatsby on Mar 25, 2010 4:28 PM EDT up reply actions
Wins are quite possibly the worst stat for evaluating pitching
but to answer your question, with control and breaking pitches far beyond anything that Cliff Lee has.
If Cliff Lee could throw a devastating two-seamer like Maddux then, believe me, I would be screaming that we need to sign him. Maddux revolutionized pitching with his two-seamer to lefties that starts out right at their hip and darts over the inside corner for a strike.
Maddux is a pitching genius and a once in a lifetime talent. He is the exception and not the rule.
And Cliff Lee can’t wipe his shoes.
This sticker is dangerous and inconvenient, but I do love Fig Newtons.
You're All Forgetting In-House Talent
Kei Igawa for instance….not sure if he’s a lefty or righty but I’m certain if he switched his ERA might come down.
+1
Cliff Lee is a f’n machine…ma-chine….
Yea we got to him in a game in the WS…had that been any other lineup he went against….Lee would be a champion right now…
Lester ain’t too far behind him..but he is defintely better then santana….
-Announcement Forwarded To The Following: Boston Blowsox, New York Pets, Philadelphia Phonies, And Any Other Team Who Ain't With The Empire.................
Getcha' Rings Up........
by NYYWinsRings27 on Mar 24, 2010 4:14 PM EDT via mobile reply actions
I vote Lee too.
Living in Philly territory I saw just about everyone of his games.
Dudes a monster.
by Gelatin on Mar 24, 2010 4:44 PM EDT via mobile up reply actions
Not to old either
But I get the feeling he’ll sign an extension with Seattle. I know he said he wants to test the market, but I’ve got a feeling he’ll like pitching with Felix long term.
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
Kevin Brown, Carl Pavano, Cliff Lee?
I have a sneaking suspision Lee will be an AL dud upon return. His injuries and his couple of descent years (one great one) don’t equal the 18+ and five years. AJ was worth it more for his dependability. Haven’t we seen this scenario before?
Global domination, bizarre experiments on youth, our best player squatting in buildings drinking Bacardi, what you call the Evil Empire, I CALL HOME!!!!
by SteveBalboniHOF on Mar 24, 2010 8:55 PM EDT reply actions
I'd love it..
As you said about Beckett, he’s a big game pitcher. Maybe the best the game has ever seen. As much as I hate saying it, if I had to choose 1 pitcher to throw game 7 of the World Series—it’d be Beckett. The guy’s great. When healthy, he’s one of the best in the game. And like you said, we’ve seen it first-hand, 2003 W.S. The guy is a stud in October. And we’re going to need to spell the end of the Andy Pettitte era next year. I don’t think there’s going to be a better option the Beckett.
I'd choose Tim Lincecum or Roy Halladay
but that’s just me……
This sticker is dangerous and inconvenient, but I do love Fig Newtons.
by Lord Duggan on Mar 25, 2010 11:01 AM EDT up reply actions
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