My Plan for the Perfect New York Yankees Off-Season

But I don’t know about giving Whelan a chance.

But a 5 year, $115 million deal isn’t going to get it done with Sabathia.

When it comes to free agents, the rule for big market teams like the Yankees it to pay what it takes to sign the cream of the crop, and avoid the bloated middle section (CJ Wilson, AJ Burnett).

Sabathia is one of the five best pitchers in baseball, and for a guy like you pay what it takes to sign him. You don’t bid against yourself either, but you pay what it takes to sign him.

I would go 6 years and 150 million for CC, no more. Try to sign CJ Wilson since we need another lefty but don’t offer too much. Thanks to his postseason the asking price may have dropped. Try for Darvish also. He has a very high upside. The moves for the offense make sense but pitching wins championships. We lost two games where we gave up 5 runs to Detroit. Better pitching gives up less runs in those games and we win them instead of losing them. It was not just the fault of the offense we lost those close games.

Great take on things. However, lack of clutch post season hitters leaves a bleak outlook. Lack of flexibility to get rid of playoff no-shows leaves a bleaker outlook. Watching game last nite, there were more clutch hits in a span of 3 innings than Tex-Arod-Swisher has had since they signed.

Chien-Ming Wang is going to be offered a ML contract by the Nationals; they are just dickering over terms. So to get Wang back in pinstripes would take a ML deal.

With major free agents, you don’t really get to decide how much they’re worth. Basically the decision you have to make is “Do I want to overpay this player or do I want to pass on him?”

On CC – There’s no reason for him to sign for 5 years. Cliff Lee had 2 7-year offers last year and he was a year older than CC is right now. CC will get 6 and 7 year offers from other teams and he’s not giving the Yankees a discount because well – they’re the Yankees and he knows he doesn’t have to. If you want CC back, you need to accept the reality that it’ll be for at least 6 years.

On C.J. Wilson – I’m more against signing him than for it, too, but I feel the sudden backlash against him and the comparison to A.J. Burnett is unfair. C.J. Wilson’s last 2 seasons were both better than any season A.J. ever had in the AL. However I expect the pricetag on Wilson to be 5 years 90 mil which to me is a pass.

On Yu Darvish – He’s at least a $125 mil investment. The posting fee will be $50 mil and his contract will top Dice-K’s which I believe was for 6-70, so you’re looking at a total price in the $130 mil range for 6 or 7 years, which I would do. This guy is unlike anything that’s come out of Japan before.

Freddy Garcia will get guaranteed money, not a minor league deal. He might even get 2 years from someone. On both him and Colon I’d say I’m happy with what we got this year, but we should move on. Chris Capuano, Rich Harden and Chien-Ming Wang will all also get guaranteed major league contracts.

I wouldn’t want any part of Mike Gonzalez. The best lefty available is Javier Lopez of the Giants, but I would hope that the Yankees have learned something from Marte/Feliciano and that they won’t offer any 30-something relievers multi-year deals this year just because they happen to be left-handed.

…but if you’re only offering 5 years, he won’t be there.

Yanks are going to have to offer at least 6 years, 140 million, to keep him. AT LEAST.

2012 should be a make or break year to get Mariano one last ring before retirement. They got very lucky last year that Colon and Garcia we solid contributors. This is one offseason where I think they should throw the money around, and go for broke. I’m willing to take risks on Wilson and Darvish if it could get one more championship.

Pick up Swisher’s option. Sign Darvish. If not, sign Roy Oswalt. I like Drew Sutton more than Jerry Hairston Jr. You can’t go wrong with either. Re-sign Jones as well. I prefer George Kontos over Kevin Whelan. Whelan walks to many batters as a reliever despite having awesome strikeout numbers. He did do a good job of lowering the walks this season, but I still don’t trust him.

If Andruw Jones doesn’t return, I like Matt Murton. Besides Darvish, there are several Japanese pitchers on the market. I like Hisashi Iwakuma, Wei-Yin Chen, and Tsuyoshi Wada all could help the Yankees next year at a cheaper price if the Yankees decide to go that route.

I don’t see what Ayala did wrong this season. I thought he pitched well. Dod I miss something?

I am still seeing a need for proven pitching from the left side. CC should be resigned for 5 or 6 year deal, using Cliff Lee’s contract as a base. I like Mark Burhle he might jump at a 2 or three year deal in the 15 million per year range. Darvish is the real deal from all indications and should be looked at as a number two or three starter. A 40 to 50 million posting fee it will take at least and another 5 years for 60 million. I believe that Andrew Jones aand Eric Chavez should be pursued. We still need that lefty out of the pen Gonzales looks like the top choice there. Maybe a 2 or 3 year deal for 6 to 8 million per year might get it done. Montero is a DH and a back up catcher. he needs to learn another position quickly and 1B is not the choice. The problem will be what to do with him.

It is surprising to see so many Yankees fans so frugile! I would give CC ONE extra year only! I dont think CJ willson is worth what he will get! YU Darvish either! Buehle either they will all get way too much-I dont think anyone will give CC any more than that either—might though-That leaves Wandy and Oswalt—Talk too CC get him signed and then get one of those 2-Wandy would be safer—-How about this? Trade Montero for The Dodgers Chad Billingsly? He is better than all of the above Except CC Would be at least #2 or #3—-The Yanks have someone to replace Montero and Billingsly is solid! This would be a good trade for both teams and less money for the Yankees—-Frugile?-That said the yanks might still get Wandy and that would put there rotation in very very good shape
CC-Nova-Billingsly-AJ-Wandy—-Very very good
BP
Mariano-Hughes-Soriano-Wade-Joba—Whelan-Nolan-Robertson
leave the rest alone
ca-Martin—rookie ( they have another good one)
1B-Mark
2B-Cano-Hairston
ss-Jeter-Nunez
3B-Arod
of—Swisher-Curtis-Gardner-Jones
pretty good team —see what happens at trade line in July

i just went throught this whole page, & can understand most of what people are saying. as of now, cc got his extension, as did cashman. the 1 guy i wouldve loved the yankees to sign, signed with the phils, thome. he would’ve been perfect bat off the bench. & picture his swing at the stadium. oh, & wang resigned with nationals. so, those options are off the table.
   i myself would prefer the yankees stay away from both wilson & darvish. something about japanese too me lately & i dont know, call it “kenny rogers-itis” about wilson. i just dont see him being a good fit.
   someone mentioned wandy rodriquez deal. id love to see that happen. if for nothing else, to see if he really is what i feel he can be, a consistent 15 game winner. now, taking that as a measuring point, how many of these free agent starters out there can we call, or assume fit that?
   theres 2 names that i think about, buerhle & maholm. buerhle has shown he can win 15 games, even in bad years. maholm has pitched for awful pirate teams til this past season, & often got overlooked. again, like wandy, these 2 are very comfortable risks.
   theres a couple others who, i wonder, can they get back to almost what they were? those 2 being webb & harden. there is a reliever i’ll throw in here too, zumaya. i think these 3 are definitely worth taking the chance on. i mean, lets say webb gets that sinking fastball & nasty curve working again. he’s shown, not just 15, but 20 games is no problem for him. talk about a perfect #2 guy behind cc. you lucked out last year with colon & garcia. why not?
   im going to throw a couple trade possibilities out here now. if they cant sign buerhle away from chisox, offer a trade for the guy i’d prefer to begin with, john danks. try to get him, & chris sale. i think it can be done with a package of say, greg golson, cory wade or phelps & boone logan. only chance we have to take is, they may want to include adam dunn & his contract. another ive heard about in the rumor mills is for lincecum. ok, lets get a little serious now. 4 guys already making well over 20 mil a year, with 2 more going to be there soon in cano & granderson. so, it just isnt realistic of them getting lincecum. however, if we could get matt cain instead of tim, i’m all for that. i hear that we’ll have to take huff’s contract in that also. this move may cost us montero, but for this type of pitcher, i may just make the exception.
   i’ll offer these 4 players, only i’ll offer them to 2 teams, the giants, & arizona. the 4 are; brett gardner, ramiro pena, & 2 of our top farm starters, betances & warren. the 2 i’d try for from arizona are justin upton & jj putz. giants would be cain & huff. now, like i said, if montero had to be included, i would do it, especially in upton trade. id much rather deal a top offensive prospect for an established, every day player, not a starter. cain is right at that level id make the exception for though. i hear people say he’s untradeable, under any circumstance. so, if felix or kershaw were available, you’d prefer keeping montero, even though you have an established catcher in martin right now, & have not 1, but 2 other top catching prospects in minors. romine should, & most likely will be traded. the guy i like though is sanchez. he’s the keeper to me. both offensively & defensively, he looks like the real deal. & he’s only 18!. so, yes, you ask me, montero is tradeable, but only for certain guys.
   i’m going to throw another starter out here, who may just be available. i got blasted to hell & back last time i offered a deal involving reds. (offered joba straight up for jay bruce 2 years ago) this time, id offer noesi & that kid ss culver for edinson volquez. think about it. let whitey & yogi & guidry & such get around this kid, straighten him out. how many wins you think he can put up pitching for yankees over 10, 12 years?
   they got rid of 1 headcase in farnsworth a couple years ago in granderson deal. now, if you cant dump him (maybe to cubs for soiano?), then literally, dump burnett. it took til last game he pitched for yankees to make me feel good about him. but, enoughs enough. im shocked, really, that jorge posada never decked him out on the mound after shaking him off, once again, & giving up another 3 run homer. then telling girardi, it was the pitches jorgie’s calling. what happened to pitching to the sign you’re given? if bench trusts catcher to call game, its his call. if not, then bench calls each & every pitch. yet, you’re shaking it off, so you can throw what you think will work. headcase, plain & simple. farnsworth was same, of course, only worse. if you throw 102, 103, why are you insisting on throwing sliders? dump him. to me, if white sox wont take him in trade, dump logan too. too many times, i’ve seen him come in to get a lefty out, & he walks him! the only specialist he is would be at causing ulcers! dump him too!
   i mentioned, not only montero, but gardner getting traded too. hey, he’s a nice player to have. love his speed & all. but, he’s another headcase, only i give him his own name: bonehead! a guy with his speed should never hit a pop up, never! with his speed, & the way he can just lay his bat out on a ball, he should be no less than a .320 hitter. he should be our version of mickey rivers. mickey was a .250. 260 hitter with angels. came to yankees, billy told him, just slap the ball on the ground. became a .300 hitter. thats why, even girardi went against everyone, & started 2010 season with him batting leadoff. &, he sucked! sorry, no other way to put it. personally, i was shocked he wasnt sent down. but, after seeing him take so many 3-0 or 3-1 pitches right down the middle, only to end up popping out, i’ve personally seen enough of him. besides, id love to see the yankees go after 2 free agents, from offensive side.
   now, they both have implications on of. if upton deal goes through, which i’d love about as much, if not more than when they made granderson deal, you’d have grandy in cf, upton in rf. sorry, all you swisher lovers. he’ll look good coming up to ph every now & then, maybe give tex a day off or spell an of every once in a while. or, maybe, he makes just enough money that, he can be traded. so, with gardner in a trade gone, swisher on bench, 1st signing would be grady sizemore. i believe, he’s far from through. & like granderson, he’s a great fielder, no wall he’s afraid to climb or crash into! & he would’nt have to play cf either, lf should fit nicely to him.
   the 2nd is more about looking ahead or moving forward. i said implication for of. the 2nd guy, my big splash for the winter would be signing jose reyes. (i can hear all the screeching & cursing right now!) ok, heres my thinking. jeters 36 now. how much longer can he really keep that range? & yes, reyes does seem to get hurt alot, doesnt he? but, if that does happen, who better to have as a replacement than jeter? you also will have nunez. ok, i hear you! what do you do with jeter than? implications for of. i heard he was starting to learn lf last year, shagging flies & such. sizemore’s coming off knee problems for last couple years. so, he wont be out there all the time, will he. besides, theres also that ever valuable position of dh, isnt there. we get 9 hitters to make a lineup of.
   so, lets say, we sign maholm, harden & webb. trade for volquez & possibly wandy. if webbs all the way back, heres what the starting staff may look like: cc, webb, cain, volquez, hughes/maholm. if webbs not back yet, stick wandy in there, or stick volquez as spot starter. hows this for bullpen: mo, robertson, soriano, putz, sale, zumaya?, nova & whoevers left over from starters. hey, if you really look at it, all this can be done, its not impossible, or dream-type deals. these could all work. &, as the saying goes, you can never have enough starting pitching.
   now, if pitching looks that good, look at offensive side:
c- martin, montero/romine
1b- tex, huff
2b- cano
3b- arod, nunez
ss- reyes, jeter
lf- jeter, sizemore, soriano?
cf- granderson, sizemore
rf- upton, swisher
   so, this would be 3 or 4 trades, & 4 or 5 free agent signings. you may have to eat some money from a couple contracts. you may have went slightly over budget, mainly from reyes signing(predicting a little over 15 mil a year/6 years). yes, there would be adding upton’s & possibly soriano’s contract, but you’d also be rid of burnetts. so, yes, may be a few dollars more, but you’ll still have most of farm intact, & you’ll have a team thats so much alike of the teams of mid to late 90’s. theres no o’neills or brossuis, no bernies or cone’s. but, we’ll have a helluva pitching staff, both starting & relieving, than even those 90’s teams possibly had. we’d have a bench that, in the 8th or 9th inning, we wont have to worry about a colin curtis or cervelli being announced as ph down by 2 runs. i would’ve loved to have had thome, just for those spots! & talk about exciting, heres how id picture that lineup:
reyes
jeter
cano
tex
arod
granderson
upton
martin
sizemore
grady sizemore would have to bat 9th! & if he has any semblance of speed still, look at that lineup turning over! i just hope girardi sees this as the way to go, batting cano 3rd. if he likes the left-right-left approach in batting over, i guess arod can still bat cleanup, with tex 5th. is this scary, or what! thats what 90’s teams were all about, we put fear in those teams. can anyone remember how in awe that padre team looked before game 1 of the 98 series? they lost before they played the national anthem. we had this personna, we had this confidence. we couldnt, & wouldnt be beat! i remember the game against seattle. i think it was 8th inning. we’re down 13-7. 1st batter up makes an out. 5 or 6 pitchers later, someone made 2nd out. at end of the inning, we were up 20-13! thats how i want it to be again. we pretty much were invincible.
   again, you may look at this as some crazy pipe dream.but, again, break them all down & look at them all individually. reyes, we’ll probably have to outbid a couple teams for. but, then again, i get the feeling, if yankees are interested in him, he’d die to come play with us. cain deal probably can be done. the 1 i’d worry about as toughest would be upton deal. would they want to disrupt what they put together last year? its why i said, i may just have to involve montero in that deal. but, like i said, if you look at each deal or signing, it can be done. & we can get ourselves to run off a few more championships, like we use to. & isnt that what being the yankees is all about?
   so brian, congratulations on your new deal. make us all proud again. we cant have another decade where red sox win as many championships as we do! make it happen. this, to me, would be a perfect off season.

Grady Sizemore would be an upgrade as the fourth outfielder over Jones. Based on the injury issues over the past couple years, they should be able to get him on a fairly reasonable short term contract. If he is currently healthy and can pass a physical, he would be a great addition. The Yankees did a comparable deal with Martin last offseason and it worked out for them this season.

What was really frustrating in the ALDS is the fact that if ARod is playing, he is automatically given the cleanup spot. He is no longer that feared hitter. That hitter is now Cano. It worked out fine with Cano hitting cleanup when ARod was out. Below is what my lineup would be with current Yankees batters. This is mostly based on current ability and 2011 performance.
1. Gardner
2. Jeter
3. Granderson
4. Cano
5. Montero
6. A Rod
7. Texiera
8. Swisher
9. Martin

This is based on Martin catching and Montero at dh. Would change when Montero is catching. Would also change when Nunez is giving ARod, Jeter and Cano a day off. Nunez was better when he got a lot of playing time. He should get at least 3 games a week.I know that it won’t happen based on ARod’s and Tex’s contracts. Also feel that should add Grady Sizemore as the fourth outfielder. They should also not go for Wilson, Oswalt or Buherle. Sign a pitcher to no longer than a 1 year contract based on free agent list of starting pitchers in 2012. Especially when one of those might be trade bait in the middle of the season. i.e. Matt Cain.