New York Yankees News and Notes
by Frank Campagnola on Feb 9, 2012 6:01 AM EST
in New York Yankees News
Email
PrintGood morning, Pinstripe Alley readers. Here's your regular morning news for Thursday, February 9th.
- According to Joel Sherman of the New York Post, the Yankees are willing to eat up to $25M in order to trade A.J. Burnett. Per Sherman: "They know no team will take all of Burnett’s remaining two years at $33 million. But if they could save, say, $4 million this year and next year, it would provide some wiggle room to finish off their roster heading into spring training." Have to say, I hope this is true, even though I recently reconsidered my stance on Burnett.
- Andrew Marchand asked if the Yankees should sign Johnny Damon to platoon with Andruw Jones. Damon and Ibanez are essentially washes. Damon will provide some defensive flexibility, but Ibanez is the better offensive option against right-handed pitching at this point.
- Over at the Wall Street Journal, Daniel Barbarisi takes a look at the Yankees and their recent signings of players off the scrap heap. The Yankees enjoyed success with this tactic in 2011, and seem to be hoping for more of the same out of their role players in 2012.
- According to Keith Law, the Yankees have the 10th best farm system in baseball. From Law: "I might be jumping the gun here, but I see a lot of star potential on their bottom few affiliates, including new acquisition Jose Campos from Seattle, to go with the two power arms from their Scranton club. The flaw in the system is the lack of near-in talent, especially position players, who could either help the big club soon or provide more fodder for trades." Hard to argue too much of that.
- Over at the Yankee Analysts, Michael Eder says the Yankees are the best organization at scouting and developing relief pitchers. Some of the names the Yankees have either drafted (does not mean signed) or developed have turned out to be very successful, including Mariano Rivera, David Robertson, Tyler Clippard, John Axford, Alfredo Aceves, Drew Storen and Daniel Bard. That'd be one hell of a bullpen if they all signed or weren't traded.
42 comments
|
0 recs |
Do you like this story?
Comments
Eat up 25 million ?
I’d rather him be our 5th starter. He could be skipped a couple times early in the season because of the schedule and he could lose his day when games are postponed. I’ve never been a fan of paying someone to play for someone else, never mind 25 mill of a possible 33 mill.
The only thing that Burnett has provided over the past three years is innings. Shockingly enough, he hasn’t injured himself yet (which I figured he’d have done by year #4). He’s tossed 584.0 regular season innings, trailing only CC Sabathia (705.0 – ewwww). Granted, they’re not always the best innings, but it’s innings nonetheless.
"People ask me what I do in winter when there's no baseball. I'll tell you what I do. I stare out the window and wait for spring." --Rogers Hornsby
by Chris McKeown on Feb 9, 2012 8:55 AM EST up reply actions
Ahh. It’s actually a drop from what he threw in 07/08…
I like looking at Bref and seeing guys who threw 300+ 4,5,6 years in a row
by MichaelGGBGrabow on Feb 9, 2012 9:34 AM EST up reply actions
Damon's defense
It seems surprising to me that nobody seems to want AJ at cut price. Wouldn’t most teams sign a FA similar to AJ for 8mill 2yr??
/flame on
I’d rather not see Damon’s arm in left field. No defensive flexibility there. So I’ll take Ibanez’s better at bats vs righties…
/flame off
"You’ve got to be very careful if you don’t know where you’re going because you might not get there."—Yogi Berra
Damon doesn't need to be good
All he’d do in the outfield is spell Gardner or Granderson a day or two every few weeks. He wouldn’t get that much time out there and it’s not like his arm would kill them every game. He can catch the ball if it’s hit out to him, still has decent range for a player his age and can play a full game out there without injuring himself. I think thats more than enough. Damon has some speed left too, which can’t be said for Ibanez.
"I could never wear another uniform. I will always be a Yankee"- Jorge Posada
Thanks for the memories Jorge
BTW - stats...
Nunez has a combined fpct of 1,000 in LF and RF COMBINED! For his entire career…! And he had a higher Avg last year and stole more bases at a higher percentage compared to Johnny. What does this tell us??
"You’ve got to be very careful if you don’t know where you’re going because you might not get there."—Yogi Berra
I'd still rather have Damon because of what you said
Defensive flexibility, he still has some range, he can still steal some bases. And I just like him more as a player. But if Ibanez is willing to take 2 million and Damon isn’t I guess he’s the guy. Unless they manage to trade AJ.
"I could never wear another uniform. I will always be a Yankee"- Jorge Posada
Thanks for the memories Jorge
speed agreed
OK, Damon is faster (and you COULD put him in the field). But Ibanez should be cheaper. And should have better at bats vs RHP (that’s what we need either for – right?). Isn’t Jones likely to spell Grandy/Gardy vs LHP and we carry a younger faster 5th outfielder for defense?? IF they don’t trade AJ, there is a case for Ibanez… If they do, then I think we hope for more than either of these two options.
"You’ve got to be very careful if you don’t know where you’re going because you might not get there."—Yogi Berra
I think the "bring back Damon" thing is just sentimentality
He’s spent the last 2 years pretty much affirming the Yankees’ decision to let him go and replace him with Brett Gardner after 2009. I don’t agree with the “defensive flexibility” argument as Damon has played 52 games in the outfield over the past 2 seasons. Remember how bad he was out there in 2009? Imagine what he’d be like now, 2 years older, and having hardly played for 2 years.
This is not to say I want Ibanez instead or any of the ancient ones, although if we’re going to be sentimental, I’ll vote for Matsui who I liked better than Damon. I still say sign versatile bench players rather than a “lefty DH” however.
I’m not 100% sure how the luxury tax works, but wouldn’t the Yankees save a lot more than $25 mil just by getting AJ off the team, since it would reduce their tax number? Regardless, I would eat his entire salary to trade him, since he’s giving us negative value right now by blocking Hughes from the rotation.
by Let's Talk About Tex Baby on Feb 9, 2012 8:44 AM EST reply actions
Agreed
Distinctly remember Johnny hitting in NYS when the Rays were here last year and the same fly balls he used to hit out for HR’s to right field harmlessly fell into Swish’s glove at the warning track. I remember saying to myself that Cashman had made the right move. Someone more talented at computers than I should post two GIFS of Damon. 1/. Him throwing a ball in to second base from left field and allowing a long single to become a double. and 2/. Him stealing 3rd base in the 2009 series. That pretty much sums up the pros and cons of Johnny.
Gosh knows he was a great Yankee, just not a good fit anymore.
Damon/Ibanez
The fact that we’re writing that Johnny friggin’ Damon is providing “defensive flexibility” really speaks to Ibanez’s tremendous level of suck in the outfield.
"Don't you think it's strange that you'll make more money than President Hoover this year?"
"Why not? I had a better year than he did." - G.H. Ruth
by Andrew GM on Feb 9, 2012 10:01 AM EST reply actions 1 recs
Yeah, pretty much.
Contributing writer for Pinstripe Alley.
Follow me on Twitter @frankiecamp48
by Frank Campagnola on Feb 9, 2012 10:58 AM EST up reply actions
Neither of them should see the field.
But if you HAD to take one of the two on teh Yankees this year, which would you take? Or would you give those ABs to Nunez? or A N Other (that you can name)?
"You’ve got to be very careful if you don’t know where you’re going because you might not get there."—Yogi Berra
The WSJ piece on Cashman picking through the scrap heap for players could be the basis of a 'Moneyball' sequel.
It’s the same story. Rich team burdened with many megacontracts, able to afford any player they really want, but instead feisty young GM goes against baseball conventional wisdom and buys old cheap veterans. I have even cast it in my mind:
Brian Cashman- Paul Giamatti
Freddy Garcia- Jimmy Smits
Bartolo Colon- Guillermo from Jimmy Kimmel
Russell Branyan- George Clooney (uncredited cameo)
Mrs. Cashman (for angst- filled divorce scene) – who cares? I don’t know what she looks like.
Girlfriend trying to extort Brian- Demi Moore.
Does anyone know a good producer?
by designatedquitter on Feb 9, 2012 10:27 AM EST reply actions
How about Shaq? He has some impressive filmography.
"Don't you think it's strange that you'll make more money than President Hoover this year?"
"Why not? I had a better year than he did." - G.H. Ruth
He was robbed of the Oscar he deserved from Kazaam.
Cricket blogger and writer of nonsense at 7500 to Holte
Roster spots #24 and #25
Not sure what the Yanks are thinking…or maybe it’s just the media…but the Yanks would be foolish to sign a veteran DH or utility IF(minor league contract OK). The last two spots on the active roster will rotate between infielder #6 (Pena, Laird, Vazquez), pitcher #13 (many candidates), and OF #5 (Dickerson). Yanks will need guys with options so they can move players around when minor injuries come up (non DL). Signing a vet will likely force the Yanks to send someone like Hughes or Nova down to Scranton, or unjustly DL them at some point in the season…a move I would not do to either pitcher if I wanted them in my future. Besides, Dickerson will outrun and out field every one of them (allowing Swisher some more games at DH…or Gardner/Granderson when they need a few days rest) and will likely out-hit any of the aging players we’ve been discussing…Have you all forgot what happens to players when they age (Williams, Jeter, Posada????) Don’t do it Cashman. There will be plenty of big sticks available cheap in July.
that's a good point
Roster flexibility will come in handy. I don’t think they need a 13th pitcher, so maybe Vazquez and Dickerson should fill the final spots, then see how things look in June or July if they still need a bat.
by long time listener on Feb 9, 2012 11:11 AM EST up reply actions
Question for everyone: If the Yankees really are willing to eat $25M to move A.J. – would it really be that much of a difference to flat out DFA him and eat the remaining $8M?
It isn’t like the Yankees are going to get anything valuable in a trade for him anyway. If they really want the added roster flexibility and they’re already willing to eat over 75% of the contract, they might as well eat all of it.
Just my rationale, anyway.
Contributing writer for Pinstripe Alley.
Follow me on Twitter @frankiecamp48
by Frank Campagnola on Feb 9, 2012 11:10 AM EST reply actions
$8 million isn't nothing
Even to the Yankees. If they can hang on to that money and get at least some bench strength in exchange for AJ, that makes it worth hanging on to him.
by long time listener on Feb 9, 2012 11:13 AM EST up reply actions
A.J. may cost the Yankees over $8M by simply being on the roster. It depends on how much the Yankees value that 25th spot.
I think it’s fair to say that A.J. is not one of the top five starters. So his being in the rotation would take away from the value/production Garcia/Hughes would provide there.
Additionally, if you keep him, it is conceivable that Hughes/Nova/Garcia go to the pen/Triple-A/DFA’d. But if you keep all of them, including A.J., then the Yankees lose flexibility on the bench while giving an inferior player ~170 IP.
Contributing writer for Pinstripe Alley.
Follow me on Twitter @frankiecamp48
by Frank Campagnola on Feb 9, 2012 11:19 AM EST up reply actions
For example, say A.J. takes the 5th spot from Nova and provides 1 WAR over the course (very possible since he has been worth 1.4 and 1.5 the last two seasons) of the season while Nova has to pitch in Triple-A. I think it is very possible Nova could be a 2.5-3 WAR pitcher, so right there, the Yanks are losing about $8M.
Contributing writer for Pinstripe Alley.
Follow me on Twitter @frankiecamp48
by Frank Campagnola on Feb 9, 2012 11:23 AM EST up reply actions
I'd rather they deal him if they're going to do that
DFAing him means they are paying him in full and get nothing back. I’d at least hope that they could get some bench strength and save 4-5 million a year by getting him off the team. Even that has its value.
If that truly isn’t possible, then maybe look at a release. But I think that should be the last option.
I wouldn’t worry about Nova. I think he’s pretty locked into that rotation.
"I could never wear another uniform. I will always be a Yankee"- Jorge Posada
Thanks for the memories Jorge
by nyyrocks29 on Feb 9, 2012 12:35 PM EST via iPhone app up reply actions
Just re-read my comment. I’m not saying the Yankees should DFA him before looking for a trade partner. What I was saying was that the DFA should be the last option rather than keeping him.
Of course dealing him has value – my comment was to pose the question if he wasn’t traded. It just wasn’t clear.
Contributing writer for Pinstripe Alley.
Follow me on Twitter @frankiecamp48
by Frank Campagnola on Feb 9, 2012 1:12 PM EST up reply actions
OK I gotcha
Maybe something they should do is hold onto him through spring training and hope that he has some dominant starts in spring against some teams lesser hitters. It might (might, not will) raise his value a little bit to the point where they can trade him.
"I could never wear another uniform. I will always be a Yankee"- Jorge Posada
Thanks for the memories Jorge
Luxury tax considerations
That $4 million per year that another team picks up would save them $1.6 million per year in luxury taxes.
by cookiedabookie on Feb 9, 2012 12:07 PM EST up reply actions
Red Sox would sign him and he would no hit the Yankees three times this year.
by MichaelGGBGrabow on Feb 9, 2012 11:17 AM EST up reply actions
Actually...
When you think about it…..Considering the Yankees’ lefty bats,the propensity to hit HR’s, and the Yankees ability to get walks, we would be Burnett’s worst nightmare.
I was:
1. Joking…as in “he would do that”
2. Referring to the fact that he has an ERA of 2.43 against them (11GS 77.2 IP), 3.39 SO/BB (highest vs any opponent) and has held them to .580 OPS
by MichaelGGBGrabow on Feb 9, 2012 12:24 PM EST up reply actions
But he does has value due to his ability to stay healthy and eat MLB innings. If you DFA him, I guarantee there will be teams scrimmaging to sign him for the league min.
by Scooby Snacks on Feb 9, 2012 11:32 AM EST up reply actions
Other players have more value, and keeping A.J. on the roster diminishes their value. I think the $8M could easily be made up in the form of Ivan Nova in the rotation and 25th roster spot flexibility.
Contributing writer for Pinstripe Alley.
Follow me on Twitter @frankiecamp48
by Frank Campagnola on Feb 9, 2012 12:01 PM EST up reply actions
If I wanted to win
I have no problem trading an innings eater/ back of the rotation guy for a more productive player even if I have to eat $25M of the salary. This leaves me to look for a $4M a year player. I have to pay it out regardless, so I eat most of it and use the rest for an offensive upgrade. And hope that the player I get in return for Burnett is a $4M value.
The fact that
that there are ‘revenue’ challenged clubs out there that don’t seem interested in picking up a 10 -12 win innings eater for ‘peanuts’ in exchange for a backup/utility/dh or even a AAAA prospect speaks volumes as to AJ’s MLB value. Oakland? Houston? Pittsburg? Anyone?
Comments For This Post Are Closed
Secondary Sidebar
User Tools
Related FanPosts on Pinstripe Alley
FanPosts
Community blog posts and discussion.
Recommended FanPosts
Recent FanPosts
In Association With
Big League Stew - MLB - Yahoo! Sports
- College player makes impossible over the fence catch to save tournament game (Video)
- Security!: Camden Yards guard collides with Royals’ Mike Moustakas
- The Juice: Nelson Cruz matches career high eight RBIs, Pujols stays hot in Seattle
- Benches clear at Fenway as Red Sox-Rays rivalry heats up
- Keeping good company: Albert Pujols becomes fourth-youngest player to hit 450 home runs
