Yanks pick up $16M option on Abreu

by anaconda on Nov 2, 2007 1:31 PM EDT in News Comment 16 comments

The Yankees have picked up the $16 million option for 2008 on rightfielder Bobby Abreu. A person informed of the decision, who asked not to be named since the Yankees had not yet made an announcement, confirmed the move today.

Abreu, who turns 34 in March, this year hit .283 with 40 doubles, 16 homers, 101 RBI, 123 runs scored (second-most in the AL) and 25 stolen bases. After an awful start -- .228 through his first 51 games -- Abreu
batted ,309 with 91 runs scored annd 79 RBI in his final 107 games.

I've never been a big Abreu fan (and I would expect his numbers to suffer significantly not hitting in front of A-Rod next year), but this move was expected and probably the smart thing to do on a short term basis given the FA market this offseason.

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money

is not an issue, even if they trade him for prospects or a pitcher or something, this was definately the smart thing to do...

we should definately dump an outfielder though.

by Soriano NY 12 on Nov 2, 2007 1:39 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Am

I suppose to be happy? Cause Im not.

It is HIGH! It is FAR! It is! GOOONNEEE!!!

by yankeesRfirst on Nov 2, 2007 1:41 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Good idea

No reason not to pick it up. He will be a Type A free agent next winter and the Yankees will get a draft pick.

Fear the Evil Empire

by pfistyunc on Nov 2, 2007 1:46 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

yeah it actually makes sense...

if you had told me in April or May I'd be saying that, I wouldn't have believed it.

but one more year ain't terrible.. and hopefully this move means they will keep away from the hunter/rowand sweepstakes.

Well, baseball was my whole life. Nothing's ever been as fun as baseball. -Mickey Mantle

by NumberSeven on Nov 2, 2007 1:52 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Only if the Yanks offer him arbitration

and that's a dangerous thing to do if he does not perform well.

by Willton on Nov 2, 2007 5:17 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Hopefully

Abreu will catch the contract year bug and go on a tear.

by docgonzo on Nov 2, 2007 1:47 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

I think...

...he already kind of did at the end of this season. Had the team not picked up his option, he would have been a free agent. But, yeah, I hope his entire season is solid next year--as good as his last-half-seasons of 2006 and 2007.

by SenorSwanky on Nov 2, 2007 2:03 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

He Was

a slam dunk! 1 year slightly above what market value would be. Contract year should get some good numbers out of him and then we can get some draft picks for him if he walks. Then we can spend some dough on an OF or 1B in next year's robust FA class.

Chien-Ming Wang+Phil Hughes+Ian Kennedy+Joba Chamberlain = the future

by marcbouch9 on Nov 3, 2007 11:46 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Perfect 3 hitter

Abreu is a perfect number 3 hitter. Last season had a mayor slump, but he did picked it up.

It was the right move for the Yankees, Abreu is pure quality.

What they need now is good pitching... And a 4 spot batter.

by rafaelitop on Nov 2, 2007 2:16 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

do you think

Giambi, or Matsui, or even posada could live up to a true everyday 4 hitter this year?

if it was up to me i honestly would find a way to get shelly duncan in there day in and day out as the DH and i think he could perform, we never gave him the chance to prove what he really can do

by Soriano NY 12 on Nov 2, 2007 2:21 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

true

Giambi in his prime could be a 4 spot hitter, but those days are gone.

Matsui cant cut it in the 4th and neither Posada if he comes back.

Shelly needs to prove it, I thinks its to soon to be on that spot.

If they fish a trade for Miguel Cabrera, that problem will be solved.

I´ll would try to find away to trade Damon and other player for Cabrera.

by rafaelitop on Nov 2, 2007 2:33 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Miggy

Even Miggy isn't a great 4 hitter. Except that he is slow, he is a better 3. He is good for 30+ HR, but he probably never more than 40 HR (a career high of 34 in a short career.) Not to say I don't want him, but he just isn't a true/pure slugger.

"It's great to be young and a Yankee"

by stillmonster on Nov 2, 2007 3:12 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

I don't understand

the difference between a 3 and a 4 hitter.

I want all my hitters to do the same thing- only swing at good pitches and hit the ball hard when they swing.

What difference do you perceive between a 3 and a 4?

"Have faith in the Yankees, my son. Think of the great DiMaggio."

by jscape2000 on Nov 2, 2007 3:41 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

well...

perhaps its not so much that he couldn't be a number 4 hitter, its just that he isn't as much of a pure slugger as some other number 4's. (Like Konerko, A-Rod, Ortiz, Howard, Fielder, etc.) That's not to say he isn't better than some of those guys, just less of a pure HR hitter.

"It's great to be young and a Yankee"

by stillmonster on Nov 2, 2007 6:37 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

No Other Choice

NYY did not have any other option, but to pick up Abreu's option. I think the outfield situation is pretty much set for 2008 other than a possible deal to trade Damon. If NYY can sign Rivera, Posada and bring back Pettitte, NYY can focus on 3B, 1B and relief pitching. As for 3B, I don't think Betemit is an option as he is more of an utility guy. As for 1B, how about putting Posada there for around 70~80 games as Philips has yet to prove that he can handle 1B full time? If Rivera comes back which seems more possible each day, NYY needs to find dependable set up guys, both right/left. I don't like an idea of using Joba as a setup guy for another year as he is a legitimate #1 guy down the road. Even withouth a 350 million seeking A-Rod, I think NYY can be a at least 95~100 win team next year if they can fill a few holes. And watch out in 2008 when the salaries of Giambi, Moose, Pavano, Abreu all come off the book.

by yankeesintexas on Nov 2, 2007 4:20 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Why are we talking about Phillips?

The dude proved he can't hit over a long period of time. He had decent streaks in both 2006 and 2007, but it was painful to watch him once his streaks ended.

If Shelley Duncan doesn't get the nod at first over Phillips, the organization has some pretty fucked up logic.

River Ave. Blues
Yanks and prospects

by PinstripePowerhouse on Nov 3, 2007 8:57 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs