Odds and Ends

by jscape2000 on Dec 9, 2007 1:27 AM EST in New York Yankees News

A bunch of minor moves and rumors from around the web:

To make room [for Andy Pettitte], OF Bronson Kiheimahanaomauiakeo Sardinha was designated for assignment. Sardinha appeared in 10 games last season and was on the postseason roster.

There is a "Mark Loretta to the Yankees" rumor every year around this time. But that got squashed when he accepted arbitration from the Astros....

Instead of haggling over a one-year deal with the Yankees, [Vizcaino] elected to remain a free agent.

So long, fair well, auf wiedersehen, goodbye!

Dayn Perry of Fox Sports gives us a much needed Santana update. He calls the Yankees "Scenario One" and suggests:

Hughes' gifts are such that it might be wisest to overlook a pressing organizational need [for bats] and get the future Cy Young contender while you can....

One concern, however, is that Santana led the AL in home runs allowed last season, and that means he'd be best suited to a park that cuts down on homers... So while Santana would still greatly improve the Yankees, he might not thrive to the extent that you'd think.

Bruce Jenkins of the San Francisco Chronicle believes that young pitching is the only way for the Giants to rebound.

Matsui will turn 34, is coming off knee surgery, and while we're at it, why would Matsui even think of waiving his no-trade clause to play for a second-rate team in a ballpark that would diminish his home-run power?

Here's to hoping that Brian Sabean doesn't know good advice when he hears it.

MLBTR reports that the Rockies have upped their offer to LaTroy Hawkins.

Hawkins made $3.25MM in 2007, and the Rockies declined a $3.75MM option on him for 2008. Sounds like they'll have to come in around the option price to keep him. Even worse, they already paid him a $250K buyout.

Best case scenario: this is enough to keep LaTroy up in thin air.

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Comments

Regarding Santana, I agree...it is

important to rememember that no pitcher gets better when they come to the Yankees. He'd
still be great, but don't expect him to replicate what he has done in Minny. Oh...and Phil Hughes will end up having an HOF career if he is dealt. Karma is a bitch.

Everything looks nicer when you win. The girls are prettier. The cigars taste better. The trees are greener. --Billy Martin

by garp on Dec 9, 2007 1:38 AM EST reply actions

Huh?

What about Ed Figueroa, Sparky Lyle, Goose Gossage, Tommy John ... and that's just off the top of my head. Santana gives up homeruns because he's always around the plate. I'd like to see a line about those homeruns. I would bet they are often lone homeruns with Minnesota enjoying a comforable lead. Playing in a more spacious park will always help a pitcher. But putting one in a larger park who knows how to utilize that size to his advantage would be close to a religious experience. I believe Santana could do that for a team.

"Baseball is the background music of my life." -George Will

by Ronster22 on Dec 10, 2007 2:20 PM EST up reply actions

Touche. Then again, you had to

go back thirty years.

Everything looks nicer when you win. The girls are prettier. The cigars taste better. The trees are greener. --Billy Martin

by garp on Dec 10, 2007 5:20 PM EST up reply actions

In regards to Bruce Jenkins...

young pitching has brought the Giants to where they are now, a team with great young potential. They have an incredible pitching staff in the National League. Unfortunately for them, their offense is also responsible for where they are now, aging fast, and in the basement of the NL West. As much as I love Matsui, I think that both teams would benefit from this trade. Every offseason/spring training, the Yankees figure to have a very solid pitching staff. And every year, its the pitching that is the downfall. We cannot depend on the Pavanos, Clemens', and even the Andy Pettites of the staff, though Andy for different reasons, obviously. We need production from guys like Joba, Wang, Kennedy, and Hughes. If we can add Lowry to that mix, I say give up Matsui. If we do get either him or Jonathan Sanchez, who would be my second choice, we'd then have him and Pettite in that mix as well. And that's one hell of a mix.

The Giants would gain a great lefty bat that provided some much needed power. Granted, AT&T is a brutal hitter's park, but Matsui shoots gaps as well as anyone. If the Giants went out and got Fukudome, they'd have a very solid outfield. Both teams would get significantly better.

"Baseball is the only instance where a sacrifice is truly appreciated."

by YanksFanAtSwat on Dec 11, 2007 1:20 PM EST reply actions