Yanks sign Hawkins

by anaconda on Dec 9, 2007 2:20 PM EST in News Comment 38 comments

The Yankees, rebuilding their setup corps, are close to signing free-agent right-hander LaTroy Hawkins to a one-year contract believed to be worth approximately $3.75 million, according to major-league sources.

Hawkins, 35, will help fill the void created by the loss of righty Luis Vizcaino, who declined salary arbitration from the Yankees, and righty Joba Chamberlain, who is expected to move into the starting rotation.

The Colorado Rockies and Texas Rangers were among the teams that bid for Hawkins, who went 2-5 with a 3.42 ERA in 62 games for Colorado last season. He also made four appearances in the postseason, allowing one run in five innings.

Like Jscape, I'm not a fan of this move at all if it does indeed happen. That said, at least Cashman is only being suckered into a one-year deal.

I can only hope Hawkins proves me wrong.

Update [2007-12-9 22:15:56 by jscape2000]: Gah!.

$3.75 million.

I won't hate the move until someone is in the minor leagues putting up numbers like this while someone on the major league roster has numbers that look like this.

Which will probably be in mid-May.

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NOOOO!!!

I rather have Viz than Hawkins.

by BillyBobisdrunk on Dec 9, 2007 3:28 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

Just in case there was any doubt

about Cashman's ineptitude, you can chalk up this as another gem on his resume under "bullpen construction." Yet people wonder if his contract should be extended?

Fear the Evil Empire

by pfistyunc on Dec 9, 2007 3:32 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

and your

recommendation is?

by tombradylikesdudes on Dec 9, 2007 4:49 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Like I have been saying from day one

Unless they are willing to try and trade for solid relief help (which should start by dangling Melky now that they seem out of the Santana mix), I support the idea of throwing the young arms out there and seeing what works. Hawkins has been terrible for a long time and there is no reason to think anything will change next year. They should have just donated that money to charity or offered pro-rata discounts to season ticket holders if they were going to waste it.

Fear the Evil Empire

by pfistyunc on Dec 9, 2007 8:15 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

i agree

with throwing throwing the young arms out there and seeing what sticks. imho, relief pitching is all about catching lightning in a bottle with the exception of the elite closers.

by that same token, i would only trade for proven guys who can close ( i.e. nathan). middle relievers are fickle. melky, despite our opinions of him, does have pretty good value in the market. however, he's probably not enough to net a closer. but then again, the last two "closers" that we used to set-up were pretty shitty (gordon and farns). all i'm saying is that i wouldn't want to give up anything for a player who, despite previous records, could potentially suck.

however, i do think that 1 year of hawkins is not a bad gamble. at least you can guarantee mediocrity out of him.

by tombradylikesdudes on Dec 9, 2007 8:25 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

That's just it

I don't think that you can guarantee even mediocrity out of LaSuck. Mediocrity is really the best case scenario here. He has been shitty for the past several seasons so we aren't even getting a sure thing.

Fear the Evil Empire

by pfistyunc on Dec 9, 2007 9:18 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Hawkins is a bad move!

Check out Hawkins' numbers last year and you will agree that they are uninspiring. In particular, his low K level per inning and high away ERA make signing him a strange move when the Yanks have numerous in-house options.

Vizcaino had long stretches of success for us last year, and when not over-used or under-used, can be an effective pitcher. He certainly has a higher K per inning ration than Hawkins.

Still, I can understand that the Yanks have to be budget conscious somewhere and the bullpen is the best place.

If they want to spend any money on bringing in a new bullpen pitcher, it should be for a lefty reliever like Mahay.

Moreover, with so many potentially great starters, it is strange that the Yanks would take a guy so naturally talented to be a reliever and make him into a starter. Locking in victories in games where the Yanks have a lead after 6 innings should be a no-brainer.

Indeed, for most teams, the 7th is THE MOST DANGEROUS inning if they have a lead. That's because they may have a closer, but with a tired starter, getting to the closer is the hard part.

If Chamberlain were available to pitch the 7th and 8th almost anytime the Yanks had a lead, preferably just the 8th if we got a great starting performance or had one or two other reliable pitchers to handle the 7th, we could plan on the division title again now.

Of course, if Chamberlain can pitch as a starter the way he did as a reliever, that would be great, but he himself wonders if his third and fourth pitches are good enough.

MunsonMan

by MunsonMan on Dec 9, 2007 3:37 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

You want them to be budget conscious

in their weakest area and their achilles heel since Mendoza, Nelson and Stanton have been gone? That certainly makes a lot of sense. If anything this is the one area they should overspend but don't even know how to pick out the correct relievers. This is an incredible weak free agent reliever market and they now sign somebody washed up. I would've given David Riske the long term contract he wanted. Riske has a better track record than VIZ.

by andyroth on Dec 9, 2007 6:17 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Ugh

that's all I can say to this move...Ugh

I suppose I could add an ly to that because I have a feeling that's what this move will turn out to be.

How can they not recall Hawkins' meltdown just a few years ago when he was pitching against NY in the playoffs?

by detroit yankee on Dec 9, 2007 3:59 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

A one year deal

is fine, esp. given the ridiculous money being handed to subpar relievers lately.

I rather do this than give the Viz three years.

Hawkins isn't great, but he'll eat up innings and prevent some of the younger guys who will be in the pen this year from being abused.

by matthaggs on Dec 9, 2007 4:15 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

More pathetic Cashman moves

Viz is not the answer at any price if you want a quality championship bullpen and Hawkins has been washed up since. It's amazing to me when anyone in baseball talks about "innings eaters" and doesn't really care if the guy gives you quality innings. I've watched Hawkins enough since he was putting up big numbers with the Twins and he has basically gone dramatically downhill after his first year with the Cubs when he signed a big free agent contract. Here's the story on Hawkins since and take note that much of the time was spent in the much weaker hitting NL.

Take a GOOD look at the numbers:

G GS CG SHO IP H R ER HR BB SO W L SV HLD BLSV ERA
2005 ChC 21 0 0 0 19.0 18 9 7 4 7 13 1 4 4 0 4 3.32
2005 SF 45 0 0 0 37.1 40 18 17 3 17 30 1 4 2 15 5 4.10
2005 -- 66 0 0 0 56.1 58 27 24 7 24 43 2 8 6 15 9 3.83
2006 Bal 60 0 0 0 60.1 73 30 30 4 15 27 3 2 0 16 4 4.48
2007 Col 62 0 0 0 55.1 52 21 21 6 16 29 2 5 0 18 5 3.42

Over the last 3 seasons: 243 IP, 251H, 79BB, 142K. When you look at the strikeouts to innings pitched you can see he has totally lost his fastball. And the strikeout to walk ratio is less than 2 to 1.

It gets even worse if you look at his last 2 seasons: 112 IP, 125H, 31BB, 58K.

By the way a caller to WFAN last week questioned Mike Francessa how Brian Cashman could keep his job when almost every pitcher he brought in already on the major league level through free agency or trade has been a complete bust. The best Francessa could do was sheepishly say Cashman's record wasn't very good. AS I said before here, the talkies on WFAN woon't tell the full truth even if they know it (and in most cases they don't), because they want Cashman to continue to make appearances and are afraid if they really knock him he'll tell the PR director not to allow the player on their airwaves. I covered this team for ten years and know some people very well on the air on WFAN and know this to be the truth.

I'll also add that if by some longshot Sweeney Murti gets the Mets play-by-play job that one of the biggest names on FAN will recommend me for the Yankee beat reporter's job.

by andyroth on Dec 9, 2007 6:12 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Who is giving you the recomendation

the sports editor over at the village voice?

by seanp23 on Dec 9, 2007 6:40 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

The answer is

Chris Russo

by andyroth on Dec 9, 2007 7:21 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Are you sure Chernoff

Will be able to understand what hes saying?

by seanp23 on Dec 9, 2007 7:25 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

do you want a prize or something?

why should we care? I hope you don't get anywhere near WFAN, no matter how much Mad Dog likes you.

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

by stillmonster on Dec 9, 2007 7:32 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

and...

you are looking for our blessings?

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

by stillmonster on Dec 9, 2007 6:53 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

are you going to be

one of those d-bags on the subway after the games that ride with their stupid PRESS tag hanging around their neck when they're from some rag like The East Overshoe Daily? Like we're all impressed.

"The secret of managing is to keep the guys who hate you away from the guys who are undecided." -Casey Stengel

by bxgrl1 on Dec 9, 2007 7:20 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

How many times can I say it?

Ignore this fucking douchebag and he will go away. (bxgrl1, that was not directed at one I just picked a random post to reply to. It is directed at everyone that replies to this piece of shit.)

Fear the Evil Empire

by pfistyunc on Dec 9, 2007 8:17 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

I know

it's okay.

When I read that post, those subway dbags with the stoooooopid press passes is what I thought of...he would fit in so well.

"The secret of managing is to keep the guys who hate you away from the guys who are undecided." -Casey Stengel

by bxgrl1 on Dec 9, 2007 9:22 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

I'm not going anywhere

You never respond to me with facts or show me any in depth knowledge of the game. If you think I'm so dumb or a douchebag why don't you take me up on my challenge and make some money for yourself you pathetic moron. I didn't see ANYBODY else here say before the cleveland series that Torre was making a huge mistake by scheduling Wang for games one and five on the road when he had a terrible track history away from Yankee Stadium plus if the choice came down to Wang or Pettite for a fifth and deciding game on the road, the choice couldn't have been more obvious. Plus NOBODY else wrote about the edge in Indians's bullpen with them being stronger 2 through 5 than anybody in baseball.

Where the hell was you pre-series analysis that matched what I said and turned out to be a major reason why the Yankees lost?

By the way are you 5 or 6 years old?

by andyroth on Dec 9, 2007 10:10 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

AR

Wow. You are quite the prophet. Can you tell how much money I am going to make in the future? Do you think anyone wants to hear about how much you love the Red Sox? Can you give that shit a rest already?

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

by stillmonster on Dec 10, 2007 12:20 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

I don't love the Red Sox

I was a Yankee fan since 1963 but refuse to root for a team or put money in its pockets when the organization is so incompetent. I did the very same thing in basketball being a 76ers fan since 1965 but grew tired of them after one mistake after another. ie. drafting Shawn Bradley, and taking Leo Rautins ahead of Roy Hinson.

by andyroth on Dec 10, 2007 3:17 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

You ever hear the old saying about how a stopped

watch is right twice a day?

I always feel pressure. What I don't have is fear. -- El Duque

by LateInningRelief on Dec 10, 2007 7:08 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

If

I can speak for everyone, NO ONE LIKES YOU PLEASE LEAVE

re-sign Jaret Wright

by yankeechaser on Dec 10, 2007 12:48 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Thank you

He will go away eventually if we continue to ignore him.

Fear the Evil Empire

by pfistyunc on Dec 10, 2007 8:04 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

I covered the Yankees

from 1979-1989 and my press pass was in my pocket at all times and was probably the most well respected radio reporter in the clubhouse and one of the most respected in general. Had a great relationship with Goose, Willie, Righetti, and Guidry. I've been too harsh here probably out of frustration that morons like Cashman exist through many of these sports (i.e. Scott Layden, Isiah Thomas) who are getting paid millions of dollars and have no doubt I could do a better job.

by andyroth on Dec 9, 2007 10:26 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Who did you cover them for?

by docgonzo on Dec 9, 2007 11:14 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

I covered them for

NBC Radio, AP Radio and I don't know if it's before your time but also for Sports Phone 976-1313.

by andyroth on Dec 10, 2007 3:11 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

What on earth happned

to you?

I would assume that if you covered the Yankees, you would have had to have some modicum of journalistic insights. I too was a reporter long ago and was trained to always include the rebuttal, even if it was buried in the second to last graph. All I've seen are hatchet jobs on Cashman, which fly so far in the face of even-handed reporting, I can't imagine anybody taking your analysis seriously.

If you want to stop getting your hat handed to you every time you post here, here are a few suggestions:

a.) Stop frothing at the mouth with every post: it makes us doubt not just your credibility, but your sanity.
b.) Stop making diary posts and join the general discussion for a bit: nobody likes a blowhard.
c.) Stop starting every conversation by touting your analysis and our foolishness in not fawing over your analysis. This is where the term 'douchebag' is appropriately applied and not simply name-calling.
d.) Get real. Try proposing something that will actually get an audience. You have some pathological desire to draw the biggest flare-up possible. Start small, like proposing a new bullpen catcher.

I always feel pressure. What I don't have is fear. -- El Duque

by LateInningRelief on Dec 10, 2007 7:23 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Wow

That would be quite a coup for WFAN. You would fit right in with the lineup of mental patients they have working over there.

The station would probably handle the announcement the same way the Yanks announced Clemens' return.

"Well, they came and got me out of Pinstripe Alley..."

by matthaggs on Dec 9, 2007 9:23 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Let's stop feeding this troll

by flipster on Dec 9, 2007 10:16 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Agreed

He will go away eventually

Fear the Evil Empire

by pfistyunc on Dec 10, 2007 8:06 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

might be alright

hard to predict relievers, year to year

best bet is many, many in camp, and then just keep the ones that are on that year

by Frank Malzone on Dec 9, 2007 7:58 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

Relievers

That seems to be Cash's plan with relievers this year.

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

by stillmonster on Dec 9, 2007 8:12 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

its official

The yankees and Hawkins have agreed to a preliminary contract for 3.75

by Soriano NY 12 on Dec 9, 2007 9:40 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

wow...

Ron Villone's numbers at home were really good last year!

by malkmusisgod on Dec 9, 2007 11:21 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

Solid Move.

This is a good deal for NY. The cash is no big deal to the NYY, it is contract length that has burned them in the past. A one year commmitment to type C FA with some upside is a good depth move for the bullpen. Bullpens are so upredicatable that depth is the only real way to deal with it.

by KevinV on Dec 10, 2007 11:11 AM EST reply actions 0 recs

I agree

This is a "cover your ass" move.

If none of the young guys pan out and the bullpen implodes, you'll still have Farnsworth, Hawkins, and Rivera as predictable (and for the first two, mediocre) relief pitchers. You're guaranteeing the team 200 innings of predictable relief pitching.

My bet is on both Farnsworth and Hawkins being released/traded before the end of the season. But, I have no problem giving a veteran a short-term, sensible deal, just to cover every possible contigency.

by kuri3460 on Dec 10, 2007 2:12 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs