Comments on: If the Yankees can’t get Cliff Lee, plan B is Carl Crawford

By: Kevin S.

Kevin S. — Fri, 19 Nov 2010 09:10:44 +0000

Except Granderson hasn’t decline, he regressed back to his baseline after an outlier year. I didn’t look at their ages, you’re right on that. I think that matters more if Sabean looks at this trade beyond the years already contracted.

By: jh0088

jh0088 — Thu, 18 Nov 2010 21:48:37 +0000

I almost don’t care who plays Left for the Yanks next year as long as Jeter is no longer the lead off hitter. With his average down and ability to steal bases distinctly missing Jeter is no longer a viable option to lead off for this team. Either Gardner or Crawford, if they get him, must be the leadoff hitter next year. Jeter should go back down to his traditional number two slot, the one where he played when they won tons of championships. He then can revert back to being a solid patient hitter with a speed demon on the base paths in front of him. If Jeter can stop swigning at the first pitch and allow Gardner or Crawford to steal and/or hit and run they’d be up 1-0 or with a runner on Third and no more than one out for Tex to start every game probably at least 33% of the time.

Give Jeter the 4 years he wants but tell him his days as the leadoff hitter are over. And THAT is for the betterment of the team.

By: Lukehart80

Lukehart80 — Thu, 18 Nov 2010 21:14:26 +0000

Sure, their value has been close (by fWAR, bWAR has Cain far ahead in 2010), but Cain is also 4 years younger and has not declined over the last couple years. I’m sure there are outfielders the Giants would trade Cain for, because as you said, they’ve got more pitching than hitting, but not even Brain Sabean would make this deal.

By: Kevin S.

Kevin S. — Thu, 18 Nov 2010 20:33:54 +0000

The Giants have pitching depth, they need position players. Cain and Granderson provide similar value, have similar contracts, and allow each team to fill their needs from their strengths.

By: Jonny 5

Jonny 5 — Thu, 18 Nov 2010 19:54:14 +0000

Naaaa, i’d have to say The AL is for guys who can’t play defense but can tear a cover off a ball, pitchers that can’t hit, and the fans that will accept that nonsense… If i had to pick an AL team to root for it couldn’t possibly be the team that beat My Phills in the WS. Heavens no. I have no rooting interest in an AL team honestly.

By: jfk69

jfk69 — Thu, 18 Nov 2010 18:50:27 +0000

PITCHING WINS…THAT IS WHY YOU HAVE A FARM SYSTEM AND THE KILLER BEES.
i have an outfield for next. Crawford at 15 million per is a luxury.UNLESS JOSH JOHSON IS THE REASON FOR THE DEAL.

By: WhenMattStairsIsKing

WhenMattStairsIsKing — Thu, 18 Nov 2010 18:46:41 +0000

Granderson has some value to rebuild. I’d deal Swisher.

By: aious

aious — Thu, 18 Nov 2010 18:45:15 +0000

The Yankees problem was pitching, not hitting

Over-paying severely for CC won’t do anything to help them win the World Series

By: jfk69

jfk69 — Thu, 18 Nov 2010 18:43:10 +0000

Yea that makes sense.LOL
i know you need to trade the swish as his contract is up next year and garder is 4 years youngrer and the same player with like numbers for 500k…So who do think would have leverage in this deal. i TAKE ON 15 MILLION IN CONTRACT ON THE HOPES I CAN MAKE A TRADE…IF THATS PLAN B CASHMAN IS AN IDIOT.

By: Lukehart80

Lukehart80 — Thu, 18 Nov 2010 17:50:42 +0000

The Giants aren’t trading Matt Cain for Curtis Granderson. Come on.

By: yankeesfanlen

yankeesfanlen — Thu, 18 Nov 2010 17:35:34 +0000

I get your innuendo, here I thought for a while you were coming around to make us at least your AL (true baseball) team.
Now, I must say for the first time this post season- Leave ARod Alone!

By: Jonny 5

Jonny 5 — Thu, 18 Nov 2010 17:00:30 +0000

But, But, But it’s going to already take a boatload of $$$ to retain Jeter and Rivera. Then add Lee and Crawford? On top of that, what’s 22% of that that’s going to be pi$$ed away? I tend to think that may even be too much for the Dark side to swallow.

By: yankeesfanlen

yankeesfanlen — Thu, 18 Nov 2010 16:19:01 +0000

The simple answer to the Carl Crawford puzzle is that the Universe believes he beats them with his base stealing ability, and when they think that, you know they’re gonna sign him. As for pitchers, they’ll get Cliff Lee too (it’s an even number year) and they can trade the FAT TOAD for a load of spit (except for Farnsworth, then they’d have to take the load).
Gardner will be the best 4th outfielder we’ve had in years, just give him 2-3 years to learn how to hit.

By: Kevin S.

Kevin S. — Thu, 18 Nov 2010 15:55:07 +0000

Is it Matt Cain who controls his HR/FB, or is it his home ballpark? I actually wish xFIP would regress HR/FB to a park-adjusted number instead of just league-average, but Matt Cain consistently beating his xFIP isn’t necessarily on him.

Also, fWAR is based on FIP, not xFIP, so Cain actually does get credit for not giving up those HR.

Finally, on Granderson, how much do we think the ability of other managers to leverage LOOGYs against him really hurts? Fangraphs clutch rating has Granderson as essentially neutral in high-leverage situations, relative to what he does in other situations.

By: Jonny 5

Jonny 5 — Thu, 18 Nov 2010 15:52:20 +0000

If trade is in the future for a pitcher, why pick up Crawford at all? They still have a solid OF that doesn’t need Crawford, and they should have plenty of lower level talent to trade off for a pitcher who’s on a team looking to unload a “biggish” salary. Unless they’re looking to supplement the hole that’ll be in the lineup after Jeter gets on his 3-4 year retirement tour? Has Cashman learned nothing from Amaro with the pitchers he’s been able to land? For “peanuts” mind you.

By: Ari Collins

Ari Collins — Thu, 18 Nov 2010 15:29:16 +0000

I really could be wrong, but I BELIEVE fWAR underestimates Cain because it uses xFIP, which assumes that Cain should be giving up more HRs/FB, but he’s fairly well proven he’s exceptionally good at avoiding the long ball.

Further, fWAR would (I think) overestimate Granderson, because it’s not taking into account the leverage of the situations in which lefties eat him up.

But all that aside, unless the Giants are seriously winning the trade (not just breaking even), I don’t see them trading their World Champion 1A Pitcher(tm).

By: Kevin S.

Kevin S. — Thu, 18 Nov 2010 15:13:35 +0000

Question is, who are the pitchers you’re looking to deal for? I think Granderson would have to be the guy traded, since Swisher’s the only one who can really play right and no one in hell is going to give fair value for Brett Gardner just yet. So, Granderson for Matt Cain? Cain makes $7 million next year and $15 million in ’12. Granderson makes $8 million next year, $10 million in ’12, and has a $13 million club option with a $2 million buyout in ’13. Basically similar money, with advantage in Granderson’s contract being a team’s choice at extending control. By fWAR, Matt Cain’s been worth about an extra win or so (total) over the past three years, so talent-wise it’s pretty much a wash, too. Giants get an actual offensive player, Yankees still manage to land a pitcher.

By: BC

BC — Thu, 18 Nov 2010 15:04:54 +0000

If they nabbed Crawford and swapped Granderson for a pitcher, that would be huge.