Comments on: Who might the Yankees target next winter?

By: uyf1950

uyf1950 — Fri, 28 Jan 2011 03:39:40 +0000

The question then is will the White Sox pay him the $15M that his contract calls for in 2012. If they do decide to pay him that will put their payroll commitments for 2012 at about $100M for 11 players before any other FA or arbitration eligible players. They could be looking at a total payroll of $130+M come 2012. Is that in their comfort level and budget?

By: frug

frug — Fri, 28 Jan 2011 02:52:23 +0000

Even if he doesn’t retire there is zero chance of him leaving Chicago.

By: jfk69

jfk69 — Thu, 27 Jan 2011 22:42:02 +0000

This is an outrage. No thirty something on the down hill players for the Yankees to target. They will never catch the New York Rangers in senior signings now. I don’t worry as they will trade for one.
We will have the most senior and playoff tested team or i will have Cashmans head.
Love
Hank S.

By: ta192

ta192 — Thu, 27 Jan 2011 22:03:44 +0000

Does anyone get tired of reading about/talking about/thinking about/wishing a pox on the Yankees besides me?

By: uyf1950

uyf1950 — Thu, 27 Jan 2011 19:55:18 +0000

BC – Even the Yankees aren’t going to pay $20M per for 5 years or so for primarily a DH. Besides my friend why would the Yankees not resign Swisher after his 2012 club option for $10.25M. He will be far less expensive then Fielder and far more versatile then Fielder..and that doesn’t even take into account Swisher fills a need for the Yankees Fielder doesn’t.

By: uyf1950

uyf1950 — Thu, 27 Jan 2011 19:45:30 +0000

BC – You’ve been watching to many Popeye cartoons.

By: BC

BC — Thu, 27 Jan 2011 19:27:20 +0000

Would gladly trade the Yankees Oliver Perez for a hamburger on Tuesday…..

By: BC

BC — Thu, 27 Jan 2011 19:24:34 +0000

uyf1950 – That’s my point.
Posada retires after this year. Figuring that he’ll DH a lot this year, and you have some combination of Martin, Cervelli, Montero to catch… and then I think Swisher comes off the books after this year as well… Why not sign the Human Jupiter to be your DH? And like I said, he can at least play the field once in a while if needed and be at least serviceable out there, maybe a C+/B-.
(Someone will now bring up UZR or VORP or BURP or some other rating and totally trash me…. Just bear with me folks….)

By: schlom

schlom — Thu, 27 Jan 2011 18:24:59 +0000

Do people seriously think that the Yankees won’t attempt to sign Pujols (if he actually makes it to free agency) because they have Mark Teixeira at 1B?

By: marshmallowsnake

marshmallowsnake — Thu, 27 Jan 2011 18:15:44 +0000

In Haiti.

By: spudchukar

spudchukar — Thu, 27 Jan 2011 17:54:50 +0000

Thanks for the accurate info. I thought Wainwright was locked up for awhile, but “the prophet” threw me off, I think Westbrook signed a 2-year deal, not sure about trade veto power, will research.

By: uyf1950

uyf1950 — Thu, 27 Jan 2011 17:26:12 +0000

spudchukar – If I were the Cardinals I wouldn’t go spending that money just yet. Of course the Yankees are not doing anything with Wainwright. I’m sure for the reasons I mentioned he’s not even on their radar screen for 2011 or 2012 and even if he were everyone knows they would have to approach the Cardinals. Besides the free agency class for 2013 as of right now looks pretty decent.

By: uyf1950

uyf1950 — Thu, 27 Jan 2011 17:19:18 +0000

Pisano, my friend. We both as do most Yankee fans eat, breathe Yankee Pinstripes. Keep the faith. The one thing I do agree with Cashman on what he has said this off season is the Yankees are just one starter from being a World Series contender. Pettitte is that starter if he comes back and JD (as he’s now called here) would be icing on the cake.

By: spudchukar

spudchukar — Thu, 27 Jan 2011 17:15:49 +0000

They have the clout, maybe not the willingness. 30 mil for a pitcher? This is why the Yankees find themselves so disliked, the entitlement attitude. I am one who believes the Cardinals will sign both. Carpenter may go, his 16 mil next year may exceed his worth. Depends on how the year goes, both for him and the Cards. I hope Cashman is trying to persuade Wainwright now, the fine MLB would give the Yanks, for tampering would help the Cards sign Waino next winter.

By: uyf1950

uyf1950 — Thu, 27 Jan 2011 17:13:36 +0000

Unfortunately, there is one very big problem with your proposal. Wainwright is under team control through 2013 with 2 very friendly team options in 2012 and 2013. He’s not going anywhere. Carpenter, or even Westbrook (while less desirable then Carpenter), are far more likely to be traded then Wainwright ever will be.

By: pisano

pisano — Thu, 27 Jan 2011 17:13:34 +0000

uyf1950…It seems everytime I go off the charts about a pitcher your sensibility steps in to calm me down, for that my friend I thank you. Your post sounds real good especially if Pettitte comes back. I’m also hoping for JD, I think if healthy he’d be a real plus.The pitching rotation you have posted could compete with any team in the AL. We know that the Red Sox rotation is overrated anyone of those starters could be up for an ass whipping at any one of their starts. They are night and day away from being a dominant rotation. The Yankee rotation as you outlined will compete with them favorably.

By: yankeeprophet

yankeeprophet — Thu, 27 Jan 2011 16:48:20 +0000

Yankees will throw 5-6 years $150 million towards Adam Wainwright (RHP, St. Louis Cardinals). With all the money St. Louis will throw at Albert Pujols (probably $200 million +) they certainly can’t afford to extend Wainwright a contract. Think about it. Does anyone believe St. Louis has the clout to spend $300 million plus for Pujols and Wainwright in one off-season? Cashman needs to convince Adam Wainwright, RIGHT NOW, that New York is his future and his retirement. Bank on that.

By: uyf1950

uyf1950 — Thu, 27 Jan 2011 16:31:40 +0000

Pisano – Forget about Colon and Prior. If Andy comes back and it looks good at this point the Yankee starting rotation looks pretty good (CC, Andy, Hughes, AJ and Nova or possibly Duchscherer (if they sign him). That and the bullpen and the Yankee offense match up well against any team. Then Brian can take his time to see what options are available at the trade deadline.

By: pisano

pisano — Thu, 27 Jan 2011 15:58:00 +0000

If I were the Yankees I’d be more concerned about 2011. They still need a front line pitcher and who do they sign ? the human bowling ball Bartolo Colon. I know he only has a minor league contract, but these type of signings remind me of the Red Sox of last year with their reclamation projects of which none of them worked out. Cashman you can do better than Colon.

By: uyf1950

uyf1950 — Thu, 27 Jan 2011 15:55:07 +0000

I doubt very seriously that the Yankees would be interested in any high priced DH mostly for the reasons you mentioned. Keep in mind Posada’s contract with the Yankees expires after this coming season. After that he’s going to retire. The Yankees won’t offer him a contract or shall I say if they were to offer him one it would probably wouldn’t be for about $2 or $3M. But I think with the catching prospects the Yankees have it’s time for Posada to retire.

By: BC

BC — Thu, 27 Jan 2011 15:52:34 +0000

I’m figuring Posada is done after this year. So you rest Tex once in a while, and give A-Rod/Jeter a day off when they get nicked.
Wish my Mets had this problem. Hmm…. how do we fit an elite power-hitting 1B/DH into our lineup….

By: uyf1950

uyf1950 — Thu, 27 Jan 2011 15:48:37 +0000

BC – Two years sounds right with may be an option for a 3rd year at a reduced salary for the 3rd year based on games/innings pitched and no injuries. I think $35M for 2 years with the 3rd year say at $10 to $12M (if exercised). BTW Carpenter will be 36 this April. Just thinking out loud.

By: Charles Gates

Charles Gates — Thu, 27 Jan 2011 15:47:31 +0000

Devoting that much capital to Fielder is a big risk, not only from a How Does The Big Man Hold Up While He Eats And Ages perspective, but also because it constricts Girardi’s ability to ‘rest’ A-Rod/Jeter/Posada/Tex in the DH slot for a day.

By: BC

BC — Thu, 27 Jan 2011 15:27:24 +0000

I wouldn’t go more than 2 years on Carpenter. He’s still very good, but he’s only a couple years younger than Andy Pettitte (I think Carpenter is 35 going on 36). Depends if you can throw two years, $20mil at him.

By: uyf1950

uyf1950 — Thu, 27 Jan 2011 15:09:06 +0000

I agree with you about both and I’d include Carpenter in that list as a possible option.

By: uyf1950

uyf1950 — Thu, 27 Jan 2011 15:07:04 +0000

You are right playing for the Astros for any length of time. It would make a player think about retiring. But I disagree with you about him staying with the Phillies or about him wanting to retire now. Usually although not always one party or the other does not exercise their part of the “mutual” option. As I said I think it’s more then likely that Oswalt will want an extension and more money, and I thinks that’s something the Phillies will be reluctant to do with what will be a 35 year old pitcher when they have or will have 2 pitchers already in that category and they are going to have to extend Hamels and they will have about $100M committed to 7 players in payroll for 2012 (not including Oswalt). And over $80M committed to payroll in 2013 on just 4 players. The Phillies will have some big decisions to make after the 2011 season concerning players approaching FA and or arbitration. I just don’t see Oswalt in their long term plans and I don’t see him retiring.

By: BC

BC — Thu, 27 Jan 2011 15:02:49 +0000

Let me add to my previous comment. Fielder as a DH makes a heck of a lot of sense. Especially if they get in a bidding war with Boston, as I suspect they will with Ortiz coming off the books. And you can put Fielder in the field (no pun intended) to spell Tex every so often. Watch that one.

By: BC

BC — Thu, 27 Jan 2011 15:00:46 +0000

Oswalt or Buherle. Assuming both stay healthy this year, they’re innings-eaters, give you 14-16 wins. They have one of them as their #3 starter, that’s hot. I figure Pettitte comes back for this year than retires, and then WHAMMO you have the replacement.

By: proudlycanadian

proudlycanadian — Thu, 27 Jan 2011 14:57:52 +0000

After giving this much thought, I suspect that the Yankees will once again be targeting Andy Pettitte in 2012.

By: dodger88

dodger88 — Thu, 27 Jan 2011 14:44:51 +0000

If I am not mistaken there was talk, before he was traded, that this may be Oswalt’s last contract as he is thinking of retiring when the dela is done. If that is the case, he make exercise the option and play his final year. Of course, playing on the Astros and enduring losing seasons the past few years may have fueled the desire to hang em’ up and now that his back playing for a winner he may want to play a few more years. Either way way, I see him finishing with the Phils or retiring.