Tuesday, December 15, 2009

Well That Took Shape Quickly

Just yesterday I was writing that the Red Sox seemed to be throwing in the towel for the 2010 season, then they signed Lackey for 5 years and $85 million, and were linked to Mike Cameron and all of a sudden they look like a much better team. That's how the hot stove season goes.

In an amazing three way trade, Halladay got sent to Philadelphia, Cliff Lee got sent to Seattle, and a host of prospects are going to Toronto. With such big peices falling into place the only thing left to see is where Holliday and Bay end up playing. Its also going to be interesting to see what the Yankees do about adding another rotation piece and bringing back Damon.

As was mentioned yesterday, Matsui is headed to the Angels. I think that's a good move for him, and a good thing for us. We would have been paying a premium for his past performances with us, and it wouldn't have been the best budget decision to make. That being said, Matsui was a great player, and I'm happy that he was able to see a championship in pinstripes. We at the RJG wish him well with the Angels, and hope he chokes big time if he sees us in the post season next year. That's the New York fans way of saying we'll miss you.

9 comments:

Jon Roberts said...

I still think the Mariners need a big bat at first or dh. They don't have much power. I guess they want to make an offer to Bay that's something. I don't think he is good enough to carry a team the way Arod or Tex can. Ichiro and Guitierez will be on base plenty. Basically they need to score more runs.

Yankees fan stuck outside Seattle.

SA Yankee fan said...

I mostly like the moves that went down. I was a little dissapointed that Matsui left, I wanted him back for another year but Doc is no longer in our division and did not land with the Sox.

Instead they are spending 16mil a year on Lackey. He makes them better but pitching was a strength for them anyway, if they lose Bay (as it looks like they will) offence is going to be a major issue for them next season.

Roberto E. Alejandro said...

Agreed. Lackey makes the Red Sox better, but not better than the Yankees. The Sox offense still has a way to go. The biggest problem for the Sox is that, at this point, the only way for them to upgrade offensively is to trade away pitching depth. They only have Beckett, Lester, Dice-K, Lackey, Buchholz, and Wakefield. Wakefield just had back surgery and if you lose Buchholz, that's not much for pitching depth.

Rich Mahogany said...

Lackey and Beckett give the Sox a really obnoxious pair of pitchers.

SA Yankee fan said...

Correct, there is no decent offence on the open market and even next year the crop of players ins't great.

They could still bring back Bay or get Holliday but bay is a risk and Holloday will cost a fortune.

I expect them to make a trade for a bat but as you say, that could lead to pitching issues down the road. Bucholtz will have to go and then you have a good but fragile rotation.

It just goes to show how good the moves the Yankees made last off-season where. He was inconsistant but would not have won the world series without AJ. CC was everything he was supposed to be and he will be around for a while and we still have Hughes & Joba with their best years ahead of them to fill out the rotation.

If either fail this year, then the yanks can go out and get Lee (I can already see this happening with Andy coming off the books).

Still I'd like them to get another pitcher this year, Sheets is the man. dude can pitch and we have the depth if he does go down.

Roberto E. Alejandro said...

You're right Rich. There's something about Boston that attracts these guys.

SA, my brother and I have been discussing the potential of Lee in the rotation for 2011. If Pettitte indeed finally retires, it does clear some payroll space (now that the Yankees apparently have a budget, that's important). The nice thing about having both Joba and Hughes still, is that only one of them really needs to pan out as a starter. If both do, bonus. If only one does, the other goes to the bullpen where both have shown they can be successful.

I think the Yanks will be looking to sign another pitcher, and Sheets may be the best option. However, with pitching contracts being what they've been this offseason for far lesser pitchers, I don't know that the Yankees will want to pay that much for any of the pitchers out there, since what is left are largely guys who have had success only in the NL, which rarely translates well to the AL East. A Sheets signing could really go either way.

Fernando Alejandro said...

Jon, I'm in the same boat about the Mariners. I think they're one bat shy of really being competitive. Chone Figgins is a good addition but isn't that kind of bat.

Anonymous said...

Well, somebody out there is going to be picking up Vlad pretty cheap, and I don't see why it wouldn't be Seattle.
He's gonna have blood in his eye for the Angels, too.

Joe

Fernando Alejandro said...

You know Joe, I didn't even think of Vlad. That's not a bad idea, and as a DH he could be pretty useful for them.