Saturday, December 13, 2008
All Quiet on the Cameron Front
All discussion of the Cameron-Cabrera trade has disappeared since the announcement of the Burnett signing. According to this blog post from the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, the talks are not dead, but simply on hold. The Yanks are apparently too busy signing Burnett and hoping that cute boy from class, Andy, calls to reply to Milwaukee's last voicemail and resume the trade talks. Best bet is Cameron is a Yankee on Monday.
Around the Majors
Chicago White Sox
The White Sox have signed a Cuban player to a 4 year deal. We did that once. They also have not signed and don't appear to want to sign third baseman Joe Crede. Crede may be a good fit for the Yankees since he is known for having some pop and never taking a walk. The Yankees of course need to fill their void of players who never take a walk and have some pop after they sent Wilson Betemit to the White Sox earlier in the hot stove season.
Kansas City Royals
The Royals have once again showed that they are willing to throw down money when the player is right. They did so with Gil Meche two years ago, again with Jose Guillen last year, and this year they have done so with power righty and power tackler Kyle Fansworth. The deal is reported as a 2 year contract worth $9.25 million.
Philadelphia Phillies
The Phillies signed outfielder Raul Ibanez to a 3 year $30 million contract. The Phillies were of course concerned with bringing in a known winner to help them get back to the World Series next season, and having spent all but three years of his career playing for the Mariners the Phillies knew they got their man. Those other three years? Kansas City.
Cleveland Indians
The Cleveland Indians have signed former Cubs reliever Kerry Wood to a two year $20.5 million contract. I'm just happy the Yankees are not the only team dishing out large contracts to injury-ridden pitchers. This deal obviously helps the Yankees look less crazy.
New York Mets
K-Rod just announced that the Mets are the team to beat. We heard it from Rollins a couple seasons back when he proved his prophetic gift foreseeing the Mets finishing an epic collapse in the 2007 season. The very next season, Carlos Beltran said that the Mets were now the team to beat, but the prophecy proved false as the Mets sucked all season long. Now K-Rod is saying it, but there is overwhelming evidence to the contrary. Are these words prophetic? We'll see...
New York Yankees
Besides the 5 year $82.5 million deal given to AJ Burnett, there's nothing really to update. But where there is no news, there's news to invent, and here is where the RJG speculative reporting that has won several awards since 1995 comes into play. The Yankees have been having trouble finishing the Mike Cameron for Melky swap on account of the large salary Mike Cameron would earn next season. To add another layer to the matter, the Rockies recently let go centerfielder Wily Taveras who is coming off an awful season where he batted .251. However, he did bat .320 the season before and stole 68 bases last season. The man is ridiculously fast, and can bunt his way on any time you need. He also had a post season cup of tea with the Rockies in 2007 and the Astro's in 2005. He doesn't have any pop in his bat (albiet playing in Colorado), but being caught 7 times and stealing 68 bases cannot be overlooked. It also can't be overlooked that the .251 average is a career low, and that his previous three seasons he batted .291, .278, and .320. He would not cost us Melky, and we could probably sign him for three seasons at the same amount they would pay Cameron for a single season.
The White Sox have signed a Cuban player to a 4 year deal. We did that once. They also have not signed and don't appear to want to sign third baseman Joe Crede. Crede may be a good fit for the Yankees since he is known for having some pop and never taking a walk. The Yankees of course need to fill their void of players who never take a walk and have some pop after they sent Wilson Betemit to the White Sox earlier in the hot stove season.
Kansas City Royals
The Royals have once again showed that they are willing to throw down money when the player is right. They did so with Gil Meche two years ago, again with Jose Guillen last year, and this year they have done so with power righty and power tackler Kyle Fansworth. The deal is reported as a 2 year contract worth $9.25 million.
Philadelphia Phillies
The Phillies signed outfielder Raul Ibanez to a 3 year $30 million contract. The Phillies were of course concerned with bringing in a known winner to help them get back to the World Series next season, and having spent all but three years of his career playing for the Mariners the Phillies knew they got their man. Those other three years? Kansas City.
Cleveland Indians
The Cleveland Indians have signed former Cubs reliever Kerry Wood to a two year $20.5 million contract. I'm just happy the Yankees are not the only team dishing out large contracts to injury-ridden pitchers. This deal obviously helps the Yankees look less crazy.
New York Mets
K-Rod just announced that the Mets are the team to beat. We heard it from Rollins a couple seasons back when he proved his prophetic gift foreseeing the Mets finishing an epic collapse in the 2007 season. The very next season, Carlos Beltran said that the Mets were now the team to beat, but the prophecy proved false as the Mets sucked all season long. Now K-Rod is saying it, but there is overwhelming evidence to the contrary. Are these words prophetic? We'll see...
New York Yankees
Besides the 5 year $82.5 million deal given to AJ Burnett, there's nothing really to update. But where there is no news, there's news to invent, and here is where the RJG speculative reporting that has won several awards since 1995 comes into play. The Yankees have been having trouble finishing the Mike Cameron for Melky swap on account of the large salary Mike Cameron would earn next season. To add another layer to the matter, the Rockies recently let go centerfielder Wily Taveras who is coming off an awful season where he batted .251. However, he did bat .320 the season before and stole 68 bases last season. The man is ridiculously fast, and can bunt his way on any time you need. He also had a post season cup of tea with the Rockies in 2007 and the Astro's in 2005. He doesn't have any pop in his bat (albiet playing in Colorado), but being caught 7 times and stealing 68 bases cannot be overlooked. It also can't be overlooked that the .251 average is a career low, and that his previous three seasons he batted .291, .278, and .320. He would not cost us Melky, and we could probably sign him for three seasons at the same amount they would pay Cameron for a single season.
With New Signings, Dwindling Hope for Dinosaurs
The Yankees have been busy this off-season, trading for Nick Swisher, signing CC Sabbathia and AJ Burnett, and pursuing Derek Lowe, Andy Pettitte, and a trade for Mike Cameron. As was first reported by RJG, Hank Steinbrenner, head of baseball operations for the Yankees, had hoped to fill the numerous roster holes with dinosaurs. It seems that Cashman has walked Hank, who still cowers in fear of doing an interview with us, from that ledge. With each new signing and trade rumor the hopes of many dinosaur free agents dwindles, as their chances to play for the Yankees become veritably extinct (oh man am I clever).
A pterodactyl who hope to patrol center field was visibly shaken by the Mike Cameron trade rumors. "First that meteor, and now this! I can't believe it. I was so close, and Mike Cameron? Really? I can fly? sure, I have no arms so I can't hit, but I guarantee no home runs, that's worth an automatic out." Scott Boras, the pterodactyl's agent, is considering filing charges against baseball's GMs for collusion. "With everything my client brings to the table it is astonishing that no offers have come forth," said Boras.
It appears that the Yankees have abandoned their dinosaur movement before it ever had a chance to take off the ground. Phil Hughes and Ian Kennedy can relate.
A pterodactyl who hope to patrol center field was visibly shaken by the Mike Cameron trade rumors. "First that meteor, and now this! I can't believe it. I was so close, and Mike Cameron? Really? I can fly? sure, I have no arms so I can't hit, but I guarantee no home runs, that's worth an automatic out." Scott Boras, the pterodactyl's agent, is considering filing charges against baseball's GMs for collusion. "With everything my client brings to the table it is astonishing that no offers have come forth," said Boras.
It appears that the Yankees have abandoned their dinosaur movement before it ever had a chance to take off the ground. Phil Hughes and Ian Kennedy can relate.
Friday, December 12, 2008
AJax is a Yank
John Heyman is reporting that the Yanks have landed Burnett. In related news, shares of Manhattan's Columbia-Presbyterian Hospital were up at the close of today's trading. Is Pettitte next? Cameron? Manny? Only time will tell.
Apple Juice Goes Well With Candy Corn
The Post is reporting that none other than Apple Juice Burnett really wants to be a Yankee. He recently spoke to a Yankee and told them that soon they would be teammates. This was odd, because that Yankee was Carl Pavano. Zing! See, I insinuated that Burnett is going to be hurt the whole time he's under contract. In all seriousness, I'm sure more than a few Yankee fans would be relieved to know that at least one of our free agent acquisitions actually wants to be a Yankee.
I continue to think that the Yankees are likely to make a move for Manny Ramirez. They've given no indication that they want to do this but the math makes sense. The Yanks have $88M coming off their payroll, Sabbathia's annual salary will be $23M, and assuming they sign Burnett for $80M over five years, that's only an additional annual salary of $16M (somewhere, Andy Pettitte just $#!* himself). This would leave $49M untouched with no glaring free agent needs except for the addition of a primetime bat. The Yanks could easily sign Manny at this point for a couple years at a high annual salary, say $25M. That still leaves the Yankees $24M under last year's payroll and they quickly become the most formidable line up in baseball because of the pressure Manny will take off of A-Rod and Cano. Expect to see Manny in pinstripes, I'm calling it.
Another intriguing option is Teixeira. Consider that Marky T is looking for 10 years, $200M. That's $20M a year. That would leave the Yankees nearly $30M under last year's payroll. For everyone says that the Yankees will never sign Sabbathia and Marky T in the same year, think again. It's not that outlandish.
Correction:
The likely acquisition of Mike Cameron means $10M more on the payroll. So signing Manny would likely result in a payroll approximately $14M less than last year, while signing Marky T would result in a $19M payroll reduction from last season.
I continue to think that the Yankees are likely to make a move for Manny Ramirez. They've given no indication that they want to do this but the math makes sense. The Yanks have $88M coming off their payroll, Sabbathia's annual salary will be $23M, and assuming they sign Burnett for $80M over five years, that's only an additional annual salary of $16M (somewhere, Andy Pettitte just $#!* himself). This would leave $49M untouched with no glaring free agent needs except for the addition of a primetime bat. The Yanks could easily sign Manny at this point for a couple years at a high annual salary, say $25M. That still leaves the Yankees $24M under last year's payroll and they quickly become the most formidable line up in baseball because of the pressure Manny will take off of A-Rod and Cano. Expect to see Manny in pinstripes, I'm calling it.
Another intriguing option is Teixeira. Consider that Marky T is looking for 10 years, $200M. That's $20M a year. That would leave the Yankees nearly $30M under last year's payroll. For everyone says that the Yankees will never sign Sabbathia and Marky T in the same year, think again. It's not that outlandish.
Correction:
The likely acquisition of Mike Cameron means $10M more on the payroll. So signing Manny would likely result in a payroll approximately $14M less than last year, while signing Marky T would result in a $19M payroll reduction from last season.
Offense Is Overrated Anyway
The focus on pitching for the Yankees has been necessary since they had more openings in the rotation than they had spots filled, but the neglect on offense has been a bit curious. A team that produced 758 runs last season and has since lost 196 of those runs to free agency has to be a little concerned. The Yankees seem to be saying that with Posada and Matsui back in the line up, the addition of Nick Swisher, and the comeback of Robinson Cano should more than account for what we're losing. However, I fail to see how this is at all a good idea. Besides assuming the healthy returns of Posada and Matsui, we're also putting a lot of stock in the rebounds of both Swisher and Cano. The runs driven in by Jeter and Damon were pretty much in line with what they've produced in other seasons so I don't expect we'll find the runs there. The heart of our lineup as defined by Swisher, Cano, A-Rod, Matsui, Posada, and Nady has more unknowns then definits. A-Rod will give you 100 RBI's, but whose going to protect him in the lineup? This calls into the question the idea of signing Manny. Could you imagine the kind of pitches A-Rod would see with Manny on deck? I know we already have too many DH types on the team, but none of them have a bat like Manny's. Will he clash with his teammates and manager? Yes. Will he do things that will infuriate Yankee fans? Yes. But will he drive in more runs than anyone else in that lineup, and give you some huge hits along the way? Yes.
Thursday, December 11, 2008
Pettitte's Getting A Visit
Bronny Cash left the Winter Meetings in a hurry to meet with Andy Pettite, the Post is reporting. Apparently he's making him an offer he can't refuse. The Yanks seem prepped to sign Burnett, leaving one spot in the rotation. Cash will set a $10M contract before Mr. Pettitte and assure him that either his name, or that of Ben Sheets, will be on the contract.
Cashman Outbids Himself to Land Sabathia
It was reported yesterday that the Yankees had landed Sabathia to a deal ranging 7 years for $161 million, with an opt clause after 3 years. Cashman was concerned with beating out the next best offer which had been proposed by the Yankees at 6 years and $140 million. This may seem odd to those of us outside of Cashman's circle, but the reality of the situation is that Cashman may have an undiagnosed split personality disorder. Evidence for this theory can be found in Greg Genske's negotiation tape. He records his negotiations as a way to keep teams honest, but this tape also lends credence to the theory that he has this rare disorder. The Respect Jeter's Gangster blog landed a copy of this recording and transcribed it in this RJG blog exclusive. The transcript reflects what we believe is Cashman's split personality by placing the words offered by the alter ego in italics. Just know that this transcript may disturb you.
Greg Genske: So, $140 million and 6 years? My client is impressed with this offer, but needs to to consider his options. As you know he would like to stay and play on the west coast.
Cashman: Sure, I can understand that, and of course the offer still stands, but just know you can't beat that kind of deal.
Cashman: I think I can beat it Bronny. How does 6 years $145 million sound?
Cashman: Oh, that's a mighty good deal... for a sucker! I can go 6 years $150 million.
Cashman: If you think you're so high and mighty, why don't you consider doing what I'm about to do. We'll give you 7 years.
Cashman: At what price?
Cashman: 7 years and $160 million.
Cashman: That's a pretty steep price there, but you forgot the million I got from the Rasner deal. 7 years $161 million, opt out clause after 3 years. Can you beat that?
Cashman: No, you pretty much have me beat there. I love you.
CC Sabathia: I love you too. So, um, what just happened?
Greg Genske: Just sign the contract Charles.
CC Sabathia: There's my signature, I'll go tell my wife!
So as far as I can tell either Cashman has a split personality or he has the worst negotiation techniques in the world. Some believe it was this same condition that led to A-Rod's most recent contract as well. So much for all this fiscal responsibility nonsense, but here's my question. If the Yankees are making it rain on all these free agent pitchers, why is it all of a sudden so fiscally unsound to pursue a bat like Manny's? For a contract that would end in 2 maybe 3 years, its better to go big now, and have it off the books just in time to re-sign Derek Jeter and Mariano Rivera who will age gracefully and lead the team to a new dynastic championship run.
Greg Genske: So, $140 million and 6 years? My client is impressed with this offer, but needs to to consider his options. As you know he would like to stay and play on the west coast.
Cashman: Sure, I can understand that, and of course the offer still stands, but just know you can't beat that kind of deal.
Cashman: I think I can beat it Bronny. How does 6 years $145 million sound?
Cashman: Oh, that's a mighty good deal... for a sucker! I can go 6 years $150 million.
Cashman: If you think you're so high and mighty, why don't you consider doing what I'm about to do. We'll give you 7 years.
Cashman: At what price?
Cashman: 7 years and $160 million.
Cashman: That's a pretty steep price there, but you forgot the million I got from the Rasner deal. 7 years $161 million, opt out clause after 3 years. Can you beat that?
Cashman: No, you pretty much have me beat there. I love you.
CC Sabathia: I love you too. So, um, what just happened?
Greg Genske: Just sign the contract Charles.
CC Sabathia: There's my signature, I'll go tell my wife!
So as far as I can tell either Cashman has a split personality or he has the worst negotiation techniques in the world. Some believe it was this same condition that led to A-Rod's most recent contract as well. So much for all this fiscal responsibility nonsense, but here's my question. If the Yankees are making it rain on all these free agent pitchers, why is it all of a sudden so fiscally unsound to pursue a bat like Manny's? For a contract that would end in 2 maybe 3 years, its better to go big now, and have it off the books just in time to re-sign Derek Jeter and Mariano Rivera who will age gracefully and lead the team to a new dynastic championship run.
I'm Not Sure How to Feel About This
The Daily News is reporting that in the next two days the Yankees will be sending Melky Cabrera to Milwaukee for CF Mike Cameron. Now, one the one hand, they have the same initials. On the other hand, we lose a 23 outfielder for a guy much older who has never faced AL pitching and hit .243 against NL pitching last year. Melky hit .249 in the AL. Hardly great, but I have cause for concern. The word "veteran" doesn't mean anything to me. Hopefully Bronny knows what he's doing with this one.
Update, 4:16
The Post is reporting that the deal is stalled, and perhaps dead, because the Yankees are asking that the Brewers eat some of Cameron's $10M.
Update, 4:16
The Post is reporting that the deal is stalled, and perhaps dead, because the Yankees are asking that the Brewers eat some of Cameron's $10M.
Wednesday, December 10, 2008
Retraction: Those Words Don't Taste Good, They Taste Terrible
"In fact, the Yankees had begun to send signals that if Sabathia didn't accept their offer soon, they were ready to pull it off the table and move on. But all that became a moot point late Tuesday night, when Cashman was able to satisfy the Sabathias that they could play and live happily in New York." (Source).
Yeah, it was the quality of life that convinced them. How about no west coast team stepping up and the prospect of losing out on the Yanks offer. I knew Bronny read this blog. No charge for the negotiating tips Bronny. But, if you ever cross me...
Yeah, it was the quality of life that convinced them. How about no west coast team stepping up and the prospect of losing out on the Yanks offer. I knew Bronny read this blog. No charge for the negotiating tips Bronny. But, if you ever cross me...
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