Remember this time last year? When the Yankees didn't want to spend money on free agents? Remember when they didn't want to give up young talent AND pay free agent money to Johan Santana? Here's why folks:
The Yankees were hoping that the Twins wouldn't be able to trade Santana, making him a free agent at the end of the season. If he got to free agency, he was clearly the #1 choice. The Yanks were able to hedge this bet because CC Sabathia was also due for free agency. If they missed out on Santana, CC was next in line. So they were spending $23 million a year on a pitcher regardless, but didn't want to part with young, cost controlled pitching.
Heading to the 2007 offseason, the Yankees had a gaping hole at first base. Don't think for one minute that they actually wanted Giambi to wear anything that said Rawlings on it. The plan was to sign Mark Teixeira, who at the time was coming into free agency with the Atlanta Braves. Instead of testing the market, Teixeira opted to sign a 1-year deal with Atlanta. With Teixeira off the market for another year the Yanks kept first base open and their checkbooks closed (save the new ARod contract).
Here's where things went horribly, horribly wrong. Cashman and company expected to get something out of Phil Hughes or Ian Kennedy last season. At least enough to pencil one of them into a spot in the 2009 rotation. Unfortunately, neither was able to deliver. The Yankees were probably hoping for a rotation of Wang, pettitte (to resign), hughes, kennedy, with joba in the bullpen (potentially). Instead, they are looking at Wang, Joba, ?, ?, ?. So instead of signing one big name free agent pitcher, they need a second.
I don't think it was ever the plan to sign AJ Burnett or Derek Lowe, but to quote 'Chip Douglas': "Necessity is the mother of invention."
The 2008 offseason was always about acquiring a bonafide #1 pitcher, and Mark Teixeira -- AJ Burnett or Derek Lowe are the reaction to last season's pitching problems.
Teixeira is the ideal Yankee first baseman. Gold Glove caliber defense, high OBP, switch hitter, hits for power. Teixeira is the best young position player to hit the market since Alex Rodriguez. Please don't let anyone fool you into thinking that the Yankees will let this kid play in Anaheim or Boston for the next 8 years.
I for one won't be surprised if Mark Teixeira is there to open the "House that George Built".
Thursday, December 11, 2008
Yanks to add a bat?
The pitching staff seems to have undergone a facelift, but let's face it, the (proposed) lineup has holes:
Damon LF (can he stay healthy and effective?)
Jeter SS (put together a nice second half, but a decline isn't out of the question)
Matsui DH (coming off of injury plagued seasons, also declining from age)
A-Rod 3B (it's an odd year, he wins MVP's every odd year - he'll be a monster)
Posada C (had a freak season two years ago, expect him to revert to career averages)
Nady RF (expect .280, 20 HR, 80-100 RBI if all goes well)
Cano 2B (Yanks are hopeful he can return to form and maybe be the #3 hitter)
Swisher 1B (Coming off a miserable season)
Gardner CF (Great speed, but can't hit a lick)
Not the Bronx Bombers that we all know and love. I would be VERY surprised to see the Yankees move into their new ballpark with this lineup. They created holes (letting Giambi & Abreu walk) in order to patch up the rotation. But face it, chicks dig the long ball. Here's my theory:
The Yanks will be serious about Mark Teixeira, very serious.
Reason #1 - Look at the lineup above.
Reason #2 - The Yanks have spent most of their drafting resources on power pitchers, therefore, have very little in position players in the minor leages. Eric Duncan is not the answer. Juan Miranda? Ehh, don't think so. Jesus Montero is a beast, but he's years away.
Reason #3 - No matter what they say, they can afford him. The Yanks say they want to keep payroll down. Why? I ask. They have $90 million coming off the books, and are moving into a cash flow monster of a new stadium!!!!
CC - 23 million per
AJ - 16 million per
Pettitte - 12 million per (hypothetically)
Rounding out the bench - $4 million
Total = $55 million
Add Mike Cameron's 10 million and you have $65 million in additions. That leaves $25 million dollars to spend on a bat. (Teixeira anyone).
The argument can be raised that they'll need payroll flexibility to extend Wang in the near future. Matsui and Damon are both off the books next year (another $25 million in AAV)
They can afford Teixeira, plain and simple.
Damon LF (can he stay healthy and effective?)
Jeter SS (put together a nice second half, but a decline isn't out of the question)
Matsui DH (coming off of injury plagued seasons, also declining from age)
A-Rod 3B (it's an odd year, he wins MVP's every odd year - he'll be a monster)
Posada C (had a freak season two years ago, expect him to revert to career averages)
Nady RF (expect .280, 20 HR, 80-100 RBI if all goes well)
Cano 2B (Yanks are hopeful he can return to form and maybe be the #3 hitter)
Swisher 1B (Coming off a miserable season)
Gardner CF (Great speed, but can't hit a lick)
Not the Bronx Bombers that we all know and love. I would be VERY surprised to see the Yankees move into their new ballpark with this lineup. They created holes (letting Giambi & Abreu walk) in order to patch up the rotation. But face it, chicks dig the long ball. Here's my theory:
The Yanks will be serious about Mark Teixeira, very serious.
Reason #1 - Look at the lineup above.
Reason #2 - The Yanks have spent most of their drafting resources on power pitchers, therefore, have very little in position players in the minor leages. Eric Duncan is not the answer. Juan Miranda? Ehh, don't think so. Jesus Montero is a beast, but he's years away.
Reason #3 - No matter what they say, they can afford him. The Yanks say they want to keep payroll down. Why? I ask. They have $90 million coming off the books, and are moving into a cash flow monster of a new stadium!!!!
CC - 23 million per
AJ - 16 million per
Pettitte - 12 million per (hypothetically)
Rounding out the bench - $4 million
Total = $55 million
Add Mike Cameron's 10 million and you have $65 million in additions. That leaves $25 million dollars to spend on a bat. (Teixeira anyone).
The argument can be raised that they'll need payroll flexibility to extend Wang in the near future. Matsui and Damon are both off the books next year (another $25 million in AAV)
They can afford Teixeira, plain and simple.
Rotation version 2009?
Ok, so C.C. Sabathia is now on board and it appears that A.J. Burnett and possibly Andy Pettitte are soon to follow. This leaves a rotation of: CC, Wang, Burnett, Pettitte, and Joba. I expect Aceves to be the long man with Hughes and Kennedy starting the season in AAA.
Assuming everyone stays healthy, I expect Girardi to get creative with the rotation right around the all-star break in order to limit Joba's innings to keep him ready for the stretch run. Figure on the hottest of the Aceves/Hughes/Kennedy trio finding their way into the rotation somehow.
An interesting thought on top of it, thinking way ahead here. Assume the Yanks get to the postseason with all five/six of their starters healthy, what does the playoff rotation look like? They may only need 3 starters for the opening round and then 4 for the ALCS and/or WS. Do you keep Andy Pettitte off the post season roster? Or, do you move Joba back to the bullpen and go with a rotation of CC, Wang, Burnett, and Pettitte? I know it's a reach, but it's thought provoking none the less.
Assuming everyone stays healthy, I expect Girardi to get creative with the rotation right around the all-star break in order to limit Joba's innings to keep him ready for the stretch run. Figure on the hottest of the Aceves/Hughes/Kennedy trio finding their way into the rotation somehow.
An interesting thought on top of it, thinking way ahead here. Assume the Yanks get to the postseason with all five/six of their starters healthy, what does the playoff rotation look like? They may only need 3 starters for the opening round and then 4 for the ALCS and/or WS. Do you keep Andy Pettitte off the post season roster? Or, do you move Joba back to the bullpen and go with a rotation of CC, Wang, Burnett, and Pettitte? I know it's a reach, but it's thought provoking none the less.
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