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By Tim Dierkes [March 11, 2008 at 5:06pm CST]
5:05pm: Joel Sherman of the New York post says the Yankees were not watching Blanton specifically. The scouts were just doing normal coverage.
12:22am: According to John Shea of the San Francisco Chronicle, the Yankees had a scout watching Oakland starter Joe Blanton on Sunday.
Blanton, 27, saw his salary escalate to $3.7MM this year as he reached his arbitration years. He'll remain under team control through the 2010 season. The projection would change if Blanton switched to pinstripes, but PECOTA sees a 4.36 ERA in 187 innings from him this year (a performance valued at $8.8MM).
The Yankees are relying on Chien-Ming Wang and Andy Pettitte to front their rotation. They'll round it out with Phil Hughes, Mike Mussina, and Ian Kennedy. Joba Chamberlain is expected to join the rotation mid-summer. I imagine the Yanks are just doing their due diligence with Blanton; a preseason trade doesn't seem likely.
The Yanks may be relying on Wang and Pettitte to front their rotation this year, but it will be interesting to see how Pettitte responds after the steroid investigation saga. I'm not sure I'd bet a mortgage payment that he will be mentally ready to go.
Posted by: dbacksbuzz | March 11, 2008 at 12:51 AM
He would be a good addition in that he could help stabilize a rotation filled with youth. With that said, not a chance in hell they are willing to mean Beane's hefty price tag on Blanton.
Posted by: UConnHuskies | March 11, 2008 at 07:28 AM
Joe Blanton 2007 ERA
Home - 2.69
Away - 5.11
I'm just sayin...
Posted by: stellar | March 11, 2008 at 08:00 AM
Joe Blanton 2007 WHIP
Home - 0.99
Away - 1.43
I'm just sayin...
Posted by: stellar | March 11, 2008 at 08:03 AM
Forget Blanton, I want to hear more about this William Crystal that they just signed to play Thursday.
Posted by: CubFan81 | March 11, 2008 at 08:49 AM
No, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no ...
Posted by: Not Joe Morgan | March 11, 2008 at 10:09 AM
Good stuff NJM, thats how I would feel if I were you too. Doesnt seem to make sense though, that they would be looking into Blanton who will cost almost as much as Johan did. I dont buy it. He may help them this year, but I am not even sure I would give up a guy like Ian Kennedy even for him. He just isnt that good and he will get torched in the AL East, as opposed to the AL easy. The Ballparks and hitters are much mor dangerous for a pitcher. The NL East has scarier lineups then the AL West.
Posted by: nrmax88 | March 11, 2008 at 10:59 AM
Yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes!
I would love to see Blanton in the AL East trying to pitch to the Sox, Jays and Rays. He'd get pounded. He belongs in the NL, not the AL. Unless it wouldn't take much to get him (not the case), I can't see why they'd want this guy other than to throw 200 mediocre innings (which does have some value with the rotation they currently have).
Posted by: Papelboner | March 11, 2008 at 01:14 PM
A scout doing his job scouting and rumors fly.
Posted by: studio179 | March 11, 2008 at 05:25 PM
Thanks God !
The Jays only have a chance against the Yankees with their rotation as weak as it is now.
Obviously you people have never seen Blanton face those AL east teams so you really don't know what your talking about.
I think the Yankees are fine as they are, because if they get Blanton, then the Jays are screwed.
Posted by: BaseBallz | March 11, 2008 at 05:58 PM
im very surprised blanton is still with the as. barring a first half collapse he is as good as gone. why would they trade haren and keep blanton? he will be wearing a new uniform by the trade deadline one way or another. the demand for a starter at that time will be high and the as have absolutely no reason to keep him. teams with playoff hopes will pony up something decent at that time.
Posted by: Joelcards | March 11, 2008 at 11:49 PM