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« Adam Kennedy Wants A Trade | Main | Baseball Blogs Weigh In: Cards, Sheets, Twins, Pirates, K-Rod, Sabean »
Mussina Willing To Return
According to Josh Thomson of The Journal News, Mike Mussina said last night he'd return to the Yankees next year if they'll have him. Mussina is earning $11MM this year.
Mussina, 40 in December, bounced back from a lousy '07 to post a 3.57 ERA in 189.1 innings. The difference? More strikeouts and fewer walks despite losing a mile per hour on his fastball. Mussina is throwing more breaking stuff this year, apparently.
I can envision an '09 Yankees rotation with C.C. Sabathia, Chien-Ming Wang, Joba Chamberlain, and Mussina locked in. Then Phil Hughes and others would battle it out for the fifth starter job.
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Al Leiter was on NY sports radio this morning and was asked a series of 'yes or no' questions, among them:
Will Andy Pettitte be back next year? 'Yes.'
Will Mike Mussina be back next year? 'No.'
I'm in no position to judge the value or lack thereof of Leiter's opinion, just passing on the info.
Posted by: GravediggerHebner | September 19, 2008 at 09:42 AM
as long as a team on the west, either the angels or dodgers r within 10m of the final contract, i dont see him going to ny. he wants to win, but he also sees he doesnt want as much attention/ridicule as u get in ny. besides, he may see that the yanks arent going anywhere with their current stragey of selling kids, buying free agents
Posted by: lakersdodgersyankees4life | September 19, 2008 at 09:43 AM
I don't think the Yankees will land CC. He's a West Coast guy, he likes to hit and he's found the NL to be much easier on his stats. One scout even went so far to say that "The NL has no chance against him". Why leave that for the AL Beast?
Secondly, I'm not convinced at all that Joba goes back into the rotation. Jorge is right saying that tendonitis can be a warning sign. His high effort delivery and high range of emotions may be better suited to the pen. A healthy Joba for 1-2 is better than an injured Joba half way thru the season.
Finally, I don't want Moose or Andy back. Yes, Moose had a great year and kept us afloat. However, after the league has seen the "new" Moose he may not get away with as much...and he's now 40 years old. Lets get younger and build for the long haul. Andy? His second half numbers have been terrible. He's a great Yankee but it's time to move on from the annual "stay or retire" act.
The Yankees need to look at guys like Burnett, Dempster and maybe even Oliver Perez who is 10-7 4.09 163k's. Then, package Cano to get a Matt Cain type. From within, give Aceves and Hughes a shot at the #5.
Posted by: jjyankeesfan2 | September 19, 2008 at 09:51 AM
"besides, he may see that the yanks arent going anywhere with their current stragey of selling kids, buying free agents"
um, huh? isnt part of the reason they arent making the postseason this year because they avoided signing/importing FAs, and giving the kids a chance?
the yankees should stay clear of dempster, though i could see them in on Burnett and Oli Perez... maybe Lowe and Garland, too.
Posted by: TurnTwo | September 19, 2008 at 09:55 AM
I assume you're referring to CC there...
Anyway, are you really that oblivious to say that the Yankees current strategy is to sell kids and buy free agents? Other than resigning their own players, the Yankees haven't been signing significant free agents the past few years. They've also been stockpiling young players, mainly pitchers.
Posted by: yanksfan | September 19, 2008 at 09:57 AM
Fellow Yankees fans...would we compete with a rotation of say:
Wang
Cain (or another young gun)
Burnett
Perez/Dempster Hughes/Aceves/Coke?
I think that's a realistic way to go. Moreso than assuming we're going to land CC and Sheets.
Pen:
Mo, Joba, H Sanchez, Bruney, Coke, Marte, Veras, Ramirez, Melancon, etc.
TONS of talent to go around. No need to look outside.
Posted by: jjyankeesfan2 | September 19, 2008 at 10:01 AM
Turn Two - I agree, Perez is a risk/reward type of guy. However, the rotation does need a lefty, he's only 27, has pitched in NY and throws 96 mph. If he comes into his own and can pitch like he has in the second half all year long (or like he pitches against us) he'd be a bargain!
Garland needs a good D behind him. He eats innings but his numbers aren't very good if you look deep into them.
Lowe I like, but he'll be 36 to start the season. If he wants a 3-4 year deal, no way. A two year...maybe.
Posted by: jjyankeesfan2 | September 19, 2008 at 10:06 AM
"Then, package Cano to get a Matt Cain type. From within, give Aceves and Hughes a shot at the #5."
That would have to be quite a package...
Posted by: dbhammel | September 19, 2008 at 12:13 PM
Is Cano really much of a positive at this point? He's owed 6 mill, 9 mill and 10 mill over the next three years and has 2 million dollar buy out of the 14 million dollar option for 2011. Would you want a contract like after the performance he's put together this year? Don't get me wrong I won't be surprised at all if/when he rebounds, but that kind of contract isn't going to go too far in prying Matt Cain away from me.
Posted by: gfulla | September 19, 2008 at 02:41 PM
"The Mets can afford to give Perez what he wants, and if he is going to leave, it's b/c he wants to live closer to Mexico. The Mets are not the Marlins, they can afford whoever they want".
Did anyone SAY you were the Marlins? Ahhh, noooo. Was there even a comment MADE about money? Noooo. Funny how Muts fans are always defensive when it comes to anything a Yankees fan has to say. I guess it makes sense though being that you have two titles EVER to our 26. lol
What I was saying is that I'm not sure that the Mets even WANT Ollie back next year. Have they tried to lock him up during his good second half run? NO. Weren't they going to stick him in the pen this year at one point because they were sick of him going five and then combusting? YES. Does that mean they absolutely WILL be tossing money at him and/or asking him to stay? NO. So, stop being defensive.
"Then, package Cano to get a Matt Cain type. From within, give Aceves and Hughes a shot at the #5."
"That would have to be quite a package"...
WHY? Last I checked, Cain is 8-13 3.94 in possibly the worst division in MLB. Why is he "gold". Yes, he has a good arm and can eat innings, but his value is based on potential just like Cano's. Cano had a crappy year this year...I agree totally. However, even with the crappy year, he's still a lifetime .301 hitter, has been an all-star, just missed a batting title, is only 25 years old and has .300 25 100 potential at 2B. There is still plenty to like.
Posted by: jjyankeesfan2 | September 19, 2008 at 04:02 PM
jjyankeesfan2 ... turn in your pinstripes!
Who's going to play second base if you trade Cano? Are you going to get Kennedy (broken-down and over-rated)? Or, are you promoting Betemit or Ransom? Incredibly short-sighted of you to want to trade him after one mediocre (bad by his standards) year. He lights up the clubhouse / bench; he's capable of great defensive work (which he makes look easy); and, he could bat .500 in a month with power.
But, you want to trade him and prospects for a pitcher? Pitchers break down; Robbie played in almost every game.
You don't want Moose back? You're insane. He's a veteran presence for the young pitchers. He's a fan favorite, too. He will pitch 2 - 3 more years and go into the Hall of Fame. Of course, he won't wear a Yankee Cap if you let him go now. Even if he is signed for 2 years / $24 mil with a mutual option for the 3rd year, he's got immeasurable value.
I understand you like what you see with some of the youth. There is an old baseball addage: Don't fall in love with anything you see in Spring Training or September.
Moose has produced. Until he stops, I say we pay him what he wants. Some day, his #35 could be retired.
Posted by: rossdfarian | September 19, 2008 at 07:08 PM
"The Yanks havent made a ton of recent free agent signings, but they traded for Nady, Marte, Pudge, re-sign Arod to a megadeal, brought in Sexson and Ponson etc. etc."
The only thing they gave away for Nady and Marte was that kid.. Karstens and Ohlendorf are horrible... Karstens is a great minor league pitcher, but never could've survived in NY... Ohlendorf has great stuff, but doesn't really know how to pitch... Tabata is the only one that I think has a good shot at doing anything. Nady btw, is all of 29 years old and is signed next year cheap and has been a GREAT addition to NY.. Marte ehh... but, he was good.. he could just be getting adjusted and next year (if he's back with NY) can blow up...
Sexson, they gave up nobody for and signed for 400k...
Pudge they gave up Farnsworth for, who was horrible for 2.75 of the 3 years he was with NY for... and we did need a catcher.
Ponson, again we got him cheap and he's been servicable.. Would rather see our kids in there getting experiance at this point, but he was servicable...
Arod is going to look cheap by the time this deal is done... Think about it.. He's signed at 27 mill a year until the year 2018 -- wait until what contracts are in that day in age for players of his calibur. Love em, or hate him he's is one of the greatest players in the game, and might end up being the best in history...
I wouldn't say they're "selling their kids", or else Johan would be in the Bronx, as would Sabathia as we speak.
I say let Pettite go, and bring Moose back.. he's be great and I think if he produces at 85% next year of what he's done this year pitching behind Wang, Chamberlain and possibly CC/Sheets/Burnett, etc. I think it'd be great.
Posted by: casper | September 19, 2008 at 07:41 PM
i say we keep cano and give him another shot i think hes gunna be a great player hes just having a bad year. i think we should just try to get rid of older bad fielding players like giambi damon and abreu sign c.c. and next season if darvish gets posted get him and bring up Auston jackson and keep joba in the pen.
Posted by: Aj | September 19, 2008 at 11:41 PM
I agree with jj. I see the Yankees making some serious moves this winter, but I don't see Sabathia signing with them at all. I just don't see the incentive unless his only motive is money. He will have multiple suitors, loves too hit, and is dominating the national league. Also, the Yankees will definitely be competing in the coming years, but right now tey are the 3rd or 4th best team in the division. There arent that many fits in the NL, but I see him staying there somewhere. For an AL team, I could see Texas making a run at CC in a weak AL West with an up and coming team. It would certainly be a good step for a team with a history of all bats and no pitching.
Posted by: nrmax88 | September 20, 2008 at 02:34 AM
JJ... I doubt the Mets were ever seriously considering Perez in the pen. That was just speculation by the fans and the media. Oliver Perez at his best is a risky proposition in the pen, at his worst, you get the idea. And no, they have not tried to lock him up, probably because Scott Boras is his agent and he never re-ups anybody, let alone in a walk year with lots of potential suitiors in the winter, when his client is pitching probably the best ball of his career.
Posted by: nrmax88 | September 20, 2008 at 02:40 AM
Nrmax... if CC comes to ny it'll be for 2 reasons...
Money, and opportunity to win. Yes the yankees this year are going to end up in 3/4th place... but, think about it from a players POV. They will be healthy next year with a (2) times 19 game winner, a kid that has been great and shows that he can be a force for a longtime if he stays healthy, a guy that might be in the HOF with 300+wins... all with you. Then you look at the lineup, and you know they're going to rebound next year.. especially if they can get a guy like Tex over there.. but even without him... they're going to be very formidable next year... I mean literally the whole team was either hurt, or had a bad year... what are the chances of that happening? If you didn't spend time on the DL you didn't hit very well... with the exception of Abreu, but he's had a down year for him, himself. If you look at Arods stats they're very misleading... he's had a great year on paper; but we all know he really hasn't.. and he was also hurt for about a month...
NY is still VERY attractive for the money and winning ability.. I think Sabathia would fit in, in NY for the same reason Abreu and Santana had/has. becuase he's a lowkey personality and he just goes about his business. There is no perennial power in the NL... The last 5-6 years the only consistant teams have been: NYY, BoSOx and LAA; and i dont think LAA is going to pay the money; they've already said they're not expanding payroll, and they have to look at past next year for other people coming into FA...
Posted by: casper | September 20, 2008 at 09:04 AM
rossdfarian - You must be a Sox fan in disguise...because you're clearly NOT thinking for the Yankees.
Who is going to play 2B if we trade Cano? Do you not read the papers? lol They have already said to be interested in O Hudson for some time now. Mark Ellis is also a free agent. I believe Aaron Miles is as well. They could trade a pitcher to get one. There ARE options. However, if Cano can be part of package to get PITCHING, you trade his lazy azz. Pitching wins championships...it's baseball 101.
Secondly, I have a HUGE problem with this startement of yours...and so does any other Yankees fan that can spell their own name.
"Moose has produced. Until he stops, I say we pay him what he wants"
THIS is the reason why the Yankees are in the state they are in!!! You don't pay aging vets (40 years old)coming off CAREER years "whatever they want for as long as they want until they break". When they break down, it's too late!! Have you learned nothing from Posada, R Johnson, K Brown, etc, etc, etc. It's time to get younger and build for another dynasty...not worry about who goes to the hall with what cap.
Be careful which Yankees fan you call out to "turn in their pinstripes". Especially when your comments are beyond clueless.
Posted by: jjyankeesfan2 | September 20, 2008 at 09:59 AM
jj-putz:
I live out west and I am not tainted by the NY media. I have been a Yankee fan since birth and am quite baseball literate. Your literacy is in question "any other Yankee fan that can spell their own name" came after "this staRtement of yours" ... just awful. Either you've completely lost hold of the English language or I rattled you so much that you couldn't think straight.
You are a fair-weather-friend ... burn 'em and churn 'em. If you watched the Old Timers Day festivities or some of the good stuff from Closing Day (parts were garbage) ... the Yankees have a connection to the fans and the rest of the world because they have a history of keeping players to which the community can attach themselves.
Bottom Line: I keep Cano, who has potential to be spectacular, over those other guys who are decent but not world-class. If Cano doesn't work out, there'll be 5 guys waiting to take his place in the minors.
The Gospel: Mussina only got stronger as the year went on. He has shown heart and brains. Those are two things we need in a clubhouse in which both have been questioned recently. If he breaks down in the middle of the year, we have talent to replace him. But, the possibility of him thriving with another team (and the related media coverage) could destroy confidence in the team's management.
Posted by: rossdfarian | September 22, 2008 at 05:10 PM