Yanks To Let Abreu, Giambi Leave?

The Yankees are finally conceding that $ can't buy you everything. See the Rays for a first hand look at success from using their own minor league system!

At this point how can Phil Hughes possibly still be considered the centerpiece of a deal for Howard or Fielder (who are both still controllable)? It's not like the Phillies will be starting-pitching starved for next season either.

Let me have it, Yankee prospect fluffers

Phil Hughes is a kid with some amazing talent, I just don't think he's proven himself enough in the bigs. And I understand the Yankees want to get younger, but going after Howard or Fielder and dumping whats left of an already bare farm system seems like the opposite way to go with that.

Plus I'd venture to say that both Howard and Fielder's availability will probably be determined when/if their respective teams make the playoffs.

And jdubs is right. The Yankees are only a handful of Xavier Nady-like deals away from turning the team around. They just have to unload on some heavy, unwanted salaries first.

Yankee fans would you take LaRoche, Paulino, Morgan and maybe another like B or C level guy for Cano if the Pirates took Melky too?

Kyle Morgan? I dont think he has much value at all besides Melky still has positive value so dont know how that would help the deal. Frankly, I dont see WHY should Yanks trade Cano at all. Perhaps Adam LaRoche for Kennedy would work?

Wouldn't Helton just be adding to the problems they already have? What could really be expected of him offensively that would be so different from Giambi? Better defense and a higher BA, but a big reduction in power. Plus Giambi might take a 1 year deal plus an option, how time is left on Helton's massive deal?

C'mon, you cant believe Abreu is ever going to have such a good year from last year. I think hes pulling a Posada stunt this year. EVERYBODY plays better in their contract year (except Adrew Jones). Guarantee Abreu is goin t o hit like 280. 15HRS 95-100 RBIS next year. Thats good, but not 16 million good.

"Yankee fans would you take LaRoche, Paulino, Morgan and maybe another like B or C level guy for Cano if the Pirates took Melky too?"

Posted by: BucSox | September 17, 2008 at 01:24 PM

"No! Not one of those players adresses any of their problems."

Posted by: joemorgan=#1 | September 17, 2008 at 01:43 PM

Sure they do. Starting 1B, starting catcher, and a starting stopgap CF who will play great defense until Jackson is ready. I dont know if that is worth Cano, but those guys certainly fill some holes.

Teddyballgame,

"The Yankees are finally conceding that $ can't buy you everything. See the Rays for a first hand look at success from using their own minor league system!"

Seriously? If the Yankees had the top 1-5 draft picks for the last 10 years their farm system would look just as good as the Rays. The problem is signing past-their-prime veterans to long contracts. Over the next two years all of those contracts come off the books.

2008:
Giambi
Abreu (although he was acquired via trade)
Pavano (not old, just acts like it)
Mussina
Pettitte

2009:
Matsui
Damon

For the guy saying Hughes couldn't be a centerpiece:

I agree that Hughes' value isn't as high, but it's still pretty high. His struggles this season have been exaggerated. He had only 4 bad starts, possibly while pitching injured.

In his alst AAA start he K-ed 12 in 5 innings while (I think) allowing only one run. He is starting tonight btw.

Here's what the Yankees should do:

Attempt to sign two of Burnett, Sheets, Sabathia and Oliver Perez. Trade Cano to the Dodgers (who covet him) for Matt Kemp and put Kemp in CF. Jackson should be ready in 2010. At that time move Kemp to LF as after 2009 Damon and Matsui are gone as well as Nady possibly. Be involved in the Teixeira talks but don't overpay. If Teixeira doesn't materialize, attempt an Adam Dunn signing and put him at 1B. If Cano is traded sign Orlando Hudson.

2009 lineup would be as follows:

Damon
Jeter
Kemp
A-Rod
Dunn
Nady
Matsui
Posada
Hudson

Rotation:
Sabathia
Wang
Perez
Chamberlain
Hughes/Mussina or Pettitte

Again the Yankee haters, are acting like they didn't wish they had owners that would be willing to spend money on players...

Yes, every free agent out there is available to NY; whether they like to admit it or not... and whether or not you like it or not.

Just because your owner(s) are cheapskates for the most part, don't get all envious of the Yankees actually not minding dishing out money...

Heck, next year with the new Stadium, analysts were talking about them having the ability to throw out 300mill a year without blinking.

Yes, we can buy almost whoever we want. However, I think they realized that that doesn't make a winning team. And they will only pay for good ball players in their prime... I mean heck, it's not like they've made to many signings of over the hill guys who hadn't panned out...

Pavano is the only guy on the roster, and he is still in his prime --- just hurt all the freakin time. And for the people that say Posada.. POsada last year had the highest BA for any catcher in HISTORY at his age... tell me he just sucks now...... he's just hurt this year which cna happen to anyone...

Problem with trading Matsui is his FULL no-trade clause....he'd have to agree to any trade, which makes it difficult. You'd have a better shot trading Damon....

A guy the Yanks should look at for 1B (IMHO) is Mike Jacobs from the Marlins. Yeah his OBP is terrible...but he can mash the ball. 32 HRs and a .523 SLG this year playing half his games at the 'Marlins' ballpark.....imagine what he'd do with a short RF fence in NY......

Dunn would be a better option...but much more expensive. Of course both ideas are if Texiera falls through...

The Yankees are not trading Cano! Get that through your minds. The Dodgers want Cano, of course, but they'd love to have the whole Yankee team! Saying Paulino would be our starting catcher is the dumbest thing anyone could say. The starting catcher in 2009 will be Jorge Posada, and the backup will be Jose Molina. The smartest thing the Yankees can do is move Matsui to 1B and keep Abreu.

If Giambi would accept a one-year deal, I would bring him back as the DH. Abreu, not so much...only if it is reasonable.

If the Yankees can add a true ace (I don't consider Wang an ace, but a very good #2) and Tex, they are right back to being very competitive. This year was a combination of terrible years (Jeter, Cano, Cabrera) with injuries (Posada, Wang, Joba, and Matsui).

This is my ideal line-up for next year

CF - Damon
SS - Jeter
RF - Abreu
3B - Rodriguez
1B - Texiera
DH - Giambi
LF - Nady/Matsui
C - Posada
2B - Cano

Pitching-wise, bring back either Mussina or Pettitte as a #4 pitcher. Hope Hughes can come through and be a #5 this season. Ace, Sabathia. Just pay up, he'll come around. #2 Wang. #3, I'm undecided if I want Joba as a starter or reliever.

I would love to have Howard/Fielder but this would likely cost a TON. Oh, and Melky back to the bench as a 4th outfielder where he belongs. Cano, one more year to prove himself and show some hustle.

Iagree with most of that AA except I think that I would give Nady/Abreu an edge over Ethier for no but in 2 years definatly Ethier.

Iagree with most of that AA except I think that I would give Nady/Abreu an edge over Ethier for no but in 2 years definatly Ethier.

"But while the Dodgers have a better roste explain how they are barely a .500 team in the worst division in Baseball perhaps all of sports and the Yanks are 10 games over in the toughest."

You know, things change from year to year. Last year, the toughest division in baseball was the NL West. Also, the Dodgers suffered huge setbacks with the injuries to Penny and Furcal and the ineffectiveness of Jones. While the Jones signing was completely the fault of the front office, he is out of the picture on the field at this point.

That said, the side by side comparisons of talent, production, cost and age don't lie.

"Iagree with most of that AA except I think that I would give Nady/Abreu an edge over Ethier for no but in 2 years definatly Ethier."

Ethier has out performed Abreu at the plate, equaled Nady and is as good or better defensively. Plus, he is younger and cheaper.

why the HELL would you trade Cain for Matsui?!? How DUMB would you have to be to take that trade? While you're at it why don't you trade Damon for John Lackey? Listen if you think that's a good trade I'll swap you 150 brand new shiny pennies for a $100 bill.

ok I think that a good/decent way of organizing the yankees would be as follows
Let Giambi Go (unless they can get him for 1-2 years on a cheap contract like under 8m/year and have him as a DH)
move Matsui to 1B
let Nady go and keep Abreu, so my lineup would sort of go like this:

LF Johnny Damon
SS Derek Jeter
RF Bobby Abreu
3B A-Rod
DH Giambi
1B Matsui/Cody Ransom (cuz Matsui is gonna NEED some rest days)
C Posada
2B Cano
CF Gardner (yeah that's right Brett Gardner, the kid has talent)

and on the bench have:
Cody Ransom (for when Cano gets lazy)
Melky Cabrera
and/or Justin Christian (he can play the infield and outfield pretty decently)

and then the rotation would be:
Sabathia
Mussina
Wang
Phil Coke/Alfredo Aceves
Joba Chamberlain

Bullpen (key components only!)
NO DEMASO MARTE!!! 6M down the drain

Rivera
Ramirez
Bruney
Ponson (has 2 years remaining, and isnt that bad actually)
Robertson
Veras
Britton
and possibly Farnsworth (he did some pretty good work with us until we traded him... for pudge.... bad idea)

so while I KNOW that my roster is more expensive than many others, I think it could work out nicely.

Go Yanks!