Perrotto's Latest: Free Agent Predictions

This idiot DOESNT think Andy will be back with the yanks? Is he stupid?

This guy is rediculous! Tex is not going to the Nationals! I mean that would be like A-Rod signing with the Royals. It just doesnt make sense.
The Yankees would easily match that deal if need be, but I dont even see washington comming up with that kind of money.

Seriously, so the Braves are just going to spend 45M on Smoltz, Glavine, and a box of rocks? I bet they get one of Lowe, Burnett, or Dempster.

Saw this in the Herald:

On the latter, the Sox are doing a good job of obfuscating the intensity of their interest in Teixeira, who is going to be hotly pursued by the Yankees, Orioles and Angels as well. . .

http://bostonherald.com/sports/baseball/red_sox/view/2008_11_09_The_infield_shift_is_on:_Shortstop_position_losing_power/

The Mets are more likely to sign Derek Lowe than Raul Ibanez and Orlando Hudson.

HAHA he says, RIGHT ABOVE TEIXEIRA'S POST, the Nationals don't have enough money to think about Manny, then says they will cough up 10 years, 200 mil for Teixeira...he's an idiot

This guy is an idiot. Teixeira has expressed interest in playing for a contending team. So what if Teix is from maryland. He wants to win a championship like many other ballplayers do. He's so loaded already that he will only consider offers from good teams like the Yanks and Angels.

This guy seems to think that the Yankees want Derek Lowe. Cashman doesn't want him. Sabathia makes sense, but I think he will be a dodger. Dodgers need starting pitching just as much as the Yankees this offseason.

I think Cashman should be camping outside of CC's home in Cali come Nov 14th like a gushing 14 year old girl waiting in line for Justin Timberlake tickets. Just waiting for the CC free agent sale to begin. I wonder if he will just blow out an offer like 6 years/$150 million just to ward off any other team and make it that clear that the Yanks want him most?

Tex will play where the money is. Does that mean he goes to Washington, I don't think so, but 10 years, he could. He will leave LAA b/c Boras will ignore the Angels offer.

Wow...pardon the typos. My button got stuck. Should have read precedent.

DrNo990, do you see the Orioles as not a horrible team?

Regardless, if the Yankees REALLY want Tex, I don’t think they will let themselves be out bid. But thinking more deeply about this, would the Yanks be more insulted if they got outbid by a bottom dwelling team like the Nationals, or a rival like the Orioles or Red Sox?

I like who he has for the Mets. K-Rod, Ibanez, and Hudson. Nice.

I don't think Cash would let his ego get in the way of doing something he doesn't want to do like commiting $200 million 10 year deal. With the money they have invested in Arod, potentially CC and a #2 pitcher as well as resigning Jeter soon they could have $110 going towards 5 guys. I can't see them doing another deal like they did with Giambi. I can see them giving Tex more money annually but less years (6 year/$25 mill per).

I can't come up with any reasonable scenario where the Mets sign BOTH Raul Ibanez and Orlando Hudson. Daniel Murphy is more then ready to play one of those positions next year for near-minimum and frankly will likely play just as well as either of them.

I also can't come up with any reasonable scenario where the Mets DO NOT sign a Starting Pitcher. They need at least one high-end starter to compliment Santana, Pelfrey, and Maine. You can't go into next season hoping to get 2 quality starters out of Jonathon Niese, Jason Vargas, and Bobby Parnell. They will come away with one of those starters.

Steveo26,

You mention very realistic points. The one that has slipped passed me and most of the baseball world is that, at one point Posada WILL have to move to 1B.

I just cannot vision Posada behind the plate for very much longer. He couldn't even throw down to 2B. Granted, he did have surgery- he is just getting too old to remain behind the plate. 1B is a great place to keep his bat in the lineup without clogging DH.

If the Yankees have the motivation, they definitely can get this deal done. I think Hank wants Teixeira, but Cashman being the only sane man in the FO, will use reasoning to tell Hank that it would be better to invest in starting pitching.

Catcher then to DH. id rather have a Gold Glover there then someone with little experience.

What then of Matsui?

Yankee OFers:

Nady
Matsui
Damon
Melky/Gardner

And possibly Abreu. This is a very packed Yankees OF.

Benjie Molina, by the way, has more than a little experience.

Again, I'm not saying that the Yankees won't sign Teixeira, all I'm saying is that they may have less motivation that once previously thought.

yeah thats this year. Abreu's most likely not coming back. Matsui and Damon are gone after next season.
They have plenty of motivation. they need him for the middle of the lineup and in the field.

"so the braves have 45 million to spend but there not ganna sign one of the top 20 FAs... highly unlikely"

I agree that there is almost no way that happens, unless they were to settle for signing like, Jon Garland and Juan Rivera. They'll likely be in the bidding for guys like Lowe, Sheets and Dempster, and they may persue an offensive upgrade in the outfield as well

And how do the Mets figure to sign Rodriguez, Hudson and Ibanez, unless they manage to get some extra cash from somewhere, or don't address the rotation at all and go with something like Santana, Maine, Pelfrey, Niese and Heilman/Cheap FA.

Look...the aruguement has never been SP or 1B. They Yanks want to improve on both and can afford to both with top notch acquisitions. However, I don't think the Yanks see the wisdom in investing $200 million in a first baseman. Honestly, speaking Posada is not going to play 1B. He has made it clear that he will be ready by spring training. He didn't have major arm surgery, has never been on the DL before and is always in top notch shape. He's not going to be a Carlton Fisk kind of 40 but much more like a Julio Franco kind of 40. I'm not too worried about him being able to catch 120 games a year.

THis kid Montero looks like the real deal and I know the Yanks are going to find space for him at either C or 1B. So they will go hard after Tex but they are not in a must "have him" mode like they are for CC, Burnett, etc. If Tex can't be had then I see them going in house (Nady, Miranda, E. Duncan or S. Duncen) or with a 2 year stop gap (Millar or Garciapara). If the Yanks sign 2 major free agents this year (CC and either Burnett or Perez) then I can see them dangling a couple of pitching prospects (Kennedy, Sanchez, Horn, Marquez or Cox) to the Pirates (I hate making them sound like the minor league farm team for big Market teams) for LaRoche and then extend him or maybe Victor Martinez from the Indians.

scribble. why would the Met's NOT have the Cash to do all 3? They're moving into a new stadium as well and can spend as much as the Yanks if they wanted.

?I just cannot vision Posada behind the plate for very much longer. He couldn't even throw down to 2B. Granted, he did have surgery- he is just getting too old to remain behind the plate. 1B is a great place to keep his bat in the lineup without clogging DH."

forget that Yankees play in the AL?

Boras lets the market develop for his clients, so to the guy who said cashman will have troubles focusing on more than one areas at once, we need smiley faces here; my best try ¿:|

i must have wrote this 100 times but i will write it again.............
DEREK LOWE IS A BUMM! .....
Q:Where dose he pitch?
A: the NL west

Q: Where do the yankees play?
A: The AL east

this would be a jump from the easiest division in base ball to the toughest....if you think he would have a sub 4.50 era in the AL east you a idiot......if you think he would produce more then 10 wins in the AL east your an idiot......if you give him a contract worth more them 12 million for 2 years your an idiot...(that goes for any team that is not in the NL west)......furthermore he pitches half his game in dodger stadium.....he pitches at least half his games against the Padres,Rockies,Giants,D-back these are teams that cant hit their way out of a paper bagg.

now make mussina an offer he cant refuse.....you know he will stay healthy and he will be a rock solidifying the middle of the rotation.....sign peditte as your 5 starter
the rotation should look like this

sabathia
wang
mussina
JOBA
Peditte

now Texiera must absolutly MUST be signed......or the yankees will not have a #3 hitter

pick up a solid 4 outfeilder like baldelli and you can platoon him every couple of days in cf and lf

if the yankees sign derek lowe im going to smash my tv to peices with a baseball bat this guy is a old ageing bumm
i dont know if anyone remembers but he was pitching so bad in the first half of the season that the dodgers were looking to move him at the trade deadline .....the yankees were deciding on him or washburn 2 bumms.....stay away form these guys they will only burn you oin the long run..........and dont say "oh well he pitched good for boston" well that was 5 years ago people age and boston let him go for that reason.........good bye

Which Tex is shopping for a deal this winter?

July 13, 07: Dallas News:

He said the Rangers haven't talked to his agent, Scott Boras, about a contract extension. Teixeira said his "ears are always open" if the Rangers want to talk about it. But it's clear he wants to compete in the postseason.

"No player is going to sign up with a team knowing they are going to lose," Teixeira said. "When a player has the chance, they're going to go with a winner."

Teixeira dismissed concerns about Boras scaring away the Rangers or any team because of previous contracts. Teixeira added that Boras works for him, not the other way around.

"You never hear teams that win World Series with Scott Boras clients on their rosters complain," Teixeira said. "When I was drafted out of Georgia Tech, Scott Boras told Tom Hicks that I was going to be a big-time hitter for his team. I think that worked out pretty well.

New York Post blog: OCt 7, 2008

If you read the column, you will see there is criticism of Teixeira as a team guy. One ex-teammate described Teixeira as exceedingly bright. This ex-teammate said Teixeira has a mastery of contracts and the baseball marketplace that only furthers the perception of the first baseman as the ultimate Scott Boras client. The ex-teammate said, "Mark would berate a teammate for taking an undervalued contract, telling him that hurt every player's leverage in negotiations. But he wouldn't say a word to a teammate who didn't run out a pop up. That is my problem with him."

The Nats have some decent up-and-coming prospects. Nothing too amazing, but they could be able to hit .500 this season with him if the right players get healthy and the young guys improve. Tex could go down in history as the guy who turned the Nats from a loser to a winner. Or he could go down in history as the guy who played first base for the Yankees after Jason Giambi.

Winter of 2009

1B-???
2B-Cano
SS-Jeter
3B-Arod
C-Posada
LF-????? (Damon is a FA)
CF-Melky/Gardner/Jackson
RF-????? (Nady is a FA)
DH-????? (Matsui FA)

yankee fans if you sign every player you think you can sign, how much do you think they will spend this year..

tex = 200 million?
cc = 150-200 million?
manny = 100+ million?
burnett = 60-70 million?
thats alot of green

Here's my predictions:

Sabathia will go to the Dodgers, he wants to pitch in his home state of California, and stay in the NL (sorry Yanks!)

Manny will go to the Mets, he fits the bill of power right handed LF...and Omar Minaya loves to sign latin players.

Burnett will go to the Cardinals, they were interested when he was an FA in '05 and they really need to get another ace with Carpenter's health being a question.

K-Rod will go to the Tigers, they have little depth in the 'pen and were rumored to be in the hunt for a closer.

Fuentes will go to the Mets, The Mets are interested in him and Fuentes says he likes New York. He is a good fit at closer, and he put up solid numbers at Coors Field. The Mets will also revamp the bullpen by trading Schoenweis, Heilman and Feliciano and signing Chad Cordero, Juan Cruz, Joe Beimel, and possibly a few other guys.

Teixeira will go to the Yankees. They will outbid the Red Sox, Nats and Orioles and he'll be signed to a long deal, which would be a mistake.

Derek Lowe will go to the Mets, they need to add another starter and he is good in big cities (Boston, LA)

Oliver Perez will sign with the Diamondbacks, he wants to be close to his home in Mexico.

Adam Dunn will sign with the Nationals, they had interest in trading for him and after losing out on Tex, they need to sign a power LF/1B.

In my next post I'll predict some trades.

scribble: Isn't that the 2nd time this month that we've agreed on something? Wow...

I think Cash has done a very good job of taking over the scouting/drafting and getting really good picks in the lower rounds (Bets, Melacon, McAllister). Except for Montero, ROmine, Gardner and Jackson I think he's ignored some of the really good position players. I can live with Jeter at short. His range isn't what it use to be but he's still solid and turns most of the plays he gets to into outs. He's an icon and offensively still a very good player. Arod is a very good 3B (only 4 3B w/ over 800 innings had a higher field %). I can live with them due to their prod and other intangibles. I would like us to develop a SS to take over for Jeter in the next 2 years or so. I'm more concerned with finding young athletic OF's with speed and power.

So again..If the Yanks sign 2 top pitcher this year and if the staff looked like:

CC
Wang
Burnett/Perez
Joba
Hughes

What would you guys think of doing prospect trades? One of our top pitchers for a teams top OF or SS prospect? I almost never hear of deals like that happen. It's usually vet or pending free agent for prospects. If Tex doesn't sign with us would the Yanks look to signing a guy like Millar for a year and maybe trading Kennedy and another pitching prospect for someone like Matt Laporta (not him specifically but someone of that talent)?

Matt Holliday and Willy Taveras will be traded to the Mets for Fernando Martinez, Jon Niese, Pedro Feliciano and Eddie Kunz.

Jake Peavy will be traded to the Braves for Jordan Schafer, Yunel Escobar and 2 lower level pitching prospects

Garrett Atkins will be traded to the Angels for Nick Adenhart and a few lower level prospects

Prince Fielder will be traded to the A's for Corey Brown, Trevor Cahill and Huston Street

Dan Uggla will be traded to the Giants for Bengie Molina and cash

Jonathan Sanchez will be traded to the Texas Rangers for Elvis Andrus

Jarrod Saltalamacchia will be traded to the Red Sox for Nick Hagadone and a lower level prospect

*more trades coming soon*

YanksfanSince78: I know everyone talks about the Yanks having $80 million off the books but its a bit less than that b/c they still had to pay the buyouts for Giambi and Pavano and Cano, Wang, and Nady all get raises this year. Even Arod goes up $5 million this year. And ok maybe that $12-15 million in raises isn't that significant and won't be a deal breaker for the Yanks going after Tex I just have a hard time buying that they are going to add a big contract to the infield. As you said their outfield is in flux after next year, though I think you undersold the talents of Nady/Matsui/Damon a bit b/c i feel that the Yanks will have a hard time replacing their production. B/c the outfield will have two open spots in the outfield as well as an open spot at DH (unless posada does have to do that) I see them not making a huge offer to Tex. They will need that money the next year to go after Holliday, Bay, Crawford to fill the holes in their outfield. I do think you may be right with them going after an Adam LaRoche type. The yanks need to use their money on pitching this year and outfield next.

yanksfan78

i know i love the talent they have, logan white does a great job dude.

as too the martin rumors..
martin kinda hyped himself up and i guess it rubbed a few people the wrong way.
also i was at games 3 and 4 of nlcs and he was playing out of control there is no doubt it.
he was hacking at everything, he was angry about the bean balls and what not. thats what i kinda think set this off.

and the rumors were taken from peter gammons, i said this a week ago that was his little boston domination dream.

it would take so much to martin, and martin would destroy baseballs in fenway, i would be upset for years if that trade became reality

nymforlife
i think your proposals are great. but a few are kinda of a stretch..

"Jarrod Saltalamacchia will be traded to the Red Sox for Nick Hagadone and a lower level prospect.."

not a stretch but i think texas comes out on top in the long run, i know its hard saying prospects are a sure thing but hagadone is a stronger version of lester and i really think that to be true.

"Matt Holliday and Willy Taveras will be traded to the Mets for Fernando Martinez, Jon Niese, Pedro Feliciano and Eddie Kunz."

thats a great idea, mets would be barren in the minors but they get a masher and a super 4th outfielder.

"Dan Uggla will be traded to the Giants for Bengie Molina and cash"

no way makes no sense for the marlins, i know they need a catcher but i dont think they would do that.

"Prince Fielder will be traded to the A's for Corey Brown, Trevor Cahill and Huston Street"

i think the As would try to sub out cahill

"Garrett Atkins will be traded to the Angels for Nick Adenhart and a few lower level prospects"

i do not like atkins at third for the angels, chone figgins is GG caliber.

Steveo26- You bring up Crawford as a potential guy for the Yankees in 2010. That really could be something interesting. If Crawford puts up a season like his 2008, I could see the Rays declining his 2010 option. The Yankees don't need power as much as they need speed and defense. They will get their power, especially if they upgrade at 1B. With Damon gone after 2009 (and probably not a smart idea to resign him since his speed/defense will probably be declining with age), he could be the big SB threat in the lineup.

"I think the Sox would have to give up at least Bowden to get Salty."

Agreed. Catching is in huge demand.

Atkins is worth Adenhart though.

Fish don't need/want Molina. They want cheap and pre-arbi. Olsen + prospect for one of the Texas catchers makes better sense.

Yanksfan,

Those rumors about Martin being shopped are just that: rumors. Ned Colletti even came out and said basically, "There is no way we are trading Martin." For us, he is irreplaceable. We have no depth in our minors at catcher (after trading Carlos Santana away in the Casey Blake deal, which I didn't like). Martin is a top 5, and probably even top 3, catcher in the majors in regards to overall talent and value. So any rumors saying he is being shopped, are completely ridiculous.

Now, as for the Dodgers needs, we don't NEED an outfielder, but we do need a slugger. You know what could be a shrewd move? Trading Loney to the Yankees for some pitching or a couple infield prospects (if they got em), and signing Tex instead of Manny. It would be a risky move to try, but the outcome would be great (this is a REALLY hypothetical scenario mind you).

More likely I see the Dodgers pursuing a lesser outfielder. Many forget also, now that Penny's option wasn't picked up, that the Dodgers have over $60 million to spend. We have plenty of relief pitching depth, and good starting depth (enough to fill 4 spots in the rotation with solid talent). So our big needs come down to two things: we need a slugger (Manny most likely), and a #1 pitcher with experience. Billingsley is established himself as our most reliable starter last year, but he lacks in experience.

I wouldn't be surprised to see the Dodgers shore up and land both Manny and Sabathia. They will at least land one or the other, and possibly both.

If you really look at the Yanks objetively their biggest problems soon might be their offese. After the '09 season the only players the Yanks have under contract are:

Cano
Jeter
Arod
Posada

One of the things that frustrate me the most is that most people don't look past the upcoming season when they talk of some these moves (like trading Cano and bringing in OHudson). Cano has the ABILITY to become the Yanks best hitter for avg. Arod might be the only tru power hitter left on the team. I know the Yanks will make some moves but I just hope it's not at the expense of the farm. Prospect are overrated. I know fans in Cleveland, Pittsburgh and Oakland are tired of trading for prospects I can imagine. I would like the Yanks to have the best of both worls. A good farm complemented by smart FA pick ups.

I definetly like Abreu as a player but agree that we should let him and Giambi walk this year. I would like to see them extend Nady. Maybe offer him a 2 year deal with an option for a 3rd.

I've heard the O's would be players for Tex as well along with the usual suspects:

Yanks, BoSucks, Angels and Nationals. I think the White Sox might be a dark horse too, especially if they can dump Thome or Knonerko. They are a very old team and other than Quentin the don't have much power to count on with Dye, Thome and Konerko being older or headed into FA in 2010.

661:

Gee dude....thanks. Crap from the Yankees? I agree with not making the propsed moves but did you have to cut me so deep..."oh...the pain". We still have Eric and Shelly Duncan. They can be st..ah..never mind.

I hope this guy is wrong about Dunn in RF for the Cubs...because it would be wrong.

Maybe ship him, Hu and, if necessary, another infield prospect to the Royals for Aviles? That way we don't have to worry about re-signing Furcal, and we can take the money we'd spend on Furcal and we could use that extra coin to make a stronger bid to land multiple big name players. The big question about such a move as this is: is Aviles even available? Let alone would the Dodgers have what it takes to pry him away?

scribbletone "This would concern me as a Yankee fan. Jeter is a poor defensive SS as is"

are you out of your mind???
jeter is in the top 10 defensive shortstops in baseball
why dont you try watching some yankee games b4 making a ridiculouse statement like this

In regards to Delwyn Young, if Torre didn't have such a man-crush on Sweeney last year Young would have gotten quite a few PH at bats. With Sweeney gone this year(correct me if I'm wrong) Young should get quite a few at bats. God knows anybody would be better than Sweeney last year(except Andrew).

Jeter is not a "butcher' as some might say. He's no Ozzie Smith when it comes to range but his range factor is pretty bad but not horrible (4.05) but he does turn the plays that are hit to him. To me a butcher makes a lot of errors.