Odds & Ends: Smoltz, Holliday, Varitek, Tejada

Ugh no thanks. I'll pass on a 37 year old Varitek who can't hit or play defense anymore. Oh but wait, he "calls a good a game" and "handles a staff well". HAAAA. No way no how, absolutely no Varitek. Joel Sherman = ???????????

"Calls a good a game"

If you live in Boston, you hear this crap everyday. He cant hit, his defense is declining, he cant throw our runners, and he cant catch Tim Wakefield. When the pitcher excels it's because of Tek, when the pitcher bombs it's because of the pitcher. all he will do in 2010 is take up room on the 25 man roster.

Lets say that the NY rumors are true and the Yanks sign Cameron to CF and the Mets trade for someone like Scott/Hawpe. The Braves could become the top suitor for Holliday along with STL. Just a few simple moves could make 20M worth of room in the 95M payroll:

Trade McLouth and his 4.5M:
He could be dealt to one of many teams (ie Cubs, A's, M's) for either prospects or a 400K high leverage reliever. Either a healthy Schafer or Heyward could take over in CF with Diaz/Heyward in RF.

Don't bring back Church, KJ, or GA saving 8.125M:
Church can be replaced internally as a 5OF, KJ has already been replaced by Prado at 400K, and Holliday would obviously replace GA.

Let Kawakami and Medlen close and setup:
This would save the ~4-5M needed to bring in a late inning arm. Medlen as a reliever had a 3.47ERA and 9.7K/9 and the 'stuff' to make those numbers stick. Kawakami had an outstanding 2.63ERA and 2.7BB/9 in a pretty small sample size relieving but has the stuff to stick there as well.

Last year Wren said publicly he wanted to revamp the rotation and he gave us one of the best in the bigs. This year he has said publicly that he wants a RH power bat and I don't doubt he can get it done. If its Holliday he wants its not that hard to imagine how the Braves could clear 18-20M off the books to bring in that final piece of the puzzle.

Montero is a reason not to sign Matsui as all signs point to either 1b or DH and 1B is filled for the next 7 years and AJax will never ever be a corner OF on the yanks. SO they way to Holliday is not resigning Damon and Matsui and if the Boss truly only cares about making his team better than the Yanks have to Sign Holliday rather than pocket their profits? oh wait the Yankees actually lose money but YES make 6 kagillion dollars a year. Anyway sorry for all teh sarcasm just can't think the Yanks wont be involved especially bc some hack in NY tabloid needs to write a story, a week from now Sherman will say Yanks are leaders for Holliday....

Mets:
Neisse/Holt
Tejada
Evans
Someone

Jays:
Halladay

Make it happen Omar.

I agree Ajax would never be a corner outfield for the Yanks but his emergence would slide Melky and Gardner over to a corner spot.

And Montero is a year or 2 away from being in the Yankees lineup. It has already been stated he will be moved to the outfield if he can't handle catching. He has a very strong arm so right field seems a natural fit in Yankee stadium especially with that short porch. Think Manny in left for the Sox with the monster, he didn't have a ton of range but since it played so small he was able to play the position good enough. Plus even if Montero was so bad with the glove that he had to DH Matsui would be back as the Yanks DH on a one year contract, so I am not really sure how Matsui on a one year deal for 2010 blocks Montero in 2011 or 2012?

It's funny enough that the Mets fans, with their farm system as is, are making offers for Halladay, let alone all of these offers that of which none of the organization's top 3 or 4 prospects are mentioned.

"Mets:
Neisse/Holt
Tejada
Evans
Someone

Jays:
Halladay"

I don't think Someone is enough to close the deal. Sure, he can steal a base, but his power potential is limited and most scouts think he'll have to shift across the diamond or even be a full-time DH.

A mediocre relief pitcher for a starting shortstop with +power and +fielding? That was a pretty weak offer. The offers by the sox and twins blow that out of the water. Guess you can't plame the pirates for trying though.

ANY chance the Braves bring back Smoltz on a one year deal to potentially close? He'd have an open lane to the role. Or are the bridges too burned for that to be considered?

"Mets:
Neisse/Holt
Tejada
Evans
Someone

Jays:
Halladay"

In addition to Someone, the Mets can include Who, a promising first base prospect.

what ended up happening with the pirates offering capps to the brewers for jj hardy????