AL East linkage..
- More on Jakubauskas as the pitcher says he'd like to reach a deal with the Orioles and remain in the organization, writes Roch Kubatko of MASNsports.com. Catcher/infielder Jake Fox is also expected to refuse his outright assignment and become a free agent.
- Orioles pitcher Chris Jakubauskas refused his outright assignment to Triple-A and elected free agency, tweets Kubatko. Jakubauskas posted a 5.72 ERA with 6.5 K/9 and 3.6 BB/9 in 72 1/3 innings in 2011.
- Over the years, the Yankees scouting department has been charged with looking into major free agents while also identifying key supplemental pieces, writes Marc Carig of The Star-Ledger. Their emphasis on "reclamation projects" has led them to such finds as Freddy Garcia and Bartolo Colon.
- As the Yankees look ahead to the offseason, MLB.com's Bryan Hoch wonders aloud if any team would bite on a trade for A.J. Burnett. In 190.1 innings this season, Burnett posted a 5.15 ERA with 8.2 K/9 and 3.9 BB/9.
Jakubauskas is not going to get a better shot at a major league roster anywhere else…idiot
yanks eat however much of AJ’s deal to equalize it with Uribe
then trade Uribe for Burnett
Yankees have it good. If Sabathia doesn’t sign with them they have a real shot at Jakubauskas.
If I’m the new O’s GM I’m calling on Burnett. He’s better than our other options, and won’t cost anything in term of prospects. Besides he could always find himself at some point and become half decent.
I don’t see why they shouldn’t at least inquire.
On AJ Burnett
I don’t see why they shouldn’t at least inquire.
One way to cure that Jeff is by opening your eyes!
Aj’s WHIP sux, his ERA is even worse, he gave up a ton of home runs, and he has a surly disposition! Heck even Guthrie’s WHIP and ERA are better.
So tell me exactly why do you feel this way?
I would take jeremy Guthrie over AJ Burnett any day of the week, even with same/like salaries. Don’t forget Guthrie has had pitiful defensive/offensive support behind him throughout his career, while Burnett for the most part has had outstanding teams behind him, yet has done little more than be an innings eater.
I cannot see NY moving him, just because they already need rotation starters and he will eat innings as it is, but *if* the O’s were willing to move Guthrie to any AL East team, NY would be on the phone to them within seconds.
NY would be on the phone to them within seconds. Yes, I know, Joe Girardi loves him.
“Well the Orioles better do something because the Current Rotation simply isn’t getting the job done. Oswalt would be a start. If the Orioles do nothing or just keep on doing the same patch job, they will be lucky to get 70 wins in 2012.” Guess who wrote that.
Seriously, it’s a low-risk, high-reward move. Obviously you only do it if NYY covers a large majority of his contract. I see no downside here. He’s no worse than throwing out Mitch Atkins or Jakubauskas. C’mon Man.
If Burnett was available and the Yanks would eat a ton of salary I’d take him in a heartbeat.
Mitch Atkins or Jakubauskas. C’mon Man…. hahahahaha!
Yes, those guys were terrible, but AJ is not the answer. Plus, the fact the Orioles have a no name pitching coach, who’s going to help AJ find himself? The next Gm has their work cut out for him/herself that’s for sure.
I agree with everything you had to say about AJ EXCEPT for the “surly disposition” comment. The one thing Aj has been is accountable for his failures and short comings and from a public perspective, as well as a LACK of evidence reported by the media, he has been an excellent club house guy who’s the first to smash someone in the grill with a cream pie after a walk off hit.
He sucks, but he hasn’t been surly at all.
Trade Burnett to Anaheim for Vernon Wells
So, Tony Reagins got a job in NY I see.
trying to be funny?
lol yes. Did it work? (Angel fan)
Appreciate the copious amounts of Jakubauskas news today.
I’d like to see the Phillies pick up Fox to be the backup catcher to Chooch.
How about this….
M’s could use a little more depth in the rotation behind Felix, Pineda and Vargas and AJ eats up innings and will benefit from a more pitcher friendly park and the AL West.
AJ and $5 mil (owed 2/$33 mil) for Franklin Guiterez (2/$13 mil owed) and Figgins (2/$17 mil)** ?
Both teams get from under bad contracts and can hope that a change of scenery works for all parties. AJ might prove to be a solid BOR guy in Safeco. Guiterez and Figgins offer the Yanks more depth and solid defense in the OF and IF as well, although at a major cost. Moving AJ though opens up the rotation which can hopefully be filled by some combo of…
Sabathia, Hughes, Nova, Colon/Garcia, Wilson/Darvis/EJax or one of the kids (Bans, Bets, Warren, Phelps, Noesi). Not the greatest rotation w/o one of Wilson/Darvish/Ejax but it opens up a spot that would otherwise be blocked for another 2 years. Can’t see one of the kids not performing as well as AJ has the last 2 years.
**doesn’t include 2014 vesting option @ 600 PA in 2013. Would probably not get that many PA with the Yanks.
The link for Bryan Hochs’ column is an article about Sabathia, with a minor mention of a Burnett trade at the end.
Are you having a stroke?
….
yes
I disagree with everything you have to say. The Yanks and Sox BOTH go after the best players available to fill needs. That’s why they have two of the biggest payrolls. The Sox may have had the Mueller and Millar types who weren’t high profile stars but they were both very good ballplayers. What Theo did was simply put an emphasis on guys with a history of strong OBP’s, which at the time was something most announcers and analyst barely mentioned or even thought to be important. Hardly gritty gamers or anything.
Look at the guys Theo has acquired. Ortiz, Scutaro, Agonz, Crawford, Drew, Cameron, Lugo, Dice K, etc don’t scream bargain hunting or diamond in the rough. Scutaro fit what they needed. The best available SS they could acquire on a short term deal until Iglesias was ready.
As for the scouting issue, while no one expected Colon to have the results he had the decision to sign him was absolutely based off of scouting. Pena managed him during Winter ball and I remember ppl commenting about how he was throwing in the mid 90’s. Obviously his signing was borne out of desperation but the staff absolutely deserves credit for signing him. Same can be said about the Chavez and Martin signings as well. Garcia was more of a “what the heck”, why not move, but still, anyone could’ve done the same. And for the record, no team with the ability to sign top flight talent signs low risk, low reward players unless they have to.
If you have the might to sign players who are almost guaranteed to be successful then you do so. Where the LACK of star power causes you to take a chance on reclamation projects or low risk, low reward types then you do so. But you NEVER take the medicine unless you become ill, right? Same can be said when it comes to strengthening a team. You look for the best and work your way down.
Also, the way the Yanks go about constructing their pen, based MOSTLY off of organizational arms and retreads was evident this year. Yes, they thru major coin at Soriano and Feliciano, but it was the RObertsons, Logans, Wade and Ayala’s that saved the season.
Never apologize because you can afford to buy top shelf. Instead give yourself credit because you create depth with the bargain basement types that you do find.