Links for Wednesday, before Pedro Alvarez makes his MLB debut…
- Jack Curry of the YES Network (via Twitter) hears from a baseball official that the Phillies are interested in adding a starting pitcher. Curry specifically names Cliff Lee, though I can't imagine the team re-acquiring him just a few months after shipping him to Seattle.
- The Orioles have contacted Buck Showalter about managing the team, according to Tim Kurkjian of ESPN.com.
- The Cubs hired a statistical analyst for the team's baseball operations department, according to ESPN.com's Bruce Levine.
- Jon Heyman of SI.com hears that it's an "extreme long shot" that the Rangers acquire Roy Oswalt.
- One GM told ESPN.com's Buster Olney that teams are now demanding big returns for players who will eventually be traded for less.
- DJ Bean of WEEI.com introduces us to Red Sox fourth rounder Garin Cecchini, who told every major league team he wouldn't sign for less than mid-first-round money. Specifically, Cecchini wants $1.75MM, according to Bean.
- White Sox GM Kenny Williams told Mark Gonzales of the Chicago Tribune that he hasn't given up on his team and wants to see how it fares over the course of the coming week.
- Chipper Jones' agent, B.B. Abbott, told Jon Paul Morosi of FOX Sports that Chipper will "absolutely not" retire during the season.
- The Yankees released David Winfree from their Triple A team, according to Donnie Collins of the Times-Tribune.
- Joel Sherman of the New York Post points out that the Yankees won't have to pursue free agents Carl Crawford and Jayson Werth if Brett Gardner, Nick Swisher and Curtis Granderson keep playing this well.
So I guess Chippers home run last night changed his mind so quickly huh???That doesn’t mean diddly squat.He could easily suffer a career ending injury ect and decide to retire ya know??
I wanted Edwin Jackson on the Yankees ever since I saw him with the Rays. His stuff is nasty, he’s young, talented and under team control. Also, he has great experience in the AL East. I know the Yanks don’t need SP, but if they do trade for one, Edwin is a nice, cheap alternative to Cliff Lee or Dan Haren.
“great experience in the AL East”
What does that mean? His FIP while in the AL East was 4.52, 4.90, and 4.88
Edwin Jackson crashed and burned in the AL central last year
“One GM told ESPN.com’s Buster Olney that teams are now demanding big returns for players who will eventually be traded for less.”
That’s ground-breaking news Olney.
A revolutionary new negotiating tactic.
I always thought you started out asking for a minimal return that went from there… :/
*[then] went from there.
Well watching the way some GMs operate I understand the confusion
Regarding Crawford and Werth and the Yankees, I’ve been saying this all along. I firmly believe they will be watching, but neither comes to New York. I share the same concerns that others do with Crawford. I disagree with Swisher being the DH for the Yanks in 2011. He will be their RF’r. Everyone please stop with putting down Gardner. He is perfect for LF at Yankee stadium and he has all the tools to be an everyday player.
Going into 2011 the Yanks will have other issues to address. Jeter and Arod are getting older, although both are playing great. We’re likely to see Jeter get something in the neighborhood of 3 or 4 years. Arod probably, realistically has 3 more years of field playing time and then he is off to the DH spot. Posada is probably will spend 80% of his time in 2011 at DH and then he is done following that. DH for the Yanks will not be the problem for the next few years. They have ZERO need for this.
I see them making more of a play for Lee or another pitcher. You’d have to expect Pettitte packs it in after this season. I am in no hurry to rush him out the door, but the year after year I may retire discussion probably will come to an end this year. Vasquez, although pitching better, will probably not extend here. The draft picks the Yanks net alone will be great. AJ will be in yr 3 and lets face it, he is the “who is this guy” many times. He is a solid 3/4 in the next two years. So who do you have? CC and Hughes. Expect the Yanks to put a lot of emphasis on the left side of their infield and pitching for the next few years. Outside of that, they are deeper than any team in the league offensively and defensively.
Heyman doesn’t use his brain sometimes. It is entirely possible that the Rangers could trade enough payroll to the Astros to acquire Oswalt from them. Michael Young is getting $13mil this season…close to Oswalt’s salary. No, the Rangers wouldn’t want to trade Young, but if it comes to down to pitching vs a starter at another position who is making big bucks and you have to dump salary…And as far as the fans voting for Taylor Teagarden…well, the fans aren’t as stupid as Heyman thinks…I vote for my team’s players to represent. I don’t vote for opposing players just because they are atop the stats board somewhere. If media people don’t like how the vote shakes out, then go bug the Commish to end fan voting for the All-Star game.
You say Heyman isn’t using his brain. Then you suggest Young (48m after this year) for Oswalt (16m + 2m buyout after this year).
Pot, meet kettle.
The Cubs hired a statistical analyst? Welcome to the new milleneum, Cubbies. It’s better late than never, I guess.
Nice addition by Ricketts…much more significant than his Toyota sign.
It’s significant that the Levine piece also mentions that Ricketts has let it be known what direction he wants the team to be going. My guess is if he’s hiring a stat guy, he’s going to want to sell off overvalued players. He refrained from stepping in for 1/2 a season and let the baseball people do their job. Well, they haven’t done a good one so far. It’s a small move but I think the message is clear. The Cubs intend to do business differently from here on out and it’s likely that those who have done business the old way could soon find themselves on the outside looking in.
Ricketts has made it clear when the sale was finalized that he wanted a more balanced, stat orientated front office. He is following through with what he said months ago, which is a good thing going forward. The present day team…no stats are needed to determine bad.
I agree on the Toyota sign. Talk about a sore thumb out of place. Also, nice marketing timing on the crosstown series winner receiving the BP trophy. That gives both sides something to really strive to win. Not exactly Lord Stanley’s Cup coming from BP! But it fits with this year’s team and how they are a disaster! That goes for Hendry and Pinella, too!
Now they have some hideous corporate Kraft macaroni “sculpture” outside the building. One thing is for sure: the Ricketts know how to generate money for themselves. I just hope they are as wise hiring baseball people as they are at hiring marketing people.
Cubs season is over trade Nady, Fukudome, Silva (Sell on him while you can. 8-1 with a 2. something ERA get what you can) Gorzelanny, Theriot, Soto even I don’t care anymore. I mean really? You have one of the best biggest payrolls in baseball, a great fan base, a historic stadium and loved all across the country besides in St. Louis, 1/2 of Milwaukee and unfortunately the south side of Chicago.
I’d rather see Cashner start then in the bullpen, I want to see Colvin play more. I’m with Steve Stone you could have a left-handed run producer on the bench and we’ve been looking for that for how long??? 3-4 years now. Anyway I will still watch my Scrubbies and wait for them for next year. Also, I don’t they will trade Lilly. Too much of a fan favorite and good club house guy to let go. Him and Dempster are very good friends so I would hate to see him go.
SP- Dempster
SP- Lilly
SP- Z
SP- Cashner
SP- Wells
LRP- Marshall
RP- Stevens- Proving he should belong in the bigs
RP- Someone like Gaub/ Parker/Russell/ Berg, or Caridad could fight it out
RP- F/A
SU- Grabow
SU- Angel Guzman
CL- Carlos Marmol
I don’t want to see the Yankees do another high priced overhaul. However, Gardner, Swisher, and Granderson just aren’t in the same category as Crawford and I thought it was a great idea someone mentioned about playing Swisher as a rotation guy. The Yanks spend money and this spending makes sense. 1 guy can give them speed, power, average, and defense everyday and they could possibly keep the other 3 guys incase of injury.
Werth would hit 45 – 50 HRs if he got to play half his games at Yankee stadium with his oppisite field power. But not the overall appeal for the Yanks — plus he’d have to shave that man beard everyday!
No way Chipper retires mid season with a shot at the playoffs. Griffey would still be falling asleep in the clubhouse if the M’s had any sense and actually traded for or acquired a power hitter. Which might have given them a shot at the post season, its not exactlly like anyone is running away with the AL west — On paper the M’s look good.
No way Werth hits 45-50 HRs even in Yankee stadium. It isn’t like Citizen’s Bank Park isn’t a good HR hitting park and it has a shorter RF (where Werth hits most of his HR). Maybe if he moves from Petco to Yankee stadium I could see a jump by 15-20 HRs but Citzen’s Bank to Yankee Stadium? No way
If I’m reading his homerun chart correctly, about half of his homeruns went to left-center field last year and most of the other half were center-right (in Philly, . Looking at the dimensions comparison between Yankee Stadium and CBP, Werth moving to Yankee Stadium might cost him a few of those left-center to center-right homeruns. If Werth were more of a dead pull or a pure opposite field hitter, he would definitely pick up more at Yankee Stadium because its much shorter at the lines. But he seems to be more of a threat to hit them out in center field and if thats the case, Philly’s a much better situation for him.
Of course, there’s more to homeruns than just ballpark dimensions…
I agree it is a better situation but I adding 15-20 HRs? no way. And from hit tracker, 2 of his 10 HRs were to right, 2 to right center, 5 to what would be the expansive Yankee left center, and 1 right down the line.
Hopefully Winfree gets the chance with a club who will give him a shot. Maybe the Red Sox with all of the injuries they’ve had?
Sorry for asking (it’s early and I’m not thinking straight), but what question are you answering?
I completely agree and couldn’t have said it better. Another thing the Yankees could do is trade one of Swisher of Gardner. Their values right now are as high as they’re going to get. Maybe Gardner could be the centerpiece of a huge deal. Anyways, the Yankees should definitely still pursue Crawford to be the everyday LF.
It really doesn’t make much sense. Why get Crawford if Gardner is playing like he is. They don’t really need two guys with that skill-set and Swish is fine in RF. Crawford would be wasting a hefty contract over multiple years and a 1st round draft pick (in a stocked draft) for a style of production they already get for the league minimum. Carl also has some major red flags as he is a guy whose game is based completely off his legs, and he is in his 9th year of playing on the turf in TB. Before you dismiss that, look at Shannon Stewart’s SB numbers drop at that same point in his career.
There’s no need for Crawford and if you look at the budget there really isn’t any room unless they both Mo and Jeter resign at big discounts, or the Yankees up their payroll again (which I do realize is a possibility). Plus I would bet that Posada is going to need a lot of time at DH next season, and if you consider the cost of Crawford he really isn’t worth it when Gardner is basically the same player with less power.
That outfield… would have terrible arm strength…
Because Sherman is probably thinking the same thing that myself and many others are thinking about the 2011 lineup:
Jeter – SS
Swisher – RF
Teixeira – 1B
Rodriguez – 3B
Cano – 2B
Posada – DH/C
Granderson – LF
Montero – C/DH
Gardner – CF
I personally wanna see this lineup on October 1st.
I agree, Carl Crawford isn’t needed. I think Gardner is playing a bit over his head, but the Yankees have done a great job turning guys like Gardner and Cervelli into everyday players, and really the credit should be given to Kevin Long. The better the Yankees can get at developing major league players, the less they will need to rely on big contracts.
“I think Gardner is playing a bit over his head”
Definitely, I think the guy is becoming a great everyday player, but I don’t think he is a .390 wOBA guy. I just think that Gardner at league minimum and 1st round draft pick are a better option than Crawford, plus big contract, and giving up the pick.
I don’t get it either :/
Not if it forces Posada to try to catch everyday, which will inevitably lead to him going on the DL again, and you can’t expect Cervelli to continue to hit like he has, it’s just unrealistic.
“say what you want but as of today’s date i still think Crawford is a yankee”
what baseball have you been watching? as of today’s date, crawford is a ray. check your sources :]
FIP by month
4.16
2.41
3.42
6.03
5.50
4.76
He as a good pitcher for 2 months
Of course it depends on how the season plays out, but LarryDelucaNY wasn’t suggesting trading Granderson. I was pointing out that signing another OF and trying to rotate Gardner/Granderson/Swisher/Crawford between 3 OF spots and DH is not a good idea because Posada needs lots of time off from catching, I personally believe that he won’t even reach 80 games caught next season, more like 50-60.
Plus you also have to consider whether or not it’s worth it to offer a 5-6 year contract to Crawford at 18 per, even if Granderson is below him in terms of talent.
The pick isn’t that valuable if you keep drafting Cito Culver
I find it highly unlikely that the Yanks would consider this lineup for a full season because of how risky it is to bat one of your catchers at DH.If you’re also anticipating Cervelli being on the 25 man roster, then sure. Otherwise, no way do they put both their catchers in the lineup like this on a regular basis.
“Right now he´s NYs 5th best SP pitcher.Yanks have to be concerned.”
Please re-read what you wrote. The Yankees should be concerned about their 5th best starter? Tell me how many teams have a good 5 starters? None, so they shouldn’t be concerned and shouldnt trade for Cliff Lee.
Do you understand what FIP is?