It's not often that the Yankees miss out on a player, but after their seemingly all-but-finalized negotiations for Cliff Lee fell through earlier today, Lee is now property of the Texas Rangers. While it's been reported that the Yankees have some hard feelings towards the Mariners over how the M's pulled out of their proposed deal, ESPN's Buster Olney tweets that some members of the Yankee front office have put Lee behind them.
The question is, will the Bronx Bombers move on to any other starting pitchers that are on the trade market? Dan Haren, Ted Lilly and Roy Oswalt are among the big-name hurlers who could be wearing different uniforms by July 31, but just because New York didn't acquire Lee doesn't mean that the Yankees are still in the hunt for rotation help.
There is, after all, Javier Vazquez. After a disastrous start to his second go-around with the Yankees, Vazquez seems to have gotten on track; he posted a 3.23 ERA in six June starts and held opponents to a .189 batting average over the month. Had the Yankees picked up Lee, Vazquez either might have been traded, become the most over-qualified long reliever in baseball, or possibly stayed in the rotation had New York made a less-obvious move (like keeping Phil Hughes' innings under control by having Hughes replace the struggling Joba Chamberlain as Mariano Rivera's set-up man).
As ESPN's Jayson Stark observes, Lee has dominated the Yankees in recent years, most notably beating them twice in last year's World Series. If anything, it seems like New York's pursuit of Lee was more about keeping the left-hander away from other teams than it was about adding a needed piece. It's one thing to add a proven ace with an expiring contract like Lee, but quite another to add a starter with an expensive long-term deal (like Oswalt or Haren) or a pitcher like Lilly who isn't a clear enough upgrade over Vazquez to justify trading the prospects that the Cubs would want in return.
Should they still look for pitching? Yes, but in the bullpen, not the rotation, which is why Lee was not necessary (this season)
It’s not often that the Yankees miss out on a player, Bottom line jack z used the yankees and score with smoltz.Now the yankees looking for pitching lol.
About time the yanks feel the sting of another team swooping in at the last moment. The M’s did exactly what any other team would do. Get what they feel was the best package. They have no moral obligation to the Yankee’s or any other team. If the yankee’s wanted Lee that bad, they would have put more on the table. Lee will be a free agent at the end of the year anyhow. They can buy him then.
Actually, according to many talent scouts, the Yankees offer was better. Smoak is a bit more advanced, but Montero has a much higher upside. The Mariners should have sacrificed getting a bat for 2010 and go for the kill in 2011 and beyond, and that was the Montero package. The Mariners said they went back to the Rangers one last time since they had been negotiating with them to make sure they were getting the best offer. I can buy that. If that’s the case, though, did they go back to the Yankees since they also had been negotiating with them and pretty much had already agreed to a deal. If they did, that’s fine. If they didn’t, then what they said doesn’t add up.
No, the Yankees will not look for more pitching. It makes no sense at all. The additionof Cliff Lee would have been pointless, as they’ve got they’ve got one of the best rotations in the league and there isn’t even an open spot for him. It literally seems like they would’ve done this just because they were bored and don’t need their prospects because they’ll pay $200 million to get whoever they want. It was completely pointless. I’m glad the Rangers ponied up and took him right from the Yankee’s doorstep. Lee actually gives them a substantial upgrade, rather than just a slight upgrade that would’ve forced another trade to happen.
Unless they are going to trade Vazquez for a quality offensive player, I say their rotation is fine.
Rotation is our biggest strength and we need much more help in the bullpen and on our bench than anything else.
Agreed. The only way we go after a SP is if Vasquez is dealt for hitting. Even the Lee rumors never really filled a “need”; more of a “want”. That said I wouldn’t mind Dan Haren in a NYY uniform. He probably wouldn’t even require Montero and if that’s the case I would do that deal.
Wait, why wouldn’t Haren cost Montero?
Yankees will try and Get a SP RP and a Utility INF
I would think they will try and pay hard to get something know so they dont feel like they have been left drunk behind the wheel.
I could see them going for Roy Oswalt Jeff Keppinger and Brandon Lyon from the Astros Just becouse they are the Yankees. Yankees would mostlikly want the Astros to pay something so why not 10 million of Oswalts contract?
Astros need to aim high. for Prospects if they pay that much. Jesus Montero and Manny Bouenlos would be the 1st 2 on the list Maybe Laird Nunez and McAllister to round it out would be enuff for the Astros.
All that and pay salary on top, I don’t see anything close to that happening.
And by salary I really meant two decent sized contracts with not too much relief.
Why do you want Brandon Lyon? At best, he’s a mediocre middle reliever who has about 13m left on his contract.
And Yankees aren’t giving up Montero just so they can save 10m.
What do you guys think of this trade???
Yankees get:
Dan Haren
D’Backs get:
Romine/Sanchez
McAllister
Russo
Maybe the Yankees need to add another prospect or two such as Brandon Laird or David Adams, but what do you think? I think Romine is enough to center a Haren deal.
LOL! If the M’s netted a Top 20 prospect for 2 months of Lee, Haren will cost much more.
Try Montero, Betances, McAllister, + 2 more B-/C+ prospects
LOL? Lee is a lot better than Haren, especially this year. Haren’s value is not what it once was. There is no way Haren would cost a Montero or Smoak this year.
Why is his value down? Because you’re looking at his ERA?
There’s nothing wrong with his velocity, K rate, or BB rate. His HR/FB is slightly higher than usual, and his BABIP against is 40 points higher then it usually is.
Compare his career stats to this year – they don’t lie. He’s giving up more hits, using more pitches per game, giving up more homeruns, giving up more earned runs, has a much higher BAA, and yes higher BABIP. And thus, his value isn’t what it was last year.
I did compare his career stats to this year. Are you aware that a higher BABIP means more hits and higher BAA?
Just because his value isn’t what is was last year, doesn’t mean you’re getting him without a top prospect. Doesn’t mean they HAVE to trade him. If they don’t get a top prospect, there’s no reason to trade him, he’s still worth that, because once his BABIP returns to normal, so will the BAA.
I’m aware of what the letters stand for, thanks. I can go into a large post about how BAA and BABIP relate, but I’ll spare you. My point was, you downplayed glaring stats which point to him having a down year, so I just shined some light on them. No one said they HAVE to trade him. All I said was that his value is not what it was last year, and you agree with me, so discussion over. Cheers. EDIT: We disagree on what it would cost to get him, now that his value is lowered, but that’s fine.
WHAT the hell happened with the Lee to Yanks trade. I’m looking around this site for an explanation on where talks fell apart and why. Someone help?
There were concerns over David Adams’ health. In the end the Ranger essentially panicked and offered Seattle a better package then the Yankees did and that’s what it came down to.
Might have also went with future fielder over future DH also. Hard to see exactly. Montero will probably be a monster at the plate, but his future in the field is going to be the problem and Seattle didn’t like that option.
He’s not a future DH. The questions around Montero’s defense center around his ability as a catcher. He could move to 1B and no doubt would be fine there. The Yankees haven’t moved him to first because they’re blocked there for the next six years with Texeira. I think the Mariners in a year or two will wish they had taken the Montero package. He has a higher upside than Smoak.
What DJ_2 said is true. But, to me, that’s the M’s cover up. They did this to say to Texas: “Hey, look, we convinced the Yankees to give up their top 2 prospects and a 2B who won’t amount to much, what can you guys give?”So Texas panicked and traded their future for Lee, hoping that it will deliver them a WS title.
EDIT: Well that’s basically what DJ said there….REPETITION IS GOOD FOR THE SOUL!
Haha..
It seems Seattle coveted Smoak more than Montero all along. Looks like their careers will be linked from here on out. I’m fine with keeping Montero, and possibly getting Lee in the off season.
I’d like to point out that Lee got pretty banged up in his second start in that World Series vs. the Yankees.
But, luckily for him, AJ Burnett was the Yankees starter that night.
Bingo. People say he “dominated” them all last season, he was nothing more than inconsistant.
4/16: 6 IP, 7 H, 1 ER, 3BB, 4 SO
5/11: 6 IP, 9 H, 3 ER, 2BB, 5 SO
10/28: 9 IP, 6 H, 0 ER, 0 BB, 10 SO
11/2: 7 IP, 7 H, 5 ER, 3 BB, 3 SO
The Yankees were willing to trade Montero in the off season for Roy Halladay. We now know they were willing to trade him for Cliff Lee. Those two pitchers are among the two best, if not THE two best, in the game right now. They can make a significant difference to the Yankees in the post season. The Yankees are not going to trade Montero for Dan Haren. Nice pitcher, but he’s not an upgrade over Javy Vazquez. Actually, Vazquez might be better. Oswalt? Certainly has been a top-flight pitcher, but he not in the Halladay and Lee class at this point in his career. That’s what it will take for the Yankees to part with Montero.