Some links as Saturday turns into Sunday…
- Before re-signing with the Cubs, Kerry Wood agreed to a deal with another club and was preparing for his physical when the Cubs swooped in according to Bruce Levine of ESPN Chicago. Levine hears that the Reds were most interested in Wood before he re-signed with Chicago, but it's unclear if they're the team he had the agreement with.
- As many as eight teams have inquired about Alfonso Soriano, reports Levine. Most of those clubs are American League teams. Levine says Cubs chairman Tom Ricketts reiterated that he'll to eat most of the money owed to Soriano to facilitate a trade.
- Marc Carig of The Star Ledger wonders if the Michael Pineda trade is a sign of things to come for the Yankees, who could opt to trade for pitching in the future rather than sign free agent arms to long-term deals.
- "All I can do is worry about getting healthy and being a part of this team next year," said Rangers first baseman Mitch Moreland to FOXSportsSouthwest.com's Anthony Andro when asked about the Prince Fielder rumors (Twitter link).
- “Our minor-league system is in the bottom ten-percent in the industry in terms of signing players at the amateur level and developing them for the big leagues," said Orioles GM Dan Duquette to Rich Dubroff of CSNBaltimore.com. "That’s what needs to improve over the next couple of years.”
- The Orioles have signed utility man Peter Fatse away from the independent Newark Bears, reports Roch Kubatko of MASNSports.com. The 24-year-old spent two seasons in the Brewers' farm system before hitting .279/.348/.418 with five homers in 284 plate appearances for Newark last season.
Really more curious to see how the yankees approach next off season. If Hughes bounces back, and with a pretty good rotation already, it will be interesting to see if the yankees go after hamels/cain.
2013
CC
Hamels/Cain
Pineda
Hughes
Nova
And they’d have Banuelos and Betances looking in, and ready…
Let’s say that Pineda repeats last year, give or take and that Hughes turns back into something closer to the first half of ’10 (that feels like SO long ago), the rotation would look like:
CC
Pineda
Hughes
Nova
_______
I don’t know if the Yankees would really go after Cain before they would go after Hamels, as they’d likely want another lefty in the rotation. Seeing as how the Yankees went after the cost-controlled Pineda and not shelling out for Wilson/Darvish, my guess is that they might even put one of the “Bs” in that #5 slot.
Before yesterday, I would have said that “YES” the Yankees would go hard after either Cain or Hamels. That “YES” has turned into “UNLIKELY BUT POSSIBLE”.
But as yesterday showed, anything can happen and Cashman can throw something else from out of nowhere.
Even if Pineda wins the AL Cy Young this year and CC finishes 2nd you would have to think the Yankees will at least be moderately interested in Hamels. If they can afford a player that will make them better they will always consider it.
Even if Pineda wins the AL Cy Young this year and CC finishes 2nd you would have to think the Yankees will at least be moderately interested in Hamels. If they can afford a player that will make them better they will always consider it.
I think we have to keep in mind the ultimate goal here. The Yankees have clearly changed their philosophy and don’t go after aging players for long-term deals. They also clearly want to cut payroll by about 20-30 million to get under the threshold.
As long as Hamels fits both those plans (and he definitely wouldn’t be aging, so that’s not a question), Cashman would definitely be interested. The goal is stated to be by 2014. I’ve said before, Jeter, Swisher, Soriano, Posada, Martin, Burnett, Rivera are all up by then. That’s around 85 million. Kuroda is a one year deal so I’m not going to add his money since he’s likely a stop-gap. Martin could likely be replaced by a guy like Romine by then. Jeter by a guy like Nunez. Soriano and Burnett by a lot of minor league options. Posada is already gone. Rivera by Robertson.
So conceivably the Yankees have 50ish million to play with (because remember they need to cut 30) to get themselves an outfielder and a front-line starter and they would still be under the tax threshold. That’s why I think Cash wouldn’t have an issue committing to Hamels.
You assume Cain and Hamels hit free agency.
The Duke is already being kind of out spoken, something I liked, but got him into trouble in Boston.. Facts though many times they were there…
If Angelos will open up his wallet and let him build up a good scouting and development team, he should be able to deliver, just like Duke did a decent job of while he was in charge of Boston.
I really wish him well.. He was one of my all time favorite Boston GM’s ever (since have followed them in early 60’s) who knew how to build from within just had a bit to much of a tendency to pick over the waiver wire for refugees a bit to often and find players that route for key positions.
It’s easy to say the Yankees will start trading for top pitching instead of giving free agents long term deals, but it’s rare they develop prospects as good as Montero so they probably won’t be able to pull off many deals like this.
Just get rid of him. buy him out or pay him to play for some other team. He mostly acts like he’s playing for anyone but the Cubs.
And then what? Pay another stopgap vet to take his place? He has declined rapidly but there still is a bit of value left in him with his power. Not much else, but to put it in perspective, he had a much better season than Vernon Wells and Adam Dunn. THe situation could be much worse
And then what? Pay another stopgap vet to take his place? He has declined rapidly but there still is a bit of value left in him with his power. Not much else, but to put it in perspective, he had a much better season than Vernon Wells and Adam Dunn. THe situation could be much worse
Just get rid of him. buy him out or pay him to play for some other team. He mostly acts like he’s playing for anyone but the Cubs.
Oh and Wood agreed with another team and then went back to the Cubs? If that isn’t illegal, isn’t that a bit shady to agree with one team and then sign with another?
he probably didn’t sign the contract yet. He was probably assuming the cubs didnt want him but when they gave him a decent offer he turned the other team down, its still negociating until you sign.
he probably didn’t sign the contract yet. He was probably assuming the cubs didnt want him but when they gave him a decent offer he turned the other team down, its still negociating until you sign.
So, if Wood had agreed to go to the Reds, what would that say about the alleged Dusty/Wood relationship?
They would say it does not really matter anymore. The Reds in the past few years have been much better about not over using arms at least in the rotation these days. Bullpen guys sometimes I feel they get a tad too much work right in a row. Seems like Ondrusek was pitching every day for a while there.
“Marc Carig of The Star Ledger wonders if the Michael Pineda trade is a sign of things to come for the Yankees, who could opt to trade for pitching in the future rather than sign free agent arms to long-term deals.”
When or if Hamels and or Cain become FA’s at the end of the 2012. You can take it to the bank that the Yankees will be one of the teams lined up to sign one of them to a LONG TERM deal.
Moreland doesn’t need to worry. He’s going to replace whichever one of Hamilton or Cruz is allowed to walk if Fielder is signed. Moreland has insane power. He’s going to be a very solid player.