The Yankees have contacted DH/first baseman Carlos Pena, the free agent told Rich Herrera and Mel Antonen during an appearance on MLB Network Radio's Home Plate program (Twitter link). Pena also said he's keeping his options open at this point.
We heard earlier today that the Bombers have also been in touch with free agent Johnny Damon, so they're clearly kicking the tires on reasonably priced DH/1B types after trading Jesus Montero to the Mariners on Friday.
After reestablishing himself as an MLB starter with the Rays from 2007-10, Pena hit free agency last offseason and signed a one-year deal with the Cubs. The left-handed hitter, a Boras Corporation client, slugged 28 homers and posted a .225/.357/.462 line. He'll turn 34 in May.
The Yankees' current projected payroll is at about $212MM, according to Marc Carig of the Star-Ledger, who heard earlier in the offseason that New York doesn't want to go above that figure (Twitter links). So, it sounds like the Yanks will either have to stray from their plan, or sign a Damon or Pena type at a fairly steep discount.
You can use MLBTR's Free Agent Tracker to have a look at the remaining free agent designated hitters and first basemen.
Oh please no, Yanks need somebody who will pull through with men on base, Pena is not the answer, he is the same type of hitter as Teix has become -> HR or strike out, NO THANKS!
You should have sign Willy Mo Pena based on your criteria… Oh wait…
We should have some sort of sabermetrics entry test that people have to pass in order to post on this site.
I hope you can tell that it was sarcasm.
Sorry, was responding to Hayden, not you.
It’s cool. And i’m pretty sure half of the people would fail a test like that, haha.
hayden is right though…Pena is an all or nothing guy..Lest we forget he hit below the mendoza line in 2010? We need hits in the clutch…he aint it
In high leverage situations last year, he had a 174 wRC+. That’s among the best in MLB.
I know that sabermetrics work, and that some of the basic stas ESPN uses like wins, whip, era, etc. have become irrelevant. But I would fail that entry test simply by choice. Call me lazy but I’d rather observe with my own eyes if a pitcher is passable without using ERA+ or xFIP. I’d rather say that I feel like Peña isn’t clutch than prove it with wRC+ (whatever that is). Maybe I’m lazy, maybe I’m ignorant, but sabermetrics are beginning to piss me off, in case you couldn’t tell haha. Sorry for that little rant there.
even though your a red sox fan, i love you
no matter what sabermetrics you use, the 8-10m that Pena would likely get is too much to pay for a platoon player who hit .175 with RISP last year.
Dude, vs. RHP last year, Carlos Pena had a .388 OBP and slugged .504. He had a 140 wRC+ vs. RHP as well. In high leverage situations, he had a 174 wRC+.
it doesn’t matter because “no stats besides mine matter”
You can tear apart his full stats from last year here if you want:
fangraphs.com/statsplits.aspx?playerid=934&po…
No thanks.
Ok, so he would play only vs RHP. He would not play when Arod/Jeter are being rested. He would POSSIBLY preform a LITTLE better than whoever the Yankees slot in for DH against RHP instead. (Nunez, laird etc.) Is that minimal difference worth the money they would pay for him?
He would perform WAY better than any option the Yankees would be able to put in the DH spot vs. RHP. And then obviously you would put Jones as DH vs. LHP.
I don’t know I guess we’ll disagree. They’re gonna need that spot to rest the old guys/test the young. Tying up money there doesn’t seem smart.
When it comes down to it, money is probably what’s going to decide this. If they can’t afford Pena, I could see them make an offer to Colorado for Giambi, but that would be a gamble.
Haha the return of Giambi… yikes. Money is what it’s all about, and to me in this situation it seems like it would be smarter for Cash to restrain himself.
Makes sense Pena hits rhp very well just platoon him with Jones then on texiera’s off days you can plug pena in at first. Almost makes too much sense at this point.
I agree, they only need him part time agains’t righties. He made 10 million last year, he would have to take a big cut.
I don’t understand why the Yanks are looking for a DH at all. With all those infielders in need of rotating days off from the field, don’t they really need another bench-based, utility infielder? And Pena is a strikeout *machine*. Bat him behind Jeter and Granderson and the crowd behind home plate won’t need to bring hand-fans for that half inning.
Would really love to see Pena hitting HR’s in YS3 in a Yankees uni. Just platoon him with Jones
Yes please!!!!!!!
I’d be surprised if he signed with the Yanks. I’m sure a contending team like the Rays will give him the opportunity to start at 1B and play full time. Of course, I’m sure the Yankees could out bid Tampa and still sit comfortably below the luxury threshold.
The price will be the key, Pena made 10 million last year, Damon made much less. Pena does seem to be a fit with the Rays, but at what price.
You do realize that New York are only 40M above the threshold for the luxury tax right now – don’t you? Have you even read the new CBA, where New York’s tax rises to 50 percent in 2013. Everyone is rooting for New York to hit 250M in payroll, so all the teams can share their 50M windfall every season. lol.
Only 40 million lol, more than some teams entire payroll.
Tampa just signed Luke Scott to play first base.
I’m pretty sure Pena would rather come back to Tampa than go to New York. If Pena takes a discount, it will be to Tampa
Sorry all I still Like Johnny Damon the best…Hits for power with the short porch in right and he’s great with men on base…plus he hits all pitching …no need to platoon…Andruw is to spell Brett Gardner when they play tough lefties or Granderson or Swisher need a day off…DH him occasionally but Johnnys the main man at DH he’s already adapted to the role and can be a fifth outfielder.
Pena is great in the field and thats where he belongs…No roon at 1st base in NY…Let someone else sign him. I’m sure he doesn’t want to waste his defense.
Johnny Damon is also well liked in the clubhouse …fit in beautifully and will have a major positive impact on the rest of the club.
I can agree with that, Johnny will hit in the clutch too. Damon will cost less money.
Pena is actually significantly better than Damon in high leverage situations.
I really do like Damon more than I like Pena. Of course Pena has his advantages in terms of age and power. But that power comes at a cost and do the Yankees really need more power? The other thing Pena gives us is another first baseman when we need to give Tex a rest. Pena is a good first baseman.
I suppose the question is, would you rather have Damon in the outfield and Swish at first or Swish in the outfield and Pena at first? That is if Tex needs a day off.
No we have Damon at DH Swisher at first & Andruw Jones in right
Forgot about Mr. Jones. Hmm…I like choices.
$212M lol “wouldn’t want to stray” from that figure, god forbid!!!
Yankees fans are really optimistic when it says “Has Spoken”, it doesn’t mean anything…the Red Sox “Had Spoken” to Jayson Werth last offseason but nothing happend…the yankees are over the salary cap enough even though Pena is a cheap option….
Salary cap?
i mean’t deep in the luxury tax
And this means that discussing the possibly of getting said players is not logical? I mean, come on Chris this is a rumors site that invites you to post and talk about possibilities. Stop being like that. What’s wrong with people talking about possibilities.
Seriously since when are the Yankees ever impeded by a Salaray cap/Luxury tax? I think they will be forced to think deeper however, in the end they are the Yankees and they will/must be able to spend to win.
The Yankees’ current projected payroll is at about $212MM?
What is that 5 or 6 year budget for the Orioles? A 10 yr Budget for the A’s?
I am curious if anyone has actually done an analysis as to what exactly a World Series is worth these days? Is it worth 212 MM? What if the Yankees get knocked out again early, then what? In 1972, I am willing to bet the whole league itself wasn’t even worth 212 Million.
there could be 212 million baseball fans bro
This would be awesome he would take monteros role as a dh and would be awesome