The Yankees are obviously frustrated with how their 2012 campaign turned out, but an American League General Manager told Nick Cafardo of the Boston Globe that they won't have to blow things up the way that the Red Sox did in order to improve. “[I] don’t think they necessarily have to hit rock bottom like Boston to get better," said the GM. "We always said you can’t do that in Boston, but it happened. We always say that can’t happen with the Yankees, so I guess we’ll see. But I just see Brian Cashman trying to get this team younger while still competing. That’s what I think will happen.” Here's more from today's column..
- We've heard that the Mets will be open to trading Ike Davis, but special assistant J.P. Ricciardi would be shocked to see any movement on the first baseman. Davis has often been linked to the Red Sox and the Rays would also be a fit. Tampa Bay could certainly afford to part ways with a pitcher in order to improve their offense.
- Giants right-hander Tim Lincecum will be available in trade and it will be interesting to see what kind of market develops for him. The Giants say his problems were strictly mechanical, but other teams wonder why his fastball dipped from around 96 mph to 92 mph for most of the season. The 28-year-old is due $22MM in the final year of his deal.
- The White Sox will decline Jake Peavy's $22MM option for 2013 and one National League GM sees him fetching a three-year deal worth $36-40MM on the open market. Understandably, the GM cautioned that team doctors would have to do a thorough check on him despite the fact that he stayed healthy this past season.
- Ricciardi's deal with the Mets is up but he expects to return. So far, no one has inquired on him as a GM candidate or something close, though he says he would like to return to the front office.
Glad Lincecum part was highlighted here at MLBTR also.
92? I caught a few Giants games during the year and Lincecum was “touching” 92-93, mostly working 90, maybe 91 with his FB, sometimes late in games 89mph even.
Has Andrew Miller touched the guy and stolen his heat or something? Remember.. Miller was throwing 89-92 before he fixed his mechanics and got his FB back to 95-98…
There are many theories as to why Lincecum has lost his FB command. Lincecum said his weight gain in 2011 which had him at 190+ lbs was too much strain on his body and his subsequent weight loss in 2012 affected his conditioning along with trying to learn again to throw with a leaner body. Others say it’s because he gave up his In-N-Out diet.
He really hasn’t worked 96 since his 2008 Cy Young season. But for Lincecum everything needs to be mechanically sound and there were flashes of it during 2012 where he showed his old Cy Young form.
Lincecum needs to find something that is his and no one else’s (Major League 2)
It’s not necessary to throw 95+ to be a good pitcher of course, but it sure helps when keeping hitters off balance and away from secondary pitches that a guy can get away with being so-so when one throws 95, rather than 89-92. Josh Beckett is living proof of that if there ever was one.
The last game vs St. louis he looked like was trying to hit corners with everything also, maybe it’s because he has lost some of the confidence in his FB, maybe not, but i would not like to see the feel good story that was Lincecum come unraveled.
Wouldn’t mine seeing Ricciardi in Boston as an assistant of some sort to Cherington. As long as he isn’t writing checks, he’s fine with me.
The GM said team doctors would have to do thorough checks on his health?………….Its Mike Rizzo
Lincecum hasn’t thrown 96 for quite some time,probably since 07 or 08. He also won’t be dealt. that’s nuts.
They probably should deal him if they could. He’s never again gonna be worth 20+ mil per season.
I think he could have bit of a bounceback. Problem is he seems to have cheating on diet and strength training for many years. That foundation isn’t easily rebuilt in one offseason.
I have bigger hopes for A-Rod to bounce back because hes always worked hard in the offseason.
Trading Davis for pitching would be stupid. Pitching is what the Mets do have. They need more offense in the OF and at C.
As much as I agree with this statement you have to be wary of addressing short term concerns. I doubt trading Ike would do anything to help the Mets this year regardless. I hope the prospects would be offensive based on their surplus of pitching but at the same time, if they get 1-2 solid pitching prospects (or even just another harvey/wheeler caliber) they suddenly can trade dickey or niese and stock the farm system even more
I certainly agree with trading Dickey, and if we get more pitching prospects for him that’s fine. I just don’t like the idea of trading one of the few solid hitters in that lineup for major league pitching that they don’t need.
Most importantly, mets needs to trade wright. He’s someone who could actually get them good prospects in return.
Wright also had a very good year, Should tempr teams to overvalue him slightly.
Toronto, Arizona, Kansas City or Pittsburgh are teams with big farm sytems and could use an upgrade on 3rd base. But Cincinatti would be my most obvious choice. Offer them wright for their two top pitching prospects not named chapman and two top position prospects not named Hamilton.
It’s a deal reds would have to consider. With wright they’d have their lineup set from 2-7 with good or great bats, high obp.
You can cross KC off your list, they have a 3B of the future-Moustakas
Thanks. Two most obvious deals that will take place this offseason: Reds trading for Wright. And, unfortunately, Josh Hamilton signing another albatross deal in phillies. Rube’s the only gm who give josh 5+ years and 25 mil.
Their pitching isn’t very good either. They had an ERA over 4 in a pitchers park, and you can always use more pitching regardless of depth.
That’s largely due to their abysmal bullpen. And while I agree more starters is always a good thing, trading one of the few offensive threats they have for depth that isn’t a desperate need is a waste.
He had a 110 wRC+ this year at first base. If someone is going to overpay, by all means.
The Mets are one of the top 2-3 worst teams in baseball no matter how you slice it and being overly committed to slow first basemen who aren’t stars is not good practice.
Didn’t know 74-88 was one of the worst teams in the league… trading Ike Davis is a no no period unless you get an outstanding package for him you don’t trade him the Mets needs are at OF , C , and Bullpen yes but the talent acquired has to be worth trading one of your assets.
Lincecum’s velocity has been declining since he entered the league, which isn’t exactly atypical of many pitchers. What makes this year’s numbers look worse is the fact that he put on weight last year in an effort to add velocity, and then took the weight off again before 2012 because he didn’t like how it affected his mechanics (by his own admission). So the one year weight-related velo spike masks an otherwise normal decline of a pitcher who is getting older. What’s not clear is where his fastball command went; that will be much more critical to his success than dialing up to 94-95.
Lincecum turned 28 during this season, he isn’t “getting older”, this should be the prime of his career. His velocity going down isn’t the end of the world, but it certainly is at least somewhat worrisome. There’s more pressure on him to hit his spots better, and for most of this season he really struggled with that. Hopefully he bounces back in 2013 (assuming he’s not traded), but I have no idea what to expect of him. His change-up a couple years ago would break more than most guy’s curveball, and now I don’t know if I would call that pitch anything above decent.
Lincecum is older than he was yesterday, and will be older still tomorrow.
Hitters and pitchers do not peak at the same age. Velocity peaks for pitchers at a relatively young age, and Lincecum is past that age. Decline is both natural and expected. But again, fastball velocity is less the issue than fastball command. Without a good fastball to keep hitters honest, they have no reason to get fooled by the changeup or slider.
As a Mets fan, I’m kind of hoping for an Ike Davis trade, only if we get some pitching and bullpen help in return. Remember, the Mets were the number one offense in the national league with runners in scoring position, and the Mets bullpen killed their chances of winning in a lot of games.
Seriously? You want to trade a cheap 30-40 HR, 100+ RBI guy for bullpen help? I don’t see any scenario where Ike Davis isn’t wearing a Mets jersey next year. They have enough young SP arms (if there is ever a such thing as enough) and I would never trade a guy like him for BP help. A trade will only work if they are blown away by the package they get in return
@ Joe. I couldn’t agree with you more. This team needs to score runs not subtract the few runs they do score. This is the Mets we are talking about so let us pray.
When did he hit 40 homeruns?
So where would the Mets replace his offensive production then?
Does it actually matter how the Mets offense next year will be? They’re a 100 loss team.
Lucas Duda is an awful defensive outfielder. he matches Davis’ offensive production, so why not trade one of them?
Interesting that the first balanced article on the Yankees was written by a Boston Red Sox reporter.
as a diehard mets fan im can say the mets are in no postion to trade ike davis hes the only legit power hitter in that lineup
I’m another diehard and seeing how this team hit last year why would you consider trading him unless you have a plan to bring in some players who can hit. I like the rotation but this team need to add not subtract. Keep Ike davis and get an outfielder who will produce.
I’m skeptical the Giants will get better by trading Lincecum. He certainly didn’t have the season he or the team would have liked, but I’m disinclined to believe he’s going to post back to back 5+ ERA seasons.
The spike in his WHIP is certainly problematic, but his K/9 was right in line with 2011. I’d understand SF not being eager to do a long term contract, but they’ve got a good team there and I think they’d be best served getting some bigger bats in that lineup — preferably through free agency.
The only bats that are coming through free agency are by way of overpaying. If you’re an offensive player AT&T Park are where stats go to die. If Giants are going to get a big time bat it’s gotta be the trade route. Lincecum as the main piece is not the answer in my opinion.
I think there are some guys out there who won’t cost a lot who can help SF get better.
Sure, there are plug and play pieces that can compliment a lineup but I think Sabean will focus on getting power in offseason. Not many teams can hit the fewest HRs every season and be successful. They’ll need a power threat in the middle of that lineup.
Although Sandoval was marred by injuries and Belt has yet to find his power stroke I the suspect power to improve next season but having a big threat that knocks in 30+ HR would be a huge boost.
If they were to trade Ike Davis they would need to get back a proven major league hitter like Justin Upton. It may take Davis and another player to get it done, but that caliber player would have to be coming the Mets way. Of course Arizona doesn’t need a first baseman, but that is just an example of the proven talent the Mets need to get back…
I agree. They really have no hitting now so unless there is a plan to bring in some bats they need to hold on to him.
Yea the Rays would have to give up a substantial talent like a Desmond Jennings and one of the Rays starters in order to get it done I think but that’s if they were to trade with them. The Red Sox would have more bats to trade from then the Rays though but to be honest if i’m the Mets i’d keep Ike he’s honestly a bat they need to keep.
If TB had gotten any production from Pena or Scott, they would have made the playoffs. The question is if TB has anything the Mets want.
If he was some how available I would love to see him on the whitesox. Copper could work his magic and get him back to cy young form. Sale and lince would be a legit 1-2. I know it won’t happen but get a guy can dream until MLB the show 13 comes out and I can make it happen
It would be nuts to trade Timmy now! Selling low is bad!! Hopefully he takes this off season to work with his dad and get his mechanics corrected. If not, trade him before the deadline.
It would be interesting to see if teams bite on Lincecum and place him in the Bullpen to see if he can be lights-out at the end of games. Only problem would be that his price tag is through the roof in terms of salary.
That is an idea Milwaukee needs to look at.
cafardo, where do you get the lincecum rumors? it seems very arbitrary and trying to stir the pot out of nowhere
Cafardo reads this site? Seriously though, I wonder what would happen if Ned Colletti called up his whole boss and offered to take Lincecum’s contract for a B-level prospect? Seems crazy, but it’s crazier to think any team would give up much given his regression and impending free agency.
doubt they would deal Timmy anywhere in the NL West. Even though he was horrible, they wouldn’t want to have to face the ‘old Timmy’, if his new team could fix whatever is wrong
Anyone that thinks that the Met’s starting pitching is settled or good is fooling themselves. Ike Davis should not be traded for middle of the road starter. However if the Rays are willing to trade James Shields (too high of a contract 9 million 2013 and 12 million 2014?) for Ike, they should jump. What is the number one reason why bullpen’s are bad? Because they get overused. Shields is an innings eater as well as a good pitcher. All those 5-7 inning pitchers kill the bullpen.
he would be a last piece type of acquisition. mets want/need young, cheap, controllable players with high upside.
If they want an innings eater they can try to get Jackson
The Rays seem to be heading into rebuilding.
absurd to try to compare the Yankees to the train wreck in Boston.
absurd to think that the Yankees are going to next year or the year after be anywhere near as bad as the Beantown fiasco.