Here's a look at the latest on the Yankees as they look to stave off elimination in Detroit tonight..
- It wouldn't be surprising to see the Yankees shop Alex Rodriguez this offseason given his struggles, but Jon Heyman of CBSSports.com notes that there would be several hurdles for the club to clear first. Chief among them is Rodriguez's veto power and a friend of the veteran told Heyman that he will "never leave" New York. A report from earlier this evening indicated that Rodriguez would give Miami consideration if the opportunity arose according to a source familiar with his thinking.
- Prior to tonight's game, Rodriguez told reporters that he "loves" the Yankees organization, according to Danny Knobler of CBSSports.com (via Twitter).
- While Yankees president Randy Levine and Marlins owner Jeffrey Loria have reportedly kicked around the idea of a deal involving Rodriguez, GM Brian Cashman made it clear that he has had no such discussion with the Marlins, tweets Bryan Hoch of MLB.com.
- Raul Ibanez and Hiroki Kuroda are among those who have boosted their free agent stock with strong performances during the regular season and playoffs, Heyman writes. Meanwhile, a Jayson Werth-type deal for Nick Swisher can now be ruled out as the slugger has been unable to show that he can perform consistently in the postseason.
There’s no way A-Rod leaves NY. The fact that the Marlins would even consider it after spending all the money they did only to lose more than they won are even dumber than I expected.
Did Swisher even deserve a Werth-type deal to begin with? Not even Werth was worth that kind of money.
Great point! Furthermore, name me the teams who have “Werth-type” money available for Nick Swisher. On top of it, which team is willing to give up a draft pick for Nick Swisher?
I agree the Jayson Werth-type move is insane (for Werth OR Swisher) but during the regular season, Swisher’s been remarkably consistent–batting average around .240-.260 and 24-28 homers annually, mark it down. It’s just that in the post season, he’s been remarkably consistent too–just remarkably BAD. But still, if there’s a team out there that’s trying to climb back to respectability (a Pittsburgh-esque team) that could cash in due to a lack of a bidding war, Swisher might be worth surrendering a sandwich round between rounds one and two pick.
If Yankees qualify Swisher, Pirates will “lose” their 14th overall pick if they sign him. Let’s wait and see.
By the way, after Ortiz and Hamilton, Swisher is the best non-right-handed hitter free agent at hitting left-handed pitching. A team with only right-handed bats in the middle of their order might be tempted to sign Swisher.
“Nick Swisher can now be ruled out … ”
I thought Swisher was automatically ruled out the moment he asked for Jayson Werth money…
Did Werth even deserve that deal?
First.
Anyway I say bringing back Ibanez and Kuroda is a bad idea. Both are older players and they might never be worth anything again. I have no problem bringing other older players like Mariano Rivera and Ichiro back, it’s just these two are unpredictible. Use the money to lock up Cano, re-sign Swisher, and pick up Granderson’s option.
P.S. Trade A-Rod if you can get a good deal for him maybe Buehrle. And I’m from Boston
No way BOTH swisher and Granderson are Yankees next year. I’d trade Granderson for some prospects. Be perfectly fine with a outfield of LF-sign someone BJ or trade for the other Upton. Gardner in center and Ichiro in left
The only problem with that is you are lacking power from your outfielders, a position you usually expect power from. On principle I like the Gardner, Ichiro outfield, but if Arod is gone as well as Grandy and Swish you lose about 80 homers between them. Ichiro and Gardner would combine for maybe 25. That is a lot to make up.
A full season in Yankee stadium for Ichiro could mean him easily hitting 15-20 with a great arm, solid running game as gold glove defense I think they almost need to bring him back and let swisher walk. In my opinion swisher has been and will continue to be one of the most over rated players in baseball his bat does not play well at first (his best defensive position) and he struggles in the out field. Gardner in center, Ichiro in right. Trade grandy for a prospect or move him to left (40 hrs is nice) or play free agency.
I would like to see Ichiro return. He provides speed and defense. I don’t think you can lose both Granderson, Swish and Arod. At least one has to come back for the power threat. Granderson is the most likely to return.
Granderson’s option will be picked up, so yeah, and as much as we wanna see A-Rod run out, he’s a Vernon Wells- immovable. New York never allows itself to go without. Upton (one of ’em), Mark Reynolds, or maybe even a Ryan Howard bad contract swap will bring in someone for OF/DH. Always do.
I think it’s a bit optimistic to expect a guy who has only one year with a SLG% over .400 since 2008 and has hit over 14 HR’s in a season exactly once (8 years ago) to suddenly become a 15-20 HR threat, i don’t care at what park he plays 81 games at. He’s gonna be 40 next year you know. (and has been worth 3 WAR in the last 2 years combined) he’s pretty much a good 4th OF’er at this point.(unless you are getting mad production from another spot and can afford to start him for speed,contact and defense)
it is possible to win with doubles, triples, steals and high OBP. Ibanez, nah, he’s had a nice run but don’t see it again. Someone, prob 2 of Granderson, Swisher, and A-Rod will be back. They may not hit 250 HRS, but they’ll get 200 without a couple bats.
they should NOT bring Granderson back if they don’t have to. Guy is a strikeout machine and if anything slightly above average center fielder.
Kuroda has been their second most reliable SP all year. He’s certainly exceeded expectations. He may take a slight step back, but he’s a workhorse who generally keeps his team in games. Can the same be said of guys like Hughes and Nova? Not really. I would expect the Yankees to bring Kuroda back (or at least try to) and try to fill in around him via FA and trades.
Who would the Yanks put at 3B? Dante Bichete?
Bichete is a ways off. I think Arod has to go, because I am not sure the relationship can be repaired. As awful as Arod has been, at this point he is being made a scapegoat for all the Yankees awful play.
I have a hard time seeing the trade be worthwhile. If they send money to miami they still end up paying luxury taxes. Arod is still an above average 3B. Who do you replace him with? I just see it turning out to be they eat money and then have to trade for a 3B. Then you are worse off.
Depending on how Jeter does rehabbing his ankle and the rest of the lineup shakes out, it wouldn’t shock me to see Nunez play 3B next season. There isn’t really a FA 3B worth bringing in, and I’m not sure they have the prospects it would take to trade for any of the guys who are ‘available’ in theory.
Nunez is probably one of the better internal options, but will he be able to match arod’s production, very improbable.
I guess that depends on what kind of numbers you expect from ARod. It would also depend on how they decide to man their OF. Maybe they can afford to take an offensive hit at 3B if they figure out a way to upgrade a couple of their OF slots.
Nunez will end up with Granderson K numbers, 40+ errors, and a .250 avg over a full season. Pass………..
Have you seen Nunez play defense?
I love Swish’s attitude, at least during the regular season. He plays hard and although he has been awful in the post season he is not dogging it. The Werth contract however is insane. There is no way Swish deserves that money, hell I am not sure why Werth did. His recent comments did really surprise me, but then again I wasn’t there. If he was just booed for his performance he needs a thicker skin. If “fans” are blaming him for Jeter’s injury or talking trash about his wife or his personal life he has a right to be upset. I know people say he makes millions he needs to toughen up, but sometimes we forget that these are people also. Boo his recent play-fine, it is deserved. Getting personal with him is out of line. He is not playing poorly on purpose.
Why would they waste money signing Swisher? He is a nice guy and I like Swisher but he is not worth the money. He cannot perform in the post season at all, his defense has hurt the team, and his offense is replaceable as well. I’d rather give Ichiro one year, and have their guys in the minors ready for 2014 when the Yankees want to lower payroll to 189 million. Or if they are able to trade for someone young, or free agent.
A Werth-type deal (LOL) should have never been in the conversation to begin with for Swisher. Hes a good player, and a nice complement to a contending team, but nowhere near a star.
How much does one playoff performance really affect a player’s free agent stock? I can’t imagine that a 1 week slump could cost him that bad, but correct me if im wrong here.
You’re wrong but not about a one week slump.
Swisher has struggled in four consecutive postseasons now. That’s 37 games of struggle, a much larger sample size.
honestly probably a terrible idea just throwing it out there for the heck of it.. what about a Wells for A-Rod swap? obviously wells stinks but if they let Swisher go he could play OF and Yanks get out of some money. Angels get a 3B and get rid of some of the OF logjam. Just thinking out loud, dont kill me
How about a Dee Gordon for A Rod and entire salary swap? Maybe a change of scenery will work for A Roid… I mean A Rod. Flip side you have Gordon for your shortstop going forward and you can move Jeter to third base.
Dee gordon cant get on base and was benched by a pretty bad doger team, not sure why you think this works.
So one bad year and he’s done huh? He was benched for Hanley Ramirez too so it wasn’t like they put Joe Random in place of him. The Rangers are gonna ask for the Steinbrenner’s first born son for Andrus and this kills two or three birds with one stone. I wouldn’t be surprised at all if the Dodgers took on more salary and moved a few contracts they already have.
The Yankees aren’t getting away from that contract. The dodgers already took on to much salary from the sox. A rod will die on the Yankee bench for the next 5 years
The Phils are looking for a somewhat short term right-handed solution at 3B (since they have a prospect maybe 3 years away if he even pans out). If the Yankees are trying to move A-Rod and send a good amount of salary relief, could that make Philly a suitable match for getting a deal done?
Raúl Ibañez has a negative WAR over the past 3 years. Thank him for his post season homers this year and be glad you got something timely out of him. Anyone who signs him 2013 at over 1 million though would be spitting into the wind.
let swisher walk. i can see him getting jason bay deal