The Yankees wouldn’t have been willing to offer J.J. Hardy more than two guaranteed years in free agency, Bill Madden of the New York Daily News reports. The Bronx Bombers had “mild interest” in Hardy had he reached the open market but their recent underwhelming returns on veteran free agents left the team hesitant about a longer-term deal. Hardy received three years and a vesting option for a fourth in his extension with the Orioles. Madden predicts the Yankees will look to sign Stephen Drew or Asdrubal Cabrera to a one-year pillow contract as both players look to rebuild their value.
Here’s some more from the 27-time World Series champs…
- David Robertson could be the first player to accept a qualifying offer, as Joel Sherman of the New York Post feels the closer will remain with the Yankees for at least the 2015 season. The team figures to issue the $15.3MM, one-year qualifying offer to Robertson as the attached draft pick compensation could hurt his free agent market and make him easier to sign to a long-term deal. From Robertson’s perspective, accepting the QO would ensure he gets at least one big payday in an uncertain free agent closer market and he’d still be in position to land another big deal in an extension with the Yankees or perhaps even another qualifying offer next winter. MLBTR’s Steve Adams recently examined Robertson in a free agent profile and predicted he could receive a four-year, $52MM deal this offseason.
- Now that Brian Cashman has been extended for three years, the general manager will be able to “create a Yankees team in his own image, with his own vision and his own players, and to finally build his own legacy,” ESPN New York’s Wallace Matthews writes. This may seem odd given that Cashman has already been the team’s GM since 1998, though Matthews argues that Cashman has never had to truly build a team since the Yankees always had the “Core Four” backbone in place since the Gene Michael/Bob Watson management era.
- In a conference call with reporters (including MLB.com’s Bryan Hoch), Cashman said that “I think it’s best to assume that we should have contingencies in place” should Alex Rodriguez no longer be able to handle regular third base duties. “Until we get to see it on a daily basis, I think it’s just hard to assume anything,” Cashman said. Joe Girardi recently spoke with Rodriguez about working out at first base, and A-Rod could provide some valuable depth at the position given Mark Teixeira’s injury history.
Drew? But why?
I assume as a platoon with Brendan Ryan. Maybe when you add up their slash line numbers, you get .300/.400/.500!!!
Again, you should look at the first 2 words in the sentence where Drew is mentioned – “Madden predicts”.
“Platoon” only works if the right-handed hitter can hit lefties and vice versa. The only pitchers Brendan Ryan can hit consistently play annually in Williamsport, PA and I’m not even sure about that.
Yet, if he is played like he should be, he could still be a 2+ Win player.
I’d love a strong defense with a decent bat platoon. Great 1-year fix that will cost next to nothing. More money leftover to spend on McCarthy and hopefully Headley.
I think he’s probably right in this respect though, especially if the Yankees have any plans to re-sign McCarthy and Headley who could both be looking at 4 year deals in the 40-50M range.
Cheap, and he can handle it defensively. There is some reason to believe that this year was a fluke and that he is better than he was. Depends how much money they have, signing Drew and spending the rest on the other areas is better than leaving the other areas empty.
I will be okay with Drew and/or Ryan. And I know that I am in the minority on this. But, I love their defense. Even as a pro-Drew/Ryan person, I still say, if the team is going to save money at short by using those guys then 1) don’t ever let Drew DH ever again (and yes that happened) 2) Spend the money somewhere else. Get some pitching and a 3rd baseman. And Cashman did not indicate that was the plan he said they would put Prado at 3rd and Jose Pirela at 2nd.
The only reason Drew DHed was because of Jeter. Jeter was a great player, but this year was a bit ridiculous. He spent the entire year in the 2 slot with like a .600 ops, and played short most days.
I know why they did it. I still would have batted anyone else on that that day. It was in the middle of one of Drew’s worst stretches he was batting .155 and foundering mightily. I would have preferred they DH P Chase Whitley on that day. There is no way there wasn’t someone, anyone, who could have DH’d better than Drew in that moment. But anyway, that was one game and I should prolly just let it go.
I would be Ok with re-signing Drew only if the Yankees plan to project Jorge Mateo as the long term answer at SS.
Or if they simply have no longterm answer and would prefer flexibility at the position as opposed to locking in a 31 year old who can’t really play the position anyway/
“the general manager will be able to “create a Yankees team in his own image, with his own vision and his own players, and to finally build his own legacy,””
I really don’t know about that anymore. Steinbrenner gave him full control after 06 and they have still had rulings over him, some as early as last year (the Soriano trade). The biggest one of course being the A-Rod re-signing.
To me, the most interesting part of this idea about these next three years being an opportunity to shape the Yankees in Cashman’s image is that we are now in a time when the market has changed so much that building teams is a much longer game. Teams are re-signing their own players so much more now that free agency is not what it was 15 years ago. The TV money is letting teams do what the Yankees have done for a long time: pay their own stars. So, Cashman will have three years to re-build the Yankees and “build his own legacy” in an era where drafting and scouting are the best way to do so? That’s a pretty big challenge.
I don’t know if it’s free agency isn’t what it use to be or simply that older players aren’t what they used to be thanks to the elimination of amphetamines and the reduction of steroids.
I fully believe the tv money is changing everything. But, you are right, the reduction of PEDs is also shortening careers. I am sure there are other factors too. The TV money is just the one I have been noticing creeping into a lot of conversations this month.
I think the lack of amphetamines could be a larger loss to the players than steroids. Steroids allow you to become bigger, stronger, and faster over time and allow you to do more work preseason. Amphetamines on the other hand can keep your season alive, they give players that extra bit to make it through the grind of 162 game season. Take all steroids away but put amphetamines back to where they were in the 80’s and I think offense would be up across the board, especially later in the season when guy’s are simply too worn down to keep going.
I consider amphetamines to be a PED. I guess I should have made that clear.
Oh wait. You mean that the players need the extra energy to be able to play at a high level day in and day out. I can see that. What is the alternative? More days off? Red bull?
Well you could shorten the season but we all know that’s not happening, though I think it would make for a better game. Outside of that I’m not sure what can be done, baseball is a grind, it’s part of what makes it such a great sport, but it’s also extremely hard on the body and the mind. Amphetamines, at least temporarily and artificially, re-energize the body and mind to allow a player the ability to play near the top of his game when he’s not able to. I think you’d see a lot less second half slumps on offense at the very least.
Players do drink a ton of redbull and coffee, probably helps but it’s obviously not close to the same thing. I do think keeping the season the same length but simply reducing the season back down to 154 or 150 games would probably help quite a bit, but the owners would lose too much revenue in both in stadium and TV venues.
What about expanding the rosters?
Wouldn’t that just add a bunch of AAAA players to the rosters though? Teams still aren’t going to want young talent just sitting on the bench when they could be starting in the minors and managers play star players until they can’t anymore. You could make managers sit guys more but then you’d be getting replacement level production and offense still stays in a lull.
Interesting conversation though.
Still smarting over Hal electing to sign Ichiro over Martin against Cashman’s objections.
“their recent underwhelming returns on veteran free agents left the team hesitant about a longer-term deal.” Finally they are learning that their model for getting free agents is outdated. With no young talent coming up, the Yankees will be paying more and getting less in the years to come.
They have a bunch of young talent coming up.
like who? the only guys with any talent are way down in A ball.. the Yankees upper farm system is amongst the worst in baseball
Refsnyder, Severino, Sanchez, potential bounce-backs from at least some of Austin, Williams, Heathcott, Banuelos, and Campos. I guess we can’t really count Greene anymore but he was great this past year.
I don’t think us Yankees fans should expect anything from Heathcott, Williams, or Campos. We are at the point where the ship is sailing on them ever making it. Heathcott is too injury prone, Williams is a lost cause, and Campos is damaged goods. I’ll be surprised if they bounce back…
Campos is anything but “damaged goods”. Coming over perfectly healthy and suffering a couple of injuries thereafter doesn’t mean you are damaged goods. Heathcott still has some hope. Williams is probably done.
Campos could end up moving to the pen as a worst case scenario this year, still a chance to recoup some serious value.
Austin is actually healthy now, which means this year is his best shot to make a case for himself. He started out slow last year, but picked up late hitting over .300 to finish at .275 on the year and an OBP about 70 points higher, so he’s definitely improving.
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NTM Kyle Roller who could win a backup 1B job this spring, dude has lots of power. Also not mentioned were the IFA guys they signed this past summer that add a lot of stock the farm. Jagielo hit decently this year in high A and could hit AA and beyond this year if he plays well. The Yankees’ farm system isn’t the joke that it used to be, and people will see that when the rankings start popping up.
No it isn’t people just keep repeating the same stuff over and over again. Refsnyder is an obvious option. Next year Tyler Austin will be in AAA, both he and Banuelos turned it on at the end of the season. Sanchez could be or they could have him repeat AA. Severino, Greg Bird, Jake Cave, and Jake Lindgren all got promoted to AA during the year. Judge and Jagielo are likely to start at AA. That’s a fair amount of talent you could see in 2015 to 2016.
Refsnyder, Pirala and Lindgren all very well could be on the 2015 Yankees.
Pirela is not a prospect, he’ll be 25 next year and can’t play defense at any position on the field.
I never said he was a prospect. And it’s not like 25 is old. He’s played every defensive position but C and 3B. Probably not an everyday player but he still can be serviceable.
Even if they do, will the be able to let them develop with out winning a division instead of trading them?
They don’t have to trade them to win the division -___-
Considering the only top prospect they’ve traded in recent memory is Montero I would think so.
I think the Yanks are the front runners for Hanley. He can handle short for a year or two and switch to third when A-Rod is gone/permanently dhing. The Yankees will not suffer the embarrassment of having Drew replace Jeter.
I’d be on board with that if the price came right. I think Hanley has a good chance to be a bargain, compared to someone like Cano.
He put up 5.4 WAR in only 86 games last year. I think he’s probably better suited for third at this point, but if you’re careful with him at SS and give him the occasional DH day, that could turn out very well.
That was 2013. Last season he played in more games, 128, and his WAR went down to a still respectable 3.4. But his UZR is awful, and he isn’t exactly young anymore. And I know, I know, No one likes to talk about “intangibles” anymore, but if we are worrying about honoring Jeter’s legacy his intangibles are not Jeteresque. Let someone else pay him. I don’t want him anywhere near the Yankees.
He is the same age as Cano when he signed his deal. He isn’t quite Cano, but there would be a price where I wouldn’t be able to say no.
Cano has played at least 157 games in 8 straight seasons, that’s a pretty huge difference right there. I was against signing Cano last offseason but at least he didn’t have gigantic injury concerns surrounding him.
Which is why his market will probably fall from that price. He has still averaged 124 games over the past 3 years.
Drop from 10 years and 200M sure but how far is too good to pass? I think his floor is probably going to end up being 5/100 with 6/120 or so as very likely. I can very much pass at that price. Now I would probably do 4/100 if he wanted to be crazy but I think he’s still a headache to deal with an sooner than later he’s going to have no choice but to play 3B and that didn’t work out so well the last few times that subject was broached.
Is “he plays 120 games a year” that good of an argument though? Not to mention if you go back to four years that number drops down to 111 games per season.
This is suppose to be someone you are paying to be the middle of the order, by far and away the best bat the Yankees would have. You want to walk into that contract saying he’s a 111-120 game a year guy? Either way you have to be betting that he’ll be healthier from age 31-35 than he was from age 27-30, which doesn’t have the best odds attached to it.
I hope the Yankees don’t sign Hanley unless he could be had on 2-3 year contract, which obviously won’t happen. Hanley at this point in his career is even worse defensively than Jeter, and while he is a premium bat he can’t stay healthy. Let the Dodgers overpay to keep him.
Agreed. The Yankees need to get younger and more athletic. Why not take a chance on the Korean SS, Jung-ho Kang. He is under 30 and has MLB experience with playing in the WBC.
That doesn’t mean he is any good though.
Is a big jump from Korean ball to MLB.
Isn’t he projected more as a utility player anyway?
I bet they don’t even make an offer to Hanley at all, and rightfully so.
I think they will.
They should make offers to many of the free agents. You don’t have to have a massive offer, but at least stay in touch.
The only problem with signing Hanley is that his health is inconsistent. Sure he’s productive when healthy, but so is Tex. I don’t know that the Yankees are willing to gamble any more money for great productivity, but poor health.
Tex is no longer particularly productive when healthy.
Hanley presents risks. But Drew was a disaster and a poor way to start the post Jeter era. The media will heckle them about it for the whole year. As they should. Astrubal Cabrera would be a better fit even with his spotty defense.
I’d probably go with Cabrera as the primary target. You’re right in saying Drew is a disaster, and that’s why I’m glad they traded for him, because they got to see it up close. Obviously, Hanley has to be tempting, given NY’s need of a middle of the order bat, but I’d pass and not have any regrets about it.
I guess a lot of this depends on how Hanley’s market shapes up. I have a hard time believing it’ll go much past 5/100 and if that’s the case, the Yanks would probably be involved.
Sensibly you’re right but sensible isn’t really a thing in baseball contracts right now, someone is going to say “we need Hanley” and go all out to sign him. It will probably turn out poorly for said team but I’ve seen nothing in the past few years that suggests some team won’t be silly just to win the offseason.
I actually think Cabrera ends up with a 3-4 year deal, by all rights he should be a 1 year guy but I just having a feeling his name value is going to cash in for him.
I don’t see the Yankees giving any player a 100M this offseason so I think they are out on all the top dogs, but I really hope we stay away from Hanley. He’s never going to be OK with playing 3B and he’s averaged 111 games per season over the last 4 years. I see no reason to believe he’s going to more healthy over the next 5-7 years than he has been in the last 4.
They should just release A-Rod. I know they have to pay him, but they don’t need the distraction, clubhouse presence and probable pedestrian offense & defense (assuming he’s clean now). Addition by subtraction.
Why would they?
It’s already sunk money, some of which they can get back if he gets hurt or suspended again
Instead of just saying lets cut him because his offense and defense will be pretty bad, why don’t we see what he has. Let him show up for ST, it’s not like they can’t cut him then. If he can replicate what he did last year he still has worth to this team.
Their best option is to just wring whatever value they can from him, even if it’s as a backup, should a more suitable mainstay present himself.
Plus he’s always helped young guys in the clubhouse and he has a ton of hitting knowledge to pass on.
I’d be shocked if they released A-Rod. It’s dead money, and if he has no place to play and has been deemed physicaly able to play, they could be on the hook for at least some of the incentives. Let him take the field. If he’s awful, he will sit. If he’s decent, he can play. If’s he’s injured, he goes on the DL. If he’s permanently disabled at some point, there’s probably insurance.
The Yankees need a shortstop. They just don’t need an old and overpriced shortstop on a long term deal. You can see Boras trying to convince teams to pay Drew $7-8M on a one year, with maybe a vesting option at a higher price for a second year, holding out the hope that he’s going to return to 2013 form with a regular schedule. For that money, I’d look elsewhere. But not Hanley. He’s a great talent, but this probably isn’t the right time for the Yankees to be bidding on him.
I’d be shocked if Drew gets 7-8M after this season, 4-5 maybe.
Ask is obviously not the same as “get.” Boras is in an interesting position. Given Drew’s age and erratic performance, he’s only going to get one shot at a really good longer term contract, and that shot is very unlikely to be 2015. So, the smart move would be to put Drew in place where’s he’s most likely to succeed, even if he has to take a lower contract this year. There’s just no way to know whether Drew can regain his form.