By Tim Dierkes | at
Andy Pettitte has made an honorable decision – if he pitches in 2008, it will be for the Yankees. He respects the fact that they awarded him a $16MM player option. Sure, he could decline it and get a bigger multiyear package elsewhere. Many speculated he’d do so. However the extra money isn’t a concern for him.
My best guess is that he’ll exercise the option. That would be odd, though, a player exercising a player option when it actually represents his true worth.
By Tim Dierkes | at
Clark Spencer writes of the possibility of the Yankees going after Miguel Cabrera to fill their third base vacancy (assuming M-Cab can hold up at the position for a few more years).
Cabrera’s salary will jump from $7.4MM past $11MM this year through arbitration. A year from now he could be looking at $15-17MM.
Spencer sees a partial match in center fielder Melky Cabrera; the Marlins have had instability at that position since Juan Pierre was dealt. Add Phil Hughes to the package and I think this could get done. The Yankees seem to favor Joba Chamberlain over Hughes (I don’t have any proof for that) and Chien-Ming Wang will be getting pricey. Ian Kennedy is solid but the Marlins are going to want a front-rotation guy like Hughes.
One consideration is that if Cabrera can’t stay at third base, they might have to move him to first and pass on Mark Teixeira next winter. But as I said earlier, maybe the Yanks will take a break from Boras clients anyway. Hank Steinbrenner seems primed to make all sorts of petty/irrational decisions. That should be fun to watch.
By Tim Dierkes | at
Mark Feinsand has the scoop: Mariano Rivera, his agent, and Brian Cashman have convened at Legends Field in Tampa. Feinsand says a three-year, $40MM offer is expected. Most folks assume there’s no chance the Yanks let Mo walk after A-Rod’s departure.
$13.3MM annually would make Rivera the game’s highest-paid closer. He was already tied for that honor this year with Billy Wagner at $10.5MM.
By Tim Dierkes | at
A few days ago, I wrote a post outlining the Yankees’ options for third base, piggybacking on Peter Abraham’s. One logical scenario he mentioned was to move Robinson Cano to third base and just acquire a second baseman (Orlando Hudson would’ve been nice).
One problem with this option: Cano is not on board. He said yesterday that he did not want to move back to his old position. Of course, it’s not his decision and if he wants to get paid he’ll do what the Yankees tell him to do. We saw this situation play out most recently with Alfonso Soriano, who didn’t want to play outfield for the Nationals. Still, you’d rather have the player in agreement with the team.
Multiple articles came out today about the Yankees’ third base options, though there wasn’t much we hadn’t already considered in posts or comments here.
Mark Gonzales mentioned Joe Crede, as did many others. But Gonzales also threw Josh Fields’ name into the mix. That doesn’t seem likely but you never do. Seems like the Yanks would go with Betemit rather than trade for Fields. I like the Crede match, but you have to wonder if the Yanks will take a pass on Boras clients this winter.
The New York Times named Mike Lowell, but most expect him to stay in Boston. They also name Crede, as well as Adrian Beltre and Miguel Cabrera.
Dan Graziano threw in a few fresh names – Brandon Inge, Chone Figgins, and even Derek Jeter.
By Tim Dierkes | at
Peter Abraham hasn’t taken much time to move on from Alex Rodriguez, already listing out his third base possibilities for the 2008 Yankees.
Abraham starts with the one viable free agent option in Mike Lowell. He adds three trade candidates in Joe Crede, Miguel Cabrera, and Adrian Beltre. And he finishes with two internal candidates in Wilson Betemit and Robinson Cano.
They should all be on the radar although I don’t see the Mariners parting with Beltre. Anyone else we can add to the list?
Among free agents, only Mike Lamb remains as someone who could be league average. The Yanks could always sign Lamb and make their splash elsewhere, like with a Johan Santana trade.
Other trade options on my mind and in the comments of MLBTR readers: Kevin Kouzmanoff, Miguel Tejada, Eric Chavez, Scott Rolen, Chad Tracy, Mark Teahen, Hank Blalock, Garrett Atkins, and Aramis Ramirez. Tejada and Ramirez seem unlikely for various reasons, but this is meant to be an inclusive list.
I like the Crede idea (interesting that he’s a Boras client). He had back surgery in June and hopes to be ready for the start of the season. He’ll be earning around $5MM in a contract year. How about some sort of Crede for Johnny Damon swap?
By Tim Dierkes | at
Let the hot stove insanity begin. Alex Rodriguez has opted out of his contract with the Yankees, according to Scott Boras. The timing is odd – most folks expected A-Rod to wait until the November 10th deadline. Boras must be confident that multiple clubs will turn this into a historic bidding war. The Red Sox will certainly be flush with cash with another World Series win.
The reasoning cited by Boras is suspect – uncertainty over Mariano Rivera, Jorge Posada, and Andy Pettitte. Also interesting is that Boras did not communicate the decision to Brian Cashman directly, rather leaving a voicemail for him.
Just yesterday Buster Olney was saying the Yankees were set to offer Rodriguez a five-year, $150MM extension to result in a total of $230MM over eight years. The sides never met and the offer was never officially made. As you know, the party line from the Yankees has been that they would not negotiate with Rodriguez if he opted out and they lost the Texas money. If the Yanks can’t sign Mike Lowell, maybe they’ll attempt to trade for Miguel Cabrera, Garrett Atkins, or Miguel Tejada.
The Rangers save more than $20MM in payments on the contract, increasing their chances of signing Torii Hunter.
By Tim Dierkes | at
Sunday morning minor rumor collection…
By Tim Dierkes | at
Buster Olney’s got the scoop on Alex Rodriguez:
"The offer could be for something in the range of five years — beyond the three years Rodriguez is already under contract for, from 2008-10 — and perhaps $30 million a year."
If somehow you’re behind in the A-Rod times, catch up here. Since that post, the Yankees have requested a meeting with their third baseman sometime before his deadline (10 days after the end of the World Series) to announce whether he will opt out or not.
If the Yankees make this offer, it would be to retain the talent in light of Brian Cashman’s firm stance that if A-Rod opts out then the Yankees will not negotiate. Also, the offer will prevent $21.3 million still due on A-Rod’s contract in subsidy from the Texas Rangers from slipping away. Whether or not it signifies that other teams would be able to approach this record offer remains up for speculation.
$150MM extension would net A-Rod a colossal $230MM over the next 8 years. That’s up from his current $25.2 million to $28.75 million/year, edging out Roger Clemens’ $28 million one-year contract.
By Tim Dierkes | at
Friday afternoon rumor tidbits…
By Tim Dierkes | at
George King has some Yankee info for us this morning, much of it involving Jorge Posada.
Mark Feinsand noted yesterday that the Yanks plan to offer a three-year, $40MM contract to Posada. King is on board, indicating that he expects a three-year deal in the $39-44MM range for the catcher. I’m sticking to my guns – I think this requires four guaranteed years in the end. But upping the average annual value to arrive at a 3/45 deal seems plausible.
King also mentions that the Mets and Marlins are both likely to be interested in Posada. The Mets are no surprise. But King indicates that the Fish have been "stockpiling dollars," which is news to me. Mostly we’ve been hearing that they want to make a low-level veteran signing or two but don’t figure to be able to afford both Dontrelle Willis and Miguel Cabrera for 2008.
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