Mark Teixeira, Manny Ramirez and Rafael Furcal, Spadafore style
For those new to the blog, I'm providing the definition to a Jim Spadafore-style entry.
News: Mark Teixeira is reportedly close to making a decision.
Views: First of all, when Scott Boras is your representative, you're never going to worry about making your decision in a timely manner. So let's see how much longer this takes.
Second of all, there is every reason to believe that the Yankees are not serious players for Teixeira, no matter how often the contrary gets reported. They've already taken two significant risks this offseason, looking at their roster and payroll flexibility, in signing CC Sabathia and A.J. Burnett. A third is very unlikely.
I kind of want to see the Red Sox sign Teixeira, because 1) it'll spice up the Yankees rivalry yet again and 2) more interesting, I want to listen to Theo Epstein's reasoning behind it.
Here's what Theo said to me in November, at the general managers' meetings: "Our priority is to have good, young players in as many positions as we can have, but there's also a time and a place when the right player is available to go big, in the form of a trade or a free-agent signing. If it's the right player, the right age, the right impact offensively, defensively or as a pitcher."
Is Teixeira such a player? He's pretty special. Look at his numbers the last two years. Wow.
You could debate whether it makes sense to invest the kind of dollars they're discussing in any first baseman, as it's not a premium defensive position. But Teixeira sure gives you a lot of bang for those bucks.
Still, you wonder...if the Kevin Youkilis we saw in 2008 is the real Kevin Youkilis, what kind of money is he going to get after the 2010 season, when he's eligible for free agency?
News: The drums continue to get pounded about a marriage between the Yankees and Manny Ramirez.
Views: Gosh, I just don't see it, not unless Manny comes to the Yankees' door begging for a one-year deal. There appears to be a disagreement between upper management (pro) and Brian Cashman and Joe Girardi (both con) on this.
After Cashman worked so hard to rid the clubhouse of malcontents like Gary Sheffield and Randy Johnson, the Yankees are going to bring in Manny? After the Yankees saw the Rays ride youth, speed, defense and positive chemistry all the way to the World Series, they're going to invest multiple years in Manny?
Even in the best of times in Boston, Manny played by his own rules. How would that go over with veterans like Derek Jeter and Mariano Rivera?
To think that A-Rod and Manny, in 2009, could duplicate what Manny and David Ortiz did from 2003 through 2007...oy vey. First of all, you know, Big Papi and Manny had the whole left-right thing going. Second of all, they're older now. It would be like when Letterman brought back Chris Elliott to his CBS show and hoped to duplicate the magic from the early, NBC years.
If Manny comes begging for a one-year deal, then grab him. Otherwise? Thanks, but no thanks.
The Yankees should be focusing on creating their own fearsome, middle-of-the-lineup duo through the amateur draft.
Meanwhile, the Angels may not be that interested in Manny, after all, despite Mike Scioscia's glowing praise the last few days.
And here's a good story on Manny by Sean McAdam of the Boston Herald, in which Red Sox owner John Henry makes it pretty clear he won't give Teixeira a 10-year deal.
News: Rafael Furcal appears close to signing, finally, with the Braves.
Views: Furcal left some money on the table because he didn't want to play in Oakland. For the Braves to bring back Furcal, speaks well of Atlanta's stability. Bobby Cox has been the manager since the middle of the 1990 season, and Furcal enjoyed it in Atlanta and wanted to return - although, not before going back to the Dodgers and their serene manager Joe Torre.
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Comments (21)
Hank and Hal want Manny and I gather Cashman doesn't. So if Manny signs with the Yanks, this would be more of a Hank and Hal move than a Cashman move. Once Manny sign a contract with whatever team he signs, Manny would revived back to being Manny being Manny and will dog it when it comes to effort. Manny is the T.O. of baseball. Manny cares about himself and the money. And he doesn't mind causing controversy like T.O. does.
A-Rod is like Tony Romo of the Cowboys. They both have celebrity love interests and they both have spit the bit the in the playoffs for the Yanks and Cowboys respectably.
Boy do I wish Adam Dunn batted righty - he'd be a no brainer for the Mets.
I wish Burrell was Dunn's age, but I wouldnt mind Pat the Bat in LF for the next couple years.
I'd rather have Murphy and Tatis on the bench when the inevitable injuries hit Church and co.
At this point, I can't imagine that the Mets don't land either Lowe or Perez. Boras will come back to the Mets and at least give them a chance to match. I wish the Mets would consider Sheets for the mix as well. Those back end guys are great for just that, the back end, but if Omar is going to preach pitching and defense incessantly than he needs to put his money where his mouth is.
Tex going to Boston just feels right. The Sox need a long term power solution with Ortiz in decline, and Tex can provide big numbers not to mention an outstanding glove they need for lineup stability.
Furcal to the Braves? I hope Wren has a trade in mind, otherwise this looks like a panic move. Just grabbing a guy who will sign with them. Johnson's bat is good for 2B, but certainly not corner OF good. Like the Burnett move, this looks like flailing in the dark without the long term in mind.
Tex supposedly rules out O's, leaving DC, Angels (?), Red Sox.
Ken, does it make any sense at all for the Mets to sign Pettitte to a 3 year/$36-$38 million contract and use the savings (from not signing Perez or Lowe) to address an offensive need? As a Yankee fan, I would love to see Pettitte go elsewhere.
Yesterday it was reported that Furcal was going back to the Braves. Now it sounds like Furcal is going to re-sign with the Dodgers. Apparently Furcal's agent Paul Kinzer said that Furcal was not on the verge of signing with the Braves and was concern about playing 2nd base for the Braves. If Furcal re-signs with the Dodgers, you have to wonder how much does the Dodgers have left to re-sign Manny.
As you know, Jack, given the choice between Oliver Perez for four to five years and Andy Pettitte for two to three, I choose the latter. Ollie is far too big of a risk. He is clearly not one of the top ten southpaws in the game today. Perhaps more importantly, the guy can't even throw first-pitch strikes!
Agreed, Dennis. At this point, the Halos have to be considered the favorites to sign Manny.
This is fascinating:
http://www.hardballtimes.com/main/shysterball/article/the-house-that-corruption-built/
Of course, the Daily News story in question has subsequently vanished (hmmm), but, if accurate, this could do some serious damage to his re-elect bid.
According to Ken Rosenthal, Furcal has officially made his decision and he's re-signing with the Dodgers instead of signing with the Braves. No word yet on how much money and years that Furcal got from the Dodgers. With Casey Blake and now it looks like Furcal re-sign, you wonder now how much does the Dodgers have left to spend on Manny.
I read that that the Red Sox will not offer Teixeira a 10 year contract. Which means the Red Sox will probably offer a 8 year contract.
And more fun from the NYDN, whose reporters help drive someone to suicide....Mindy McCready
http://www.nydailynews.com/sports/baseball/2008/12/17/2008-12-17_singer_mindy_mccready_who_had_affair_wit.html
It meant so much to them to prove that Clemens had an affair, because that must mean he's lying about everything else and a perjurer, they didn't think about the human factor and cost.
The money is still there in MLB (whether stolen from taxpayers or not) for 2009. I await the NBA withdrawing its support from the WNBA, which will now mean Will Not Be Around by 2010.
Glad to hear that Doug Melvin said the Cameron trade is dead - at least for now.
Manny? No, no, no.
Bob, what did you think of the NYT article that several times made the point that Fred Wilpon and Bernard Madoff were close personally. Do you think this is karma for Fred after what he did to N. Doubleday to get half of the Mets?
Jack:
Since MLB teams with the exception of Cleveland are not public, we have no idea what is in their books. MLB guards them carefully, and has threatened to sue the MLBPA if they disclose information. The only way we may find out the actual numbers are if a team folds or MLB declares financial hardship, at which point they have to disclose to the union - and I hope for a good leak at that time.
And it's fun to see that Madoff's niece was married to a former SEC attorney.
Doubleday was no saint, but he was run over by Wilpon in the course of acquiring the Mets. Perhaps it is divine retribution - or simply consistent greed
Bob, I thought the SEC attorney (married to the niece) is still there.
What about the current AG recusing himself from the case? Madoff really was masterful in cultivating these relationships. When is Schumer, et al going to be under the lamp?
To make it easy for anyone interested in the NYT article on Wilpon-Madoff, here is the link:http://www.nytimes.com/2008/12/14/sports/baseball/14wilpon.html?_r=1
Bob, sorry, I re-read the article and now see the SEC attorney left in 2006 after 10 years there.
Let me try the Wilpon story link again:
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/12/14/sports/baseball/14wilpon.html?_r=1
Jack did you read somewhere that the mets were the team that made the
mysterious offer to Pettitte? I can't figure out who it is and why, because
I honestly think he's done, therefore he would be a tremendous risk
as compared to Perez who really only needs to grow up.
JE--if you check the Juan Gonzalez archives at the NYDN you might find those
Yankee Stadium stories, he's been writing them for at least the last 2 years and I
read one today online, even.
Seth Everett of MLB. com was on WIP in Philly while I was listening online today and spoke about Adam Dunn,
calling him a lineup killer, a new Dave Kingman and said he couldn't even help a bad
team and would only be a supporting player for any good team, if they wanted him. He decided
that because Washington is desperate to show the city they want to compete, if they fail
to sign Teixeira, they would be the absolute favorites to sign Dunn, and it won't do much for them
in the long run.
I never thought Chris Elliott was funny and i still don't think Letterman is (altho he has his moments very occasionally.)
http://abcnews.go.com/Blotter/WallStreet/Story?id=6471863&page=1
SEC Official Married into Madoff Family: Madoff Boasted of Close SEC Relationship, "My Niece Even Married One"
"Madoff formally registered with the SEC as an investment adviser in 2006, but the SEC failed to conduct the standard review that normally follows such a new registration. "
I assume hey started dating before the 2007 marriage - perhaps in 2006 when Swanson still worked at the SEC?
Sandy, I didn't hear the Mets made an offer or are even talking to Pettitte. It's just a guess. I was hoping Ken should shed some light. It would make sense for the Mets to do it. He would probably go there for a two year deal - or even a big enough one year deal.
Furcal got 3 years $33 million from the Dodgers compare to 3 years $30 million from the Braves. Furcal will make $7.5 million next year, $9.5 million in 2010 and $13 million in 2011. The Dodgers have a team option for $13 million with a $3 million buyout in 2012. The deal will become official once Furcal takes and passes his physical.
Apparently General Motors is negotiating with the Mets to continue sponsoring the Mets. GM still wants to have a presence in New York, therefore they can’t sponsor both teams and decided to cut ties with the Yanks and try to continue with the Mets. The Yanks have replace GM with Toyota and Audi as their official automobile sponsors. And although they cut ties with the Yanks and Pirates, GM will continue to honor their sponsorship deal with the Cubs, White Sox, Astros, Brewers, Rangers and Phillies. I have a feeling we will see more sports teams sign sponsorship deals with foreign cars like Toyota, Nissan, Honda, BMW, Audi etc. instead of the Big 3 automakers.
Apparently Furcal sign the same contract that the Braves offer to him that the Dodgers sign him to, 3 years $30 million not $33 million as previously reported. Furcal will make $6.5 million next year, $8.5 million in 2010 and $12 million in 2011 and gets a $3 million bonus at the end of the contract. Furcal has a vesting option, not a team option for a 4th year if he reach 600 plate appearances in the 3rd year of the contract. And Furcal’s agent Paul Kinzer said that Furcal never accepted the Braves offer as was reported yesterday.
Sorry, I was taking care of personal business all day, and the few times I tried to post, I got...Comment Submission Error. Jack, I don't think it makes sense for any team to give Pettitte a three-year deal. Not after the way Pettitte pitched in the second half.