"I am delighted the New York Yankees were able to secure the negotiating rights for Kei Igawa. Having played with the Hanshin Tigers, Igawa is very familiar with being a part of a great team with a rich tradition. Throughout the years, I have enjoyed an excellent working relationship with the Yankees and look forward to completing successful negotiations on behalf of Igawa. I plan on meeting with Brian Cashman in Florida next week to begin the process. It will be an honor for me to help put him in pinstripes for the 2007 season."
Steinbrenner once referred to Tellem with a curse word, and I'll never forget it. In response to a harmless question about Hideki Matsui contract negotiations, Steinbrenner said, "-- the agent." He was in an elevator, and once the words came out of his mouth his security guard banged on the close door button. Funny scene.
Tellem didn't know what to do when we relayed Steinbrenner's message to him. Brian Cashman was standing right there, too, and it was incredibly awkward. I remember trying to lighten the mood, letting Tellem know he could just respond by saying, "-- the owner," but he didn't go for it. Come to think of it, I don't think he even laughed.
Anyway... aside from that bizarre incident -- or perhaps we should say in spite of that -- Tellem and the Yankees have worked very well together negotiating deals for Mike Mussina (twice), Matsui (twice) and Jason Giambi. There's no reason to think they won't come together on a contract for Kei Igawa sometime relatively soon.
Comments (42)
Jim- I don't know if any agent would want to get George too mad at him. They all need him (his money) too much.
I guess you are right, we'll be stuck with Igawa for a few years very shortly. Someday we'll look back and laugh about the days of "Fat Toad and Little Frog".
Jim,
Will coming together on a contract be a good thing? I know that we have to wait and see, but the scouting reports are less than stellar.
Great job staying optimistic Jim A. Gimme a break! Some fan you seem to be.
Why are a lot of "fans" so angry about this move?
Take away the $26M because it's not your money. He expected to be signed for $4M/year!!! Do you realize that Dannys Baez SET-UP RELIEVER money is today's market???
Where is the downside???
Plus his paltry contract will make him that much easier to move in a deal if we should need to persue that avenue.
People crapping on this guy already is pathetic. Stop whining like a spolied child. (General statement there btw not singling anyone one person out.)
Way to have faith in the scouting department Jim A!
Someone got up on the wrong side of the bed.
Bullpen is still main problem for the Yankees. I don't still trust Farnsworth in big spots. He can't pitch twice a row because Farnsworth had back problems.
Britton - Young Sidney Ponson who Yankees trade for Jaret wright. Great, He throws hard with great fastball. His offspeed pitches are average and not that good.
What should the yankees do to improve the Bullpen? The Yankees still need lefty and another righty.
Should Cashman go after keith Foulke and give the draft picks to boston?
How about Gagne? He's Also a free agent.
Other Options Yankees should consider go after Lance Carter or Giovanni Carrara.
George cursing Art Tellem. This is an indication of Tellem doing a good job as an agent. As far as Mr. Igawa, if he becomes a Yankee which is likely than we should support him.
I proposed a question last night and I send it out to you guys looking for an answer. I'm not wild and crazy about Mr. Igawa but I have seen 6 minutes of a video. I cannot give an objective opinion on him. My question is this. Initial investment of bid money is 25 mil plus 3 years 5 to 7 million for a total of 40 to 46 million. Why not go with Lilly if you want a lefty. Can anyone give an answer. This move does not make sense to me. It makes less sense than our signing of Pavano.
Larry M-
Because he might not be a clubhouse cancer. Maybe Toore and Cash are done and trying to rid themselves of guys like Sheff,Lilly, Hillenbrand. I am sorry I don't want a pitcher who is gonna punch Toore in the nose if he gets taken out to early. Igawa is a risk indeed but at least it is up in the air on what you are gonna get with him,as far as Lilly you know your getting a guy who is gonna win you 15 games tops with his best years behind him.Sometimes stats mean nothing. So throw Lilly's stats out the window and look deeper into the situation. We need team players not superstar egos. As far as Pavano... Larry I am sure at the time we signed Pavano you were probably all for it. Now due to the failures he has had here you look back and say it does not make sense but he came off his best year in Florida at the time and it was a move that Boston or the Yanks were gonna make. Instead we overpayed and got stuck with him. But would you be complaining the Yanks should have had him if Boston got him and he was a 20 game winner over there?
Hey Jim ,Any truth about Ny Post suggesting They should Trade Melky - who does have high value right now and Sanchez for Willis? I hope the Yankees do get Willis and their rotation will better than Redsox if they do get him.
Where would you play him? He would be fourth outfielder. By Melky's sitting on dugout, It will stunt his growth and development. There's no use for him sitting.
Larry M, here is why this move possibly makes sense. They spend $26 million that won't go towards luxury tax. Right now for every $1 million they tack onto payroll, they pay $1.4 million (a rate of 40% of what they spend above the threshold). And Igawa is expected to sign for somewhere around $4 million a year, not $5-7 million. Say it takes $4.5 million for 3 years - that's $12.5 million that will be taxed, as opposed to $40 that it would have taken to sign Lilly. The front office believes Igawa is as good as Lilly, so basically they're getting the same quality for a lot cheaper.
And of course like a previous poster stated, in this market, that $4.5 million isn't going to be that difficult to move if need be.
I'm sorry, $13.5 million for 3 years, if Igawa signs for $4.5 per.
To AJ: Thanks for your reply on Lily. If, Igawa wins 15 games for us. I will stand corrected on my lack of conviction on his ability. I did not get the feeling That Lilly felt he was a superstar attitude and a real problem for the Yanks. More of a pesonality clash with Gibbons.
Pavano was a welcomed signing at the time but I believed at the time. The Yankees well overpaid for a .500 pitcher. he did have a very good world series outing If he were a Red Sox and a 20 game winner, so be it. One positional player or one pitcher does not win a WS ring.
Once again thanks for the reply.
Atticas: Thanks, financially you explained it well. I hope he can get us 12-15 wins.
Larry M-
Also we do not need Igawa to be lights out for us. I am happy if he is a solid #4 lefty. Lilly might give us exactly what Igawa would. Plus Igawa is younger. As we always state on these blogs there is no real key free agent that will put the Yanks staff over the top. Zito is not worth the money and I don't think Lilly is an answer either. Look at Lilly last season went 15-13 with a 4.31 era and struck out 160. Igawa went 14-9 with a 2.97 era and struck out 194. Now I know Japan is a different league but his stats are similar so why not take the risk? I personally think he is a better avenue then what is out there,plus you can never have to many lefty's. As far as Lilly clashing with Gibbons it shows that he has it in him to do it at any given time. Now maybe it has to do with him and Hillenbrand hanging out who knows but I would not want a guy on my team that is capable of doing what he did to his manager.
AJ: You said it. He won't be lights out but I bet he'll pitch his heart out. Atticas explained the financial ramifications of the deal and it makes more sense from that prospective of spending 1.4 million for every mil over the thrash hold of luxury tax. And his proposed signing of about 4 to 4.5 mil a year saves some bucks and not difficult to trade his salary.
You "experts" are going to find out that Igawa is nowhere close to being Lilly. I see him as another J. Wright. This is the AL East, not the Japanese League. Big mistake for Yanks.
Also, Lilly is not an attitude problem like Sheffield. It was a personality difference with Gibbons. He (Gibbons) seemed to have problems with more than one player too. MAYBE, he is the one with a problem attitude? And, we don't know what happened in that tunnel. Maybe Gibbons grabbed Lilly first and he just defended himself?
Also, what is the big deal in trading Melky? Like I said before, he is NOT Mickey Mantle. Besides, once traded, he can play fulltime and develop, then we get him back in a few years when he is ready to be a FA.
Luke and Rufus: I'm a die hard and lifelong Yankee fan. I've also spent quite a bit of time in Japan and watched this guy pitch in person and frankly, he wasn't very impressive. I got really excited when I saw the scoreboard had his fastball clocked in the triple digits...that is until I realized it was KPH, not MPH. After borrowing a calculator I realized he was throwing about 88 miles an hour at top speed. That will not take him far in MLB. He also walks too many people. You'll have to excuse me for not being overly optimistic as the Jaret Wright, Carl Pavano memories are still fresh in my mind. I wanted the Yanks to get an established starter for the FRONT end of the rotation, a number one or two, but they've just gone out and gotten a number 5, which I thought would be filled by one of the young kids in the system. I figured Sanchez and Hughes could've split that slot. I don't care one bit about the money, the Yanks print their own money so I don't care what they pay, I'm not their accountant, I"m just a fan who realizes that our lack of quality pitching has been our downfall the past few years and while I love C. Wang, I think asking him to take on the burden of being our number 1 may be too much at this point.
I'll take a control pitcher over a flame thrower every time, especially a crafty lefty which is what all the reports here seem to say, welcome Mr Igawa to America and good luck.
Rick: We've agreed on this before.
I say if we need to trade Melky in a package for an established starter, it has to be done. Outfielders are much easier to come by than front of the rotation starters. Having said that, it would have to be the right starter, not a has been like we've done in the past but someone young, with a bright future like Dontrelle.
Rick Keyes-
How can you make such a bold statement on Melky only seeing him for a limited time? How do you know he won't turn into a great player? So in your words your willing to wait till 2010 to see what he is made of? And who is to say the Yanks would get him back as a free agent? Seems like you make alot of bold predictions.In that case why not trade Cano, Wang,or even Hughes while we are at it because we will get them back in a couple years as free agents right? Also yeah maybe Gibbons is the problem and maybe we did not see what went on in the tunnel but we all saw when Gibbons apporached the mound how Lilly responded to him.I don't why you came off so hostile in your posting. Nobody here thinks they are an "expert" but the way you described what you wanna do with Melky shows your are far from an "expert" yourself.
Jim A
Right on the money! I am with you on getting a number 1-2 SP. I could live with Zito or Willis, but not Igawa. Any of the kids can fill the #5 hole.
I find myself agreeing with you alot. It seems as if we are about the same age - I am 54. I have been a die hard Yankee fan since I was a kid and Mickey was my favorite player.
I think there are alot of younger bloggers that don't see the team the same way we do.
PC: that's the problem. This guy is not a flamethrower like RJ was in his day and he's not a control pitcher who can get away without a great fastball like Maddux or Moyer. So where does that leave him? An average fastball and control issues- I just can't get excited about that in the AL East.
Flamethrowers can get away with not having control because they can throw mistakes right by people and they scare the heck out of them. Control guys can paint corners but when you can't do either one of those, you're in deep poop.
Rick,
I'm 40 and a 3rd generaion Yankee fan. I miss the days of watching the Yanks on WPIX and listening to Scooter, Bill White and Frank Messer.
I met Thurman Munson when I was a kid and he autographed a ball for me that I still have and will NEVER sell. August 2nd 1979 still ranks as one of the saddest days of my life.
Goose Gossage belongs in the HOF, I bet we agree on that too!
AJ
Sorry for my sarcasm, but Jim A and I have it right. OF are much easier to come by than a #1-2 SP. That is why I say to trade Melky IF we can get a D. Willis. Pitching is what wins championships, not corner OF. You get #1-2 SP whenever you can.
IF Melky turns out to be a stud, he will command high $$$ when he is a FA, and the Yanks are one team that can afford those kind of guys. Also, he is blocked in the OF for this year, so it is better if he goes to a team where he can develop rather than sit on our bench. I don't understand why you can't see this.
Jim A
I live in Stark County, Ohio where Munson is from and his family still lives. I have played softball with his son and today I drove on Munson Street in Canton.
Gossage does belong in HOF like alot of other Yankees. I have had a satellite dish in my yard since 1984 just so I can watch the Yanks. I too miss WPIX.
In June, 1988, just days before being fired for the last time, I spent a night in a Cleveland hotel bar with Billy, Clete, and Art Fowler. It was the greatest time I ever had! It would take me hours to detail everything, but I remember it all vividly.
The next weekend, we went to Yankee Stadium for the first time and met Rickey Henderson in a hotel bar in New Jersey. My wife and I had our picture taken with him.
I have been a fan my entire life and have lots of memorabilia too. I really enjoy blogging with you.
rick and jim: i'm 59 and been a yankee diehard since 1955. it was all about mickey in those days for me. billy crystal has it right when he talks about how he worshipped mantle, tried to run and talk like him. there were about 10 million kids who idolized mickey and another 10 million who loved willie mays.
being a yankee fan today isn't as easy, especially since our payroll spun out of control after the 2001 season. but i admire jeter, mo, bernie, posada and torre as much as i idolized the yankees of my youth.
i sense the team has no cohesion from year to year because of the new players who come in and have to produce ... or else. it's going to be tough to break that trend ... but maybe this is the year we do it.
keep up the good work, fellow old-timers.
"Sorry for the coming off sarcastic, but I'm always right so it doesn't matter." Right.
For all you guys pining for a 1 or 2, I've got news for you: Zito ain't it, and neither is Willis. Zito is a number three, and Willis would get destroyed in the AL, nevermind his delivery is an injury begging to happen.
If you can figure out a way to get Halliday, Santana, Oswalt or Zambrano, then go take Cashman's job. Otherwise, you're crying for something that just doesn't exist in this market. There are NO 1s or 2s on this market. Period. Matsuzaka isn't one. Igawa isn't one. Zito isn't one. And even if Dontrelle were available, he isn't one either.
Man Yankee fans are spoiled - you want 5 Cy Youngs and the World Series guaranteed to you. Deal with the fact that this is baseball, not some XBOX game - we're gonna have to take some educated risks and hope for some good luck, just like the other 29 teams. Just be thankful George opens up his wallet so often to take those risks.
And quit'cher whining.
wow, i just read that the Sox are going to give Drew $14MM over 4 years with an option for a 5th.
good I say, if they are going to give him that mush money for that long. on a guy that has health issues and has been looking at NL pitching for a while. Go a head trade Manny, and try to protect Ortiz with Drew.
sounds like they really need to get DMat in ink fast so they don't have to worry about scoring runs.
The Redsox rotation will have four flames throwers exception of Wakefield but losing Manny will be tremendous blow to Boston.
"Quote from DownfromN from Firetorreblog"
I disagree with the premise of your post. I think that our bullpen is going to be fine. Farns is an on/off kind of guy, but we still have Mariano in front of him. Proctor is solid. I think that you underrate Britton's plus curveball. Bruney is an option, although I am not his biggest fan.
Karstens or Rasner will fill the long relief spot. Myers will be our LOOGY (I'm not his biggest fan either, but the organization wants to stick with him).
By my count, that sets our bullpen. We won't have to invest in a free agent. In terms of call ups, the bullpen depth chart is probably Beam-Cox-Kennard-Veras [Henn might be in there somewhere]
In terms of starters, the depth chart is probably Sanchez-Hughes-White-Clippard.
Do you think The Yankees are set with their current bullpen ? The rotation still shaky at best. Do you think Cashman will sign zito or go after Willis.
www.firetorreblogspot.com
Can't you people have a conversation about the Yankees without liberally borrowing from other bloggers? I mean, every post on Jim's great blog devolves into a cut-and-paste battle. It's not that hard to come up with your own analysis.
/end of rant. sorry. It's just become an epidemic here and on Pete's LoHud blog.
JeffG-
We simply disagree on Dontrelle Willis. He is at the very least a number 2 for the Yanks and takes a bit of the burden off Wang as well as Mussina. At this late stage in Mussina's career he's probably best slotted at number 3 or 4, of course this is just my opinion. Willis has pitched plenty of innings and has 4 good pitches, I believe he is one of the few that would succeed in the AL.
You never know what Cashman can pull off. In '98 he stunned everyone with the Clemens trade so just never know. Nobody's whining about anything here. Nobody has said Zito or Willis are certain number one starters, but they do belong in the front of the rotation which is where we need help.
You bet us Yankee fans are spoiled. We're used to winning and I hope I never get used to losing.
"Losing is a bitter pill and I refuse to swallow it". (Billy Martin)
Milb Awards was given out.
http://www.minorleaguebaseball.com/app/news/awards/y2006/index.jsp
Current farm hands who won the awards are Hughes, Ehlers, Clagett and Kontos
Sorry for the "cut and paste" but I put this on the YES boards yesterday, and it still holds true.
How is Zito a "front line starter" with these numbers?
Zito had the 26th best WHIP in the AL, 51st best in MLB.
Zito had the 21st best K/9 in the AL, 42nd best in MLB.
Zito had the 37th best Groundball/Fly ball ratio in the AL, 72nd best in MLB.
Zito had the 23rd best OPS against in the AL, 48th best in MLB.
Zito had the 35th best K/BB ration in the AL, 72nd best in MLB.
And he's been getting steadily worse as the years go by. 15 mill for 5 years for that?
And Willis? he's better than Zito, but facing the NL.
WHIP: 56th in MLB.
k/9: 39th in MLB.
K/BB: 54th in MLB.
GB/FB: 21st in MLB.
OPSA: 39th in MLB.
So all in all, he'd probably be a #2, more likely a #3 facing off against the AL. Sure he'd eat innings, but I thought the point was to get a front line starter? If it's an innings eater you're looking for, then why trade the farm system away? One of the kids, or a combo of the kids can give you pretty much the equivalent, with much more upside and much sounder mechanics.
Willis makes no sense for the Yanks. Zito even less for the money he'd command and his career trends.
It's time for people to realize there are no guarantees, This is baseball, enjoy the season as it unfolds and stop looking for it to be won before it's played.
You are right, there are no guarantees but you need to take a look at somebody like Zito's career record. The guy is a proven winner, sometimes it's that simple. I'm not that high on Zito, but judging by the market, if the Yanks can pull of osmething like they did w/ Damon last year which is to wait until the market plays out and swoop in and get him, I'd go for it. I'd go for Willis first because he's younger. Of course there is a risk but with these two there is less of a risk than with a guy who has never pitched in MLB. Oh, and I would never pay him $15M for five years, but 4 yrs/ $45M doesn't sound too bad.
Yankees GM Cashman sees Igawa as back end starter
"If we can secure him, we'll put him in the back of the rotation," Cashman said Wednesday. "I've seen him on video and we've had multiple looks over the last several years."
New York gained his rights with a bid of $26,000,194 -- the last three digits matching Igawa's strikeout total this year. Cashman credited the idea of the extra $194 to assistant general manager Jean Afterman, who gained insight into Japanese players when she worked for agent Don Nomura.
"The story within the story," Cashman said. "A little sign of respect."
In addition to expressing interest in Ted Lilly and Gil Meche, the Yankees are waiting to find out whether Andy Pettitte intends to pitch next year. Pettitte spent nine seasons with the Yankees before signing with the Houston Astros before the 2004 season.
http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/news/story?i...ce=MLBHeadlines
Great point Jeff G. It clearly makes no sense to give away the farm for Willis or the keys to the safe for Zito. As for Igawa, he'll cost the Yankees 46 mil (5 per yr/4 yr + posting) as opposed to Lilly or some other comprable starter 54 mil (10 per yr + luxury tax). Thats 8 mil in the pocket money wise. Factor in that the absolute best we could hope for from Lilly or Menche is 15 wins. Igawa can be a wild card, high risk high reward type of pitcher. His celing could be significantly higher than either of those two. Is it a gamble? yes. But since we needed a starter anyway, and we didt decently enough last year with our current assembly of starters its a calculated risk thats very much worth taking.
That's why it is hard to believe Cashman when he says he has been "watching this guy for years", who watches a guy for years that they intend to put at the back of the rotation? They have yet to mention if they feel that this guy can develop into a front of the rotation type pitcher so it leads me to believe they don't. This is a spot that should have gone to the younger guys. I still think they could've split the spot between Hughes and Sanchez to keep their innings down.
We have a lot of candidates for the back of the rotation and none for the top except Wang who seems like he is a good number 2.
Jim A -- Cash is not going to say that now, when he still has to negotiate a contract for him. The reason he says he is a back of the rotation guy is because he wants to pay him like a back of the rotation guy. After they sign him, they'll definitely pump him up a lot more in public comments.
Jim B- That's a very good point. That Cash is a sly one!
Do you think he is done tinkering with the rotation after this or do you feel like some of us do that they may make a trade for someone at the top of the rotation. I know the NY Post has been hinting that the Yanks are discussing Dontrelle Willis w/ Florida but it's the Post so it may as well be the Enquirer.
Thanks for this Blog Jim- It's great to keep in touch w/ Yankee fans.
kerouac
Sounds like we are from the same generation. I too started as a Mickey Mantle fan. Back in those days every kid wanted to be him. I really enjoy blogging on this site, especially with guys like you and Jim A..
Jim B
I love this blog. Thank you for having it. Most of the posters are very knowlegable fans. Thanks again.
Kerouac, Rick Keyes and Larry M.- I just read some of your responses to mine and Larry's blogs about our ages and Yanks history. Awesome stuff!
Rick: I went to Munson's grave once and I believe I saw his wife driving away and this was almost 20 years after his death. I wonder, did she ever re-marry? I know she still appears at Yankee functions but is always alone.
You guys have been great blogging with. I live in Virginia (for the last 20 years) but I still make at least two trips to the stadium every year. I was there in 2001 for all 3 games against the D'Backs. First, Pres. Bush throws a strike and I've never heard Yankee Stadium get that loud, then the next two nights with Tino and Brosius and Jeter hitting homeruns it was absolute pandemonium. Yes, we're spoiled, but the history speaks for us doesn't it.
I'm also a big memorabilia collector and I have an uncle in Florida who chase down players for me to get autographs...he's pretty fast for a 80 year old guy. He get's all of them. Cheers guys, it's great blogging with you.