On the Yankees beat

From Ken Rosenthal:

The deeper tension with this club stems from the reality that the 2007 season could be something of a last hurrah. Posada, closer Mariano Rivera and manager Joe Torre — three of the four enduring cornerstones from the Yankees' four most recent championship teams, Jeter being the other — are entering the final years of contracts.

And that's not all.

A-Rod has the right to void his deal after this season. Left-hander Andy Pettitte has a player option for next season. Right fielder Bobby Abreu has a $16 million club option that the Yankees could decline if they decide to pursue a center fielder next winter, when Andruw Jones, Torii Hunter, Ichiro Suzuki and Mike Cameron will be free agents.

Chip: the few lines that you wrote, was a mouth full. We could have an entirely different team on the field in 2008. Thou, I don't believe so.

posada wont go anywhere. there is no viable alturnitive for a couple of years . they have to milk at least 2 yrs. out of Posada.

Chip : I generally don't care what these overpaid prognosticators have to say,they don't have anymore knowledge of future events than we do...but having said that if the Mariners can't work out a contract w/Ichiro my sense is he will look to sign with an AL East team.

Mo and Jorge WILL be back. Joe is probably gone. Who knows about A-Rod?

But, tell me Melky fans, why would the Yanks sign a CF if Abreu isn't back? We have Melky.

There's an interesting twist to the A-Rod opt out situation that seems to get overlooked. Knowing Boras and with the market being what it is again, I will predict that A-Rod will excercise his opt out clause.

I really think A-Rod then intends and plans on resigning a new deal with the Yankees. However, there is one very big flaw with that scenario that he is overlooking.

With his current contract, the Yankees are only paying him about $15 mil a year with Texas picking up the balance. And, that will continue for the next 3 years under the current contract.

IF A-Rod opts out, that leaves Texas off the hook. Now if he wants to sign a new deal with the Yanks, they will have to pay the whole $25+ mil. And, I don't see BC doing that in this new frugal Yankee era. So, IF he opts out, I think A-Rod will be with another team for 2008.

Now, with all that being said, why wouldn't the Yanks be looking to trade him and get something of major value back while they can? Why would they just let him walk at the end of the year and get nothing in return?

If Cano hits in "07" like he did in "06", I would bat him higher in the order, possibly flip-flopping he and Posada. As for the Abreu option in "08", Tabata could come on like "gangbusters", making Abreu a short Yankee memory.

Rick,

What do you think Arod could bring the Yankees? Maybe three or four players?

Rick : C'mon Man ARod ARod Arod !Having said that he will never get a 25 million dollar deal anywhere ever ! And he knows it and Boras knows it! I believe A-Rod at his word that he wishes to stay with NY,whether management agrees remains to be seen...There is no way in hell the Yanks trade him going into this season...stop over analyzing the A-Rod situation it's driving me buckin nuts...

Rick: You brought it up. The Arod trade. Yes, we would get some value for him plus 15 million for his services are cheap for the production. If, the Yankees fall on hard times and the bottom falls out on our season with injuries to key people. You may see some movement. Thou, I believe the team is better this year to handle key injuries in all facets of the game, even pitching. We are pretty loaded for the run.

I think once the Yankees start the season with A-ROD, they are "stuck" with him the entire year. It is just to radical and disruptive a change to make during the season. Trading him during the season would certainly make "The Bronx Zoo" look tame. The only way he gets traded during the season, is if "he" demands a trade due to an altercation with another Yankee, or something of that violent nature.

Cano if he continues to put up the numbers he did last yr might end up batting 3rd come the 2008 season...if Tabata can make the jump from double A to triple A this yr then we might be looking at our new RF in 2008

doug

It depends on who the other players are, but I think everyone would agree that A-Rod would bring you back more in total than any other player could.

If they were to trade him, I would like to see us get back a 3B in return, along with a good AAA catching prospect, and some more pitching.

I would just hate to see him walk with us getting nothing in return though. Especially with the trade value that he would have. Cashman even managed to get us a Britton for J. Wright, plus what we bagged from Sheffield and RJ. I just don't see us watching him walk and getting nothing.

Get used to the idea that ARod may retire as a Yankee

ruse

The sad reality is man that he COULD get a deal in that range and PROBABLY even more. Look at the market this past winter...Soriano, Drew, Meche, etc. A-Rod is the most talented player in the game and only 31 years old. I can see the Angels or someone giving him $30 mil a year.

ARod reportedly used his no-trade this offseason through Boars when approached by BC... why would he agree to waive it during the season? makes no sense.

IF A-Rod retires as a Yankee, get used to the idea of us paying him $28 mil a year without any alimony help from Texas.

I wouldnt think that he'll get $30 million per season, but i think $20-22 per season is reasonable, at a longer guaranteed contract.

And IMO, Cashman would never sign a player for that type of contract. One of the main reasons why he made the move to get ARod in the first place was because the Rangers would pay such a large chunk of the $$.

RICK-
Your talking a "huge" jump from Soriano money, to $30 million a year. Certainly not by next year.

Turn Two

You make the best arguement I've heard on this issue. However, A-Rod said that he would reconsider IF the Yanks really didn't want him here. And, it seems that the "new" Yankee method of operation has no problem letting players know when they're not wanted! Actually, they're pretty darn good at it. Just ask Yankee legend Bernie Williams.

You guys mark my words and watch what happens. He's already making $26 mil now. When he opts out, that number will go UP, not DOWN.

"If I aint startin', I aint departin'".

Turn Two

The fact that BC is NOT going to pay that kind of money is exactly why I say they should move him now. Get something of major value back while we can.

RICK-
Texas couldn't afford the $26 million and be competitive, that's why they traded him. No way he gets 1 team to pay him over $26 million next year.

if you guys want to waste everyones time discussing AROD that's your business...we just went thru a feeding frenzy 2 days ago about 'he said she said' w/ARod/Jeter ...what are you 1 trick ponies ? that's all you guys want to talk about ???? The season hasn't even begun and we're already shedding ARODs contract!!! Is it sinking in yet??? We have a pennant to win w/Arod as our ALLSTAR 3rd baseman get used to it!!!!

We need to trade A-ROD IMMEDIATELY.

Great, let's win the pennant with A-Rod. But, mark my words and watch what happens after the season.

1) A-Rod is gone.

2) We get nothing for him.

3) He gets even more money somewhere else.

Enjoy your one year rental at 3B!

If we "break camp with A-ROD on the team, we are "stuck with him the entire "07" season. Short of a Goose/Cliff Johnson, or Billy/Reggie clash, he is a Yankee for the "07" season.

Roy

I agree with that, but just enjoy your one year rental at 3B! Cause "07" is all she wrote.

A trade regarding ARod would be much too complicated to complete now, or mid-season.

If it was going to happen, it wouldve by now.

At this point, BC has to keep ARod, mainly because he is our only true power RH bat for the middle of the lineup.

He's not going anywhere until after the season, and when that happens, the Yankees will get nothing, thanks to the contract Tom Hicks gave to Boras.

RICK-
A-ROD may make more money over the "life" of a new contract, but he is not going to make more than $26 million in "08". Cashman knew when he traded for A-ROD that this "out" clause was in there. He knew the Yankees would have to "cross this bridge". I assume he has some sort of "break glass in case of fire" contingency plan should A-ROD "opt out". A-ROD holds all the cards, and the Yankees are merely spectators.

Turn Two

That's the point I've been trying to make. We have him for one more year and then he's gone, and we get nothing.

Roy

Yes, A-Rod does hold all the cards. And, he has BORAS. That is exactly why he will make even more money in 2008.

I think the new monicker for this year, his last as a Yankee, should be Rent-Rod.

RICK-
I don't enjoy renting houses, cars, or ballplayers. I believe Cashman would have traded A-ROD in the offseason, but A-ROD wouldn't waive his "no trade" clause, contrary to his public remarks regarding such. We are stuck with A-ROD IN "07", and rather than get just a draft choice, may be "extorted" into signing him after he uses his "out" clause at the end of this season.

FOR RENT-
1 polite, very productive, 3rd baseman. Can also play SS. Contact Brian Cashman, any time, day or night.
PS- Player not available in October.

A-Rod will opt out so he can get what amounts to basically as an extension of his current deal, while "the gettin's good" in baseball, meaning while baseball is flush with cash. Having said that, I could see the Yanks giving him 3 more years at say Jeter/Giambi/Sori money which Boras would like so they could gauge the market again in 3 years when A-Rod is only 34, still young enough to squeeze one or two more contracts out of the Yanks or some other team. I can also envision the Yanks saying "See Ya" to him, but that would leave a large void in the lineup, already weaker on the right side than we'd like.

Rick,

Whether A-Rod wants to opt out or not the Yankees can't trade him without his permission.

I WANT TO BE VERY CLEAR ABOUT THIS -- I DO NOT THINK THIS IS A-ROD'S THOUGHT PROCESS

but if it were me, given the way the team, namely the manager and captain have hung A-Rod out to try, I think the ultimate 'screw you' to the team would be to block any trades that the team wanted to make and then walk away at the end of the season and let the team get nothing, not even draft pick compensation, in return.

As for after this season, here are my predictions:

Posada and Mo are back

Abreu's contract option is picked up and then he is traded...much like Gary Sheffield

A-Rod is gone leading to one of the following scenarios:
1. Eric Duncan is promoted
2. The team overpays for Crede or Lowell
3. The team trades for Mark Teahan
4. The team moves Cano to third and either promotes the slick fielding infielder they got from Arizona or goes hunting for a 2nd baseman - there are more of them than there are third basemen.

Chip,
I think I'd rather see A-Rod return over any of the alternatives, but I'm afraid the nonsense will never stop with him on the team, even though I do not believe that a lot of it is his fault. I mean he sunbathed in the park with his family and got roasted (pun intended) in the paper...for what? Because he had a bad game that night? That always cracked me up. If he would've hit 3 bombs that night the paper would've have complained that he could've hit four if he hadn't been out in the sun for those two hours.
If A-Rod does leave, I think the obvious choice is Crede, a great glove, power bat with playoff experience. I don't like Duncan so much.

Jim.

Agree with what you're saying. A-Rod will not find peace in NY because he committed the unforgivable crimes of:
1. Signing a $250 million contract
2. Not being Derek Jeter

I'm not a Crede fan, his agent is Boras, he's had 1 and a half good seasons and has a bad back.

Duncan's only 21 I believe, the organization did a disservice to him by moving him around on the diamond and rushing him through the minors, but his swing remains true and well suited for the stadium. The other in house option at third is Marcos Veccionacci though I think he will open this season at AA so he's too far off to project.

It's not out of the realm of possibility that the corners in 2008 will be manned by Juan Miranda and Eric Duncan with Jose Tabata in RF.

The other possibility is that if Abreu is traded as I think he will be, his trade could bring a 3rd Baseman back.

A post about Cano turns into an AROD thread, and most about him going for more $$.

Nice to start building the bitterness towards him early.

As for Cano, I hope to see more patience at the plate than we did at the end of last season.

Eric Duncan is an overated Bum!

Arod is staying Mark my words, His wife is happy here and is not interested at this point on moving their young family, plus the teams that look like the ycan afford him outside of Anahiem is no intrest to them. and Finally Arod will not let the Yankees or Jeter, Drama break him. in fact Jeter holds a very strong case in his staying, like they said we DO NOT KNOW WHAT GOES ON BEHIND THE SCENES!!!!!!!!!

Bad back and all, I like Crede. The guy is a good late inning, "clutch" hitter. Short of that, I like Chip's suggestion of moving Cano over to 3rd. Cano's power numbers should continue to increase, which is normally a prerequisite for at least one of the corner infield spots.

cano is not quick enuff at 3b and with weight fluterations that can be an issue and putting a less offensive 2b plus cano's HITTIN NOW (please do no project) it WEAKENS the lineup/Team. remember the Yankees is a business, the games is expensive but people pay because of the product. so the DEMAND has too be met. as for Crede the minute he lands on the DL, the trade and vibe becomes irate (yankee fans) and what if he succombs to NY and instead of not performing in the playoffs he just not performs at all , while Arod closes in on milestones and psosibly reaches the WS. People said AROD sucks in the Playoff's ?? people seem to forget the seattle series when he almost single handly beat us (thank you Roger Clemons , Dave Justice, Glenn ALlen)

BRONX BOMBER-
Are you going to draft A-ROD with your 1st round pick in the BBB LEAGUE? If you do, I'll know your playoff hopes are dead.

Yep, But I have a feeling Rick "Alicia" Keys is going to beat me to it. hahaha

BRONX BOMBER-
I like that "nickname" you've given "the commish". I believe you and I are going to rule the BBB LEAGUE.

Yeah we may especially since I don't have a MAIL box. haha

Syndur: I totally agree w/ you!

At least get the last name right. It's KEYES. And, my first pick is going to be Andy Phillips! So, take that.

BRONX BOMBER-

I think you've struck a nerve with "Alicia. I like your sence of humor. We are certainly going to bring "mayhem" to the BBB.

well whatever Ricky Alicia KEYES.

with your first pick, ANDY would Unlock your heart.

Bomber, you're wrong...Keyes is going to take Bernie with his first pick

ALICIA-
BRONX BOMBER and I are gonna hold you to that promise of taking Phillips with your 1st pick.

now i hope Not for ALicia;s sake that Andy makes it, His wife is not doing well she has cancer remission

Chip : Don't you know Eric Duncan is an overrated Bum ! that just cracks me up.

Ruse, well he is 21, he's obviously washed up and over the hill.

It's obvious none of you know my friend Rick Keyes very well. I can hear it now, right from the podium: "With the first pick in the draft, Rick Keyes selects: Ted Lilly"!

har har

He is overated!!!
i seen him play and in no way would i want him at 3b! even in drafting him i felt the yankees could have drafted a whole lot better local talent. Duncan is product of the who you know crowd, this was debated up here. he is decent in all
honesty but not the type of player i'm paying 200.00 a game to see

Jim...he would draft Lilly but it is an AL only league so he'll have to make due.

Bomber...Duncan is 21 years old. He hasn't played enough to be rated let alone over or under rated. He should have been playing in Tampa two years ago, instead he was rushed to AA, last year he was rushed up to AAA and then got hurt. Did I mention he's 21?

and?? so what he 21 , at that age you can tell who is going to be a career minor leaguer or spot player on a ML roster , but to rid a AROD and replace him with a duncan is not wise, the kid in KC is someone you replace arod with, that is who you take a chance with. even in the tampa league Duncan was Avg. at best

Bomber: I have to agree w/Chip the jury is still out on Duncan let's see what he does this yr and then we can send for the Hanging Judge .OK

Anonymous: I'm not saying you replace AROD w/Duncan,and if Teahen continues to improve what makes you so sure he ends up w/NY?

You do what you do to get the BEST talent available for that position. you want young you get the best of the YOUNG crop. You have aging all stars who can still produce so perhaps trade them ONLY if the bidder has what we need.

I apologize I did the last 2 post's.

I have had issues with the yankees "local" selections ever since they passed on MANNY RAMIREZ and ignored the talent pool he played with. I mean if any of you is in the NYC area , catch some of these HS games there are some good players

Bomber: Thanks for mentioning Manny Ramirez,it seems as though his days w/the BoTox might be numbered,if the BoTox fall out of the race he probably gets traded before the deadline...management has had it w/Manny