Here's a note on the Yankees' interest in Eric Gagne from today's Newsday:
The Yankees have had serious discussions with the Rangers about reliever Eric Gagne, two major-league sources confirmed Friday night. Gagne is closing for the Rangers but would be a setup man for Mariano Rivera if he were to come to the Yankees. If the Yankees could add Gagne, the back end of their bullpen would be hugely upgraded.
The teams have not been able to agree on a return for Gagne but can continue to haggle over players until the 4 p.m. Tuesday non-waiver trade deadline. The Rangers want pitching in return and have interest in minor-league righthanders Ian Kennedy and Jeffrey Marquez. They also like centerfielder Melky Cabrera, but the Yankees are unlikely to surrender him for Gagne.
Gagne is not as overpowering as he was for the Dodgers in 2002-04 but has been excellent in the closer's role this season. Entering Friday's play, he was 2-0 with a 2.16 ERA in 34 games and had converted 16 of 17 save opportunities. He had allowed a run in only one save situation this season and had given up only 23 hits in 33 1/3 innings, striking out 29.
The Braves and Angels are the favorites to trade for Rangers first baseman Mark Teixeira, but two major-league sources indicated that the Yankees are not completely out of that chase. General manager Brian Cashman has remained adamant that he will not give up Hughes or Joba Chamberlain, however, which could take the Yankees out of the bidding.
The Yankees are not pursuing the Devil Rays' Ty Wigginton, a source said.
Left over from last night, Andy Pettitte was pretty hard on himself. The Yankees' offense clearly had something to do with the loss, though. Two runs won't win many games.
Scott Proctor has given up four home runs in the last two weeks.
Comments (46)
Hughes, Kennedy, and Melky for Gagne and Texieria.
Good trade for both teams. Do it, Cashman!!!
You've gotta be kidding me, Jimmy Joe.
That trade you're proposing is right up there with Jay Buhner for Ken Phelps.
Trade away your entire future for a couple of rentals?
Puh-leez.
Does anybody else see the pattern here that I've been talking about the past two days? Cashman seems to be running scared. The rumors we are hearing about are more about covering his butt for 2008 then they are about making a run this year.
The major issues for 2008 are Posada, Mo, ands AR's opt out.
Cashman trades for Molina = INSURANCE for negotiating with Posada.
Cashman looking hard at Wigginton deal = INSURANCE for AR's opt out.
And now, Cashman looking at Gagne (who wants to be a CLOSER) = INSURANCE for negotiating with Mo.
While Gagne would be a good pick up because the bullpen is where we need help, he wants to close just like Dotel did. So, if Mo resigns, he is going to want out too. And, like many say, why give up the farm for a "rental" player?
Cashman seems to be pre-occupied with covering his butt for next offseason instead of dealing with this year's needs. The Boss never did that. He fixed what needed fixed and dealt with next year when the time came.
KAT
How'd Giambi's rehab game go? Any news?
Seattle has interest in Igawa? Detroit has interest in Phuckworth? What is Cashman thinking? Grab the two bags of balls and get out of town quick before they realize they've been had!!!
Last night was another perfect example that the 3 hole in the batting order dictates whether the Yankee offense "clicks" or not. Cashman appears unwilling to part with Chamberlain in a TEX trade, but will include him in a "package" for TEX and Gagne. Great deal for the Yanks if Cashman can pull it off. A deal of that magnitude would probably save his job.
Farnsworth for a Betamax copy of Howard the Duck would be a STEAL for the Yankees
What is Cashman waiting for?
Marquez and Sabathina I would offer.
On the reality side Maybe I would trade Melky.
1. Big FA OF pool coming up.
2. Review and see if you have future OF prospects worth keeping therefor making melky expendable
3. Your right Gagne can be the closer if the Mariano talks go sour or be ONE HELL OF A SET UP MAN pushing a effective Jose to the 7th inning.
Why not offer miranda??
Roy
I would like to see a Teixeira/Gagne package deal too! I think those two guys would solve our immediate needs.
Gagne could fill the 8th inning spot and even close a couple of games whenever Mo has pitched back to back or multi-inning games. Tex would solve the whole 1B situation and allow Phillips to be the utility IF the Yanks seem to want (see Wigginton). Giambi should be back to DH, and then Hughes will replace Igawa in the rotation and we're ready to roll!
Rick, you are out of your mind. Molina is not a starter. He's a defensive-specialist backup who doesn't hit. He is NOT insurance for Posada. Wigginton is considered a utility player. Do you really think they would start him at third (where he's atrocious defensively) if A-Rod opts out? Of course not.
Maybe the Yankees could look at Gagne as a future closer, but this is Gagne's first healthy season in his last three (and he's been DL'd once), and the Yankees fully expect to re-sign Mo.
What you're seeing is Cashman trying to upgrade his team. I don't think Wigginton does that, but Gagne does. I just think, as usual, the Rangers are asking for too much.
Giving up Melky for half a year of Gagne is STUPID. Melky isn't a great player, but he's a good one, and he's young and cheap. You can't give that away for a Gagne rental.
I'm not even sure why Ian Kennedy and Jeffrey Marquez are being mentioned in the same sentence. Ian was a first-round pick and is currently in AAA (he'll be making his first start). Marquez is having a fine year in AA, but he's not in the same category.
It's good to know Marquez is a potential trade chip (normally everyone wants Phil or Joba).
The Yankees need to keep kicking the tires on the Texas deal for Texieria. All other teams are finding their price too high -- maybe they come down enough for the Yankees to do it. The Yankees also need to see if they can pry Salty away from the Braves, or work some sort of three-way deal that ends with Salty on the Yankees and Texieria on the Braves. That way, Salty can play first base and back up Posada, and also be used for leverage in the Posada re-signing.
Yeah seattle would turn him into a Pen specialist
I told you all before when it comes to the Pen here people ignore the cry that these pitchers is failures. becasue the report of Joe Torre not being great and overusing with his pen is common talk. SO another coach would probally say the kid do produce K's so he can be pen bound just like the Pitcher in Boston and Tex. Ichiro would probally be a better influence than Matsui has been who knows?
If you think the Pen theory is false lets look at facts.
El Duque was labeled as Doomed here in NY went to ARi, Montreal , CHi and produced good numbers as spot starter and pen relief, he was converted back to starter with the mets and yes he has been injury prone but still produced stable stats.
a coach may think one garbage is ones treasure and feel that Igwa may be better with different coaches. (the red sea has already parted) Honestly when you review this fool , he does get the K and he does get 2 strikes he is awful when a lineup see him the second time around , he may be a excellent relif pitcher when proper tutledge ,send him to AAA to concentrate on being such
BB
Melky is expendable! Damon can go back to CF for the remainder of this year and then, like you say, there is a glut of FA OF's to chose from for 2008. Like Jim A says, good OF's are a dime a dozen.
Gagne is a FA after this season??
Baileywalk
Yeah, I'm CRAZY!!!!!! I don't know anything about baseball. I just come on here to stir it up...
Half these minor leaguers you talk about, I've never heard of, but you act like they are all going to be ML Allstars! The bottom line is that when you can get REAL AL Allstars for unproven minor league MAYBES, you do it! The only guy that I wouldn't trade right now is Hughes. Other than that, I'm willing to listen to any offer.
Buster Olney - Igawa turning into Contreras
[quote]
http://insider.espn.go.com/espn/blog/index?name=olney_buster
Five years ago, the Yankees won an enormous bidding war with a $32 million bid and signed Jose Contreras. But by the middle of his second season with the team, the Yankees had determined that Contreras couldn't cut it in New York, couldn't handle the pressure. And, some 15 months later, Contreras was the ace of the staff of a team that won the World Series.
Now it appears the Yankees are prepared to cut ties with another international free agent, Kei Igawa. Talent evaluators with six different teams indicated Friday that he is very much available in a trade, and while some have serious reservations about what they saw in his performance this year -- the erratic command, the tendency to leave pitches in the middle of the plate -- you do wonder if this is going to turn out a little like the Contreras departure.
Sure, he has been absolutely awful this season, but many scouts from multiple teams saw enough in Igawa in Japan to generate significant posting bids last fall; the Yankees won the process with a $26 million tender, but other teams, like the Mets placed major bids. I remember talking to a veteran scout last fall about Igawa, and while he thought the lefty wasn't going to be nearly as good as Daisuke Matsuzaka, he thought the lefty had the ability to miss bats, and had the stuff that would translate well to the big leagues.
But his first days with the Yankees could not have gone worse, and he was sent to the minors to have his mechanics altered. Some talent evaluators with other teams said privately at the time that they thought that this was a mistake, that it might do serious damage to Igawa's confidence. But with the Yankees, each day is a crisis and the crisis management was to get a better starter ASAP in Igawa's spot in the rotation.
Igawa is owed a total of about $22 million for this season and for the next four, and if some team believes he is a pitcher who can be fixed, he could be an incredible bargain, at a time when most free agent starters are getting $10 million a year. "Put him in the NL, in a bigger ballpark, and you might have something," said a rival executive.
The Yankees can't wait for Igawa to find himself, the same way they couldn't wait for Contreras.
? If you saw Tony Clark's home run Friday, you understood why the D-backs hung onto Clark, despite their glut of corner infielders, instead of dealing him to the Yankees.
? Dan Johnson is riding the Oakland bench.
http://sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2007/07/28/SPBER8UJN2.DTL
Buster think that Dan Johnson going to be traded to the Yankees in the next 72 hours.
Lucchino ex wife and Schilling Dirty Sock , Lester Cancer cells for Texiera?
Do it Theo
Dan Johnson, just what we need, ANOTHER so-so 1B to add to the mix!
KAT-
THANKS for keeping your Blog up-to-the-minute on the trade front. Your "ties" to Texas, give all of us "inside" info that is reliable, and not available elsewhere. Please let us know if you have a "gut" feeling regarding the Yankee\Ranger trade talks. Since you "know" the personalities involved on both teams, this gives you a very unique perspective. perspective. Thanks again.
Does anyone know if Gagne's a free agent next year? Maybe Yankees could get some extra picks in return just incase Gagne won't resign with Yankees.
"I told you all before when it comes to the Pen here people ignore the cry that these pitchers is failures."
"SO another coach would probally say the kid do produce K's so he can be pen bound just like the Pitcher in Boston and Tex."
"he is awful when a lineup see him the second time around , he may be a excellent relif pitcher when proper tutledge ,send him to AAA to concentrate on being such"
Is this a joke or the way you really speak? Fat, drunk and stupid is no way to go through life, son.
I don't understand why Cashman is thinking about anything other than arms
Makes no f-ing sense to me
BARRY: A-ROD NOT IN MY LEAGUE
[quote]
http://www.nypost.com/seven/07282007/sports/barry__a_rod_not_in_my_league_sports_brian_costello.htm
By BRIAN COSTELLO
July 28, 2007 -- SAN FRANCISCO - For most of the last month, Barry Bonds has been tossing verbal bouquets toward Alex Rodriguez, but the praise stops at a point.
"Is he as good as me? H ell, no," Bonds told The Post when asked if Rodriguez was the best player of this generation. "He's better than me now because he's younger than me. But, h ell no."
Bonds was later asked if Rodriguez ranks right behind him. "He ain't even second," he said. Bonds said that honor goes to his close friend, Ken Griffey Jr., "but he got hurt."
Bonds then considered whether Rodriguez ranks third on the list. He seemed to give Rodriguez the nod but then backed off a little.
"He's in the top three with me and Junior," he said. "But, you know, people forget Manny Ramirez. When he was at Cleveland I used to watch that boy all day long. I couldn't believe it. I still can't believe how he plays. Defensive-wise he wasn't always there."
[/quote]
let's see
REAL talent + soon to be HR record or used to be REAL talent turned into cheater? :roll:
Cashman is a fox. He never tips his hand. A notorious last minute dealer. Unless he gets overwhelmed, no announcements until the 31st. A bullpen move and somebody from AAA.
Another bat and look for a surprise ....
Hey Guys: A couple of thoughts about some possible trades. First, I believe that we can make the playoffs. Secondly I don't believe that we can go very far with our SP & RP as structured. But, to give up Melky in the OF and put Damon back in CF is NG in my book. Why? Melky solidifies an average at best OF with Matsui /Abreu. His arm and decent bat make the OF better than Average offensively and defensively. Molina and Gagne in case MO and Jorge don't sign. If Cashman doesn't sign these two guys then he'll be fired. Package deal for Gagne/Tex. to the same team may in fact bring less back to Rangers unless their are problems with Atlanta and Angels deals. The Yanks should not package any blue chip prospects above AA to the Rangers. Also, Cashman is running scared. I doubt it.Many teams know to come knocking when they have their best deal and ask the Yanks for more. If Cashman dealt from fear he would not be in the position that he's occupies. George could not tolerate his Captain reacting in this manner. I believe the Yanks will produce trades at the end. There is another scenario. I believe a trade of Melky would have a negative affect on Cano.
Here's one for you, Seattle Mariners expressing interest in a trade for Igawa. I'd take their two ball boys/girls on the lines, straight up. Almost fell off the chair when reading this tidbit of info. What are they putting in the cofffffee in Seattle?
Sully:
If my team can average 12 runs per game than our need for pitching lessens to a non-issue. It makes purrfect sense to me.
Larry M-
The Rangers obviously have decided they want pitching for TEX. They have therefore set their sights on Chamberlain, otherwise they would have already traded TEX for a Salty "package", and probably moved Gagne also. They are waiting to see if Cashman will part with Chamberlain. Cashman wants both TEX and Gagne before he will include Chamberlain in a "package" deal. Both teams are currently waiting for the other to "blink". Texas must deal TEX. Cashman can go elsewhere to satisfy the Yankee needs for bullpen help, and the 1B\utility situation. With Chamberlain in his back pocket, Cashman is "dealing the cards" in the Yankee\Ranger negotiations.
Larry, if your team can average 12 runs a game, then why do you need a bat?
I'm sure against the Tigers, Angels and Red Sox pitching staffs you'll pile up 12 runs a game.
I guess Larry is satisfied with a Wild Card, 3 games then out
Giambi's rehab game last night was rained out.
Giambi's rehab game last night was rained out.
Roy and a few others don't understand English because there is ZERO chance Chamberlain or Hughes gets traded and very little chance that Kennedy gets traded.
Perhaps those of you who believe it could happen should remember this -- Cashman has fought tooth and nail to fix the farm since '05 by stockpiling young arms.
Does anyone really think he's now going to do a complete 180 and trade away his best young guns?
No chance in Hell.
Larry,
You really think Cashman is going to get fired if he doesn't sign Gagne and Teixeira?
That's absurd. In fact, I'll bet anyone who wants to wager that he comes back next season -- whether they make the playoffs or not.
Most experts who really have an eye for young talent rank the Yankees as #1 in all of baseball with pitching talent on their farm.
This has been Cashman's strategy for a few years now and we're finally starting to see some results.
Cashman isn't going anywhere regardless of what he does before the deadline or whether they make the post-season.
I'm glad to see others share my opinion that Igawa is tradeable. Just because a player struggles with one team doesn't mean he won't do well with another. I don't think we can even begin to count the number of struggling players who were traded and then played successfully with another team. Igawa appears to have the right tools, but it seems he just doesn't use them properly. With patience and direction from a team and its coaches who are patient with him, he could do very well, especially in the bullpen.
I believe Okajima has been successful because he works out of the pen. Hitters haven't seen him before and he throws very few pitches per game. Igawa might have had the same success if used in the same fashion (since he loses his finesse over time).
Viper, those are some good observations about Cashman. If our farm system turns out to be just as successful on a Major League level, mega kudos will be bestowed upon Cashman and his job should be intact. Maybe he has better talent working with the farm system than he does trading for experienced duds.
On Eric Gagne: He spent three years as a mediocre starter until the Dodgers converted him to the role of closer in 2002.
Maybe Igawa can follow suit. He's no Gagne (who is, really?), but Gagne is a great example of a player who can be successful in a different role, for a different team, at a different time, and in a different place.
Viper: Cashman would be fired if he didn't sign Jorge and Mo.
Did anyone hear the roll call from the Yankees fans last night? I never heard it before on the road so it took me by pleasant surprise. The cheering for the Yankees was so loud, I almost forgot we were on the road. The great number of Yankees fans found in stadiums all across the country is amazing and welcome. We can certainly use the support elsewhere, since our adversaries are so tenacious in displaying negative feelings towards us.
Larry, do you find Cashman's treatment of Mo and Posada as disturbing as I do? He should never have made a blanket statement that he would not negotiate contracts mid-season and then renege in order to negotiate with A-Rod. While refraining from doing so isn't written in stone, he should have treated it as a preference rather than a new policy and left his options open.
Once Cashman offered to negotiate with A-Rod, he should have done the same for Mo and Posada, as I feel they have already proven their worth this season. If we lose our two highly esteemed heroes, this farm system had better be very, very, very, very excellent.
Lucy
I wouldn't worry about Mo going anywhere that would be sacrilege to see him in another uniform.
It would be as bad if not worse than seeing Jeter on another team.
They won't let that happen.
Never fear, guys.
No chance Mo or Jorge wears any uniform other than Yankee pinstripes.
Those guys are going nowhere.
It's sad to see Baltimore, once one of the marquee franchises in the game turned into a wasteland.
When the Yankees or Red Sox play in Baltimore it is basically a home game.
Angelos is a tool
It was sacrilege to see Andy Pettite walk before he did.
I bet Rivera stays but Posada walks... only to come back in 2 years
Sully: I believe if the Yankees had an alternative to him. It might be a possibility but with no alternatives. I would think not. We may overpay but this guy deserves it. I thought it was shallow of the Sox's not to resign JD but George must have brokered that deal for the Yankees. It has the earmarks of old time Yankee deals. Where we overpay or extend the contract then trade away with coughing up some of the pay.
Lucy: I had no issue with Cashman saying,"lets wait until after the season" but this should have been done with Arod, too. You must monitor Jorge and Mo at this station in their career as far as health and competitiveness.
Lucy: Our farm system gave us Wil Nieves for a catcher and we got him in a trade. I think both Jorge and Mo have the Yanks right where they want them.
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