On the Yankees beat

Kat,

I saw that earlier and wondered how much influence King James would have? I mean CC is his own man but it's nice to have a pal like King James hoping for you to play for his favorite team. I certainly hope it plays out that way and thanks to Lebron for trying to sway him to NY :-)

That's a great agent Rasner has. If it comes down to signing the oft-injured Sheets, or the 35 year old Lowe, I go with Sheets. Kevin Brown and Randy Johnson are the template here.

I hope LeBron is calling CC every couple hours and telling him "I'll join you in NY in 2010".

CC, I know you are taking the weekend to think about this and you are probably cruising the NY papers and if you stumble on this blog just know that the Yanks have the BEST fans in baseball and we will appreciate everything you do!

Come on big fella, come on!!!!

If the Yanks get CC. I would pursue Brunett as our next FA. I might than drop and all pursuit of Lowe and take a chance on the 30 yr. old Sheets. Yes, he has the Carl Pavano disease of injury itis but he does have pride and a heart that Pavano couldn't locate with a cardiologists in the room. If this scenario were to unfold. I would serious consider signing Pettitte for 1 year with Hughes/Aceves/Kennedy fighting for the 5th spot. Now, move Joba to setup or 8th inning.

Larry,
I'm not saying I disagree with you, but tell me how Sheets has shown he has more heart than Pavano? His team needed him in the playoffs last year and he wasn't there. That sounds just like Pavano to me.

I like Sheets' stuff much more than I ever liked Pavano, whom I thought was overrated anyway so I feel Sheets, if he would take a short term or incentive laden deal would be interesting to take a look at.

again they are not moving joba to the pen in his starts he posted better numbers than any of the SP's and kept the team in games if he is shifted to a number 4 or 5 spot it helps him and and most definitley gives the team a major boost

here are the possibilities.....

CC
Wang
Peavy
Joba
Burnett

CC
Wang
Burnett
Joba
Pettite

CC
Peavy
Burnett
Joba
Pettite / Mussina

Mike Mussina won 20 games as a number what starter?

Andy Pettite as a number 5 could see a high win season
Joba as a number 4 could see high number of wins.

Responding to Keyes from the last string:

Alex has as many postseason homeruns as Tex has hits. He's a .280 career post season hitter (.315 in LCS play - so he actually gets better the more the games matter) - so in a word "bite me" ok, in two words.

JIm A: I take my reference from his last start in the playoffs this was the first and only time that I saw him pitch. He was pitching and his fastball registered 88. This is below his average anywhere from 90/93 from announcers indication. He left the game but he gave it a try. I have never watched Sheets pitch before this time and only heard mention of his ability but injury prone history.

It is well documented both his history and his ability. I like to gamble with his signing over Lowe's. We have plenty of young starters in AAA who could pitch in case of a minor setback. IMHO

Bomber,
I think there is a far better chance that you will see Sheets in pinstripes before Peavy. I think Peavy is a very, very remote possibility.
I actually think the Yanks would have a better shot at Brandon Webb than Peavy.

I'm sure you've seen or heard it by now, Brewers' GM Doug Melvin doesn't undertsand why the Yankees offered CC the deal they did. His quote: "If the speculation is true that we've offered CC $100 million, why would you offer $140 million? Why wouldn't you offer $110 million?"

Melvin is either just being bitter or he's quite possibly the dumbest man to ever hold the title of General Manager. The Yankees don't care what the Brewers offered CC. The Yankees don't see the Brewers as competition. This offer was designed to get the Angels, Dodgers and Giants to push away from the table and move on to other options. I get that Melvin's upset that the Yankees just turned the Brewers into collateral damage, but don't pretend that you don't undertsand what's going on here.

Bronx Bomber: I have always tired to put a round peg in a round hole. If the Yankees sign 3 FA's plus Andy P. The best use of Joba in my opinion is the bullpen. This would put a balanc eto our pitching Joba to Mo with Matre the lefty or when needed 8th inning guy. Jose Veras our 7th inning guyas Mendoza.

SP CC/Wang/Brunett/Sheets/Pettitte

RP Mo/Joba/Marte/Veras/Coke/Bruney/Aceves. 13 pitchers

Nice balance in both departments, Aceves long man

Chip: How could Melvin not understand that the Yankees could not offer less than Johan the other guy in NY and show their desire for CC or to offer less would keep this bidding continuing and may even go higher than the original offer.

that rotation is risky 101.

three questionmark SP's add some age and disaster is calling. Joba broke down because he was basically deemed the ACE and by placing him in the bottom of the rotation would mean less strain on his arm and a deadly rotation.

Jim A,

I think the peavy deal will be pulled off all the Yankees have to do is adjust the finaces and include some youth.

By adding CC Peavy the Yankee Rotation would be set for a good number of years.

Larry -

He's ticked the Yankees blew the Brewers out of the water. Of course they were going to open with more than the Santana contract and of course the Brewers can't compete with that. Melvin knew going into this that the only way he was going to keep CC was if Sabathia looked at his 100 mil offer and said, "you know what, sure it's vastly below market value, but I'm good leaving over 40 mil on the table because I really like Milwaukee."

As I said, the Yankees don't care about the Brewers in this - the Brewers are a gnat to them right now. This deal was a shot across the bow of the Angles and Dodgers - the Yankees saying, "we want this guy and in the end, he may sign with you but it's going to be damned expensive."

If the Angels want to sign him - it means they're going to have to pass on Tex

If the Dodgers want him it means no Manny.

In both cases those teams actually need the hitters more than they need the pitcher.

Cano for KEMP makes perfect sence for both teams. The Dodgers need a 2B, and the Yanks need a CF. Weakening the defense with Damon in CF, while improving the pitching by spending millions of $ on CC and other SP, is operating at cross purposes. This oeganization is now cost effective if nothing else. KEMP in CF, and ORLANDO HUDSON at 2B vastly improves the defense, while improving the SP at the same time.

Why don't the Dodgers just sign Hudson then so they can keep their young guys? Hudson is a better defender than Cano and with the pitching the Dodgers may have next season they might need all the defense they can get.

Unlike a lot of others, I'm not in a big rush to see Cano go.

Cano for Kemp makes sense ONLY IF the Dodgers re-sign Manny Ramirez. If Manny signs then the Dodgers will have Kemp, Manny, Jones, Pierre, and Eithier under contract and not enough spots for all of them - but even if that were the case, before the Dodgers parted with Matt Kemp for Robbie Cano they would try to move either Jones or Pierre - they would see if they could cash in on the Florida firesale by getting Dan Uggla at a cost lower than Matt Kemp.

From a Yankee standpoint, if they don't get another CF this winter - that doesn't mean Damon is going back out there. Brett Gardner/Melky and perhaps Austin Jackson will all be given chances out there.

Jim - I'm not in any rush to deal Cano - I simply mention him in most deals because I see him as one of the prime chips that the Yankees have to offer to other teams.

Damon isn't going to be in CF - he'll be in LF.

Unless they find someone else, Gardner is probably going to play CF.

I guessI kind of talked myself out of endorsing a Peavy trade in the last thread. If the guy clearly doesn't want to pitch in NY or the AL for that matter, then why would you push the issue?

A player who is uncomfortable with his situation is going to be distracted and probably won't be ready to face the obvious challenges that go with playing in NY against much tougher competition.

He's probably not worth the gamble and I don't expect it to happen anyways because of what it would cost the Yanks to deal for him.

By the way - Keep your eyes on the Chicago White Sox as a dark horse team in the Sabathia sweeps - The Swisher deal helped them clear some payroll and they're expected to clear more in a trade with the Mets (Javy Vazquez and Bobby Jenks for Aaron Heilman, Ryan Church and Bobby Parnell). And Kenny Williams is also shopping Jermaine Dye (possibly to the Phillies if Pat Burrell signs elsewhere)

That combination of moves would not only create payroll flexibility but would also open up a spot in the rotation for Sabathia.

Viper -

I tend to agree with you on Peavy. I threw out the trade for the heck of it, but I don't really think the Yankees explore it unless Sabathia and Burnett sign with other teams.

I still think that the Yankees should/could make moves on Jeremy Hermida and Adrian Gonzalez.

As a "die hard" Yankee fan, I just have to say, that anybody we have to pay more money to than that player is worth isn't worth chasing. If being a Yankee and making HUGE dollars doesn't "do it" for you ,I don't want you !!!

Please MOOSE come back. I promise I won't mess with your crossword puzzle

Chip,

As we discussed last week, I'd be all for trading for Adrian Gonzalez, but it appears Cashman has other ideas.

Swisher is not a very good outfielder, but he is a good first baseman and Cashman has told us many times that one of his priorities this offseason is to improve their defense.

He didn't trade for Swisher to put him in the outfield everyday - not even a corner slot - he traded for him to be their first baseman.

Now that doesn't mean he'll never play the outfield for the Yanks. But I suspect Girardi won't make a habit of it.

Yes, I know Gonzalez is a good fielder as well and is significantly better hitter - but the price was right for Swisher and probably won't be for Gonzalez.

Hey, I'd like to have him, too. But it appears that ship has sailed.

Buster Olney's picks for FA's...

Sabathia: Yankees

Teixeira: Angels

Burnett: Yankees

Manny Ramirez: Nationals

Not sure where in the world he came up with the Nationals for Manny's destination.

Posted by Jim A. | November 16, 2008 14:16

I actually think the Yanks would have a better shot at Brandon Webb than Peavy.

Jim,
A few threads ago you panned my idea of Webb coming to the Yankees and now you are posting like you think it could be a possibility. Not cool. And if you say you only thought the idea sucked because of the pieces I said the Yankees could trade to get Webb I was only writing out what I thought would be the least/lowest amount of players to get him.

Steve,
I didn't say your idea sucked, I just didn't think there was enough in your trade proposal to get Webb and I don't remember your post saying that it was the minimum so I apologize, but what my post about Peavy meant was I think there is very little chance that Peavy comes to the Yanks for a couple of reasons:
1. He doesn't want to come- The guy sounds like he would rather go to the Toledo Mudhens before coming to NY.
2. He will cost way too much in prospects and players on the current roster (Hughes?).
I think if the Yanks have a chance at either one of them, I'd rather see them get Webb as I just don't like Peavy outside of Petco or whatever it's called and I've never heard/read where Webb said he wouldn't pitch in NY, again though, I just don't want to see the Yanks give away too much for either guy.

Is anyone having trouble with the security code lately? For the past few days, I've entered it and hit the post button and I get that same old "too many comments" message, then I refresh, get a new code and the same thing happens again. Then I refresh again and I get the first code back and it works.

What the heck?

Dru: Buster must have hit his head- Manny to the Nats? I can't believe that one.

I think he may have meant that the Yankees have a better shot landing Webb than they do Peavy in the same way that I say I have a better shot at Jen Aniston than I do Angelina Jolie.

Viper - you're probably right on Gonzalez but that's also the beauty of the Swisher pick up. Having Nick Swisher on the roster won't preclude the Yankees from getting Adrian Gonzalez, if not this year than next year - when Damon and Matsui are gone and Nady's a FA and all of a sudden the Yankees will need corner outfielders. They can go after Gonzalez and move Swisher to a corner OF spot. But that's obviously a conversation for another day.

We had the same issues with Moose coming to play in the big city where he was'nt a big fan of this city. Joe Torre corrected that.

As for Nady ..

Don't expect him to be a FA one more solid season and extension will be his name. thsi due to.

A. lack of OF's avail

B. Still relativly young and not too expensive

C. Right handed bat

Peavy will come if the money is right and he see that the team is on the upside. CC plays a big part of this as well. a rotation of cc. wang, and Joba should be a selling point to many SP's add on the biggest factor a strong pen.

On a completely different note, is is true that Al Leiter has left the YES network? I heard he got hired by the MLB network, but not sure if that means he is gone from YES or not. If he is, can he take Waldman and Sterling with him?

Bomber- I think Boras is Nady's agent- don't count on that extension if he is.

Jim A,

Yeah I was just throwing names out there as possible trade discussion starting points. If Webb were made available I would want the Yankees to throw the farm at him.

Chip,

When did Jim A hire you as his heavy?

Jim A.,

Same here. Nowadays it's often the third try that works. A pity that the folks in the background are so technically challenged but I accept it as a cost of participation now that they have at least learned how to interdict trolls.

Chip,
What Steve means is.......hahaha

Steve,
I'm with you- if I have to choose between Peavy and Webb, I'd go with Webb (sinkers work in any park). I just don't want the Yanks to give up Cano and Hughes or something like that (don't care about Kennedy).

Jim A. and Diane,

I am having the same problem, leaving me to abandon the post I am trying to make.

Realist,
No need to abandon, just refresh a couple of times after you have typed your post. Stubborn always wins.

Non Yankees news but interesting and unfortunate for Cubs fans.

BREAKING NEWS: SEC accuses Dallas Mavericks owner Mark Cuban of insider trading

Could they trade Swisher, A Jax, Kennedy, TBNL for Gonzalez?

No I'm sure that's as crazy as it gets.

DRU,

The reason for the Nats signing Manny is that they desperately need to do SOMETHING to jump start interest in that team...

And the GM is a moron

I love Manny (and have said I'd have him back on the Red Sox in a heartbeat) but the place for him to be is the Dodgers

It's funny... they threw $18 mil at Andruw Jones after a down year and now are gunshy to throw money at Manny who basically carried them to the NLCS

Manny will go to where he can make the most dough
And if you take out the Red Sox, Yankees, Dodgers and Angels... where does that leave him?

Either the Mets or a dark horse (I think the Rangers or Blue Jays are players for him)

Either way, CC is going to be a Yankee

I'm guessing Peavy goes to the Cubs and they STILL don't win the pennant

I'm guessing Manny goes to the Mets along with K-Rod and they STILL fold in September

I'm guessing CC and Burnett come to the Bronx... only one will be any good

And it's looking like Lowe might be coming back to the Red Sox, and I will act like a guy who pretends to enjoy seeing his aunt on Thanksgiving but is really thinking "Man why are you back here?"

Sully,
I agree with you on the Nats need to get people interested. What I saw as a doomed franchise when they first came to the DC area is now exceeding my expectations of failure.
I thought they could at least get some interest from fans this past season because they had a new ballpark, but the fans simply did not come. I live about 45 mins. from the new stadium and it's very nice, but it was empty 90% of the time.
MLB picked the wrong place to put the Nats and I suspect they will be gone within 10 years.
Bowden is indeed a moron by the way.

that's terrible news about Cuban

Why do people not think he is one of the greatest things to ever happen in sports?

Seriously... he took a franchise that was just schedule filler and made them exciting and good... plus he is FUN!

We all wonder how we'd act if we owned a team, and every owner looks like a boring lawyer.

He looks like the frat guy who used his lottery winnings to buy a team.

Why he isn't beloved will always be a mystery to me
If he bought the Cubs it would have been the best thing in the interest of baseball (remember that, Selig?)

It's funny, when that organization was in Montreal, they kept putting quality players on the field and actually had winning seasons in 2002 and 2003 when they had NO OWNER!

Now they are rudderless and lifeless.

Maybe they should have no owner again

Problems with DC area baseball just blame Peter Angelos.

ARod Upgrade???

ARod seen in South Beach with Kate Hudson, hell of a lot better than Madonna.

Sully,

1. Dodgers are gunshy after making three horrible major deals.

2. McCourt's not a big spender by nature.

3. But bad deals and big money are not even their biggest deterrents to giving Manny what he wants -- it's length of contract. He insists on six years. As an NL team they have no place to put a guy who can no longer play in the field. And Manny can't be counted on to do that for more than a couple more years.

They love him in LA (and he gave them plenty of reason) but it's not a longterm solution. He's looking for his last big contract, and what NL team can afford to be more than his next-to-last?

In neighboring OC the Angels could afford him, and could DH him in the later years of his contract.

By the way why aren't those guys the Anaheim Angels of Orange County, or something along those lines? They've always been OC's team. Adopting Los Angeles's name has not made LA adopt the Angels, and it never will. Would 'adopting' LA favorite ManRam help? Arte seems determined to woo LA; maybe he can be persuaded to think it would...

I agree to a degree Diane, but Arte has a man crush on Teixera not Manny...

And I do think Manny is leaving the Dodgers for the reasons you mentioned. They gave him a 2 year offer so they can say to the fans "We offered to make him the highest paid player per year"

I think the Rangers, Blue Jays or possibly Nats will over pay him

But I think he's Queens bound

(9th attempt)

The Cuban charges -- my first thought, and this is a total conspiracy theory that I'm sure is not true, was wow, MLB really doesn't want him to own the Cubs.
If he did participate in insider trading, that's terrible. Aside from that, I'm with Sully and think he's a terrific owner.

Jim A.,

I try to be stubborn but after 5 tries life's too short ;-)

Sully,

Your FA destinations are pretty spot on, imo, it should be interesting to see how it all plays out. Btw, Wang says he feel great**insert cheesy smile*** ;-)

ARod has his eyes on Cher next

Not that I care about the stupid tabloid stuff, but Kate Hudson is most definitely a step up from Madonna.

Hell, even Kate Hudson's mother would be a step up from Madonna.