Results tagged ‘ Winter Meetings ’
A Grand Welcome
Brian Cashman has been very busy at the Winter Meetings. And he’s shown no signs of slowing down.
In the span of two days, Ca$hMoney has addressed two major roster issues. He was able to flip prized prospect Austin Jackson (along with Phil Coke and Ian Kennedy) into Curtis Granderson on Tuesday (the trade was finalized today), a move which should make it a little easier to bring back either Johnny Damon or Hideki Matsui. On Wednesday, Andy Pettitte agreed to re-sign with the World Series champions for one year at $11.75M. The signing keeps the top 3 starting pitching tandem of CC Sabathia, A.J. Burnett and Pettitte intact for another year, meaning that Cashman is now in no rush to sign John Lackey or trade for Roy Halladay.
What’s not to love?
Now I’ll admit that I was a little skeptical of the trade when it was first agreed upon. I think Austin Jackson is going to be a stud in the majors and felt that he should’ve been saved for a bigger fish in the sea (see Halladay, Roy). I also didn’t deal too well with the fact that the Yankees didn’t receive either Max Scherzer or Daniel Schlereth from the Diamondbacks; it felt like we were flat-out robbed. And let’s not forget Granderson’s splits vs. LHP and the relatively low rate at which he reaches base (.327 OBP, 141 K last season). These are all valid red flags, no doubt.
However, there is also no denying Granderson’s ability. He’s got 30 HR power (I wouldn’t be surprised if he hits 40 at some point), he’s a threat to steal and can benefit from being around such patient hitters as Derek Jeter, Alex Rodriguez and Mark Teixeira. And from what everyone is hearing from the writers who covered him in Detroit, Granderson is also a high-character guy who should have no problem adjusting to the bright lights and pressure of playing in New York City. Curits’ flaws are easily correctable, which should not be a problem working under the tutelage of hitting coach Kevin Long. I expect the Illinois native to have a very productive first year in the Bronx.
This mega-trade doesn’t mean that Cashman can’t re-sign either Damon or Matsui. There is still the possibility that one of the two can be brought back to be the DH on a short-term deal. It has been hinted at that the DH should be able to play the field, which favors Damon. However, Ca$hMoney wants that person to be signed at HIS price, which favors Godzilla; there is always reason to believe that Scott Boras, Damon’s agent, will be up to his old tricks in looking for a long-term deal — probably similar to the deal Damon just finished with the Yankees.
This all makes for one intriguing winter for the New York Yankees.
A Grand Rumor
If you were Brian Cashman and had the opportunity to acquire a 28-year-old centerfielder with 30-HR power offset by declining value, would you jump on the first offer you get?
Neither would I.
During the first day of the proverbial jungle that is the Winter Meetings, rumors swirled more than a tsunami about this potential three-team trade:
Yankees acquire DET CF Curtis Granderson
Detroit acquires NYY Ps Phil Coke, Michael Dunn & OF Austin Jackson and ARI Ps Daniel Schlereth & Max Scherzer
Arizona acquires NYY P Ian Kennedy and DET P Edwin Jackson
Ken Rosenthal and Jon Paul Morosi of FOX Sports first reported this rumor yesterday. ESPN’s Buster Olney and Sports Illustrated’s Jon Heyman are less optimistic that this trade will happen, stating that the Yankees are (rightfully) hesitant to give up so many players in the deal.
Had this been two years ago following Granderson’s 20-20-20-20 season, this trade would make a lot of sense. However, Granderson’s value has tapered off since then thanks to his alarming splits against LH pitching. Throw in the fact that the Yankees are giving up the most in the deal and you have an apparent “no thanks” from Cashman.
(NOTE: It isn’t 100% accurate, but it seems that only one team — believed to be the Diamondbacks — is good to go with the deal.)
Put simply, Granderson just isn’t worth losing some of the Yankees’ pitching depth and the top position player prospect. Ca$hMoney is making the right decision by walking away from the deal and continuing to focus on Andy Pettite, Johnny Damon and Hideki Matsui — in that order.
Make sure you keep up with all the rumors from the Winter Mettings on MLBTradeRumors.com.
UPDATE, 11:42 AM: Mark Feinsand of the NY Daily News states that the trade talks have resumed, but that the Tigers may lower their price for Granderson.
UPDATE, 3:17 PM: I meant to get this on here when it first broke, but the deal has been agreed upon (courtesy of Jon Heyman). More details coming in a later post.
Is the apocalypse among us?
(WARNING: THE FOLLOWING POST MAY RESULT IN YOU GOING INTO A CATATONIC STATE. READ AT YOUR OWN RISK FROM THIS POINT FORWARD!!!!!)
The New York Yankees plan to cut payroll for 2010.
I’m not kidding.
According to ESPN’s Buster Olney, general manager Brian Cashman has set next season’s payroll at approximately $185 million. That is about $23 million less than the $208 million spent on this season’s World Series champions. With $45 million coming off the books this winter (Andy Pettitte, Johnny Damon, Hideki Matsui, Jose Molina, Jerry Hairston Jr., Eric Hinske and Xavier Nady), the Bombers are not likely to make as big a splash, if any at all, in the free agent market as they did last winter.
Dead serious.
This is a GREAT decision that Ca$hMoney and the Yankees brass are making. The market is relatively weak compared to last offseason, headlined by outfielders Jason Bay & Matt Holliday and starting pitcher John Lackey (all of whom were offered arbitration by their respective teams). While it is practical for us Yankees fans to hope that team brass gets the best players every year, we need to come full-circle and realize that there are some years where the Bombers can lay in the cut and let other teams go ga-ga over big-name free agents with a long-term goal in mind. The 2007-08 winter was one example (Cashman famously passed on trading for Johan Santana with CC Sabathia and Co. in mind). This winter should — and likely will — be another example.
Stop laughing.
Now, the same cannot be said for the trade market. Detroit CF Curtis Granderson and Toronto P Roy Halladay have been linked to the Yankees by various beat writers. The main problem with acquiring either player is the package that would be sent to the respective teams: a combination of Joba Chamberlain, Phil Hughes, Austin Jackson and Jesus Montero as the centerpiece. In the pre-Joe Torre years, George Steinbrenner would probably have mandated that both men be fitted for pinstripes … by the end of the weekend. Now with another World Series in the books and a change of philosophy (sort of), the front office can sit back and thoroughly decide whether adding players like Granderson and Halladay would be beneficial or detrimental.
To keep it short (a later post will delve deeper), I would focus on re-signing Pettitte, Damon & Matsui and making smaller, under-the-radar moves to fill in the minor-yet-still-important roster spots. Hopefully the Yankees stand true to their (mildly surprisingly new) goal of shedding payroll and put on the field a product that will repeat as World Series champions.
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UPDATE — 12/5, 9:12 AM: Looks like the plan is to focus on Pettitte and Damon right away, according to Mark Feinsand of the NY Daily News.
UPDATE — 12/9, 1:50 PM: Pettitte has re-signed at 1 year/$11.75M, tweets Joel Sherman of the New York Post.
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