Morning Bits: Pineda, Sabathia, Pitching Staff, Chase for 28
Good morning all as we now enter the week of the start of the season of Yankee baseball!!!!!!!! The first game in case you don’t know is Friday against Tampa Bay. Let’s get right to the morning links…..
– Northjersey.com mentions that C.C. Sabathia struggled yesterday. Again we can all agree it’s not Sabathia’s spring training starts we care about it’s how he pitches in the regular season and his track record speaks for itself.
– Kevin Kernan of The New York Post says Pineda needs change to avoid injury.
– Wallace Matthews of ESPN New York writes about Tim Kurkjian’s view that the Yankees pitching staff is not as strong as most people think it is.
– Bryan Hoch of MLB.COM writes that if the Yankees stay healthy in 2012 they have a great shot in the chase for 28.
– Another article from Hoch getting the views from the Yankee players of the new Miami ballpark.
Posted on April 2, 2012, in Notes & Links and tagged C.C. Sabathia, Michael Pineda, New York Yankees. Bookmark the permalink. 56 Comments.
Brian D.
fishjam25
jimmytoucan
Matthew B
Delia E.
Dan H.
Matthew S.
Michael P.
Mike D.
and for those that dreamed Matt Cain was gonna be a Yankee that ship has sailed.
Matt, as I just posted in a reply to Doug the Cain signing makes the deal in my opinion that Cashman did for Pineda look even better now. In a year or so if Pineda lives up to what most of the expects believe about his potential he would be untouchable for any team in cost. At least that’s my opinion.
Also for those that dreamed of Votto in a Yankee Uniform he is near an extension as well.
Not sure why Yankee fans would have been dreaming about Votto, as there’s no spot for him on the team, but okay.
Matt, I agree, I thinks Toronto was eyeing Votto since he’s a Canadaian, he would have been a huge draw. If they had Bautista batting 3 and Votto 4 that would have been huge for them.
This further illustrates why what Cashman is doing with the farm system is so important. A lot of these big guys are not getting to free agency anymore. Especially the pitchers
I believe Cole Hammels will. He would be foolish not to right? He will be the only stud pitcher in this upcoming free agency class so the bidding will be high for him.
As Buster Olney pointed out, Cole will not only be the #1 pitching free agent, but he’ll be the #1 free agent period.
I wrote a post at my blog about why I’m even more happy about the Pineda trade, as we don’t have to feel forced into a huge deal for Hamels… who will get a deal with an AAV of at least $23 million.
Thinga are going to be different in the next few years. Teams near the 189 million cap will be spending less and other big market teams with TV contracts will be spending more.
Three teams that could go after Hamels with alot of money from TV rights would be the Rangers, Angels and the Dodgers, all of which Hamels would probably sign since he’s from the West Coast.
I’m not sure I’d count the Dodgers in on a Hamels deal. Sure they are expecting a large TV contract. But they have to worry about Kershaw and that bid of the new owners $2.15B means they are carrying an awful lot of debt. It’s not the same as the Rangers.
I know, it just can’t happen. Texeira has 5 years left at a guranteed 22.5 million per year. He also has a full no trade in the event that anyone was ever insane enough to want him. Texeira is going to be a Yankee through the end of the 2016 season and any talk of the Yankees acquiring a first baseman before then is simply a pipe dream.
I’m sure you meant Teixeira.
I’m a two fingered typist and I don’t use spellcheck on informal situations like commenting on threads. yeah, Teixeira. (rolls eyes)
I said this last week when I was talking about bats. These guys just aren’t making it to free agency anymore, they sign extensions or get traded. The days of building through free agency are over.
That i agree with. The Yankees have a ton of talent in the minors and need to keep filling the system with future stars. Everyone laughed when they selected Dante Jr. Seems like the Yankees might have the last laugh with how well he did last year. This year obviously is TBD.
Curious what you think…
Do the Yankees trade for a corner OF to replace Swisher next year, and allow them to let Granderson walk at the end of 2013?
me depends on how Almonte or maybe another surprise does in the minors. If he or someone else does well why not have a stop gap who is cheap. Honestly i’m tired of seeing the Yankees go for high priced free agents. Why not use a cheaper in house keep costs downs for reasons of maybe keeping Granderson later on and more money to lock up Cano.
what are you leaning to if you were the GM?
I’d keep my ear open to possibilities, because with the austerity budget coming up they are going to have to part ways with either Swisher or Granderson. I just don’t see how they can retain both me and get to $189 million. But you’re right about one thing… it depends what our kids do. I just don’t see anybody that looks like they’ll contribute as either Swisher or Granderson did for a few years (Williams?).
I’m starting to think we won’t see any good FA candidates, so why wait? If nothing comes up then get a stop-gap, but keep a lookout for somebody that needs young pitching and use that minor league depth to land somebody solid to great.
agreed I’m all in for letting Swish walk. (no surprise) but you have the words right a “stop gap” till the following year or to see how quickly Williams and if Heathcott can stay healthy which he isn’t going to be starting right away this year cause of an injury.
I think Almonte can turn some eyes in Trenton this year and if he does well could easily be promoted to the Empire Yankees (I will take any chance i can to say that name I love it way better than SWB).
I’d love to see Almonte be that guy. Absolutely. I’m just going by what’s happened to this point. Keep in mind that with Granderson, it’s not like we’re talking about a guy that bats in the bottom of the order. It’s going to take a lot to replace his production, which makes me think about a big trade.
yeah I’m only talking about a replacement for Swisher now not a replacement for Granderson. I believe they will keep Granderson.
I hope no one minds if I share my view. Although for most here this is only repeating what I’ve said several times. But… I think based on the performance this pring of some of the you guys I would not be surprised to see the Yankees give one or more of them a shot at RF. The Yankees can NOT afford to keep both Swisher and Granderson if they intend to get to the $189MM LTT for 2014. As for Granderson I think they will make him a good faith offer 3 or at the very most 4 years probably in the $16 to $18MM per range. I don’t think he warrants any more then that because of his age when his option is over and the position he plays. If he doesn’t accpet that I can see the Yankees working a trade for a CF’er that has some cost control for them. I think the Yankees are done with Having over 37 year old players on contract. That’s just my opinion.
It’s Impoirtant to keep in mind for the Yankees to get the Revenue Sharing Rebate back per the NEW CBA they have to be under the Tax Threshold for 2 straight years 2014 and 2015.
Who said you can talk here!?!? LOL
I don’t see the team doling out a big contract until after 2015, assuming they keep the payroll below $189 million in ’14 and ’15.
BTW, I guessed Granderson would get $17m a year.
What ruins everything is stupid Levine who went behind Cashmans back to sign Soriano. What a waste his contract is for a bullpen guy who isn’t even the closer.
Absolutely. That was plum dumb.
11 mil this year and 14 mil next year. ugh. no way he opts out next year with that kind of money.
I can’t remember what it was, but I read somebody that thought he may opt out after Madsen’s injury. Since it could have helped him in the pursuit of a closing job. But there’s no way he gets close to that much. It will take a good multi-year offer possibility for him to opt-out.
Matt, there might be a small chance he opts out. If he has a very good year there aren’t many closers on the market at the end of 2012 he might be able to get a decent multi-year deal from another team. Obviously the Yankees aren’t going to offer him a multi year deal after his contract expires. So he may get out early. Also, Madson got hurt recently so there may be some demand for him. Never say never.
Bryan that’s exactly what I hope they do. Granderson’s mechanics have always been flawed and unorthodox swings do NOT age like fine wine. I’d think by the end of 2013 it might be a good time to just thank Curtis and let him walk. I’m not a fan of unorthodox swings which was why I was glad we didn’t chase Carl Crawford. I liken them to golfers with unorthodox swings, their games can leave overnight.
The question is who can be traded for in right?
That is a good point and comparison to Crawford with the swings.
I also think that even though people have accepted and say out loud that the PED era is largely over with, that they still aren’t processing that “prime years” will revert to being what they used to be before the PED era. Now in NO way am I saying that Crawford or Grandy were PED guys but when guys hit their 30′s until the mid 90′s they were good bets to decline.
I don’t know how old you guys are, but I’m 43 and when I was a kid/teen when a guy hit his 30′s he was thought of as aging. You’re going to see that again. Granted better nutrition and workout regimens will extend careers, you’re not going to want to sign guys to long term deals that last until the guy is in his late 30′s or 40′s.
I’m not a fan of Granderson either. Unlike some people, I really don’t buy that he’ll be as good this year as he was last. That was his career year IMO. He won’t stink, but he won’t get MVP votes either.
As for who we use in a trade, my guess is the team uses the AAA pitching depth they currently have. Now, it’s going to take a good to great season out of somebody, but I can see that happening. If not Banuelos, maybe somebody like Warren (another AAA starter) along with a bat with a high ceiling that’s too low in the minors that the team can’t really wait.
I don’t know, but you can’t deny the possibility right now.
Yup the pitching in AAA is plentyful so something could be done.
I’m a fan of the guy as a person in a HUGE way. I’m also a fan of what he did last year. The fan in me wants him to do it again and it is possible. But if you were asking me to put money on whether or not he can hit those numbers again? Ehh, I wouldn’t bet on it.
I wouldn’t take that bet either. Def like him as a person as well. Always well spoken.
I’m right there with you on those points.
Probably but if Im the Phillies with Halladay and Lee getting up in age and the current state of their offense I am pretty desperate for him
I have no idea how the Phillies or their fans feel, but I’d think that money could be better used than Hamels. Lee and Halladay are probably the best pitching duo in baseball for another 2 years (assuming Halladay’s option is picked up), but on the offensive side of things they have little (including Pence’s upcoming free agency).
Matt, I agree the Phillies need to sign Hamels, word is Halliday is not the same pitcher in spring training, if he faulters the Phillies are in trouble. I think the NL East is wide open.
Need and being able to may be 2 completely different things. If you consider Hamels signs for “market value” add in Halladay and Lee’s salaries as well as Howard, Papelbon and Rollins 2013 and 2014 contracts and just those 6 players come to over $113MM. That’s a lot of money for just 6 players even with the Yankees revenue stream and the Phillies don’t have the Yankees revenue.
uyf, I agree it is alot of money, but I don’t see the Phillies conpeteing if they don’t sign Hamels. I see them leting Halliday go when his contract runs out. The Phillies are top heavy like the Yanks.
The only thing that I think might prevent them from letting Halladay walk is that he’s such an icon now in Philly. Especially considering he;s actually playing for less there. And I think they know they got a bargain.
uyf, your right he did give them a good deal, I can’t believe he signed that contract. Most of these big salary guys have never met expectations. Starting with Zito, Lackey, Burnett, Peavy, Zambrano, Beurhle, Webb, Beckett, CC, Schmidt,and Haren.
BTW, have you seen the deal Votto agreed to with the Reds 10 yrs/$225MM added on to his current deal takes him to 39 years old.
I love seeing the Reds spend money to try and keep their stars, but this deal is going to really sting in 6 or so years.
God help some of these mid market teams if one of these players happens to suffer injury that threatens their career early on in the contract.
Votto is one of my favorite guys in the NL good for him. Very surprised the Reds who are usually not a big contract team spending this much.
uyf, that is a crazy deal especially for the Reds, he will take up about 25% of their teams salary.
The new TV contracts are fueling these big contracts, with 40% of the households in the US having TEVO live sporting events are where the sponors are looking to be. I think Lincecum will get a bigger contract from the Giants than Cain. They do have the Zito contract coming off the books in 2015. At 117 million the Giants aren’t near the 189 million cap in 2014.
The giants HAVE to lock up Lincecum went out to San Fran a couple years back the people are absolutely nuts for him there.
You aren’t kidding. Thats a huge gamble.
Hughes is looking very good for the 2 innings he’s pitched.
Yes very good news. I really expect a strong showing from Hughes this year.
UYF will you change the channel when Pena comes to bat?
You don’t want to get me started on Pena.