Originally Posted by Gom
I've done some analyzing, and have come up with a revised plan for the 2009 Offseason. Without further ado, here you go. The moves that have been changed have had an asterisk assigned to them.
1. Convince CC to come to NY. I'm not so sure that he's so in love with the West Coast as the media makes him out to be. I think it's part of the gamesmanship to maximize the biggest payday for a pitcher in baseball history. Sadly, it works. He's going to top what Johan made, and he isn't worth it, but that's the price you pay for mismanagement. My call: 7 years, 140 million. [+20 million]
*2. Blow out the competition immediately for AJ Burnett [I had previously advocated Ben Sheets]. The truth is, the Yankees really need two starting pitchers. My change of heart is due to the fact that pitchers who switch leagues to the AL East tend to bottom out, and vice-versa. Look at Beckett his first year, and how well Pedro did when he went to the Mets, and Derek Lowe when he went to the Dodgers. Let someone else take a shot at Sheets and Lowe. Give me AJ, and pass on Sheets. Brian Bruney met with AJ, they went to dinner during the last series. Rest assured, he let AJ know what management wants.[+16 million].
3a. Kick the tires on Teixeira. What's not to like about a young, switch-hitting Gold Glove firstbaseman who hits for power and average? Nothing. However, I can't see the Angels letting him go. I'd offer him 17 million a year for 6 years, but my guess is he'll stay in Anaheim. Of course if he takes it, I'd have to revamp some of the thinking. I'm assuming he stays out in the sun in Cali. If you can't, and you probably won't be able to sign Texeira, then that leads to 3B.[Break even with Giambi's 2008 salary]
*3b. Bring back Giambi. On second thought, we would be better off bringing back the Big Sexy. Looking at his final numbers, and realizing that what's out there would cost a lot more than what we could bring back, Giambi as the full time 1B is the best option. One year deal, mutual option at 10 million is a good call. Factoring in the $5 million payout, it's a net of [- 3 million].
*4. The shocker of the off-season. Get ready for this. Sign Manny Ramirez. 4 years $70 million. The market is really reduced to three teams. Dodgers, Yankees, Mets. That's it. The Mets have bullpen and rotation issues. The Dodgers are forced to make a run at him. Manny should be Bronx-bound. Don't buy this "Manny will be Manny" crap. He was a happy and productive player in Cleveland. In recent years, you have had a slew of "bad" people leave the Red Sox and join the Yankees. Boggs, Clemens, Damon. Don't lose sight of the fact that Manny is from Jackson Heights, and nothing would make him happier than to beat the pants off of Boston. Signing one of the best hitters in the game that's got a personal vendetta against your hated rivals would be a coup we haven't seen since Ruth joined the Yankees. If you give 4 years, you get three productive ones from Manny. This move alone will give the Yankees one ring in the next three years. Maybe more. Just ask the Red Sox if he was worth the money. They are still without a championship since 1918 if not for this guy. [+18 million]
5. Resign Abreu for 2 years, 11 million a season, club option in second year. He claims to want to come back. Let's see if he does. Abreu is one of those players whose value is greater than the first look. He can run, he takes pitches, and can succeed in the pressure cooker of New York. Plus, the Yankees, being an older team, will have injuries. They need to rotate their players to keep them fresh. This will be one of Cashman's big mistakes this off-season. Letting Abreu go. I say keep him. [+11 million, net -6 million]
6. Trade Nady. There is no place for him. With Giambi at 1B, Manny at DH, and re-signing Abreu, you have one too many OFs. Which Yankee OF has the greatest trade value? Nady, who ironically, is their worst hitting starting OF. Nady came back to earth with the Yankees. He's a career .794 OPS hitter. For the Yankees, he had a .793 OPS. Expect a full-season of about .280 BA and .330 OBP and a .450 SLG. Not what you'd really want, but as far as value goes, he gives a lot of bang for your buck. Trading Nady for some prospects will offset one set of prospects lost in signing CC or Manny [and Tex if they can lure him]. -3.3 million
7. Bring back Moose. He also is used to New York, and likes it here. A good guy to have around, and a nice change of pace in the rotation. 2 year contract at 11 million, with the second being a club or mutual option, is the way to go. [Wash].
8. Do not trade Cano. If anything, Cano's struggles this year will probably be a bit of a wakeup call. Will he get back to the .330 BA he once had? Doubtful. However, look for him to generate more power next year as he has closed up his stance a bit. Giving up on him at this point is a mistake. This will be Cashman's biggest mistake this off-season if he get's rid of him.
9. Trade or release Marte. $6 million for a wild lefty reliever in the pen? I'll take my chances with Coke. Better mechanics, better speed. A bullpen of Mariano, Bruney, Coke, Veras, and Robertson should be sufficient. I see the Yankees cutting costs here and going with their youth in the pen, which is actually starting to look like a strength in the Cashman Era. [-5.75 million]
10. Say goodbye to Pettitte [-16 million], Ivan Rodriguez [-using Farnswoth's salary of 6 million], Pavano [-9 mill [11 million-2mil buy out]. If Pettitte wants to come back, that would be fine to bring him back at no more than 8 million a season. I don't see him taking a 50% paycut, so it may be fitting that he started the last game at the old stadium. Total saving from this trio: [35 million]
So there you have it. The new updated plan. I may tweak this a bit before the start of the off-season, but when you put it all together, you have a net decrease in payroll of one million. Not a lot, but a start in the right direction.
So, according to my plan, you'd have the following lineup:
CF Damon
SS Jeter
RF Abreu
3B Arod
DH Ramirez
LF Matsui
C Posada/Molina
1B Giambi
2B Cano
You can move Molina down in the lineup. The important thing is that you will be able to rotate some of these players out with Brett Gardner, who has shown an ability to be a terror on the basepaths, and will be the defensive replacement CF, taking Abreu or Damon out of the game. He can also spell those guys once a week each to give them a rest.
Starting rotation:
CC Sabathia
AJ Burnett
Wang
Joba
Mussina
For goodness sake, the Yankees #4 pitcher would be an ace on most teams in baseball. You'd have Hughes and Rasner as backups in case someone gets hurt or Moose comes back down to earth. You can never have too much pitching. You can also play around with moving Joba back to the pen if Hughes has an awesome spring.
Bullpen:
Mariano
Coke
Bruney
Veras
Ramirez/Robertson/Aceves
All this and you save a million a year from this year. If Pettitte comes back, it would be an increase of 7 million, but I don't see that happening. If it does, who really cares? The Yankees are posed to make nearly $400 million next year anyways. The important thing is that you're bringing back a lot of players who want to come back on reduced contract lengths due to club options. Another overhaul is needed next season for the OF, but at least the rotation is in place. Maybe this Austin Jackson guy pans out, but you have Magglio and Crawford and Holiday as free agents, and Damon, Matsui, and Abreu [option] coming off the books, the team can be remade on the fly again. With increased revenue from the stadium, this would be a two or three year transitionary period of intense free agent activity until some of the young players who Cashman drafted either come up and make a difference, or he's relieved from duty.
Your thoughts on the update?
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