Yankees Sign LaTroy Hawkins

[26 Reasons to Hate Us]

NEW YORK -- The Yankees moved forward to bolster their bullpen on Sunday, reaching a preliminary agreement with reliever LaTroy Hawkins on a one-year, $3.75 million contract.
The deal was reported by the Associated Press and is subject to Hawkins passing a physical. A baseball official familiar with the negotiations, speaking on the condition of anonymity, confirmed the transaction, which has not been officially announced.

The right-handed Hawkins, who turns 35 on Dec. 21, was 2-5 with a 3.42 ERA with the National League champion Colorado Rockies this past season. He is expected to fill the role of right-hander Luis Vizcaino, who declined the Yankees' offer of salary arbitration last week. Vizcaino, who is seeking a multiyear contract, is expected to sign elsewhere.

Hawkins will be joining his fifth Major League team, having spent nine seasons of his 13-year career with the Twins. The Twins and Rangers also had expressed interest.

A workhorse who has appeared in 60 games or more in eight straight seasons, Hawkins also has pitched for the Cubs, Giants and Orioles. During the 2007 season, Hawkins appeared in 62 games for the Rockies, allowing 52 hits in 55 1/3 innings. He walked 16 and struck out 29.

http://mlb.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?...2007&fext=.jsp

[TheKilo]

lol

[MDF3530]

They're bolstering their bullpen with LaTroy Hawkins? HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!!!

Good luck with that. As an objective outsider (aka a White Sox fan), I watched the Cubs try the LaTroy Hawkins experiment. It was just like the old comedy shorts: you hear a loud boom and an old guy in a lab coat comes out with his hair on end and covered in soot.

[riverside sluggers]

The Yankees bullpen thus far is looking suspect

38 year old Mariano is back with a 3 year/$45 million contract. He's been breaking down more in moments of looking lost on the mound, that can only seem to continue. Plus Joba is set to go to the rotation. Hawkins and Farnsworth set up for Mariano? Im sensing some blown saves

[MDF3530]

Originally Posted by riverside sluggers

Hawkins and Farnsworth set up for Mariano? Im sensing some blown saves

Some ?

[example1]

Bullpens are fickle guys. Latroy Hawkins could be a fine addition, it's really hard to tell. There are very few "middle relief stars" out there, and given that Hawkins has at least made a name for himself that is something.

He'll be good occasionally, and suck occasionally. He won't be the difference but he won't be their downfall either. Kind of a non-story, really.

[a700hitter]

Originally Posted by example1

Bullpens are fickle guys. Latroy Hawkins could be a fine addition, it's really hard to tell. There are very few "middle relief stars" out there, and given that Hawkins has at least made a name for himself that is something.

He'll be good occasionally, and suck occasionally. He won't be the difference but he won't be their downfall either. Kind of a non-story, really.

...and occasionally he'll start a fight with an umpire while sitting in the bullpen and get thrown out of the game. Does anyone remember that?

[jacksonianmarch]

Originally Posted by riverside sluggers

The Yankees bullpen thus far is looking suspect

38 year old Mariano is back with a 3 year/$45 million contract. He's been breaking down more in moments of looking lost on the mound, that can only seem to continue. Plus Joba is set to go to the rotation. Hawkins and Farnsworth set up for Mariano? Im sensing some blown saves

Mariano's demise has been predicted by many, but not seen thus far. And if he was fading, he wouldnt have gotten better as the yr progressed. Remember, he had an ERA north of 9 in Mid May and somehow finished sub 3. He'll be fine this yr, and will likely be serviceable by the time the contract is up. But this is a big yr for the rookies to show their true colors. We have a base in the pen that should hold the fort most of the time, it will be up to the Sanchez', Ohlie's, Cox', etc of the world to step in.

[One Red Seat]

He didn't get better as the year progressed. He had a rough April, was good May-July, but his Aug/Sep performance was about the same line as his season line.

Season Splits

[Jayhawk Bill]

Hawkins's 2007 PECOTA chart, forecasting his level of performance for the next five years:



Hawkins had a 4.44 FIP in the NL West last season. I'll be eager to see how that translates to the AL East with one more year's wear and tear on his pitching arm.

[26 to 6]

That's been a continuing trend. Since he departed from the Twins as a dominant setup man for Everyday Eddie to be the Cubs closer he seems to have gone downhill every year since. I wasn't too thrilled about this signing. I would havemuch rather kept Viz. Hopefully he can be servicable in the middle innings though.

I say his designation for assignment comes no later than July. Anyone want that action?
....sure hope i'm wrong though.

[26 to 6]

Originally Posted by 26 to 6

I would havemuch rather kept Viz.

Come to think of it I don't really mind getting the pick either.

[riverside sluggers]

Originally Posted by jacksonianmarch

Mariano's demise has been predicted by many, but not seen thus far. And if he was fading, he wouldnt have gotten better as the yr progressed. Remember, he had an ERA north of 9 in Mid May and somehow finished sub 3. He'll be fine this yr, and will likely be serviceable by the time the contract is up. But this is a big yr for the rookies to show their true colors. We have a base in the pen that should hold the fort most of the time, it will be up to the Sanchez', Ohlie's, Cox', etc of the world to step in.

What, no inclusion of Edwar Ramirez?

[jacksonianmarch]

Edwar will get his chance. The only locked spots will be Mussina, Farns, Hawkins, and Mariano. If we carry 12 pitchers, which is very likely due to the likelihood of 3 rookies in the rotation, then we will have 3 slots open for the kids. At the beginning of the yr, assuming Moose is in the long role, there will be a slot for LH reliever, then 2 short relievers. Wouldnt surprise me at all to see Igawa as the lefty specialist this yr (I know, waste of $$). Then the last 2 spots being battled over initially between

Ohlendorf
Britton
Albaladejo
Ramirez
Veras
Rasner (who was resigned to a MiLB deal)
Bruney

But by midseason, the better relief prospects will be ready to return, including Sanchez and Cox. And by the end of the yr, Melancon may be ready as well as Robertson or Patterson. The Yankee pen is loaded with young talent, all we need is one or two guys to show up out of the crowded bunch. Of course, this could totally blow up in our faces if none of these guys develops, Farns gets his "back-ache" and Hawkins explodes leaving an older Mo to shoulder the extra load shovelled on by the inconsistent, yet hopefully solid, kids in the rotation. We'll see how it works, but the possibilities are nice to have.

[jacksonianmarch]

Originally Posted by riverside sluggers

What, no inclusion of Edwar Ramirez?

Edwar will get his chance. The only locked spots will be Mussina, Farns, Hawkins, and Mariano. If we carry 12 pitchers, which is very likely due to the likelihood of 3 rookies in the rotation, then we will have 3 slots open for the kids. At the beginning of the yr, assuming Moose is in the long role, there will be a slot for LH reliever, then 2 short relievers. Wouldnt surprise me at all to see Igawa as the lefty specialist this yr (I know, waste of $$). Then the last 2 spots being battled over initially between

Ohlendorf
Britton
Albaladejo
Ramirez
Veras
Rasner (who was resigned to a MiLB deal)
Bruney

But by midseason, the better relief prospects will be ready to return, including Sanchez and Cox. And by the end of the yr, Melancon may be ready as well as Robertson or Patterson. The Yankee pen is loaded with young talent, all we need is one or two guys to show up out of the crowded bunch. Of course, this could totally blow up in our faces if none of these guys develops, Farns gets his "back-ache" and Hawkins explodes leaving an older Mo to shoulder the extra load shovelled on by the inconsistent, yet hopefully solid, kids in the rotation. We'll see how it works, but the possibilities are nice to have.