Time for Change

[a700hitter]

Originally Posted by jacksonianmarch

Drew's option included a clause which stated that the Dodgers could not offer him arbitration. I remember there being an article stating that this was not the case in ARod's deal. So if he opts out, we can offer him arb, which he will refuse and then we would get a 1st and a sandwich for him.

It's better than getting nothing, but it would not come close to making up for the loss of a $30 million subsidy from Texas. That kind of money can get you a pretty top major leaguer for a couple of years. Instead you get an additional name to pull out of the hat.

[a700hitter]

Jacko, I am just curious. What is a "Diety"?

[riverside sluggers]

Just for fun, here is rotoworld's take

http://www.rotoworld.com/content/fea...rticleid=29041

New York

1B Johnny Damon/CF Melky Cabrera
SS Derek Jeter
RF Bobby Abreu
3B Alex Rodriguez
LF Hideki Matsui
C Jorge Posada
DH Jason Giambi
2B Robinson Cano
CF Melky Cabrera/1B Andy Phillips

Chien-Ming Wang
Andy Pettitte
Mike Mussina
Phil Hughes
Joba Chamberlain/Ian Kennedy

Mariano Rivera
Luis Vizcaino
Cla Meredith

It's hard to imagine the Yankees going a winter without picking up a key free agent, but all they really need to do right now is keep their own. That means giving Alex Rodriguez an extension worth close to $30 million per year, picking up Bobby Abreu's $16 million option and re-signing Jorge Posada, Mariano Rivera and Andy Pettitte ($16 million player option). If they do all that, they're probably not going to have a great deal of room in the budget anyway.

So, I have the Yankees retaining all five players, as well as setup man Luis Vizcaino, who is likely to command a three- or four-year deal worth about $5 million per year. The player most likely to depart might be Abreu. If that happens, Johnny Damon should move back to the outfield, opening up a spot for someone like Dan Johnson, Ben Broussard or Shea Hillenbrand at first base. Damon, though, needs to get a long look at first base anyway. He has too much physical ability to be wasted as a DH. A Damon trade is a possibility, but he's bounced back enough in the second half that the Yankees shouldn't pay someone to take him.

If the Yankees dump Abreu or Damon, then it's more likely that they'd add another starter. It sounds like they're still committed to putting Joba Chamberlain in the rotation, but he's been so dominant in the pen that some will push for him to stay there. I have him opening the season as the fifth starter, though that would leave Ian Kennedy out of the mix.

Any trades made would likely involve Kei Igawa, Wilson Betemit or Kyle Farnsworth. I have two going down. The Padres remain interested in Igawa and might give up Cla Meredith for him if the Yankees don't insist on getting a portion of the posting fee back in a deal. With A-Rod back, Betemit would be seen as expendable. Betemit and Carl Pavano to Oakland for Mark Kotsay and Kiko Calero, with the Yankees paying the difference between the salaries, could help both teams.

Even if the Red Sox hold on and win their first outright division title since 1995, the Yankees need only retain their current group to head into 2008 as the slight favorites in the AL East. After the run they've had in the second half, they'd deserve it.

[jacksonianmarch]

Originally Posted by a700hitter

It's better than getting nothing, but it would not come close to making up for the loss of a $30 million subsidy from Texas. That kind of money can get you a pretty top major leaguer for a couple of years. Instead you get an additional name to pull out of the hat.

but those names pulled out of the hat are the kind of guys who filled huge spots for us this season. Figure this. There are tons of cheap teams in the league, hence why talents like Porcello and Brackman fell to the last 6 picks of the first round. You give us a mid round pick from a team like LA, plus our own as well as a sandwich pick in the 40-50 range, and you have the capability of picking up 2 or 3 of the best prep/college players in the country. It most certainly doesnt make up for the loss of ARod, I would never advocate that. But its better than waving goodbye with nothing in our hand. And think about it. Ian Kennedy and Joba are only here because Tom Gordon left. I'd say that recently, our drafting has made it hurt when other teams snag our guys.

In terms of rotoworld's predictions, I agree to a point. I dont view Betemit as an expendable player, while I consider Mussina one. Mussina's September got everyone excited, but the guy had a 3.72ERA in that month, which is an okay month. I figure his stuff regresses further and with the fact that he is now fragile, he doesnt carry the worth that a veteran should have. If we are going to give a spot to a veteran, it should be to a durable one, not one who will be less durable than one of the young kids.