jacksonianmarch
06-11-2007, 01:33 PM
Well, last yrs draft continues to look like a huge success. Kennedy and Chamberlain are now in AA. Kontos started well in Tampa before being injured. Betances, even though he has been relegated to Ex ST work, has apparently cleaned up his motion to the point of near perfection, and the apparent recovery of Mark Melancon from TJ surgery have the yankees looking brightly into the future. Add to that their deal for Humberto Sanchez, Ross Ohlendorf, Kevin Whelan, and Anthony Claggett and you have 4 more arms that could be contributors to the Yankees. Add to that the draft day bonanza where the yankees nabbed two of the best power arms in the draft in Carpenter and Brackman, another power sinkerballer in Olbrychowski, and a "fast mover" in Pope, the high school arms of Peavy, Barreda, and Mahoney and the yankees pitching system has really become the premier pitching system in the game.
BUT, when you have all of this talent, what the hell do you do with it all if the premier prospects dont falter.
An interesting predicament to say the least. In years past, the yankees would be looking down to the GCL to find their best pitching prospect. Now, their best is at the MLB level (granted on the DL) and there are tons still waiting in AAA and below. But what happens when they all reach the top and there isnt any room at the inn?
This season, the yankees have a rotation that is 4 deep with a rotating 5.
1. Wang
2. Pettitte
3. Mussina
4. Clemens
5. Clippard for now.
With the return of Hughes, Clippard goes back to AAA.
At AAA...
The rotation will be...
Clippard
Igawa
White
Wright
DeSalvo
Who is that ???. Well, rumor has it that with Kennedy and Chamberlain moving to AA, both Brett Smith (and his 2nd best ERA in the EST league (to Buchholz btw) and Alan Horne (tied for league lead in K's with Clay Buchholz) are rumored to be coming up. This likely moves Steven White and his oft injured status into a role that may be better suited for him, relief. It likely also moves Matt DeSalvo into a relief role, even though his AAA ERA this season is in the low 1's.
So, updated AAA rotation...
AAA
Smith
Horne
Igawa
Wright
Clippard
Where does that leave AA?
AA
Chamberlain
Kennedy
Jones
Marquez
Lavigne
Of the above few players, only Lavigne is considered an "organization player" ie a filler. Now where does that leave us? Well, that is nice and fine, but consider the players who are returning.
Ross Ohlendorf was AWFUL to start the yr, very very wild, which was very uncharacteristic of him. It was later found that he had a back injury that cause the wildness and hence has been DL'd. But he is expected back this season, and would likely fit into the AAA rotation. Humberto Sanchez had TJ surgery in ST and is expected to return next season.
Jeff Karstens and Darrell Rasner will both return this season as well. Chamberlain and Kennedy may be in line for promotions by the start of campaign 08. What is one to do? Well, there is an issue here as well....
In 2008, the yankees rotation already has 4 slots full
1. Wang
2. Hughes
3. Pettitte
4. Mussina
So where do all these pitchers fit, especially now that 2 high end prospects have pushed their way into AA and soon into AAA? Well, this likely leaves us with no other choice but to trade. Now for whom is the question? Guys like Chase Wright, Steven White, and Jason Jones are guys who are back of the rotation guys as is, so they'd be the least valuable but also the least likely to be missed. Then there are the middle of the road guys. Ohlendorf, Marquez, Kontos, and even Igawa. They could fetch something much nicer, but also could be inning eating guys in the future that we'd be giving up on for pennies on the dollar. And THEN, there are the guys who could really fetch a good amount. The big guys.
Betances, Kennedy, Chamberlain, Horne, Clippard. These guys could be the centerpiece of a deal in getting something very valuable, but young pitching is something you dont want to give up on.
Either way, Cashman has stocked us to the gills with pitching talent, and unfortunately, it is getting a little hard to breathe at the top. I expect some deals to be pulled off. But what is available. Hmm.
In terms of need, right now, the yankees really dont need rotation. Their top 4 should keep them afloat and their 5 could be held down by Hughes when he returns, getting a starter at this juncture is not useful. Relief has been an area of unexpected concern. Bruney's velocity and control seem to have gone away with the increased workload, Gas can and Farns have proven to be nothing short of useless and Proctor has shown signs of wear. Bringing up a guy like Britton or Edwar Ramirez could help, but in actuality, Mo really needs a hammer to help. Linebrink is available. Fuentes for a kings ransom, maybe. Who knows. I do expect the yankees to deal off some of this surplus in this area.
Now for the other needs. First base is something that jumps out and a guy like Tex certainly available. But they wont accept junk in return. They'd want one of the coveted guys for him, and at this point, I dont think they'd take the worst one of the bunch in Horne. They'd want Chamberlain, Kennedy or Betances, and right now, that aint happening. Maybe a Sweeney from KC. Who knows.
Either way, expect the yankees to be active at this deadline, and they sure have some coin to spend both in prospects and cash.
BUT, when you have all of this talent, what the hell do you do with it all if the premier prospects dont falter.
An interesting predicament to say the least. In years past, the yankees would be looking down to the GCL to find their best pitching prospect. Now, their best is at the MLB level (granted on the DL) and there are tons still waiting in AAA and below. But what happens when they all reach the top and there isnt any room at the inn?
This season, the yankees have a rotation that is 4 deep with a rotating 5.
1. Wang
2. Pettitte
3. Mussina
4. Clemens
5. Clippard for now.
With the return of Hughes, Clippard goes back to AAA.
At AAA...
The rotation will be...
Clippard
Igawa
White
Wright
DeSalvo
Who is that ???. Well, rumor has it that with Kennedy and Chamberlain moving to AA, both Brett Smith (and his 2nd best ERA in the EST league (to Buchholz btw) and Alan Horne (tied for league lead in K's with Clay Buchholz) are rumored to be coming up. This likely moves Steven White and his oft injured status into a role that may be better suited for him, relief. It likely also moves Matt DeSalvo into a relief role, even though his AAA ERA this season is in the low 1's.
So, updated AAA rotation...
AAA
Smith
Horne
Igawa
Wright
Clippard
Where does that leave AA?
AA
Chamberlain
Kennedy
Jones
Marquez
Lavigne
Of the above few players, only Lavigne is considered an "organization player" ie a filler. Now where does that leave us? Well, that is nice and fine, but consider the players who are returning.
Ross Ohlendorf was AWFUL to start the yr, very very wild, which was very uncharacteristic of him. It was later found that he had a back injury that cause the wildness and hence has been DL'd. But he is expected back this season, and would likely fit into the AAA rotation. Humberto Sanchez had TJ surgery in ST and is expected to return next season.
Jeff Karstens and Darrell Rasner will both return this season as well. Chamberlain and Kennedy may be in line for promotions by the start of campaign 08. What is one to do? Well, there is an issue here as well....
In 2008, the yankees rotation already has 4 slots full
1. Wang
2. Hughes
3. Pettitte
4. Mussina
So where do all these pitchers fit, especially now that 2 high end prospects have pushed their way into AA and soon into AAA? Well, this likely leaves us with no other choice but to trade. Now for whom is the question? Guys like Chase Wright, Steven White, and Jason Jones are guys who are back of the rotation guys as is, so they'd be the least valuable but also the least likely to be missed. Then there are the middle of the road guys. Ohlendorf, Marquez, Kontos, and even Igawa. They could fetch something much nicer, but also could be inning eating guys in the future that we'd be giving up on for pennies on the dollar. And THEN, there are the guys who could really fetch a good amount. The big guys.
Betances, Kennedy, Chamberlain, Horne, Clippard. These guys could be the centerpiece of a deal in getting something very valuable, but young pitching is something you dont want to give up on.
Either way, Cashman has stocked us to the gills with pitching talent, and unfortunately, it is getting a little hard to breathe at the top. I expect some deals to be pulled off. But what is available. Hmm.
In terms of need, right now, the yankees really dont need rotation. Their top 4 should keep them afloat and their 5 could be held down by Hughes when he returns, getting a starter at this juncture is not useful. Relief has been an area of unexpected concern. Bruney's velocity and control seem to have gone away with the increased workload, Gas can and Farns have proven to be nothing short of useless and Proctor has shown signs of wear. Bringing up a guy like Britton or Edwar Ramirez could help, but in actuality, Mo really needs a hammer to help. Linebrink is available. Fuentes for a kings ransom, maybe. Who knows. I do expect the yankees to deal off some of this surplus in this area.
Now for the other needs. First base is something that jumps out and a guy like Tex certainly available. But they wont accept junk in return. They'd want one of the coveted guys for him, and at this point, I dont think they'd take the worst one of the bunch in Horne. They'd want Chamberlain, Kennedy or Betances, and right now, that aint happening. Maybe a Sweeney from KC. Who knows.
Either way, expect the yankees to be active at this deadline, and they sure have some coin to spend both in prospects and cash.