The Yankees aren't done. And if they're smart, they will sign free-agent right-hander Ben Sheets to be their fifth starter and righty Juan Cruz to be a setup reliever.
The Yankees showed early interest in Sheets, then backed off after signing Sabathia and Burnett. Like other teams, they're concerned about Sheets' late-season elbow trouble and history of injury. But at the right price, Sheets would be a reasonable gamble.
That price, one executive predicts, will be in the $6 million to $8 million range for one year, with incentives that could push the total value past $14 million. A lucrative club option also might be part of the package.
Rosenthal does say that the Yankees priority is still re-signing Andy Pettitte. They feel he's more reliable and (obviously) less of an injury concern than Sheets. I agree that Pettitte may be the wiser move, but the upside of signing Sheets is ridiculous. When he's healthy he has some of the best stuff in the league. So either way, I wouldn't be too disappointed.Cruz would fill perhaps a bigger void. The Yankees aren't convinced that he would be a slam-dunk setup man. But Marte, a left-hander, and Brian Bruney, a righty, aren't slam-dunk setup men, either.
The Yankees, adamant about Chamberlain staying in the rotation, need to build a better bridge to closer Mariano Rivera. Cruz is coming off two excellent seasons with the Diamondbacks. Only the Rays' Grant Balfour had a higher strikeout rate among major-league relievers in 2008. If the price for Cruz is say, two years, $10 million, how could the Yankees walk away?
I definitely agree that adding another arm to the pen would be a wise move, and Cruz would be a nice fit. The 30-year-old righty went 4-0 with a 2.61 ERA and 1.26 WHIP, and in 51.2 innings pitched he struck out 75, walked 31, and allowed just 34 hits.
9 Comments:
No thanks on Cruz. Average reliever from the NL, too many walks. The one year he pitched in the AL was his worst, with a 7.44 ERA, 1.84 WHIP in 28 games.
We already have better on our team and waiting in the minors.
He will be like Latroy so..no.
I think Sheets might be a good move, but I'm not so sure about Cruz.
Mike
Sheets is good. I have better one Jon Garland. He is familiar with the American league and he has pitched in the post season. On Cruz no go. I think the Yankees should put Joba back in the bullpen and have him set up Mariano similar to 96 team where Mariano set up for Wettland.
Look how Job went on the DL with shoulder problems pitching as a starter.
Garland is the guy I keep coming back to. He's Andy Pettitte only he's 29 instead of 37. He eats innings, doesn't walk guys, and while last season was probably his worst, he's a career above average guy who can really help you as a #5.
He's probably not the optimal choice, but I'd have no problem throwing him out there as the #5.
Joba's arm issues last year could very well have been due to the changes he had to go through - preparing as a starter in ST, then going back to relieving, then becoming a starter... relief innings take a bigger toll than starting innings because not only are you throwing harder but you're warming up, pitching 1 inning, then shutting it down just to pitch 1 inning or two. Then you may not get a day off and you're back out there again, doing the same thing.
As a full time starter, you're more in a program, your arm gets used to the work, etc. Joba may very well be fine as a starter full time without going back and forth from relief work to starter.
At the very least, we need to find out if he can be a full time starter. Guys with sub 3 ERAs as starters are few and far between. If eventually we find out he simply can't handle the workload of being a stater, then so be it and he becomes the next closer. But for now, we need to see what he's capable of as a starter.
The problem with Garland is that they'd likely have to go more than two years and I really don't want to see them get locked into a contract with another pitcher, especially one that isn't that good.
I agree Greg. In my Garland fantasyland, we get him for one year and cheap. Better option than Pettitte in my opinion, and I still think he's got some decent pitching in him.
In the end, however, I don't think Garland is anything more than discussion fodder.
If they could get him for a year I'd be all for it.
Hughes > Garland
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