According to this article on Baseball Prospectus (membership required), the Yankees are "backing off the idea of signing Brewers left-hander CC Sabathia." Maybe those rumors about Sabathia not wanting to play in New York and the AL were true after all.
The article also states that the Yankees will instead set their sights on Angels' first baseman Mark Teixeira, and will also try to trade Robinson Cano for pitching or a center fielder. If Cano is traded they would then try to sign Orlando Hudson to play second.
If this is true I'm glad they're going after Teixeira, he would be a great addition. But I was really hoping that a boat-load of money would convince CC that New York, and the AL East isn't such a bad place after all, but that doesn't seem to be the case.
If the Yankees are going to trade Cano I would much rather the Yankees trade him for a top of the rotation starter instead of a center fielder. Starting pitching is the most important thing the Yankees need to improve this off-season. They could always give Brett Gardner a shot in center and see what he can do. I like the idea of signing Hudson if the trade Cano, there aren't many other good options out there, and when healthy Hudson is a very good ballplayer.
(hat tip to trueyankee.org for the link)
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ReplyDeleteTrade Cano for Josh Hamilton.
ReplyDeleteMove Brett Gardner to 2nd base.
Maybe CC doesn’t want to work for a stupid boss who has no idea when to stop talking .
Maybe he doesn’t want to work for a manager who banned ice cream.
Maybe he doesn’t want the perfect image of the Yankees in his memory to be ruined by a reality uglier than Kevin Youkilis.
If the Yankees were to use Cano to get a top of the rotation starter, the first person that comes to mind would be Jake Peavy but he has a NTC. I wonder if the Stros' would have any interest in Cano for Oswalt. I also would like to see the Yankees talk to the Braves about the availability of Kelly Johnson. He would be a great addition!
ReplyDeleteif you guarantee his $22M option year, I am sure he'd waive his NTC.
ReplyDeleteGet orlando hudson, or at worst, Nick Punto/Mark Ellis as a stop gap.
i've always wanted roy oswalt, the guy's a gamer
ReplyDeleteOf course they're going to back off on CC--that's what Cashman (aka "The Dweeb") has a tendency to do. If CC comes out and states that he really doesn't want to come to NY, then perhaps I might be convinced I'm wrong.
ReplyDeleteTo me, the fact that the Yanks might be backing off CC sounds like the same old story. The funny thing is I'm not even the least bit upset by this "revelation." It's what I expected, I suppose.
Let's see how many of the other names mentioned above the Yanks "back off" on. What, me worry? We have Ian Kennedy to get us to #27!!
My nominee for "Best Line of the Year": "a reality uglier than Kevin Youkilis." Bravo! Bravo!
Mike
Always Ready to Admit I'm Wrong
I think they say that so CC camp doesnt use the NYY to increase his value, like the Twins did with Santana they wernt going to trade him to an AL team anyway.
ReplyDeletea teixeira- hudson combo on the right side would be an amazing defensive duo. both are probably the best at their position. now if we can sign furcal, and move jeter to center we would have a hell of a defense.
ReplyDeletei hear that the padres may be willing to trade peavy. they want their payroll under 50 mil. so its possible we can get in it. and the more i think about it, oliver perez wouldnt be a bad 4 or 5. he sometimes struggles, but he's usually great in big games, and not to mention he's a hard throwing lefty.
I'm intrigued about CC, and having an excellent lefty in Yankee Stadium would be a big asset. However, while some such as Pete Abraham have warned about Ben Sheets's arm being "a ticking time bomb" (and he has had his share of injuries), Sabathia has been excellent this year but has thrown over 250 innings, only going up this post-season. He has a good deceptive delivery but one that puts a ton of tension on the arm as he throws across his body, and is really overweight. I'd love to see him in pinstripes, but I'd be lying if I haven't worried about his arm, too. I don't know either way whether or not it's true that he doesn't want to play in NY. But if he's here, I don't want some sour-puss hired gun like Randy Johnson, either. I want a guy who wants to be here and will embrace his identity as a Yankee, not some cantankerous sot that neither fans nor teammates like. If Sabathia comes here, he better not be Big Eunuch II.
ReplyDeleteI don't mind the idea of trading Cano as long as it's for a good pitcher. If not for a front-end arm, I don't want to see him go--not yet. He needs to get his act together, and the Yanks sure missed Larry Bowa as much to ride Cano as they did coaching third instead of that idiot Meacham. But Cano just may bounce back big. He's had one down year. It's only to get a very good pitcher that Cano should be traded, and Hudson's glove would be a terrific fill-in; not bad at the plate either, but no Cano. Gardner showed good development and, while he still needs to generate more power with his upper body, he could contribute much-needed speed and disruption on the bases to complement the other outfielders, who have good power numbers. Outfield offense is not the problem; the OF defense could be better--Damon's arm, Abreu's wall allergy, Matsui's knees. CF is an area to improve, but starting pitching and first base are much bigger needs to address in my opinion.
I'd love to see Teixeira in pinstripes, but I'm doubtful that the Angels will let him walk after this year after trading a good first baseman in Kotchman--unless they fail to beat Boston (again) in the playoffs. The Yankees need a two-way first baseman, not a left-handed Steve Balboni which is into what Giambi devolved the last few seasons--all power, poor average.
http://heartlandpinstripes.wordpress.com/
Are any of you concerned that Peavy won't be able to handle New York, or the AL?
ReplyDeleteHe pitches in a pitchers park and his ERA is 3.80 on the road, still good but not near his normal performance.
He's also struggled in the postseason. He's 0-2 with a 12.21 era in two starts, and that doesn't include his loss in the one game playoff last year.
Mike,
ReplyDeleteIf CC doesn't want to the Yanks what is Cashman supposed to do?
I can understand not liking Cashman, but blaming him for everything is getting old. He can only do some much.
They're not backing off because they don't want him, they're backing off because they don't think they can sign him.
Here's what Cashman said yesterday:
"Just because you put certain players on the top of your list doesn't mean you're going to be on the top of their list. We will need to address that rotation whether it's via trades or via free agents, whether it's big names or small names, ultimately it needs to be addressed."
So basically he's saying CC is on top of the list, but probably won't want to come here. It's not because Cashman doesn't want him.
Raven,
Did you say move Gardner to second base?
I see your point, Greg.
ReplyDeleteI guess no one ever heard of truly convincing a player to WANT to be somewhere. The fine art of persuasion, through which you actually get someone to change his mind and realize that it might be good to be in a certain place. Does BC even bother with such things? THIS would be the sign of a truly great GM in my opinion. Of course, if CC does not want to be here under any circumstances.... I'm just wondering if BC is capable of genuine, sincere persuasion. At times such things help in life....
Mike
I agree, a good GM has to at least try and convince a player, and I'm sure he will at least make an offer or two. If he doesn't he's an idiot.
ReplyDeleteI agree Mike, Cashman should at least try to change Sabathia's mind, but like Greg said, I think he will try. But maybe he's already spoken to the agent and the agent has said something like there;s no way he's going back to the AL, or something like that.
ReplyDeleteThe only way I trade a player with Cano's potential is for a front line pitcher who another team can't afford to pay any more. Not just a "decent" starter, because I personally feel we have several candidates for that role already in our system. Geise, Kennedy, Coke, Aceves, McCutchen, Chase Wright... just some off the top of my head. I think any of those guys are capable of being a "decent" ML starter, giving you an ERA of around 4.0-4.3, and 12 or so wins, presuming they get better than crappy run support.
ReplyDeleteSo if you can get a Lincecum, Halladay, Cliff Lee type guy for Cano, I'd do it. I'm not saying specifically those guys, because I doubt they're available, but someone who's capable of being that kind of 20-5, 3.00 ERA guy.
If you're going to give me Mark Buehrle or someone like that, who may or may not have an average-to-above-average season, then forget it. Cano is too young and has too much potential to sell him off for the next "12 game winner that we overpaid for."
The thing that I like about Cano is that he's never seemed to be affected by the pressure of a clutch situation. While he needs to concentrate on his plate discipline a bit better, and occasionally needs to focus more, I think those things can be fixed. Let's not forget he's still just 25, his best years are ahead of him, he stays healthy, and will likely give you 7-8 more years of solid defense, as well as being one of the top 2 or 3 hitters in the league at 2B, assuming he keeps his head on straight and they continue to work with him.
Of course it's a chance you're taking, but I'd rather take a chance on Cano than on some "average" pitcher who may or may not respond to the pressure of NY.
Cano had an .890 OPS in '06 and .841 OPS with 19 HR and 97 RBI in '07. The ability is there, and I think that within the next 2-3 years, with proper coaching, he'll harness that talent and become one of the best hitting 2B in baseball. I'd rather have him doing that as a Yankee than somewhere else.
As for elsewhere, I honestly wouldn't mind saying the heck with it and going into the season with an "in house" CF, whether it be Damon or Gardner, and re-sign Abreu. I know Abreu is below average in RF, and getting worse, but I'd live with it. Nady in CF, Abreu in RF, and Damon in LF, or Nady LF, Damon CF. It's a defensively weak outfield, and I'm probably in the minority here, but I personally feel that a good offensive outfielder is preferable to a "good" defensive outfielder that can't hit very well.
With all that in mind, you save ALL your money for FA pitching and/or 1B. That gives you the flexibility to sign Tex, woo Moose with more $, AND sign some FA pitcher, or trade a few small parts for a pitcher who's contract will be up in a year and extend him to a multi-year deal.