Kevin Goldstein Ponders Cole Hamels

Yesterday, Kevin Goldstein of Baseball Prospectus posted an endlessly intriguing and entirely speculative article on both BP and ESPN Insider - what would it take to pry Cole Hamels away from the Phillies?

Working with an unnamed MLB executive, Mr. Goldstein determined that the Phillies would, or perhaps should, look for a replacement in the rotation, bullpen help, insurance for the middle infield, and athletes with high upside. Mr. Goldstein then breaks down several potential offers from eight teams ... one of which is, of course, the New York Yankees. The content is insider-only, but the Yankees package is comprised of Manny Banuelos, Hector Noesi, Austin Romine, and Mason Williams.

First, allow me to say that I would accept that deal in a heartbeat were I in Cashman's shoes. I would help the players pack and drive them to the airport myself, then pat myself on the back for a job well-done.

That being said, however, I do feel that this deal is a bit ... light. Banuelos and Noesi could provide some immediate help in the rotation or bullpen, to be sure, but things get shaky beyond the two. Romine is fairly close to the Majors, but Ruiz is signed to a very team-friendly deal through the end of next season, and I'm just not too sure that the Phillies would jump on Romine as a key to a deal for Cole Hamels with that in mind, regardless of Romine's up and down 2011. Mason Williams is a stud prospect, and I think he'll make a few appearances on top-hundred lists - but he's several years away, and so much can go wrong in such a long period of time. Banuelos, Noesi, and Romine could help the team immediately, and Williams would be one of their top prospects ... but it seems too paltry, to me.

What, then, would I give up for Hamels? Or, perhaps more realistically, what do I think the Phillies would ask for? Considering Mr. Goldstein's very sensible criteria, I would think something like this could make such a deal happen - Banuelos, Dellin Betances, Romine, Eduardo Nunez, Corban Joseph, and Williams. Betances injects more upside into the deal, and he could likely step into the bullpen and dominate immediately. Nunez and Joseph provide insurance at SS and 2B, respectively. Nunez's shaky defense is certainly a hindrance, but the tools for success remain there.

Would I do that deal? It would be hard not to, in my mind. It's certainly a shot to the system, but Hamels is a legitimate ace - and he won't turn 28 until December. He's lefthanded, he induces a nice amount of ground balls, he strikes out nearly a batter an inning, and his walk rates are consistently above-average. If such a package could bring Hamels to New York with a long-term deal ... I don't think anyone in their right mind could say no.

Follow me on Twitter - @DomenicLanza

Igawa Won't Stop Yanks From Going After Darvish

From Mark Feinsand:

After wasting $46 million on Kei Igawa over the past five years, would the Yankees be willing to roll the dice on another Japanese pitcher if Yu Darvish becomes available?

It’s very possible.

Hal Steinbrenner said Wednesday that the Igawa disaster wouldn’t stop the Yankees from signing another Japanese pitcher if that’s the move they believe makes the most sense.

“Every person is different; every player is different,” Steinbrenner said. “We’re going to look at every single one. We’re going to look at every single option, and we’re going to analyze it. It will be a go or no-go, but we look at each person as an individual.”

...

“It’s difficult when you don’t have as much film on a player to watch, and you don’t have as many scouts who have laid eyes on that player before,” Steinbrenner said of the risk associated with signing players from places such as Japan or Cuba. “There’s no doubt it’s difficult, but I had never heard of El Duque until he came here.

“There have certainly been players that came out of those countries that have been great. But there’s less intel and there’s less to go on, so you’ve really got to rely on the guys that have seen him down there, and the scouts that are down there on a full-time basis. But there’s no doubt it’s a more difficult decision.”

Glad to see the Yankees aren't going to let the Igawa mistake stop them from taking a real look at Darvish. From everything I've seen and read, he looks like the best pitcher to come out of Japan, and at least appears to have the biggest upside.

Yanks Sign Mike O'Connor

A little extra left-handed depth can't hurt.

In 35 outings in '06, '08 and '11 with the Nationals and Mets, O'Connor is 4-10 with a 5.30 ERA. Nine of those appearances came last year with the Mets when he posted a 2.70 ERA.

Heyman: Yanks Think Price For Wilson is Too High

Yanks Invite Wilson To New York

From Marc Carig:

Pleased with what he described as general manager Brian Cashman’s “aggressiveness,” C.J. Wilson’s representative said today the Yankees have extended an invitation to visit New York, where he would meet with some of the team’s top decision-makers.

Wilson’s agent Bob Garber, who met with Cashman at the general managers’ meetings, refused to divulge whether figures were exchanged. But he called the meeting productive.

“I told him where we were at, they understood, and want us to come out,” Garber said. “I think it’s a good fit. We have a lot of teams we have to narrow down. I think the Yankees are a team that we’ve narrowed down as a team we want to spend a little time with.”

...

“I think it was very productive and who wouldn’t really want a pitcher who has been to the last two World Series?” Garber said. “I think Brian is in a situation where he doesn’t want what happened to Cliff Lee to happen again.”

Garber also says in the article that there are six or seven teams that they're in "serious talks" with.

Jurrjens on Yanks Radar?

Interested?

Yanks Among Several Teams Interested in Sizemore

From MLB Trade Rumors:

There's no shortage of interest in Grady Sizemore this offseason. The free agent outfielder has drawn interest from eight teams, according to ESPN.com's Jerry Crasnick. The Cubs, Rangers, Giants and Yankees are potential suitors for Sizemore, along with the Phillies, Rockies, Red Sox and Indians.

A few years ago he was one of the best center fielders in the game, but since knee injuries have kept the 29-year-old mostly on the DL for the last few years. Knee injuries to players whose game is based a lot on speed scare me and I have little confidence that he can regain his old form. Swisher is also signed through next year so I don't really see any need to sign another outfielder who isn't going to be (or won't want to be) a bench player.

A-Rod: "I expect to be who I have been in the past.”

Third-basemen Alex Rodriguez told the New York Post a couple days ago that the Yankees have already made two HUGE acquisitions: 1) re-singing CC, and 2) re-acquiring Alex Rodriguez.

I know what you're thinking - "re-acquire" A-Rod? Isn't he already on the team? Well that's basically what he told Joel Sherman.

“The Yankees made two big moves this offseason,” Rodriguez told The Post by phone. “Keeping CC, and I expect to be who I have been in the past.”

That is Rodriguez’s way of saying the Yankees are going to reacquire A-Rod, and not the 2011 version, which even Rodriguez could not sugarcoat much, calling it “close to embarrassing” and “the worst year of my career.”

No, Rodriguez is imagining being the 30-homer/100-RBI automaton he was the previous 14 seasons. He expects to be a cleanup hitter because he should be, not due to emeritus status. He envisions being a reason why the Yankees push forward in October and not — like in 2011 — a reason they do not.

“I know Yankees fans were disappointed last year, but [they] won’t be next year,” Rodriguez said.

Sherman goes on to say that A-Rod began his off-season workouts three-weeks earlier, and plans to lose at least five pounds. And who knows? Maybe age is just a number, and A-Rod can be, well, A-Rod again. Good luck Alex, we'll see where you're at come February.