370 replies to this topic

[Kid T]

Interesting. So the Yankees give up Montero and Noesi for Pineda AND sign Kuroda. It's going to be an interesting year.

[bosockboy]

I bet Damon called Cashman personally tonight to campaign for their DH job.

[nycdoc999]

So the bench looks like:

Nunez
Cervelli (ugh)
Jones
??

Are they going to carry 12 pitchers? Does that mean that Carlos Pena is out of play because he can't really spell anyone in the field (Swisher can play 1b in a pinch)? Is Chavez the last guy on the bench?

[jon abbey]

The bench does look like that (with Romine challenging your boy Cervelli for backup C), but there's an opening in the starting 9 now also, so 2 of the 13 spots to fill now. Pena and Chavez, please.

[jon abbey]

Anyone know the status of Jorge Vazquez? He hit 32 HRs in 500 ABs last year at Scranton, then had a 1.000+ OPS in 200+ ABs in Mexican winter ball. I was going to mention him last night as a DH possibility, but he's no longer on NY's 40 man roster, so I didn't. But now Olney is saying he may get a shot at NY DH, so wondering if anyone knows his status.

[jon abbey]

So now that the dust has cleared, where do we stand overall?

Sabathia
Pineda
Nova
Kuroda
Garcia/Burnett/Hughes

one of those three as a long guy
???? (Joba midseason)
Wade
Logan
Soriano
Robertson
Rivera

Martin
Tex
Cano
Jeter
A-Rod
Gardner
Granderson
Swisher
DH TBA

Jones
Cervelli or Romine
Nunez
????

That's off the top of my head, might be forgetting someone in the bullpen.

[Sampo Gida]

Anyone know the status of Jorge Vazquez? He hit 32 HRs in 500 ABs last year at Scranton, then had a 1.000+ OPS in 200+ ABs in Mexican winter ball. I was going to mention him last night as a DH possibility, but he's no longer on NY's 40 man roster, so I didn't. But now Olney is saying he may get a shot at NY DH, so wondering if anyone knows his status.

I remember reading last month that he was going to Japan. However, I can not confirm he actually signed a contract.

According to a report by Nikkan Sports, the Rakuten Eagles are close to nearing a deal with INF Jorge Vazquez (29).

http://yakyubaka.com...-jorge-vazquez/

[jon abbey]

I believe that fell through, Mark Newman said a few weeks later he was still under contract:

http://yankees.lhblo...r-league-notes/

[jon abbey]

NY is saying they only have $1M or $2M to fill the LH DH role, which I'm guessing has as much to do with how little they got Andruw Jones to accept as it does with their budget. That seems to put Pena (definitely) and Damon (probably) out of their price range, but one interesting option might be Wilson Betemit, who made $1M last year, and who has a .817 career OPS against LHP, .865 last year. He's a FA atill because he sucks on D, but Betemit and Chavez might be an interesting pair to fill out the roster.

[rembrat]

It seems like Eric Chavez might not be back since the Yankees are on the verge of signing Bill Hall.

Although, I can see them doing a Chavez/Jones platoon at DH with Cervelli/Romine as the back up C, Ed Nunez UTL, and Bill Hall as the 4th OF/back up UTL.

Actually gives them another deep bench and gives Girardi alot of flexibility.

Edited by rembrat, 30 January 2012 - 12:35 PM.

[jon abbey]

Dunno, neither Chavez nor Hall should really be getting many DH ABs at this point, I think Hall would be in Chavez's spot with a LHH DH still to come.

[pjr]

Joel Sherman tweet-
Heard #Yankees signed former #Redsox #Rockies rlvr Manny Delcarmen to a minor-league contract, invite to spr

[rembrat]

Signing exRed Sox to minor league deals is the new market inefficiency. /baseball meme

[jon abbey]

And looks like they added a third one: Bill Hall is tweeting that he is a Yankee.



https://twitter.com/#!/BillHall_III

[jon abbey]

Jon Heyman @JonHeymanCBS

seems to be a fair amount of optimism that #yankees #pirates deal involving aj burnett will get done.

[SemperFidelisSox]

The Pirates are not one of the 10 teams in Burnett's no trade clause.

Nice job, dumbass. Have fun in Pittsburgh.

[Doctor G]

Huntington has all the leverage in this negotiation. Imagine the reception Burnett will get at home if Cashman can't get a deal done.
Simply by having this possibility out in public, which must have come out of the Pirates camp, Cashman is almost forced to make a deal.

[jon abbey]

Huntington has all the leverage in this negotiation. Imagine the reception Burnett will get at home if Cashman can't get a deal done.
Simply by having this possibility out in public, which must have come out of the Pirates camp, Cashman is almost forced to make a deal.

It doesn't seem to be playing out that way, a more recent report:

Jon Heyman @JonHeymanCBS

word is, #pirates willing to pay $10M of aj's $33M. #yankees have been pushing for something closer to a 50-50 split

===============

Cashman hasn't made many mistakes in recent years, but he is not good at biting the bullet on a sunk cost and moving on, witness Kei Igawa, who he could have dumped a year or two in but never did.

[rembrat]

So the Yankees want the Pirates to pick up 16.5 over 2 years or 8.25 a season for the remaining 2 years on his deal? Do the Yankees know that AJ Burnett stinks and that the Pirates would be better off signing Jon Garland or throwing some money at Wakefield and seeing if he bites.

Premetive fuck you, Pittsburgh.

[Sampo Gida]

I think the only way the Pirates pick up what the Yankees are asking for is if the Yankees throw in a couple of prospects and the Pirates give up nothing much in return.

AJ would probably thrive in Pittsburgh, which is probably why the Pirates are interested.

[rembrat]

The Yankees also want an "OK" prospect in return.

Pittsburgh wants AJ because every other major league pitcher this off-season said "Thanks but no thanks" to their money.

[Wingack]

According to Rosenthal 4 teams are in on Burnett.

[StuckOnYouk]

According to Rosenthal 4 teams are in on Burnett.

At one point I thought no one would take Burnett unless they Yanks ate all but 2 or 3 mil a year. Now somehow 4 teams are interested and Cashman can just take the team that offers to eat the most money and/or throw in a good prospect?

Are you shittin me? Cashman's had bad luck with mistresses but there will be a huge horseshoe up his ass the way things are working for him with Burnett.

[jon abbey]

So, assuming NY now signs Ibanez/Chavez as everyone seems to think is certain, they will go to camp with almost no jobs open, barring the (hopefully not) inevitable injuries of course:

Sabathia
Pineda
Nova
Kuroda
Garcia/Hughes

Hughes/Garcia
???? (Joba midseason)
Wade
Logan
Soriano
Robertson
Rivera

Martin
Tex
Cano
Jeter
A-Rod
Gardner
Granderson
Swisher
Jones/Ibanez

Ibanez/Jones
Cervelli or Romine
Nunez
Chavez

This leaves Branyan and Bill Hall on the outside.

[derekson]

So, assuming NY now signs Ibanez/Chavez as everyone seems to think is certain, they will go to camp with almost no jobs open, barring the (hopefully not) inevitable injuries of course:

Sabathia
Pineda
Nova
Kuroda
Garcia/Hughes

Hughes/Garcia
???? (Joba midseason)
Wade
Logan
Soriano
Robertson
Rivera

Martin
Tex
Cano
Jeter
A-Rod
Gardner
Granderson
Swisher
Jones/Ibanez

Ibanez/Jones
Cervelli or Romine
Nunez
Chavez

This leaves Branyan and Bill Hall on the outside.

They must have confidence in Nuñez's ability to play the OF if they're planning on bringing Chavez back for a bench slot, because I doubt Jones and Ibañez will get much time out there if they're splitting DH duties, leaving Nuñez as the only other backup for the outfield. I know he got a few innings out there was season, but it's interesting to see the Yankees basically eschew a 4th outfielder. I imagine we'll see Nuñez playing a lot of LF and RF in spring training if that roster is truly the plan.'

I imagine the last spot in the pen goes to someone like Cabral to start the season, to give Girardi another lefty to play around with.

Edited by derekson, 18 February 2012 - 09:52 AM.

[jon abbey]

They should have Justin Maxwell and Chris Dickerson at AAA if someone needs to go on the DL. If you're just talking about occasional rest, Jones will only DH against LHP, so if they want to rest an OF against RHP, Jones can fill in. If they want to rest one against RHP, Jones can also fill in, and A-Rod can DH and Chavez or Nunez can play 3B.

But I kind of agree with you, I don't see why NY wants Chavez on this team over Maxwell or Dickerson. Nunez can play 3B, as can Brandon Laird at AAA.

[rembrat]

They want Chavez on the team to guard against the inevitable Rodriguez DL stint. Nunez seems to have more value as a super UTL guy vs starting at 3B.

Want Laird awful at 3B last year?

[jon abbey]

Not sure on Laird's D, RAB's writeup on him yesterday said "His defense has improved considerably over the years, allowing him to man third regularly as well as fill in at first and in left."

Chavez can still field well, but he's of course always hurt himself and hasn't had a OPS over .700 since 2007, .629 in 424 PAs in the last four seasons.

[Shaky]

A true LOOGY:

Vs LH-
2011: .104/ .170/ .167/ .336
Career: .153/ .252/ .220 /.472

Vs RH-
2011: .692/ .750/ 1.462/ 2.212
Career: .359/ .474/ .692/ 1.166

If this guy ever faces a RHer Girardi should immediately be beaten about the face and head.

Edited by Shaky, 18 February 2012 - 06:32 PM.

[derekson]

I hope they don't carry Rapada; he'd really hurt as a weapon against Gonzalez, Ortiz, Ellsbury, and Crawford, but he seems like a good bet for the last spot in the bullpen for the Yankees, at least to start the year. Eventually Joba should reclaim that spot, but I really expect it'll be a second lefty to start the year, and Rapada's got crazy good splits against lefties and a better record of usefulness than Cabral.

Edited by derekson, 18 February 2012 - 09:59 PM.

[jon abbey]

I hope they don't carry Rapada; he'd really hurt as a weapon against Gonzalez, Ortiz, Ellsbury, and Crawford, but he seems like a good bet for the last spot in the bullpen for the Yankees, at least to start the year. Eventually Joba should reclaim that spot, but I really expect it'll be a second lefty to start the year, and Rapada's got crazy good splits against lefties and a better record of usefulness than Cabral.

Ortiz is 1-6 against Rapada with 2 walks, Gonzalez is 2-3, Ellsbury is 1-2, Crawford hasn't faced him. SSS, but not impressive (although all four hits were singles).

I think that last bullpen spot will depend a bit on whether Garcia or Hughes is the 5th starter. Presumably the other will be in the bullpen, and if that's Garcia, carrying both him and a LOOGY puts a lot of pressure on the other five guys. If Hughes is in the pen, I think they have more leeway to go with someone who should never ever face a RHB unless it's a 10 run game.

[jon abbey]

eboland11 Girardi said lineup plan as of now would have Cano batting third and A-Rod cleanup

[jon abbey]

Chavez signs for 900K plus incentives.

[terrynever]

Chavez signs for 900K plus incentives.

As you have said, JA, roster is now basically set:

http://espn.go.com/b...w-york/yankees/

Edited by terrynever, 21 February 2012 - 09:49 PM.

[jon abbey]

Except for that last relief spot, yeah.

I really hope they can hold onto Branyan and Bill Hall, I think I'd rather have them over Ibanez/Chavez, but if they can keep all four somehow, the depth is nice.

[terrynever]

Except for that last relief spot, yeah.

I really hope they can hold onto Branyan and Bill Hall, I think I'd rather have them over Ibanez/Chavez, but if they can keep all four somehow, the depth is nice.

Would love to see Branyan in pinstripes. Not sure about Bill Hall. I'm still pretty high on Chavez.

[DBB23]

Chavez signs for 900K plus incentives.

Well he's no lock to even make it through ST healthy. Was really hoping Hall got a legit shot to stick. JA's projected 25 man roster a dew posts seems to spot on with possibly Rapada getting Joba's spot as a 2nd lefty in the penn till Joba is ready. I do like the Ibanez signing and think he will have a suprisingly good year. He will be hitting in a much better bottom half of a lineup. He is a lifetime 272/341/426 as a DH which is in-line with his career numbers. Way to SSS in new YS to project anything from. But a 20 homer season from a platoon dh spot on a 1 year deal is a good buy.

[Brickowski]

I thought Chavez played very well last year until he got hurt.

[AMS25]

And now the Yankees have signed David Aardsma, no doubt because Oki's injury left them short of washed-up ex-Red Sox relievers.



The Yankees have signed 30-year-old right-hander David Aardsma, Bryan Hoch of MLB.com tweets. It's a Major League deal worth $500K, Mark Feinsand of the New York Daily News tweets. Aardsma underwent Tommy John surgery last July and won't be ready to contribute until midway through the 2012 campaign

[crow216]

I'm not too happy going into the season with the offense as is. I see concerns with Arod, Jeter, and Teix. Granderson may or may not regress. Martin is mostly a hole in the lineup. Swisher and Gardner are both incredibly streaky as well.
It seems the team ops is trending down a bit directly correlated with Arod's performance. I don't see that .788 improving much and Bill James has most of the lineup projected negatively.

2011 - .788
2010- .786
2009- .839
2008- .769
2007- .829
2006- .824
2005- .805

[jon abbey]

I like the Aardsma move, which is more about the 2013 option than it is this year. Now if Rivera retires, they still have Soriano/Robertson/Joba/Aardsma for 2013. 2014 is much more up in the air, with the only one of those four under contract being Robertson, but no need to worry about that yet.

[rembrat]

I'm not too happy going into the season with the offense as is. I see concerns with Arod, Jeter, and Teix. Granderson may or may not regress. Martin is mostly a hole in the lineup. Swisher and Gardner are both incredibly streaky as well.
It seems the team ops is trending down a bit directly correlated with Arod's performance. I don't see that .788 improving much and Bill James has most of the lineup projected negatively.

2011 - .788
2010- .786
2009- .839
2008- .769
2007- .829
2006- .824
2005- .805

Your concerns might be real but you have to remember that offense has been trending downward across the league for a few years now. Even the Yankees aren't immune to better pitching and more emphasis being placed on defense.

[Rudy's Curve]

Aardsma has never been able to find the plate or keep it on the ground. That's a pretty bad combination for a RHP in Yankee Stadium.

[jon abbey]

Chris Dickerson got through waivers, so was outrighted to AAA and can be dropped off the 40 man roster, clearing a spot for Chavez to be added. Hopefully Justin Maxwell will get through also whenever they decide to put him through, they could really use the OF depth.

[crow216]

Your concerns might be real but you have to remember that offense has been trending downward across the league for a few years now. Even the Yankees aren't immune to better pitching and more emphasis being placed on defense.

Definitely. I admit that my brain is still adjusted to 900 runs being easily attainable in the AL East.

It's definitely a separate thread but you have to wonder if it's going to equalize at some point. You have players like Hanley, Dunn, Arod, Crawford and Teix all having terrible years and it's hard to blame better pitching on such drastic drop offs like those.

Edited by crow216, 28 February 2012 - 04:30 PM.

[jon abbey]

It looks like Pineda and Cabral's arm issues tonight have made the Opening Day roster pretty set, except for the long reliever:

Jeter
Granderson
Cano
A-Rod
Tex
Swisher
Ibanez
Martin
Gardner

Jones
Cervelli
Nunez
Chavez

CC
Kuroda
Hughes
Nova
Garcia

long reliever (DJ Mitchell is my guess)
Rapada
Wade
Logan
Soriano
Robertson
Rivera

[jon abbey]

Not a huge deal, but NY will have some experienced position players in AAA. Bill Hall said he'll report there, no out in his deal, and Dewayne Wise and Jayson Nix both cleared waivers. Add in Jack Cust too.

Also, Jorge Vazquez got released because he was sick of being stuck in AAA despite 32 HRs last year. Steve Pearce will get his job.

[Sampo Gida]

Not a huge deal, but NY will have some experienced position players in AAA. Bill Hall said he'll report there, no out in his deal, and Dewayne Wise and Jayson Nix both cleared waivers. Add in Jack Cust too.

Also, Jorge Vazquez got released because he was sick of being stuck in AAA despite 32 HRs last year. Steve Pearce will get his job.

Under the new CBA

http://insider.espn....eith/id/7270031

III-a-3. Article XX(B) free agents signing minor league contracts who are not added to the Opening Day roster or unconditionally released 5 days prior to Opening Day shall receive an additional $100,000 retention bonus and the right to opt out on June 1.

[jon abbey]

NY trades George Kontos to SF for backup C Chris Stewart, who is 30 and I guess a defensive specialist. The BP annual says last year "Stewart threw out 39 percent of baserunners with a strong, accurate arm after having retired 45 percent of attempted basestealers in his long and otherwise undistinguished minor league career."

Cervelli goes to AAA, Stewart is the backup catcher.

[jon abbey]

Stewart (39.3%) was just behind Shoppach (40.9%) and Miguel Montero (40%) in all of MLB in throwing out base stealers. Cervelli has been at 14% each of the last two seasons.