I think it's more incompatible than misused. He could be insurance in case we don't find a replacement for Manny as a leadoff hitter. But he just doesn't have the power this team sorely needs. It was a horrible contract. I'm sure we could've gotten him for less. Add Michael Young to the list of SS candidates for the Dodgers. But unless the Rangers want Pierre or Jones, I don't think it'll happen. Thank goodness those rumors were quashed.
Fred Claire on MLB.com "streaming video live from Winter Meetings in Vegas" just stated the Mets deal with KRod is done. He stated he just spoke with Omar and its a done deal - and signing will be announced shortly.
Indians close to deal with closer Wood | MLB.com: News LAS VEGAS -- The Indians are close to signing closer Kerry Wood to a two-year contract, MLB.com has learned.
Damnit. I wonder what they're going to do with Wagner now since I think he still has the bigger contract. 2 guys making big cash can't close games at the same time.
I could be wrong, but I thought I heard somewhere that Wags would probably miss the entire 2009 campaign... after that I believe there is a team option w/ a $1mil buy out. EDIT- read in the Mets thread: NJ says that he hears Wagner is ahead of schedule and should be back by mid season.
This will be disappointing if it happens as I wanted the Sox to go hard after Wood (pun not intended) as a set up guy for Papelbon.
Wagner is out for 2009. He had Tommy John surgery, so coming back from that before one full year has passed would be nothing short of a medical miracle. If he somehow came back at the all-star break (and the only way that readily comes to mind is if he somehow got injected with Wolverine's mutant healing factor), he would probably be content to work the 7th or 8th, and prove he's healthy and productive for prospective free agent suitors next season. The Mets have an $8M option on 2010, which I can't possibly imagine them picking up.
Another Catcher off the market... Reds complete swap for O's Hernandez | MLB.com: News LAS VEGAS --- Getting catching help was something the Reds considered premium this offseason and Ramon Hernandez was on the short list from the start. After weeks of on and off talks, the Reds completed a trade on Tuesday that brought Hernandez to Cincinnati from the Orioles in exchange for utility player Ryan Freel and Minor League infielders Justin Turner and Brandon Waring. And approx $2M in cash from O's to cover a portion of Hernandez contract.
Pavano piques Marlins' interest | MLB.com: News LAS VEGAS -- Add the Marlins to the list of teams interested in free-agent pitcher Carl Pavano. ------------ wow, something in the water in FLA, first its about D. Young potentially heading back to the Rays, and now its Pavano and the Marlins.....sheesh!
Girardi impressed after meeting Sheets | MLB.com: News LAS VEGAS -- Joe Girardi came away impressed from a meeting with free-agent right-hander Ben Sheets, and the Yankees manager is pleased with the thought of fitting him for pinstripes. -------- offer soon maybe?
SI.com's Jon Heyman says the Yankees have topped the Braves' four-year, $60 million proposal to A.J. Burnett. The assumption is that the Yankees went to $64 million for four years. All along it's appeared that the first team to go to five years would land Burnett, and that still may be the case. Heyman thinks the Yankees could go there. The Blue Jays have made it clear that they won't. Source: SI.com The Chicago Tribune believes the Cubs could be closing in on a deal with free agent Milton Bradley. The Cubs must have seen favorable reports on Bradley's knee to consider signing him when Raul Ibanez, Bobby Abreu and others are still available. The Tribune reports that Abreu is interested in playing for the Cubs, but that no talks have taken place. Source: Chicago Tribune Related: Bobby Abreu FOXSports.com's Ken Rosenthal labels the Cardinals, Angels, Nationals, Brewers and Tigers as the five suitors for free agent Brian Fuentes. Rosenthal, though, is getting mixed signals from sources on the Nationals' interest, with one saying the team wants to land either Manny Ramirez and Mark Teixeira along with a big-money closer and another indicating that the Nationals still plan to proceed very cautiously in free agency. Source: FOXSports.com The Yankees may have had a breakthrough with CC Sabathia prior to GM Brian Cashman flying out to see the left-hander on Tuesday. "From (Tuesday) morning until (Tuesday) night, things are looking a lot more positive in terms of us signing this guy," a Yankees official told the Star-Ledger. "If you'd asked me at 11 a.m. (Tuesday) morning, I'd have told you no way. But right now, we have a real shot." There is no indication that the Yankees have raised their offer, but it's possible the two sides are working on an opt-out clause that would allow Sabathia to leave after two or three years if he doesn't like New York. Source: Newark Star-Ledger Related: Red Sox, Yankees, Giants Personally the opt out clause for sabathia is a bunch of BS. Im not a NYY but theyre a great franchise, the most historic in the 4 major sports (along with arguably the Montreal Canadians) and the idea that they have to beg a very good, not great pitcher like Sabathis to come play for them would pretty much make me dislike the guy before he even played a second for my team if I was a NYY fan. The Yanks should offer him 6/150 say hes got 24 hours to accept or he leaves 50 mil on the table since the best known offer is Milwakee at 5/100.
JUST ANNOUNCED ON SPORTSCENTER.................. CC Sabathia to the yankees he is expected to sign this morning......6 year just a little over 140 million....
Agreed, the Yankees are looking like that kid in junior high/high school that just got dumped and is now trying everything they can to win the person back. It's almost embarassing that they're doing back flips for him. It's the Yankees after all, they shouldn't have to be doing this. They're not the Pirates or Royals etc. If CC doesn't want to pitch for them (and it feels like he doesn't) they should all move on. Cashman should just give the guy a deadline of Thursday to accept or reject and that's that.
Sabathia said to accept Yanks' offer | MLB.com: News 7 years $160 is the latest report. Wow, nice little turn of events. So now, Yanks grab CC and potentially Sheets....mix in Wang, Hughes?, and 5th (Kennedy, Sanchez, Joba (although I prefer him in the pen), etc...) and things arent as bad as some thought now. It comes down to health. I have to laugh that Reggie Jackson may have been the piece that closed the deal. Love the history lending a hand every now and then.
Assuming the rumor of this buy-out clause is true. Actually, I love the idea of opt out. I think Cashman is smart in this regards. He knows we only need to really rent him for 2 years. That also matches Sheets timeframe. Still not sure about Burnett, but I tell ya, if he signs, and has language similar - then you will have to agree its a nice plan. Limit the financial risks for these health risks. If championships come with that, then its a win/win and perhaps its longer. But with our Farm System, you give me 2 years of additional development and let them move out and free up slots for younger arms. Nope, love the idea of the opt out. P.S. I still am holding out hope about Tex - but no news whatsoever mentioning Yanks makes we wonder!
7 years? Really? Certainly an opt-out clause would mitigate the potential risk, but if that report turns out to be unfounded, this signing will end up being a complete disaster for the Yankees.
Buster Olney on Mike & Mike stated it was 7/160. I havent read or heard anything official to confirm (physical is still pending, etc). But yeah, I think an opt out would be great based on that contract. LOL.
The 7 year comment was not at all questioning your source. In fact, I've read several places that is indeed the case. It was more a question of what in the hell the Yankees were thinking by adding an additional year to the life of the contract.
Gotcha.....Despiration of everyone else having a party and they are not invited???? However, I will wait for the details, cause if there is a buyout or optout clause the extra years are meaningless. But, in this market, it is what it is, and Steinbrenner (even if its not the old man) feels he has a reputation to live up to???? P.S. my personal feeling is that the Yanks are an off-season to late in making the Best Pitcher in baseball the highest paid of all time. But thats just me.
Good signing for the Yanks, anytime you can add a pitcher like this its a big plus. Sabitha will have to improve on his 7.92 postseason era to have any success with the Yanks, the aren't spending this cash for regular season wins, this is to get to the playoffs and win. The AL East just got a little more exciting.
WFAN is saying that theyre closing in on Lowe as well with the money being 4 years and something between 66-72 million. 16.5-18 per for a guy who is nothing more then a #3 innings eater type is absolutely insane. But if ya got the guap....
Well, again, this all has to shake out...but CC (L) Sheets (R) Wang (R) Lowe/Burnett (R) Hughes (R) aint shabby aside from injury risk. And if Lowe, I could actually see them seperating Wang and Lowe sinkerballers by making it: CC (L) Wang (R) Sheets (R) Lowe (R) Hughes (R) I still dont have a clear understanding of Joba's roll. He has the stuff for Rotation, but if you sign all these other guys, its a question of spots and what to do with Hughes for his development, etc. If unsure, my vote is Joba to the the Pen once again.
I think the Yanks will resign Petitte before going after Sheets now that they supposedly have CC. They need another LHP. CC Wang Lowe Petitte Hughes/Joba
Yeah, thats another option....Crazy, how one little signing, and all the leg work they have put into to other option and conversations (Burnett, Sheets, Lowe, etc) suddenly the mix and match is far more interesting. I still think you try to seperate the sinkerballers...but Pettite is far more attractive as #4 and #3, but he could hold his own at #3 and keep the L, R, L, R, R mix.
By the way, I think its Joba in the 5th spot until Hughes proves hes ready to be consistent. Then Joba becomes the dominant 8th inning guy again to set up Mo.
That would be jerking Joba around it seems, unless Joba understands and accepts this....I think it would be unfair to Joba. So if this is the case fine. That said, I havent read that Hughes wont be ready day 1 of spring training. I will say this, if you tell Joba he is a starter the worst case is long relief waiting for potential injury starts. But going back and forth between set up and starting is crazy at this point. Call the ball, one or the other. Same with a Kennedy. The minute you sign CC, Sheets, Burnett, and Lowe to a lesser extent (heck Wang got hurt so anything is possible), you better have Long Relievers ready to take the injury starts. Hughes, Joba, Kennedy all can qualify for that role. Same with Sanchez or Aceves?
Eh I see it a little differently. Joba could and should be a starter in my opinion but the Yanks are not a team that is looking to go young in their 4 and 5 spots in the rotation. They will leave one spot open for the two of them to fight it out. They could also try and limit the innings on one or both of the kids arms this way. My best guess says that Joba gets first dibs until Hughes shows hes as good or better. You can always go from starter to reliever as long as you have that rubber arm. You cant go from reliever to starter without adequate preparation for the innings you will shoulder. So my guess is the season starts with this: CC, Wang, Petitte, Lowe, Joba and ends like this: CC, Wang, Petitte, Lowe, Hughes. 8th: Joba/9th: Mo
Ughhh, I think I just threw up in my mouth. Yep, I definitely did The Mets have expressed some interest in acquiring Juan Pierre, according to FOXSports.com's Ken Rosenthal. The 2005 and 2008 NL leader in outs made paired with the 2003 and 2006 leader. It'd be quite the stoppable force at the top of the Mets' order. Jose Reyes, though, probably won't have Pierre for company in New York. If the Dodgers are willing to eat the bulk of his salary and move him, there are no shortage of better fits. Source: FOXSports.com Juan Pierre-OF-Dodgers Dec. 10 - 12:57 pm et Ken Rosenthal of FOXSports.com reports the Mets have shown interest in Dodgers outfielder Juan Pierre. The Dodgers put Pierre on the market back in October and are just now getting their first inquiry. To get a deal done, they'd likely have to eat a large portion of his remaining contract. He's owed $28.5 million over the next three years. Pierre may be a cheaper option for the Mets than Raul Ibanez or another free agent, but he hit just .158 last season. If anything, this rumor may confirm the thought that the Mets are trying budget their payroll this offseason. Source: FOXSports.com
A rival GM says the Cardinals have offered Rick Ankiel and a prospect to the Mariners for J.J. Putz, FOXSports.com's Ken Rosenthal reports. It seems like the Cards are really pushing Ankiel. They could be prepared to turn center field over to Colby Rasmus even after declining to give Rasmus a September callup. The Tigers have been the most persistent suitors for Putz, but Ankiel's power has to intrigue the Mariners. The problem there is that he's only a year away from free agency. Source: FOXSports.com Related: Rick Ankiel John Smoltz-S-Braves Dec. 10 - 3:04 pm et Along with the Red Sox, the Mets and Tigers are reportedly on John Smoltz's list of possible destinations if he leaves Atlanta. Smoltz's agent has sent the right-hander's medical records to each team on Smoltz's list. It's been reported that there are six teams he'd consider playing for, though it's unclear whether that's including or in addition to the Braves.
Mets would trade Jose Reyes to Dodgers for Juan Pierre???? R THE METS NUTZ OR JUST DESPERATE FOR NO REASON????
O's set to fill shortstop spot with Izturis | MLB.com: News LAS VEGAS -- Multiple sources are reporting that the Orioles have reached agreement with shortstop Cesar Izturis on a two-year deal worth around $6 million, a story first reported by The Baltimore Sun and echoed by ESPN.
Nowhere there does it mention reyes going to LA for Pierre or anyone else. It mentions reyes as the 2003 and 2006 outs leader and pierre as the 2005 and 2008 outs leader. If Reyes had been going the other way I can assure you there would have been a riot on both coasts led by an outraged met fan
Im really feeling excited about the yankees agian! They are moving in a good direction. Their offense is fine, Pitching is where they need work
Hell yea. Take Pierre. We'll give him up for free. We'll even take Reyes and throw in Andruw Jones too.
Literally riots... I believe it. Just say no to Juan Pierre. I mean,we go from rumors of Jermaine Dye, to Rual Ibanez, to Eric Byrnes, to Juan Pierre? Hope its just that, a rumor.
