(no subject)
HOT STOVE!
Wow, so a few days after the World Series ended the Hot Stove season has officially begun. GM meeting stared yesterday and will go for a few days and the winter meetings are only a few days away.
So, the question now becomes how do the Yankees best tweak their roster in order to make a title defense. And while the winter is usually filled with crazed speculation on which free agents the Yankees should acquire and how to best throw around the Yankees big budget. But I have to tell you... I don't think they should go free agent hunting this off season. Here's why.
While the Yankees have needs for next year, none of them are massive pressing needs. In years past the Yankees had some massive needs. Mostly pitching. They needed an Ace, they needed a number two pitcher, and they needed a bat to protect A-Rod in the lineup. And last year that got all three. CC Sabathia is a genuine Ace and was unhittable from the All-Star game on, Mark Texiera will end up finishing second or third for AL MVP, and AJ Burnett makes for a solid (if slightly inconsistent) number two pitcher. So the Yankees fixed those holes, and they spent 435 million to do it.
So what are the Yankees needs coming in to this season? In general, I'd like them to get a little younger and more athletic. In specific, they need some back of the rotation help, an upgrade in the outfield, and maybe some upgrades to their bench.
So their needs aren't that pressing and this year's free agent class is weak as hell. The top free agents are John Lackey, Jason Bay, Matt Holiday, and Chone Figgins. And each one fo them will get some big contracts that I don't think they're really worth. Jason Bay is going to get about 60 million for four years... but he's really just a designated hitter. And I don't know if I'd throw out that type of money for an outfielder who can't play the outfield. now Matt Holiday is going to get a Texiera type deal of six or seven years and 100-150 million. But... He spent most of his career in Coloradio, so you know hsi power numbers are inflated. And he was so bad at Oakland. Now he was great in St. Louis... but it seems like he's a real National League player. Plus he's a right handed power batter... which is not a good fit for Yankee Stadium. I feel like The Yankees and the Mets could pay the same amount of money, and the Mets would get better production from him. So why spend that level of money on what will surely be lackluster results (at least lackluster from an expectation level).
So that leaves John Lackey and Chone Figgins. And I certainly would like either one. Lackey would make a solid 2/3 and give the Yankees a mean ass starting rotation. Sabathia/Lackey/Burnett/Pettitte would combine for an automatic sixty wins easy. Not to mention that's an intimidating playoff rotation. And Figgins would make a good lead off hitter and would play a good defensive left field. Plus he apparently can play every position except catcher so it gives you a lot of flexibility with your fielding.
But these guys are going to get big bucks, and I just don't think the Yankees need to spend this money. Lackey has a history of elbow problems and Figgins has some distressing downward trends in his numbers. If the Yankees hold back and a deflated market brings the prices down on one of these guys... sure pick him up. I'd prefer Lackey over Figgins,
Now, why don't I think the Yankees should spend this money? After all they've got fifty million coming off the books this year and only facing about 15million in raises for current players... why not throw around that extra thirty five million?
Because next years free agent class includes Joe Mauer, Cliff Lee, Roy Halladay, and Carl Crawford. Now that's a free agent class. Joe Mauer is a switch hitting, batting title winning MVP catcher. And Jorge Posada is in the end years of his career. boom, problem solved. Cliff Lee is a Cy Young award winning lefty who proved he can dominate on the big stage. Roy Halladay is the best right handed pitcher in the League. Carl Crawford is a hell of a center fielder. All things the Yankees need long term. You add two two of these to the Yankee roster and you've got a nucleus to work with for quite a few years. (Seriously... an infield of Mauer, Texiera, Cano, Jeter, and A-Rod?)
So yeah... resign either Matsui or Damon to a shorter term deal. Get Andy Pettitte to come back for one more year (which apparently he's a lock for.) Maybe let prospects like Austin Jackson or Ian Kennedy show what they've got during the year. Have a good draft. Maybe even sign that Cuban defector Chapman (lefty flame thrower? Worth a shot.) But save the big bucks for next year when the talent actually merits the money.
Wow, so a few days after the World Series ended the Hot Stove season has officially begun. GM meeting stared yesterday and will go for a few days and the winter meetings are only a few days away.
So, the question now becomes how do the Yankees best tweak their roster in order to make a title defense. And while the winter is usually filled with crazed speculation on which free agents the Yankees should acquire and how to best throw around the Yankees big budget. But I have to tell you... I don't think they should go free agent hunting this off season. Here's why.
While the Yankees have needs for next year, none of them are massive pressing needs. In years past the Yankees had some massive needs. Mostly pitching. They needed an Ace, they needed a number two pitcher, and they needed a bat to protect A-Rod in the lineup. And last year that got all three. CC Sabathia is a genuine Ace and was unhittable from the All-Star game on, Mark Texiera will end up finishing second or third for AL MVP, and AJ Burnett makes for a solid (if slightly inconsistent) number two pitcher. So the Yankees fixed those holes, and they spent 435 million to do it.
So what are the Yankees needs coming in to this season? In general, I'd like them to get a little younger and more athletic. In specific, they need some back of the rotation help, an upgrade in the outfield, and maybe some upgrades to their bench.
So their needs aren't that pressing and this year's free agent class is weak as hell. The top free agents are John Lackey, Jason Bay, Matt Holiday, and Chone Figgins. And each one fo them will get some big contracts that I don't think they're really worth. Jason Bay is going to get about 60 million for four years... but he's really just a designated hitter. And I don't know if I'd throw out that type of money for an outfielder who can't play the outfield. now Matt Holiday is going to get a Texiera type deal of six or seven years and 100-150 million. But... He spent most of his career in Coloradio, so you know hsi power numbers are inflated. And he was so bad at Oakland. Now he was great in St. Louis... but it seems like he's a real National League player. Plus he's a right handed power batter... which is not a good fit for Yankee Stadium. I feel like The Yankees and the Mets could pay the same amount of money, and the Mets would get better production from him. So why spend that level of money on what will surely be lackluster results (at least lackluster from an expectation level).
So that leaves John Lackey and Chone Figgins. And I certainly would like either one. Lackey would make a solid 2/3 and give the Yankees a mean ass starting rotation. Sabathia/Lackey/Burnett/Pettitte would combine for an automatic sixty wins easy. Not to mention that's an intimidating playoff rotation. And Figgins would make a good lead off hitter and would play a good defensive left field. Plus he apparently can play every position except catcher so it gives you a lot of flexibility with your fielding.
But these guys are going to get big bucks, and I just don't think the Yankees need to spend this money. Lackey has a history of elbow problems and Figgins has some distressing downward trends in his numbers. If the Yankees hold back and a deflated market brings the prices down on one of these guys... sure pick him up. I'd prefer Lackey over Figgins,
Now, why don't I think the Yankees should spend this money? After all they've got fifty million coming off the books this year and only facing about 15million in raises for current players... why not throw around that extra thirty five million?
Because next years free agent class includes Joe Mauer, Cliff Lee, Roy Halladay, and Carl Crawford. Now that's a free agent class. Joe Mauer is a switch hitting, batting title winning MVP catcher. And Jorge Posada is in the end years of his career. boom, problem solved. Cliff Lee is a Cy Young award winning lefty who proved he can dominate on the big stage. Roy Halladay is the best right handed pitcher in the League. Carl Crawford is a hell of a center fielder. All things the Yankees need long term. You add two two of these to the Yankee roster and you've got a nucleus to work with for quite a few years. (Seriously... an infield of Mauer, Texiera, Cano, Jeter, and A-Rod?)
So yeah... resign either Matsui or Damon to a shorter term deal. Get Andy Pettitte to come back for one more year (which apparently he's a lock for.) Maybe let prospects like Austin Jackson or Ian Kennedy show what they've got during the year. Have a good draft. Maybe even sign that Cuban defector Chapman (lefty flame thrower? Worth a shot.) But save the big bucks for next year when the talent actually merits the money.