Now that's just wrong. Funny, but wrong
Brian kind of looks like Lee Harvey Oswald, doesn’t he? Anyway, a few potential Yankee targets went off the board late last night, and some deals are close that may affect others. Here’s a recap of Wednesday’s events:
-The Rays acquired closer Rafael Soriano from the Braves in exchange for Jesse Chavez, pending medicals. Tampa will assume Soriano’s (estimated 7-8 mil) salary.
-The Texas Rangers signed Rich Harden to a one year, $7.5MM contract that includes an option for 2011.
-On the heels of the Penny and Harden deals, now Ben Sheets is seeking 12 mil per year.
-The Yanks are one of seven teams pursuing Nick Johnson, who would be a very, very intriguing possibility at DH. If he could play any LF whatsoever (only 2 career games) it becomes even more alluring.
-The Angels and Phillies have emerged as the lead horses in the race to acquire Roy Halladay. Philadelphia is said to be offering a package that will include J.A. Happ, plus either Michael Taylor or Domonic Brown. Other reports have them including Cole Hamels. Previous stories that emerged stated that Halladay wouldn’t accept a deal to the west coast AND wants to train near his home in Florida. The Angels spring training facility is located in Tempe Arizona. Sounds to me like Roy is just helping his team out by expanding the numbers of suitors, I’d put my money on a deal to Philly. Philly GM Ruben Amaro walked away from a Halladay deal last year and was a pitcher short of winning the World Series.
-The Red Sox and Texas Rangers moved closer to a deal that would exchange Mike Lowell for Max Ramirez. That would open 3B in Fenway for Adrian Beltre, who the Sox have expressed an interest in. It could also possibly open up 1B (move Youkilis to 3B) for a blockbuster deal for Adrian Gonzalez or Miguel Cabrera, though nothing has been rumored yet. Don’t underestimate Theo, he believes in being bold.
Photo courtesy of NoMaas
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14 Responses to Winter Meetings Day 3 Recap
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TIQ IQ
The Yankees have to do what is right for them; they cannot be concerned with moves other teams may make. It simply isn’t possible to prevent your competition from acquiring excellent players if it is prepared to pay for them. I am confident Cashman realizes this and has sufficient power to check impulses arising elsewhere in the organization.
On the other side of the equation, it is impossible to tell whether the Yankees are serious about reducing payroll below $200 million. That might be an aspiration, but opportunity and need could override the best of intentions.
Did someone say Nick Johnson and LF in the same sentence? Good grief, we just endured the past several years of Hideki Matsui’s statuesque presence in LF before Johnny Damon’s noodle arm took over. How’s about we let a real OF play LF for a change?
I’m fine with Nick Johnson playing a little 1B once in a while and maybe getting a few hacks as DH but, at this point, that broken-down dude cannot be counted on for (1) more than 90-100 games and (2) making his OF debut after an injury-plagued career at 1B.
I said “any” left field. There’s significant thought that Granderson will need a caddy, especially facing a late inning LOOGY. If Johnson can play any LF he can pinch hit and Melky moves over to CF. One thing we know, he can play there more than Matsui.
If the Yankees are looking for a DH who can provide outfield depth and fill in in the case of injury, I would suggest taking a long look at Rick Ankiel. Still in his prime age-wise , with major home run pop.
How do we know that? Johnson’s played two games there in his entire career. Better athletes than Johnson have failed to switch positions, why would we suddenly believe that a 31 year old with a long history of ridiculous injuries could suddenly turn into a late-inning defensinve insertion?
We don’t, which is why I said “if”. Left Field is the least demanding position, however. Far less demanding than 1B. It’s not some big stretch.
You know little about how much LF MAtsui can play.
Last year he was coming off of the 2 knee surgeries.Now, he’ll have quite a few months to finally heal.Different player in spring training.
Could he be so badly injured that he can never run or play OF again?
Possibly but nobody here knows that one way or another and I don’t see how Nick Johnson the most injury prone first baseman in MLB history can be expected to stay healthy playing a bad LF.
What does he bring that Eric Hinske didn’t or doesn’t?
Sorry LL, but Girardi said they tried over and over again to get him time in LF for the past two seasons, and every time they did his knee swelled up again. Bad knees are chronic, especially for a professional athlete. Surgery is a band-aid and most of them need to get replaced eventually, I know this from relatives who’ve had bad knees. He’s a DH.
The Red Sox could make a lot of very interesting moves. They have the payroll space (after next season), and the trading chips to pull off something real big. And a star 1b could make their lineup pretty scary.
Agreed, although some of that payroll space would obviously go towards re-signing (or replacing) Josh Beckett.
I could see a Miguel Cabrera move given the $126M future cost for his services. Having said that, Detroit should be smart enough to realize that they will get major salary relief after this season when Willis, Robertson and Bonderman (and possibly Ordonez) come off the books. That should give them pause on trading one of the best hitters in baseball and essentially starting from scratch once again.
As for Adrian Gonzalez, he’s too cheap to San Diego right now to justify trading him away. Of course, that’s never stopped teams from making dumb decisions before…
My question is whether Boston will go all out for Albert Pujols…
The GM’s of San Diego and Detroit, respectively, said that AGon and Cabrera would NOT be traded this winter.
The rumours are that Beltre is the Sox target, hoping to upgrade fielding at 3B, and get a power resurgence from Beltre at Fenway.
Very nice move by the rays. They def needed bullpen help bigtime. I dont think they’ll be able to afford to keep Soriano after he hits free agency though. Nice move nonetheless.
Agreed, although it is worth noting that the Rays will be paying 11% of their 2010 payroll to a relief pitcher. Seems odd that the Rays feel this is the best use of one-tenth of their budget when they could’ve just as easily had Wade Davis pitch in the ‘pen this year for $300K…
That graphic isn’t funny in the least.