[image title="Zack-Greinke" size="full" id="22649" align="center" linkto="full" ]
In response to the early discussion, I should probably say: I support option #1, which is essentially standing pat. Tomorrow I’ll argue that the Yankees don’t need an upgrade.
Yesterday, we had some really vibrant discussion on whether or not the Yankees should sign Cliff Lee. I think that an important missing piece of my post was alternatives to signing him. To be clear, I don’t support signing him to a long term contract (more than 3-4 years) no matter the alternatives, but the alternatives are still important and interesting to look at.
If we assume that Andy Pettitte continues his career, the Yankees will have a rotation of Sabathia-Hughes-Pettitte-Burnett-X. The X has to be filled by someone. Here are five options that I think they should consider:
1. Fill the position internally
The Yankees have a lot of starting pitchers close to the major leagues. This option, my preferred one, is to let them battle it out for a spot in the starting rotation. The favorite would probably be Ivan Nova, who would spend Spring Training trying to impress Joe Girardi more than Joba Chamberlain, David Phelps, Andrew Brackman, Hector Noesi, Dustin Moseley, Lance Pendleton, and Adam Warren. The Yankees have a pretty broad group to choose from, which makes this option attractive. If their first choice doesn’t work out, the others will be waiting at Triple-A.
Its not hard to imagine any one member of this group proving an upgrade from Javy Vazquez’s 5.32 ERA. Furthermore, players like Noesi, Warren, Brackman, and even Dellin Betances, will look much more attractive in the middle of the season. So, if David Phelps can’t hack it around June 1st, the Yankees should have a Killer B or two to choose from.
One downside is that such a move would decrease the team’s starting pitcher depth. The next-best guy like Nova would normally be the immediate replacement for the first starting pitcher to get injured. But I don’t think this is much of a problem given how many pitchers the Yankees can call upon. The bigger problem is that even if a prospect pitches well, they don’t offer a huge upgrade for the rotation like Cliff Lee does. At another time (maybe tomorrow) we can debate how much of a need exists for that big upgrade, but it would be nice nonetheless.
2. Trade for Zach Greinke
You all know Zach Greinke. He won the AL Cy Young in 2009. He’s going to be 27 years old. The Royals are likely to shop him, given that their time frame doesn’t match up before his free agency. Greinke is one of the few available players out there who could potentially replicate Lee’s production. His 205 ERA+ last season was Pedro-like. While Greinke had a down year in 2010 (100 ERA+ in 220 innings), he should be a pretty good bet to play well.
The downside, of course, is that they team would have to trade for him. Jesus Montero or some of the Killer B’s would likely go the Royals’ way in return. I’m not crazy about losing Montero, but I would consider doing the trade if other prospects formed their baseline, or the Yankees worked out some creative deal involving Brett Gardner and David DeJesus. I think that its possible. Still, a steep price would push the Yankees other places. Furthermore, Greinke’s well-documented personal issues could be a problem in the New York media market.
3. Sign another free agent
Other free agents on the market include Jake Westbrook, Ted Lilly, and Bronson Arroyo. All had very effective seasons in the National League (Westbrook was traded mid-season). All would be much cheaper than Lee, and not require a commitment of more than 2-3 years. Lilly and Arroyo are Type-A free agents, so the team would have to surrender a 1st round draft pick to sign them.
Of these, Westbrook really is my favorite. He has more AL experience, is a ground-ball machine, doesn’t require the forfeiture of a draft pick, and should be the cheapest of the three. The Yankees don’t need Westbrook to be an ace. They just need someone to eat some innings and keep them in games. He would represent a significant upgrade over Javy Vazquez’s performance. How does 2 years, 20 million sound?
Doh. Thanks T.O. I was working off an old list.
4. Trade for a non-ace.
I’m sure that everyone here could come up with their own trade scenarios. Trade for Derek Lowe, Carlos Zambrano and Brett Myers represent risky potential upgrades. I’m more of the mind for Paul Malholm, John Lannan, Jeremy Guthrie, or even Joe Blanton. Someone to eat innings and keep the team in games, like the above free agent targets. They wouldn’t cost Jesus Montero or Brett Gardner, but would represent a modest upgrade over Javier Vazquez.
I think that this is an important option. There are plenty of MLB pitchers out there that teams outside of contention would rather not pay, and wouldn’t mind getting something in return for. The Yankees could aim for someone whom they wouldn’t mind demoting to the bullpen if a better option comes along. They would preserve their starting pitcher depth, and possibly find a decent little pitcher.
5. Re-sign Javy Vazquez.
Just kidding. What do you all think? What other players would you target in trades/signings?
If you enjoyed this article, please consider sharing it!
59 Responses to Cliff Lee Alternatives
Leave a Reply
TIQ IQ
Out of curiosity, what are we saving our money for? If not Lee, then who? And if no one this offseason, then is there someone we’re saving up for in 2011? Because after the 2011 season Sabathia could opt-out, Pettitte could retire, and Hughes isn’t past the injury nexus yet.
Also, Lilly isn’t a free agent and all indications are that Arroyo will be back with Cincy next year (not that I’d want him)
My bad on Lilly and Arroyo. I’d blame my lack of sleep last night.
I’m looking ahead to 2013-2014 and beyond. That’s when guys like Cano, Phil, etc get expensive, and Teixeira/Sabathia/Burnett/etc get old.
You’re making an assumption that “Cano, Phil, etc.” will still be with the team. I think Brian Cashman has shown a willingness to be creative. A contract with the Yankees today doesn’t mean a guaranteed obligation against the Yankees tomorrow, after all.
I hope to god Cano is stil on the team he is only going to be the best second baseman in the league for a decade.
Don’t tell me you are one of the “Cano had his career year” people… Cano is only getting better and his talent is limitless and we need his bat on this team for years to come.
I’m not one of those people. I love Cano and agree that he’s currently the best player at his position. I’m just saying that nothing is guaranteed. Seven or eight years ago, I’m sure we all thought Alfonso Soriano would be putting up 40-40 seasons in the Bronx for a long time.
Soriano’s swing is a lot less sweet and slump prone than Cano’s and to be fair Soriano did have 5 really good years after he left New York.
Cano should just be coming into his prime and should be able to have at least 4 more years of top level production from his bat and glove.
I’m not really comparing the two. I’m just saying that the Yanks have shown a willingness to trade everyone, even young players that appeared to be stars in the making.
TWO WORDS… YU DARVISH!!!!!
His career numbers in Japan are better than Matsuzaka’s best year in Japan.
Two words for you besides caps lock…. POSTING SYSTEM
He has to be posted even to be available and then we have to win a bidding war just to talk to him and if we don’t work out the deal we still owe the posting fee… let some other team go through all that for a kid who has thrown way more innings and pitches than he should have.
Yu has already thrown 140+ pitches in a game 3 times this year and over 150 once already in a game.
He is an injury risk with all those pitches and innings at such a young age and we have no way of knowing if he will be able to pitch in the majors right away and he will have to be guaranteed a rotation spot and 40 man spot
I might be wrong but I think I read someplace that Yu didn’t want to be posted this year.
You are right, he has said he’s staying in Japan for at least one more year.
Yeah, I’m not crazy about Darvish either. The pitch counts, the 6-day rotations, the potentially enormous cost. I’d bid on him I guess, just not too much (30 million or so).
I’m with you EJ, he’s worth throwing your hat in the ring and if you win you win but I wouldn’t want to count on him at all or give him an ace or number 2 Lackey or Burnett like deal.
The Reds have already said they are going to pick up Arroyo’s option, Lilly and the Dodgers just agreed to a 3 year deal just last week and Brett Myers and the Astros signed an extension in the middle of the season so none of those “alternatives” are options.
Doh… my mistake. Working on an old list.
2 years for Westbrok? I’d rather go with a young, cheap, hard sinker in Nova over an expensive (20 million in comparison to Nova’s peanuts), old and soft sinker.
Also I don’t se why he would leave St. Louis yeah New York is New York but you can be much more of a difference maker in the NL and he can get a similar deal if not as much or more from the Cards since they did trade for him and all.
Sorry but all you did with this post is show how much Lee is worth because no one else available is any good or actually available.
Tomorrow at 1 PM: Do we really need an upgrade?
#1 is basically “Stand Pat” which is what I support.
The problem is EJ that you are counting on Pettitte and Hughes being you 2 and 3 again next year and once again AJ will be the 4 it didn’t work this year and I doubt it will next, plus 1. Who’s to say Andy us coming back 2. Who is to say Andy will be as good as he was this year (a career year until the injury) and 3. Who’s to say at a year older Andy won’t get hurt again and this time miss the playoffs?
We need an upgrade in the rotation I don’t think anyone else doubts that… our biggest weakness this year was out starting pitching both our depth at the major league level and playoff rotation wise Lee solves both of those.
Sabthia and Lee are 1 and 1A while Pettitte can be the 3 (where he should be at this age) and Hughes starts two game 4s.
These are all pretty terrible ideas. Either you give up top flight young talent for a mentally unstable pitcher or you sign Cliff Lee for buckets full of cash that the Yankees can easily afford. If Felix Hernandez were available, yeah I’d say get him instead…but he’s not, nor will he be. Although let me address these ideas in order:
1.) Give Mosley, Phelps, or Nova a full 30 starts and I assure they will suck just as much as Javy, if not more. Brackman, Betances, and Banuelos won’t be ready until 2011 at the very earliest, and even then you’re counting on a rookie pitcher to keep up with the AL East which is an awful idea.
2.) Yeah, give up Montero, one of the Killer Bs, and probably another good trade chip for a worse pitcher than Cliff Lee just to save some money that the Yankees can afford. Awesome idea.
3.) I really don’t want to sign some shit kicker scrub who should be occupying the back end of an NL rotation to a team that expects to win a World Series. I like to sign pitchers who are good at preventing runs. None of the ones you listed fit that description.
4.) See (3) but add giving up young talent that could be used to fix other problem areas.
Doesn’t Lannan, Malholm and Blanton all fall under the category of NL pitcher? Not a single one had a year in their careers like what Javy had last year with the Braves and yet he failed huge! None of those pitchers are known for velocity and W haven’t pitched in the AL before.
Derek Lowe is over priced and we didn’t want him last year when we traded for Javy instead so let’s not re-make that mistake with our second choice from the first mistake.
Zambrano has an attitude problem, is over paid and just like Javy has lost velocity on his fastball for 4 consecutive years.
Jeremie Guthrie? Are you serious? Do you really hate Lee bad enough to trade for a guy the Yankees light up like a Christmas tree? He’d be negative by addition just because we couldn’t face him anymore. This year was his best year ever and it wasn’t that good.
I’m just listing the alternatives. I’m with #1.
I can’t see the logic in staying pat with our biggest weakness.
I don’t want to get ahead of tomorrow’s post too much, but if Pettitte returns we’re not in terrible shape really. It got us to Game 6 of the ALCS. And starting pitching was far from the team’s only failure in that series. Hitting played a huge, if not bigger, role.
However Hughes had 2 games against Texas and neither was very good and neither showed he should be counted to guarantee a playoff rotation spot.
Pettitte is good but will be another year older and he had back stiffness in the playoffs after missing the last month plus of the season.
Pitching wasn’t our only problem but it was a problem when it comes to competing with the best rotations in the league we can’t keep depending on winning every single CC start. It worked last year but not this year and it won’t most of the time.
Andy Pettitte is not a number 2 starter anymore and he shouldn’t be forced to take that mantle Lee helps everyone out, CC gets a number 2 so we don’t have to win everyone of his olayoff starts and Pettitte gets to be the number 3 starter and taking the pressure off his and Hughes shoulders.
I’ve got to agree with T.O.Chris here. Banking on a rebound by Burnett is asking a lot, especially if you’re also planning on going with a replacement-level #5 starter as you suggest in Alternative #1.
I think people are getting a little bit ahead of themselves on (1) Ivan Nova and (2) potentially opening up the #5 spot to a Noesi/Phelps/Brackman competition.
Yeah I don’t think I trust Nova (who couldn’t finish 6 innings last year) to start 31 games next season and not have a 6 ERA.
1) This seems to assume that Andy comes back.
2) Brandon Webb is a free agent and pitching in the instructional leagues. Might be an interesting gamble.
Yeah, Pettitte not coming back would really limit their options. And I’m a fan of gambling.
Gambling can be fun but not with shoulder surgery… like with Wang last year I will say the same now you don’t know what you get with shoulder surgery and anything can be the result, he may be fine he may never make it back let someone else gamble unless he is willing to take a minor league deal with a ST invite like Thames this year.
The internal options at #5 would look a lot better if we knew Burnett would completely bounce back, Hughes had no Verducci Rules issues, and Pettitte was sure to come back. Even then, there is the looming issue of CC’s opt out. I know he has said that he has no intention of doing it but it is still a risk. Also, I don’t know that you are really helping the long term budgeting if you trade a lot of your top prospects who might make major contributions while cost controlled for someone who will become very expensive soon even if younger than Cliff Lee. I’d go after Lee hard.
I would say bounce back all the way is a varied term he really isn’t different than he always has been next year will just be more of the same maybe a little worse maybe a little better but generally the same results.
Brett Gardner vs David DeJesus…
What is the point? They are very much the same player. Why swap the younger, cheaper guy for the older, more expensive guy?
His point is you can trade for Zack by using a Gardner for DeJesus swap instead of giving up Montero…. which I don’t think would work.
What bothers me is that Bucholz might be better than Hughes, I hate that
I think Buccholz has more upside than Hughes because he is a more advanced pitcher and if Clay can just up the strikeout rate he has then he will be a solid top 2 starter going forward, Hughes has shown he will have a future in the rotation but I don’t see him as much more than a solid number 3 starter because I don’t see the change up becoming much better and I don’t think he misses enough bats to be much higher than that.
However who cares if we sign Lee we have the better rotation.
Sabathia, Lee, Pettitte, Hughes, Burnett
Vs
Lester, Beckett, Buccholz, Lackey, Dice K
I think you know, EJ, that the Yankees will not stand pat. The rotation was a mess over the entire second half of the season. With Pettitte’s recent history of injuries and slow recovery (both a function of age), evenshould he return the Yankees would not bank on him as a number two starter. Nor would they be comfortable with either Hughes or Burnett in that role. The organization will work hard (read: spend heavily) to fortify the rotation with another ace-caliber pitcher. Hence Cliff Lee.
Failing to land Lee, Cashman will look for an alternative, probably paying heavily in prospects. He recognizes this as the Yankees’ window of opportunity to claim another championship before the core ages beyond effectiveness. In several years, if the farm system delivers, a new core will emerge, one that is ideally self-sufficient (without recourse to expensive free agents). But the Yankees are not there yet, and it would be an error to force-feed young pitchers (the Betances/Brackman/Banuelos cohort) into the starting rotation and ask them to carry the burden for success from day one. The Nova and Phelps types are there to fill in when injuries strike or if Burnett or Hughes falter.
THIS! I couldn’t have said it better scout.
Right now the Yankees have 1 ace and a glut of 3 and 4 pitchers but no 2′s and it cost us in the playoffs we have no spine to the rotation just a head and tail.
First, I’m not trying to predict what the team will do. I’m arguing what they should do. I’m also not trying to deny that the 2011 Yankees are better or worse off without Cliff Lee. They’re better off. But Cliff Lee’s signing is only going to make the team worse once that window of opportunity closes that you speak of. Because we’ll be paying him big money way past his prime, just like the rest of our team will be.
I’ve written about this a lot in the past. The Yankees’ goal should be perpetual contention. Loading up for short-term gains leads them down the line of the 2005-2008 Yankees, or even the New York Knicks/Mets/etc. Thats the curse of a high payroll: it can lead to long slumps if not properly managed. See my argument yesterday.
And I’m encouraged at least by the Yankees passing on Santana in 2008. The team missed the playoffs for one year, but are better off now and in the future for it. This is the same situation.
I don’t agree. That situation wasn’t about whether to spend loads of money on the best available pitcher, it was about whether to trade assets from a depleted farm system when the potential for a younger, equally-talented pitcher was available the following year.
The Yankees didn’t pass on Santana because of sticker shock. They passed because they valued Hughes, Chamberlain, Cabrera, Wang and Kennedy and Sabathia more.
I understand the problem with giving 7 years but I don’t see any problem with 5 years because he could fufill that deal and be on top of his game for 3 years and merley good for 2.
Its not like THIS deal is going to break us we have a small window under which to win with this team and if we keep the young guys we have and develop well from our system we can replace holes from within once this team gets too old but until you need to supplement here and their with free agents.
The Yankees are never going to NOT have multiple aging players “earning” a lot of money at the same time. It’s just a byproduct of how the Yankees run their organization. Fortunately, they are paying more attention to and pouring more resources into Player Development these days. The Yankees need Cliff Lee to anchor the rotation with CC Sabathia for the next 2-3 years (hopefully) while Phil Hughes ascends from promising young pitcher to legitimate front-of-the-rotation producer. Meanwhile, the rotation will be strong enough to allow the Killer B’s – or those that are remaining – fill the “struggling but promising” roles that Generation Trey once occupied. It’s just a cycle/balancing act that the Yankees will always be managing.
Yeah but even in that scenario you traded a young star for possibly the best player of a generation and a guy who was on his way to being the best SS of all time.
If we didn’t have Tex and we had a chance to trade Cano and Kevin Russo for Albert Pujols I’d do it.
You’re still missing my point but it’s OK.
I understand the point its that anything can happen and that the Yankees have a history of trading young stars but my counter point was that you chose a bad example because Soriano was traded for a once in a lifetime player.
I don’t disagree with the overal point but the example was just bad.
I still think we make him a reasonable offer, and if he goes elsewhere, so be it. Adding years and $s beyond that would be a mistake.
I really didn’t want to trade a guy like Montero for Lee. Trading him for Greinke is the same thing, only with the additional caveats that he might not be able to handle NY and that he won’t want to stay once his contract is up. (We were pretty Sure Lee would have.)
My hope is that Hughes becomes the guy a lot of us thought he could be, and Montero’s bat and a lot of young arms are enough to get us to the postseason. If recent MLB history has shown anything, it’s that once you’re in the play-offs, anything can happen.
Hughes isn’t an ace that idea has to go away that was a myth cooked up by Yankee brass, yes he is a good pitcher, yes he will be a solid middle of the rotation guy but he doesn’t miss enough bats and I don’t believe he will ever be much more than a 2 1/2 pitcher and a good number 3 guy in the rotation.
I don’t see why giving Lee 5 years is an end all say he gives you 3-4 top years and you win 2 rings for. 1 or 2 year back log well worth it.
I don’t agree with your last sentence… recent history shows us the better rotation almost always wins we didn’t have a rotation as good and deep as Texas did and we lost.
I disagree about Hughes never being an ace. I don’t think it was a ‘myth cooked up’ by anybody. He’s had too many games that he dominated using only 2 pitches to have that low of a ceiling. He does need to start using his change often enough to be able to rely on it (unlike AJ).
The season he had was pretty good for his first full year starting.
I agree that it’s about time some more of the ‘myths’ about him were dispelled. The one we heard all winter and through ST that he wasn’t a viable starter (with the same ‘he doesn’t miss enough bats’ given as the reason). How about the myth that Joba should have been the starter-a very popular one on this site through ST and right through April.
I look and have always looked as Hughes as a similar pitcher to John Lackey just without the mental fire that let Lackey be Lackey, I always thought Lackey pitched as a number 1 (should have been a 2) because of his mental toughness and never say die attitude so when I see Hughes I see someone who is similar to a John Lackey but just not quite on the same level with John but that isn’t a bad place to be if you are Hughes.
I’ve always said Hughes would be a good 3 starter but nothing more and I’m not really sure how you can call that a “low ceiling” unless you still believe the hype from when he was first drafted which I never bought into.
I never was one of the guys who said Hughes couldn’t start I have just been one of the ones who has always opposed the “Hughes is our next ace” crowd.
Joba is a different story all together the problems Joba has as a starter are some of the same reasons he struggles as a reliever… he has serious issues to work out if he ever wants to be either of those in New York and I still think he has value as a starter to another team not named the Yankees.
EJ, some good points in your article. But option #1 only works if everything works perfectly, including 2 rookies that explode into the season. Can the Yanks in the AL east afford to roll the dice? I’d be surprised. No way would I give Montero up for anyone, historically 20 year old kids that rip through AAA are HOF bound. And no, I wouldn’t trade him staight-up for Greinke or Lee.
My thought after watching Burnett in his last play-off game was that he was amped and throwing gas. Why not turn him into the 8th inning specialist who may be groomed to replace Mo (think Eck). Pay for Lee, put Joba in the rotation (he’ll be 25, the usual age for connective tissue to mature) no limits. So now we have Lee, CC, Andy, Hughes, and one of the boys to men out of AAA. Make Montero the primary DH and break him in oh so slowly (again catchers have that same conective tissue that results in short careers for abused catchers under the age of 25). This leaves the Yanks w/ plenty of chips to deal at the deadline, and nobody is going to run away with that rotation. BTW, my comments on the age of 25 being the maturation of connective tissue was based on a study that Bill James had done 15-20 years ago. This so-called “Verducci Effect” is so much bullsht and has somehow become part of the baseball bible, most likely allowing GM’s to play chicken-squat behind it…
Girardi already said Joba is a “late inning arm” out of the pen his starting days in New York are clearly over forever!
Do you know how much money AJ is making? He will never be in the pen. Like it or not we are stuck with Burnett in the rotation and he will be in the back end of it once/if we get Lee meaning his impact will be lessened but his money guarantees him a spot.
Why does everyone want to prep guys in their 30′s to replace Mo? He looks like he will pitch a minimum of 2 more years if not 3.
I think that your being naive to believe anything at face value, especially the way the Yanks do business. The way the Yankees look at (perhaps) Burnett is that the money is already spent, and perhaps he just isn’t a pitcher that can get by with finesse. I lived in Miami when he first came up and the interviews always portrayed Burnett as a highly strung, adrenaline amped person. I mean, let’s face it, Burnett sucked, historically sucked, this year as a starter. Unless there are some undisclosed issues (again nothing comes out of the Yanks office at face value) maybe his body is over-the-hill as a starter regardless of price. And yes, I’m aware that this is pure speculation, but it’s something to think about if you choose.
Does anyone actually believe that Greinke didn’t have a career year last year? He will never match those numbers again IMO and truthfully he has never come close to those numbers at any point in his career.
He never struck out more men than batter until last year and he didn’t even K 200 this year, he K’d 8/9 in 08 raised up to 9.5 K/9 in 09 and down to 7.4 K/9 in 10.
There are red flags all over Greinke. I would not bet the farm [system] on his succeeding in New York City with the media circus that surrounds sports here.
I agree with EJ. Ideally I would like it if the Yankees would be able to make Burnett disappear and then sign Lee but that’s not realistic after his season. It’s too bad the yanks have given up on Chamberlain as a starter, otherwise this would make figuring this out easier. Thinking about this just keeps reminding me about how we failed in not being able to get Haren on the cheap. Since it’s pretty evident that Cashman will go after Lee, I can only pray Burnett has a good year next year and we can unload him as soon as we can.
The only team even entertaining the thought of entertaining the thought of taking Burnett off of our hands (stop re-reading, that wasn’t a mistake) is the New York Mets. You know what? Scratch that. New GM in Queens. Burnett is a Yankee until he walks.
Besides, the only player the Mets would even trade us is Oliver Perez.
To T.O.,
I think that your being naive to believe anything at face value, especially the way the Yanks do business. The way the Yankees look at (perhaps) Burnett is that the money is already spent, and perhaps he just isn’t a pitcher that can get by with finesse. I lived in Miami when he first came up and the interviews always portrayed Burnett as a highly strung, adrenaline amped person. I mean, let’s face it, Burnett sucked, historically sucked, this year as a starter. Unless there are some undisclosed issues (again nothing comes out of the Yanks office at face value) maybe his body is over-the-hill as a starter regardless of price. And yes, I’m aware that this is pure speculation, but it’s something to think about if you choose. PS, if some of you guys take the trouble to research pitchers careers it is folly to say that Joba is doomed to the pen simply because he has been stuck there for two years. In point of fact, for many decades, including the present, this was the customary way to develop starters. Some of you guys need to stop reading the HS that espn and it’s ilk and start reading books where you can learn the game. This isn’t fantasy baseball, it’s the real deal.
Well since you clearly treat people with a tremendous amount of respect I’ll answer you.
Burnett isn’t a rounding error for the Yankees the amount of money he is making is crippling to most teams and as much money as the Yanks have they simply can’t afford to stick him in the pen to get 40 IP a year out of him, he has to start even as a number 5 that is where his value lies.
Since you know so much about baseball you should know Burnett’s problems aren’t velocity related they are control related so even if he goes to the pen wild pitches, home runs and walked batters will still occur he just won’t have have as much time to get out of trouble.
BTW Brian Cashman/Joe Girardi have already said Joba will pitch out of the pen next year they won’t even let him compete in ST if there is a spot open in the rotation IMO, they clearly favor the likes of Nova over Joba.
Also I don’t play fantasy baseball and id don’t go try and read books to act like I know baseball I’ve been watching this game for 18+ years as a serious fan try and have a little respect buddy.
Short of a trade, the alternatives to Lee are just uninspiring all around. The free agent crop is bare and the internal options all leave a lot to be desired, especially if Joba is not a candidate. There is always a chance that Lee signs elsewhere and the Yankees will have to make do with “contingency plans” and what not, but every effort should be made to sign Lee.