Yankee Contract Issues

By On May 20, 2011 · 9 Comments · In Roster Decisions

I touched on this briefly at different points throughout the offseason on stuff like this, but now that MLBTR has released their Yankees 2012 contract issues post, I figured I’d expand my thoughts.

They have six players eligible for free agency: Luis Ayala, Eric Chavez, Bartolo Colon, Freddy Garcia, Andruw Jones, and Jorge Posada. I will pretty surprised if any of these guys are back with the team in 2012. Posada’s on the retirement track and despite their successes, I don’t think the Yankees will take on the risk of another year with Colon or Garcia. Hell, it’s still May; there’s definitely a non-zero chance that either Colon or Garcia doesn’t last the entire season, and the same goes for Chavez and Jones, though I’d put their chances of staying higher than the pitchers. Even if they do stay the entire year—and it this point it looks like Colon is intent on doing that—the Yankees are unlikely to bring them back. Luis Ayala, though having a decent year, is the very definition of a replaceable bullpen arm.

The Yankees also have five players with options: Robinson Cano, Damaso Marte, CC Sabathia, Rafael Soriano, and Nick Swisher. Cano ($14M), Swisher ($10.25M), and Marte ($4M) all have club options on them. There are buyouts as well, but I think that’s only going to apply to Marte ($250K). Swisher may be having a down year, but that’s a club friendly option and it’ll be picked up. Picking up Cano’s option is certainly a no-brainer as he’d probably get more on the open market. As for Soriano, I have no doubt in my mind that he’ll exercise his player option and return for 2012, no matter how poorly he performs or fits in or is received by a-certain-member-of-the-New-York-media-whom-I-will-not-name.

CC Sabathia is going to opt out. There is no reason for him not to. I hope he’s a Yankee in 2012 and I think he will be, but it won’t be under the contract he currently has.

There are going to be eight players eligible for arbitration and since I’m not too knowledgeable in that area, I’ll let the post do the talking:

Arbitration Eligible (8)

* First time: Brett Gardner, David Robertson, Chris Dickerson
* Second time: Phil Hughes, Joba Chamberlain, Buddy Carlyle
* Third time: Boone Logan
* Fourth time: Russell Martin

From the Yankees’ standpoint, none of these cases should be daunting. This is only Gardner’s second full season, and he doesn’t have power, so his arbitration reward will probably be $3MM or less. Hughes’ issues will limit his raise to perhaps a million dollars at most. Raises for relievers Robertson, Chamberlain, and Logan won’t be crazy either. Martin’s hot hitting has tailed off this month. He could still get a bump to $6MM+, depending on how the rest of his season goes. I’ll use a rough estimate of $17MM to retain the team’s arbitration eligibles.

Like we do every year, we’re going to see a good blend of new faces come Spring Training, but they won’t necessarily be in key starting roles. The main players are going to be the same (minus Posada), assuming the Swisher/Cano options are picked up and CC and Soriano return, but the supporting cast is going to be different with the likely departures of Ayala, Chavez, Colon, Garcia, and Jones.

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9 Responses to Yankee Contract Issues

  1. UYF1950 says:
    May 20, 2011 at 11:17 am

    Matt I think there might be an issue with picking up Swishers option he’s struggling so far this year and really hasn’t performed very well in the post season with the Yankees. It’s true it’s team friendly but there seem to be a lot of outfields hitting FA in 2012. Now I haven’t looked at the stats for them but there probably are one or 2 that are pretty good. Also, Isn’t there a possibility that Colon would be a valuable asset for the bullpen even if he’s not starting next year? And lastly, why not resign Chavez? Especially if he comes back healthy and stays healthy the rest of the season. He’ll probably come relatively cheap and is a viable sub for A-Rod and Tex in the infield. Just wondering what you think.

    Reply
    • Matt Imbrogno says:
      May 20, 2011 at 11:27 am

      The only other outfielder worth thinking about who could represent a real upgrade over Swisher is Grady Sizemore and that’s not going to happen. For one, he has an option on his contract and two, he hasn’t exactly been the healthiest player so I don’t think that’s a risk worth taking, even with his great talent.

      As for Colon, I just don’t think the Yankees will roll the dice on his health two years in a row. I’d rather let him go a year early than a year too late and the same goes for Chavez, though his chances of sticking are probably better than Colon’s.

      Reply
      • bornwithpinstripes says:
        May 20, 2011 at 1:04 pm

        as far as the pitchers we must see what happens by years end, too early to determine.only may..but i am super impressed with colon,he is throwing hard and with great movement..and seems he don’t break a sweat.. cano is a no brainer, in fact try to get to the table and renew his contract..swisher at that price must go, posada must go, thats 24mil right there. chaves is worth looking at ,still has a great glove,and swings for singles not looking to jack everything,he knows his role and likes it. good clubhouse guy.. marte, boy not a question he is gone,another 4mil saved. jones i would cut today, he is awful..just his smiling all the time annoys me.. no heart, waste of talent..and his good years are so behind him..he is not our future and should try a RHed bat from AAA.igawa 4mil more. martin is a guy for 6mil should be brought back..seems the starters like his game calling..hustles all the time. he is a sound investment.as far as sori, i posted when his contract came out that guy is never opting out..we have him for the whole contract..lets hope he stays healthy, nobody gives him that money..

        Reply
        • Matt Imbrogno says:
          May 20, 2011 at 1:16 pm

          Why, pray tell, must Swisher go? And with whom do you intend to replace him.

          It’s also worth noting that Igawa’s salary is not counting against anything since he’s not on the 40 man roster.

          Reply
          • bornwithpinstripes says:
            May 20, 2011 at 1:35 pm

            matt ,i know you are a swisher fan, right noe he is back to a .230 hitter this is the final year he will get 10 plus mil…unless he picks up his game he is not worth that money ..why would you pay a guy ten mil to hit sub .250?anybody can do that for ten percent of that..he is a nice guy, we can use that money else where. as far as igawa ,it is still 4mil..does it matter what ledger it goes under, they still have 4mil more in the bank..it can go for other talent or to hal’s bank account..

            Reply
            • Matt Imbrogno says:
              May 20, 2011 at 1:59 pm

              Why? Because Nick Swisher isn’t on the Yankees for his batting average. He’s on the team because he draws walks, hits for power, and plays average defense in right field (not to mention the fact that his contract is pretty team friendly). Where else can that money be used? Who is going to play right field? The free agent class offers nothing great and I don’t anticipate any good trades popping up. Swisher’s the best option and he’s the cheapest option in more ways than one.

              Reply
              • bornwithpinstripes says:
                May 20, 2011 at 4:24 pm

                matt ,i said he needs to step it up the rest of the season to earn the option for 10 plus mil..right now he has two homers..what #s do you think he needs to get to at years end? walks, homers,O.B.P. to be a 10 mil player.. if he hits under 20, less than 90 walks.. under .250 ..if he does not exceed some of these ,he should not be a 10 mil player who will be like all other a year older..nobody in baseball will give him that much if he can not bring those #s..

      • bornwithpinstripes says:
        May 20, 2011 at 1:42 pm

        grady will always have health issues, a shame a great talent

        Reply
  2. bornwithpinstripes says:
    May 20, 2011 at 4:27 pm

    matt , who would you like to have, and this is not my choice.. swisher for 10 plus or beltran for 5 or 6?

    Reply

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