This week, the Yankees did next to nothing at the winter meetings. They did win the rights to Japanese shortstop Hiroyuki Nakajima, but that’s nothing overly significant. While the Marlins and the Angels went absolutely nuts, the Yankees sat back contently and didn’t do anything.
Some wondered aloud if the Yankees were lacking in activity out of financial restraint and others augmented that thought, saying the Yankees were being a little too careful with their money. I can see that line of reasoning, considering that the money that C.J. Wilson and Mark Buehrle got wasn’t exorbitant. But, I cannot bring myself to agree with that line of thinking.
The Yankees “failing” to sign either Buehrle or Wilson has more to do with their evaluations of those two as pitchers rather than as prices. While it may appear the Yankees were pinching pennies by after Freddy Garcia and not bothering with the two best lefties on the market, the fact that they never got past preliminary talks with Buehrle and passed on the last chance for Wilson indicates that they just didn’t like either guy to fit their club. Brian Cashman didn’t say much publicly about Buehrle. He did, though, talk a bit about Wilson. He said that Wilson was the best starter on the FA market, but all other things that leaked from the organization said they didn’t think of Wilson as a frontline guy.
Perhaps the Yankees are saving their money and resources for a target they like better, like Yu Darvish. If they go hard for the coveted Japanese right hander, I think this mini-financial “mystery” will be solved. There are reasons why neither Buehrle nor Wilson is a Yankee right now; most of them are baseball related.
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7 Responses to On the lack of signings
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TIQ IQ
” If they go hard for the coveted Japanese right hander, I think this mini-financial “mystery” will be solved”
From your lips to Cashman’s ears.
I’d rather see the whole Darvish saga play out in Texas. Let them take the risk involved with the 100+ million dollar investment.
Thanks for NOT signing CJ Wilson period!!
Buerhrle is a bigot, he wished Michael Vic would get injured, after Vic has already served his time, for the dog fighting.
Glad his small mindedness won’t come to the Yankees.
So hating dog killers is bigotry?
The Yanks are already committed to CC late into his career. It makes no sense to do long term contracts with guys like Buehrle and Wilson, especially with the possibility of some high quality younger starters being available through trades, posting, or next year’s FA. I think Cashman believes that avoiding those two this year provides the financial flexibility he’ll need next year, or possibly this year if he gets Danks and then signs him for a longer period.
Maybe they’re saving their money to package up as part of a trade of A.J.
Speaking of which, the Phillies have holes at short and the outfield, and they also have Doc Halliday — who as a teammate in Toronto seemed to help turn A.J. into a pitcher the Yanks thought was worth $82M.
The Phillies may be willing to swap Cole Hammels for A.J., Nuney & Swish, plus cash to cover some of A.J.’s salary.
Cole Hammels sounds like a nice prize, even at that price. Way better than Jair Jurrgggennnns.
I’m not sure what you’re on but I’m pretty sure Bud Selig wants to put a test for it in the next CBA.