Originally Posted by FOX
1. Trade A-Rod
He has to go, and teams will want him. He is one year removed from an MVP and near Gold Glove year, and besides his issues in the field, wasn't bad at the plate this season either. He is a franchise player in his prime who should bounce all the way back in a new, more laidback city.
Exactly. He seemed great in his MVP NEW YORK YEAR...
A-Rod is owed $27 million per season for 2007, 2008, 2009 and 2010. Texas is paying $28 million of that, but that still leaves $20 million per season. While a few teams may be willing to pay that price for a player as good as A-Rod, the Yankees should kick in some cash to expand the pool and get back as much as they can.
A-Rod is a STEAL at the price we have him at, which is 16mil by the way. 16mil superstar that may be the greatest bat of our generation? I'd take it.
2. Trade Jason Giambi
This will be the most challenging piece of the puzzle, but it can be done albeit painfully. Giambi has two years remaining on his contract, plus a buyout that would increase the total owed to $47 million. This is a constant headache for the team, and it needs to be removed. He could be a good fit for one of the California teams who need another bat.
First off I'm not sure if any team would want to take Giambi without the Yankees eating out a huge amount of his contract. Giambi still is a fairly effective hitter and I likes the look of his OBA, but it ain't near his juicer days.
3. Trade Johnny Damon
Damon had a very good year at the plate for the Yankees. He played hurt and fit into the team seamlessly. You can not give the opposing team extra bases and expect to win close games all the time. Damon should be traded while his value is high. Lots of contending teams need an upgrade at CF and a leadoff guy.
This is an interesting move I've never seen before. It'd give Melky Cabrera a chance to move into CF and I'd like to see it happen. The value on what we get back is the only deciding factor for me.
4. Trade Jaret Wright and Kyle Farnsworth to NL teams
Wright is a good guy who could thrive back in the NL, as he did with the Braves. The Yankees can pick up his option for $7 million or buy him out for $4 million. They should pick up the option, and send Wright and $3 million to an NL team who would get a very decent pitcher for one year at $4 million. Likewise, Farnsworth (2 years, $10.75 million remaining), would probably fare better back in the NL, maybe even closing for a small market team.
Buyout Wright OR put him in the bullpen. Farnsworth should stay IMO but if we can get something back for him I'd have no problem with trading him and bringing up Colter Bean.
5. Plan for little or no production from Randy Johnson and Carl Pavano
Johnson (1 year, $16 million remaining), is untradeable due to requiring back surgery, as is Pavano (2 years, $21 million remaining) due to an injury suffered during a car accident he tried to conceal.
I'm truely against getting any long term commitment. Take Mussina's ridiculous option unless he'll sign a 1 year contract. I'm expecting ONE GOOD YEAR out of Pavano, his contract year. Pavano is appearantly getting in shape and if we get ANY starts out of him in '07 I'd be happy.
RJ looked effective after his last surgery, but he wasn't over 40. I'm still betting on at least a repeat performance out of the future HoFer.
Now to put together a team for 2007.
1. Sign Daisuke Matsuzaka
Reports from Japan indicate that the 25-year old Matsuzaka might be the best pitcher outside of MLB right now. The Yankees have finally gotten over the Irabu fiasco and have first-hand knowledge of the success of Asian pitchers with Chien-Ming Wang taking over as the ace of the team. Matsuzaka will cost nothing but money, for which the Yankees should pay whatever is required to add the right-hander to their rotation.
Agree'd.
2. Promote Philip Hughes
DISAGREED. Hughes needs more farm time but I do suggest a midseason callup with a full-time job for '08. He needs more innings. HOWEVER I do want him to get a lot of time with Guidry to take that slider from a situational pitch to a good one so he can have an arsenal of fastball, curve, change, and slider.
3. Re-sign Mike Mussina at the right price
Mussina came to the Yankees in 2001, figuring he would pick up several World Series rings as a cap to a successful career. Unfortunately that hasn't worked out, as the Yankees have yet to win a title with Mussina. He has never been the shutdown pitcher he was signed to be, but he has also been very consistent, and the least of the Yankees' problems when the ship has been going down. If Mussina wants to stay for reasonable money, he should be retained. If he thinks he is still an ace, he should be shown the door. He could also be the odd man out if the Yankees chose to sign two pitchers like Andy Pettitte and Mark Mulder.
I agree.
4. Sign Andy Pettitte and/or Mark Mulder
The Yankees have shown that bringing pitchers from the NL to the AL is an exercise in futility. These two would be the exception. Pettitte was a key member of the Yankee championship teams and has repeatedly shown the ability to pitch in big games. More importantly, at 34 he can still pitch at a high level. The primary reason he left the team after the 2003 season was the Yankees' fear that he was hurt, which was borne out as he missed most of the 2004 season. If his good friend Roger Clemens retires, Pettitte could turn back to his first team for his final contract.
... Andy Pettitte is getting older and is coming from the NL. Had he been younger and I would have said yes. The only NL pitcher I would even consider this offseason MIGHT be Roger Clemens but I bet he'll retire.
Mulder, 29, is coming off shoulder surgery and could likely be had for an incentive laden deal. Before he hurt his arm in 2004 and subsequently moved to the NL, he was one of the best pitchers in the AL, and also has recorded a 2.34 ERA in 7 postseason starts. The Yankees have not had an effective left-handed starter since David Wells left the team, and Mulder could be a key to getting tough wins in the playoffs.
This is a risky move and he is making the NL to AL move. True, he has had past successes but his NL successes haven't been promising. If we get the old Mulder I'd have to say yes but it is a tossup.
5. Sign Alfonso Soriano or Gary Matthews Jr. to play center field
Soriano would be the ultimate high risk, high reward. He would love to return to the Yankees, a team he never wanted to leave. Would he be willing to play center to do so? Would he be willing to put in the work to become a great center fielder? Soriano was literally thrown into left field by the Nationals and by season's end was fielding the position very capably. Imagine what he could do with an entire offseason spent focused on learning a new position. The downside is the enormous contract demands and lots of strikeouts. Also, Soriano's atrocious postseason performance in 2003 is what got him shipped out of New York in the first place.
No to Soriano. Do you know the talent we'd have to be putting up to get him?
IF Damon is traded I'd like to see a Matsui (LF), Melky (CF), Abreu (RF) outfield.
Matthews Jr. is a more moderate risk and probably the better play. He is a Gold-Glove caliber center fielder and had his best season at the plate in his free agent year. Still, even if he regresses to his career norms, (.263 average, 14 hr, 58 RBIs) he would still be a capable hitter and more importantly he would provide a huge boost to the outfield defense. Matthews Jr. can run and throw out runners. An outfield of Matsui, Matthews Jr. and Cabrera would be an enormous improvement defensively.
DH Abreu? Sure, we'd have a defensive increase but an offensive decrease. It isn't easy to replace a .400 OBA guy like Giambi.
6. Play the kids already
The Yankees called up Robinson Cano in 2005 because they were forced to rectify the tremendous failure of the Tony Womack experiment. Cano proved he belonged, and in 2006 cemented his status by hitting .342. Instead of filling every spot in the lineup with stars, the Yankees need to keep some holes open for kids.
Melky Cabrera should be the regular RF next season, with Bobby Abreu moving to DH.
I don't agree here. Melky should play everyday but I think Abreu should stay put.
Andy Phillips (not a kid) deserves a shot at 1B,
Full-hearted agreement. This guy TORE UP AAA and had a few excellent months.
Hughes in the rotation, and the team should bring up some prospects to fill those spots in the pen.
Mid-season callup.
Pitching prospects (Darrell Rasner/Jeff Karstens/TJ Beam/Sean Henn, etc …) should get a shot at those innings.
Rasner and Karstens are far from prospects. This guy project to be 5th starters. If RJ fails then by all means play them but I don't want to see more than a 5th starter spot.
7. Sign a good backup catcher
Greg Zaun would be a good addition that would end the yearly carousel known as the Yankee backup catching corp.
Greg Zaun should be able to command a starting deal. Sal Fasano is a decent BACKUP catcher that'll deliver some pop.
These changes would cost a lot of money, but not by bringing in more stars. The 2007 Yankees don't need Barry Zito, Barry Bonds, Carlos Lee, etc.. They should use the enormous resources available to them to correct mistakes and start over.
I don't want to see many if any FA signings this offseason. Bonds is the only guy I'd consider if we can get him at a reasonable price AND ship out Giambi but that seems unlikely. Bonds has a one sweet sweet walk %.
Restock the farm system in as many deals as possible.
I agree there.
