The Yankees, Mets and Red Sox have endless money, but not endless roster spots
When word broke yesterday that the Yankees signed LaTroy Hawkins, a line from "Night Court" quickly came to mind.
The gang thinks that Dan has died in a plane crash, and in planning the funeral, an effort is made to think of something nice to say about the ultra-sleazy Dan.
"He was a mammal," Bull suggests.
Similarly, if you're a Yankees fan, and you ask me to say something nice about the Hawkins signing, I'd offer similar faint praise: "It's a one-year deal."
Maybe the Hawkins signing will work out just fine. I'll bet against it. But the best part for the Yankees is that if Hawkins does fail at his job, they can wash their hands of him quickly and relatively painlessly. A release at the All-Star break, for instance, would cost them less than $2 million.
We know that baseball's big three _ Yankees, Mets and Red Sox _ can afford just about any move, including a long-term deal for Johan Santana. But when a big-market team makes bad signings, it's weighed down by the roster space more than the money.
The 2005 Yankees were the textbook example of this. Remember when they got off to that awful start? Over one-third of that early-season roster constitued dead weight: Kevin Brown, Jason Giambi, Steve Karsay, Carl Pavano, Paul Quantrill, Mike Stanton, Bernie Williams (sorry, but he was, by that point), Tony Womack and Jaret Wright. The Yankees had to eat a great deal of money to jettison these useless parts, or in some cases, they simply held onto the players with the hope that they would improve.
Giambi miraculously rediscovered his power stroke that summer, and Bernie played a little better with more rest. But that season proved a turning point in recent Yankees history. When George Steinbrenner berated Brian Cashman over the team's awful play, Cashman reminded The Boss that he hadn't made many of these bad decisions, and Steinbrenner responded by giving Cashman more responsibility. Thanks to unlikely heroes like Shawn Chacon, Al Leiter and Aaron Small, not to mention youngsters Robinson Cano and Chien-Ming Wang, the Yankees rallied to win the division.
Cashman, on his own, has made some mistakes - Kyle Farnsworth was probably the worst, and many industry people think that Kei Igawa will not show any more in 2008 than he did in 2007. In general, however, Cashman has tried to give his roster more flexibility. This coming year, potential dead weight candidates are Farnsworth, Giambi and Mike Mussina, all of whom will be off the books by season's end.
Of course, we'll see whether the new contracts to Jorge Posada, Mariano Rivera and Alex Rodriguez eventually produce high-profile dead weight.
The Mets' potential dead weight includes only Carlos Delgado and Scott Schoeneweis _ not bad, really. It's one of the overlooked components of Omar Minaya's run that he has signed off on very few awful contracts.
E-mail
Facebook
Digg
Delicious
Comments (11)
Ken, aside from the one-year contract, Hawkins had a respectable ERA (3.42) in Coors Field, a notorious hitter's park (even after the humidor effect). I know he's going to the AL East, but he should be a serviceable, if not very good, reliever.
You could very well be right, Ben. I was impressed with his durability over the past few years. But I'm sticking to my hunch that he's not going to be very helpful. The AL East lineups are so much more challenging than the NL West lineups, and countless players will tell you that there is no pressure like that of pitching in The Rivalry.
Hey Ken.
Perhaps the Yankees think Hawkins will be able to replicate his three outs on 9 pitches (did it a few years ago against Florida) this year; that's doubtful.
As for the Mets, add these names to the dead weight group: Aaron Sele and David Newhan.
~Howard
Good news, Howard: Both Newhan and Sele are free agents. You don't have to worry about them anymore.
On paper Hawkins looks like an acceptable gamble. However, there is a reason he's been on four teams in four years. I question how he's going to fit into the clubhouse. Cashman seems to have wanted to get someone, anyone, in the bullpen and Hawkins had decent numbers and was available at an acceptable price. The Yankees can get away with this type of signing. They would rather spend money than give up young talent, whereas the Mets are cheap despite have plenty of bucks.
Ken.
I'm glad the Mets didn't resign Newhan. He was so bad last year, I think one game he went 0 for 4 and his average went up.
~Howard
LOL on Newhan, Howard. Jim, as far as I can tell, Hawkins' well-traveled past reflects his pitching, not his personality. Hawkins is a good guy, according to the people with whom I've spoken.
Glad to hear Hawkins will fit in. If it doesn't work out, as you said, it's only money. Gagne is a good pick-up for the Brewers. I just can't believe the guy is done yet. I wouldn't be surprised at all if he somehow finds his groove again. The Yankees are going to be well positioned when all the bucks gets freed next year between Giambi, Farnsworth, Pavano, Mussina and Abreu. All of that, combined with the fact they will get a pass on a significant portion of their revenue sharing tab because the debt service for the new stadium comes right off of that revenue sharing bill. Plus, they don't have to share all the money from the new luxury boxes.
as for Mitchell, what about this Congressional testimony that shows his ownership status? From Congressional testimony FANS act , p. 91 and 92
http://commdocs.house.gov/committees/judiciary/hju76556.000/hju76556_0.HTM
Rep. Watt - Mitchell, the blue ribbon guy who is trying to buy into baseball.
Bud Selig - Mitchell,s he's trying to buy into a big market franchise.
Rep. Sensenbrenner acknowledges the actions are common knowledge.
Page 91
Mr. WATT. So the question is could we get ahold of the same information you've given the players union over the last 5 years?
Mr. SELIG. The only thing I'm told that we haven't given you—you have all the same information now that the blue ribbon committee had, everything.
Mr. WATT. The problem is the blue ribbon committee guy is now trying to buy into baseball. So he told me you were losing money, and then he says he wants to buy into the system. It leaves me a little shaky about his judgment and the conclusions he reached.
Mr. SELIG. I don't think so because he's trying to buy a big market franchise, Congressman. He's not trying to buy—I think we've already answered that. And by the way, the only information not turned over to you was, I am told by our people, the bargaining information on revenue sharing and salary, which they believe is confidential. The financial information I'm told has been turned over.
Page 92 PREV PAGE TOP OF DOC
Chairman SENSENBRENNER. The gentleman's time has expired. The Chair would observe that the blue ribbon commission member who is trying to buy into a franchise used to be a Senator, and you know how they are.
Mr. WATT. That explains it all, Mr. Chairman.
-
Though that you would like this, Ken!!
The Boston Red Sox Board of Director report will be interesting.
oops,,, I mean the Mitchell report.
Another Bud joke. Talk about a conflict of interest. Unless the named names are already common knowledge via the grapevine, it would seem Boston has an advantage.
Maybe the Red Sox weren't going to jump in the FA market early anyways, but if they did - what is to prevent Mitchell from giving Theo a wink wink - yes that guy is safe.
IF a guy like Mike Lowell was going to appear on the list, what would prevent a little "cough tread careful Theo cough cough" from high above the Fenway clouds.
Don is on target.
Mitchell is supposedly on break until the report is done - but he is probably still being paid by Boston for "consulting" - think Clarence beeks and the top secret orange crop report - or will be compensated upon his return to the Sox. At that point, he will get a scratch behind his ears, an extra dog biscuit, and all the puppy chow he wants.