On the Yankees beat

What would be more interesting is how much the Yanks' bid were.

Jim, where are you writing this from?

Caribbean?

From parts unknown.

Jim ,Isn't it true Matsusaka can turn down any offer the Sox put on the table? Then Seibu has to return the cash,right? Would you please clarify the parameters for me .Thanks.

Yes, now begins the 30-day window for the Red Sox to negotiate with Matsuzaka and agent Scott Boras. If they don't reach a deal he goes back to Japan and the Red Sox get their money back. However, that is very unlikely. Matsuzaka asked out and it would be a major sign of disrespect to Seibu and all of Japan if all of this went for naught. So unless the Red Sox did this only to block Matsuzaka from the Yankees and with no intention of signing him -- also very unlikely -- this ordeal will end with a news conference in Boston. And fans all across New England will be getting Matsuzaka jerseys for Christmas.

Now who is the evil empire?? What a bunch of crybabies the Red Sox management are!!!!

This is a desparate move by the Red Sox's to bid so high. It will cost at a minimum 90 mil for a 3 year contract. This will hamper them in every aspect of retooling their team. I 'm happy the Yanks showed some restraint with the bidding for the rights. In my view, no one player is capable of bringing the WS ring to a team. It is a team effort with some luck. Dollars do not buy performance or championships.

I imagine. The Red Sox's will be watching this kid's every move. He may turn into their Pavano.

The Sox will have to deal with Scott Boras now and they think they have him handcuffed because he can only negotiate with one team and has 30 days to do it but they haven't seen anything yet. I can bet Boras will come at them with a 3 yr $45M contract proposal because he will want his guy to be a FA again in 3 years when he is still only 29. This will be fun to watch. I hear the Yanks bid $31M.

Jim, where are you writing this from?

Caribbean?

Posted by: Eric | November 14, 2006 09:09 PM

From parts unknown.

Posted by: Jim Baumbach | November 14, 2006 09:13 PM
___________________________

That must mean Jim is with Dick Cheney in an undisclosed location.

Jim, whatever you do, don't go hunting with him. And wear sunscreen. Trust me on the sunscreen. And have fun!

It is finally refreshing to see the Yankees not throw a billion dollars at unproven major league level talent. 51.1 million is alot of money just to talk to a guy. By the time all is said and done the Yanks can get 3 or 4 players for the final number contract/posting bid. Hey at least we have Phil Hughes who is 5 years younger and 90 million dollars cheaper and projected to be a number 1 starter also. So in reality they both are unproven but at least we did not shower Hughes with millions of dollars. The Yanks will be fine. Wang, Hughes,Clippard,Sanchez is the future and that looks alot better than what they got cooking in Sox nation. Hey Theo at least us Yankees don't break hotel lobby chairs when we don't get a player. Now all those Red Sox fans have to keep there mouths shut when it comes to money because we did not throw up half the devil rays salary to speak to him.

Jim,
The Evil Empire II.
Theo starring as Darth Vader.
Manny starring as Chewbacca.
Big Poppy starring as Jabba the Hutt.
And John Henry as the Beaver.
Have fun.

Im bitterly dissappoinyed, I cannot believe we didnt get this dude. He is the best out there, when did things change? Didnt we always get everyone we wanted? Damn Sux
:(

No worries Jeets! this will come back and haunt the red sux. I hope we have a chance to either pick up schmidt, zito or maybe buerhle from the sox via trade.

Keep in mind, the Socks have many other issues to deal with. They have no closer, no rightfielder, a questionable infield, no backup catcher, no bench depth. Supposedly, they have their eyes on J.D. Drew (a well documented I,me guy) and he's also a Scott Boras client. The whole world knows Boras does not hand out discounts. This may or may not be a ploy for the Yankees not to get Matsuzaka but if not, Boston has painted themselves into a corner. Sign him or get off the pot.

Matsuzaka will never be able to live up to the contract/posting fee. I almost feel bad for the poor SOB as the Boston media will tear him up if he is anything less than Johan Santana.
If Cash doesn't pull off some monster deal that shocks everyone I will be surprised. I have had a feeling for a while that he is up to something. Cash is usually quiet when he's working some kind of blockbuster out. The rest of the winter will be fun to watch anyway. I'm not at all worried about the Sox next year. Their rotation is entirely righthanded and they still have a lot of holes to fill. Boy Wonder Theo has made some mistakes in the past couple of seasons so he is going to be on the hot seat w/ Matsuzaka.
My only concern is our team is not built to suffer for a year with mediocre pitching and try to get Hughes, Sanchez, Clippard etc. ready for 2008. We're too old and we can't wait that long.
Now Boston is talking about getting Brad Lidge to close for them and I really hope that happens because that guy gives it up more than Armando Benitez.

Hopes for The Yankees for winning The Al East and world series are over by Redsox acquiring Dmat.

It's over and hopes for winning world series and division for next year. By signing Dmat The Redsox completely change The balance of power in Al east. Redsox rotation now has too much power and depth. The Yankees can't compete . Along with BlueJays and Orioles, and Drays. Drays who won the posting rights for Iwamura and Orioles trading for Jaret wright. Mets will sign Barry Zito. This is the Year that Yankees last chance to win World Series without Redsox and Angels making the Playoffs. The Yankees choked and failed. Do you think the Yankees will make the playoffs next year or is it over?

Highest payroll? yankees cut payroll by trading Gary Sheffield and Jaret wright. They also renew the contract of Mike Mussina which was $20 million to $11 million per year. So Redsox won the bid fo Dmat and negotiate him to contract. The redsox payroll will balloned to that Yankees payroll . By The End they will be even. The redsox aren't done dealing and willl go after high price free agents such as J.D Drew and signed many free agents as possible.

I thank the Redsox Frontoffice for bidding a outrageous amount Daisuke Matsuzaka sweepstakes. I'm Yankees fan, I'm feeling shocked and stunned right now. It feels like The Redsox front Office took my heart out on my body. I don't Know if I have The desire to watch the Yankees games and joy to be yankees fan.

Today's It's Dmat Day. The RedSox may have won the battle but The war is not yet over. Yankees will arise again and strikes back.

The Reason Redsox didn't resigned Damon was He was too old. They rather invest that money for premiere young starting pitching. Second ,\" I remember That phrase was \"If they couldn't beat them and join them\" . So Damon and Arod, and Giambi signed with the Yankees besides the Money so they can learn how to play in ny and managed by Joe.

Conspiracy theory or not? How did Buster Olney know The Sealed Bids that Redsox have won the bidding for Matsuzaka. Who Told Bustery Olney that Redsox have won? I know Bud Selig and John Henry are best friends. Redsox may block Matsuzaka away from Yankees and now they have won him over. How did the Redsox know that No will bid higher than $51 million for Dmat? Thanks Bud .

I say we trade Melky and Sanchez to Florida for Dontree Willis. And, it looks like the main FA target is Meche. So, we could have a rotation of Wang, Willis, Mussina, Meche, and Johnson (or a kid from within) until RJ is ready. What say all of you?

if this were to happen I could see the Yanks maybe dealing Tabata and a couple of prospects for Willis ,but not Sanchez who could turn out to be as good as Willis.Not Melky.Sanchez,Hughes,Clippard,Kartsens w/ Wang might be the starting staff in 2008-9

Where Is The Outrage? Espn, Si?, Not when it's the Red Sox spendin' wild!

I usually don't do this, but please allow me to vent...

The Red Sox outbid the Yanks for negotiating rights (note: "negotiating rights") by almost 20 MILLION! What's the reaction you hear? "Great Move!"

If the Yanks bid 51M, there'd be an investigation by MLB!

Where are all the sportswriters who claim that the small market teams can't compete because of the Yankees....oh wait, I'm sorry....they can't blame the Yankees BECAUSE THE RED SOX OUTBID THEM BY 20 MILLION!

oK, this is much deeper than this.

In 2005, after an entire year long celebration by ESPN over how great the Red Sox and that we should all get the Red Sox logo tatooed to our chests, when they were playing their elimination game against the White Sox, at the end of the game, Chris Berman says, "We really need to give a big hand to the Boston Red Sox."

EXCUSE ME? GIVE A BIG HAND TO WHO? I don't remember him saying that when the White Sox were officially eliminated from the playoffs or ANY YEAR that the Yankees won.

Bottom line? ESPN, FOX and all the other associated sports losers need to stop demonizing the Yankees. In the last 6 years there have been 6 different World Champions and none of them were the Yankees. Sure the Yankees spend, but they also pay their MLB "Welfare" (also known as Luxury Tax), so that Kansas City Royal fans can complain that they have no chance, why their top level execs keep payroll down to about $5.00 and pocket all of the Yankee money.

Selig should stand up for ALL the teams in baseball instead of constantly trying to be Steinbrenner's personal proctologist (I know this last sentence doesn't correspond with my other points and may have given an unpleasant visual, but I just had to say it), every time he makes a deal.

Let the Sox have D-Mat...but when the Yanks make their next signing, let one of them mention overspending...hipocrates.

Oh, and Tim McCarver $ucks.

Thanks you.

If Boston manages to sign Boras client Matsuzka (it's not etched in stone, yet) the Japanese media will be less than thrilled when they see the tiny, cramped quarters for doing interviews. The clubhouse is normally a scene of players and media packed in like sardines in the (Sardine Can). A recent magazine interview with Jermaine Dye of the White Sox pointed out why many players don't care to play there as that very reason.
It doesn't get any better at Boston's spring training site in Ft. Myers, Fl. where it can be called Little Sardine Can. Well, at least the Japanese media get a breather. Like any team, the RS play half their games on the road.

So when all is said and done, the Redsox will wind up spending $100 million on a three year contract for a pitcher who has never pitched in the major leagues??? They could have had Zito AND Schmidt for that kind of money. They flopped with Clement, they flopped with Beckett, and they will flop with Matsuzaka. The posted a 2.60 ERA in friggin' JAPAN - what's it going to be in the American League? 4.60? Even superstar pitchers in the National League can't pitch in the American league. Is a superstar pitcher from Japan really going to be any better than Beckett, Clement, Pavano, Vazquez, etc.?

That $51 million bid was driven by hype and the desire to invest in an Asian fan base. Now the Red Sux are going to be too busy trying to cut a deal with this guy (they HAVE to sign him) and will miss out on PROVEN talent like Zito, Schmidt, Clemmens, Pettitte, etc. I love it!!!

I told you guys the other day on one of Jim's other posts that Boston has too many holes to fill and that getting this guy won't put them over the top. They have no closer, no middle relief, no middle of the infield, no RF and now, no more money!
Let them have this guy!
I feel really good in knowing that the Yanks aren't deviating from their plan on getting younger in the staff and stockpiling these kids!
Getting Britton from the O's may mean that Proctor is going to the rotation. I still think that this is a good move. If the Yanks want some insurance for Pavano, then get either Batista, Lilly or Menche.

So is it, the team that spends the most and then everyone else? If the Yankees have a payroll of 200M and the Red Sox have a payroll of about 140M, and then they drop 51M (which does not go against the Luxury Tax) just to talk to a player, and the Yanks Payroll stays at about 200M but Bostons' goes to like 170M, are the Sox a small market team?

Because the Yankees payroll is highest, does everyone else get a free pass?

Clearly you cannot deny there is a double standard here.

When the Yanks spend money, it's all over the news, "There they go again.", "The Evil Empire". When Boston spend 51M to talk to D-Mat, "Good move!"

That's what I'm talking about.

Sox can no longer whine about 'Evil Empir
By Michael Rosenberg

http://msn.foxsports.com/mlb/story/6173822

I hate to slap any limits on free speech, but from now on, there are two words I never again want to hear out of the city of Boston.

"Evil Empire."
And I really, really don't want to hear them out of Larry Lucchino's mouth.

No more complaining about the Yankees' payroll, Red Sox fans. Your team is the second-fattest cat on the block.

The Red Sox just won the Daisuke Matsuzaka sweepstakes with an astounding $51.1 million bid. They are not paying $51.1 million for Matsuzaka's services. They are paying the Seibu Lions $51.1 million just for the right to negotiate with Matsuzaka. Just to get in the door. If they can't reach an agreement with Matsuzaka, the Red Sox get their money back. But they are expected to reach a deal.

Six major league teams spent less than that on their entire 2006 payroll.

Now, it is possible that the Red Sox aren't really paying that much; deals with Japanese teams are rumored to feature more secret handshakes than sixth-grade recess. But they are obviously spending a ton. Once they get around to actually, you know, paying the pitcher, their total bill could reach $100 million over five years.

The Red Sox see Matsuzaka as a 26-year-old ace and a gateway to the Japanese market, which explains why they see this as an investment.

But Matsuzaka has never even pitched in the major leagues. For all we know, the secret to his famed "gyroball" is illegally applied yogurt sauce, and he'll be a bust here.

If the Yankees made an offer like this, you know what would happen.

Lucchino, the Red Sox president, and many Boston fans would whine that the Yankees were spending recklessly, messing up baseball's payroll structure, sending the country into a recession and complicating the situation in the Middle East.

Four years ago, when the Yankees outbid Boston for Jose Contreras, an angry Lucchino told The New York Times "the evil empire extends its tentacles even into Latin America."

That deal was for four years and $32 million.

The Red Sox will apparently pay more just for the right to negotiate.

Hey, it's their money. They have it and they can spend it how they please. Maybe it will turn into a brilliant move, both for the baseball team and the business.

I just don't want to hear any whining from Boston fans about the Yankees payroll. Last year, the Yankees spent around $199 million, which is nuts. But the No. 2 team was the Red Sox, at $120 million, for a team that finished in third place in the A.L East.

Nobody else was above $103 million.

Thanks to baseball's revenue-sharing system, pretty much any team with good management and a strong business plan can compete for the playoffs. But for at least two-thirds of the teams in the major leagues, the idea of bidding anywhere near this much for a guy who has never pitched in the majors is absurd.

And when you add the astounding news of a $51.1 million offer to the reality of the Red Sox' payroll, you can only come to one conclusion:

The Red Sox are aggressively exploiting every possible revenue stream, creatively growing their big-market business in any way they can, then plowing their extra millions back into their ballclub in a vigorous attempt to compete for the World Series every year.

Nothing wrong with that.

But that's exactly what the Yankees do.

It can't be evil for one team and OK for another. It can't be horrible and offensive and ruining baseball when the Yankees do it and just fine when the Red Sox do it.

When it comes to baseball's economics, the only difference between the Red Sox and Yankees is that Boston is a really big market that loves baseball, and New York is a huge market that loves baseball.

If the Red Sox want to order a large, expensive platter of gyroballs, that is their right. But please, waiter: hold the morality play.

Dave: Well said.

James B: It ain't that bad my friend, the Yanks will compete hext year just fine. The Red Sox may have what looks like a decent rotation on paper but you can poke holes in it: Beckett was not what they hoped for, Schilling another year older (and getting fat too); Wakefield? old: Papelbon- unproven as a starter and shoulder issues. I'm not worried about them at all, or at least any more than I am about Detroit, Toronto, Oakland or Chicago.

Aguila: Excellent point about the pro Red Sox bias in the media. It seems as if everyone on ESPN is a Boston fan- Gammons, Olney, Berman. I remember that "let's give a big hand to the Red Sox" crap and I couldn't believe it. They got swept and looked like crap doing it.
All these small market teams cry about the Yanks and their fans cry about how they think the Yanks have ruined baseball. My argument to that is this: The Yanks actually have saved baseball. Let's face it, kids don't play baseball anymore, they play football and soccer. People don't watch baseball like they used to at all. Especially since MLB starts games at 8 PM. My son is 6 and has never seen a WS game, how do they expect to develop lifelong fans when they do this? The Yanks and their loyal fans and those who hate the Yanks carry baseball. If you think about it, when do most teams sell out their ballparks? When the Yanks are in town! I live in the Wash. D.C. area now (grew up in NY) and this place went nuts when the Yanks were in town. The Orioles? I like most other people only go to their games when the Yanks are in town. They even advertise it that way "Come see Derek Jeter, A-Rod and THE YANKEES vs. the orioles...".
Boston is benefitting big time from the past few seasons of contention with the Yanks. Playing each other over 19 times a year has put a lot of money in Boston's pocket (Yanks too, but it's not like we need the help).
Clearly if it weren't for the Yankees, their would be no MLB. Love 'em or hate 'em, the Yanks are the backbone of baseball and it will never change. Luxury tax was created to target the Yankees, so what do they do? They pay the tax, which goes to jackasses like Pohlad of the Twins (who is one of the richest men in the world) and what does he do? Does he put the money into his team like he should? Nope. It goes in his big, fat pocket.

Okay, I'm off the soapbox..sorry about that.

DMat may just become 1st Asian to win Cy Young. Sox '07 rotation: DMat, JB, JPap, Schill & Wake. Crashman spending $25M on 38 yr old who has been mediocre the last few 2nd halves. Schmidt, Zito-NO says Crashman. I like Meche, Padilla, Batista, Wolf, etc.-GARBAGE. Boss' health will certainly deteriorate when he sees '07 Sx vs Yankees rosters! YIKES!

I'm really bitter about this whole thing. I hate that the Red Sox fans get to watch Matsuzaka pitch every 5 days. I hate that they get the excitement of watching a young ace pitcher develop at the major league level. I hate that they spent ridiculous amounts to get him. I hate it even more that we didn't.

And anyone that can honestly say that they aren't a bit bitter over the fact that he won't be pitching for us next year should go look at their posts from a few weeks ago.

Please, everyone lost their minds when Boston signed Beckett. Now Beckett struggles to keep his ERA under 5.00.

It's not rocket science: the AL is a VERY tough place to pitch. Signing pitchers who have not proven themselves in the AL is a very risky move that rarely yields good returns. Matsuzaka hasn't pitched in the AL and to spend $100 million on him, at the expense of signing proven AL talent like Barry Zito, is a blunder.

Hey Jason at least the Yankees have their own homegrown name Phil Hughes. At least the Redsox bought every starting pitching and they won bidding with Daisuke Matsuzaka

Do you know about Phil Hughes?

go here.

http://www.philiphughes.net

Great posts Jim A. and Aguila! I'm glad other Yankee fans notice the bias that goes on in the Media against the Yankees. I was starting to think I was being too sensitive when the games weren’t on YES. I agree 100% with Jim’s comments about the Yankees carrying baseball. I’ve been to the Stadium many times over the years and there’s always some extremely drunk red sox fan (wearing a Schilling or Varetek jersey of course) in the stands rooting for the visiting team. It’s funny and ironic that so many Boston fans have made their way to the Stadium (not including RS v NYY games) and spent a small fortune on beer since their win over the Yanks in 04. They’ve contributed to the Yankees bottom line. :P

There is always a complaint or a demeaning remark about Steinbrenner panicking after a major loss and making rash moves or spending recklessly. The media went nuts almost sure he would fire Torre this year. 51.1 million!!! That’s the red sox panic bottom after their collapse this year (swept by the Yankees in 5 games!! A.k.a. The Boston Massacre II) and slip into the 3rd place slot behind the blue jays.

We need to watch the blue jays moves more than the 3rd place sox this off-season. The jays have been waiting to contend and break up the Yankee / red sox dominance in the post season. And their owner is willing to spend more to get there.

One last thing, Tim McCarver REALLY sucks! I hope the Fox network’s monopoly over the post season ends soon. WS games should start no later than 6 on the east cost.

There is nothing to panic about, it's been said a thousand times on this blog, and I'd feel the same way if the Yanks had won the bidding:
MATSUZAKA HAS NOT THROWN A PITCH IN MLB YET! LEAST OF ALL THE AL EAST!
Let's keep our heads and not get to down about this. Something's coming, I'm telling you. Cash is up to something...he had dinner last night with Kenny Williams, GM of the White Sox. He's been calling Florida...he's working on it.
If Boston decides the posting fee was too much they can sign and trade Matsuzaka to some team that is desperate, but has money like the Rangers. They can ask Texas for some a lot of the posting fee back.
I'll worry at the all start break if DMat is pitching extremely well.

I think Rico's comments above say it all. Either this a ploy by the Bosox to block the yankees or they are incredibly deparate to appease the RSN afer the 2006 debacle. They dismantled their team after 2004 but for Hurt Hammy Manny and a few others; one pitcher alone is not going to solve their problems. He can't be a middle reliever, closer, shortstop, second baseman, right fielder or back up Varitek when he gets hurt again

Cashman has the Yankees on the right track. He continues to add good, young, talented, cheap, players. It is this approach that makes me believe he will not pursue the Marlins Willis. Why give up several young players that form the "backbone" of the Yankee future, for a guy that had a NL ERA of 3.87, and gave up more hits than innings pitched? The best way to add young pitching without sacrificing the future, is to trade A-ROD. Adding Brandon McCarthy to go with Wang, Hughes, and Sanchez, gives us a "bumper crop" of exceptional good young starting pitchers. Joe Crede would also give us a very good defensive 3rd baseman, and 1 of the best "clutch" hitters in the game. Or we could go the Angel route and add Ervin Santana, to go with Wang, Hughes, and Sanchez. Aramis Ramirez resigning with the Cubs, has the Angels focusing on A-ROD and Soriano currently. Cashman needs to get the W\Sox and Angels to bid against each other for A-ROD. Hopefully, he is initiating this process at the GM meetings this week, and the bidding will culminate at the Winter Meetings starting Dec 4th. If we told the W\Sox that we had to have McCarthy to trade them A-ROD, I believe they would include him in the deal. If not, we go to the Angels and get Santana and a package for A-ROD. It was revealed today that A-ROD has an "out" claus in his contract after next year. I doubt he would walk away from the money, but this is just 1 more reason to trade him now and improve our starting rotation. Free agents like Meche, Lilly, Suppan, and even Zito will not put us in the World Series. These guys at best are mid-level, short-term band-aids. The Yankees have 3 choices if they want to be in the World Series next year. (1) Add mid-level free agent starting pitchers, (2) trade away the "backbone" of our future for starting pitching, or (3) trade away 1 superstar who is over 30. The choice is easy.

Yanks win the AL EAST easily by 8 games even w/ the Sox getting Matsusaka.The Sox have so many positions to plug and a pitching staff that is no great shakes w/ alot of inexperience.Papalbon will have a sore arm by mid season,the Yanks can easily handle the Sox head to head.The Sox will have to spend tons of money for a CF and RF ,2nd baseman ,1st baseman,mid relief plus the 100-120 million they stand to lose to Seibu and Matsusaka.The Yanks stand to win from the Sox greed.

http://www.nj.com/mets/ledger/index.ssf?/base/sports-1/116356898090560.xml&coll=1

For starters, Proctor may be given a shot
Wednesday, November 15, 2006
BY ED PRICE
Star-Ledger Staff
NEW YORK -- In need of starting pitching and facing an expensive and thin market this winter, the Yankees are considering moving Scott Proctor from the bullpen to the rotation.

"I think we'll look at it," manager Joe Torre said yesterday after accepting a $111,000 check ($1,000 for each homer hit this year by a Yankee at Yankee Stadium) from Samsung's Four Seasons of Hope for his Safe at Home Foundation to combat domestic violence.

I'm not a fan of the Trade A-Rod plan but after reading this I'm intrigued: (http://www.nypost.com/seven/11152006/sports/yankees/
a_rod_has_an_out_after_07_yankees_joel_sherman.html):

After the 2007 season, Rodriguez has the right to void the final three years on his contract and declare free agency. He would be walking away from $81 million (of which the Yanks are responsible for $51 million, with the Rangers picking up the rest).
While Rodriguez is unlikely to get $27 million a year elsewhere, a canvas of executives at the GM meetings indicated he would have no problem landing a deal for six years at between $100-120 million.
After all, he will be just 32 when next season ends, is diligent about staying in shape, would be in striking distance of the all-time homer record with a six-year deal that starts in 2008, and many clubs feel he would regain his full comfort and success if he departed the Yankees.
The last part is probably the most important. Despite their worries on the issue, the Yanks felt Rodriguez is just too valuable to deal this off-season - especially after trading the only other significant righty power threat, Gary Sheffield. And Rodriguez has not wanted to be seen as someone who could not handle the Yankees environment, so he has insisted he will not waive his no-trade clause.
However, how would he feel a year from now if the tension in his game and with Derek Jeter and Joe Torre had not abated? Would he really want to keep playing in discomfort just to prove a point?
After the 2008 and '09 seasons, Rodriguez could opt out of his contract, but only if someone else in the majors is paid more, and that is unlikely. So next year is really the window for A-Rod to control his destiny during the life of his 10-year contract. He fancies himself a businessman and, in Boras, he has the agent most adept at wielding leverage.
Following the 2007 season, Rodriguez will gain leverage to potentially follow one of three paths: 1) to opt out as a free agent; 2) to push the Yanks to extend his contract upon threat of opting out; 3) to use the threat of opting out and the Yanks getting nothing to push the Yanks to trade him to a desired spot so that he does not have to forfeit the $27 million annually.
Yankees GM Brian Cashman said, "because I do not have control" of a contract Rodriguez signed as a free agent with Texas, he does not worry about the potential.
"If he chooses [to leave], so be it," Cashman said. "He earned the rights he has in that contract through fair negotiations."

If Cashman decides that the best for the team is for Alex to stay, which I believe it is, then fans have to get off his back otherwise we’ll loose him and gain nothing in return.

To be honest, Proctor in the rotation doesn't exactly thrill me. We need a number one starter and nothing less will do. Wang is close, but he's not it. We need that shutdown, slumpstopping, fireballer we thought Randy J. was going to be.
Oh wait a minute, we have Pavano! We're okay guys. Oh damn...Pavano just burned his tongue on a mocha latte'...out for the year. Dammit!

I Agree Jim A. The last time Proctor was prep-ed for a start he lasted 4 innings. I think he's conditioned as a relief pitcher and has a relief pitcher’s mind. IF he becomes a starter he’s in the fifth spot and we have plenty of guys to plug into that slot. He best helps the Yankees in the Bullpen; otherwise we'll need to get a top reliever to replace him. I think Wang can be the slump-stopping guy for the Yankees. He pitches a lot of innings and with that hard sinker most days is a ground out producing machine. His fastball has been able to reach 96 when he needs it. 19 wins, no injuries and lots of confidence now. I think he’s going to have as good a year next season. I think we should focus on Lilly and move everyone down so that the end of the rotation doesn’t suck the life out of the bullpen. With good arms in the pen like Proctor, Bruney, Britton ahead of Farnsworth and Mo rested we’d be in good shape.

Rotation: Wang, Lilly, Mussina, Johnson, Karstens/Sanchez/Huges/Pavano, if he gets back from the burns.

But Cashman knows best and the changes are only beginning.

Seems to me that we don't have any long term pitching problems with Wang, Sanchez, and Huges - the issue is only for 2007 while Sanchez and Hughes develop into the aces that they are projected to be. Therefore, why not sign Zito and throw $20 million at Clemmens for a year? Seems to me that a rotation of Clemmens, Wang, Moose, Zito, and RJ is enough to go to war with next year. Then in 2007 we'd have Wang, Moose, Zito, Sanchez, and Hughes.

Let's be honest here- I wouldn't be happy about the Yanks paying that much to talk to a player.

This is not bias, this is not sour grapes, this isn't trying to put on a happy face. I'm not saying I'm never biased, but I can admit when I've got a bias on a situation:

I just don't get this number.

$51 million? Honestly, it sounds insane. $51 million???

It's hard not to see it one of two ways:

1) Do the Red Sox know something other teams don't? Were they so certain about DM- absolutely positive in a way no other team was- that they knew no cost was too much? Did other teams assess that this guy was potentially pretty darn good, but the Red Sox came away from their scouting knowing this guy was a once in a generation talent?

or

2) Is this a massive overreaction to a season in which their team completely collapsed, their supposed new ace looked like a complete bust, their current ace got a year older and the team didn't come close to sniffing the playoffs?

I guess there is the 3rd issue, as someone points out below: they must imagine that they'll sell a bunch of Red Sox caps in Japan and they'll bring in a whole bunch of revenue through Red Sox games appearing on Japanese television.

Maybe that makes it make sense.

Otherwise, the number- and the fact that no one considered these rights anywhere within $13 million of the value the Red Sox saw in the opportunity to TALK to a Scott Boras client- seems pretty n

51 million! no question the the sox bid this insane amount of money with one purpose only, prevent him from signing with the yankees pure and simple.
epstein can spin this any way he wants, the blueprint on this deal was the yankees signing matsui, and revenge for contreras.
in both cases, the contracts were reasonable, even though the contreras signing was driven by the fact that the sox, tried an end around and booked all the hotel rooms, so the yankees could not gain even a room was truly a classless move, but as the saying goes all's fair in love and war.
who now is the evil empire? mr.lucchino, the hatred for g.steinbrenner is amazing, considering the yankees when on the road, help the home team, draw an extra, 10,000 people per game, pay the highest luxury tax simply bc, the yankees are able to make more money than anyone else, bc they play in new york, own their network, and have the most winning tradition and championships of any major league team.
when the effort to land a player through this posting system, thats suppossed to be a sealed bid, where only the staff in the commissioner's office knows the identity of the bids, and that information is LEAKED, to gammons, onley, both fans of the red sox, well this is baseballgate, the equivalent of watergate, in the baseball world!, doctor steve may not be far fetched with his theory, thats been posted here on these boards,what this matsuzuka signing will mean is the sox have declared and all out assult on the yankees, this is the same team who quibbled over 5 million dollars in the A-ROD debacle, did not think Johnny D, was worth what he was asking and went the low ball route, yes something is rotten in fenway, and the now the sox will sign their huge prize for a total package that will be near or top 100 million, posting fee included.
i never want to hear any sox fan, or spokesperson from MLB, or the ESPN clowns, especially gammons who is praising this process when in fact he violated along with buster onley, this very same process, how can these two give un- biased opinions, when they wear the colors of the sox on their faces, critize any future free agent signing that the yankees might do and god forbid OVERPAY,yes my fellow yankees fans, the plan that cashman has will go forward, and we will be younger, more flexiable in terms of payroll, and still complement the core team with FA signings, matsuzuka is good, and wanted the club to win the bid as any yankees fan, but there is the unknown here, that the sox may soon find out.

The Red Sox made the investment to break into a new market - Japan. The Yankees are already well into that market with Hideki Matsui.

Any money from the sale of television rights or merchandising goes into the MLB Central Revenue Pool - The MLB Welfare Program. But there are other deals to be struck. Deals in Japan seem to be quieter or written in Japanese, we don't seem to hear much about them. According to the Scot Boras, "Boras said he's heard from Japanese sources that Matsui brings in $21 million per season for the Yankees in advertising and marketing...".

So a $51 investment wasn't a good idea for the Yankees because they ALREADY broke into the Japanese market. BUT it was a good investment for the Red Sox. The YES Network is already in Japan. You can watch it on a Japan Airlines flight. But NESN isn't in Japan, but it will be soon.

This was a smart move. The Red Sox principal owner is John W. Henry made a vast fortune on futures trading. This guy isn't some rich kid who's father put him through Harvard and hooked him up with his friends and associates to make a book of business. Henry was a farmer who inherited his parent's two farms. He bought soy bean futures one year to hedge against a bad crop and bagged at $75,000 profit. Now his company manages billions. This guy could swallow a penny and $hit a silver dollar. This was a power move from a major corporation. Anybody who thinks this was a stupid move should go back to debating the implications of having removed the bubble gum from baseball cards.

Jim D: There is a 4th issue, although I'd be shocked if it happened. The Sox could have bid that high KNOWING they won't come to a contract agreement with DMat, thereby sending him back to Japan and another posting situation next season and getting every bit of their $51M back. It could cost them nothing to block the Yanks from getting this guy. It's one of two huge flaws in the system, the other being you tie the players hands by allowing him to negotiate with only one team within 30 days or you look like a loser going back to Japan.

There is an added ingredient Jim A. The Lions need that money badly and would be upset if they had to give it back. So if the Red Sox are using this to jump-start their appeal to the Japanese fan base then they will be digging a hole for themselves with that kind of move. Plus the commissioner said he would block any low-ball contract move that appears like the bid winner is blocking another team from acquiring DMat, awarding the bidding rights to the 2nd place team. If he keeps true to his word and the RS low ball DMat then next in line would be the Mets @ 38 million. The Yankee bid was 31 million.

Catchers options are Rod barajas, Gregg Zaun, Bengie Molina, Piazza, fasano. Rod Barajas would prefer to be starting catcher rather than backup .

Zaun, Molina, Piazza, Fasano .

http://msn.foxsports.com/mlb/story/6175200

Cubs re-sign Blanco to 2-year deal

There is a mutual option for 2009.

Blanco batted .266 in 74 games last season. He served as a backup to Michael Barrett and filled in when Barrett missed most of the last month after being hit in the groin with a foul tip.

Blanco spent the last two seasons with the Cubs and is known for his defense. He has thrown out 41.4 percent of runners attempting to steal during his career, second among active catchers to Detroit's Ivan Rodriguez.

Blanco has also played with the Los Angeles Dodgers, Colorado Rockies, Milwaukee Brewers, Atlanta Braves and Minnesota Twins. He is a .225 career hitter with 49 homers and 225 RBIs in 666 games.

The Cubs, with new manger Lou Piniella, have been busy. They signed free agent second baseman Mark DeRosa on Tuesday and last week re-signed free agents Aramis Ramirez, Kerry Wood and Wade Miller.

Trade Arod for , Mathis, Wood, another low prospect. Angels have announced they would not deal Santana. Yankees need to trade Arod before He opts his contract after in 2007.

Phillies front-runners for free-agent Helms .

http://msn.foxsports.com/mlb/story/6175216

I thought the Yankees were interested in Helms?

Helms, 30, is strongly considering the Phillies' offer of an everyday job at third base, according to sources with knowledge of the situation.

The Phillies have shown the most interest of any club in Helms, who produced 10 homers, 47 RBI and a .965 on-base/slugging percentage in 240 at-bats last season with the Marlins.

Only once, however, has Helms batted more than 274 times in a season -- in 2003 with the Brewers.

General manager Pat Gillick recently flew to Alabama to meet with Helms in person. The Phillies' addition of Helms likely would return Abraham Nunez to a part-time role.

The Phillies had been pursuing free-agent infielder Mark DeRosa, who signed a three-year, $13 million contract with the Cubs on Tuesday.

1st base options = The players are Sean Casey - another lefty bat - yankees are loaded with lefty batters. So The yankees would prefer righty bat. Nomar Garciaparra -He's another former shortstop who was converted playing 1st base. He's injury prone. I would say no to him. Mark Texiera - He's switch hitter and young. He would be perfect in yankees lineup. Trade Sanchez, Bruney and another prospect.

i see some people are a little bit jealous that their yankees didnt want to fork over the dough for a pitcher at least three times as good as any one on the yanks. IF both teams are healthy you can say goodbye to first place next year

Redsox Front Office and Theo knew that bidding for Dmat was $25-30 million. So they overpayed for him and outbidding the Yankees and Mets

It's hard to believe the bidding was set in favor of the Red Sox. The bid they made makes sense because of the fact that they probably expected the Yankees to offer way above the expected $30mil. $51.1mil sounds to me like they were expecting the Yankees to go anywhere between $45-50mil at most.

This also makes a statement on the Red Sox behalf for not doing anything during the trade deadline. This sends the message to their fanbase that they are interested in winning now and in the future.

Remember, you always have to overpay. Yankees overpaid for Randy Johnson, Carl Pavano and Johnny Damon, Mets overpaid for Pedro and Beltran, Tigers just overpaid for Sheffield, Blue Jays overpaid for Burnett. It's a business and the money is there. Why not take it.

Go ahead and get excited sox fan. You can have the November/December paper championships, we'll take our usual spot in first place in October.
The Sox are going to add J.D. Drew to their team so don't get too excited about that "if everyone is healthy" part. The Sox have more holes than Dennis Rodman's nose so you might want to kick back a while.

Boston bid against themselves in their continuing obsession with the Yankees. They can't see the error of their ways by continuing to stay in their tiny ballpark and squeezing the life out of fans with the highest priced tickets in ALL of baseball. George Steinbrenner is no fool. He saw this coming years ago and waited to see how long it would be before Boston played monkey see-monkey do. That time has arrived. Now they fell into the trap.

i see some people are a little bit jealous that their yankees didnt want to fork over the dough for a pitcher at least three times as good as any one on the yanks. IF both teams are healthy you can say goodbye to first place next year

Posted by: sox fan | November 15, 2006 03:17 PM

__________________________

Good never to let facts or reason stand in the way of hyperbole.

Three times better? Let's presume you are bad at math and compare two times better. And let's presume you have no idea who might be the best Yankee pitcher and pick one of the Yankee's disappointments, Randy Johnson.

Johnson was 17-11 and had a 5.00 ERA. He was a major disappointment, even though superior to the Sox's "ace" Beckett.

So to make Daisy Mat twice as good, allowing sox fan plently of wiggle room, that would mean I suppose a 34-5 record and a 2.50 ERA.

Let's not even consider Wang with 19 wins nor Mussina with 4th best ERA in the league.

So sox fan's prediction for Daisy Mat is:

34-5, 2.50 ERA

So the real question is, on the days he does not pitch will he play shortstop?

The fact that Torre is even entertaining the idea of turning Proctor into a starter, shows how weak the Yanks feel their current starting rotation is. Trading A-ROD for proven starting pitching is far better than "auditioning" set-up guys. I hope come spring training we have not been reduced to trying to "catch lighting in a bottle" when it comes to starting pitching. If this is the course we are going to follow, "07" could be a very long season.

51.1 million is all the Sox could do after they lost five in a row to the Yankees and crashed into 3rd place. They pushed the panic button this time by over paying. It's a good business move and just money when the Sox do it. But when the Yanks do it's a catastrophe! The Yankees are evil! WAAA WAAA WAAAA!

I wouldn't get too confident Mr. sox fan.

Anyhow, I am certain that Daisy Mat will make the Red Sox decidedly more competitive this coming season and I expect will help keep them out of 4th place behind the surging Devil Rays.

Nice job Paul! Set 'em straight!

ESPN Insider - Jim Callis Baseball America Chat

Ben, Williamstown MA: Who has the better 1-2-3 in Pitching Prospects? The Yankees with Hughes, Sanchez, and Betances/Chamberlain or the Red Sox with Matsuzaka, Buchholz, and Bard/Bowden?

SportsNation Jim Callis: (2:31 PM ET ) Interesting . . . I'd take the Red Sox with Matsuzaka, Buchholz and Bowden. It's somewhat silly to call Matsuzaka a prospect, of course, but that's what we do.

Chris (NY): Since it is silly calling Matsuzaka a prospect, what would you answer be to the question if you plugged in their next best prospect in Matsuzaka's place?

SportsNation Jim Callis: (2:36 PM ET ) I would take the Yankees trio if you substitute Daniel Bard for Matsuzaka in the Red Sox' trio.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Adam (VA): The most obvious New York/Boston question of the day: Hughes at $325,000 or Matsuzaka at $95-125 million?

SportsNation Jim Callis: (2:06 PM ET ) It's an obvious answer, I think, but not to pick on Adam, a silly question. It looks like you're talking about five years of Matsuzaka, so let's factor in arbitration and raises and call Hughes $10 million. Hughes will probably return more bang for the buck--but here's the thing. He's not on the open market, so it's a silly comparison.

Ben, Williamstown MA: Thought experiment: How much would Hughes command on the open market?

SportsNation Jim Callis: (2:40 PM ET ) In 1996, Travis Lee ($10 million) and Matt White ($10.2 million) each commanded eight-figure bonuses as draft free agents. Hughes has proven himself at a higher level, factor in inflation and the explosion in baseball revenues . . . I'd guess $20 million. Maybe $25 million. Remember, you'd lock up his rights for the next six years and he wouldn't be arb-eligible for three.

Jeff (New Orleans): Brein Taylor pre-injury or Phillip Hughes?

SportsNation Jim Callis: (2:42 PM ET ) Hughes. Not quite as much hype, but a lot more polish.

http://proxy.espn.go.com/chat/chatESPN?event_id=13654

Sox fan is probably not sticking around for the rebuttal. He just wanted to get us upset. Good point Jim A., it’s not even Spring Training and they are touting their horns.

The Red Sox did not learn the lesson of the Yankees of 2001-2006: Big names and big salaries do not equal championships. Let's see what the japanese pitcher does, but I think the pressure will be enormous. Rumor has it that Boston is going after JD Drew, who is another clubhouse disaster. Chemistry is the key- and the Yankees so far have done an addition by subtraction by dumping Sheffield and Wright- I can't believe we actually got players back for these guys. So let the Sox fans gloat for a few days- they are still as not as good as the Yankees- and also don't forget about the Blue Jays, who finished ahead of the 3rd place Sox,and have a good nucleus in place.

It is interesting to see the Red Sox acting like the Yankees have for the past few years. As we have learned, spending the most money for the biggest names is not the best way to produce a championship team.

I'm a little concerned about the yankees, i like what they're doing, but they may be a little too conservative in their approach... i hope that when the right free agent comes along, they open the vault.

they don't seem to be willing to over-spend for ANYONE, even if it's a guy who fits the team... I dunno how we can expect to attract free agents when we're lowballing everyone.

The Yankees lost on Dmat. Now Yankees have to focused on fixing Bullpen and adding more depth. Especially Redsox are rotation are formidable and full of hard throwers. Brian Cashman should focused on signing free agents such Jamie Walker, Justin Speier and Danny baez. Resigning Octavio Dotel to one year deal. They should also bid on lefty Kei Igawa and hopefully win the bid.

Sources: Blue Jays closing in on deal with Thomas
http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/news/story?id=2663691

The Al east are improving . The Redsox adding Dmat, Drays winning Iwamura and Orioles are closing signing Jamie Walker and now Bluejays closing on deal with Thomas.

This Offseason the Yankees so far acquiring young prospects and Mediocre reliever and Fat Britton from Orioles/

NAPLES, Fla. -- The Toronto Blue Jays are closing in on a deal with free agent designated hitter Frank Thomas, two sources at the general managers' meetings told ESPN.com.

While it's uncertain whether Thomas' deal is for three years or two with an option, a source said the total value could exceed $30 million.

The agreement is contingent upon Thomas passing a physical exam.

Thomas, 38, batted .270 with 39 homers and 114 RBI last season for the Oakland Athletics. The Texas Rangers had also made a serious push to sign him.

Thomas, a two-time American League MVP with the Chicago White Sox, played for a base salary of $500,000 this season, plus $2.6 million in incentives, after coming back from an ankle injury. Oakland made a two-year offer to Thomas before the season ended.

A's assistant GM David Forst, the team's representative at the meetings, declined to comment on the Blue Jays' pursuit of Thomas.

Thomas would represent a significant power upgrade at the DH position for Toronto. Shea Hillenbrand, Frank Catalanotto, Eric Hinske, Gregg Zaun and Bengie Molina assumed the bulk of the at-bats at the position last year, and the Blue Jays finished tied for 12th among American League clubs with only 16 home runs out of the designated hitter spot.

Thomas finished last season with 487 career homers. Barring injury, he will become the 21st player to join baseball's 500 home run club early next season.

O's make pitch for some relief
Club extends offers to Speier, Stanton, Walker, sources say
http://www.baltimoresun.com/sports/baseball/bal-sp.orioles15nov15,0,594706.story?coll=bal-sports-headlines

// Two days into baseball's general managers meetings, the Orioles' main goals for the week have become quite clear. They want to overhaul their bullpen as soon as possible and at all costs.