On the Yankees beat

the only way for the Yanks to offer a contract to Bernie is for the Yanks to unload either Giambi,Damon,or Melky...I could see Giambi being traded ....but in all likelihood it ain't going to happen...

Giambi refused to waive his no trade clause so he is here to stay, tho I like him and feel we wouldnt be able to get fair value back should we have attempted to trade him. I am actually concerned with how the Igawa sage is gonna play out. I initially thought he was a ploy for Cashman to demonstrait to Petitte, Zito, and whoever else that the Yanks had a backup plan if needed. Now that the Yanks seemingly got their man in Pettite I get the feeling that paying Igawa 40 million (26 posting + 3yr @ 4 mil + tax) to be a long reliever would simply not make sense. I'm no scout but he looked pretty average on all the youtube footage I could find on him. Reminded me of Brandon Clausen on the reds a bit, as in perfectly pedestrian. If going in line with all of Cashmans plans to date I think theres a little buyers remorse and Igawa wont be pursued intensly. With Wang, Pettite, Mussina, Pavano(most likely, or whoever we trade him for) and a revolving door of Karstens, Bruney, and whoever else at the 5 spot, theres just no need to cough up 40 mil for the same thing we pay 500grand for. Thoughts?

DG I agree the Yanks would want Igawa to start,no mid-reliever commands that kind of money....the thing w/ Giambi if the Yanks were able to move him,would allow Melky playing time,and a DH spot to rest the outfielders from time to time,and maybe find Bernie 250 ABs...but I digress... DG ,Bruney is a relief pitcher

Pay Igawa what he wants. When's the last time we went through a season without a starter getting hurt? You always need at least 6 starters. Especially when three-fifths is over 33.

Besides, if we are trying to get rid of Pavano, then there is a spot for Igawa. The worst thing we could do is rush Hughes and disrupt his psyche. This guy is said to be the minor's #1 pitcher. We should give him as much time as he needs.

t,brooklyn, you don't pay Igawa what he wants you pay him what you think he may be worth,the guy has yet to win a ballgame in the big leagues ,has by a number of accounts average stuff.3 yrs 12 mil+ posting fee 26=39 mil divided by 3 = 13 million a season,Mussina doesn't make that kinda scratch and he's a proven commodity...the Yanks have plenty of young pitching talent around now to make up the 5th starters role....and if Clemens comes back which some people are suggesting then what?

You don't trade Giambi to get Bernie 250 at bats. Bernie's production will not match Giambi's. I'd trade Giambi for a positional starter at first or 4 or 5 pitcher. I don't care about the money he makes. He puts numbers on the board. He gives it his all and wants aring. This does mean something. As far as Igawa I was not enamored with winning the bid. I say the hell with our pride. If, you do not want him than low ball him and let him return. Their are plenty pf pitchers who can match his ability. If we didn't win the bid than we could of had Lilly too.

you should sign bernie, hes better than guel and he can still play one more year. most people would love to have bernie back for one more season over arron guel. for a utility infielder miguel cairo is my best choice but there is also ronnie belliard, aaron boone, jeff cirillo, vinny castilla, and aubrey huff. for a releiver my best choice is eric gagne eddie guardado, but ray king, jc romero, ron villone, arthur rhodes, dustin hemanson, mark mulder, or keith foulke. my best choice for first baseman is hillenbran, other good first baseman are jeff bagwell, doug meinkevich, aubrey huff, or phil nevin. for a backup catcher i'd get einar diaz.
right now your rotation is this:
wang
pettitte
moose
johnson
pavano, or igawa
pavano and johnson have to go, johnsons too old, is a waist of money and he has a bad back, pavano threw five pitches with the yankees in three years, he had like 5 injuries and one of them was a blister? he is also a waist of money. he is also a really big b*tch!! the best thing to do is trade them both for an ace starter. the w sox are willing to trade anyone in thier rotation, garland or buerle could be our ace or dontrelle willis is good fit. ervin santana, j bonderman or nate robertson. or sign zito or clemens and then trade the 2 bitches for a first baseman like adam dunn or nick johnson.
zito
pettitte
moose
wang
igawa,clemens
or
clemens
pettitte
moose
wang
igawa
line up
damon CF
Jeter SS
Abreu RF
AROD 3B
Giambi DH
matsui
dunn, hillenbran or johnson
posada
cano

Giambi has a no-trade clause and has already refused to waive it. Without Sheffield, Giambi's power is needed. Abreu is not a big power guy any more.

I find it hard to believe that Bernie could produce half as much power as Giambi at this point in his career.

Trading Giambi is just not a good idea. He is still a very productive hitter with a high on base percentage. They would never replace his power at this point in the hot stove season.
Guiel is better defensively than Bernie and that's the fourth outfielder's responsibility so I think Bernie may be a goner. I'd like to make a personal appeal to Bernie to please not go to any other team, I couldn't bear the site of him in another uniform.

Pavano- As I've said all along, pump and dump, he's got to go.
Igawa: He won't cost much ($5M per year max I hope) so it's not like it's that big of a risk. Plus, it's the Yankees, who cares what it costs? They will make the salary and posting fee back in television revenue in Japan.
Like someone said earlier, you can't have enough startng pitching. It gives the kids time to develop.

There was no way Hughes was starting out in the Bronx anyway. They could have Hideo Nomo as the #2 starter and he would have been kept on his strict pitch count in Trip A til at leats June.

And why trade Pavano? As the market shows you may as well have as many SP's as you can. Why trade this guy for nothing? Makes no sense.

I dont buy the whole thing of no one likes him etc. If he goes out there on April 15 and pitches 6 shutout innings. He's going to have a lot of friends.

Fellas ,Fellas,I didn't say The Yanks Should trade Giambi I was responding to the likelihood of Bernie coming back,which I don't see happening,posing scenarios in which he could,which i don't see happening,besides if Giambi was traded Melky would get the at bats....Igawa could cost the Yanks 35-40 mil 3yrs...Like Larry I think they should lowball him...they can find someone for 1/2 the money,elsewhere...I could care less about how the Yanks spend their money,but that's a fiscally irresponsible ...

No doubt they will lowball Igawa, he is not in the same ballpark as Matsuzaka is and even he knows that. He's lucky enough that teams bid on him so he won't cost much. If he was RH, I doubt anyone would have bid on him.

Rufus,No one is suggesting that they start the season w/Phillip Hughes,but they do have alternatives in Rasner,Karstens,Sanchez...do you really think the Yanks are going to cram their Scranton roster w/ 10 starting pitchers ? I seriously doubt it...if Pavano is traded the Yanks should either score a good reliever or like Larry said a position player.

Another thing w/ Pavano. Nothing will change on his front barring a miracle until spring training. He has to at least shown teams that he is capable of pitching again before anybody might even consider trading for him. Right now hes as big a question mark as there is in the league and will remain that way until he pitches a little in Spring training, at which point the Yanks need to, as mentioned before, hype him and trade him for some baseballs. It was nice having Bernie but all sentiments aside we know what he has to offer and can be comparably replaced by someone with potential. The way I see it, Bernie is a C+ player at best right now. We might as well play a youngster who is say a C but with the potential to become a B+. In other words, unless we dont start using our farm outfielders we wont know what we've got so might as well give them a shot.

DG: Agreed on Pavano. The Yanks know how to play this game, first they'll let it be known that Pavano is "in the best shape of his life" and is "anxious to prove that he is going to be a valualbe member of the Yankees" and that they believe he will contribute. This, they've already done. Next, if they don't receive an offer they like for say, a first baseman, they'll wait until spring training and have him pitch against a bunch of stiffs and then dump him. The Yanks have two advantages right now: 1. The market is obviously very thin for pitching and 2. His contract, considered ludicrous when he signed it, is not so bad now.

There are teams out there right now who can't fill their starting rotations such as the Twins, Nats and maybe the Reds. Even the A's might need some help so there are places I think he could go, and the Yanks shouldn't have to pay any of his salary.
The old Yankees would have given him away for a bag of balls and paid half his salary. That's not what Cash is going to do.

My feeling is that Igawa is a pretty good pitcher. Lowballing is foolish other than as a negotiating starting point.

As for getting another pitcher for the same money...where?

Further, the same money is not the same money. If you are bundling the posting fee into his cost while it is a direct cost it is not subject to the luxury tax.

So if you spend $40 million on a pitcher as a combination of posting fee and salary, if $14 million is salary the luxury tax on that is $5.6 million.

If you spend $40 million for a pitcher the luxury tax is $16 million.

The luxury tax is onerous, especially since it does zero to improve baseball but merely lines some all ready well-lined pockets.

DG I think the Yanks know what they have at Scranton,Thompson is the best of the lot,and he could be a decent 4-5 outfielder. Remember Melky gets all the playing time if one of the starters goes down.

Paul ,which ever way you cut it ,it's still potentially an awful lot of money to throw at a Japanese pitcher for what would look like a 3yr deal....MLB needs to amend this posting fee business,foreign players should buyout their own contracts if they want to play in the USA.It stinks.

I think in the end Bernie will be pretty much forced into retirement, realistically there are 4 everyday outfielders in the Bronx now, there simply isn't room for him.

One random thing that i think is rather interesting that i've seen recently is that Igawa has been losing velocity on his fastball the last couple years which used to be mid 90's. Ordinarily this would be a bad thing, however, in the US he would be on a far more limited pitch count which might actually allow his arm to rebound a bit; although the transition from 6-5 days for starts might be a problem. Either way I actually see him in the bullpen next year... he needs to get used to the Major League hitters and the Yankees need to get a first hand look at his tallent.

Anyone heard any rumor who the yanks are targeting now. I keep hearing the Shea at first is not going to happen.

Get well soon! Thanks for continuing to blog.

Jim A. does it seem to you the Yanks will try to move Pavano now or audition him in spring training ,when his stock will rise with a decent spring ?...the other side of this soap opera is he goes to spring training works out "Stuff" with his teammates and stays w/ the team

Unless Igawa will pitch for "P-NUTS", the Yanks are not going to sign him. Pettitte got the money that was previously "earmarked" for Igawa. Even though he bats lefty, I still say sign Erstad to an incentive laden contract. If things don't work out physically for Erstad, we still have Phillips. Since we have no room for Thompson on the 25 man roster, we should go ahead and try and trade him for Marte.

Why get rid of Giambi?

He is what all you people want: a proven, experienced slugger.

He is slow.

He is old.

This is what you people want.

Roy Storing , I think this posting business could ultimately turn into a Joke....I like the fact Erstad is a hard-nosed player and he'll be 33 in June,which is fairly young by todays standard ,do you see him in the Yankee lineup batting 9th ? When you look at it, that's really the only slot the Yanks have to fill,Erstad humbling himself to bat 9th,I don't see it...plus his health issues...right now it looks like Phelps/Phillips...plus he is another lefty and the Yanks need to maintain balance...

How bout the fact that Erstad hasn't had a good season in 6 years? His 2000 season screams "fluke!" to anyone that pays a modicum of attention to baseball.

Sorry to step on your Toes

http://www.nypost.com/seven/12102006/sports/sheff_deal_drove_up_sox_price_for_manny_sports_joel_sherman.htm

We are all in agreement That Pavano must go from what I read. Pavano is now getting into the best shape of his life in Az. Question, If Pavano has a lights out Spring Training and would fit into the rotation quite well. Could or would he do the mea coupa's (My latin stinks its been a longtime since HS) to fit in or does BC dump him with pitching such a commodity in need today.

Cut & dried, plain & simple. With Pavano, see if he can be healthy through spring training and if so, peddle him to the Rockies, Cardinals, or whoever else shows any kind of interest especially in the NL. Eat a little of his salary, take a good prospect and call it a deal.
A bad chapter in Yankee history ends. A mistake comes to an end.

Jeez, I hope the Yanks don't make Pavano actually carry his medical records to the Cardinals doctor, he'll strain his back and be out for 2007. Maybe they can use a forklift.

What about this Cuban first baseman/Of prospect the Yanks signed to a 4 yr deal? Has anyone heard anything about him? The Yankees are saying they project .280/20/100 out of him, what they didn't say was when they thought that would happen. They gave him $2M.

Eric: Great input as usual. Yes, Giambi is old and slow but his best attribute is HE ISN'T A STIFF LIKE YOUR BOY ANDY PHILLIPS!!! hahahahahah! I'm just having fun with you but the info about the Cuban guy above shows just how much faith the Yanks have in good old Andy.

Hey Guys

I have been saying all along that Pavano will be traded BEFORE Spring Training. They are not going to bring him into camp to be a distraction. Also, I really don't think he wants to have to face his fellow mates.

I think there was a meeting with BC that went someting like this: The best thing for all parties is for you (Pavano) to start fresh somewhere else. But, we can't move you as you are now, so you go to Arizona and bust your butt to get in shape (numerous rumors will be leaked that you are in great shape).

Just get in shape and keep your mouth shut. In exchange, we will not envoke any type of disciplinary action for concealing your car accident. Fair enough? In the mean time, we'll try to get you hooked up with a new team so you can start your career over.

This is how I see the "situation with Pavano". Does not anyone else see that as a possibility?

Agree with Rick and that could very well be the strategy to unload Pavano. He needs a fresh start. BC is clever. Just Look at this cuban player signing. BC goes international when everybody was looking domestically ! Very shrewd!

Eric

Giambi led the team in HR with 37 and also had 100+ RBI AGAIN. I don't see where that is a bad thing. Also, until he got injured in August, he (along with Jeter) was carrying the team for June and July.

He also gets alot of "clutch" hits. Remember the walk off slam in the rain that Jim A wrote about earlier? Yes, he's not a base stealing threat, but he is not a bad player to have on your team. And, quite frankly, his defense isn't really all that bad either. It certainly isn't the reason we haven't won a WS lately.

I for one like having him on the team. And he is a proven and still productive run producer. He might not be the best 1B in baseball, but he is clearly not the reason we haven't won.

I think Pavano gets moved after a spring audition. Frankly, because Cashman himself was saying on 1050 last week that he isn't going to move Pavano just for the sake of moving him, it's going to have to be for the right deal. I don't see Cashman getting the value he wants without Pavano at least getting a few innings in the spring.

Funny how Pavano needs a "fresh start". Half his teammates have never even met the SOB. He hasn't pitched in 18 mos, how much more "fresh" can it get?
He'll be gone before the middle of spring training or even sooner. Cash will hopefully take advantage of these pitching poor teams and fleece them out of something half way valuable for Pavano.
The tough question is what do they do IF, and that's a big if, this jerk shows up to spring training and really pitches well, like he did in 2004? We signed him as a number 2 or 3, but as a number 5 he might be okay, again IF healthy. Which won't happen...what am I talking about. Disregard this nonsens.

Well, I knew this kind of article was coming out of Houston. This guy RAKES our boy Andy over the coals. I guess if the situation were reversed, we'd have Mike Lupica writing something similar.
http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/sports/lopez/4392653.html

We are going to have to "eat" a portion of Pavano's contract, the only question is how much? The Rockies were wanting us to eat most of it, but that position should change now that the Cards are interested. Getting Jennnings, and dumping Pavano at the same time would improve the staff immensely.
Erstad has always just wanted to win. Batting 9th wouldn't bother him. The guy is a "grinder", and a leader.

I agree Roy, and I'd take that trade in a heartbeat -- the problem is, practically anyone with a brain would take that trade, I doubt Colorado would give up Jennings for Pavano.

Pavano needs to bring in value to the team. The near equivalent in player return whether it is an inf, backup catcher or pitcher. Prospects are greatly accepted. Competition amongst the farmhands makes better teams not overpaying FA's in my eyes. The plus side is the kids are paid a very reasonable salary for about 5 years before braking the bank. And our bank is quite capable of keeping those who we want unlike teams such as Tampa Bay and Miami, etc. Now, what is near equal value? A box of J&J band aids. He's got to be moved before he gets hurt. I believe any conversation with Pavano was absent anything but get your act together or discipline maybe forth coming. Pavano would rat on the Yankees as soon as look at them. You know the line in the commercial." Now, lets dress up this pig and sell it."

Cuban prospect signs 4-year cont

http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/news/story?id=2693552

Outfielder-first baseman signs with Yankees
By Enrique Rojas
ESPNdeportes.com

SANTIAGO, Dominican Republic -- The New York Yankees signed Cuban prospect Juan Miranda to a four-year contract worth $2 million, the player told ESPNdeportes.com.

The deal, which includes a signing bonus of $500,000, is a major league contract and requires the Yankees to place the outfielder-first baseman on their 40-man roster.

The signing was confirmed by a Yankees official who spoke on the condition of anonymity.

Colorado is still working at signing Jennings to an extention. But if they do decide to trade him, they are asking for a mlb ready pitching prospect in return, plus either a mlb ready CF or another pitching prospect.

in the Yankees case, they'd want Pavano and Melky and or Melky plus Hughes/Clippard most likely to start negotiations.

Whether you think thats equal or fair value or not, the Rockies know pitching is at a premium, so they are going to aim high.

right now, they reportedly have a deal on the table with the Astros for top pitching prospect Jason Hirsch and Willy Tavares.

Ken Rosenthal from Foxsports Already bashing Andy Petite's signing.

http://msn.foxsports.com/mlb/story/6259574

Ken Rosenthal article is sort of glancing over the big picture in that the short term deal is what is most appealing to the yankees, however nothing in that article is foolish or idiotic.

Juts b/c its against the popular yankee fan sentiment, doesnt make it untrue.

He is aging, he does have elbow issues, his ERA did raise from 1 year to the next,and he is essentially signed for 22mil+ for 2 year with factoring in the tax . If its all true, how is it foolish?

Im happy Pettitte is back, and frankly i think it was the yankees best option this year, but these are legit concerns. Once you get past the bunnies and balloons of andy's glorified return, you can see that.

I guess we covered all the likely Pavano scenarios !...I personally feel that Giambi is not the same player the Yanks signed in 2002,he was in his prime and on the roids,he has so much admitted to coming off Steroids midway in 2003,his career was considered over in 2004, so he won CBP in 2005 w/ 1/2 a good season and posted good numbers for 1/2 the 2006 season...I disagree about his clutch performances,hitting a grand slam against the Twins in 2002 his last great yr is in the distant past....if you monitor his play it becomes clear he usually hits HRs early in games,usually solo shots,his play falls off late in games...he can't field ,run,has next to Sheffield a very violent swing which has caused a couple injuries thruout his Yankee career...Any thoughts?

Yeah, much smarter to pay Lilly 44M, Meche 55M, or Schmidt 45M. I mean, those guys are health and performance locks. No doubt about it, terrible move for the Yankees. I mean, who cares if we don't know if those 3 guys can pitch in NY, or in October??? Pettitte was hurt significantly one time in his entire career, so he is quite obviously a tremendous health risk.

Surely.

Not to mention Zito, who will get much more and lots of years. Then we have a 51.1 million paid just to talk to a Japanese pitcher.

The short term deal for a proven Lefty at The Stadium is a coup on Cashman's part.

Sure, to fill white space on a page, you could list all the negatives, but to call this signing anything more than a smashing success is silly.

My question for YG and this clown remain. Who exactly would have been a better, younger signing? Last time I checked, 100M for Zito was ridiculous and 90% of Yankee fans don't want him here, and there was no one else available. Pettitte, or Meche/Lilly/Schmidt??

Oh wait, lets rely on Karstens and Pavano. riiiiiiight

The plusses outweigh the minuses: the fact that he is lefty, knows how to win and can handle NY, a short term deal, buys time for Hughes and Sanchez & whoever else down there to develop. Who has worn #46 since he left? Donovan Osborne ! & Aaron Guiel.

Speaking of jersey numbers..if Clemens DOES come back, what number does he wear? Do they make Robinson Cano give it up for him? I don't think so..unless he volunteers or something. Does he go back to his old number 21 he wore with Boston / Toronto? But nobody in NY has worn that since Paul O'Neill. Remember that brief stint where he wore no. 12? Wow, I have a lot of time on my hands..

Keith you don't give up your best young talent for a .500 career pitcher...This Cuban player sounds like the real deal ...Coup d'e tat,coup d'tat

I don't see why Cano would not give up his # for half a season to Roger. (We actually had DONOVAN OSBORNE in the rotation !!)

What the Yanks learned in 3 yrs

This guy says Yanks should invest in players who do well in postseason and not worry as much about the ones who put up numbers during the regular season:

http://bagelsandbiscuits.blogspot.com/

Since it's pretty much a given that New York will be playing in October each year, why haven't the Yankees focused before on landing and keeping pitchers who have had a strong track record in the postseason?

Well, they went after Randy Johnson, who won a World Series MVP.

Mussina's last postseason series before he joined the Yanks? He made two starts, pitched 15 innings, struck out 25, allowed four hits and one run -- against a Cleveland team that had the best offense in the game and came within a win of taking the World Series.

That same World Series won MVP? Pettitte had two starts -- nine innings, 12 hits, 10 runs, 10.00 ERA and two losses.

In other words, caveat emptor.

Roy Storing wrote: "Erstad has always just wanted to win. Batting 9th wouldn't bother him. The guy is a "grinder", and a leader."

Dude are you serious? Erstad may grind and lead all he wants, but he has sucked since his fluke 2000 season. Why are you pimping this guy? Batting him 9th wouldn't bother him because he hits like a pitcher.

ruse

I'm not saying Giambi is the same MVP caliber player he was back in the day when he was roided up. I'm just saying he is still a productive player for this team.

He led the team in HR and had 100+ RBI's, plus the GREAT OBP and working the SP pitchers pitch counts up. He is not the reason we don't win.

Arctraveler : Your right pitchers don't come with warranties...The signings of Lilly/Meche/Schmidt could all turn disasterous for all teams involved,all have had histories of arm trouble ,not to speak of the ridiculous money they received...Schmidts lost 5 miles off his fastball and yet every one treats it like it's a great move on the Dodgers behalf ????

Ruse,
Giambi has hit fairly well in the postseason each year that he has been healthy. You remember it was hit two (yes solo, but he can't help it that nobody else was getting on base) HR's against Pedro in 2003 that kept us in the game, even though he had some really bad knee pain. I liken those HR's to Reggie's HR against Boston in the one game playoff in '78 (The "Bucky Dent" game) Reggie's HR is totally forgotten but it was the GW run.
Giambi hit over .400 against the Angels when the Yanks were eliminated by them a couple years ago.
I don't think Giambi wilts in the postseason and frankly, he's something of a need right now, a true power bat who gets on base any way he can when he's going bad.
I think Yankee Stadium has changed his swing or approach somewhat as his average has fallen quite a bit. He fell in love with that short porch in right field and hasn't been able to go the other way the way he used to.
Sure, getting off the juice messed his body up, but it's not as if he can't play anymore.

Clemens: If he returns, he shall not wear 21 and desicrate the number of our boy Paulie. He should wear 666.

Rick Keyes: Your right ,for the Yanks it comes down to lights out pitching performances...they'll always manage to push a few runs across the plate....it is true the Yanks do run up pitch counts as many as 180-190 in some games last yr...

Gro-
That was some cold stuff about Erstad, but pretty funny and sadly, mostly true.
While the guy has "guts and grit" they usually don't do a team much good on the DL.
I've always liked his attitude and effort while on the field, but he's never on the field.

Phil Simms Comment on Yanks

Did anyone hear Phil Simms on Mike Francesa's Sunday show say "I had dinner with Joe Torre and something BIG is coming down this week with the Yanks but I can't discuss it" ?

What did he mean?

Anyone else hear that?

Not me. Damn, just when I thought I would get some work done today...thanks nyranger38.

A trade proposal: Provided Pavano can pass a physical (fingers crossed) send him, and a choice of Andy Phillips or Eric Duncan to the Nationals for Nick Johnson. Offer to pay a portion of Pavano's remaining salary.

My thoughts:

I would rather overpay for 1 or 2 years of Pettitte than 4-5 years of Lilly or Meche. Once it became obvious that Schmidt was going to stay out West, Andy was the only legitimate pitcher out there who would sign for less than 4 years. Additionally, since the Astros did not offer Andy arbitration, his signing does not cost the Yankees a first round pick as would the signings of Meche or Lilly. With the Yankees having not signed any Type A free agents who were offered arbitration they hold their pick and with Villone likely to get signed away, should gain an additional pick and one in the supplimental round as well, good news considering this should be a deep draft.

The Cuban player is a crap shoot. While the unnamed Yankee official said he predicts a .280 average and 20hr, lets remember that Kendry Morales was a disappointment for the Angels with the same expectations last year. His contract is a major league contract so he has to be on the 40 man roster, essentially that would have been Bernie's roster spot I think. What we might see is a lefty righty platoon with this guy and either Phelps or Phillips (with Phillips having the edge in that he can play both 1st and 3rd while Phelps is limited to 1st only)

With Pavano things are tricky. The Yankees don't want him, but they also don't want to just give him away. Ideally he'll come to spring training, show he's healthy, drum up interest from the Rockies and Cards and a couple of other teams (Giants maybe) and the Yankees will be able to get something back for him. The worst case scenario is that on his first day in uniform he comes up lame again and we have another summer of "Carl Pavano is slated to throw off flat ground" reports.

I do like the signing of Pettitte, but, one can't help but wonder why the Astros didn't raise 2 million to match what he wanted to stay there. Any thoughts?

Jim A. I'll never forget the Reggie homerun in 78 ,that was a prodigious shot,he even said no one will ever remember this HR...Even though Giambi batted .421 against the Angels in 2005 he only knocked in 2 runs and scored 1...I just don't think he's the type of player who can carry a team...he does work pitchers,is always on base and will hit 30+ hrs etc.

Astros' owner Drayton McClane felt like Andy was betraying him by "pulling a Roger" and wavering between whether or not he wanted to pitch again. He has a history of taking things very personally with players and letting that get in the way of business.

Besides, despite the signing of Lee, the Astros have a lot of issues that should keep them out of the playoffs in what promises to be an interesting if not good division, an Andy Pettitte makes less sense to a team like that than he does to a Yankee team that goes into the season believing they will make the post season year in and year out.

December 12 is the non-tender deadline.

Quick Recap:

QUOTEPlayers with more than three but fewer than six years service time must be offered a contract by this date. If they are, they remain property of that team. If not, they become non-tender free agents. This date has been moved up from December 20. A player who is non-tendered becomes a free agent and may sign with any of the 30 Major League clubs, including his former team, at any price.
[b]Potential Non-Tender Candidates:[/b]

http://www.nbcsports.com/mlb/420286/detail.html

C: Toby Hall (Dodgers), Humberto Cota (Pirates), Miguel Ojeda (Rangers), Josh Paul (Devil Rays)

1B/DH: Ben Broussard (Mariners), Mike Lamb (Astros)

2B: Eric Bruntlett (Astros), Bernie Castro (Nationals), Marcus Giles (Braves), Andy Green (Diamondbacks)

SS: Ramon Santiago (Tigers), John McDonald (Blue Jays)

3B: ???

OF: Brad Wilkerson (Rangers), Kevin Mench (Brewers), Bobby Kielty (Athletics), Jeff DaVanon (Diamondbacks), Larry Bigbie (Cardinals), Jody Gerut (Pirates), So Taguchi (Cardinals), Jayson Werth (Dodgers), Alex Escobar (Nationals), Terrmel Sledge (Padres), Jason Tyner (Twins), David Newhan (Orioles), Jack Cust (Padres), Aaron Guiel (Yankees), Hiram Bocachica (Athletics), Rick Ankiel (Cardinals)

SP: Joel Pineiro (Mariners), Brandon Backe (Astros), Kyle Lohse (Reds), Shawn Chacon (Pirates), Josh Fogg (Rockies), Dave Williams (Mets), Zach Day (Nationals), Victor Zambrano (Mets), Kyle Snyder (Red Sox)

RP: Chris Reitsma (Braves), Jorge Sosa (Cardinals), Scott Downs (Blue Jays), Brian Sikorski (Indians), Grant Balfour (Brewers), Chin-Hui Tsao (Rockies), Jason Standridge (Reds), Chris Bootcheck (Angels), Brandon Duckworth (Royals), Randy Choate (Diamondbacks), John Parrish (Orioles), Greg Jones (Angels), Chad Durbin (Tigers), Javier Lopez (Red Sox), Chris Booker (Nationals), Jorge Julio (Diamondbacks)

Jim A

I'm with you on the number deal. 21 should be on a plaque in CF, and not for Clemens.

Thanks for the non-tender list. Who ever put it together is not paying attention to the salary explosion in baseball though. If they were they would realize it makes no sense for the Mariners or Reds to non-tender Piniero or Loshe. They're no worse than Gil Meche so if nothing else they could serve as trade bait in spring training. Same could be said for Jorge Julio and Mike Lamb.

Also, I think the most interesting name on that list is Rick Ankiel. If he is non-tendered it would be interesting to see if he would consider trying to pitch again. At his age, with his stuff and being left handed, I think teams would line up to at least let him take a shot.

Jim A. I feel the same way,I've become a blog hog...if something big goes down I wonder what it would be? Teixeira ?a three -way deal ?

Broussard and Toby Hall?

If Didgers and Seattle non tenders Broussard and Hall , how would you feel about the Yankees signing him to be the every day first baseman and backup catcher

Broussard is best as a part time player, in a platoon situation I could see it working. I would rather go with Lamb though if both were non-tendered. I also predict that if he's cut free, Broussard will go back to Cleveland where he'll split time with Casey Blake at 1st.

Hall is "alright" as a catcher. For our backup spot I would prefer to see the Yankees go after a defensive specialist or trade for a younger player who could bridge the gap between Posada and prospect Jesus Montero, perhaps Alfonzo, the 26 year-old catcher for the Giants. They just committed three years to Bengie Molina, maybe they would be willing to part with him in a trade.

As for the uniform numbers, something else to just toss out there is that for the last three years Andy has worn the number 21. Now forget about Roger asking for it, what happens if Pettitte does?

Chip,You usually hit the proverbial nail on its head,but Ankiel pitching again? He is a headcase,who developed Steve Blass syndrome,jeez,that would be an enormous risk on anyones part to show that much faith in a guy who's ever so close to being out of pro-ball for good...

Hall is a LH hitter, I think they have their hopes on a RH hitter to "balance" the lineup.
I'd like them to pick up Hiram Bocachica from the non-tendered list only because I want to hear Bob Sheppard say "Hiram Bocachica" as often as I can. I love that name.

Ruse: Teixeira...don't tease me.
Last thought on Giambi too: He batted .421 but didn't drive in or score many...again, he can't help it if nobody hits before or after him.

Didn't we have Mike Lamb for about 3 days before the A-Rod trade went down? He wouldn't be a bad pickup I guess.
Something big coming this week..hmmm.

Chip: I don't think Pettitte will fuss about 21 for the Yanks. He knows Paulie all too well and I doubt he'll ask. He'll take 46 back and be happy to do it.
Great posts Chip, you've been a nice addition to the blog.
Got to agree with Ruse about Ankiel though, he's not going to be worth the effort. I do wish the kid the best though, I hope he makes it to MLB as an OF.

Ruse: I'm not saying give him a multi-million multi-year deal. I'm suggesting that a smart team would say to him, "listen, we know you've had issues but you're not going to make it to the majors as an outfielder." Offer him a 2 year deal, incentive laden with a fair base salary (say $1.5 mil for the first year where he would presumably be working his arm back into pitching shape; $4 mil for the second) and see what he's got. Worst case scenario, he does nothing and a team is out 5.5 mil (pocket change) best case scenario he regains his form and becomes a huge bargain considering the state of contracts for pitchers.

No Toby hall is right handed hitting catcher

Jim A

Something BIG happening tells me it could be a trade for Willis, or an A-Rod deal, something like that. I wouldn't call a Pavano deal BIG, or a deal for a backup C, or a platoon 1B type.

So, now we all get to get cranked up again with no sleep, no work, etc. I can't take this stuff much longer!

Jim A: Thanks

Yes Lamb was a Yankee for about a month. After Boone went down the Yankees got him from Texas and then got another 3b from Texas so they sent him to Houston because they felt bad about offering him a starting job and then taking it away from him. Ironic in that if he had stayed he likely would have been the starting 1b for the Yankees the last couple of years while Giambi DH'ed.

While we're not getting excited about the Texiera thing, also don't get too excited about reports that Boston may not sign Matsuzaka - it is all posturing.