We're closing in on tomorrow's 4 p.m. non-waiver trade deadline. Now that the Rangers have agreed to trade Mark Teixeira to the Braves (in what looks like a pretty solid deal for both teams), GM Jon Daniels can turn his focus to other players. Perhaps foremost on that list is Eric Gagne. A source told me in the last few minutes that things are "heating up" on him. The Yankees are among the several teams pushing to get Gagne, particularly with Kyle Farnsworth's continued struggles. The Yankees are trying to trade Farnsworth, and Detroit is a possible destination.
In non-trade talk, here are some things I worked up on the train back from Baltimore this morning:
Thanks to the Yankees notes and Elias Sports Bureau on these:
Alex Rodriguez is one of two players (with Sammy Sosa) ever to hit 35 homers in 10 consecutive seasons. He is the only player with 35 homers and 100 RBIs in 11 straight seasons, though Babe Ruth did it in 11 separate seasons. Since hitting his 499th home run Wednesday, he is hitless though. Pitchers are being very careful with him and he is, as he said, "playing into their hands" a little bit. There are lots and lots of cameras flashing every time he steps to the plate, something I imagine will only be more pronounced at Yankee Stadium where most are Yankees fans.
Rodriguez may be pressing, but as Derek Jeter said yesterday, "He's going to hit another home run sometime."
Comments (74)
Kat,
I was wondering if there was any sense about how annoyed Torre or Posada were with Farnsworth's actions during yesterday's game.
Would you give up Ian Kennedy to get this done? Remember, this looks like a rental.
Sosa and A-Rod have other things in common as well;
1) Inflated stats during and inflated stats era
2) No rings
Maddog is killing Yankees again
He said Mariners can kill The Yankees chances for WildCard.
- Also According to Maddog Wang's is not a great pitcher
He pointed out Toronto and Giants games when Wang's pitch. He called Wang's overrated.
If Wang's is overrated and then Santana is overrated too. Wang's won 19 games last year. If I mistaken Santana blew the lead the other day.
Wang's not even going through that tough of a stretch he just did not K anybody and walked a few people but he kept our team in the game and didn't give up a bunch of runs.
Awful job by Cashman not getting Teixeria here. If he had to deal Joba, you do it. Phillips is an AAAA player.
Farnsworth. Igawa. Pavano.
Can we get Cashman out of here now?!?!?
The Redsox have better pitching than Yankees?
If I mistaken The Yankees killed Redsox three aces with Beckett, Schilling, Dice-K
Doesn't it look like the Red Sox involvement in Gagne is just to drive up the price for the yankees.
Jerome,
Are you the infamous Jerome from the bronx?
No , I'm Jerome your Boyfriend, Idiot.
Oh thanks. What time are you picking me up?
Where do you live honey? Muahh...
Tex for Joba would be one of the Yankees worst all time trades. You don't trade a 21 year old flame thrower, who has run through the competition in his first year with electric stuff for a non premium position such as 1B, let alone for a guy that is not even a lifetime .300 hitter and who is represented by Boras and will likely be gone after 2008. Jay Buhner for Ken Phelps anyone. If we don't make the playoffs, but keep a guy who will be a top pitcher for years to come and will help us in 2008 and beyond, so be it. I'm sick of little kids who jumped on the bandwagon after 1999 and can't stomach the idea of missing the post season (apologies to the little kids who actually know better).
Tex for Joba would be one of the Yankees worst all time trades. You don't trade a 21 year old flame thrower, who has run through the competition in his first year with electric stuff for a non premium position such as 1B, let alone for a guy that is not even a lifetime .300 hitter and who is represented by Boras and will likely be gone after 2008. Jay Buhner for Ken Phelps anyone. If we don't make the playoffs, but keep a guy who will be a top pitcher for years to come and will help us in 2008 and beyond, so be it. I'm sick of little kids who jumped on the bandwagon after 1999 and can't stomach the idea of missing the post season (apologies to the little kids who actually know better).
Braves Close To Acquiring Octavio Dotel
[quote]
http://msn.foxsports.com/mlb/story/7074020
Interesting development via Ken Rosenthal: the Braves are close to a deal for Royals' closer Octavio Dotel. They apparently have made a better offer than finalists Cleveland and Los Angeles.
Royals GM Dayton Moore knows his way around Atlanta's farm system, of course. He had all kinds of player development roles within the Braves organization. The Braves' top three prospects heading into the season per Baseball America were Jarrod Saltalamacchia, Elvis Andrus, and Matt Harrison. With those three out of the picture perhaps Moore is going for outfielder Brandon Jones or first baseman Scott Thorman.
Quite a day for Atlanta...now to snag a starter...[/quote]
Doesn't matter what the Yanks do...they're cooked!
Seattle and Cleveland (or Detroit) are way better teams!
What? no last place teams to play this past weekend?
Gosh darn! Those pesky Oreos
Misty Marc
Redsox lose to stinking Rays. Aww Bad, Here's come the Orioles will the Devil Redsox....
Braves are about to land Dotel as well. Cashman sits on the sidelines holding all his cards
The only impact reliever is Gagne. Dotel is really not too much better than what we have. Farnsworth, at this point, must go. I would release him if I couldn't trade him.
Yankees had Dotel last year if they wanted him bad enough to trade for him he would still be here I think.
True:
I agree - Farnsworth has to go. It is one thing not to help the team but not only is he not helpful but he's a distraction.
Something to worry about is that performance wise - Scott Proctor is mirroring Farnsworth at this point. I would not mind seeing them deal him to LA for Betemit.
With both Cashman's job, and the Yankee championship aspirations riding on adding player(s) by tomorrow, Cashman will be forced to at least get Gagne. Not fortifying the "pen" with the addition of Gagne, along with failing to acquire a prominent right handed bat, would make the odds of the Yanks reaching the World Series very long. No Gagne=No World Series=No Cashman in "08".
That was their stupidity chip..
They should have resigned him, point blank Simple. you know a player is effective two years after TJ surgery , but it's ok to TRADE for one needing the same thing
The list of Cashman mistakes is both long and expensive.
Roy,
I don't think you can put all the blame on Cash. Don't forget the Tampa contingent who had an awful lot of input.
Tampa was cleared away after the 06 season and some said 05 season so key decisions is the Fault of Cash.
there is no escaping it he was sole decision maker he even "bragged " about some of these deals . Posing with the Victory smile.
Meanwhile the Lemon Law was in full effect.
Roy:
Gagne is not that good. You're falling into the Carl Pavano trap.
Carl Pavano when he was a free agent was considered the best pitcher available not because he was that good, but because every other option that year was SO BAD. Gagne (and Dotel) fall into that same category - they aren't that good, both have injury issues and are certainly not worth the prospect that their teams want in return for them, but compared to the other junk out there on the trade market they just APPEAR to be impact players.
Roy,
Cashman has a guaranteed contract, he is not "forced" to do anything. Spare us your uninformed melodrama.
Look, if you give a starving man a saltine he's going to think that it's the best thing he ever had in his life - but in the end you have to ask yourself how much you're willing to pay for a cracker.
Farnsworth's terrible - true
Proctor's erratic - true
Bruney walks too many - true
Vizciano is erratic - true
but is Eric Gagne THAT much better? Is it worth giving up what Texas wants to get him? I don't think so. I think if they ask for a Chase Wright for him, fine, but I don't go higher than that. I would rather see the Yankees just dump Kyle (and Villone/Myers) and go with Chamberlain and/or Britton and Ramirez.
Don't forget everything has to run through George. Remember, Cash wanted Vlad, George got cancer Sheffield.
Casual Nudge lost that debate yes CHip put out the medical and Bobby A's number
But mike got him on what a few extra wins can do.
what it opens up.
so the barrel theory is be dumped or misfired
yeah and they made it to the pennant in 04 and sheff was runner up in MVP votes to vlad, Vlad (bad Back)was playing games to begin with sending out rumors he did;nt want to play in NY . mommas boy etc. Plus Gooden was employed by the Yankees at that time so the deal was cheaper. had vlad come and not done well he would've shut down
Come on Anonymous, you would rather have Sheff than Vlad? Good thing you aren't the GM.
I'm glad I'm not the GM.
Stick Yes. Brian NO
LMAO.....
What a cast of clowns....are you idiots ACTUALLY spewing out the Sox are falling apart because of a loss in Tampa Bay???
LMAO.....yeah, a 5-2 road trip is clearly a signal.
yeah and what is the Yankee record since the break???
ok a team that was under 500 not to long ago is not
56-49 not too shaby and could still get better %
a few losses here a few there and Yankee wins can cut the lead , we was just 6 out a few days ago.
Anon, don't be ridiculous. Too far out to threaten sox. We get within 5, then talk. WC is where the action is.
Roy, nice to see you've switched from Tex to Gagne. Still stuck in the old days of trading prospects for "stars" hoping for the quick fix? The definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over again expecting a different result...personified in each Storing post. My question is Roy, what will you do with yourself after Tuesday?
Clowns? Idiots? Casual Observer, one anonymous person made one comment in response to another idiotic, clown-type remark against the Yankees. Why don't you see the posts for what they're worth rather than call Yankees fans who blog here clowns and idiots?
Glad to see this thread isn't just a pour on Nudge thread
Casual
The Sox have been falling apart since June. They might finally win the AL East but this team has more holes than your head.
Stop with the prevarications-they will not make it out of the division.
Mike Z
My point was to let Nudges #1 CheerLeader know that 8 games is not a "SECURE LEAD" to mere FACT that last week we was 6 games out tells you possibilities exist.
Anon,
Yes, the Red Sox have better pitching than the Yankees. Better rotation and a better bullpen.
And no, the Yankees haven't killed their aces this year.
Schilling, Dice-K and Beckett are a combined 5-2 against the Yankees this year.
Just saying
SULLY,
Nudge pours it on everyone else here or didn't you notice? Constantly mocking and insulting the Yankees and their fans will not be met with open arms in a Yankees forum.
Sully-what did you do put Nudge the fudge back into the closet?
Now it's time for the Silly show-a cross between Andy Dick and Rosie O'Donnell.
Oh, FYI Concerned--forget about it Sully/Nudge are way beyond re-hab.Maybe a change of meds but I doubt it.
Casual,
The Yankees played .750 ball a week ago and dropped 1/2 a game in the standings.
They dropped another 1/2 game this weekend.
How, pray tell, are the
Red Sox, winners of 8 of their last 10 including 3 against Cleveland, falling apart?
Didn't defend nor detract from Nudge... just found the back and forth to be dull
all the games except for a few was close , like I said if the Sox fall IF IF I F the sox was to fall and the Yankees close the gap big time. at that point it won't matter who the hell is on the mound.
that's because nudge is dull.
Longfellow, is everything OK at home?
Sully, exactly what's so great about the Sox pen? I'll give you Papelbon and Okajima. Timlin? Please.
Sully,
might want to go over those numbers again. We lit up schilling two times and Dice-K once, and that's when we were playing bad ball. Neither of those guys scare us...
The Yankees have had two fantastic runs (June&July), and for a grand total of one day have been closer than a week of the Sox.
BUT... they have a great shot at the Wild Card mainly because of Cleveland's lousy #4 and #5 starters and just plain bad closer.
It will probably be Indians/Yankees/Mariners dow the stretch and I wouldn't bet against the Yanks among those 3.
Michael, if you lit up those guys and lost... what does that say about YOUR pitching staff?
As for the pen, we have an all star closer, an all star set up man, DelCarmen and Lopez have pitched damn well as well. These days Timlin is our 5th or 6th option.
Yeah, I think that is better than a pen with a Hall of Fame closer and Vizcaino and... um... did I mention Vizcaino?
Longfellow,
Sully and Nudge are not the same, no way. Sully is objective and a gentleman. Nudge is not. Sully is here to debate and reflect, Nudge is here to incite and aggravate. Different personalities really.
Wow.
For the record, I didn't write that post.
At the bare minimum, the Yanks need to get Boston's lead down to 5 before Aug. 28th when they meet in a 3 game series at the Stadium. For the Yanks to have a shot at the division, they'll need to sweep.
Do I hope for that scenario? Yes.
Do I expect that to happen? No.
I try to maintain a positive attitude about this, but I really didn't like what i saw this past weekend and basically, all season from this crop of relievers. We have guys that throw mid 90s, but they just don't throw strikes. They get behind in counts and then get clobbered.
There are only 2 relievers in the game today, in my opinion, that can get behind in the count and put hitters away: Papelbon and Mo.
Just gotta keep the faith!
Nope, Nudge and I ain't the same guy.
John, last time the Sox lead was as low as 6, let alone 5, was May 9th.
They had better get going on that comeback!
BUT John G... keep that faith. It makes these boards more fun!
And let's face it... another Yankees/Red Sox post season meeting would be pretty cool.
Sully,
There's not much that the Yanks can do other than to keep winning series. They dug a huge hole and it's going to be really hard now, especially since Boston has been playing good baseball again. We just can't depend on our relievers to get the job done.
Yeah, I'll keep the faith. That's what fans are suppose to do.
Keep winning those series and by mid August, you guys will be the Wild Card.
Better hope Cleveland and Seattle holds pat
Sully,
I'll give you delcarmen, his numbers are great. Lopez on the otherhand, has a WHIP over 1.3 and just better than a 1 to 1 walk to strikeout ratio (20 k's 14 BB). Those numbers are not good. That is a warning sign.
Can't worry about what Seattle and The Tribe do. We just have to beat them when we play them.
If we don't then we don't deserve to be there this year.
Guys, stop focusing on Boston, they are irrelevant at this point. In baseball, it's all about getting in, and the hot and healthy teams have the best shot. Just ask the 2004 Sux if they care who won the AL East.
I don't care who won the 2004 AL East.
Michael, Lopez isn't great... but he's our #4 option out of the pen. We're kind of nit picking at this point
Sully,
I keep hearing how great the Sox pen is, and I just don't see it. Better than the Yanks, maybe, but that doesn't make yours good. Papelbon has saved exactly 0 games in his career of any significance, and last year he broke down without completing a full season. Neither Delcarme nor Okajima have a full productive season in the bigs, so we'll have to see what you get out of them down the stretch after a full season of work. The rest of your pen isn't worth talking about....
Looks like the Braves can overtake the Mets now, no?
Dye is no great acquisition.
I love the "They have no post season experience ergo not cut out for it" argument.
What was Troy Percival and Frankie Rodriguez's extensive list of meaningful saves pre-2002?
How about Ugeth Urbina in 2003?
Bobby Jenks in 2005?
Adam Wainright in 2006?
Papelbon and Okajima have kicked butt all year... why should it change in the postseason? Because they have fewer post season chances than Todd Jones?
Farnsworth has pitched a bunch of postseaon games... and I remember him coughing up a 5 run lead to the Astros in '05.
The rest of the pen isn't worth talking about... agreed. The mop men and long relievers aren't All Star worthy. Whose are?
Sully, it's fair to comment that you don't know what you have until a guy pitches in big games. Lidge looked like a world beater until he got into the world series. BY Kim was very effective for the D-backs before his 2001 WS appearances. It goes both ways.
The point is that in the playoffs and WS, not only does the pressure increase, but you're playing the best teams. This at a time when you have a full year's workload under your belt.
I understand your position. You feel like your team is on top of the world and you don't want to hear otherwise. We'll see how it works out...
I agree with you MichaelZ.
Sometimes you don't even know from year to year what you've got with a guy.
Wetteland was a trainwreck in the 1995 playoffs... only to win the 1996 WS MVP.
Foulke's only post season experience before the Sox was letting up a series ending walk off bunt to Carlos Guillen in 2000 and blowing a potential series clinching game for the A's vs Boston in 2003.
He turned it around and became the most underrated hero of the 2004 title run.
Of course all of this is pre playoff babbling.
Lee Smith for a time had the most saves of anyone ever... and wet the bed both times he was in the post season.
Dennis Eckersley is in the Hall of Fame, and has HUGE blown saves against the Dodgers, Reds and BlueJays
Meanwhile Mark Wohlers clinched a World Series
Go figure
I know the post season is different... I just can't wait to find out how they do!
I'm glad no one has taken a cheap shot at Mo for the 2001 Series; the rest of his record is just too good. Not that it's related, but may Bill Walsh RIP.
Rivera's '01 WS collapse was a fluke
Note that I avoided a, '04 shot
Gordon was the goat of that series
Gordon and Kevin Brown and Javi Vazquez and Tony Clark and......
sully Gordon lost one series and is blamed????
Mariano loses TWO 97/01 and is spared .
I have reason for this statement in saying that the idiot minds that was quick to DUMP Gordon after a couple of games in the playoff's was the stupidest move. the man was good so what he had one bad series (he was good in the Minn series) so you kick him to the Curb? if we go to the history of GREAT players that had a bad series well then the books would be different, Gordon should have stayed in stripes
i agree with you anon!!!!
i agree with you anon!!!!