On the Yankees beat

They'll pick up the option, makes no sense not to.

Funny how the word "store" has 2 different meanings?

"Slow week in store in YankeeLand"

"The Chamionships shirts and hats are flying off the shelves at the Red Sox store"

Funny?,,,isn't it?

Inquizitor,

ROFLMFAO, LOL, LOL, LOL. Wow, you are really coming up with nothing but ignorance. Yankees shirts and hats fly off the shelf ALL YEAR LONG ALL -- OVER THE WORLD -- EVERY DAY - CHAMPIONSHIP WIN OR NOT. Red Sox need to win to get people to buy their trash. I'm sure the same people will burn that garbage when the Red Sox start losing again which is only a matter of time and sooner than you think. LOL, LOL, LOL, Red Sox fans are morons.

Inquizitor,
I can't belive how obsessed you Red Sox fans are with the Yankees. Get a life!!!!!

I think the Star Ledger is reporting the Yankees picked up Abreu's option

Wow, imagine my surprise today to see Kat's article with the headline "Cashman Mulls moving Cano to 3B."

Hmmm ... who suggested that?

Well, we know we won't win next year with Abreu. For US$ 16 million he's stealing. Afraid of the wall, bunting et cetera.

He's just not that good.

You think Cincy would trade him one for one re Josh Hamilton? They would laugh.

We need to unload EVERY SINGLE overpaid player.

Abreu is a dream in a sane world ... an option you don't have to pick up, but course it's all about political correctness here, not about winning, which is why we don't win anymore.

With the following players on the team we CAN'T Win ...

Giambi (steroids)
Mussina (85 MPH fastball)
Farnsworth (rude, terrible)
Igawa (kind, terrible)
Abreu (soft/afraid of wall)
Matsui (knee, age, money)

We waste 1/3rd of the payroll.

Abreu didn't even show up till half the season was over.

I just don't get Cashman here. Again, all this dead wood and injury prone, overpaid players ... and he picks up Abreu's 16 million?

(As an aside if Mickey Mantle played today you'd have to give him the whole team.)

You can't win with a right fielder who is afraid of the freakin' wall. Sorry. Nothing against Abreu he could be a great person and cure Aids one day. Who knows ...

Because of the Asia, Japan, China marketing thing we are stuck with Igawa and Matsui. Essentially the Yanks don't want to win, they want to build their global empire, be social change agents and make money.

It's really just terrible!

But if you want that kind of a team, go all the way and get someone from a different country for EVERY position. Why not? Chavez is a good guy. Phillips. Be one way or another, not half way.

Anyway, Philly got rid of Abreu for a reason. So should we.

My lineup yet again ...

3B Cano or Chavez
2B Phillips on Cincy/Cano
SS Jeter
1B Menky and Andy P.
C Jorge or Bard/Piazza/Mo.
RF Melky/Duncan
CF Colby Rasmus
LF Ludwick
DH Matsui/Duncan

Ludwick and Phillips on Cincy could replace A Rod's 50 HRs. I would like to see Ludwick with 500 ABs.

Bench

Andy P.
Be A Mitt
(Fill in the Rest)
Shawn Green

Shawn Green would be a good addition. There are more Jews in NY than in all of Israel. Every ethnic group should be represented if that's your thing. Park Chan Ho in LA et cetera. Why not? The Mets might not want him. You would clog 1B though. Shawn can play RF.

Rotation

Andy P
Wang (no playoffs)
Kennedy
Hughes
Santana *

I would say Kazmir but we know he'll NEVER BE TRADED. Not even if the team with the most young pitching prospects, the highest (and wasted) payroll and most equity offers the TBDR's GM a second home in Bora Bora.

I mean afterall, it's not like LOS METS traded Scott Kazmir.

Oh wait ... they did!!!!

(Just pretend that never happened!)

Pen ...

This is the weakest link.

Bruney
Mo
Joba

We need lefties in the pen. (Igawa must find his Samurai spirit and come through!!!! Cashman must carry that responsibility since Theo out Japan-ed him again and again and again!) Henn laid an egg. Meyers is not really very good but seems like a good person. Farns is rude to the media as Ken Davidoff wrote and who needs that?

No pen, no WS. Keep Joba in the pen so he can pitch in more games in more crucial situations. Let Horne start or Santana if you can keep that bad boy from the Red Sox.

Think about it ... If Joba starts that is 30 games. He'll win maybe 16 or so.

But in relief he might pitch in 70 games. How many crucial outs is that?

I hope Posada stays. One thing about Bard, he had one of the highest averages in the NL with TWO OUTS and RISP. That's good. His stats were not that great but you need an arm and a good game called. SD has great pitching and Bard is a part of that.

Those are my thoughts ...

Ant,

I don't see one Jew on the pitching staff. There will be riots in the streets! Keep your lame political humor/sarcasm out of this blog. All I want is baseball out of you. If you can not do that, then leave and take your politics and religion with you!

From ESPN and Buster Olney:

Before Alex Rodriguez opted out of his contract with the Yankees earlier this week, the team was told that it would not be able to meet with the third baseman unless it presented an offer of at least $350 million, sources say.

The Yankees had hoped to meet with Rodriguez this week, and would have presented him with an extension offer close to five years and $150 million, to begin at the conclusion of his 2008-2010 contract, through which he would have earned $81 million. Through the Yankees' proposal, then, Rodriguez would have made about $230 million over eight years, and during the last five years of the contract, sources say, he would have earned the highest annual salary in Major League Baseball history.

But team executives were told, sources say, that in order to arrange a meeting with Rodriguez, they would have to be prepared to make an extension offer that would take the third baseman's deal up to a total value of $350 million. That means that the offer the Yankees intended to propose would have been more than $100 million short.

As expected, the New York Yankees are picking up the $16 million option on right fielder Bobby Abreu.

The Yankees had a midnight Friday deadline to decide on whether to exercise the option.

Abreu will remain in a Yankee outfield that includes Melky Cabrera in center and Hideki Matsui and Johnny Damon sharing duties in left field.

If the Yankees had declined the option, they would have paid Abreu a $2 million buyout. Abreu made $15,600,000 last season.

The 33-year-old right fielder overcame a slow start to hit .283 with 16 homers and 101 RBIs this year, when he finished second in the AL with 123 runs. He has reached 100 RBIs in five consecutive seasons.

"Bobby Abreu possesses a unique skill set and has proven to be a durable and reliable asset to this club," general manager Brian Cashman said. "Consistency has been a hallmark throughout his career."

New York acquired Abreu from Philadelphia in July 2006.

Only an egomaniac like A-Rod would ask for that much money. The only way I would ever ask for that much money was if half of it was donated to charity. He is pimple on the face of society!

Good Riddance you arrogant, post-season choker.It's a disgrace you would not even return the phone calls of Cashman Hank S.

Abreu was GREAT after a woeful April & May. Except for beng afraid of the wall,he is a complete player & A-Rod is going to severely miss hitting behind him.

A-Rod's $ should be spent on a strong bullpen. Girardi will manufacture runs to win if we can just get people out. Girardi was a great hire. Future looks bright. I would overpay & give Lowell the years he is looking for if need be, becase he is a great all-around player with heart & great team-mate, & doesn't gag in P/S
like someone we know.

The Yanks should sign Rowand, move Melky to RF and trade Abreu to fill the 3rd base hole. If Crede is indeed a "no go" until June, I'd contact the Cards about an Abreu for Rolen deal. Abreu is a free agent in "09", plays shabby defense, and has become a very "streaky" hitter. This makes gambling on Rolen worthwhile.

Abreu is basically non-tradeable now and Yanks will fill his spot with Tabata after Abreu's extension is finished, so Melky might take it on the chin. Many teams would like to have him and I believe he has "max'ed out" as a hitter. Good/Great fielder, average hitter. We might find a good 3rd baseman in a trade - straight up - for Melky. Rowand is some kind of player and all Yankee fans would love this guy. Rolen is way past his prime and the one good thing he had, a strong throwing arm, is no longer any good (shoulder surgery). He has about 2 below average years left in him and Betemit/Phillips would out perform vs Rolen over the course of the year. Wonder if Garciaparra is available?

Roy,
When you put it like that about Abreu ("plays shabby defense, and has become a very streaky hitter") you probably convinced St. Louis to come running to the Yanks and offering up Rolen for him.

This is what I love about some of us Yankee fans. We want teams to trade us their good players for our crappy ones.

JIM A-
The post before you paints Rolen as a "washed up bum", yet you think he's a "good player". Such is Baseball. The main reasons I believe the Cards would do this deal is that Rolen and LaRussa don't get along, and the Card OF is a mess due to age and injury.

I proposed this before and I will say it again:

Trade Abreu to St. L for Rolen
Sign Torii Hunter for 4 years $56 mil
Sign Mike Lamb for 2 year $4 mil or trade for Casey Blake

Lineup is:
Damon - LF
Jeter - SS
Cano - 2B
Hunter - CF
Posada - C
Rolen - 3B
Matsui - DH
Giambi - 1B
Melky - RF

Bench:
Duncan, Betemit, Molina, Blake/Lamb, Kevin Reese

I assume fully that Giambi/Matsui/Rolen will all miss time throughout the season Duncan, Betemit and either Blake or Lamb can fill in at 1st and 3rd in those times. It is a balanced lineup and, when you take Giambi out late in games for defense, it is a terrific defensive team as well, which is what the Yankees will need if they aren't going to have the mashers of days gone by.

CHIP-
Would Rolen be your 1st choice at 3B?

Rolen's not washed up, but does come with issues:

1. He has not played a full season in 2 years due to shoulder problems

2. His agent is Scott Boras which would likely hold up any deal until after A-Rod has signed somewhere so that Boras can keep the Yankees in play.

3. He makes a good deal of money.

From the Cards point of view - Edmonds is likely done, and Juan Encarnacion suffered a career ending eye injury. So their outfield is Rick Ankiel and possibly Chris Duncan.

Abreu is the perfect bat to have in front of Pujols and Rolen and LaRussa can't stand each other (which makes me wonder a little how Rolen will handle Girardi - plus he wasn't a huge fan of the pressure in Philly so that's another issue if he's coming to NYC)

Roy,
Rolen pretty much is washed up, meaning he's certainly not the player he once was, just like Abreu. However, he has an excuse (his shoulder) so if he is pronounced healthy, other teams could pounce on him and a deal for Abreu, who just hasn't been the same since he won the HR derby, wouldn't happen.

Rolen also didn't get along with his manager in Philly so I can't say I like that pattern either.

Roy -

No he's not. I'm not entirely sure who my first choice is - all the options carry pros and cons:

Miguel Cabrera
Pro: At 24 he's one of the best right handed hitters in the game
Con: He's got attitude problems and is a cheesecake away from being Cecil Fielder - plus at some point he's going to want 200 mil

Mike Lowell
Pro: Terrific glove and attitude
Con: Getting up there in age, not sure his bat will translate away from Fenway

Joe Crede
Pro: Youngish, good glove, decent bat, no long term commitment if it doesn't pan out
Con: Coming off back surgery and may not be ready to start the year. Only really one good season in his career, his agent is Scott Boras

Scott Rolen:
Pro: When healthy he is a tremendous hitter and Hall of Fame fielder
Con: Hasn't been fully healthy in 2 years, attitude questions, hefty salary with a lot of years, Agent is Boras

Adrian Beltre:
Pro: Young, good fielder, was able to hit in a tough pitchers' park
Con: Up and down career, Boras again

Hank Blalock:
Pro: Young, good bat, decent glove
Con: Health issues abound, doesn't help with the need for right handed pop

Eric Chavez
Pro: When healthy tremendous glove and bat
Con: Lots of money, little actual games played

Miguel Tejada:
Pro: Good right handed bat
Con: Expensive long term commitment, steroid questions, has never played 3B

Brandon Inge (Only a possibility if the Tiggers sign Alex)
Pro: Terrific fielder, some right handed pop.
Con: .230 batting average.

Jim A

Are you calling Abreu one of our "crappy" ones?

Chip RULES!

Mike - I aim to please

For 1 year, Abreu is good right where he is, with us. Tabata is coming and the future is bright.

CHIP-
No Ian Stewart?

Roy -

He's one of the top players in the Rockies' system, they are more likely to move Atkins who is alright (but his home and road splits are terrible) or Hawpe or Helton so they can get Stewart into the lineup.

Throw in a couple of other cons for Cabrera and Tejada:

Cabrera:
Will cost some of our top prospects

Tejada:
Peter Angelos is insane and hard to trade with.

I also didn't mention Troy Glaus:

Pro: Good right handed hitter
Con: health issues, has a no trade clause, Toronto probably wants to take advantage of the fact that the Yankees are a little down, not help them out.

Here's a suggestion:

Swing a deal for Chad Tracy and Carlos Quentin of the D'Backs - Tracy is a decent 3B sorta like Mike Lamb, and Quentin is a pretty good outfielder - both lost their positions and should not cost the Yankees too much in terms of prospects.

Rick,
Abreu is not crappy, but he's not all that great either.
He's a corner OF with marginal power and below average defense. He's closer to crappy than he is super stardom.

Internal options at 3b:

Wilson Betemit
Bronson Sardhina
Eric Duncan

After that you start getting to the Brad Suttles, Damon Subletts and Marcos Veccionacci group - guys who are still too far away to even consider at this point.

Actually Roy - I just decided what my first choice is:

The Yankees go into Spring Training with a semi open competition at 3B - maligned prospect Eric Duncan after a winter of rededicating himself to his craft - seizes the moment and shows the sort of sweet stroke the Yankees envisioned when they drafted him out of high school - he grabs hold of the position and becomes entrenched there for the next decade (remember he's been around a while but he is still younger than David Wright or Miguel Cabrera)

Jim A

He is no superstar, but I will take the 100+ RBI, 100+ Runs, .300, 20+ SB, and how he works a pitcher. Compare his stats with those of some of the FA OF's like Hunter. He looks pretty good.

Jim

Oh, AND he wants to be here unlike certain guys named AR!

Chip,
Duncan is a bust. He's got back problems and he will be a lifetime minor leaguer.

Jim.

You're probably right - I'm just not prepared to write off a 22 year old.

He was rushed through the system and his development was screwed with by moving him around year after year. I know we're all about instant gratification as Yankee fans, but sometimes you have to be patient - and sometimes you have to be willing to take a risk.

Rick,
Of course he wants to be here, he's making $16M! Who else would pay him that?

Honestly, if I were Eric Duncan, the day Alex opted out I would put in a call to Kevin Long and ask him if he could set aside some time over the winter to meet up in Tampa to go through hitting - watch video of good left handed hitters, get a work out program from Gene Monahan - anything to get an edge come the spring and make sure that the coaches have my name in mind when they talk about the 3b situation.

I agree 100 percent with you , Chip about Eric Duncan. he held so much promise and the change of position seemed to affect his growth...imho.

Realist - it's a stretch no doubt - but how many players really hit the majors running before they are 22 or 23?

The scouting reports on Juan Miranda have taken a turn for the better, and it seems like they think he can contribute at the major league level. Should my Yankees push him along and try to have him replace Giambi at 1B? What is his ceiling, regardless of his real age?
A:

Chris Kline: I really like the approach. Quiet, confident lefthanded hitter that has good plate discipline and power to all fields. I heard from several scouts during the season that thought the Yankees would give him a shot at the first base job next year, but Miranda still struggles against quality breaking balls from righthanders and hasn't hit lefties well this fall.

Excellent point! Plus , as we both sort of indicated , the move to 1st seemed to take away from his game? I remember he had a fine Arizona Fall Leauge showing prior to ARod's arrival...please correct me if I am wrong.

350 mill just to talk? I hope ARod ends up on the Royals and his the mere mention of his name gets an even worse reaction than that of Barry Bonds.

I hope Pay-God ends up with the Mud Hens for $100,000 a year.

make that Pay-god.