2015 NEW YORK YANKEES OFFSEASON THREAD VOL. Baseball is in the air

[nick.]

Betances a finalist for AL ROY

 

[essential1]

@Essential1
 I know you've gone on record saying you wouldn't mind Nelson Cruz at 2 years around $40M. Now Jon Heyman is saying Cruz wants a 4 year deal at "big bucks". Assuming a deal is between $64M-$100M would you still be in on Cruz?

I think we need someone who can hit the ball out.

But at that price... Passssssssssssssssss

If we didn't have Teix, A-Rod, Beltran contracts, I'd have no problem. But those contracts make me not want that contract Cruz wants unless I know they will be worth it every year of it. 2 years, I think he'll produce. 4 years, I'm not so sure.

 

[Cashflow]

While many have been quick to connect the Yankees to the top names on the market, as is the case in most offseasons, Mark Feinsand and Bill Madden of the New York Daily News hear that the team has no intention to pursue any of the “Big Three” starting pitchers — Max Scherzer, Jon Lester and James Shields — or top third baseman Pablo Sandoval.

Instead, the Daily News duo continues, the Yankees are more focused on bringing back a pair of their own free agents: Chase Headley and Brandon McCarthy. The team loves Headley’s glove at third base and views the returning Alex Rodriguez as more of a DH candidate at his age, per Feinsand and Madden. The team could act quickly and aggressively to retain the two. (MLBTR’s Tim Dierkes pegged Headley for a four-year, $48MM contract while I predicted a three-year, $36MM deal for McCarthy.) The Yankees, per the report, don’t want to add any more $100MM+ contracts to their books, although the name of Hanley Ramirez, who figures to top the century mark, is curiously absent from the list of players they won’t be pursuing.

Also of note for Yankees fans is the update within this piece on David Robertson, whom Feinsand and Madden hear is already receiving interest from at least six clubs. Robertson is expected to turn down the Yankees’ qualifying offer and could land a three- or four-year deal on the open market.

Of course, it’s worth looking back to last season when multiple reports indicated that the Yankees would spend judiciously in an attempt to eventually get the team’s payroll below the $189MM luxury tax threshold. That clearly didn’t happen, as the Yankees signed Masahiro Tanaka, Jacoby Ellsbury, Brian McCann and Carlos Beltran to huge multi-year deals while also adding veterans Kelly Johnson, Brian Roberts and Brendan Ryan on smaller deals. All told, they spent roughly half a billion dollars last winter.

None of that is meant to discredit the information provided by Feinsand and Madden, but rather to serve as a reminder that priorities can change. Still, for the time being, the Yankees’ early modus operandi appears to be pursuing mid-level free agents in an attempt to return the team to the playoffs after a two-year absence while also maintaining some long-term flexibility.

 

[phillyzphan]

^Just saw Jon Heyman post something similar on Twitter. Basically said the Yankees have no plans on pursuing Lester, Shields, & Scherzer. Instead their targets at pitching are McCarthy, Hammel, and Capuano.

Spoiler: Warning: Spoiler!

 
The Yankees  are targeting Brandon McCarthy, Jason Hammel  and others in that mid-rotation category for their staff.

They also have interest in bringing back left-hander Chris Capuano, who pitched decently as a spot starter after being acquired from the Rockies  last year..

At least for the moment, sources connected to the team suggest they have "zero" plans to pursue either of the top two starting pitchers on the free-agent market -- Max Scherzer  andJon Lester  -- and will instead concentrate on a mid-rotation guy.

The Yankees, who haven't made the playoffs for two straight years for the first time in 20 seasons, have in some past winters pivoted to become a bigger spender than promised in the past. However, Yankees people are telling others at present that they don't see the wisdom in going "seven or eight years" for a top starting pitcher. The Daily News  first suggested Lester and Scherzer were unlikely for the Yankees.

McCarthy was a revelation for the Yankees, performing superbly after coming from Arizona. He was 7-5 with a 2.89 ERA as a Yankee after being acquired from Arizoina for Vidal Nunoafter going 3-10 with a 5.01 ERA with the Diamondbacks.

Hammel was brilliant with the Cubs, then not quite as good with the A's. Overall, he was better than McCarthy, though, going 10-11 with a 3.47 ERA.

Capuano was 2-3 with a 4.25 ERA in 12 second-half starts for the Yankees.

The Yankees are hopeful Masahiro Tanaka  will be able to front the rotation after an elbow situation sidelined him a couple months this past year and believe Ivan Nova  can be back in the first half of the year after returning from elbow surgery. CC Sabathia  will be coming off knee surgery, as the Yankees will count on some comebacks. Michael Pineda  is expected to be in the rotation, along with Shane Greene, a rookie in 2014, who pitched promisingly.

 

[essential1]

Year 3 of No Playoffs coming up.

I totally get Shields.. I even get Scherzer... But Lester does not have a pick attached to him, and is the type of pitcher we need.


Better be bluffing like staying under the $189mil last year.

 

[phillyzphan]

I get why they aren't focused on Shields, Scherzer, and Lester. Those 3 are gonna want 5-7 year contracts. If you're lucky you get 2-3 top seasons from them. Then in years 4-7 you're paying whats now a #3 or 4 pitcher $20M+ a season. They probably learned their lesson from CC's contract and don't wanna make the same mistake again. Just like I think the way A-Rod's contract has turned out for them was a major reason that they didn't re-sign Cano and give him the 10 years he wanted.

More and more we're gonna see teams focus on drafting, signing young international free agents, and trading for young prospects. If the players succeed, we'll see more contracts like the one Trout got. Not numbers wise, but where his arbitration and some free agency years were bought out. Then when a player does reach free agency teams are gonna want 2-4 year deals or just let the players walk. Look at all of the teams that have been burned by having older players making big money. The Yanks, my Phils, Dodgers in the past, Mets, etc.

 

[essential1]

I get why they aren't focused on Shields, Scherzer, and Lester. Those 3 are gonna want 5-7 year contracts. If you're lucky you get 2-3 top seasons from them. Then in years 4-7 you're paying whats now a #3 or 4 pitcher $20M+ a season. They probably learned their lesson from CC's contract and don't wanna make the same mistake again. Just like I think the way A-Rod's contract has turned out for them was a major reason that they didn't re-sign Cano and give him the 10 years he wanted.

More and more we're gonna see teams focus on drafting, signing young international free agents, and trading for young prospects. If the players succeed, we'll see more contracts like the one Trout got. Not numbers wise, but where his arbitration and some free agency years were bought out. Then when a player does reach free agency teams are gonna want 2-4 year deals or just let the players walk. Look at all of the teams that have been burned by having older players making big money. The Yanks, my Phils, Dodgers in the past, Mets, etc.

CC flamed out because he was a power pitcher. His power faded as he aged. He also was worked like few other pitchers for 5 straight seasons.

Lester is far from a power pitcher, so I have more confidence in him for 5-7 years. Lester has the ability for a great career into his mid30s. Scherzer I get the weariness, and Shields is not as good as advertised especially in the postseason.

Also what disconcerts me is the fact I keep reading Yankees are thinking about Robertson for 1 year, then giving the Closer Role to Dellin... Or comfortable letting him walk. They have something better than every team but the Royals, and that's a huge reason why the mediocre talent at most positions Royals made the series. And they are planning on blowing it up.

Yankee Stadium is going to continue being half full, and they will continue to miss the playoffs.

Yankees are in store for a LONGGGGGGG Decade

 

[essential1]

1 year / $2.5mil for Chris Young..

Good deal.



I'm putting money on that it's all the Mets fault.

 

[isco]

betances better win

 

[isco]

Yankees are looking @ Elvis andrus

 

[phillyzphan]

CC flamed out because he was a power pitcher. His power faded as he aged. He also was worked like few other pitchers for 5 straight seasons.

Lester is far from a power pitcher, so I have more confidence in him for 5-7 years. Lester has the ability for a great career into his mid30s. Scherzer I get the weariness, and Shields is not as good as advertised especially in the postseason.

Also what disconcerts me is the fact I keep reading Yankees are thinking about Robertson for 1 year, then giving the Closer Role to Dellin... Or comfortable letting him walk. They have something better than every team but the Royals, and that's a huge reason why the mediocre talent at most positions Royals made the series. And they are planning on blowing it up.

Yankee Stadium is going to continue being half full, and they will continue to miss the playoffs.

Yankees are in store for a LONGGGGGGG Decade

Even though CC was a power pitcher no one expected him to ever flame out. He was a big guy and they always had the reputation of always staying healthy, never wearing down, and pitching forever. Look at David Wells, Livan, Colon, etc. Plus CC has the pitches that should've helped him transform from power pitcher to junk/finesse pitcher. He needs to start using his changeup and sinker more and incorporating that cutter he worked on with Pettitte. And instead of thinking he can blow his fastball pass guys, he can't anymore, he needs to focus on location and hitting his spots. 

Yankees are looking @ Elvis andrus

8 yrs $120M remain for Andrus. A little shocked they would consider him since most in baseball agreed that the contract Texas gave Andrus was terrible.

 

[isco]

so many great FAs out there..I hope they make smart value moves

 

[Hahahaha]

Way too much for Chris Young. Don't even want him.

Andrus isn't bad at all. I'm guessing TX will eat a good amount of that contract.

I want Alex Rios

 

[isco]

I want Alex Rios

THISSSSS

 

[isco]

I'm waiting for updates on Prado

 

[essential1]

I'm waiting for updates on Prado

You mean Headley?

Prado is still under contract.

 

[phillyzphan]

Robertson wants Papelbon money. So he's looking at 4 years $50M or more?

 

[7thave btn 31stn33rd st]

Way too much for Chris Young. Don't even want him.

Andrus isn't bad at all. I'm guessing TX will eat a good amount of that contract.

I want Alex Rios

Now we're talking. Intriguing winter.

 

[essential1]

Robertson wants Papelbon money. So he's looking at 4 years $50M or more?

Just give it to him.

I swear to god if they move Dellin to closer when he's so much more effective at being able to get 2 innings at a time, I'm done. Might as well be the Mets if they screw it up.

 

[nick.]

I don't think he's proven enough to get $50M, but I'd give it to him. Betances could eventually be the closer but like you said he's a setup man right now.

 

[essential1]

He's proven he's one of the best bullpen arms in the league and was more than good as a closer. He was as good a strikeout pitcher as Dellin was.

We don't have to pay Dellin for over 4 years. It shouldn't even be a question. Give him the money.

 

[essential1]

They traded Cervelli to the Pirates..

I'm guessing JR Murphy is the backup now, and just placeholding for 2016 Sanchez

Got Justin Wilson who will be the Lefty in the bullpen

 

[macbk]

Was shocked to hear about Cervelli .

 

[phillyzphan]

Ken Rosenthal made a good comment this morning. The Yankees want Headley back. Right now the Red Sox, Giants, and Blue Jays are focused on signing Sandoval. The teams that lose out on Sandoval are gonna turn their sights toward Headley. Why aren't the Yankees trying harder and more quickly to try and lockup Headley before other teams join in?

I get that Headley's agent might want him to sit and wait to start a bidding war, but you figure the Yankees would try pushing a deal harder.

 

[essential1]

Nick Cafardo of the Boston Globe asked about a dozen GMs in Phoenix about the Yankees’ situation and not one of them thought the Bombers would stay away from a major signing. For all the talk about the Cubs being a major player for Jon Lester, the Red Sox are still fearful that it’ll be the Yankees that swoop in and grab him.

Please god

The Yankees currently have 39 players on their 40-man roster after adding four players and selling Zelous Wheeler to Japan. More change is on the way, writes Chad Jennings of LoHud.com in an analysis of the roster. Jennings expects the club to add another four players, which would necessitate further moves. He speculates that Chase Whitley, Preston Claiborne, David Huff, Esmil Rogers, and Austin Romine are all candidates to be designated for assignment. Romine is the most obvious since he is out of options and behind Brian McCann and John Ryan Murphy on the depth chart.

Should be Romine.

The Yankees have inked Colombian outfielder Bryan Emery, reports Ben Badler of Baseball America, which means both that all of BA’s top thirty international free agents have signed and that ten have gone to New York. Emery will take home a $500K bonus, per MLB.com’s Jesse Sanchez. That adds on to an already remarkable level of spending for the Bronx Bombers, who will of course have to match their commitment to Emery in penalties.

As it sits the Top 30 international Prospects we have
1. Dermis Garcia - SS
2. Nelson Gomez - 3B
5. Juan DeLeon - OF
7. Jonathan Amundaray - OF
9. Antonio Arias - OF
13. Hyo-Jun Park - SS
14. Wilkerman Garcia - SS
16. Diego Castillo - SS
25. Miguel Flames - C
29. Bryan Emery - OF