TwitterWhy Not?
14 Dec 2010
There are plenty of naysayers out there scoffing at the Yankees announcement that they have signed Mark Prior to a minor league deal. Joel Sherman reports that the deal calls for Prior to make $750K if he makes the majors and another $800K in incentives based on innings pitched. He also notes that the Yankees view him as a reliever.
I get it, he will probably blow out his arm in camp, but what exactly are the Yankees risking here? Even if he made the big league roster, his salary of $750K is only $300K more than they would pay a guy fresh up from the minors. Kerry Wood reinvented himself as a reliever, perhaps Prior can to. It’s a great move by the Yankees to find out.
Dec 15, 2010 @ 08:23:14
Peter – they’re only risking some short dollars – and that’s only if he actually has the stuff to make it back to a 25 man roster – so it IS a great move. It would be amazing to see both Wood and Prior sitting in our bullpen, but, as usual, I am getting ahead of myself.
Dec 16, 2010 @ 00:05:48
Peter, this is a low risk move. I am trying to find the haters on this one, but I cannot.
I’m sure you, being local, are finding more than am I, but your points are valid.
Prior is a low risk signing, with untold potential (untold being he might blow out his arm in short order or become a valuable part of the Yankees staff).
Dec 16, 2010 @ 03:35:37
They’ve made much worse signings in my lifetime.
Dec 16, 2010 @ 09:10:20
Andy
The big ones I saw were on twitter. Things like how he which would come first Prior’s injury or Groundhog Day, etc..
Dec 16, 2010 @ 09:11:28
Mitchell
Sounds like Wood wants $6 million per- don’t see that happening.
Dec 16, 2010 @ 14:32:18
Peter – I am also seeing that Wood is (pardon the pun) closing in on a decent deal – and Cashman has said that Wood is not a realistic option as he’s looking for “closer money”. So yeah, it won’t happen. But Prior’s deal is pure upside in my estimation.
The questions now are: who can we pick up to bolster Joba, D-Rob, and Logan in the pen. Everyone is yakking about Soriano (he’d be a really nice addition) and Jenks (no thanks) – and Feliciano is “about” to be the 2nd lefty in our pen.
A big piece of the puzzle right now is Pettite – his decision, be it yeah or nay, has large implications for the entire pitching staff.
Dec 16, 2010 @ 17:23:42
Mitchell
Yup, I don’t think anything gets decided until Pettitte makes up his mind. If he comes back, Joba is obviously in the pen. But if he doesn’t, I bet the Yankees think about using Joba in the rotation and signing a reliever. Problem is, they are running out of targets.
As of now the pen would be:
Rivera
Joba
Robertson
Logan
Mitre
If they sign Feliciano, that really leaves only one spot open.
Dec 16, 2010 @ 18:34:36
Peter,
There is some buzz on the Internet that the Yankees are looking into Carlos Zambrano of the Cubs. I hope nothing comes of it. He’s a big-time head case.
Dec 16, 2010 @ 18:38:03
Greg
I saw that, but I saw Buster Olney said it wasn’t happening.
I would do it for AJ if the money evened out.
Dec 16, 2010 @ 23:35:30
Peter,
Even if the money evened out, I don’t know that I’d trade Burnett for Zambrano. In my last post, I referred to Zambrano as a head case. Allow me to retract that. Burnett is a head case. Zambrano, on the other hand, is a lunatic.
Dec 17, 2010 @ 14:32:03
Greg
Fair enough! I just figure Zambrano has more talent, but I suppose better the Devil you know….