TwitterPerspective
7 Dec 2012
I thought Brian Cashman had the best quote of the offseason so far when he told a reporter, “There are no games scheduled for tomorrow”. It’s a great point, this isn’t the team the Yankees will put on the field when the season starts.
I can’t get too worked up about the Yankees missing out on Jeff Keppinger or being outbid for Russell Martin. I also think it is silly to say the Yankees won’t spend money when they have offered Kevin Youkilis a $12-million deal. (In fact, this is money I wish they wouldn’t spend.) Remember it wasn’t until almost mid-January 2012 that the Yankees signed Kuroda and traded for Pineda. Up until that point we thought they would have huge holes in their rotation, so patience isn’t a bad idea.
Ownership is awash with cash and while I do believe they want to spend less than $189 million in 2014, I think that is a one time goal. They are going to spend the money they believe they need to in order to win. They have a big stadium with very expensive tickets that they need to fill and a team that loses 90 games isn’t gong to do that.
And here’s the other thing, what move would you have liked the Yankees to make this week? I think almost every Yankees’ fan would agree that Josh Hamilton and Zach Greinke are probably not good fits in the Bronx, so let’s eliminate them. Angel Pagan for $40 million over 4? BJ Upton for $75 million over 5? I know I’m not interested.
It’s funny, but a lot of people are talking out of both sides of their mouth right now, but don’t seem to realize it. You can’t bemoan the A-Rod deal on one hand and then criticize the Yankees for not signing other expensive free agents on the other. Either you want them to take a cautious approach or you have to live with the consequences.
Here’s what I expect will happen over the next month or so. Brian Cashman will pull off a fairly significant trade, this time for a position player. He will probably bring Ichiro or Ibanez back on a one-year deal and find a cheap righthanded outfielder to complement them. He will invite players like Chone Figgins to come to camp and see if they can win a job. And I expect he will ultimately put together a pretty solid team.
Dec 10, 2012 @ 12:01:45
The only guy I wished they would have signed is Chavez,though he presumably had good personal reasons to want to play in Arizona. I like Martin a good deal, but the price was a bit steep.
The team is going to have to develop the core of young pitchers and position players necessary to compete. Veteran are added to that core.
I’m hoping that the Yanks, with all their resources, have invested in the scouting and international efforts necessary to develop great young players. I’m not convinced that Sanchez is Munson; Heathcott is Williams (or even Murcer for that matter); or that Banuelos is Guidry. But I’m looking forward to following a good young team.
Dec 10, 2012 @ 17:07:27
http://espn.go.com/boston/mlb/story/_/id/8732814/kevin-youkilis-agent-says-new-york-yankees-contract-offer-very-legitimate
Dec 10, 2012 @ 20:06:03
Corey
I have to think the Yankees didn’t like the medicals on Chavez or he really wanted to go home because the money is insignificant to the Yankees.
Dec 10, 2012 @ 20:09:17
BL
I think it will probably happen. It makes sense for both sides. Youk gets a chance to have a big season in a hitters’ park and he gets $12 million to do so. The Yankees get someone to play third and a righty bat, which they really need.
Considering all the guys who have done the Boston to NY move and succeeded, I don’t think anyone in NY is going to mind. Damon, Clemens and Boggs all became popular even though they were HATED when they were in Boston.