Let's Go All In!
Ok, so the rumors are that Rivera has come to his senses and accepted the Yankees deal. That means New York has probably retained three of their four big free agents and only Pettitte is a question mark at this point. So, what should the Yankees do at this point?
Since rebuilding is obviously not in the cards, how about throwing some serious cash around? How about the Yankees go out and spend like only the Yankees can spend? On what you ask? Consider the following.
First, go and offer Francisco Cordero $40 million for the next four years to setup/close. I say both because let's face it, chances are Mariano is going to stop being effective at some point in the next three years. So, get Cordero in for a ridiculous number as a setup guy, but you also get Mariano's replacement in the same move. This clearly sends Joba to the rotation, where he will be needed.
Get Vizcaino back for three years and maybe $12 million? Whatever it takes, just sign the guy.
Next, give Pettitte more money to leave Houston. I am sure he is torn by his family obligations, but at some point he will sign for a paycheck. Maybe the price is $18 million, maybe it is $20 million, I would find out and get him back.
Then head to Minnesota and offer them Hughes, Melky and Horne for Santana. This may or may not get it done, but I think it at least keeps the conversation going. If you have to, throw in Kennedy, but under no circumstances give away Joba or Cano.
Give Giambi and Farnsworth away, even if it means getting 25% of their salaries back. They are no longer needed here.
Lastly, sign Andruw Jones to a monumental two-year deal. I am thinking two years for $45 million or so. Adding Jones takes care of the hole in center and adds a potent righty bat to the lineup. Overpaying him for two years gives you time to see if Austin Jackson is for real.
So, when you add it all up, what do you have? You have a team that just added around $30-40 million in payroll and has a pretty awesome lineup and rotation.
Damon-LF
Jeter- SS
Abreu-RF
A-Rod-3B
Matsui-DH
Jones-CF
Posada-C
Cano-2B
Duncan/Betemit-1B
Santana
Wang
Pettitte
Joba
Mussina
And you have Rivera with Cordero and Vizcaino setting up and a bunch of young arms coming out of the pen (Ramirez, Ohlendorf, Britton, Cox, Sanchez, etc.)
That team should score runs by the bunch and with Santana anchoring the rotation, do well in the playoffs. Nothing is guaranteed, but I would take my chances with this club.
Of course there are other approaches and we will discuss those more in the upcoming week.
Comments
Are you mocking the yankees? Or...
20 mill plus a year for 2 years for Andr... ugh.
Posted by: gonzo | November 19, 2007 02:58 AM |
Woh, nelly. Heal boy! Heal!
What's gotten into you? We don't need to do anything. If Pettite comes back we sit tight with a great rotation with the chance of Hughes or Joba emerging as #1's for the playoffs. If Pettite doesn't come back we see what we have from Wang, Joba, Hughes, Kennedy. If we are a Johan Santana away from being a WS team, we can make a pitch for him at the all-star break.
This line-up is good enough to smash our way to the playoffs. There is no reason to start puking our prospects out. Just because we resigned Posada & Rivera to long term deals doesn't mean we're forced to "go for it", it just means we're going to be a better team for the next two years.
Posted by: tim | November 19, 2007 03:08 AM |
I think Andy will pitch or not pitch based on his emotional state, not due to an extra few mill thrown into the offer. Cordero would be a good pickup and getting The Viz back would also be great.
The rest of your moves? I would hold off on them. I see Hughes, Joba and Ian as being a good, young core and I see Melky as a good CF for us - I can see a decent development trajectory for him. Andru Jones seems like he could be a huge mistake.
Giambi and Fransworth? I would trade them for whatever salary relief was available and for some excellent prospects - like catching and 1B.
Your thinking probably mirrors what the Tampa Boys are thinking though. They're out to show that they're smarter than their old man.
Posted by: Mitchell![[TypeKey Profile Page]](http://yankeesredsox.com/nav-commenters.gif)
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November 19, 2007 07:08 AM
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I agree. It's time to return to the business model that has been so successful in the past. It's a travesty that the team salary total receded over the last couple of years.
This is a team with the resources to make things happen. they need to go out and do it.
Posted by: Dave Landry | November 19, 2007 07:17 AM |
You are what is wrong with Yankee fans. I don't see the need to go out and try and sign all the top RANK A free agents in the market. Giving up hughes and kennedy and melky and horne for Santana?? That ridiculous. Signing Jones to play CF? He couldn't even perform on a contract year, imagine after signing a contract. He is way past his hayday.
Posted by: Jimmy | November 19, 2007 09:23 AM |
I'm a big Santana fan, but I don't like the idea of giving up the number one pitching prospect and a now-established young centerfielder for a guy who may be a free agent in one more year.
And if you do deal Melky for someone, I think Rowan is the best of the three centerfielders available. Jones is not a disciplined hitter and his numbers have fallen way off. Hunter is a terrific player and personality but he's past his prime and lacks discipline at the plate and even sometimes in the field. Rowan is an excellent player in his prime.
Posted by: corey | November 19, 2007 10:03 AM |
Yeah and then we should sign Barry Bonds to a two year deal to be the pinch hitter and clubhouse guy who keeps the team in line.
On top of that we should throw another 28 million to get Roger Clemens back. I'm pretty sure he can come up with another 6 wins. It's obvious he's not through.
I'm sure you're not serious.
Posted by: Tripp | November 19, 2007 01:29 PM |