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The Other Free Agents

Counting the minor leagues, the Yankees currently have 12 free agents. And, while the first four (Posada, Pettitte, Rivera and a certain third baseman) have gotten plenty of ink, the other eight haven't. Let's look at each of them and talk about what the Yankees should do.

Since we are going alphabetically, Colter Bean is at the top of the list. Let's face it, Bean never got a fair shot here and since he just came off of a 5+ ERA season, I think it is best to let him walk.

Jim Brower is next and he isn't worth bringing back either.

Next up is an interesting name, Roger Clemens. The Yankees made a mistake in 2003 by not offering arbitration, but this year the decision is already made for them. Clemens is not a type A or B free agent, so the Yankees wouldn't get any compensation for losing him anyway. Enjoy the Texas sun, Roger.

Doug Mientkiewicz is a luxury the Yankees cannot afford. Doug had his best year since 2003, .277/.349/.440, but it would seem a foolish bet to expect him to do that again. The Yankees have four guys who could play first besides him on the roster now so the need isn't there either.

Jose Molina would seem to be a no-brainer to return, but that is more a reflection on the catching talent available that anything. Molina put up .318/.333/.439 for the Yankees in 66 AB's, but his career rates of .243/.279/.345 are much more reasonable expectations going forward. He does catch a good game and play good defense, so retaining him isn't the worst idea, but the Yankees should aggressively look for a new backup catcher this offseason.

Wil Nieves makes Molina look like DiMaggio and the Yankees should be happy to let him go.

Conveniently, the next four names are the "Big 4" so we can skip them and go right to Ron Villone. Villone 's one redeeming factor is that he is left-handed, but he doesn't get lefties out anymore than he gets righties out. While Sean Henn hasn't shown much either, the Yankees would be better off giving this bullpen spot to someone who can get outs, regardless of which side they come from.

And that brings us to the last name on the list, Luis Vizcaino. Throw April, May and September out of the equation and Vizcaino was absolutely lights out. Of course, you can't do that, so what can we make of his body of work? You could make the argument that the first two months are due to adjustment to New York and the last month is due to adjustment to joe Torre. That's fine, but perhaps the answer is just simply that Vizcaino's numbers ended where they should have ended up. His ERA+ was 104 which is also his career average.

So, perhaps the best way to look at him is as a pitcher who is slightly better than league average. That doesn't mean he doesn't have value to the Yankees, but I also wouldn't hand him millions and a three-year deal. He made $3-million last year and is a Type B free agent. Offer him arbitration and maybe two years and $6-million would be my play.


Comments

Agreed except I am higher on Vizcaino than you are and think he should be locked in for 3 years.

Would like to see them sign Affedlt, a lefty free agent who went from KC to Colorado and pitched pretty well. He had very impressive stuff when I saw him in K.C. and could be the lefty specialist they are looking for.

Do NOT pick up LaTroy Hawkins. He's a great guy and very likeable. But he's Kyle Farnsworth/Mark Wohlers with a few mph less on the dial.

Farnsworth will be traded and Joba put in the starting rotation so they are going to need to sign as many available relievers as they can and hope someone works out. It would be great if guys like Mussina or Clemens would convert to the bullpen at the end of their careers, but ego & $$ get in the way.

Corey, Clemens in the pen at $25mm+? Come on, even if he offered I'd turn him down. Not sure Farnsworth gets dealt.

I like Affeflt too. Kerry Wood would be an interesting choice as a set-up guy.

Hammer/Nail/Head Pete, across the board. I agree completely.

Its off topic, but I am wondering what Cashman will do about having a rotation that potentially could have 3 pitchers too young to be streched to 200 innings (or maybe even 175), and 1 starter unlikely to have 200 inning stamina.

Having #46 on the team would sure help.

It's a great question Ian, those 215 innings are huge. Then again, the Yankees had 215 from Pettitte, 199 from Wang and 152 from Mussina, no one else went over 100 this year.

Kennedy went 165 this year, so 185 should be attainable. Joba went 124, so 140 or so seems reasonable. Hughes went only 109, but 146 in 2006, so I would guess 160 or so for him.

So, it's either mix and match for the other chunks or try some sort of six-man rotation.

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