Let's Hear From Brian
Buster Olney has reaction to the Soriano deal in his column today (subscription required) and it includes this bit of analysis:
The deal comes less than a week after general manager Brian Cashman declared that he would not give up the Yankees' first round pick for any pitcher on the market -- and now that's exactly what the Yankees are doing. The shift suggests that there is a major divide of opinion on Soriano within the organization, and that Cashman's autonomy in matters of baseball operations may have eroded.
Personally, I don't mind losing the first rounder. Yes, it could be a big deal down the road, but the Yankees have the financial muscle to pay over slot wherever they pick and international players are free to go to the highest bidder. They did it with Austin Jackson and Jesus Montero a few years ago and they will almost certainly do it again. That's the way you make up for the lack of a first round pick.
But, the part about Cashman's autonomy in baseball operations eroding does concern me though I'm not sure I agree. Yes, Brian Cashman went out and said he would not give up a first rounder last week, but how do we know that he wasn't simply lying? Remember, Scott Boras, the master of misdirection, is Soriano's agent. Perhaps Boras was seeking five years and $15 million per for his client and Cashman issued his proclamation to back him off a number. We may never know the truth, but I will be very interested to hear Cashman's answer when he is asked to reconcile his previous statement to this signing.
UPDATE Buster Olney tweets that this was more of an "ownership-driven" deal while Peter Gammons fingers Randy Levine as the force behind the signing.
Comments
And maybe, just maybe, Cashman looked at the starters available on the market and simply changed his mind about moving Joba back to the rotation?
Posted by: Greg | January 14, 2011 10:37 AM |
Boy do I hope you are right about that Greg.
Posted by: Peter![[TypeKey Profile Page]](http://yankeesredsox.com/nav-commenters.gif)
|
January 14, 2011 11:49 AM
|
some writer on ESPN (Matthews?) says the Yankees are now the favorite to win it all after signing Soriano. Really?
He had a career year last season, could work out, might not. I remember being confused by him when he was in Atlanta, wondering how/why his stats seemed decent when I could always remember a bad outing recently.
there are pitchers like that in baseball that have good stats but you always wonder "did I just happen to notice or watch the one game this week that he sucked in?" , problem was it wasn't a one time feeling.
No doubt it frees up others (Joba) to pitch elsewhere (rotation/other team).
Not sure it makes the Yankees the favorite though. I think it is a good move, provided he doesn't wig out in NY. Oh yeah, forgot to mention that he will have to contend with not have the save stats. That might be tough because he never was the save guy until last year, mentally that could be a problem.
Posted by: blmeanie![[TypeKey Profile Page]](http://yankeesredsox.com/nav-commenters.gif)
|
January 15, 2011 08:48 AM
|
Gotta admit BL, I don't worry a second about who the favorite is or isn't in January, but if I had to pick, I would go with the Phillies.
Posted by: Peter![[TypeKey Profile Page]](http://yankeesredsox.com/nav-commenters.gif)
|
January 15, 2011 01:00 PM
|
cmon, really? It doesn't keep you up at night thinking about the upcoming season? I agree about the Phillies on paper though.
Posted by: blmeanie![[TypeKey Profile Page]](http://yankeesredsox.com/nav-commenters.gif)
|
January 15, 2011 04:42 PM
|
No because I think the playoffs are a total crapshoot. How many years in the "naughties" or whatever we call the previous decade did the Yankees win 95 games or more, but lose in the playoffs? (I would guess at least four) so it is all about qualifying to me.
If I think my team can qualify for the postseason, that is all I want at this point.
Posted by: Peter![[TypeKey Profile Page]](http://yankeesredsox.com/nav-commenters.gif)
|
January 16, 2011 01:44 AM
|
Peter,
I've been reading stories the past couple of days that Soriano was not liked in his clubhouse: he was all about padding his saves stats and that Madddon tired of his hissy fits. Mo allegedly convinced Yankee management that he could take the guy under his wing and straighten him out. Perhaps of greater concern is this: Cashman apparently didn't change his mind -- he was overruled by the Steinbrenners who (along with Levine) didn't think that Joba and Robertson would suffice as the "bridge" to Mo, based on what they saw last year. So there are potentially two soap operas here: the Soriano soap opera and the Front Office soap opera.
Posted by: Greg | January 16, 2011 11:36 AM |
Greg
If Mo wanted him, that's good enough for me.
And I agree with your concern about the way things happened on this. Anytime I hear Randy Levine being involved, I don't like it. However, I don't think the Steinbrenners were wrong here to force Cashman's hand on this move, which I will post about more in a few minutes.
Posted by: Peter![[TypeKey Profile Page]](http://yankeesredsox.com/nav-commenters.gif)
|
January 16, 2011 12:35 PM
|