The Yankees have many things on the to-do list this offseason, including re-signing a pair of legends in Derek Jeter and Mariano Rivera.
On top of this, the Yankees need to replenish a roster that came up well short of their championship goals. For now let’s look at 10 players the Yankees should target this offseason.
This list includes players on the team last year that the Yankees need to bring back and free agents or trade possibilities they should take a look at.
The hot stove season has us awash in MLB rumors. From legendary Yankee Derek Jeter to potential future Yankee Cliff Lee, to Dan Uggla stunning the Marlins, it’s already been a busy offseason.
We’re running down the free agency rumors on the biggest name free agents in all of baseball, telling you what’s on the radar, and where it looks like the biggest names are heading. Let’s get started.
Already hours into the first day teams can contact free agents in MLB, everybody is wondering what kind of deal the Yankees will offer Cliff Lee if the opportunity arises.
Well it’s not about if, but rather when.
The Yankees are not the first team mentioned as possible suitors for Lee. The Washington Nationals have also entered in their hats; already throwing a sales pitch—no pun intended—towards Lee.
The Boston Red Sox are speculated as another team that will “sideline” themselves as they watch the bidding wars intensify over the next several weeks; a situation that is inevitable.
But what about those Yanks?
The Yankees have already eaten a huge chunk of “Sabathia pie” with his gigantic $161 million contract, and there’s plenty more still on the plate. A. J. Burnett is like unwanted luggage, remaining on the team for the interim, and Andy Pettitte is not yet ready to commit to playing in 2011.
With so many questions, and a collectively old team, it makes sense to grab Lee, right?
Not quite so.
The rumor circulating is that Cliff Lee will try his hand at grabbing a similar deal that C.C. Sabathia was awarded (seven years, $161 million) a couple of years ago. The only team rich enough and dumb enough to sign a 30-year-old pitcher to a multi-million, multi-year deal, is the Yankees.
No offense Yankees fans, but if they were to offer Cliff Lee a deal like that, you have to admit it’s a bad move on the organization’s part with so many other glaring issues.
C’mon folks, let’s be honest. Cliff Lee is a great pitcher with a boat load of talent and value in his postseason capabilities. But to entertain a six, or even seven year deal, with a pitcher that is already 30, is just silly.
Sure, it may get them another notch in their bed post in another year or two—all assumption being placed on the fact the Yanks land Lee—but how much baggage will be left at the airport when Lee’s age eventually catches up with him?
There is another side to the story; a side that has the Yankees by the you know what.
There are simply no pitchers on the market right now—none that haven’t already been locked up anyway—so in a sense, the Yankees have to make a move.
In addition, they are devoid of an actual potent starting rotation. So yeah, the Yankees have to pull the trigger.
On the plus side, there isn’t a team out there who can out bid them.
Boston would be the closest, but they’ve already locked in Josh Beckett through four years for close to $70 million, and they certainly won’t offer more than five years to Cliff Lee.
Washington has absolutely no buying power what-so-ever to compete against the Yankees, and while there is always the possibility of Texas holding onto him—yikes, near miss on another unintentional pun—their media market, buying power and merchandising market combined isn’t enough to compete with the Yankees bloated checkbook.
In the end, there is little evidence and argument to bring to the table that would refute Cliff Lee eventually becoming a Yankee, but that doesn’t mean it’s the wisest choice for the Bronx Bombers.
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The Yankees payroll is about average, maybe even smaller than it should be.
I hate to use juvenile terminology, but you people who complain about it are whiners and haters. Most reasonable observers agree that the the Yankees and the star powered teams that they field are great for the business of the other 29 teams. However, I will go further than that. I can say with reasonable certainty, that their payroll really isn’t that high at all.
New York City is expensive. Well, New York State is expensive, the city itself will bleed every penny you have. We are easily one of the most heavily taxed states in the country. Sure the city has much to offer, but it all comes at the price of a sales tax that is almost nine percent.
That extra nine percent is added to a premium of anywhere between 25 and 100 percent that we pay on almost all goods and services. The premium is the result of higher rents and transportation costs. We pay these premiums using money that is subject to extra city payroll taxes that total about four percent of your income. I won’t even try to explain New York State’s property taxes and other small taxes that don’t even make sense to me.
I think the point I’ve made here is obvious: The Yankees pay their players well, but the players pay their state well in turn. Alex Rodriguez made $25M-plus as both a member of the Rangers and the Yankees, but he pocketed a lot more of that salary as a member of the Rangers.
Money is an object, but it is a relative object. In order to successfully compete in a dynamic marketplace, the Yankees and the Mets must entice free agents with salaries that are much higher in absolute terms, because in real terms, the purchasing power of those salaries is much lower.
Speaking of the marketplaces, let’s take a look at the Yankees market. The New York metropolitan area has a population of about 19 million people. Since there are no baseball teams besides the Yankees and the Mets in New York State, you can add on another 10 million people who are New Yorkers yet don’t reside in the city itself.
So, the Yankees and the Mets have to their selves a marketplace of almost 30 million people. And to be quite frank, who cares about the Mets?
The exact extent of the Bomber’s international appeal is unknown, but it is surely bigger than any other team in MLB. Sorry other 29 teams, but you just don’t have as many people living in your market. So while the supply of baseball remains constant, the demand for baseball increases. It is only fair that the Yankees benefit from these extra revenue streams.
Actually, everyone benefits from the Yankees extra revenue streams. Despite complaining from the “small-market” Boston Red Sox, most owners love it when the Yankees come to town. The 27-time world champions probably bring in more spectators when they visit Baltimore than the Orioles do.
Owners don’t care who you root for once you’re in the stadium, as long as you part with your money. This popularity is fueled both by the Yankees having a roster loaded with stars and the mere storyline of having a perennial power house that other teams want to beat.
Still not convinced?
Do you still think that having a salary cap would create a more fair world for the have-nots? You’re forgetting what makes the MLB different from the NBA and the NFL. The MLB is loaded international players from Latin America and Japan.
If baseball modeled its draft and payroll system similarly to the other two sports, it would create an impossibly difficult situation for aspiring Latino players. There would be little incentive for clubs to invest money in Latin America and try to discover the next big talent.
Even if there was a way to incorporate these players into the draft system, teams could easily cheat the salary cap by offering cash payments to family members in foreign countries. In all likelihood, teams wouldn’t even bother going south of the border.
That would be a shame considering stars born in Latin America put so much money into hospitals, churches and charities of their home countries. We take it for granted that those evil Yankee dollars mean clean water for a poor child overseas.
Fortunately, there never will be a salary cap in baseball. It is in the interest of almost all parties to allow teams to spend freely and invest in their product. But unfortunately, many ignorant fans will continue to blame the Yankees for all the ills in the baseball world.
Their efforts would be much better spent protesting their own team’s failure to invest in quality ball players. Hatred of the Yankees is not based on of reason or logic. It is based on jealously and a failure to understand how baseball and the economy works.
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We’re about to present a slideshow in which we analyze the voting for the 2010 American League Cy Young Award. We’re going to look at 10 Cy Young Award candidates and analyze them along several lines, i.e. how much run support each one got, how well each player kept the ball in the yard, how hurt by his home park each one was.
But at the end of the day, none of this matters, because really all we want to know is the answer to this one question: Is this the year? Will this be the historic year in which the Baseball Writers Association of America does the correct thing and gives the Cy Young Award to the best pitcher in his league, without regard for his win-loss record?
Put another way: Will Felix Hernandez win the 2010 American League Cy Young Award?
Let’s have a look.
Congratulations to the San Francisco Giants for winning the World Series, but that was last season. The offseason has begun and the trade rumors and free agency questions are flying all over the place.
This year, there will be plenty of money to throw around. With so many disappointing seasons from big-market teams such as the Boston Red Sox, New York Mets and Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim, teams will be throwing large sums of cash at both worthy, talented players and overrated bums.
Every team dreams of the free-agent acquisition that will put them over the top. For 22 teams every year that don’t make the playoffs, those players just don’t work out. Whether $100 million gets you your ace in Johan Santana or a guy who is left off the playoff roster in Barry Zito, is just one of the factors that makes baseball so interesting.
Here are the top 10 free agents and their possible destinations:
Major League Baseball free agency officially began on Sunday. The Yankees and Mets could both be players in this year’s market. The Yankees normally are out to get the biggest names, and this year is no different. Across town, the Mets are more likely to look at filling some pieces, rather than chasing the big names.
You never know however. Anything can happen during the free agency period.
The Yankees are clearly going after Cliff Lee, but how soon will they make an offer? Will they upgrade their outfield by pursuing Carl Crawford or Jayson Werth?
Will the Mets make any big additions? New GM Sandy Alderson has the task of piecing together the roster. Is pitching the main priority?
Few the latest rumors, visit Double G Sports.
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MLB free agency has officially started and the New York Yankees have a full plate to say the least.
Derek Jeter, Mariano Rivera and Andy Pettitte are no longer officially Yankees. Than there is free agent pitching ace Cliff Lee, along with outfielders Carl Crawford and Jayson Werth—who will be the most sought after players on the market.
Cliff Lee has been on the Yankees “Christmas List” for quite some time and no one in the Bronx is denying that Lee is what they want.
Yankees GM Brian Cashman needs to get the iconic players all squared away before even getting to Lee. The Yankees should overpay, because no one can imagine the Yankees sans the Captain and the Closer, especially the huge and loyal fans. A group that Cashman and co. needs to keep happy as clams, making the above inevitable.
Unfortunately, Lee’s wife did not enjoy her time at the Stadium during the ALCS. A handful of stupid Yankees fans decided to taunt the ace’s Mrs., which was not a smart idea considering the circumstances. Any and every Yankees fan knows that we coveted Lee and that he was finally a free agent at the end of 2010 season. This makes it so hard to comprehend what the hell these fans were thinking. Obviously they were not at all.
What if these contract talks with Jeter do become “messy” and take up a lot more time, money and manpower than anticipated?
When will Southpaw Andy Pettitte decide if he is done with baseball or not? Hopefully, it will be sooner than later. The Yankees are going to need Pettitte more than ever, if for some reason Lee does not sign with New York.
So, what are the Yankees other options if the Lee deal doesn’t come about?
Do they move onto Crawford or Werth and forget starting pitching as the top priority?
Doubtful because they Yankees are still pretty stacked offensively in Crawford and Werth’s respected positions. Pitching has a necessary void that needs to be filled, considering CC Sabathia, AJ Burnett and Phil Hughes are going to need some help in the rotation.
Burnett needs to work his butt off before 2011 Spring Training, because having a solid Burnett again could be the difference maker for the team’s success.
Are there any other free agent arms the Yankees have in mind just in case?
Trust in the fact that there is not a pitcher even in the same league as Lee available, but here are three names that would be the next best thing:
Jorge De La Rosa – Doubtful that De La Rosa could resign with the Colorado Rockies but will test the free agent market to see what else is out there. De La Rosa is a solid lefty, finishing the last two seasons with a 4.31 ERA and 306 strikeouts in 306.2 innings of work. De La Rosa frequents the DL way too often, but with the short list of solid starters on the market, he can get a lot more this off-season.
Brandon Webb – Arizona Diamondbacks are not jumping to resign Webb, as he had shoulder surgery that kept him out since beginning of 2009-10 season. Still, Webb a former Cy Young winner before the injury was one of the best righties in the game from 2006-08 and could add nice depth to the back of that rotation. In 2008, Webb finished 22-7 for the season, with a 3.30 ERA, striking out 183 over 226.2 innings pitched. Webb is 31 years old and whether he can get back to two years ago is a risk, but one that could work.
Rafael Soriano – Not a starter, but was easily in the top three closers in baseball the past few seasons. Tampa Bay Rays would love to keep Soriano, but he will join a long list of other players the Rays can’t afford to resign. The Yankees did not pick up Kerry Woods option at $11 million for 2011, but they still could resign Wood at a lower and more reasonable price for his services. Still, if Lee is not going to be in pinstripes than why would the Yankees not throw their money at Soriano and make the bullpen absolutely ruthless and impossible to beat.
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Derek Jeter’s 10-year, $189-million contract with the New York Yankees came to an end with the final out of the 2010 World Series. With that, thousands of clueless neanderthals speculated on his possible future.
Free agency now beckons the 36-year-old whose future now appears to be quite murky after coming off the worst offensive year of his illustrious career.
I suppose I should clarify the aforementioned statement. His future is only murky to those that are totally clueless in the way of the New York Yankees and Derek Jeter.
Consider this column an open letter to ANY buffoon, be them a professional writer or Red Sox fan, that actually wasted their time and mine by even speculating on Jeter’s future as anything but a Yankee or his ability to still play the game after an off-year.
Let the education begin…
At the ripe old age of 36 and coming off the worst offensive year of his illustrious career, Jeter is apparently done according to the self-proclaimed Einsteins of the web.
This of course is what Jeter’s detractors (mainly comprised of Red Sox fans, some Mets fans and the entire staff of ESPN, you know “The Red Sox Network”) want us to believe.
It’s interesting that when posting such a claim they forget to include the following about Jeter’s 2010 season:
A) Every player in every sport experiences a down year. Jeter apparently just experienced his.
B) Unlike players like David Ortiz, Manny Ramirez, Sammy Sosa and others, Jeter’s offensive decline did not come in the wake of his being named as a steroid abuser. Yes, I omitted A-Rod because unlike the others, so far, his power outage seems to be due from injury.
C) While it is true that some of Jeter’s offensive numbers were not “Jeter-esque” such as the .270 BA and leading the league in outs made, placing fifth in the league in grounding into double-plays they conveniently forget what he actually did do from a leadoff spot minus the bat of A-Rod and the slow bat of Texiera behind him for much of the season…
Any other team, in contention or not, with a shortstop leading the league in fielding, scoring over 100 runs and driving in nearly 70 from the leadoff spot would be considered successful.
However, because the numbers were posted by Jeter, the world and seemingly his career, is coming to an end.
Excuse me if I don’t rush to get my affairs in order.
Now being realistic and objective, something Jeter detractors never experience, Jeter could very well be on a decline. His age suggests his best years are behind him. He has played a lot of games over his career and after 15 years, the opposition is going to find out how to pitch Jeter and defend against his hitting spray.
However, the decline of most athletes that have enjoyed a relative injury-free career as has Jeter experience the natural, imminent decline over a period of years. Jeter does not show that pattern just yet. If Jeter experiences a similar season in 2011 then the detractors might have something. Until then, it’s merely wishful thinking on the part of the currently clueless, jealous and jaded.
Jeter needs to move to the outfield. His defense is too poor and he is too old to move continue to play that position.
I really love this argument. Nothing makes a Jeter detractor sound more ignorant than this old chestnut.
Let’s just be quick about this one shall we?
To be fair, the range of Alex Rodriguez and Robinson Cano on either side along with the glove of Mark Texiera help Jeter, but that is what an infield is supposed to do.
The suggestion of speculation that Jeter needs to move to the outfield is a laughable one that clueless people that know nothing about baseball continue to make.
If Jeter is to be moved, and that is questionable, it would make more sense to move Alex Rodriguez to DH which would possibly help reduce what appears to be chronic leg and hip issues and move Jeter to third where his strong arm would feel at home and his range issue won’t be so much a factor.
The problem with moving Jeter anywhere is the Yankees do not have his replacement lined up (if you believe the Nunez stuff, I am laughing at you right now) so get used to seeing him at short for the next year or two.
Posada, Chamberlain, Burnett, one more starter and the pen are all more pressing problems than anything real or perceived about Jeter.
Still concerned with Jeter at short?
Ask yourself one question: How many games, regular season or playoff, has Jeter’s glove, arm or range cost the Yankees during his career?
What was that? That’s what I thought. You can collectively shut up now.
Jeter is not worthy 20-million dollars a year and is not worth what he expects or will ask for.
I love this one, I really do. I’m laughing at you.
1) It’s not your money, why worry? Save me the “the more money he makes the higher the ticket prices…” etc. Is Jeter’s salary responsible for the rising cost of gas, milk, etc.? It’s called inflation. Look it up.
2) Baseball is a game that we played in little league. It’s a game that our kids play at the park. Jeter is a professional Major League Baseball player and Major League Baseball is not a game, it’s a business. The Yankees are the most valued franchise by far in MLB. In the first year of their new stadium, the Yankees NETTED $441 million. That’s after all the bills were paid, including the luxury tax, player and staff salaries, etc. Pretty successful enterprise I must say—and Derek Jeter plays a large roll in that profit.
Merchandise with Jeter’s name on it sells more than any other Yankee and quite possibly more than most players in the game. His continued presence in the lineup sells tickets. His pursuit of career and MLB milestones opens all kinds of opportunities for revenue. Jeter is a money-making machine and for the Yankees, the near $20 million a year investment has been well worth it.
3) Jeter is a private person and has never come out and revealed what he wants, expects or is willing to play for. What he has done is accepted what was offered. No one, not professional writers or armchair hacks know what Jeter wants or is willing to play for. As for what he deserves, until you are running the Yankees and paying their bills opinions on his worth and value mean nothing more than what can be scraped off the bottom of his cleats.
In terms of advertising, merchandise, stature, reputation, image to the league, franchise and the game, Jeter, more so than many in the game, is worth every penny he has earned.
The Yankees need to think younger, and in order to land Cliff Lee the Yankees might need to dump Jeter and Mo.
I actually read that in a column right here on The Bleacher Report. Are you done laughing yet? Yes, it took me a while to stop too.
I won’t spend too much time on this because it’s so…Red Sox “stupid-esque.”
Jeter is a career-Yankee. He is this generation’s DiMaggio. He is 73 hits shy of 3,000 hits for his career, a feat few players have reached and one that no other Yankee in history has reached. It’s another revenue opportunity for the Yankees and Jeter is responsible for it.
Anyone actually speculating that Jeter will reach that milestone in another uniform is in need of immediate therapy and possible medication.
Mariano Rivera is still dominant in his role—regardless of age.
The idea that the Yankees would even consider dropping these two iconic, franchise players for any reason, let alone acquiring someone like Cliff Lee is amateurish speculation at best. It’s simply laughable.
Lee will be a free agent and if he want to play for the Yankees as much as the Yankees want him no other team will be able to outbid the Bombers for his services. The Yankees want to stay within a budget, but make no mistake about it, they have the revenue to get the job done without dropping their cornerstones to do it.
Will Jeter be in another uniform next season?
Yeah, I laugh at this one, too. While no one knows for certain because hey, sh!t happens, it’s very hard for a logical, forward-thinking, upright-standing non-low-browed human to picture Jeter in another uniform. Unless Minka likes to play dress up in the bedroom.
Bottom line people…
Derek Jeter is a Yankee for life. Anyone thinking otherwise is clueless, a disgruntled Mets fan or a wishful thinking, bitter Red Sox Fan. It’s laughable to think anything else.
If I had to guess, and why not, everyone else is…
Derek is not a “hang-around” type player—if he is not performing to a level that he feels he should play, he will retire mid-contract.
I see Derek getting $16-18 million per year for three to four years (taking him to age 40). Depending on how he performs will determine one-year contracts after that. He might even ask for percentages of profit or may accept less with a more incentive-laden contract.
As for next year, when Jeter once again hits over .300, the roaches, I mean his detractors, will return back under the woodwork.
Derek Jeter is a first ballot Hall of Famer that has played the game the way it should be played. Sabermatricians that churn out stats as to his fielding ability or lack thereof and anyone else that detracts Jeter are merely jealous that he does not play for their team of choice.
The man’s record speaks for itself.
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Free agency for Major League Baseball is upon us.
Up until this year, the waiting period used to be 15 days after the World Series was over. This year, it’s only five days.
Teams will be looking to retool and rebuild their rosters through free agency and trades. Sunday will start the period where all teams will have the negotiating rights.
Which players are available? What teams are interested?
Lets take a look at the class of 2010-2011 free agents.