What a difference a year makes
So here we are on Dec. 4, with a few precious days to go until the Winter Meetings kick off, and the Hot Stove is — so far — lulling pretty much everyone to sleep. Yawn.
The Yankees remain in a holding pattern as they wait to see if CC Sabathia wants their $140 million, while Andy Pettitte hangs out at home looking for his agents to try and increase the $10 million paycheck he could have for next year. Hey, at least maybe everyone is getting a head start on their holiday shopping, but it really does feel like an offseason.
Compare that to last year, when the Yankees really never had an offseason. By this date last year, all of this had happened:
Oct. 18 – Joe Torre turns down the Yankees’ “insulting” one-year contract offer
Oct. 22 – Joe Girardi interviews for managerial job
Oct. 23 – Don Mattingly interviews for managerial job
Oct. 24 – Tony Pena interviews for managerial job
Oct. 29 – Alex Rodriguez opts out of his contract during World Series
Oct. 29 – Jorge Posada and Mariano Rivera file for free agency
Oct. 30 – Joe Girardi hired as Yankees manager
Oct. 30 – Reports indicate Dodgers interested in Joe Torre
Nov. 1 – Joe Girardi introduced as Yankees manager
Nov. 2 – Yankees pick up $16 million option on Bobby Abreu
Nov. 5 – Andy Pettitte, considering retirement, declines $16 million option
Nov. 5 – Dodgers introduce Joe Torre as manager
Nov. 7 – A-Rod gone, Yankees flirting with trade for Marlins’ Miguel Cabrera
Nov. 9 – Derek Jeter promises Jorge Posada and Mariano Rivera will return
Nov. 13 – Jorge Posada signs four-year, $52.4 million contract
Nov. 14 – Alex Rodriguez bypasses his agent and reopens talks with Hank Steinbrenner
Nov. 15 – A-Rod, Yankees agree to framework of 10-year contract
Nov. 19 – Mariano Rivera signs three-year, $45 million contract
Nov. 25 – A-Rod agrees to marketing package that could make his deal worth $300+ million
Nov. 26 – Yankees, Twins discuss Johan Santana trade
Dec. 3 – Winter Meetings open, Hank Steinbrenner sets deadline for Santana deal
Dec. 4 – Yankees reportedly close the door on Santana deal
Bryan Hoch
Damn. All that had happened by this time last year? Wow.
that Posada contract looks a little daft now doesn’t it? In this economic climate A-Rod would be gone as well.
http://newyork.yankees.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20081203&content_id=3700764&vkey=news_nyy&fext=.jsp&c_id=nyy
Excellent article Bryan.
Reports say that Cashman flew to Los Angeles today to meet with Scott Boras… what could that mean?
I agree with you park, this move tells me the Yanks are about ready to move on from Sabathia ( or preparing to ) and possibly pursue guys in the Oliver Perez, Ben Sheets, Derek Lowe and Andy Pettitte group. It could be Burnett and Perez in my opinion. Why else would Cashman have flown over to see Boras? I imagine we know what the prices on Manny and Teix are at this point.
I’m out.
By bronxkidd@hotmail.com on December 4, 2008 4:32 PM
Seems to be a Lowe ball offer. Plus Wolfe and Perez apparently are being considered.
The real question is: Knowing that RIvera has 2 years left, what is the succession plan?
I bet we trade Arod at some point after he breaks the record or before if his progress towards it subsides.
The Lowe-down on Derek-Ken Mandel:
http://hotstove.mlblogs.com/archives/2008/12/the_lowedown_on_derek.html
I wish Loweball and Burnett would go to NL East and we can move onto better options.
http://newyork.yankees.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20081203&content_id=3700764&vkey=news_nyy&fext=.jsp&c_id=nyy
Bryan, you list Betemit as arbitration eligible. Maybe you cut this from another report you filed.
Nice catch. Thanks.
http://www.nypost.com/seven/12042008/sports/yankees/cashman__boras_meet_to_talk_free_agents_142659.htm
Boras meeting was to discuss Perez as a fall back if Pettitte doesn’t come back. They will not overpay for Lowe and no offer was made. Sources say parameters with Manny and Texiera were discussed but no formal offers have been made. Cash flew out to LA, so there was some urgency, some believe it was to find out if Manny will accept arbitration, if not, lets talk. Some writers have said that Manny declining arbitration was a condition of the trade.
Offer for Burnett could extend to 5 years but with lower per year salary than Pettitte.
The real question is: Knowing that RIvera has 2 years left, what is the succession plan?
By bpark23@gmail.com on December 4, 2008 5:52 PM
Whoever emerges as the 8th inning guy in 2009 or 2010 will have the inside track. I see four candidates in Brackman, Chamberlain (if he breaks down again as a starter, Melancon, and Sanchez. Since Sanchez is already on the 40 man I think he’ll be tried before Melancon. Matt will vehemently dispute this or I would post it!
Bob
Well, I’ll post it because I agree and he is not even a Yankees fan. I would think at this point Chamberlain would be the logical candidate but I would look at that dependant upon them signing 3 starters and moving him back to the pen if they have renewed confidence in Hughes. The other 3 would need more big league experience before handing them the job. Sanchez, I’ll say no he is not a closer in my opinion. If it is one of the other 2, I could see us either extending Rivera a year or bring in a short term closer if Rivera retires until these guys are ready. Another person if he makes it through the rule 5 is Cox but I am not too familiar with prospects. My guess is we sign CC, Pettitte and someone else, possibly Moose reconsiders next month and we move Joba back to the pen.
Who the heck drinks Saiki anyway?
http://newyork.yankees.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20081204&content_id=3702790&vkey=hotstove2008&fext=.jsp
The report could have GM SuSaiki foaming at the mouth.
Eligible for arbitration
RHP Brian Bruney; Cabrera; OF Xavier Nady; RHP Chien-Ming Wang.
Of these guys: Bruney needs another solid year, if he bring back wild man, he’s gone. Cabrera, we’ll see if he’s even with us when the hearing come, Nady will depend much on whether we get Abreu back or even add Manny. Wang is the interesting case, you would think this offseason or next we would have to offer him a long term deal.
@Saiki, What? You don’t want to watch tapes of the 2001 WS with your hero?
Who the heck drinks Saiki anyway?
By bpark23@gmail.com on December 4, 2008 7:43 PM
!!!!
Actually I was responding to Robert.
The real question is: Knowing that RIvera has 2 years left, what is the succession plan?
By bpark23@gmail.com on December 4, 2008 5:52 PM
Whoever emerges as the 8th inning guy in 2009 or 2010 will have the inside track. I see four candidates in Brackman, Chamberlain (if he breaks down again as a starter, Melancon, and Sanchez. Since Sanchez is already on the 40 man I think he’ll be tried before Melancon. Matt will vehemently dispute this or I would post it!
Bob
Well, I’ll post it because I agree and he is not even a Yankees fan. I would think at this point Chamberlain would be the logical candidate but I would look at that dependant upon them signing 3 starters and moving him back to the pen if they have renewed confidence in Hughes. The other 3 would need more big league experience before handing them the job. Sanchez, I’ll say no he is not a closer in my opinion. If it is one of the other 2, I could see us either extending Rivera a year or bring in a short term closer if Rivera retires until these guys are ready. Another person if he makes it through the rule 5 is Cox but I am not too familiar with prospects. My guess is we sign CC, Pettitte and someone else, possibly Moose reconsiders next month and we move Joba back to the pen.
By bpark23@gmail.com on December 4, 2008 7:42 PM
This post is a response to Robert, despite what Saiki thinks.
The real question is: Knowing that RIvera has 2 years left, what is the succession plan?
By bpark23@gmail.com on December 4, 2008 5:52 PM
————————————————————————–
Whoever emerges as the 8th inning guy in 2009 or 2010 will have the inside track. I see four candidates in Brackman, Chamberlain (if he breaks down again as a starter, Melancon, and Sanchez. Since Sanchez is already on the 40 man I think he’ll be tried before Melancon. Matt will vehemently dispute this or I would post it!
Bob aka Robert Kramer
————————————————————————-
Well, I’ll post it because I agree and he is not even a Yankees fan. I would think at this point Chamberlain would be the logical candidate but I would look at that dependant upon them signing 3 starters and moving him back to the pen if they have renewed confidence in Hughes. The other 3 would need more big league experience before handing them the job. Sanchez, I’ll say no he is not a closer in my opinion. If it is one of the other 2, I could see us either extending Rivera a year or bring in a short term closer if Rivera retires until these guys are ready. Another person if he makes it through the rule 5 is Cox but I am not too familiar with prospects. My guess is we sign CC, Pettitte and someone else, possibly Moose reconsiders next month and we move Joba back to the pen.
By bpark23@gmail.com on December 4, 2008 7:42 PM
This post is a response to Robert, despite what Saiki thinks.
Hopefully that clears it up for Oakland. I separate the 3 posts for the visitor.
Who the heck drinks Saiki anyway?
By bpark23@gmail.com on December 4, 2008 7:43 PM
!!!!
Who the heck drinks Saiki anyway?
By bpark23@gmail.com on December 4, 2008 7:43 PM
!!!!
Sentinel and Key were confirmed as Saiki’s alias, either that or he has a roommate who uses his internet.
WRONG
I have to be filled with optimism this off-season after a somewhat dull season… The only thing I’m concerned about is if we’re gonna be able to get some pitching. Now as of now it looks like we may get CC, but if somehow we don’t and Burnett has already signed with the Braves we’ve backed ourself into a corner. After that we’d have to go hard after Lowe, someone who we certainly don’t want to be the “ace” we acquired, although I’ll give credit where it’s due. I just don’t want to see us miss out of 2 players, and then have no options…
Bpark and Matt, why don’t you guys take it off line. I’m getting sick of reading your crap here as I am sure everyone else is. I’d rather have NO chatter on this blog than read a dozen posts of you two going back and forth like 3rd graders.
Golf,
Matt jumped on me for responding to Robert about who will replace Rivera. Robert emailed me because he knew Matt would go ballistic if he posted his opinion. So, I posted Robert’s opinion and my response, Matt proceeded to blow a gasket.
File this under OH God: we’re 1 of 10 teams inquiring about Randy Johnson.
We met with Boras to discuss Perez and Ramirez. Lowe is not an option, we are not overpaying. Cashman meets with CC this weekend because CC has been pressured to respond.
RCNGOLF
I for one could not agree more. This site I believe should stick to comments and feedback pertaining to the players and the team and not needless banter between bickering individuals. It is so true some of the comments back and forth are not worthy of third grade status. This is a difficult time when we all wait with baited breath over who aquires who and who desires who. We all have different opinions I know I do and we all have players we believe should be signed or retained or traded. I for one was totally sold on Farnsworth being retained in 08 and constantly sung his praises from afar but in a constructive manner.
Can we all grow up and discuss things in a rational manner.
In Melbourne Australia it is now 4.20 AM that is 1.20 PM in NYC. Does anyone have an opinion as to whether anything signing wise will occur before the end of the day Friday NYC city time.