Yankees Off-Season Plans

[yankeessuck013]

He said he wants to manage Single A Tampa, he has a home in Tampa and it appears that the Yanks have offered him the Tampa Yankees job.

 

that should be interesting

[26 to 6]

that should be interesting

yes, I think he will do good.

 

He managed the Norwich Navigators in 2002 (at that time they were still a Yankees affiliate) to an Eastern League title, so it seems like he can work pretty well with young guys.

[ARod2212]

Andy Phillips!!! I love it, Cashman.

[26 to 6]

Andy Phillips!!! I love it, Cashman.

what did I miss, what about Andy Phillips??

[Pinstripe_Pride]

Cashman said he was toying with the idea of putting Andy Phillips at first base next season and not finding a replacement for Tino.

[26 to 6]

I wouldnt be too opposed to him doing that, having Phillips split time with Giambi at first while Giambi and say, Sierra (or whoever) split time at DH. Kid shows some potential, and he sure does deserve it, hes been in the system forever.

 

But I would imagine the Yankees would choose Mitch Jones over Andy Phillips, he was a Home Run machine last year in Columbus playing first base.

 

 

...I dont understand why we let Tino go...again

[26 to 6]

also, where is this coming from, I havent heard any of this

[ARod2212]

http://www.nydailynews.com/sports/baseball/yankees/story/363838p-309841c.html

 

Trading Jorge moves

to front of Yanks' plate

 

 

 

BY SAM BORDEN

DAILY NEWS SPORTS WRITER

 

INDIAN WELLS, Calif. - Tino Martinez won't be back with the Yankees next season and the Bombers are putting out feelers to see if they might be able to move Jorge Posada, too.

In Martinez's case, the situation was simple: The Yanks are looking to cut their payroll, so they declined the 2006 option on Martinez, paying him a $250,000 buyout instead of bringing him back and paying his $3 million salary.

 

Posada's situation, on the other hand, is more complex. The Yankees have been trying to gauge interest in their catcher for nearly a year and a half, but have found few takers because of Posada's bulky contract.

 

Of course, that contract is the reason the Yanks are interested in moving him. Posada, 34, will make $8 million next season, and if he starts just 81 games at catcher, a clause in his deal guarantees his 2007 option at a massive $12 million salary.

 

That, obviously, isn't something the Yankees are interested in paying. In addition to the trade discussions, there have been internal talks about shifting Posada to first base - even part-time, with some time at DH, too - in an effort to avoid that contract trigger.

 

The first base idea, however, hasn't been met with much organizational support, according to sources. GM Brian Cashman said the Yankees are looking at Andy Phillips as the likely replacement for Martinez at first, since he provides a cheap, righthanded option to complement Jason Giambi.

 

"We'd like to see what (Phillips) can do," Cashman said of the 28-year-old. "That's our initial thought and we think he'd do very well if given the chance. We're not locked into it, but it's a direction we're looking at."

 

Cashman was quick to add that Giambi is no guarantee to be the every-day first baseman next year. Although Giambi has made it clear he feels more comfortable at the plate when he's playing in the field (as opposed to DHing), the Bombers have grown weary of Giambi's erratic fielding - he's shown good hands but has trouble throwing - and will explore other options, including free agents (John Olerud and Eduardo Perez are among the first basemen available).

 

That's also a reason why they've considered moving Posada, who has played 16 games at first base in his career (compared to 1,088 at catcher), the most recent coming in 2001.

 

Trading Posada is a more attractive option, but that has proved extremely difficult. On the surface, it might seem easy - after all, Posada is one of the few Yankees who doesn't have a no-trade clause - but every executive here knows about the trigger in his contract, and few, if any, are interested in paying so much for an aging catcher.

 

If the Yanks were able to move Posada, they could get into the bidding for Angels free agent Bengie Molina, a player that some of their evaluators give high marks.

 

But assuming they're unable to find a deal, the Bombers may be stuck with Posada. The Yanks would be able to pay him a $4 million buyout after next season if he doesn't start 330 games at catcher between 2004-06, but he's already at 249; making matters worse, if Posada reaches that plateau and 2007 becomes guaranteed, then Posada receives a player option for 2008.

[26 to 6]

thanks, didnt get the News today, thats why I missed it :/

[26 to 6]

also, there has been a lot of talk lately about trading Posada.

 

Why?

 

Why? Why? Why? Why? Why? Why? Why?

 

This is one of the "real" Yankees. He was here for all of our recent championships, came up in the organization, and not to mention is a pretty damn good player, granted last year wasnt his greatest (neither was 2004), but he is still considered one of the top offensive catchers in the game and I think he is somewhat underrated defensively. Trading him would be a mistake, that would be like trading Bernie or Mo or something. I will be very upset if we trade Jorge Posada. He deserves to retire as a Yankee.

[ARod2212]

Declining catcher offensively and defensively in his mid 30s, that's how the business goes. More importantly, if he plays 81 games at catcher this year, he gets a $12 Million guarantee for '07, and a player option for '08. Not the kind of money to be paying him.

 

Can't manage with your heart all the time, or you are going to pay for it

[riverside sluggers]

Furcal a possibility of another Beantown vs Bronx bidding war, to go along with the imminent BJ Ryan battle?

 

Free-agent shortstop Rafael Furcal.

Yankees general manager Brian Cashman asked one of Furcal's representatives if Furcal would be willing to play center. Furcal, 28, likely will rule nothing out at this early stage of free agency — he routinely shags fly balls with Braves teammate Andruw Jones and jokes about replacing him in center. He not only is athletic enough to play the position, but also could bat leadoff for the Yankees, forming a dynamic 1-2 combination with Derek Jeter.

 

Even if the Yankees aren't completely serious — and when are they not? — the high demand for Furcal almost certainly will enable him to land a five-year contract and possibly a six-year deal. The Cubs and Mets both want Furcal. The Red Sox have yet to express interest, but that might change once the team names a general manager. If the Red Sox lose free-agent center fielder Johnny Damon, Furcal would be a viable alternative in the leadoff spot. He could play second or third for the Red Sox. Or maybe even center.

[26 to 6]

Furcal a possibility of another Beantown vs Bronx bidding war, to go along with the imminent BJ Ryan battle?

Rafeal Furcal in center....that would be Nucking Futs

 

 

Great 1-2 punch, but we would still have to determine if he can play the position, he is fast and athletic so it should be interesting

 

Declining catcher offensively and defensively in his mid 30s, that's how the business goes. More importantly, if he plays 81 games at catcher this year, he gets a $12 Million guarantee for '07, and a player option for '08. Not the kind of money to be paying him.

 

Can't manage with your heart all the time, or you are going to pay for it

 

yes, I am aware of the 12mil for 81 games and all of the financial stuff, but the Yankees are one of the most loyal franchises out there and it would be a shame to kick a guy like this to the curb. If you want to avoid him making the $12 mil in 07 you go out and sign a guy like Ramon Hernandez and let Posada spend some of the time DHing.

 

I just think it would be a shame to let one of the "big 4" go....its bad enough we're not bringing Tino back (though I am still holding out hope that we re-sign him for a smaller salary, unlikely though).

[AlexanderTheGreat13]

If Furcal could play CF I would bring him here in a heart beat.

[ARod2212]

If Furcal played centerfield for us I would need to change my pants. That would be sexy.

[See Red]

Furcal a possibility of another Beantown vs Bronx bidding war, to go along with the imminent BJ Ryan battle?

 

I saw a nice photoshop one day on another forum that I frequent...

 

Here is the link to said photoshop. Wouldn't mind seeing it in real life.

 

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v303/ucla31/rfurcalredsox.jpg

[26 to 6]

thats a pretty good picture, looks completely real...I wish I knew how to do that kind of stuff.

[26 to 6]

Ichiro Might Want Out!!

 

http://www.nypost.com/sports/31152.htm

November 11, 2005 -- PALM SPRINGS — Ichiro Suzuki is very unhappy about the losing in Seattle, according to a source, though the team is unaware of his displeasure.

Ichiro, who has won the Rookie of the Year, MVP and set the modern-day hits record in 2004, sees his window of opportunity closing on winning a World Series title.

 

But the Mariners, who lost 93 games in 2005, haven't shopped him during the GM meetings and fully expect him to play right field for them in 2006.

 

Ichiro could play center field, however, for a team like the Yankees, who logically would pursue him if he were available.

 

The 32-year-old outfielder batted .303 with 15 homers and 68 RBIs, a dropoff from when he batted .372 with a record 262 hits in 2004.

 

Still, a trade would be nearly impossible to pull off due to Ichiro's high talent level and the fact that Seattle's ownership is Japanese.

 

 

That would be a dream come true and I would take Ichiro over Furcal. Ichiro is an experienced outielder, played CF in Japan, is probably the best leadoff hitter in the game (the only reason Damon gets that title nowadays is because Ichiro had a below-par season last year, but nobody was taking Damon over Ichiro following 2004 and the magnificent season he had then.), and he's Japanese, which could possibly help Hideki Matsui improve due to the fact that he would probably be more comfortable havign a fellow countryman who speaks his language in the clubhouse. (I know most people dont think much of that last point, but if you think about it, it really makes a difference. Just imagine you being overseas in a place where nobody speaks English, then an American starts to work at your job...you're obviously going to be more comfortable)

 

What a lineup we would have.

 

But I think we can all agree that the odds of this happening are extremely remote.

[26 to 6]

We also took a shot at getting Rowand away from the Sox, but Kenny Williams pretty much shut us down.

[ARod2212]

What do we give for Ichiro?

[He Hate Me]

What do we give for Ichiro?

 

Dress Billy Connors up as a very fat Godzilla and attack the Mariners owners box during a Yankee-Mariners game.

[26 to 6]

Dress Billy Connors up as a very fat Godzilla and attack the Mariners owners box during a Yankee-Mariners game.

Actually.......That might work!

[26 to 6]

What do we give for Ichiro?

Probably some prospects, a major leaguer or 2, and some $$$

 

I would offer Shelly Duncan, Mitch Jones (he could compete/platoon with Bucky Jacobson), Jaret Wright (or Carl Pavano. Preferably Wright), almost half of his contract, and maybe Jorge DePaula and or Quezada.

 

Dont know if they would entertain that, but its a building block.

[yankeessuck013]

The Mets and Yankees have both expressed interest in free-agent reliever Kyle Farnsworth, according to agent Barry Meister.

-- New York Post

[yankeessuck013]

Probably some prospects, a major leaguer or 2, and some $$$

 

I would offer Shelly Duncan, Mitch Jones (he could compete/platoon with Bucky Jacobson), Jaret Wright (or Carl Pavano. Preferably Wright), almost half of his contract, and maybe Jorge DePaula and or Quezada.

 

Dont know if they would entertain that, but its a building block.

 

I'd have to think they would want either cano or wang to go along with some of those other players, and they had interest in pavano earlier so they would want him instead of wright IMO

[Pinstripe_Pride]

Well Cano and Wang are untouchables so that trade would be difficult.

[yankeessuck013]

with georgie no one is "untouchable"

[26 to 6]

with georgie no one is "untouchable"

with Cashman, Cano and Wang ARE

 

george's role isnt as it was in years past, he doesnt just pull the trigger on things any more.

 

And I doubt they would want Cano because they have about a Million infield prospects, good ones too. And they have good youbg pitching coming up, but that doesnt mean they wouldnt want Wang.

 

my proposal was just something to start off with, and I purposely avoided putting Cano or Wang in there.

[AlexanderTheGreat13]

I dont think they will trade Ichiro. Theres too much money coming from the Japan market to move him.

[26 to 6]

They have Japanese owners, they have Hasegawa, and they are close to signing Johjima....while it would disappoint the Japanese market to see him leave Seattle, I dont think they would mind as much if he went to the Yankees.

 

BUt I agree, he won't be traded.