You are the Yankees President/GM

[He Hate Me]

Let's play a game. You are the Yankees President/GM and have blackmailed Steinbrenner into giving you total control of the team, what would you do to make the Yankees a better team? Realistic things only

 

I would..

 

1. Put Gene Michaels in charge of all scouting and make him my secondhand man.

 

2. fire that fatty, Billy Connors, and every other idiot from the Tampa office.

 

3. resign Bernie to a 2 year 3 million dollar deal to be a good switch hitter off the bench

 

4. double the budget for international scouting, and heavily market the Yankee brand in the Dominican Republic so that the young talent will be killing each other to see a Yankee scout, and theoretically will increase the amount of talent that scounts see.

 

I've got some others, but they're more like wishes, not really things I see can happen. Trading Giambi, etc. I think the Cubs or some other NL team might actually take Sheff (especially if they feel they can compete next year) for a really good CF for us. Thoughts?

[26 to 6]

wow, ive always thought things that I would do in a situation like this, gotta give me a while to come up with soem really good stuff though.

[yankeessuck013]

sell them to some random guy in alaska or hawaii

[RedRuffing15]

I'd trade Pavano and Wright, for RP. Pursuade Clemens to return, but for cheaper. Resign Bernie, look for a good young 1B, if I can't find one, get back Tino for cheap

[Soxfan1]

Fire everyone and rename the team the black sox to piss off the red sox. Then start blackmailing Free agents and have them sign 1 year 10 1 million dollar tracts.

[ksushi]

1. Re-sign bernie as a fourth outfielder simply just because I wouldn't feel right having him play for anybody else and he would serve as quite the mentor for all the youngsters i would bring in.

2. ... and here come the youngsters. I would trade Mussina. Pavano, Wright, Sheff, Giambi, and Posada for prospects marlins style. Bring up Phillips, Crosby (already sort of up), Duncan, and Melky Cabrera. I go gum and glue this season.

3. Do not sign nomar. Bad move.

4. Beef up the scouting and player development.

 

Not everyone would blow up the team, I would though, I'm crazy.

[BrentD22]

I'd kill myself!

[26 to 6]

I'd kill myself!

:lol:

[ksushi]

If i were the president of the yankees I would come on message boards and make a lot of one line posts or posts that consist of nothing but smiley faces.

[26 to 6]

If I were President/GM of the Yankees I would buy all the message boards and ban the Red Sox fans

[ahhchon]

i don't see why you would trade giambi? he league leader in obp and was 6th in adjusted OPS, not to mention he led the league walks with 108, 8th in slugging %...

 

he was a monster last year and all signs show that he'll continue to do the same in 06..

 

john

[guapo34]

Assuming I wanted them to win, which I don't:

 

Opeate under budget on the major league club. Put Chacon, Wang, and Small in the rotation with Mussina and RJ. Trade Pavano for young talent. Trade Wright for a bag of balls. Put Melky Cabrera/bubba crosby in center. Now the important part, invest heavily in the draft. Draft a tough sign with every pick. Guys like Hansen and Hochevor.

[Manny Goes Boom]

Let's play a game. You are the Yankees President/GM and have blackmailed Steinbrenner into giving you total control of the team

 

One problem...I would NEVER do that.

[AlexanderTheGreat13]

Sign Doug Mientkiewicz then buy the Red Sox ball off of him and then blow it up.

[He Hate Me]

i don't see why you would trade giambi? he league leader in obp and was 6th in adjusted OPS, not to mention he led the league walks with 108, 8th in slugging %...

 

he was a monster last year and all signs show that he'll continue to do the same in 06..

 

john

 

yeah he had a good year, but the man wilts in the spotlight. He's tailor made for a lower profile club. He's serisouly overpaid, and will not be worth even 1/3rd of what he's being paid now in a year or two. Trade him while his numbers are good. I just dont like him, period.

[Sizzlin22]

I agree with He Hate Me, Giambi is grossly overpaid.

 

Personally I'd go out and try and get a front of the rotation pitcher because there is know way Randy Johnson makes it through the entire season at 42 on a knee with no cartilage.

 

After that I would get a solid not nessacerily an All Star middle relief guy just to back up Mo and Farnsworth, as we saw last year The Yankees ususally needed 1 more guy to get to Gordon because thier starters didn't usually go 7. I can't count how many games the Yankees lost in the 5th and 6th innings last year.

 

After that I would tinker try to fill up holes they have such as a CENTER FIELDER.

 

The last thing I would do is get a role player. Not a great All Star player but a guy who does his job and most inportantly, plays a good role in the clun house. I'm not an insider but it appeared to me between the Seffield quotes about who's the team captain , and Randy not letting Posada catch him, it seemed like the Yanks didn't have good chemistry. What they need is a guy who is friends with everyone and keeps everyone happy, similar to a David Ortiz, who is just a good guy to have in the clubhouse.

 

They need a role player without one between hot head such as Sheffield, RJ, Farnsworth combined with someone like A-Rod saying something stupid, the Yankees could be the first team ever to have a bench clearing brawl with themselves.

[ahhchon]

grossly overpaid yes.. that's exactly why it would not be worth trading him. who's going to take on that massive contract? the yankees would have to eat such an enourmous amount of it. if giambi can keep up what he's doing he'll do more damage being traded than staying, mainly due to the contract.

 

john

[elsrbueno]

grossly overpaid yes.. that's exactly why it would not be worth trading him. who's going to take on that massive contract? the yankees would have to eat such an enourmous amount of it. if giambi can keep up what he's doing he'll do more damage being traded than staying, mainly due to the contract.

 

john

 

John's right. The problem with the Yankees is that they've overpaid a ton of players, and they can't trade them because nobody else will pay their contracts. They have to be careful who they trade because they're going to have to eat large portions of what they're getting paid.

 

Like Guapo said-- I don't WANT the Yankees to succeed, but if I did, I'd do the following:

 

Sign Johnny Damon for 5 years, $60 million. It should be enough to beat the Red Sox' offer, and in front of the likes of Sheffield, A-Rod, Jeter, Giambi, and Matsui-- he's going to get hits and score runs. His defense in centerfield is suspect, but his offense will more than make up for it.

 

Move Wright to the bullpen. He's had injury trouble. Hopefully saving 100 innings a season by moving him to the bullpen helps preserve the investment.

 

Trade Mike Mussina. I trade him instead of Pavano because of the age factor. I try to get prospects for Mussina and eat half of his salary.

 

Resign Bernie Williams as a 4th outfielder/first baseman/DH

 

Lineup:

CF Johnny Damon

SS Derek Jeter

1B Jason Giambi

3B Alex Rodriguez

LF Hideki Matsui

RF Gary Sheffield

C Jorge Posada

2B Robinson Cano

DH Bernie Williams

 

Rotation:

Johnson, Wang, Pavano, Small, Chacon

 

Bullpen

Rivera, Farnsworth, Wright, Myers, Proctor

 

I also put a brand new emphasis the scouting department and the draft. The team is still old and expensive, and the team needs to start being self sufficient.

[schillingouttheks]

John's right. The problem with the Yankees is that they've overpaid a ton of players, and they can't trade them because nobody else will pay their contracts. They have to be careful who they trade because they're going to have to eat large portions of what they're getting paid.

 

Like Guapo said-- I don't WANT the Yankees to succeed, but if I did, I'd do the following:

 

Sign Johnny Damon for 5 years, $60 million. It should be enough to beat the Red Sox' offer, and in front of the likes of Sheffield, A-Rod, Jeter, Giambi, and Matsui-- he's going to get hits and score runs. His defense in centerfield is suspect, but his offense will more than make up for it.

 

Move Wright to the bullpen. He's had injury trouble. Hopefully saving 100 innings a season by moving him to the bullpen helps preserve the investment.

 

Trade Mike Mussina. I trade him instead of Pavano because of the age factor. I try to get prospects for Mussina and eat half of his salary.

 

Resign Bernie Williams as a 4th outfielder/first baseman/DH

 

Lineup:

CF Johnny Damon

SS Derek Jeter

1B Jason Giambi

3B Alex Rodriguez

LF Hideki Matsui

RF Gary Sheffield

C Jorge Posada

2B Robinson Cano

DH Bernie Williams

 

Rotation:

Johnson, Wang, Pavano, Small, Chacon

 

Bullpen

Rivera, Farnsworth, Wright, Myers, Proctor

 

I also put a brand new emphasis the scouting department and the draft. The team is still old and expensive, and the team needs to start being self sufficient.

I can officially say that I'm glad to have you back

[Sizzlin22]

Like Guapo said-- I don't WANT the Yankees to succeed, but if I did, I'd do the following:

 

Sign Johnny Damon for 5 years, $60 million. It should be enough to beat the Red Sox' offer, and in front of the likes of Sheffield, A-Rod, Jeter, Giambi, and Matsui-- he's going to get hits and score runs. His defense in centerfield is suspect, but his offense will more than make up for it.

In the fourth and fifth years of those deals he will be like Berine Williams. Center fielders decline faster than anyone. I would offer him four for 45 - 50. Beats the Sox offer and keeps him for one of his probabaly crappy years.

[AlexanderTheGreat13]

John's right. The problem with the Yankees is that they've overpaid a ton of players, and they can't trade them because nobody else will pay their contracts. They have to be careful who they trade because they're going to have to eat large portions of what they're getting paid.

 

Like Guapo said-- I don't WANT the Yankees to succeed, but if I did, I'd do the following:

 

Sign Johnny Damon for 5 years, $60 million. It should be enough to beat the Red Sox' offer, and in front of the likes of Sheffield, A-Rod, Jeter, Giambi, and Matsui-- he's going to get hits and score runs. His defense in centerfield is suspect, but his offense will more than make up for it.

 

Move Wright to the bullpen. He's had injury trouble. Hopefully saving 100 innings a season by moving him to the bullpen helps preserve the investment.

 

Trade Mike Mussina. I trade him instead of Pavano because of the age factor. I try to get prospects for Mussina and eat half of his salary.

 

Resign Bernie Williams as a 4th outfielder/first baseman/DH

 

Lineup:

CF Johnny Damon

SS Derek Jeter

1B Jason Giambi

3B Alex Rodriguez

LF Hideki Matsui

RF Gary Sheffield

C Jorge Posada

2B Robinson Cano

DH Bernie Williams

 

Rotation:

Johnson, Wang, Pavano, Small, Chacon

 

Bullpen

Rivera, Farnsworth, Wright, Myers, Proctor

 

I also put a brand new emphasis the scouting department and the draft. The team is still old and expensive, and the team needs to start being self sufficient.

All of your ideas are realistic except for trading Mussina. No one will give you a legit prospect for him and the Yankees arent going to eat half of his 17 million dollar salery. He has 1 year left, let it run out.

[26 to 6]

John's right. The problem with the Yankees is that they've overpaid a ton of players, and they can't trade them because nobody else will pay their contracts. They have to be careful who they trade because they're going to have to eat large portions of what they're getting paid.

 

Like Guapo said-- I don't WANT the Yankees to succeed, but if I did, I'd do the following:

 

Sign Johnny Damon for 5 years, $60 million. It should be enough to beat the Red Sox' offer, and in front of the likes of Sheffield, A-Rod, Jeter, Giambi, and Matsui-- he's going to get hits and score runs. His defense in centerfield is suspect, but his offense will more than make up for it.

 

Move Wright to the bullpen. He's had injury trouble. Hopefully saving 100 innings a season by moving him to the bullpen helps preserve the investment.

 

Trade Mike Mussina. I trade him instead of Pavano because of the age factor. I try to get prospects for Mussina and eat half of his salary.

 

Resign Bernie Williams as a 4th outfielder/first baseman/DH

 

Lineup:

CF Johnny Damon

SS Derek Jeter

1B Jason Giambi

3B Alex Rodriguez

LF Hideki Matsui

RF Gary Sheffield

C Jorge Posada

2B Robinson Cano

DH Bernie Williams

 

Rotation:

Johnson, Wang, Pavano, Small, Chacon

 

Bullpen

Rivera, Farnsworth, Wright, Myers, Proctor

 

I also put a brand new emphasis the scouting department and the draft. The team is still old and expensive, and the team needs to start being self sufficient.

I like a lot of what you have there.

[26 to 6]

Here is what I would do.

 

 

-Not trade Mussina, a lot of people want to trade Mussina, but what he brings to the rotations when healthy and on his game is unparralled. He is not a power pitcher, but will get you with his craftiness. A lot of Yankee rotations over his tenure have based on power, he is the opposite and having him in the middle of the rotation helps, especially with his pitches. He has the best knuckle-curve in baseball and throws great breaking stuff. So I say keep him.

 

-Bring Tanyon Sturtze and Aaron Small into spring training to compete with each other, and whoever has the worse Spring Training I would trade for a prospect or 2. I dont think there is room on this team for both of them with the number of pitchers we have.

 

-Not sign Damon for anymore than 3 years. If he wants more, then screw him, I am content with Bernie and Bubba holding down Center Field next year keeping it hot for Melky.

 

-Do not trade Melky Cabrera. Everyone wants to trade him after his stint with the Yankees last year, But I have a great feeling about him. I think he is going to be the next in the long like of great Yankee center fielders. Watching him play it is appearant he knows what he is doing, he was just a little overwhelmed with his callup last year and wasnt given a fair chance. Remember, Cano struggled for a while at first and went on to be one of the top rookies in all of baseball and earned himself the title of Yankees second basemen for a long time to come. Had they given Melky more than a week I think he would have taken over and patrolled CF for the rest of the season.

NOTE: I know it is hard not trading Melky considering how expandable he is due to the amount of good outfield prospects we have, but I would stick with Melky, and if he fizzles out at least we have insurance. (BTW, Cabrera is doing very well in winterball this year)

 

-Move Wright to the bullpen. I think he could be the perfect middle relief/long relief/spot starter. He has that power arm and would be perfect for say the 6th inning. Also, not to mention we really have no choice considering there is no spot for him in the pen.

 

-I would have liked to keep Proctor arouond in the bigs next year, but considering we just got Villone, the numbers likely wont allow it. So I would give him a fair shot at making the squad in Spring Training, but considering he is the one with the option year left he would have to really blow everybody out of the water to get the spot.

 

-Keep only 11 pitchers, having 12 most of last year was not good for the depth of our bench. Torre usually carries only 11 but due to the excess amount of pitchers we had we were forced to carry 12

 

-Bring back Bernie, he deserves it and can still provide us with some good play.

 

-KEEP Pavano. Last year was rough for him and us, but I say we give the guy another year before shipping him away. I always say a player needs 1 year in New York to adjust and not to jusge him based on his performance in his first year if it is bad.

 

-TRADE FOR ROBBY HAMMOCK. The Diamondbacks have Snyder and Estrada so its not like they wouldnt be willing to move Robby. I want Robby so bad because of his versatility and age. Before he got hurt last spring he was on pace to become the Diamondbacks catcher of the future. Another plus is that he and Randy Johnson are very close (yes, I know we brought in Stinnett to catch Johnson, but I really do not like Stinnett. BUt whatever, im not suggesting we release him because I want 3 players who are capable of catching, especially if Posada is going to get significant DH time this year). Also, the fact that he can serve in the outfield and has experience at 3B also helps. IM sure if needed he could play 2B or 1B in an emergency, but I doubt we would need him for that. I stated before that I want 3 players who are capable of catching, and the fact that Robby can play other positions makes him a great option, because getting a guy who can catch as well as play other positions as your 3rd catcher is much better than signing a guy who only catches to be your 3rd catcher, destroys bench depth.

 

-If we are unable to get Hammock I say we sign Matt Lecroy or someone else who can catch as well as play other positions (for the reasons mentioned at the end of my Robby Hammock point)

 

-Bring back Cairo as the utility guy. The reason I want him over Escalone is the fact that he can play the outfield as well, not to mention how much we loved him in 2004. But if we dont get himIm content with Escalona. Having Cairo and Phillips would be fantastic for our bench depth, Phillips can play every infield position and Cairo can play any position besides catcher and pitcher.

 

-Not sign anybody else who was offered arbitration, that would cost us a draft pick. We need all of our draft picks.

 

-Not trade any good prospects, only crappy ones if needed. We need to build up our famr system again. The only way I would trade good prospects (im not talking Hughes, Duncan, Melky, etc. Im talking about guys like Sardinha,Clippard, Thompson, etc..) is in a deal for guys like Ichiro, Pujols, Miguel Cabrera, Felix Hernandez (I know those would pretty much never happen, but those are the players I would reserve our good prospects for), or if we need a Jason Schmidt or somebody like that who could have an impact on our team come the trade deadline. But other than that keep our core of good young prospects in tact.

 

-I would also bring in some veterans on Minor League deals with Spring Training invites for a chance to win a spot, or be a possibly rewarding insurance policy in case of injury. Guys like Ramiro Mendoza, Juan Gonzalez, Travis Lee, Kevin Millar, Rich Aurilia, Hideo Nomo, Shingo Takatsu, James Baldwin, Denny Neagle, Bobby Estalella, Todd Hundley, Joe Beimel, Gabe White, Steve Cox, Mike Matthews, Eduardo Perez, John Franco, Lou COllier, Fernando Vina, Enrique Wilson, Dave Veres, Keiichi Yabu, Seung Song, Danny Graves, Grant Roberts, Jared Sandberg, Ty Wigginton, Rick White, Rickey Henderson, Rey Ordonez, Chris SIngleton, Ruben Rivera, Charles Gipson, Matt Manteii, Michael Coleman, Roger Cedeno, Mike Vento, Dee Brown, or Jason Tyner. OBVIOUSLY not all of them, just a few who would agree to come in on a Minor League deal with a Spring Training invite under the circumstances and offer insurance and veteran leadership for the young guys in camp.

 

Here is what I have:

 

Rotation

Johnson

Mussina

Wang

Chacon

Pavano

 

Bullpen

Wright

Sturtze/Small

Myers

Villone

Farnsworth

Rivera

 

Catchers

Posada

Stinnett

Hammock

 

Infield

Giambi

Phillips

Cano

Cairo

Jeter

Rodriguez

 

Outfield

Matsui

Crosby

Bernie

Sheffield

 

I know that is only 24, I would save the 25th spot for someone who earns it out of Spring Training. Like a Kevin Reese, Chris Prieto, or Felix Escalona or someone that we bring in on a Minor Legue deal. A guy I would really like to get in on a Minor League deal/ST invite is Dave Matranga (2B/SS/3B ). He played in the Angels organziation last year (his previous 6 years were with the Astros organization, where he actually hit a Home Run in his first Major League at bat) and saw some time in the bigs. Not only because I know him, but also because he is a very hard working player who does all of the little things right. Mike Scioscia said that he reminded him very much of Adam Kennedy.

 

If you read the whole thing, THANK YOU VERY MUCH, if not, I dont blame you. But that is just the begining of what I would do for the Yankees.

[26 to 6]

Also, just a quick add-on to my post, all of that was assuming we dont get Nomar, which it looks like we will not be doing. If we do in fact get Nomar then throw him into the 25th spot on the roster.

 

Also, if we could get Clemens, then I would be willing to trade Pavano or Wright for a good prospect or two to make room. If we trade Wright, then I would move Chacon to the pen and KEEP PAVANO IN THE ROTATION. If we trade Pavano, then I would just stuff Clemens into his spot.

 

In that case, here is the rotation I would go with:

Clemens

Johnson

Mussina

Wang

Pavano/Chacon