Yankees' Offseason Review

[Optimist]

From our friends at NoMaas.

 

Basic summary of the entire thing:

 

The Bottom Line

 

In the end, Ca$hMoney has done some seriously fantastic work this offseason:

 

• He has removed the team’s most unproductive players.

 

• He let age (Gordon) walk for the sake of the future (draft picks, fiscal responsibility).

 

• He retained Matsui’s productivity and, more importantly, his invaluable function as a bridge to the Asian market.

 

• He rebuilt a bullpen with guys who miss bats and don’t give up hits.

o None of the main guys, except for Myers (for whom the statistic doesn’t really matter), has a K/9 below 8.5 over the past three years.

o None of the main guys is even close to giving up a hit per inning.

o All of them are locked up for one or two years, relatively cheaply, except for Farnsworth who got the going rate of the market, and ended up being cheaper than Gordon.

 

• He preserved all of the potential bullpen arms in the minors, however marginal they may turn out to be.

 

• He landed the only centerfield option out there that would not compromise his intent to incubate the farm system as it germinates in the lower levels, AND who would provide the team with a guaranteed level of production. This point really needs to be made clear: There were no other options out there ANYWHERE that offered a high standard of contribution towards winning and a promise to leave the youngsters undisturbed. Damon was the only option. Period, end of story. (We still know Johnny Damon to be grossly overrated by both the media and the general population of sports fans.)

 

• He didn’t entertain any offers for Cano or Wang. Ca$hMoney made like a protective girlfriend this winter, getting in the face of any suitors seeking to pry away his two ML youngsters and decreeing “GET MY MAN’S NAME OUTCHYO’ MOUTH.” The only time we even heard either of their names in a deal was the Cano-Wang-Duncan for Dontrelle and Cabrera offer that he threw out to the Marlins. Otherwise, he let the two former prospects conduct themselves in the offseason with a comfort level that Yankee youngsters have not felt in decades.

 

• He traded one minor leaguer. One. And his name was Ben Julianel. He left every other non-Major Leaguer, including actual prospects that the Yankees had, untouched. In order for the farm to regenerate, it needs to be reseeded and left alone for a considerable amount of time. The Yankee system that was stacked with guys in the lower levels, and was poised to potentially have a breakthrough year, is as whole and halcyon today as it was five months ago…and the team improved on the Major League level in the meantime.

 

• Currently, the Yankee payroll stands around $187-$189 million (including Chacon), which is $20 million less than it was in 2005.

 

• He left the team open to failure in the DH slot (8th hitter in the lineup) but left the situation relatively easy to remedy, both in the ability to demote Bernie and the collection of players from which to choose a replacement.

 

• The bench and fourth OF assignments could still be improved.

 

 

As you can see, Ca$hMoney did a major reshaping of the Yankees, improving their productivity, protecting the youth at all levels, and dropping the payroll. While many of the moves were not the first choice of the NoMaas staff, the end result bolstered the organization’s strategy, and is a development that we can actually endorse, and endorse wholly and rationally. Ca$hMoney is clearly steering the Yankees in a very positive direction, putting them on the road to thorough organizational efficiency and prosperity.

[TheRivernator]

From our friends at NoMaas.

 

Basic summary of the entire thing:

 

I agree wholeheartedly with this post...

[The Monster is my Mom]

Just out of curiousity (since I only joined this site a week ago), but how come you Yankee fans hang out here? (aren't there any Yankee boards?) I don't mean this negatively at all, just wonderin'.

[Optimist]

Just out of curiousity (since I only joined this site a week ago), but how come you Yankee fans hang out here? (aren't there any Yankee boards?) I don't mean this negatively at all, just wonderin'.

 

It's one of the better baseball forums on the web (at least that I've seen.)

[26 to 6]

It's one of the better baseball forums on the web (at least that I've seen.)

That, and there are no really good Yankee boards. I am a member at NYYfans.com but I dont like it there.

 

Good stuff optimist, pretty good offseason in total.

 

BTW, off topic, but can anyone give me the payroll for the Sox?

[TheRivernator]

That, and there are no really good Yankee boards. I am a member at NYYfans.com but I dont like it there.

 

Good stuff optimist, pretty good offseason in total.

 

BTW, off topic, but can anyone give me the payroll for the Sox?

 

got banned from a few. Am currently on the yankees.com one but that sucks too. I think the majority of on-line yankee posters are too young to have a good online conversation. So I joined the herald, and once it died, I was led here by some of my friends....

[AlexanderTheGreat13]

Yankees.com sucks, YESnetwork.com sucks and the moderator over there is a flat out joke, this place is one of the best baseball forums out there. Plus I like the angle of being a Yankee fan on Red Sox turf. It gives me a new feel for the rivalery.

[AlexanderTheGreat13]

NoMass as usual nailed it for the most part.

[jsinger121]

That, and there are no really good Yankee boards. I am a member at NYYfans.com but I dont like it there.

 

Good stuff optimist, pretty good offseason in total.

 

BTW, off topic, but can anyone give me the payroll for the Sox?

 

 

this is from another red sox board i am on

 

I understand that the Renteria payment this year is $3mm, and the AAV for the $11mm payment (not $8mm) is $3.67mm.

 

I will update the numbers below.

 

The roster would look like this:

 

Lineup: Crisp, Loretta, Ortiz, Manny, Nixon, Lowell, Varitek, Youkilis, A-Gon

Bench: Flaherty, Stern (for 18 days)/RHH backup CF, Snow, Cora

 

Rotation: Schilling, Beckett, Wells, Clement, Wakefield,

Bullpen: Foulke, Papelbon, Timlin, Riske, Seanez, Arroyo, Tavarez

 

Let's assume a budget of $126.5 million to spend, AAV-wise, on the 25 man roster. This keeps the team below the luxury tax threshold. Let's also assume that the Red Sox pays $3.67mm to Atlanta in the Renteria deal.

 

The 2006 AAV or AAV estimates for the top 25 players plus the cash payment is $128.15 million, as follows:

 

Manny (20), Schilling (12.75), Varitek (10), Wells (9), Clement (8.5), Lowell (8), Nixon (6.5), Ortiz (6.25), Foulke (6), Beckett (4.33), Wakefield (4), Arroyo/Loretta (3.75 ea.), Timlin (3.5), Tavarez (3.35), Gonzalez (3), Crisp (2.75), Seanez (2.1), Snow (2), Riske (1.8), Cora (1.35), Flaherty (0.75), Youkilis/Papelbon/Stern (0.35 ea.)

 

This is approx. $1.65 million over the budgeted cap I laid out above.

[ORS]

I agree wholeheartedly with this post...

And we are guilty of drinking the kool-aid? HA!

 

I've never seen someone get so much credit for doing nothing other than offering the most money to fill the position they needed filled most. That article was some serious ball-washing. He gets credit for "gaining" a draft pick in letting Gordon go? What about the 1st and 2nd rounders he gave up for Damon and Farnsworth? Personally, I think now would be the time to sell high on Wang given the fact that he's had 3 seasons shortened by shoulder injuries in the last 5 years, but what the heck, it doesn't dissappoint me if they hold on to him and he gets hurt again, and again.

[TheRivernator]

And we are guilty of drinking the kool-aid? HA!

 

I've never seen someone get so much credit for doing nothing other than offering the most money to fill the position they needed filled most. That article was some serious ball-washing. He gets credit for "gaining" a draft pick in letting Gordon go? What about the 1st and 2nd rounders he gave up for Damon and Farnsworth? Personally, I think now would be the time to sell high on Wang given the fact that he's had 3 seasons shortened by shoulder injuries in the last 5 years, but what the heck, it doesn't dissappoint me if they hold on to him and he gets hurt again, and again.

 

He gave up a 1st rounder for Damon and one second rounder for Farns. We got a 1st and 2nd rounder for Gordon. Basically, it was a trade of Gordon for Farns and Damon plus being able to move up in the draft by 10 or so spots for the first 2 rounds.

 

His negotiating with Damon was amazing. You have to admit that he grabbed the bull by the horns and had Boraby the balls. I thought that whatever the yankees offered, that the sox would meet damon halfway and likely retain his services. Cashman made sure that wouldnt happen. As for the pen, he refilled it with the best available talent, how they will be in 2006 is anybody's guess. Basically, he filled our 2 biggest holes, he spared the farm, and dropped payroll by 20 mil. Sounds like a good job to me....

[jsinger121]

He gave up a 1st rounder for Damon and one second rounder for Farns. We got a 1st and 2nd rounder for Gordon. Basically, it was a trade of Gordon for Farns and Damon plus being able to move up in the draft by 10 or so spots for the first 2 rounds.

 

His negotiating with Damon was amazing. You have to admit that he grabbed the bull by the horns and had Boraby the balls. I thought that whatever the yankees offered, that the sox would meet damon halfway and likely retain his services. Cashman made sure that wouldnt happen. As for the pen, he refilled it with the best available talent, how they will be in 2006 is anybody's guess. Basically, he filled our 2 biggest holes, he spared the farm, and dropped payroll by 20 mil. Sounds like a good job to me....

 

spared what farm and the yanks payroll was going to drop by alot anyways with bernie's 15 mil and kevin browns 16 mil off the books.

[ORS]

He gave up a 1st rounder for Damon and one second rounder for Farns. We got a 1st and 2nd rounder for Gordon. Basically, it was a trade of Gordon for Farns and Damon plus being able to move up in the draft by 10 or so spots for the first 2 rounds.

 

His negotiating with Damon was amazing. You have to admit that he grabbed the bull by the horns and had Boraby the balls. I thought that whatever the yankees offered, that the sox would meet damon halfway and likely retain his services. Cashman made sure that wouldnt happen. As for the pen, he refilled it with the best available talent, how they will be in 2006 is anybody's guess. Basically, he filled our 2 biggest holes, he spared the farm, and dropped payroll by 20 mil. Sounds like a good job to me....

You have 2 picks throug the first two rounds. Philly's 1st rounder for Gordon (which moved you up from 28 to 21) and a sandwich pick. You have no 2nd round pick. Saying he gained them picks without acknowledging the picks he gave up is nothing more than creative editting. How can this guy keep getting credit for being such a "great" GM? He goes into negotiations with the biggest offer on the table every time.

[Pinstripe_Pride]

Was that just an off-season recap?? By josh i think it was. That only means one thing...it's almost over! 9 days till pitchers and catchers guys, 9 friggin days.

 

I like the article a lot. Everything it says is true (albeit some mild exaggerations). I know people say the Yanks overpaid for Damon but the Yanks needed to lock down a good CF, and they did exactly that. Cash didn't trade away Wang and Cano, and now I'm just repeating what everyone else said so overall I'm excited to see how everything that happened this off-season shakes out come April.

[TheRivernator]

You have 2 picks throug the first two rounds. Philly's 1st rounder for Gordon (which moved you up from 28 to 21) and a sandwich pick. You have no 2nd round pick. Saying he gained them picks without acknowledging the picks he gave up is nothing more than creative editting. How can this guy keep getting credit for being such a "great" GM? He goes into negotiations with the biggest offer on the table every time.

 

maybe you arent familiar with the previous yankee MO. We usually dont lose players and we take them from other teams, so we dont get to keep our picks. Over the past 3 yrs, we have had 1st rounders and we will again this yr, while adding premier players for the positions we needed. Take a look at how our single A team will be this yr and then you will see the magnitude of what Cash has done....

[Bruce]

You have 2 picks throug the first two rounds. Philly's 1st rounder for Gordon (which moved you up from 28 to 21) and a sandwich pick. You have no 2nd round pick. Saying he gained them picks without acknowledging the picks he gave up is nothing more than creative editting. How can this guy keep getting credit for being such a "great" GM? He goes into negotiations with the biggest offer on the table every time.

 

They didn't add more total picks, but they improved their draft position, while replacing the declining Gordon with Farnsworth and Damon. And, furthermore, as an organization without a lot of depth at the upper levels, signing Damon was a much smarter move than trading minor league talent to fill in the hole in CF. Especially since it required Boston to trade minor league talent to fill in CF. Perhaps if Boston had kept Damon, they would have been able to keep Andy Marte, or trade him for a SS who can hit. But continue to be a sox homer if you prefer.

[AlexanderTheGreat13]

maybe you arent familiar with the previous yankee MO. We usually dont lose players and we take them from other teams, so we dont get to keep our picks. Over the past 3 yrs, we have had 1st rounders and we will again this yr, while adding premier players for the positions we needed. Take a look at how our single A team will be this yr and then you will see the magnitude of what Cash has done....

Intresting nugget........The Oakland A's with the 24th pick overall in the 2002 draft took Joe Blanton. That pick was the Yankees which they gave up for Jason Giambi.

[Fishsticks]

Only way it could've been a better offseason is if someone took Pavano & Wright off of our hands.

 

- definitely the bench can be better

- the starters are solid *IF* they come through again this season. It's also time for the Big Ugly and/or Moose to step up as the aces, much more than they did last year. If they don't, then we better hope the rotation's Wonder Arms (Wang, Small, Chacon) are all successful again. If they don't, I guess we'll be hearing the Clemens rumors again (Lord, please don't let that happen).

[KeepTheFaith1229]

Welcome Bruce.

[jsinger121]

having a successful single A is meaningless and does not mean the big club will be successful in the future.

[AlexanderTheGreat13]

Only way it could've been a better offseason is if someone took Pavano & Wright off of our hands.

 

- definitely the bench can be better

- the starters are solid *IF* they come through again this season. It's also time for the Big Ugly and/or Moose to step up as the aces, much more than they did last year. If they don't, then we better hope the rotation's Wonder Arms (Wang, Small, Chacon) are all successful again. If they don't, I guess we'll be hearing the Clemens rumors again (Lord, please don't let that happen).

I'm still hoping somehow someway we can get atleast Wright off the team. That was a BRUTAL decision by Tampa.

[ORS]

maybe you arent familiar with the previous yankee MO. We usually dont lose players and we take them from other teams, so we dont get to keep our picks. Over the past 3 yrs, we have had 1st rounders and we will again this yr, while adding premier players for the positions we needed. Take a look at how our single A team will be this yr and then you will see the magnitude of what Cash has done....

And we had 3 first rounders, 3 sandwich picks before the second round last year. This year we'll take 7 of the first 100 picks. We have good prospects at all levels, not just Adv-A down, and we'll pick 7 times before your 3rd pick this year. I'd hardly call Cashman's handling of the draft/minors exemplary or worthy of the ball-washing he got from NoMaas. Did he address needs for the big club? Absolutely, but saying he helped out their draft this year is comical.

[Optimist]

Working link for those interested. (It won't let me edit the original post.)

[The Monster is my Mom]

I forgot about Kevin Brown. Is he retired?

[jsinger121]

he looks pretty done. no one has signed him

[Fishsticks]

I'm still hoping somehow someway we can get atleast Wright off the team. That was a BRUTAL decision by Tampa.

 

Heheh, nice pun. I know I'm being hard on Pavano, normally I'll give a first season mulligan for just about anyone debuting in the Bronx, as long as they're not head cases.

 

Wright on the other hand.... once he pitches a few solid games he'll be on the block, IMMEDIATELY.

[AlexanderTheGreat13]

Heheh, nice pun. I know I'm being hard on Pavano, normally I'll give a first season mulligan for just about anyone debuting in the Bronx, as long as they're not head cases.

 

Wright on the other hand.... once he pitches a few solid games he'll be on the block, IMMEDIATELY.

I dont even disagree with you being hard on Pavano. He has ALOT to prove this upcoming season. I believe Wright is a FA at the end of the season because he ALREDY spent 75 days+ on the DL so maybe if he pitches well enough a team in need of SP takes a flyer on him knowing that they can drop him at the end of the season.

[ORS]

They didn't add more total picks, but they improved their draft position, while replacing the declining Gordon with Farnsworth and Damon. And, furthermore, as an organization without a lot of depth at the upper levels, signing Damon was a much smarter move than trading minor league talent to fill in the hole in CF. Especially since it required Boston to trade minor league talent to fill in CF. Perhaps if Boston had kept Damon, they would have been able to keep Andy Marte, or trade him for a SS who can hit. But continue to be a sox homer if you prefer.

Moved up a few spots? Sure. MLB drafting is a process of attrition though. Not all early round picks pan out, so it is better to have more of them than it is to just move up a few spots. I'd say his help to the Yankee draft this year was extremely marginal. I guess knowing this is part of the process makes me a "homer" though? Whatever.

[jsinger121]

the yankees could have helped themselves last yr when they could have taken craig hansen but instead took cj henry.

[Optimist]

Could someone explain the draft system to me; I've tried picking up on it, but never can.