GOM's plan to fix the Yankees

[Gom]

There are definitely going to be changes. There is no doubt. However, this is going to be the unofficial plan to fix the Yankees going into 2008. So here goes....

 

1) Replace Joe Torre with Joe Girardi or Tony Larussa. Mattingly is a fan favorite, but both of these guys are better managers. Larussa is as good as it comes with managing a pen, and Girardi is almost as sharp. Joe Torre, while being a player's manager, can't manage a bullpen. To me, in the AL, that's all a manager needs to do. Also, the kind of small ball/situational hitting that is needed but lost on these Yankees may return.

 

2) Sign Arod to an extension. True...this is his choice. However, as long as he doesn't opt out, give him what he wants over the long haul. The Yankees can sign him to a 5-7 year extension at $30 million a year while prorating it [by not losing the next three years of Arod and his 20+ million from Texas], and keeping his salary at the same place it is for next year.

 

3a) Ask the Twins for Santana's price. Dangle Cabrera and Kennedy. While I doubt that will be all it will take, it may be a start. Cabrera is integral to any deal for Santana, and it may take Alan Horne in addition or Hughes or Chamberlain for him. However, if you can get Santana without giving up Hughes or Chamberlain, I'd have to jump at it. However, a deal for Santana that includes Cabrera, Kennedy, and Alan Horne for Santana might just get it done. [i admit, I'm biased...how does that sound?]

 

3b) Trade Giambi. Now, the only way you can trade Giambi is to eat at least half his salary, approximately 11.5 million. Now, as a one year rental, I believe many teams would take Giambi. It's never the short contract, it's the long one that kills teams. Who might take Giambi at 11.5 million for just one year? Many, in my opinion. The Angels would come knocking. So would the Twins probably. I can't see a national league club wanting him to play the field, but the Angels would be a perfect fit for him, giving them Anderson, Vlad, Giambi, and Juan Rivera, going left/right/left/right. Can't hurt. What to get back for Giambi? A player to be named later. A bar of soap. Anything. You can't help but think that Giambi could possibly help them, and as a one year rental, how can he really hurt?

 

4) As a reward for not opting out for Arod, Boras gets his other client signed, Carlos Pena. Give Pena..hmm...11.5 a year for 3-4 years, which is pretty much his asking price. Basically, you replaced Giambi with Pena. A bit of a risk, considering he hasn't done much except for this year, but hey...we still are the Yankees, and we can eat a bad contract or two.

 

5) Bring back Abreu at a reduced price. Abreu is the kind of player the Yankees should be looking to bring in. He really is a poor man's Paul O'Neil with better offensive numbers and less of a leader and fielder, but overall, a similar player. 17 million is a lot, Abreu could come back at a 7 million discount from his current salary.

 

6) Sign Bonds. An unpopular decision for most, but a statistical monster. As good as Posada is, we can't win with him as our number five hitter. Putting Bonds behind Arod gives the Yankees three amazing OBP players in a row in Abreu, Arod, and Bonds. Sign Bonds for...hmmm...a 1 year deal for 12 million. Now...how can we shave off five million [assuming #5 saves us 7 million]?

 

7) With Bonds penciled in at DH, there is no place for Matsui. Who would take Matsui? Many, many teams would, in my opinion. Seattle, cornering the Japanese market? The Giants, having lost Bonds? The Mets? Of course, the whole trade Matsui thing only happens if Cabrera isn't traded.

 

8) Resign Rivera and Posada at similar contracts. Calling that a fiscal wash.

 

Realizing that Santana is a bit of a stretch to say the least, by following my plan, their 2008 payroll will actually drop by about 17-18 million due to Clemens coming off the books.

 

Their rotation next year would look as follows

 

Wang

Pettitte

Hughes

Chamberlain

Kennedy/Mussina

 

Their lineup would look as follows:

 

Damon LF

Jeter SS

Abreu RF

Rodriguez 3B

Bonds DH

Pena 1B

Posada C

Cano 2B

Cabrera CF

 

All this can be accomplished with a decrease of 17-19 million dollars from current payroll. In 2009, Pettitte, Mussina, Pavano come off the books. Another 35 million coming off, to be used more efficiently. I hope. Ok, this is just a start. I will add more as I think of it.

[riverside sluggers]

http://mlb4u.com/profile.php?id=1045

 

Carlos Pena still has 2 years of arbitration until he's eligible to be a free agent

[jacksonianmarch]

Sign Bonds yet deal Giambi? They are essentially the same player these days, minus the pigment.

 

As for Santana, they have tons of good young pitching. But they are losing Hunter and could also use more offense. So I think any deal for Santana needs to start with Cano. I only do that deal if we keep ARod. And any deal that includes Chamberlain needs to be stopped too. Chamberlain has better stuff than 99% of the major leagues, if he carries that over to the rotation he would be dominant from day 1.

 

We dont need to bring abreu back at a reduced price, we have the ability to bring him back on a 1 yr deal. I'll take flexibility over price any day, especially in NY.

 

And see above on Pena, he stays in TB for the time being.

[BudLight]

I don't see Pettite coming back, with Torre being dismissed and Mussina, IMHO, has shown he can no longer compete in the AL East over a 162 game season. Sign Posada to a one year deal, realize that Johnny Damon's bat is valuable, but his arm is shot, put Giambi out of his misery and go and get a 1B who can hit, don't even think about including Cano in any trade talks, and go find a pitching coach who actually knows how to evaluate a starter's health. It is totally inexcusable for Guidry to not have known that Clemens was not ready and that Wang was not ready for their ALDS starts, while Hughes was ready and able.

[jacksonianmarch]

BL, Pettitte coming back will be a crux for us. If he doesnt, then we would need to rely on Hughes as our #2 if we dont go out and get someone better. I dont like that idea. I can live with a bottom 3 of our rotation being Joba/Hughes/Kennedy. But having them be 2-4 and needing to find another start to fill out the rotation would be bad news. Pettitte and Wang would be the buffer that we'd need in the event that one of these kids needs more minor league seasoning off the bat next yr.

[He Hate Me]

I don't want ARod around if he wants a FA deal from us. For that matter, I don't want Matsui either. I think our starting pitching woes are only half the story, the other is our offense's inability to score in the postseason year after year since Tino and Paulie left.

 

I say we blow up the offesne, they've shown that they can score like crazy in the regular season but choke big time in the postseason. If ARod opts out, let him go.

 

I'm done with Giambi, he's completely useless to me at this point, and I actually think that Doug is more useful than Jason is.

 

Wang needs a pitching coach who will teach him how to mix up his pitches more and not totally rely on one pitch. The only guy in the majors who can get by on one pitch is Mariano and people are starting to catch up to him. A starting pitcher can't rely on only one pitch. Can I suggest starting him on a rising fastball to mix it up with the sinker? He's got the arm to carry off the velocity needed for an effective high riser.

 

My lineup for next year assuming we don't go nuts in free agency.

 

1. Damon DH

2. Jeter SS

3. Abreu RF

4. ARod 3B

5. Cano 2B

6. Posada C

7. Melky CF

8. Duncan LF

9. Doug 1B

 

the names aren't as impressive but what did impressive names get us the last few postseasons?

 

Starting rotation:

Petite

Wang

Kennedy

Hughes

Chamberlain

 

4/5 of the SP rotation under 28 and with room to grow led by a legit big game pitcher in Andy. I can live with that.

 

Still need a bridge to Mo. I'm sure we got some more arms on the farm to bring up who can fill the spot. I won't worry much about it.

 

Lastly, I love Joe but I think it's time for a change. I'd say make Girardi the manager because of his success with a young team in FL. I think he will push Melky and Robbie closer to their potential. Get whoever was the pitching coach under Girardi.

 

I'm tired of this team sucking it when it counts the most. I'd rather give a shot to other people and see what happense from there.

[VA Sox Fan]

Sign Bonds? LMAO, I was actually expecting that.

[jacksonianmarch]

HHM, I think we need a big time ace in our rotation to allow the kids some room to be inconsistent, which they invariably will be. I'd deal away some offense for Santana. Any day of the week. Maybe Robby Cano.

[He Hate Me]

HHM' date=' I think we need a big time ace in our rotation to allow the kids some room to be inconsistent, which they invariably will be. I'd deal away some offense for Santana. Any day of the week. Maybe Robby Cano.[/quote']

 

I agree with you. Everyone on the team is available for Johan IMO. Hell I just traded my created Joba Chamberlain player (84 overall) plus Arod for Santana in MLB 2K7. I'm gonna see if I can get Liriano for Giambi and Hughes.

[jacksonianmarch]

I really dont like the idea of dealing Joba or Hughes for Santana. I'd much rather deal a hitter since having the best offense in baseball has done s*** for us the past few seasons. I'd love to reload around a core of Santana and Wang and then strengthen it with solid pitching from Hughes and Joba. That rotation would be dirty.

[AlexanderTheGreat13]

Anybody have a free agent list?

[He Hate Me]

I really dont like the idea of dealing Joba or Hughes for Santana. I'd much rather deal a hitter since having the best offense in baseball has done s*** for us the past few seasons. I'd love to reload around a core of Santana and Wang and then strengthen it with solid pitching from Hughes and Joba. That rotation would be dirty.

 

Give the Twins Abreu, Melky and Matsui for Santana, with us eating 50% of Matsui and Abreu's contracts.

[jacksonianmarch]

http://www.mlb4u.com/freeagency.php

[jacksonianmarch]

Give the Twins Abreu' date=' Melky and Matsui for Santana, with us eating 50% of Matsui and Abreu's contracts.[/quote']

 

Lets say we resign ARod, Pettitte, Posada and Rivera.

 

Then we deal Cano, Horne and Tabata for Santana.

 

We'd have a rotation of

 

Santana

Wang

Pettitte

Hughes

Kennedy/Chamberlain

 

and a lineup of

 

LF Damon

SS Jeter

RF Abreu

3B ARod

DH Matsui

C Posada

CF Cabrera

2B Betemit

1B Duncan/Giambi

 

that would be pretty damn filthy

[AlexanderTheGreat13]

The bullpen needs some work with Joba moving into the rotation. Rivera needs to be back. I like Viz but Fransworth needs to go now.

[He Hate Me]

Lets say we resign ARod, Pettitte, Posada and Rivera.

 

Then we deal Cano, Horne and Tabata for Santana.

 

We'd have a rotation of

 

Santana

Wang

Pettitte

Hughes

Kennedy/Chamberlain

 

and a lineup of

 

LF Damon

SS Jeter

RF Abreu

3B ARod

DH Matsui

C Posada

CF Cabrera

2B Betemit

1B Duncan/Giambi

 

that would be pretty damn filthy

 

I can't see them giving us Santana for just those 3. Knowing the Twins, they'll probably ask for a pitcher or two as well. That offense looks about the same as the ones that have sucked ass the last few postseasons. I want more changes dammit!

[BudLight]

I can't see dealing Cano under any circumstances. This kid is all-star material for years to come. As for dealing the youth for Santana, no way. It's George running the team all over again. The Yanks need one front line starting pitcher and some more heart in the post season. How can a team put up nearly 1000 runs in the regular season and slump so badly year after year in the playoffs? Wang needs to stick with his sinker and stop trying to overpower guys with a belt high fastball when he has two strikes on them. He's not a power pitcher, so don't try to pitch like a power pitcher. Again, Guidry needs to go, he's not the answer for a pitching coach.

[ORS]

After being told emphatically that the Yankees would run away with the division this year, it's apparent they didn't run fast enough, so my plan to fix the Yankees if kind of simple. Buy some running shoes, then get out there and pound the pavement all offseason.

[Gom]

After being told emphatically that the Yankees would run away with the division this year' date=' it's apparent they didn't run fast enough, so my plan to fix the Yankees if kind of simple. Buy some running shoes, then get out there and pound the pavement all offseason.[/quote']

 

More true than you think. This team needs to run more and not wait for the homerun.

[ORS]

They were 4th in the AL in SBs. They ran fine. It was, is, and always will be about the pitching in the postseason. They didn't have it, not from day 1, and not at the end.

[BudLight]

They were 4th in the AL in SBs. They ran fine. It was' date=' is, and always will be about the pitching in the postseason. They didn't have it, not from day 1, and not at the end.[/quote']

 

 

The key words here are "they ran fine" as in past tense. How many SBs did they have in the ALDS? A: 1 - How many did they attempt? A: 2 - How many DPs would they have stayed out of if they ran?

[He Hate Me]

The key words here are "they ran fine" as in past tense. How many SBs did they have in the ALDS? A: 1 - How many did they attempt? A: 2 - How many DPs would they have stayed out of if they ran?

 

ugh, 2 attempts against that Johnny Bench clone

[jacksonianmarch]

we sucked, plain and simple.

[Paradisecity]

I wouldn't say you sucked- you just weren't the best team, or even one of the top 2 or three in the AL

 

Clemens really hurt you guys in Game 3. I know they won but if he pitches 5 or 6 then Hughes comes in last night instead of Mussina.

 

Fixing the yankees isnt that tough- its called don't panic, don't fire cashman, and don't demand a WS next year, in a couple years you guys will be a force.

[BudLight]

If I were GS for an off-season, the 2008 Yankees would look like this:

 

1B - Minky, Duncan and Betemit

2B - Cano, Betemit

SS - Jeter

3B - ARod, Betemit

C - Posada, Molina

LF - Cabrera, Damon

CF - Torii Hunter

RF - Abreu

DH - Matsui, Duncan, Betemit, Damon

(Notice no mention of Giambi)

 

SPs:

 

Pettite

Wang

Chamberlain

Hughes

Kennedy

 

Pen:

Mo

Ohlendorff

Sanchez

Veras

Rasner

Wright

 

Manager:

 

1. Joe Girardi

2. Tony LaRussa (I personally can't stand him, but he made "winners" out of the Cardinals)

 

Pitching Coach:

Dave Duncan (made easier if they get Larussa)

 

Oh yeah, most importantly

 

GM:

 

Gene Michael

[AlexanderTheGreat13]

I hate Larussa and I think he would be a bad fit here.

[TheKilo]

Cano, Horne, and Tabata for Johan?

 

lulz

[yankees228]

Cano, Horne, and Tabata for Johan?

 

lulz

 

Agreed. I think it would take a package that includes either Hughes or Chamberlain (at the very least).

[TheKilo]

Why would the Twins trade Santana with Liriano coming back next year?

 

Reeeeeeeetarded.

[riverside sluggers]

Another option for 1st base, which Ive been hearing for awhile, is that the Yanks swing a trade for Oakland's Dan Johnson. The emergence of Daric Barton only increases the chance that he will be dangled