Yankees Off-Season Outlook

[Gom]

Taken from Tim Dierkes at MLBTRADERUMORS.com

 

Enjoy.

 

Next up in our Offseason Outlook series, the Yankees. Their likely 2009 commitments:

 

C - Jorge Posada - $13.1MM

C - Jose Molina - $2MM

1B -

2B - Robinson Cano - $6MM

SS - Derek Jeter - $20MM

3B - Alex Rodriguez - $32MM

IF - Wilson Betemit - $1.165MM+

IF - Cody Ransom - $400K

LF - Johnny Damon - $13MM

CF - Brett Gardner - $400K

RF - Xavier Nady - $3.35MM+

OF - Melky Cabrera - $462K

DH - Hideki Matsui - $13MM

 

SP - Chien-Ming Wang - $4MM+

SP - Joba Chamberlain - $400K

SP - Phil Hughes - $407K

SP - Ian Kennedy - $400K

SP - Alfredo Aceves - $400K

 

RP - Mariano Rivera - $15MM

RP - Damaso Marte - $6MM club option ($250K buyout)

RP - Brian Bruney - $725K+

RP - Jose Veras - $400K

RP - Edwar Ramirez - $400K

RP - Phil Coke - $400K

RP - Mark Melancon - $400K

 

Buyouts: Jason Giambi - $5MM, Carl Pavano - $1.95MM

 

Other commitments: Andrew Brackman - $1.1375MM, Juan Miranda - $400K

 

The Yankees are a bit over $140MM before arbitration raises to Betemit, Nady, Wang, and Bruney. Maybe after those they're near $150MM for current players (if Marte's option is exercised). Will the Yankees really slash payroll all the way to the $180MM range? Brian Cashman would still be able to add $30MM in '09 salaries, but it wouldn't surprise anyone if he has more than that.

 

Jon Heyman says the Yankees want to sign two free agent starters out of C.C. Sabathia, A.J. Burnett, and Derek Lowe. If they land their top target, Sabathia, then Lowe seems more likely than Burnett. It'd be an '09 rotation with Hughes, Kennedy, and others battling for one spot. If Mike Mussina or Andy Pettitte can be re-signed, Joba can slot in fifth and get extra days off. Depth would be excellent, but signing three starters, each for $12MM or more, could eat up most of the spending money.

 

The two other much-discussed holes are first base and center field. Cashman has spoken about wanting a regular first baseman as opposed to shuttling in Posada, Damon, and Matsui. Possibly available regulars at first base: Mark Teixeira, Prince Fielder, Adam LaRoche, Mike Jacobs, and Hank Blalock. The list could expand in coming months. I do not see the Yanks trading Hughes for Fielder, if some permutation of that deal is available.

 

If the Yankees somehow sign Sabathia, Teixeira, and another starter, they'll be looking fantastic for 2009. It could be done if payroll is in the $200-210MM range again. Sure, Cano should be better, Matsui and Posada hopefully healthy. But Abreu could be replaced with Nady and Giambi seems gone. Tex would add stability, though he has to be seen as a luxury.

 

The market for center fielders, whether via free agency or trade, is poor. It makes sense to see if one of the internal options emerges as a tolerable regular (Gardner, Cabrera, Austin Jackson). As alluded to earlier, Abreu will probably be offered arbitration, decline, and sign elsewhere (leaving Nady as the right fielder).

 

The pen doesn't seem like a major need; Marte on the equivalent of a one-year, $5.75MM deal is reasonable. Joe at River Ave. Blues tells me Melancon is likely to snag a spot.

 

Bottom line: it looks like most of the money will be spent on starting pitching, but Teixeira would sure look nice in pinstripes.

[ARod2212]

I want Tex. Switch hitting, gold glove first baseman, who can work the count and drive the ball, in his prime.

 

If the Yankees pass on him it'll be a huge mistake. He'll end up somewhere in the American League, hurting the Yanks.