Yankee SS dilemma

[jacksonianmarch]

First off, let me say that I know there is a life after Jeter thread. This was mainly to point out the strides our two SS prospects closest to the bigs were making. This is more of a general, who will take over for Jeter topic.

 

So lets start with the current SS. Derek Jeter is signed through 2010, or for two more seasons. He turns 35 in June, so he'll be 36 when his contract concludes. And his contracts end will signify the end of his hold on the SS position. So, in a place that hasnt known any other SS since 1995, who will step into the shoes of possibly the most revered yankee since Mickey Mantle? As with everything yankee, we should look OUTSIDE the farm when it comes to a marquee position. So, here are a few trade targets/FA targets we may be keeping tabs on who are actually useful to be keeping tabs on.

 

Looking at the ALE, Lugo, Izturis, Bartlett, and Marco Scutaro are all dime a dozen guys at this point, so no future DJ replacements here. And we know that Lowrie isnt going anywhere, especially in a trade to NY

 

In the AL Central, Alexei Ramirez will have finished 3 yrs of service time by 2011 and he'll be 30. So likely wont be a target unless the White Sox are crazy.

Jhonny Peralta will be done with his base contract by 2010 and will only be 28 yrs old. But the Guardians hold a 7 mil option for 2011 and it looks like they'd be crazy not to exercise it. Mike Aviles (played against him btw) just finished his rookie campaign, so he's going nowhere. And Adam Everett is useless to us when we already have a no hit all glove rookie.

 

In the AL West, the Angels dont have any prospective SS's worth keeping an eye on. The Rangers just moved Young off SS for good reason and will be introducing a new kid to the block in Andrus. The Mariners have Betancourt, who is another all glove limited bat player that we could replicate internally. And the A's have Cabrera, who will be 36 by the time 2011 rolls around.

 

In the NL East, there are some options. Jimmy Rollins' contract ends after 2010, but he also has an affordable option for 2011. After 2011, he'll be 33, so he might be at the tail end of his defensive effectiveness and might not be a good idea. Then there's the golden child, Hanley Ramirez. He just signed a 6 yr extension meaning he wont be a FA until 2014. Add to that the fact that he'll be 27 and he'll be desireable. But the Marlins are opening a new stadium in 2 yrs and having Hanley as the face of the franchise was the point of the contract, so I dont see him leaving unless there is massive overpayment in trade. Jose Reyes will be with the Mets through 2010 with an option for 2011. I have a hard time thinking he'd leave for the Yankees, especially with Mets money being thrown in his face. In Atlanta, Yunel Escobar will be in his second arb yr, so he might be available for the right price. But he isnt a FA until after 2012. In Washington, Christian Guzman will have finished up his 2 yr deal after 2010, but he'll be 33 and isnt really known as a great defender right now anyway. Also, his lack of walks and his significantly diminished speed game limits his offensive prowess anyway.

 

 

On to the NL Central. The Cubs have Theriot, who isnt much to write home about aside from his solid OBP, but he's under Cub control through 2012. Tejada will be a FA after this yr, but his defense has gone south significantly and right now he isnt even as good as Jeter offensively, so he isnt worth it at all. Then it brings us to the most likely candidate, JJ Hardy. Hardy will be 28 and will be a FA after the 2010 season. Perfect storm for a SS whose defensive standing is mediocre at best, but whose offensive standing at SS puts him in the top 5 at the position. Plus, with Alcides Escobar in the wings, Hardy may come available sooner rather than later via trade. We'll have to see where he ends up. The rest of the central is garbage right now with Jack Wilson and Khalil Greene rounding out the tons of talent but complete flop department.

 

And finally, the last division the NL West. The DBacks have Drew, who will be a FA after 2012, but the DBacks are in some serious financial dire straits and may be persuaded to deal him off during his arb yrs. The Rox locked up Tulo for a LONG time, so he isnt an option. Furcal will be a FA after 2011, but he'll be 34 and would likely not be long for the SS position. The Padres have slop at SS and the Giants have ERent who I want nowhere near NY.

 

So to sum it up, the only worthwhile avenue for SS after 2010 is JJ Hardy. But he'll likely be dealt. I could say that the realistic possibilities in terms of signing or trading include Steven Drew, JJ Hardy, and Jhonny Peralta. Drew and Peralta mostly because their markets arent strong and both may be budget fire sale casualties and Hardy due to FA and the viable replacement in Escobar. The outside possibilities to keep an eye on are Tulowitzki and Hanley since they are big names, but they would require an insane amount of talent in return.

 

In terms of the on the farm options, the only way I see those working exclusively are if they just absolutely take off and force themselves into a spot or if one is pressed into service due to an IF injury and they perform well. These include only a few prospects IMO.

 

Starting with Nunez. He's the 5 tool guy who has pretty much sucked for 2.5 yrs before finding it again halfway through last yr in A+ ball and then lighting it up in ST. He'll begin in AA this yr and if he reaches his lofty ceiling, he could be a very solid option. But he has a bad track record and he'd need more than just streaky showings in ST to be counted upon to replace DJ at SS.

 

Ramiro Pena is a great glove, no hit SS who scouts are starting to see an improvement on the offensive side. He is another guy with an awful past few seasons in terms of the bat and he'd also need to prove either in the MLB this yr or in AAA the next 1-2 yrs that his bat can maintain the level he set during this ST.

 

Then you reach the lower levels. We just drafted Garrison Lassiter, who is a highly talented HS kid offensively, but he's too tall and slow to be a MLB SS. Carmen Angelini has all the talent in the world, but took a big hit stock wise last yr when he was jumped to long season as a HS kid and just didnt handle it well at all. And then there is Jose Mojica, once considered the biggest prize of the 2007 INTL FA signee class before he was found to be about a yr and a half older than his stated age. He is also coming off ACL surgery, so who knows what he will bring.

 

Regardless, the internal options are far from polished and the external options will be few. We know the yankees wont hesitate to spend the money, but is there a chance that they cannot land a marquee SS and need to replace DJ with subpar SS's? I'd rue the day.

[TheKilo]

tl; dr

[Gom]

A lot can change between now and 2011.

[riverside sluggers]

Jacko, didnt you already make a thread about life after Jeter? This is basically the same thing

[TheKilo]

Jacko' date=' didnt you already make a thread about life after Jeter? This is basically the same thing[/quote']

 

First sentence?

 

First off' date=' let me say that I know there is a life after Jeter thread. [/quote']

[jacksonianmarch]

I should have titled the last one about Nunez and Pena, cause that other one was just touting how strong they were in ST. Granted, their track records are less than impressive and leave a lot of cause for concern

[David Bowie]

They suck. f*** you.

[rhet]

You're selling Hardy's glove short. He can pick it.

[rician blast]

yankee SS dilemma...they don't have one