Time to rebuild/reload

[Palodios]

Is Kuroda considering coming back? It seems like he is the most irreplaceable player on the Yanks. The only guys available out there that can give you 200 IP in the 3.00 ERAs are Shields and Scherzer.

[jacksonianmarch]

Kuroda hasn't decided yet, and I am not sure if the Yankees want him back just yet. Not sure why. If he says he'll return for one more season, then he's worth it. He has been incredibly consistent. And the funny thing is, he had a lower WHIP last yr than any yr as a Yankees and his best K/BB total of his career, yet his ERA shot up by 0.4. A guy capable of throwing 200IP with a mid 3's ERA who doesn't walk batters and is willing to go year to year is incredibly valuable. We should be re-upping him regardless

[jacksonianmarch]

Yankees general manager Brian Cashman said Monday that he would be "surprised" if Hiroki Kuroda didn't play next season.

 

Kuroda is reportedly considering retirement, as he'll turn 40 in February. He was good in 2014, though, posting a 3.71 ERA, a 1.17 WHIP, and a 146/35 K/BB ratio over 199 innings, so it appears he has something left in the tank. Cashman wouldn't rule out re-signing Kuroda but said it "just depends when (he decides if he'll pitch) and what kind of money we have to play with by the time that happens."

 

Pulled that from rotoworld. Looks like the ball is in his court, so long as we don't hit our payroll ceiling before he makes his final decision

[Palodios]

If I were any of the big teams, I wouldn't hesitate giving up another 16 million contract this year. Hell, the Red Sox should be after him.

[BSN07]

Yanks sign Chase Headley 4/52M.

 

I thought he sign for more $ but the years seem right. SO does that mean Prado to 2B?

[Palodios]

I don't understand why Headley insisted so much on a long term deal -- he seemed perfect for a pillow contract in a hitter's park, and a 100 million dollar contract in 2015. Maybe he's worried about his own health.

[BSN07]

I don't understand why Headley insisted so much on a long term deal -- he seemed perfect for a pillow contract in a hitter's park, and a 100 million dollar contract in 2015. Maybe he's worried about his own health.

 

He signed for less then Victor Martinez lol

[jacksonianmarch]

Yeah, Prado moves to 2b. My bet is Refsnyder comes up as soon as either a COF or infielder goes down and Prado fills the vacant spot. We have some depth now. Pirela likely starts the yr as the second utility guy

[Spudboy]

I don't understand why Headley insisted so much on a long term deal -- he seemed perfect for a pillow contract in a hitter's park, and a 100 million dollar contract in 2015. Maybe he's worried about his own health.

 

Maybe he knows that a pillow contract would back fire on him.

 

I think both Headley and the Yankees did well here. At the very least, Headley has a 4 year deal at good $ and the Yankees have plus D at 3rd and a league average and possibly better bat.

 

This also serves to remind us all that The Yankees are on the hook for 3/60+ for the Purple Lips. There is no use for him on the field unless Tex goes down again and they need temporary coverage at 1st. Maybe he can hit well enough to be an everyday DH but that is a big maybe and a very expensive one!

 

GO YANKEES!!!!

[jacksonianmarch]

Headley picks down 3b while Prado gives us insurance all over the field. Say Beltran goes out, Prado moves to RF and Refsnyder gets the call at 2b. If bitch tits gets hurt, Beltran moves to DH and Prado moves to the OF. His flexibility gives us a lot of depth all over the diamond

[Station 13]

does the yankee have an everyday player under 30 for them? Any pitchers under 25?

[jacksonianmarch]

does the yankee have an everyday player under 30 for them? Any pitchers under 25?

 

That's a rather arbitrary number, don't you think? Gregorius is 24. Headley is 30. Ellsbury and Gardner are 31. McCann is 30. Prado is 31.

 

Our starters are 25 (Pineda), 26 (Tanaka), 28 (Phelps), and 34 (Sabathia).

[Bellhorn04]

does the yankee have an everyday player under 30 for them? Any pitchers under 25?

 

Who has pitchers under 25?

[jacksonianmarch]

The funny thing is, as old as we've been, this is probably the youngest we've been in awhile. ARod, Beltran, and Tex are our oldest position players. CC is our only old starter and at 34, he's not exactly ancient

[BSN07]

Like they could have gotten older lol If you see 2 40 year olds come off the roster and you are older the following year, you got problems

 

 

And 34 for a SP is old. In today's game SP 33-34 are starting the twilight of their careers.

[Palodios]

That age nudged slowly higher today with the signing of 36 year old Chris Capuano. Is he really worth 5 mill?

[jacksonianmarch]

No, he's not worth $5 mil. He's a competent swing man. Hes a very expensive insurance policy. He was used wrong in Boston as he's not a true lefty reliever at all. But as a mop up/5th starter, he has a role. I figured he'd get a $1-$2 mil guarantee. $5 mil is ridiculous. I just really hope he isn't our 5th starter at the end of the offseason. We need a real full time starter

[jacksonianmarch]

So, we're kinda stuck with the offense we have.

 

1. Gardner LF

2. Prado 2B

3. Ellsbury CF

4. Headley 3B

5. McCann C

6. Teixeira 1B

7. Beltran RF

8. Rodriguez DH

9. Gregorius SS

 

I can roll with that offense, mostly since we have to. If the guys can produce close to their career norms, it should be a good offense. I'm not asking for Tex and ARod to play like 2009, more thinking about the younger guys.

[Spudboy]

So, we're kinda stuck with the offense we have.

 

1. Gardner LF

2. Prado 2B

3. Ellsbury CF

4. Headley 3B

5. McCann C

6. Teixeira 1B

7. Beltran RF

8. Rodriguez DH

9. Gregorius SS

 

I can roll with that offense, mostly since we have to. If the guys can produce close to their career norms, it should be a good offense. I'm not asking for Tex and ARod to play like 2009, more thinking about the younger guys.

 

The Yankees offense did not look good on paper in 2014 either. This year is about the same. Your pitching is what is what will determine what level of success is achieved.

[jacksonianmarch]

I thought our offense looked good on paper coming in. We lost Cano, but adding McCann, Ellsbury and Beltran should have softened that blow. Never would have thought all 3 would have career lows in BA in the same season. I expect McCann and Ells to bounce back. Beltran should be healthy after elbow surgery, but healthy at 37 is sorta a misnomer. No idea what we get out of him. Same for ARod. I am sure the roids have some residual effect on him, and even if he hits .250 with 20HR, he should be a useful addition to the lineup. Not sure he can do that, though. What I do like is our depth. I think having ARod around, although I hate the bitch, allows us to get Teixeira some rest. Tex wore down as the season went along. He was a solid middle of the order hitter prior to the ASB (.805OPS, 17HR) but he wore down as the season went along and finished incredibly badly (.573OPS post ASB). Also, Prado, Pirela and Ryan should really allow us to have a hell of a backup corps. Pirela is akin to Prado, although Pirela can play SS in a pinch. Pirela has played 2b, 1b, 3b, ss, and LF in his minor league career and is probably better suited as a 2b or 3b. Prado has played every position on the field sans CF, C, and P. Ryan gives us a glove first option up the middle should Gregorius flame out. Plus, having probably our best position player prospect in years actually MLB ready helps as well. Refsnyder gives us a glimpse of life post Cano and allows us to see what is coming through the pipe. I like the depth. I do not think this is an elite offense by any means. But allowing the old guys to rest and bringing in some fresh kids with talent should infuse us with some capability to stay relevant offensively. It also gives us much needed insurance for injury

[BSN07]

I wanted to get more into the Scherzer topic from the Yanks stand point that was being discussed between you and Pal, but some would get pissy with it being Yanks stuff lol So what's going on in Yankee land Jacko? Are they really gonna resist Shields and/or Scherzer? I mean what you said about seeing what they have now and going after Price/Cueto next year seems like the better bet but can they actually do it? Is the fan base going to lose their s*** because the team hasn't done anything "Yankees" like this off season?

[Bellhorn04]

I wanted to get more into the Scherzer topic from the Yanks stand point that was being discussed between you and Pal, but some would get pissy with it being Yanks stuff lol So what's going on in Yankee land Jacko? Are they really gonna resist Shields and/or Scherzer? I mean what you said about seeing what they have now and going after Price/Cueto next year seems like the better bet but can they actually do it? Is the fan base going to lose their s*** because the team hasn't done anything "Yankees" like this off season?

 

As Jacko already said himself, it would have made a lot more sense for the Yankees to go in on Lester.

[Palodios]

The best thing that could happen to the Yankees is to get one more year of Kuroda at 15 million. That shores up the rotation, and gives them a chance to contend in the AL East without hurting the long term plan.

 

It just seems like they need a bridge year or two. They have historically bad money on the books, and that won't get better until Beltran, CC and Tex come off after 2016, and Arod in 2017. They basically bought international free agency last year, so their lower minors will be stacked, but will take some time. They could be scary good in 2017 if they use their resources appropriately, but no way they wait that long.

[jacksonianmarch]

I agree Pal. I think re-signing Kuroda is a good idea and one I think Cashman is all about. We just aren't sure if Hiroki will come back. We are very boom or bust in our rotation based on potential, age and injury concerns. If all cracks right, we have two ace level producers in Tanaka and Pineda. But both those guys could end up on the DL and we'll be throwing the Heritage School for the Blind out there and getting our heads kicked in. We have much less depth in the rotation after dealing Greene, but we have a ton of depth in the pen even with KRob moving on. We need one reliable piece. Scherzer would be an awesome pickup, one that makes us probably the favorite to win the AL East, but with the team currently constructed, even with Scherzer, we likely aren't a top notch WS candidate. And adding Scherzer at $28 mil a season for the next 8 yrs isn't a good strategy because adding big money on long term deals is why we're as f***ed as we are currently. If you look at the recent bad contracts made by the FO, most of them were consummated above Cashman's head. Cash re-signed and took on more control and I think the days of the agent going over his head should be over. If that is the case, Scherzer is out. If Boras still has the Hank and Hal back line phone number, then suit him up in pinstripes and suit us up for another contract we'll regret.

 

And Pal, right on about waiting until bad money drop off. After 2015, the only guys who drop out are Brendan Ryan ($2 mil), Chris Capuano ($5 mil), and Shawn Kelley (arb),

 

After 2016, a whole mess of cash comes off the books. Prado's $11 mil, Tex's $22.5 mil, Sabathia's $26 mil, and Beltran's $15 mil

[BSN07]

Prado getting dealt to the Marlins per mlbtr

[BSN07]

Prado and Phelps for Jones and Eovaldi

[jacksonianmarch]

I like the prospect we got. Live arm, impeccable command for a 22 yr old. I also like Eovaldi a lot. High 90s sinking fastball with a good slider. They're talking about having him scrap his change and go with sinker, slider, curveball. Either way, if Rothschild can get through to him, he has the stuff to headline a rotation. I think Jones was the throwin due to his salary, but gives us an option if Teixeira's wrist dies. Overall, I like the guys we got, but giving up Prado really hamstrings us from a depth perspective and pretty much forces us to moves someone up to the two slot in the lineup who probably doesn't belong there. As it stands, I think Headley moves to the two slot with Refsnyder slotting in 9th and everyone moving up one

[Station 13]

I like Eovaldi too. I wonder what similar package from us, Workman and some guy like Holts can entice the Marlins to give up a hard throwing starter.

[jacksonianmarch]

The Marlins are going for it this yr. They'd want a player who can start for them, not another project. We gave them a highly versatile 2 hole hitter. You know, in terms of assets, though, we flipped a AAA catcher who will likely end up a RFer for a hard throwing, potential top of the rotation starter. I think Cash did well overall, but I am not sure dealing Prado was a smart choice. If Refsnyder turns out to be as good as we think, then maybe he was right

[BSN07]

Reports are Yanks are not going after Scherzer still. One of the theories says the team is quietly going to rebuild with an eye towards 2017.

 

I could see them not doing anything big this year but I'd be shocked if they really don't dabble in next seasons FA pool for SP.