Gom

I was just asking. I hope the Yankees pass on him, but signing Bonds, putting him in left, putting Manny in right, and not having to deal Manny might not be so bad. Just go sign some groundball pitchers. A 3-4-5 of Ortiz, Ramirez, and Bonds would be..um...slightly above average. As a Yankee fan, I hope you guys pass.

The best part of the article was the back page, which states: DON'T LAUGH: PAVANO REHABBING HARD On another Pavano note, I think the funniest thing I ever heard about him was this: In honor for the continued service and dedication to the Disabled List, Major League Baseball has officially renamed the 60 Day DL to "The Pavano". ex: Nick Johnson, who broke his leg in a collison with a teammate, was put on The Pavano retroactive to September 17th.

My bad on the contract stuff. I thought I heard the Red Sox were willing to go more money for less years, 3 for 12 million a year. I remember hearing it on WFAN. As for the cash considerations, it depends on what the Yankees get back, and what happens with the FA market. If Soriano, Lee, et. al., sign for an average of 12-13 million, the Yankees will have to eat some cash. However, if Zito gets 15 million, Matsuzaka posts for 25 million, then signs for 12 million, Sori gets 15 over 5, etc., then Sheffield looks like a bargain. I think the latter is more likely to happen. Major league baseball is making more money than ever in history. The average player salary is going to break 3 million going into next season. It's all relative. Also, if the Yankees are asking for something substantial, they will have to eat money. Another no-brainer. Even though the following won't happen, if the Yankees approached the Red Sox and asked for your 48th best prospect, or 122nd best prospect, or top beer vendor in Rookie Ball, as long as you take Sheffield and his full contract for just one year, would you do it? I think you would be foolish not to. That is what I think Cashman is banking on. Someone, somewhere, somehow, will take Sheffield off his hands for free. One team that realizes that as long as they can make the playoffs, the increased attendance, etc., will more than make up the difference. Also by doing this, he has hurt the Sox's chance [albeit only slightly] of dealing Ramirez. There is no question who the better player is, but the Yankees can offer Sheffield to the same team trying to deal for Ramirez, and offer Sheffield for free. As long as it isn't an AL rival, especially AL East, Cashman is sitting pretty right now.

I'll find a spot, lol. Move Matsui or Damon to 1B. Trade Arod, put him at 3rd. Teach him to catch [j/k]. I just love his bat and speed. He is also underrated as on OF. He wasn't much of a second baseman, but Mantle was no Gold Glover at short, and neither was Dale Murphy. He has the natural talent to compete for a Gold Glove in the OF if he puts his mind to it.

First of all, the Angels are trying to win NOW. They are not going to trade their major league players unless they have to. They are not rebuilding. Try following the rest of the major leagues once in a while. They are more likely to make the trade with Aybar and Morales than with Cabrera and Kotchman. Like you said, they deal depth to fill a hole. Look at your beloved Sox. MDC, Lester, Papelbon, and Hansen were supposed to be the top 4 of the best rotation in baseball in the next few years. Leaving Lester out of it, MDC was nothing to write home about, Hansen's stock dropped, and Papelbon was lights out, and now his health [sure as hell not his stuff though] is in question. Pedrioa was supposed to be a can't miss who now is looking like he may miss. A lot. That's the thing with prospects. They miss often. If I'm the Angels, I don't take that chance. Manny's 34. Soriano is 30. Ramirez is 28. Lee is 30. The former is, statistically speaking, about to enter a decline, or at best, stay where he is [which is still pretty incredible, no matter which happnens]. These latter three are in their prime, and will be so for at least the next 3-4 years. We agreed on one thing, that the first option for the Angels is to sign a FA. For the sake of argument, lets say they totally strike out on the FA market. Do you think the Angels will feel comfortable with two rookies in their lineup? Or would you trade those rookies for Manny? If I'm the Angels, I deal the rookies. Would you take it then? P.S. Arod is a better fit, too bad about the no-trade clause.

Ok....here goes: The NY Post reports that Carl Pavano is rehabbing very hard. I expect every member of Red Sox Nation to stop laughing about this in approximately 3 weeks.

Would the Sox be interested in getting Bonds? Might be interesting.

Very true. However, his swing didn't seem truly affected after he came back, and it's amazing how well you can recover when you get your meds from BALCO. It will be interesting to see what happens with Sheffield.

This was a salary dump. Nothing more or less. They saved what? 20 million? Would you rather have Abreau and Lidle [before plane crash] or Soriano? Lee? Zito? They made this deal to free up some money in the off-season.

Lol...it doesn't make sense for the Angels. Unless they lose out on EVERY SINGLE slugger on the market. I don't see the Angels pushing for Manny unless they strike out on Sori, Lee, Ramirez, etc...they will probably look at Arod first as well. Lets go back in time...just a few years...remember that thing they call Irrevocable Waivers? If not, go look it up. Seems like this incredible, first-ballot Hall of Famer, was put up for free. Anyone could have had him, just take his salary. He wasn't injured, there was nothing wrong with his production. So why, a few years later, would they give up what you stated when they could have had him for free? I'm not ridiculing the trade. I just don't think it makes sense for Angels. Manny falls in the same category as Arod. You just aren't getting equal value for him due to his contract. Talent-wise, the deal is pretty fair. It may actually be skewed in the Angels favor, actually [at least short-term]. It just doesn't make sense for them, due to the options CURRENTLY available to them, mainly the FA market. Truthfully, since the Yankees have let it be known they are not in the Soriano sweepstakes [which I hope is nothing more than a smokescreen, I love Sori, even though we were dating the same girl at the same time, lol], unless the Red Sox jump in, I can't see anyone else really signing Soriano over the Angels.

Yes, Kemosabe... My bad on the whole salary thing, I was just guessing. I take nothing away from Manny. He is one of the best hitters I have ever seen. However, if you are the Angels, which would you do? 1) Make the trade listed above with a couple of million dollars thrown in of 2) Sign Soriano for less money annually than Manny, AND keep all of your players. I admit that at the plate, Soriano is no Manny. However, everywhere else on the field, he blows Manny away. I pretty much see them as even when it comes to overall production. So why give up ANY players? Why not just sign Sori and keep everyone? Was that enlightened enough for you? It just gets tiring when people look only at what THEIR team needs are and disregard if the trade makes sense from the other side. You do need someone to play devil's advocate. Mr. Enlightenment

I disagree a700...and that may be only cause we hear about Sheffield every day here. Sheffield is all about Sheffield. Always has, always will be. I read today in the NY Post that in order for him to receive his money he has to report. I can't see Sheffield sitting out a season at his age and foregoing the money. I agree with what Cashman has done here. He didn't make this move to lose ground. Can you imagine how certain teams would have looked with Sheffield if he was on their team last season [and healthy]? The Astros would have likely beaten out the Cards. The Giants would have made noise with Sheffield protecting Bonds [what a great clubhouse that would have been, huh?]. Imagine Sheffield protecting Howard...the list can go on and on. Make believe that you are one of those teams. Wouldn't you give up a mid-level prospect or marginal major-leaguer for a shot at the post-season? All it takes is a one-year financial committment...I know I would. I know the Yankees won't trade with the Red Sox..but would you have traded Youkilis for Sheffield? If the answer is yes, then you get the point.

And why, pray tell, if you are the Angels do you trade for an aging OF who is sub-par in the field [although still a very feared hitter] with one of the better young pitchers on your team, a solid, if unspectacular, SS, and your 1B of the future? Not to mention that the combined salaries of all three players I give up don't equal 1/3 of what Manny makes. If I'm the Angels, why do any of this? Why not just sign Soriano/Lee etc.?

You may get something for Youkilis. I doubt you get anything of value for Lowell.

Considering that Boston was the most likely destination for Sheffield before this, I find it funny that you guys see Sheffield as a waste. He is still one of the best fastball hitters in the game. 13 million for a one year shot at the World Series isn't a lot of money, considering the level of committment. The Yankees signed him to trade him. That much is obvious. If they have to eat some of the salary to get back a player....well, how is that so different than free agency? It's just that this way, they can get a player they couldn't before, AND keep him away from the Red Sox.

No, no, no...maybe you misunderstand me, or I don't make myself clear. I do not expect the Yankees to get anyone of any true value for Sheffield. Come on, already...but what I do expect is that the Yankees get to dictate where he goes. Boston will not be his destination. As for Sheffield for Lidge, I also want Jessica Alba. I think the Sheffield/Lidge thing has a better chance of happening. Not by much though. The only way the Yankees get Lidge for Sheffield is to eat part of his salary obviously. He is more attractive in a deal than Farnsworth, you must admit. If the Yankees trade him to the Brewers for a keg of beer without having to eat any of his salary, its a good deal.

I don't think that Sheffield is a GOOD deal. I just think that the Yankees won't have to eat any salary to move Sheffield. I think that is why the Yankees signed him, only to trade him. I do think that someone will trade for Sheffield, but I think that the Red Sox will have to eat part of that salary. A couple of good points by example1 and ORS, but I think the Red Sox FO will find that Youkilis and Lowell have more value to the Sox than to pretty much every other team.

http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2006/writers/jon_heyman/10/26/scoop.wednesday/index.html I for one, don't like this move. He was nowhere near the pitcher everyone thought he was. He made his entire career on one incredible start, beating Smoltz and the Braves in 1996, 1-0.

Ok...so they move Lowell. Who plays third? Youkilis? Ok then, who plays first? You aren't going to get much for Lowell period. Other teams aren't that dumb, fellas. Only if you pay the whole guys salary are you going to get someone as good as he is. If that is the case, whats the point? Lowell has no marketability. The only way the Marlins did the Beckett deal was to FORCE you guys to have Lowell. That's the way it works. I really like you guys on this board, unlike some of the other Yankee boards I'm on where those guys wouldn't know a baseball if it hit them on their respective asses. You guys do, and also have a measure of respect for us Yankee fans here. However, from a BASEBALL standpoint, a lot of what you guys are saying about Lowell doesn't make sense. You make a hole to fill that same hole. You aren't getting ample production out of the corner spots, but you get better than average at 2nd base. You get as good production in baseball out of DH and LF. Your hitting isn't bad. Why make a hole, tie up payroll, etc. for a marginal increase at the corner spots? Unless you can sign Lee or Ramirez, it really makes no sense. I hope the Red Sox do what you guys say, cause it will keep you out of the post-season next year. However, if you put ALL of your resources into pitching..well, then I start to worry.

The contracts are still around, but I think the Yankees are done with the 7-10 year deals. Five I feel is the max, and only for players in their prime. At least I hope. It's not the size of the contract that kills us, its the length. I have no issue with 4-5 year deals for the most part. The truth is, Lowell isn't moveable. I know you guys would want to move Lowell, but no one will take him. 9 million a year for Lowell means he will stay with the Red Sox. I can't understand why you trade Youkilis, who has the qualities you described. Why not just live with that offense, which is plenty good enough, and get some pitching instead via free agency? f*** Pavano. Dumb prick. Someone should burn his parents house to the ground. Sorry, I digress when it comes to Pavano.

LOL! ORS doesn't bother me. I've met worse. Actually, I thought ORS was a woman. Only women remember things I did a long time ago that are inconsequential. Is Lowell's contract over after this coming season? If so, why not just live with what you guys have, and fix it next year. Hitting isn't your problem, pitching is. Just like us [Yankees]. If I were running the Sox, I would concentrate on pitching. Plus, wouldn't it be better to keep Youkilis and then get a 1B/3B? The way you guys say it, you would be getting rid of Youkilis and someone for an upgrade, and then the next year have to replace Lowell. Seems like it is self-defeating. It's no different than the Yankees with Abreau. Sure, he did phenomenal last year for the Yankees, but I don't expect him to do that again. I see him like an upgrade to Youkilis in the field and at the plate, but for 17 million, I think its just a wee bit expensive. However, after next year, he is gone. The only nice thing I am seeing from the Yankees standpoint is that their big contracts are slowly starting to dwindle [from a Yankees perspective at least]. Mussina will come back to earth, Abreau's is just a one and half year blip, Jaret Wright is gone this year or next, etc... Now watch, the Yankees go out and sign 2 players this offseason to 87 year deals.

I wasn't talking about you. I don't see why you guys want to trade Youkillis that much either. Secondly, what are you going to do with Lowell? Is he a free agent? I don't follow the Red Sox as much as you guys do, obviously. You actually remember my first post? I don't. LOL!

Why do you guys want to change Lowell so much? He had a great season for you guys. I think that Larussa is going to want more than you guys are offering for Rolen. I know I would.