The Off-Season: 2011-2012 Edition

[lhslancers]

Yankees to sign Raul Ibanez.
http://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2012/0...ul-ibanez.html

He's not a good defender but he will be a DH.

So they must feel Matsui and Damon are shot or is this guy better at this stage than both of them?

[NJYankeeFan]

So they must feel Matsui and Damon are shot or is this guy better at this stage than both of them?

Matsui looks shot. Damon is better but not against rhp. Which is all the Yanks are looking for.

[YankeeRLA1968]

LOL. I think that is it. What is the need? I mean we are talking the #7 spot in the line up at best...maybe 8th.

[YankeeRLA1968]

So they must feel Matsui and Damon are shot or is this guy better at this stage than both of them?

http://baseballplayersalaries.com/pl...4_Johnny_Damon
Damon made 5.25 million last year. We signed Ibanez for 1.1 million. I have to think that Damon wouldn't have signed for just 1.1 million.

[clipper]

Why Joe can't shut up. Maybe I am reading into this too much. Hughes not getting the fifth spot after shipping AJ off is crazy. Like last year sending Nova down (he could have gotten 20 wins) and going with Garcia and Colon. Now Gracia may be the fifth! Joe always favors the vereran and even when the prospect is very good - Joe always goes with the veteran. Case in point Chavez. I thought Nunez did outstanding filling in for A Rod last year. Don't get me wrong Chavez is not bad but takes up a spot in the pen. I want Hughes to the fifth and Garcia is our back up. If it doesn't work like last year - then make the move. It's Hughes job to lose. I not only want Brian job I want both.

Why give Martin more years??? He bomb at the plate last year in post season (Po was great). He's a filler until one of our prospects is ready.

We need a ST thread.
Clipper

[lhslancers]

Why Joe can't shut up. Maybe I am reading into this too much. Hughes not getting the fifth spot after shipping AJ off is crazy. Like last year sending Nova down (he could have gotten 20 wins) and going with Garcia and Colon. Now Gracia may be the fifth! Joe always favors the vereran and even when the prospect is very good - Joe always goes with the veteran. Case in point Chavez. I thought Nunez did outstanding filling in for A Rod last year. Don't get me wrong Chavez is not bad but takes up a spot in the pen. I want Hughes to the fifth and Garcia is our back up. If it doesn't work like last year - then make the move. It's Hughes job to lose. I not only want Brian job I want both.

Why give Martin more years??? He bomb at the plate last year in post season (Po was great). He's a filler until one of our prospects is ready.

We need a ST thread.
Clipper

Hughes needs to show what he can do now. It can't be a good thing for his head to be dropped out of the fifth spot. If he stinks it up put Garcia in the rota. This is backasswards.

[clipper]

Hughes needs to show what he can do now. It can't be a good thing for his head to be dropped out of the fifth spot. If he stinks it up put Garcia in the rota. This is backasswards.

I agree - not happy with Joe Giradi comments about it. They just reported and from the reports Hughes worked out over the Winter (he was overweigh last year) We screwed up Joba and I want to see Hughes given a decent chance to succeed. Maybe it was taken out of context but I have Hughes as the fifth, Gracia in the pen, and can't understand this. Joe Torres drove me crazy and this Joe Giradi is driving me to drink. We have a great team don't screw around. I want a Burt Reynolds jersey.

this is out of ESPN:
Yankees manager Joe Girardi didn't dismiss the possibility that Phil Hughes could be sent to the minors to continue working as a starter if he doesn't win the fifth spot in the rotation.

[NJYankeeFan]

I agree on Hughes over Garcia. Hughes should be the favorite and get the gig if it is even close.

On Martin. Sanchez and JR are years away. A three year deal for Martin would not be bad especially of the advanced metrics are half right on his defense.

[lhslancers]

Romine is 24. 4 years in the Minor Leagues. When if ever does he catch?

[NJYankeeFan]

When we let Cervelli go?

[YankeeRLA1968]

I think it is insantiy to not give Hughes the ball for every fifth day. I don't care if he gets shelled the first 8 starts...then replace him. The kid is owed the opportunity to shine or sink every fifth day.

As stated prior, I think the Yankees screwed up Chamberlain and even Hughes a bit.

Most teams expect to lose 2/3 of their games or more when their #5 goes out there. I just don't get the big deal with giving Hughes the nod. Like it is make or break that we have someone that can win 15.

Really disappointed in Girardi.

[The Monument]

With Nova and Pineda being only 2nd year guys, how about Hughes being the 3 or 4 starter? Why should a guy with more experience be the # 5? Let those other two prove themselves.

[YankeeRLA1968]

With Nova and Pineda being only 2nd year guys, how about Hughes being the 3 or 4 starter? Why should a guy with more experience be the # 5? Let those other two prove themselves.

I would be thrilled if Hughes got back to the 2010 form to fight to be a #3 starter. The issue is that some feel that he won't or can't get back to that form.

That is what I liked about the Braves from an observation. You knew Maddux and Galvine were 1a and 1b on paper. But Smoltz and even Avery both pitched like aces and not the back end of any pitching rotation. I have high hopes in the near future that guys like Pineda, Nova, and Hughes along with one of the killer B's or whomever emerges that they all battle like they are the #1 or at least #2 guy in this rotation.

[NJYankeeFan]

I think it is insantiy to not give Hughes the ball for every fifth day. I don't care if he gets shelled the first 8 starts...then replace him. The kid is owed the opportunity to shine or sink every fifth day.

As stated prior, I think the Yankees screwed up Chamberlain and even Hughes a bit.

Most teams expect to lose 2/3 of their games or more when their #5 goes out there. I just don't get the big deal with giving Hughes the nod. Like it is make or break that we have someone that can win 15.

Really disappointed in Girardi.

Apparently so do the Yanks. According to rosenthal it is hughes job to lose.

[SD Bomber Fan]

I saw today that Pineda isn't a lock for the starting rotation, and the only two sure starters are CC and Kuroda. I'm hoping that I'm not reading too much into that. I don't understand why the statement would be made at this point, but Kuroda seems like a strange choice to be the second guaranteed starter, if one had to be picked at this point.

[NJYankeeFan]

Kuroda is the only pitcher other than CC with more than 1 recent good year.

He is a known quantity. None of the others are.

[YankeeRLA1968]

I saw today that Pineda isn't a lock for the starting rotation, and the only two sure starters are CC and Kuroda. I'm hoping that I'm not reading too much into that. I don't understand why the statement would be made at this point, but Kuroda seems like a strange choice to be the second guaranteed starter, if one had to be picked at this point.

Smoke and mirrors. Girardi saying that CC and Kuroda are the only guarantees. I mean Nova and Pineda much less Hughes would have to really bomb. I just think it i stalk to make sure no one coasts during spring training. We all know the starting 5. The only way it changes is if Hughes really falls off the table during spring training.

[The Korean]

Kuroda is the only pitcher other than CC with more than 1 recent good year.

He is a known quantity. None of the others are.

Not in AL East he isnt.

[clipper]

I saw today that Pineda isn't a lock for the starting rotation, and the only two sure starters are CC and Kuroda. I'm hoping that I'm not reading too much into that. I don't understand why the statement would be made at this point, but Kuroda seems like a strange choice to be the second guaranteed starter, if one had to be picked at this point.

I wish Joe would not say anything. Jim Duquette thinks it's Garcia and Rosenthal thinks it's Hughes. Tomorrow is the first ST game so what the rush!!!! I want joe's job.

The think I want is for Brian to lock up Cano long term. We have an option year next year but I think the sooner the better. He is top 3 to me and we can use Pedroia contract as a bar. I feel they are that close but being a Yankee I think Cano is better. He may be in the 3 spot so that critical. I would wait on Gardner and not do Swisher. I am sure with Nova nd Pinedi we have time.

I do like this team going into the season even with what the Angels did.
Clipper

[NJYankeeFan]

Not in AL East he isnt.

True. But given his track record he is far less of a question mark than the others, non CC division.

Hughes, Nova and Pineda have each had 1/2 of a good season a piece.

[dominik]

Not a good start for AJ in Pittsburgh. He bunted himself in his face

He broke a bone around his eye and will miss at least 2-3 months

http://mlb.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?...s_mlb&c_id=mlb

[Yankeefan90]

Kuroda is the only pitcher other than CC with more than 1 recent good year.

He is a known quantity. None of the others are.

They're also the only two pitchers making $10+million. When you have over $30 million locked up in two starters you better believe they're going to be the only two locks.

[NJYankeeFan]

Soriano???

[YankeeRLA1968]

http://espn.go.com/mlb/team/salaries...w-york-yankees

Player and 2012 salaries according to ESPN.Com
1 Alex Rodriguez 32,000,000
2 CC Sabathia 24,285,714
3 Mark Teixeira 23,125,000
4 A.J. Burnett 16,500,000
5 Mariano Rivera 14,911,701
6 Derek Jeter 14,729,365
7 Hiroki Kuroda 11,765,724
8 Robinson Cano 10,000,000
9 Nick Swisher 9,100,000
10 Rafael Soriano 9,000,000
11 Curtis Granderson 8,250,000
12 Russell Martin 4,000,000
13 Pedro Feliciano 3,750,000
14 Phil Hughes 2,700,000
15 Andruw Jones 1,500,000
Freddy Garcia 1,500,000
17 Joba Chamberlain 1,400,000
18 Boone Logan 1,200,000
19 Russell Branyan 1,000,000
20 Brett Gardner 529,500
21 David Robertson 460,450
22 Francisco Cervelli 455,700
23 Ivan Nova 432,900
24 Eduardo Nunez 419,300
25 Michael Pineda 414,000

Team (Top 15 teams) and 2012 salaries
1 New York Yankees 196,854,630
2 Philadelphia Phillies 172,976,381
3 Boston Red Sox 160,257,476
4 Los Angeles Angels 138,999,024
5 Chicago White Sox 129,285,539
6 Chicago Cubs 126,380,663
7 New York Mets 120,147,311
8 San Francisco Giants 117,784,333
9 Minnesota Twins 112,737,000
10 Detroit Tigers 105,705,232
11 Los Angeles Dodgers 103,788,991
12 St. Louis Cardinals 98,746,072
13 Texas Rangers 91,885,265
14 Colorado Rockies 87,998,071
15 Atlanta Braves 87,003,192

[clipper]

I was against A Rod's contract then (his second one) and everytime I look at it I get sick. He opted out and we should have shook hands and said fine. Brian should have lost his job for that one. And he did it during the world series! I truly believe this present contract is the worst in baseball. I remember Dave Winfields. Pavano, and Clements but this is worst. I have a baseball friend, we talk about trades and contracts: Sometimes all he says "ARod"