Should Moose's $17m option for 2007 be picked up?

[Mattingly]

He's 37, this 2006 season is the end of an $88.5m/6 yr deal. He's been sometimes very good, and sometimes we needed more from him than he was able to provide. The 2004 ALCS vs Curt Schilling, or the 2005 Game 5 ALDS are examples.

There's the $1.5m buyout, then the possibility of reworking a new deal. Should the Yanks try bringing him back as a #4 or #5 starter? Should they let him walk or possibly retire? How do you feel about keeping him in pinstripes beyond 2006? If so, at what price?

It's an old article (Feb 17), but to me, still relevant:



Mike Mussina throws but it be while before
he and Yanks toss around numbers.

Muss won't fuss over contract

TAMPA - Mike Mussina's six-year, $88.5 million contract expires at the end of this season and the 37-year-old said yesterday he would like to return to the Bronx next season.

Whether that happens, however, may not be decided so soon. Although Mussina said he would be open to talking about a contract extension during spring training, the Yankees might not be ready just yet. Asked about Mussina yesterday, GM Brian Cashman praised the righthander but said, "As of right now, February of 2006, my intention is to focus my attention on 2006. I'll think about 2007 at the end of the season or when the time is right."

Technically, the Yanks first must decide whether to pick up Mussina's option for next year.

Since the option is worth $17 million, however, it's a pretty safe bet that the Bombers will pay the $1.5 million buyout and attempt to work out a new deal if they want him.

[DoubleX]

No! He's worth nowhere near that amount at this stage of his career. If he bounces back and has a nice year, I think cutting that number by 10 would be a reasonable amount for next year.

[Mattingly]

No! He's worth nowhere near that amount at this stage of his career. If he bounces back and has a nice year, I think cutting that number by 10 would be a reasonable amount for next year.

I figured I had to ask. Perhaps I should've reworded the question, but I'm OK with it so far.

He also seems to have some problem getting through October. I haven't looked at the stats, but he doesn't seem to be the playoff stud that Boomer was.

Cashman is wisely waiting until the end of the season to decide what to do. He plays well, larger amounts will be in George's paycheck to him. If he doesn't, then sayonara, I figure.

[Myankee4life]

I dont care if Moose goes 20-0 this season. The Yankees shoud not pick up his option. I will however like him back at around 5 million to be the 4th or 5th starter.

[KCGHOST]

I dont care if Moose goes 20-0 this season. The Yankees shoud not pick up his option. I will however like him back at around 5 million to be the 4th or 5th starter.

10-4, good buddy. No way do you pick up this option. If he has a respectable you might try to re-sign him to a significantly lower amount. Either way you have to free up that kind of cash for future purchases.

[DoubleX]

I read somewhere recently that Mussina isn't expecting the option to be picked up anyway, but that he'd like to be back (may have been a Daily News article from a few days ago). If Mussina has a nice season, say chips in 15 wins, keeps his ERA around 4, I think bringing him him back for 7-8 mil seems like a fair deal.

[Dasperp]

He also seems to have some problem getting through October. I haven't looked at the stats, but he doesn't seem to be the playoff stud that Boomer was

Definitely a common misconception. Mussina has been terrific in the playoffs. In 128 IP, he has 137 K's to 29 BB's, 109 H allowed, and a 3.30 ERA.

[Jayme]

I didnt have much time to compare, but from a quick glance at Boomer's and Moose's post-season stats I would rather have Mussina on the mound.

Although I am a Wells fan and think of him (for the most part) as a big game pitcher, on just stats alone I would have to pick Mussina.

Back to the question, I would really like to see Moose finish out his career in NY, and would be great to see him finally post 20 wins.

$17m is absurd to pay for him at this point in his career even though he made $19m last year. How much is he making this year I cant seem to find that anywhere?

[DoubleX]

Definitely a common misconception. Mussina has been terrific in the playoffs. In 128 IP, he has 137 K's to 29 BB's, 109 H allowed, and a 3.30 ERA.

This was before he was with the Yankees, but I remember watching Mussina pitch tremendously for the Orioles in the '97 ALCS:

Game 3: 7 IP, 3 H, 1 ER, 15 K, 1 BB (Orioles won 2-1)
Game 6: 8 IP, 1 H, 0 ER, 10 K, 0 BB (Orioles lost 1-0, and lost the series)

Mussina was very, very much an ace at one point in his career.

The best postseason pitching performance I have ever seen, and perhaps best pitching performance I have ever seen period, was Roger Clemens in the 2000 ALCS. CG, 0 ER, 1 H, 15 K. That 1 hit was a line drive that barely went over a leaping Tino Martinez. Clemens was amazing that game.

[Mattingly]

This was before he was with the Yankees, but I remember watching Mussina pitch tremendously for the Orioles in the '97 ALCS:

Game 3: 7 IP, 3 H, 1 ER, 15 K, 1 BB (Orioles won 2-1)
Game 6: 8 IP, 1 H, 0 ER, 10 K, 0 BB (Orioles lost 1-0, and lost the series)

Mussina was very, very much an ace at one point in his career.

The best postseason pitching performance I have ever seen, and perhaps best pitching performance I have ever seen period, was Roger Clemens in the 2000 ALCS. CG, 0 ER, 1 H, 15 K. That 1 hit was a line drive that barely went over a leaping Tino Martinez. Clemens was amazing that game.

I didn't follow his Orioles career, but as a Yankee, I've seen his near-Perfecto against Cone and the Red Sox, which Carl Everett, called in to pinch hit, broke up with a RF single when it was *ONE SINGLE STRIKE* away from said Perfecto. We won the game, 1-0, and Moose almost lost it after he'd lost his composure following the hit, so Posada had to make a mound trip.

I remember Clemens' ALCS 2000. After that 9th inning leadoff double, he got each of Messrs Mike Cameron, Edgar Martinez and Alex Rodriguez.

I'll only say he was in rare form that season. If anyone thinks that his 2000 WS wasn't bad either, that was a great 1-2 punch, even if it was overshadowed by the bat throwing incident.

What were Moose's postseason stats as a Yankee?

[TonyStarks]

I wouldn't mind bringing Moose back but at 38, there is no way that anyone could justify paying him that much.

If he ginuwinely wants to come back as he says then he takes a pay cut.

[Mattingly]

I wouldn't mind bringing Moose back but at 38, there is no way that anyone could justify paying him that much.

If he ginuwinely wants to come back as he says then he takes a pay cut.

I tend to believe that, if asked, he would be greatly surprised if the Yanks picked up that option. So long as there's the buyout, not a biggie.

How much would you pay that you'd expect him to agree to for 2007? This presuming he had 2006 numbers similar to 2004-2005 or 2003-2005.

[DoubleX]

I remember Clemens' ALCS 2000. After that 9th inning leadoff double, he got each of Messrs Mike Cameron, Edgar Martinez and Alex Rodriguez.

I thought the one hit occurred earlier in the game, like the 6th inning? I don't remember there being the no-hit drama in the late-innings of that game, but I could be mistaken.

[TonyStarks]

I tend to believe that, if asked, he would be greatly surprised if the Yanks picked up that option. So long as there's the buyout, not a biggie.

How much would you pay that you'd expect him to agree to for 2007? This presuming he had 2006 numbers similar to 2004-2005 or 2003-2005.

$10M tops. That is more than fair for a 38Yo pitcher who hasn't lived up to expectation in NY.
I expect Moose's number this year to be something like 14-9 ERA between 3.8 and 4.2.

There are cheaper and younger arms on this staff that could replace him:

RJ - Stays on Top
Pavano
Wang
Wright
Chacon
Or give one of the AAA-AA kids a chance to win a 5th spot.
(Hughes, Garcia, Clippard, Henn)

[SD Bomber Fan]

Moose has been solid with the Yanks. He doesn't spend much time on the DL, and he always seems to get a decent number of wins. That being said, he has never lived up to the contract that the Yanks gave to him. He never became the number one, shut-down, sure thing pitcher that the Yanks envisioned. This year, he was the highest paid pitcher in baseball. Does anyone believe that he came close to performing up to that level? I criticize A-Rod quite a bit for his large salary, but when it comes to judging people on the pay/performance scale, Mussina makes A-Rod look like a bargain. When people question the Yanks' lack of production despite the high team salary, I look no further than Mussina. I, for one, can't wait for the Yanks to dump him and his ridiculous salary.