Who will the Yankees pick up this offseason?

Question

will they trade A-Fraud and will they pick up Clemens and/or pettite?

Answer 1

Pitching is the big problem. There are two major holes in the rotation. Moose was resigned so that covers one spot. Wang might go on to win the Cy Young this year so that's two. Randy Johnson is an iffy third. Fourth and fifth are wide open. The Yanks did do the right thing and pick up a bunch of prospects. Now will they be patience a year or two while these guys develop? Few pitchers worth keeping are even good much less top notch the first 1-3 seasons in the rotation. Pedro Martinez, Randy Johnson, Greg Maddux, Curt Schilling and the list goes on. Look at the first couple years these guys pitched and you'll see lots of struggles going on.

As for Pettite, that would be a great pick up. Pettite has been the best stopper the Yanks have had year after year. A crucial part of the pennent drives. When the Yanks were in a losing streak it was always Pettite that broke it up. Also the only clutch pitcher the Yanks have had since Cone retired. When the Yanks really needed it you could count on a good performance from Pettite. Might not be a shutout but Pettite was not going to get shelled. Not in an important game. He's come up with more than a few gems when it was most needed.

With Sheffield gone the Yanks need to move Giambi. That clears out the other steroid user and a huge contract. Picking up Shelton from the Tigers might be a good idea. The Tigers obviously don't plan on playing Shelton. He carried the Tigers early in the year. Big problem with the Yanks are the team is too old. Teams as old as the Yankees are certain to suffer injury problems. They are rarely hungry. These guys all have their WS rings and some of them are just trying to finish off really good careers. Though Giambi doesn't have a WS ring for a reason. He's played on also rans his whole career and was supposed to be the spark plug to replace O'Niel. He didn't either spark or produce his first couple years. After that he didn't have the credibility to be a clubhouse leader. The Yanks need a little fire, some motivation. Hungry players. 1b is a great place to pick up a young motivated player. So is at least the 5th spot in the rotation. Abreu fits in nicely but he's a short term fix. His stats were declining in Philly. So he'll probably come up with one more good year then start to decline again. Possada as a catcher is getting way to old to count on. He's in injury territory in a very big way. The Yanks need him to start training his successor much the same way Gerlaldi taught Possada. Unlike Geraldi Possada if he transisitions before major injury can be an effective DH and 1b backup. The guy would hit 30+ HRs every year if he was not a catcher. He'd also probably add .010 to his BA.

A-Rod in his worst season is the best 3b in baseball. Last year he had MVP like numbers. This year only excellent numbers and people are upset? Besides the fact only a few teams could afford that mega-mistake salary the Rangers made with A-Rod, would you really want to anger him? Trade him to a potential rival and motivate him to prove the Yankees were wrong? It would come back and haunt the team.

So a starter or more starting prospects, a young 1b and a couple good catching prospects are what the Yankees need. There is no quick fix lets get in the series this year kind of changes the Yanks can make. Picking up vets just means a replay of 06 and it's injuries. Bernie can cover DH if the new guys flop. Melky might be the answer or might be somebody else. Whatever the case he should get a serious audition. This is a good year for the Yanks to sort out prospects and aim for 08,09 and 2010 World series. The Yanks can do a minor retooling this year and next or face a total rebuild in a couple years. Either way no WS.

Bernie, Rivera, Abreu, Randy Johnson, Possada if he continues to catch, Moose are the big names who probably only have a couple good years left in them. Bernie is already probably playing his last year. Randy Johnson is if he struggles again this year. Rivera has already reached the age he planned to retire at. Not many closers last into their 40s. As age defying as Rivera is, time always catches up. Rivera has earned the right to pitch until his arm falls off. Still it's time to gobble up some closing prospects in the low minors and build them up as setup men for Rivera and see if one of them can learn enough from Rivera to take over one day.

Moose will probably continue to pitch respectably after the next 2 seasons. #1 or #2 in the rotation probably not. Jeter has likely peaked with this year. He's at the age where his range will start to decline and possibly also his hitting. Damon and Godzilla are in their prime as well. Few years down the road they won't be. Abreu at the tail end of his prime, possibly career.

No point aiming for WS this year at the cost of success over the next few years. Better to take a year or two, contend and hope to go to the WS but concentrate instead on bringing up a couple young pitchers, a 1b, a RF and a catcher over the next couple years. Have Rivera's successor in the majors by 08 with eyes on him taking over in 09 or 2010 maybe. Do it that way and the Yanks can be a threat in many years to come instead of completely disintegrating into an 80s like free agent bum flurry that's lucky to finish above .500 despite a huge payroll.

Another question. How long will Torre put up with Stienbrenner. He's come close to just retiring a few times already. I think the core Yankees keep talking him out of it. The Yankees need a new core or they'll lose Torre as the core Yankees filter out and retire.

Anyway that would be my considerations as a GM if I were Cashman. I'd be more worried about the next few years. Tell Stienbrenner to chill for a year or two and keep the spirit alive while developing new talent. The Yanks can make the playoffs in 07 no problem is they do not sabatage themselves with junk free agent signings. Except for Zito and Pettite there isn't a free agent out there who can really help the Yankees.

Answer 2

I'd rather have halladay than Lackey/holliday. Pitching wins championships. Look at how the Phillies got by? If it wasn't for Lee, they would've been swept and the Yankees would've celebrated in Philadelphia. The price for Halladay will be steep though. The yankees have more than enough talent they keep quiet. Especially on the infield. They have already gold glove caliber playing in tripple A with 300+ batting average and they all steal! I'd trade one prospect, melancon and #1 draft pick for Halladay + his salary. I like Lackey but Lackey is inconsistent. Halladay will just dominate anyone. Imagine this rotation for the 2010 World Series(if we get there again): CC Sebathia Game 1, Halladay Game 2, AJ Burnett Game 3 Andy Pettite Game 4. Bullpen: Robertson Phil Coke Marte Joba Hughes and the greatest of all time, Mariano Rivera. Jeter SS Damon(DH) Texeira 1B A-Rod 3B Posada C Cano 2B Xavier Nady LF Melky Cabrera RF Gardner CF

Answer 3

Probably won't trade A-Rod. They could pick up Pettite or maybe Clemens. They need starting pitching badly.

Answer 4

Yankees interest in Zito appears limited

Pettite and Clemens are not coming back.

"A-Fraud" with his great career numbers and 2 MVP's (how many does Jeter have??) has a no trade clause, he ain't going anywhere

Shea Hillenbrad, Ted Lilly, seems to be names like these.

Answer 5

MAN WE NEED GREAT STARTING PITCHING. I don`t think we need old guys. I think we should get only very good young starting pitching at almost any cost. Guys like Santana,,Zito,Zambranno. Guys like Clemens ,,Pettite, r.Johnson,J.wright, are a waste of time and money. Wang,and The Moose is a great start and should be good for the next 4 years,,now add Zito and Zambranno and it`s domination time for years. Carl Pavono should get a chance to return to his CY young award form of a few years ago.

Answer 6

I'm hoping that they don't trade A-Rod. What they need to do is get some starting pitching. Instead of going after big names, work with theyre farm system. I am a life long Yankees fan, and my biggest critique for years is that they rarely pull up pitchers from the farm system.

Answer 7

nahh..i dont think they'll trade A-Rod..maybe sign pettite for a year or 2 but no for clemens..they'll prob sign a starter like Miguel Batista and Gil Meche. Maybe a reliever or so too..Farnsworth suxx soo yehh

Answer 8

give me barry zito for starters.arod stays,pettite is done and clemens wont leave houston because no one else will let him show up only when hes pitching.

Answer 9

Ted Lilly, Shea Hillenbrand, that guy from the Orioles, Humberto Sanchez, and maybe if they're lucky, Barry Zito.

Answer 10

Thank you Choro-Kun,Now heres a guy who isn't a yankee fan and knows Arod is a great player,I wish you yankee fans,Those who proclain to be,,,,,Would get the hell off Arods Back!! He's not going anywhere,deal with it,,He's not the only one who never comes through in a cluch,We have 28 other playes that Sucked in the playoffs!! And never came through!! And forget Zito, He's not comming with us!! Forget NL pitchers,Don't you PPL ever learn,Almost every NL Pitcher we got SUCKED IN NY,,MAYBE,WE might get LILY!!