"If I want to spend $4 million on a ballplayer, I will. If I want to spend $12 million, I will. ...It's my (bleep) money and I'll do what I want." - Padres owner Ray Kroc
It's a good bet that super agent Scott Boras wishes that the late Ray Kroc was still around.
Since he's not, and a less-than-impressive free agent class is at the fore, this space figures that the ridiculous money spent at last year's Winter Meetings is not going to repeat itself.
Thanks to a new ownership dynamic in Yankeeland that figures to spend less and develop more, combined with the giant shadow of shadow of Boras client Alex Rodriguez, the trade market figures to be where most teams will test in the next several weeks leading up to the Winter Meetings in Nashville.
Yankees general manager Brian Cashman is determined to build a World Series winner from within (well, mostly from within), a constant mantra throughout his entire tenure. Until now, he's been pretty much unable to fully realize that kind of autonomy. However, starting with today's GM meetings, Cashman will enter into the final year of his contract with a manager he picked and a roster, that may still contain some dead weight, but will be his to construct..
Sure, there has been some missteps during the last few years, but handing out money to free-agent busts like Kei Igawa, Carl Pavano, Kyle Farnsworth and Jaret Wright have not stopped Cashman from making sure that young players like Robinson Cano, Melky Cabrera and his fleet of young pitchers stayed in Gotham.
Some have said that Cashman, entering the final year of his contract, could be tempted to deal away some of those young players to alter his long-term plans.
For Miguel Cabrera? No. The talented Marlin's growing waistline and reluctance to carry himself like a professional are huge red flags to any organization, least of the neo-con (well, compared to the Red Sox) Yankees. Girardi will have enough on his plate without having to deal with that kind of heavyweight distraction. The rumored deal of the Yankees' Johnny Damon for Pale Hose third sacker Joe Crede makes a ton of sense, a rumor first put out there by Tim Dierkes over at MLBTR
For Johan Santana? Maybe, like the Dodgers -- another big market club with some high-end youngsters -- there could be some efforts to pry away the big ticket. But getting Santana likely means parting with Joba or Phil Hughes.
No way is that happening.
If perhaps, left-hander Andy Pettitte does retire, Cashman would be hard-pressed to keep all of his farm system intact. However, based on several conversations with officials from all over baseball, we doubt that Cashman will be making any big ticket acquisitions this winter. Maybe a creative deal or two is in the works, as we hear that Cashman is thinking about taking a chance on Mark Prior if the Cubs non-tender him.
Instead, with lesser-known but equally promising Yankee prospects Alan Horne, Jeff Marquez, Austin Jackson and Daniel McCutchen all progressing nicely, don't expect any of them to be moved. Likewise, the rehabbing Huberto Sanchez and Christian Garcia are still very high upside prospects whose injury history helps the Yankees long-term. The future of the Yankees' farm system is bright, and thanks to Cashman, Damon Oppenheimer, Mark Newman and Contreras, it will stay that way. Still, pitching remains a priority for most clubs, and the Yankees will be looking to add to their bullpen (just like everyone else). As Chamberlain is slated to return to the rotation for 2008, re-signing ubercloser Mariano Rivera is not only a huge priority, but only the first task at hand.
Finding a setup man from the current crop will be difficult, but Cashman will likely target some lesser arms via free agency to plug into the mix, rather than a splashy signing. Also, like they did with Joba, taking a starter like Horne or Marquez and seeing if there arms can withstand a move to late inning relief could be a option. Rookie Ross Ohlendorf is another intriguing possibility.
Of course, third base is also a need for the Yankees, and it's hard to believe that they'll be content with Wilson Betemit as a full-time starter. Instead, look for the Yankees to target a gritty type, like Houston's Ty Wigginton or the aforementioned Crede. There's even some talk that Andy Phillips (who has played some third base in the minors) could be given a shot to play the hot corner if the Yankees don't acquire someone before spring training.
Would they be interested in WS MVP Mike Lowell? Of course, as any team with a gaping hole at third would. Cashman, who traded Lowell in 1999 to the Marlins for three minor league pitchers, including Ed Yarnall (remember him?), would love to bring the former Yankee farmhand home. But it's unclear how much he'll ask for from the Red Sox to stay in Beantown, and his interest in playing in New York has not been ascertained as of yet.
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The Mets, on the other hand, don't seem to be a team that is overly determined to alter the makeup of a roster that bumbled away the postseason. Despite the rumblings that they might be considering a run at A-Rod (which as much as this reporter things it should happen, it won't) the team has already brought back Moises Alou, Damion Easley and Marlon Anderson.
While the above represents a attempt to secure a trio of real professionals who provide the clubhouse with real leadership, they are also moves that critics say appear a lot like the team's laid-back and passive approach to last year's offseason.
Well, folks, Unfortunately for Mets general manager Omar Minaya and Co., the club may not have the luxury of doing much to do much more than that to address their problems.
With Orlando Hernandez, Pedro Martinez, John Maine and Oliver Perez all slated to return for 2007, and youngsters Mike Pelfrey and Phil Humber figuring to get a shot at the 2008 rotation, the Mets don't have much wiggle room with the starters. There's some talk about using "El Duque" in the bullpen in 2008, but such talk should be saved for Spring Training, when the geriatric Cuban legend ests his legs for the first time.
Frankly, while the team's second half slump-turned-disaster can be blamed on the team's dependence on the older starters, who failed (with the exception of Pedro) to deliver when most needed, can this team really afford to part with Tom Glavine? Is there a FA pitcher out there that's as good?
I don't think so, unless you're going to tell me that Curt Schilling is going to turn down offers from the Red Sox or Phillies to come to Shea, which I hear is not even remotely possible.
The Mets, who dealt Brian Bannister last year for Ambiorix Burgos in hopes of dealing from a strength to bolster their bullpen, are suddenly again looking at a trade to bolster their rotation. Like the Cardinals, Dodgers, Diamondbacks and Phillies, a trade for Dontrelle Willis is very appealing, but as the Marlins covet major league-ready prospects, it's hard to see a fit with the Mets.
With the brilliant but brittle Alou back in the fold, the Mets can ill-afford to deal away any of their young outfielders, namely Carlos Gomex and Lastings Milledge. That duo might be quite ready, but they represent the only true positional depth the farm system has to offer.
Endy Chavez, in many ways, is the team's most valuable OF (outside of Carlos Beltran) , and it's curious as to why (given the growing pains of Gomez and Milledge) why he's not being considered for the full-time RF job in '08, especially considering that veteran Shawn Green is not returning.
No. the Mets are not ruling out the possibility of adding significant payroll for the last year of Shea Stadium's existence, and given the dearth of prospects in the high levels of the system, free agency would seem the way to go. But given the lack of standout talent that exists there, it's hard to imagine the Mets making any long-term offers to Kyle Loshe or Carlos Silva?
Many industry insiders believe that the Yankees' Jorge Posada is a fit in the Mets' plans, but this space questions the sanity of signing any 35-plus catcher to a three- or four-year deal, even one as talented as Posada.
One interesting development of late, and sure to be discussed this week among the Mets' brain trust, is the possible availability of Blue Jays' right-hander A. J. Burnett.
On condition of anonymity, one East Coast-based baseball official says that much of the recent talk by Toronto GM J.P. Riccardi that he's not really looking to do much this offseason is really "means that he's not allowed to anything, except drop payroll."
"He'd love to move that contract, and given (Omar) Minaya's love for power pitchers, that's a deal I think will be discussed."
With the Blue Jays crossing their fingers that Vernon Wells (shoulder), B.J. Ryan (elbow), Lyle Overbay (right hand), Shaun Marcum (knee) and Gustavo Chacin (shoulder) will recover fully from their off-season surgery, Ricciardi is preaching payroll flexibility and patience. However, there's more than enough chatter that he would listen to offers for Burnett, a former Met farmhand, if handed some "bottom-line" relief.
Another interesting name that's some up, though it would be a very small move, comes from the scouting world as well.
Though the Mets have declined to acquire him on several occasions for a myriad of reasons, there talk that they are again "keeping tabs" on Byung Hyun Kim. Stubborn in his desire to remain a starter, and given Mets pitching coach's past success with side-arming relievers (Chad Bradford, Pedro Feliciano), this buzz appears on its surface to be worth discussing.
Another aspect of Kim's chances of joining the Mets is what one scout termed as "an amazing work ethic, that given the right fit, could make the team that rolls the dice very, very happy." ***
Seeing Joe Torre in Dodger blue (one of the best uniforms in all of sports) was weird. Watching Tommy Lasorda, one of Gotham Baseball Magazine's favorite people, was not. For once, I find myself rooting for the Dodgers organization to get it right.
Maybe if they win the World Series next year, they can celebrate in the Jackie Robinson rotunda.
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I've been getting a lot of e-mails lately about a recent piece I did while covering the Yankees in the ALDS against the Indians.
In the Oct. 9 article titled "And The Tribe Plays On", I wrote the following to close the piece:
If the Boston Red Sox win the 2007 World Series. I fear that the Yankees will be rash. Don't be.
Let the Red Sox and their fans giggle their way towards oblivion for the next decade. Let ESPN and the rest of the anti-New York national media trumpet their favorite team's world title.
It matters little in the grand scheme of things.
The bill for Julio Lugo, J.D. Drew and Daisuke Matsuzaka will come sooner rather than later.
The Yankees have more important things to do than win a World Series. They have a another dynasty to build.
Some have said that "ESPN IS a Yankee-loving channel", and that "The Yankees have more important things to do than to win a World Series, are you paying attention?"
To the first, ESPN covers the Yankees because they are the sports world's most important franchise. Roll your eyes all you want, it's the truth. What else brought so many media members to the Dodgers Stadium press conference they had to hold in the damn outfield?
The difference is, Bristol doesn't like covering the Yankees, because they have to to. Given that half of their "objective" staff has box seats to Fenway Park, I think that discussion's over.
As for the World Series, this year's title was only really crucial for a few people in the Yankee organization. Just ask the GM, who would have preferred to win this year. But he'll gladly trade the Red Sox having a moment or two in the sun for cultivating his young arms which will result in another stretch where his club wins four out of five.
Yes, and Red Sox fans and the national media giggle when the Yankees (and Mets) lose. They sure as hell don't root for anything New York, ever. I'm not asking them to either. I just wish they'd be genuine about it, for once. This includes the Mets, who delusional fan-base think they have this kinship with Boston fans. Wanna feel the kinship? Go wear a Pedro jersey to a local Beantown pub the next time you're there. See how much they want to bond with you.
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The Winter Meetings are coming. Gotham Baseball Magazine will be there, on location for all New York baseball fans.
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The scouts that Gotham Baseball Magazine have spoken with this week -- in preparation for our third straight trip to the Winter Meetings -- are all in agreement that Cleveland backup catcher Kelly Shoppach is one of baseball's up-and-coming prospects.
They also are very sure that both the Yankees and Mets are actively keeping tabs on the young backstop, in hopes of dealing for his services.
The Mets' needs are more immediate, as their interest in Yankees' backstop Jorge Posada are a bit "overblown" said one agent. Though Mets GM Omar Minaya's talks with Cleveland GM Mark Shapiro this past week were said to be more about Tribe starter Cliff Lee, as many as three industry sources have told GBM that "Shoppach's name came up more than once."
The Indians aren't looking to deal Shoppach, but might be willing to listen if a package included Mike Pelfrey or Aaron Heilman.
The Yankees, who are trying to re-sign both Posada and his backup, Jose Molina, have not yet approached Cleveland about Shoppach, but are said to be very interested.
The Brewers are trying to acquire TB's Carl Crawford, who sources say the club thinks is the final "piece to their puzzle", but the Rays don't want pricey ace Ben Sheets of Chris Capuano in return. Instead they want to see if they can get the Yankees (who like both of those guys) involved.
The Yankees are interested in the Brewers' duo because they believe the Brewers' asking price is rair. However, the Brewers, who want a speedy, leadoff-type LF for 2008 and beyond, don't want Johny Damon in the deal. So, there are efforts being made to get the three teams together before the Winter Meetings.
