Joba Rules

This semester I am taking an expository writing class. About a month ago we had an assignment to write a short editorial piece about a controversial topic...it could be about anything we wanted. So, naturally I decide to write mine on Joba-as-a-starter vs. Joba-in-the-'pen. I got it back the other day with a big fat "A" on top, so I figured I would post it here in case there is anybody reading this who thinks Joba should remain in the bullpen. Enjoy:

The Yankees are the most storied and successful sports franchise in history, and their fan base lives and dies by the baseball season. As such, a hot debate topic among fans has become whether or not to allow Joba Chamberlain, their promising 22 year old fireballer, to start or relieve games. In 2007, Joba was called up to the major leagues to solve the team’s bullpen issues, despite his role as a starter in the minor leagues. Joba was placed in the bullpen both to strengthen the reliever corps and to keep his own inning count down. Inning counts are typically in place to ensure that a young pitcher doesn’t blow his arm out by gradually increasing his innings over the early stages of his career.

At the start of the 2008 season, Joba found himself in the bullpen again, but this time he was slowly transitioned back to his natural place in the starting rotation. At this point, Joba still had an inning count restriction on him, and the logic was that by starting him in the bullpen and moving him back to the rotation mid-season, it would serve to keep his total innings lower. After being transitioned back to the rotation, Chamberlain continued to dominate until he was shut down in August for the remainder of the season due to a minor shoulder issue. Coming into the 2009 season, Yankees’ brass must make a decision about Chamberlain. While some insist that he should remain in the bullpen, I strongly disagree. The bullpen-crowd points to a minor shoulder injury Chamberlain endured at the end of the 2008 season, supposedly caused by too many innings. I would like to remind those who feel that way about the mechanic of pitching. Going through a windup and throwing a baseball is one of the most unnatural motions the human body can perform. That being understood, most pitchers find themselves on the disabled list at one point or another, and Chamberlain is no exception. Joba is expected to make a full recovery and be prepared for spring training.

Relief pitchers are generally pitching out of the bullpen for a reason. There might be legitimate long term injury concerns, a lack of arm endurance, or perhaps just a smaller pitch repertoire that limits a pitchers ability to go through a lineup more than once. Joba Chamberlain, however, does not have any long term injury concerns, at least that are presently apparent. Arm endurance isn’t an issue either, as he has shown that he can remain effective late into the game. Even against one of the better lineups in the league, Joba shutdown the Red Sox for seven strong innings, proving his worth late into a game. The typical reliever has 1-3 types of pitches and the typical starter has 3-6 types of pitches. Joba has 4 major league quality pitches, giving him the flexibility that relievers do not have. Oh, and he can consistently make the radar gun display a three-digit number; you can count the other pitchers that can do that on one hand.

Without a doubt, Joba Chamberlain has the talent to become one of the top pitchers in all of baseball, if his career stays on track. If that is true, then wouldn’t you want to have him play as much as possible? Normally a reliever throws about 50-80 innings in a year. A healthy starter will through upwards of 200 innings in a season. So, you tell me: would you rather have someone of Joba’s talent pitch 60 innings a year, or 200? If you said anything other than “Gee, I guess he really should start games”, then you are either wrong or a Red Sox fan.

The Yankees’ bullpen is even now much stronger than it was when Joba was originally called up. Breakout years from Edwar Ramirez, Jose Veras, and Phil Coke have lessened the need for Joba to pitch out of the bullpen. On top of that, we have the addition of Damaso Marte to the ‘pen and our top closer prospect, Mark Melancon, waiting in the wings. From a necessity standpoint, the Yanks may not even need Chamberlain in the bullpen. At this point, I believe the more pressing area for the team to address in the starting rotation. It is mightily convenient that Joba just happens to be poised to become the future ace of their pitching staff. This seems like an easy problem for me, and a problem that I bet most teams would like to have. Keep Chamberlain in the rotation, for his sake and the team’s sake.

The Arbitration Logic

As you may now know, on Monday the Yankees officially declined to offer arbitration to everyone. That includes Abreu, Pettite, and Pudge Rodriquez. These three seemed to be the most likely to receive arbitration offers, but they did not. Lets take a look at why Brian Cashman decided to pass up the opportunity to net a few more draft picks.

Pudge was the easiest decision. He hit like a backup catcher for his short tenure with the Yanks, and not offering arbitration means that there is no possibility that he can return. Had Pudge accepted, we would have been saddled with him and his eight-figure salary. Good move. An aging catcher that costs a draft pick is a lot less attractive than a catcher that does not, and the last thing they need is a backup catcher that costs more than half the team.

Pettite was a little bit more interesting. With reports that the Dodgers have had conversations with Andy, it seemed that we might offer him arbitration to ensure that he doesn't end up with another team. Worst case scenario and he does sign elsewhere, then we get two draft picks. So why didn't we offer arbitration? Say we do offer arbitration. Pettite accepts, but doesn't want to take a significant pay cut. We go to an arbitration hearing, and all of a sudden we're paying our #4 pitcher $16-$18 million for a year. I know the Yankees have deep pockets, but that is a little ridiculous. No player has ever been awarded less money in an arbitration hearing. My opinion? This is a smart move. The Yanks can still negotiate a one year contract worth somewhere around $10-$12 million for a year with Pettite, and I regard those Dodger reports as nothing more than a message from Pettite's agent that they want to get moving on a deal. Pettite has already said he wants to open the new stadium. At this stage in his career, it doesn't make sense for him to go elsewhere. Unless the Dodgers completely strikeout with Manny, Sabathia, Sheets, Lowe, and all the others, I don't see them possibly offering Pettite more than he'll get from us.

Abreu seemed to be the biggest lock to get an arbitration offer, but did not. Bobby is reportedly looking for a 3-year deal, and it is known that the Mets and the Cubs are both interested. So why not offer him arbitration? He's looking for a multi-year deal anyway. What if Abreu couldn't find the money he wanted on the open market? The economy is, after all, having a surprising effect on the offseason so far. So then Abreu accepts and we're stuck with a defensive liability in right field who will cost another $16-$18 million for a year. That's a lot of money for a player on the decline.

The lack of arbitration offers tells me one thing. The Yankees and Brian Cashman are not taking any chances getting saddled with a player they are ready to move on without, especially for the kind of money involved. It also tells me that they are willing to do what it takes to get CC Sabathia in pinstripes. Cashman wants his payroll to be flexible so he can sign a pitcher or two, and maybe plug some other minor holes. Bad news for the Yanks for not getting any draft picks? Not necessarily...I say its good news, because it shows that we're serious about adding a big ticket free agent. Draft picks are in no way a sure thing. The majority of picks flame out and never make it to the majors anyway. Billy Traber was a first round pick for the Mets a few years ago. Remember him? He got cut from our bullpen before the all-star break. My point is to not get too hung up on picks. Even if we sign Sabathia and lose our first-rounder, we still get another first round pick for our failure to sign Gerrit Cole in last year's draft. So all is not lost. Now we just have to sit back and wait for a signing to get excited about.

Organizational Review: Top Prospect List

On top of following the Yankees in a religious manner, I also keep close tabs on all of the organizations top prospects throughout all levels of the minors. Now that the 2008 season has come to a close and the hot stove league has yet to heat up, it is the perfect time to offer my own top prospect list. Note that to make things less confusing, I am leaving players that have MLB service time under their belts off of this list. That includes the likes of Hughes, Chamberlain, Kennedy, Gardner, etc. Also note that I perhaps put more emphasis on potential and raw skills than others may. So here are my picks for the top 10 prospects in the system:

1. Austin Jackson - CF - This kid is the real deal. His primary sport just a few years ago was basketball, so his baseball skills are still lagging behind his general athletic ability, but its catching up very quickly. He is improving on his plate discipline, getting on base more often, playing great defense, and stealing bases. Hopefully he gets MLB ready as quickly as possible, because we all know how badly we need a real center fielder.

2. Jesus Montero - C - I know he's very far away from the majors, but he is the best hitting prospect we have. He absolutely mashed the ball in class A Charleston this year, hitting .326 and 17 homers. While some scouts say his large frame may cause him to grow into a first baseman rather than a catcher, the fact remains that if he continues on his current development path, he's going to be a force to be reckoned with in the middle of our lineup.

3. Mark Melancon - CL - What, a relief pitcher at #3? Yeah I know, get over it. Melancon projects as the heir to the great Mariano Rivera's throne. Coming off Tommy John surgery, Melanon soared through the minors putting up ERA's 2.84, 1.81, and 2.70 through A, AA, and AAA respectively. In combined 95 innings Mark struck out 89 hitters and only gave up 69 hits. That's right, 20 more strikeouts than hits allowed. The key for him will be to bring his walks down (22), but this kid is a beast. He showed the ability to pitch anywhere from 1 out of an inning to 4 consecutive innings, and from the interviews I've seen, he has the personality of Derek Jeter: always says the right thing, always puts the team first, and emerges as a clubhouse leader.

4. Andrew Brackman - RHP - Pretty aggressive placement, I know. Brackman has thrown only 14 winter league innings since college and his subsequent TJ surgery. However, there is so much upside here its hard to ignore. Brackman is built like Randy Johnson (same height I think too - 6'10'') and can hit triple digits when he reaches back for it. This kid has an excellent fastball and a plus curveball. Watch this guy carefully.

5. Austin Romine - C - Romine is going through the system along side Montero and splitting time at catcher with him. Romine doesn't have the power that Montero does, but still hit an even .300, he strikes out less often and plays better defense. Montero's offensive skills probably outweigh Romine's defensive advantages, but Romine would register as a top catching prospect just about anywhere, and rightfully so. He's got a better shot at staying a catcher than Montero does too.

6. Dellin Betances - RHP - Pretty much the same deal as Brackman, minus the TJ surgey. Big guy (6'7''), throws really hard, and has a plus power curve. Betances was 9-4 with a 3.67 ERA for class A Charleston in 2008. While that doesn't look spectacular on the surface, you must keep in mind the mechanics problems tall, lanky pitchers have. The taller you are, generally the harder it is to repeat your motion. Randy Johnson didn't put it together until he was 25, and Betances is still only 20. This year was a huge step forward for Betances as he battles with his biggest problem: control. While he still needs to cut down on his walks, he has shown improvement there. Oh, and he struck out 135 hitters in 115 innings.

7. Zach McAllister - RHP - Another young, strong starter. Zach had a real breakout season in 2008, putting up ERAs of 2.45 and 1.83 between Charleston and Tampa respectively. Not only that, but one of Zach's strengths is a exactly what most minor league pitching prospects lack: control. He posted an impressive 5.48 K/BB ratio. As a point of comparison, CC Sabathia's 251 strikeouts in 2008 landed him with a 4.25 K/BB ratio. And he's also only 20 years old.

8. Fransisco Cervelli - C - Cervelli is our catching prospect closer to the majors. He is largely hailed as a clone of Dioner Navarro: excellent defense and a solid bat. In his injury shortened season (the infamous collision during a spring training game with the Rays), Cervelli hit .315 for AA Trenton. Cervelli would likely have gone higher on the list had he gotten more playing time, but he remains a strong possibility to be Posada's backup catcher in 2010 after Molina's contract is up, just like Posada was brought up to be tutored by Joe Girardi a decade ago.

9. Jairo Heredia - RHP - Coming off of a strong 2007 (his first professional season), Heredia posted a nice 3.20 ERA for Charleston in 2008. His 95 strikeouts in 102.1 innings is encouraging, but he needs to bring his walks down (43). A 2.21 K/BB ratio isn't impressing many people. However, the talent and the ability is there. He was more aggressive in 2008, going after hitters, getting ahead in the count. He spots his fastball very well and has a nasty curveball that, when he spots it well, is pretty much unhittable. They keys for Heredia to move up this list: work on spotting the curveball and improve the quality of his changeup. If he does those two things, he's going to be a guy to watch. And fortunately, he's got plenty of time thanks to his age. Its worth noting that his manager while he was in the Gulf Coast League in 2007 nicknamed him "Pedro Jr." because his raw stuff resembles that of a young Pedro Martinez.

10. Zachary Kroenke - LHP - Yet another talented pitching prospect (and...OMG a lefty!?!?!). In 43 AA Trenton innings, Kroenke went 6-0 with a 3.09 ERA before being called up to AAA SWB where he threw 10 innings, scattering 7 hits, 2 walks, surrendering only 2 earned runs and whiffing 10. The big lefty has good command with his fastball and is very durable. He, like many of his peers, needs to focus on development of his changeup and command in general. Kroenke is an aggressive pitcher and is adept at working both sides of the plate and keeping hitters off-balance. Depending on what happens with Phil Coke, Kroenke may be utilized in the bullpen, where he can add a few mph to his fastball.

Honorable mentions: Christian Garcia (RHP), David Robertson (RHP), Brandon Laird (3B), Juan Miranda (1B), Humberto Sanchez (RHP)

Well that's what I came up with. I have yet to see any prospect lists that reflect the entirety of the 2008 season, so I for one am curious to see whether I'm smart or completely off my rocker. Once Baseball America, Baseball Prospetus, and other reputable places come out with their own lists, I'll do a follow-up post to get to the heart of that question. Stay tuned.

Thanksgiving update

Happy Thanksgiving Yankee fans! Things have been pretty slow so far in the still-young hot stove season. But here is what is going on:

Sabathia is still sitting on the Yanks' 6 year $140 million offer. No need to be alarmed there. I know our offer would make Sabathia the most well paid pitcher in baseball, and some are interpreting his failure to jump on it as an indication that he doesn't want to sign with New York. I find this a rather naive point of view. Sabathia and his agent are simply waiting to hear out other teams and field their offers as well. I realize that nobody is going to outbid the Yankees outright, but Sabathia could be just trying to get a counter offer from the Yanks of a few million more. Still worth it if you ask me. Sabathia is a beast and our rotation goes from mediocre to above-average with his addition.

Teixeira reportedly has a few offers on the table, but nobody knows from who. Most likely Boras trying to get some leverage with the Angels. I would love to see Tex in pinstripes, but my prediction of him resigning with the Halos stands. Tex is their biggest need, so that is where they're gonna throw their money.

Burnett wants 5 years, which is a bit much considering his injury history. Speaking of which, greatn article comparing him with Ben Sheets. I'm coming around to the opinion that Sheets would be a better signing. Both are type A's (assuming Sheets is offered arbitration), both have similar stuff, and both have long injury histories. However, after looking at it closely, Sheets seems to be perhaps slightly less of a risk. And, due to a muscle tear at the end of the season he can be had for less years than Burnett. I'm guessing he would sign for 3 years, maybe with a 4th option year. So do we get Burnett, who's already 31, on a 5 year deal or Sheets, who's 30, on a 3 year deal? Either way is a gamble. Either guy could become the next Amerian Idle (Carl Pavano). Either guy could turn a corner and contribute. I'd rather hedge my bets with Sheets. I wouldnt be upset with Burnett at all, but 5 years is a lot for a guy thats only hit 200 innings 3 times in his 9-year career (one of which was 2008, which became a contract year).

That's pretty much it...I wish I had more to write, because that would mean we somebody was actually signed. Teixeira and Sabathia have both expressed that they'd like deals done before Christmas, so hopefully we'll have something soon.

Discussing the Swisher Deal

So far, the biggest move made by the Yanks in the still very young 2008 Hot Stove League has been to trade a few assorted prospects for Nick Swisher of the White Sox. Good move, bad move, or "eh" move? Despite a quick glance at Swish's 2008 batting line (.219/.332/.410), it was definitely a good move. Here's why:

Swish may have only hit .219 this year, but in all fairness, it was a down year. Swisher is more of a .250-.260 hitter (Giambi-esque) that hits for power. Despite his poor batting line, Swish still hit 24 homers and knocked in 69 runs. Swisher is capable of hitting 20-35 homers a season and can knock in close to 100 runs, as shown by his career lines (he has averaged slightly over 25 homers a season for his career). Swisher also provided better defense that Giambi at first, and has the flexibility of playing a corner OF position and occasionally CF in a pinch. Swisher is still young (27) and a former first round pick. He has good speed, he's athletic and is reported to be a great clubhouse guy. Swisher also takes a lot of walks and despite his poor BA, his OBP remains strong. At least now we have an option at first in the event Teixeira signs elsewhere.

Not to mention that we hardly gave up anything. Marquez was a decent prospect, but he got roughed up for most of the 2008 season. To be honest, Marquez had no shot of making our rotation in the near future. With guys like Wang, Joba, Hughes, and Kennedy ahead of him on the depth charts a potential Sabathia signing, a potential Lowe/Burnett signing, and a plethora of minor league pitching talent below the AAA level (McCallister, Betances, Brackman, etc.), Marquez became expendable. Jhonny Nunez was basically a spare part that filled a roster spot on a minor league affiliate...no biggie there. We also gave up Wilson Betemit...oh no, not Betemit!!! Haha seriously though. We have guys in AAA that can come up and be the utility guy. Betemit will be easy to replace.

Now the pluses in terms of the Teixeira hunt: Swish gives us insurane if we don't sign him. He also gives us leverage in contract discussions with Boras and Tex...we don't NEED Tex now. We have somebody else who can legitimately play 1B for us. This could strengthen our position now that Boras can't convince the Yankees to give Teixeira a blank check.

And depth. We all saw what happened when we lost Posada and Matsui. Coupled with a down year from guys like Cano and Melky, we just didn't have the depth to plug those holes. Swisher gives us a versitile, relatively cheap player that can provide us that depth as well.

All in all, it was a great deal, and Brian Cashman is the man. Most GMs were shocked that Cash got Swisher for so little. Some experts were saying prior to the trade it would take an Ian Kennedy to get Swish. So kudos to Cashman, and keep the solutions coming!

Checking in on the Farm

Good morning Yankee fans! Sorry for the lack of posts, but its been a bit slow since we're in that weird limbo between the true start of the offseason and the Yankee-less playoffs. Curious what some of our prospects are up to so far in winter/fall leagues? The Yankees assigned a few prospects Waikiki BeachBoys (Hawaii Winter League) and the Peoria Javelinas (Arizona Fall League). For your guidance, the AFL is a higher level of competition then the HWL.

HWL:
Damon Sublett: Sublett is a young middle infield prospect with a good arm and good pop in his bat. He was impressive in his pro debut for class A- Staten Island in 2007, but fell a little short of expectations in Charleston. So far in the HWL, Sublett is hitting a healthy .289/.325/.500. I'd like to see his strikeouts go down (15 in 10 games) and his walks go up (2). Sublett isn't a top prospect, but that doesn't mean he can't learn and grow into one.

Jeremy Bleich: Bleich was the highest draft pick that we actually signed in 2008, since Gerrit Cole never signed (Bleich was taken in the supplemental round). The lefty so far in the HWL is off to a nice start at 1-1 with a 2.41 ERA in 4 starts. He's got 14 strikeouts in 18.1 innings and 8 walks. I'd like to see a better K/BB ratio, but 14/8 isn't too bad. Most of those walks came in his first two starts anyway.

Andrew Brackman: Our first round pic from 2007, the tall right-hander missed all of 2008 because he was recovering from Tommy John surgery. Brackman s 1-3 with a 6.14 ERA. I know that looks ugly, but he's only pitched 14.2 innings since major elbow recontruction surgery and he hasn't thrown a pitch in over a year. Trust me, Brackman has the talent, he has the body (he's 6'10'') and he has the head. His 16 strikeouts in this 14.2 innings is a good sign, but he also needs to cut down on his walks (11). Give him some time before he gets labeled as a bust too. He was much better in his most recent start: 5 IP, 5 H, 2 R, 1 ER, 1 BB, 4 K.

Austin Romine: Romine is one of our top catching prospects. He is young, but had a standout season in class A Charleston. So far in the HWL he's hitting at .269/.355/.346. He'll turn it around. He hit .300 over the course of the Charleston season. Romine left his last game after being hit by a pitch on his wrist. No word yet on an injury, but hopefully its nothing serious.

Now for the AFL:
Juan Miranda: Miranda, our lefty hitting, righty-mashing, potential first base platoonman, is off to a hot start down in Arizona. He's played in 8 games so far, hitting an impressive .452/.514/.871. In those 8 games, Miranda has 1 homer, 2 triples, 6 doubles, and 7 RBIs. If he keeps up this pace (or even a pace below it) he will likely make the 25 man roster and may even find himself a starting gig if we don't sign Teixeira.

Austin Jackson: Our top position player prospect. Jackson got off to a hot start in his firts few games, cooled off until he dipped below the Mendoza line, and is now in th eprocess of resurging again. Currently AJax is sitting at .267/.306/.400. Obviously that is not reflective of Jackson's talent. We all know he is capable of more, especially in the hitters league that the AFL is. JThe season is still young, so I will assume he will find his groove soon enough. The main thing he needs to work on are his strikeouts. 11 K's in 11 games isn't what we want to see. However, with his recent hot hitting, he has been named to the Arizona Fall League Rising Stars game. Its basially an all-star game for top-prospects.

Kevin Russo: The Yankees appear to be grooming Russo to be a super-sub kind of utility player. The heir to Wilson Betemit, I suppose. Russo doesn't have the glove that some guys to, but he's more of a healthy balance between glove and bat than a lot of utility guys. The key for Russo will be to show is versitility by playing multiple positions and keep up a decent batting line. So far Russo has impressed. He has rotated through 2B, 3B, SS, and LF so far and is holding a .323/.382/.387 batting line. Russo could make a nice piece of trade bait or another utility player if he keeps it up.

Phil Hughes: Ah, the famous Phil Phranchise. He has been struggling a bit, going 1-0 with a 5.68 ERA in his first 3 starts. His 11 strikeouts in 12.2 innings is nice, but he needs to come down on his walks (8). Hopefully Phil turns it around soon. He was also named to the Arizona Fall League Rising Stars game.

Jeff Marquez: He is pitching out of the bullpen this time, although he is normally a starter. He seems to be finding some success there however, as his line looks like this so far though 4 games: 6.2 IP, 3 H, 3 R, 2 ER, 5 BB, 7 K. Good looking line (2.70 ERA), but he needs to come down on the walks. Maybe he'll stay in the pen if he has success there, since the Yanks have good depth for starters.

Kevin Whelan: Whelan came over in the Gary Sheffield trade. In 3 games, he's thrown 4.2 scoreless innings with 5 strikeouts and only 1 walk. Whelan is also pitching out of the pen, as he usually does. He's got great stuff, but has had problems with control in the past. He could be a great future addition to our bullpen if he shows that he has finally worked out the kinks.

Humberto Sanchez: Came over in the Randy Johnson trade. He has been going back and forth between starter and reliever, but is pitching out of the pen this winter. He's off to a rough start at 0-1 13.50 ERA in 2.2 innings. Still, he's got the stuff and he is, after all, just coming back from TJ surgery as well. Give him some time.

Filling in the Question Marks: The Rotation (Part II)

Ok, folks, now we're going to look at free agents/possible trades the Yanks might make. I'm not going to bother much with my own trade speculation, just because when you're dealing with the Yankees, almost every good pitcher will have some level of trade speculation around them. Without further ado, your potential rotation cogs:

1. Mike Mussina: The Moose had a renaissance year, going 20-9 with an impressive 3.37 ERA, his first 20-win season in his illustrious career. I am all for bringing Moose back. He proved that his new style of pitching backwards works because he has such great command of his knuckle-curve that he had no problem dropping it in there for first-pitch strikes. He would probably require a 2-3 year deal. I know we want to get younger, but I think it is also important to have a veteran presence on a staff. And what better veteran than the guy who put up Cy Young numbers this season? Want to know why this season wasn't a fluke? Moose has AMAZNG control. This season, Mussina walked only 31 batters. That is the lowest mark in his ENTIRE career with at least 150 innings (he had 200.1 innings this season). On top of that, he had 150 strikeouts. I don't know about you guys, but I'll take a 4.84 K/BB ratio without question. That being said, I hear he is leaning towards retirement. Only time will tell.

2. Andy Pettite: The Pettite situation is a little bit more delicate. He has been a great Yankee, and I will always love Andy, but I think it is time to let him go. His age is catching up to him, and his breaking pitches aren't of Mussina's caliber in order to try his hand at "pitching backwards". Pettite has always relied on his fastball to set up hitters, and he just can't do it anymore. In the second half in 2008, Pettite was 4-7 with a 5.35 ERA, giving up 96 hits in 79 innings! It is time to thank Andy for his years of committment and be on our merry way. I only hope this doesn't turn into a Bernie Williams type standoff, since Pettie has expressed intered in pitching in the new stadium.

3. C.C. Sabathia: Yes, the big name everyone keeps talking about. Sabathia is 2007's AL Cy Young winner, and he finished 2008 with an impressive 17-10, a 2.70 ERA, 251 strikeouts in 253 innings, and even threw 10 complete games. He has never pitched less than 180 innings in a season. Simply put, the guy is a workhorse, and an extremely talented, lefted handed one at that. The Yankees need to make a strong push for Sabathia. With him leading a rotation followed by Wang and Joba, we will contend for the best front-3 in the league. However, I disagree with the journalists out there claiming we need to go "all in" on Sabathia. Too many years could present a problem for a guy of his weight and a guy coming off of a 253 inning season. I would go no more than 6 years on Sabathia...something like $140 million. Sabathia will open the 2009 season at the age of 28. Is 6 years really so bad? He will be a free agent at 34, which is presumably before he declines too much. At 34, we can let him walk if we please. I know there are injury risks between the 6 years, but the bottom line is this: there is a risk with EVERY pitcher. If you want to sign an impact player, you can't skimp out on the years because maybe someday in a few years his elbow will hurt. If you operate with that logic, you will be the Kansas City Royals. I can understand not wanting to give a monster contract to someone older. If Sabathia was 31 or 32, I wouldn't want to give him 6 years either. But the fact his Sabathia is in his prime, and he will remain in his prime for at least 3-5 years. And a pitcher of Sabathia's caliber will still be good in the years in which he is not great. However, there have been reports that he likes the NL, the west coast, and he enjoys hitting. We'll see.

4. Ben Sheets: If we're going to talk about a guy who injury risks aren't pure speculation, we can talk about Ben Sheets. Sheets is a very talented pitcher. He went 13-9 with a 3.09 ERA, and pitched 198.1 innings. Sounds good, right? Wrong. Sheets, a well known injury risk, broke down right at the end of the season with more elbow trouble. If there is ANYONE we want to avoid a multiyear deal with, it is Ben Sheets. Besides, you always have to be at least a little wary when you transfer a pitcher from the NL Central to the AL East.
UPDATE: This just in from Sheets' Agent, Casey Close:
"His forearm muscle [strain] was the equivalent of a hamstring pull and it simply needed time to rest. No real treatment was needed. He's fine and should be 100 percent in a month." Interesting. Still, he is the largest injury risk in this group.

5. A.J. Burnett: Assuming Burnett opts out of just current contract with the Blue Jays (indications are that he will), he will be a good target for the Yanks. Burnett is a well established force in the AL East, and when he is healthy he can shut down good offenses. I think Burnett's ability to stay healthy at least most of the season is underrated. In his last 5 seasons, Burnett has averaged 170.1 innings. If the Yanks can get 170 innings out of Burnett for the duration of his 3-5 year deal (that's what the guesses are around), I think the Yankees will be quite happy. Oh, and in his 3 years in the AL East since coming over from the Marlins, Burnette is a career 5-0 against the Red Sox with a 2.56 ERA and 53 strikeouts in 56.1 innings. Sign me up. He'd be cheaper than Sabathia and require less years. I do not advise signing them both, however, since I would like to see money left over to sign Teixeira.

6. Derek Lowe: Lowe is another ingruiging option, and a solid plan C if we cannot get either Sabathia or Burnett. Lowe was 14-11 this season with a nice 3.24 ERA. He's a sinker-baller like Wang. Before we jump on him for pitching in the NL West, he is also a career 70-55 in the AL East with a 3.72 ERA. The only problem with Lowe, is that he's 35, and coming off of the year he had, he will likely want at least 3 years. Do we go for it and hope he doesn't drop off? Can he still pitch in the AL East? These are all legitimate questions, but we may have to forget them and sign him anyway if Sabathia and Burnett sign elsewhere.

7. Jake Peavy: San Diego reportedly has their ace on the trading block, since there are rumors that he is unhappy there. Well, who wouldn't be kind of pissed off when you have a 2.85 ERA, a .229 BAA and you actually have a LOSING reord at 10-11? The problem is, his talent, combined with his contract (cheap and signed for 4 more seasons) together would require something along the lines of Cano, Hughes, and Kennedy, or maybe sub one out and include Austin Jackson/Jesus Montero. No thank you. This deal will never happen now that Cashman is back, but since there have been rumors of "interest" by the Yankees (and who isn't "interested" in Jake Peavy?) I figured I might as well include him.

That's really all I can think of. I would include Matt Cain maybe, but he's even a further shot that Peavy (younger, cheaper, and the Giants don't want to trade him). So in summary, sign Sabathia. If Sabathia wants too many years or just signs elsewhere, sign Burnett if he opts out. If he doesn't opt out or signs elsewhere, sign Lowe. Sign Teixeira in any event. This will be the most interesting storyline for Yankee fans to follow this offseason.

Filling in the Question Marks: The Rotation (Part I)

Good morning, Yankee fans! I am currently running on a mere two hours of sleep, thanks in part to a night of...well of being a fraternity brother, to be honest. My body is artificially running on coffee for the time being, so I think I am going to use some of my (temporary) excess energy for baseball.

So far, the 2009 starting rotation looks like this: Wang, Joba, ?, ?, ?. No contending team in its right mind would start the season with three question marks in the rotation. Its obvious that moves need to be made to shore up our starting pitching. The talent that we do have penciled into the rotation (Wang and Joba) is promising, and 2008 gives us hope of the strongest bullpen in recent memory for the 2009 Yanks. The right addition(s) to our rotation could give us one of the strongest pitching staffs in baseball. I'm going to start with internal options, but expect a post on external options in the next few days. Quick note: I am leaving Mussina/Pettite discussion for the next post. Yes, I know they are sort of internal options anyway, but they are free agents, so I will group them as such.

Internal Options:

1. Phil Hughes: No doubt, Phil Phranchise had a disappointing 2008 campaign. Still, it is far too early to give up on him. He's only 22, and he has bounced back from his rib injury/need for glasses nicely. In the AAA playoffs, Hughes pitched 11 impressive innings, surrendering only 3 earned runs and piling up 15 strikeouts, while walking 5. This further adds to his growing reputation as a big game pitcher if we remember our only victory from the 2007 ALDS. In his short two game major league stint at the end of the season, Hughes went a total of 12 innings, and only gave up 3 runs and 2 walks and struck out out 10.

From what I have seen, he has some control issues with his fastball, but that can obviously be corrected with work. His curveball has some nasty bite on it, and he has shown the ability to throw it for strikes. His new pitch, the cutter, has also been successful so far for Hughes, as I have seen him break more then a few bats when he throws that cutter inside on lefties. My take on Hughes? He is almost ready, but he needs some more time/innings to continue to refine his cutter and his change-up. My hope is that Hughes can get into a grove and work out the kinks in the Arizona Fall League. Ultimately, what Hughes does in the fall league and how he does in spring training will determine what roster Hughes is on by the start of 2009. If he cruises and shows improvement, you can bet he will get a shot on the opening day rotation. If not, he will start at Scranton/WB until he is ready. Only time will tell.

2. Ian Kennedy: Kennedy is a little more interesting than Hughes. Kennedy did not have an injury to explain his poor 2008, leading some to believe he was a bust. Simply stated, those people are overreacting. He was drafted from USC in 2006 as a #1 pick. He's ranked top 50 minor league prospect by Baseball America in 2008. He pitched 1 game in 2006. Went a combined 12-3 with a 1.91 era in 26 starts in 2007 and blew through A, AA and AAA in his 1st year. Made it to the majors and pitched 3 games with a 1-0 and a 1.89 era. He struggled in 2008 starting with the Yanks and went 0-3 in 8 starts. Was sent down to the minors and went 6-3 in 13 starts with a 2.22 era.

Combined his minor league numbers are 18-6 with a 1.99 era in 226 innings in 2 years of professional baseball. He went 1-3 in 11 major league starts and 56 inning pitched with a crazy era of 5.56. Can we really say this guys is a bust based upon only 11 starts in the majors considering that he's been out of college for only 2 years? Compare him to the following starts by some of baseball's greats:

Greg Maddux (Drafted in '84)
-Spends 3 years in the minors.
-In '87 goes 6-14 with a 5.61 era in his rookie year.

Tom Glavine (Drafted in '84)
-Spends 4 years in the minors.
-In '88 goes 7-17 with a 4.56 era

John Smoltz (Drafted in '85)
-Spends 3 years in the minors
-In '88 goes 2-7 with a 5.48 era.

My point is give the kid a chance. He may have struggled in the majors, but he still maintained a 5-3 record with a 2.35 ERA in the minors this season, striking out 72 hitters in 74 innings, and walking only 18. He's in the same boat as Hughes, except Kennedy is not playing in the fall league. If he comes out swinging (haha or pitching) in spring training, expect him to get a shot. Otherwise, he will sit in AAA and polish himself off in preparation for his next call up.

3. Chase Wright: Before you all flashback to the terrible game in Boston last year where Wright gave up back-to-back-to-back-to-back homers, consider this: between AA and AAA this season, Wright was a combined 10-3 with a 2.80 ERA. If he keeps up that kind of pitching, and considering he's a lefty, you have to assume he's got a legitimate shot with a great spring training.

4. Alfredo Aceves: Aceves was very impressive in his ML stint. In 30 innings, he went 1-0 with a 2.40 ERA (only gave up 8 earned runs). He breezed through the minors, and it appears as though his stuff translates into the majors. I'd say he has a good shot at being our #5 pitcher in 2009.

5. Darrell Rasner: Do I really need to make this argument? He was 5-10 with a 5.40 ERA, and he gave up 135 hits in 113.1 innings. Combined with his walks, and that's good for a 1.54 WHIP (walks + hits per innings pitched). Not good numbers. There seems to be plenty of decent competition for a rotation spot, especially if we get any outside help, so I highly doubt Rasner is on the opening day roster as anything other than a long man in the pen/mop-up guy.

6. Dan Giese: In the minors this year, Giese pitched 59 innings to the tune of a 1.98 ERA. In 43.1 major league innings, Giese had an impressive 3.53 ERA. I'd say he's the favorite of winning the long man/emergency starter roll on the opening day roster, but I suppose a rotation spot is always a possibility.

7. Phil Coke: You already know my stance on Coke. I know he was a starter in the minors, but he's a lefty and he was lights out from the pen in his major league stint. I think we have the rotational depth to leave him in the pen.

That's about all I can think of for now...let me know if you guys think I missed someone who actually has a legitimate shot. Anyway, my overall take on our internal options is a pretty good one. Depending on free agent signings, I think at least one or two of these guys will step up and contribute in 2009. The favorites are probably Hughes, Kennedy, and Aceves, but as Cashman as stated, nobody outside of Wang and Joba are guaranteed a spot in the rotation.

Revisiting Robbie

I know I already did a post on Cano, but I want to come back to the subject for a super-brief post that strengthens my point. As the hot stove is warming up, so are the talks about trading Cano because of his "sub-par year". Cano's final line ended up at .271/.305/.410. As I have previously stated, his biggest probem this year was not being lazy or not caring. It was April.

Robbie Cano's line from May 1st, 2008 until the end of the 2008 season:
.297/.326/.448

Yeah. A second baseman with above average defense (normally - he has a great arm and a smooth glove) that has the potential to hit .320 and belt 25 homers a year has more value than half the players that apparently are too good to trade Cano for. I've heard rumors for Nate McLouth, Matt Kemp, Jonathan Sanchez, Freddy Sanchez, and many, many others. I would like to remind Yankee fans, as well as fans of the other 29 teams, that Cano's "off year" is hardly an "off year". He is still a monster with the potential to win batting titles, hit for power, and play consistant defense. When Cano is hot, he can carry a team. I'm so sick of hearing Dodger fans bitch about the Cano-Kemp rumors because Cano isn't nearly good enough. Fine, keep Kemp, because we want to keep Cano. I'd still take Robbie over most of the jokers in these trade rumors any day of the week. Sorry for my rant, I know I repeated myself here. Expect a post on possible starting pitchers the Yanks might target coming soon!

Yeah, ask him if he knows any good lefties for the Yanks' bullpen while you're at it!

For those of you have didn't get the reference in the title, its a quote from Entourage, one of the best shows in T.V. right now. I bring it up because, obviously, lefties has been something that has been lacking in the Yankees' bullpen for awhile now. At the start of the season, we had zero left handed relievers, and Pettite was the only lefty on the whole staff. Having these lefties is important, especially with the short porch out in right (hey, kind of like my blog title!).

As the 2008 season comes to a close, another area that the Yanks need to look at (albeit not as much) is the bullpen. This was a pleasant surprise for the 2008 Yanks, since the bullpen turned out to be a strength for us, something it has not been for years. With the mid-season acquisition of Damaso Marte and the eventual call-up of Phil Coke, we finally have a couple lefties for our 'pen.

Phil Coke is easy. He's young, cheap, left handed, and was surprisingly effective at the major league level. Coke pitched 14.2 innings in 12 games since his call-up, and has surrendered only one earned run and collected 14 strikeouts against only two walks, good for a 0.61 ERA. Very, very impressive numbers to say the least. Obviously, Coke will be given every opportunity to make the 25-man roster out of spring training. Hopefully he can repeat his performance, which I believe he will to an extent. Coke was drafted as kind of a long shot prospect, as we didn't take him until the 26th round back in 2002. However, since 2006 he has been putting up impressive numbers. Spanning from A Charleston all the way to the majors since 2006, Coke has an average ERA of 2.92 with 320 strikeouts in 363.1 innings. The only issue really, is to keep him in the bullpen, or move him back to a starter, which is what he was in the minors.

I think we can keep Coke in the bullpen. He's already had success there on the major league level, seems to have the right kind of mentality for a relief pitcher, and, quite frankly, we have enough starting pitching depth to allow that, especially if we sign a starter in the next couple of months.

Now Damaso Marte has been a bit more controversial. My two cents: pick up his option. The guy is 33 years old and has a career ERA of 3.29, which spans across eight years of MLB servie time. You know what that tells me? It tells me that Marte is a good pitcher who struggles early in his Yankee career. What most people don't know, however, is that Marte was allowed to throw 42 pithes in the span of a single game on August 4th! You just can't let a single-inning pitcher like Marte do that. Marte later admitted that he was pitching through pain for awhile afterwards. Marte was then shut down for a week or so. Since then, Marte has posted a 3.55 ERA in 12.2 innings with 15 strikeouts. In 9 appearanes in the month of September, Marte pitched 6.2 innings, giving up only 1 earned run (1.35 ERA) and logged 7 strikeouts.

His option is for $6 million. Let's be honest...that is pocket change for the Yankees. Despite Marte's early struggles, I will give him the benefit of the doubt because of his alleged forearm tightness. The Yankees are not going to get a lefty reliever better than Marte, especially one that is willing to give up the 9th inning. We would be foolish not to pick up that option. If Marte can pitch to his career 3.29 ERA all of next season (assuming he is utilized properly), our bullpen could be one of the toughest in the league.

About a 'Buck-Eighty Short`

The 2007 New York Yankees scored a grand total of 968 runs throughout the course of the regular season. With only two games to go, the 2008 Yanks have scored only 780. Being generous and assuming they score ten runs in the next two games, that puts the 2008 club at roughly 178 runs less then the 2007 club. Now, I know we have had a ton of injuries this year, but we need to find away to support what is shaping up to be a solid bullpen and a potentially good rotation.

Below this post, I advocated the Yankees letting Abreu walk. The decision is easy...offer him arbitration. If he accepts, we get Abreu back on a one year deal. If he declines, we get a first round draft pick as well as a supplemental pick (the potential equivalent of a Phil Hughes AND a Joba Chamberlain, respectively) . With the outfield logjam lessened, assuming Abreu walks (I will assume he wouldn't accept arbitration), our outfield looks like:

RF: Nady
CF: Gardner/Baldelli
LF: Damon/Matsui/Baldelli

DH: Matsui/Baldelli

That leaves some payroll flexibility, as well as a lineup spot for....Mark Teixeira. Yes, I know he is a Boras client, and he will require a monster deal. However, I think that the amount of years is not a huge deal. Tex is 28, will be 29 next season, and is in his prime. If we give him, say, six years, his contract would expire before he turns 35. And, let's be perfectly honest, first base is the easiest position for an aging slugger to play. When Tex is 33-35, I'm sure his defense will still be satisfactory and he will still be able to hit. Worst case scenario, he becomes a DH in the last year or two of his contract. Even a seven year contract wouldn't be too bad.

Tex would give us gold glove caliber defense a first base and a solid power bat to hit in front of (or behind) Alex Rodriguez. I have recently come to this decision myself while I was thinking about the problem with the free agent pitching market. Sabathia, by all reports, likes the west coast and loves the NL. Sheets is injured again. Burnette looks like he might sign an extension rather than opt to test free agent. Derek Lowe is an option (career 3.72 ERA in the AL East). although he is already 35. If we cannot get a top flight starter, we MUST get a bat for our lineup. A rotation of Wang, Joba, Mussina, and two of Hughes/Aceves/Wright/Rasner/Kennedy/whoever else. Not the best rotation, but if this is the worst case scenario, then I'm not too concerned. That said, if the Yankees fail to land a top flight starter, we need some bats to fill Abreu's void and provide some run support for the rotation.

The case for Teixeira:
A .309/.412/.553 line.
33 homers and 120 RBIs.
Gold glove defense.This season, Tex is 8 for 14 with the bases loaded with 21 RBIs.

He is also hitting .314 with runners in scoring position this year, and .500 with runners on third.

2009 NYY Lineup:
LF: Damon
SS: Jeter
1B: Teixeira
3B: Rodriguez
DH: Matsui
C: Posada
RF: Nady
2B: Cano
CF: Gardner/Baldelli

The bench is fairly up in the air, but the acquisition of Tex gives us what we need: power, defense, and age on the right side of 30. Besides, I hear he might want to play closer to home (he's from Maryland). New York is a hell of a lot closer than LA.

The Veteran Question - El Come Dulce

Another popular topic of debate among Yankee fans this offseason will be the decision about our free agent veterans. Some of them are easy choices, such as Giambi and Pavano; most Yankee fans seem to be in agreement that their stay in pinstripes will come to a close. However, a few others keep this offseason from being that clear cut.

First, we have Bobby Abreu. The Yankee right fielder is currently tied with Jeter for most hits on the team (179), leads the team in doubles (39), and is ranked in the top 5 in average, on-base percentage, slugging percentage, and RBI's, and runs scored. Abreu has a hell of an arm, consistantly making strong, accurate throws when a runner is foolish enough to test him. Unforunately, his strange fear of the wall out in right more or less washes out any defensive advantage. He will be 34 next year, and given his type A free agent status, will likely require at least a couple years (2-3) and an eight-digit salary.

Resigning Abreu is a good option. The free agent market for right fielders is rather bare, and Abreu leads the pack. He has shown time and time again that he hits in the clutch (exemplified by his 10th inning grand slam the other night), and a .296/.369/.474 batting line isn't too shabby; especially when he's at 20 homers and 99 RBI's too.

However, I am going to say "no" to Bobby Abreu. His time with the Yankees has been great; certainly an excellent acquisition by Brian Cashman. However, in light of the Yankees' lack of defense and athleticism, and the outfield logjam we will have, I think we can afford to let Abreu walk. Nady can play right field, Damon can play left, and as I have stated in earlier posts, I think a tandem of Rocco Baldelli and Bret Gardner can hold down the fort in center until AJax is ready for the bigs. On top of that, we get a first round draft pick if we offer Abreu arbitration, assuming he declines (and he almost certainly will). This is very important, because it means we can use our own first round pick to sign a top flight starter, and receive a first round pick back when Abreu signs elsewhere.

The only potential problem in this situation is Nady. He is currently sitting on a very respectable .303/.355/.506 line with 24 homers and 94 RBI's. Overall, an excellent season for Xavier Nady. However, his line is at .260/.310/.460 since joining the New York Yankees. These numbers don't worry me too much. The X-Man has shown his ability to knock in runs in big spots, and he is really just the kind of player we need more of. The Yanks need more infusion of young, athletic, hard-nosed kind of players that just play the game of baseball instead of lingering in the spot light. Another point to consider is that Nady switched leagues halfway through the year. All of a sudden, he's facing pitchers that he is unfamiliar with in arguably the toughest division in baseball. I will give him the benefit of the doubt, and predict that he will be fine once he can adjust to the new pitchers he will be facing and the higher level of competition.

Its time for the Yankees to get younger. Just look at the Rays! Yankee fans need to ask themselves his question: Would you rather have Bobby Abreu and his contract, or would you rather have Nady in right and have a chance to draft the next Phil Hughes or Joba Chamberlain?

Stop-Gap Center

In my first post, I made a brief argument for signing Rocco Baldelli. I want to take a closer look at center field now, and evaluate all of our options. Center field is one of the most coveted positions in Yankee history, and who plays there has a profound effect on the dynamic in the outfield.

1. Play Damon in center. Damon has shown this season that he can in fact play center field on occasion, if you don't mind having the arm of a 12 year old girl in center field.

2. Play Melky in center. At this point, I think most Yankee fans have resigned themselves to accepting that Melky is really just the .240-.260 hitter that he has been for the past year and a half. Still, is more than capable of getting a pinch start in center as a fourth outfielder. He still has that cannon for an arm, and he was 19-57 (.333) in his stint at AAA.

3. Let Bret Gardner play center. This is one of our more legitimate options. Gardner may not be our long term center field solution, but he has shown in his limited time with the major league club that his defense saves runs and his speed on the base paths wins games. A guy with his speed can steal bases all season long, he can pinch run when he doesn't start, and he has plus range in the field. Gardner historically is slow to adapt to a new level of hitting, so I preach patience to you Yankee fans. Lets give the kid a legitimate shot. If our offense falters again n 2009, I'll have a hard time blaming Bret Gardner. If the 2009 lineup returns to form, Gardner should be able to hit at least as well as Melky (if not better), but has more tools that he does and adds another style of play to this team.

4. Sign Rocco Baldelli. Another great option. I think if we can get Baldelli for a 1 year deal (maybe with a team option) with incentives for amount of games played and whatnot, he could be a great pick up. Yes, he is often found on the disabled list, but he has a lot of talent, and would prove to be an excellent stop-gap in center for us. I think the best thing the Yanks can do is let Gardner and Baldelli fight it out in spring training. If they both do well, then have them split time in center. Baldelli could DH from time to time, or play a corner spot if need be. Of course in this scenario, Melky Cabrera is not on the 25 man roster. If Baldelli gets hurt and can't play center, then you have Gardner, Damon, and Cabrera to fill in.

5. Trade for Nate McLouth. McLouth, the coveted Pirates center fielder, is putting up a .280/.360/.510 line with 26 homers and 94 RBIs. Very respectable numbers, and I hear he plays a nice center field too. Still, After trading away their other two star outfielders (Bay and Nady), it would likely take a lot of acquire McLouth. I advise against this trade because trade talks would likely start with Cano or Hughes.

6. Trade for David DeJesus. DeJesus would likely not cost as much as McLouth. He is two years older (28) and plays a pretty poor center field from what I've read. Despite any defensive concerns, he has a .307/.365/.453 line for the Royals this year. I am wary of DeJesus for defensive reasons, so I would also not do this trade. Defense and general athletic ability has been something the Yankees has lacked, so I would prefer not to add to that. Still, he would be a nice pick up to try out in center if we could acquire him for not too much.

7. Trade for Matt Kemp. Kemp is the young star for the LA Dodgers, and would also likely require a good return. He has a very nice .289/.337/.455 line, and all indications are that he is also very capable in the field. Kemp is probably the most enticing trade option since he's only 24 years old. However, that also might make him the most expensive. I'm not sure what the price tag would be on Kemp, but I have heard rumors floating around about Hughes or Cano as the center piece for a package. If that's what we have to give up though, I would rather take my chances with internal options.

That's about all I can think of for now. The bottom line here is that we need someone to hold down the fort until Austin Jackson is ready. Jackson is really starting to shine as a center field prospect. His hitting has been solid for the past two seasons now, and he has shown some great ability on the field. In fact, AJax won the MVP for the Trenton Thunder's playoff series (Yanks AA team). In that series he hit a walk off home run in one game, and robbed not one, but two home runs from the opposing team. Lets all take a moment to knock on wood and hope he pans out the way he projects. Until then, the best option the Yankees have is to find serviceable stop-gaps until that time.

Robbie Cano, Don't Ya Know?

Robinson Cano has been a rather hot topic among Yankee fans this season. His 2008 performance is obviously not up to expectations, both in the field and at the plate. Let me preface this by saying that I am a huge Robbie Cano fan. I own only one authentic jersey, and I chose Robbie's number. So maybe I am a little biased, but that's the beauty of a blog, eh?

Without further ado: DO NOT TRADE ROBINSON CANO! I cannot stress this enough. We all know Cano's 2008 was disappointing, but let's take a step back and look at the facts. Robbie is a mere 25 years old already in his fourth season. In his first three seasons (05, 06, and 07), Cano hit .297/.320/.458, .342/.365/.525, and .306/.353/.488, respectively. For a guy in his early twenties playing through the rigors of New York, I'd say those numbers say one thing: Talent.

Cano has shown the potential to hit 25 homers a year and his defense (for the most part) is silky smooth. He has committed a few well-publicized errors, but by no means is he a "bad fielder". Do you know what Cano's biggest problem was this year? April. Robbie hit an abysmal .151 in April. Since May 1st, Cano is hitting .290, which isn't such a bad number. He started slumping again in September, made a few bonehead defensive plays, and got benched. I fully endorse Girardi's decision to bench Cano, and I hope he does it more often if it is necessary to whoever the player in question is. That said, since being benched, over the last week Cano has gone 7 for 20, and 6 of his last 9. Even when he's making outs, he is hitting the ball hard and flashing his power again. I fully believe this season is a fluke.

All that aside, it is simply not smart baseball to sell low on your star players. We sold low on Jose Tabata, who still got us a good return, but all this talk about Hughes and Cano being traded is nonsense. Cano can easily return to all-star caliber playing next season, and we'll feel like idiots for even discussing it. Trading Cano would also leave a big hole at second base that would not be easily filled. Orlando Hudson is the only good FA option for second base, and we have no options in our own system. Hudson is hitting to a .305 tune this year, which is plenty good. The problem is Hudson can have trouble staying healthy at times, while Cano plays in almost every game, every year, and Cano certainly has the potential to exceed a .305/.367/.450 line. Oh, and Hudson is 5 years older than Robbie, and he is a type A free agent, meaning we would have to sacrifice a draft pick to sign him. That doesn't exactly fit the mold of getting younger and more athletic.

The bottom line is, I regard trading Cano as a silly idea. The kid as immense talent, and has already shown in his first three seasons that his talent translates well to the majors. Maybe he just needs a little more tough love, or maybe this was just a fluke season. Either way, its far too early to give up on a guy like Cano.

Welcome to Short Porch Baseball

Hello Yankee fans. This is my first post on my second attempt to run a New York Yankees blog. A few things about me: I'm a junior at the University of Vermont, although I am originally from New Jersey. I've been a Yankee fan all of my life (obviously).

I'm going to dive right into things here...Center field!

I think 2008 has shown us that Melky Cabrera is not our long term center fielder. I also don't think anyone is expecting Damon to be the regular center fielder either, although I'm sure he can play it in a pinch. So what then? Trade for a a center fielder? The trade market is weak for centerfielders, as it is for catchers and shortstops. Why? Well, they are some of the toughest positions to play and players who play them well are at an absolute premium. Most of the good players are untouchable. The free agent market is also very bare this year. There is only one person that I can see on that list in pinstripes next year.

Rocco Baldelli has an ugly injury history, but he is healthy now, and if he can remain healthy, he is certainly an upgrade over Melky. It would require a rather low-risk committment from the Yanks, probably a 1 year deal, maybe with a club option with incentives, and not too much money. I say its worth it. Baldelli would prove to be a very serviceable stopgap in center field until either Austin Jackson is ready to take over or we find our permanent center fielder via trade or FA signing.

Thoughts? Would Baldelli be worth the investment, or would we be wasting our time? Is there another option you would prefer? Discuss, and more posts to come.