Let the Yankees off-season begin: What do you want to see happen?

[Hammerojustice]

OK, lots of things are going to change from this year to next year.

Significant money coming off the books (CC, Teixeira, & Ichiro are the same): (about $135.8M coming off) (according to http://www.baseballprospectus.com/compensation/cots/al-east/new-york-yankees/)
-$25M from A-Rod’s 2014 salary which is $3M or $4M less than 2013 depending on which site you read. So, effectively, it’s $29M coming off the books (not to mention a potential HR bonus of $6M.
-$9.1M coming off for the difference in what the Yankees are paying Vernon Wells next year compared to this year
-+$3.2M as the Yankees are paying $5M of Soriano’s $18M compared to paying $1.8M of it this year.
-$9M as Jeter was getting paid $17M in 2013 and is set for $8M in 2014.
-$15M on Cano. He want’s $30.5M/year going forward which isn’t going to happen, so adios!
-$15M for Granderson
-$15M for Kuroda
-$12M for Pettitte
-$12M for Youkilis
-$10M for Mariano
-$7.15M for Hughes
-Not sure how much the Yankees signed Mark Reynolds for, but the Indians signed him for $6M
-Not sure how much the Yankees paid Brendan Ryan from the trade, but the Mariners signed him for $3.25M
-$3.15M for Boone Logan
-$3.1M for David Robertson (who will hopefully be resigned)
-$3M for Gardner (who will hopefully be resigned)
-$3.125M for Travis Hafner ($2M is base plus $1.125M in bonuses)
-$1.875M for Joba Chamberlain
-$1.25M for Overbay
-Not sure how much the Yankees paid Shawn Kelley from the trade, but the Mariners signed him for $0.935M
-$0.9M for Nix
- Not sure how much the Yankees paid Mike Zagurski, but the Pirates signed him for $???M
-$0.5756M for Ivan Nova (who likely will need to be resigned)
-$0.5333M for Nunez
-$0.528475M for Pineda (Yankees likely need to resign him or will look potentially worse than they do already for trading for him)
-$0.51535M for Cervelli
-$0.5151M for Stewart
-$0.512425M for Phelps (who will likely need to be resigned)
-Not sure how much the Yankees paid David Huff, but the Indians had signed him to $0.4936M
-$0.490525M for Warren
-$0.49M for Cabral
-and unknown amounts for David Adams, Zoilo Almonte, Manny Banuelos, Dellin Betances, Preston Claiborne, Matt Daley, Ramon Flores, Corban Joseph, Brett Marshall, J.R. Murphy, Vidal Nuno, Jose A. Ramirez, Austin Romine, and Nick Turley.


What I’d like to see happen:

-Get McCann for Catcher if he can be had for a 2 or 3 year deal…
-Let Cano walk if he is serious about the $30.5M/year… not many options though out there
-I’d like to see the Yankees sign a SS other than Nunez, maybe Stephen Drew or Jhonny Peralta
-Yankees will need a 3B as A-Rod is likely to be suspended, so resign Mark Reynolds
-Need at least 2 OF, probably 3 to go with the only currently signed OF of Soriano and Ichiro. I would resign Gardner, Shin-Soo Choo, and Ellsbury
-Sign Kendrys Morales as a back-up 1B/DH
-Sign Mark Reynolds as back-up 1B
-Sign at least 4 SP to go with CC… Not much out there… BUT… I would resign Nova and maybe some combination of Kuroda (if he can be talked back with the team), Ervin Santana, Matt Garza?, Scott Kazmir?, James Shields if his option isn’t picked up, Chad Gaudin?, or Tim Lincecum?... again, not much out there…
-I would steer clear of resigning Hughes how had a Yankees worst ever home ERA of 6.32. his overall ERA of 5.19 wasn’t much better…
-Even though Champerlain had better numbers than Hughes as far as ERA, I wouldn’t resign him either… in fact avoid him like the plague…
-If Robertson doesn’t close, then who? Not much else out there
-Bull pen help… not much out there either…

This also doesn’t include the fact that if Cashman isn’t fired (which he probably will be), he should be. Seems like a likely candidate to replace would be Oppenheimer, but someone else…
Considering all the injuries (145 games lost for Jeter, 147 games lost for Teixeira, ~118 games lost for A-Rod, 134 games lost for Youkilis, ~75 games lost for Jayson Nix, 101 games for Granderson, entire season for Michael Pineda, , 2 things need to happen… We need new medical trainers, and Girardi didn’t do a half bad job considering all the injuries and scrubs who filled in as replacements… not to mention the fact there really aren’t options out there for a new manager, Girardi (I know I’ll get heat for this) should be retained.

Now, Considering we have a declining CC and will be losing Pettitte and likely Kuroda as well as Mariano in the end, we are looking at a pitching staff that will likely be far worse than this year. This team finished with a 1.31 WHIP (18th in MLB, 7th in AL), an ERA of 3.94 (18th in MLB, 8th in AL), 84 Quality Starts (17th in MLB, 7th in AL), had an 0.318 OBP (16th in MLB, 7th in AL), 0.413 SLG (23rd in MLB, 10th in AL), 2.82 K/BB was 26th in MLB/14th in AL, we were 5th in MLB/3rd in AL in saves with 49, but with the loss of Mariano, that will likely fall, Conversely, we only had 13 blown saves all year (tied with 2 other teams and only 1 better than us) and this will also likely be worse without Mariano… I think these will all be worse…

Compare that to the hitting who without Cano and A-Rod will suffer… 650 runs scored (203 less than the leader/16th in MLB/10th in AL), 0.242 team batting average (tied for 24th in MLB/tied for 12th in AL), 0.307 OBP (23rd in MLB/12th in AL), 0.376 SLG (27th in MLB/14th in AL), 144 HR (22nd in MLB/14th in AL), 1214 K’s (only 13 teams worse in MLB/6 teams worse in AL), 466 BBs (19th in MLB/10th in AL), 415 Extra Base Hits (27th in MLB/13th in AL), only hit a HR once every 37.8 at bats (tied for 21st in MLB/13th in AL)

Now they were good at fielding… only 2 teams (Baltimore and Tampa Bay) had fewer errors. Take out the 14 that Nunez had (12 in only 75 games played at SS which would project to 26 in a full season) or the 2 Jeter had (in 13 games at SS projecting to 25 as well) that would be even better… and the Yankees combined for 21 (of the 69 total) at SS. Not saying I want to replace Jeter, but Nunez only had 3 HR (projected to just over 5 HRs for a full season) and a 0.260 AVG in 90 games. Jeter had 1 HR in 17 games (projected to about 10 for a full season).

Long term plan, I’d like to see Hank/Hal sell the team as quickly as possible to someone who gives a damn… that combined with a better GM, this team should return to greatness

Thoughts???

 

[Yblue]

How about we start small and fire cashman and whoever is in charge of player development these days.

Until that happens, the rest is useless.

Not sure why you think Cashman will be fired. I have already read an article suggesting Oppenheimer and others will be taking the fall for cashman. I honestly don't not see what the yankees see in him. Probably a lack of any idea of where to go to replace him.

 

[yankeesince59]

...hammer, Jeter's actual salary will be a little higher because of incentives that were in his contract...but there will also be $8.5 Mil coming off the books from the Yanx portion of A J Burnett's contract.

...just sayin'.

 

[Messiah717]

Cashman getting fired would be a great start.

 

[Hammerojustice]

...hammer, Jeter's actual salary will be a little higher because of incentives that were in his contract...but there will also be $8.5 Mil coming off the books from the Yanx portion of A J Burnett's contract.

...just sayin'.

ok... so essentially, even more money is coming off...

and as far as Jeter, those incentives were: "2014 option may increase to $17M based on awards earned in 2011-13: $4M for AL MVP; $2M for 2nd-6th in MVP vote; $1.5M for Silver Slugger; $0.5M each for Gold Glove, ALCS MVP, WS MVP". He didn't win the AL MVP in 2011 or 2012 and won't in 2013, he didn't finish in the top 22 (let alone 2nd - 6th) in 2011, finished 7th in AL MVP voting in 2012, and considering he only played 17 games this year, 4 of which were DH, I doubt he'll finish in the top 25 this year, he didn't win the silver slugger in 2011, but did in 2012. Again, doubt he will in 2013. He didn't win a gold glove either year and won't this year, he didn't win the ALCS MVP either year and obviously won't this year, and didn't win the WS MVP either year and obviously won't this year.

He got $1.5M for the 2012 Silver slugger so his salary next year will be $9.5M rather than $8M...

Factor the extra $1.5M for Jeter and the $8.5M coming off for Burnett and the Yankees have about $142.8M coming off the books... and it might actually be $144.8M as Jeter is getting $2M deferred... "$2M annually deferred without interest, payable each 3/15, 2015-17 (present-day AAV about $16M)"

 

[yankeesince59]

...I gotta believe that DJ will take the same stance as Mo did last after his injury and refuse "to go out like this" so he'll prolly be back, but if he isn't, hey, that's another $10 Mil to spend.

 

[Hammerojustice]

...I gotta believe that DJ will take the same stance as Mo did last after his injury and refuse "to go out like this" so he'll prolly be back, but if he isn't, hey, that's another $10 Mil to spend.

I do agree that he won't want to go out like that and will be back, but if he doesn't come back, it's not an extra $10M, it would be the $9.5M minus the $3M buy out... so it would only be the $6.5M additional to spend...

 

[Rick2583]

I'd like to see Jeter come back. Hell for his last season I'd settle to see a 260 hitting Jeter. As far as your other moves Hammer. I'm on board BUT.......like blue said it starts with Cashman being canned & honestly I just don't see that happening. And as much as Girardi annoys the crap out of me, I pick seeing Cashman go before ANYONE.

 

[yankeesince59]

"If Derek Jeter accepts his player option for 2014 he will cost $15,500,000 (14 AAV+1.5 silver slugger bonus). If Derek Jeter declines his option, he will count as $9,000,000 for 2014, due to the rules of the CBA. Derek Jeter’s $8 million player option for 2014 counts as a guaranteed year and is included in the AAV calculation, which lowered the AAV of Jeter’s deal from $16mm to $14mm. The Yankees will owe $2mm each in back pay for 2011, 2012, and 2013. They will also owe $3mm for his buyout."

 

[Rick2583]

Honestly IMO I don't think this team has to be a 500 team for a few years. The money is there so there's no reason why this team can't improve 10-12 games with the proper FA signings. But we still need to rebuild from within for the future. Our farm system needs a crap load of work.

 

[Hammerojustice]

"If Derek Jeter accepts his player option for 2014 he will cost $15,500,000 (14 AAV+1.5 silver slugger bonus). If Derek Jeter declines his option, he will count as $9,000,000 for 2014, due to the rules of the CBA. Derek Jeter’s $8 million player option for 2014 counts as a guaranteed year and is included in the AAV calculation, which lowered the AAV of Jeter’s deal from $16mm to $14mm. The Yankees will owe $2mm each in back pay for 2011, 2012, and 2013. They will also owe $3mm for his buyout."

Where did you read that???? I thought it was $8M plus the $1.5M...

 

[yankeesince59]

...no, that's his actual salary if he plays next year. But the Lux Tax is figured on the AAV (annual average value) of the players' contract.


http://www.fangraphs.com/blogs/the-effects-of-the-luxury-tax/

 

[Hammerojustice]

ok... interesting..

 

[Majorball]

Part I
Yankees Need to deal with the failures of the farm system and The Organization

Fire Cashman and hire Jeff Luhnow, head of Scouting and Player Development for the St. Louis Cardinals.

Fire Darren Oppenhiemer, Mark Newman and anyone else affiliated with drafting and Player Development

Ludlow, lures top assistants away from St Louis and or hires his people creating a fresh start for all minor leagues.

Secure Joe Girardi now and defuse any Cub/Yankee bidding war for his services.

Jeff Luhnow announces the Yankees have changed their policy of negotiating contracts in season.

Create a minor league mandate that all pitchers learn and throw a change up, like in Tampa.

Part II tomorrow.

 

[yankeesince59]

... ^^^ sorry, but Jeff Luhnow is the GM for the Houston Astros, and has been since 2011.

...and it's Damon Oppenheimer.

 

[Majorball]

... ^^^ sorry, but Jeff Luhnow is the GM for the Houston Astros, and has been since 2011.

...and it's Damon Oppenheimer.

Forgive me, what I meant to inject was former head of scouting for St. Louis and as for Damon, if he would of have done a better job I would of have remembered his first name.

 

[Rick2583]

Forgive me, what I meant to inject was former head of scouting for St. Louis and as for Damon, if he would of have done a better job I would of have remembered his first name.

From everything I'm reading it really doesn't look like Cashman is going anywhere. But scouting definitely needs to be addressed.

 

[yankeesince59]

Forgive me, what I meant to inject was former head of scouting for St. Louis and as for Damon, if he would of have done a better job I would of have remembered his first name.

...and if Luhnow had done a better job with Houston, they wouldn't have lost 111 games this year...and people would remember his name.

...yeah, he's a real difference maker, just what the Yanx need.

... and if he was that influential and crucial to St. Louis' minor leagues and their player development, why did the Cards allow him to leave for Houston?...And how is he now going to "lure top assistants away from St Louis" ?...if he could actually do that, why didn't do that when he took the Houston job?

 

[Majorball]

...and if Luhnow had done a better job with Houston, they wouldn't have lost 111 games this year...and people would remember his name.

...yeah, he's a real difference maker, just what the Yanx need.

... and if he was that influential and crucial to St. Louis' minor leagues and their player development, why did the Cards allow him to leave for Houston?...And how is he now going to "lure top assistants away from St Louis" ?...if he could actually do that, why didn't do that when he took the Houston job?

59, As you know, with a farm system, it may take 3 to 5 years before the system starts producing viable major league quality players. It can be less if a team like Houston continually gets top picks. That point I understand you grasp. So your response is that you don't think that Luhnow is a quality guy capable of creating a successful minor league business model?

 

[yankeesince59]

...no, I don't. There is nothing in his pedigree that shouts "this guy is a difference maker".

...but I'll ask again, if he's such a Baseball Mensa why would the Cards let him slip away?...and how is he going to lure the current Card's staff to the Yanx?...because even if he could, why didn't bring them with him to Houston?

...during your googling, you might also want to research as to when Oppenheimer was given the duties and responsibilities he NOW has.

 

[Majorball]

Unlike you, I don't need to Google and unlike you, I don't drink Geritol. With that said,you must be referring to the mid 2000 draft when he, to almost everyone opinion, had a very productive draft. Now unless you are Cito Culver's dad, you can't be to sold on D. Oppenheimer. To answer your question, why did the Cardinals let him go, John "Mo" Mozeliak was named the Cardinals Senior Vice President and General Manager in October, 2007. He has been successful and Luhnow was blocked. And one more point, you need to Google the Astros and then review all the talent they have in the upper minors. As far as bringing friends and family along, have you ever notice that successful people usually surround themselves with other successful people.

 

[yankeesince59]

Unlike you, I don't need to Google and unlike you, I don't drink Geritol. With that said,you must be referring to the mid 2000 draft when he, to almost everyone opinion, had a very productive draft. Now unless you are Cito Culver's dad, you can't be to sold on D. Oppenheimer. To answer your question, why did the Cardinals let him go, John "Mo" Mozeliak was named the Cardinals Senior Vice President and General Manager in October, 2007. He has been successful and Luhnow was blocked. And one more point, you need to Google the Astros and then review all the talent they have in the upper minors. As far as bringing friends and family along, have you ever notice that successful people usually surround themselves with other successful people.

...don't presume to know anything about me...and you can take your geritol comment and stick it up your ass.

...and evidently you DO need to google because Oppenheimer did not draft Culver, now try again.

...and no, I don't need to know any more about Luhnow any further because I know enough about him to know he got credit for a lot of other people's work. And I'm still waiting for you to tell me why Luhnow didn't lure Card's personnel to Houston?

...and please, just stop with the "I don't need to Google" crap...you do it all the time and you copy and paste other people's words without quoting them or giving them credit, and you did it here too; http://mlb.mlb.com/stl/team/frontoffice_bios/john_mozeliak.jsp ...you copied and pasted the first sentence into your above statement as if it were your own. Isn't the internet wonderful? So again, stop acting like you're the one taking the high road here.



...now, if you want to continue the lame personal insults game, I'll play

 

[Majorball]

What was the Google comment, a compliment? So who in your mind drafted Culver? And to clarify, the Geritol comment I felt was the least offensive, I realize now I don't have to worry about your sensitive side. And as far as cutting a pasting and plagiarism, I simple do it because I thought the purpose was to exchange ideas and topics. So where do you go to to post the stats that you just posted on the other thread, I didn't see you give any credit for that. So if you want to play 59, I'm not afraid of your "I'm fat, your ugly, I can diet wit" !!! And for one more point, who died and made you the moral police... So if you feel I don't respect you, you are wrong. You threw the first barb, I just don't get bullied... Get use to it.

 

[yankeesince59]

...the google comment was a flat out observation and was NOT a personal insult...if you took it that way that's your fault.

...your justification of aping other people's words is BS...you passed those words off as your own and you know it so stop trying to glaze that fact over. If you really don't see the difference in copying and pasting stats vs someone's actual words, you're totally lost.

...you falsely claimed that "unlike me I don't need to google"...I called BS and I pointed out that you stole someone else's words and used them as your own...but according to you that makes me "the moral police"?...lmao......maybe a little whine with those sour grapes?


...and for the 3rd time, are you going to explain why Luhnow didn't already lure Cardinals personnel already and bring them to Houston?....and how are the Yanx suppose to pry him away from Houston?...try answering instead of diverting.

 

[Majorball]

OK, I will try for one final time, I answered all your questions, Obviously Luhnow for whatever the reason that you and I will never know, did not bring his "friends: with him. And I asked you that when you posted the stats on the offense and the averages, about an hour ago, you recalled that from your photographic memory? So please, as they say in the courtroom, asked and answered by me, but not by you, seems like double standards to me. I cut and paste articles all the time for the purpose of putting information on the board for comment. I have a real life that doesn't require me to answer to you. So as I said earlier, I have always respected your input and knowledge, even if I didn't agree with your answer at the time. It promoted more posts and exchanging of many opinions. At least I answer your questions unlike you, who sometimes feels a sense of entitlement when someone disagrees with your opinion.

 

[yankeesince59]

....lmao @ "entitlement"?

...you're the one who brought Luhnow into this and I presented direct questions that you claimed to have answered...I'll be damned if I can find them. Would you be so kind as to "copy and paste" them for me?

1. If he could actually pull it off as you suggested, why didn't Luhnow's Cardinals staff follow him to Houston?

2. If he's such a Baseball Mensa why did the Cardinals let him go to Houston?

3. If he's such a Baseball Mensa, why would Houston allow him to come to the Yanx?

 

[blgridesagain]

Overhaul the farm system ---- The Yankee scouts/instructors and coaches SUCK.
Andy Pettitte has retired.....and he is (as of 10/7/13) the last homegrown Yankee pitcher who has been good enough to be a #1-3 for more than a couple/few years.

Hey '59, want to challenge that?
Be my guest.

The Yankee farm system is a joke.
The Cardinals ------ for example ---- consistently finish near or at first place...yet they continue to bring along good young players INCLUDING pitchers.

And what is Cashman doing about this?

 

[RustySpan]

The main problem I'm seeing with the Yankees is them being a wimpy team, soft, no attitude, no fear, no threat, just a pushover, sure they have guys that can play, but I want guys that can play and push the other team around when they have to, and nothing exposed this lack of cojones this year more than the Boston series, when it was like watching a group of men play ball against their wives, it was a joke.

So I hope they change the clubhouse along with the team, no more nice guys, no more pushovers, be the villains again, I doubt they'll do it because the Yankees are too pretty now, but I wish they would.

 

[Yblue]

The main problem I'm seeing with the Yankees is them being a wimpy team, soft, no attitude, no fear, no threat, just a pushover, sure they have guys that can play, but I want guys that can play and push the other team around when they have to, and nothing exposed this lack of cojones this year more than the Boston series, when it was like watching a group of men play ball against their wives, it was a joke.

So I hope they change the clubhouse along with the team, no more nice guys, no more pushovers, be the villains again, I doubt they'll do it because the Yankees are too pretty now, but I wish they would.

The problem is not some fairytale made up gritty pixie dust. The roster was a mess. Injuries hurt, but the moves to compensate where ridiculous and the utter lack of farm help was an embarassment. The problem is content ownership and an inept GM that let this team rot from its core. I know you dont like to hear it, but thats what it is. Until they fix the player development problem and get a GM with a clue its difficult to expect much to change.

 

[Rick2583]

Many of the Yankees STARTING players this past year wouldn't be bench players for many other teams. I don't think it was so much a case of them having no balls Rusty as it was more a case of just having no talent.