Powered by this salute to the Presidents (at least through Clinton).
- LoHud’s Pete Abe reports that Melky Cabrera and the Yanks have settled on a contract for ’09, avoiding further arbitration-wrangling. Pete also has the details on Brian Bruney’s path to a contract.
- Also at LoHud, Pete notes that Xavier Nady nearly doubled his ’08 salary by signing a one-year deal for $6.55 million.
[My take: Yes he had a nice year, and figured to get a bit of a raise, but a $6.5 million salary may reduce his ability to be traded. Maybe the Pirates want him back?]
- MLB.com covers the Yankee signings.
- Padres’ front office assistant Paul DePodesta has his own blog, and has a post which details the ins and outs of the arbitration process.
- ESPN’s Buster Olney runs down five key injury situations, and (no surprise) … Jorge Posada makes the list.
- Also at ESPN, Rob Neyer responds to Steven Goldman’s analysis of the Yanks’ catching quandary for 2009:
The Yankees’ biggest limit is not their “budget” or the disapproval of owners in Milwaukee and Miami. Their biggest limit is their 25-player roster limit. … But backup catcher? That’s one roster spot that should be completely available. And if you’ve got the Yankees’ “budget,” why not fill every roster spot with a useful player?
What’s more, while Goldman argues the Yankees need a “co-catcher,” there’s also the distinct possibility that they’ll need a catcher, period. If not this year, then next. And next winter the only free-agent catcher worth signing — if he doesn’t re-up with the Indians in the interim — will be Victor Martinez, and it’s not completely clear that he’ll be a catcher for much longer, himself.
[My take: Yes it would be great for the Yanks to have a back-up catcher of some skill on both sides of the equation, but there aren’t that many to be had in the free agent market. A few weeks ago, I broached the topic of going after Martinez after ’09, and you guys (correctly) pointed out that the Indians would be fools not to invoke their $7 million club option for ’10. Robinson Cano and Nady for Russell Martin and a pitching prospect, then ink Orlando Hudson for 2 years, anyone?]
- BaseballAmerica.com has the latest news on recent Minor League Transactions, including this bit on the Yanks:
Signed: RHP Jason Johnson, 1B Shelley Duncan, SS Angel Berroa
Removed from 40-man roster: 1B Shelley DuncanNot only did Mark Teixeira’s signing remove Duncan almost completely from the ‘09 team’s plans, it also cost him his place on the 40-man roster.
- MLB.com notes that Bernie Williams has been included on Puerto Rico’s 45-man provisional WBC roster, so there is still some hope for Bern Baby Bern.
- Andy Hawkins turns 49 today. Simply put, Hawkins was underwhelming in his 2+ seasons with the Yanks (’89-’91). 63 starts, 20-29 record, 581 baserunners allowed in 378 innings and a 5.21 ERA.
- On this date in 1916, the Yankees buy pitcher Nick Cullop from the Kansas City Packers (FL), infielder Joe Gedeon from the Salt Lake Bees (PCL), and infielder Germany Schaefer from Newark Peppers (FL). Schaefer will announce that he is changing his nickname to “Liberty” because of the war. He noticed that “sauerkraut” had been renamed “liberty cabbage”.
[My take: was “liberty cabbage” the inspiration for the (thankfully) temporary renaming of “French Fries” to “Freedom Fries” a few years ago?]
- On this date in 1938, Joe DiMaggio begins a contract holdout that will last for nearly three months. After meeting with Yankees owner Jacob Ruppert and general manager Ed Barrow, DiMaggio rejects a one-year offer of $25,000. DiMaggio counters by asking for $45,000. The holdout will last until April 20, two days after the start of the season.
- On this date in 1953, the BBWAA passes over Joe DiMaggio in his first year of eligibility and elects pitcher Dizzy Dean and outfielder Al Simmons to the Hall of Fame. DiMaggio finished 8th in the voting.
[My take: Imagine the hullabaloo that would have ensued if the Internet and bloggers were around back then …]
[0] The problem is not finding a back-up catcher who is good on both sides of the ball. Pretty much no one has that. The problem is the uncertainty with Posada.
If Posada can catch a reasonable load (and if he hits anything like he used to could of), then a typical BUC is fine. But if Posada can't catch more than 80 or even 100 games, then the BUC becomes essentially another starting catcher. At that point, Molinaesque options will be exposed. Moreover, if there are even deeper concerns that Posada can't really catch at all (even if he can hit), then the team is back to carrying three catchers...which means carrying two Molina-types.
It all hinges on Posada's health, and there is nothing they can do short of somehow signing away someone else's starting catcher.
Any trade for a catcher wouldn't make sense right now because of the investment in and uncertainty surrounding Posada. If Jorge is healthy and able to catch, it would wind up hurting the team if he was reduced to a DH because of the acquisition of someone like Martin, Montero or Salty. Similarly, it would be the waste to trade an asset like Cano (2B with Cano’s dual side potential are probably as rare as good hitting catchers) or Hughes to fill a hole that might not exist.
If it is determined that Posada can not be the Yankees everyday catcher, then, and only then, should they try to address the need. I am pretty sure that any deal that exists now would also exist in Spring Training, or even April. Also, if Posada is shut down again for a significant time, then the Yankees would not only need a short-term solution, but a long-term one as well (unless or Montero can somehow be kept as a catcher). In other words, the Yankees don’t really know what they need at catcher, or even if they need anything at all. I can appreciate the desire to be proactive, but with a position that doesn’t allow for flexibility (i.e., you can stash your CF’er of the future in LF, or move your veteran CF’er to LF, but a similar shuffling of catchers is not possible), a reactionary approach seems to work best, especially when you consider the opportunity costs.
Can someone explain to me why Cervelli doesn't get more love? He's no All-Star but with his OBP he could certainly be a decent co-starter, especially since Baseball America has consistently rated him the top defensive catcher in the organization. If he never hits for power (even as he's only 22), so what?
His minor league career line: .282 .384 .388
Martin's minor league career line: .281 .387 .419
Because of the injury, Cervelli will start the year in AA, but he could move quickly to AAA. By June they'll have a good sense of Jorge's health, and Cervelli could easily be ready. Even if he only gets on base 35% of the time in the majors, that's very helpful in the 9 hole.
[3] T
[3] The difference between Martin's and Cervelli's minor league records is almost 1,000 plate appearances. Also, Cervelli has only had 88 PAs above A+. Because of his needless injury last spring, Cervelli was set back a good deal. This year will probably go a long way into determining whether he fits into the Yankees long-term plans.
@ 5
The point wasn't to say Cervelli == Martin. It was rather to question why folks don't point to Cervelli when they wonder about Yankee plans. As early as last Spring folks were talking about Cervelli winning the backup slot during 2008.
As for his lack of ABs above A+, he now has had about 130 ABs between AA and the Dominican Winter league with similar results.
AA: .315 .432 .384
DWL: .267 .380 .350
He seems to be a guy that gets on-base and can field the position. For a backup, that's pretty good. Forget the long-term, he needn't be any more than that to be helpful as a backup. If he's capable of a .360 - .380 OBP in the majors then he's a legit co-starter with Jorge.
[6] I think the reason the Yankees aren't considering him as a back-up (and why no one points to him as one) is because they want him to get regular playing time in a level above A+, especially after missing most of last year. How he does this year will determine the extent to which he will be in the Yankees plans. Either way, I think it makes much more sense to allow Cervelli to develop in AA/AAA than serve as a back-up.
I agree with Neyer.
If Posada can't catch, he's relegated to part time DHing. You need another bat to make up for the Last Yankee To Homer In Yankee Stadium's woeful lack of production.
If Cano has a great rebound year on offense this problems is less acute, if Cano plays like he did last year and Posada can't play full time, the Yankees are in hot water again.
So many ifs. If I'm cashman I go get another bat, just to be safe.
Is the issue Posada Catching... or Posada throwing up to a certain level?
Posada has a career CS% of 29%. So if he can only throw out 15% now, how much does that difference cost... in comparision to what he offers on offense compared to catcher X?
And if he can't catch (or rather throw), what kind of OPS does he need to be considered a decent DH/PH? 0.850? If in his 'old age', IF he's an .820 OPS guy... is he worth having on the team? A slow footed guy with no defensive position? I think BumRush is correct in that this is a wait and see situation. We can't invest, either $$/trade/roster wise in a REAL catcher UNTIL we know exactly what Po offers... and what we do with him.
The truth is, Po's value is as a starting Catcher. Outside of that, I'm not sure if he makes us a 'better' team.
Ah, the annual "Jim Dean Memorial Thread discussion about finding a BUC and a replacement for Posada". Somewhere, that guy is laughing, because he was right.
Too bad Gregg Zaun is 37, not 34, or he'd be the perfect short-term answer to the problem.
In the meantime, its a shame that Cervelli essentially missed all of last year due to that horrible baserunning incident vs the Rays, otherwise he might be a nearly-ready answer to the problem, instead of one in desperate need of time at AA and AAA.
I wish I had a suggestion, but I really don't. I know the Cards have a young catcher, Brian Anderson, who's best tool seems to be hitting for average and is OK with the glove, but he's blocked by Yadier Molina. Maybe he's obtainable via trade? Those guys need pitching, right?
The other obvious trade target would be one of the Texas trio of catchers, but given what they allegedly asked for from Boston (Buccholz AND Bowden, IIRC), I'm thinking that's not going to happen.
The Yankees should not trade Cano this year while his value is low. If he has a good comeback year, his trade value will increase and the Yanks will be in a win-win situation, whether they keep or trade Cano.
If Posada is unable to catch effectively (note: most pitchers prefer Molina catching), then you trade Nady for a co-catcher, or you bring up Kevin Cash, an able backup with ML experience. The big hit would be missing Posada's bat. If he can still hit with power, then you are forced to DH Posada and likely jettison Nady and Matsui (any takers?).
The NY lineup with the addition of Teixeira to Damon, Jeter, A-Rod et al can carry them offensively this year. Next offseason will be time enough to make a move for another primary catcher.
Another possibility, might be to sign Varitek to a 1 year contract (give Bosox their 4th round pick) as a co-catcher to Posada and trade Molina (or sell him by the pound).
SoCalYankeeFan 8)
And in other news, according to Baseball Musings, Steve Philips is joining the Sunday Night Baseball booth. Must be part of some bailout that's going to make things worse.
Why would the Yanks trade for a BUC when there are plenty on the market? I think given the status of the 40 man roster, any catchers coming to camp will be of the NRI variety.
[11] Is Varitek really that much a better option than Molina? Varitek doesn't play much defense, and he sure as hell can't hit anymore.
First time post, Guys, though I've been reading the blog for ages. I'm sure I'm missing something regarding the catcher situation and perhaps someone can enlighten me. I was thrilled when the team picked up I-Rod last season. Wassup with him? Would he not have been the ideal 'back up' given his defensive skills. I remember reading something right after the season that Posada felt 'uneasy' with him on the roster for 2009. Has he been signed by anyone?
Thanx.
BTW-I'm living in Tampa so not much 'Yankee news' in the papers-no YES network, etc.
[12] Kinda like getting a check for the 25¢ you lost in the payphone...
[12] Steve Phillips?? not sure I can take much more of him anserwing "No Question.." 30 times a night...