On one hand I feel like oh, no. Alex 3.0. On the hand it’s, holy shit. What a lineup. Wow!

Sherman reports we're "giving up" Castro and some low minors prospects. It's a scary contract and we sure do have too many outfielders, but yikes, what a lineup ...

https://nypost.com/2017/12/09/derek-jeter-conspiracy-theories-are-flooding-twitter/?utm_campaign=iosapp&utm_source=message_app

i love this

I'm firmly in the "wait and see" camp. When the rumors started circulating, I didn't really pay attention. I bought into the fiscal responsibility line (of course, if Ellsbury is included, the Yanks can still stay under the ceiling), and I loved the idea of watching the youth movement, and maybe a parade or two, over the next five years.

But as Alex reminds us, these are the Yankees, and this is what they do.

What does this mean for Clint Frazier? I know the obvious argument, and it's the same one made when a young Alfonso Soriano was sent to Texas as part of the A-Rod deal. I guess Frazier could be the fourth outfielder, which leaves questions about Aaron Hicks.

On the other hand, this could mean Gleyber Torres will be the starting second baseman this spring, and that's not a bad thing. Also, how many teams will be able to bring up their top prospect and give him a starting position in spring training without that move making a single ripple? With all the Smash Brothers frenzy sure to be going on, no one will notice if Torres hits .180 in April.

Finally, there's no way to look at this deal without thinking back to Alex Rodriguez. I don't ever fall in love with these free agents or blockbuster trade targets immediately. It's much more fun to track players through the minors and watch them grow into stars in New York, the way we did in the 90s, and I was hoping this team was going back that model. But I grew to love A-Rod and Moose and CC and Tex, so I'm sure this will turn out the same way.

If you excuse me now, I'm going to head over to lurk on some Red Sox fan sites, just to see how things are going.

Welp, I have been spectacularly wrong on predictions over the past 18+ months, I'm out of the prognostication business.

Snowed this morning, so I stayed in (just an annoying 1/2 inch, enough to make it slippery.) Took the dogs to the park after noon, flipped on the MLB channel. Talk about Stanton -- well, where is he going, wait the Yankees traded for him?! Mind blown.

[4] This all day >;)

[5] I'll give it a go. One of the two will be traded for pitching. They will likely dump Ellsbury somewhere with a bag of cash for a prospect with some sort of upside. Some team is going to need an outfielder and have some on-the-cusp Chad Green type they can't protect.

I doubt this changes their position on Arrieta or Darvish, but they and the Yanks are definitely looking to win now, and if their market doesn't develop by spring, they might be tempted to take a one-year deal to reset their market value. Other than that, the team now has the horses to maintain the engine for quite some time, which would allow Montgomery, Chance Adams, Justus Sheffield and a couple-few others to grow into long-term starters.

Love it, he's 28 and with the cash Miami is sending it will average out to only 26.5 million a year, which is going to seem low after Harper and Machado sign their deals (and Trout extends).

Marlins are really a disgrace though, they should just move to a new city already.

Great move by the Yanks. Next year when everyone is over bidding for Harper they can sit it out or pretend to be interested to drive up the price. Harper will be getting a boatload of dough and Stanton helped the Yanks by forcing the Marlins hand.

Maybe Jeter is still working for the Yanks? Strange, he Ishtar have wanted to stick it to Cashman but this is his first big deal and with the team that retired his #. Interesting.

They have to move Ellsbury but I think they will move Gardner too as his contract is more team friendly. I'm glad they didn't include Frazier but he might be moved for pitching. It would be great if they could make a deal for a young pitcher, a Pineda type deal where they deal a young 5 tool player for an under control pitcher?

Ironically, I turned on MLB channel and they have the home run derby on. All of next year will be like the home run derby at the stadium.

4) I feel the same way and wish they had a team of all home grown guys.

This does not fundamentally change the team in that their offense is a bunch of mashers instead of some guys to knock guys over. The feast or famine offense didn't work for us against the Stros.

8) not sure what I had before it was autocorrected to Ishtar?

[9] I like the flow of 'Ishtar wanted to stick it to Cashman', can be interpreted in many ways.

OMG. Just found out. The line up will be insane.

Interesting.

In the short term, it’s hard to fault the move. Salary is basically a wash, the team will likely get below the luxury tax threshold still, and the lineup is crazy good. They gave up relatively little in terms of prospects.

This will surely mean that hicks or Gardy or (most likely) Frazier is traded, presumably for pitching or a 2b until prospects can fill in. I’ll be bummed, I admit, if Frazier is traded.

In the longrun? Who knows. Yet another endless contract. Yet the AAV, I read, will only be around 20 or 25, which should be relatively inexpensive in a few years. On the other hand, what happens from age 30 on? When will decline kick in, and how steep will it be? If Stanton continues to mash at age 35, great. But those injuries...what kind of longevity can be expected?

I’d see about moving Ellsbury, even if it means munching a lot of salary. Hate to part with Gritner, but maybe it’s time. Getting older so speed is declining.

Can Syndrome play CF?

If so, my preference in terms of trades would be:

Ellsbury >>>>> Gardner >>>>> Frazier

I’d love to move Ellsbury, but I think the Yankees own that one for the duration. It would not entirely surprise me if Ellsbury is released outright, but I can’t see them getting anything of value from him. Gardner’s contract is up at the end of the year (IIRC), and that makes him a less attractive trade option for other teams. My bet is Frazier is traded, leaving Stanton, Judge, and Hicks or Gardner as the starting OF, and Ellsbury and Hicks/Gardner on the bench. Plus Stanton will see a good bit at DH or hurt, giving more time to Hicks/Gardner.

The Yanks should package Frazier and Ellsbury. Make someone take on Ellsbury to get Frazier and maybe the Yanks eat some cash too?

[16] I'd be quite happy if they just released Ellsbury. I'd actually much rather watch Frazier develop than watch Gardner decline, although I'm not suggesting moving Gardie. I bet there's an outfield prospect they could package with Ells to make a deal. Frazier is ready to play right now, should anyone get hurt.

[17] I agree. Gardner is under contract for two more years, but the team can buyout the last year. So in effect, Gardy might be here for only one more year. In that case, it makes sense to hold onto Frazier, either in aaa or on the bench. Heck, even if they keep Gardner for two years, they could transition to Frazier, except...Frazier can’t really play CF.

Leaving that aside, it c9mes down to how much the Yankees are willing to eat on Ellsbury's contract. If they are not willing to release him or pay someone to take him, he becomes a very expensive back up CF.

I would like to hold onto Frazier. I think he is fun to watch play and has high upside. I'm so excited to watch this team this year. I think the strikeouts will be frustrating at times but with a top 6 of Gardner, Judge, Stanton, Sanchez, Gregorious, Bird that is just going to be plain fun to watch.

I just hope the bottom 3 isn't terrible. Right now that is Headley, Hicks, and 2B? Honestly that's not bad. If we can plug in Torres (if he is ready) at 2B that could be quite interesting.

Happy that the Sawks are upset:
http://www.bostonglobe.com/sports/redsox/2017/12/10/giancarlo-stanton-deal-one-more-reason-hate-yankees/13pA6IUojP5ah5VOkWVkhL/story.html

I was reading about how many don't think Stanton will be able to replicate last year's #s.

That might be so but look at his last lineup and the stadium where he was hitting.

This is going to make Bird, Sanchez and Didi better. This will take the heat off Gleyber as a rookie, and now that Judge had an operation on his shoulder, he will be better and healthier, I hope.

20) thanks for sharing. Seeing the Sox unhappy makes me happy,

From a sharp observer on another baseball page:

"This deal is full of odd coincidences. Fourteen years ago, a righthanded power hitter was coming off his age 27 season. He had three years left to his opt-out. He had the biggest contract in baseball history at the time.
The player was involved in a trade that fell through, and no one expected the Yankees to go after him because they already had a star -- their best player -- at his position. But he wound up becoming a Yankee.
His team got a young major league infielder (the Yankees' secondbaseman) for him, along with minor league talent.
All of those circumstances parallel Stanton today.
That player was Alex Rodriguez. The player he changed positions to accommodate was Derek Jeter, now president of the Marlins and head of their baseball operations. The player Rodriguez replaced as the Yankees' 3B? Aaron Boone, now the new manager of the Yankees.
Oh, and that 2003 season was the last time the Marlins went to the playoffs. They won the World Series. Against the Yankees, who had been propelled to that series by the extra-inning, game-ending homerun by Boone."

[22] I'd be quite alright with a repeat of what happened after that particular trade, except for the part with the Yanks blowing a 3-0 ALCS lead of course. That is to say, this team is built to win hopefully for a long, long time.

Jeter's taking a massive beating, of course. Why is what he's doing fundamentally different than what Houston and Cleveland have done to be where they are now, and to a lesser extent Baltimore, Milwaukee and Pittsburgh? Those teams went through a substantial period of rebuilding from the ground up and became contenders. He's cutting bait on Loria's mistakes first and foremost, and up until he did it nobody gave a damn about the people he fired from the front office (though firing a long time scout while he's in the hospital awaiting a kidney transplant is inexplicably daft).

That aside, he's not doing anything any other brand new owner with a finite budget wouldn't do, so maybe because he's future HoFer Derek Jeter late of the New York Yankees, it's okay to dig up as much dirt as possible and drag him to eternity. And it's not an "unpopular opinion" as some would try to justify themselves. So, for all the clumsy processes and decisions that Jeter has gone through and made in his maiden flight as a chief executive, maybe sometimes (more often than not in sports) people in general are just a$$#o!es hoping a guy will fail spectacularly so they can say they were right or whatever.

I say for now it's a win for both sides, just for different eras. The Marlins have been most often mismanaged for decades now, so anything they do now short of pawning all the glass, sticks and bricks in tax-funded Marlins Park is likely a long-overdue improvement.

Mike Axisa at RAB has coaching staff updates.

Likely holdovers are Larry Rothschild as pitching coach and Mike Harkey as bullpen coach, with Marcus Thames stepping up as hitting coach (though there is smalltalk of Kevin Long returning).

[22] Yes, there's so much noise that's basically just Yankee hate. I don't know the Marlins much. Jose Fernandez gave me a new favorite player for a minute. Gotta split. Peace, Will.

[25] Talk aout Yankee haters. Wilbon on PTI yesterday said it's now ok to hate the Yankees again, after cheering on the Baby Boomers last year!

Bye Bye Chase, it's been nice to know you. Enjoy Sand Diego. Sorry to see Mitchell go to. Salary dump time, since reports are that not much is coming back.

[26] I remember reading a letter or article in the NYT sports section in th3 1980s where a Red Sox fan (!) felt pity for Yankees fans because of all the bad teams they had then. That was the worst. Hate me, despise me, loathe me for being a Yankees fan. Just don't pity me.

[28] Totally agree.

I'm wondering who is gonna play third.
There's no real chance Cash is going to try to trade for Machado, is there? Seems like gilding the lily... but oh my god. OMG.

[29] I doubt the Os would deal him within the AL East. But Cash is up to something...

I hope the Yanks either keep Frazier for a year or let Andujar take the job.

It might be tough having Torres and Andujar as starting rookies in the infield but they certainly have enough offensive firepower to provide cover for 2 rookies.

It would also help them to get under the cap and also pay for another (much needed) arm.

I love CC but i think they need a guy to eat up more innings despite the deep bullpen.

They have a bunch of young arms they need to watch and Tanaka will only go 6 innings on his turn for the most part.

[29] Not sure he'd trade for Machado when he could just sign him next year? Imagine a lineup with Judge/Machado/Stanton/Sanchez/Bird...

(29). Count on Cash to reel him in and hold him after this season. And, as sick as it could be, they could still go for Harper next year. They could triple their season ticket prices and sell out every game. Oh, and Yu Darvish next week.

[33] LeBron is a free agent after 2019. Swing a trade for Steph Curry and Dak Prescott, and possibly Renaldo as your fifth starter and Bob's your uncle >;)

"I said 'let's cut to the chase,' not cut Chase," Brian Cashman overheard at the MLB Winter Meetings. ;>)

***

Wouldn't we all love to see what Andujar could do with a significant number big league ABs? It would also be fun to see the ToddFather back. He's just fun to watch.

***

Note on Cashman's Winter Meetings binder "It's the PITCHING, stupid."

[35] - Cashman's view on pitching is why I don't think they'll go for Machado, since the O's want at least one MLB starter and a couple of high-grade pitching prospects.

OTOH, if they O's offer a deal as dumb as Miami.......

[36] The difference between the Orioles and the Marlins is that the O's are not deperate to get rid of Machado for economic relief. Angelos is a cheapskate and just doesn't want to pay what will be the going rate, but he's not in a hurry to get rid of his guy to avoid a pending PR disaster down the line.

Aside from that, they have a better shot at contending than the Marlins ever would next season, plus they still get picks if they give him a QO and he walks anyway. Stanton wasn't going anywhere until Jeter and Company basically dissed him from the moment they arrived; they never spoke to him for days, then tell him that they're not going to add, but subtract, to which Stanton said #MeFirst. Then to make matters worse, they discuss deals with two teams that were not even on his trade list. The Marlins cornered themselves into a rush deal, but the O's don't need to rush.

If I'm Cashman and the Yanks, I wait until either I can fit him in next season or if the O's are desperate to move him. The Yanks don't actually neeeeeed Machado; in fact, less so than they needed Stanton. They really need some groundball workhorse starting pitchers that can give them 200+ innings a season.

The O's aren't a small market team.

Not sure why they can't try to resign Jones and Machado?

Who is the face of your franchise if you don't sign any of your stars?

Camden Yards will sell out when the Sox and Yanks are in town as they turn the park into their 2nd home.

The O's have been competitive.

36) I agree. The Yanks need pitching and should use their resources towards that end.

The Yanks lost 4 guys in the rule 5 draft. More than any other team. Their farm team is the envy of the league right now, and they shouldn't trade off more players for more offense at 3rd.

Machado can come to the Yanks as a FA next year after they reset the cap, if the Yanks are so inclined.

I hope they give the young guys a chance instead though.

Thank you, Mariekson, for being a player that keeps my fandom alive. YessinDD!

Yay, the big guy is back for another year.

Yes cc! And this gives us leverage on any additional deals since we don’t need to add a pitcher as badly now.

Seeing what LA and Atlanta did in their recent trade brings back the question of what lies in store for Ellsbury. Like Adrian Gonzalez, he has no home on the field or in this lineup as a starter, and he's practically buried on the depth chart. His injuries have prevented him from being productive and his price tag is ridiculous. Unlike Gonzalez, he sees fit not to wave his no-trade clause, leaving a contending team (with Gonzalez, an appearance in an epic WS) to go to a rebuilding team (where he might be released in any event). From the looks of it, even if the Yanks were to bite the bullet and eat most of his salary, he doesn't want to leave a good team for an unknown (likely bad).

Which he's entitled to do; the Yanks against all sound advice and public grumbling, overspent on a player who Ray Charles could see was not going to live up to the season he just had, much less play up to the value of the contract, and this after having done the same thing with an even bigger and more expensive albatross. Why would you give up a good thing under the circumstances? Well, for one thing Cashman and company have been very good on making such players feel very uncomfortable and know without actually saying they are not welcome. With that said, if Ellsbury remains on the roster come Opening Day, it'll be very interesting to see what kind of treatment he gets from the new coaching staff and from the front office. Not that I hope they treat him like a pariah, but that's kinda what I've come to expect in these circumstances. Maybe Boone will have a differtent effect on that...

[42] Agree on all points. And extra credit for great Ray Charles drop!

CC is back, now do they sign Frazier to play 3B?

[43] Fraizer wouldn't mind coming back, but neither would Starlin for that matter. I would think (hope?) they wouldn't close the door on a couple more young guys, i.e. Gleyber or Andujar. But he does fill a hole if nothing else. I'd only want him for two years at best, which seems highly unlikely.

It's probably easier to say which teams won'ttry to sign him... Marlins, Astros, Mets, Dodgers, Cubs, Orioles, Braves, Rays... maybe Padres, maybe Royals...

[42, 43] Have y'all seen the Ray's Music Exchange T-shirt from Last Exit to Nowhere?

CC and DD... would be something to have a doubled letter lineup. Looking forward to seeing Carsten Charles pitch in pinstripes and road grays live in '18. yessinDD

Edwin Encarnacion, Freddie Freeman, Gio Gonzalez (or Dillon Gee)... I'd take that >;)

[46] Nice~!