Hey, if top-dollar meant more to him than getting stupid-rich, and being a career-Yankee, what can you do? So long, dude. It's been fun.
Now, who be 2b for us?
5) sure thing, but we've sure been spoiled by Robbie's greatness as a powerful hitter and a smooth fielder. Whoever we get is going to be a big dropoff.
[3] Is Omar Infante still in their plans? I don't really believe Kelly Johnson is starting on Opening Day. But I'm quite alright with this development. Though I honestly don't think the Yanks have learned much about overblown long-term contracts...
whatever the Yankees best offer was, it was surely a fuckton of money. So it's disappointing that it wasn't enough for him to stick around, even with the Yankee-immortality bonus (TM) thrown in. He was on his way to Monument Park, and now he's on his way to Seattle.
Let me get this straight, Cano for 24 x 10 is a no-go, but Jacoby Ellsbury for 22 x 7 or 8 is just fine.
I have no clue what the Yanks will look like in 2024, but if you're telling that having Cano represent 1/25 of the roster at that point is the difference between them being good and bad, I don't buy it.
Hate to see Robbie go, but I'd rather see the $240M we're not paying him put into the pitching staff over the next decade. Will end up being a better investment in my opinion.
[12] I think Ellsbury's contract was intended for Robbie, and the idea that Levine/Trost pushed for the Ellsbury signing may have led to the Yanks' hard line on Robbie. Before that, I think Robbie would have been wrapped up at those numbers minus a year or two that could have been options. But I think the Yanks were counting too much on Robbie's market not materializing, and when it did they were resigned to it. The comments coming from the Yanks "sources" and via Cano's dad made it seem like they took a match to the bridge, so it would have been an acrid negotiation regardless (Jeter hinted at this in his previous contract negotiation) that Robbie didn't feel the need to navigate.
Good for him, he got the years he wanted and though he didn't get the $300 mil, $240 is nothing to scoff at. Now to see what kind of SuperDuper Secret Agent Jay-Z has made himself out to be and find out for certain if Robbie was right or wrong to trust him.
12. Most companies undervalue their employees. It's psychological, or power-based... something. It was the same way with Bernie and Posada. Not Jeter or Mariano, but they are def the exception.
20) I don't know how much credit--or blame--Jay Z should get here. He's obviously the big name in Team Cano. Maybe he was a big factor. But I wonder how much was his actual negotiating that helped the deal.
[22] The perception's there, though. When the report first came out that the talks had blown up, it was Jay Z who was faulted. But in the end, he accomplished what he intended, which was to get ten years at big money. Jay-Z is no fool, and he pretty much shielded Cano from the flack when he went after the prize. That's why I'm interested to see what else he does from this point on.
[3] Gardy and pieces to Cincy for Brandon Phillips? Could Kelly Johnson be shifted to third?
[20] I'm guessing that Brodie Van Wagenen, the actual agent from CAA representing Cano, was a bigger factor in getting the deal completed, and that Jay Z was about as much of a "negotiator" here as he was an "owner" of the Nets in Brooklyn.
[24] That sounds right. I wasn't thinking so much that Jay-Z did an amazing negotiating job, as I was thinking that the excoriation he was subject to just a few hours ago now looks pretty stupid.
So now it looks like the Yankees *are* serious about keeping under $189 million, while at the same time throwing tons of money at McCann (not the worst move, I guess) and Ellsbury (this will prove to be an awful contract, I'm sure).
Is anyone confident that this organization has...a plan?
yeah, I don't think there's any question that Cano will continue to be a far more valuable player than Ellsbury for the next 7 years. The Ellsbury-Yankees deal definitely seems dumber than the Cano-Mariners deal, but it's 3 years less guaranteed, and $85 million cheaper so it has that in its favor.
[29] Also consider what value to their respective team they have; Cano is the best hitter the Mariners have right now. Time will tell, but I think Ellsbury's presence has more of an immediate impact on contending than Cano's on each of their teams, meaning Ellsbury pushes the Yanks closer to their objective (winning a championship if all things are equal) than Cano does with the Mariners (unless being relevant is their objective). We're not asking Ellsbury to be the leader or the driving force for the team, just an important cog. Whatever that's worth, I'd rather have a chance at a few championships constituted of lesser parts than a single chance at one with a couple of big pieces; which is what the Yanks unfortunately had fallen into of late.
I agree with most in that I'm disappointed that Cano's gone, but I don't think the Yankees should have paid him that much. What no one seems to be mentioning is what a slap in the face giving Ellsbury that contract was while in the middle of playing hardball with Cano's team. I would have left too!
(32) But what were the Yankees supposed to do? Not work on any contracts while they were negotiating with Cano? And from what it seems, the yearly amount is the same. They were only really playing hardball on the years. Where would the team be right now if they hadn't already signed McCann and Ellsbury? At the end of the day, it's the years that Robbie went for and I don't think the Yanks were up for signing a 10 year deal for a 30 year old player (as good as Cano is). Also Ellsbury's contract would be up when he would be 36/37 years old, McCann's would be up when he would be roughly the same age. I think the Yanks are (wisely) trying to avoid being stuck paying top dollar for 3-5 years of someone's decline phase.
[31] I'm not sure I follow this. Cano is the far better player. Had the Yankees decided to pay him the big bucks rather than Ellsbury, they would be closer to winning a championship than they are now. If Ellsbury is not being asked to the driving force behind a championship team, but only a cog, who is (are) the driving force on the Yankees? How does it work out that paying Ellsbury 22 million/year constitute going after multiple championships with lesser parts, but paying Cano 24 million/year constitute going after a single ring with a few big parts?
I'm not trying to be confrontational. I really don't get what your saying.
As I see it, given that their salaries for the next seven years are virtually identical, the Yankees effectively decided to trade Cano for Ellsbury, and that just makes no sense (to me) from a baseball perspective. Unless the Yankees were really so spooked by the last ywo or three years of the contract that Cano's demanded...or unless they really overestimated what it would cost to get Cano.
[33] They are likely going to pay top dollar for three to four years of Ellsbury's decline phase. They avoided five to seven years of Cano's (likely) decline phase, so on that point I agree with the thrust of your comment. But it misses two other factors. First, Cano is a significantly better player than Ellsbury, so he is more likely (at least in the short run) to play up to the value of his contract. Cano at $24/year is a better deal than Ellsbury at $22. Also, by the time the last few years of Cano's contract comes up, it is doubtful that his $24/year will be top dollar.
Now, I am (in general) happy that the Yankees stood firm on the years. But it seems a little silly to praise the Yankees for holding the line on Cano---or to argue that they were somehow hamstrung by his demands---when they gave 7 or 8 years to a somewhat above average speedster CF.
35) but it's not like the Yankees weren't going to pay both of them big bucks. I'm sure Robbie would have gotten more per year for 7 yrs guaranteed, and probably the same shot at an 8th year that Ellsbury got. I'm guessing the Yankees would have gone to 7 x $27 or $28m (5-$6 million a year more than Ellsbury). $190-$195 total - but not over $200m guaranteed. That is a great offer. Not as great as the Seattle offer, but I think the Yankees were hoping that neighborhood would be good enough for Cano to stick around, and finish his career as a Yankee.
Say Tanaka doesn't post, who do we throw Robbie's presumed contract money at? Garza? It's depressing to me thinking about potential second base replacements knowing they won't stack up to Cano, but Kelly Johnson is definitely not the answer.
Can't help feeling that the Yankees blew this. Cano gets more money but misses out on all that comes from being a lifetime Yankee and being in New York. That had to be worth a lot. Yanks failed to leverage it. Feels like a lose-lose.
[37] So you think the Yankees were prepared to pay both Ellsbury and Cano (and thus not make the alleged $189 budget), but were simply unwilling to match Seattle's offer in terms of years and total value of contract?
Perhaps. I still think they went for Ellsbury and punted Cano, perhaps because they figured he would never sign for as little as he did (annual value-wise).
[36] While I agree that Cano is the better player, if he wanted 10 years and that was the sticking point for the team, the money given to Ellsbury doesn't affect that. Cano is getting basically the same $24M per year that the Yanks were offering to pay him. Maybe they would have been willing to give him a few million more a year but it didn't seem like they had any interest in going to ten years.
As for Ellsbury's decline phase - the player he is most like is Johnny Damon (better defense, more speed, less power). Damon was 32 when the Yankees signed him and he was productive for most of his deal. If Ellsbury does that, since we signed him at a younger age than Damon, you are looking at paying for a lot less of his decline than you think.
Not saying that Ellsbury is a replacement for Cano but the McCann deal and the Ellsbury deals combined are almost the same money as Cano's contract. So think of it more like a two for one. Also, while I hate losing Robbie, that money can be spread around to fill a lot of the holes the team still has.
42) yeah, I think they moved in on Ellsbury after coming to a roadblock with Robbie, but would have done both if Robbie would have accepted less than $200m guaranteed for 7. As recently as yesterday Cashman was saying the Yankees offer to Cano was not final.
[43] Yeah, that was one deal I was totally wrong about. I thought for sure Lee would flash out, but he's still among the best, albeit not always the most durable.
[44] I'm not quite sure we should see this as a two-for-one deal (McCann and Ellsbury v. Cano). Since they signed Ellsbury for essentially the same money (annual value for the next seven years) as Cano, they could have had Cano and McCann or Ellsbury and McCann. for whatever reason(s), they ended up with the latter.
Re: the extra years on the contract, it seems like "being on a contender in one's prime, and likely unemployed at age 39" would be preferable to "still playing at age 40&41 but spent a decade on a non-contender."
I know we can't assume that Yanks will always contend and Seattle never will. But still..
Just seems like Cano's decision came mainly from a place of "the Yanks aren't showing any love, screw them. i'm taking the money." I hope for his sake that the Mariners field some good teams over the years. Otherwise, Cano's gonna be regretting.
[38] That's where the trades come in, I think. Do you move Gardner plus someone plus cashg considerations for David Price?
[40] Money was not the issue, I think it was years. Cano got what he wanted. Look at it this way, does it matter for Cano where he gets the money from? Apparently not. What he probably wants is long-term money. Whatever is going on with A-Rod, he's guaranteed money until he's 44 unless he gets thrown out of baseball for life or retires. Cano doesn't have to stay in Seattle for the next ten years and likely won't, but for the next ten years he gets paid regardless. The Yanks wanted to do business on THEIR terms and to THEIR advantage. Look how acrimonious the relationships and dealing had become with the long-term deals that actually were fulfilled; Bernie, Jeter, Posada, Giambi, so-on and dos forth. If you didn't just retire or move on, you got hardballed on money. Swisher wanted a long-term deal for slightly better money, Yanks said good-bye. Damon wanted big money, Yanks said good-bye. Posada wanted big money, Yanks said you take it or leave it, he was pissed when he retired. Jeter wanted more money and years, they told him to check the market, he came back pissed (though exacted some revenge by weasling two million more on his latest contract). They even tried hardballing Mo near the end. It doesn't matter. Ellsbury will not be different in five or eight years; you want more money and more years, have fun on your new team.
The value they invest in the contract today means little eight years from now, because that money won't be as valuable as today's money (unless the US suddenly finds themselves sitting on a massive oil field underneath the continental shelf). What matters to them is that they are not locked into Cano underperforming so badly at or after age 38 that they can't move him if they want to. A-Rod spoiled it for everyone, and maybe they know something we don't. Of course they could have afforded to give him more money than Seattle, but does it really matter? Does his value in the lifespan of that contract equal Jeter or A-Rod at this point? It would have happened if he was the marquee draw, but he wasn't.
That said, the Yanks were typically arrogant in their dealings and it cost them. They burned the bridge down and told him to sign with Seattle. Typical reaction because they couldn't have it their way. The Mariners chairman reportedly "blew up" when Jay Z upped the ante, but then they capitulated. Simple, he got what he wanted. If the Yanks wanted Cano, they would have had him regardless, but they only wanted him on their terms and they lost, so now we see what they do next, and if they prove to not have a "next" then let's lower the boom.
[52] I wonder how much Gardner is worth, trade-wise? He's a free agent after next year, so whoever would be getting him just for one season, unless they work out an extension.
From the Yankees perspective, moving Gardner means a starting OF of Ellsbury and two of the following three: Soriano, Ichiro, Wells. Egads.
This could be more of the chicken and the egg here. The Yanks could have moved on Ellsbury because they saw the Mariners heading past what they were comfortable with. Maybe they thought if they started matching the Mariners, they would go close to $260 or $280 mil.
The Yanks didn't want to get left at the altar and if there plan B was Ellsbury, how do you think that negotiation with Boras would have gone with Cano off the board?
Cano is a special player and likely hall of famer if he keeps up the pace for a few more years and then the inevitable slide. I agree with many pundits that he might be in the conversation of best 2nd baseman ever. There are still a lot of questions and one will be what he hits over the next few years without protection (Not the same as 1 year and playing for a playoff shot). He is also in cavernous stadium as opposed to the Yanks bandbox.
How can we fault Cano for taking likely $60 or 40 mil more than the yanks were offering?
How do we fault the Yanks for not wanting to go to 10 years?
The Mariners needed to land a free agent to entice more. This strikes me as something the Nats did with Jason Werth a few years ago, but Robbie is more special than Werth. If this attracts more FA's to the gloomy Northwest, than it is a win for the Mariners.
Teams now only get one draft pick in compensation for each lost FA who was made a qualifying offer. Cano and Grandy's compensation picks are cancelled out by the signing of McCann and Ellsbury.
60) Or Beltran. And if that gives them a surplus of outfielders maybe they can make a trade for a good starting pitcher. Love them to have someone like Shields right now. Hell, Doug Fister would have been choice, too.
With Robinson going to the flannel wearing, coffee drinking, farm to table side of life, and with Jeter's apparent last year as a player; who will be the leader of this team in 2015 and beyond?
Sorry to see Cano go, but doncha know the Yankees have to reset. If Soo-Choo is coming here, and with the other signings, next year should be interesting. Now about the pitching...
The other thing with Robbie is that he's now going to play half his games in a state without an income tax. With the Yankees there's the state income tax as well as NYC income tax. So even if the Yankees matched, it would be effectively be less money.
[67] Does it really matter? I'm happy for Robbie, I feel Cash and company tried to resign him and Robbie went for the most money and most years. And that is absolutely his right.
I'm glad for the memories Robbie provided, but I'm also glad Robbie's contract was not matched by the Yanks. We got a lot of great years from Robbie, if he can give Seattle the same then the contract is worth it, but I highly doubt that will happen. I would love it if Robbie is able to live up to the contract, he's a good guy and I think he made the right move - if you can make 70 million more then the other offer on the table...great!
A lot of fans on sports radio are really angry at Robbie, I don't get that. He was a free agent and he went after the team that valued him most. All the sentimental crap, those callers that use that excuse should kill the noise. Cash played dice with a lot of beloved players when he had the leverage, Posada, Jeter, Mo, etc. This time the tables were turned and Cano had the leverage. The ying and yang of life.
The Mariners are not in the Yanks division, I would love to see Felix and Cano lead them to a nice playoff run next year. I have nothing against the Mariners and their latte loving fans.
question: if Cano plays ten years with the Mariners after nine with the Yankees and makes the Hall of Fame, he goes to Cooperstown in an Ms hat? I guess it depends on how much he rakes during his first 5 years out West. Call me bitter and scorned, but It doesn't matter to me at this point. He left New York with $175 million dollars on the table, and the chance to be a Yankee-immoral. I would actually prefer he go into the Hall in another uniform.
But here's another question, and I'm wondering if Cano's agents care to ask it: if the Mariners don't surround Robbie with better hitters why would anybody throw him anything resembling a strike?
No time this morning, will read this whole thread later. But I am pissed. The Yankees made it very clear with their disparaging comments that they don't value the best 2B in the game. Cano could have been the second Yankee with 3000 hits.
Seattle has loads of cash, great signing to get a great player in his prime.
71) exactly, and who could blame Winnie after the way he was treated by George?
as far as I can see, the worst thing the Steinbrothers ever did to Cano was offer him only $25 million dollars a year through 2020.
[67] Does it really matter? I'm happy for Robbie, I feel Cash and company tried to resign him and Robbie went for the most money and most years. And that is absolutely his right.
I'm glad for the memories Robbie provided, but I'm also glad Robbie's contract was not matched by the Yanks. We got a lot of great years from Robbie, if he can give Seattle the same then the contract is worth it, but I highly doubt that will happen. I would love it if Robbie is able to live up to the contract, he's a good guy and I think he made the right move - if you can make 70 million more then the other offer on the table...great!
Well said, and about my sentiments exactly.
I bear no animus towards Robbie for taking that deal and I have no criticism towards the Yankees for not matching it (signing Taco Bellsbury for 7/153, on the other hand ...)
[67] ITA! No matter the sport, the bitter sports fan spiel when a players goes elsewhere gets on my damn nerves. Robbie played hard, helped win a World Series, and managed to stay out of the steroids mess of his good friend, Alex Rodriguez. Now, he is a free agent and gets to choose where he plays. WTH is the problem?
I enjoyed watching Robbie play and wish him well (except when he plays the Yankees of course).
Yankees just lost their best offensive player (by far), but somehow found the money to pay for a 30yr old catcher and 30 yr old speedy outfielder. Makes no damn sense.
The Yankees offered a deal that was, frankly, fair to both sides, a higher AAV to benefit the player and a shorter contract, to protect the team.
Robinson chose to take a lesser AAV and longer contract, rather than take the shorter deal and conceivably go back on the market again for another contract towards the end of his career. Maybe he optimized his monetary potential with this choice, maybe, given revenue increases in MLB, he's left money on the table.
Who knows and we won't find out for a while.
But the idea that somehow the Yankees weren't serious in their effort to sign Robinson and that they should have blindly thrown more money to top whatever nonsensical contract Seattle was willing to offer is just silly.
Again, to match Seattle, given the disparities in taxation between NYC and Seattle, they'd have had to added 25-30 million to the overall value of the contract. PLUS, since the Yankees are over the revenue sharing threshold every year (almost), Cano's contract costs them even more than that.
As RagingTartabull said, waaaaaaay back in [4], I imagine this what it must have felt like in St. Louis after Pujols left ...
It's not just the loss of productivity, obviously, or even a player I'm emotionally invested in that hurts (though it does), it's the continuity issue. Losing Andy and Mo and (imminently) Derek...
[74] Well, that was not my point exactly. Winfield played more games for the Yankees than he did with the Padres, and he was arguably more notable as a Yankee (though he was maybe a better player in SD). At the end of the day, though, he put SD on his Cooperstown hat. If the time comes for Cano to make the same decision, more factors than simply how many years (or games) he played with one team or the other will factor in.
[80]As RagingTartabull said, waaaaaaay back in [4], I imagine this what it must have felt like in St. Louis after Pujols left ...
There is one major difference, though. Pujols was arguably the best player for St. Louis ever, and easily one of the top two. Cano played for an organization historically top heavy with all-time greats. So as much as it might hurt the current generation to lose "their" best, home grown player, the loss of Cano is insulated by an organizational history that includes Ruth (who the Yankees traded!), Mantle, Di MAggio, Berra, Dickey, Jeter, etc.
Cano was my favorite Yankee in recent years.To me there was nothing not to like about him.
He was a great player to watch night after night, year after year. Even if the Yankees had a bad season, he had a good one. I grew up as a right-throw/bat-left second baseman, a Willie Randolph disciple. Robbie (aside from Mo, who was not an everyday player) was the pride of the Yankees in recent years. The best 2nd baseman in the League.
I'm bummed to see him go, but I'm not sorry about it. The Yankees offer was beyond reasonable. It was generous, respectful, and appreciative. Cano wanted more, and took it. Nah, I don't begrudge him. It's just business.
I wish him a lifetime of health, happiness, and fourth place finishes. Heh.
[72]Cano could have been the second Yankee with 3000 hits.
I think the odds of this coming about are relatively low. He's already 30 and has "only" 1649 hits. His season-high was 204 and his 162-game average for his career is 194. If he *averages* 200 hits for the life of his 10-year contract, he'll only crack 3000-hits in the final season, when he's 40.
Actually, this may explain, in part, his desire to take a lower average salary to play in Seattle. Many here have commented that Cano has sacrificed his "legacy" by swapping teams (i.e., he will not be a lifetime Yankee immortal or what have you). But had he taken a shorter contract to remain with the Yankees, he would have potentially lowered his chances to reach counting stat plateaus (who is going to hire a 38 y.o. former great 2B?). Those guaranteed years may improve his shot at 3000 hits, which will make him immortal no matter what uniform he wears. Maybe he even gets a crack at 400 HRs.
Cano getting to 400hrs/3000 hits would be amazing. Such a shame not in pinstripes..
The kids 'dancing' to Japanese Pop hits now..good God, is it inappropriate to drink vodka at a kids performance?? And if course, Jazz Jrs group comes last..
Not super, but certainly good, I think the bat will play very well in NYS, and, frankly, I've wanted Beltran on the Yankees as long as he's wanted to be a Yankee.
good, so I'm not the only person who's basically OK with this
Concur. Love to watch him, but 10 years at 24 per?
Good luck Robbie, enjoy the weather. Maybe JZ can get them to change the name of that coffee company to Cano's
Hey, if top-dollar meant more to him than getting stupid-rich, and being a career-Yankee, what can you do? So long, dude. It's been fun.
Now, who be 2b for us?
this must be what it felt like to be a Cardinals fan when the Pujols deal went down
[3] with the money we're NOT paying him, there are options.
5) sure thing, but we've sure been spoiled by Robbie's greatness as a powerful hitter and a smooth fielder. Whoever we get is going to be a big dropoff.
This blows.
3) They signed Kelly Johnson yesterday. And I think the St. Louis-Pujols comp is apt.
[3] Is Omar Infante still in their plans? I don't really believe Kelly Johnson is starting on Opening Day. But I'm quite alright with this development. Though I honestly don't think the Yanks have learned much about overblown long-term contracts...
remember, the AAV is basically the same. So this is about years. And seriously, Robbie I love ya...but GTFO with 10 years. I'm sorry.
whatever the Yankees best offer was, it was surely a fuckton of money. So it's disappointing that it wasn't enough for him to stick around, even with the Yankee-immortality bonus (TM) thrown in. He was on his way to Monument Park, and now he's on his way to Seattle.
Let me get this straight, Cano for 24 x 10 is a no-go, but Jacoby Ellsbury for 22 x 7 or 8 is just fine.
I have no clue what the Yanks will look like in 2024, but if you're telling that having Cano represent 1/25 of the roster at that point is the difference between them being good and bad, I don't buy it.
I will miss watching him but in a short time he will learn that he has been used by a new agency to make their bones. Time to move on.
I've got no problem with Robbie chasing down every last dollar he can, it's great to be a free market capitalist. I also wouldn't pay that much.
Mets signing Grandy to a 4-year deal.
Hate to see Robbie go, but I'd rather see the $240M we're not paying him put into the pitching staff over the next decade. Will end up being a better investment in my opinion.
Grandy too. Man. At least he's in NY and I can still watch him.
12) Jon, I think you bring up a really fair point there.
[12] I think Ellsbury's contract was intended for Robbie, and the idea that Levine/Trost pushed for the Ellsbury signing may have led to the Yanks' hard line on Robbie. Before that, I think Robbie would have been wrapped up at those numbers minus a year or two that could have been options. But I think the Yanks were counting too much on Robbie's market not materializing, and when it did they were resigned to it. The comments coming from the Yanks "sources" and via Cano's dad made it seem like they took a match to the bridge, so it would have been an acrid negotiation regardless (Jeter hinted at this in his previous contract negotiation) that Robbie didn't feel the need to navigate.
Good for him, he got the years he wanted and though he didn't get the $300 mil, $240 is nothing to scoff at. Now to see what kind of SuperDuper Secret Agent Jay-Z has made himself out to be and find out for certain if Robbie was right or wrong to trust him.
Damn.
The radio this morning was saying the Mariners negotiation was kaput. I guess they basically caved to Jay-Z.
12. Most companies undervalue their employees. It's psychological, or power-based... something. It was the same way with Bernie and Posada. Not Jeter or Mariano, but they are def the exception.
20) I don't know how much credit--or blame--Jay Z should get here. He's obviously the big name in Team Cano. Maybe he was a big factor. But I wonder how much was his actual negotiating that helped the deal.
21) And Andy too that time.
[22] The perception's there, though. When the report first came out that the talks had blown up, it was Jay Z who was faulted. But in the end, he accomplished what he intended, which was to get ten years at big money. Jay-Z is no fool, and he pretty much shielded Cano from the flack when he went after the prize. That's why I'm interested to see what else he does from this point on.
[3] Gardy and pieces to Cincy for Brandon Phillips? Could Kelly Johnson be shifted to third?
[20] I'm guessing that Brodie Van Wagenen, the actual agent from CAA representing Cano, was a bigger factor in getting the deal completed, and that Jay Z was about as much of a "negotiator" here as he was an "owner" of the Nets in Brooklyn.
[24] That sounds right. I wasn't thinking so much that Jay-Z did an amazing negotiating job, as I was thinking that the excoriation he was subject to just a few hours ago now looks pretty stupid.
come with me to the edge of the cliff and take a look. man, it's a long drop from Robinson Cano to Kelly Johnson.
[12] Bingo! We have another winner!
So now it looks like the Yankees *are* serious about keeping under $189 million, while at the same time throwing tons of money at McCann (not the worst move, I guess) and Ellsbury (this will prove to be an awful contract, I'm sure).
Is anyone confident that this organization has...a plan?
yeah, I don't think there's any question that Cano will continue to be a far more valuable player than Ellsbury for the next 7 years. The Ellsbury-Yankees deal definitely seems dumber than the Cano-Mariners deal, but it's 3 years less guaranteed, and $85 million cheaper so it has that in its favor.
I really hate doing this self-promotion thing, but if things slow down today, there's a bonus Where & When game (24) from this morning.
[29] Also consider what value to their respective team they have; Cano is the best hitter the Mariners have right now. Time will tell, but I think Ellsbury's presence has more of an immediate impact on contending than Cano's on each of their teams, meaning Ellsbury pushes the Yanks closer to their objective (winning a championship if all things are equal) than Cano does with the Mariners (unless being relevant is their objective). We're not asking Ellsbury to be the leader or the driving force for the team, just an important cog. Whatever that's worth, I'd rather have a chance at a few championships constituted of lesser parts than a single chance at one with a couple of big pieces; which is what the Yanks unfortunately had fallen into of late.
I agree with most in that I'm disappointed that Cano's gone, but I don't think the Yankees should have paid him that much. What no one seems to be mentioning is what a slap in the face giving Ellsbury that contract was while in the middle of playing hardball with Cano's team. I would have left too!
(32) But what were the Yankees supposed to do? Not work on any contracts while they were negotiating with Cano? And from what it seems, the yearly amount is the same. They were only really playing hardball on the years. Where would the team be right now if they hadn't already signed McCann and Ellsbury? At the end of the day, it's the years that Robbie went for and I don't think the Yanks were up for signing a 10 year deal for a 30 year old player (as good as Cano is). Also Ellsbury's contract would be up when he would be 36/37 years old, McCann's would be up when he would be roughly the same age. I think the Yanks are (wisely) trying to avoid being stuck paying top dollar for 3-5 years of someone's decline phase.
[11] You are so right. Robbie had a chance to be the GOAT Yankee at 2nd. Now he's Lost in Seattle.
[31] I'm not sure I follow this. Cano is the far better player. Had the Yankees decided to pay him the big bucks rather than Ellsbury, they would be closer to winning a championship than they are now. If Ellsbury is not being asked to the driving force behind a championship team, but only a cog, who is (are) the driving force on the Yankees? How does it work out that paying Ellsbury 22 million/year constitute going after multiple championships with lesser parts, but paying Cano 24 million/year constitute going after a single ring with a few big parts?
I'm not trying to be confrontational. I really don't get what your saying.
As I see it, given that their salaries for the next seven years are virtually identical, the Yankees effectively decided to trade Cano for Ellsbury, and that just makes no sense (to me) from a baseball perspective. Unless the Yankees were really so spooked by the last ywo or three years of the contract that Cano's demanded...or unless they really overestimated what it would cost to get Cano.
[33] They are likely going to pay top dollar for three to four years of Ellsbury's decline phase. They avoided five to seven years of Cano's (likely) decline phase, so on that point I agree with the thrust of your comment. But it misses two other factors. First, Cano is a significantly better player than Ellsbury, so he is more likely (at least in the short run) to play up to the value of his contract. Cano at $24/year is a better deal than Ellsbury at $22. Also, by the time the last few years of Cano's contract comes up, it is doubtful that his $24/year will be top dollar.
Now, I am (in general) happy that the Yankees stood firm on the years. But it seems a little silly to praise the Yankees for holding the line on Cano---or to argue that they were somehow hamstrung by his demands---when they gave 7 or 8 years to a somewhat above average speedster CF.
35) but it's not like the Yankees weren't going to pay both of them big bucks. I'm sure Robbie would have gotten more per year for 7 yrs guaranteed, and probably the same shot at an 8th year that Ellsbury got. I'm guessing the Yankees would have gone to 7 x $27 or $28m (5-$6 million a year more than Ellsbury). $190-$195 total - but not over $200m guaranteed. That is a great offer. Not as great as the Seattle offer, but I think the Yankees were hoping that neighborhood would be good enough for Cano to stick around, and finish his career as a Yankee.
Say Tanaka doesn't post, who do we throw Robbie's presumed contract money at? Garza? It's depressing to me thinking about potential second base replacements knowing they won't stack up to Cano, but Kelly Johnson is definitely not the answer.
Can't help feeling that the Yankees blew this. Cano gets more money but misses out on all that comes from being a lifetime Yankee and being in New York. That had to be worth a lot. Yanks failed to leverage it. Feels like a lose-lose.
[38] who do we throw Robbie's presumed contract money at...?
Ellsbury.
Cashman saying recently that Ellsbury's deal didn't preclude them from still signing Robbie was all bluster?
[37] So you think the Yankees were prepared to pay both Ellsbury and Cano (and thus not make the alleged $189 budget), but were simply unwilling to match Seattle's offer in terms of years and total value of contract?
Perhaps. I still think they went for Ellsbury and punted Cano, perhaps because they figured he would never sign for as little as he did (annual value-wise).
Thank god we didn't get Cliff Lee, imagine what that deal will look like in 2014 and 2015.
Wait, what year is it again?
[36] While I agree that Cano is the better player, if he wanted 10 years and that was the sticking point for the team, the money given to Ellsbury doesn't affect that. Cano is getting basically the same $24M per year that the Yanks were offering to pay him. Maybe they would have been willing to give him a few million more a year but it didn't seem like they had any interest in going to ten years.
As for Ellsbury's decline phase - the player he is most like is Johnny Damon (better defense, more speed, less power). Damon was 32 when the Yankees signed him and he was productive for most of his deal. If Ellsbury does that, since we signed him at a younger age than Damon, you are looking at paying for a lot less of his decline than you think.
Not saying that Ellsbury is a replacement for Cano but the McCann deal and the Ellsbury deals combined are almost the same money as Cano's contract. So think of it more like a two for one. Also, while I hate losing Robbie, that money can be spread around to fill a lot of the holes the team still has.
{41} Who knows, but what else could he say?
(45) You're right. Nothing, I guess.
42) yeah, I think they moved in on Ellsbury after coming to a roadblock with Robbie, but would have done both if Robbie would have accepted less than $200m guaranteed for 7. As recently as yesterday Cashman was saying the Yankees offer to Cano was not final.
[43] Yeah, that was one deal I was totally wrong about. I thought for sure Lee would flash out, but he's still among the best, albeit not always the most durable.
[44] I'm not quite sure we should see this as a two-for-one deal (McCann and Ellsbury v. Cano). Since they signed Ellsbury for essentially the same money (annual value for the next seven years) as Cano, they could have had Cano and McCann or Ellsbury and McCann. for whatever reason(s), they ended up with the latter.
Re: the extra years on the contract, it seems like "being on a contender in one's prime, and likely unemployed at age 39" would be preferable to "still playing at age 40&41 but spent a decade on a non-contender."
I know we can't assume that Yanks will always contend and Seattle never will. But still..
Just seems like Cano's decision came mainly from a place of "the Yanks aren't showing any love, screw them. i'm taking the money." I hope for his sake that the Mariners field some good teams over the years. Otherwise, Cano's gonna be regretting.
49) or all three of them in the same Yankee lineup, serving as the defenive spine of the team up the middle. But Robbie needed more money.
[38] That's where the trades come in, I think. Do you move Gardner plus someone plus cashg considerations for David Price?
[40] Money was not the issue, I think it was years. Cano got what he wanted. Look at it this way, does it matter for Cano where he gets the money from? Apparently not. What he probably wants is long-term money. Whatever is going on with A-Rod, he's guaranteed money until he's 44 unless he gets thrown out of baseball for life or retires. Cano doesn't have to stay in Seattle for the next ten years and likely won't, but for the next ten years he gets paid regardless. The Yanks wanted to do business on THEIR terms and to THEIR advantage. Look how acrimonious the relationships and dealing had become with the long-term deals that actually were fulfilled; Bernie, Jeter, Posada, Giambi, so-on and dos forth. If you didn't just retire or move on, you got hardballed on money. Swisher wanted a long-term deal for slightly better money, Yanks said good-bye. Damon wanted big money, Yanks said good-bye. Posada wanted big money, Yanks said you take it or leave it, he was pissed when he retired. Jeter wanted more money and years, they told him to check the market, he came back pissed (though exacted some revenge by weasling two million more on his latest contract). They even tried hardballing Mo near the end. It doesn't matter. Ellsbury will not be different in five or eight years; you want more money and more years, have fun on your new team.
The value they invest in the contract today means little eight years from now, because that money won't be as valuable as today's money (unless the US suddenly finds themselves sitting on a massive oil field underneath the continental shelf). What matters to them is that they are not locked into Cano underperforming so badly at or after age 38 that they can't move him if they want to. A-Rod spoiled it for everyone, and maybe they know something we don't. Of course they could have afforded to give him more money than Seattle, but does it really matter? Does his value in the lifespan of that contract equal Jeter or A-Rod at this point? It would have happened if he was the marquee draw, but he wasn't.
That said, the Yanks were typically arrogant in their dealings and it cost them. They burned the bridge down and told him to sign with Seattle. Typical reaction because they couldn't have it their way. The Mariners chairman reportedly "blew up" when Jay Z upped the ante, but then they capitulated. Simple, he got what he wanted. If the Yanks wanted Cano, they would have had him regardless, but they only wanted him on their terms and they lost, so now we see what they do next, and if they prove to not have a "next" then let's lower the boom.
I think both Robbie and Grandy are losses, but the Yankees go on.
[52] I wonder how much Gardner is worth, trade-wise? He's a free agent after next year, so whoever would be getting him just for one season, unless they work out an extension.
From the Yankees perspective, moving Gardner means a starting OF of Ellsbury and two of the following three: Soriano, Ichiro, Wells. Egads.
[52] I co-sign pretty much all of this.
How about getting rid of Cano and Alex in one fell swoop. They didn't want either of them. Remember Alex telling the Yanks to sign him?
Grandy goes to the Mets. Oh how I despise strike outs. Is this two draft picks? I will live with the outfield. So, so arms, but who cares?
Now, onward to a pitcher.
It is really too bad that the Yankees did not wise up when they had a similar dilemma with Alex Rodriguez.
This could be more of the chicken and the egg here. The Yanks could have moved on Ellsbury because they saw the Mariners heading past what they were comfortable with. Maybe they thought if they started matching the Mariners, they would go close to $260 or $280 mil.
The Yanks didn't want to get left at the altar and if there plan B was Ellsbury, how do you think that negotiation with Boras would have gone with Cano off the board?
Cano is a special player and likely hall of famer if he keeps up the pace for a few more years and then the inevitable slide. I agree with many pundits that he might be in the conversation of best 2nd baseman ever. There are still a lot of questions and one will be what he hits over the next few years without protection (Not the same as 1 year and playing for a playoff shot). He is also in cavernous stadium as opposed to the Yanks bandbox.
How can we fault Cano for taking likely $60 or 40 mil more than the yanks were offering?
How do we fault the Yanks for not wanting to go to 10 years?
The Mariners needed to land a free agent to entice more. This strikes me as something the Nats did with Jason Werth a few years ago, but Robbie is more special than Werth. If this attracts more FA's to the gloomy Northwest, than it is a win for the Mariners.
[56] Is this two draft picks...?
Teams now only get one draft pick in compensation for each lost FA who was made a qualifying offer. Cano and Grandy's compensation picks are cancelled out by the signing of McCann and Ellsbury.
So, no draft picks.
[54] Not if they sign Shin Soo-Choo, which is a possibility now.
[57] They did, but then Alex went over Cashman's head to the idiot brother and the rest is history.
60) Or Beltran. And if that gives them a surplus of outfielders maybe they can make a trade for a good starting pitcher. Love them to have someone like Shields right now. Hell, Doug Fister would have been choice, too.
With Robinson going to the flannel wearing, coffee drinking, farm to table side of life, and with Jeter's apparent last year as a player; who will be the leader of this team in 2015 and beyond?
Sorry to see Cano go, but doncha know the Yankees have to reset. If Soo-Choo is coming here, and with the other signings, next year should be interesting. Now about the pitching...
This feels appropriate today
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bZgtMchcOy0
[62] McCann, most likely.
Jay Zero better not wear that Yankees cap again.
And he better change the words to New York State of Mind.
Still on the fence about Beyonce, though
The other thing with Robbie is that he's now going to play half his games in a state without an income tax. With the Yankees there's the state income tax as well as NYC income tax. So even if the Yankees matched, it would be effectively be less money.
Hope ya like losing, Robbie. Hope you like it a lot.
[67] Does it really matter? I'm happy for Robbie, I feel Cash and company tried to resign him and Robbie went for the most money and most years. And that is absolutely his right.
I'm glad for the memories Robbie provided, but I'm also glad Robbie's contract was not matched by the Yanks. We got a lot of great years from Robbie, if he can give Seattle the same then the contract is worth it, but I highly doubt that will happen. I would love it if Robbie is able to live up to the contract, he's a good guy and I think he made the right move - if you can make 70 million more then the other offer on the table...great!
A lot of fans on sports radio are really angry at Robbie, I don't get that. He was a free agent and he went after the team that valued him most. All the sentimental crap, those callers that use that excuse should kill the noise. Cash played dice with a lot of beloved players when he had the leverage, Posada, Jeter, Mo, etc. This time the tables were turned and Cano had the leverage. The ying and yang of life.
The Mariners are not in the Yanks division, I would love to see Felix and Cano lead them to a nice playoff run next year. I have nothing against the Mariners and their latte loving fans.
question: if Cano plays ten years with the Mariners after nine with the Yankees and makes the Hall of Fame, he goes to Cooperstown in an Ms hat? I guess it depends on how much he rakes during his first 5 years out West. Call me bitter and scorned, but It doesn't matter to me at this point. He left New York with $175 million dollars on the table, and the chance to be a Yankee-immoral. I would actually prefer he go into the Hall in another uniform.
But here's another question, and I'm wondering if Cano's agents care to ask it: if the Mariners don't surround Robbie with better hitters why would anybody throw him anything resembling a strike?
69) a Yankee-immoral. Heh. Good one, Sliced!
[69] if Cano plays ten years with the Mariners after nine with the Yankees and makes the Hall of Fame...
WWDWD?
(What would Dave Winfield do?)
No time this morning, will read this whole thread later. But I am pissed. The Yankees made it very clear with their disparaging comments that they don't value the best 2B in the game. Cano could have been the second Yankee with 3000 hits.
Seattle has loads of cash, great signing to get a great player in his prime.
Freaking Steinbrenners and Cashman. 'Eff em.
Hey guys!
Been at work all day, what's going on?
Did I miss something???
71) exactly, and who could blame Winnie after the way he was treated by George?
as far as I can see, the worst thing the Steinbrothers ever did to Cano was offer him only $25 million dollars a year through 2020.
[67] Does it really matter? I'm happy for Robbie, I feel Cash and company tried to resign him and Robbie went for the most money and most years. And that is absolutely his right.
I'm glad for the memories Robbie provided, but I'm also glad Robbie's contract was not matched by the Yanks. We got a lot of great years from Robbie, if he can give Seattle the same then the contract is worth it, but I highly doubt that will happen. I would love it if Robbie is able to live up to the contract, he's a good guy and I think he made the right move - if you can make 70 million more then the other offer on the table...great!
Well said, and about my sentiments exactly.
I bear no animus towards Robbie for taking that deal and I have no criticism towards the Yankees for not matching it (signing Taco Bellsbury for 7/153, on the other hand ...)
[67] ITA! No matter the sport, the bitter sports fan spiel when a players goes elsewhere gets on my damn nerves. Robbie played hard, helped win a World Series, and managed to stay out of the steroids mess of his good friend, Alex Rodriguez. Now, he is a free agent and gets to choose where he plays. WTH is the problem?
I enjoyed watching Robbie play and wish him well (except when he plays the Yankees of course).
Yankees just lost their best offensive player (by far), but somehow found the money to pay for a 30yr old catcher and 30 yr old speedy outfielder. Makes no damn sense.
Makes plenty of sense, 10/240 is ludicrous, even if they *hadn't* signed McCann and Ellsbury.
Just because someone's willing to do something incredibly stupid, doesn't mean you're obligated to do something even dumber ...
[78] The Yankees print money, 10/240 is easily affordable. The point is to win games, not the WAR/$ race. (Hat tip to Jonah Keri for that line!)
It weren't the money, honey, it were the years.
The Yankees offered a deal that was, frankly, fair to both sides, a higher AAV to benefit the player and a shorter contract, to protect the team.
Robinson chose to take a lesser AAV and longer contract, rather than take the shorter deal and conceivably go back on the market again for another contract towards the end of his career. Maybe he optimized his monetary potential with this choice, maybe, given revenue increases in MLB, he's left money on the table.
Who knows and we won't find out for a while.
But the idea that somehow the Yankees weren't serious in their effort to sign Robinson and that they should have blindly thrown more money to top whatever nonsensical contract Seattle was willing to offer is just silly.
Again, to match Seattle, given the disparities in taxation between NYC and Seattle, they'd have had to added 25-30 million to the overall value of the contract. PLUS, since the Yankees are over the revenue sharing threshold every year (almost), Cano's contract costs them even more than that.
As RagingTartabull said, waaaaaaay back in [4], I imagine this what it must have felt like in St. Louis after Pujols left ...
I just heard. I'm in shock. I can't believe it. I feel like crying. It doesn't seem real.
Omg.
Curtis, too?
God.
Who's on this team, exactly?
80) at my boys school talent show ('talent' being relative term..) will read everything later.
(81,82) Agreed. I love Robbie. So bummed to lose him.
[82] We just signed Brendan "Megan's Law" Ryan to a one-year deal!
at my boys school talent show ('talent' being relative term..)
Tell him until he improves, he'll have to eat natto every night for dinner!
It's not just the loss of productivity, obviously, or even a player I'm emotionally invested in that hurts (though it does), it's the continuity issue. Losing Andy and Mo and (imminently) Derek...
I just don't like too much change all at once.
Suddenly I feel a lot older.
Also, I never saw this coming. It literally never occurred to me he wouldn't remain a Yankee. I feel so blindsided.
85 The 'Aladdin' themed 5yr old skit is out if the 1930s Disney school of racial stereotyping...Sigh...
My boy is dancing to Michael Jackson later, he rocks. And natto is punishment for ME, he loves it
:(
And oddly, as transfixing as I find those opposite field line drives when he's on, I think I'll miss his daily fielding marvels most of all.
Somehow, his fielding was even more breathtaking than his hitting.
Fuck. This hurts.
[74] Well, that was not my point exactly. Winfield played more games for the Yankees than he did with the Padres, and he was arguably more notable as a Yankee (though he was maybe a better player in SD). At the end of the day, though, he put SD on his Cooperstown hat. If the time comes for Cano to make the same decision, more factors than simply how many years (or games) he played with one team or the other will factor in.
[80] As RagingTartabull said, waaaaaaay back in [4], I imagine this what it must have felt like in St. Louis after Pujols left ...
There is one major difference, though. Pujols was arguably the best player for St. Louis ever, and easily one of the top two. Cano played for an organization historically top heavy with all-time greats. So as much as it might hurt the current generation to lose "their" best, home grown player, the loss of Cano is insulated by an organizational history that includes Ruth (who the Yankees traded!), Mantle, Di MAggio, Berra, Dickey, Jeter, etc.
Cano was my favorite Yankee in recent years.To me there was nothing not to like about him.
He was a great player to watch night after night, year after year. Even if the Yankees had a bad season, he had a good one. I grew up as a right-throw/bat-left second baseman, a Willie Randolph disciple. Robbie (aside from Mo, who was not an everyday player) was the pride of the Yankees in recent years. The best 2nd baseman in the League.
I'm bummed to see him go, but I'm not sorry about it. The Yankees offer was beyond reasonable. It was generous, respectful, and appreciative. Cano wanted more, and took it. Nah, I don't begrudge him. It's just business.
I wish him a lifetime of health, happiness, and fourth place finishes. Heh.
[72] Cano could have been the second Yankee with 3000 hits.
I think the odds of this coming about are relatively low. He's already 30 and has "only" 1649 hits. His season-high was 204 and his 162-game average for his career is 194. If he *averages* 200 hits for the life of his 10-year contract, he'll only crack 3000-hits in the final season, when he's 40.
Actually, this may explain, in part, his desire to take a lower average salary to play in Seattle. Many here have commented that Cano has sacrificed his "legacy" by swapping teams (i.e., he will not be a lifetime Yankee immortal or what have you). But had he taken a shorter contract to remain with the Yankees, he would have potentially lowered his chances to reach counting stat plateaus (who is going to hire a 38 y.o. former great 2B?). Those guaranteed years may improve his shot at 3000 hits, which will make him immortal no matter what uniform he wears. Maybe he even gets a crack at 400 HRs.
Cano getting to 400hrs/3000 hits would be amazing. Such a shame not in pinstripes..
The kids 'dancing' to Japanese Pop hits now..good God, is it inappropriate to drink vodka at a kids performance?? And if course, Jazz Jrs group comes last..
[93] Whoa...my math got all crazy. If he averages 200 hits he'll break 3000 in seven seasons. What was I thinking?!
Still, I'm not convinced he'll get to 3000 in ten years, let alone seven, though the extra years improve his chances dramatically.
[94] Hahahahah! Just pretend you're in a film noir and you can pull it off.
[95] You've turned on him already! Your math is a reflection of your ill-wishes for Robbie. That's what you were thinking.
(96) Jazz Jr killed it dancing to 'Beat It' ! Even rocked the moonwalk :)
Cano is a HOF player, I still don't et letting him walk.
Yankees just got Beltran.
3/45
Not super, but certainly good, I think the bat will play very well in NYS, and, frankly, I've wanted Beltran on the Yankees as long as he's wanted to be a Yankee.
Looks like Carlos is a Yankee: http://hardballtalk.nbcsports.com/2013/12/06/report-yankees-have-agreed-to-a-three-year-deal-with-carlos-beltran/.
100) Indeed it does! Please terminate this thread and join the one on Beltran that I've just posted above.
[101] Hey! I'm owed Cokes!!!