Mark Teixeira had his press conference at the Stadium today, and Pete Abraham reports that questions were asked about Andy Pettitte. But first, Teixeira.
Did you see any highlights of the press conference or read the AP report? Teixeira’s wife had a say. She wanted her husband to be a Yankee. Thanks Mrs. Teixeira. Of course, having a father who played high school ball with Bucky Dent and having Don Mattingly as your favorite player also had something to do with it. But give an assist to Mrs. T. Our kind of gal.
As for Pettitte…
“They were not happy with our offer and we were not happy with what they wanted. Anything is possible.”
Sam Borden, who was at the press conference, said that Hal Steinbrenner wasn’t optimistic.
Pete also reports that the Yanks signed Jason Johnson to a minor league deal. He can compete for the #5 starter job. I think it’s more likely that he gets a look and is either released or sent to SWB. Maybe he will fool us, but Johnson is 35, was 1-2 in just 29 2/3 IP last year, 5.22 ERA (ERA+ 82). For his career, he is just 56-100, 4.99, ERA+ 89. I don’t expect much, if anything.
We hardly knew ye: To make room on the 40 man roster, Shelley Duncan has been DFA’d. Shelley is 29 and in 131 MLB at bats, is at .221-8-23, OPS+ 91.
Abraham also reports that 26 year old lefty Phil Coke has been told to report to camp preparing to start. I have mixed emotions about it. On one hand, I’d have loved to have had him along with Marte in the bullpen. A luxury of two lefties to mix and match with. On the other, who knows? Maybe they want to groom the lefty in case Andy doesn’t come back. Much like the Yanks had Ford to eventually take over the lefty spot from Lopat, maybe Coke could do so for Pettitte. It’s worth a look. The only other lefties that high up in the chain are UGH-Gawa and Chase Wright. As Abraham states,
unless Pettitte signs, the No. 5 starter candidates are Phil Hughes, Ian Kennedy, Alfredo Aceves, Jason Johnson and Coke.
Um, given Johnson’s career record and age, I’d MUCH rather go with one of the youngsters.
I can see Abraham’s point though. It’s much easier to prepare to start then go to the bullpen than the other way around. Arm strength. Who knows, maybe Coke prepares to start but winds up in the ‘pen anyway. You don’t know.
I see where Teix will get Giambi’s old # of 25. I bought a niece and nephew some gifts yesterday since my mom and a sister are flying to CA to visit a sister out there. While shopping, I noticed that there are already Sabathia #52 Yankee shirts. I think Burnett is getting 34, but you may have to fill me in on that one. No, I didn’t see Burnett shirts. All I saw where I shopped were Jeter and CC…for now.
Guess what? Pete reports that Carl Pavano has found a home. The Indians signed the fragile one to a one-year deal. Abraham makes a point and I’ll go one better:
Wouldn’t it be something if Pavano faced the Yankees at the Stadium in April?
The one better? Wouldn’t be something if Pavano started AGAINST the Yanks when they open the new Stadium on April 16th??? Sometimes truth IS stranger than fiction.
The resilient one is 66-66, 4.32 (ERA+ 99) for his career. Last year Pavano went 4-2, 5.77 in seven starts for the Yanks, ERA+ 77. In his Yankee career, four years, Pavano started 26 games, missed ALL of 2006, and was 9-8, 5.00. All that for $39.95M. Sigh.
MLBTR reports that Sergio Mitre, who the Yanks signed (and like Johnson, someone I don’t think will help much) joins J. C. Romero in the 50 game suspension club. From MLBTR:
It was another “thought to be legal” supplement purchased at GNC. Mitre will serve the suspension while rehabbing from elbow surgery in the first few months of the season.
More from MLBTR: Ex-Yank Randy Choate signs with the Rays. A minor league deal. the Phils signed Marcus Giles to a minor league deal. Not a bad move for the Phils, given that Utley could miss the first two months.
Another Yanks signing: John Rodriguez for $450,000. He will compete for a backup OF job. Prediction? Released or sent to AAA. Rodriguez will be 31 in two weeks, has 158 g., 332 MLB at bats and is at .298-7-43, OPS+ 110. A lefty hitter, he may help, but AAA seems more likely given the numbers game.
The deal for Giambi and the A’s? MLBTR reports
that Giambi is on the verge of agreeing to a deal with the A’s worth $6.5MM guaranteed - $5.25MM in ‘09 plus a $4MM 2010 option with a $1.25MM buyout. Quite affordable!
(and quite a comedown after $23 M in 2008!)
Football: Big Ben is ok for Sunday for Pittsburgh but SD has trouble. LT may not be able to go, and now their #2 receiver is busted for suspicion of DUI.
Basketball: I thought the Celtics would snap out of it once they got back East, and in their first game back East, they did. Then they lost to the Knicks. Ouch.
I’ll toss a question out to you. Ok, Andy is playing hardball. What he should do is look at the contracts the Big G is signing for, not to mention Burrell and Bradley. The Yanks aren’t looking for a 1-2 or even a 3 starter. Maybe Aceves, Kennedy or Hughes work out at 5. I’d rather have them at AAA and “on the alert” if they do well. Remember that Joba will probably be on a 140 IP limit. He only went 100 1/3 last year. Hughes had the injuries.
Would you be interested in say, Randy Wolf as a #5 starter? He could provide the Yanks with the lefty they would lose in Pettitte. Here is Wolf’s recent salary numbers:
2003 Philadelphia Phillies $2,375,000
2004 Philadelphia Phillies $4,375,000
2005 Philadelphia Phillies $6,625,000
2006 Philadelphia Phillies $9,125,000
2007 Los Angeles Dodgers $7,477,969
2008 San Diego Padres $4,750,000
Hmmm….the Yanks offered Andy $10M. Andy is 36, 37 next June. Wolf is now 32. From 2004-2007, Wolf had some injury problems, but he did go 12-12 4.30 ERA+ 93 last year for SD/Hou in 2008. Remember, we are talking #5 starter here, not the ace Wolf was asked to be in Philadelphia. Someone to give 175 innings and go 12-9 or so. Maybe the Yanks should just call Andy’s bluff. Wolf might be had for what, $5.5 or 6M? Meaning $4M less than what they offered Pettitte, and he comes 4 years younger. He gave 190 1/3 IP last year. More than what would be adequate for the Yanks. In 2007 for LA, he only gave 18 games and 102 2/3 IP with his issues, but went 9-6, 4.73 (ERA+ 97). For his career, 90-78, 4.26, ERA+ 101. Great, no. Average, yes. But good enough for a #5 in the Yanks rotation? You could do worse than Wolf at 5. One year deal with an option. He, like Andy would have done, could buy more time for a Kennedy or Hughes and for less money and a younger age than Andy. Hey, if Andy wants to play hardball the Yanks could too. Wolf wouldn’t be that bad of a trump card to play against Andy. It could be a case of “here is your offer, and here is yours; whoever accepts first”.
As stated, there are far worse options than Wolf for #5 (Jason Johnson). What is your opinion?
5 responses so far ↓
1 homeplate // Jan 7, 2009 at 10:14 am
Not being able to watch more than 2 or 3 games or even listen much, I have no idea who older players such as Jason Johnson or John Rodriguez are. Especially w/generic names! So, I tend to agree with your evaluation. I do know who Wolf is, and think he’d be worth a shot. I have a soft spot for Andy, but hey! AND I’m still hoping Cash will pull off a decent deal to change the OF jam.
2 poloni // Jan 7, 2009 at 10:48 am
Mike, I didn’t realize Wolf would come that much cheaper as a No. 5., although I knew he was younger, of course. At one point, I thought I read somewhere where Andy Pettitte might sign with the Dodgers (back with Torre) if things don’t work out with the Yankees. One year with Randy Wolf would give Hughes and Kennedy another year of seasoning in the minors. I would like to see Hughes stay healthy for an entire season regardless of what level he pitches at.
Joe P. - LVYFC Member
3 Mike Sommer // Jan 7, 2009 at 5:59 pm
I don’t know if the Pettitte offer is still on the table, Joe. It may have been pulled. Cashman may have told Andy back in Dec. that if he didn’t accept, the Yanks might go in another direction and then the offer wouldn’t be available anymore (meaning Teixeira and no more–or less–money for Andy).
In looking at Wolf’s numbers and salary, I’m trying to see what the Yanks would do if they pulled the Pettitte offer and decided to go in another direction, meaning give that money (or less) to another pitcher to fill the 5 spot. Be it Wolf or someone else.
The Yanks may feel that they are happy with Joba at 4 and letting Hughes, Kennedy, Aceves, Jason Johnson, Coke battle it out for the 5 spot.
But there could be danger lurking in that. Joba went 100 1/3 IP in 2008. You wouldn’t want him to go past, say 140.
Hughes had 34 with the Yanks, 35 2/3 more in the minors. That is just 69 2/3. Which is why he went to the AFL for 30 more. Still, at 99 2/3 total, he is in the same boat as Joba. Do you think he can go over 140?
Kennedy had about 117 majors and minors in 2008, and he went to Winter ball for another 30 or so. So figure 147. If anyone could be stretched to 175 it would be him.
I won’t get into Jason Johnson. But let’s look at Coke and Aceves next.
Coke had about 150 (I’ll dispense with the fractions) which sets him up well. Could be one reason the Yanks want him coming to camp prepared to start, even though I’d love to see a Coke and Marte (too bad Marte doesn’t change his name to Rum, then we can have rum and coke) tandem in the bp, Coke has the innings in him.
As for Aceves, he threw 170 total innings in 2008.
So as far as having someone who won’t die out down the stretch, Kennedy, Coke and Aceves have the IP from 2008. Ironically, the two who don’t are the two who may start the year in the rotation—Joba and Hughes.
The rule of thumb, esp. with youngsters like Joba and Hughes, is not to increase their IP by more than 35 IP. So the Yanks have to be careful with both of them. You can’t tax them too heavily in order to burn them out in the stretch drive, but you do want them ready, healthy and strong in September. But what of the IP?
Which is why I was and am wondering if they go after someone if Andy doesn’t sign. You’d love to have Andy in the 5 spot (or 4 with Joba 5) because Andy is guaranteed 200 IP if healthy. You can’t say that of the others. Wolf did give 190 IP last year, and if the Yanks just wanted to transfer Andy’s offer to someone else, Wolf would be less than $10M.
Of course, Jon Garland is still out there. I am wondering what he and his agents are asking for. I’ll check into his salary history and see what he has made over the past several years. Garland is a good innings eater and a solid #4.
Based on what I am reading and hearing however, it looks like the Yanks are done. If no Andy, they are prepared to go with a battle for the 5 spot, with Hughes being the frontrunner and favorite to claim it.
4 Mike Sommer // Jan 7, 2009 at 6:12 pm
ok, here is Garland
2005 Chicago White Sox $3,400,000
2006 Chicago White Sox $7,000,000
2007 Chicago White Sox $10,000,000
2008 Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim $12,000,000
First off, I don’t think the Yanks would go over $10M…the offer they made to Andy. Garland, I don’t think, is worth more than that. He probably won’t want a cut from the $12M he made last year. So rule him out.
He would be a nice 4, but it looks like he would want a higher salary than I would give a 4. 14-8, 4.90 last year. ERA+ 91. Not used in the postseason. 162 g. ave. 13-11, 4.47 ERA+ 104. 106-89.
13-11, 4.47 isn’t a 2 or 3 to me. It’s a 4. If he wants the $10M (and Garland is just 29) that Andy doesn’t, then if the Yanks want to pursue him, fine. But the Yanks may not have the $10M to give anymore. What they do have to give, who knows. But his numbers at 13-11 4.47 are close to Andy’s 2008 numbers of 14-14, 4.54. So if you were going to give Andy $10M, and he doesn’t want it, and you still have that $$ to give, then see if Garland wants it. But Garland probably would want a longer term deal than the Yanks would be willing to give. One thing Garland does give is innings (see my prev comment on Joba and Hughes). In each of the past 7 years, he’s given 190 or more.
So the question is, do the Yanks still have the $ offered Pettitte? Do they transfer the money into another offer, or is the case that the money isn’t there anymore for anyone….Pettitte, Garland, Wolf or anyone?
I have not heard or read of the Yanks pursuing any other starter after the Pettitte turn down. From what I am hearing and reading, they most likely won’t (which explains the cheap Jason Johnson signing).
I don’t know what the checkbook says right now. It may be bargain basement from here on in regarding a starter or a utility guy….unless there happens to be a trade on the horizon.
5 Mike Sommer // Jan 7, 2009 at 6:51 pm
I should add that the Yanks would be wary of adding a Type A free agent after losing some picks due to the 3 big signings. Something to keep in mind.
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