From MLBTR: (watch this post for the details to come).
John Harper of the New York Daily News says the two sides have “essentially agreed” to a deal but final details need to be worked out.
Great. Finally. Now for the details. But it looks like the rotation is now set.
CC, Wang, AJ, Andy and Joba. Hughes, Aceves and Kennedy (and Jason Johnson) in SWB on the ready in case of injury. Hughes and Kennedy getting more needed minor league experience. Of course you never know. Hopefully everybody makes it through spring training injury-free. But as of now, things appear settled.
As for SWB, Hughes, Aceves, Kennedy, ….hmm… throw in Jason Johnson and UGH-Gawa… where does Allan Horne go, or Coke (who they want to start), or …. others, such as a Dan Giese?
It would be nice to dump Igawa. For now it looks as if he could be impeding the progress of others.
Waiting on the Pettitte details.
DETAILS IN.
Wow. Andy better have a comeback season in him. $5.5 M base salary, $6.5 M in incentives. Sure, he could make $12M if all incentives are met, but at 36 (37 in June) how many do you think will be met?
I don’t think he “sacrificed” some salary in order to bring in Teix.
It’s reported that Cashman said not to expect any more significant moves. Does this mean that any Swisher or Nady trade talk is dead? Does it mean that Girardi will be mixing and matching like mad to get Damon, Swisher, Nady and Matsui all the ABs they need, especially if Melky or Gardner is in CF?
7 responses so far ↓
1 Jason // Jan 26, 2009 at 3:55 pm
Agreed all around, Mike. I can get used to saying “Sabathia, Wang, Burnett, Pettite, and Joba” (though I have my preferences, in whatever order is just fine) over and over again. Excellent rotation and depth, with good and mostly young pitchers waiting in the wings while getting regular work in the meantime. My understanding is that this will be an incentive-laden offer, with Olney reporting $6 million in base salary and $6 million in incentives.
On Coke, Pettite’s signing would seem to change things about planning to start him, though I could be wrong. After his brief but successful stint late last year, I’d love to see Coke back in the bullpen, where his velocity will likely be a bit higher than as a starter, and where a second lefty with Marte–just as with Pettite a second lefty in the rotation with Sabathia–is something I love. Give ‘em different looks, and have options.
We’ll see, but these are good problems to have. Pettite’s impending return has me jazzed up.
2 Mike Sommer // Jan 26, 2009 at 5:06 pm
I just wonder how many of the “Hughes will be #5 and Joba will be back in the bullpen” rumors will begin now that Andy is back.
You know where I stand on Coke. I’d love two lefties in the bullpen. Coke and Marte.
3 Mike Sommer // Jan 26, 2009 at 5:38 pm
I should add the extra benefit in this: It buys Hughes and Kennedy MORE TIME, should either be what we expect or hope them to be.
4 Jason // Jan 26, 2009 at 6:12 pm
Amen on more time for the kids, as per above. I agree with you about Kennedy that there is little if anything he has left to learn at SWB, except from the neck up, i.e. attitude and perspective. Hughes, on the other hand, has terrific stuff but I think still needs to hone another pitch. If the cutter he was tinkering with in the Fall league is working, he’ll be tough. He needs something to keep batters from sitting on and fouling off his fastball and curve.
Wow, what a cut for Pettite. I think he has a good shot at incentives if healthy, and he has a lot of heart and motivation–not all bad in this scenario, for sure. But building in a $75,000 incentive just to make A-Rod’s PB&J sandwiches is just wrong, to me. (j/k)
5 Mike Sommer // Jan 26, 2009 at 6:38 pm
It’s said that once Teix was signed, the Yanks pulled the $10M offer. So be it.
But what a cut. Like you see with Giambi’s new pact with Oakland.
If I were Abreu, my knees would be shaking.
6 Jason // Jan 26, 2009 at 7:32 pm
At this rate, Abreu might end up with the Nats for league minimum and per diem.
7 poloni // Jan 27, 2009 at 10:26 am
Kevin Kernan (NY Post) wrote a column today that I agree with now that Andy is signed for 2009. The Yankees would be better off with Joba in the bullpen and Hughes or Kennedy as No. 5 starter. I just think Joba is too valuable as an eighth inning set up man or closer in case Mariano is slow to recover from his surgery. Joe P.
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