The Sommer Frieze

MLB Trade rumors has a list of the top 50 Free Agents…and predictions of where they think the guys will go. Interesting. Can you picture a rotation of CC, AJ, Andy and Lackey? Hey, no 3 days rest in next year’s postseason if they all stay healthy. Heck, if you had that, you could have Gaudin as your #5 and have Hughes, Joba and Mo as your 7-8-9 guys. Other teams shudder at the thought.

Although MLBTR thinks Matsui will be gone (Damon DH/LF, break in Austin Jackson and on days when Damon plays LF, DH Posada/Alex/Jeter…?) Joel Sherman writes that the Yanks are going to work at bring back all three of Matsui, Damon and Pettitte.

As for catcher, I think the Yanks will cut costs and get rid of Molina and have Cervelli as the backup. Remember that Jesus Montero and Austin Romine are only a few years away, and Gary Sanchez is a project for further down the road.

It’s amazing how many people automatically think that Lackey will go to the Yankees. I don’t see it unless one of the three (Andy, Matsui, JD) doesn’t return. I read where someone wrote that Mauer will be a Yankee soon. Mauer is a Minnesota boy. Not only that, I really doubt that the person who wrote that knows anything about the talent at catcher (Montero, Romine) that the Yanks have in the minors. Mauer is great and it would be nice, but… you wonder if they stay within…or deal Montero or Romine. Given the payroll and the supposed talent in Montero and Romine (whose contracts you control for a while), developing Montero and Romine seems more likely.