With all the talk surrounding the New York Yankees and their
offseason plans before the 2016 season many names are being thrown around like
the team is playing with house money. Unfortunately for the fans of the Yankees
the team is not playing with house
money, they are playing with Hal’s money and no matter how many times he stands
at a podium and tells the fans that he’s not cheap I don’t think he is
convincing many fans otherwise. In a free agent market where his father would
snatch up David Price, Johnny Cueto, Jeff Samardzija and Jordan Zimmerman Hal
may, or he may not, only open up the strings for Mike Leake.
Leake was said to be a trade target for the New York Yankees
at this past July 31st trading deadline before the Cincinnati Reds
traded the right-hander to the San Francisco Giants for a couple of prospects
that I have never heard of and that San Francisco fans are not losing any sleep
over. New York, in my opinion with hindsight being 20/20 like it is, dropped
the ball in acquiring Leake and a wrong, for lack of a better word, could be
righted this winter with just a paycheck.
Leake will not qualify for a qualifying offer since he was
traded during the season meaning the Yankees could hold onto their first round
draft pick for the 2016 season. Leake will also not command the salary or the
years that many of this year’s free agent crop will command. Leake will not
touch the $30 million AAV that Zack Greinke is expected to ask for and he will
not come anywhere near the six or seven years that David Price is said to be
requesting this offseason. Leake could end up signing for three years or so
with a modest $12 million AAV, although that is simply my estimation and I
could be wrong.
Leake doesn’t solve the Yankees “lack of an ace” problem the
team has but if the club feels like that ace could be either Masahiro Tanaka or
Luis Severino then having a potential #2, but likely solid #3, starter in Leake
would be ideal for the club. Leake will eat innings and keep you in almost
every single ball game which is huge for a team that is built around a solid
offense and a juggernaut of a bullpen.
Ok, Daniel, you finally hit on one I could live with and Hal might cut loose with the money for!
ReplyDeleteI struggle with writing for this blog sometimes. At times I post from the side of the fan that doesn't care about the money, the greedy fan. That's when you see me tell you why the Yankees should add Zack Greinke or David Price.
DeleteAt other times I try to consider the side of Hal Steinbrenner, the business side. That's why the next day I can suggest a Mike Leake. I seem like I play both sides because as a writer I have to. As a fan I want Mike Leake as my 5th starter.
I must confess, I always liked to play "The Devils Advocate" but, with so many fans that think in conjunction with the naysayers and repeat the words of others as their own after reading a lie about a player...having read it, it must be true, right? Da, No!
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