Make a Splash… Trade for Mike Trout

This is a pipe dream but as the New York Yankees season ended abruptly on October 2^nd the offseason is officially underway for the team and now is the time to dream. If you’re going to dream then you have to dream big and I don’t think it gets any bigger than thinking about the Yankees making a huge splash this offseason by acquiring Mike Trout of the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim.

Now before you all simply roll your eyes and click off the post please hear me out. The Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim were absolutely horrible again in 2016 and with now five seasons under the belt for Trout and Albert Pujols together the team has about as many playoff game victories as I had during my MLB career, zero. In fact the 2016 season was the worst season for the Angels since 1999 so why wouldn’t they at least entertain the thought of blowing it up and beginning a rebuild with a move of Trout and Pujols?

The Angels have a top-heavy payroll and no farm system in sight to bail the team out if and when they get hit by the injury bug like they did in 2016 and at some point the team has to either sacrifice winning now for a future or continue to live in mediocrity while wasting the best years of Mike Trout’s playing career. CJ Wilson made $20 million in 2016 and didn’t throw a pitch, Garrett Richards missed five months with an elbow ligament injury, Andrew Heaney and Andrew Tropeano will likely miss 2017 recovering from Tommy John surgery and no one knows the status of Matt Shoemaker after taking a line drive to the head late in the 2016 season. With no arms, no prospects to replace them and no money to acquire any the Angels may have to make a trade. They don’t want to, they may have to though and that is where the Yankees should come in with their new-found Top 5 farm system they acquired this summer doing similar trades.

Before we get too far into this you must remember that Brian Cashman’s former right-hand man Billy Eppler is now the GM in Anaheim so you have to think he is at least somewhat familiar with the bulk of the Yankees system. So what can the Yankees offer to make this deal work for both clubs? I honestly think there are two options that could work. One option is throwing prospects at the Angels and hoping for the best. Headlining a package for Trout could be Jorge Mateo, an outfielder (preferably not Clint Frazier but to acquire Trout it would likely have to be Aaron Judge), and a pitching arm like James Kaprielian or Chance Adams (or Justus Sheffield or Brady Lail or a slew of other names and prospects) and hope for the best or the New York Yankees could get creative and help Anaheim out in multiple ways.

The Angels need prospects, salary relief and MLB ready talent so why don’t the Yankees give them all three? No I’m not suggesting taking on an aging Albert Pujols to play DH, he has five years left on his deal at $140 million and he is 36-years old, but instead I am suggesting “taking the Josh Hamilton contract” off the Angels books. I put that in parenthesis because Hamilton is not on the Angels anymore, he’s being paid over $26 million by the Angels to play for the Texas Rangers, so if the Yankees could send “cash considerations” over to Anaheim to essentially pay for the Hamilton contract while giving up significantly lesser prospects I think this could work for both sides.

The Angels have CJ Wilson and Jered Weaver coming off their books which should help but having an extra $26 million, or even less depending on what the league would allow, could only help Anaheim rebuild and get better. Adding back some talent for Trout as well can only help speed up the impending rebuild in Anaheim. Is it unlikely? Yeah, sure is. Is it impossible? No, nothing is impossible. Well it’s only impossible if you don’t ask. So Cashman, ask.

So I know what you’re thinking. You’re thinking that I’m either the biggest idiot you’ve ever read for even suggesting this or that they should make a Moneyball type movie about me and let me play myself in it since I am so much better looking than Brad Pitt. Whichever it is, leave it below in the comments section or Tweet me @GreedyStripes. 

Ian Desmond Wants Free Agency to Change

The Texas Rangers got some of the worst news possible at possibly the worst possible time this year and the organization was left scrambling for help. The team learned that Josh Hamilton, shocker I know, was injured and would likely begin another MLB season on the disabled list leaving a huge hole in their lineup and in their outfield. Thankfully for Texas and thankfully for the former Washington National Ian Desmond that he was still on the free agency market. The former shortstop and second baseman signed a one-year deal to play the outfield in Texas thus ending his free agency experiment, an experiment that he wants to see changed before next season.

Desmond wants free agency changed after turning down a seven-year deal worth $107 million contract extension and a qualifying offer worth one-year and $15.8 million to sign a one-year deal with Washington worth $8 million. Sure Desmond said all the right things in front of the media with his new teammates in front of his new locker but he also expected these things to be fixed before he hits free agency again admitting a certain frustration and an anger towards the whole system. Desmond admitted that something needs to change and wants something to change and who could blame him?

Desmond, despite being one of only six players with at least 100 home runs and 100 stolen bases since 2010, at a historically offensively anemic position mind you, along with three Silver Slugger and one All-Star nomination to his belt, basically lost $100 million over the course of a calendar year. Who could blame him for wanting to change free agency? Then again who could blame him or turning down a guaranteed $107 million and a guaranteed $15.8 million on separate occasions either? Me personally I don’t feel bad for the guy, he made a business decision and it didn’t work out. Try again next year pal. You didn’t hear Stephen Drew and Kendrys Morales screaming when they sat out until June because of the same process, did you? I think not. 

Would Josh Hamilton Be Worth the Trouble?

It seems more and more likely that Josh Hamilton will never play a game again for the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim as long as the team has their say so. Hamilton relapsed over the winter using drugs and has recently found out that the league would not punish him under their drug prevention program but the Angels still want nothing to do with the aging outfielder. Should the Yankees pull off what has become a Yankees special type trade and give Los Angeles absolutely nothing but salary relief in exchange for possibly a huge upgrade in their outfield in the Bronx?

First things first is the contract New York would be acquiring. Hamilton is currently under contract for the 2015, 2016 and 2017 seasons in his age 34 (in May, 2015), 35 and 36 seasons. Hamilton would earn $23 million this season and $30 million in each of the next two seasons making him a very expensive and very costly acquisition for any team who acquires him. Whichever team acquires him would also be on the hook for a $2 million donation annually to his charity and possibly as much as another million in incentives including winning the MVP award, each Gold Glove and Silver Slugger Award and winning the World Series MVP. The more you look at the finances for Hamilton the more you want to look away from the left handed hitting outfielder but like any case there are also pro's to making a potential trade.

Hamilton still averages 32 home runs a season and 112 RBI per season despite only hitting 10 home runs in 89 games in 2014 with the Angels. Hamilton has not had an MVP vote in his two seasons in Anaheim but he did garner votes in four of the last five votes before including winning the MVP Award in 2010. Hamilton loves hitting in New York and Yankee Stadium, especially the old Stadium as we all saw at the Home Run Derby there in 2008, and could add a dynamic to the team that none us have seen in quite a few years.

So how do the Yankees and the Angels make this work? There are two options for the Yankees assuming that New York actually wants to make the trade and take on the risk. One of those options are simply trading away a couple of Low-A prospects and eating most or all of the remaining contract on the deal while this is obviously contingent on Hamilton waiving his no trade clause in the deal. Speaking on no trade clauses you have to wonder what the interest in Carlos Beltran would be for the Angels and what Beltran's interest in heading back to the West Coast would be. If the Yankees could trade Beltran straight up, FYI Beltran also has no trade protection, for Hamilton you have to think that deals works well for both sides. New York would presumably get an offensive and defensive boost while getting a little younger and the Angels would get something in Beltran for the nothing they planned on having with Hamilton. With this trade Los Angeles may even be willing to throw in some money to off set the $30 million annually in salary in 2016 and 2017.

I honestly don't believe either of these trade scenarios are very realistic as Hal Steinbrenner continues to attempt to get under the luxury tax after the 2016 and 2017 seasons but I do believe the trade makes the team better. I guess that's why I am a fan with a blog and Hal is the owner of the team, he knows more than I. Stay tuned to see what happens, if anything, because you know we'll have it here first.

Don't Fret, Alex Rodriguez Isn't THAT Overpaid Anymore

Alex Rodriguez is overpaid that is the understatement of the century, especially when trying to consider the production you will get for your $22 million in 2015, but the good news is the Yankees thought ahead. A Rod's deal was heavily front loaded leaving him getting paid around $10 million less in 2015 then he was at the peak of the contract (with incentives and such). With all the money coming into the game right now 17 players are making more or the same as Rodriguez in 2015 so don't fret Yankees fans, it could be worse.

1. Clayton Kershaw - $32,571,428
2. Justin Verlander - $28 million
3. Josh Hamilton - $25.4 million
4. Cliff Lee - $25 million
5. Ryan Howard - $25 million
6. Zack Greinke - $25 million
7. Felix Hernandez - $24,857,142
8. Albert Pujols - $24 million
9. Prince Fielder - $24 million
10. Robinson Cano - $24 million
11. Cole Hamels - $23.5 million
12. Mark Teixeira - $23.125 million
13. CC Sabathia - $23 million
14. Joe Mauer - $23 million
15. Miguel Cabrera - $22 million
16. Jose Reyes - $22 million
17. Masahiro Tanaka - $22 million
18. Alex Rodriguez  - $22 million

It sucks to be the Philadelphia Phillies right now with Lee, Howard and Hamels eating up that much salary especially with two of them coming off injuries or under performing seasons. The Yankees have four that made the list including Rodriguez so I guess it sucks to be us too. 

Josh Hamilton Off The Board, Signs W/ LA Angels

Josh Hamilton just came off the Yankees board when he signed a five year deal to replace Torri Hunter in the Angels outfield. More details to come but Hamilton to the Yankees was unrealistic anyway so I am not all that disappointed. The deal has been announced as a 5 year $125 million deal for the Angels new outfielder. 

Yankees Lose Interest In Hamilton

I'm not sure if I want to see Hamilton in pinstripes or not. At first I see the numbers, including 100 home runs over the last 3 years, and think "oh, hell yeah". Then I look at his drug history and wonder if New York City would get to him and lead to issues. Either way, the Yankees signing him would be interesting news in a very not interesting postseason so far.

Well, Jon Heyman put those "Hamilton to Yankees" rumors to rest, saying the team is not involved at this point. If Josh's price were to fall, then perhaps talks would re-ignite, but as of right now it looks like myself and other Yankee fans are left wanting.

Yankees In On Josh Hamilton

Before I really get into this I want to throw it out there that I am 100% against this budget restricting austerity idea put in place by Hal Steinbrenner. I mean I co-run a Yankees blog named, for good reason, The GREEDY Pinstripea for crying out loud. I think the losses outweigh the gains both long term and short term financially so with that said I fully expect absolutely nothing to come of story. Anyway...

The Yankees have reportedly requested a background check on Josh Hamilton and are said to be quietly in on him. Is this due diligence? Posturing to keep the price for a potential Nick Swisher reuinion down? Fallacy made up to drive the price up? Who knows?!? I do know this we are not in the George Steinbrenner era anymore and I am not getting my hopes up just to be crushed again.

I truly think that Josh Hamilton will be on a team other than the Yankees next season but let us just say that he does sign, how would that affect the 2014 plan? Can we afford both him and Robinson Cano? Do we throw austerity out the window? Is this another management driven signing or is Brian Cashman flexing his ninja suit? We may never know..

Is Hamilton A Possibility?

"Are you reconsidering bring me back, yet?"

A little over two weeks ago, in my Offseason Decisions post regarding Nick Swisher, I went through some of the other free agent options. In the end I concluded that the Yankees had two decisions... re-sign Swisher or make a trade.

The only free agent outfielder I liked was Josh Hamilton, but he didn't seem like a viable option to replace Swisher due to his contract demands. Here is what I said...

I'd love to have this guy in pinstripes. He's a left-handed batter with power, that also has a career batting average of .304, while getting on base over 36% of the time. Josh has averaged 33 home runs per season over the last 3 years, and that includes missing 35 games in 2011 with a broken arm, and 24 games in 2010 with broken ribs. And keep in mind that those injuries were not something to be worried about in the future, unlike if he missed all that time due to a bad back. Other than his offense being vast superior to Swisher's, Hamilton's defense looks to be a bit better as well. Nick's career UZR/150 in RF is 4.5, while Josh's is 6.0 (Hamilton played mainly in CF this past season, and was mainly in LF the previous two years). The problem with Josh is that he's going to command too much. Not that it really matters to fans, who just want the best on the field, but the Yankees seem to be getting tight with the dollar. And keeping the austerity budget in mind, I think the chances of seeing Josh Hamilton playing for the good guys next season are pretty slim.

So the idea of Hamilton playing 81 games in Yankee Stadium seemed like a pipe dream at best. But on Sunday morning, when I visited the Yankee page at MLB Trade Rumors, I read this...

Cafardo sees the Yankees, Dodgers (if they trade Andre Ethier), Mariners, Orioles, and Brewers as the teams to watch for Josh Hamilton. The extra $25MM that teams could earn each year as a result of the new TV deal could lead someone to take the plunge and give the outfielder a five-year deal.

Whoa! This guy can see the Yankees as being in on Hamilton? Seriously? I dismissed it as a silly notion and moved on to other news, but I couldn't stop thinking about it. I mean, if this guy thinks it's possible, maybe it is. After all, Curtis Granderson is a free agent after 2013, and the team would probably want a veteran in the outfield along with Gardner if they were to give that outfield spot to Tyler Austin or another kid. Then again, the Average Annual Value of Granderson's contract after picking up his 2013 option is only $6.875 million (6 years and $41.25m).

"Forget Swish. You want me... don't you?"

Okay, it's time to see the numbers. Here are the players that are signed up to and through 2014, along with the AAV of their contracts...

Alex Rodriguez  - $27.5 million
Mark Teixeira - $22.5 million
CC Sabathia - $24.4 million
Derek Jeter - $14 million *assuming Jeter exercises his player option, making his deal worth $56m over 4 years.

As for current players that could be with the team here's what I got, including my guesses of the AAV of their new contracts...

Robinson Cano - $23 million (8 years, $184 million)
Russell Martin - $8 million (3 years, $24 million)

Now for the players that will be arbitration eligible, as well as guesses as to what they could get. I based these guess off of the raises some current players have gotten, as well as what they've gotten through arbitration in the past (MLBTR's arbitration estimates for 2013 are in parenthesis next to my guess... where applicable). For example, Brett Gardner got $2.8 million in 1st year of arbitration, Phil Hughes got $2.7 million in his 1st year, and David Robertson got $1.6 million. When players are eligible for arbitration is a bit confusing, but going by what MLB Trade Rumors and Cot's Baseball Contracts says, here's what I got...

Brett Gardner (3rd) - $4 million ($2.8m)
David Robertson (3rd) - $3.2 million ($2.7m)
Michael Pineda (1st) - $2 million
Ivan Nova (1st) - $2.5 million
Clay Rapada (1st) - $1 million
Eduardo Nunez (1st) - $1 million
Cory Wade (1st) - $.75 million
Chris Stewart (1st) - $1 million
Francisco Cervelli (1st) - $1 million
Jayson Nix (2nd) - $1.4 million ($.9m)
Casey McGehee (3rd) - $3.2 million ($2.9m)
Chris Dickerson (1st) - $1 million

"You're not sure about all those arbitration cases, are you?"

And finally for pre-arbitration players that I could see being on the team in some capacity, along with my guess based on the fact that the minimum salary in 2014 will be $500,000...

Austin Romine - $.5 million
David Phelps - $.5 million

So totaling up the salaries of players under contract, the players I can see being re-signed by that point, the arbitration eligible players, and the pre-arbitration players, the Yankees 2014 payroll so far will be $142.45 million.

By the way, for those of you wondering "wait, he's got to be forgetting some players", allow me to remind you that Phil Hughes, Joba Chamberlain, Boone Logan, and David Aardsma will be free agents.

I'm going to take a couple of guesses at players that could fill in a couple spots on the active roster, and mark those guesses with an asterisk.

C - Russell Martin
1B - Mark Teixeira
2B - Robinson Cano
3B - Alex Rodriguez
SS - Derek Jeter
LF - Tyler Austin*
CF - Brett Gardner
RF -
DH -

Bench (Catcher) - Chris Stewart/Austin Romine/Francisco Cervelli
Bench (Middle Infield) - Eduardo Nunez/Jayson Nix
Bench (Corner Infield) - Casey McGehee
Bench (Outfield) - Chris Dickerson

SP1 - CC Sabathia
SP2 -
SP3 - Michael Pineda
SP4 - David Phelps
SP5 - Ivan Nova

Closer - David Robertson
Set-Up - Mark Montgomery*
Bullpen - Clay Rapada
Bullpen - Cory Wade
Bullpen -
Bullpen -
Bullpen -

I realize that saying Austin and Montgomery will be ready and able to contribute in MLB in 2014 is a stretch, as is having David Phelps and Ivan Nova in the starting rotation, but bear with me. So add $1 million for Mark Montgomery and Tyler Austin, who would likely make the league minimum in 2014, the total payroll would rise to $143.45 million. Leaving $45.55 million for a right fielder, designated hitter, #2 starting pitcher, and three bullpen spots.

"I'll be your huckleberry."

Dellin Betances or Manny Banuelos could be put into the rotation, but since I already put Austin and Montgomery in key roster spots, I'll leave them out of this. Seeing that the Yankees will fill the #2 spot in the rotation with Hiroki Kuroda, who made $10 million last season and will probably cost less than $15 million in 2013, I can see them being able to do that again in 2014. $15 million for a #2 starter brings the payroll total to $158.45 million, leaving $30.55 million.

The Yankees may be able to fill the DH spot for no more than $3 million, seeing as how they did that in 2012. Bring our total to $161.45 million, leaving $27.55 million.

I really don't believe that the last three spots in the bullpen could cost any more $4 million, and that could be pushing it. I mean, if Rapada were around, it's not like the Yankees would have to overpay for a left-handed reliever like they did for Damaso Marte, who made $4 million a year. And that would bring the team's 2014 payroll total to $165.45 million, leaving $23.55 million.

At this point there would only be one spot to fill... right field, and the team would have $23.55 million to fill it.  It's at that point that I could see Josh Hamilton possible joining the Yankees. Of course, he would have to come down a bit from his contract demand of 7 years and $175 million (an AAV of $25m), but I could see that happening. I mean, how often does a player get exactly what he asks for in free agency?

I see no way that Josh gets 7 years, as other teams are surely going to take notice of the fact that his old team (the Rangers) were only willing to go 3 years. Maybe I'm crazy, but I don't think Hamilton is going to get any more than 5 guaranteed years. Seeing how many suitors he has, it may take an optional 6th year for the Yankees to get the deal done. How does a 5 year deal worth $110 million, with a $3 million option buyout on the 6th year, which would be an AAV of $22.6 million.

This is cutting things pretty close, because that leaves less than $1 million for the team to make any mid-season pickups and still remain under the luxury tax threshold. It would be nice if that threshold only needs to be met on Opening Day, but I have a feeling that's not the case. Although that would also mean the Yankees kept two extra catchers and two extra middle infielders, all of which will make more than the league minimum, and that's probably not the case. So the Yankees could clear some space by non-tendering guys like Chris Stewart, Francisco Cervelli, and Jayson Nix.

In conclusion, the Yankees signing Josh Hamilton to take Nick Swisher's spot in right field is not totally out of the question. I'm not betting on it, but for those Yankees fans that like to dream, you're not out of the realm of possibility.

"So you're telling me there's a chance."

Orioles May Be Pretty Scary In 2013

The Orioles have announced today that they plan on going after the top free agent, offensively speaking, in this years class in Josh Hamilton. This is a huge risk/reward type of signing with the off the field issues and the durability issues on the field but this could make Baltimore a scary kind of lineup for a long time if this signing happens. The outfield would be Josh Hamilton in left field, Adam Jones in center field, and Nick Markakis in right field. Add on Matt Weiters, Manny Machado, Chris Davis, etc and you have a young potent lineup for years to come. If you expected the Orioles to just go away after a one year wonder type of season we may all be in for a rude awakening.