One Last Call to Get Greedy Before Spring Training

Ladies and gentlemen, we are about a week away from pitchers and catchers reporting to George M. Steinbrenner Field in Tampa, Florida to kick off spring training camps for the 2018 season. As the New York Yankees roster stands now the team is likely to have a pair of rookies on either side of Didi Gregorius by the time we reach June baseball in Miguel Andujar and Gleyber Torres, but the good news for Brian Cashman and company is that there is still time to make a splash. The free agent market is bleak, and players have to be getting antsy as they await their agents finding them a new home for the 2018 season as players like Yu Darvish, Jake Arrieta, Eric Hosmer, Alex Cobb and JD Martinez are still available on the free agent market. One would think that the longer this goes on the more likely the asking price, both in terms of dollars and years, would have to go down the closer we get to spring camps and the beginning of the regular season so with that thought process in mind here is one last shot at getting greedy and improving the team for the 2018 season.

As it stands now many fans are worried about having Miguel Andujar out there at third base because of his shaky defense, which I understand after being spoiled by solid defense from Chase Headley and Todd Frazier in recent years, but Brian Cashman and company seem confident and willing to let Andujar win the job in spring and learn on the job throughout the season. If the Yankees are fine with questionable defense then it makes me wonder if the team should offer a contract to another third baseman available out there on the free agent market who also has questionable defense, former Kansas City Royals third baseman Mike Moustakas.

Now I know the idea of offering the man they call “Moose Tacos” isn’t exactly an original idea of mine, but everywhere I have read that has suggested this has stated they wanted to give Moustakas a one-year deal. Now just yesterday I voiced my displeasure with the club for letting Todd Frazier go to the New York Mets on a two-year deal and I want to reiterate those sentiments here this morning with Moustakas. I am sure many teams have thought to offer Moustakas a one-year deal with the idea of him building value for next season’s presumable spending spree on the free agent market that could include free agents like Manny Machado, Bryce Harper, Clayton Kershaw and others, but in my opinion that may be the exact reason why Moustakas will NOT take a one-year deal. Sure, Machado is playing shortstop this year, but I think his true value and eventual landing spot will be the third base position next offseason, so why would Moustakas want to compete against that? Wouldn’t it make more sense for Moustakas to take a two-year deal and presumably be the big-ticket item at third base all by his lonesome before the 2020 season? I think so.

You have to think that having a patient, yet powerful bat like Moustakas in the middle of the Yankees lineup in the left-handed friendly Yankee Stadium would not only make the Yankees happy, but would make Moustakas a better player as well, at least stats wise. Moustakas hit 38 home runs and drove in 85 RBI last season for the Royals, a team that was struggling to scratch runs across the plate, so could you imagine what Moustakas could do with a combination of Aaron Judge, Gary Sanchez and Giancarlo Stanton protecting him in the lineup? Can you imagine having that kind of lineup protection with that kind of left-handed swing with 81 games a year coming inside Yankee Stadium? Moustakas may hit 50 home runs for all we know.

You will sacrifice average with Moustakas and you will also sacrifice defense with Moustakas, but I cannot see you getting much more in either category with Andujar out there for 162 games. That’s not a knock on Andujar, and yes before you ask I am still comfortable with having Andujar out there on Opening Day as the Yankees starting third baseman, but I have always said along the way this offseason that if the team could get better without going over the luxury tax threshold that they should. New York has roughly $20 million to spend this offseason without going over the cap and signing Moustakas to a two-year deal worth $30 million keeps the team under the cap while making them better across the board, in my opinion. Remember, MLB Trade Rumors predicted Moustakas to sign a five-year deal worth $85 million before the season with an AAV of $17 million so I may not be that far off.

Moustakas is American League and postseason tested, Andujar is not. That alone could be worth the investment for a team that is playing once again for their ultimate goal here in 2018, a World Series Championship. The team could win it with Andujar, but in my opinion it could be done a lot easier with a veteran presence like Moustakas out there wearing pinstripes here in 2018. One last call, get greedy… sign Moustakas to a two-year deal worth $30 million.

So it Seems… VIEWS THROUGH THE ROOF!!!

Good morning everyone, I know it’s been a while and I know that it is the offseason but I was on the site the other day and boy was I just blown away. VIEWS THROUGH THE ROOF!!! Overall views are down, obviously it is the offseason and we aren’t at the Winter Meetings and such yet, but views were post are way, way up. I’m not sure what the difference is from a couple weeks ago but boy am I grateful, thank you to you all. I am truly appreciative of everyone that reads my content and everyone that supports the blog. Without you all, we are nothing in every sense of the word.

So what’s on the docket today, you know since views are up I felt compelled to write a lot today. We have an article about Shohei Otani and whether I think the Yankees will, and should, allow him to be a two-player pitching as a pitcher and as a hitter. We also have a trade idea that Brian Cashman probably hasn’t thought of along with a “Get Greedy” move with a twist. Stay tuned for those posts and more today and let’s keep these views per post numbers way up there.

Thank you all again, especially you. My rock, my world and my everything. Kari Ann Burch. I loves you. Always have. Always will. 

Get Greedy: Sign JD Martinez

"Please, God. Make me a Yankee!"

We’re back and we are greedier than ever with the latest idea to break the bank, blow all the austerity talk out the window and blow the baseballs out of Yankee Stadium with even more consistency here in 2018. I know it is out of the realm of possibilities fiscally, but I don’t worry myself with the financials much anymore, instead I worry about getting the best 25 players that I possibly can out on the field on any given night. With that in mind it is time to get greedy once again and sign former Detroit Tigers and Arizona Diamondbacks outfielder JD Martinez. Yeah, I went there.  

Now earlier today in my free agent post where I outlined what free agents I thought the Yankees should at least have discussions with I alluded to the fact that I was happy with keeping the designated hitter position a revolving door for the Yankees outfielders to use for half-days off and here is the reason. Adding another outfielder is more of a luxury than a need at this point but New York added a $13 million DH last offseason in Matt Holliday and got little to show for it in return. Could you imagine if the Yankees were to add a bat like JD Martinez’s who could play in the outfield and DH a few days a week to keep everyone fresh, healthy and productive? The hell with the Bronx Bombers and Murderer’s Row, that would be downright unfair. 

Now I know this is a bold statement and a bold request of the Yankees to sign possibly the best positional player on the free agent market in a year where the team is going to give austerity a try but hear me out. Giving Martinez the security of a longer contract could conceivably keep the average annual value of the contract down while giving the team a leg up on the competition in terms of negotiations, because what player doesn’t want security and peace of mind?  

Martinez has possibly been the best kept secret in MLB over the past couple of seasons which is a scary thought since Martinez was a 4.1 WAR player in 2017 with Detroit and the Arizona Diamondbacks. Martinez has eclipsed 20 home runs in each of the last four seasons including hitting 45 home runs in 2017 and 38 home runs in 2015, both inside extremely pitching-friendly ballparks. You can add 10-15 home runs to that total in the Bronx assuming he is healthy and has a healthy Aaron Judge, Gary Sanchez, Didi Gregorius etc. behind him protecting him in the lineup. Again, downright unfair. 

Martinez just turned 30-years old recently and is in the middle of his prime, so I would feel comfortable giving him a six-year deal with an option for a seventh year if that were a sticking point in the negotiations. Martinez is good in the field, great with the bat and I think he would be an incredible addition to the team. Whether Hal Steinbrenner opens up the wallet strings or not is one thing, but I think the Yankees should make the move if the money allows. Martinez could be the Paul O’Neill to the 2018 dynasty that O’Neill was to that 1996 team. Just get it done.  

Looking Ahead to 2018: Potential Free Agent Offensive Additions

So we saw who the Yankees could be potentially losing via free agency this coming offseason so let’s once again look ahead to 2018 and see who the team could potentially fill those holes with. Let us first take a look at the potential offensive upgrades that the Yankees could add this coming offseason and at a later time we will look at the pitching. Keep in mind that this is all hypothetical and as it stands today, everything is subject to change in a moment’s notice.

Remember when I, and many Yankees fans, clamored so hard for Justin Upton in Yankees pinstripes? Well that didn’t happen but the beating of the drum could happen again in 2018 if the Tigers outfielder opts out of his six-year deal with Detroit with four-years and $88.5 million remaining. The Tigers are looking to rebuild and Upton has continued to produce which means even if he doesn’t get a pay raise the right-hander would get on a better team and that alone is worth its weight in gold. I don’t think the Yankees need an outfielder though so cross Upton off the list for New York.

Greg Bird is the first baseman of the future but let’s just assume that Bird isn’t healthy heading into the offseason and let’s assume the Yankees want a bit of insurance at the position for the 2018 season. It isn’t really all that far-fetched since the team signed Chris Carter this past offseason to platoon with Bird so who is to say the team won’t again in 2018? There’s many free agent first baseman expected to be available including Yonder Alonso, Lucas Duda, Logan Morrison, Mitch Moreland, Mike Napoli and Mark Reynolds to name a few. Presumably the Yankees would prefer a right-handed option to compliment Bird meaning that Reynolds, a former Yankee, and Napoli move to the front of the line. Neither are ideal, Reynolds strikes out a lot and his defense is mediocre while Napoli is aging and is more of a DH-or-bust at this point in his career, but the Yankees have been dealing with a less than ideal situation at the position all season long anyway. Could it get much worse? You could also throw Todd Frazier into the mix here although I believe the third baseman will prefer to stay on the other side of the diamond as he hits free agency this offseason.

Sticking with the first base position but looking in areas that will likely exceed what the Yankees are willing to pay you find the bats of Carlos Santana of the Cleveland Indians and Eric Hosmer of the Kansas City Royals. Santana has taken a step back in 2017 after posting 34 home runs and a 3.7 WAR in 2016 but his walk rate has been steady and his stats this season have been in line with his career norms. The problem is Santana is going to want to cash in after that strong 2016 season, even if 2017 hasn’t gone exactly according to plan, and even in a stacked free agent pool there should be plenty of money to go around for Santana. Meanwhile Hosmer is not someone who has ever really impressed me much. Sure his bat is nice and he is just 28-years old but advanced metrics show Hosmer as a very limited fielder and his -0.2 WAR in 2016, a season in which he made the All-Star team for the first time in his career, doesn’t exactly make me want to run home screaming to mom about him. Hosmer is durable and Hosmer can hit but his career wRC+ (109) is lower than Lucas Duda’s (124) who can also be had on the free agent market and if I were a betting man I’d say Duda gets significantly less than Hosmer in 2018 in terms of both years and dollars respectively.

The final player I want to showcase here is a bit of a “Get Greedy” kind of player. This player isn’t a player that the New York Yankees necessarily need but is a player that could rotate in and out of the outfield as well as the soon-to-be vacant DH position. J.D. Martinez has somehow flown under the radar for years now and that was never more evident than when the Arizona Diamondbacks acquired the outfielder from the Detroit Tigers without giving up a single blue-chip prospect. Since the start of the 2014 season only Mike Trout, Nolan Arenado and Giancarlo Stanton have put up higher slugging percentage numbers than Martinez, and keep in mind that Martinez was doing this inside Comerica Park in Detroit which is historically a pitcher’s park, yet somehow still Martinez is not what I would consider a household name. Now the teammate of another player, Paul Goldschmidt, who isn’t really a household name but should be, Martinez is gearing up to cash in on the free agent market in 2018. If anyone notices that is. If no one does notice it would behoove the Yankees to not make a run at him on a shorter term deal in my opinion to see if they could snag a great free agent option for less. Dare I say, Ninja Cashman. Martinez is not going to win you a Gold Glove out there in the outfield, hence why I said he could split time as the DH as well, and has been a bit injury prone throughout his career but he is just 30-years old and would likely only command a three-or-four year deal while having the same wRC+ (145) as Miguel Cabrera has had over the past three seasons.

Get Greedy and get Martinez if you can. If not and if the team wants a platoon and an insurance option at first base then sign a Mike Napoli and call it a day. Either way it looks like there won’t be much offensive help coming or much heavy lifting to be found in the Bronx before the 2018 season on the free agent market. Or I could be completely wrong, that’s happened more than once. 

Looking Ahead to 2018: Free Agent Yankees

With the July 31^st trading deadline behind us and the August 31^st trade deadline coming up in the near future I want to take the time while we have a bit of a lull to look ahead a bit. The New York Yankees plan for austerity and their plan to get under the luxury tax threshold begins as soon as the 2017 World Series ends and it begins with potentially six members of the team hitting free agency while other money, Alex Rodriguez’s salary namely, comes off the books. Let’s take a look at the impending Yankees free agents for the 2018 offseason and hot stove season.

CC Sabathia and his 23.666 million are coming off the books for New York which is one of the Yankees highest annual salaries currently on the team. Sabathia made $25 million is 2017 after a team vesting option vested due to the durability of Sabatahia’s left throwing shoulder.

Michael Pineda made $7.4 million in his final season of arbitration and will test the free agent market for the first time in his career this offseason. That’s generally good unless you underwent Tommy John surgery this season and will likely miss most or all of the 2018 season.

Matt Holliday signed a one-year deal worth $13 million this offseason so even I don’t need a calculator for this one. Holliday started out well for New York but has since fallen since being diagnosed with Epstein-Barr disease. Holliday wasn’t likely to be back in the Bronx in 2018 regardless of his production this season but it seems less and less likely with every injury, trip to the disabled list and strikeout that it’s definitely not happening next season.

Jaime Garcia’s salary is basically a wash since Minnesota is paying all but a prorated portion of the league minimum which the New York Yankees are on the hook for.

Todd Frazier and his $12 million base salary for the 2017 season will also hit the free agent market and will have little-to-no basis on the Yankees austerity plans and ability to reach them unless the team decides to bring the 31-year old back for another tour in the Bronx. That seems unlikely.

Alex Rodriguez and his balky salary is finally (FINALLY!!!) off the Yankees books this offseason and this sentence did not come a moment too soon. After signing a $275 million deal for 10-years that could have reached as high as $320 million with home run milestones and such New York has to be glad to be finally out from under that burden, both fiscally and literally. Rodriguez coming odd

Masahiro Tanaka, assuming the right-hander opts out of his contract, and his 22.142 million AAV could be coming off the Yankees books if the right-hander decides to opt-out of his contract. Of course that’s far from a given at this point given his struggles this season but in a weak starting pitching market you never know. The Yankees could also always re-sign Tanaka if he were to opt-out although I would personally bet and advise against it.

How will the Yankees fill these five-or-six 40 man roster spots and will the team be able to stay under the luxury tax threshold for the entire 2018 season? I guess you’ll just have to stay tuned to find out but have no fear, I am already working up a way for the Yankees to spend all the money listed above that is coming off the books before 2018. #GetGreedy.

The salaries above are AAV and not necessarily the actual salary that the player received in 2017 *

So it Seems Hank Steinbrenner is Alive & Greedy

So boy does this post come across to me as a little bittersweet. Hank Steinbrenner, part owner of the New York Yankees and brother to Hal Steinbrenner, is still alive and kicking despite his apparent cigarette addiction and he is still greedy, just like his father. The Yankees used to be, in my words, greedy when it came to free agents and acquiring players hence the name The Greedy Pinstripes. They used to want them all and more times than not the team used to get their man too. New York could have three All-Star first baseman and would go after a fourth if they thought it would bring a World Series championship to the Bronx. Anyway, I’m babbling.

Steinbrenner was interviewed at the Trump Gold Links at Ferry Point in the Bronx after standing with “Hank’s Yanks.” Hanks Yanks are a youth baseball team that were attending Hank’s Yanks Golf Classic, which benefits the youth baseball teams. Anyway you didn’t click this article or read this far to read about that, you want to know why Hank is greedy. Let’s get to that. At the benefit Steinbrenner was quoted as saying when talking about the Yankees playoff chances this season:

“We’re greedy. We want to win this year. It would be great to win the championship this year. They’re playing great as a team. Of course we’re going to try and win it this year.”

Get Greedy. Win it all in 2017. Good morning everybody. Especially you. Hey you. 

Today The Greedy Pinstripes Goes to School

We are about 12 hours away technically but it was on this day five long years ago that two friends of mine, Bryan Van Dusen and Jorge Maestre, approached me about starting our own shop. For years we had jumped around various sports forums and such, and I even tried to open my own sports forum with little luck, but one thing was for certain in all of us. We wanted our own shop and we wanted to do things our own way, different. For days we threw around ideas such as the Wives & Girlfriends section, the up-to-the-minute payroll and roster pages, the Mega Prediction Game and most importantly the name of the blog.

When we were deciding what to name the blog we had this thought process; If there was a list of 100 Yankees-related blogs, which could be easily done with all the competition around at the time, what name would allow us to stand out? We didn't want another generic Yankees blog and then we remembered my "Get Greedy" campaign from 2008. The Greedy Pinstripes were born and we bought the domain that night. Tonight, just five years ago.

Jorge has since gone his separate way and I personally miss him. I've reached out a few times, sent invites to be a part of the blog etc. and got little to no response. If you're reading this, once again Jorge, the olive branch is there... grab it. And to Bryan, thank you for pushing me to do this. You were right and I was wrong and there is a first time for everything.

To the fans, readers and followers thank you as well. This is a hobby, no one gets paid for this. Not even me. It's not worth it without your comments, your clicks and your tweets and such. Without your support, and I can only speak for myself here, this isn't worth it. The same goes to the writers here from past to present, you're awesome. You donate your time and efforts here for us and we appreciate you. I can't do it all alone and you guys make sure that I don't have to.

Thank you to everyone. The core group of people in the comments section, the people who support the Mega Prediction Game, the people who bookmark us and email us everyday, our Twitter followers, etc. This birthday is just as much for you as it is for us. I can go on all day so I'm just going to end it here before I do, thank you!

Today The Greedy Pinstripes Turns 4 Years Old!

We are about 12 hours away technically but it was on this day four long years ago that two friends of mine, Bryan Van Dusen and Jorge Maestre, approached me about starting our own shop. For years we had jumped around various sports forums and such, and I even tried to open my own sports forum with little luck, but one thing was for certain in all of us. We wanted our own shop and we wanted to do things our own way, different. For days we threw around ideas such as the Wives & Girlfriends section, the up-to-the-minute payroll and roster pages, the Mega Prediction Game and most importantly the name of the blog.

When we were deciding what to name the blog we had this thought process; If there was a list of 100 Yankees-related blogs, which could be easily done with all the competition around at the time, what name would allow us to stand out? We didn't want another generic Yankees blog and then we remembered my "Get Greedy" campaign from 2008. The Greedy Pinstripes were born and we bought the domain that night. Tonight, just four years ago.

Jorge has since gone his separate way and I personally miss him. I've reached out a few times, sent invites to be a part of the blog etc. and got little to no response. If you're reading this, once again Jorge, the olive branch is there... grab it. And to Bryan, thank you for pushing me to do this. You were right and I was wrong and there is a first time for everything.

To the fans, readers and followers thank you as well. This is a hobby, no one gets paid for this. Not even me. It's not worth it without your comments, your clicks and your tweets and such. Without your support, and I can only speak for myself here, this isn't worth it. The same goes to the writers here from past to present, you're awesome. You donate your time and efforts here for us and we appreciate you. I can't do it all alone and you guys make sure that I don't have to.

Thank you to everyone. The core group of people in the comments section, the people who support the Mega Prediction Game, the people who bookmark us and email us everyday, our Twitter followers, etc. This birthday is just as much for you as it is for us. I can go on all day so I'm just going to end it here before I do, thank you!

Lower the Years, Increase the Money & Sign a Pitcher

As we all continue to wait on the Max Scherzer and James Shields sweepstakes to come to an end I had an epiphany, albeit probably not an original epiphany but an epiphany nonetheless, about how New York could sign one or both of these pitchers to truly “Get Greedy.” What if New York, like the title of the post says, lowered the amount of years and increased the AAV to land either one or both of these arms?

Let’s just throw some rough estimates out there and say the team offers Max Scherzer anywhere from a three to four year deal worth either $95 or $125 million. Scherzer would make his money and be the highest paid pitcher in baseball, AAV wise, while getting one more crack at free agency at the end of his prime. This is obviously a far cry from eight years and $200 million plus but that is still a hard amount of money to walk away from looking at his market.

James Shields is said to be asking for a deal in the four to five year range and in excess of $100 million but would he take a one year deal worth $26 million or a two year deal worth $50 million? Again, looking at this market and his reported preference to play for specific teams this may be enough to land Shields on a short term deal and give him one more opportunity to land a bigger contract at the end of his prime. Shields and his market may be suffering from his lackluster postseason performance and if he could lead New York back to the Promised Land that may increase his salary the next time around.

It’s unlikely that either of these deals happen but it’s no longer early in the offseason and time is ticking away. Scherzer and Shields may have to come off their demands and take, for lack of a better term, pillow contracts and go at it again in a few years when teams like the Dodgers and the Yankees have loads of money coming off their books. Or they could simply continue to sit around and wait for that phone to ring, their choice. 

The Ultimate “Get Greedy” Team

If money were no object and we were playing the game like we sometimes play on Playstation what team would you put together if you could? I’m talking about a team of All Star’s from both leagues making up a 25 man roster, a true fantasy draft. I’m bored, this offseason is truly getting to me, so I compiled my own list and frankly, I don’t think this team loses a game. That may be in part to the watered down rosters of the rest of the teams but what can you do. What’s yours? Leave it in the comments box.

Arizona’s Paul Goldschmidt has to be the first baseman on this team and I don’t even think it’s all that close. Sure I could make the case for Jose Abreu, and I probably should have given him more thought, but I just really like what Goldschmidt brings to the table in a full and healthy season. My second baseman, after a long consideration, has to go to Robinson Cano even with seemingly dwindling power numbers and a broken toe in Seattle. My shortstop is Troy Tulowitzki, injury history and bad hip and all, because he is far and away the best shortstop. Even with him playing a half a season he is still accumulating more WAR then most, sometimes all, shortstops who play 162 games and something can be said about that. My infield is closed out with the Toronto Blue Jay’s newest toy Josh Donaldson who is probably the best third baseman in the league right now. No disrespect to Pablo Sandoval or any of the others but Donaldson’s numbers in a very pitching friendly Oakland Coliseum truly scare me as a Yankees fan with him now in Toronto. Finally I need a catcher and there are more than a few I could have chosen here including the Yankees own Brian McCann but I think I will have to go with a former Yankee for the spot, and a current Toronto Blue Jay, in Russell Martin to finish out the offense.

Starting with the obvious players I go to my outfield where I have Mike Trout, Giancarlo Stanton, and Andrew McCutchen. I don’t think anyone can make a case for any of these three leaving the starting outfield and moving to the bench, not even Carlos Gomez who I probably place on my bench after a strong 2014 season. My DH has to go to Nelson Cruz right now after leading all of baseball with 40 home runs in 2014 narrowly edging out, in my mind anyway, Victor Martinez and David Ortiz. Joining Gomez and Cruz on the bench has to be Jose Altuve after narrowly missing out on the starting second base job to Cano after winning a batting title with the Houston Astros. I personally want a true backup first baseman on the team which leaves me with Abreu from the Chicago White Sox. I finish my bench off with someone who may not be the sexy name you’re looking for but someone who can play all over the diamond and that man in Anthony Rendon of the Washington Nationals. Rendon makes my team over Miguel Cabrera and others for the simple fact that I can move him everywhere around the field and not sacrifice defense anywhere. I’m building a team, not a Home Run Derby.

Pitching begins and ends with Clayton Kershaw, it just has to, with the likes of Felix Hernandez, Madison Bumgarner, Max Scherzer and Chris Sale finishing out the rotation. Craig Kimbrel highlights the back end of my bullpen while Adam Wainwright and Corey Kluber join my pen as long relievers and David Robertson, Andrew Miller (homer pick), Aroldis Chapman and Dellin Betances finish out the pitching. Nobody is touching this starting staff, no one is touching this bullpen and no one is keeping this lineup down consistently for 27 outs, nobody. 

Thinking About 2015: The Conclusion, I’m Greedy

For the past few days I have been thinking about the 2015 season and the team the New York Yankees will put out on the field and I have come to the conclusion that I am absolutely greedy. I haven’t lived up to the Greedy Pinstripes moniker as much in recent years as I did before the 2009 season when this blog was unofficially formed. This season I decided I have gone all out when I started constructing this All Star roster. If you remember correctly I added James Shields to the starting rotation, Nelson Cruz to a rotational DH spot, Asdrubal Cabrera to the shortstop position, and Grady Sizemore to the outfield rotation as well and I think I may have too many good players and not enough spots to give everyone playing time without gutting the roster.

Using the players added above the roster would look something like this:

SP1: CC Sabathia

SP2: Masahiro Tanaka

SP3: Michael Pineda

SP4: James Shields

SP5: Shane Greene

SP6: David Phelps

SP7: Ivan Nova

CL: David Robertson

SU: Dellin Betances

MR: Adam Warren

MR: Shawn Kelley

LR: Chase Whitley

LOOGY: Jacob Lindgren

LR: Manny Banuelos

C: Brian McCann

1B: Mark Teixiera

2B: Robert Refsnyder

SS: Asdrubal Cabrera

3B: Chase Headley

OF: Brett Gardner

OF: Jacoby Ellsbury

OF: Carlos Beltran

BN: Grady Sizemore

BN: Brendan Ryan

BN: Martin Prado

BN: Francisco Cervelli

BN/DH: Alex Rodriguez

BN/DH: Nelson Cruz

Obviously one or two of the pitchers would need to go, and that is before you consider Bryan Mitchell and others for a spot. We also have far too many options with the bats but hey, those problems are for the GM and the manager to figure out. Just bring me the best players to do the job and get me to the Promised Land. Get Greedy, get them all. 

Fire Brian Cashman, Now!

It's okay Steinbrenner family, we've seen enough. It's time for a new face and a fresh outlook on this team and it's time to fire Brian Cashman, now. No need to wait until the end of the season where we can do it respectfully, get rid of him now. I have been more or less a Cashman apologists for way too many years now but yesterday was the final straw to me. Our very own Jack Niemuth reported that Cashman had no plans to call of prospects Robert Refsnyder this season and that is when I decided that I have seen enough.

The biggest difference between teams like the St. Louis Cardinals, the Oakland Athletics, and the Boston Red Sox to name a few are their willingness to develop and use their farm system. Win, lose, or draw mind you these teams consistently develop talent out of their farm systems and use them in the major leagues. When you have a team struggling offensively at two positions, right field and second base, and you have a prospect absolutely destroying Triple-A and Double-A pitching that can play both positions you call him up. Bottom line.

I'm done, I'm tired of it, and I may sound like the immortal Michael Pawluk but it's time for that shakeup we have been calling for all season long. Fire Brian Cashman and bring in someone who knows what they are doing in the prospects field. Cashman has survived throwing money around and trading prospects for veteran pieces and baseball has caught on and passed the Yankees in that aspect. Great young controllable talent doesn't hit the free agent market or the trade wire very often anymore and it's time for a change. Why not start with the man in charge of player personnel changes?

I am usually the one asking Cashman to "Get Greedy" but today I plead with Hal Steinbrenner to get smart and fire Brian Cashman.

Quick Hit: Grady Sizemore Worth A Look?

"I can pitch too." - Sizemore

In case you missed it yesterday the Boston Red Sox designated center fielder Grady Sizemore for assignment. I have been a huge advocate for signing Sizemore for over two seasons now and we have another shot, but would he be worth it?

Sizemore absolutely tore up the Red Sox Spring Training camp and won a job out of camp impressively but has struggled somewhat ever since. Sizemore is now on the books for $1.25 million for the Red Sox and could be acquired for a prorated league minimum salary, or roughly $320K.

The good news is that Sizemore is just 31 years old and has the speed and the glove that the Yankees seemingly covet these days and could be a huge bit of insurance for Carlos Beltran if his elbow gives out again. I realize he hit just .216/.288/.324 but he couldn't be much worse then Alfonso Soriano or Kelly Johnson at this point, especially if platooned well and was needed in a pinch.

There is no such thing as a bad minor league deal and I cannot say I entirely trust the cortisone shot in Beltran's elbow so I say, once again, Get Greedy... Get Sizemore.

With The $189 Goal Toast It's Time To Get Greedy!

This blog was built on the backs of the New York Yankees dominating the offseason and free agency spending millions of dollars at will, much like they did this offseason. The Yankees have flirted with the whole luxury tax $189 goal, but not a mandate, threshold for two seasons but I think the Masahiro Tanaka signing for seven years and $155 million put that whole discussion to bed at least for another season. With that said Mr. Hal Steinbrenner himself said that the Yankees would either get under the cap or go way over it, no middle ground, so it is time to get greedy.

The Yankees bullpen is now the biggest glaring "weakness" on the team with the starting rotation all but set in stone up so Grant Balfour come on down! Balfour has stated that he has a willingness to pitch the 8th inning and that is perfect for us because we have David Robertson closing out games. The Yankees truly need a guy in the 8th inning with closing experience just in case D Rob's Houdini act does not translate well into the 9th inning. With the "concerns" over Balfour's wrist and knee he should come relatively cheap as well on a one or two year deal, sign me up.

The Yankees infield is the second biggest weakness and easily the biggest question mark on the team, Stephen Drew come on down. Drew has stated, through Scott Boras of course, a willingness to play a different position other than shortstop where he has played his entire career. That's perfect for us as we need a third basemen and will likely need a second basemen before it is all said and done. Also Drew could sign a multi-year deal and have the opportunity to go back to shortstop for the 2015 season assuming Derek Jeter decides to walk away. Sounds like a perfect match to me, but that's just if you ask me.

Finally the Yankees, because it wouldn't be getting greedy if you weren't signing someone just for the simple fact of signing someone, need to bring Ubaldo Jimenez into the fold. When he is on he is on, and unfortunately when he is not he is not, but we would be paying for when he is on. The Yankees would have enough starting pitching on the team to be able to mask and hide his AJ Burnett type splits and still survive. Plus I have always liked the guy and I am a fan first, sue me.

In closing it's time to man up, get greedy, and show the rest of the league that the real evil empire is not sitting on a beach on Los Angeles right now it is right here in New York City!

What I Want For Christmas: Get Greedy

Christmas Eve, still technically twelve hours left of Christmas shopping before Santa Clause makes his big debut. If you didn't get my mass email containing my likes, needs, sized, color preferences, and other Christmas presents here is another one for you last minute shoppers. I want the Yankees to continue to make me proud, I want the Yankees to continue to make me feel justified in creating a blog named The Greedy Pinstripes, I want the Yankees to get greedy and get everybody.

Blow up the Hal cap, screw the luxury tax, and spend money like the world won't be here in 2020. The Yankees still have a few holes to fill and instead of being money conscience or trying to bargain shop let's remember that we are the team that has already signed Carlos Beltran, Jacoby Ellsbury, Brian McCann, and Kelly Johnson. Sign starting pitching, sign relief pitchers, sign positional players, sign them all. THEN you start making trades. Get Greedy and tell Bud Selig to go to hell. Merry Christmas all!

Current Projected Lineup for 2014

Nothing is official yet but the signing of Jacoby Ellsbury most likely means the end of Curtis Granderson's tenure in the Bronx.  Here is the projected lineup by yours truly for next season and yes I still believe Cano will resign.  The powers that be are mad about missing the playoffs and there will be hell to pay!

1. Jacoby Ellsbury - CF
2. Derek Jeter - SS
3. Robinson Cano - 2B
4. Mark Teixeira - 1B
5. Brian McCann - C
6. Alfonso Soriano - DH
7. Eduardo Nunez - 3B (tbd)
8. Ichiro Suzuki - RF
9. Brett Gardner - LF

Obviously, there will be some DH days for Jeter and Soriano will move to the outfield on those days and on days Ichiro needs a rest.  I feel much better about this offense already.  This may be the fastest lineup the Yanks have ever had.  Furthermore, I made it all the way through without mentioning a certain someone.

Now to solve the rotation issue.

Poll: What Free Agent Starter Should The Yankees Target?

What Free Agent Pitcher Should The Yankees Target
	Masahiro Tanaka
	Matt Garza
	AJ Burnett
	Dan Haren
	Tim Hudson
	Phil Hughes
	Hiroki Kuroda
	Ubaldo Jiminez
	Josh Johnson
	Barry Zito
	Ervin Santana
	Paul Maholm
pollcode.com free polls

Here is another quick poll asking you, the Yankees fans, who you want to see in pinstripes next season. You can keep it realistic and realize that Matt Garza is probably not coming to the Yankees or you can just simply get greedy and pick them all. Multiple votes allowed because we presumably need multiple starting pitchers to fill the void left behind from the likes of Phil Hughes, Hiroki Kuroda, and Andy Pettitte. Thank you in advance for the votes and your participation. 

Unrealistic 2014 Free Agent Targets: Brian McCann

Brian McCann

If anyone has been reading the blog at all during the 2013 season you all know that I want Brian McCann on this team in the absolute worst way. His left handed swing was made for the short porch in Yankees Stadium and I think he can return to being a perennial .300 hitter in New York. His power and production would be a welcomed addition behind the plate and would be a sight for sore eyes after the absolute lack of offense the Yankees have seen from behind the dish this season. This signing would also make any combination of JR Murphy, Chris Stewart, and Austin Romine available on the trading block to get us another missing piece. Do I expect Brian McCann to sign with the Yankees? Well no, but the blog is called the GREEDY Pinstripes so of course I want the best catcher on the market in pinstripes for 2014.

If I am the GM I hand McCann a four year deal worth $62,000,000 with a club option for a 5th season. I know that is too much given his injury history and such but it will take at least four years to sign McCann and unlike this "bad" deal we will not be paying him in his late 30's and early 40's unlike Alex Rodriguez.

Rangers Release Manny Ramirez, Time To Get Greedy

As many of you probably do not know Manny Ramirez was the reason we started the "Get Greedy" campaign which eventually turned into The Greedy Pinstripes. It was the off season before the 2009 season and the Yankees had already signed Mark Teixeira, CC Sabathia, AJ Burnett, and traded for Nick Swisher and were looking to reload. Enter Manny Ramirez who would have gave us a right handed power bat that we lacked other than Alex Rodriguez, who would have single handedly fixed our hitting with runners in scoring position and in clutch situations problem, and could have been hidden in left field in Yankees Stadium. I went hard after Manny Ramirez and spread my "Get Greedy, Get Manny" campaign all over the internet before he eventually decided to sign elsewhere but the Yankees may have a second chance now that he was released by the Texas Rangers yesterday.

The Yankees are probably too far out of the playoff race now with somewhere around a 2% chance of making the post season in 2013 for it to matter by why the hell not make the move at this point? We could easily sign Manny to a minor league deal and he is a Corban Joseph 60 day DL transfer away from being a September call up. Manny is in his age 41 season and has been hitting .259/.328/.370 with three home runs in the minors for the Rangers before his release. He drew some questions about his bat speed playing with Texas but absolutely annihilated Taiwanese pitching to the tune of .352 with eight home runs before coming back to the states so the bat is still there, in some capacity anyway, I would think.

Make a long time Yankees fan happy by finally completing the "Get Greedy, Get Manny" campaign by making this sign Brian Cashman and you may get some of the faith back that I used to have in you.

Manny Ramirez Has Verbal Agreement W/ Taiwanese Team

First I will say that I fully realize that Manny Ramirez is not a Yankees player, never has been, and never will be a New York Yankees player. I will give the readers a little bit of a back story behind The Greedy Pinstripes, where the name came from, and how it relates to Manny Ramirez. In the off season before the 2009 season where the Yankees signed CC Sabathia, AJ Burnett, Mark Teixeira, and traded for Nick Swisher I playfully lobbied for the Yankees to sign Manny Ramirez. I can remember the Yankees need for right handed power, for a left fielder, for clutch hitting, and basically every other good thing that came along with Manny Ramirez. The fact that it would be a slap in the face to the Boston Red Sox did not hurt either but that is for another day's discussion. I started saying "Get Greedy, Get Manny" after every post on this forum that I used to be a member of and it caught fire in the forum so before I knew it I had a bit of a following behind me. What started out as a joke turned into a Yankees fan alliance of sorts and the "Get Greedy" mentality and such never seemed to die down so when we decided to start our own Yankees fan blog we knew we had to incorporate the "greedy" aspect into it and The Greedy Pinstripes were born.

I said all that to say this...

Manny Ramirez has a verbal agreement to play baseball in 2013 for a Taiwanese team, the EDA Rhinos of the Chinese Independent League, although the deal will not be official until March 7th of this year. Ramirez has until that date to find a major league team to sign with but reportedly his agents called every American League team that needed a power right handed bat and nobody showed any significant interest in Manny. With a career .312/.411/.585 triple slash with 555 home runs you figured it would not be difficult for Manny to find a home with a team as a DH but I guess that is where three failed steroid/performance enhancing drug tests come into play.