A New AJ Burnett Trade Possibility Appears

Being borrowed from our friends over at Yankees Fans Unite

KC's Clint Robinson

AJ Burnett trade rumors are in no short supply. We’ve heard Pittsburgh and Seattle as possible scenarios but Dan Martin of the NY Post brought up the Kansas City Royals today. Martin says ”the Pirates and Royals among the teams most actively looking into acquiring Burnett.”

To me the Royals are an intriguing possible trade partner because they have what the Yankees are looking for in return – hitters, more to the point young hitters. We know the Yanks sought lefty DH/OF Garrett Jones from Pittsburgh and were supposedly re-buffed, so who would make sense to get back in return from KC?

I wrote about the perfect fit Billy Butler would be a couple of weeks ago, but he would require much more than AJ (think Betances and more) and there is no way KC would part with their young lefty hitters, 1B Eric Hosmer or OF Alex Gordon. However, the Royals have a player in AAA ready for the big leagues but is blocked by the aforementioned Butler, Hosmer & Gordon – his name is Clint Robinson.

Robinson, 26, is a 6’5″ 235 pound lefty hitting 1B/DH who has nothing more to prove in the minor leagues. In 2010, he won the AA Triple Crown with a .335-29-98 line that included a .410 OBP & .625 SLG. Promoted to AAA in 2011, he kept hitting, posting a .326-23-100 line with a .399/.533/.932 OPS. He was drafted in the 25th round in 2007 and is not considered a big time prospect because of his draft position, relatively modest stats in A ball and lack of defensive skills. But through hard work and back to back monster years, he’s ready for prime time. I should temper the expectations a little with the disclaimer that the numbers put up in 2011 were in the notoriously hitter-friendly Pacific Coast League. However, the guy can obviously hit.

KC Director of Minor League Operations Scott Sharp was quoted on MILB.com regarding Robinson:“An offensive force,” Sharp said. “Left-handed power with tremendous ability to use the entire field. He has patience at the plate and good strike-zone discipline. He continues to improve defensively and has taken some reps in left field.”

That is what clinched it for me. He’s not just a masher but a guy with power who uses the whole field, has patience and knows the strike zone. He struck out just 88 times in 561PAs in 2011 and 86 times in 535 PAs in 2010. Robinson would be a great candidate for Left-handed DH platoon as he destroyed RHP last yr to the tune of a .330 batting average and .418/.561/.979 split.

I think if the Yanks ate $23-25M of Burnett’s salary, they could definitely expect to get Robinson in return. KC has floated his name around this Winter in trade talks since teams know he can hit but they simply don’t have a spot for him. They do however, have a glaring need for a veteran pitcher who can eat innings. The Royals have a lot of talented young pitchers but they will be babied and can’t be counted on to supply 180-200 IP. AJ could soak up innings while the kids grow and would probably be more comfortable in Kansas City since it’s close to his native Arkansas.

Some fans have mentioned the Yanks should give Jorge Vazquez a shot at the DH for his performance in AAA. Problem is JoVa’s right-handed, strikes out a ton, doesn’t walk or hit for average and is 30 yrs old. Robinson is 26/27, lefty, controls the zone and hits for average and power. I really think he would be a good fit. What do you guys think?

I am actually totally in love with this idea. As a lot of you probably do not know I am the biggest AJ Burnett fan that there ever was. There is just something about throwing a no hitter with 9 walks that really peaks my interest in a player. I was ecstatic when the Yankees signed him and even more ecstatic when he was a huge piece in us winning the 2009 World Series. While I would absolutely hate to see him go, and so would both my jersey's of his which would essentially become dust collectors, I understand and want what is best for the team. Make it happen Cash, and soon.

Please Mr. Cashman, trade AJ Burnett

There’s nothing imminent, but there’s apparently hope that the Yankees and Pirates can strike a deal that would send A.J. Burnett to Pittsburgh. Jon Heyman adds that while the teams are “a few million apart” in negotiations, they were still talking.

The Yankees’ goal is to convince a taker to pay part of the $33 million remaining on Burnett’s contract over the next two years to help them sign a designated hitter. Heyman tweeted the Yanks offered to pay the Bucs less than one-third of the salary, something closer to a 50-50 split, but that wasn’t enough. The Pirates also turned down the Yankees’ request that lefty-swinging Garrett Jones be part of the deal.

The Pirates’ plan is to platoon Jones, 30, with Casey McGehee at first base. Jones has some pop, but also batted .243 and struck out 104 times in 423 at-bats to go with 16 home runs and 58 RBIs. He’s also a .199 career hitter against lefties, which clearly makes him half of a platoon situation.

Speaking of DH targets, the A’s have interest in either Johnny Damon or Hideki Matsui, but both are considered long shots.

Mr. Cashman! Get a deal done! Honestly, if Burnett were to be the 5th starter for the Yankees I wouldn't be upset. Although evidence over the last two years shows otherwise, I still believe that AJ could be a viable starter... especially at the bottom of the rotation. I just don't believe a pitcher that had a bWAR of 8.3 from 2007 to 2009, would really only be worth -0.5 wins like he was in 2010, or even 1.1 wins in 2011. Somewhere in that twisted mind of AJ's there's a good pitcher. We've saw it pop up here and there in 2011, like on September 25th when he went 7.2 innings, giving up 2 ER with 6 Ks, against the Red Sox.

But the fact is, the team has better options. I really want to see what Phil Hughes could do in 175 innings this season as a starter. Phil still has plenty of upside. It may not be as an ace like some thought he'd turn out as when he was still in the minors in 2006, but a good middle of the rotation pitcher is still well within reason. And although I don't expect another season with an ERA of 3.62, I fully expect Freddy Garcia to be able to give the team a good chance to win in a majority of his starts.

As for the last sentence, with Matsui not being able to play the field, I don't think Hideki's chances of being in New York are good at all. And I really hope Oakland signs Johnny Damon, because I don't want him on the Yankees (I think I've mentioned that before). I'm sure, if Damon is signed by Oakland, he'll say something like "2001 was a great year as I loved playing in Oakland, so I'm so happy to be back". You know... some sort of bullshit like he gave Tampa, New York, and Boston.

Yankees Asking Package From Pittsburgh For AJ Burnett

According to roto world the New York Yankees are asking for Garret Jones in exchange for AJ Burnett. The deal has us paying a rumored $25 million of his $33 million owed currently on his 2 year deal. The Pirates, which I am sure most of you already know by now, are NOT on AJ's limited no trade clause. Here is the write up:

According to ESPN's Buster Olney, the Yankees want Garrett Jones from the Pirates in return for A.J. Burnett.
The Bucs are said to like the idea of bringing Burnett aboard, but Olney says they won't trade Jones to make it happen and thus there is "no traction" for a deal at this time. Jones, 30, posted a .243/.321/.433 slash line with 16 home runs and 58 RBI last season and is expected to start at first base for Pittsburgh in 2012. The Yankees seem doubtful to find a legitimate suitor for Burnett.

Garret Jones only has value to us, in my opinion, as a third basemen and not as a first basemen. Garret Jones would not be a huge upgrade over Jorge Vasquez who is currently rotting down in AAA Scranton. I am finding it harder and harder to believe that AJ Burnett is going to be traded before or during Spring Training. I think our best case scenario is to pitch him in the 5th spot, although I prefer Phil Hughes, and hopes that he has his stereotypical early success and dump him early. 

Yankees Invite 27 To Spring Training

Borrowed from our pals at LOHUD, the Yankees have invited 27 players to compete for spots this year in Spring Training. HERE is the write up from Lohud, or you can just read below.

Below is the release from the Yankees about their 27 invitations to spring training, including 13 inked to minor-league deals. I always find these lists intriguing, checking out the former major-leaguers or prospects on them, pondering who might make the team and what impact the player will have. Dewayne Wise is a terrific defensive outfielder. If only he could hit. There are a couple of ex-Red Sox pitchers on there in Manny Delcarmen and Hideki Okajima. Could Russell Branyan provide power off the bench, the kind of power he showed in an away uniform here? Wonder if Jorge Vazquez’s power could translate to the majors.

Who do you think can do something of substance and help the most this season at the major-league level among the veterans? Maybe Okajima. We’ll see.

OK, here’s the info, plus the player bios, courtesy of the Yankees:

The New York Yankees today announced that they have signed 13 players to minor league contracts with an invitation to Major League Spring Training, including INF Russell Branyan, RHP Manny Delcarmen,INF Bill Hall, LHP Hideki Okajima and OF Dewayne Wise. The club has also invited 14 additional players to 2012 Spring Training bringing the total number of invites to 27 (14 pitchers, five infielders, five catchers and three outfielders).  The total number of players now scheduled to report is 67.

Branyan, 37,  has played in 1,059 career games over parts of 14 Major League seasons with Cleveland (1998-2002, ‘10), Cincinnati (2002-03), Milwaukee (2004-05, ’08), Tampa Bay (2006), San Diego (2006-07), Philadelphia (2007), St. Louis (2007),  Seattle (2009, ‘10), Arizona (2011) and Los Angeles-AL (2011). He owns a career .232 (682-for-2,934) batting average with 143 doubles, 194 home runs and 467 RBI.  Entering the 2012 season, his 15.12 at-bat/home run ratio is the seventh best among active Major League players. Branyan is the only player in the history of the current Yankee Stadium to hit a home run off of the glass facing of the center field batter’s eye (7/2/09 with Seattle off Alfredo Aceves) and the first player to hit a home run into the upper deck (300 level) in the right-field stands (8/21/10 with Seattle off Javier Vazquez).  In 2011, he combined with Arizona and Los Angeles-AL to hit .197 (25-for-127) with seven doubles, five home runs and 14 RBI in 68 games. The Franklin, Tennessee native was originally selected by Cleveland in the seventh round of the 1994 First-Year Player Draft.

Delcarmen, 29, has appeared in 298 career games – all in relief – over parts of six seasons with Boston and Colorado, going 11-8 with a 3.97 ERA (292.2IP, 129ER). He is tied for eleventh all-time in Red Sox franchise history with 289 appearances and established a career-high with 73 appearances in 2008. In 2011, he combined with Triple-A Tacoma of the Seattle organization and Triple-A Round Rock of the Texas organization to go 3-2 with a 5.59 ERA (38.2IP, 24ER) in 26 relief appearances. Originally drafted by the Red Sox in the second round of the 2000 First-Year Player Draft, Delcarmen has made 11 career postseason appearances, including six during Boston’s 2007 World Series run. Over his career, is 4-1 with a 3.65 ERA (125.2IP, 51ER) in 131 relief appearances vs. the American League East division.

Hall, 32, owns a career .248 (825-for-3,325) batting average with 210 doubles, 124 home runs and 439 RBI in 1,047 games over parts of 10 seasons with Milwaukee (2002-09), Seattle (2009), Boston (2010), Houston (2011) and San Francisco (2011). He has made appearances at second base, third base, shortstop and all three outfield positions during his career. In 2011, he split the season between the Houston and San Francisco organizations, combining to bat .211 (39-for-185) with nine doubles, two home runs and 14 RBI in 62 games. Hall was originally selected by Milwaukee in the sixth round of the 1998 First-Year Player Draft.

Okajima, 36, is 17-8 with six saves and a 3.11 ERA (246.1IP, 85ER) in 261 career games over parts of five seasons with Boston (2007-11). Has registered the sixth-most innings pitched among all lefthanded American League relievers since 2007. The 2007 All-Star and World Series champion owns a 2.11 ERA (21.1IP, 5ER) in 17 career postseason appearances. He made seven relief appearances with the Red Sox in 2011, going 1-0 with a 4.32 ERA (8.1IP, 4ER), but spent the majority of the season at Triple-A Pawtucket where he was 8-1 with a 2.29 ERA (51.0IP, 13ER). Over his Major League career, has limited lefthanded batters to a .218 (87-for-399) batting average with 98 strikeouts and eight home runs. Prior to his Major League career, played in 11 seasons in the Nippon Professional League (Japan).

Wise, 33, owns a .219 (180-for-821) career batting average with 32 doubles, 22 home runs and 82 RBI in 445 games over parts of nine seasons with Toronto (2000-02, ‘10-11), Atlanta (2004), Cincinnati (2006-07), Chicago-AL (2008-09) and Florida (2011). Overall, he appeared in 69 combined games at the Major League level in 2011 with the Marlins and Blue Jays. He has appeared in all three outfield positions during his Major League career, combining for a .988 fielding percentage (509 total chances/six errors).  Wise was originally selected by Cincinnati in the fifth round of the 1997 First-Year Player Draft.

LHP Manuel Banuelos, 20, combined to go 6-7 with a 3.75 ERA (129.2IP, 54ER) and 125 strikeouts in 27 starts with Double-A Trenton and Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre in 2011, ranking third among all Yankees farmhands in strikeouts. He was named to the Eastern League’s midseason All-Star team, prior to his promotion to Scranton/WB on July 31. Following the season, he was tabbed by Baseball America as the top pitching prospect in the Yankees organization, the sixth best prospect in the EL and the 12th-best prospect on MLB Network’s/MLB.com’s top 50 Prospects list. Banuelos earned the James P. Dawson Award from the New York Chapter of the BBWAA as the 2011 “Most Outstanding Rookie in Spring Training,” after going 1-1 with a 2.13 ERA in six games (two starts). The Monterrey, Mexico native was signed by the Yankees as a non-drafted free agent in 2008.

INF Doug Bernier, 31, played the entire 2011 season with Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre, hitting .237 (69-for-291) with 13 doubles, four triples and 29 RBI in 95 games. Originally signed by Colorado as a non-drafted free agent in 2002, he owns a career .238 (645-for-2,711) minor league batting average with 114 doubles, 16 triples, 20 home runs and 268 RBI in 904 games in the Colorado (2002-08), Yankees (2009, ‘11) and Pittsburgh (2010) organizations. He made his Major League debut in 2008 with Colorado, appearing in two games and going 0-for-4 in his lone start at second base on June 19, 2008 vs. Cleveland.

RHP Daniel Burawa, 23, combined with Single-A Charleston and Single-A Tampa to go 5-4 with a 3.64 ERA (84.0IP, 34ER) in 39 appearances out of the bullpen in 2011. The St. John’s University product began the season with Charleston and was 3-2 with a 3.63 ERA (44.2IP, 18ER) in 19 relief appearances prior to being promoted to Tampa in late June. While with Tampa he went 2-2 with a 3.66 ERA (39.1IP, 16ER). Burawa was originally selected by the Yankees in the 12^th round of the 2010 First-Year Player Draft.

LHP Juan Cedeno, 28, has not pitched during the regular season in each of the last three seasons, appearing only in the Dominican Winter League. In 2011, he made 15 relief appearances with the Tigres de Licey and went 1-0 with a 1.04 ERA (8.2IP, 1ER). Originally signed by Boston as a non-drafted free agent in 2001, he has combined to go 29-48 with a 4.70 ERA (681.2IP, 356ER) in 216 games (99 starts) in eight minor league seasons in the Boston (2002-04; ’05), Kansas City (2005-2007), Los Angeles-NL (2008) and Detroit (2008) organizations.

OF Colin Curtis, 27, did not play in 2011 due to a shoulder injury. He last saw Major League action in 2010, when he made his Major League debut, hitting .186 (11-for-59) with three doubles, one home run and 8 RBI in 31 games (nine starts in right-field, two in left-field and one at designated hitter) over two stints with the Yankees. In five minor league seasons in the Yankees organization, he has combined to hit .267 (494-for-1,850) with 32 home runs and 209 RBI in 497 games. Curtis was originally selected by the Yankees in the fourth round of the 2006 First-Year Player Draft.

RHP Matt Daley, 29, is 1-2 with a 4.71 ERA (80.1IP, 42ER) in 92 career Major League games with the Colorado Rockies (2009-11). He has spent the bulk of his career in the Rockies minor league system, combining to go 20-20 with a 3.80 ERA (378.2IP, 160ER) in 259 games. In 2011, he spent the majority of the season at Triple-A Colorado Springs, going 0-2 with a 6.28 ERA in 17 outings before being recalled to the Major League club in May. The New York-native appeared in seven games with the Rockies prior to undergoing season-ending arthroscopic surgery in August. Daley was originally signed as a non-drafted free agent by Colorado in June, 2004 out of Bucknell University.

OF Cole Garner, 27, owns a career .286 (639-for-2,236) batting average with 157 doubles, 28 triples, 76 home runs and 346 RBI in 601 combined minor league games in the Colorado organization. In 2011, he made his Major League debut with the Rockies and batted .222 (2-for-9) in four contests. Colorado’s 26^th round pick in the 2003 First-Year Player Draft, Garner spent the majority of last season with Triple-A Colorado Springs and hit .330 (61-for-185) with eight home runs and 35 RBI.

C Jose Gil, 25, has appeared in 506 career minor league games, all in the Yankees organization, hitting .240 (405-for-1,691) with 98 doubles, 34 home runs and 224 RBI over 8 seasons. In 2011, he combined to bat .253 (67-for-265) with six home runs and 35 RBI in 79 games with Double-A Trenton and Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre. Following the season, he played in 32 games with the Caribes de Anzoategui of the Venezuelan Winter League and batted .272 (22-for-81) with eight doubles, one home run and 10 RBI. The Barcelona, Venezuela native was originally signed by the Yankees as a non-drafted free agent in 2003.

C Kyle Higashioka, 21, spent the first half of the 2011 season with Single-A Tampa, batting .238 (39-for-164) with 10 doubles, four home runs and 16 RBI, appearing in all but two games at catcher (two at designated hitter) and throwing out 21-of-60 (35.0%) potential base stealers. He was transferred to Single-A Charleston in June where he remained for the rest of the season, batting .223 (29-for-130) with six doubles, four home runs and 13 RBI in 36 games. Higashioka was the Yankees’ seventh round pick in the 2008 First-Year Player Draft. 

RHP Brett Marshall, 21, played the entire 2011 season with Single-A Tampa and went 9-7 with a 3.78 ERA (1401.IP, 59ER) in 27 games (26 starts). He made his third career relief appearance on July 21 at Bradenton and struck out eight batters in 5.0 scoreless innings. The Yankees’ sixth-round selection in the 2008 First-Year Player Draft, Marshall has played in four combined minor league seasons, going 16-15 with a 3.88 ERA (317.2IP, 137ER).

RHP Adam Miller, 27, has spent his entire professional career in the Cleveland minor league system, combining to go 33-30 with a 3.71 ERA (533.2IP, 220ER) in 135 games (94 starts). In 2011, he combined to make 31 relief appearances with Single-A Kinston and Double-A Akron, going 1-5 with a 5.93 ERA (44.0IP, 29ER) in his first action since May of 2008. Miller was originally selected by the Indians in Compensation Round A of the 2003 First-Year Player Draft.

C Gustavo Molina, 29, made the Yankees’ Opening Day Roster in 2011 and made three starts at catcher, batting .167 (1-for-6) with one double. He spent the majority of the season at Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre, where he hit .253 (41-for-162) with six doubles, four home runs and 21 RBI in 47 games. Following the season, he appeared in 42 games with the Caribes de Anzoategui of the Venezuelan Winter League and batted .256 (31-for-121) with seven doubles and 5 RBI. In 17 postseason games (16 starts at catcher) with the Caribes, he hit .295 (18-for-61) with six home runs and 17 RBI, ranking second in the league in slugging percentage (.639), tying for second in home runs and tying for third in RBI.  Molina has played in 26 career Major League games with Chicago-AL (2007), Baltimore (2007), New York-NL (2008), Boston (2010) and the Yankees (2011), making 11 starts at catcher.  The Venezuela native was originally signed by Chicago-AL as a non-drafted free agent on January 3, 2000.

C J.R. Murphy, 20, owns a career .274 (193-for-704) batting average with 46 doubles, 15 home runs and 107 RBI in 182 minor league games in the Yankees’ organization since 2009. In 2011, he combined at Single-A Charleston and Single-A Tampa to hit .287 (98-for-341) with 29 doubles, seven home runs and 46 RBI in 86 games. He threw out a combined 23-of-72 (31.9%) potential base stealers. Murphy was the Yankees’ second round selection in the 2009 First-Year Player Draft.

INF Jayson Nix, 29, owns a career .207 (161-for-778) batting average with 33 doubles, 30 home runs and 84 RBI in 264 games over parts of four seasons with Colorado (2008), Chicago-AL (2009-10), Cleveland (2010) and Toronto (2011). In 2011, he made the Blue Jays’ Opening Day roster and appeared in 46 games with the club, batting .169 (23-for-136) with four home runs and 16 RBI. In 41 games with Triple-A Las Vegas, he batted .270 (44-for-163) with eight home runs and 29 RBI. Nix was a member of the bronze-medal winning 2008 U.S. Olympic Baseball Team in Beijing, China and was originally selected by Colorado in Compensation Round A of the 2003 First-Year Player Draft.

LHP Mike O’Connor, 31, owns a 4-10 career record with a 5.30 ERA (120.2IP, 71ER) in 35 games (21 starts) at the Major League level over parts of three seasons with Washington (2006, ’08) and New York-NL (2011). He has spent the bulk of his career in the Nationals, Padres, Royals and Mets minor league systems, combining to go 50-52 with a 4.00 ERA (808.0IP, 359ER). In 2011, he spent the majority of the season with Triple-A Buffalo and went 5-5 with a 5.22 ERA (60.1IP, 35ER) in 39 relief appearances. In nine outings out of the bullpen with the Mets, he went 0-1 with a 2.70 ERA (6.2IP, 2ER, 8K), holding righthanded hitters to a .083 (1-for-12) batting average. O’Connor was originally selected by the Montreal Expos in the seventh round of the 2002 First-Year Player Draft.

RHP Ryan Pope, 25, combined to go 2-3 with a 5.12 ERA (45.2IP, 26ER) in 40 combined relief appearances with Single-A Tampa, Double-A Trenton and Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre in 2011.  Pope was selected by the Yankees in the third round of the 2007 First-Year Player Draft, becoming the first player ever drafted out of the Savannah College of Art and Design.

C Gary Sanchez, 19, batted .256 (77-for-301) with 49 runs, 16 doubles, 17 home runs and 52 RBI with Single-A Charleston in 2011. He led the RiverDogs in home runs, and ranked fourth overall among all Yankees farmhands. Following the season, he played with Escogido in the Dominican Winter League and hit .300 (6-for-20) in eight games. At the conclusion of the season, Baseball America listed him as the fourth-best prospect in the Yankees organization. Sanchez was originally signed by the Yankees as a non-drafted free agent in July of 2009.

RHP Graham Stoneburner, 24, owns a career 10-13 record with a 3.03 ERA (234.1IP, 79ER) in 45 combined minor league games in the Yankees organization since 2009. In 2011, he combined at three different levels (GCL, Single-A Tampa and Double-A Trenton) to go 1-5 with a 4.04 ERA (91.1IP, 41ER) in 18 games (16 starts). While with the Thunder, he limited opposing batters to just 20 hits in 78 at-bats (.256 batting average). Stoneburner was originally selected by the Yankees in the 14^th round of the 2009 First-Year Player Draft.

INF Jorge Vazquez, 29, played in 118 games with Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre in 2011, batting .262 (119-for-455) with 32 home runs and 93 RBI. He ranked first in the International League in home runs, second in RBI and fourth in total bases (235), leading all Yankees farmhands in home runs and RBI. A member of the IL’s midseason and postseason All-Star teams, he became the first Yankee minor leaguer to be named to a postseason All-Star squad as a designated hitter since Shelley Duncan accomplished the feat in 2007. Following the season, he played in 56 games with the Tomateros de Culiacan of the Mexican Pacific League and hit .330 (70-for-212) with 18 home runs and 60 RBI. He led the league in RBI, ranked second in home runs, third in slugging percentage (.618) and fourth in batting average and total bases (131). Vazquez played for Team Mexico in the 2009 World Baseball Classic, batting .294 (5-for-17) with one home run and five RBI in five games and was a 10-year veteran of the Mexican League prior to signing with the Yankees in December 2008.

RHP Adam Warren, 24, spent the entire 2011 campaign at Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre, going 6-8 with a 3.60 ERA (152.1IP, 61ER) in 27 starts. He recorded a career-high in innings pitched and ranked tenth in the International League in ERA. Prior to the halfway point of the year, he went 6-3 with a 3.20 ERA (104.1IP, 37ER) in 17 starts, earning a spot on the IL’s midseason All-Star team. Warren recorded victories in five of six decisions from May 12-June 20, going 5-1 with a 2.50 ERA (54.0IP, 15ER) in eight starts over the stretch, throwing 7.0IP or more and allowing 2ER or less in five of those appearances. The University of North Carolina graduate was originally selected by the Yankees in the fourth round of the 2009 First-Year Player Draft.

RHP Kevin Whelan, 28, spent the majority of the season at Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre in 2011, going 2-3 with 23 saves and a 2.75 ERA (52.1IP, 16ER) in 45 relief appearances.  He was named to the International League’s midseason All-Star team and converted 18 of 21 save opportunities with a 1.61 ERA (28.0IP, 5ER) prior to the halfway point of the year. He finished the season tied for second in the league in saves, holding opposing batters hitless in 21 of his 45 outings. Whelan was acquired by the Yankees with RHPs Humberto Sanchez and Anthony Claggett from Detroit in exchange for OF Gary Sheffield in November 2006.  He was originally drafted by the Tigers in the fourth round of the 2005 First-Year Player Draft.

RHP Chase Whitley, 22, has appeared in 72 combined career minor league games (one start) with the Yankees since 2010, going 7-7 with a 2.17 ERA (128.1IP, 31ER). In 2011, he went 3-5 with seven saves and a 2.47 ERA (91.0IP, 25ER) in 42 combined games at Single-A Tampa and Double-A Trenton. He made his first career start on August 24 at New Hampshire and recorded the loss, allowed 3ER in 2.0IP. Whitley was originally selected by the Yankees in the 15^th round of the 2010 First-Year Player Draft.

Yanks Sign Russell Branyan to Minor League Deal

From Dan Martin:

The Yankees agreed Wednesday to sign Russell Branyan to a minor-league deal with an invitation to major league spring training.

The move does not impact the team’s chances of adding another lefty bat and it remains in the hunt for Johnny Damon, Hideki Matsui and Raul Ibanez.

But Branyan’s presence could make things more difficult for Eric Chavez because the 36-year-old can play both corner infield positions.

Coming off a 2011 that saw him hit .197 with five homers and 14 RBIs I would have rather they signed Chavez.

Cole Hamels and the Yankees

He'd look better in Yankee pinstripes

I heard more talk from a Yankee fan about signing Cole Hamels next offseason, and I decided to crunch the payroll numbers for that season to prove it wasn't really feasible. Of course, a lot can change between now and 2014, so this isn't perfect, but the results actually surprised me.

There are three, really four, players that are signed through 2014. CC Sabathia, Mark Teixeira, and Alex Rodriguez are under contract for a total of $74.4 million. That fourth guy is Derek Jeter, who has a player option for $8 million. That option could increase, but seeing as how it's based on MVP votes, I'm fairly confident that the option will remain the same. Just as I'm confident that Jeter will decide to pick up that option and be in pinstripes in 2014.

We all know that Nick Swisher will be a free agent after this coming season, while Robinson Cano and Curtis Granderson will be free agents after the 2013 season (assuming both their options are picked up for 2013). Those aren't the only free agents after the 2013 season though, as Phil Hughes, Joba Chamberlain, AJ Burnett, and Rafael Soriano all will no longer be under contract either. The difference between Nick and Robbie, and the rest of the free agents, is that I think Nick and Robbie will be back on the team. Originally I believed the team would want to bring back Curtis Granderson, but he'll be entering his age 33 season, and will probably demand more than the team is willing to give him as they try to get to that magical $189 million mark. That could hinge on Mr. Hamels free agency though.

There will also be, I believe, four guys that are arbitration eligible. Cot's shows for sure that Brett Gardner and David Robertson will be in their 3rd, and final, year of arbitration. However, looking at their service time, I believe that Ivan Nova and Michael Pineda will also be arbitration eligible. I'm far from a guru when it comes to estimating what each player will make via arbitration, but I believe the guesses for them below are fairly close.

There are four non-arbitration players that I think could play an important role for the Yankees in 2014. I can see Manny Banuelos in the starting rotation, Dellin Betances (or another "kid") in the bullpen, Austin Romine taking care of things behind the plate, and possibly even JR Murphy handling things at 3rd base while ARod takes his place as the team's full-time DH. Now, the Murphy thing is a bit of a reach, but seeing that he's gotten time at 3B in the minors, it's certainly not out of the realm of possibility.

At this point there's the hole left by letting Curtis Granderson walk. Luckily the team should have some options as to what they can do at this point, thanks to Gardner's ability to handle CF. Using whatever combination of Gary Sanchez, Dante Bichette Jr., Ravel Santana, Jose Campos, David Phelps, Adam Warren, Dellin Betances, DJ Mitchell, Mason Williams, Slade Heathcott, etc, the team could trade for a LFer or CFer. That newly acquired LFer or CFer could be somebody under team control, like Michael Pineda is after trading for him about a month ago.

Now, for you prospect huggers out there, I was thinking about Mason Williams as the guy that could take over for Granderson. But I'm not sure that Mason will be MLB-ready by 2014. My guess is that he won't be ready for MLB until the 2015 season, which could work out since Brett Gardner will be eligible for free agency by that point, so there could be a hole opening up for Mason at the perfect time.

That leaves the bullpen and bench. Now I see no reason to name names here, because as hard as it is to think about the full lineup and starting rotation, this is pretty much impossible. However I did look at the cost to fill those two areas on the team, and figure that it should cost around $10 million. Last season the bench had Eric Chavez, Andruw Jones, Francisco Cervelli, and Eduardo Nunez, which cost the team about $4 million. The bullpen was quite a bit more, as Luis Ayala, Rafael Soriano, Boone Logan, Cory Wade, and Hector Noesi cost about $12.85 million. I went by the relievers with the most games appeared in, minus our would-be closer in David Robertson, and set-up man Dellin Betances (or other current prospect hurler). Like I said above, Soriano will be a free agent going into the 2014 season, and I'm going to assume the Yankee brass isn't going to sign another reliever with an AAV of nearly $12 million. Possibly a silly assumption, but this entire article is flimsy, so why the hell not?

So here is the roster so far, with their salary (in terms of AAV). Note that, according to the new Collective Bargaining Agreement, the minimum salary in 2014 will be $500,000. -

C -Austin Romine, $.5m

1B - Mark Teixeira, $22.5m

2B - Robinson Cano, $21m (after signing new contract before season)

3B - JR Murphy, $.5 (like I said, kind of a reach, but possible)

SS - Derek Jeter, $14m

LF - ???, $.5 (assuming that trade for a cost-controlled player, discussed above)

CF - Brett Gardner, $7m (arbitration estimate)

RF - Nick Swisher, $13m (his new contract after 2012 season, the AAV is probably a bit high)

DH - Alex Rodriguez, $27.5m

SP1 - CC Sabathia, $24.4m

SP2 -

SP3 - Michael Pineda, $8m (arbitration estimate based on Tim Lincecum's deal when entering his 1st year of arb.)

SP4 - Ivan Nova, $6m (arbitration estimate)

SP5 - Manny Banuelos, $.5

CL - David Robertson, $5m (arbitration estimate)

SU - Dellin Betances, $.5m

Bench - $4 million (described above)

Bullpen - $10 million (described above)

The remainder 15 players on the roster would normally be made up of minor leaguers, who would make a minimum of $81,500 according to the new CBA. But if we say $100,000 for each that would come to $1.5 million.

At this point the total would come to $166.4 million for the 39-man roster. Wait! 39!?!? Yeah, I left that "SP2" spot empty up there. I did so on purpose because the Yankees would be able to spend another $22.6 million before hitting the $189 million mark that would prevent the team from paying into the Luxury Tax, and lowering their revenue sharing cost. And that amount of money sounds about right in order to sign Cole Hamels.

So I've changed my mind about going after Cole, as this shows that the team could possibly be able to get to that magic number of $189 million with him. And for the record, I agree with letting Curtis Granderson walk, instead of possibly paying him an AAV of $17 million for the downside of his career. And bringing back Nick Swisher seems like a good idea as he'll be younger than Curtis will be, and won't demand as much money or years in a new deal.

Get Greedy! Get Cole!

Yankees Sign Bill Hall, May Not Be Done

Via MLBTR.com

Yankees Sign Bill Hall

By Tim Dierkes [February 7, 2012 at 3:24pm CST]

3:24pm: Hall will earn a base salary of $600K in the Major Leagues and can earn more incentives based on plate appearances, Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports tweets.  Hall can opt out of his deal if he isn't on the Major League roster on April 4th.

2:51pm: The Yankees have signed utility infielder Bill Hall, based on his tweet, "IT'S OFFICIAL IM A YANKEE!!!!!!!! #IwannaRing!!!!"  He signed a minor league deal, tweets Erik Boland of Newsday.  Hall is a client of Gaylord Sports Management.

Hall, 32, posted a .211/.261/.314 line in 199 plate appearances for the Astros and Giants last year, playing mostly second base.  In more of a utility role for the 2010 Red Sox, Hall managed 18 home runs in 382 plate appearances.  Hall works out with Yankees hitting coach Kevin Long during the offseason.

The Yankees don't seem like they are done since this is a minor league deal. This still leaves the door open for Raul Ibanez, Johnny Damon, Vlad Guerrero, etc.

Talks with Ibanez heat up

Via River Avenue Blues -

Via Ken Rosenthal, the Yankees are in serious talks with Raul Ibanez after showing interest in him last month. He’s willing to take less money to wear pinstripes. Joe looked at him as a DH option a few weeks ago, and his analysis still stands. Buster Olney says the Yankees could have a new left-handed DH within a week, whether it be Ibanez or someone like Johnny Damon or Hideki Matsui.

I wrote about the possibility of signing Raul Ibanez here, and I'm pleased with this news. Of course it comes down to how much it would cost, but seeing that he's willing to take less money to wear pinstripes sounds good to me. I think the DH duo of Raul and Andruw could be pretty sweet in the 7-hole of the lineup.

The Day The Evil Empire Was Born

Being borrowed from Mike Axisa over at River Avenue Blues. This is a must read for any Yankees fan who embraces the evil empire moniker. 

Yes We Are... And We Love It

Get Greedy!!!

It’s easy to forget just how big Jose Contreras was in Cuba. He was the country’s undisputed ace in international play for nearly a decade, helping Cuba to the silver medal in the 2000 Olympics and gold is numerous other events. Contreras first popped up on the big league radar in March of 1999, when he struck out ten Orioles in eight shutout innings during an exhibition game in Havana. Later in the year he struck out 13 in eight innings on one day’s rest against Team USA in the Pan Am Games, the first time Team USA was allowed to use professional players.

Contreras defected from Cuba in October of 2002 while in Mexico for a tournament, leaving his wife and young daughters behind. Contreras made his way to San Diego and eventually gained asylum in the United States, where he and agent Jaime Torres started fielding offers from Major League teams even though he wasn’t yet a free agent.

“Most of the organizations I thought were going to contact us have contacted us, and that includes the Yankees,” said Torres a little more than two weeks after the defection.

The Yankees needed to clear money to pursue their top two targets that offseason, Contreras and Hideki Matsui. They also wanted to re-sign Roger Clemens. Mike Stanton and Ramiro Mendoza were allowed to walk as free agents, and rumors circulated that they may trade Andy Pettitte and his $11.5M salary to free up more payroll room. Doubts about Contreras’ age persisted (he was listed at 31 at the time), but nonetheless the Red Sox and Mariners got heavily involved in the bidding. Contreras had been working out with Torres in Nicaragua that winter, and Boston went so far as to buy out every room of the hotel where he was staying.

“The Boss, that was something that was a one up on us when they did that, it was a shrewd move,” said Brian Cashman recently, “and [George Steinbrenner] was not going to be denied.”

“We were smoking cigars with Contreras and drinking rum until about 4 o’clock in the morning,” said then-Red Sox GM Theo Epstein recently. “He told us he always wanted to be a Red Sox, and then the next morning the Yankees offered him about $10 million more.”

The Yankees signed Contreras on Christmas Eve, giving him four years and $32M. Coincidentally, the contract became official on this date in 2003. Orlando Hernandez, who had spoken to Contreras by phone a few times after his defection, was traded to the Expos in January to further free up some money. Matsui had agreed to a deal a few weeks earlier, and Clemens would re-sign a few days later. The Yankees got all their men.

”The Evil Empire extends its tentacles even into Latin America,” said Red Sox president Larry Lucchino after news of the signing broke.

The Yankees and their fans have since embraced the Evil Empire moniker. The Imperial March — Darth Vader’s theme music in Star Wars — is a pregame staple at Yankee Stadium, and you can buy unlicensed Evil Empire merchandise right outside the Stadium on River Ave. Everyone knows the Yankees spend more money than every other team, and Lucchino gave us all something to rally around. No one tries to hide from the bloated payroll, which is something Lucchino’s Red Sox can certainly be accused of in recent years. We’ve embraced it.

Contreras’ contract drew the comment from Lucchino, but the Yankees have been operating this way for decades. They’ve always been in the hunt for big money free agents, always been at or near the top in payroll. It’s become the Yankee way, and they’ve been really successful going it. The Evil Empire crack did a fine job of relaying Lucchino’s frustration, but it’s also an acknowledgement of the team’s success and continues to be to this day.

The future of the Yankees outfield

According to Jon Heyman the Mariners inquired about Mason Williams when discussing trading Michael Pineda. I really don't think the Yankees could have gotten Pineda by packaging Williams with Hector Noesi, so it's more likely that Seattle brought up packaging Williams with Jesus Montero. Mike Axisa at River Avenue Blues said it best, "there’s no way they could have done both Jesus Montero and Williams in the same package without getting Felix Hernandez back". I don't think Mike was saying Montero and Williams could actually get Felix, just pointing out that Michael Pineda is not enough for that duo of players.

But what could Mason Williams, packaged with somebody like Adam Warren and another lower prospect, get in return? How about a replacement for Nick Swisher for 2013? That was my initial reaction when I read about Mason getting rave reviews, since Mason is still a ways away from MLB. But honestly I've never felt good about not having Swish on the team anymore, because frankly... I love the guy. All I need to do is look at the following picture to be reminded of Nick's greatness...

But the team can't let personal feelings get in the way of doing what's best. And while Swisher has done a fine job for the team (plays solid defense in RF, hit .267/.368/.486 with 81 HR, for a bWAR of 11.0, in three seasons), the team could probably do better. Well, not with next year's crop of free agent outfielders, but in a trade for sure. After thinking about the whole "$189 million in 2014" thing again, I'm not sure that would be best.

Curtis Granderson may be the better player (Grandy had a bWAR of 5.2 last season, while Swish's was 3.4), but they are closer than you may think. Looking at last year's numbers Granderson's batting average was only .002 points higher than Swishers (.262 to .260), Nick's OBP was 10 points higher (.374 to .364), before last year Curtis had never hit more than 30 HR in a season (I don't see him hitting 40 again) while Nick has averaged 27/season for the Yankees, and thanks to playing in shallow RF at Yankee Stadium Nick actually had a better UZR/150 than Granderson (8.8 to -5.3). Age-wise they are only 4 months apart as Nick was born in November of 1980, while Curtis was born in March of 1981. But the one place these two will be different, which will be more clear once we see what each man gets as a free agent (Nick will be a free agent after this season, while Grandy will be a free agent after next season), is in their salaries.

Although Nick Swisher is the better player, Michael Cuddyer's contract with Colorado (3 years, $31.5 million) is a good indication of what Swish may cost after the season. Although Cuddyer only produced a bWAR of 2.2 for Minnesota between 2010 and 2011, while Swisher produced a bWAR of 7.6 over that same time frame, last season their bWARs were 3.4 to 3.0 in favor of Swish. Michael has also averaged 22 HR a season over the last 3 years, only 5 short of Nick's average over the same time period. And Nick will turn 32 in November, which is the same age Cuddyer was when he signed his lastest deal with the Rockies. So while Cuddyer got 3 years and $31.5 million, I can't see Swisher getting more than 4 years and $52 million (I'm guessing 3 years with an option, with an average annual value of $13 million).

I don't have a strong feeling of what Curtis Granderson would receive as a free agent, as there was nobody this past season that compares to the Grandy-man. Looking at the 2010 offseason though there was Carl Crawford and Jayson Werth. I was first thinking of using Crawford to try and make a comparison, but Carl was coming off his age 28 season while Curtis will be coming off his age 32 season (assuming the Yankees pick up his option for 2013), and Crawford had a bWAR of 6.1 which is higher than Curtis' great 2011 season in which he garnered a 5.2. But Werth was coming off his age 31 season, and was coming off a season with a bWAR of 5.2, so I don't think comparing the two is bad at all.

Before I go further, I fully admit that Werth's contract with Washington is a tad ridiculous due to it being for 7 years. But the AAV of $18 million isn't so bad, and helps me figure out what Curtis will get. If Granderson is anything in 2012 like he was in 2011, then I can easily see him signing a 5 year deal with an AAV of $17 million.

I can hear some reactions so far... "wait, you're comparing the two players as if it's a 'one or the other' thing, but the team can sign both". But can they? I'm not so sure. At least not if $189 million is a legit goal for the team. The Yankees already have over $83 million tied up in 3 players (Rodriguez, Sabathia, and Teixeira), will need to pay big for Cano (he'll be a free agent after 2013), Hughes will be a free agent, Gardner and Robertson will be in their final years of arbitration, and there will still have 18 spots to fill on the active roster. Add in the possibility of Cole Hamels being signed for over $20 million a season, and cuts will have to be made somewhere.

So, at this point, it comes down to signing a 32 year old Granderson for $17 million a season for 5 years, or a 31 year old Swisher for $13 million a season for 4 years. I'd rather go with Swisher. The team could bring back Swisher next offseason, let Granderson go after 2013, and let Mason Williams take Grandy's place on the team in 2014 or later. That "or later" part may mean a season or two with a stop-gap, but due to Brett Gardner probably being able to man CF in 2014, I don't see a big problem acquiring a good left fieder.

It would be great if Mason Williams was a bit older, as by the beginning of the 2014 season he will only be 22, but I can see him being Granderson's replacement eventually. Mason played 63 games at CF for Staten Island last season, and his athleticism could keep him there for years to come. Mason is a few years away from seeing any MLB time, so it's hard to feel really strong about letting Granderson go while counting on Mason to replace him, but it may be the best way for the team get to that $189 million goal while fielding a World Series caliber team again.