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Thursday, December 27, 2007

MLB: Cano pulled from winter ball

Orientales Designed to Thrizzle…

Robinson Cano may need to wait for Spring Training to take his next swings against live game competition.

The Yankees instructed the 25-year-old second baseman to pull out of action with his Dominican Winter Baseball League club, the Estrelles de Oriente, according to a report published on Thursday on ESPNdeportes.com.

“The Yankees sent a letter to Cano to stop playing, but they didn’t offer many details or reasons,” Orientales general manager Alfredo Griffin told the Web site.

Cano, who batted .389 in nine regular-season games for the Orientales before going hitless in the first game of a round-robin playoff series on Wednesday, reportedly told teammates that the Yankees did not want him to aggravate a healing calf injury.

Repoz Posted: December 27, 2007 at 11:13 PM | 16 comment(s)
Related News: General, NY Yankees, International

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1. With 17th Pick, From LA, 1k5v3L KcoLLoP Posted: December 28, 2007 at 12:28 AM (#2654988)

Nevermind. Calf injury. Nothing that Clemens can't help with.

2. AJMacaroni Posted: December 28, 2007 at 12:48 AM (#2654998)

They sent a letter? What year is this?

3. Swedish Chef Posted: December 28, 2007 at 01:00 AM (#2655006)

Preparation for a trade?

4. susan mullen Posted: December 28, 2007 at 01:29 AM (#2655033)

Steinbrenner is cruel and selfish. He must learn to sacrifice his players and their health for the greater good of international baseball. Injuries must be expected, they can occur in spring training too. So what if Cano is playing injured, Steinbrenner is still cruel, it's all about him and his not giving enough details.

5. Swedish Chef Posted: December 28, 2007 at 06:57 AM (#2655075)

Preparation for a trade?

Let's pursue that thought a bit. What about Cano, Cabrera and Igawa for Santana? Cano of course represents the majority of the value in the deal. Cabrera is very useful as is, and may become something more. Igawa because he was mentioned, he is ballast but pretty cheap, it takes a headache off the Yankees and gives the Twins some not entirely valueless pitching.

6. The Mets make Russlan sad Posted: December 28, 2007 at 07:52 AM (#2655076)

Cano, by himself, would by far too much for the Yankees to pay for Santana.

7. Free Joe C and the Pop Culture Portmanteau Posted: December 28, 2007 at 01:18 PM (#2655277)

Let's pursue that thought a bit. What about Cano, Cabrera and Igawa for Santana? Cano of course represents the majority of the value in the deal. Cabrera is very useful as is, and may become something more. Igawa because he was mentioned, he is ballast but pretty cheap, it takes a headache off the Yankees and gives the Twins some not entirely valueless pitching.

In a vacuum, this isn't unreasonable. But given that Cano is the Yankees only offensive star who is under 54 (okay, 32) years old and is also cost controlled for any period of time, AND the fact that the Yankees have zero impact position player talent coming up in the next year or two, he means more to the Yankees than his theoretical value. If the Yankees had, say, Jed Lowrie (or a similar, ML ready middle infielder) waiting in the wings, I think they'd at least have to consider dealing Cano for Santana.

8. Lassus Posted: December 28, 2007 at 01:32 PM (#2655290)

Cano, by himself, would by far too much for the Yankees to pay for Santana.

Really, Russlan? ONE 2B in a league where plenty of WS teams have gotten by and won with very little from that spot, is worth more than Santana? Can you elaborate, as I normally think you're pretty well-on, but this I don't quite get.

9. aleskel Posted: December 28, 2007 at 01:41 PM (#2655295)

Really, Russlan? ONE 2B in a league where plenty of WS teams have gotten by and won with very little from that spot, is worth more than Santana?

well, he is 25, relatively cheap, and already a top-5 player at his position ... so there's that

10. Lassus Posted: December 28, 2007 at 01:54 PM (#2655304)

Even with all those as a given, it still doesn't prove that trading him for Johann Santana is some kind of obvious over-payment. Aren't pitchers worth a bit more than 2nd basemen in this league?

11. The Mets make Russlan sad Posted: December 28, 2007 at 01:58 PM (#2655306)

Really, Russlan? ONE 2B in a league where plenty of WS teams have gotten by and won with very little from that spot, is worth more than Santana? Can you elaborate, as I normally think you're pretty well-on, but this I don't quite get.

Cano won't be a free agent until after the 2011 season, is considered to be an above-average to good defensive second baseman, has a career OPS+ of 117, and is the only position player the Yankees have under 30 that can be considered a star. That seems a lot to give up for one year of Santana and the right to give him a huge extension. More importantly, the loss of Cano would largely offset the upgrade that Santana would provide in 2008. Honestly, who plays second for the Yankees next year if Cano is traded? Miguel Cairo?

12. The Mets make Russlan sad Posted: December 28, 2007 at 02:06 PM (#2655319)

The other thing with that trade is that the Twins would of course expect somebody back that could fill Santana's place in the rotation. No way would they take Igawa as that guy.

The Twins shouldn't allow that to prevent them from getting Cano for Santana. They can worry about that later.

13. Lassus Posted: December 28, 2007 at 02:32 PM (#2655353)

I guess I wasn't figuring in the "one year" thing into the equation, I would simply assume it would be more, an extension and contract that the Yankees wouldn't let elude their grasp.

As far as who would fill that void, Ruben Gotay's probably available. :D It doesn't seem to me that a void at 2B in a league where there isn't much production in that spot is enough of a void to block Santana. I can see the argument, however, as a I'm not a Yankee fan I'm certainly not unable to be convinced, just musing.

14. David Nieporent (now, with child) Posted: December 28, 2007 at 02:40 PM (#2655361)

That seems a lot to give up for one year of Santana and the right to give him a huge extension.

Presumably signing him to the extension would be a condition of the trade.

15. Vaux, A.B.D. Posted: December 28, 2007 at 02:41 PM (#2655362)

What it would come down to is whether Cano or Hughes is more valuable, since trading Cano for Santana would mean the Yankees were bent on getting him one way or another. That's a tough question; I think that the potential superstar pitcher is more valuable, but many would disagree, and I'm not sure they're wrong. If I were Yankee GM, I'd do it though.

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Thursday, December 27, 2007

MLB: Cano pulled from winter ball

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