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Monday, August 01, 2011

Rosenthal: Yankees cast lot with their prospects

ROBOTHAL NEVER SLEEPS!

The Yankees on Sunday made a play for Houston Astros lefty Wandy Rodriguez, but that push was driven by ownership, not Cashman, according to major-league sources. The Yankees were willing to pay $21 million of the $38 million remaining on the final three-plus years of Rodriguez’s contract, according to SI.com. The Astros, on the other hand, were willing to pay $2 million of Rodriguez’s salary this season or $5 million if his option for 2014 were exercised, sources said. But the teams, unable to bridge the financial gap, never even got to the point of discussing names.

Of course, clubs value players differently; beauty is in the eye of the beholder. The Rangers, according to one source, offered Beane a strong package for closer Andrew Bailey, one believed to include Double-A lefty Robbie Erlin, Double-A righty Joe Weiland and Single-A shortstop Leury Garcia.

Erlin and Weiland are the two pitchers whom the Rangers traded to the Padres for right-handed setup man Mike Adams.

Bailey is under club control through 2014. Whatever the Rangers’ offer was, Beane thought it was not sufficient enough.

RoyalsRetro (AG#1F) Posted: August 01, 2011 at 05:18 PM | 13 comment(s) Login to Bookmark
Tags: athletics, indians, minor leagues, rangers, rockies, rumors, yankees

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1. Mash Wilson Posted: August 01, 2011 at 07:52 PM (#3890496)

He needs to look up "sufficient" in a dictionary and find out what it means.

2. Best Dressed Chicken in Town Posted: August 01, 2011 at 08:51 PM (#3890551)

the teams, unable to bridge the financial gap, never even got to the point of discussing names.

That seems odd. Shouldn't the finances involve affect the names? If the Yankees take on more salary, they give up less in players. Can't they balance that out? Maybe the Astros just *have* to be rid of Rodriguez's salary, and maybe the Yankees feel close to maxed out on payroll. But if that's true of the Astros, well, they still have his salary so they screwed that up. And this new owner shouldn't be allowed to own the team if he can't pay the players. But that's just the way Seligula likes it...

3. RoyalsRetro (AG#1F) Posted: August 02, 2011 at 12:50 AM (#3890706)

That seems odd. Shouldn't the finances involve affect the names? If the Yankees take on more salary, they give up less in players. Can't they balance that out?

I'm guessing the Astros felt they shouldn't have to eat that much money, and really, I don't think they should. Wandy is paid about what he's worth on the open market. And they didn't "screw up" because I'm fairly certain they can still deal him this winter.

4. pkb33 Posted: August 02, 2011 at 01:49 AM (#3890785)

If they are correct that he's paid something close to his value, they can get rid of him through the waiver process, even. Though that potentially gives them nothing back.

One wonders whether the 'pursuit of Wandy driven by ownership' angle is true. If so, that's another data point suggesting the new generation takes after the old generation.

5. RB in NYC (Now Semi-Retired from BBTF) Posted: August 02, 2011 at 02:13 AM (#3890821)

One wonders whether the 'pursuit of Wandy driven by ownership' angle is true. If so, that's another data point suggesting the new generation takes after the old generation.

Of course, if it is true, the fact that Wandy is still in Houston--and that trade talks apparently never went that far--indicates the new generation doesn't take after the old too much.

6. cercopithecus aethiops Posted: August 02, 2011 at 03:04 AM (#3890853)

That seems odd. Shouldn't the finances involve affect the names? If the Yankees take on more salary, they give up less in players. Can't they balance that out?

Or maybe it's a indication that teams don't look at these things the way we think they do?

Anyway, the Yankees are a reasonable bet to make the playoffs, and probably not a very good bet to go far once there. Wandy, or any one else available, wasn't going to change that dramatically. Probably best to hold on to the prospects then, if only for an off-season or next-season trade.

7. Jolly Old St. Nick Done Jumped The Ship

Posted: August 02, 2011 at 03:43 AM (#3890881)

Anyway, the Yankees are a reasonable bet to make the playoffs, and probably not a very good bet to go far once there.

Just throwing it out there:

OPS+ / ERA+ of the six majormost contenders, according to BB-Ref

Red Sox 120 / 106

Yanks 109 / 121

Rangers 107 / 115

Angels 98 / 111

Phillies 97 / 123

Giants 86 /116

8. robinred

Posted: August 02, 2011 at 05:35 AM (#3890915)

Anyway, the Yankees are a reasonable bet to make the playoffs

BOS 66 41

NYY 65 42
LAA 59 50 7 GB NYY
TB 56 51 9 GB NYY

The Wild Card is great, huh?

There is very little chance that either the Red Sox or the Yankees will miss the playoffs; IMO, this is clearly one big reason that the Yankees did nothing and the Red Sox only made little moves at the deadline (while Texas, OTOH, who will need to beat both of them to get back to the WS if they hold off LAA, attacked their weakness very aggressively).

As to what the Yankees will do when they get there...I think Boston is still the team to beat, but Boston, New York, and Texas all will have a reasonable shot. I see the Angels a lot, and I just don't think they can beat Texas and make post-season. But I have been wrong before.

9. KT's Pot Arb Posted: August 02, 2011 at 05:46 AM (#3890917)

OPS+ / ERA+ of the six majormost contenders, according to BB-Ref

Red Sox 120 / 106

Yanks 109 / 121

Rangers 107 / 115

Angels 98 / 111

Phillies 97 / 123

Giants 86 /116

In the playoffs, certain parts of the rotation have a substantially bigger impact than they did in the regular season, while the offense is still pretty much the same offense.

And Boston is 2nd in defensive efficiency. Angels 4th, Phillies 6th, Giants 8th, Texas 9th, the Yankees are 22nd. average. Defense again shows up the same in the playoffs.

10. NJ in NY Posted: August 02, 2011 at 06:01 AM (#3890920)

In the playoffs, certain parts of the rotation have a substantially bigger impact than they did in the regular season, while the offense is still pretty much the same offense.

Excellent point. The Yankees numbers WOULD look a lot better without including Phil Hughes' atrocious performance.

11. RollingWave Posted: August 02, 2011 at 07:38 AM (#3890936)

To be fair:

Phil Hughes: -1.0 bWAR

John Lackey: -1.2 bWAR

(Wow, Hughes worse than I thought, given that Lackey's had 3 times the inning pitched)

12. Swedish Chef Posted: August 02, 2011 at 07:48 AM (#3890937)

And Boston is 2nd in defensive efficiency. Angels 4th, Phillies 6th, Giants 8th, Texas 9th, the Yankees are 22nd. average. Defense again shows up the same in the playoffs.

How is that not reflected in the regular season results?

13. Biff, highly-regarded young guy Posted: August 02, 2011 at 09:30 AM (#3890946)

Excellent point. The Yankees numbers WOULD look a lot better without including Phil Hughes' atrocious performance.

For most of the month of July, the Red Sox rotation was Beckett-Lackey-Wakefield-Miller-Weiland. With Lester back and the acquisition of Bedard the Red Sox ERA+ should increase, even if Buchholz doesn't return this season.

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Monday, August 01, 2011

Rosenthal: Yankees cast lot with their prospects

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