FanGraphs said something about how the Yankees' #1 priority is to maintain their financial advantage, and they'll overspend to do that. It's a Goliath strategy - the worst thing for them would be to become irrelevant. Whatever happens with the Yanks, it'll be anything but boring.
Ummm...what the fuck? Who's going to play shortstop in this infield? Certainly not Cano. Pedroia is a ++ second baseman, but if he couldn't stick at short after college he isn't going to now. Middlebrooks is not the third baseman of the future, that's Garin Cecchini hopefully. I would have liked to see Drew re-sign and platoon the three of them. Bogaerts at short against lefties with WMB at third, then slide him over to third against righties where Drew would play.
Ellsbury update: No-trade clause. This stove ain't just hot, it's setting off fire alarms. I wouldn't be surprised at this point if the Yanks bring back Cano. Then they go for pitchers. Depending on who they get, it might be enough to contend for the division. This is looking more and more likely, as few teams look like they're going to give up a draft pick for Drew. (I straight-up forgot about Cecchini. Waiting on FanGraphs to update their prospect reports for 2014.) Re-sign Nap and that's your infield for the near future. Still need an outfielder though.
We're more likely to see Soriano in the outfield than Ichiro at this point. The Yanks have too many old/injured players to rotate in and out of DH to stick Sorinao there, and they need his bat.
I just have to say that if Seattle signs Cano for $200 million, the Mariners are going to be Felix, Cano, Seager, and 22 bags of flaming crap until 2020. I hate baseball.
Nap definitely needs to come back. I don't see a legitimate in house replacement. Nava belongs in the LF platoon with Gomes, Carp is an excellent situational pinch hitter and replacement but not a starting player on a team with World Series aspirations. Hopefully Beltran is a possibility for the last OF spot. Victorino is still very capable of playing CF, and I'm not sold on JBJ producing at the plate consistently yet. I'd also like to see the Sox take a flyer on a few bullpens arms. Koji is not repeating last year's performance no matter how likable he is. Andrew Miller returning from injury coupled with Breslow should leave them set against LHBs, but they still need a (in reality multiple) power arm in order to compete.
Sox sign former Cards closer Mujica. I like this, bullpen looked a little shaky in the postseason and middle relief options are always good. @redsoxstats "Mujica, Koji, Tazawa, and Badenhop ranked 1, 3, 7, and 12 in lowest walk rates of 135 qualified MLB RP in 2013. Nasty."
This definitely gives the Sox a potent 1-2 in the late innings(the K/BB rate is going to be insane). Speaking of, Wilson re-signed with the Dodgers for 19(?!?!) million, giving the Dodgers a potent 1-2 as well.
Seattle just offered Cano 10 years, 240 million....fuck! This could ruin everything! It's highly unlikely the Yankees go that high(after being burned on numerous similar contracts). The Yankees front office said that they're not going any higher than 200 million anyway.
This is brilliant. Really hoping this isn't just a ploy to drive up his price and he actually gets stuck in Seattle.
No. Fuck no. No 31 year old is worth $240 million. Not even A-Rod at his engineered height. Go for Beltran or Shin Soo Choo.
Don't worry, according to WFAN this morning the deal's off. Supposedly Jay-Z pushed for a 10th year, and the Mariners said no thanks. As if 9/225 wasn't enough. It would have been such a hilarious move too...
And boom goes the dynamite. I'm just happy somebody else is going be paying $25 mil to a 40 year old 2nd baseman.
Good article on the Yankees' financial calculus. e: Granderson to Mets, 4/60. Feldman to Astros, 3/30. Napoli has an offer from another club that the Sox need to match.