Brian Cashman on December 14th:
“Where do we go from here? Plan B is patience. We’ll engage the remaining free agents and trade market and pursue what interests us at the level we feel appropriate.”
Patience has now brought us a left-handed specialist at the cost of $8 million over two years. You can spin the signing all you want: “The Yankees needed another lefty” — “That’s what the market is. ” — “The Yankees can overpay” — “It’s not my money.”
It’s just completely inefficient. Paying a guy $4 million a season to pitch to one type of batter – not too mention he’s coming off a season with an unnaturally low HR rate – is ridiculous. Come on. Would you buy a Ford Focus for the price of a Mercedes just because “that’s what the market is?” Ever hear of something being “overvalued?” And besides, when Randy Choate signs for 2yrs/$2.5 mil, how does the market for a left-handed specialist jump to 2/$8 mil?
We are not impressed so far this offseason. It has nothing to due with Cliff Lee either. Remember, we only wanted to go 5 years for Lee. This is about an offseason which has so far been marked by passivity and signing players for more than their worth. And will someone please call Andy Pettitte? Reportedly, no one from the front office has talked to him since the Winter Meetings. That’s Sales 101.
Hoping that the rest of the offseason goes better than this…
55 Comments
Sean December 17, 2010 18:53
I think a LOOGY’s more necessary with the likes of Carl Crawford and Adrian Gonzalez in the Sox lineup, but I have to agree that the mantra of this offseason seems to be: “under pursue, over value.”
Insensitive TYU guy December 17, 2010 20:07
I think you’re all myopic. The entire market is inflated, and its his fault he’s overpaying? Would you prefer the Wilpon approach toward payroll?
Walmart December 18, 2010 02:48
Apparently you haven’t seen what other LOOGYs have signed for.
Insensitive TYU guy December 18, 2010 05:50
Downs got 15 mil, Choate got 2.5 and Feliciano was right in the middle. That doesn’t sound unreasonable to me.
Kool Aid December 18, 2010 10:20
How do I taste?
Sean December 18, 2010 12:45
Downs isn’t a LOOGY. He’s more effective against lefties, but he’s been one of the best relievers in baseball over the last 3-4 years. Angels might’ve gotten a bargain with him, considering the alternative (Soriano).
Feliciano’s left/right splits are more uneven and he walks 4 per 9. He’s a LOOGY who’s being paid like he’s good for something else. Even relative to an inflated market, this seems like an overpay.
Steve December 20, 2010 08:47
it’s definitely an overpay, but i wouldn’t read too much into that walk rate. i’d imagine there are a lot of situations where he is pitching around righties sandwiched between 2 lefties.
the guy has held lefties to a .214/.282/.297 over his career. that’s his job and he does it very well.
don’t disagree with anything the post says, it’s an overpay and the offseason has been a little frustrating, but Feliciano is decent.
Call me Crazy December 21, 2010 12:03
…but I’ve got $10 on Feliciano pitching to more righties than lefties this season.
Insensitive TYU guy December 17, 2010 20:03
I was expecting a bandana wearing Brian, sitting on a stool, strumming his guitar and whistling awkwardly.
Gene Michael December 17, 2010 20:12
I don’t understand how Feliciano got 8M and we didn’t pay Jenks 12.
2M more per year for a Jenks who would have seen more innings was too steep for Cashman?
Steve December 20, 2010 08:49
why do we think Jenks would have signed in NY for the same amount? Jenks is possibly in line to close for Boston in 2012, and looking at a big payday in 2013. he knows Papelbon in gone in 2012.
i think the Yankees would have had to outbid Boston.
that said, $8M is still too much for Feliciano, but i don’t understand why we just assume the Yankees didn’t do any due diligence on Jenks.
Borders December 17, 2010 20:28
I think “patience” is Cashman’s way of telling us to wait a season or two.
Jim Leyritz's Cellmate December 20, 2010 22:31
I’m surprisingly okay with waiting a season or two to build up prospects and dump salary (alright, that’ll take seven seasons…), as long as we don’t overpay for gambles.
Except so far we’re overpaying on the gambles.
JoE December 17, 2010 22:12
Greinke changed agents today and is demanding a trade. Maybe he holds Dayton Moore hostage and we get him for B-prospects.
In a real world scenario, he’ll end up with someone like Milwaukee and we’ll get stuck with Brian Bannister on a minor league deal.
Col. John Matrix December 20, 2010 09:00
Wow. That’s eerie. If the Yankees get Bannister, I’m hiring you to pick lotto numbers for me.
Jim Leyritz's Cellmate December 20, 2010 22:32
Holy shit.
Laura Posada December 17, 2010 22:51
too many walks
Sensitive RAB guy December 18, 2010 07:36
hey, how ya doin’?
nick December 18, 2010 00:41
Bobby Jenks = GARBAGE!!!!! Every one of my friends that is a white sox fan says they are happy he is gone, and he will blow MULTIPLE games for the sox this year. Get off Jenks dick, he has been garbage for a while.
Wise Guy December 18, 2010 03:52
Let’s get your friends on the Yankees front office payroll!
E-ROC December 18, 2010 02:04
Lol. This is comical.
Alfredo Griffin December 18, 2010 02:47
Bravo. No other Yankee blog ever has the balls to tell it like it is. It’s way I’ve always come to nomaas, and always will.
Dan Wheeler December 18, 2010 09:39
I’m a Red Sox too.
Col. John Matrix December 20, 2010 09:01
Yes. And you’re also terrible.
The Free Agent Market December 18, 2010 09:40
I’m drying up.
Name (required) December 20, 2010 13:20
lol
Neon Dion James December 18, 2010 10:14
Patience only works if there are still good players left to be signed. Boston just got two of the best relievers that don’t require a pick.
Brian Cashman December 18, 2010 11:56
Really? That’s it? After the years of Joe Torre’s awful photo-shops and even a few about Jeter, this is the worst you have to give me? I was expecting to be Barzini getting shot by Theo outside the courthouse or as some Special Olympics kid or something. Wow I should start bombing off-season’s more often cause you guys really have a man crush on me.
Village Douchebag December 18, 2010 13:19
Hold up, wait a minute. I’m going to start my OWN site! I bought “photoshop for douchebags” and now I’m READY! My tagline will be “I have a web site and my junk in my left hand, so I’m smarter than you!” Once its up and running I will have all the experience needed to out smart any MLB GM! Then the Yankees will call and I will get Brian’s office, car and money (hopefully not the hair-line). I cant believe how simple it is to get smart just typing on a keyboard! Ok, gotta go, have to do a few seasons of MLB the Show for practice, jerk off and sign up for PhotoBucket.
Kool Aid December 18, 2010 17:17
Based on your reasoning, fans should never debate anything and accept whatever a General Manager does.
Just Sayin' December 18, 2010 19:40
If you take a stance that “Douchebags” post was “reasoning”, then you have had WAY too much Kool-Aid, and therapy is no longer an option.
I’m Just Sayin’
Just Sayin' December 18, 2010 19:48
Almost forgot; you referred to the posts here with the word “debate” (as in a discussion) ?!? Not to mention “fans” (I wont even bother). Could be substantial reduction in temporal lobe function(s), you might want to have that checked out.
I’m Just Sayin’
village douche is really December 18, 2010 20:53
annoying. stop it.
Village Douchebag December 19, 2010 13:57
Oh, I’m sorry! Didnt mean to offend. I know the postings here are so high class and full of intelligence.
I’ll say a few Hail Marys and pray for forgiveness.
Jim Jones December 20, 2010 16:29
MMMMMMMMM. Kool-Aid
Kristin Lee's clitoris December 19, 2010 18:32
Fuck you all.
Kratos December 20, 2010 12:22
COWARD.
I'm Just Sayin' December 19, 2010 19:15
And just like that, you give the “Douchebag” and his point merit.
I’m Just Sayin’
JoE December 19, 2010 21:17
Greinke to the Crew… that should do wonders for them. That rotation should be a tick better than STL now.
Mets fan tried to “argue” that I was wrong on that point…
see pic of conversation: http://i.imgur.com/hvbxj.jpg
Keira Knightley December 19, 2010 23:56
You guys have such a life. So much so that I find it an incredibly sexy turn-on. Because I’m not anywhere near your mother’s basement, just take comfort in knowing that I will masturbate to that image later on tonight.
snowball December 19, 2010 21:30
Cashman’s Theo’s bitch this off season
dirty old man December 20, 2010 08:53
luis vizcaino. killer offseason continues.
Steve December 20, 2010 10:13
only Yankee fans would get upset at a minor league deal, the type of thing that every single team does every single winter.
Cashman needs to find a starting pitcher, but signing Luis Vizcaino has nothing to do with anything.
Neon Dion James December 20, 2010 13:09
Cashman isn’t going to find a good pitcher — it has been years since he’s successfully traded talent for talent, all he really does is salary dumps. The dude is out of his element.
Curtis Granderson December 20, 2010 13:52
Really?
Brian Cashman December 20, 2010 10:56
Whoa I just felt something being removed from way deep up my ass.
Oh look at that,its Nomaas’ head.
Ralph December 20, 2010 16:35
2nd place maybe no playoffs
sack and balls December 20, 2010 16:59
You people and your love affair with suck. Honestly I like Cashman but he was putrid last season ( all you geeks lining up to suck the nuts of Nick Johnson) and now this year he just seems to have lost his instinct. How do you not offer Montero for a 27 yr old former Cy young winner.Grienke has a reasonable contract, but he was willing to send the farm to Seattle for Lee and pay him globs of money. But Greinke cant pitch in NY !!!11111!! i think the correct term for this line of thinking is re-tard.
Sent from your mothers ass
Village Douchebag December 20, 2010 23:48
I need some literary skilz for my new site. Since theres so much insight here (see post above) and I should be banned, I’m starting to take some notes. I also plan on visiting the Detroit school system for a spell so I can get up to speed with some of the folks here.
Joe Pawlikowski December 21, 2010 15:11
I asked my boyfriend for patience when he stuck his fist in my ass.
Carl Pavano December 21, 2010 18:10
Again with the gay references all over….
Do we realize that the architects of the great run of the 90′s was BOB WATSON with Gene “Stick” Michaels before him? What was the Yankee payroll then? Which dynasty has Cashman created with *twice* the $$$? Fire Cashman now…and bring me back to the Cathedral in the Bronx.
PAVANO FOR #3 STARTER!!!!
Dean Travers December 24, 2010 14:23
you should’ve used the Axl Rose photoshop I suggested–this one was mad lame
Bobby Orrs Wingman December 28, 2010 18:14
Hey Red Sox Trolls – Can’t wait for the season to start so I can watch Agonz implode.
Chowda December 29, 2010 11:38
Why is Agon going to implode ?
Is it because he’s on the Red Sox now ?
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