Ken Davidoff on the Yankee Off Season
Newsday's Ken Davidoff posted what he thinks the Yankees should do, and not do this winter. Let's summarize and com
DO:
1. Shake up the coaching staff. Bring in Luis Sojo to coach first, move Tony Pena to third and let Bobby Meacham walk. The Yankees need someone who can connect with Cano.
Comments: I agree completely. I don't hate Meacham, but the Yankees need someone to connect with Cano.
2. Go hard after Derek Lowe because he can handle the AL East and the Rivalry, and he won't get crazy years. Offer him crazy money $15 million per season, and guilt Andy Pettitte into taking a pay cut. Commit to making Chamberlain a starter.
Comments: I like the idea of signing Derek Lowe, especially if its only a two-year deal. I think it would be foolish to guilt Andy Pettitte with mentions of steroids into taking less money. That's not very classy. His performance this season will be reason enough for the lefty to take a pay cut if he decides to return.
3. Offer Bobby Abreu and Damaso Marte arbitration, and plan on a centerfield-by-commitee consisting of Johnny Damon, Brett Gardner and Melky Cabrera. Remember that Austin Jackson will be in Triple-A, and the bullpen is fine.
Comments: I think the Yankees should definitely bring back Marte, but they could afford to let Abreu walk. Use the money in a Mark Teixeira deal. As far as the 2009 Yankee outfield goes, I think Damon should play left, and Gardner should play center. Nady will be fine in right. If they find nobody better, Melky can be the fourth outfielder.
4. Don't give Cano an inch, have the coaches and team administrators meet with him often throughout the off season. "Kick the tires" on any possible deals, but only move him for a top starting pitcher, along with Ian Kennedy.
Comments: Are you sure you want to make Cano feel like a child? He may not respond. Just give him a stern talking to in the beginning of the off season, and check on him once halfway through. Stress the importance of him showing up in shape and ready to play in March. It's not a bad idea to move Robbie, if they can get a decent starter. Kennedy is a non-factor anymore. Hughes and Chamberlain are the youth movement.
5. Talk to Girardi about his first year as the Yankees manager, and look for ways to improve.
Comments: Fine, no problem here.
DON'T:
1. Sign CC Sabathia or A.J. Burnett. Both will likelky break down.
Comments: The Yankees need to upgrade their rotation. Its not going to "just happen." They need to be aggressive.
2. Don't even say goodbye to Carl Pavano. Ignore him as he leaves.
Comments: No problem here.
3. Be polite to Jason Giambi during the winter meetings, but don't sign him.
Comments: Again, no problem here. If he was willing to take a major pay cut and a one-year deal, and the Yankees could get something good for Matsui, maybe explore signing him. Maybe.
4. Don't sign Mark Teixeira, go for Casey Blake to play first base.
Comments: Bad idea. Blake is a good player, but the Yankees need someone like Teixeira. He is the player to get this winter for the Yankees. They should be extremely aggressive in getting him.
5. Don't worry about Alex Rodriguez, he is a core player now.
Comments: I'm OK with that.
6. Don't get antsy with the state of the team.
Comments: Rome wasn't built in a day.
The Ken Davidoff Yankees:
C-Jorge Posada
1B-Casey Blake
2B-Robinson Cano
SS-Derek Jeter
3B-Alex Rodgrieuz
LF-Hideki Matsui
CF-Johnny Damon/Brett Gardner/Melky Cabrera
RF-Xavier Nady
DH-Bobby Abreu? Maybe.
Rotation: Wang, Lowe, Pettitte, Chamberlain, Hughes
Bullpen: Rivera, Several home grown troubles.
Posts
3 comments:
We'll see how things develop but right now I'm betting Moose AND Andy both return to open the new stadium. Don't believe everything you hear, Moose wants 300 wins and if Cash offers, he'll take it.
After CC, I'd talk to Jon Garland before Lowe. Just stay away from Sheets & Burnett.
Marte wasn't great, try for Fuentes instead, if you can't get him then settle for Marte.
You have to try for Tex. He's too good to ignore. After him there isn't much help with FA's. If you can't get him, you trade, platoon SDuncan & Miranda or bring back Giambi.
Blake would be a good utility player. He can do it all but you likely won't get him to fill that role, you'd have to offer him steady work like 1B.
If we can't sign Teixeira AND you lose Giambi AND Abreu you need another lefty power bat.
Godzilla will be the everyday DH and only play LF occasionally.
Arod is the best player.
Yankees need to offer Abreu arbitration. They will lose him since he had a good season but they will get 2 draft pics. Yankees should sign RF Pat Burrell who is clutch and a very good player. Next Yankees should sign LF Manny Ramirez who will be hell bent on getting back at the Sox. Next you move Damon to 1st base which will allow him to stay healthy and is an uprgade defensivly over Giambi. Next you trade Hughes, Cano, and Nady for Jake Peavy and the padres 2nd baseman Gonzales(not Adrian but his brother) which will be an offer the Padres cant refuse IMO. After that sign CC or Burnett and try to sign Mussina or Pettite for a 1 year contract. Last try out Gardner at CF
Roster: 1B Damon, SS Jeter, RF Burrell, 3B Rodriguez, LF Ramirez, DH Matsui, C Posada, 2B Gonzales, CF Gardner
SP: 1)CC/Burnett 2)Peavy 3)Wang 4)Chamberlain 5) Mussina/Pettitte
Yankees need to offer Abreu arbitration. They will lose him since he had a good season but they will get 2 draft pics. Yankees should sign RF Pat Burrell who is clutch and a very good player. Next Yankees should sign LF Manny Ramirez who will be hell bent on getting back at the Sox. Next you move Damon to 1st base which will allow him to stay healthy and is an uprgade defensivly over Giambi. Next you trade Hughes, Cano, and Nady for Jake Peavy and the padres 2nd baseman Gonzales(not Adrian but his brother) which will be an offer the Padres cant refuse IMO. After that sign CC or Burnett and try to sign Mussina or Pettite for a 1 year contract. Last try out Gardner at CF
Roster: 1B Damon, SS Jeter, RF Burrell, 3B Rodriguez, LF Ramirez, DH Matsui, C Posada, 2B Gonzales, CF Gardner
SP: 1)CC/Burnett 2)Peavy 3)Wang 4)Chamberlain 5) Mussina/Pettitte
Post a Comment