I hope we don't sign Ron Mahay. LH reliever who was good alst year but has sucked for most of his career. Plus he's gonna be 37/38 next year. And he pitched for Atlanta. That's the trifecta of what hasn't worked for this team when signing relievers. Olney thinks we're interested.

Jeremy Affeldt would be my choice... he's a hard throwing, big lefty that can give us some added depth

Riske's not a bad option but he just turned down a $2.9 million dollar player option to stay in KC... i wouldn't wanna sign any lefty reliever for more than $2.5 mil that can only be effective against lefties... Affeldt can get both righties & lefties out & had a pretty respectable BAA last year of .226, so we can basically use him in Farnsworth's current role & ship his useless butt outta town.

Are we going to go after Santana or not? The red sucks are going to try to get him.

Ahhhhhh, I'd really hate to let Wang go to. A lot of people want to strengthen the bullpen better, but I think we need to get some solid starting pitching in NYY camp, to help take some pressure off' the bullpen. Someone who can put some innings up and hold a lead. Traditionally, we always had a good starter who could keep it close, (and even if not ahead) until the seventh, we'd have a middle man who could bridge it to Mo. I think with this scenario, we could create something like that once again. But I see Santana being the key to this.

We got solid position players already and now can delv into key pieces to fix the few holes we have left over. Especially if we lose someone like Cano. When I realized that we'd be losing A-Rod, that would be a majority of our power offense right there, I knew it would be very hard to let him go. Especially seeing that Sheffield is gone and who knows what's going to happen with the Giambi sweet deal (steroids) thing. And also Hediki and Posada arent really feared power hitters (but very good complitments at the plate), but you see my point on the weakening of our power offense. When A-Rod came crawling back, I knew that was going to be the deal right there and it worked out. So at least we have a guy who can get us through the regular season with the numbers. And I know, the playoffs are still a question with him, but I also think sooner or later he's gonna show up and when he does, it will be lights out. We've maintained our power intact and the few good hitters that go with them and this is why I can see this Yankees being able to make a trade of someone like Cano, for Santana and maybe a few farm guys. Our pitching, I think we need to hang onto, hang onto what we have in Joba the hut, Hughes, with adding Santana. We would maintain and we would definately strengthen our rotation with that addition. But trading pitching for pitching I think would be a mistake at this point. If anyone, I'd be willing to give up Farnsworth with Cano. That one I'd be okay with.

So overall, we've maintained our power, with some good hitters and some depth. With the above scenario, we would be able to maintain our pen and still add' Santan with little sacrifice. Of course, I'm not the GM, but if they tried it something like this way, we would come out much better next year. I also think Joba the hut and Hughes, with a season under their belt will be a big improvement. How could anyone think not? They throw hard as hell. Especially Joba the hut. I think he'll make a great set-up man, unless they actually do try to put him into the starting line-up. But that would depend on whether he can last at least 7 a game. We'll see what happens. As far as Santana, if we' can 't get him, then I hope the Mets get him in NY. I know I'm going to be very popular with that one, but it's better than seeing red sucks get him. Getting Mo, A-Rod and Posada back really helped or position tremendously. It now comes down to how much more Hank wants to spend. I really like this owner. Very business minded, but seems to be more centered. A sign of a good balanced owner. Let's hope so.

Posted by VDesai:

The guy I did want to sign for the pen was David Riske.

http://www.nj.com/sports/ledger/index.ssf?/base/sports-2/1196142348126760.xml&coll=1

The Yankees have "definitely reached out" to free agent right-hander David Riske, said his agent Nez Balelo. Riske, 31, was 1-4 with a 2.45 ERA in 69 2/3 innings with the Kansas City Royals in 2007.

if the yanks get santana for simply cabrera, either hughes or kennedy, and a prospect, you have to make the trade in my opinion. i like hughes more than kennedy, but if it has to be hughes b/c of the cowardly red sox and theo epstein driving the market up, so be it.

if you can go with johan, chien-ming, pettitte (hoping he re-signs), hughes/kennedy, and mussina (with humberto sanchez, brackman, or ohlendorf coming up) and keep joba in the pen (7-8-9 game set match w/ joba and mo), i like the direction of this team.

Posted by kam77:

Posted by TMS:

random factoid:

Joba & Ian Kennedy were both drafted using the compensatory draft picks the Yankees recieved after offering Tom Gordon arbitration before he left to sign w/the Phils.

boy, are we lucky the Phils signed him!



(we also got Phil Hughes from the compensatory pick from the Astros when they signed him too)

pretty crazy how things work out sometimes.

Where did you get this info from?

it's a fact that's been reported on various media outlets, but here's 1 sample:

http://www.nytimes.com/2007/12/03/sports/baseball/03yankees.html?ex=1354338000&en=ec2c7f758d83ffc5&ei=5088&partner=rssnyt&emc=rss

The Twins would risk losing Santana, who may block any midseason effort to deal him, but if he leaves as a free agent after 2008, they would get draft picks as compensation. Those can often prove to be valuable; when the Yankees lost reliever Tom Gordon after the 2005 season, they used their compensatory picks on pitchers Joba Chamberlain and Ian Kennedy.

yep, holding onto our own FA's was key... this way we fill our positions & don't end up giving away any picks either... the only guy left to sign is Luis Vizcaino... & by trading for Johan they would get to keep their picks as well... good thing Isiah's not GMing the Yanks, otherwise all those picks would have been as good as gone in exchange for Bartolo Colon or Carlos Delgado.

Was Gordon type A?

PASS on the Viz:

Mattingly, Vizcaino talk
Still no definitive news on Johan Santana, though various reports are that the Red Sox are close to getting him. We'll update as solid news comes in.

Don Mattingly is here in one of his first official capacities as Dodgers bench coach. Friendly as always, and happy to say hello to all his Yankees associates. Probably a bit of an adjustment for him coming to one of these things as a Dodger after a life in pinstripes.

I talked to Luis Vizcaino's agent, Bean Stringfellow, a little while ago. He said of Vizcaino: "He made a point to me that he does like New York." However, he said nothing is imminent and that he is also talking to the Mets, White Sox, Royals and Dodgers, along with the Yankees. Stringfellow also believes that Vizcaino can get a 3-4 year contract along the lines of Scott Linebrink, who inked a four-year, $19-million pact with the White Sox. At those dollars, the Yankees are likely to be out.

A source indicated that Chien-Ming Wang's agent, Alan Nero, was interested in talking to the Yankees about a long-term contract. However, the Yankees told Nero to make them an opening offer. That was the end of any discussions.