SB Nation - Phil Hughes

Grandy, Joba, Frankie and A-Rod

Travis G — Thu, 17 Dec 2009 22:25:00 -0000

Curtis Granderson was introduced at a press conference today. Said the new outfielder -

One thing I've learned over my world travels, being in China, being in Africa, being in Europe, Latin America, when you mention Major League Baseball... the Yankees are the first team that comes up... To get a chance to be a part of that now... I'm excited about that.

As we expected, Joba Chamberlain will have any innings limitations removed next year. Hopefully since he won't worry about pitch counts, he won't worry about making perfect pitches, which will make him more effective.

Phil Hughes' limits will remain, but he'll probably be allowed to go about 180 innings.

The Yankees are comfortable with Frankie Cervelli as the backup catcher. Good to hear, since he's cheap, plays as well as Jose Molina, runs thrice as fast, and allows for Jesus Montero to come up mid-season if (Mo forbid), Cervelli isn't cutting it.
Dr. Marc Philippon told A-Rod his hip is fine, and he will not need surgery this off-season.
Nick Johnson is close to agreeing with the Yankees on a contract, but has yet to take a physical.

Yankees sign Andy Pettitte

Eli Greenspan — Wed, 09 Dec 2009 20:03:43 -0000

More photos » by Kathy Willens - AP

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The Yankees and Andy Pettitte have agreed to a one year deal worth 11.75 mllion dollars.

Pettitte typically likes to drag out negotiations, but the Yankees are in position to have another excellent season and he would have been taking a huge risk by playing games with upper management.

Pettitte, who turns 38 on June 15, went 14-8 with a 4.16 ERA in 32 starts during the regular season, then 4-0 with a 3.52 ERA in the postseason, winning the clinching game of all three Yankees' playoff series.

The addition of Pettitte doesn't mean the Yankees are not going to pursue other options for their rotation. With CC Sabathia, A.J. Burnett, Andy Pettitte, and Joba Chamberlain in the rotation, the fifth spot could go to several players.

Chien-Ming Wang struggled mightily this past season, but is 55-26 with a 4.16 ERA in his career. However, he isn't expected to be fully healthy until midseason 2010, so it is possible he will be non-tendered.

Phil Hughes was great out of the bullpen, but that was more of a pleasant surprise for the Yankees than something planned. From what I've heard, Hughes will be given a shot to crack the starting rotation.

The Yankees are keeping tabs on Rich Harden, Kelvim Escobar, and Justin Duchscherer, an indication that they may add a cheap veteran as a safety net in case Hughes is not ready for the rotation.

New York Yankee notes: Now, about Roy Halladay

Ed Valentine — Wed, 09 Dec 2009 15:00:42 -0000

So, the big question floating around following the New York Yankees acquisition of Curtis Granderson is what impact that has on trade talks for Toronto ace Roy Halladay.

If you are pro Halladay to the Yankees you have to be excited about the fact that GM Brian Cashman still has Joba Chamberlain or Phil Hughes as trade chips. If you are anti-Halladay to the Yankees you are praying that Cashman's willingness to deal Austin Jackson doesn't mean he might also part with Jesus Montero.

Bob Klapisch figures the Granderson deal makes it less likely the Yankees will be able to land Halladay.

One American League source says it's now "unlikely" the Bombers have the prospects to convince the Blue Jays to deal their ace. Having shipped Austin Jackson to the Tigers, the Yankees intend to hang on to Jesus Montero, their up-and-coming catcher. That effectively narrows the field for Halladay to the Red Sox and Angels.

Cashman knows he's taking a risk, giving Boston a free shot at a confirmed Yankee-killer. Theo Epstein is loathe to trade prospects, and has said he wants to hang on to righty Clay Buchholz. But after seeing the Yankees fortify themselves yet again, the Sox GM may have no choice but to pick up the phone and call the Jays.

John Harper of the New York Daily News figures the Granderson deal might force the Boston Red Sox to answer the Yankees by making a big push for Halladay

Early indications Tuesday were that Sox GM Theo Epstein remained reluctant to give up a package of top prospects to the Blue Jays, as well as the $100-plus million it will take to sign Halladay to a contract extension - no matter if Red Sox Nation was screaming for him to return fire on the Yankees.

But that hardly adds up to a no.

"Theo doesn't care what the fans want," was the way one major league executive put it. "He's not going to react just because the Yankees made a deal. But (owner) John Henry might be a different story.

"After everything their organization has done to turn the tables on the Yankees the last several years, (Henry) is very concerned about any perception the Sox have fallen behind them again. And he knows Halladay is the ultimate protection, whether you're talking perception or reality."

Even before the Granderson deal, where Halladay ends up was the most intrguing story of the winter. It still is.

Other notes

In case you missed it, the Brian Bruney trade landed the Yankees the first pick in Thursday's Rule 5 Draft.
Could Hideki Matsui end up in Oakland?
Yanks might watch Aroldis Chapman work out.

Tigers/D-Backs/Yankees Trade Still Alive?

Ian Casselberry — Tue, 08 Dec 2009 15:15:08 -0000

As of last night, the proposed three-way trade between the Detroit Tigers, Arizona Diamondbacks, and New York Yankees had stalled. Buster Olney mentioned on Twitter that discussions had reached the point where only one of the three teams (presumably Arizona) liked the deal on the table.

However, that apparently doesn't mean the trade is dead. Ken Rosenthal and Jon Paul Morosi report that the three teams are still open to a deal. I presume that when negotiations get so far that most of the key players in a trade are in place, there's still plenty to work with. And it looks like each team knows which big name it would get in this deal. Perhaps it's more a matter of either the Tigers getting the players they want, or the Yankees relenting on who they'd prefer not to give up.

Once again, here's the trade scenario that was in play last night:

The Yankees get Curtis Granderson from the Tigers and one or two prospects from the Diamondbacks.
The Diamondbacks receive Edwin Jackson from the Tigers and right-hander Ian Kennedy from the Yankees.
The Tigers would get right-hander Max Scherzer from the Diamondbacks, along with centerfielder Austin Jackson and lefty relievers Phil Coke and Michael Dunn from the Yankees.

Based on Olney's reporting, the Tigers apparently want Phil Hughes included in the deal, but the Yankees don't want to give him up.

Just to provide some more background on Dunn, who might be the most unfamiliar name in the proposed trade, he pitched in Double and Triple-A this season. In 73.1 innings, he compiled 99 strikeouts and 46 walks. Dunn pitched four innings with the Yankees this year, posting a 6.75 ERA in four innings, along with five strikeouts and five walks.

UPDATE #1 (10:30 a.m. ET): Via Twitter, Jon Heyman has some more details on what's been thrown back-and-forth in trade discussions between the three teams. First, he mentions that reliever Daniel Schlereth may have been included in the Diamondbacks' package going to Detroit. He also says that the Yankees don't want to give up four prospects in this deal.

(via Tiger Tracks on Twitter)

UPDATE #2: Morosi is now corroborating Heyman's report that the Yankees are balking at giving up four players in this trade, especially when they'd only be getting one in return. According to Morosi's source, the chances of this now happening are "not good."

UPDATE #3 (11:45 a.m. ET): According to the New York Daily News' Mark Feinsand, the Tigers "may be caving" on their price for Granderson. Subsequently, trade talks appear to be alive once again (via Heyman).

Yankees Third Team in Tigers-Diamondbacks Trade?

Ian Casselberry — Tue, 08 Dec 2009 04:15:55 -0000

As something of an update to our previous post about a Tigers-Diamondbacks deal involving Edwin Jackson, Jon Paul Morosi and Ken Rosenthal report that the New York Yankees would've (and could still be) the third team that would make such a trade work.

If it all comes together, Detroit could be involved in its second Winter Meetings blockbuster deal in three years. Not all of the particulars are known, but Jackson would go to Arizona, while Curtis Granderson gets fitted for pinstripes.

Who the Tigers get in such a scenario wasn't mentioned, but Max Scherzer is the name that keeps coming up in rumors involving the D-Backs. And presumably, someone else would come from the Yankees. (Austin Jackson and Phil Hughes were the names the Tigers asked for, according to Buster Olney.)

The report at FOXSports.com says "the talks are at an impasse," as one of the teams involved in these discussions balked at the proposed deal. The D-Backs were the team pushing hard for the trade. But the guess is that the Yankees rejected the terms of the trade, which fits what Olney said on "Baseball Tonight" earlier this evening.

(via MLB Trade Rumors)

UPDATE: Morosi and Rosenthal updated their original report with details as to what each team would receive in the proposed deal.

• The Yankees would receive Granderson from the Tigers and one or two prospects from the Diamondbacks.

• The Diamondbacks would get Jackson from the Tigers and right-hander Ian Kennedy from the Yankees.

• The Tigers would get right-hander Max Scherzer from the Diamondbacks, and center fielder Austin Jackson and left-handed relievers Phil Coke and Michael Dunn from the Yankees

MLB Trade Rumors: Roy Halladay to the Yankees?

raygu — Mon, 07 Dec 2009 15:30:13 -0000

More photos » by Elise Amendola - AP

2 months ago: Toronto Blue Jays starter Roy Halladay listens to home plate umpire Mike DiMuro after Halladay hit Boston Red Sox's David Ortiz with a pitch during the second inning of a baseball game at Fenway Park in Boston on Wednesday, Sept. 30, 2009. (AP Photo/Elise Amendola)

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I hinted at this in my morning post, but it makes sense for both teams. The Yankees have no room for catching prospect Jesus Montero right now, so include him and Phil Hughes in a package for Halladay. Toronto's GM Alex Anthopolous has been quoted saying he wants young pitching, a catcher and an outfielder in any deal for Halladay.,

Montero is known to be one of the best hitting prospects in the minor leagues, but he apparently is not a great catcher. Here is what Baseball America had to say about his defense in a recent chat:

Steven Alengakis (Brooklyn, NY): Everyone seems to agree that Jesus Montero will not be a caatcher at the ML level. Do people within the Yankees organization/scouts see him more as a RF (considering the dimensions of Yankee Stadium) or as a 1B? Do they think he has the ability to be adequate at either of those positions?
J.J. Cooper: Outside the Yankees organization there is some doubt if there is any position where Montero will be more than a below-average defender. His lack of footspeed and his already massive size means right field is a big stretch, and there is concern that he will be below average at first base because of his limited agility. First base is a much better bet, but he looks to be a 30-35 defense wherever he goes.

And on his bat:

Joe LeCates (Easton, MD): J.J., thanks for the chat. How close is the distance between Montero and Stanton? I imagine Montero's bat is the more sure-thing of the two, though Stanton's overall athleticism and package give him more possible value?

J.J. Cooper: Very close. I originally had Montero No. 1 until as recently as last week. You summed it up, Montero's bat is a better tool than Stanton's and they have similar power, but Stanton's a much better athlete with a clear position while Montero could very well be a 20-year-old DH. In the end, that ended up breaking the logjam.

Hughes was once considered a top starting pitching prospect, but the Yankees have used him in the bullpen of late, which is fine as many teams opt to use their young starting pitchers in the pen to ease them into starting at the major league level.

Would this be enough to get Halladay? Would the Yankees have to throw in a couple lower level prospects?

Poll

Would Jesus Montero and Phil Hughes be enough in a deal for Roy Halladay?

No, throw in a few more prospects.

497 votes

Yes, Montero can hit major league pitching now.

514 votes

1011 votes | Poll has closed

MLB Trade Rumors: Winter Meetings Coverage Begins Monday

raygu — Mon, 07 Dec 2009 14:00:17 -0000

by Aaron J. Latham - AP

2 months ago: San Diego Padres' David Eckstein, left, celebrates with teammate Adrian Gonzalez, right, after they scored on Gonzalez's home run in the fourth inning of a baseball game against the Arizona Diamondbacks Sunday, Sept. 27, 2009 in Phoenix. (AP Photo/Aaron J. Latham)

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We at Fake Teams will be covering the trades and signings that occur at the Winter Meetings that start today in Indianapolis. We will address the fantasy impact of the trades and signings that occur this week and throughout the offseason. The biggest name discussed at the Winter Meetings will be the Blue Jays ace Roy Halladay.

Some of the rumored deals could involve the following players changing uniforms:

Steve Henson from Yahoo Sports tweeted the following last night:

The Dodgers have 3-4 teams interested in $$ Juan Pierre and a 3-team deal is being explored to get L.A. a bad-contract starter in return.
The "bad contract" starter the Dodgers might get for Juan Pierre would not be Derek Lowe, a source said. That bridge has burned.

It appears the Yankees and Red Sox are the favorites for Roy Halladay. Halladay to the Yankees for a package of Jesus Montero and Phil Hughes? Halladay to the Red Sox for Clay Buchholz and Josh Reddick? Halladay to the Phils for J.A. Happ and Michael Taylor? The Giants may make sense for Dan Uggla, but where would he play with Freddy Sanchez at second? I'd be shocked if Adrian Gonzalez isn't dealt to the Red Sox now that former Sox Jed Hoyer is the new GM in San Diego. Josh Willingham in Atlanta makes sense.

Would the rumored Milton Bradley-Pat Burrell deal result in one of the worst outfields in the majors? How can Pat Burrell and Alfonso Soriano play in the same outfield? Pierre makes sense in St. Louis, Chicago and Cincinnati, especially with Dusty Baker managing the Reds. Pierre for Arroyo??

Poll

Who is more likely to get traded during the Winter Meetings this week?

Roy Halladay

150 votes

Adrian Gonzalez

90 votes

Javier Vazquez

47 votes

Juan Pierre

86 votes

373 votes | Poll has closed

New York Yankees notes: About that budget ...

Ed Valentine — Sun, 06 Dec 2009 13:03:53 -0000

Oh, boy! Not 48 hours after we heard that our New York Yankees would have a budget of about $185 million for the 2010 season, word is already out that the number is "not a hard ceiling." Who did not expect that? We should know by now that there is never a hard ceiling on Steinbrenner money, and I know I'm OK with that.

We know that re-signing Andy Pettitte is General Manager Brian Cashman's first priority this off-season, as it should be. As a backup plan, it seems the Yankees are likely to check in with just about every available free-agent starting pitcher on the planet.

NY Baseball Digest thinks all of this speculation is bad news for fans of Phil Hughes and Joba Chamberlain in the rotation. To me, that's a classic over-reaction to a team simply pouring over its options during the middle of the off-season.

Robinson Cano, by the way, has an idea for the rotation. He would like to see Pedro Martinez in pinstripes.

"I say he's got some more in him. He'd be good (with the Yankees), especially with the kind of team we got," said Cano. "We score, most games, four or five runs. Guy like him, we only need him like five, six innings."

Thank God Cano is a second baseman and not a general manager. Pedro would be a desperation move, and the Yankees are not desperate.

By the way, the Winter Meetings start today. Jayson Stark of ESPN looks at what he sees as the top five plot lines for the meetings.

I'm not a John Sterling fan, but Zell's Pinstripe Blog points out a fun link to a clip of Sterling's most memorable calls of the 2009 post-season.

Finally, the New York Daily News tells us Alex Rodriguez is enjoying being a champion.

Joba vs. Hughes

Travis G — Thu, 03 Dec 2009 21:00:23 -0000

To get Roy Halladay, the consensus seems to be that the Yanks would have to give up one of the duo. Who's more expendable in your opinion?

Both have their pros and cons.

Phil Hughes pros:

Longer pro career of successful pitching (sixth year with the organization).

Excellent at repeating his (by most accounts) flawless delivery.

Incredible as a reliever in 2009.

Great pitcher's body (6'5", 220) - could turn into a workhorse.

Cons:

Troubling injury history though only three big league years.

Inconsistent as a ML starter.

Never topped 86 ML innings.

Joba Chamberlain pros:

Incredible 'stuff,' better than Hughes.

Shown more as a ML starter than Hughes.

Pitched 157 innings this year without getting hurt.

Cons:

Has also had several (though minor) injuries in his early career.

Isn't in the best shape (part of the reason he fell in the draft), though he's gotten much better since college.

About a year older than Hughes.

Some 'talent evaluators' fear he may not be able to repeat his delivery consistently (see below).

[This was inspired by a post on Yankees 'N More]

Poll

Who's more expendable?

Around the Yankee Universe: Typical Jeter

Ed Valentine — Wed, 02 Dec 2009 13:30:48 -0000

More photos » by David Goldman - AP

New York Yankees shortstop Derek Jeter holds the 2009 Sports Illustrated Sportsman of the Year trophy after an award ceremony in New York on Tuesday, Dec. 1, 2009.

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Derek Jeter's comments about winning the Sports Illustrated Sportsman of the Year award were typical Jeter. Classy and humble. In other words, I am sure they will provide fodder for the legion of Jeter bashers to find something silly to say about the Yankee captain.

Here is some of what Jeter said.

"I thought the cover came out nice. The only thing that I thought was missing from that were my parents on both sides," Jeter said. "Even if you don't see them, just know that they're there beside me at all times."

Yep. Exactly the type of thing you would expect him to say.

Yes, even the Yankees have a budget

And over the next couple of days general manager Brian Cashman will find out what that is.

By the time general manager Brian Cashman drops his bags near the door of a hotel suite in Indianapolis next week, the Yankees will have a better idea of just how much they can spend plugging the holes of a World Series-winning roster.

"Once I get some firm numbers, I can go ahead and start putting together some ideas," Cashman said.

The Yankees were set to gather in Tampa, Fla., on Thursday and Friday of this week to discuss the parameters of their offseason budget, which will be sizable but not as extravagant as it was last winter, when New York shelled out a combined $423.5 million to land CC Sabathia, A.J. Burnett and Mark Teixeira.

Yankees scouring reliever market

The Yankees have expressed interest in free-agent reliever Brandon Lyon, according to major-league sources. The Yankees likely will express interest in all of the top available late-inning relievers — lefty Mike Gonzalez, righties Fernando Rodney, Rafael Soriano and Jose Valverde — if they haven't already.

My take: It doesn't take a genius to figure out the Yankees will at least kick the tires on the reliever market. With both Phil Hughes and Joba Chamberlain ticketed for the rotation, it's a no-brainer. Of course, it's also pretty easy to make the argument that the Yankees already have a ton of young, talented arms and don't need to bring in a veteran.

(Hat tip to MLB Trade Rumors)

Talking about Johnny Damon

The free-agent outfielder apparently thinks not being offered arbitration by the Yankees is a good thing.
River Avenue Blues says if Damon leaves, Mike Cameron would be the perfect short-term replacement. My take: We have heard Cameron's name connected to the Yankees for so long now I have to think that if Damon isn't re-signed this would be a strong possibility. And I guess I could live with it for a year.

A.J. Burnett makes pitch for Halladay

Here is Burnett talking about the Toronto ace.

"I think it's time for him to get a fresh start," Burnett said Monday. "He's paid his dues there, been the face of the organization, done everything they've asked him to do and more. At this point in his career, I think he just wants to win."

My take: I am on record as being in favor of bringing Halladay to the Bronx. In reality, though, I don't think there is much chance Burnett will get his wish.