Keeping Up with the Red Sox: 10 Potential Additions for the New York Yankees
Are the Red Sox a lock to win the AL East?
Sure looks like it at this juncture. Let's put it this way: The AL East is Boston's to lose. The trade for Adrian Gonzalez and the signing of Carl Crawford have been Boston's two major headline-grabbing moves. But what has really helped solidify Boston's top-dog status has been the team's recent effort to patch up their biggest hole—the bullpen—with the recent acquisitions of Bobby Jenks and Dan Wheeler.
Meanwhile, down in the Bronx, the New York Yankees are in a rare position. So far this winter, they've been beaten at their own game. The Yankees aren't pulling the biggest trades or signing the priciest free agents. New York tossed all of their eggs into the Cliff Lee basket only to lose out to the Phillies, despite their longer and more lucrative contract offer.
You don't think the Yankees would like a mulligan on the past two months? GM Brian Cashman never did as much as make an offer to Carl Crawford, who would have been a perfect fit in the Bronx. Ditto for Jayson Werth.
But aren't the Yankees still a great team?
Yes. And despite taking their lumps this winter, New York is still a team full of star players and, perhaps more importantly, they still have their willingness and ability to spend. The money the Steinbrenner brothers so desperately wanted to give to Lee is still theirs to spend. While most of the big names on the trading block or up for free agency have found new homes, there are still many players out there that the Yankees are looking at.
With Lee no longer a factor in their finances, the Yankees will have to turn to other players to plug their gaps. They've already begun this process in part with the signings of catcher Russell Martin and left-handed reliever Pedro Feliciano.
Without further ado, the 10 possible deals that the Yankees might consider...
10. Sign Orlando Cabrera
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Orlando Cabrera does not jump to one's mind as a valuable signing. Yet the 36-year-old free-agent shortstop is a proven winner. Cabrera has only missed the postseason once since winning the World Series with the Red Sox in 2004. And, at this point in his career, Cabrera may find a utility role on a contending club a more attractive option than playing every day for a losing team.
A defensively reliable utility infielder who can still swing the bat all right might be a good fit for the Yankees, considering they have no such player on their roster at the moment. Cabrera would certainly be an upgrade over current reserve infielders Ramiro Pena and Eduardo Nunez.
Cabrera also has a reputation as a durable player. While he played in only 123 games last season due to an oblique injury, this was his lowest season total since 1999. Typically, Cabrera logs upwards of 150 games per season.
9. Trade for Kosuke Fukudome
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This winter, the Chicago Cubs are shopping underachieving outfielder Kosuke Fukudome, and the $13.5 million he's owed next year. New York would certainly be able to take on some if not all of Fukudome's contract, but why would they want this guy, anyway?
The Yankees might take a flier on Fukudome because they would use him as a fourth outfielder rather than as an everyday player, which is how Chicago has used him. Limited use might benefit Fukudome, who has played in no fewer than 130 games in his first three years in the majors.
He is a career .326 hitter in April, and his next highest monthly split is .276 for May. Compare those figures to his .199 mark for the month of September. Yikes.
8. Get Andy Pettitte to Return
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Veteran Yankee Andy Pettitte, who turns 39 next June, has considered retirement in past winters, however, the urgency of his decision has taken on extra meaning this offseason with the present state of the Yankees starting rotation without him.
While Pettitte only started 21 games last season, he nonetheless pitched well when he was healthy. Pettitte also tacked on two strong starts to his sterling October resume. If Pettitte returns next year, he projects as either a good No. 3 or a great No. 4.
The latest rumors suggest that Pettitte is leaning towards retirement, however, he might be gearing up for a little contract hardball with his longtime employers. Sentiment aside, New York should make it a priority to bring back Pettitte for 2011.
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7. Sign Grant Balfour
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Reliever Grant Balfour has been a key member of the Tampa Bay Rays bullpen over the past three seasons. He was a stud last year and in 2008 but was a dud in 2009. So which Balfour will we see in 2011?
I'd bank on the good '08/'10 Balfour. Balfour has lost a little zip of his fastball since his breakout year in 2008, however, he mixed in his breaking stuff last year more than he ever had before. Tossing more sliders and curves paid off for the big Aussie.
Balfour actually struck out more batters in '09, his bad year, than he did last season. His key was allowing half as many walks. Balfour's K/BB ratio jumped from 2.09 in '09 to 3.29 in '10, which was more like his 3.42 of '08.
The Yankees have added on Pedro Feliciano, and they still have Joba, but they would love to add someone like Balfour to their late-innings arsenal. Kerry Wood has returned to the Windy City, so the audition for set-up man in the Bronx is on.
Balfour would be a great place to start. He knows the AL East and has shown that he can get it done against the toughest lineups in baseball.
The only thing the Yankees might be wary of is giving up two draft picks: Balfour is a Type-A free agent.
6. Sign Rafael Soriano
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Can the price be paid?
Like Balfour, Rafael Soriano is a former Tampa Bay Ray. Like Balfour, Soriano is a Type-A free agent. But, unlike Balfour, Soriano has been a closer—and a successful one at that.
Could the Yankees convince Soriano to play second fiddle to Mariano Rivera for the right sum of money?
Soriano had a tremendous 2010, maintaining a 1.73 ERA with a 0.80 WHIP. He picked up 45 saves and blew only three. Soriano stands to get a three-year deal upwards of $15 million. The Yankees, of course, are a team that can afford to take a chance on a player like Soriano, that is if he wants to play prince to the king of closers.
If Soriano takes the bait you can bet the Yankees will reel him in—price be damned.
5. Trade for Wandy Rodriguez
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Wandy Rodriguez is pitching in a contract year and is unlikely to be paid like a prince by the Houston Astros. He turns 32 next month and has a reputation as an inconsistent pitcher. Rodriguez has, however, sort of hit his stride the past three seasons, going 34-31 with a 3.36 ERA.
After Javier Vazquez's shortcoming last year, the Yankees may be hesitant to add another new recruit from the Senior Circuit. However, given the lack of depth for the Bronx Bombers' starting rotation, taking a gamble on Rodriguez might be worth their while. It doesn't hurt that Rodriguez is a southpaw—the new Yankee Stadium, like its predecessor, has dimensions that are favorable for lefties.
Obtaining Rodriguez from Houston might be best during the summer if Houston, as is likely, has fallen far out of contention.
4. Sign Freddy Garcia
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Free agent Freddy Garcia has probably seen his better days, however, he should be on the Yankees' radar. Last year, Garcia made 28 starts and logged 157 IP, which wouldn't be saying much except that those numbers bested Garcia's totals from the previous three seasons—23 starts and 129 IP.
Garcia wasn't spectacular last year (4.64 ERA, 1.38 WHIP, 1.98 K/BB ratio), but he was durable and, as the numbers show, reasonably effective. Garcia stands to make a little more than the $1,000,000 he made in 2010 but not much more.
He is not the typical guy the Yankees look at, but, then again, these are not typical times for the Yankees. Garcia would be a classic low-risk/medium-reward pitching acquisition.
3. Trade for Mark Buehrle
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Mark Buehrle had a rough-and-tumble 2010 season. He followed up a lousy spring with a great summer, only to implode in September. It was Buehrle's worst season since 2006, yet he still logged 33 starts, and it was his 10th straight season of reaching at least 30.
But why have I even included him on this list? Is lifelong South Sider Mark Buehrle actually on his way out of Chi-Town? He'll be playing for a new contract in 2011, which is the final year of a four-year, $56 million deal.
The White Sox have been aggressive this offseason, perhaps sensing it's time for them to make a move in a weak division as the Twins and Tigers look a little stagnant. However, if the second team of the Second City finds themselves out of the race come July, don't be surprised to hear Brian Cashman asking White Sox GM about Buehrle's availability. In the meantime, it might take more than Cashman is willing to part with to pry Buehrle from a White Sox team that is aiming to contend.
2. Trade for Matt Garza
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GM Brian Cashman has said on record that he doesn't see the Yankees acquiring a top starting pitcher before spring training. But Matt Garza has to, at the very least, merit consideration from the Yankees front office. The Rays are in the midst of rebuilding, and, with David Price seemingly officially "here," perhaps Garza is a piece they are willing to move for the right players in return.
As Cashman told Wallace Matthews of ESPN New York on Monday: "Could I go out and get a starter? Yes, I could. But there's just not much out there. I have March, April, May, June and July, really, to come up with someone."
All good points. Plus, Garza is not a bona fide ace. But he would a very solid No. 2, more so than A.J. Burnett. Finally, to echo Cashman's comments, the Yankees may be significantly better off trying to obtain Garza during the season, especially if the Rays are not seriously contending.
1. Trade for Felix Hernandez
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King Felix, the Pinstriped Pipe-Dream.
It would take quite the offer for Felix Hernandez, winner of the 2010 AL Cy Young, to be pried from the Seattle Mariners. Of course, if there's one team that could pull off such a miraculous transaction, it would be the New York Yankees.
However, in all reality, King Felix coming to the Bronx is nothing but a very salivating dream scenario for the Yankees brass and their rabid fans. For one, how would CC feel about his top-dog status being rivaled or perhaps even threatened?
Even for Seattle's rather sorry state at the present time, it would take a boatload of prospects and probably some serious cash for the Yankees to even get Seattle GM Jack Zduriencik to pick up the phone.
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