New York Yankee Roulette: Who Will They Keep and Who Will Join Them
There has been a lot of talk surrounding the New York Yankees this off-season like usual. Does Derek Jeter return? Does Andy Pettitte give it one more? Do they acquire Cliff Lee?
It boils down to a bunch of different scenarios this off-season. The Yankees can do any number of moves this year and have already started changing up their team for next season. I decided to jump in and take a look at who will possibly be in pinstripes next season.
Derek Jeter
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I don't care whose on the market but this has to be the biggest move the New York Yankees make this season. Derek Jeter is a lifetime Yankee in everyone's mind. You can't disagree with that. He was drafted by the Yankees, went through the Yankees farm system and has won five titles with the Yankees.
Of course, many are going to look to his declining numbers last season but here is the thing, this is Derek Jeter, he is synonymous with New York. Although he hasn't been it in a while, he is Mr. Clutch come playoff time. No one leads like he does.
The Yankees have started to make progress now that they worked out everything with Rivera and can now focus on Jeter more.
Jeter batted .270 last season but honestly, when you're 36-years-old playing shortstop still, you deserve some credit. It was a down year, don't overlook that. Jeter can bounce back to hit somewhere close to his .314 career batting average.
The Yankees are even starting to agree now and are softening that stance on their contract offer to Jeter that seemed so rock solid. Jeter will definitely return in pinstripes next season.
Andy Pettitte
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Another one of the Core Four, Andy Pettitte. He has flown so far under the radar this off-season until reports had shown that he had received a call from Nolan Ryan to join the Texas Rangers. No one knows the truth behind the phone call.
It is a possibility that next season Pettitte will be the number two starter behind C.C. Sabathia. A.J. Burnett has shown lackluster stuff and the Yankees are in need of a number two.
The Yankees can go any number of ways, but Pettitte is another one of those lifetime Yankees. Yeah, he left for two seasons, but do you remember how atrocious the Yankee pitching was? It was like a dark cloud settled over Yankee Stadium when Pettitte left. Yankee pitching was in shambles.
Pettitte made 23 appearances last year and went 11-3 with a 3.28 ERA. When he pitched it was extraordinary to see the 38-year-old pitcher still wheeling and dealing. Even though he is a Texas boy at heart, he should return to the Big Apple for one more go.
Jesus Montero
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I know he wasn't signed, but we have to shed a little light on one of the hottest prospects in the Yankee organization.
Montero has the upside of being a great replacement for Jorge Posada. Montero will ultimately be the Yankees starting catcher come the end of spring training. All the talk from officials in the Yankee organization have pointed in that direction.
He isn't the greatest defensive catcher of all-time, but it's serviceable over an aging Jorge. The talk surrounding Montero has been about his hitting. Before the 2010 season, New York Yankees hitting coach Kevin Long declared Montero a major league-ready hitter. But he was left in Triple-A to work on his defensive vulnerability.
In 2010, he was named the best Yankees prospect by Baseball America and the fifth overall player in the entire MLB. The Venezuelan catcher has always been on Baseball America's radar since he signed with the Yankees. Also, he was also named to the All-Star Futures Game in 2010.
Montero is going to be a great catcher some day. It might not be this upcoming season but, he will be eventually. He has tremendous upside and the fact that he is only 21-years-old leaves one to ponder how great he will be.
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Kerry Wood
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Now that Rivera is signed, the Yankees need to re-sign Kerry Wood. Wood is that bridge in the eighth inning to get to the great closer Rivera. Kerry last season showed up former setup man Joba Chamberlain.
After being traded to the Yankees, Kerry Wood dominated hitters in his setup man role. In 24 games, he went 2-0 with a 0.69 ERA. Oh and did I mention 21 straight scoreless appearances? Yeah, he was that good.
Wood needs to return, he is the lynch pin in the bullpen. Rivera needs a setup man and god help us all if Damaso Marte gets within miles of that role.
Wood is a great pitcher and needs to be brought back. In order to win a title the Yankees need to boost their pitching, and what better way then to re-sign Kerry Wood who pitched great last season for the Yankees.
Cliff Lee
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We all know the saying, "If you can't beat them, pay them an exorbitant amount of money to join you." Cliff Lee is just major speculation, speculation that has dated back to the 2009 trading deadline.
Cliff has DOMINATED the New York Yankees in every game he has played them. As of right now, I can only see it going one of two ways, either he stays in Texas or he comes to New York.
Cliff Lee was almost dealt to the Yankees at the 2010 trade deadline but the deal between the Yankees and Mariners fell short and he was instead shipped to fledgling Texas. Lee was so sure that he would be traded to the Yankees that him and his wife had asked C.C. Sabathia and his wife to help look for houses in the New York area.
Yeah, nothing says future Yankee like home shopping.
The Lee's and Sabathia's are a tight friendship and one can only wonder how much talk his former Indians teammate has made about how great of a place New York is.
Bottom line for Lee: Your stats are phenomenal the last few years, but you have no rings. If you want to win you come to New York. That's it, everyone knows that the Bronx is home to the best of the best.
Zach Grienke
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Now here is some more speculation and it won't happen if Cliff Lee gets a deal done.
Greinke is a great young pitcher. He is five years younger than Lee and has had some extraordinary stuff on a dead team. It would have to be done through a trade which, in my opinion seems highly unlikely, but if they don't sign Lee they have to be in hot pursuit for another big name pitcher.
This could be a huge move to land the former Cy Young award winner in pinstripes and he has done everything to deserve the hyped status I am giving him.
If he was on a better team no doubt Greinke would be the best pitcher to trade for. Greinke would have to face Felix Hernandez for being the best player on the worst team.
If Lee doesn't sign with the Yankees I could see this being a possibility.
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