Rumors: Yankees Checked in on Fausto Carmona

Bronx Baseball Daily

Jan 27, 2011

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NYY have checked in on Carmona this winter — as they have on many, many pitchers. Cost very high; contract is team-friendly.
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Fausto Carmona, 27, is signed through 2011 with team friendly club options through 2014. He is owed just $6.1 million this season, $7 million in 2012, $9 million in 2013, and $12 million in 2014. That’s pretty damn cheap for a pitcher his age even if his results may be a little questionable these days.

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Carmona had a big year in 2007 when he was just 23. That year he went 19-8 with a 3.06 ERA, a 5.7 K/9, and a 2.6 BB/9. Since then he has been a little shaky. Over 2008 and 2009 he only threw 246 innings with a 5.89 ERA, a 5.0 K/9, and a 5.1 BB/9. He rebounded somewhat in 2010 when he put up a 3.77 ERA, a 5.3 K/9 and a 3.1 BB/9 over 210.1 innings.

Still because of his age, his relatively cheap salary, and potential Carmona would still fetch a decent haul of prospects. So the Yankees wouldn’t be able to get him cheap. Considering that his potential is no where near a given it is probably smart for the Yankees to hold off making a move at this point. When the right deal comes along they’ll be aggressive though.

What are your thoughts? Is Carmona the type of pitcher you would like to see the Yankees make a big push for? Or are they being smart for waiting for a better deal to come along?