Things Brian Cashman Should NOT Do

As a Yankees fan, I came into this offseason feeling optimistic: Although the Bombers had missed the playoffs for the first time in 13 years, they had money shedding off the books and a number of attractive names to go after.

Now, after hearing numerous rumors, I'm spending my time worrying instead of hoping.

An important thing to remember about rumors, of course, is the fact that they are rumors. They are not fact, and there is often nothing solid to back them on. However, some of them do seem very real—or at least many of them seem like things Brian Cashman and the Yankees would do.

The first and most common one (and probably most likely one) that I take issue is the rumor that the Yankees are going to concentrate very hard on signing Derek Lowe. I always respected Lowe as a pitcher in Boston, and in previous years probably would not have even minded him coming to New York, but right now it simply does not make sense.

And after four successful years in Los Angeles, you might be asking why it doesn't make sense.

He's old. Lowe will turn 36 in June of next season, past his prime years, heading into what is for most pitchers his years of decline. Lowe was never an ace type, and although many analysts will argue that his sinker approach will hold up well into late years, his track record doesn't suggest much success will stem from a relocation to the Bronx.

His track record, you ask? Lowe posted ERAs of 3.61, 3.63, 3.88, and 3.24 from 2005-2008, his years pitching for the Dodgers. Pretty good, right? One thing that shouldn't be forgotten is that not only was he pitching in the National League, but he was pitching in what is regarded, at least for the past couple of years, as the worst division in baseball.

He'd be transitioning back into probably the toughest division in baseball, which he sauntered out of after pitching to the tune of a 5.42 ERA. The year before that, he held up a very average 4.47 ERA. It was the year before, at the age of 29, his first full year starting, that he had his most brilliant season: 21-8 with a 2.58 ERA. That was 2002.

In 2009, I reiterate, he will be 36. It seems to be asking a lot of Derek Lowe to be a great, even very good pitcher for the Yankees. 

Perhaps if he was asking for a rather modest salary, it would make more sense. But it is likely that he will be looking for something in the range of $16-18 million in a multi-year pact.

The Yankees could invest $16 million in Andy Pettitte, who is also a horse, has proven time and time again that he can handle pitching in New York, even if not to the degree that he could in his prime, and who will only require one year.

But New York is instead concerned with giving him a pay cut, and giving the money to Derek Lowe, who would probably turn in the same type of performance.

So perhaps now you may understand why this would not make sense for the Bombers. What else do I take issue with? Well, there seems to a persistent rumor that the Yankees are in a position to deal Robinson Cano. Wait, what? Since when?

2008 was a down year for Cano. It's important to emphasize that it was a down year for Cano, because a line of .271/.305/.410 is fairly average, especially given a position that is not particularly prolific. It's just because Cano's previous years—his first in the majors—were so freaking good that the dropoff is actually fairly significant.

But now after one season, the 26-year-old Cano is apparently available. How can this be?

Cano clearly can hit for a very high average (.342 in his sophomore season), above average power for a second baseman, and has generally a good eye (although his walks could go up, his strikeouts are never alarmingly high).

Cashman said he would consider moving Cano to third base when Alex Rodriguez was briefly a free agent, showing that there is definite promise in his offensive ability (he admittedly is a poor defender). Why would the Yankees trade such a young, high upside talent?

I've been worried about the Yankees pulling the trigger on certain propositions in the past, and the winter eventually passed without incident. But could this be the year everything blows up, after a third-place finish? Stay tuned.