Links for Saturday…
- Jordan Bastian of MLB.com provides his list of the top 10 prospects in Toronto's system and answers other Jays-related questions in a reader mailbag.
- MLB.com's Mark Sheldon writes that the holding pattern between Jonny Gomes and the Reds is continuing. Sheldon says that Gomes might make his decision once one of the other second-tier outfielders – guys like Garret Anderson, Cliff Floyd, Endy Chavez, or Marlon Anderson – sign with a club.
- Susan Slusser of The San Francisco Chronicle says that Tim Lincecum's contract with the Giants will have future ramifications because it'll help keep his salary down after it expires. Lincecum will still have two more years of arbitration eligibility left when this new deal expires.
- The Yankees will be serious bidders for Cuban shortstop Adeiny Hechevarria once he is "unblocked" by the Office of Foreign Assets Control, reports George A. King III of The New York Post.
- Despite signing Mike Lamb to a minor league deal, the Marlins are still on the lookout for a lefty bat off the bench, tweets MLB.com's Joe Frisaro.
- In a separate tweet, Frisaro says that the chances of the team bringing Kiko Calero back are slim, even on a minor league deal. They have concerns about his shoulder.
- Jim McLennan of AZ Snakepit posted Part Two if his interview with Diamondbacks' GM Josh Byrnes.
- John Tomase of The Boston Herald says that the Red Sox don't look like a team in transition, despite GM Theo Epstein's comments earlier this offseason.
- Here are the latest minor league transactions, courtesy of Baseball America's Matt Eddy. The Marlins signed outfielder Jason Lane to a minor league deal.
Adeiny Hechevarria must be a sign of Jeter’s time at short coming to a close. Had to happen eventually.
Or it’s a sign that a team with resources wants to sign a potential prospect…
We’ll see how Jeter feels about that.
You honestly think that they aren’t going for a high ceiling prospect at short not for replacing Jeter? He is getting old, he is great, but he can’t play that position forever.
I’m not saying they’re not thinking about him as a future shortstop. I’m saying I doubt they want him solely as the future shortstop, rather they want him as a potential option for the future.
I think you are looking too deep into the point I’m trying to make. The fact that they are looking at a big prospect at short in general is the sign, not who it is.
Your ML club should have nothing to do with who you draft or what IFA you sign. They have Arod and Tex, if there is a 1b/3b talent in the draft of IFA they should draft him or go sign him if they are interested and not pass on him because of who they have on the ML roster.
Your ML club should have everything to do with who you draft. If you aren’t drafting to later improve your ML club then what are you doing?
No, you should draft best available. Assuming Twins sign Mauer, does that mean they should pass on a catcher and draft a lesser talented player? No, because most picks/signings are 3 years away from the majors, there’s so much that can happen between now and when that draft pick is ready
You draft the best available to fill a spot that is beginning to lack. You have to do all of your drafting with your ML club in mind. You either make strategic picks to trade away later to fill other holes on your ML club, or you draft to replace someone who is on their way out. Drafting is all about setting up the future of your ML club.
“Drafting is all about setting up the future of your ML club.”
I never said it wasnt.
As a Red Sox fan in particular, you should see the error in your line of thought here. Theo Epstein does exactly what Deanezag is talking about. You draft the best possible prospect available to your, regardless of position.
It falls down to the basic fact that you cannot predict your club’s needs three years down the line when that prospect comes up. Joe Mauer could blow out his knees and never play again, for example. Or take into account that two years ago, the Sox’ top prospect was a first baseman when they already had one of the best first basemen in the game. Regardless of the fact the Sox’ strongest two positions in their farm systems are the outfield and pitching, but they keep drafting outfielders and pitchers instead of shortstops and catchers (Two positions of desperate need). Why? Because you can always turn those elite prospects at positions you don’t have need for in a trade for positions you DO need.
You can’t draft or scout based off of a position you need because a free agent opportunity or a good trade may present itself. While yes, the Yankees ARE probably going to need to replace Jeter at short in the next few years due to his age, but I don’t see this as a sign of that more than the fact that the Yankees have money and will spend it on top talent to bolster their depth or build up good trade chips, just like any other club with money.
Well said. The draft is a total crapshoot. You never know which guy is gonna pay off. Plenty of 1st round guys flop out. Every once in a while a 63rd round guy becomes a career player and a multi-year all-star. The draft is for raw talent and trading chips. If the need is not filled from within the farm, you go to trades or the FA market.
Keep in mind that each year teams draft upward of 60 guys and run at least 5 farm teams that have 1.5/2 guys playing at each position. There are ALWAYS at least 8 people in the pipeline at EVERY position for each club. Almost none of them ever become MLB ready. Maybe 1% of the HS and College players are drafted, and maybe 2 or 3% of them ever get to the majors on a full-time basis.
“Adeiny Hechevarria must be a sign of Jeter’s time at short coming to a close. Had to happen eventually.”
Really? You can’t be serious?
Start_wearing_purple is absolutley right. Every team needs to strengthen that minor-league system. Thats like saying that the Rangers signing of Guy Edmonds last night is a sign that Jarrod Saltalamacchia’s time with the Rangers is over. Adeiny is just a prospect. The Yankees will sign Derek Jeter to a 3 or 4 year deal after the season is over. No doubt about it.
You really think Jeter can keep playing at short for 3 to 4 more years after this season? We’ll see, but I respectfully disagree.
Well with all due respect, Red Sox fans don’t like Jeter very much.
While that may be true, the fact is. Shortstop is one of the most physically demanding positions. Even Cal had to move to third. There are very few people who can play that position almost or into their 40s. Jeter is a future HoFer, he will get 3,000 hits, but I can’t see him playing at short for 3-4 more years after this season coming up. I see him there 3 more seasons in all, with probably 2 extra years playing back up short and outfield platoon.
Well obviously its hard to do. Every position is hard to play but I dot think the management can just ask him to play the outfield. He’s the captain, he will probably decide. But if you look at Omar Vizquel, He’s playing shortstop and is seven years older than Derek.
Omar is a freak of nature.
So is Jeter.
Not in the same sense. Omar is built physically perfect to play defensive short his entire life. Jeter isn’t.
Didnt Jeter improve defensively this year?
Even if you dont want to believe UZR, that’s all we heard from people this year, how much better Jeter was this year than previous years.
Yeah, but that doesn’t make him Omar Vizquel. Jeter’s defense improved last year, but the question is if his body can continue to hold up with the demand of that position. Jeter reminds me more of the Ripken form of SS in terms of fielding not Vizquel. I think NLCENTRALcubs15’s idea of what might happen is the most logical course.
I didnt mean to compare him to Vizquel; obviously Jeter is in that group of 6’2″+ SS that came after Ripken. Jeter improved his defense at age 36, will he lose a step in the next 3 years? Yes, but then you’re going to have Jeter learn a new position at 38? And what if ARod is a superior 3B, then you’re hurting the team that way too.
Going from SS to 3B happens all the time. However, if A-Rod is still a superior 3B at that point I’m sure something would happen. Jeter wouldn’t want to stay at short if it would hinder the team.
Will Jeter play until he’s 45 at SS? Unlikely. That in itself is pretty rare. But there’s no proof to say he can’t. But with Jeter at 35 [36 this season], his batting not flinching and UZR not to shabby either, there’s no reason to say that a 3 year deal with him isn’t out of the question.
I’m not saying a deal is unlikely, I’m saying that him being a full time SS is unlikely.
Sorry, excluded that by accident. If he signed a 3 year deal, I don’t see why he couldn’t play all 3 years at SS. His fielding abilities might warrant 2B down the road, but not for the forseeable future. He doesn’t hit well enough to be a DH and with A-Rod and Tex, he can’t play 3B or 1B. It’s basically SS or retire if he stays in NY.
He definitely has at least 2 good seasons at SS left no doubt, it’s the 3rd year that I think will be the major test. I think he will retire a Yankee no doubt. The man is great, I’m not denying that, but age gets to you too and while I don’t deny his talent, I just don’t think he has the longevity at that position as the ridiculous people like Omar have. I mean I could be wrong, but I just can’t see it.
I see him playing there untill Nick Johnson is gone then A-Rod will probably be the DH and Jeter will slide over to third.
This makes more sense than my OF platoon thing.
If you don’t like Derek Jeter then you are just a hater, RS fan or not.
Those situations aren’t even close. Is Jarrod Saltalamacchia 36 years old? You people are taking what he said WAYY too seriously. In 3 or so years, this guy would be the replacement for Jeter, with all the hype surrounding him.
Nope. Maybe he won’t perform to task. You can’t sign him now and say that.
You don’t have to say it. The point being it is implied.
“So, the Yankees have an aging SS and a top prospect at SS that needs a few years to develop. Hmmm, wonder where he will play when he is ready and the aging SS needs to retire?”
Ok, everyone is taking Theo’s transition comment too literally. His point was that the team has several good prospects in the minors who aren’t ready for the majors.
He explained it at one of the signings of the FAs this off season. I think it was Beltre. He basically said that what he meant was signing FAs for short term contracts until the young boys are ready.
Kiko Calero really deserves a job. The guy was great last season.
I would love the Cardinals to sign him. The bullpen still seems really shaky to me. Too much young talent.
Thank god someone else is finally showing proper concern about our bullpen.
Ahaha, I am just hoping and praying Franklin keeps it together.
Agreed, if Franklin continues to regress like he did at the end of 2009, what is our plan B??? K-Mac? This is why a MacDougal signing would be most welcome.
Franklin has the power to ruin the Cardinals season.
Before anyone starts chanting the name Adeiny Hechevarria to be the heir replacement for anybody, why don’t we all wait and see him take a swing and pick a groundball on any professional level first. As it is most Cuban ball-players don’t exactly translate to have great success at the league level. As for the Boston fans out there, I’m so happy that they care so much about who’s playing shortstop for the Yankees. But maybe they should care a little more about their own Cuban shortstop prospect first.
“As for the Boston fans out there, I’m so happy that they care so much about who’s playing shortstop for the Yankees. But maybe they should care a little more about their own Cuban shortstop prospect first.”
Yeah that one Boston fan on traderumors really symbolizes every Red Sox fan’s view…
Good, go get him Cashman.
Wow, Marlon Anderson might sign with a club? After the Mets released him last year he signed with the Newark Bears for a short stint and I thought he retired. Good for him though, I hope he gets a deal.
I don’t get why the White Sox or another team doesn’t swoop in and pick up Jonny Gomes, especially if it would only take a minor league deal. He could certainly be a more formidable DH than anyone else the White Sox have.
Assuming Lincecum again wins 20 in each of the next two seasons, and at least finishes in the top 3 in Cy Young voting in both seasons, he will set the record for an arbitration eligible pitcher in 2012 by getting $20MM per season. I don’t think he hurt his future earnings with this contract one iota. I think he hurt his current earnings by about $6MM over these two years … money he consciously left on the table. It was a very smart move if his talent will last.
Again win 20? His career high is 18, when he went 18-5 in 2008. Last year he went 15-7, while nearly all of his other pitching stats improved, but the anemic Giants offense failed to let him earn more wins. The Cy voters still get all excited over the win/loss record. To think CC probably would’ve won over Greinke if he reached 20 wins, despite his ERA being 1.21 higher is ridiculous.
Little tidbit of the day – Tim Lincecum struck out 8 batters less than Justin Verlander, even though Lincecum gets to face the pitcher in the NL and Verlander must face the DH.
Good catch. I meant to type the word “near” before 20. My bad.
The Josh Beckett Experience of 2007 is proof that winning 20 games, when no one else has won 20, doesn’t automatically give you the Cy. CC beat out Josh with only 19 wins, but a lower ERA, more innings pitched and more strikeouts. Josh directly outpitched CC in two playoff games (after the voting, unfortunately). I thought Josh deserved to win that Cy, and not CC, not because he pitched for the BoSox, but because his 20 wins came (predominantly) in the toughest division in baseball, and his statistics were very good (though not as good as CC’s).