While it's still too early in the season to draw conclusions about a player's performance, Ken Davidoff of Newsday takes note of a few impending free agents who are off to hot or cold starts. Players like Prince Fielder (hot) and Albert Pujols (cold) are locks to put up numbers and score big contracts, but some names Davidoff mentions can significantly affect their stocks based on their performances in 2011. Continued health and success from Jose Reyes should earn him a lucrative deal, while a good year from Edwin Jackson would set him up nicely in a free agent class thin on top starters. Let's check out the other updates from the Newsday piece….
- Davidoff thinks there's a "decent chance" that the Yankees and C.C. Sabathia work out a contract extension before the left-hander's opt-out date next winter.
- If that were to happen, C.J. Wilson would likely be the most desirable southpaw on the market, but Wilson is trying to avoid thinking about or talking about his walk year: "I'm just pretty much approaching it like I did last year. I'm not going to be looking at my stats too often, because that doesn't really help."
- Davidoff wonders if the Mets or another club could take a flier on Kiko Calero, who agent Burton Rocks calls a "no-risk, high-reward, high-return guy for any organization." Health is the concern with Calero, though for what it's worth, Rocks says the 36-year-old is in "fantastic shape."
Agree on Sabathia. Especially if hehas a so so year. If they win world series all bets are off. Why would he want to go to another team and start over?
He may just want to return to his home state of California…even if it means less money. He will have made about $90M after the 2011 season so California could win out over money. Plus any contract he signs will be a nine-figure contract.
And the challenge of winning a ring with another team could be a motivating factor and not a deterrent.
Finally, maybe NYC isn’t his or his family’s favorite city.
The Angeles seem to be the only california team that could afford him given the dodgers current finacial problems, I would expect that Texas might get involved but i don’t see them out bidding the yankees though.
CC went to HS in Vajello, CA near San Francisco. With Zito’s contract ending after the 2013 season, I was wondering if the Giants could afford a Sabathia, Lincecum, and Cain rotation.
And the Angels probably would like to make a big splash with a CC signing to answer the Rangers’ current success and Oakland’s good young rotation.
All he needs is one representative California offer.
I don’t think CC is really hurting for money at this point, so I don’t see any reason why he would leave New York. Maybe a team like the Nats would really break the bank for him but would it really be worth it?
he’s shown he can be absolutely dominant in the NL as opposed to regular ol’ excellent in the AL east. other than that, i don’t see the appeal
what else would calero’s agent say? “He’s fat and out of shape.”
If I’m the Yankees I make sure Sabathia knows that if he opts out he’s not going to get any offer from the Yankees. I’m not going to bid against myself, especially when he’s the highest/second highest paid pitcher, and he’s several years older than when he first signed with the team.
Good thing they have an awesome rotation to fall on if Sabathia leaves, right?
Considering the sad state of the Yankee pitching staff, and the fact that they tried that exact same bluff on A-Rod four years ago, I’m not sure anyone would take such a threat very seriously.
“Davidoff wonders if the Mets or another club could take a flier on Kiko Calero”
Mets have been there, done that.
Just because the Yankees staff would be poor without him shouldn’t mean they should feel entitled so sign him…if he opts out I seriously hope that he signs elsewhere.
I’m not sure ‘entitled’ is the right word. They would do themselves a disservice if they didn’t put in a bid to retain their best starting pitcher. The Yankees have a solid need for good starting pitching, so it’s a little weird to hope he signs elsewhere. The market for starters isn’t so strong beyond Buerle and Carpenter, both whom will likely end up with their respective teams, so unless the Yanks are ready to really unload the farm, you should hope that if he does opt out, he resigns with the Yankees.
I see your point. I’m not a Yankees fan btw. Anyways they should put in a bid, but I hope they don’t bid against themselves or go far and away beyond any other clubs offers.
Eh, why not on Kiko Calero? What have you lost if he doesn’t work out? Also, Indians have three pitchers in extended spring training ready for an assignment and no club to pitch them at-Reyes, Miller, and Knapp. They’d be worth a shot, maybe more than Calero because they still have some team control years left. If they work out, they’re yours at a relatively low price for a few years.
I think it’s safe to say you can take Pujols off the cold list now.