There's no shortage of news regarding AL East ballclubs so far this offseason, not the least of which is the Orioles' search for a new general manager. Click here for the latest on that story, and here are some other interesting items of note:
- The Yankees will meet with GM Brian Cashman next week, and the sides are expected to hammer out a new contract without trouble, tweets Joel Sherman of the New York Post. Cashman's contract expired after this season.
- Separately, Sherman examines which teams could be in on the bidding for Yankees starter CC Sabathia in the likely event of the left-hander opting out of his contract. As well, Sherman raises an interesting point: If some team swoops in with six- or seven-year offer, will the Yankees match? A case could be made against it, as the Bombers already have a few risky long-term deals on the books.
- The Blue Jays do not require rival teams to seek permission to interview Toronto employees, explains Shi Davidi of Sportsnet.ca. As we have already seen in a couple instances this offseason (and in offseasons past), many teams are not as liberal with this policy, but the Jays feel that they can attract strong employees with the promise of being able to move on if another opportunity arises.
- Orioles player development director John Stockstill is in Japan to scout Yu Darvish, among others, a club source tells Dan Connolly of the Baltimore Sun (Twitter link). Stockstill signed Koji Uehara, according to Connolly.
- Sean McAdam of CSNNE.com has compiled a retrospective of Theo Epstein's tenure as Red Sox GM, listing Epstein's best and worst moves in trades, free agency and draft picks.
If I were Cashman I’d ask for maybe $4M per year. I think Dombrowski makes $5M so he definitely deserves that raise.
Isn’t that just because Dombrowski is also the team President?
Money is nothing to the Yanks, they clear over 450 million a year, Cashman will get a nice raise he was a master this year!
That article on Theo was pretty bad.
I’m getting really sick of people blaming Epstein for the Clement thing. The dude posted solid numbers for the first half of 2005, got hit in the face with a line drive and it basically destroyed his career.
Last I checked, “responds poorly to being hit in the face by a 90+ MPH fastball” doesn’t usually turn up on scouting reports.
And Papelbon had a great season, but top draft selection? Really? Over Ellsbury and Pedroia? That’s just ludicrous.
but if it did, stephen strasburg would have a plus line-drive-off-the-face resiliency tool
Papelbon was a 4th rounder, while Pedroia was a second and Ellsbury first. I’d personally say Pedroia should be higher, since so many scouts didn’t like him, but Papelbon now has an ERA+ of 197 in 429 innings. That’s impressive. Also, maybe it doesn’t count because he’s not in the organization anymore, but Masterson should be ahead of Bard and Buchholz. That’s just me, though.
Craig Hansen is a TERRIBLE choice as worst draft pick, though. I’m not sure how much the sleep apnea had to do with his flaming out, but he clearly wasn’t as bad of a pick as, say, Jason Place, who never developed at all.
Clement blew out his arm in season two. He never seemed right after the liner, so I’m not sure what to make of it, but he was a sort of mediocre middle aged starting pitcher who got something like $25M and blew out his arm. I will say that watching him take that Crawford liner to the head was one of the scariest things I’ve ever seen. No way was that as bad as the Gagne trade.
“Papelbon was a 4th rounder, while Pedroia was a second and Ellsbury first. I’d personally say Pedroia should be higher, since so many scouts didn’t like him, but Papelbon now has an ERA+ of 197 in 429 innings. That’s impressive. Also, maybe it doesn’t count because he’s not in the organization anymore, but Masterson should be ahead of Bard and Buchholz. That’s just me, though. ”
I suppose a lot of it depends on your definition of “best draft.” His best overall pick was easily Pedroia, but then when gauging between Ellsbury and Papelbon you’ve got to figure out if you’re going by best by draft position or best in general. Ellsbury will probably produce more value as an MLB player than Papelbon, which is why I’d place him over Papelbon.
“Craig Hansen is a TERRIBLE choice as worst draft pick, though. I’m not sure how much the sleep apnea had to do with his flaming out, but he clearly wasn’t as bad of a pick as, say, Jason Place, who never developed at all. ”
I disagree with the Hansen as worst thing, but for different reasons. They performed surgery on sleep apnea (And I’m not familiar with the surgery, but I’ll get back on that as, depressingly enough, my five year old daughter gets to go through that just after Christmas =O/) back in 2007 or 2008 and he flamed out of the MLB anyway. I’m of the mind that the biggest problem with him was awful handling of his development. He was rushed up way too quickly and it basically ruined him. The sleep apnea thing certainly didn’t help, but considering he had it surgically repaired and still washed out, I can’t really bring it on that.
“I will say that watching him take that Crawford liner to the head was one of the scariest things I’ve ever seen. No way was that as bad as the Gagne trade.”
Seriously one of the most awful things I’ve ever seen in a sporting event. So many people get on both Clement and Epstein for that, but seriously, what the heck. I got hit in the face in a game of catch with my brother and I’ve got a scar to show it and my brother certainly doesn’t throw anywhere close to 90 MPH.
Whatever the problem with Hansen, he made it to the majors. If the worst draft pick you make actually gets to the majors, you’re the most amazing drafter in history. People had unreasonable expectations for Hansen because EVERYONE thought he was going to be good. Hansen dominated AA and pitched well enough in AAA to be rushed, so he was clearly a much better baseball player than Jason Place or Kris Johnson, and therefore was a better draft pick.
He was handled terribly though. He should’ve been allowed three months in AAA to start the 2006 season, rather than bouncing from Portland to Boston to Pawtucket to Boston to Pawtucket to Boston. Ridiculous way to try to develop a top prospect. Epstein deserves more blame for that than for drafting him.
I had sleep apnia and all they did was take my toncelles out or whatever thoes things are in your throat. Im not sure it really helped it at all though.
I like Sean McAdam too, seemed rushed, and it was horribly written which kinda surprised me.
Good on the Jays, just another aspect of a ball club that is run incredibly well. Scouts and all employees are respected so much by the team.
I dont like it, no other team does it why do they feel the need…
Its like going out with a really hot girl but openly letting her check to see if there is something else better out there.
its a good way to lose your top front office talent.
It’s also a good way to acquire the best front office talent. Everyone seems pretty loyal to AA in the Jays front office, but really, if a GM position becomes available, that person deserves a chance at it. That’s likely the dream job they’ve spent years trying to obtain. I don’t see any Jays personnel jumping ship for a similar position in another organization, that speaks volumes of the strength of the Jays FO
lots of jay personnel have moved around the majors, so I’m not really sure what you mean by havent been jumping ship?
its typical canadianism, too nice and liberal.
come enjoy our strong beer and free health care, and if something better comes along by all means go ahead, don’t worry about us. we’re just so happy you came.
“come work for us and never leave!”…works much better
works for everyone else.
it works the same…how often do teams actually say no anyway…if saying it upfront manages to get them someone they want then it’s worth it…
lots of teams say no so I’m not sure what you are saying.. its fine in certain circumstances, when the exec is reaching their contract end anyways..
but if you’re signed to a 3-5 year contract and in the first year you interview for another position and don’t even need to ask permission?
Not really. We’re currently fighting with the Cubs over letting our GM go and people have been poaching our personnel ((Byrnes, Mills, Hoyer heck, your Manager) for years, despite the fact we don’t have your policy.
Our beer is really not that strong. If you have ever been to Europe, then you’ll know what I mean.
True, though I understand the pay for baseball executives in Europe isn’t so hot.
Oh man. Went to Ireland for my Honeymoon and maaaaaaaaaaaan the beer. I’m still sad I can’t get Kilkenny out here.
You can and there’s better, but “beauty is in eye of the beholder”. Theres good beer everywhere, EVERYWHERE! But a good rum or rye (whisky, in the states, bourbon in the south, scotch in Europe), those are hard to come by.
Beer is over-rated.
Healthcare is over-rated.
so is your sense of humour and wit
What, you don’t like the sensation of feeling invincible?
Who?
Of course, giving them the freedom to talk to other people doesn’t mean they’re going to leave you. Not smothering them and acting jealous whenever another team comes sniffing around doesn’t mean they’re going to jump into the open arms of somebody else.
Even if you’re blind enough to think she’s not looking, she’s always looking to see if there is something better.
of course, but aslong as you signed her to a long term contract she’s stuck with u
another guy talking to her would be tampering.
haha. But the success rate of those long-term contracts is much worse of those in baseball.
Oriole’s front office is a whore in this analogy.
in this analogy and in real life
And very possibly unhappy giving you poor yield on the contract. Better to have somebody less talented, but, happy and motivated then a more talented person who is unhappy with his position.
You show her trust, give her space to do her thing, and she stays happy and wants to continue playing with her favourite little dynasty.
I’m sure the Jays also get the chance to make a counter offer in many of these situations.
Let CC go, he’s 31 with major innings. Deal Montero, Banuelos, Betances to Seattle for you know who. A-Rod to DH, he can’t play the field if he wants to stay healthy. Sign Yu –
Felix
Yu
Nova
Hughes
Burnett/Gracia/Colon
Hear that Cashman… A bunch of young studs in your top 4 rotation slots.
If you’re going to trade for Felix, why not have both Felix AND CC?
But what makes you think Jack Z. will trade Felix? Was it the whole “I’m not going to trade Felix” part?
You say it’d be better to have young studs in the top 4 rotation slots. So why would you deal a 20 year old pitcher and a 23 year old pitcher who would be much cheaper?
At this point, A-Rod’s defense looks better than his offense. Who would be put at 3B? Nunez? LOL
I agree with the sign Darvish part. Young, no picks given up, will cost less than Wilson(payroll wise).
It’s not about A-Rod’s defense, his body is breaking down and he can’t take it physically to play the field everyday IMO. If he stays off the DL i still think he can hit 30+ homers into his late 30’s…
“You say it’d be better to have young studs in the top 4 rotation slots. So why would you deal a 20 year old pitcher and a 23 year old pitcher who would be much cheaper?”
What do Banuelos and Betances have to do with studs? They aren’t studs… Haven’t proven jack in the majors, if you can deal them for an ace why wouldn’t you? Yanks are in win now mode, M’s are not…
Or Chavez at 3rd splitting time with Nunez.
i don’t get your last point, that darvish will cost less than young (payroll wise)
theres no cap in baseball so what does that matter, 150 million for darvish, even if half is a posting fee, is still 150 million
Well since the Yankees are routinely over the luxury tax, it actually does make a difference. (Unless posting fee counts towards that, I’m not sure.)
The posting fee doesn’t count towards any luxury tax. It’s doubtful that the Yu Darvish contract will be $150 million… His actual contract won’t be for close to $100 million (from what I’ve ready it’s believed his posting fee will most likely be around $50million).
However I do agree… I feel that going strong after Yu Darvish (if he’s posted) would definitely be a great idea.
Wilson is proven in the majors and Darvish is a gamble from Japan, I think the Yanks will go much harder after Wilson plus he’s left handed.
also sign fielder to play RF, and trade swisher, and cervelli for Brian Mccann
thennn trade romine and yu darvish for kershaw
thennn trade pena and dickerson to the cubs for theo epstein to be assistant gm.
The Jays are so overwhelmed that they give the Yankees Bautista for free.
Alex Anthopolous and Jose Bautista for derek jeter’s 2999th hit baseball.
its in a nice case atleast
I’d rather have Cervelli’s rookie card.
you can keep bautista but I’ll certainly take AA
i could have done with out reading this
I like it. You and me are on the same page 🙂
So, does McAdam’s space bar not work or something? Like every other word was glued together without a space. Do they even proofread these things before publishing them?
What is this, ComcastSportsNet New England or Bleacher Report?
hahaha I was wondering the same thing. Don’t they have editors who proof read?
They probably grab these “editors” from the street and try to build them up from there.
Yanks 2012 rotation: CC, CJ, Nova, Hughes, and Burnett! Noesi will be the sixth man.