The Yankees have "absolutely no intention" of trading Brett Gardner to clear room in their crowded outfield or to fill a need elsewhere, according to team president Randy Levine. Levine made the comments this morning on ESPN Radio's The Ian O'Connor Show (partial transcript courtesy of ESPNNewYork.com).
"We think he's going to be on the roster," Levine said. "One of the reasons the baseball people signed Jacoby Ellsbury is the two of them together present a tremendous dynamic one-two or nine-one, whatever Joe Girardi decides to write in at the top of the lineup. One will play left, one will play center, and it's a tremendous defensive situation. So, no, there's absolutely no intention to move Brett Gardner."
Gardner has been a popular name on MLBTR this winter with reports linking him to the Tigers, Reds, Indians, and Giants. MLBTR contributor Matt Swartz projects a $4MM arbitration salary for the 30-year-old after he slashed .273/.344/.416 in 609 plate appearances with 24 steals and an AL-leading 10 triples in 2013. Gardner will be eligible for free agency next offseason.
Levine also addressed the Alex Rodriguez situation and its implications on the team's desire to remain underneath the $189MM luxury tax ceiling. With a decision from the arbitrator expected next month on A-Rod's 211-game suspension, Levine claims the third baseman is in the team's 2014 plans.
"From our planning purposes, we have Alex Rodriguez in our budget as is if he will be playing," Levine said. "And that's the way it will be until there's a change of circumstance. His money is in the budget. But as we stand now, we have a shot to get to 189. I think it's a fair shot. It all depends on what type of players become available to us, and what choices we have to make."
I’ve had no intentions of doing some things either, but i did them. To me, it makes little sense to keep Gardner if he can be used to fill a need elsewhere via trade.
Gardner’s value is only going to go up not down. The yanks still may trade him but that will be after they get a big over pay. Some team will lose their starting CF and over pay with a good young starter. Keep a eye on the tigers or Braves.
No one is going to overpay for Gardner with one year or less on his contract.
They only have so much time. Gardner is a FA next offseason
Only way I see him being traded, is in a trade for both a SP and 2B.
I think they would have paid phillips the extra money if a starter was attached there wasn’t one so it got rejected
oh right sorry for saying the same thing
Ichiro is on the move. $6.5mm for a .270 hitter who can pay for himself in ticket sales and jerseys in 2 months. I’d say that a small market team in the AL may be into him. Minnesota Twins maybe. The return may be like Vanimal or something like that. I can see that happening. If they are going for the “Win this Year” thing then it may be good for then to jump.
Don’t think you’ll be seeing a lot of jersey sales for an old player in the last year of his contract
Ichiro is not a typical old player in the last year of his contract. No matter where he goes, he draws huge numbers from the Japanese community, and they go absolutely gaga over him. He is Japan’s Babe Ruth, and until he retires, he’ll continue to have that same magic.
Sadaharu Oh is Japan’s version of Babe Ruth.
If not Gabe Kapler
Well Kapler is in a whole other stratosphere!
hes also played 146 games every year minimum and south of 157 just twice. and he was still worth 1.4 bWAR last year in arguably his worst offensive season of his career.
Under 2 WAR isn’t good. It’s not considered an everyday player.
there are 30 major league baseball teams. 8 position players per team. thats 240 players, provided NO ONE GETS INJURED.
99 position players put up 2.0 fWAR last year.
120 put up 1.0
Ichiro’s 1.2 fWAR was good for 117th in the game, and worth roughly 8mm in salary.
not sure what world you’re living in.
Also, 45 OF posted more fWAR than Ichiro total. Meaning at least 50% of the starting OF in the game put up less fWAR
you are living in the NL world I think, 9 players depending if you count the DH
If we are getting technical, DH doesn’t have a position on the player, ergo he is not a position player…but I’m more trolling then anything with that comment
Plus, the guy can still rake against lefties. There is a platoon situation for him out there somewhere at the very least.
Does Ichiro really draw “huge draws” from the Japanese community? I doubt it. And secondly, how many cities actually have “Japanese communities” to draw from? I’m thinking, LA, SF/Oak, NY, and Seattle. LA has too many outfielders as it is. NY already has him. Seattle might take him back for old time’s sake. I think you’re overvaluing Ichiro’s popularity and ability to sell jerseys.
His draw is not limited to the local market. Japanese fans travel from great distances to see Ichiro play. He is a huge draw. Next season, go to a home game, or even an away game where Ichiro is playing and you’ll know what I mean. Visit the press box- a huge contingent of Asian continent reporters there to report just on Ichiro. This is not made up stuff.
While I agree that he has a huge following, I disagree with the original idea that he draws in enough revenues to cover his contract.
Most of the “hype” that follows Ichiro is media coverage. While his jersey might sell well and a few fans might come to see him play, most of the draw will come from the Japanese media and additional media is more of a cost burden than an actual revenue stream (unless they buy excess amounts of food from the press box cafeteria)
The amount of revenue a player draws is only part of the equation when it comes to a player’s value to a team. Despite Ichiro’s regression in defense and poor performance against righties at the plate, he has triple slash against lefties in the last few years remains impressive, including an average well above .300. Between Ichiro’s value as a brand and a draw, and his value as a player, he is well worth the price of admission for many teams. In fact, the Yankees would not hesitate to keep him if it were not for the outfield traffic jam.
I see them at Ross all the time.
Ichiro would serve as a novelty draw perhaps, at first, but that would soon wear off.
the deal that makes a lot of sense is actually some combination of Ichiro to Philly for papelbon.
It makes no sense for the Phillies other than Amaro is a horrendous GM.
depends. If they really want to rid him out of the clubhouse, and theres no money changing hands, they still need a LH bench bat, and they pick up 6mm in salary relief this year and rid themselves of the contract next year and after. shift MAG to the Pen, go sign santana or Garza or Jimenez….
its not completely out of context, especially if they can swing a prospect back as well. Paps is worth more than Ichiro straight, but the salary relief pat for the Yankees makes a ton of sense this year.
I just don’t see Ichiro as viable help for most any team.
for the Phillies he’s actually a nice insurance policy as a LH bat off the bench/platoon with Byrd, defensive replacement, and they rid themselves of Papelbon. Most teams arent getting salary relief by taking on his contract. The Phillies pick up 6mm this year and 13mm next.
the other thing to remember about the Phillies here: Byrd is 35. he hasn’t played 150 games since 2010. Brown gets hurt every year, and Revere has yet to play more than 124 games in a season. after those three? they’re OF depth is John Mayberry, who should have been non tendered and two non OF in Ruf and Cesar Hernandez who likely doesn’t make the roster now. They actually need another OF option.
suzuki has played less than 150 games ONCE in his entire career. the dude is a picture of health. I’m a phillies fan, and I make that deal all day.
Cesar is out of options and exposing him to waivers would just be plain stupid, he hit over 300 in the 30 or so games he played with Philly this year. I’d start Ruf in AAA this season unless we get a good trade for Cesar.
Cesar is not put of options. International rules give him one more year.
And in either case, if Frandsen is on the roster, galvis is your back up SS, you can’t carry Cesar and Frandsen. Something has to give there.
I actually see his point here. It’s not so much that Ichiro is a fit, it’s that Papelbon is even less of a fit. They are simply just trying to free some space in the budget. They could also get a prospect in return
Ichiro hit .235/.282/.307 against RHP this year… He’s done.
Yankees need pitching, but trading Gardner is not the answer. They should sign a bunch of lower tier arms and hope one of them pans out. They did the same thing a few years ago with Bartolo Colon and Freddy Garcia.
Of course, they can make a push for Garza or Santana, depending on how close they are to the 189m. I really wish the team (and fans) would get some closure on the ARod situation soon, so the Yankees can make appropriate moves based on the outcome.
Even guys that didn’t make good-like Mike Pelfry and Edison Volquez are signing for $5-8 million.
I am still holding out hope that once it is announced that A-Rod is going to be suspended for at least 181 games, the Yankees will pull off a blockbuster trade, sending Brett Gardner, Michael Pineda, and Ichiro Suzuki to the Milwaukee Brewers for Ryan Braun, Aramis Ramirez, and Rickie Weeks. They will then turn around and trade Weeks to the Detroit Tigers for Ian Kinsler.
I am operating under the belief that Masahiro Tanaka will be posted and that the Yankees will get him. CC, Kuroda, and Tanaka will make up the front end of the starting rotation and some combination of Ivan Nova, Michael Pineda (unless he is traded) and David Phelps will be their #4 and #5 starters with David Huff and Adam Warren also being spot starters/long relievers.
What did I just read…
no, i heard gardner for trout straight up earlier.
No way that deal gets done. Anaheim would have to sweeten the pot a little bit more.
Good their going to need him when Ellsbury Gets Hurt.
Hey he has to keep in good shape for that 2020 contract.
Lots of DH time might be needed for Beltran, Ichiro, and Soriano. I say trade Ichiro for a SP if they can. Soriano, Ellsbury, Gardner, Beltran in their OF can still work out where everyone gets due playing time because Soriano and Beltran could still need increasing DH time.
Soriano will be the full time DH, with Beltran, Jeter, etc. going to DH when he gets a day off. I wouldn’t include him in the OF mix. It just muddles things.
Also, Ichiro is the 4th OF, there to give any of the OFs a day off.
Why would Ichiro DH??? Unless you meant Jeter?
Im just not sure who the Yanks would be able to get for Ichiro. Maybe a guy with a year left on a deal coming off a bad year. But Ichiro had a terrible year by Ichirio’s standards last season. His OBP was under .300. He’s 40 years old and making 6.5 mil, Im just not sure what team would give up anything for him.
My only guess would be a middle relief pitcher at best. I think they should actually keep him because he can be serviceable off the bench as a pinch runner or defensive replacement
I wasn’t sure what team would pay him $13M over 2 years, but that happened.
That’s nice Yankees. You still need an everyday 2B, 3B and at least one more starting pitcher along with bullpen help.
Once it is announced that A-Rod is going to be suspended for at least 181 games, the Yankees will pull off a blockbuster trade, sending Brett Gardner, Michael Pineda, and Ichiro Suzuki to the Milwaukee Brewers for Ryan Braun, Aramis Ramirez, and Rickie Weeks. They will then turn around and trade Weeks to the Detroit Tigers for Ian Kinsler.
I am operating under the belief that Masahiro Tanaka will be posted
and that the Yankees will get him. CC, Kuroda, and Tanaka will make up
the front end of the starting rotation and some combination of Ivan
Nova, Michael Pineda (unless he is traded) and David Phelps will be
their #4 and #5 starters with David Huff and Adam Warren also being spot
starters/long relievers.
Just because it worked on your xbox doesn’t mean it does in real life. If the Brewers are trading those players they can get a much much better package than Gardner/Pineda/Ichiro.
How do you figure? Nobody knows what Braun’s post-PED production will be, nobody other than the Yankees can afford to take that kind of risk on Braun’s contract, and nobody other than the Yankees will take over $30MM of salary obligations in the form of the money due Ramirez and Weeks in 2014. I think that it would be a good deal for both teams.
A rod is still at third… Can’t replace him till they work that mess out. Nunez can man second along with the other guys on the roster.
Everyone thought that with Crawford and Ellsbury too. Just saying…
Ellsbury didn’t get traded. Just saying…
I’m strictly talking about pairing two similar skill sets. They’re saying they feels it’s an asset. No one is talking about Ellsbury being traded. I was referring to how they mentioned it’s an asset to have them both in the lineup. I’m aware Ellsbury didn’t get traded, and left on his own.
And Gardner doesnt have an obscure contract
Sign Matt Garza. Mark Ellis wouldve been a nice temporary 2b, dont know why Cashman didnt move in on him. Or even Michael Young
Young is still available I think. Hoping he’s not an everyday starter though
He would still hit for a solid average, especially in Yankee stadium. Better than KJ at least right?
Yankee Stadium usually doesn’t help RH hitters.
I think that Kelly Johnson is going to be the Francisco Liriano of 2014, but even if he isn’t, if the Yankees sign Stephen Drew and Michael Young, they will have more than enough infield depth and offensive upside to be very competitive next year, especially if they are able to get Masahiro Tanaka for their rotation and Jonathan Papelbon for their bullpen.
Michael Young is bad at baseball.
I wouldn’t put too much stock in Levines comments. Do I think the Yankees are actively shopping Gardner? Not at all, but I do believe that there are teams making calls to the Yankees. If the Reds were to offer Homer Bailey for Gardner it would be really hard for the Yankees to say no.
I think Yanks would accept that too and should. When is Bailey a FA?
2015.
Same as Gardner after 2014
I would have preferred to trade for Brett Anderson when he was still available and I would only trade for Bailey if I am getting Phillips as well without having to pay him more money. Otherwise, I will be happy to wait and see what happens with Masahiro Tanaka and if I cannot get him, then I would prefer to bid on a cheaper lefty like Paul Maholm.
You’re dreaming if you think the Reds would offer Bailey straight up for Gardner. Bailey was top 10 in the NL in innings, SO, SO/BB ratio, and was 11th in whip.
I never said that the Reds would do that. My point was that Bailey would be the type of pitcher the Yankees would trade Gardner for. They aren’t shopping him and they wouldn’t take nothing for him just because they have 4 outfielders. Please carefully read things before overreacting.
If they have to pay A-Rod next year, the only way they’re staying under 189 is to hire a bunch of guys at minimum wage… not baseball minimum wage, but McDonald’s minimum…
They only need to be under 189 for one season for luxury tax purposes.
I know… but if they wind up responsible for A-Rod’s salary and with everything else they have on the books, I just don’t see how they fill out their roster for 2014 and stay under the 189, even for one season. Without A-Rod, yes, possible. The Yankees lose SO much revenue by not being competitive that it’s near worth it for them to have to eat another year of the tax.
They are already over 189, about 200 with Arod, but I agree with you on the potential lost revenue. Right now they must be hoping the prayer of a healthy Jeter and a couple of new faces will bring out the fans, so it depends on if Yankee fans buy the spin or not.
YES revenues are pretty much locked no matter how they do as only 20% of YES revenues come from advertising, as fans and nonfans are locked into paying YES with their cable bills.
Ah, thank you for the YES info. I had read somewhere that the team lost some off the revenues from last season, but I wasn’t able to find any followup on it. As with so many teams any more, even for the Yankees, the network is a savior.
Where do you keep getting this “already over $189” nonsense? The Soriano and Wells contracts are mostly being paid by their old teams.
But its clearly not happening this year. Think they’re right up against it right now, with 5 or 6 roster spots to go. Even ARod can’t help that much. (At least not the way Cashman is spending)
So they go over the LT threshold in 2015 at a 17% tax? How do they save in 2015? If they go over 30 million in 2015 they save 10 million in tax? That’s worth tanking 2014? Makes no sense. They could lose 50-75 million in revenues with another 85 W season like last year.
Maybe if their farm system was not producing squat they could consider 189, but they have not developed a full time position player since Gardner in 2005
I’m kind of shocked that there haven’t been any Franklin/Ackley to the yankees rumors.
What do the Yanks have to give to Mariners?
Why is Randy Levine saying this? Isn’t this ownership and Cashman’s job? This guy seems like he’s really outstaying his welcome and overstepping his bounds the past few years, what exactly does he do anyway besides cause embarassment with comments that cause MLB to investigate him and rifts between players and managment these days?
He’s basically repeating what Brian Cashman has been saying for the past two weeks or so. Maybe since no one was listening to Cashman, they’d have Levine say it as well. And if this doesn’t work, then maybe that’s when Hal and Hank get involved.
Soriano back to 2B.
That would be hilarious to watch.
If the Bronx eats all but league minimum contract for Ichiro, what kind of keystone will they get in return? Can Gardner play second?
hahaha
Gardner did play infield for the Bronx. Billy. Threw right-handed.
“Shotgun” Billy. Now we know how Willie Nelson named that album.
A left handed 2nd baseman.
There is only one available Lefty 2B out there. The Yanks would have to trade for Daniel Murphy. Kipnis, Cano (obviously), and Carpenter are unavailable. Kelly Johnson is already on the Yanks. Utley maybe? or Ackley as a buy-low prospect. There you go, a complete list of LH 2b out there, good luck.
He is referring to Gardner being left handed(throwing)……which you don’t see at 2B.
Or he’s requesting a Lefty 2B in trade for Gardner. After all that is what Cano was. I’m fully aware that there is no such thing as a lefty throwing 2B. SS & 3B it isn’t seen as well. Depends if he’s responding to the first prompt or the second.
If there is a taker for Ichiro, that has to be the play. No one wants Wells. Gardner, Ellsbury, Beltran in the OF, rotating with Soriano at DH/OF sounds very good for the Yankees. Gardner has the greatest value of course, but if they can’t get a SP, bravo for keeping him
They have six outfielders, I am pretty sure Suzuki will get traded.
But you have to have a trade partner for that to happen. Who’s going to want him?
Good question, but who would want Vernon Wells or Alfonso Soriano? I don’t think the Mariners would be interested in a reunion but who knows. It would be someone on the west coast I am sure.
If the Yankees don’t get a second baseman this week, how much will they lose in season ticket sales before Christmas? They could lose more money than the luxury tax hit. Gardner is a chip, even with only one year of club control. Ichiro is no longer much of a chip, unless the Bronx Christmas-gift second baseman to entice ticket sales is someone we all have to look up in the record books.
Brian McCann is far more of an upgrade at catcher than Kelly Johnson would be a downgrade at 2B. In fact, I predict that KJ will be the Francisco Liriano of 2014. I seriously doubt that the Yankees are going to be having problems selling tickets this year. Beltran and Ellsbury will be far more interesting to watch than Cano, who is going to be a bust in Seattle. I predict that he never hits over .300 or gets more than 20 HRs, 100 RBIs, or 100 runs scored again in his career.
I think ticket sales will be just fine with the additions they have made.
Plan A, Cano, check. Plan B, Infante, check. Plan C, Ellis, check. It’s beginning to look at lot like Johnson.
Plan D, Michael Young. Plan E, Jayson Nix. After those two are off the board, then it could be Kelly Johnson. 😉
Kelly Johnson is still a solid 2B, Michael Young and Nix are certainly not better than Johnson.
Actually, if keeping Gardner is a priority and since the Bronx already gave up on the 2014 draft, sign Drew and make the Red Sox even more unhappy. Blow through the luxury tax in style.
Bronx signing Drew would definitely get a few to buy those season ticket Christmas stocking-stuffers. The Yankees would shout, the Red Sox would pout. Santa Claus is coming to town.
Red Sox signed Drew to a one-year deal, won a WS, and get a 1st Rd Comp Pick. Whats to “pout” about?
Red Sox fans will be celebrating the Drew departure and the welcoming of yet another pick. He’s all yours NY. Good Luck building a team from within, when your first pick isn’t until the 3rd round. You know AFTER the Red Sox have already taken 4 picks.
What are the odds that any of those 4 picks amount to anything? The jury is still out on Jackie Bradley Jr..
yea. i think it takes drew. phillips or kendrick would cost players. drew would upset the red sox and fill the stocking and that red stocking would look less full.
To take JBJs draft of ’11 for example, the first four picks were (Matt, Barnes, Blake Swihart, Henry Owens, Jackie Bradley). Those are some good prospects, and far too soon to make a call on yet (However safe to say much better picks than Yankees ’11 draft). The fact that Bradley has climbed so fast is a strong testament to him.
4 Chances in the draft will always be better than none.
Then again, 5 of the projected starting position players for the Sox are homegrown, as are three of their starting five.
Go ahead, sign him. Keep wasting your time and money on things you don’t need, and keep avoiding the biggest problem you have – pitching. And after 3 championships in the last 10 years, we’ve got a lot less to pout about than the Evil Empire. We’ll happily congratulate you on winning the postseason anyway – it worked out just great for the 2013 Blue Jays and 2012 Marlins.
This is where a good general manager gets creative. Cashman needs to start looking around in other systems. Couple examples:
Greg Garcia (Cardinals)- Garcia is now blocked at 2B and ss. Always put up solid numbers, but is power limited.
Mookie Betts (Red Sox)- Tough to trade in division, but Betts is blocked by pedroia for years. Betts is still in the low minors so he it would take time for him to move through the system.
Johnny Giavotella (Royals)- Fallen out of favor with the Royals. Continues to put up very good numbers in AAA. Blocked now by Infante.
As far as the outfield goes, I say just see if someone will take on Wells at league minimum. They are only paying like 2 million for him this year anyway, so just open up the roster spot. That leaves them with Ellsbury, Ichiro, Gardner, and Soriano. Plenty of at bats to go around with that group.
Very good ideas, but I don’t have any faith in Cashman being creative. He seems incapable of doing anything but making moves that add to the payroll.
The rumor linking him to the Tigers was the stupidest and least thought through rumor of the season. Makes absolutely no sense for the Tigers to trade AJax for him.
Not trading Gardner doesn’t make sense if they don’t plan on extending him. The Yankees have almost no chance at making the postseason. Right now fangraphs has projected the lowly Mariners finishing with 3 more wins than the Yankees.
The offseason isn’t over yet.
You seriously believe the Mariner will finish 3 wins above the Yankees? Cano is an impact player but he’s not going to give you 17 extra wins.
They have a chance to make the playoffs, but they have to throw the 189’ers like Levine out the door. They have to sign Drew and Tanaka, and a Benoit or Balfour to compete. That will add another 40 million to a 200 million payroll and blow 189 out of the water. They will be at 213 million w/o Arod and pay a 12 million tax. 12 million is chump change for the Yankees who have averaged over 20 million in luxury tax for over a decade.
They do not need to sign either Benoit or Balfour, especially if they can trade Ichiro to the Phillies for Papelbon. If A-Rod is out next year, they can get under 189 and still have a very good team, especially if they sign Drew and Tanaka.
You have no idea what you are talking about.
You have no idea what you are talking about. The Yankees will not be over 189
Any chance of soriano trying to play 2B?
About as much chance as CC playing CF.
Good, their outfield is not “crowded”, unless you view 37 and 38 year old Beltran and Soriano as full time outfielders. They shouldn’t be, they should split time at RF/DH. DH does not have to be and probably shouldn’t be reserved for Jeter or McCann, they can have full days off. One is old and coming off an injury, the other is a middle aged catcher.
They absolutely should keep Gardner.
If they keep Gardner, Soriano plays LF against LHP’ers when Gardner is benched, and Soriano shares the DH spot with Jeter and McCann against RHP’ers.
They need more pitching more than they need another OF’er. Gardner only has 1 yr left with the Yankees anyways. They can trade him and then resign him as a FA for next year when Soriano, Wells and Ichiro are gone.
Not many OF’ers on the FA market the next 2 years, and the farm system is bare, so if they keep him they should extend him.
Gardner isn’t benched vs lhp.
They don’t need to trade Gardner to get pitching, they can just sign Tanaka.
When you DH Jeter you essentially end up with Ryan as your DH, which should never happen.
But that is exactly what is going to happen. Do you honestly think that Derek Jeter is going to play 162 games at shortstop next year? Would you prefer to have Nunez play shortstop against lefties? I think that they gain far more from Ryan’s glove than they do from Nunez’s bat.
The Yankees do not have to have All-Stars at every spot in the batting order. Even with Kelly Johnson at 2B, the Yankees should have a formidable lineup next year as long as players like Beltran, Ellsbury, Jeter, and Texeira remain healthy. If they don’t, it won’t matter who is playing shortstop.
I just said Jeter should get full days off.
Wells and Ichiro make it crowded.
One will be lucky to make the bench, the other should be traded or released. I’m not even counting them.
Yankees are over 200 million with Arods salary. Not sure what numbers Levine is using, and it’s sad they are still talking the 189 game since they still have a lot of holes to fill to be competitive. Good news for the Red Sox though, every team in the East looks to be under an 85 W team, and most teams got a bit weaker this offseason (esp if the Rays trade Price).
WRONG!! Yankees are only at $172 right now with ARods salary.
172? Sorry you’re the one incorrect. I have them at 198.2, that’s if the last 7 on the roster play for league min. 172 mil is what’s due 13 players with signed contracts. Does not include Arb eligible, medical insurance or 7 roster spots not yet filled.
Your projection is accurate assuming they make no more changes. But they have already said they are not done making moves. They will trim fat and get in striking distance so that the ARod 8 – 25 Mil refund keeps them right around that $189. My original comment was more about the belief that
they’ve blown past it with no chance of reaching their goal.
You’ve made several beneficial assumptions without affording any the other way. For one, I seriously doubt they’ll fill out the last seven roster spots for league min., (500,000), when they have such important needs left (SP, RP, 2B, etc). Also, you fail to leave any amount for moves later due to injuries, poor play, etc, at trading deadline. Lastly, no way the Yankees will save 25mil for Arod. That is wishful thinking that exists only in NY tabloids and talk radio. IMO they have past the threshold with no chance to get below.
I agree he doesn’t get an entire year suspension. Most likely 50 – 60 games.
I agree, peg between 60-80, but it may not be served in ’13. It depends on how long ARod appeals in the courts.
There is one scenario in which the Yankees get under cap threshold. But, its if they play lousy in first half and do salary dumps for 2nd half to lower the total payroll (akin to Red Sox ’12 season). It would not be a bad strategy. Just a painfully patient one.
I agree. He’s got n respect for the game and loves any attention… I can see this dragging on for a long time.
Its not going to get any easier if they don’t get under this year. As of this minute, they have $122M committed for BOTH 2015 and 2016 to A-Rod, Ellsbury, Beltran, CC, Tex and McCann. If they don’t get under in 2014, they pay 50% for every dollar spent over the threshold, and it looks near impossible they’ll be able to do it in either of the following seasons, meaning they get no LT reset, and a 50% tax in each of those seasons too. It sure looks to me that Ellsbury was an unwise, impulse signing that will cost the Yankees MUCH more than just the $153 million they owe him. He better perform at a space age level.
They can cut Wells any time they want. He’s dead money and demonstrably worse than replacement value. Keeping Gardner is the right thing, unless they are offered something of real value. The can decide next year whether to make him a QO. They still have holes, but until A-Rod gets resolved, they might be better off waiting.
Best statement so far in this thread.
If the Yankees are able to trade Ichiro, Vernon Wells is the only outfielder on the team with a right fielder’s arm when Beltran gets a day off or is the DH. At a cost of $2MM for 2014, he is probably one of the better 4th or 5th OFs in the game.
Their outfield really isn’t crowded. They have Gardner, a guy who’s all but guaranteed to get injured in Ellsbury, an old guy who is going to need time at DH and is defensively limited in Beltran, a DH who can occasionally play some left in Soriano, and two maggot infested corpses in Ichiro and Wells. They very much need Gardner or things will get very messy.
First off Ichiro was robbed of BA points due to lineup change he is a darn Lead off hitter .When batting in Lead off his numbers were pretty good and his K’s were lower than Gardner. So yes a team in need of a Still good defensive OF and a Lead off hitter may do well in Ichiro. it is his contract that is the issue
They will keep Gardner and then not resign him at the end of the season. Having two speedy guys is not bad, I’m not sure what everyone is upset about, speed on the basepaths is something that opposing pitchers aren’t used to seeing from the Yankees and can be used to compensate for the lack of power since Cano and Granderson are gone. Besides, why can we have 3-4 power hitters but only one guy who can steal?
Btw, why is Randy Levine getting involved in baseball operations? He’s a lawyer, not a baseball guy. I thought Levine was the president, not the GM…
I think you’re missing the point. No one is questioning whether Gardner could help the ’14 Yankees. Of course he can. The question is why sign Beltran, if not with the intention of moving Gardner. They need 2SP, 2RP, 2B and Util, and can’t afford much more in FA. So the logical place to recoup this thru trades. And, since Wells, Ichiro and Soriano would return next to nothing, the only player left is Gardner.
They have far too many OFers and money tied up in them. They need to make a move and Gardner would seem to be the logical player. Unless someone wants Ichiro’s .297OBP/.639OPS to be their leadoff hitter for them for 6.5mil.
You hit the nail right on the head. Although, I’m not sure who is going to surrender a decent starter for one year of Brett Gardner. On one side, getting two guys of character like Ellsbury and Beltran makes sense, but the immense question marks at every other place except for catcher makes one wonder what the plan is.
“Absolutely no intention” means “We’re looking to trade Gardner now” in Yankee-speak.
Tigers trade Portcello to the Yankees for Gardner and Robertson. A good ground ball starter with 2yrs of control for 1yr. of control for both Gardner and Robertson. Yankees get a #3 starting pitcher they need for $7-8 mill that will throw 175+ innings and get 13+ wins. He will be only 25 in 2014 and already has 61 Major League wins.
they’ll have 25 mill to spend, no way a-rod lay this year or ever, i
I wish I could go back in time and have the Mets not sign Young or Granderson and instead go after Gardner and Jon Jay. I’m sure Gardner and a prospect (Tommy Kanhle would have been a good fit before he was Rule 5 drafted) could be had for Murphy. I’m not sure what I would give up for Jay but I doubt it would be any significant pieces
So if you’re in the bottom of the ninth, two out, winning run on third base… who do you want at the plate? Ichiro or Gardner? I’d take Ichiro each time in 2014.
I would think the Yanks will sign another infielder, a starting pitcher, and a couple of relief pitchers by the end of the winter. Tanaka appears to be their first choice if posted, and more money will open up if A-Rod is suspended for the year. Free agent agents know this so it might hold up signings of some of the pitchers and Drew. Gardner was really the Yanks only player with any trade value , although Ichiro could be moved for a relief pitcher with some ability. I can see the Yanks jumping in on Garza if Tanaka doesn’t post and A-Rod is suspended. They could give up Phelps, Betances, and Murphy.