Tag: New York Yankees (Page 19 of 52)

      Will the Yankees regret letting Wang go?

      February 16, 2010 /

      Roughly two months ago, the Yankees came to the conclusion that starter Chien-Ming Wang wasn’t worth the roster space anymore, even though they controlled his rights for the next two seasons. That’s why they non-tendered him on December 12 and made him a free agent this offseason.

      It’s hard to blame the Bombers to coming to the decision not to tender Wang after he battled through ineffectiveness and injury in 2009. He was a disaster last season, finishing with a 1-6 record and a 9.64 ERA.

      But in wake of the Nationals signing the right-hander to a contract on Tuesday, I wonder whether or not the Yankees will regret the decision to let Wang go after the ’09 season. After all, he’s only 29 and just a few years removed from posting back-to-back 19-win seasons.

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      MLB

      Ravens owner rips Yankees…for not winning 130 games a year.

      February 4, 2010 /

      Ravens owner Steve Bisciotti apparently isn’t a huge fan of the Yankees (or their spending) and isn’t afraid to admit it.

      From the Baltimore Sun:

      “It certainly doesn’t show up in the standings,” Bisciotti said. “If I’m a Yankees fan, I’m upset we’re not winning 130 games with the roster that they have and the money that they pay out. I think it’s a disgrace they only beat the average team by 10 games in the standings with three times the money. I’d fire that GM. You don’t need a GM. All you have to do is buy the last Cy Young Award winner every year.”

      Granted, I realize that Bisciotti’s comments are meant to be over-the-top and are somewhat tongue-in-cheek. But I always find it humorous when the same argument about the Yankees is made every year: They spend the most, so therefore they should win the World Series every season. In no other walk of life is that argument accepted, yet Yankee-haters abide by it like it’s their constitutional law.

      Do you always get what you pay for? Absolutely not. If I spend a truckload on a new car, is it guaranteed to outperform all other vehicles? No. If I spend $100 on a steak, is it guaranteed to taste better than a $50 steak? In essence it should, but again, there’s no guarantee.

      So, why is it a shock to people that just because the Yankees spend more than everyone that they don’t win every year? I get the thought process behind it, but it’s an incredibly weak argument in the grand scheme of things. When it comes down to it, the players that the Yankees “buy” still have to execute on the field. It’s not like other teams stroll into New York and say, “Ah crap, we’re playing the Yankees tonight and they spend more, so they’re going to win.” It’s actually the opposite – teams get up for playing the Yankees.

      Now, don’t take my point out of context. I’m fully aware that the Yankees have an advantage because they spend more. But this half-witted notion that they should win 130 games or take home the World Series every year is a lazy argument made by people that push aside the true meaning of sports and competition. And I get embarrassed for people like Bisciotti (someone on the professional level) when they use it.

      Full disclosure: I’m not a Yankee fan. I hate that I have to say that every time I defend them, but if I don’t some wiseguy will lambaste me in the comments section for being a homer.


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      MLB, News

      Report: Damon rejected $6 mil from Yankees

      January 29, 2010 /

      According to SI.com’s Jon Heyman, the Yankees offered free agent outfielder Johnny Damon a $6 million contract last week and he turned them down.

      In a last-ditch effort late last week after Damon himself called the team, Cashman, one of baseball’s best dealmakers, tried floating a contract of $6 million with $3 million deferred at no interest (with the promise it would be cleared with team boss Hal Steinbrenner, who was about to return from his honeymoon). But Damon wasn’t moved enough to respond.

      “I know what kind of player I am. I know I’m a player who makes a difference and won’t back down,” Damon told SI.com by phone on Thursday.

      Damon is said to have a few possibilities. Teams reported to have shown some interest include the A’s, Rays, Tigers, Reds, Braves and Blue Jays. Damon doesn’t sound worried at all.

      “I’m all right being a free agent at this point. I get to see how teams are shaping up,” Damon said. “I know what I can do. And I think the rest of the world knows what I can do.’

      This is turning out to be one of the greatest mysteries of the MLB offseason and I’m not referring to how Damon still hasn’t signed with anyone. It’s a mystery that this clown thinks he’s worth double-digits because he hit 24 home runs last year in the wind tunnel that is Yankee Stadium.

      Damon and his agent Scott Boras have reportedly been seeking $10 million a year from the Yankees, but Brian Cashman was only willing to do $2 million a year. It’s a little surprising that Cashman bumped that number up to $6 million and Damon rejected.

      Any National League team that is willing to give Damon $10 million a year is out of their minds. He has the throwing arm of a 3-year-old child and he’s a complete disaster judging balls in the outfield. Simply put, the only thing he can do well is hit and there’s no guarantee at his age (35) that he’ll continue to hit .282/24/82 away from Yankee Stadium.

      If some team is willing to fork over $10 million for half a player, then they obviously have no idea what the terms “money management” and “value” are. The Yankees have played this situation right and if Damon doesn’t want to compromise on a $6 million deal from the World Series champs, then here’s hoping he has to settle for a low ball deal from a non-competitor. Because he and Boras are delusional about what he brings to the table in terms of talent.


      Photo from fOTOGLIF

      MLB

      Yankees sign Winn, could signal the end of Damon’s time in New York

      January 27, 2010 /

      The Yankees signed free agent outfielder Randy Winn, which more than likely signals the end of Johnny Damon’s time in New York. Joel Sherman reports that the deal for Winn is a one-year contract worth around $2 million.

      Brian Cashman has maintained that he won’t go higher than $2 million for Damon, who still has pop in his bat but is the worst defensive outfielder in baseball. Winn was a disaster against left-handed pitching last year, but he’s an outstanding defender and will play a great right field in New York.

      Damon and his agent Scott Boras are reportedly still seeking a contract in the double-digit range, but considering he’s a defensive liability, he probably won’t get much more than $5 million guaranteed. The A’s and Rays are possible landing spots, but he’ll have to come down on his demands.

      Of course, if he comes down a bit on his demands, he might be able to return to New York.


      Photo from fOTOGLIF

      MLB

      Does anybody want Johnny Damon?

      January 20, 2010 /

      Johnny Damon is reportedly considering retirement after badly miscalculating the MLB free-agent market reports the Bergen Record.

      Remember back in November, when Damon refused to give the Bombers a hometown discount? Remember when he said that unless Brian Cashman was ready to pay $13 million a year, don’t bother making an offer? Damon should’ve been careful for what he wished.

      No one has called, no one has that kind of money anymore and no one, least of all Damon and his agent Scott Boras, has any hope of this ending well.

      With only a month to go until spring training, Damon has two options: He can call the Yankees and admit he has nowhere to go. The Yankees, who will listen politely, will tell Damon he can play for $2 million for one season, not a penny or a day more.

      Option 2, practically unthinkable after the World Series, would be retirement. A friend of Damon’s recently said, “Johnny is completely in the family mode right now” and has considered that option. It’s still hard to believe that, in the wake of a 24-home run campaign in 2009, and hitting .364 against the Phillies in the Series, Damon actually would quit.

      This is a classic example of an athlete overestimating his worth. Damon can still hit and he can also run a little, but he’s a brutal outfielder and therefore he’s only suited to be a DH. Teams don’t want to spend $13 million on an aging, one-dimensional player that may or may not hit outside of that wind tunnel the Yankees call a stadium.

      Whether it was Boras or Damon himself, somebody in that camp made a huge mistake setting the price tag at $13 million and now he’ll have to take whatever he can get if he wants to play next season.

      MLB

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