I always get a little sad when Christmas is over. It is always a favorite time of the year, and one that I end up looking forward to for about a month. It also kind of leads in to a LONG winter and cold weather............never fun.
But there is still a lot to digest when it comes to the Yankee Christmas season, especially Mark Teixeira and what his signing means to the team in the future, and how his signing effects everything else in the sport. So, while I get ready to enjoy a football Sunday and mentally prepare to go back to work tomorrow after a four-day weekend (God, I hate even saying that), let me lay out a few thoughts on Tex:
1.) Well played team Cashman, well played - Look, MOST of the accolades for this off season have to go to the Brother's Steinbrenner for putting their family's money on the line to go out and get such preimium, high-priced talent. Cashman wouldn't have been able to do any of this without the Yankee organization opening up the cofers and letting him spend whatever needed to improve the team.
But the little man has to get some big-time props for the Teixeira deal because he was playing in the same league as everyone else in terms of money. The Red Sox, Angels, and even the Nationals were all in the same ballpark when it came to years and to dollars. Unlike the CC Sabathia negotiations, where the Yanks knew their main competition wouldn't be able to touch their offer, the Yanks had a notion that their offer for Tex was likely to be the second best right off the bat (all reports are that the Nationals had the high bid).
Once the Red Sox decided to play hard ball with their offer, and once the Angels decided, for some reason, to drop out of the bidding, Cashman knew he could move in for a quick kill. The price the Yanks paid is about exactly what was expected for the big slugger, with both the years and the money falling in line, but Cashman was shrewd in not allowing the team to get in to some sort of bidding war. Had the Yankees entered the fray early on, does anyone doubt that the Red Sox would have been more aggressive in their pursuit?
This was a game of chicken for the Yankees, who obviously coveted the first baseman but didn't show their hand until the last minute, essentially putting Tex to a decision right away. Wonderful, intelligent business sense by Cashman and the Yanks, flying under the radar until the very last second, and then coming through with a substantial bid that Scott Boras and his client knew would only last a few hours. Terrific.
2.) Sometimes you get what you want, sometimes you get what you need, sometimes you get both - For all of the hand wringing going on about the money the Yanks spent this off season, there is no one who can question the fact that the team addressed NEEDS when it came to both their offense and pitching.
There are a lot of people who seem to believe that the Bomber's offense is the same as it was a few years ago. Those people are clueless. This was an ageing team. It was a team that let Bobby Abreu, their third place hitter, and Jason Giambi, their fifth place hitter, walk. This was a team that was hanging its hopes of offense on the return of aged players such as Jorge Posada and Hideki Matsui, a resurgent year by Robinson Cano and Nick Swisher, and healthy, productive years from their three best players (Damon, Jeter, A-Rod). They were also potentially heading in to theseason with a very shaky situation in CF. For a team looking to step back into elite status and regain championship form, those were a lot of question marks coming in to the season.
Now, with Tex, the offense looks far more balanced and the Bombers have their big slugger for the next decade to add with A-Rod.
For those (Mike Francesa) who call Tex simply a "nice" player, one has to wonder what constitutes an exceptional player in their minds? His average year: .290, 36, 121, .378 OBP, .542 SLG, 101 runs, 40 doubles, and gold glove defense. I must be confused because, the last time I looked, there weren't too many guys in this league, who are under 30, who hit from both sides of the plate, who do that, are there?
If Robinson Cano bounces back and you get normal years from Jeter, A-Rod, and Damon, the Bombers will have five OUTSTANDING offensive players in the lineup every day. Then, you'll just need to get a productive season from the likes of Swisher and Melky/Gardner and Nady/Matsui and you'll be all set.
This was an absolute necessity for the Yanks if they wanted to seriously compete in the leagure this year.
3.) Start the dominos - The Yankees traded for Nick Swisher with the expectation that he would be their first baseman but also with the knowledge that he could play multiple positions. Now that Tex is on board, it would appear that Swisher is going to be moving to the outfield. But, who is going to be there with him?
It would appear the Bombers don't want to trade Damon, nor should they. Damon is their best option for the lead off spot, capable of hitting close to 20 homers, batting over .300, getting on base at a .375 or better clip, and stealing 25+ bases. Those are very, very solid numbers and, when he and Jeter are going right, it is first and third every other inning. Plus, Damon, while needing a rest now and then, has actually become a good defensive left fielder, where his speed allows him to catch up to balls that might normally fall in.
So that means the Yanks will be looking to move either Matsui, Nady, or Swisher. Now, in my opinion, you can take Swisher out of the discussion for a few reasons. First, he is a switch hitter, and the Yankees love balancing their lineup with switch hitters. Second, the Yanks control him for the next few years. Third, he has 30 homer power and gets on base A LOT. Fourth, he is probably, even in the outfield, a better defender than the other two.
Because of that, and because I believe the Yanks feel he will give them a bounce back year next year, I think he secures the RF spot.
So, between Nady and Matsui, who do you trade?
Ideally, Matsui.
Godzilla is a loved figure in that clubhouse, but he is also 35 and on very, very shaky knees overall. He can't really play defense any longer so he is best suited for DH work, and the yanks would like to free up that DH spot to allow them to rest some of their ageing players. Problem is, what could you expect to get for a player with that resume?
The answer, probably not all that much.
In essence, if the Yanks traded Matsui, they would probably have to include a portion of his $13 million and accept very little in return. So that, in my opinion, makes Nady the more likely choice.
Nady us a good, solid player, with some power and good defensive skills. He isn't a franchise bat, but he is a very valuable piece to any offensive wheel. Plus, he is much younger, and would be attractive to NL teams looking to add him to an outfield.
Also, from the Yankee point of view, he is a Boras client and a free agent at the end of next year. With a guy like Austin Jackson waiting in the wings, the Yanks might not be inclined to bring him back anyway.
As I said, preferably you would trade Matsui, but logically, I look for Nady to end up someplace else for next season.
4.) Does Tex bat in front of behind A-Rod? - This is an interesting call. My opinion, Tex is the PERFECT #3 hitter. I know there was a lot of discussion about someone protecting A-Rod, but Mr. Madonna had one of the all time great seasons in baseball history in 2007 when Hideki Matsui, with two bad knees, was behind him. It isn't about whose behind A-Rod, it's about what is happening between the ears. If A-Rod has his Kabala mojp working, it won't matter that Nick Swisher or Jorge Posada is behind him. The man will get his numbers, no matter what. Look, David Ortiz was always protected by Manny, but who protected Manny in years when he was putting up HUGE numbers? Protection is, many times, just simply overrated. You want your best lineup and your best hitters together to drive in runs.
If I were putting the lineup out their today, assuming that Nady is traded (big assumption but I'll go with it) I would do this: Damon, Jeter, Tex, A-Rod, Cano, Posada, Matsui, Swisher, Melky/Gardner. That, to me, is the best the Yanks can do, as it provides balance and, if Cano has a big year, which I believe he will, everything can fall in to place nicely.
The alternate lineup? Damon, Jeter, Tex, A-Rod, Posada, Cano, Swisher, Matsui, Melky/Gardner. Okay, maybe that one works best, as long as Jorge is healthy.
5.) What's all the commotion about? - I am not going to spend a lot of time on this, but I just find it comical how ANGRY people seem to be that the Yanks have gone out there and spent money. Haven't we done this before? Haven't we heard that the Yankee spending will ruin baseball as we know it? And, in that time, has baseball experienced the greatest era of parity perhaps ever in the sport? Since the Yankees won three straight championships in 98, 99, and 00, no one has gone back to back. I believe 23 teams have made the playoffs in the last 8 years. The Tampa Bay Rays went from cellar to series last year. The sport, despite the Yankees' huge payroll, seems t be doing better than ever.
Also, those screaming from the hill tops seems to want to ignore a few obvious points. First, the Yanks had $88 million coming off the books this year. People would have rather the Steinbrenner family pocket that cash? Second, they have only re-invested $63 million of that amount back in to the team on the field, meaning that, unless something drastic happens, their payroll will go DOWN at the end of this year. Third, the Yankees didn't add pieces for the sake of adding pieces. Their rotation going in to next year, without any off season moves, would have been Chien Mien Wang, Joba Chamberlian, and then three AAA pitchers. Their offense, before bringing on Tex, would have lost Abreu and Giambi and added Nick Swisher. This team needed pitching help and they needed offense. They got both.
Finally, it was obvious to anyone watching last year that the Red Sox and the Rays had passed the Yankees. They needed to make these moves to CATCH UP, not move past anyone.
The last point I will make is the one few people see willing to acknowledge. What is the greater baseball sin, the Yankees always putting their money back in to their team in an effort to try and win at all costs, or a team like the Marlins, who get $40 million in revenue sharing and luxury tax but put a $20 million payroll on the field? Or, how about the owner of the San Diego Padres, who is looking to shed payroll because he is going through a terrible divorce? Or how about Frank McCourt, the owner of the LA Dodgers, who have many revenue streams and a great fan base, yet almost always refuse to spend any real money?
Sorry, but I'll take the team that TRIES to win every day of the week and twice on Sunday.
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