Lee to the Yankees?

[Christophersp10]

http://www.nypost.com/p/sports/yankees/ ... Vdd02uuU1I

[nykgeneralmanager]

NOOOOOOOOOOOO

[Mecca]

the Yankees were on the brink of obtaining Cliff Lee late last night for a package that would include top prospect Jesus Montero, the Post has learned.


Read more: http://www.nypost.com/p/sports/yankees/ ... z0tCBNaNNp

Say no to trading Montero.

[TKF]

don't like the trade.. did we really need cliff lee? is this even good for baseball?

[thebuzzardman]

Only thing I'll say about possibly dealing Montero is this:


I'd really love for him NOT to be dealt. Seems like a big time prospect.

However, over the years, the Yankees have done a masterful job of hyping prospects while downplaying the guys who make it.

Hensely Meulens
R. Rivera...
Ledee

Honestly, I used to have the list in my head, but there have been a parade of "5 tool, next Mantle, can't miss players" the Yankees have touted, only to have them traded where there they either don't pan out or become solid, if unspectactular pros.
Even with Bernie Williams....I sort of recall hearing more about the other Williams more (he did come up first) and Bernie was sort of downplayed - talked about, but they low keyed it.

Maybe the Yanks feel Romine is the real deal, with the kid behind him, and Montero is the guy they hyped.

I don't like it as a rental and don't understand it, but just saying.

[Dr. Detfink]

Montero was disciplined earlier this season that gave me an indication he's a bit of a premadonna. However, his talent is unquestioned.

I guess the Yanks are thinking, where would Montero fit in their line up? You know Posada, Jeter are candidates for the DH. We know Montero is atrocious defensively.

I wanted to keep Montero but an innings eater like Lee, its not a bad gamble even if it's not a lock that the yanks can sign an extension.

[nykgeneralmanager]

He's 20 years old and in AAA, he was handed millions of dollars as a 16 year old coming from a poor background. I 100% expect him to be a little immature, people grow and change over time.

I hate giving up on him, the only justification for this is if the Yankees feel he can't catch in the majors (and they have given every indication that he can and will). Or perhaps they feel Romine is the catcher of the future, which I've always said is a likely scenario and would ultimately make Montero a DH.

With our catching depth in the minors it helps ease the pain, but we have THREE all-star starting pitchers, do we really have to trade one of the best prospects in baseball for a 32 year old starting pitcher, without even signing him to an extension? Sure, I completely expect he will re-sign in the off-season, but still.

Very unnecessary move.

[Lconte17]

I am OKAY with this trade.

Trading Montero, sucks yes. BUT as stated before. We have had Cant miss 5 tool prospects before in Drew Hensen, Willy Mo Pena, etc... Rominie, Sanchez IMO will be better all around players if their skills transcend.

Adams is nothing but a throw in to me... Sure he is doing well but he is nothing to me really. ZachMac (rumored 3rd player) is good and could help, BUT he is a rule 5 player at the end of the year, and I dont see him being on 40man roster by then, and I doubt they'd protect him with others like Betanice (sp) needing protection.

Lee will most definitely resign i have no doubt about that. Getting Lee, we can now flip Burnett or Vazquez for another player to help us now or prospects. I personally would rather trade Burnett if we could. Keep Javy offer him Arb if he walks he walks we get 2 picks then, if he stays we have a hell of a 5th starter.

[Dr. Detfink]

Consider also FA for pitching in the next few seasons are dismal at best, that's the reason why the Red Sox signed Beckett to that ridiculous extension.

Vasquez is a FA after this season, that's 11million off the books.

Who knows how long Pettitte will stick around. It's not always about money with Andy.

Can the Yanks continue to depend on Burnett as a #2 for THREE more seasons?

[Dr. Detfink]

Ok, Buster Olney broke it down.

If the Yanks pursued Cliff Lee in the off season they would have to surrender a first round pick.

And if they re-signed Vasquez in the off season, they would have to go to arbitration where Javier could command 14 million a season (f**ck that)

[Jitpal]

I'm not worried about the 2nd and 3rd prospect in this deal, the Yanks would likely recoup those in a deal with Vazquez. So straight up Montero for Lee? I'd have to do the deal. In the playoffs are trio of Sabathia, Lee and Pettitte would be nearly unbeatable along with the hot hand of either Burnett or Hughes for the middle game. With the depth that's there, as much as it hurts to lose Montero, the chances of a repeat this year grow tremendously. I think it's a deal you have to make. -Jitpal

[nykgeneralmanager]

I'd rather give up a 1st round pick (#30?) than give up Jesus, come on.

Sure, we should beat unbeatable now, but we need bullpen help and bench help. Why trade Montero for something that doesn't fill a need, regardless of how much better it makes us?

I'll get over it because we have such great catching depth, and I absolutely believe in Romine. Thats the point of a farm system, use it to strengthen your major league club whether by calling guys up or by trade.

[Dr. Detfink]

Bullpens are nothing more than situational players. Billy Beane proved that the way he fleeced franchises for lefty specialists and rotation of closers.

Who knows how they will respond in a pressure situation. Look at Soriano who couldn't hack it with the Braves, goes to the Rays and is unbeatable. The Yanks use the 7th and 8th for their pitching prospects that don't quite pan out (see Joba). And it works rather than trading or overpaying for guys who is a gamble on whether or not they work out. Or in the case of Hughes, built up his confidence by getting him used to the pressure.

Guys like Sabbathia and Lee don't need pens cause they go ALL the way if need be. In the playoffs where likely will have extra inning games you NEED that from your horses.

Again, where is Montero playing cause he's a 1B-DH from what I've been reading. Of course he's something special but where's he going to play?

Jeter, Posada, A-Rod and Tex need that DH option. Swish might spot time at 1B-DH IF the Yanks go after Carl Crawford and they keep Gardner.

[Dr. Detfink]

Ah, the Mariners pulled the deal off the table. HAHAHAHA....Seattle I love you.

[nykgeneralmanager]

Joelsherman1

To repeat the #Yankees aren't getting Cliff Lee, #Mariners concerned about David Adams ankle plus apparently another team has jumped in hard
less than 10 seconds ago via web

Joelsherman1

#Mariners backing off #Yankees offer, Post has learned. Does not look like #Yankees are in it.
less than a minute ago via web

[Dr. Detfink]

Good. Another team overspending picks for Lee also works in the Yankees favor.

[HCYanks]

Rangers are supposedly about to land Lee for a Smoak package. They could be dangerous in the playoffs, but on the other hand their financial situation would make Lee a probable rental. I'd like to thank Jack Z for saving Cashman from himself.

[Ed_The_3rd]

I'm totally fine with this deal falling apart. There's nothing wrong with the rotation this team has now and paying twice for a player is just foolish.

If the front office really wants Lee, they'll get him this winter.

[TTown]

Sounds like both parties benefited from not doing this deal. Carry on, gents.

[meatball sub]

We have no place for Montero, but we could just sign Lee this offseason if we really wanted to. The guy won't be worth what he'll command on the open market, though. I'm perfectly fine with the deal falling through as well.