Our 2008 Roster

[Jitpal]

Word. I like Clippard, but Street is nasty.

Even if you like Clippard; where does he fit? You have Wang, Hughes, Chamberlain, Kennedy, Horne and Marquez that are all better. Then you have guys like DeSalvo, Igawa, Karstens, and Rasner who will do a decent job, maybe not as good as Clippard but close. Clippard has more upside than those guys but Clippard is some pretty good trade bait. Not as a primary piece but a secondary one. -Jitpal

[PR07]

That's a no brainer. Chances are we'd have to give up more for Street though.

I don't disagree with the decision to let Vizcaino go barring that we can find an adequate replacement.

[Rich Rane]

Might I ask what is Ohlendorf's role with the team next year?

[moocow007]

If the Yanks had a chance to add Rowand to play CF they would have to be crazy to pass it up because they already have Melky.

Melky is a nice 4th outfielder but he doesn't do anything well enough to really be getting all this love.

Rowand would be miles better than Melky offensively and defensively. And his style of play and firey nature is what the Yankees have lacked for a long, long time.

Put it a little differently...if Melky wasn't a Yankee, I would doubt there'd be as much love for the guy.

[34Celtic]

an upgrade over Melky is the least of this team's worries right now. Our lineup is fine, there are no holes unless Arod leaves. We need to focus on the bullpen and only the bullpen.

[moocow007]

Rowand should be near the top of the Yankees offseason shopping list. Then use Melky in a deal to land a pitcher like was rumored before the trading deadline.

I'd also be looking to see if David Eckstein would be willing to be the utility infielder. He's another catalyst type player like some of the guys from the championship Yankee teams had.

Other guys that would be on my list:

Sean Casey 1B
Mike Lowell 3B (obviously if ARod decides to fly the coop)

If there's a need for a starting pitcher then:

Livan Hernandez
Tim Wakefield

There's also a guy that could be posted that may be interesting...

Kazumi Saitoh - a 29 year old that many regard as the best pitcher in Japan for the last 4 years. Has won the Sawamura Award (Japan's version of the Cy Young) 3 of the last 4 seasons.

[moocow007]

an upgrade over Melky is the least of this team's worries right now. Our lineup is fine, there are no holes unless Arod leaves. We need to focus on the bullpen and only the bullpen.

The Yankees OF has got to have the worst defensive outfield in the major leagues. They also lack the type of energy guys that a guy like Rowand would bring them regardless of position. The bullpen is not their only need or they wouldn't be sitting home right now.

[Pharmcat]

while i agree, i aint willing to go 84 mill for rowand

[cmaff051]

while i agree, i aint willing to go 84 mill for rowand

Yeah, Rowand's agent is on crack if he thinks he is getting that from the Yankees. In addition, he's really not any better than Johnny Damon. To add to that, we need to give up a first rounder. No thanks.

[Fury]

-= original quote snipped =-



The Yankees OF has got to have the worst defensive outfield in the major leagues. They also lack the type of energy guys that a guy like Rowand would bring them regardless of position. The bullpen is not their only need or they wouldn't be sitting home right now.

Melky was actually one of the better centerfielders in the AL. Damon was good at left, and Abreu has a strong arm in right. The outfield defense is solid.

Rowand would be good if he wasn't asking for 84 mil.

[Wade2k6]

-= original quote snipped =-



Melky was actually one of the better centerfielders in the AL. Damon was good at left, and Abreu has a strong arm in right. The outfield defense is solid.

Rowand would be good if he wasn't asking for 84 mil.

I don't think the OF needs to be changed. Keep Abreu out there for the 08 season. Keep Damon and Matsui for LF.

Not only that, Rowand had a career year and his value is relively high. I have no desire giving a 5 year contract to a player who had a career year when they were 30. We give him that contract, he's going to be making 12-13 mill a year at the age of 35. I think they need to start using there money more wisely. Giambi, Mussina, Damon are all examples of players way past there prime making around 15 mill a year.

[Jstarks3]

lets look at the worse case scenario:

Arod is gone, mariano gone, posada gone, abreu gone, clemens gone, pettite gone.

C: Molina
1B: Giambi/Mientkiewicz
2B: Cano
3B: Betemit
SS: Jeter
LF: Damon
CF: Cabrera
RF: Duncan/Sardinha
DH: Matsui

SPs: Wang/Hughes/Kennedy/Mussina/Ohlendorf
RPs: Chamberlain/Villone/Farnsworth/Veras


Obviously, there might be other signings, and some other minor leaguers brought up to help out the bench and bullpen, but that is an ugly lineup.

[Jstarks3]

btw, ill be the first person to say that I hope we keep Abreu.

[Jitpal]

lets look at the worse case scenario:

Arod is gone, mariano gone, posada gone, abreu gone, clemens gone, pettite gone.

C: Molina
1B: Giambi/Mientkiewicz
2B: Cano
3B: Betemit
SS: Jeter
LF: Damon
CF: Cabrera
RF: Duncan/Sardinha
DH: Matsui

SPs: Wang/Hughes/Kennedy/Mussina/Ohlendorf
RPs: Chamberlain/Villone/Farnsworth/Veras


Obviously, there might be other signings, and some other minor leaguers brought up to help out the bench and bullpen, but that is an ugly lineup.

Molina and Dougie are free agents so if you want to assume worst case scenario then you have to assume that they are gone and Farnsworth is still on the team. Abreu has a team option so you can't assume he will go anywhere. -Jitpal

[Pharmcat]

lets look at the worse case scenario:



C: Molina
1B: Giambi/Mientkiewicz
2B: Cano
3B: Betemit
SS: Jeter
LF: Damon
CF: Cabrera
RF: Duncan/Sardinha
DH: Matsui

as quagmire says when he meets thelma on family guy: "ewwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww"


and btw, bobby has a team option, he'll be back

[Jitpal]

btw, ill be the first person to say that I hope we keep Abreu.

Well Abreu happens to be our best option in my opinion. The only RF on the FA market happens to be Jose Guillen. He is better against lefties and more power. Thing with Abreu over Guillen we only need him for one year because we do have guys like Gardner and Sardinha ready to step in today and we know Abreu can handle NY. Also keep in mind that the end game for RF would be Tabata and he could potentially be ready by spring training in '09. So instead of getting locked in with Guillen for 3-4 years at the least we can have Abreu for one more year, get two draft picks and don't have to deal with Guillen who would have 2-3 years left.

The only other option would be to move Melky to RF and get Jones, Rowand or Hunter to play CF. Jones would be too costly and probably wouldn't be worth it. Rowand had a career year in a very hitter friendly park and he wants too much money. Hunter, I think, would be worth the money but what do you do with Jackson, Tabata, Gardner and the others.

However, what I wouldn't mind but it would be quite the undertaking would be something like this. Sign Hunter, put him in CF. Let go of Abreu and move Melky to RF. Let Damon play LF. Then in '09 when Matsui's and Giambi's deals are done, you DH Damon, move Melky to LF and bring up Tabata for RF. That also provides a little protection, just in case Tabata isn't ready. Then in 2010, presumably you should have Tabata in RF, Hunter in CF, and then Melky in LF. If Jackson is ready you bring him up to CF and let Hunter, Damon and Melky platoon in the outfield and DH(Hunter and Damon only). It's a very convoluted plan and a lot of things would have to go right to make that happen. Plus, Hunter in his last 2 years of his deal would be a waste so it would require some slick moves by Cashman. With that you essentially let guys like Gardner and Sardinha sit or you trade them. It would provide a lot of protection but I doubt it happens. -Jitpal

[Fury]

Gardner is pretty much just a 4th outfielder. The future outfield should include Jackson and Tabata, and maybe Melky if he continues to improve. That's not bad at all. If Jackson and Tabata step it up next year, who knows how fast they come up.

[nykgeneralmanager]

If we have a lineup that consists of guys such as Damon, Jeter, Cano, Abreu, Matsui, Giambi, and Melky, there is a chance we would STILL lead the league in runs.

[Starksfor3]

If we have a lineup that consists of guys such as Damon, Jeter, Cano, Abreu, Matsui, Giambi, and Melky, there is a chance we would STILL lead the league in runs.

Lefty-heavy.

[kombayn]

Yankees need to talk to the Marlins about getting Dontrelle Willis & Miguel Cabrera. I'm sure Joe Giardi will push hard for those two players.

Rotation:
Wang
Willis
Moose
Hughes
Kennedy

Closer: If they lose Rivera, then get Saito from the Dodgers
Set-Up: Chamberlin
Middle Relief: Farnsworth, Vizcaino & Free Agent