Dec
17
Report: Yanks wrapping up deal with Johnson
ByUpdate (7:15pm): Ken Davidoff says the two sides are wrapping up a one year, $5.5M deal, pending a physical. Holy bargain Batman.
5:34pm: Via GAK3, the Yanks and Nick Johnson are getting close to an agreement on a one year deal, and it could be announced as soon as tomorrow morning. Johnson will get a chance to have a huge year by hitting a bunch of cheap homers to right with a ton of men on in front of him, putting him in position to go back onto the market next season and command some serious bucks.
On-base percentage is the single most important metric in baseball, and Johnson excels at it (.426 last year, .402 career). We’ve already written extensively about Nicky J. here and here, so you know we’re in favor of bringing him aboard.
549 Comments»
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The Mason Williams Watch
Thank god, now we have a replacement for the Wang jokes.
Homegrown I love it.
+1
+1
I can’t wait to write “Yanks, Johnson poke Red Sox”
more like “Johnson, Yanks, smacks around Red Sox in an offensive orgy” amirite
Welcome home NICK DA STICK
Or “Johnson pounds the sox”
“Yanks, Johnson come from behind!”
WINNAR!!!!11
if we had Wang back it would be even better
Wang and Johnson come from behind to nail Sox.
If Wang signs elsewhere and Johnson has a big game against him:
“Yanks’ Johnson knocks Wang out of the box”
Rivals But: DH to DH Big Papi loves Johnson.
Johnson pulls Yanks to explosion of runs against Pale Hose
Johnson will provide stiff competition for opposing pitchers as he grinds out quality at-bats
“Johnson Yanks Sox out of contention.”
Yanks pull johnson for defensive relief
oh damn he’s a DH isn’t he.
Who knows, maybe the Yankees will decide to offer Wang a contract after all. Then we can see:
“Yankees bring back Johnson, Champion Wang.”
Or…
Johnson’s return leads to Wang tender
If you really have to shave your pubes, be careful not to Nick Johnson.
HAHAHHAHAHA
This is all sorts of awesome
Nick Johnson is good, but nothing will ever beat this name
http://www.rwjuh.edu/
One year deal? FUCK YEAH!
This move makes ALOT of sense… a 1 year deal means you will get 100% from Nick (he will want to perform for a new deal)
The real question’s are, will he be our #2 hitter? Where will Granderson hit??? And how long do we have to wait until we sign Chapman?
I’d think Grandy #2 vs righties and Johnson #2 against lefties (remember the reverse platoon split). Could be either way though against most pitchers. I would go Johnson #2 with the tough lefties like Lester for sure.
Flexibility FTW!
Nah, limited upside to that move relative to downside. Fewer moving parts is better. Players like to be in the same spot in the order.
1-SS Jeter (R)
2-DH Johnson (L)
3-1B Tex (S)
4-3B ARod (R)
5-C Posada (S)
6-CF Granderson (L)
7-RF Swisher (S)
8-2B Cano (L)
9-LF Melky (R)
That works
That lineup still looks very good to me. I’m not thrilled with Melky, but you know what? It’ll do just fine. It also likely fills the team’s said desire to give more rest to some of the regulars (assuming Johnson is not going to be playing 145+ games.
‘cept Melky (S).
Gotta love the “no 2 batters in a row same side” lineup.
I have shamed myself.
Wouldn’t you want to split Swisher and Granderson because of the amount of strike outs they have??
aside from that…Cano hits lefties very well…so having him behind Granderson isn’t really a bad thing.
Meh, whatevs.
They’ll go Cano over Granderson.
maybe, maybe not. Having Granderson in front of a few sluggers would be good, since he’s fast and he would get more pitches to hit.
Of course im refering to Cano and Swish as the sluggers behind him.
Johnson is a serious downgrade from Matsui…OPS ok but no power…let me get this straight we replace a proven big time clutch power guy who we are afraid might get hurt with a guy with no power nor big game experience who has even a dodgier injury history…swapping Matsui for Johnson is a real bummer and disappointment for sure…
I agree with this.
People seem way too excited to see an injury prone Johnson back. I’m sure the Yankees questioned Matsui’s ability to be able to run for another full season on the base paths, but for 6.5M I would have taken the risk with Matsui over Johnson’s 5.5M.
Can’t complain on this move. Could still wait on Damon if they want, assuming the market for him continues to fall out and the Mariners don’t make a move.
I could be wrong, but I suspect the Mariners’ supposed interest in Damon is nothing but Boras talk/leaks. The Mariners are building their team around pitching and defense. Not only is Damon’s defense atrocious, thus would not seem a fit at all, but his power outburst last year was so obviously inflated due to Yankee Stadium (he hit I think 17 of his 24 HRs at Yankee Stadium, all of them to RF). Safeco Field is a big park, Damon would be lucky to hit 10-12 HRs there. I just can’t see why they would want Damon, particularly with the outrageous contract demands Boras has made.
hopefully by having Johnson in front of Tex will end his April slump.
Nick’s obviously a health risk, but he’s probably just as likely to get as many ABs as Matsui. Interesting acquisition. Puts a bit more pressure on Damon since Nick can easily hit 2nd in this lineup (as opposed to Granderson).
Matsui is fragile, but in an everyday sort of way… when Nick Johnson gets injured, he REALLY gets injured. You either get everything from him, or he’s on IR for months, unlike Matsui who would play the whole year at about 80%
Cross your fingers and pray his injuries are limited this season. I still don’t want Damon back, but the Yankees probably do need to either shore up left field, or get some better depth replacements. If anybody on the infield is out for an extended period of time, things could get ugly.
Anyone else afraid that Cash thinks Jamie Hoffman is the answer to Left?
Anyone else afraid that Cash thinks Jamie Hoffman is the answer to Left?
No. Not remotely.
No, I just think Cashman really wanted to get rid of Bruney. As it stands right now, Melky has to be the favorite, but it wouldn’t shock me if Hoffmann gives him some competition.
Melky and Hoffman are almost the same player, statistically (based on the minor league stats, since Hoffman’s major league stint isn’t really long enough to make a comparison).
In the minors, both hit about .290, obp at around .330 and slugging close to .400. Baseball America has Hoffman listed as the top defensive outfielder in the Yankees system, so defensively he’s probably going to be about the same (more range, less of an arm?) I guess the only real difference is that Hoffman is a righty while Melky is a switch who can really only hit as a lefty.
Frankly it seemed like a pointless move.
It’s not pointless, because the point isn’t “Is Jamie Hoffmann better than Melky?
It’s “Is Jamie Hoffman more valuable to the 2010 Yankees than Brian Bruney?” The answer to that is probably an emphatic yes.
I don’t know, I guess I just feel like the bullpen seems barren, so I’m not sure if Hoffman would be more useful than having Bruney around.
We’ve got lots of flexible, fungible arms on the 40-man to fill out a pen with. What we didn’t have was many big-league ready outfielders.
Bruney? He was passed by last yr. They were probably going to nontender him anyway so you may as well get an OF you think has potential to stick.
Doesn’t it seem like the bulk of his injuries are of the freak variety from playing defense? The collision with Kearns and the line-drive off the face make it seem plausible.
I agree KK this is just a move to cover the Matsui debacle as Matsui with a bum knee still has played more games than Johnson over the last few years…Johnson is just a DH with the Yanks as was Matsui but with less power and no big game track record..but hey he can play first 5 times this year to rest Texiera..I am not impressed at all…we have just replaced Matsui with a substandard piece….
Love the signing. Now just get Chapman and I will be completely happy.
+1
Nick Johnson was in the Yankee organization from 1996-2000….
Core five!
Totally awesome.
I love bringing back Nick the Stick. He’s a Yankee farmhand.
Now if we can only get the Cubs to cough up Sori if they pick up most of his salary.
I’m not really that interested in Sori anymore. He’s not the guy who used to mash for us; he’s quite pedestrian now.
true plus we are all with getting younger and cheapah
Yippee!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I always preferred NJ – love the huge OBP. I was afraid that the Yanks would allow sentimentality to override sanity and sign Damon or Matsui.
Johnson’s power should improve with a yea more of recovery.
1 year deal – so if Montero is ready in 2011, he can split DH and catcher with Posada.
This is absolutely terrific.
Wow, Johnson is a serious downgrade from Godzilla…hurt more, no big game track record, and less power…and with the Yanks Johnson is nothing more than a DH….a serious letdown
any word on the proposed dollar amount??
As long as it’s on par or below Matsui’s contract, I have nothing bad to say about it.
Oh boy!
In somewhat of a twist of irony, I could see how Matsui’s deal with the Angels provided an impetus for Johnson to sign up with someone as well.
Its very arguable whether a team would prefer Johnson over Matsui anyway, due to Johnson’s awesome OBP skills and Matsui’s old man knees.
The difference is that everyone knows Matsui is clutch under pressure. Johnson, on the other hand, has been out hitting in Washington and Florida, where nobody cares.
Arbitrary narrative
Arbitrary narratives: almost always false.
Yeah, nobody cares there. So neither does he, I guess. I mean, it only stands to reason. It’s a simple logic equation, really.
Matsui’s old man knees have gotten him thru more games over the past five years than Johnson..and Matsui has power…Johnson is nothing more than a USA version of Bobby (let me draw a walk to put the pressure on someone else) Abreu without speed or the ability to play a position other than Tex’s….
So, just asking… are you completely unaware of the value of OBP, particularly in the #2 spot in the order? The guys he’s supposedly going to “put the pressure on” by taking a walk will be Teixeira and A-Rod. I can live with that.
Sure but would rather have the guy who drives in the runs and has clutch history aka Matsui especially after the story line we need someone who can play the outfield and less injury prone—Johnson for the Yanks is just a more injury prone and weaker Matsui
Any idea what the Yankees are going to do with Hinske or Nady? Or are both of them gone?
Nady could probably officially be crossed off the list. Hinske I think could still be very useful, filling the same capacity he did last year.
Why cross Nady off? Could be a very cheap option to play LF if his elbow is ok.
We already have Cabrera, Gardner, and Hoffmann. Given, all of them are easily replaceable and don’t have a bat nearly as good as Nady’s if he was 100%, but it seems doubtful that he is indeed 100% considering he’ll be only a year removed from his second TJS.
30% success rates on 2nd TJs. Love to see it, but don’t think that’s going in Santa’s sack.
Probably.
Smart deal for both sides. Hopefully Johnson gets some power back, but if not getting on base at 40% is great with tex and arod behind him.
Now wait for the inevitable complaints that he can’t hit second cause he’s going to “clog up the bases” with that .426 OBP.
As if Mark Teixeira could possibly lap him (or anyone else) on the bases….LOL.
buster olney beat you to it.
id link but it is insider and trash
Think about what “clogging the bases” literally means to realize how stupid it is.
The only time you could ever conceivably prevent a runner behind you from taking an extra base is if you couldn’t score from second on a single where a runner on 1st would have gone from 1st to 3rd. It would be incredibly rare, and Tex is just about as slow as Nick J. is anyway.
Give me a whole lineup of guys who are slow as hell and get on base 42% of the time and I’ll give you the best lineup in the history of baseball.
Not saying that Nick clogs the base paths but it would be nice if he could score from first on a double from Tex or Arod. Damon could do that normally, I’m not sure NJ can. I would prefer to have some more speed in the 2 hole, but NJ’s OBP is hard to ignore.
he did steal 10 bases in 2006, somehow
Hopefully Cash is minding his pennies with this Nick Johnson signing so to position a winning run at Ben Sheets. Johnson will find his groove behind Jeter.
Hell yeah. Ben Sheets would put a lovely bow on this offseason.
So would Chapman!
Why does everyone on RAB like Ben Sheets so much? He was good but not spectacular when on the Brewers.
Ben Sheets, 2004-2008:
134 ERA+, 1.095 WHIP, 8.4 K/9, 1.6 BB/9, 5.16 K/BB, 22.3 WAR
Ben Sheets while with the Brewers: spectacular
Forget my comment. This is the truth right here son.
“Infrequently Spectacular” is a better adjective.
I’m having a hard time figuring out why you don’t like him. The only reason you’ve given is a HR rate of around one per game.
How about this for a reason why we like him so much:
http://www.baseball-reference......4&t=p
2004: 2.70 ERA, 237 IP, 264 K, .983 WHIP, 10 K/9
That’s the kind of pitcher he can be if he’s healthy.
Mainly because I believe that the HR per game would go up playing in Yankee Stadium, and that I don’t believe he’s ever going to be truly healthy again.
I will admit that he’s an upgrade to what they’ve got there now (and that he is better than Wang) but I don’t think he’ll come cheap enough to be worth it.
Yeah that was a Grienke 2009 year. Insane. I would love to see someone argue W-L being a stat reflective of a pitcher as he was 12-14 that year.
I bet Granderson is like..
“YES I’M THE NEWEST YAN….. AWW”
Didn’t take too long..
this offseason has been pretty enjoyable I must say..
Time to lock up Sheets.
That’s how CC, and then AJ, felt last year.
Take that Scutaro and Cameron, we got Johnson and Granderson!
but how do we respond to lackey??
Please sign sheets, please!!!!!!!
but how do we respond to lackey??
Phil Hughes + Joba Chamberlain
BAM!
One of those two does his job and holds down the #4 spot and our rotation is right up there with anyone else’s.
Its an exciting but risky proposition, trusting those two to hold down the back of the rotation. They’re MAJOR X-factors. I’m all for it considering Ben Sheets is probably not an option.
Hughes is an X-factor, yes. But Joba should be exempt from that judgment, I think. He started 31 games very competently, especially for a 23-year-old. His performance suffered when they messed with his schedule, but still, the Yanks went 20-11 in his starts.
he was solid up until the 100 innings mark, then tapered off as he found himself deeper and deeper into new physical territory. i expect good things from him this year.
It just seems like Sheets is the same as Wang but with more strikeouts and homeruns given up (it mainly balances out). Unless you’re getting Sheets really cheap – and I don’t know if that’s the case.
I’d rather they spend the money on Chapman (if they can straighten out his control, he could be a lefty reliever for this season and maybe transfer to a starter over the next year or two) and see if Duscherer wants to be a Yankee.
It just seems like Sheets is the same as Wang but with more strikeouts and homeruns given up (it mainly balances out).
It doesn’t.
Is HR allowed the only Ben Sheets stat you know?
dude you forget a small detail…Lackey…LOL
very nice…perfect player for this Yankee lineup. to me i think granderson and nick make this lineup better than matsui and damon did, then again that lineup won the world series so time will tell.
If Granderson goes back to 07 level(I know, unlikely) then most definitely, these two outproduce Damon and Hideki.
Even if he doesn’t. He’ll at least equal Damon when you factor in defense. He has to rebound at least a little though, so that’s even better.
I think Granderson definitely rebounds. He’s too good of an athlete. He’s a player that will be helped by Yankee Stadium A LOT…both offensively and defensively.
He’ll hit for more power, but the dude strikes out a lot. Hopefully on the Yankees, he’ll be around enough players who can teach him some patience.
Either that or he and Robbie Cano can both flirt with the ridiculous .300 average with .350 OBP, frustrating many.
i’ll live with that considering the other bats in the lineup.
But it should have been Granderson and Matsui…..
Jeter
Damon
Tex
Arod
Johnson
Posada
Granderson
Swisher
Cano
Check please. Man that, right field porch would get OWNED by this lineup.
I think Damon is out of contention now.
Which is fine by me, love him, but he wants far too much $$$
You’re almost certainly right, SamVa, but I am still holding out hope that the market drives him back into the fold…
Given his demands and our reluctance to meet them, plus our now lack of need, I don’t think the market would remotely push him back into OUR fold.
The market may make him take a 2/16 or something from someone like the Giants, but he’s not going to accept that from us, nor would we offer it.
The 2/24 from us is now off the table (if it was ever on). So, likely, are the 2/20, 2/18, and maybe even 2/anything.
you think there is any shot we end up with damon?
I mean what would be our reasoning now unless we get him on a 1 year deal somehow which I just don’t see anyway.
No.
With you here. If Johnson is signed, I’m perfectly fine with Melky in LF.
Every position doesn’t need an above average bat. Melky is fine out there, considering the improved defense.
Melky is capable of a average CF bat, and Granderson is an above average LF bat, so the equation works.
just think how crazy it would be if we signed damon…obviously it would require a large pay cut at this point, but crazier things have happened. what a lineup that would be be, only negative would be Damon as the primary LF with his awful defense and noodle arm.
i love the nick johnson signing, but i will miss johnny damon…when he joined us from the red sox i thought it was so cool. i kind of hoped he finished his career with the Yanks.
Before someone beats me to it, yes Johnson would probably make much more sense in the two-hole than Damon; I just think its unlikely that Girardi would move Damon out of the two hole if we resign him.
Damon is unlikely though…
Damon will be very likely once he realizes nobody is even going to match our current offer from him, hever mind pay him his pipe dream of $13/mil per for 4 years.
yeah but even the yankees won’t match their current offer if they sign johnson, i’d think. My guess is that with johnson the offer goes down to 1 year w/ an option, at either $9 apiece or 10 and 8. There’s nowhere near enough need for damon if they have johnson on the team to let him get anywhere close to what he wants, and once the assumption that the yanks have the prohibitive offer of 2/$20-22 on the table goes away, other teams (Giants, Mariners, Rays) might jump in. In my opinion, Damon’s not worth what he’ll cost unless that’s around $3 million. This team is offensively stacked already, and his defense will hurt, and his salary will prohibit the yankees from investing in starting depth, which, with the addition of Johnson, becomes waaaaayy more important than not having a 100 OPS+, +5 (at least) UZR guy batting ninth, which would be the alternative to signing damon.
Even when his market collapses, he’ll still take an offer from someone else. He’s too prideful to come back to NYY at a massive paycut. It’s why Hideki left, it’s why Abreu left, it’s why Bernie retired, etc.
We are now in a position to lowball Johnny, and we will, and it will cause him to take someone else’s lowball offer over ours, even if it costs him another ring.
You could of said the same thing about Pettitte, but he came back to us last year on a contract that completely favored the Yankees. Did we even offer Abreu a deal? Did we even offer Hideki a deal? I’m not sold that they left because of pride, Matsui (or his agent) said himself that he didn’t want to wait around for the Yankees and lose his chance to sign with a team.
pssssst. come ere……
damon isn’t on the yankees
Gangstas Row
I definitely would not bat Cano 9th.
Try:
Jeter
Damon
Tex
A-Rod
Cano
Posada
Johnson
Granderson
Swisher
Granderson should probably bat ninth. He’s got enough speed to play as a secondary leadoff ahead of Jeter.
Not that it makes a huge difference, the bottom of the lineup looks like the top of the lineup for a lot of teams.
Granderson should probably bat ninth. He’s got enough speed to play as a secondary leadoff ahead of Jeter.
:: mouth agape ::
I’m going to go out on a limb and say you don’t like Curtis Granderson and aren’t bullish on his prospects here.
Curtis Granderson: better than a #9 hitter
I actually do like Granderson. It’s just that I don’t believe in putting your worst hitter in ninth. I’d rather have the weakest hitter batting 7th or 8th.
He is better than a #9 hitter, but so is pretty much everyone in that lineup.
Why would you want your weak hitter to get more PA than a better hitter?
Is that you T. La Russa?
I don’t see damon coming back bro. That would mean putting them over their roster budget without doing anything to improve SP. Going over budget means taking money away from someplace else (i.e. Chapman), and you don’t do it just to bring in more offense at an unreasonable contract and defense so much worse that it practically takes away all of the offensive benefit anyway.
Jeter
Granderson/Johnson
Tex
A-Rod
Posada
Granderson/Johnson
Swisher
Cano
Melkner
would be a good 10-13 million dollars cheaper, and, defense included, come close to approximating that production. through in the possibility of signing someone like sheets with some of that extra cash, and it’s clearly the smarter move. LOVE this signing.
You might be right….but there are options between Gardbrera and Damon. Nady, even Hinske, etc.
Nady and Hinske are not in the mix for a starting gig. At all.
I would say that nady, given the injury, is probably not BETWEEN gardbrera and damon, but rather beneath both of them. And hinske isn’t even close, defense (as it should be) considered.
In fairness, they may use the rest of their IFA budget for Chapman, and if his p/y is too much, may draw a small fraction out of the ML roster.
Everything else, TOTAL AGREEMENT, BRO!
these are the yankees, remember? they just built a cash cow of a stadium. they don’t operate on a budget and never have, never will.
[...] CLOSE (5:48 pm) — As soon as I post this piece, we learn from George King (props to RAB) that the Yankees are actually inching closer to a deal with Johnson. King says that the idea of [...]
seriously can’t wait for Johnson – Teixeria – Roriguez making the pitcher work. its going to be a nightmare for them.
+1
That would be ridiculous.
then there’s that jeter guy…
Right but Jeter doesn’t really work counts like those three do. Not that it matters, a first pitch base hit is fine with me too.
At least 45-50 pitches seen by those 3 almost every night
luckily we have Cano to balance it out nicely for us.
You may be kidding but even Cano doesn’t. EVERY player in our lineup is patient except Robbie and Melky. And even their OBP’s arent bad.
Hahaha, even if his OBP is only .350, his slugging is usually over .500, so I don’t think it’s too bad. If you take out the 2007 season, which looks like a blip based on his career, the guy is a monster at 2B
you mean 2008 i assume.
Sorry, yes I do.
hopefully by having Johnson, it could end Texieria’s april slump.
Bill James has proven that to a big league hitter it doesn’t matter who hits behind them…..
His general proof doesnt mean much in Tex’s case. Every player is different and we shouldn’t try to paint every with the same broad brush (courtesy of M.Kay)
Not to mention Swisher toward the end of the lineup. He tends to be in the top 5 in the entire league for P/PA
agreed. Swisher to the 5 hole depending on the pitcher? now that’s going to be hell for the pitcher.
Heh, that’s an interesting proposition. I’m not sure if you could base a lineup on sheer P/PA #s, but it does have an almost sneaky-evil appeal to it.
hehe, I want to mention Jeter but he’s a free swinger
most of theat times that just get hits. first 5 batters, its going to HELL.Now, go get a decent upgrade in LF (Byrd or DeJesus) and the offense and defense are set. Sheets and Douchebag to the rotation.
Call it an offseason.
Now, go get a decent upgrade in LF (Byrd or DeJesus)
No.
Sheets and Douchebag to the rotation.
Overkill, and highly unlikely.
He thinks Joba is a douchebag.
Oh, well, in that case, soldier on.
I would say we are pretty good in OF.
We have that rule 5 character who is supposedly the best OF defender in our system (per baseball america)
and we have gardbrera, probably one of which will make the team, maybe two. If they both make it you end up with the Melk-man starting and Gardner doing what he does best as the SB guy.
I actually would enjoy having a solid outfield defensively.. (aka no Damon)
+28
Byrd = NO!!!!!!!!!!!
DeJesus = probably too steep of a trade
*phone rings at Boras’ office, where Damon is hanging out for some reason*
Boras: Hey Johnny, it’s Cashman for you.
Damon: Yes! He’s gonna give me that 3 year deal I want!
*picks up the phone*
Damon: Hello?
Cashman: Hey Johnny, how’s it going? Remember how we offered you 2 for 20?
Damon: (eagerly) Yeah?!?
Cashman: Well, we’re changing it…
Damon: Really?!?! I knew it!
Cashman: Yeah, uh, now it’s 1 for 8.
*Damon starts crying as Boras hangs up the phone for him*
i personally would have preferred a bigger bat or someone who gave us more positional flexibility but maybe it being the 2nd year he will gain some strength back form the wrist and w the short porch hit 15 out while maintaining his obp.
.400 OBP = pretty friggin’ big bat
no it means really good eye. big bat meaning hr and rbi producer. 8 and 62 is not that, but the walks will create runs and rbi chances for tex and a-rod.
RBIs are not the proper way to evaluate players, its a context-sensitive statistic.
HR wise, Johnson should project to hit 20+ HR this season by most evaluations I’ve read
he played on the nationals and marlins..
First off, if you played for the Nationals would you even WANT to produce runs?
I mean.. don’t get me wrong.. they are the closest team to me geographically so I try to watch some of their games when they are on.. but unless you are playing for something why go for the extra rbi’s? he is about to be in the most productive line-up in baseball… you have a guy who had 200+ hits somewhere between the 7-9 spots.. call me crazy, but I’m pretty sure he can drive in more than 62 rbi’s this year.. I’m going to go with much much more.
Derek Jeter only drove in 66 this year but was more than plenty productive. Johnson’s 2009 OBP was 20 points higher than Jeter’s, which itself was over .400
That is production
i personally would have preferred a bigger bat
Nick Johnson, wRC+, 2005-2009:
139, 152, N/A (DNP), 129, 130
Nick Johnson, when healthy: A big bat
iso .114
wRC+ >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> ISO
More recovery time from wrist injuries + short porch in right = more iso.
**Jersey Shore fist pumps**
Nick Johnson’s new name is The Situation.
Haha, his real name renders a nickname unnecessary, but I like it.
Now we are talking, Nick is perfect for this lineup good obp decent pop and does not strike out. I like this signing a lot. Now we get Sheets and I am good. The only negative would be if the Sox got Adrian Gonalez and Matt Holliday. I would be shocked were that to happen.
Why would you trade Adrian Gonzalez now anyway? would it not make sense to let teh season begin see if a-the Padres can contend in a weak nl west. B-See what other teams are interssted as the year progreses? Braves, Mariners, Dodgers, Angels?
I agree with most of this except for one thing: the Padres as currently composed would have trouble competing in the Eastern League.
I suppose so but really they have some talent there and I think you have to give your team a chance. They dont have to trade Gonzalez. Short money and your fans love him. I would let the team have a shot if they star to get buried early on then I would make him available. By then I think more teams will offer deals. Remeber at 10 mill for two seasons any team could afford him.
re: Adrian Gonzalez… The good reasons to keep him (that he’s awesome and he’s cheap and signed through the 2010 season with a cheap club option for 2011) are also good reasons to trade him in that they make him very attractive to other teams. He’ll never be as valuable to the Padres on the trade market as he is today.
I get why the Padres wouldn’t want to deal him, believe me… I just think maybe we get a bit carried away looking for reasons why a deal with Boston wouldn’t happen because we don’t want to see it happen. Given the moves the Sox have made already this offseason, I wouldn’t be shocked to see them offer their farm for Gonzalez, and I wouldn’t be shocked to see the Padres accept that offer. This guy is a golden ticket on the trade market for the Padres. We’ll see.
With his contract many other teams could afford him and why limit yourself to one team. I would think wait for the season to begin let other teams get a-desperate and b-injuries and see what happens.
Oh sure, I’m not saying they have to trade him this offseason. I just don’t think it’s as much of an impossibility as a lot of Yankees fans like to tell themselves.
for the package I mentioned below yes I would think the Padres might consider that group. Were Theo to make this deal his farm system is gone and anyone living in the Boston area knows how much he loves his “guys” I am not saying it wont happen, but remember the Beckett deal was againt Theo’s wishes and was made while he quit temporarily.
So… You agree with me. Cool.
(I’m not talking about whether Boston would cough up whatever San Diego is going to demand, I’m just saying this idea, that I’ve seen discussed here ad nauseum, that it makes no sense for the Padres to deal Gonzalez, isn’t necessarily accurate.)
I think they have a decent pool of talent, now is it enough to compete this year? no. is it enough to compete next year if they make a few moves? maybe. I would want to build the team around Gonzalez. If I could not do that I make him avaiable at the trade deadline this year. I guarantee you get a better return. Also if they can compete its not like San Diego could not attract FA. I mean it is a pretty nice play to play ball and live.
Yup to all of that. And yet, my point stands. Adrian Gonzalez is an incredibly valuable trade chip right now, so it’s not like there are absolutely no reasons for the Padres to consider moving him.
Your points are all well-taken, but we’re not really participating in the same conversation.
Also if Theo will give up Ellsbury-Bucholz-Bard-Kelly then he can have AG. If I were Hoyer that is what I would demand.
(thinks)
(realizes mryankee just thought about the situation holistically and made a hypothetical situation but then calmly and logically debunked it as unlikely)
(realizes mryankee has just turned an intellectual corner to a wider and more accurate understanding of the world)
:: head explodes in a mixture of shock and joy ::
Now I did not come up with that theory, that was the Yankee Universe. Funny but on WEEI there is not a tremendous amount of joy with Lackey being signed. Essentially getting the money that Bay would have gotten. Interesting to see if Hoyer does what I think he should do.
A-Give his team a chance to win with Gonzalez.
b-Wait for the market to expand as teh season progresses
c-Mariners-Angels-Dodgers-White Sox might have 1b needs and might be willing to drive up the price for AG
at this contract any team could afford Adrian Gonzalez.
I think the Mariners might make a legit run at Adrian. Saunders, Trunifel, Morrow would be a great start. Put Adrian in the lineup w Ichiro and Figgins in front of him and combine that with Lee and Felix and it’s a legit contender.
they’d be a crraaazzily top-heavy team though. It would be interesting to see, though, if top-heavy ness can compete when complimented by amazing defense.
Now I did not come up with that theory, that was the Yankee Universe.
I don’t care where you got it from. I’m just thrilled you read it, understood it, accepted it, and disseminated it to others.
This is a great day. You have restored my faith in humanity. You’re my new favorite poster.
First The Great Bo Truce of 2009, and now new-found respect for mr yankee.
This day has truly been one of peace and understanding.
Was it a truce? I think it was more of an armistice.
For the record, he has yet to respond to Joe’s comment with any type of public pledge to not do it anymore like I did.
But whatevs.
Truly, it was more of a “STFU, dumbass” but, y’know, I wanted to make it sound more epic and cool.
Gonzalez could probably be had by the Sox this year if they wanted. He definitely boosts this team tremendously. However, they have a tight payroll now, need to re-sign some players in the next few years, and would ship out some really good prospects to get him. That doesn’t really fit their MO.Few of the other teams can offer the prospects needed to grab A-Gonz. The Angels also already have 1B covered.
The Dodgers haven’t spent anything on picks the past few seasons. They have a pretty bare cabinet; the M’s are still dealing with Bavasi’s reign AND just gave away some guys in the Lee trade.
The White Sox and Angels don’t have a lot of depth, either, but have some attractive young guys.
I could go on, Indians and Rangers. If the Lowell trade falls apart then the Rangers make a lot of sense. The point is this will be Hoyer’s most important move. He cannot blow it and I think he has the luxury of time.
Rangers and Indians makes sense, except management on the Rangers changing and the Indians…being the Indians.
Rangers have the deepest, most talented farm system in the game. The Lowell trade is, in my mind, a non-factor. They could deal for him and Gonzalez, and still have a really good, talented farm. They’re best capable of weathering that kind of loss.
And,if I’m correct, Gonzo is of Mexican descent and there are a LOT of Mexicans in the Texas area.He could be a very positive factor for ticket sales,just in time for the new owner/management to step in.
So is this it for Johnny Damon, if so are the Yanks setting up for Crawford or Jayson Werth next year? If that’s the plan, I like it. Or maybe Yanks want to keep payroll low so they can be in on Cliff Lee or another starter next year.
if this budget is a new thing and 200 is the rough target each year i dont see us being too big in FA next year either seeing as how Jeter and Mo will be back, so only really Nick and Andy are coming off the budget, but at the same time Granderson, Swish and Cano will get an extra 6 mil combined, Joba and Phil will also be arb eligible i believe.
Maybe Jeter and Mo take a pay cut and that frees up more money, but not sure on that.
I dont buy that if there is a player they need they will get him.
Noted.
I wouldn’t get my hopes up with pay cuts for Derek and Mo.
i am not. in fact the opposite i am assuming we are going to be quiet in FA the next couple years until 2011.
All signs point to that being true. Payroll starts coming off looking toward 2012. Going to be some really interesting conversations regarding some of our old guard veterans.
Again do not be so sure if the right players are available. The Yankees will not cheap out on their fans.
i love how in your mind staying at 200 million=cheaping out on their fans.
i think Posada is gone after the contract, Andy might finish after this year coming, i think Mo has 2-3 left, not sure how long they will do Jeter’s deal. I love our guys but i wish we didnt do so many long term deals with players into the late 30′s early 40′s.
Again, agreed. I don’t see Posada or Andy being here after the contracts are up. Jeter on a (gulp) 3-year deal, Mo on a two-year deal.
Either way works for me. I think this lineup is set. Damon, at his price, is a luxury. The Yankees have great outfield depth right now and have vastly improved defensively in that area as well. One more SP for depth and call it an offseason. I think what you said about the payroll is true. Next year’s FA class is so good you have to make sure you have some payroll flexibility.
More like Jayson “NOT” Werth it. He’ll be 32 when he hits FA.
Crawford though, I’d be all up ons for a Johnny Damon-esque deal (4/52)
jayson werth is a fucking beast dude, and 32 is not that horribly old. on a 3-4 year deal i’d probably go for that. and crawford is obviously great, but i’m thinkin ur gonna have to pay him quite a bit more than that considering how many teams are gonna want him.
I will respectfully disagree with your assertion. Werth as a two year hold-me-over I’d be fine with. Anything longer and I’d probably think it’d be too much.
-32 DO NOT WANT
nice move. i was never really a fan of johnson when he was with the yanks, but that obp is pretty sweet. the only thing i’m not so sure about is the now stronger possibility that gardbrera is in lf. i know, i know, they can make up for the offense and the OF defense will be nasty, but i’d still be more comfortable with an everyday LFer out there
I’m guessing (hoping) the Yankees truly believe that his wrist is ok. If he gives us marginal HR output relative to what he’s capable of, and Granderson really shines as expected in Yankee Stadium, this team could really hit a shit-ton of home runs. I can’t wait to see A-Rod play a full healthy season at YSIII as well…he should launch about 40-45.
Well his physical should take care of the Yankees figuring out if his wrist is OK.
1 Year similar price – why not resign Matsui?
I have NO idea why! Unless Cashman just fell off the boat during negotiations, it makes no sense.
apparently from reports they wanted him back but they wanted him to wait until after the SP and Damon issues were resolved and he didnt want to wait
Yea but I dont see the SP or LF issues being resolved. And its not like they waited a long time. Matsui signed what 3 days ago?
i dont disagree with that assessment, but maybe w Hideki gone and Damon firming in his insane demands they moved on.
Have you asked Rose how he feels about it?
FLABBERGASTED.
BTW, thanks to you, I watched Glee. It was awesome. Thanks for the hot tip (not a euphemism).
yea, ya know what i really dont know. people are gonna say his knees or whatever but johnson’s just as big of an injury risk. i would have preferred godzilla because the fact of the matter is, sui has a better bat than johnson
I disagree Johnsondoes not strike out hits lefties well can play some first base. Also he will benefit from Yankee Stadium. I think thekey is he is a tough at bat with a great eye, he falls right into the offensive philosophy.
god your grammar is atrocious. is it that hard to form sentences?
But anyway, Matsui also hits lefties well and benefited/would continue to benefit from YS. Johnson being able to play 1B is useless because we have this guy named Mark Teixeira. He does have a great eye and fits with the yanks lineup. I was just saying that matsui has a better bat from what i can gather. And their price tags were the same.
Johnson has had a lot of injuries, but he’s not the same kind of risk as Matsui. Matsui’s knees will be a concern for the rest of his career, it’s an ongoing condition and not an injury he’ll get over. Johnson, on the other hand, isn’t going to be breaking his leg anytime soon in a freak accident behind first base, since he won’t be playing first base. Could he get hit by a pitch or pull a muscle while running? Of course, but anyone might do that.
1 Year similar price – why not resign Matsui?
Nick Johnson, 2008-2009, wRC+
129, 130
Hideki Matsui 2008-2009, wRC+:
114, 133
Nick may be a better bat, all things considered.
Moreover, though, Nick wasn’t signed to replace Matsui. He was signed to replace Johnny Damon.
Curtis Granderson is our replacement for Matsui. He’s the #5/#6 hole power bat who combines with Posada to protect ARod. Nick is the OBP guy who replaces Damon in the #2 hole to get on base and be a table-setter.
Despite NJ’s injury list, he might also be the safer bet. Bad knees are a ticking timebomb, and once they’re gone, a player is DONE.
You got to assume that they did not think Matsui could even stay healthy at DH.
well he had knee issues as a DH this year- and he’s a year older now.
Ugh he better be healthy..
Damn, my post got eaten…
Quick recap:
Nick Johnson and Nick Swisher were both 2nd in their respective leagues in terms of pitches/pa.
Every Yankee projected to be in the lineup next year was better than the AL average for p/pa (except Cano, of course) in 2009. Melky was higher than guys like Jeter and Tex. Damon was something like 14th (AL) last year in p/pa. Posada didn’t qualify (not enough plate appearances), but he would’ve been top 30.
It really was an impressive list.
“Newsday’s Ken Davidoff agrees that the Yankees and Johnson are engaged in “serious discussions,” but notes that Johnson has yet to take a physical.”
so I guess we will expect a presser either on Monday or Tuesday?
oooh there’s suggested articles now. when’d that happen?
Mo thought RAB sucked, so he demanded this be done, or else he would have used his godly cutter to slice Ben, Joe, and Mike’s throats.
I’ll be pretty psyched if the Yanks sign Nick Johnson for one year. I fully admit that I’m probably not totally objective on this one since I’m a big NJ fan, but I think this is a good move. This guy doesn’t know how to not get on base, and you’ve gotta love the one-year commitment.
And for the people who care about such things… This guy coming back to the Yankees on a 1-year deal to fill the primary DH role has to make you feel good about the guy wanting to be a Yankee and wanting to win. I think he could get a more lucrative deal elsewhere and get the opportunity to play 1B.
+28!
I’m with you.
Like I’ve said again and again this offseason, the best possible solution once Granderson came on board was for us to sign someone to be the last bat in the offense on a one year deal.
Whether that person was Nick Johnson, Cameron, Delgado, Thome, Vlad, Dye, etc. etc., even Damon, it didn’t really matter. They’re all productive bats in their own right.
Having the one year deal allows us to free up the DH spot again next offseason and re-evaluate who needs it. (Namely, Jorge Posada).
Quality offense now + roster flexibility later = PUSSYTUBING
That’s quite the participle, there, tsjc.
I like it.
Here’s a funny one, regarding Damon, via MLBTR, via The Seattle Times:
I heard from someone who works around the Mariners that after Bill Bavasi was fired in 2008, and the Mariners were searching for a new general manager, Damon actually was telling people he would be interested in the job. This person insisted that Damon seemed dead serious, even though he was still an active player.
That’s just straight-up funny. Well, it seems like the M’s are full speed ahead on FAs this off season. I’m not sure how well he fits in there, though. Damon playing in LF at Saefco could be REALLY dicey. If he platoon DH’d and played LF part time, maybe it could work, but that’s a lot of cash, horrid defense and a weird platoon-type situation.
Love the Nick Johnson move.
Now….the rest of my Melchrishanakwanza list.
1. Ben Sheets
2. Aroldis
3. Cyclops Mateo
4. Digital Camera
5. A healthy Jesus middle finger.
I’ve had this conversation a million times with the rest of you guys, but I’d prefer us not to go for Sheets.
Big WANT VERY MUCH to Chaphombre and Bernard from Star Trek.
Do you mean Geordi Laforge?
/Geek’d
Yeah, that’s him. (SHAME.) We weren’t allowed to watch TV as kids…
Is Digital Camera a nickname for a player, or do you just need a new digital camera?
If it’s a nickname for a player, my guess is that you’re referring to… Antonio Alfonseca.
No. I just need a new digital camera with an automatic date setter.
Admit it, though, “Digital Camera” is a pretty kick-ass nickname for Antonio Alfonseca.
Agreed.
Cyclops Mateo = the funny
That’s intellectual property of JMK.
How do you make your horsey go Andy?
Using basic, self-projected, semi-conservative stats for offense and defense, here’s what i am seeing next year:
Jeter: 120 OPS+, 0 UZR,
Johnson: 125 OPS+, 0 UZR,
Tex: 140 OPS+, 0 UZR (with good D exterior to UZR)
A-Rod: 145 OPS+, -5 UZR (assuming some bounceback from hip injury)
Posada: 125 OPS+, -whatever on D
Cano: 125 OPS+, -5 UZR (being conservative – you never know with cano)
Granderson: 115 OPS+ (assuming some bounceback, stadium boost), +10 UZR
Swisher: 120 OPS+, 0 UZR
Melkner: 95 OPS+, +5 UZR
That gives the lineup as a whole an OPS+ of 123.3, and approximately average defense overall. Fuck. Ing. Sweet.
Just like last year, the only thing that could prevent this team from making a deep run into the playoffs is a multitude of significant injuries.
They have more than enough talent to win it all.
Awesome. He’s not a type A (is type B) guy. So, hopefully he stays healthy and maybe can be a type A next year and can get us some draft picks.
Hal steinbrenner said the Yanks are not done making moves “they are looking into TRADES” any ideas??
Brett Gardner & Eric Wordekemper for anyone they want.
/old Melky/IPK’d
Not Palabrakemper! He’s on my NY Times Crossword fantasy team!
I know there are reports out there connecting Mark DeRosa with Yanks..
is the NJ deal make the MDR more likely… hope not.. he is not worth 3/18M
Less likely, I’d say. Far less.
I think we’re just about done. I don’t expect much more, other than Chapman and maybe a Kelvim Escobar or a Noah Lowry or something like that.
I’m with you. As much as I’d like to see Ben Sheets in pinstripes, I think the Yanks will kick around some trade proposals and look at the scrap heap at this point (assuming they sign Johnson). Of course, if they made a trade and move some pieces, that could change the outlook.
Of course, if they made a trade and move some pieces, that could change the outlook.
I assume you’re speaking of my theoretical Melky/Wordekemper/Brandon Laird to Arizona for Justin Upton and IPK deal.
That, and every hypothetical and off-topic proposal made by the esteemed cj.
You mean… the esteemed… cj???????!!!??
lolllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllll
source: barry
i dont think we are getting Chapman.. for a reclamation project Sheets’ price too high… but his stuff is enticing..
i hope they dont get MDR, its cool to get an underrated fella on a deal… but he was so overhyped as an underrated player.. he has crossed the overrated margin…
i know CashMoney is no Omar… i was worried if they felt signing MDR and make him share duties with Melky may cross the Yanks’mind.. i hope not…
theres been not much noise abt duchscherer either..
We’ll have to see… what happens… next…
It’ll be… interesting… that’s for sure…
so overrated, its not even funny.
1 Jeter, R
2 Nick Johnson, L
3 Teix, S
4 A-Rod, R
after this, nothing is set in stone. Let performance determine how these guys are ordered.
5 Posada, S
6 Cano, L
7 Swisher, S
8 Granderson, L
9 Melky, S
Posada can drive u nuts.. Matsui was so good at #5.. we are gonna miss him.. he was the best at getting those runs in… get ready for some stranded runners…
i hope you don’t just look at stranded runners as a counting stat next year, as you will be extremely disappointed.
johnson/tex/a-rod get on base >>>> most other 2/3/4 hitters so who ever hits #5 will naturally strand more runners in this line up.
by the same token, this person will also have many, many rbi chances too.
are they reallly gonna pay nick johnson the the same offer matsui wanted?? really?!!
yeah whats wrong with that?
I agree CJ Johnson versus Matsui is a downgrade but we have to move on as Godzilla is gone….crying shame
I would rather see the Yanks get cheap OPB and HR from Cust, with a trade hopping list that includes Conor Jackson, Chase Headley, and Alberto Callapso…
pitching…Capps and Duchsherer
Yanks get younger, add flexibility, cut cost
Nick Johnson >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> Jack Cust
Homers aren’t everything.
agreed. Homers aren’t everything but Cust can play LF RF albeit sometimes ugly but he’s won’t cost much 2 years 6 mil tops…in Yankee Stadium…30 hr 100 bb lock… Cust is a poor man’s Nick Swisher for a fraction of the price…matter of fact I wouldnt minde bringing him in with Nick Johnson…imagine how many pitches they would see between swish, NJ, Cust…starters wouldnt make it out of 6th
Almost nothing you said in that block of ellipses-dotted text made sense.
IETC
No Cust. Thanks.
Great name, though.
I dont hate the idea of Nick Johnson but NO WAY he’s worth more than WS MVP Godzilla for one year
Nick Johnson, 2009 wRC+: 130
Hideki Matsui, 2009 wRC+: 133
He probably is worth more, yeah.
Also, please use the reply button.
And Matsui is going into his age 36 season while Johnson is going into his age 31 season.
It’s hard to look forward and not backwards, but for 2010 Johnson is probably an upgrade over Matsui. We shall see how it plays out. At the very least I don’t think we have evidence that the decision-making process that has led the Yanks to seemingly prefer Johnson over Matsui for next year is flawed. Johnson’s numbers compare favorably to Matsui’s, he’s 5 years younger than Matsui, and he has functioning knees.
+1 and we can say that his SLG should go up a bit in YSIII too
Agreed on all counts, but again, it seems paradoxical but I don’t think the question should be “is Johnson and upgrade over Matsui”, because the team could view it as strictly a Johnson-Damon discussion and a separate Granderson-Matsui discussion.
We’re swapping a #2 hitting outfielder for a #2 hitting DH, and making a corresponding swap of a #5/#6 hitting DH for a #5/#6 hitting outfielder.
GRANDERSON is our Matsui upgrade, and Johnson is our DAMON upgrade.
JMHO.
Yeah, that’s semantics though. You could just as easily say that the ’09 outfield of Damon/Gardbrera/Swisher is being replaced by a ’10 outfield of Granderson/Gardbrera/Swisher and the ’09 DH, Matsui, is being replaced by the ’10 DH, Johnson. People look at it this way because they see Granderson as being the guy brought in to play the Damon role and Johnson brought in to play the Matsui role.
Either way, it doesn’t really matter, does it?
Meh, here’s the decision tree as I see it:
A) We’re letting our LF Johnny Damon and our DH Hideki Matsui walk. They’re too old and too expensive to retain.
B) We thus have four roles to fill with two players. Those roles are two offensive roles and two positional roles. They are, in order of importance:
Role #1 – defense-plus outfielder
Role #2 – #2 hitter to be a table-setter
Role #3 – #5/#6 hitter to protect ARod and lengthen the lineup
Role #4 – A DH, preferably one who can play another position to ensure flexibility
C) We’ve found Curtis Granderson on the trade market. He now fills two of the four roles we needed to fill. He fills Role #1 and Role #3.
D) We now need to add a second position player. The priority, based on what we still need, is a #2 hole hitter. DHs or corner outfielders with good #2 hitter capabilities should be prioritized over hitters who are not high OBP guys.
E) Nick Johnson fills our needs well. He doesn’t play the field, but his skills as a tablesetter are unmatched.
… aaaaaaaaaaaaand, SCENE.
Agree with everything but Granderson can’t hit lefties and Johnson is very dainty…
I don’t think the Yanks are really looking at it like that. I just think they saw a blank canvas, not putting any additional weight on their own free agents, and built the rest of the team irregardless of last years team.
Of course they’re seeing it like that. They have to build the roster with an eye toward what roles need to be filled. I think TSJC’s analysis of the situation is spot on.
have they mentioned a contract for him yet?
the amount i mean.
$5.5m was mentioned.
the thing is I don’t think Matsui can improve in any way in 2010. He can only be worse, unlike Johnson who can easily improve in 2010, especially hr-wise.
This. Matsui’s 2009 was not only probably his high-point, it was also kind of a surprise that he even did that well. Remember the injuries this guy has suffered (and still deals with, as they drained his knees numerous times in 2009) and what the outlook looked like for him in 2009, and I think his 2009 season was an incredibly pleasant surprise but probably not something he’ll ever come close to duplicating for the rest of his career.
As I guy who campaigned all of last winter to eat Matsui’s contract whole, all 13M of it, to free up the DH spot to get Manny Ramirez or Adam Dunn, I agree.
Matsui was a gamble for 2009, and he won. He may not win again in 2010.
Damon’s a better fit, but I’m fine with Johnson. Great OBP fits perfectly at #2.
dude, did u guys get a new landingspot yet?
No. Soon, I’ll post about it.
Cool.. good luck with that
damon, on the same deal, would be a better fit. beyond that, ehh not so sure. A healthy nick johnson + yankee stadium comes very very close to equalling kevin youkilis’s production. My guess is he puts up something like a .295/.415/.485 line with close to 20 hrs (yay for YSIII).
He’s OPS’ed that high once in his career, and is moving to the more difficult league. Damon provides a lot more flexibility and never gets hurt.
Damon gets hurt plenty. He just plays through it, doesn’t go on the DL, and his production drops until he’s healthy again.
There’s a lot of value in that.
my trade proposal…Gardner and a b prospect to KC for Alberto Callpso INF Util…thoughts??
http://riveraveblues.com/2009/.....son-19809/
send it to cashmoney@yankees.com. maybe you’ll get a finders fee or something. Thanks.
Well boys, we have come a long way from the 04-08 “drought.” 56% of the starting lineup will be homegrown with the addition of Nick Johnson. 60% of the rotation is also homegrown… until we get Sheets. Aww the poor guys that blab about how we buy all our players should start looking for another issue to blab about.
theres a new theme… even if we homegrow them.. only we can buy them off the FA… which is what we shud do… but the claim is that other teams cant buy their players off of FA.. got into a bg spat with an Angels fan once on this topic
Cust can play LF RF albeit sometimes ugly but he’s won’t cost much 2 years 6 mil tops…in Yankee Stadium…30 hr 100 bb lock… Cust is a poor man’s Nick Swisher for a fraction of the price…matter of fact I wouldnt minde bringing him in with Nick Johnson…imagine how many pitches they would see between swish, NJ, Cust…starters wouldnt make it out of 6th
…..or they would strike out 15 a game.
K’s are just outs and they eat pitches especiall the 3-2 K, any player who takes a strike johnson, cust, swisher will have a high k rate and avg 5 pitches per at bat or in other words the anti-Cano/Melky who are first pitch swingers (I like them both)
who is the east coast Mystery team in Holliday race….Yanks? (hope) 6 years * 16 is worth it for him
Dude… I’m not one of the RABbis, so it’s probably not my place to say this, but come on… You’re throwing out numerous off-topic posts in one thread, you’re not even trying to respect the commenting guidelines. Please stop.
“Dude…Seriously???
Tim Brown of Yahoo.com is reporting another legit offer has come in for Matt Holliday from an east coast team (Yankees?).” from hotstove.com
so really is that off the Yanks’ LF/DH topic???!!!
Whether you respect the commenting guidelines or not, at least respect the guidelines of the English language.
Please, for Mosakes, stop it with the constant ellipses, question marks, and exclamation marks. Speak like a grownup.
How about this? Alberto Callaspo is off-topic.
You’ve tossed out a bunch of off-topic or very loosely-related (to say the least) comments in this thread, I just think it’s best to keep things on-topic and wait for an open thread if you have other things you want to discuss.
I won’t respond anymore, this whole convo is off-topic and really doesn’t have any place here, I shouldn’t have responded in the first place.
Its no mystery. Holliday will be signed by the NYY before Xmas. I’m giving you the headlines now
NY Post – Home for the Holliday
NY Daily News – Happy Holliday!
NY Times – Yankees Bank Holliday
You’re welcome.
Thank you. Hope you are right.
You’re welcome. Happy Holliday to you.
It has got to be less than Matsui’s deal right? Or was the Matsui thing more of a “I’m not coming back to the Yanks on a huge paycut” kinda thing? Cashman obviously has a plan. I always liked Johnson and happy to see him rejoin the team.
I like this lineup personally.
Jeter
Granderson
Teixeira
Rodriguez
Cano
Johnson
Posada
Swisher
Cabrera
not bad. Probably going to move Posada up one spot to split up Nick Johnson and Cano. And depending on the pitcher, they may play around with that two spot with Granderson, Johnson and maybe even some Swisher. Doubt Cano gets at bats there, but you never know.
I think Johnson should be 2nd pretty much all the time.
Career:
.394 OBP vs righties
.424 OBP vs lefties
Get the most on base for Teix and A-Rod.
Yup.
Johnson and the #2 hole go together like johnsons and #2 holes.
(Couldn’t resist.)
Johnson has to bat 2nd there.
Why wouldnt u take advantage of that OBP?
I also believe the small contract size indicates they want to squeeze in a high risk high reward pitcher into the budget.
Sabathia
Burnett
Pettitte
Hughes
Chamberlain/Sheets/Bedard/Duke
Looks great to me.
Sheets wants too much $$$$, Bedard is not made for NY, I agree with Duke
You really want to trade a Romine for Duke?
Duke is a FA.
Don’t let that cloud the issue. The Free Agents Team is pretty decent this year. They might do some damage in the NL West.
I think the Free Agents would take that trade of Romine for Duke. They have a surplus of crappy, overpriced players. They need to get younger.
He’s referring to Justin Duchscherer, nickname: “Duke”, not Zach Duke.
should we expect a presser for Johnson on Monday?
I like it, I like it alot.
5.5 Million for 1 year. Great move.
Thanks for the four years Johnny!
According to NJs Wiki:
Walk Up Music
His current walk up music is Teardrops On My Guitar by Taylor Swift.
I will not allow Taylor Swift to be heard in YSIII, the only way I would allow that is if they get rid of Cotton Eye’d Joe and the YMCA shit first. (the two lamest songs ever).
“Our Song” is better anyway. I’d personally like to hear “Tik Tok” by Ke$ha, but I’m weird.
I absolutely fuckin love this deal if that is true. Great price for a OBP monster DH. It leaves a lot of payroll room too. Cashman is great
I’m not sure how anyone can honestly criticize Cashman. Ever since he’s seized control he’s made good trades, FA acquisitions, and drafted pretty well.
He stood pat after 2007 (Hawkins was the only real addition to the team), so he could go big after 2008, and is now retooling after 2009.
No GM is perfect (Farnsworth acquistion was baffling), but Cash does a very good job.
but…but…but…ANYONE could do his job with a blank check!!!
/sarcasm /typical cashman jab
/Chris Carlin’d
$5.5 is freakin’ steal. I’m absolutely shocked. I figured he’d command at least $7 million, probably closer to $8 mil.
I wonder how much we have left over in payroll. $14 million?
we are probably done with half of that left off
If Matsui got 6.5 why would Johnson get 8?
Your reply fail aside, Johnson is younger and can play a position (albeit 1B). Even with his injury risks, they’re not knees-having-fluid-drained serious. Knees go, player’s done.
He should also see some power return as his wrist is close to fully healed. These are the primary reasons I’d expected him to either get a multi-year deal or at least have a higher base this season.
Cashmoney earns his check with moves like this. Dude had a .477 OBP hitting in front of Hanley last year. Proper.
Yeah, he should actually be MORE patient in this lineup, given the hitters he’s surrounded by in the lineup and in the clubhouse. Patience and power is the Yankee mantra, so he fits right in.
I’ve always liked Nick and Iw as sad to see him go. He was my favorite player to yell out his name during a game, “Nick JOHNSON!” Welcome home…
This deal definitely makes sense. Without Pavano and Nady on board, the Yanks need their designated DL guy and there is absolutely none better then Nick Johnson.
I laughed.
Actually, as a DH you figure he has to stay healthier. Many of his injuries occurred while playing the field, though not all of them.
They def needed another bat and NJ has a solid bat when healthy. Which hasnt been often. Looks like Damon is a goner and we are def going to miss his bat in the 2 hole. Dont discount handling NY pressure and succeeding. Will not be easy to replace him or Matsui.
Maybe this move means they go after DeRosa to play a little LF/DH/3b.
Johnson did come up with the Yankees so he knows about playing in NY, also started virtually every game during the 2003 postseason so he has played in the postseason in NY.
So cheap, I’m amazed. Surely he got better deals offered, but no complaints from me.
Time for Gene Monahan to stock up on the calcium to try and help those brittle bones.
With all the broken bones Nick has had, what do you say we take up a collection and send him a year’s supply of milk and calcium supplements for this Christmas?
I got the joke in first, ha!
He had a version of the same joke yesterday, I believe.
Gots to get up prrreetttty early in the morning to beat ole Steve to a joke, yes-sir-eee!
That’s why we have other Nick. Swish is going to provide the milk (not in the perverted way)
http://yankees.lhblogs.com/fil.....-intro.jpg
Watching Nick Johnson in his time with the Marlins last season reminded me how tough an out he is. Like seeing Nick the Stick back in pinstripes.
Still think Yankees have something else up their sleeves….
I was sad when we traded him away (way back when) for Vasquez.
and yes, Cash has made clear he’s still in the market for a pitcher. But I think the Sox have a move or two up their sleeves as well.
Same – but I really thought Javy was going to work out
I gotta think NJ could have gotten a two-year deal from the Giants. Obviously he wanted to return to NY (and as others already pointed out, sign for a year, build value and go back into free agency next year)
Sign Chapman, get Duchsherer, and call it a solid offseason?
Sign Chapman, get
DuchshererBen Sheets, and call it a solid offseason?Yes.
I’d rather have Duchsherer. Swing man, allows both Phil and Joba to start the season in the rotation and he provides quality out of the bullpen.
Ben Sheets could possibly stunt Phil or Joba’s development.
This is where people put the cart before the horse. It’s the big leagues, Phil and Joba are here to help the Yanks win, first and foremost. Both of them would be the first to tell you that. They are here to serve the team, not the other way around. Developing them is a tertiary consideration. If Ben Sheets helps the Yanks win more games in 2010, then he’s the right choice. We’re not the Royals, and were not rebuilding.
Yankees fans are so spoiled.
They don’t need an all star at every position. They do need to get younger. They need the younger players to get better, we know they can relieve. We don’t know that they can be successful MLB starters. We believe they can, because of what they have shown us. We want those fuckers to become great pitchers because they will provide great value.
They will never ever become great MLB pitchers if never given the opportunity. We’ve been preaching for three years now that they need to start, this is the perfect time. Coming off a WS year, these guys are another year older and have more experience. They need to be given every opportunity, how many more years are the Yankees going to put it off? Next year, do we say sign MAtt Cain, sign Cliff Lee, etc.
We want these guys to become great pitchers and as the years go by and they don’t achieve that goal, they’re losing their value.
Plus, Ben Sheets will have been out of the game over a year. I think it will take some time for him to get back to his standards. Now those could be better numbers than Joba or Hughes, but give the young kids a shot. They deserve it.
Yes, there is the injury argument – more than just 5 starters start all the games, but I want these guys to get as many innings as possible. It’s for the good of the organization to see what they are, and what they can become.
It’s also more fun for us, the fan, to see them develop. One of the most interesting things of the 2010 season for myself.
2008 says hello. You may be willing to miss the playoffs for the benefit of Joba and Phil, but I’m glad the Yanks aren’t. Whoever performs keeps their spot in the rotation, the other goes to the bullpen and provides value there.
Also, I’m not even convinced you’d even be benefiting them. Keeping their innings down before age 25 is a good thing, which studies show should lead to more durability down the road. And learning the big leagues and hitters tendencies in short stints out of the bullpen can help a pitcher like Phil Hughes develop, not hinder him.
David Cone says working out of the bullpen was essential to his development as a pitcher, and he was one of the smartest around.
Career major league innings for Phil Hughes prior to 2008:
72.2
for Kennedy:
19.0
Career major league innings for Phil Hughes going into 2010:
192.2
for Joba:
281.2
Not to mention Joba’s upside is much higher than that of IPK’s. They are older, more innings, more experienced.
They have both worked in the bullpen plenty up to this point. In my opinion, it’s time for them to start. They have earned it, unlike 2008 with Phil and IPK.
I believe you learn more pitching in the rotation, going through lineups 2-3 times rather than just having to fool a hitter once. That way, you work on your secondary pitches, durability, blah blah…
Could they learn more in the bullpen? Sure. Could they learn more in the rotation than they would learn in the bullpen? Definitely.
This team is winning 100-104 games currently constructed. This team is not missing the playoffs because of Joba and Hughes starting. This benefits the team more in the long run, which is another reason why I am in favor of it.
Agreed. I love nothing more than watching Hughes and Joba start ballgames and I hope I can watch them pitch the rest of their damn careers as Yankee starters.
Unless it’s Gonzalez, the Sox have no room for any moves if they want to stay under the luxury tax.
All depends on how you calculate it. I’m still waiting for an explanation for Spiers 12 mil ’40 man’ and ‘Benefits’ categories. AD took a swipe at it last night, but I’m still not sure. If anyone knows, please fill me in.
All I know is that with Jetes, NJ, and Tex 1, 2, and 3, Arod is going to have a RIDICULOUS amount of RBIs next season.
Cashmoney does it again. Unbelievable. Bye Johnny.
Hopefully Gardner is gone soon.
Why? He’s the best 3rd OF option on the team.
no, melky is better than gardner. and gardner should be traded because he’s a bit unnecessary if we’re keeping melky and hoffman
I’d like to lock Jordan and JMK in a room for an hour with a few knives and see who comes out alive.
Nobody hates Gardner more than JMK. Nobody hates Melky more than Jordan.
Fight to the DEATH, boys!!!
We could sell tickets.
I’d pay.
The Yanks usually get who they want. CC didn’t even want to come here last year and they got him, too.
Or, hello Johnny and hello freakshow lineup.
Hideki Matsui
2006: 51 GP
2007: 143
2008: 93
2010: 142
Chances he stays healthy next season: not likely
Chances he stays healthy next season while playing the OF once or twice a week: .000014%
Yeah Nick Johnson will score tons of runs as he has over his career: -averages 51 runs scored when he plays
-averages 45 runs scored if you count year he didn’t play at all
-1 whole season of 100 runs scored.
Guys, DL machines do not score runs. OK, this is a case of group amnesia, or group fantasy exotic stat envy.
Back to reality: Games played year before last–35; games played year before that–none.
The only way this deal makes sense is if the Yanks sign another big bat, preferably Holliday. Then maybe the risk is worth taking on.
Runs are a function of team offense, using them on an individual level is ridiculous. How many runs did the Nationals score as a whole when he had 66 in 2005?
639, that means he was >10% of their runs scored which means that he gets on base to score runs a lot.
The point was quite simple and irrefutable — if you are on the DL you cannot score runs.
Yes, and? Playing at DH should hopefully keep him healthier much like it kept Hideki and his no-knees pretty healthy.
The reason he missed 2007 was because he broke his femur in a particularly nasty way crashing into Austin Kearns in the outfield. The likelihood of that happening again is remote.
2008 is another story (he tore a ligament) and more worrisome but since it wasn’t a huge issue in 2009, it really shouldn’t be one in 2010.
this deal makes sense as it stands. the yankees don’t need another big bat – with granderson they’re essentially replacing matsui’s production and upgrading the outfield defense. with johnson they’re filling the DH spot left open by matsui’s departure and replacing damon’s on base skills. both granderson and johnson’s monetary commitments combined don’t equal what they would have had to (over)pay to retain damon.
sure, there’s risk – johnson’s got a glass jaw. but johnson won’t be seeing a lot of time in the field which should hopefully keep him healthy.
Hope is a wonderful thing.
Since he’s only DH’ing there is some reason to believe that he will stay healthier.
It’s almost like we saw something similar happen recently…
I’m confused. Referring to Matsui?
Yeah…duh.
Forgive me. I know it’s early, but I’m tired.
Some of the injuries are definitely worrisome – back and torn tendon in wrist, but the following are flukes that caused him to miss significant time:
2004 – broken cheekbone by a ball hit to him at 1st
2006 – collided with Austin Kearns and broke his femur
2007 – recovering from broken femur
Right, and hopefully the DH time will help his health.
“Games played year before last–35; games played year before that–none”
It’s called a broken leg on a freak play on defense
9 year career, 770 games played equals 85.55 games played per season. Let’s be kind and only count the years he actually played that’s 96.25 games played when he actually plays. Big improvement (excuse the sarcasm.) This guy is the king of fluke, freak and ordinary injury. If you can count on his OBP, why are we not counting on the other highly predictable metric he has consistently had in his career–games missed, days on DL.
Because like it’s been stated, a lot of his injuries occured on freak plays or in the field.
Who would you rather have at DH who’s available?
Carlos Delgado
Holy bargain Batman indeed
This is a great deal for a couple reasons:
1. 1 year, 5.5 million. What a bargain, only 1 year of risk.
2. Our lineup is so good that even where he to get hurt and we had to slot Miranda in at DH, we’re STILL probably the best lineup in baseball.
I think this move makes Cashman look like a genius halfway into the season. I don’t think it was that big of a steal, but we have DH covered so we can go after Sheets/Chapman, or both (still holding out hope for Damon’s return, though).
Now that logic makes sense. Put the deal in context where the risk opens other opportunity.
Can’t wait to see it pay off. I’ve always loved Matsui, but I’m pretty sure Cashman wouldn’t let Matsui walk for 6.5 million, and get a replacement for about a million less if he didn’t think it was counting on Matsui’s knees holding up for another full season (even at DH), as opposed to hoping the younger Nick Johnson being healthy for a whole year.
Also, by not committing too much money, I think that leaves them the possibility of signing (not very likely, but still)/trading for someone mid season if a couple of things don’t work out.
gotta love these P/PA (years w 500+ PAs):
2005 – 4.11
2006 – 4.29
2009 – 4.38
That’s some Bobby type shit.
My biggest concern in losing JD wasn’t necessarily replacing his offense, it was replacing his spot in the lineup. The fact that we lost(will lose) our 2 hitter killed me. Now, Johnson squeezes right in there. ha.
Now it’s just a matter of who hits fifth. I say C-Grand or Robbie.
Jete R
NJ L
Teixy S
Al R
CG L
Jorge S
Swish S
Robbie L
Melky S
I can’t wait for Jamal and you to get at each other over ‘C-Grand’ during the season.
haha word. I think it’s catchy.
What do you think about that lineup though?
I may flip flop he and Robbie. This year will be Robbie’s RBI-Coming-Out party.
I’m down with it either way. This lineup is ridiculous.
That lineup could put up 850 runs.
Hell yea. Any time your #8 hitter put up a 128 wRC+ and a .370 wOBA, you know you are set.
If one could dream and we pulled Sheets at a reasonable price 7+incentives and Stein-heads weren’t being cheap – last minute move while insane Damon is bitched slapped into reality like Abreau year and signs (8mil):
1 Jeter (R)
2 Johnson (L)
3 Tex (S)
4 A-Rod (R)
5 Damon (L)
6 Posada (S)
7 Granderson (L)
8 Cano (L)
9 Swisher (S)
- That would be pretty scary, hard to imagine a better offense than we had last year…
I think that if we sign JD, NJ will be flopped down to the bottom end of the lineup.
I agree. Damon is the better hitter, and should therefore get more AB’s. Of course if Nick develops some power at the stadium, then I’d be open to the switch. Johnny’s speed is a bit of a plus in the 2 hole, also (but not necessarily a dealbreaker).
I would like to see:
Jeter r
Damon l
Tex s
Alex r
Posada s
Cano l (equal platoon splits)
Granderson l (ugly platoon splits)
Johnson l (reverse platoon splits)
Swisher s (equal platoon splits)
I wouldn’t mind switching Curtis and Nick, but then the slow-footed Johnson is clogging the bases ahead of Granderson. Preventing one of the 8 and 9 hitters from reaching base would be nearly impossible.
If they bring Damon back also, NJ and Swisher at the bottom of the lineup could be lethal. Pitcher is fully exhausted after facing NJ and Swisher taking every pitch that is not the in zone and you now have the pleasure of facing Jeter.
No chance Damon is back now.
Well, unless he suddenly decides he’ll take a one-year deal, ergo no chance.
Jeter
Granderson
Teixeira
Rodriguez
Cano
Johnson
Posada
Swisher
Cabrera
for the second time.
For the second time, no.
Granderson is too high, Johnson and Posada are too low.
Newsflash: Yanks have added “excessive arm hair” to the list of no no’s along with facial hair and “idiot Red Sox hair”. NJ will have laser performed during his physical…..
Gardner sees increased late game pinch running opportunities increasing his value (476K per year)….happy about NJ acquisition
NJ scouts out Yanks in 2010 for his buddy Adam Dunn for 2011
IF POSADA HAS TO DH WHERES JOHNSON GONNA PLAY ?
He’s not DH’ing every game, just 2 of 5 games a week or so.
2 of 5? When the hell will he get a real day off?
Good point. I made two mistakes:
1. Should have been 3 of 7, not 2 of 5.
2. He’ll probably DH two days a week, take off 1 day.
Posada has been a DH 61 times in his career. He’s been a DH 31 times in the past 4 years. I believe that your estimates are significantly high. Maybe he gets up to 20 games at DH this year, but certainly not twice a week (which would be about 50 games).
They need to rest him more this year than in the past.
Key word being “rest.” If he catches 100-110 games, the max he’ll DH is 15-20 games, imo of course.
Exactly. He’ll probably get more days off, and he’ll also get more days as DH than he has in the past, but 2 days a weeks as DH is a ton.
So he’ll DH a ton. He’ll probably need to evolve into that type of player soon anyway.
Come to think about it. If health allows, NJ will probably DH around 140 games. That knocks Posada’s 15-20 down to 10-15.
Ah, of course. Didn’t consider that.
Posada will get the day off with Cervelli in lineup.
Posada will DH 1-2 times a week. Plenty of AB’s for Nick.
Also, Jorge will be 38 years old next year. Let him take the full day off, it will benefit him.
Plus, he’s in his decline, he just doesn’t know it. Right?
If your referring to his defense, then he’s been in decline since he stopped playing 2B.
I’m referring to your blog post a few months back dude!
Ah yes, this one.
http://www.theyankeeuniverse.com/?p=9353
A rising SO Rate and Declining Walk rate are usually the canary in the coal mine.
Haha, right now LoHud is freaking out. Idiots.
Have to post this. Dumbest comment on LoHud, ever:
“I don’t believe in booing players ever (unless they are on the Red Sox), but I’m not above booing a GM. If Cash signs Nick Johnson, I’m going to boo him every time I see his face on TV or if someone even mentions his name.”
It is interesting. Pretty much everyone on here seems to love this signing. Most people over there seem to hate it.
This comment just baffles me with its stupidity.
Since writers at lohud don’t like it, readers don’t like it. Opposite applies to readers and writers here
i don’t get it, how could anyone hate this? it’s awesome
This made me burst out laughing. Nice.
But wait, there’s more. Laura’s response (I’m not even responding to her on LoHud):
“Join the club [This in response to somebody saying they wished Cash signed Matsui).
From the previous thread. Wait ’til is over thinks it’s ridiculous that I would want to boo Cashman. That’s his/her opinion. I would boo Cash because I don’t like lying and IMO, if he signs Nick Johnson, he lied to Matsui’s agent. He said that he couldn’t talk about signing a DH until he got a SP and a LF. Well, now we hear that he’s close to signing Nick Johnson, who is nothing more than a DH. Last I checked, he hadn’t signed a SP or a LF yet. That my friends is lying.
Matsui is a very proud and professional man. If the Yankees wanted no part of him for whatever reason (which seems to be the case), how about telling him that? I have a feeling that Matsui would have respected the truth over a bold faced lie.”
This comment’s stupidity is epic and all-encompassing.
That girl better be super hot to make up for the single digit IQ.
Wow. It’s as if the signing is a long term deal for a player in his mid 30′s that clogs up payroll, and not a one year deal to fill up a short term need.
Are these the same fans who complain when the Sox sign someone like Penny/Smoltz, and say “Oh no, Cashman should do the same thing Theo is doing and do some low risk, high upside signings!”?
IMHO the deal itself was good on principle; but of course if it doesn’t work out, Cashman is an idiot.
I HOPE JOHNNY GOES TO A NATIONAL LEAGUE TEAM , HE’S A YANKEE KILER
News Flash: Playing DH isn’t actually a day off. Thanks to having a real DH, Posada and Rodriguez can take real days off.
My thoughts exactly.
I CAN JUST SEE JOHNNY DH ING FOR THE RAYS COMING TO YANKEE STADIUM EH
i find you funny in a pathetic sort of way.
WHAT WILL THEY DO WITH PAT BURRELL??
Am I the only one that thinks our offense fot 2010 is better than 2009?
Johnson + Granderson > Damon + Matsui
offense for 2010*
If it’s not better, it’s at least equal. Either way I like what we have this year a lot.
2010 Johnson + 2010 Granderson > 2009 Damon + 2009 Matsui
2010 Johnson + 2010 Granderson >>>>> 2010 Damon + 2010 Matsui
I am so glad the Yankees didn’t just return Matsui and Damon, and expect them to do what they did in 2009 again. Not. Gonna. Happen.
What’s really amazing is I was racking my brain trying to come up with better, affordable alternatives, but I just didn’t see any. Cashman has really done a wonderful job.
i agree with your second equations, but i’m not sure about the first one. let’s not forget how good those 2 were last year
2009 Damon >>> 2009 Granderson
2009 Johnson > 2009 Matsui*
*its real close, but the NL East ain’t no picnic either, Miami’s a tough place to hit, & NJ did it while palying the field
The past few seasons have REALLY shown why Cashman is one of the best GMs in the game. Sure he has the money, but choosing who to spend it on is extremely important. He always has a gameplan and he never lets the fanbase down. He has a done an extremely good job at pricing players and steering away from the older ones.
The defense should be better too.
The only thing to consider in the overall offense is that you’re likely to see some regression in the aging players (Jeter and Posada in particular).
Yeah, most players really had “best case scenario” years last year.
Except Arod.
A full year of healthy Arod should offset that regression.
also, cano with RISP should hopefully improve. There was just no reason for him to have such low numbers in those situations.
Swish had a great year but he was bad at home. He may be in line for an overall improvement.
Cano was absolutely terrible with fish on the pond. He’s going to improve.
Melky age 25 should be better than Melky age 24.
Teix sucked in April then rebounded, he’ll probably be about the same though.
Jorge will be the same, maybe a slight decline, same with Jetes.
Al will do what he does, be the best player in the game(imo).
With the addition of NJ and C-Grand I think there is room for improvement overall compared to last year.
Melky isn’t good, at all.
He’s league average while being the Yanks 9th hitter, he’s good enough. If he’s the starting left fielder he will improve the team greatly in defense last year.
I don’t recall where Drew said he’ll be good by the way in that post.
+1.
Players rarely improve once they hit 24. It’s a straight decline from there.
Not a straight decline–a bumpy one. Even Melky can put together one year of ops+ 115.
Via Tyler Kepner:
Johnny Damon on Yankees: “It’s part of baseball. Teams try to make moves in hopes to improve their club. I wish them all the best.”
Johnny Damon on Nick Johnson deal: “I’m glad Nick gets to come back to a great organization. He will love the guys and the new stadium.”
Hopefully he realizes he priced himself straight out of New York. So long Damon, its been nice.
Those quotes make it seem like he doesn’t consider there to be much of a chance he signs with them.
i don’t really mind at this point. He played hardball with the wrong organization.
His demands were just silly and he should have known better. If abreu can sign at 5mill 1 year and then get a 2 year extension, why can’t he take a similar route?
Yup… Couple that with the quotes from Hal today (see Thomson’s post at LoHud), and it seems like there’s a lot of distance between Damon and the Yanks right now.
Yeah. Who knows though? In a month, we may offer 2 yrs 16-20 mil, or 2 yrs 14 mil with some incentives to push it to 20+.
or 1/6 when he realizes he’s not getting 3+ years from anyone. he should be thankful if he gets 2
The only negative to this signing is that if we lose Nick Johnson, thats our #2 hitter on the shelf. It would be a huge blow to the offense.
Agreed.
You can say the same thing about Damon as well, though. He’s not some sort of lock to not get injured.
He’s old.
Sam at LoHub doesn’t like the deal. I would say this. Career OPS + Nicky Johnson 125, Matsui 124. NJ also 4 years younger
Nick Johnson also has 2 more functioning knees than Matsui.
I lol’ed.
well, didn’t exactly say he didn’t like the deal. just that he preferred matsui over johnson for essentially the same $
Right, esp since Matsui can always play 1B if Tex . . . . or Left . . . . no, scratch that.
1 million helps even the Yankees. Also if Matsui really wants to play the OF that is a huge deal breaker.
If you look at fangran Hideki has cost the Yankees money over the course of all his contracts.
Sam at LoHud also said one of the reasons for Matsui over NJ was postseason success.
I hope Chad Jennings takes over that blog full time soon.
+1 I can’t stand Sam Bored’em
Someone PLEASE expalin the positives of this deal.
Lets face it people: Matsui or Damon>>>>>NJ.
Did you even read any of the comments on this thread?
Not all 500.. if that is what you are asking.
Well you anted an explanation, it’s all written here. If you put in a little effort, you could figure out the benefits of the deal w/o too much trouble.
*w*anted
I wasn’t trying to say I was lazy it is just that aren’t the two proven vets of Matsui and Damon better than Nick Johnson. OK he walks but taking two such important staples out of a CHAMPIONSHIP team is, in my opinion, ridiculous.
You’re not trying to say you’re lazy, yet you want us to explain the benefits of tis deal when we already wrote it. You just want us to rewrite it.
Look it up, we’ve already answered this concern several times.
What I MEANT was HOW do these explanations make sense.
“I don’t think it’s too much more complicated than this.
Cash didn’t want Matsui back because he was older and had bad knees.
He picked johnson because he was younger and that youth made him think Johnson would be more productive next year.
Both are injury risks so let’s go with the younger guy.
I think that’s the sum total of it.”
I posted this at 10:20. It’s now 10:31.
Just read the comments, dude.
once damon overpriced himself, johnson is the best fit for the 2-hole.
and by the way, his OPS+ is better than both damon’s and matsui’s
I’m with NYQ on this. I like Nick Johnson, don’t have any problem at all with the acquisition. But it mitigates damage from the loss of Matsui and possibly Damon; it doesn’t actually make the Yanks better than they were this year. Losing Matsui and Damon (if indeed Damon doesn’t come back) undoubtedly means the Yanks are a weaker offensive team.
I’m not completely sold on Posada as the #5 hitter. I admire Jorge, but you have to wonder if one of these years his offensive production isn’t going to start dropping. And Granderson at #6 has some weaknesses, notably his vulnerability to lefties and the drop in his BA and OBP last year. My point is that Matsui was a superior #5 hitter, and provided far better protection for A-Rod.
Maybe Cano can have a break-out year in 2010 … with more power he might actually be the Yanks’ best #5 hitter. But I’m not banking on it.
You can’t just say Damon and Matsui are going to repeat their numbers next year. You have to project to 2010, and it’s a lot easier for players who are 29 and 32 to have productive seasons than players who are both 36.
damon’s not twice as good as johnson and that’s the salary we’d have to pay him. and for multiple years.
johnson for 1/5.5 > damon for 3/30+ or even 2/20+ imo
So instead of reading all 500 comments yourself you would rather someone else try to summarize them all for you?
Look at above comment…
Nick Johnson is probably a better hitter than either Damon or Matsui.
Source: Fangraphs.com
/barry’d
Still my new favorite meme.
Damon and Matsui are both better hitters than Nick Johnson.
Source: watching them play.
::golf clap::
Oh, wait, you weren’t kidding. Sad.
Pujols >> all of the above.
And I’ve never seen him play a full game.
Someone PLEASE expalin the positives of this deal.
Lets face it people: Matsui or Damon>>>>>NJ.
Let me explain.
… No, there is too much. Let me sum up.
Buttercup is marrying Humperdinck in a little less than half an hour. So, all we have to do is get in, break up the wedding, steal the princess, and make our escape… after I kill Count Rugen.
if anything nj is due for an injury free year he could have his best year
Wait I forgot.
Confidence level: Over 9000
The only concern I had with this team was a lack of a DH.
I love Cashman.
Alllllriiiiiiiight.
/Wooderson’d
1. Jeter
2. Johnson
3. Tex
4. Nails
5. Posada
6. Granderson
7. Cano
8. Swisher
9. Cabrera
Oh HELL YEAH.
The great CB of LoHud’s take:
“I don’t think it’s too much more complicated than this.
Cash didn’t want Matsui back because he was older and had bad knees.
He picked johnson because he was younger and that youth made him think Johnson would be more productive next year.
Both are injury risks so let’s go with the younger guy.
I think that’s the sum total of it.”
I agree completely.
CB was tearing it up over there. His posts are always well-founded and interesting.
Very concise. I agree completely as well.
Concise but would rather have Matsui because he has more power and more big game experience and Johnson is injury prone but since Godzilla is gone will settle for Johnson.
Great move for the Yankees.
On another note how exactly is Nick Johnson a “base-clogger” in Buster Olney’s words when he’ll be hitting in front of Tex and A-Rod?
A-Rod will be called out when he overruns Johnson during his HR trots.
So with the rotating DH nonsense out of the way can we take anything Cashman says serious or did that go out the window when he said Bubba Crosby was going to be our starting CF?
Meaning he was BS’ing about Joba and Hughes so he can get some fans to STFU?
Hmm I like how Cashman thinks…
What did he say about Joba and Hughes?
They will compete for a rotation spot. Loser goes to the bullpen.
Thanks. just saw that in the open thread.
That’s a good point for everyone who’s upset about what he said about Joba/Hughes. We have no idea what these guys are really thinking or planning, and what they say to the media during the offseason is very rarely the unvarnished truth.
Nope we have no idea about their plans at all. We only know that Cashman “views both of them as starters” so eventually they’re both going to have to start.
We just have to wait and see but in Cashman we trust. Hopefully what he said is high on the bull meter but we know they’re both going to get that starting opportunity.
see: Girardi, re: bruney as “setup” man, circa early 2009.
Cash and Co have smartly realized that the media is so dumb that telling them what they want to hear regardless of its bearing on reality buys them enough time before they realize that what is happening is not what the grownups said would happen that the actually be able to unfold over a large enough sample to prove itself right.
its becoming apparent that the yankees should have offered damon arbitration. there was no way he was accepting a one year deal with boras. and yes, i know i’m looking in hindsight, but still
yanks obviously thought there was a chance he’d accept a $15M one-year deal. and boras notwithstanding, he may have
I initially thought that overpaying 3~5 million for one year of Damon was a good thing. I mean, stats aside, he’ll probably be motivated to perform and try to get one last contract. If he refused, we still would have had the option of trying to sign him for less money per year over two years. And if he refused, we get two draft picks.
i hear ya. i personally would’ve offered him. but i can see the rational of not; i.e.; just don’t want the risk of paying a guy $5M than he’s worth
Point taken as well. As silly as it may sound to other people, the Yankees can make use of “just” 5 million dollars smartly, too. They probably thought that it was too much for a 36 year old outfielder. True, he’s been durable throughout his career, but combined with other factors (other needs, payroll limitations, other potentially cheaper options on the market), I can see why they didn’t offer him.
But the most important consideration the Yankees had to make wasn’t whether the potential arbitration award would be higher than they felt comfortable paying Damon, it was whether Damon would decide, within one week, to accept a one year deal instead of hitting the FA market and seeking a multi-year offer.
I agree with you, I’m sure they did think that paying Damon $13M-$15M for 2010 wasn’t an attractive option. But that’s not the most important factor in making the decision to offer or decline to offer arbitration. If you think a guy is going to be awarded too much money in arbitration but think he’ll decline the arbitration offer, you make the offer and pocket the first round pick and the compensation round pick.
You’re correct.
That’s true, very true. I think I should’ve mentioned that first before stating the other secondary factors in deciding whether to offer a player arbitration. I thought that at first, they weren’t offering arb immediately because they found it difficult to gauge what Damon would do. So they looked at other factors – I could be wrong, but it’s definitely not out of the realm of possibility that this was how it went down.
Oh for sure they decided they weren’t sure enough that he would decline that they felt comfortable making the offer, and their conclusion that the award would have been too high was a factor in their decision-making process. I just think they’re too conservative with these decisions. They shouldn’t have been so scared of the potential award that they allowed that fear to outweigh the probability that Damon would decline the offer. I think that probability was pretty high and they should have realized that. This is a guy with a track-record of looking for years/money – let’s not forget he came to the Yankees in the first place because they offered an extra year and some extra money over what the Sox offered him. He left a team with which he was very popular, the guy was practically a folk hero, over a matter of money. Add to that the fact that he’s coming off of a career year and his agent is Scott Boras and this is probably his last shot at a multi-year contract, and I’d argue that writing was on the wall… This was a guy the Yankees should have realized was not going to accept an arbitration offer.
Definitely agree on that. I strongly believe he would not have accepted arbitration.
If the market for him collapses, and he gets two equal offers (one of them from the Yankees) he may not want come to the Yankees out of pride. But if he realizes it’s just business, then he’ll see that with his bat in the lineup, the Yankees are going to have a very good chance to repeat as World Series champions.
I guess we’ll just have to see how the rest of the off season plays out.
The second “if he refused” should have been “if he doesn’t want to resign”. Haha.
oh god yeah (slaps forehead)
Yup. Hop on the bandwagon, I’ll be driving it until Cashman learns to read players’ intentions and gets himself some compensation draft picks. It would have been a risk, but it’s always a risk. You can’t get the draft picks if you don’t take a chance here and there, and Damon is one of those times when he should have taken the chance. There was no way he was going to decide, within ONE WEEK, to accept an arbitration-based one-year deal.
I’d still rather have Godzilla.
I feel good knowing that Cashman knows a lot more about Matsui’s knees then most people on here.
going to miss damon, but i think this is a great signing. Guy proved he can play in ny, hes a good guy from what i recall and if he stays healthy (which you can say for damon as well) he is a good offensive talent and is a great bargain at 1 year 5.5. He also is motivated to play well because he will be a free agent next season. One more point that makes a lot of sense (hat tip tyler kepner at nyt) one year commitment on the cheap, leaves a lot of options open for next year for that free agent class. I personally would love to see carl crawford as our next big time left fielder
It might be time for another Brian Cashman appreciation thread soon…
5.5 mil for NJ = steal
Curtis Granderson for Austin Jackson and Ian Kennedy = very good deal
Not taking the bait on the overpriced and overaged Damon and Matsui = smart
Not taking the bait/jumping the gun and overpaying/overcommitting to Holliday = smart
Not bothering with Lackey = smart
Not ransacking the farm system for a 32 year old and soon to be very expensive Roy Halladay = smart
People make the argument that with his budget anyone could be a good GM, but it is precisely the moves that Cash DOESN’T make that define his brilliance, and would likely be the pitfalls of other GMs who could very well see “big budget” as “limitless budget” and pay heavily for it in the future. Cashman is proving himself to be VERY good at building around the stars. Being the yankees does make it easier to sign big-name free agents, but recognizing the difference between CC/AJ/Teix and Lackey and Holliday, plus recognizing that neither Halladay nor Santana were worth trading for, takes intelligence and perspective. In Cash I trust.
Yankees GM can be tough too. If I remember, a lot of the late 90′s early 00′s big free agent bust where due to the Boss’ demands, despite Cash being against it. The recoil of the bust comes down on him.
“I am with you on this if it is true. I do not understand this signing at all. I use to go into panic attacks in close games when Matsui came to the plate. I tell you the biggest problem I have with Johnson is that he clogs up the bases with his speed. In the Yankees lineup, I think he has to bat in the back of the lineup.”
Red Sox fan on MLBTR
It’s such a hassle when a guy is on base 40% of the time.
Seriously. He’d serve us much better if he was fast and made outs 70% of the time.
I like this Johnson signing slightly. I think DeRosa would have been a better match, as he really is the most versatile player we could sign. If you can rotate a guy around to almost all fields and also play him in the infield, or use him to light a fire under Cano’s ass so he doesn’t slack, you are talking about a solid acquisition. More power, comparable OBP, and not the same injury history. Nick Johnson seems like a handcuff in the lineup. And honestly, I think I like Cougar (Granderson) better higher than slot…all OBP issues aside, his speed is far superior to Johnson
I heard the whispers of a possible Matt Kemp trade recently. I LOVE this idea. We woudn’t need Crawford or Holliday if that were the case. He is young, and I don’t know if our prospects would match up with LA’s needs, but they could save some mulah… Lets do it Cash money
DeRosa is overpriced and overrated, and can play any position…poorly.
Its a nice signing until Beckett hits him on the wrist in his first AB on April 4th and puts him on the DL for the season. That 5.5 mil won’t look like such a bargain then (that is if he actually makes it out of spring training healthy).
Would have rather seen the Yanks go with a RH DH like Dye or Vlad to protect A-Rod.
I get the Yanks don’t want to give Damon more than 2 – that’s fine and I’m glad they are getting younger, but NJ isn’t the right bat to replace Damon in the two hole.
I’m very happy about this. Especially if the savings are put toward bolstering the pitching staff, either now or for the future (Chapman).
On a semi-related note, I had a dream last night that the Yanks were holding a press conference for the NJ signing, and Andy Williams burst onto the podium singing “Matty Hollidays, toooo yoooouuu!” He was then carted off by Levine and a few other suits while Waldman remarked, “Oh my goodness, goodness gracious!”