Feb
22
Yanks sign David Aardsma
ByBryan Hoch reports that the Yankees have signed right-handed relief pitcher David Aardsma to a MLB contract for 2012, with a team option for 2013. Aardsma, 30, missed the entire 2011 season due to elbow troubles, though he didn’t undergo Tommy John surgery until July. He’ll head right to the 60-day DL, so this is akin to a minor league deal, in that it won’t cost the Yankees a 40-man roster spot. He could return a year after surgery, giving the Yankees a midseason option. More on Aardsma to follow this afternoon.
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Love this.
I dig.
“so this is akin to a minor league deal, in that it won’t cost the Yankees a 40-man roster spot.”
But it’s guaranteed money for a guy who is already hurt. People went crazy for Chavez’s 900k but 500k for a guy on the DL is fine?
This is about 2013 not 2012.
Mostly about 2013*
Hey, I don’t mind. But it seems a bit inconsistent with the flood of Ibanez/Chavez contract complaints I saw. I think there’s more downside risk with a guy who’s already down with arm problems.
I cant speak for others and i dont have strong feelings about the Chavez and Ibanez signings but I would say the Potential upside is much greater here and it has no downside in terms of blocking others who coulld potentially contribute.
Hmmm… I dont think either contract at those prices are blocking anyone. In fact I think that’s why those contracts were offered at those prices. But I do think there’s just as a strong a chance that the Yankees paid 500k for Aardsma to contribute nothing this year. And if he isn’t all the way back, they may not even pick up the option. Like I said, I have no problem with it. But 900k for Chavez reaction was unreal — but not a peep for 500k for a guy who may not pitch at all.
I think the Yankees know he probably wont pitch this year. Again this move makes sense as a 2013 signing on the cheap. He would probably sign for a similar amount or more next offseason once hes healthy.
Also, im not knocking the chavez or ibanez signings. Im just giving a possible reason for being against them, which no one but you brought up.
I might disagree but I understand why they’re against them; I just wonder why they’re not against this too. I mean you really have to stretch to say an already injured player is somehow a safer bet than someone who might get injured. That’s my only point.
Recovering from TJS is a safe bet in baseball. Recovering from old age isnt.
Maybe — but when that recovery progresses enough to contribute in a positive way is the question. And until Chavez and Ibanez falter — if they do — there’ll be nothing for them to recover from.
Generally 18 months from the surgery. It can be a bit faster for RP.
You’re expecting logic and reason where there may be none.
I don’t know if I’m expecting it — but I try to steer things towards logic and reason. But it seems I’ll always run into rationalizations that boil down to nothing more than “But I hate that guy!” or “But I love that guy!” Once you get there you realize the pitbull jaws are locked down so tight that no evidence from reality will sway them.
That was unexpected. Lieberesque.
Yeah, they got a club option for 2013 too.
That’s the real steal. Not even mutual.
guess they are really serious about Mo retiring!
After Rivera’s comments, I guess it’s time to start bringing in guys who have saves on their resume.
Joba and Aardsma as midseason bullpen reinforcements? Not bad.
Almost like picking up an arm at trading deadline. Nice move by Cash.
#fyeaCashman
love this move, even if he doesn’t contribute this year he should be a good 6/7th inning guy next year. out of curiosity, has anyone reported the team option price for 2013?
Agreed, but… 6th inning guy? Im not ready to accept that as a thing.
I didn’t mean that his defined role by Girardi, just that he’ll probably be a middle inning guy with Wade if he’s back next year while Joba/DRob/Soriano handle the end of games. I’m sure he could be an 8th inning guy ora closer if he returns to form.
nah, he will be competing for 8th/9th inning duties with JoRoSo.
If his arm doesnt fall off, that is.
With Mo, Robertson, Soriano, Joba and Aardsma the Yankees only need their starters to go 4 innings.
Send Phil out to lock down teh fourth!
I guess then you’re going to have really big problem with a 5th inning guy. : -)
Mo
D-Rob
Soriano
Joba
Aardsma
Excellent.
Now they should be able to make Joba a starter again right? (Wrong)
I’m into it. He’s relatively proven and will bounce back without issue at his age. With he and Joba getting healthy around the same time, we’ll have some insurance just in case Cory Wade can’t replicate last season.
Or, if you read/believe WallyMatt, Aardsma can compete with Soriano in the “Post-Mariano Sacrificial Lamb Sweepstakes,” where the Yankees will inevitably employ an ineffective closer in the short term to take the pressure off D-Rob replacing Mo in the long term.
Doofus.
Oh, like when there was talk of Tony Pena taking one for the team as manager after Torre?
Exactly. Because that’s how we do things. We brought in Tino to be the fall guy after Mattingly too.
Bullpen depth. I’m fine with this move.
Great signing.
Can’t have enough bat missing power arms in the pen.
Solid low-risk signing. If he can recover, he is good addition to the bullpen.
Frankly, I’m very excited about the Burt Reynolds signing as well. We haven’t had a solid ‘stache on the team in years.
He changed his name to Turd Ferguson this off-season actually.
LOL.
One of the best SNL skits ever.
Yea, that’s right. Turd Ferguson. It’s a funny name.
I hope that they allow him to wear a foam cowboy hat during intrasquad games. Or they can just issue him one of Matsui’s old caps to achieve the same level of comedy.
Any Scottish prospects the team could acquire?
+100,000,000
Hes Actually Cano Cousin :p
So cash just picked up a proven closer that can step in around the trade deadline, with a team option next year for nothing but 500K? Even if he has to spend a bunch of time in AAA to rehab they still have a bunch of bullpen depth and if he sucks, don’t pick up the option next year. Low risk/high reward move.
#NinjaSkillz
Woo Hoo! Maybe he’ll be the heir apparent to Mo.
No that’s still Noesi.
/Axisa’d
Question: Would you have rather kept Andrew Brackman in the minors for 500k for 2012 and all his contract stipulations praying that he finally irons out all his pitching related issues OR
This Aardsma deal? With similar money that would have been invested in 2012 and 2013 ?
The Aardsma deal.
Even coming off of TJS, I think he’s a better bet to contribute as a solid middle reliever than Brackman at this point.
Pretty sure Brackman was set to earn about $2M his year, no?
I think 1.1 million or something like that.
….Aardsma for sure. Brackman is a bust, cut the umbilical cord already. Also, this doesn’t take up a 40-man spot until he is healthy, Brackman does while he is awful in the minors.
Great move. why not?
This is very similar to the Dotel move that the Yankees made several years ago.
Yep. And they basically paid him to get ready to pitch for another team.
And the 2013 option makes this even better. I wonder if paying Dotel to rehab was in the back of Cashman’s mind and caused him to push for the ’13 option.
Did the Yanks have an option on Dotel, though?
Just because Dotel didn’t go as planned, it doesn’t mean Aardsma couldn’t have a Lieber-esque resurgence in him.
I’m pretty sure the Yankees didn’t have an option on Dotel.
pitching pitching and more pitcing…if he heals up and can throw..works for me…ibanez and chavez-veteran role players needed to make a solid bench in my opinion…guys like laird need at bats at AAA..pena nothing more then a def guy.
Similar to what they did a few years ago with Jon Lieber
Hey, at least we have a guy tthat shows up ahead of Aaron on the alphabetical list of all time. We’re number 1.
meh, don’t like this one that much. Aardsma isn’t better than anybody in the pen. Has he options left? It’s an okay depth move but you’ll find guys like Aardsma any day of the season on waivers or the FA market.
I think the Yanks see something special in him (I do not, not at all tbh), otherwise I don’t see the reason of signing him. But I trust Cash, he’s doing the right things.
Did you read the article?
of course I did.
David Aardsma is also the first player alphabetically in Major League history.
Until i make my debut.
Sounds good to me.
Too many Yankees fans in here sounding like they root for a team like the Mets. This move was done because the Yankees front office know what Derek knows – Mo is RETIRING after this year. They are getting their contingency plans in place now – smart “NINJA” move, Cashman.
And Chavez/Ibanez signings were smart, low-cost/high reward moves. Only Red Sox fans would doubt Cashman after the Colon/Garcia moves paid big dividends last year. We will have a better team this year.
Building the bridge to “Aw, Fuck!” begins.
So is this some of the AJ money at work? Granted, its peanuts for the Yanks, but at least theoretically, can this be credited to that little pile of money coming from Pittsburgh?
How many times has everyone said David Aardsma today? It’s such a fun name to say.
If he can duplicate 2009 next year, I’ll be happy.
If he can duplicate 2010, I’d still be happy.
Geoff Baker of the Seattle Times says the contract includes 500K in incentives, while the option is for 500K as well. Even if he only pitches next year that’s still a good deal at that price.