Angels land Josh Hamilton

December 13, 2012 by Mike Axisa 160 Comments

According to multiple reports, the Angels have agreed to sign Josh Hamilton to a five-year contract worth $125M. The Yankees were never really in the hunt for the slugger outside of a report that they were looking into his background, but it’s a major move that changes the AL landscape nonetheless. Gotta figure the Rangers, who are quietly having a nightmare offseason after a disastrous end to the season, will look into Nick Swisher and Michael Bourn to replace some of the lost production.

Granderslam

Hughes/Nova for Trumbo
- http://www.riveraveblues.com Mike Axisa
  
  They could have just signed Reynolds and gotten the same player.
- Greg
  
  except that neither Hughes nor Nova is really more than a 5th pitcher. And the Yankees don’t have much in the farm to enhance the bid.
  - Need Pitching & Hitting
    
    Hughes could be a solid 3 for the Angels.
    - JobaWockeeZ
      
      Not if you’re a believer in FIP, and all the other advanced pitching metrics.
      - Need Pitching & Hitting
        
        His high FIP was mostly product of his career high HR rate. I would expect some regression there, especially if he went to the Angels.
        Not saying he’d definitely be a 3, but it’s certainly a possibility.
        
        dlr
        
        The Angels already traded for Phil Hughes, expected HR FIP regression and all. They just call him Tommy Hanson.
  - Ted Nelson
    
    A. Trumbo is nothing more than a marginal starting 1B who can stand in the OF. You don’t need to enhance the bid in any way.
    
    B. If 3rd SP = 5th SP, sure.
    
    C. The Yankees have 3 top 50 prospects and decent depth. Get with it. Stop making stuff up.
    - The Big City of Dreams
      
      He’s not making stuff up. The 3 top 50 prospects are what 2-3 yrs away. We’re talking about guys in A ball.
      - Ted Nelson
        
        Trades are based around prospects in AA and A ball all the time. Austin was in AA to close the season, by the way, in case you don’t follow the Yankees.
        
        The Big City of Dreams
        
        What’s with you and the smart ass remarks. You go out of your what to insult ppl. Calm down Ted it’s just a game.
        
        Sri745
        
        Ted’s just upset that’s he hasn’t finished telling the story of how he met his wife to his kids. 6 years and running now.
  - entonces
    
    Hughes is a #3 and at still 26 so he could wind up better than that.
- http://www.riveraveblues.com Mike Axisa
  
  Trumbo was so bad after May this year that he was getting benched for Vernon Wells down the stretch.
  - http://www.thewallbreakers.com Scully
    
    This.
  - Laz
    
    So they have extra depth!
art vandelay

hamilton pujols and trout ……. GULP. if they can get some pitching they will be scary. the AL just keeps getting tougher.
MannyGeee

Holy shitsnacks. That came out of nowhere. I am ok with this I suppose, if for no other reason because I had a feeling the Sawx were gonna go over pay for him. The Angels will find a way to screw this up just like did to Pujols.
- jjyank
  
  Heh “shitsnacks”. I really hope that was an Archer reference.
  - Jim Is Bored
    
    January 17th!
Bill

Once agaign the Yankees under Hal let another prize free agent land with a different team.

It seems like both La teams want to win at all costs and not worry about the luxury tax.

Hal got one thing on his minbd 189, 189, 189!.
- the tenth inning stretch
  
  And in a few years those LA teams will be just like the 2012 Red Sox.
- Chris Widger
  
  If Hal would have given Hamilton 25 mil for five years I’d want him shot.
- Preston
  
  You realize that even after this signing the Angels are at like 165 right? Both LA teams paid handsomely to win 89 games and not make the playoffs. The Rangers and Giants might still be better than the Angels and Dodgers.
Mandy Stankiewicz

Agreed. Lets get Trumbo!
Reggie C.

Absolutely floored …

for 135 games the Angels will unleash three of the top five hitters in the AL.
- G
  
  Assuming Pujols gets back to that form… If not they’ve got 2 great hitters who are both likely to take a step back next year, 7 who are nothing to write home about, and a shaky at best pitching staff. Not too worried.
J $

Yanks r in big trouble this year. No1 here wants to hear it but I say blow it up. Marlins style firesale. By the time those prospects mature we would be out from underneath Arod and Tex and be able to spend to compliment them. Too bad NYers are too impatient so they will just let this roster rot with ancient players declining slowly. Guess this is the price we pay for the 90’s. Thank god for the Giants.
- the tenth inning stretch
  
  This team won 95 games last year and made it to the ALCS. You’re right, they suck.
  - J $
    
    That was before they lost Swisher, A-rod, Soriano, and Martin. Before the whole roster aged another year. Before our soon to be 40 year old SS broke his ankle. Before they did nothing but sign ANOTHER over the hill veteran in Youkilis to replace all of those losses. Also, I remember it as getting absolutely embarassed in the ALCS, not making it.
    - Ted Nelson
      
      A-Rod is out 1-3 months. Soriano is replaced by not just Mo, but also Joba coming back. Gardner is replacing Ibanez/Jones. Pettitte is replacing half a season of Garcia. Youkilis is 34 and hit pretty well even last season.
      
      Let’s be realistic. The Yankees aren’t unstoppable, but things aren’t falling apart either.
      - J $
        
        1) A-rod sucks anyway we lost the “real” A-rod in 2008
        2) Mo is like 50 he won’t stay good forever
        3) I actually like Joba’s prospects this year, but history says we shouldn’t expect much
        4) Gardner is a light hitting defense first outfielder – how is he gonna replace all Ibanez’ clutch HRs?
        5) Pettitte is replacing himself- again old as hell may break down
        6) Youkilis sucked last year and is obviously in decline
        
        The pitching is good not great and the lineup right now looks to be average at best. Plus the entire team is old and teetering on the edge of breaking down if a few of these older guys can’t play the whole year.
        
        Ted Nelson
        
        So enlightened! Why back anything up when you can just say that everyone sucks!
        
        Rick
        
        You take it easy, Mr. Nelson. He has a dollar sign in his handle and you don’t! Any rational scenario you can postulate to him will do no good. Don’t try and make sense to someone who can’t make sense of things themselves. I leave you with this, “I used to take a 2 hour nap everyday, usually from 1-4.”
        
        J $
        
        You really need to see the numbers? Fine:
        
        A-rod
        AVG HR RBI OBP
        .272 18 57 .353
        
        Youkilis
        BA HR RBI OBP SLG
        .235 19 60 .336 .409
        
        Like I said they suck. We are paying ~$42MM next year for this pair of has beens that will hit around .250 with 20 bombs and a .350 OBP. We could have two Josh Hamiltons for that (I don;t even want Josh Hamilton just saying)
        
        Anyone not worried about the Yankees is delusional.
        
        Ted Nelson
        
        They’re not once they once were, but they also don’t suck:
        
        http://www.fangraphs.com/leaders.aspx?pos=3b&stats=bat&lg=all&qual=y&type=8&season=2012&month=0&season1=2010&ind=0&team=0&rost=0&age=0&filter=&players=0
        
        Anyone can list a random string of numbers together. How about analyzing their overall performances in relation to the rest of the league?
        
        J $
        
        http://www.fangraphs.com/leaders.aspx?pos=3b&stats=bat&lg=all&qual=y&type=8&season=2012&month=0&season1=2012&ind=0&team=0&rost=0&age=0&filter=&players=0
        
        There – I fixed it. Why include 2010 and 2011? Rose colored glasses that’s why. So by your logic we are paying $42MM for the 16th/17th best 3rd baseman with an WAR of about 2. Seems like money well spent….no
        
        Need Pitching & Hitting
        
        Definitely not money well spent, but definitely not suck either (Arod anyways).
        
        Need Pitching & Hitting
        
        Re 4: Gardner’s not going to replace the clutch HR’s. He’s going to help in other ways. His advantage over Ibanez/Jones in defense and baserunning alone is huge. He also make outs less frequently than Ibanez/Jones. Healthy Gardner is much, much, much more valuable overall than Ibanez.
    - Fan
      
      They are fine. Swisher and Martin were two of the culprates of the playoff meltdown. Are u nuts you are worried about the captain. You never played a day of ball in your life did you. Go sit by your chess board and keep eating the rest of the Twinkies your just bought off eBay because you thought another company wasn’t going to make them. Leave the Yankees to the GM all he does year in year out. Stop being such a Yankee hater. Cheer for your own team. If the Yankees are your team stop being such a spoiled brat and go ask mommie for a glass of milk fat ass
      - FIPster Doofus
        
        Swisher and Martin may have aided in the playoff meltdown, but they also aided in actually making the playoffs. They’re going to be missed.
      - J $
        
        This post is hilarious. Like Doofus says they helped get us to the playoffs and Martin’s handling of the pitching staff was invaluable. Yes I am worried about a soon to be 40 year old SS coming off major ankle surgery. Everyone slows down at some point. History says he is due for a massive regression this year. I’m a Yankee fan you clown. You are obviously an internet tough guy. I’m 6′ 190 and 7% bodyfat. I ran 2 marathons, a tough mudder, and a Spartan race this year so feel free to hit me up and we can settle this “Fan”.
        
        I am not the droids you’re looking for…
        
        Lulz. Lighten up Francis. And remember, no matter how big and tough you (think) you are, there is always someone who can beat the crap out of you.
    - Chris
      
      How can you blow this team up?
      
      After this season, the only players signed to expensive contracts are CC, ARod, and Tex. You may be able to trade CC and force the receiving team to take Tex or ARod, but that’s it.
      
      Everyone else is either a free agent, or too young/cheap to merit a trade in the first place.
  - Bat Man
    
    I understand the fact we will still contend this year but at what cost? if we’re not going to sign Grandy after this year shouldnt we just trade him now and get some pieces back for the future? Who cares if NY fans are impatient, I feel like its the smart baseball move.
    - Havok9120
      
      Only if you feel they have no chance of contending for years. This season will see the best pitching staff the team is likely to field for quite some time, another decent shot at a good year from Jeter, possibly our last year of Cano, and the last orthodox “prime” year from Tex/CC.
      
      We’d be insane not to try and compete this season unless we’re willing to keep not competing for 3-5 more.
    - Ted Nelson
      
      “shouldnt we just trade him now and get some pieces back for the future?”
      
      Depends what those pieces are. There is ~4.4 fWAR value in keep Granderson (his average the last three years), so you have to get at least that much value back (plus the value of a supplementary pick). A lot of it depends on what discount rate you’re using. You’d most likely lose a lot in 2013, so how much would you gain going forward compared to your alternatives?
      
      The Yankees also can re-sign both Granderson and Cano if they choose.
- JobaWockeeZ
  
  The point of the one year deals is competing and “blowing up” at the same time. There’s only a couple of players that can net us good prospects so they can’t sell out. However they do have a good enough farm that could return a couple of nice players so that when the contracts expire we can see if we can use them. If not they’re goners.
- jjyank
  
  No.
JobaWockeeZ

So LA baseball is going to be exciting.
- MannyGeee
  
  Maybe. Maybe the 2013 Angels will give the 2011 Red Sox a run for bestest team ever.
  - JobaWockeeZ
    
    While I was talking mainly about the Dodgers, the Angels surprisingly can be called a good team which would make baseball in that city exciting.
    
    NY baseball cannot say the same thing as long as the Mets are the Mets.
Reggie C.

I agree with the assessment on the Rangers likely headed to blow up Swisher’s phone. Swisher may actually now get the AAV he’s sought after.
Rich in NJ

Very stealthy by the Angels, and not a terrible contract in terms of years.

Yeah, I can see Swisher ending up in Texas.
- MannyGeee
  
  Dude, 5 years for Hamilton is a lot.
  - I am not the droids you’re looking for…
    
    Yeah I figured a 4 year deal was worth it bc you’d get 2-3 good-great years. A 5 year deal feels like you’re likely only getting 50% of what you paid for.
    
    I do think Swish now goes to Texas though I don’t count the Sawx out yet.
    
    But MAN the SoCal baseball arms race is really heating up.
  - Rich in NJ
    
    Compared to 10 years for Cano? If, hypothetically, that happened, you have to look at how many years of significant underperformance a team could be facing.
    
    I think with Hamilton, you’re probably looking at two. With a 10 year contract for a player (almost any player) entering his age 31 season, it could be four.
    
    So given the market and his age/ability, I think five is reasonable for Hamilton.
    - jjyank
      
      I still very much doubt Cano gets 10 years.
      - Rich in NJ
        
        All I ask is that they know the maximum amount of years (I would hope no more than 7) they are willing to go to, and decide whether or not to keep him based on their current perception of the chances that he will accept it.
    - Havok9120
      
      Even if 10 years for Cano is a reasonable expectation (it isn’t), that doesn’t have a ton of bearing on Hamilton’s contract. This is a guy with a massive injury history playing a non-premium position and a non-zero chance of having his body completely give out without warning or provocation.
      - Rich in NJ
        
        The connection is that with the Yankees’ dual goals of competing in the present while cutting payroll in at least the near future, Cano is an asset that can be moved for cost-controlled, young assets that can help them to construct a roster that can compete at a high level as they cut payroll, and Hamilton’s presence helps offset the offset the loss of Cano.
        
        I wouldn’t be shocked if Cano got 10 years given some of the contracts handed out in this market.
        
        Havok9120
        
        I would’ve been all for a 3 year Hamilton contract. Four would have been pushing it. Would you have been okay with 5 years of Hamilton and a Cano trade?
        
        Rich in NJ
        
        Yes, if, they had talked to Boras and were convinced that his contractual demands were unlikely to fit in their budget plans, and more importantly, the return for Cano was pretty great.
        
        Havok9120
        
        See, my issue is that I’m almost certain that 1 year of Cano doesn’t get a return good enough to justify the hit to our chances this season. It could be a lonnng time until we have this solid-looking a pitching staff again and Tex, Jeter, CC, and Arod, all of whom we’re stuck with for a bit, aren’t getting any younger.
        
        Unless we’re so far out of it by the deadline that its a moot point (or the trade offer truly blows us away), I don’t see the benefit of prospects offsetting the damage to the team this season.
- mike_h
  
  looks like Mr Axisa was right…Texas will eventually get Swisher.
  
  That said, Angels got better but still lost Grienke, Haren, and Santana. Weaver cant carry them alone
DERP

Their team still isn’t that good. Wonder if they will get Dickey next.
- JobaWockeeZ
  
  Better than the Yankees.
  - jjyank
    
    The line up is, but the Yankees have been beat on the pitching side.
  - Need Pitching & Hitting
    
    They’re close right now. Angels offense is better. Yankees pitching should be better.
  - Chris Widger
    
    Not with the Yankees’ bullpen and rotation.
  - Get Phelps Up
    
    Their pitching staff behind Weaver and Wilson is terrible. Their bullpen isn’t anything special either.
- Reggie C.
  
  Nah, the Angels are looking fearsome and a rotation based on Jered Weaver and CJ Wilson is already 2 of 5 strong .
  
  Regarding Dickey, its probably the Rangers who could benefit from adding a Cy winner and throw him against that Angels lineup.
  - Chris Widger
    
    The Angels have signed Joe Blanton to address their rotation. A rotation that included Jerome Williams as a regular starter. And they lost Ervin Santana. And Zack Grienke.
    
    They need a whole hell of a lot more before they are even as good as Texas, much less the best team in the AL.
    - JobaWockeeZ
      
      Texas sucks.
      - Ted Nelson
        
        Based on?
      - Chris Widger
        
        Not with Matt Harrison, Yu Darvish, Colby Lewis, and Derek Holland they don’t. And Ogando still has a lot of potential. That team is built on pitching, not offense.
        
        Ted Nelson
        
        They scored the most runs in MLB last season. Second only to the Yankees over the past three seasons. They have good pitching, but offense has been a big reason they’ve been winning. They could add Bourn and replace Hamilton straight-up, of course. And Profar could be the ROY. Same time, I want to see Darvish sustain his success since not many Japanese veteran SPs have.
      - Get Phelps Up
        
        They don’t suck but they definitely have some major holes.
  - Ted Nelson
    
    Those two will be nice in the playoffs, but right now their rotation has Blanton of Hanson as their #3, I believer. 3/5 of their rotation could be dead weight.
    
    While they’ve added Hamilton, they lost a very good year from Torii Hunter. In all likelihood that evens out over the season, assuming Hamilton misses around 40 games.
    
    Beyond their big 3, their line-up isn’t particularly strong. It’s not bad, but not fearsome.
    
    I’d compare them to the Tigers last season. Their holes might keep them from dominating in the regular season, but they could be scary in a 7 game series. Of course, they’re probably not be done yet.
    - Chris Widger
      
      Hanson could rebound but he’s just not the same pitcher as he was a few years ago. He’s back-end at best.
      - Havok9120
        
        Exactly, but he’s their #3. This is the problem.
      - Ted Nelson
        
        Yeah, I actually liked the Walden-Hanson trade more than most. Right now there’s a lot of downside to that rotation, though.
jjyank

Thank you, LAA. Now maybe we’ll be flooded with less “SIGN HAMILTONZ” posts around these parts. I want no part of him on a 5 year deal.
MrPappageorgio

Yeah, but who will the Yankees look into to make up for their lost production and nightmare off season?

Ichiro replaces Swisher?
Youk replaces A-rod?
Cervelli/Stewart replaces Martin?

That’s pathetic. And how is 12 million for Youk and maybe 2 years for Ichiro better than 3 mill for Chavez and 2 years for Hairston?
- JobaWockeeZ
  
  Sometimes you can’t field a world series team every year. And even if they do in the playoffs it depends on who’s hot.
  
  2013 is not about making the best team, but making the best moves so that in 2014+ they can have the best team for the next few years.
  
  There’s little to no moves that can be made to make the Yankees a powerhosue without mortgaging the future. Do you really want Hamilton in 2 years? Everyone was literally begging and crying for Cliff Lee to come here 2 years ago. Now it’s considered a dodged bullet.
- Havok9120
  
  Its not a nightmare. We’ve lost a big piece or two, and that’s a large chunk of salary opening the season on the DL, but our bullpen and rotation are better on paper than they were for most of last season. A disaster would be if all that had happened AND we’d lost Kuroda/Pettitte/Mo.
  
  We need some perspective here.
the tenth inning stretch

LAA pulled a Cashman.
Andy Pettitte’s Fibula (formerly Manny’s BanWagon)

Don’t think I would have gone 5 years for Hamilton but that offense looks damn good at least for 2013.

Trout, Pujols, Hamilton, Morales, Kendrick, Trumbo, Aybar.
kenthadley

Angels sign Hamilton. Yanks sign Bobby Wilson. Bob Dylan should write a song called “The Days of 189”.
- JobaWockeeZ
  
  At least the tired, “Yankees buy a11 t3h championships” argument is now invalid.
  - kenthadley
    
    yes, a silver lining.
- Ted Nelson
  
  Because the way you compare two organizations is only by the deals that make on the same calendar day!!!
Yanks200910

@Buster_ESPN: Other teams asked about Mark Trumbo, and been told that he’s not available; the Angels have said they are keeping him.
CountryClub

In a couple years they’ll be paying Pujos and Hamilton 50 mil a yr and the odds of 1 or both of them being a shadow of their former self is a real possibility.
- I am not the droids you’re looking for…
  
  Guarantee, not possibility. Or, about as close to guaranteed as anything can be save death and taxes.
DERP

Is their plan going to be to win every game 10-9?
entonces

Maybe Bud could add another two wild cards..
Andy Pettitte’s Fibula (formerly Manny’s BanWagon)

Gotta think the Angels are gonna sign Anibal Sanchez or Edwin Jackson next to add to Weaver and CJ Wilson in the middle of the rotation.
- Havok9120
  
  We’ll see. I’ll be interested to see if they’re willing to blow passed the luxury tax threshold or if they’ve got to put the rotation together on the cheap now.
CountryClub

Buster Olney ?@Buster_ESPN
John Mozeliak was crushed in public for letting Albert go — but privately lauded by other GMs. Jon Daniels sitting in that seat now.
- http://www.twitter.com/matt__harris Matt :: Sec110
  
  yeah, but Pujols was a 10 year deal, this isn’t nearly as long.
  - Havok9120
    
    No, but its almost as risky. Albert is virtually guaranteed to be a shadow by the end of the deal, with Hamilton its only “a high probability.” The question will be if when the breakdown begins and if it involves him falling off a cliff or simply declining as normal. I mean with Pujols it should at least be the regular slow decline as opposed to the nonsense that could crop up for Hamilton.
- I am not the droids you’re looking for…
  
  St. Louis has a great baseball tradition and a pretty savvy organization to continue the legacy. They did the right thing, and now so did Texas. Matching or beating 5 years/125mm would’ve come back to bite them in the ass big time.
  
  This deal is a classic ‘all it takes is one GM/owner’ in that my guess is that half a dozen teams would’ve happily taken him for 3-4 years but only one was willing to go the extra mile (year). LAA are really going all in for the next few seasons before Pooholes breaks down and Weaver/CJW are still more or less in their primes.
http://www.twitter.com/matt__harris Matt :: Sec110

Baseball needs a salary cap.
Chris Widger

The Halos rotation beyond 1-2 is a catastrophe.
- Robinson Tilapia
  
  Rick Rhoden, Andy Hawkins, and the Count Montefusco may be looking spry this time of year.
- FIPster Doofus
  
  Blanton’s an OK back-end guy. They really need Hanson to go back to being his old self, but his shoulder’s supposedly a mess.
Get Phelps Up

I take this opportunity to LOL at the Rangers.
Deep Thoughts

So this pretty much pushes Swisher to Texas long-term. That’s too bad, I’d been secretly holding out the faintest hope he’d be back somehow.

I wonder which pieces will come off the board next. Trumbo is younger, strikes out less, has more years of control, is cheaper, and can play the outfield better than Reynolds. We could do much worse for a righty platoon bat.

Scioscia loves his defensive catchers. Let’s offer him a back-of-the-rotation or bullpen arm and his pick of Stewey or Cervy.
- Havok9120
  
  Supposedly the Angles have nixed all trade talk about Trumbo. If true, they’d need to be blown away to get them out of that mode and David Phelps and Chris Stewart won’t get that done.
Andy Pettitte’s Fibula (formerly Manny’s BanWagon)

I’d much rather see Swisher in Texas than Boston, who made yet another questionable signing bringing Dempster into the AL east for a not insignificant amount of money.
vin

After all this, I still can’t believe they acquired the cancerous nuclear radiation known as Vernon Wells’ contract. Who knows… maybe its that contract that is preventing them from fielding a better balanced team.
- Dr. Jake Rosenstein
  
  Tony Reagins got fired for that. That’s how DiPoto got the job.
Chris Widger

Boston’s signed Dempster, 2 years, 26.5 mil. Another guy I love but they can have him. He got whalloped in Texas.
- JobaWockeeZ
  
  They’re going to miss Theo terribly.
- The Real Greg
  
  Career against Yankees:
  0-4 with a 7.62 ERA.
  
  Have fun
Bob

Yanks answer to Hamilton signing Bobby Wilson catcher formerly of Laa and Toronto .
- Ted Nelson
  
  Yes, that’s how it works.
voIII

Is anyone else concerned about Hamilton’s past drug issues and the fact that he’ll now call LA home? Everyone has been saying NY would be a problem for him because of his past, but LA won’t??? Anyone who doesn’t think so has never been to LA…
- bingo bango
  
  @str8edgeracer
- Robinson Tilapia
  
  People who are going to relapse will relapse whether it’s Los Angeles or Podunk, Kansas.
  - DC
    
    Exactly. I never got that “omg…he can’t handle NY” thing in terms of his past. I can get alcohol 24/7 in my little city of 50k.
  - FIPster Doofus
    
    They might be likelier to relapse in Podunk, Kansas, considering they’re in Podunk, Kansas.
Sam G

Wow The angels steal everyone from the rangers:
CJ Wilson
Josh Hamilton
And the rangers were nearing an agreement with Pujols last year before LAA swooped in.
Plus wells was gonna be traded to Texas but was instead to LAA. #OffseasonRivals
RC aka oldmanalex

I got this weird feeling Pujols is going to fall off of a cliff starting next year.
- Get Phelps Up
  
  Really wouldn’t surprise me at all.
  - RC aka oldmanalex
    
    Not hoping for his downfall but it would benefit us in two ways a) Longterm contracts are BS, even for once in a lifetime type players, allowing us to be tougher on Robbie. b) Perhaps it might even make Alex’s accomplishments look even more special and take some slack off of his albatross of a contract.
- FIPster Doofus
  
  Not sure if Pujols will fall off a cliff yet, but he’s already gone from being dominant to just very good. The decline is in progress.
Yankeefan

We could use Trumbo offense in this lineup we can mostly use him as a dh and when the Yankees wanna give one of there outfielders a day off and be Tex backup.
The Real Greg

Olney is saying that the Angels are saying no to Trumbo trade requests.

But they need starting pitching.
- FIPster Doofus
  
  They should try to nab Edwin Jackson for a year or two. I haven’t heard much about his market this offseason.
- Havok9120
  
  Sanchez and Jackson are still on the board.
  
  Honestly, how they build their rotation is gonna depend on what their budget is. They’ve only got about 5 million to go (plus the ~10 million/year in club benefits that everyone is always alluding to) before they hit the luxury tax threshold.
There’s the Door

Moreno had to do it — he’s been completely upstaged by the Dodgers up to now. Hamilton will be very successful there. And whether it’s he protecting Pujols or the other way around, that team just got very much better.
Someone must have said this here already, but if George were alive, Hamilton would have been our right fielder by Thanksgiving. George would have seen him as Mantle-like.
Hal is destroying the brand, ruining the family business. Exactly what are his qualifications for the job?
n every sport, owners generally get the teams they deserve. See Woody Johnson.
- pat
  
  What were George’s qualifications?
  - The Real Greg
    
    I’ll say this for George. He was willing to funnel money back into the product. Hal and Hank are not really doing that.
    - Robinson Tilapia
      
      Trying to avoid a dumb 50 million dollar penalty =/= not willing to funnel money back into the product.
      
      What Steinbrenner family member do we credit the 2009 signings with, or do those not count now?
      - Steve
        
        Well CC was good, so that was Cashman. Tex hasn’t been great but it was unexpected, so that was “Ninja” Cashman. AJ was bad, so that was probably Hank or that scoundrel Randy Levine
    - Ted Nelson
      
      They’ve been spending a ton of money on the team for years. They took over in 2006 or something.
    - Havok9120
      
      Among the highest payrolls in baseball? Check.
      
      Highest payroll in baseball for every other year they’ve had the team? Check.
      
      One of the most extravagant off seasons in recent memory? Check.
      
      New and enormously expensive stadium? Check.
      
      We can hate that they’re cutting back, but the idea that Hal/Hank aren’t putting a mammoth amount of money into the team every year is totally incorrect.
- Havok9120
  
  The same as qualifications George: business man who made his money in a field that had nothing to do with sports.
  - There’s the Door
    
    Nonsense. If ever anyone was born on third base believing he hit a triple, it’s Hal.
    George was a sharp businessman, if a bit of lunatic. Hal is a bean counter.
    And George would never have let a $50 million tail wag a $4B dog.
chris

Forget Trumbo I wonder if the Yanks can cash in on the Rangers likely panic and turn Granderson or even Cano into Profar, Olt or antother top prospect and a pitcher. Thats what teams did to the Yankees when Boston would sign a big FA. Its time we hold up someone.
- FIPster Doofus
  
  Doesn’t make sense for the Rangers when they could just sign Swisher and keep the prospects. No way they’d trade Profar unless they were getting a Justin Upton or Giancarlo Stanton anyway. Grandy wouldn’t merit that type of return.
  - Ted Nelson
    
    Agreed, Swisher or Bourn. Or trade for Upton or Stanton.
- Ted Nelson
  
  When did that happen to the Yankees?
Pat D

Geez, the Angels and Dodgers are suddenly playing the roles of the Mets and Yankees.

I still say that the Angels have their issues. They still only have about half a lineup, depending on if Trumbo is hot or not, and who the hell is in their rotation after Weaver, Wilson and Joe “I Have No Business Being A #3 Starter In The American League” Blanton?
- FIPster Doofus
  
  Tommy “I Have No Right Shoulder” Hanson.
  - Pat D
    
    Gah! How the hell did I forget that already?
    
    I blame ESPN’s largely laughable Hall of 100.
- RetroRob
  
  I don’t remember the Mets ever playing the role the Angels are right now, although I get your point.
Yank the Frank

Don’t you just hate it when teams try to buy a pennant?
- Havok9120
  
  Nah, I find it vindicating. Especially since we won’t see anywhere near the level of hate for the Dodgers and Angles doing as we do whenever the Yankees sign a huge contract.
  - Yank the Frank
    
    I know what you mean. If more teams could, they would be like the Yankees. It just so happens that now, more teams are, but we will see how long it lasts.
RetroRob

Overall this is a mediocre free-agent market. History says this is the exact type of market teams are more likely to get burned. Lots of money out there. Let other teams go in big.

Within two years, the Dodgers and the Angels are going to be dealing with the same issue the Yankees are now. Aging, fading players owed a lot of money. That will probably be the point the Yankees re-enter. Everyone points to 2014, but I think 2015 will also be a sub-189 year. The Yankees may not be really big spenders until post 2015.
TomH

We need a prediction thread, for the AL East, to determine who were more rational: the Pollyannas whose motto is “They won 95 games last year!” or the Chicken Littles who predict a terrible season. The prediction should be made at some reasonable point before the season begins; we identify ourselves with our handles; the chart is available for some limited period and then locked. We then wait until the season ends to praise the winners, laugh at the losers, and read all the many excuses.
- Electric Nunez II (Handle stolen w/o compensatory draft picks)
  
  Here’s a prediction: Yanks win > 60 games. Maybe I should have waited longer into the offseason for things to shake out, but I’m a shoot from the hip kinda guy…
Westcoastyankfan

Yanks should make a play for Trumbo.
Dr. Vinny Boombatz

Well Yankee fans at least Boston or Orioles didn’t get him…I think the smart thing to do is look at 2013 Yankee team from a business perspective: Several overpaid players: A-Rod and Tex lead the list. So Hal may be thinking ok overpaid guys start stepping up and Cano you want a Long-term deal…time to be real clutch. Nothing we can do abt A-Rod and Tex but if Cano has a sub-par or even avg year..then Yanks just stick to a 2-3 yr deal…and let some of the overpriced contracts age off. The Yankeed brain-trust is looking at this as fiscial cliff…so time to get some new blood and some guys from the farm and see what happens…we can still get the same results as 2010-2012 without Swish, Martin, and yes Cano. Spend some extra $ on scouting instead.
wiljaq Yankfan

Hal Steinbrenner is a PUNK who lacks the guts that his dad a plenty. This team has lost it’s way and just keeps signing OLD guys from yesteryear, from the 90’s (let’s sign Paul O’Neil to a 1-year contract, already). For the 3rd offseason in a row the Yankees have done nothing to improve. Meanwhile all those “hot prospects” of a few seasons past rot away, and were left on the vine (or traded away like Montero). After choking BIG time last August, they barely squeaked past the O’s. Wel those O’s are gonna come back strong (good for them!), the Blue Jays were tough last year AND got better this off-season, the Rays just keep making smart move after smart move (and have a fantastic manager), even the Red Sox got smart and dumped a lotto dead weight in order to rise again strong in the near future. But the Yankee? The once great New York Yankees? This organization is now being run like the CBS ownership of the 60’s. MLB rules have beaten them down. Their proud strut is now a pathetic stumbling. In short, Hal’s Yankees are afraid of their own shadow.

What a sad state of affairs for the once great lion of the majors.
- 5 more strawmens
  
  Yeah, they barely squeaked by the O’s by winning 16 of their last 21.
  - TomH
    
    Enough of this canard. They did indeed just barely sneak by the O’s and then collapsed like an old sofa. In any case, much the power on which that team relied is now gone and another year’s worth of age has been added to the residual players.