Update: Cubs agree to sign Nate Schierholtz

December 5, 2012 by Mike Axisa 244 Comments

9:30pm: Schierholtz has agreed to a one-year contract with the Cubs according to Jerry Crasnick. So much for that.

8:24pm: Via Joel Sherman: Free agent outfielder Nate Schierholtz has an offer in hand from the Yankees. He says it’s believed to be the first offer the team has made to a position player this offseason. Progress!

AC

Exhale everyone. Cashman indeed has a pulse !!
- Alex Rodriguez
  
  Reports say that Ichiro has signed a $5 million dollar deal to return to the New York Yankees, according to NikkanSports.com.
  - Alex Rodriguez
    
    I’m joking. It was weeks ago.
dan gen

we are really excited about this…….
wyojim

Yanks and their fans were swept out of the playoffs,so I guess it looks like we might not be swept out the meetings.
http://www.nesn.com/2011/01/2011-red-sox-will-challenge-1927-yankees-for-title-of-greatest-team-in-major-league-history.html wilk

sign this dude and hairston
- MB923
  
  I’d still rather have Ichiro
  - Ted Nelson
    
    Why?
- FIPster Doofus
  
  Give me Ross over Hairston if possible (might not be possible).
  - Ted Nelson
    
    Agreed.
  - Simon
    
    Agreed as well. I would like Ross along with Schierholtz but I have a feeling Ross will want too many years.
    - Laz
      
      Ross wants money for a starter, and can probably get it, he won’t want the smaller side of a platoon.
Lefftee

With Cashman running the show we are going no where fast. Proof is in the pudding people
- CP
  
  Hmmmm… 14 playoff appearances in 15 years, puls 4 WS titles. The proof is in the pudding.
- DC
  
  Hi Trollee
Bobby D.

Remember everyone was worried O’neil couldn’t hit lefties before he came to the yanks! I can see a lot of shots going into that short porch. Grab him!!
http://www.twitter.com/_swarlesbarkley Drew

(unenthused) woo!
forensic

I say it’s for 4 months and $575K.

Don’t want too much of a commitment…
- Andy Pettitte’s Fibula
  
  Don’t forget a souvenir seat from YS2, a baseball signed by Kei Igawa and a vintage Melido Perez bobble head doll.
  - Robinson Tilapia
    
    I’d love a Melido bobblehead.
- Ted Nelson
  
  That they haven’t made their moves yet doesn’t mean they’ve not going to make any moves.
  - forensic
    
    Where did I say anything even close to what you’re accusing me of saying?
    
    It’s a joke, but so far it’s been moderately based in the reality of their actions.
    - Ted Nelson
      
      LOL. You claim not to say something, then you say it the next sentence.
      
      Read what I wrote. Then read your second sentence. Then read what I wrote again.
      - forensic
        
        My second sentence also says nothing about feeling they’re not going to make any moves, which is what you accused me of. I do feel they won’t make any move with long commitments, which is exactly what they’ve said and how they’ve acted the whole offseason.
        
        Of course they’re going to make moves. There isn’t a 3B even on the 40 man roster right now (who’d be available for early in the season). It’d be hard to field a team without making any moves.
        
        Why do you insist on trying to start arguments with people for no reason? I make a harmless joke, which clearly other people understood, and you just try to turn it into me saying Cashman will just basically go on vacation till March.
        
        And I guess it seems they missed out on another possible target here.
        
        Ted Nelson
        
        I didn’t accuse you of anything. I made a simple statement of fact. You then started an argument.
        
        Again, how they’ve acted the whole off-season is how they’ve acted for less than half the offseason. If the Marlins call to offer Stanton at what the Yankees think is a reasonable price, I don’t think Cashman will hang up on them because he refuses to take on any long-term commitments.
Flyer7

Can Schierholz back up Tex at 1B?
- forensic
  
  RF is right behind 1B, so sure, he can back him up on a bunch of different plays.
- Jersey Joe
  
  Eh, I feel like his arm and D would be too good to waste at 1B. Is possible though.
Ted Nelson

Check Shierholtz’s splits the past two seasons if you are not excited by the possibility of this move. This is classic ninja Cashman. This it THE undervalued FA on the market, like Martin a couple of seasons ago. This is why Cashman is one of the best GMs in baseball and why I have faith that he’ll put a good team on the field come opening day and throughout the $189 budget plan.
- bingo bango
  
  good call
  - Tom
    
    “THE” undervalued FA on the market put up all of 0.5fWAR last year and 1.5fWAR the year before and that was with him getting most of his AB’s against his better platoon.
    
    Not sure a player who has averaged 1 WAR the last 2 years should really be labeled as THE undervalued FA on the market.
    
    —-
    
    Career vs Lefties: wRC+ 90
    Career vs Righties: wRC+ 96
    (both are below league average of 100)
    
    The problem with looking at 2 years of left right splits:
    vs Lefty PA’s less than 140 PA’s (that is less than a quarter of a season)
    vs Right PA’s less than 500 PA’s (less than 1 full season)
    
    Now I’m not saying he can suddenly hit lefties (or that he can’t hit righties), but pulling two less than full years of PA’s and calling him THE undervalued FA on the market is a bit of a stretch when his career #’s are below average (against both lefties and righties)
    
    Without any regression these #’s just aren’t meaningful. To put in in perspective Robinson Cano had similar PA’s in just this past year (he actually had more PA’s against lefties). Yet I think most would say it that is too small a sample to be looking at Cano’s 2012 splits and taking them too seriously.
- Andy Pettitte’s Fibula
  
  Cashman was such a Ninja that he signed Nate S. without the player even knowing that he’d been signed and so accidentally signed with the Cubs too.
  - Ted Nelson
    
    Did you read what I wrote? “if you are not excited **by the possibility** of this move.” Didn’t get him, but he is usually barking up the right trees.
    
    What is your argument that Cashman is not one of the best GMs in baseball? The guy puts a winning team on the field every year and makes almost all solid moves. And you accuse me of going out of my way to contradict you. HA
    - Steve
      
      So talking to a free agent and then not signing him is why he is one of the best GMs in baseball? Man think of the possibilities! We almost had THE undervalued free agent on the market.
      - Ted Nelson
        
        Yes. Not panicking and going after the right guys is why he’s one of the best GMs in baseball. He gets that guy enough of the time. Not going to happen every time with 29 other orgs out there.
        
        He is looking at the right guys. He’s not rushing to overpay the wrong guys. Ironically, the same people who criticize him because they think he does just that are now criticizing him for not doing it…
        
        Steve
        
        You’re glossing over quite a few pretty large mistakes, but to each his own.
        
        Ted Nelson
        
        No, I’m holding him up against other GMs rather than perfection.
        
        I also realize that several of the teams mistakes were not made by Cashman.
        
        To each their own, though.
        
        Andy Pettitte’s Fibula
        
        If Cashman is great just for speaking to Nate S, what would you call Theo Epstein for actually signing him, a super genius?
        
        Steve
        
        And a ninja, considering it didn’t leak out until it was done
        
        Ted Nelson
        
        If I said he’s great, let me know where.
        
        Yeah, Epstein is a really smart dude. You know he went to Yale, has a law degree, and was GM of the Red Sox at 28… bringing them their first championships in forever, right?
        
        You always try to make me look dumb and end up making yourself look like an idiot. Is this your new handle, Plank?
        
        Andy Pettitte’s Fibula
        
        You got me.
        
        Ted Nelson
        
        I get you every single time. I don’t know why you still try.
        
        Andy Pettitte’s Fibula
        
        You don’t think too highly of Keith Law judging by your comments yesterday and he has a law degree and went to Harvard if I’m correct.
        
        Ted Nelson
        
        Stop with the strawmen. This is why you are such a poor commenter.
        
        Try to understand and process at least one of my arguments. You picked out the lesser of two accomplishments on Epstein. Law was not able to hack it as a scout for the Jays when they were a poorly run organization, not a very successful GM at 28.
        
        I also don’t think Law is a dumb guy. That’s not what I said. Again, you’ve constructed a strawman argument. He’s clearly a smart guy (with zero track record as a GM to judge). I said that him agreeing with you does not make you right. I said that simply linking to a Keith Law article is not an argument in and of itself. Just like me simply saying that Epstein signed someone would not be an argument for it being a good move. I have cited Shierholtz stats compared to likely salary, not once have I pointed to several of the best GMs in baseball (Friedman, Epstein, Cashman) courting him as evidence.
        
        forensic
        
        Out of curiosity, where is the line between ‘one of the best’ and ‘great’? Unless you feel the vast majority of GMs are bad, it would seem that ‘one of the best’ would lead toward the ‘great’ realm.
        
        Andy Pettitte’s Fibula
        
        In his world, I guess “one of the best” =/= ” great”.
        
        Ted Nelson
        
        forensic – I was responding to his tone. Clearly my argument was not that he is great because he talked to Schierholtz. “Great” is a subjective term, but not one I used to describe Cashman in this thread.
        
        Fibula takes all of my comments and strawmans my argument so that it is mangled beyond recognition before he responds to what he claims is my argument. I said he is one of the best in the game right now, for example, and that gets twisted into me saying he is the best GM in MLB since the 1950s.
        
        I said he is one of the best, and I am still waiting for anyone to provide me a list of all the GMs who are better.
        
        Need Pitching & Hitting
        
        While you’re waiting, how about you prove he’s one of the best in the game.
        Yes, they’ve made the playoffs all but one year and he’s been at the helm for 4 WS, but please prove that an average GM inheriting the same ridiculously good core of in their prime (or not yet in their prime in some cases) players and with more substantially more financial resources than any other team would not have performed similarly.
        Please provide a list of all of the GM’s that would have done worse if given such significant advantages.
        
        Ted Nelson
        
        I have made my argument for why I think he’s one of the best.
        
        vicki
        
        not for nothing but lol at ted nelson as an arbiter of good commenting.
        
        you read a book on how to pick up women; and, sure, you wear a funny hat and get a lot of attention, but you still go home alone.
        
        less strategy. more substance.
      - Andy Pettitte’s Fibula
        
        I think Cash spoke with Greinke and Hamilton in the restroom in Nashville about playing for the Yankees for free in 2013. I’d say he’s in the lead for executive of the year
        
        Ted Nelson
        
        Right, because that’s what my argument was. Keep making those strawmen.
    - Andy Pettitte’s Fibula
      
      I think Cash is a little above average GM.
      
      You were sucking his dick for the presumed signing of “THE undervalued FA on the market” and your boy let “THE undervalued FA on the market” slip away to sign with a shit team on a 1 year deal of all things.
      
      Not the best example to use touting Cashman”s greatness.
      - Ted Nelson
        
        Again, learn to read.
      - Ted Nelson
        
        What is your argument that he’s “a little above average” by the way? Just your gut feeling?
        
        Ted Nelson
        
        Who are the 10-14 GMs that are better?
        
        Steve
        
        Why don’t we wait until he’s working with a budget to declare his greatness? I know you don’t think having the most money is an advantage, but life is pretty good when you’ve got an all-star at 7 positions.
        
        Ted Nelson
        
        Where did I ever say that? Stop making things up.
        
        Obviously it’s a big advantage. You still have to use that money wisely, though. Look at some of the other big money franchises: Mets, Dodger, Red Sox. They have all wasted vast sums of money and fallen apart in short order.
        
        Fibula claimed he’s a little above average, so I asked who is better. That’s an extremely reasonable question. Just going with a gut “oh, he’s kind of decent” is a lot different than having a well thought out opinion. I’m trying to see which this is. Fibula seems to disagree with me wholeheartedly, so I hope he’s put some thought into this.
        
        Steve
        
        I thought the reason that we had to sign the Nate Schierholtz’s of the world (no offense to his greatness) is because we haven’t used this money wisely.
        
        ARod isn’t on Cash (though he was the best player on the World Series team that Cashman gets credit for putting together). But Tex was. AJ Burnett was. Kei Igawa (I believe he may finally be off the payroll but I believe he was the kind of reactionary signing that Cashman doesn’t make?) was.
        
        This team is up against the luxury tax without a catcher, a RF, a 3B. But you’re telling me it has spent money wisely?
        
        Ted Nelson
        
        “We” have to sign the Nate Schierholtz’s of the world to spend money wisely. Whether they had $300 million or $10 million to spend this off-season getting a guy who has put up a .350 wOBA against RHP for two straight seasons for like $3 million is a good move in my opinion.
        
        Yes, that is what I’m telling you. No one is perfect and just about anyone would make a few questionable signings with the length of track record Cashman has.(Though I find it almost impossible to believe that you knew before he was signed that Tex would stop hitting from the left side in YS3… some deals just don’t work out… it hasn’t been nearly as bad as some GMs’ worst deals.)
        
        And, no, Igawa is not considered to be a Cashman decision. The whole joke there is that Cashman and Torre had to ask the guy what pitches he threw after he had already been signed. Are you a Yankees fan, or what? That you don’t know these things and then try to tell me I’m wrong without mentioning even one GM who is better by name is hilarious.
        
        They have a 3B. He’s out 3-6 months, not forever. Players get hurt on every team. That’s not a Yankee thing.
        
        Steve
        
        No, I’m not a Yankee fan. And you want some GMs that are better? Though I don’t know of a GM grading curve, in my opinion:
        
        Andrew Friedman, Dave Dombrowski, Billy Beane, Alex Anthopolous, Jon Daniels, Brian Sabean and Mike Rizzo are better. But I’m sure I’m wrong, and I’m sure you have a tome as to why
        
        Steve
        
        Also, can you point me to one link that claims that Igawa wasn’t signed by Cashman. I have literally never heard that. Please, o great and powerful, enlighten me
        
        Andy Pettitte’s Fibula
        
        Steve, I think Frank Wren, Theo Epstein and Rueben Amaro are in the GM conversation with the ones you’ve mentioned as well
        
        Steve
        
        I didn’t count Epstein because he isn’t technically the GM. He’s also failed pretty spectacularly with the same kind of budget that Cashman has.
        
        Ted Nelson
        
        Take two seconds to look it up.
        
        I don’t agree with all of them, but that’s 7 GMs. In your own opinion he’s the 8th best GM in baseball and you have such a problem with me calling him “one of the best” that you’ve spent hours debating me?
        
        Steve
        
        I didn’t take issue with you calling him one of the best. He’s a fine GM. He’s not great. He’s above average and that’s with near unlimited financial resources, which none of the seven guys on my list (maybe minus Dombrowski) have. I also searched 10 pages of Google links as well as the RAB archive and found nothing to back up your bullshit Kei Igawa claim. For a guy that relishes proving people wrong, the fact that you won’t smacks of getting your hand caught in the cookie jar.
        
        Need Pitching & Hitting
        
        I would consider “one of the best” to be top 10%, not maybe, barely in the top quartile.
        
        Ted Nelson
        
        Again, are you a Yankee fan? This is not something I feel that I need to prove.
        
        ——–
        
        “One of the best” is a subjective term. That you consider it to be strictly defined as top 10% doesn’t make it the case. I do not agree that he’s 8th best, I was saying that the different between top 3 or 4 and top 8 is not necessarily all that great. We have limited sample sizes and lots of noise with all of these guys (they all inherited a certain situation, had certain constraints, certain resources, etc.)
        
        Steve
        
        Again, no. And you don’t have to prove it. It’s not true. Kei Igawa is a Brian Cashman mistake. There is literally nothing that says the opposite. If it’s true that he didn’t know what pitches he threw that’s not a glowing endorsement of the great Brian Cashman.
        
        “We have been following Kei Igawa’s very successful and accomplished career in Japan,” said Brian Cashman after the winning bid was announced. “We are excited about the opportunity to begin the negotiating process with him.”
        
        Again, this was after the posting but before the signing. He knew nothing about him but still worked out a 5 year deal 20-something days after this.
        
        Ted Nelson
        
        Do you know who Randy Levine is? Clearly Cashman was involved in signing Igawa. That doesn’t mean it was his decision.
        
        http://www.pinstripedbible.com/2011/12/21/2649980/randy-levine-the-enemy-from-within
        
        http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/othersports/article-433042/Japan-player-posting-needs-review-say-Yankees.html
        
        http://itsaboutthemoney.net/archives/2011/08/02/is-ownership-meddling-again/
        
        What are you Fibula’s buddy or something? Why are you wasting your time and mine if you’re not a Yankees fan?
        
        Steve
        
        I enjoy this blog. I think it’s well-written, that’s why I read it. I posted on this particular article because of your asinine statement about the Cash Ninja and this being THE undervalued FA on the market. Then he didn’t sign. Clearly I’m not the only person who found this entertaining. I am arguing with you because you’re far and away the most obnoxious person on this board and for you to complain about your patented move is laughable to the point of absurdity. This is the Ted Nelson move. Argue for hours on end.
        
        One of those three posts speculated that Levine may have been involved. The other two say no such thing. But Randy Levine is the catch all excuse whenever a move goes wrong. A top 8 or 4 or 3 GM wouldn’t make such terrible decisions
        
        Alkaline
        
        Just going with a gut “oh, he’s kind of decent” is a lot different than having a well thought out opinion. I’m trying to see which this is.
        
        I feel like I should point out my post towards the bottom of the OT tonight.
        
        Andy Pettitte’s Fibula
        
        I agree with your post in the bottom of the OT but as far as ranking GMs, it’s pretty subjective as there are no advanced statistics that I’m aware of that can be used to rate or rank them.
        
        Andy Pettitte’s Fibula
        
        You convinced me. Cashman is the best GM since Branch Rickey.
        
        Ted Nelson
        
        Because that was my argument and all…
- Ted Nelson
  
  Guess not…
- Steve
  
  CLASSIC Ninja Cashman.
  - Andy Pettitte’s Fibula
    
    You gotta admit it’s pretty stealthy when you sign a player without he or his agent knowing.
    - Ted Nelson
      
      It’s pretty funny when someone who cannot read comments on this site.
      - Ted Nelson
        
        Stay in school
Guest

and nate signs with the cubs..HAHA
- Need Pitching & Hitting
  
  lol
- FIPster Doofus
  
  Son of a bitch. I was excited to see him on the Yankees. Now what? Raul?
  - FIPster Doofus
    
    Oops. I forgot about Ichiro.
  - G
    
    Raul? Nah.
    
    RAUUUUUUUUUUUULLLLL? Sure.
    
    Seriously just give Ichiro a 1 year deal and make that trade for Stubbs. Not ideal, but what ideal option is out there at this point? Of course there is news that the Brewers are open to trading Hart. He’d fill RF (probably play defense adequately in YS3’s tiny RF) and definitely add some sorely needed right handed power.
- Scheister
  
  LMAO. And the runner up is…
http://fendersonandhampton.com Cuso

Wtf. Haha.
http://fendersonandhampton.com Cuso

Is it possible that Cashman is only offering 3-month contracts instead of 1-year contracts?
- http://fendersonandhampton.com Cuso
  
  New meme
  - Robinson Tilapia
    
    Uh no
    - http://fendersonandhampton.com Cuso
      
      Fine. Old meme. :p
bingo bango

Theo: f@ck yo couch.
- http://www.twitter.com/_swarlesbarkley Drew
  
  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r6yTqNpl98I
  - http://www,riveraveblues.com GT Yankee
    
    My absolute favorite skit of all time. After watching 10’s of times, I can go back and look at it again and again and bust out laughing.
    
    As for the Yanks, I for one find it troubling that all of these FA are coming off the board with nothing being done. We can hope that Cashman pulls off a trade “ninja” style, but what viable position playing MLB trade chip do the Yanks have right now to move besides Granderson? At this point the belief is that the team would be selling low on him and of course there is the matter of replacing those HR’s. Not to mention those of Swisher and Martin. I’m not sure what type of player Hughes, Nova or Phelps would bring back right now, but I’m thinking no one that great. Sure you can look to move the kids, but I’m guessing it wouldn’t go over well as there’s still a pretty good sense of loss about Jesus and AJax. Too bad Nunez plays terrible D. If he could field he might be as valuable as Simmons and thus a possible trade chip for J. Upton.
Hardcore Yankee Fan

Looks like the Cubs got him.
jake

wow, already lost him. i really wanna think the yanks are planning something big but im not confident
ClayDavis

Bahhahahahahaha. Is this real?
28 this year

This one is a little inexcusable. Its a one year deal, give him a little extra to get him. Ugh, if Cashman makes a move for a good OF, then I will be ok but really, losing one of the best options for a one year deal is just bad. Hope he has something up his sleeve.
- Ted Nelson
  
  This is the first one I’m really disappointed by.
  - Simon
    
    Agree. I was actually looking forward to seeing what he was capable of in a possible platoon with the short porch. This also made perfect sense too. For shame. Hopefully Cashman does in fact have something up his sleeve.
  - Alkaline
    
    Agree as well. I had an irrational joy for the prospect of getting him.
Simon

Obviously there’s a ton of offseason left and I have faith in Cashman, but honestly who’s the next option? Raul? Ichiro? I have no clue at this point.
http://fendersonandhampton.com Cuso

All this means is Ichiro is definitely coming back.
Yankeefan

cashman better be coming up with a trade for Giancarlo Stanton
- MannyGeee
  
  which i would assume includes having someones daughter tied up ina brooklyn basement… Rule #3, just because YankeeFan says to do it doesnt mean Cashman can force opposing GMs to play along. BUt you know this, because you’re not trolling at all…
  - RetroRob
    
    If it lands them Stanton, I’ll bring the rope, you bring the daughter.
Scott

He just signed a one year deal with the Cubs! Yanks miss out again!!
Karloff

I’ve got no problem with them going into the season with some minor moves and using players from the minor leagues to fill in. Doesn’t anyone remember the 80’s and early 90’s Yankees. I really don’t care about the 189m budget for 2014.
ClayDavis

Think this is a sign the org has to quit it with this BS strategy and go back to using their giant advantage; Money.
Tonino

Can we please bring back Swisher
- Hoss
  
  Groundskeepers in RF object.
Dustin Pedroia’s Sister

He signed for 1/2.25m with 500k in incentives. Guess we couldn’t fork over 3m.
- bingo bango
  
  WTF
  Did the Yankees offer less playing time than the Cubs?
  - Alkaline
    
    I would imagine. That’s the difficult scenario the Yankees are in. They need bench players who are above the average skill set of typical bench players because they’ll play a bit more than normal. The issue is the players who fall under this required skill set could normally find a FT gig (or a better opportunity for one) elsewhere.
- 28 this year
  
  Yea i mean, come on, a guy like that can provide that value with defense alone. Ugh, Cashman better outdo himself here or he really screwed this one up. This is the only one where 2014 wasn’t even at risk cause its a one year deal.
  - Dustin Pedroia’s Sister
    
    According to Crasnick, the Rays came a close second too!
- Ppiddy
  
  It’s pretty sad.
  So far Cashman gets a C+ this offseason. A+ for bringing back the pitching. Absolute F in Nashville. ( Is there a lower grade?! LOL)
  Hope he can correct his GPA in the coming months
Hoss

Why all the sad faces? Andruw Jones will be tan and rested by March. And what about Fukudome? One man’s scrap heap is another’s gold mine.
Jason

This either means a couple of things. Either Cashman has a master plan which I am hoping for or we are going to really suck next year. I mean we were interested in this guy and cashman couldnt get him. He got a one year contract for some change we could of paid more for him. If the yankees dont get it together im definietely not going to any games to watch cervelli behind the plate and Nix at third base
- Hoss
  
  You’ve figured out Cashman’s Cervix solution to the C-3B problem.
- Cris Pengiucci
  
  Or they’re Plan D (or E or F or whatever they labeled it) may need to be employed. Bring up “The Kids From the Farm”! (is that a new boy band?)
  
  Seriously, this is starting to get a bit worrisome.
  - Hoss
    
    Actually, it’s called “Plan 9 from Outer Space.”
The Real Eddard

Nobody wants to play here anymore. Chavy said it was Yankees or bust and now he’s a D-Back. Martin jumped ship to the Pirates of all places. I think players look at this club and they see a team that just has too much money tied up in old ballplayers. It’s a team on the decline. Cashman needs to invest more in the farm and swing some deals for younger players.
- Cris Pengiucci
  
  So, how do you suggest he invest in the farm? Their record isn’t exactly getting them pics early each round. And, last I recall, swing a deal usually involved giving up prospects/younger players. Your comment, as usual, makes no sense.
- DC
  
  When never had this problem until you showed up.
- Munson in Cooperstown
  
  I think yours is a fair assessment…we’re old and worn, and by virtue of having finished so high in the standings for so long a time, we haven’t much on the farm that’s serviceable. I’m prepared to endure lean years ahead, and my confidence in Cashman hasn’t diminished, but I have to wonder what the front-office objective is for 2013. Don’t think we’re going to be terribly competitive with the Tampas, Baltimores, and Torontos…
  - MannyGeee
    
    holy shit… I hate the winter meetings.
    
    Its the only time of year where people are irrational enough to buy into #EddardWorld.
    
    Fuck me
  - Bo Knows
    
    “Nothing Serviceable”
    
    Except you know Sanchez, Heathcott, Austin, Williams, Phelps, Montgomery, Flores, Turley all guys who will be in either Tampa or Trenton to start the year
    
    and then of course all the interesting lower minor players like De Paula, Hensley, Cote, Camerana, Ramirez, Gumbs, Santana, Bichette, Aune just to name a few.
CT Yankee

“Lost another one to Di-tech.”

I mean, free agency.
Anthony

Lots of offseason left, yes, but I can see why some people are getting a bit anxious now with Schierholtz off the table as well. Its annoying, but not the end of the world. Cashman has something up his sleeve for sure.
Pat D

El Guapo kinda sums up how I feel with his last comment.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MCC_i_PyEog
Guest

playing right field for the yankees this season..SHANE SPENCER!!!!!
- Hoss
  
  Actually, Mo says that he has a cousin that can handle RF and since Jeter is going to be out for a bit, maybe he can borrow his glove for a while…
  - Orealy
    
    Since we’re talking cousins, maybe Burt Reynolds (Cano’s cousin) is available for another go around. At least he had a hilarious twitter account
Jacob

My worried level went up by 3%, so now it is 3%
Ppiddy

Hetman claims he turned down a 2 yr offer worth $5M. Must be the yanks or orioles. Guess Nate wanted be assured full time. Not platooning. And he gets that with an awful cubs team
- bingo bango
  
  Don’t blame him at all. Yankees wanted a less than 100% time guy and he wanted a FT gig. Same with Drew.
Jon G

I know it won’t happen, but I’m rooting for Heathcott to come to ST ON FIRE and make the MLB club in right or left. Frankly that would excite me more than most of the scrap heap FA’s out there…

Give Adams and Nunez a shot at third – also more interesting to me than most FA scrapheap options. Have Nunez play all winter at third – he was actually quite good there when filling in for Arod in 2011.

The team needs to get younger and more exciting and it seems that fate is not giving us much choice in the matter the way the winter has gone…
- Ppiddy
  
  Nunez was good at 3B?!
  - Jon G
    
    There was a period of a month or two where he filled in and did well for a new kid with the team (remember, he had 300+ AB in 2011 with 22 SB, 30 RBI, 18 2b, etc.) I don’t remember him being as bad with the glove as he was early last year, and I remember him giving the team a good spark and being bummed when Arod returned.
    
    That said, the fact that the Yankees aren’t even talking about him there speaks volumes about what they think about him. If that’s the case, let’s see what a kid like David Adams can do… Our offense didn’t really have ANY exciting rookies in 2012, and they often add spark (even if it fades ala Ledee, Juan Rivera, etc)
    
    2014 will hopefully be a bigger year for some of the kids on the way – Sanchez, Williams, Austin, etc…
- botz
  
  I agree it would be exciting but it will never ever happen.
- vicki
  
  i’ve got a feeling slade won’t make it through this off-season. stock is super high and, ya know, character issues.
  
  just a feeling.
Andy Pettitte’s Fibula

The Dickerson supporters are now a step closer to realizing their dream.
- Ppiddy
  
  Dickerson may surprise. Better than the scrap heap
  - Mike HC
    
    He has hit righties better than Schierholtz for his career. Not the past couple of years though.
    - MannyGeee
      
      what career is that you’re talking about?
      - Mike HC
        
        Um … I’m talking about Chris Dickerson’s Major League Baseball career. Look up his stats and see for yourself. Career .778 OPS vs righties.
Big Member

Its okay. Brain has been sitting with Soriano for the last 3 days, trying to work out a deal. Rafael already said that he’ll settle for 3/33 but Levine just got on the line and wants him to accept 6/66 with 5 opt outs.
- Ppiddy
  
  LOL
Mike HC

No big deal here. Would prefer a guy with a little more power for rightfield, maybe a little worse defensively though.
- Ppiddy
  
  Trade for our old buddy Soriano then? ;)
  - Mike HC
    
    Would definitely like Soriano but don’t think that contract would fly.
  - Hoss
    
    Yes, and he can replace Cano at 2B in 2014.
http://www.nesn.com/2011/01/2011-red-sox-will-challenge-1927-yankees-for-title-of-greatest-team-in-major-league-history.html wilk

is cashman kidding? he couldn’t fork over three million for this guy? THREE MILLION? hell, if he wants full time so bad offer him 4 or 5. it’s chump change. IT’S ONE YEAR.

i mean, the guy isn’t that good, but come on, missed opportunity here
- Alkaline
  
  How do you know what Cash did or didn’t offer? From what I could tell, Nate probably wants a better chance at a FT position.
Ppiddy

I miss The Boss. He would not be into this crap
Raul Ibanez AKA Tom Marvolo Riddle AKA True Yankee(TM)

So far we’ve speculated that the Yankees are interested in Scuturo, Keppinger, Nate here, and Chavez in the past two days, and all of them have signed in the last 2 days or so (outside of Scuturo) either A. Cashman has something gigantic planned, B. He has something really big but not blockbuster planned (Think Montero for Pineda), or C. He’s just packing it in…in my opinion the safe money is on B.
- Mike HC
  
  Or D. Reports on who the Yanks are “interested” in are full of crap.
- forensic
  
  Scutaro did sign.
  - Raul Ibanez AKA Tom Marvolo Riddle AKA True Yankee(TM)
    
    Yeah, but he signed a week or so ago, everybody else I listed signed literally within the last 48 hours.
    - forensic
      
      Scutaro just signed last night.
      - Raul Ibanez AKA Tom Marvolo Riddle AKA True Yankee(TM)
        
        Huh, well I’m an idiot…somebody play me off
        
        **ducks off stage right**
YanksFanInBeantown

GOD DAMMIT CUBS!

Only option now is Santana, Choo and Cabrera for Melky and IPK

Make it happen, Cash!
mustang

Rockies To Re-Sign Jeff Francis
Pirates Acquire Andy Oliver
Angels To Sign Sean Burnett
Cardinals To Sign Randy Choate
Diamondbacks To Sign Eric Chavez
Mariners To Sign Jason Bay
Orioles To Sign Nate McLouth
Diamondbacks Sign Wil Nieves
White Sox To Sign Jeff Keppinger
Giants To Sign Marco Scutaro
Rays Acquire Yunel Escobar
Rockies Acquire Wilton Lopez
Red Sox To Sign Shane Victorino
Diamondbacks Sign Eric Hinske
Nationals To Sign Dan Haren
Rangers To Sign Joakim Soria
Giants To Re-Sign Angel Pagan
Red Sox To Sign Mike Napoli
Rangers Re-Sign Geovany Soto
Rays To Sign James Loney
Padres To Sign Jason Marquis
Cubs To Sign Kyuji Fujikawa
Brewers Acquire Burke Badenhop
Athletics Acquire Chris Resop
Astros Claim Phil Humber
Angels, Braves Swap Hanson, Walden
Pirates Sign Russell Martin

You can add Joe Blanton and Nate Schierholtz

THE YANKEES ARE DONE FOR THE NEXT DECADE !!!!!!

RUN FOR THE HILLS!!!!!

More bad news pitchers and catchers report tomorrow
MB923

Both Ibanez and Ichiro have said they prefer to play in NY. I”m aware they are old, but there are not a whole lot of better options and for less money. If he wants to do 1 year deals, why not do it with them?
- vicki
  
  streets are paved with left-handed hitters. if they’re still around after we’ve covered the other side of the plate, fine.
Raul Ibanez AKA Tom Marvolo Riddle AKA True Yankee(TM)

So..besides his price tag, why isn’t Swisher an option? I mean, his wRC+ is higher every year he’s been a Yankee than Granderson’s in that time frame except for Grandy’s monster in 2011. I’d rather them carry both Swish and Grandy this season and let Granderson walk after next. They’re roughly the same age, but Granderson play’s a more physically draining position, and though they both play their positions blow averagely I’d argue that Swish is less bad then Grandy and Granderson’s D will fade quicker because all he has defensively is speed.
- forensic
  
  How can you really have that debate though without accounting for his price tag, in both years and money? That’s the main issue and the ramifications that come from them.
- JobaWockeeZ
  
  They seemingly aren’t interested in paying a 15 million AAV for someone who’s peak tops at 4 WAR. Especially when he’s entering his decline years.
  
  Would he be worth 15 million over 4 years? Maybe, but they don’t want to risk it because of 189.
  - vicki
    
    15aav in this market is a motherloving BARGAIN.
    
    i want swish. (sort of think it’ll happen.)
- Brian S.
  
  Swisher sucks in the playoffs and it is not a small sample size.
  - Get Phelps Up
    
    Yes it is.
  - YanksFanInBeantown
    
    You’re right, it’s 4 small unconnected sample sizes.
- MannyGeee
  
  besides his price tag? likely no reason. BUT… there is his price tag youo have to contest with.
Hornets686

1 Trade Manny Banuelos, Tyler Austin, Melky Mesa, Eduardo Nunez, and Mark Montgomery for Giancarlo Cruz Michael Stanton.

2 Trade Ivan Nova, David Adams, Slade Heathcott, and Brett Marshall for Chase Headley.

3 Trade Curtis Granderson and Adam Warren for Matt Garza and Alfonso Soriano

4 Sign Stephen Drew, Brian Wilson, and Grady Sizemore

5 Re-sign Raul Ibanez
- Francesa
  
  Damn, that about solves it! Get this man Cash’s cell number now!
- MannyGeee
  
  everything here is shit.
  - MB923
    
    Well I wouldn’t say the re-signing Ibanez one is
  - Slappy McWaterbug
    
    Reading these two posts in succession…I’m literally crying with laughter.
JobaWockeeZ

If the Yankees don’t get anyone this offseason it is a success.
- forensic
  
  That’s going a little too far though. They don’t have a 3B on the 40 man roster. I might be ok with starting off with Nunez there, but they clearly aren’t. Right now, Nunez is probably the closest thing they have to a DH. Either way, the other spot is unfilled. For RF you’re basically left with Dickerson playing full-time. I would be curious about him part-time, but full-time might be stretching it a bit.
  - Need Pitching & Hitting
    
    David Adams has played some third, fwiw.
    - forensic
      
      Yeah, but after only a month and change at the position I have to think he’s almost less of a 3B option than Nunez is.
      - Need Pitching & Hitting
        
        Maybe, but it seems like the Yankees are pretty hell bent on avoiding Nunez at 3rd. When ARod got hurt last season, Adams started getting regular reps at 3rd, Nunez didn’t. I wouldn’t be at all surprised if Adams is higher on the 3B depth chart than Nunez.
  - JobaWockeeZ
    
    True. What I really meant was getting no one substantial meaning a lot of dollars or prospects. This team isn’t a free agent away from being like 2003 good. The core is aging and they’ll need to get younger and better blood.
    
    Which won’t happen this offseason regardless. Stand pat Cash.
- mustang
  
  I’m really starting to believe this at these prices.
  - JobaWockeeZ
    
    I had a hunch but I didn’t think it would legit be nobody.
paul a

Ibanez could be signing with seattle. so now besides no c, 3b ,rf we can add dh to that list. Nice job Hal, keep up the good work ruining this team. You have managed to turn the Yankee univerese into a nuclear winter.
- JobaWockeeZ
  
  One “bad” year out of 15 is something we all can live with. With the vets they have they could make a playoff push. It’s apparent the long term future rides with the prospects whether to sue or for trade. While, gladly, it gives a lot of people cringes it’s seems to be the only trajectory the team is taking.
  
  Everyone’s “plan” includes overpaying people or trading everyone for one or two players. It’ll delay rebuilding for like 2 or 3 years. It has to happen eventually and I’d rather it happen earlier to get it over with.
Hornets686

1. Andre Ethier and Ted Lilly for Melky Mesa, Eduardo Nunez, and Mark Montgomery and Ivan Nova

2. Chase Headley for Manny Banuelos, David Adams, Slade Heathcott, and Brett Marshall

3 Trade Curtis Granderson and Adam Warren for Matt Garza and Alfonso Soriano

4 Sign Stephen Drew, Brian Wilson, and Grady Sizemore

5 Re-sign Raul Ibanez
- Brian S.
  
  That first trade is God awful. Ted Lilly sucks and Andre Ethier is an expensive platoon bat that is injured all the time.
  - Francesa
    
    For a moment there, I thought we had a real deep thinker here…but, oh well, the drugs were due to wear off at some point.
- Francesa
  
  Now you’ve lost me. Can’t go for that, padre.
bpdelia

now I’m getting a bit nervous. haven’t commented much because following mlbtr minute by minute is just too much but seems to me 4 million for one year, while an overpay would have done it. i understabd the days are different but on a one year deal the yankees MUST use their financial,advantage. being able to outbid teams for marginal players by 40 percent while impacting the bottom line by .7 percent is exactly the kind of advantage the yankees should have been doing. this team is in bo position to be traded its few valuable prospects. i sinvmcerelly doubt a one year. four million dollar deal doesn’t get it done. very very dissapointing. I’m really getting nervous now. i was very upset about martin and then quite befuddled on chavez. this one makes zero sense to me
Havok9120

You know….I actually love this thread. The situation itself is pretty crummy, but the reaction is pretty hilarious. I mean, the ledge jumper meme has gotten unreasonable usage, and the handful of people who actually DO get mad whenever someone criticizes the team or says something cynical/pessimistic annoy me as well…but there’s got to be a pretty big middle ground between “head in the sand, everything is perfect,” and “Sell the farm, quit the team, the Steins should burn, Cashman is a jackass, DOOMED,” stuff that so many of these comments are based on.

Can’t we find it for a bit? I mean, we’re gonna clock TWO HUNDRED comments on losing Nate Schierholtz, a guy most of us had almost certainly never heard of before Mike wrote him up.
- Francesa
  
  Right. I thought he was the guy who used to be GM for the Braves. But then I realized he spelled his name with two r’s.
  - I am not the droids you’re looking for…
    
    Wait. It’s not that guy?
- MannyGeee
  
  but we neeeeed him! We need that Nate Shareholder guy or we’re doomed! George is rolling over in his grave from not overpaying for him.
  
  and yes, any penny over $3M would have been an overpay.
- dalelama
  
  What fun would that be? Stop sniveling!
- vicki
  
  nah. though it is a little emasculating. we finally get up the nerve to ask a guy to dance and he shoots us down. for more money, but still.
Rick

He wasn’t tendered a contract with a presumable $2M Arb award. Ended up getting a max of $3M meeting incentives. Can we stop acting like we passed on Babe Ruth? He’s a platoon RF. There aren’t enough spots to platoon everyone. Maybe he would have worked in YS3, but Jesus. Comments that you’ll stop watching games? That cashman sucks? It’s Nate freaking Scheirholtz. The guys whose name no one could spell with out googling one month ago.
- Guest
  
  AMEN
- gbyanks
  
  i still need google to spell it
  - MannyGeee
    
    I copy & paste it from the last comment that says “we got outbid by the Cubs for Nate Scheirholtz!!!!! Booooocashman!!! and trade for Giancarlo”
    
    See?
    
    Scheirholtz
    Scheirholtz
    Scheirholtz
    
    *Nate Scheirholtz appears like Beetlejuice…
    - Bob Buttons
      
      You mean Betelgeuse.
      - Travis L.
        
        Dont confuse him.
- DC
  
  +1
- Betty Lizard
  
  DON’T SIGN ANYONE WE CAN’T SPELL!
  - Havok9120
    
    I love this comment.
  - forensic
    
    Based on so many posters here, that means they have to rescind the contract with ‘Pettitte’…
    - vicki
      
      sigh. painfully true.
  - hogsmog
    
    “So I stood up and tole that teachin’ lady, the only four letters I need are G,R,I, and T!!
- Bob Buttons
  
  What do you mean? I can totally spell “Nate”.
  
  Oh boy, not even being frivolous can stop my panicking.
- forensic
  
  It’s spelled with an ‘ier’, not ‘eir’.
  
  And really, nearly every affordable FA still left (especially among OFers, some non-platoon ‘3B’ are left, but they have pretty big warts in other areas) is affordable in the range they may be working because they are platoon bats and have warts in their games. If they weren’t, they’d be much more expensive and seemingly not in the Yankees range.
- mustang
  
  WORTH REPEATING!!!!
  
  WITH BOSE SPEAKERS!!!!!!
- Ted Nelson
  
  He’s not Babe Ruth, but he’s a lefty half (2/3 really) of a platoon who has put up a wOBA of .350 against RHP each of the past two seasons and plays good D. Ichiro, in comparison, was at .310 last season against RHP and way below that in 2011. He looks like a pretty good value. He was pretty much #1 on my wishlist at this point.
  - Ted Nelson
    
    To clarify I totally agree that many people are overreacting.
- LK
  
  People aren’t concerned about this specifically. I’m generally very positive about the Yankees. I’ve been reading the “this was the last year of the Yankees’ reign” columns put out by the national writers every year for a decade now and thinking they were bullshit, but this is the closest they’ve come to being right so far. Lots of offseason to go, but if you’re not worried at this point you’re not paying attention.
  
  C – ?/guy who is almost a certainty to completely suck offensively across the board
  1B – player who has declined offensively every year since 2008 and will be 33
  2B – MVP candidate
  3B – ?/player who has declined every year since 2007, will be 37, and just had hip surgery
  SS – 39 year old who had ankle surgery and may not be ready for opening day
  LF – player who had 37 ABs last year
  CF – fantastic power, good speed, poor defense, .319 OBP, 32 years old
  RF – ?/likely 39 year old who last cracked a .310 OBP in 2010
  DH – ?/likely 41 year old who last cracked a .310 OBP in 2010
  SP1 – ace who had 2 DL stints and offseason elbow surgery
  SP2 – 38 year old coming off a career high in innings
  SP3 – 41 year old who hasn’t thrown a full season in 3 years
  SP4 – good pitcher with a homer problem
  SP5 – guy who sucked last year/unproven prospect
  CL – 43 year old coming off ACL surgery
  
  That’s the pessimistic view of things, of course, and many of those players will put up very good seasons. I’m not panicking because I don’t view the Yankees as something to panic about, but if you feel that panicking about them would ever be justified, I’m not going to blame you if you think now’s the time.
- http://www,riveraveblues.com GT Yankee
  
  I totally agree with your assessment, but I feel the comments are more a product of progressively missing out on various free agents while competitors like the Blue Jays, Rangers & Angels are making moves. In reality RF, is the simplest of the issues to fix. While resigning Ichiro might not be what some people want, it looks to be an easier problem to solve than 3B & C. I think the MLBTR site stating “Yanks in Lead” to get this guy caused hope that Cash would get off his duff and do something. Not that NS was the most crucial.
  - Rick
    
    Completely agree with you. Are there holes in the team? Sure, of course there are. Are there more than usual at this point in the year? Yup. A lot of off-season left, however. Still December, let’s wait and see how this plays out. If it gets near ST and our roster is still the same, then it’s very fair to be concerned about the upcoming season and deem the off-season a failure.
Magilla Gorilla Mama Called me Roy tho

Take a deep breath. Who cares about your righty platoon outfielder? He would have gotten 250 at bats, never found his hitting groove and would be gone by July 31. On the Yankees, the least important player is the righty platoon outfielder. Cut the Ninja crap.
- forensic
  
  Schierholtz bats lefty.
  - vicki
    
    who doesn’t.
iYankees

I’m actually surprised we haven’t overpaid someone just to lock them into a one-year deal (short commitment is best with 2014 on the horizon). I mean, it’s a thin market, but there are stop-gap solutions out there. Has me wondering if Cashman has something else up his sleeve, though, who knows. Maybe we’re all just spoiled.
- dalelama
  
  Or just blinded by homerism.
Ppiddy

Let’s get to 200 comments! Do it for Nate!
Get Phelps Up

Mark Reynolds please.
- forensic
  
  For 3B or DH?
  - Get Phelps Up
    
    Mostly DH although I’d be OK with him at 3B once a week. Maybe when Hughes is pitching.
- vicki
  
  hey!
  
  if you take away his numbers against the yankees he’s not that great.
MB923

Andrew Marchand ?@AndrewMarchand
Hairston & Ichiro still in play for Yanks.

Fingers crossed
- RetroRob
  
  Which Hairston?
  
  More concerning, which Ichiro?
  - vicki
    
    it’s nice to have a hairston around the house.
Rigoleto

At this rate would anyone be surprised to wake up to “Ichiro signs with *insert mid-market team here* for 2 years, 15 mil” ?
- Brian S.
  
  Not at all. Ditto Scott Hairston, Cody Ross, and any other player that might be useful.
Juke Early

Bud The Pud Selig is wringing his hands with glee, like Monty Burns on The Simpsons. Well, I lived through the CBS Yankees, I can live through the BS years.
Grover

Too many manginas posting but it tends to happen every year from the shortsighted and young.
dan gen

cashman will only sign u if u are willing to play the position for free and for one year…u see he is only offering one year deals………..189,189,189,189,189,189,189,189,189,189,189,189 by the way to u want that legend seat for 1500….
- vicki
  
  ingles, por favor.
vicki

little off-topic, but i feel that any team willing to carry shelley duncan should be permitted an extra roster spot. it’s only right.
DZ

Is there anyway they could platoon nunez and dickerson for rightfield?
Pingback: Barbarisi: Cashman lacked authority to make offers at Winter Meetings | River Avenue Blues
Pingback: Olney: Cubs are ready to sell | River Avenue Blues
Pingback: Sherman: Alfonso Soriano trade came from ownership | River Avenue Blues