Sherman: Yankees have “little interest” in Brian Roberts

December 14, 2013 by Mike Axisa 71 Comments

Via Joel Sherman: The Yankees seem to have “little interest” in free agent second baseman Brian Roberts. They’re looking for an infielder after Robinson Cano left for the Mariners and had a three-year, $24M offer out to Omar Infante before he signed with the Royals.

Roberts, 36, hit .249/.312/.392 (90 wRC+) with eight homeruns in 296 plate appearances for the Orioles this past season, his most playing time since 2009. Back, abdomen, hamstring, hip labrum, and concussion problems have limited him to only 192 of 648 possible games over the last four years. Roberts is incredibly risky and I think the Yankees need to add someone a little more reliable right now. The time for taking risks is later in the offseason, after the major needs are addressed.

Mike

Good call. It would be dumb to sign someone with an injury history.
zs190

Maybe I’m reading this wrong, but I read Sherman as saying “they are not really interested in Brian Roberts” when he wrote they seemed to have little interest.
- vin
  
  It’s funny how the word “a” can change the meaning. “A little interest” is different than “little interest.”
  
  You’re correct though.
Jose

I’ve been reading reports about Darwin Barney trade to yanks
- qwerty
  
  Barney = poor man’s brendan Ryan
Havok9120

*waits for Dars to come tell us why this is a travesty*
- Jorge Steinbrenner
  
  Which will happen ten minutes before Cashman acquires Manny Machado for Austin Aune.
  - Laz
    
    we need to keep the prospects, stop trading established vets.
    - Nick Social
      
      Good news, Laz… everyone seems to think our prospects suck, so the chances of them being traded are slim.
- jjyank
  
  Not signing Roberts would be CRIMINAL! CRIMINAL!
Jorge Steinbrenner

That makes two of us.
Reverse apache master

Reports from cbs says Barney and samardzija are headed to yankees and we kept Gardner. Win!!
- Havok9120
  
  Get off my TV.
- Shamus
  
  Truth to this? Where did you read it?
  - mustang
    
    Goggle the names there are a few story out there, but nothing as strong as this comment leads one to believe.
- jeff who lives at grams
  
  There is indeed truth to this rumor. Its centering around Slade Heathcott and Gary Sanchez. I guess these are 2 of NY’s top prospects. Also a lower level pitcher. Word is Campos.
  - mustang
    
    Source please.
  - jjyank
    
    I see nothing on MLBTR. You best post a link, son. Posting fake news is a real quick way to get yourself banned.
    - mustang
      
      THIS!!!!
Frank

Interested to see how this plays out given the pickings at 2B are pretty slim via FA. I’m hoping that somehow they can snag Ackley from the M’s.
Havok9120

For all those pleased that they took Vernon’s number…he’s apparently been issued #19.

Huzzahhhh……

/cry
Reverse apache master

I wonder how many people looked it up. But honestly, I’d be ok with Barney.
- Mykey
  
  Of all the guys that played baseball last year, Darwin Barney is one of them.
  - max
    
    you nailed that.
pounder

Whats Horace Clarke up to these days?
- Chet
  
  You must be an old time “true” yankee fan to mention Horace.
  
  Actually, if you look at his stats he had a few good years on a horrible team. How much money would he get today? LOL
Farewell Grandyman

Why can’t we try to trade for Brad Miller or Nick Franklin? I say we trade them Ichiro back since they are short of guys to play the OF and Seattle seems to have unlimited money. We kick in Adam Warren and we got a deal!
Joey

letting Infante go was a mistake… it’s not like they have a 2B waiting in the wings on the farm. Penny wise and dollar foolish
- jjyank
  
  Meh. I wanted Infante too, but remember who we’re talking about here. He was average to below average every year of his career until his walk year this past season. Was he a fit? Yeah. But I’m not crying over not giving a guy like that 4 years, especially when you can reasonably assume there is going to be some decline there.
billy15

derek should move over to 2nd and put ryan over at third or nunez if his defense improves. Jeter could be the fill in and temp replacement at 2nd for 2 years and in reality we would need an above avg defensive ss such as ryan. trade for chase headily if arid is suspended long term and there you go.
billy15

Funny how no one mentioned moving Derek to 2nd and we all know SS is the tougher more demanding position. It really makes most sense.
- Joey
  
  that’s because everyone knows it’ll never happen
  - Mykey
    
    Yeah but Soriano….
    
    (For the love of God, I’m kidding)
  - jjyank
    
    Bingo.
- Fernando
  
  Jeter to second base is an incredible logical choice. They would have Ryan’s solid defense at SS. The only issue is that Jeter would be on the other side of the DP, which isn’t as easy as it seems.
  
  If Jeter is willing to do it, he would not only extend his career but further cement his image as the captain and the ultimate team player. Don’t think it will happen, though I would be more happy to see Jeter hit lower in the lineup than blindly be listed at the two spot in the lineup.
  - Nick Social
    
    I have no problem with him hitting second.
    
    His bat has never been a problem.
billy15

it will never happen???????
If he shows a lack of range at ss he will be moved to another position…
Outfield?
Don’t need another outfielder!
3rd?
possibility but Arod?
2nd?
hmmmmmmmmmmmmm
hmmmmm
hmmmmmmmm
- jjyank
  
  Are you okay?
billy15

DH?
well beltran, arid, soriano, Texiera, and Mccann??????

too many dh’s on this team.

1B
Texiera and his 2 remaining years……

2nd base may be only option, please consider this as a possibility before you use the word never!
Paul T

I would like to take a chance on Ackley. A falling star but maybe something’s there to salvage
mustang

“Per reports, the Yankees are reportedly interested in Darwin Barney. Even though he wouldn’t be a nice headliner on a trade, if he’s included in a possible Jeff Samardzija move – as the Yankees are also rumored to be interested in the starter – he could sweeten the pot in terms of the possible return.
The Yankees aren’t a very good fit in terms of what the team wants in return – they only have pitching prospects in their Top 10 but they also have interesting position players like C Gary Sanchez that could help the Cubs in the upper levels of the minors.”

This is the basic rumor out within the last hour. So I guess maybe something like Sanchez, Nunez and Phleps for Samardzija and Barney?
Who knows?
- Mykey
  
  I like Samardzija but for some reason I thought he was still like 25.
  
  3.0 ish WAR the last couple years and a nice K/9.
- Kosmo
  
  Sounds close. I can see it now Ryan and Barney combine for 5 WAR just on defense and -1 WAR on offense.
- mustang
  
  Haven’t found anything online to support the rumors above. Anyone find anything give the source or else will you know.
  - DR
    
    The only thing I can find, are articles that base their info on this tweet:
    “Yankees interest in Cubs Darwin Barney may pick up . (Royals sign Omar Infante) teams talked earlier.
    
    — Bruce Levine (@MLBBruceLevine) December 14, 2013”
    
    So somehow the story has gone from: Yankees may pick up interest in Barney, to: Yankees close to trading for Barney and Samardzija for a package including Sanchez + others. That escalated rather quickly.
    - mustang
      
      Welcome to the internet….LOL
  - ‘
    
    I think people are blowing this out of proportion. I have definitely heard the Barney rumors, but I think people are just throwing Samardzija’s name into the ring because the Yanks happen to need pitching and the Cubs don’t seem to be sold on him long term. I would personally love both. Ok, Barney literally has no offense. He has *some* power…maybe enough to crack double digits (and by that I mean 10 homers), but he’s no Cano. He is, however, terrific when it comes to the glove. He is literally the Brendan Ryan of 2nd basemen. I’d rather get him than someone like Brian Roberts. At least we know what we’ll get from Barney and anything else would be a bonus.
    
    Now Samardzija is interesting because we would have to give up some big prospects, but the guy is intriguing. He is a little homer run prone and he does walk a few guys, but he can also strike them out. He’s also about to be 29 so…he’s not exactly really young. Losing someone like Gary Sanchez would really suck. A lot. If we could get him for the right price then so be it. He does have the A.J. Burnett vibe, but for the right price he could really be a solid edition to the rotation — that’s if the rumors are even true. Until something is official then it obviously is just a rumor.
billy15

Im not sure Samardzija is worth a top prospect for the lone fact that his numbers were not so fantastic in the national league and if you send him to the AL add another run on that era and what is he? A number 4th starter? Is Gary Sanchez worth that? If Im trading my best chip in the minors am I trading him for that??????

I would love to have Samardzija but not for our best chip!
- Mykey
  
  Is that how you calculate ERA in the AL? Just add another run and call it a day?
  - jjyank
    
    Hiroki Kuroda would like a word with that logic.
    - Mykey
      
      And Edwin Jackson.
- mustang
  
  Best chip like Montero?
  
  Agree with you, but I been down this road before not feeding into the Yankees prospect hype.
  - Kosmo
    
    if and that´s a big IF this rumor has any legs to it the deal could involve other pieces not named Sanchez. I could see Murphy-Almonte and DePaula being involved or on the Cubbies side Mike Olt -Barney and Samardzija. Cubs are loaded with 3b and SS prospects. Baez and Alcantara at SS and Bryant, Olt and Villanueva at 3B.
- max
  
  just because he’s our best prospect doesn’t mean he’s a top prospect.
billy15

But lets get back to the idea of Jeter moving to second base!

2nd is not as rigorous of a position as SS and it could extend his career in the field.

Also we must consider his Offense at second would be above average.

It may be a real option to consider!
- Kosmo
  
  I don´t think so. Who is the everyday SS ?
  - Nick Social
    
    Ryan.
- Jorge Steinbrenner
  
  You go tell him.
  - Nick Social
    
    “We’re a better team with you at either 3rd or 2nd. Moving off of shortstop makes us better, extends your career and makes your legacy untouchable.”
    
    I don’t have Jeets email address.
    
    Please forward.
billy15

Myckey,

You can do your research and figure out the league change on the era but what I’m telling you is it is approx 1 run less when switching to the NL. It kind of makes sense right?

Look at history of pitchers switching leagues and for the most part a large majority of pitchers going to the NL had better numbers across the board than the switch from NL to AL. So if his numbers were not that good in the NL than what would they have looked like in the AL?

I love his stuff but I believe the idea of trading our best prospect for a 29yo NL pitcher who has never developed into an ace and would fit more in line as a number 4 on the Yankees is not such a smart move.
- Mykey
  
  I get what you’re saying. More than likely his ERA, which has already not been too solid the last couple years, would rise a bit with a move to the Bronx.
  
  However, I’m not certain we know all that much about Samardzija as a starter to be honest. He’s only been a starter for a couple seasons, and although his ERA hasn’t been much to write home about, he does have “strike out stuff”. Anyway, what I’m (very poorly) trying to say is that while he’s certainly not an ace, he may very well develop into a solid starter for the Yankees, or wherever he ends up. WAR wise he would have been only behind Kuroda in the 2013 pitching rotation – yikes.
  - Kosmo
    
    AL combined total ERA was 3.99
    NL combined total ERA was 3.74
    
    Samardzija is a fine pitcher who just needs to establish better consistency. He would be what the Yanks are looking for a # 3- 4 mid rotation SP. No one knows what the cost would be or in fact this rumor has any legs to it.
    - Kosmo
      
      that should read for 2013.
    - Mykey
      
      Gotcha, thanks a lot.
      
      I’ve been looking for league wide averages, but been having trouble finding them.
Fernando

No desire to trade top two prospects for two years of a 28 year old pitcher. Obviously much more interested in waiting for Tanaka to be posted, as he is a much better option and would only cost the team money. If I am moving Sanchez and Heathcott, I would rather they be part of a package for someone like Chris Sale.
- max
  
  “If I am moving Sanchez and Heathcott, I would rather they be part of a package for someone like Chris Sale.”
  
  Duhhh. So would everyone in the world, but if you think those prospects plus the other pieces that the Yanks have to offer could net them Sale then you’re either delusional or worse.
  
  Just because they are our two best prospects doesn’t mean that either are “blue chip” prospects. Gary Sanchez may be a top-50 prospect in baseball. That’s about it.
- Cacique
  
  LOL, keep smoking that good stuff. Sanchez and Heathcott for Sale? White Sox say go fug yourself!
Jorge Steinbrenner

I’m unsure as to what it is I’m supposed to like about Barney as an option. I’d rather take the flyer on Ackley and see if he can reach his potential in pinstripes.
- Fin
  
  LOL, he was atrocious last year. It would be like having a worse hitter than Chris Stewart as the second baseman. .208/.266/.303 is just frightening. If the Yankees goal is to replace Cano with the worst possible 2bman this would be the guy.
Hornets686

Think Soriano could play 3B?
billy15

what truly amazes me is none on this site is entertaining the possibility that Jeter may have to play 2nd base and it would actually benefit the lineup and the overall defense.