At a $2.95M salary for 2010, Gaudin makes more than three times as much as Mitre. He’ll also be a free agent after the season, while Mitre still has another season of arbitration eligibility coming to him. Mitre has been better this spring and is opening some eyes, but I’d look to deal him over Gaudin without thinking twice. There’s nothing in his track record to suggest he’s a better pitcher, while Gaudin has proven to be a league average AL pitcher (101 ERA+ in 463.2 IP in the AL) with a strikeout rate that has improved three straight years to the point of nearly one per inning. Neither player is going to fetch much in a trade, a Grade-C prospect at best, so I’d certainly keep the guy that would be more useful to the Yankees this season.

Post from: River Ave. Blues A New York Yankees blog

Report: Yanks likely to trade Gaudin or Mitre

Over the last few weeks, as we’ve discussed Jeter, the general consensus has been that he’ll sign a deal for four years for somewhere between $20-$25 million a year. The Yankees probably won’t get that value from him on the field, but the good will and Jeter’s popularity should help mitigate the expense. What if Derek wants more though?

That’s the question Jon Heyman ponders today, and his sources indicate that Jeter may ask for as much as six years. His argument relies on putting down A-Rod.

The Yankees generally have treated their own big stars very well. But six years for a shortstop who’s 35 now is seen as a stretch, even by the execs who say they expect that to be the asking price. “Casey Close is a good agent. You don’t get if you don’t ask,” one executive said. Close declined comment.

Six years may seem extreme. But there is logic to it. Jeter saw his famous frenemy Alex Rodriguez get a 10-year, $275-million deal from the Yankees two winters ago that will take him to age 42. Jeter will be 36 by the end of the year, so six more years would take him to 42, same as A-Rod.

After seeing A-Rod get a contract taking him until he’s 42, why wouldn’t Jeter want the same? A case could be made that Rodriguez is a more natural fit as the DH, so playing into his 40s might be easier. But both are hard workers, extremely fit and without injury history. And Jeter’s the one who’s a Yankees legend.

Interestingly, Heyman also notes that the Yanks and Jeter nearly had a $118.5 million contract in place in early 2000, one year before he signed his big $189 million deal, but George Steinbrenner “nixed” that one. No word on how many years that would have covered.

That last historical tidbit is neither here nor there, but Heyman’s speculation on a six-year ask is worth considering. After all, the worst the Yanks can do is reject the proposal. I wouldn’t feel too comfortable giving Jeter six years, and it shouldn’t take that much to keep him around.

Above: Derek Jeter attempts to balance the World Series trophy on top of an unsuspecting Yogi Berra. (AP Photo/Kathy Willens)

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Heyman: Jeter could ask for six

One player is still out there, though, who could give the Yanks some pop off the bench. As I was browsing MLB Trade Rumors’ unsigned All Star team post this morning, my eye wandered to the honorable mentions where Gary Sheffield’s name stuck out. Other than Johnny Damon, Sheffield is the biggest power threat among those still looking for a job, and I wonder if the Yanks would consider a reunion. It would behoove the team to do so.

For many, just a mention of Gary Sheffield’s name is enough to raise some eyebrows. The notoriously outspoken player left the Yankees in a huff when he was traded for not much of anything following the 2006 season. Although his teammates liked him, he and Joe Torre had a rocky relationship, and Sheffield seemed to think he always deserved more than he got. Yet, he could mash along with the rest of them. During his three seasons on the Yanks, he hit .291/.383/.515 with 76 home runs and 269 RBIs.

Yet, Sheffield put up those numbers nearly half a decade when he was obviously much younger than he is today. The upcoming 2010 season will be his age 41 year, and that lethal bat with that intimidating waggle has slowed down a bit. It hasn’t, however, slowed down as much as one might think. Last year, in part-time duty with the Mets, Sheffield hit .276/.372/.451. His wOBA was a very respectable .359, and he can still get on base and hit for power. Offering Sheffield a $1-$2 million take-it-or-leave-it deal wouldn’t be a waste of money, and landing him for a minor league deal with a Spring Training invite would be even better.

There are, of course, some red flags, and Steve at TYU addressed them a few weeks ago when he advocated for a Gardner/Sheffield outfield platoon. First, the idea that Sheffield should do anything other than pinch hit or DH should be off the table. His defense — never great in the first place — has been abysmal of late. In 46 games in left for the Mets, he had a -11.6 UZR. Second, as Steve noted, Sheffield wanted to be an every-day player last year. Would he embrace a bench role? At age 41, if he wants to stay healthy and keep playing, he has to.

For the 2010 Yankees as they are currently constructed, a dearth of right-handed bench threats remains one of the team’s last spots of weakness. Brian Cashman could do far worse than Sheffield if he’s looking to fill it. Whether both sides could overcome their past differences and work out a deal remains to be seen, but it’s worth a shot.

Above: Gary Sheffield waits to bat during his 2006 rehab assignment in Trenton. (AP Photo/Jessica Hill)

Post from: River Ave. Blues A New York Yankees blog

For your consideration: Gary Sheffield

Will Damon get more than $6M guaranteed? We’ll wait and see, but my guess is no. He might get $6M, but not a penny more.

Post from: River Ave. Blues A New York Yankees blog

Report: Damon turned down $6M offer last week

The 29-year-old Cruz was an All Star in 2009, his first full season in the majors. He’s got power (33 HR, .264 IsoP in ‘09) and he can definitely defend in the corners (19.6 UZR in over 2,200 innings in RF), though his on-base skills are meh at best (87 unintentional walks in 1,125 big league plate appearances) and he had a ridiculous home-road split last year. Cruz is a sexy name that’ll excite people because he hit lots of homers in 2009, but the price will likely outweigh the production. Unless we’re talking a Swisherian type of heist here, I wouldn’t bother.

Here’s the layout of Cruz’s 2009 home runs, all 33 of them, as they would play at Yankee Stadium.

It appears that even had he hit all 33 of those home run balls at Yankee Stadium, they all would have left the yard. Cruz’s average standard home run distance of 413.9 feet ranked fourth in the majors, and his 12 no-doubts ranked fifth in the AL.

Post from: River Ave. Blues A New York Yankees blog

Unconfirmed Report: Yanks inquired about Nelson Cruz

8:37pm: Old buddy Jerry Hairston Jr. was on Jim Bowden’s radio show on XM 175 earlier this evening, and said that the Yankees never made him an offer for a very specific reason. “Brian Cashman’s going to get mad at me,” said Jerry, “but Yanks didn’t make me offer because he’s waiting on (Johnny) Damon’s price to come down.” Yes Jerry, you’re going to make Cash angry, and you wouldn’t like him when he’s angry.

It’s still possible that Joel Sherman’s report of the team only having $2M left to spend on left field is accurate, and they’re just hoping for Damon to accept an 85% paycut, or it could have been a negotiating ploy. I can hear the conversation now: “Well, we’ve only got $2M left to spend, but if you want $5M, then fine, you win. Our hands … are tied.”

Post from: River Ave. Blues A New York Yankees blog

Report: Yanks waiting for Damon’s price to come down

11:06am: Via Rocco Baldelli’s Facebook page, the Yankees have reached an agreement with the free agent outfielder. Joe wrote up the case for Baldelli earlier in the week, and of course it’ll all come down to his health. If he can stay on the field and produce in a platoon role, then there’s nothing not to like about this move.

We’re still looking for more confirmation on this, so don’t take it as gospel just yet. For all we know, that could be a fake page.

Post from: River Ave. Blues A New York Yankees blog

Unconfirmed Rumor: Yanks reach agreement with Baldelli (UPDATE: No they don’t)

Can you imagine that? It would have been quite the blockbuster, no? I’m not sure how I would have received such a deal. On one hand it’s the best pitcher in baseball in exchange for a Double-A prospect without a clear cut position, but on the other hand, it’s Jesus frickin’ Montero. Wow.

Post from: River Ave. Blues A New York Yankees blog

Report: Yanks offered Montero for Halladay

Yeah, Brian Cashman successfully lobbied Hal Steinbrenner to expand the payroll last year for Mark Teixeira and Andy Pettitte, however Sherman notes that the Yanks had agreed to a trade for Mike Cameron last July, but Little Stein wouldn’t take on the extra $5.5M in salary. Maybe people should stop blowing off the concept of a payroll limit after all.

Post from: River Ave. Blues A New York Yankees blog

Sherman: Yankees have $2M to spend on left field

Update (9:51pm): Kenny Rosenthal echoes Olney’s report, adding that it is in fact a trade.

Update (9:50pm): Ken Davidoff hears the Yanks have (are in?) “two or three” serious trade discussions for a starter, though none for Harang.

8:50pm: Via Buster Olney, the Yankees are “working very hard tonight on deal for starting pitcher.” Tonight being the key word. Earlier today we heard the team was looking to add a starter before New Year’s, but that seemed rather arbitrary. Olney’s wording leads you to believe the team is in the final stages of negotiations at this moment.

So … any guesses? Olney mentions they were in on Aaron Harang last year, but that’s not a small contract.

Post from: River Ave. Blues A New York Yankees blog

Olney: Yanks working hard to land a pitcher tonight