Archive for Polls
Poll: Paying Robinson Cano
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(Photo by Elsa/Getty Images)
Once upon a time, I thought Jose Reyes would tell us something about what it could take to sign Robinson Cano long-term. Both guys were great middle infielders playing for New York teams in their late-20s, so when Reyes hit the open market I figured it would give us a benchmark for Cano. Reyes, as you know, signed a six-year contract worth $106M with the Marlins last year. I was dead wrong. That won’t be nearly enough to keep Cano.
For starters, Robbie is just a flat-out better player than Reyes. Don’t get me wrong, Reyes is no slouch, but Cano has been more productive in the years leading up to his free agency. More importantly, he’s been far more durable. Reyes has a history of hamstring trouble — not exactly ideal for a speed player — including two DL stints in his walk year. Robbie could easily visit the DL this summer, but it would be a surprise given his supreme durability over the last six seasons.
As it stands right now, Cano is going to smash the current second base contract records. His new deal with blow past Chase Utley’s record for total guarantee ($85M) and Ian Kinsler’s record for average annual value ($15M). I mean, those won’t even be close to what Cano will get. He poised to receive a nine-figure deal with Scott Boras running the show, and nine-figure deals tend to have an average value north of $20M annually.
I wrote about Cano’s impending free agency earlier this week, but I want to get an idea of what fans are willing to pay him. For the sake of argument, let’s assume his 2013 production is on par with his 2010-2012 production. Let’s also assume that last year’s struggles against southpaws were a fluke and he gets back to mashing lefties like he had every other year of his career. I picked out four recently signed free agent contracts to serve as reference points.
Seven years, $142 M ($20.3M AAV)
This is the Carl Crawford contract, something that has gone horribly wrong so far. Crawford was only 29 at the time of the signing though, and he’d hit .300+ with 40+ steals in five of the previous six seasons. The lone exception was 2008, when he missed a bunch of time with a wrist problem. He was also an elite defensive player. Crawford was held back by his position, as left field is hardly a premium spot.
Eight years, $160M ($20M AAV)
This one isn’t all that recent, it’s the Manny Ramirez contract. Matt Kemp signed for the exact same amount last winter, but that was an extension. He almost certainly would have gotten more as a free agent. Either way, I wanted something here longer than Crawford’s contract but on par with the annual payout. Manny it is.
Eight years, $180M ($22.5M AAV)
I’m guessing this looks familiar, it’s Mark Teixeira‘s contract. Tex signed his deal at 28 but turned 29 before Opening Day, and like Cano he had been extremely durable and productive leading up to free agency. It’s easy to forget how much of a monster he was back in the day, but Teixeira was a lock for a .290/.370/.550-ish batting line with 30+ homers and 150+ games played every year before joining New York. He’s also an elite defender, but like Crawford an elite defender at a non-premium position.
Nine years, $214M ($23.8 AAV)
Boras managed to land this contract for Prince Fielder last winter, from a team that already had a pretty awesome first baseman no less. Fielder was only 27 at the time of the deal, so three years younger than Robbie will be next winter. He was both insanely productive and durable in the years leading up to free agency, I’m talking 155+ games a year every year. Prince doesn’t get enough credit for playing every day. His offense is needed to offset his defense, which is below-average at a corner spot.
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The only two ten-year contracts given to free agents in recent years were the Alex Rodriguez and Albert Pujols deals. Cano is great, but he’s not in a class with those two. At least not compared to who they were when they signed those contracts. I feel comfortable saying Fielder’s contract is the likely cap for Robbie next winter, though I suppose the new cash-flush market and free-spending Dodgers could change that.
Fan Confidence Poll: February 11th, 2013
Posted by: | Comments2012 Record: 95-67 (804 RS, 668 RA, 96-66 pythag. record), won AL East, swept in ALCS
Top stories from last week:
- The Yankees signed Juan Rivera to a minor league contract, adding another body to the right-handed outfield bat Spring Training competition. Russ Canzler was claimed off waivers by the Orioles.
- Hal Steinbrenner confirmed there has been a “a conversation or two” about an extension for Robinson Cano. Felix Hernandez agreed to a monster extension with the Mariners, so he won’t be wearing pinstripes anytime soon.
- Injury News: CC Sabathia (elbow) doesn’t expect to be far behind in Spring Training. Derek Jeter (ankle) expects to resume running in a few weeks. Michael Pineda (shoulder) continues to throw from a half-mound and could get up on a full mound by next week. Manny Banuelos (elbow) has started throwing as part of his rehab from Tommy John surgery. Jose Campos (elbow) has completed his rehab and will be ready for Opening Day. Mason Williams (shoulder) is close to 100%.
- Brian Cashman confirmed that catcher candidate Frankie Cervelli can be sent to the minors without having to clear waivers this year. Cervelli was connected to the South Florida clinic that alleged distributed performance-enhancing drugs.
- Gary Sanchez, Williams, Tyler Austin, Slade Heathcott, and Jose Ramirez all cracked Keith Law’s top 110 prospects list. Sanchez topped my annual Preseason Top 30 Prospects List. Law ranked New York’s farm system the tenth best in baseball.
- The Yankees are still considering moving Brett Gardner to center field this year.
Please take a second to answer the poll below and give us an idea of how confident you are in the team. You can view the interactive Fan Confidence Graph anytime via the nav bar above, or by clicking here. Thanks in advance for voting.
Poll: The Yankees’ Top Prospect
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The team’s last no-doubt number one prospect. (Otto Greule Jr/Getty)
For the first time in several years, the Yankees do not have an obvious top prospect. Manny Banuelos was the easy (but not necessarily slam dunk) choice last season and Jesus Montero indisputably sat atop the team’s prospect list for years, but right now there is no real consensus. They do have four legitimate top prospect candidates though, so it’s not like they’re hurting for talent.
By now you know those four players: catcher Gary Sanchez and outfielders Tyler Austin, Mason Williams, and Slade Heathcott. Baseball America ranked Williams number one earlier this winter while Keith Law and John Sickels each had Sanchez in the top spot. If you spend some time scouring the interwebs, you’ll sure find other lists with Heathcott and Austin sitting at number one. I think we can all agree there wouldn’t be much argument with any of this guys being called New York’s best minor leaguer.
My personal top 30 prospects list comes out tomorrow, but you’ll have to wait until then to see I have at number one. For now I just want to poll the audience to see who you folks think is the team’s top prospect. Here’s a quick review of each guys credential’s (listed alphabetically)…
OF Tyler Austin
Austin, 21, was the best player in the farm system last season, hitting .322/.400/.559 with 17 homers and 23 stolen bases while playing at four different levels. The Yankees have moved him around the field a bit, but last year he settled into right field. Regardless, he’s a bat-first prospect.
OF Slade Heathcott
The 22-year-old Heathcott missed the first half with his second shoulder surgery in as many offseasons, but he returned to hit .302/.380/.461 with five homers and 19 steals in 65 total games. He tore the cover off the ball — .388/.494/.612 in 18 games — in the Arizona Fall League after the season. If that’s not good enough, his defense\ive skills in center and damn near elite.
C Gary Sanchez
No minor league catcher hit more homers than the 20-year-old Sanchez in 2012, who went deep 18 times while hitting .290/.344/.485 across two levels. Thanks to his greatly improved defense, he’s likely to remain behind the plate long-term. Sanchez might be the most gifted hitter in the system, and he does it at the most premium position.
OF Mason Williams
Williams, 21, hit .298/.346/.474 with 11 homers and 20 steals in 91 games between two levels last season, though a shoulder injury — suffered while diving for a ball in the outfield — ended his season in late-August. Williams offers high-end center field defense like Heathcott, but he doesn’t have the same ugly injury history.
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With all due respect to the other players in the system, these four clearly stand out from the pack. They’re all not only extremely talented, but they all produced in a big way this past season. Which one is the best? I think everyone is entitled to their own opinion.
Fan Confidence Poll: February 4th, 2013
Posted by: | Comments2012 Record: 95-67 (804 RS, 668 RA, 96-66 pythag. record), won AL East, swept in ALCS
Top stories from last week:
- The biggest story of the week, by far, was Alex Rodriguez‘s inclusion in a report regarding a South Florida performance-enhancing drug peddler. MLB is performing an investigation and the Yankees will not comment until that is complete.
- Meanwhile, the Yankees added a new left-handed hitting DH, signing Travis Hafner to a one-year contract worth $2M plus incentives. New York also signed Juan Rivera to a minor league contract, and they continue to seek a right-handed hitting outfielder. Russ Canzler was designated for assignment to clear room on the roster for Hafner.
- Injury News: Michael Pineda (shoulder) threw off a half-mound for the first time since surgery last May. Derek Jeter (ankle) resumed baseball activities down in Tampa.
- The Yankees announced their Spring Training invitees, which include top prospects Gary Sanchez, Slade Heathcott, and Tyler Austin. Sanchez, Austin, and Mason Williams made MLB.com’s Top 100 Prospects List.
- Andy Pettitte will not pitch for Team USA in the World Baseball Classic in a few weeks.
- Michael Kay signed a new multi-year contract with the YES Network.
Please take a second to answer the poll below and give us an idea of how confident you are in the team. You can view the interactive Fan Confidence Graph anytime via the nav bar above, or by clicking here. Thanks in advance for voting.
Poll: Voiding A-Rod’s Contract
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(Elsa/Getty)
I feel like this poll was inevitable. There has been so much talk — speculation more than anything — about the possibility of the Yankees voiding Alex Rodriguez‘s contract in the wake of the latest PED scandal that I want to see how many people actually believe it will happen.
Yesterday I wrote about the process the Yankees will have to wade through to make voiding A-Rod‘s deal possible, which begins with waiting for MLB to finish their investigation. That is going to take a while. Jeff Passan reported last night that the league will soon interview the players mentioned in the report and has a contingent traveling to Florida today to speak to the people at the Miami New Times, which broke the story. Those are steps one and two of many.
Regardless of whether you think it will actually happen — or if the Yankees will even seriously attempt it — voiding A-Rod’s contract will be extremely difficult. Remember, there was talk about voiding Jason Giambi‘s contract following his PED revelations a few years ago, and that proved to be so difficult the team didn’t even take a real shot at it. Granted, Giambi was owned much less at the time than A-Rod is now, which changes things.
No matter what happens, A-Rod will not return to the team for quite some time thanks to his latest hip surgery. There’s a non-zero chance he will never play for the Yankees again, either because the injury is so debilitating that he can’t play anymore (highly unlikely given the way the team and doctor spoke following the procedure) or because the contract is voided.
Fan Confidence Poll: January 28th, 2013
Posted by: | Comments2012 Record: 95-67 (804 RS, 668 RA, 96-66 pythag. record), won AL East, swept in ALCS
Top stories from last week:
- The Yankees were not close to acquiring either Justin Upton or Scott Hairston, who landed with the Braves and Cubs, respectively. They did not make Pedro Feliciano an offer before he signed with the Mets, but they did discuss Delmon Young. New York had no interest in George Kottaras.
- The Yankees did strike two deals last week. First they signed David Robertson to a one-year contract worth $3.1M to avoid arbitration, then they signed DH-type Dan Johnson to a minor league pact.
- Alex Rodriguez could miss the entire 2013 season due to his hip injury, and both MLB and the DEA are probing a trainer with connections to A-Rod. Meanwhile, Kevin Youkilis and Kevin Long are working on new hitting mechanics.
- Andy Pettitte has until February 20th to decide on participating in the World Baseball Classic.
- There’s a chance the 2014 payroll plan will be less lucrative than anticipated.
Please take a second to answer the poll below and give us an idea of how confident you are in the team. You can view the interactive Fan Confidence Graph anytime via the nav bar above, or by clicking here. Thanks in advance for voting.
Fan Confidence Poll: January 21st, 2013
Posted by: | Comments2012 Record: 95-67 (804 RS, 668 RA, 96-66 pythag. record), won AL East, swept in ALCS
Top stories from last week:
- The Yankees handled most of their arbitration business last week, agreeing to one-year contracts with Phil Hughes ($7.15M), Boone Logan ($3.15M), and Joba Chamberlain ($1.875M) . David Robertson did not reach an agreement, so the two sides filed salary figures with the league.
- Injury News: Alex Rodriguez (hip) had surgery and there was minimal cartilage damage. Derek Jeter (ankle) has been cleared to resume baseball activities.
- The Mariners traded for Mike Morse, whom the Yankees had some interest in acquiring. The Nationals signed Rafael Soriano, gifting the Yankees another supplemental first round draft pick. New York signed Reegie Corona and Thomas Neal to minor league deals.
- Mark Teixeira, Robinson Cano, and Frankie Cervelli will participate in the World Baseball Classic this spring. Andy Pettitte is not on the Team USA roster, however.
- Jorge Posada will not attempt a comeback, but he will be in camp as a guest instructor during Spring Training.
- The owners have tentatively approved three rule changes. Once the union signs off they will be implemented in 2013.
Please take a second to answer the poll below and give us an idea of how confident you are in the team. You can view the interactive Fan Confidence Graph anytime via the nav bar above, or by clicking here. Thanks in advance for voting.
Fan Confidence Poll: January 7th, 2012
Posted by: | Comments2012 Record: 95-67 (804 RS, 668 RA, 96-66 pythag. record), won AL East, swept in ALCS
Top stories from last week:
- The Yankees had interest in a reunion with Lance Berkman, but he instead signed with the Rangers. The team is not looking for bullpen help and they don’t have interest in Delmon Young. They also didn’t call about Chipper Jones.
- Injury News: Mariano Rivera (knee) is at about 95% as he rehabs from surgery. He’ll being throwing in a week or so. There is still no date set for Alex Rodriguez‘s hip surgery.
- The Yankees claimed Russ Canzler off waivers from the Indians and designated Chris Dickerson for assignment to clear a 40-man roster spot.
- Austin Romine is likely to begin the season back in Triple-A.
Please take a second to answer the poll below and give us an idea of how confident you are in the team. You can view the interactive Fan Confidence Graph anytime via the nav bar above, or by clicking here. Thanks in advance for voting.
Fan Confidence Poll: December 31st, 2012
Posted by: | Comments2012 Record: 95-67 (804 RS, 668 RA, 96-66 pythag. record), won AL East, swept in ALCS
Top stories from last week:
- Despite signing Matt Diaz to a minor league contract with an invitation to Spring Training, the Yankees are likely to continue looking for a right-handed hitting outfielder. They did not make an offer to Raul Ibanez before he signed with the Mariners.
- Robinson Cano will not be allowed to play in the Dominican Winter League postseason next month.
- The Yankees added former Mariners manager Don Wakamatsu to their pro scouting staff.
- New batting practice hats were leaked.
Please take a second to answer the poll below and give us an idea of how confident you are in the team. You can view the interactive Fan Confidence Graph anytime via the nav bar above, or by clicking here. Thanks in advance for voting.
Fan Confidence Poll: December 24th, 2012
Posted by: | Comments2012 Record: 95-67 (804 RS, 668 RA, 96-66 pythag. record), won AL East, swept in ALCS
Top stories from last week:
- The Yankees didn’t add any players last week, though a number of (potential) targets agreed to deals elsewhere: Raul Ibanez (Mariners), Stephen Drew (Red Sox), Nick Swisher (Indians), Cody Ross (Diamondbacks), and A.J. Pierzynski (Rangers). Ibanez and Drew were the only ones linked to New York this offseason.
- Brian Cashman said the team will not pursue further rotation upgrades, though they continue to seek a right-handed bat. There’s “no chance” they will pursue Michael Bourn.
- Injury News: Michael Pineda (shoulder) and Cesar Cabral (elbow) are throwing off flat ground from “extended distances.” Top prospect Jose Campos (elbow) is throwing off a mound.
- The Ichiro Suzuki signing became official. Both right-hander Jim Miller and left-hander Josh Spence were outrighted to Triple-A.
- The Yankees will field a second rookie level Gulf Coast League affiliate in 2013. They’re also considered moving top prospect Tyler Austin back to third base. Cuban left-hander Omar Luis Rodriguez is still waiting for his visa.
- The 2012 luxury tax bill is $19.3M, though MLB made an error in the initial calculation and had to revise the bill.
Please take a second to answer the poll below and give us an idea of how confident you are in the team. You can view the interactive Fan Confidence Graph anytime via the nav bar above, or by clicking here. Thanks in advance for voting.
