River Avenue Blues

Matthews: Hal appears ready to ditch $189M payroll mandate

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Via Wally Matthews: Hal Steinbrenner appears ready to ditch his plan to get under the $189M luxury tax threshold by next season. “This is the first time since George died that it appears a Steinbrenner is actually running the Yankees,” said a source. I feel obligated to warn you that nothing is set in stone and this report is speculation more than anything.

Hal was “freaked out” by the negative response to the team’s plan to cut payroll according to Matthews, and it didn’t hurt that the savings are likely to be less than anticipated. I guess it’s possible season ticket sales were lower than expected as well. Earlier today we heard the team informed Scott Boras they are willing to discuss a “significant” contract for Robinson Cano, which may have been the first sign that the 2014 payroll plan is crumbling. If it is, then fran-freaking-tastic. I’ll believe it when I see it though.

Open Thread: 2/20 Camp Notes

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(AP Photo/Matt Slocum)
(AP Photo/Matt Slocum)

Today was photo day down in Tampa, though most are pretty boring outside of Joba Chamberlain’s dirtstache. There was no Instagramming this year, but check out Getty Images and US Presswire for the various pictures anyway. Here’s the latest from Spring Training…

  • As usual, Chad Jennings has the batting practice, fielding drill, and bullpen assignments. Ivan Nova (simulated game) and Joba (live batting practice) both faced hitters while Dan Johnson again worked out at third base.
  • Mark Montgomery (back sprain) played long toss today and will play catch tomorrow. If he makes it through that without any problems, he’ll get back up on a mound and throw a bullpen session on Friday. [Jennings]
  • Michael Pineda plead no contest to his August DUI charge and received the minimum penalty for a first-time offender, which includes 12 months probation, 50 hours of community service, a fine, and six months with no license. [Dan Martin]
  • In case you missed it earlier, we had an update on Phil Hughes and his bad back. He’ll be shut down for a minimum of five days, likely more.

Here is your open thread for the night. Both the Knicks and Nets are playing, so talk about either of those games or anything else on your mind. Enjoy.

The Importance of Travis Hafner

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(Jim Rogash/Getty)
(Jim Rogash/Getty)

There’s no question the Yankees downgraded their offense this winter, specifically in right field and behind the plate. They did upgrade the left-handed half of the DH platoon though, at least in theory. Raul Ibanez’s super-clutch late-season homers made it easy to forget he hit .202/.281/.359 for nearly 300 plate appearances (292, to be exact) from mid-May through mid-September and was in danger of being left off the postseason roster. We all love Raul, but he had to be replaced.

The replacement the Bombers brought in is long-time Indian Travis Hafner, who signed a one-year deal worth $2M guaranteed earlier this month. Joe Girardi confirmed last week that Hafner will be the team’s primary DH against right-handers and nothing else — “He’s a DH … that’s the plan,” said the skipper flatly — a role for which he is well-suited. The 35-year-old hit .241/.361/.437 (123 wRC+) against righties last season and .278/.385/.470 (136 wRC+) over the last three years, but he’s not completely useless against southpaws either (92 wRC+ since 2010). A lefty specialist in the late innings shouldn’t result in an automatic out like it did with Ibanez.

Brian Cashman used the term “big, hairy monster” this offseason to describe the type of hitters he prefers, and Hafner pretty clearly fits the mold. For one, he’s a pretty big dude — the team’s official site lists him at 6-foot-3 and 240 lbs. — with broad shoulders and scary-looking biceps and forearms. Two, his menacing batting stance …

… looks like something that would say “I’m going to hurt this baseball and kick your dog” to the pitcher if it could talk. It’s mean.

Third, he hits the ball a frickin’ mile. Hafner’s homers have averaged 398.5-ft since 2010 according to Hit Tracker, which is a huge number. Mark Teixeira, who I think we can all agree has big time power and is capable of hitting majestic blasts, has averaged 390.5-ft with his dingers over the last three years. Hafner will get some help from the short porch, but he has a knack for making most parks look small to start with.

Anyway, Hafner is important to the Yankees because he adds some much needed depth to the lineup. He fits in perfectly behind the middle-of-the-order trio of Robinson Cano, Curtis Granderson, and Teixeira, and in fact the best lineup might have Granderson hitting second and Hafner hitting fifth. That’s a conversation for another time though. The important thing is that Hafner’s on-base ability will help mitigate the loss of Nick Swisher without sacrificing any power production.

Of course, the problem here is that Hafner gets hurt. Like, all the time. He’s visited the DL at least twice in each of the last two seasons and at least once in each of the last five. The ailments range from shoulder surgery (2008) to an oblique strain (2011) to knee surgery (2012) to a bulging disc in his back (2012). Despite his defensive and on-base shortcomings, Ibanez always managed to stay on the field (one DL trip since 2004). That’s why I said the Yankees upgraded the DH spot in theory before, it’s only an upgrade if Hafner avoids the DL.

The Yankees have used a different primary DH in each of the last four seasons, so Hafner will make it five in five years in 2013. He should, at least on a rate base, but the team’s most productive DH since Hideki Matsui in 2009, but that’s only if he stays healthy. Remember, a player doesn’t have to be on the DL for an injury to be a problem either, playing hurt could be more harmful that just sitting out. I’m looking forward to watching Hafner mash some taters this summer, and the Yankees better hope he’s out there more often than not.

Hal: Boras knows we’re willing to discuss a “significant” deal for Cano

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Via George King: Hal Steinbrenner confirmed the team has let Scott Boras know they’re willing to consider a massive contract for free agent-to-be Robinson Cano. “We expressed to Scott what a great Yankee he has been and we hope he continues his career here for a long time to come. We indicated to him on a very preliminary basis that we were willing to consider a significant long-term contract,” said the owner, who acknowledged talks were held before Spring Training and that nothing has happened since.

Last week we heard there was a “significant difference” in valuation during contract talks, which isn’t a huge surprise. We’re going to hear many similar reports between now and November, when negotiations will result in either a new contract or a scary bidding war with the Dodgers (and maybe even others). Click here for last week’s Cano contract poll, in case you missed it.

Hiroki Kuroda talks about returning to the Yankees and preparing for 2013

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(Star-Ledger)
(Star-Ledger)

The Yankees reportedly operated with a very straight-forward approach this winter, tackling one priority at a time without deviating from their set path. It’s a very odd way for a baseball team to proceed with the offseason, but so be it. The top priority on New York’s winter agenda was the pitching staff, specifically re-signing their own veteran arms. They checked the first item off the list in mid-November, when Hiroki Kuroda turned down more lucrative offers to return to the club on a one-year, $15M deal.

“It was a good decision, but it was hard,” said Kuroda to Bryan Hoch about re-signing with the Yankees. “There were options that I had. There were offers from other teams, but I ended up making the decision to stay with the Yankees … I’m in that stage where I want to play for a team that I really love to play for, and hopefully when I retire, I’ll have time with my family.”

Kuroda, who turned 38 earlier this month, acknowledged the team’s veteran-laden clubhouse was “really appealing” and swayed his decision, saying “especially with the fact that there are players like (Andy Pettitte) and (Mariano Rivera), who are older than me, and who I can look up to … I absorb a lot from them.”

It’s not the first time we’ve heard about a player signing with the Yankees because of their veteran clubhouse, which in some ways is a market inefficiency the team is exploiting. Guys like Derek Jeter, CC Sabathia, Pettitte, and Rivera are very well-respected veterans who other veterans want to play alongside. If that helps the Yankees sign these players to address a need on favorable contract terms, great. I’m not sure any other club can pull that off.

As we learned last summer, Kuroda is pretty much a perfect fit for the Yankees. He’s tough and savvy on the mound, and about as reliable a pitcher as you’ll find. He also comes off as a total pro, taking the blame for losses and crediting his teammates for wins. It’s easy and fun to root for someone like that, and it helped Kuroda fit right in as soon as he put on the pinstripes. “You know if a guy is cut out of the same mold as you are,” said Pettitte to Hoch. “We are.”

Because of the hit the offense took this winter, the Yankees are going to have to rely on their pitching staff more than any other point in the last ten years or so, specifically the veterans Sabathia, Kuroda, and Pettitte. Phil Hughes is already having back trouble and who knows what Ivan Nova and David Phelps can contribute, so it’s those three veterans Joe Girardi & Co. will lean on. Kuroda is coming off a career-high 35 starts and 235.2 innings (including playoffs), and it’s fair to worry about his ability to hold up at that age.

“You’re always a little bit concerned as they put a little bit of age on themselves, but right now he looks good to us,” said Girardi to Hoch. Kuroda ran into a wall of fatigue in early-September last year, so much so that he stopped throwing his regular between-starts bullpen sessions. He told Hoch that he’s adjusted his offseason training program in an effort to stay fresher late in the season and is working closely with strength and conditioning coach Dana Cavalea. Whether it actually works remains to be seen.

Pettitte has always given off this vibe that no matter how much the odds are stacked against him, he’ll figure out a way to get the job done. He’s human and doesn’t always come through, but he’s built up enough good will throughout the years and earned everyone’s confidence. Kuroda gives off a similar vibe, at least to me, which is why I’m confident he’ll overcome that workload to again be a very effective starter for the Yankees in 2013. It’s possible he won’t, but it definitely would surprise me.

Update: Phil Hughes out at least five days with bulging disc in back

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Wednesday: Hughes was sent to a local spine specialist and was diagnosed with a bulging disc in his mid-upper back according to George King and Joel Sherman. He will be shut down for at least five days and put on anti-inflammatory medication. Brian Cashman conservatively called it a “two-week timeout.”

Tuesday: Via Jack Curry & Mark Feinsand: Phil Hughes will miss a few days with upper back stiffness near his shoulder. “There’s always a little bit of concern,” said Joe Girardi while noting that his number four starter hurt himself during a fielding drill yesterday. He saw a doctor but it’s unclear if they ran any tests.

Hughes, 26, left Game Three of the ALCS with a stiff back but was cleared to resume throwing a few days later. He also missed a start with a sore back in September 2011 and dealt with a bulging disc back in 2004. I suppose the back trouble could all be related, but who the hell knows. Better to rest it now in February than worry about a DL trip during the summer. Hughes is no stranger to the trainer’s room and given his impending free agent status, it would behoove him to stay on the field this year.

Open Thread: 2/19 Camp Notes

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World's most expensive ballboy. (AP Photo/Matt Slocum)
World’s most expensive ballboy. (AP Photo/Matt Slocum)

Notes from Tampa…

  • Chad Jennings has the day’s batting practice, fielding drill, and bullpen assignments. Everyone hit while CC Sabathia, Andy Pettitte, David Aardsma, Mariano Rivera, and Clay Rapada were the projected big leaguers to throw on the side. Dan Johnson worked out at third base as he attempts to win a bench job, essentially the Eric Chavez role.
  • Within the same piece, Jennings notes that Mark Teixeira is leaving the Yankees to join Team USA for the World Baseball Classic on March 3rd. He’ll play in a handful of Spring Training games first. Robinson Cano is likely to leave for Team Dominican Republic around the same time.
  • David Phelps threw roughly two innings in a simulated game — Ronnie Mustelier nearly hit him with a comebacker — and will start Saturday’s exhibition season opener. David Robertson also faced hitters in live batting practice. [Bryan Hoch]
  • Top bullpen prospect Mark Montgomery (back strain) played catch and will probably get back up on a mound later this week. [Jennings]
  • In case you missed it earlier, Phil Hughes will miss a few days with some upper back stiffness.

Here is your open thread for the night. The Rangers, Islanders, and Nets are all playing, so talk about any of those games or anything else that’s on your mind right here. Enjoy.