Writings on baseball by Matt Barnard and Dan Stein.

Brian Cashman's winter-to-date
 
The notable moves made by the New York Yankees under Brian Cashman since the end of the 2003 season. Please send any comments/omissions/questions/feedback here.

11/04/03 -
Declined option on David Wells ($6 million, $1 million buyout).

The intention was to bring Wells back at less money - he's not worth $6 million at this point - but it didn't work out, and he went home to San Diego. A lot's been made this offseason of how the Yankees go into 2004 with a very different rotation than 2003 because they have a lot of guys who left via free agency. While that's true, I have a tough time faulting any of them - including Clemens - since all any of them did was go home. I don't include free agents bolting in these analyses, so I'll say here that I'm very appreciative of all the fine work Pettitte, Clemens and Wells did for the Yankees while they were in pinstripes, and I wish them the best of luck in Houston and San Diego respectively.

12/01/03 -
Signed Aaron Boone to a one year, $5.75 million contract. (avoided arbitration)

With a clause prohibiting him from playing basketball, or something to that effect.

12/02/03 -
Signed Enrique Wilson to a one year, $700,000 contract.

I don't mind having Wilson around simply because of his crazy numbers against Pedro Martinez - it's nice seeing a player of Wilson's stature smack him around a little - but realistically, there's not a whole lot of reason to keep him around. At this point, Boone, Jeter, Soriano and Giambi/Johnson were going to be manning the infield again and getting the vast majority of time. Why spend $700,000 on a guy like Wilson who can't really hit or field? I know the money is effectively no object, but come on...it's not like the Yankee system is completely devoid of anyone who might at least be interesting to look at in a backup infielder role. Brian Myrow, anyone?

12/03/03 -
Signed Felix Heredia to a two year, $3.8 million contract with a club option for 2006.

The Yankee bullpen is going to be much better in 2004, in part due to having Heredia around for the full season (they'd made other significant acquisitions too, of course). A late-season waiver wire last year, Heredia pitched very well after joining the Yankees, and will presumably have a significant role in the bullpen again in 2004.

12/04/03 -
Acquired Javier Vazquez from the Montreal Expos. (for Randy Choate, Nick Johnson and Juan Rivera)
Traded Randy Choate to the Montreal Expos. (with Nick Johnson and Juan Rivera for Javier Vazquez)
Traded Nick Johnson to the Montreal Expos. (with Randy Choate and Juan Rivera for Javier Vazquez)
Traded Juan Rivera to the Montreal Expos. (with Randy Choate and Nick Johnson for Javier Vazquez)

As I said to anyone who would listen at the time, I hate seeing Nick Johnson go. He was one of the team's only above average defensive infielders (with Aaron Boone) and was quickly turning into a monster with the bat. The guy draws walks, hits for average and power...there's not much not to like. He's got the spectre of hand injuries over him all the time, which is a negative, but I have a tough time believing he's not going to be a flat-out stud for a long time in Montreal. At the same time, if I were going to trade him, I'd want it to be for someone just like Vazquez - a young (he'll be 27 this year) pitcher without an injury history to speak of who's had consistently excellent results and strikes a lot of guys out. Replacing Pettitte or Clemens or Wells with Vazquez is a significant upgrade. I expect Rivera and Choate to play some role and contribute over time in Montreal, but I don't think we'll miss them too much in New York.

12/07/03 -
Signed Ruben Sierra to a one year, $1 million contract.

Strictly a pinch hitter/occasional DH at this point, I don't know that he's worth anything approaching a million dollars for his age 38 season. There's no getting around the fact that he can still absolutely crush a pitch now and then, but there are an awful lot of guys who can do the same for a lot less money and can also contribute in some other area. I'd expect Torre to use him pretty much just as he did in 2003.

12/11/03 -
Acquired Kevin Brown from the Los Angeles Dodgers. (for Yhency Brazoban, Jeff Weaver, Brandon Weeden and $2.6 million)
Traded Yhency Brazoban to the Los Angeles Dodgers. (with Jeff Weaver, Brandon Weeden and $2.6 million for Kevin Brown)
Traded Jeff Weaver to the Los Angeles Dodgers. (with Yhency Brazoban, Brandon Weeden and $2.6 million for Kevin Brown)
Traded Brandon Weeden to the Los Angeles Dodgers. (with Yhency Brazoban, Jeff Weaver and $2.6 million for Kevin Brown)

It seems like many Yankee fans have some kind of vendetta against Jeff Weaver and wanted him gone at all costs - I'm certainly not in that camp. He didn't get the job done in pinstripes, that's pretty clear - but he goes into the 2004 season as a healthy 27-year old with a track record of major league success. Things didn't work out in New York, and it's a shame. I would've liked to see him in the rotation with Vazquez and take a wait-and-see approach...can you imagine two guys significantly under 30 in the Yankee rotation? In any case, he pitched himself out the team's plans, and it's hard to argue too hard against sending him on his merry way. Kevin Brown's got some things working against him - he's a groundball pitcher and the infield defense stinks, he's old and has had injury problems and he makes a ton of money. He also strikes a ton of guys out (precisely what the Yanks and their poor defense need) and has been and continues to be a borderline Hall-of-Fame pitcher when healthy. I'm more than a little worried about counting on him as much as the Yankees are though.

12/15/03 -
Signed John Flaherty to a one year, $775,000 contract.

Again, a little excessive. Flaherty's okay in a very limited role, which is all he serves with the Yankees. I'm reluctant to speak ill of him, because he is a New York boy (born in the city) and it's such a rare treat to have one playing in our beautiful town. I have to believe that someone like Michel Hernandez could've filled this role ably, but having Flaherty around won't kill them. Unless Posada gets hurt, in which case it would be terrible.

12/17/03 -
Signed Gary Sheffield to a three year, $39 million contract.

Having been talked about and nearly completed for awhile, the Sheffield contract finally got done. As I've read/heard in many places, Sheffield has such incredible bat speed that his age isn't likely to affect him as much as it might some other older players. I can buy that, and looking at his 2003 season in Atlanta (.330/.419/.604) I'd happily take a slightly reduced version of that over the next three years if I had to. The Yanks were sub-par in right last year and really not that great through the end of Paul O'Neill's career - Sheffield will be the best Yankee rightfielder I've ever seen. I loved Jesse Barfield too, but I'm just being real. He'll be a tremendous asset to the Yankee lineup, assuming he can play through the hand trouble he's currently experiencing.

12/18/03 -
Acquired Edwardo Sierra from the Oakland Athletics. (with J.T. Stotts for Chris Hammond)
Acquired J.T. Stotts from the Oakland Athletics. (with Edwardo Sierra for Chris Hammond)
Traded Chris Hammond to the Oakland Athletics. (for Edwardo Sierra and J.T. Stotts)

Hammond was going to be rendered useless on this team, and may yet be on the A's as well (they've got a lot of lefties over there). While he pitched well for the team during the season, the Yanks added Heredia and Gabe White late last season and had deals for Paul Quantrill and Tom Gordon in the works already by this point, so he was going to be gone one way or another. I don't know that we should expect much from either Sierra or Stotts, but I'll point out that Stotts was a third round draft pick of the A's in 2001 out of Cal State Northridge and wasn't a total bust in his initial exposure to AA last season. Sierra was converted to relief last season and pitched adequately in the Midwest league at age 21. Both guys are unlikely to ever make an impact on the Yankees, the upside realistically is for them to play well enough to turn into further trade bait.

12/19/03 -
Signed Miguel Cairo to a one year, $900,000 contract.

Wilson, Sierra and now this - about a million bucks a man filling out a pretty weak bench. Cairo's at least versatile, as he can play pretty much any position on the field and hit a little bit. I'm not thrilled about bringing him in, but he sure makes Wilson look like even more of a waste now that he's sitting alongside a similar but better player. Aside from the Pedro crushing.

12/20/03 -
Declined to offer a 2004 contract to David Dellucci.
Declined to offer a 2004 contract to Karim Garcia.

There are those who like David Dellucci as a player, but I'm not among them. I know he's been a bit disappointing given some of the work he did early in his career, but he did virtually nothing for the Yanks in 2003 and had no business being brought back. He'll be in Texas. Garcia, on the other hand, can actually hit and has demonstrated that ability both in New York and Cleveland. I wouldn't want him as my starting corner outfielder (though that's been taken care of), but as a bat off the bench, I probably like him better than Ruben Sierra. He'll be in Queens, where the Mets have really improved their outfield.

12/22/03 -
Signed Paul Quantrill to a two year, $6.8 million contract with a club option for 2006 ($3.6 million, $400K buyout).

A little excessive. The Yanks have other options (Scott Proctor is one) internally and don't need to invest this kind of guaranteed money in a pitcher of Quantrill's caliber. I don't expect him to bomb in the Bronx, but my expectations aren't all that high either.

12/23/03 -
Designated Michel Hernandez for assignment.
Signed Tom Gordon to a two year, $7.25 million contract.
Signed Kenny Lofton to a two year, $6.2 million contract.

The Red Sox claimed Hernandez, who could be a credible backup catcher given the opportunity. Between talking Colter Bean in the Rule V Draft and Hernandez here, is it possible that Boston's trying to stick it to the Yankees, picking up a guy the Yanks have discarded and watching him go on to major league success? In any case, he's not going to displace Varitek in 2004 and is behind Kelly Shoppach on the organization depth chart in Boston. Gordon's exactly the kind of pitcher the Yanks need in the bullpen - a guy who collects a lot of strikeouts. His health problems are a few years behind him now, and it's going to be fun watching Flash set up the Hammer of God. The Lofton signing is probably the most bothersome move for me as a Yankee fan - there's just no discernable reason for it. He's not a significant upgrade over Bernie in center, and he's not a good DH. I know he would've been more money and required a longer commitment, but the Yanks should've been interested in Mike Cameron, who would've been a great aid to both the offense and defense. If they get Carlos Beltran after the season, Lofton's all the more extraneous...but all would be forgiven.

01/06/04 -
Signed Javier Vazquez to a four year, $45 millon contract.

If Vazquez isn't worth it, the Yankees have a right to be disappointed. He's been very good and durable in each of the last four years, and heading into his age 27-30 seasons, there's no reason why he shouldn't be able to sustain that success. Injuries are always a real risk when signing a long-term deal (especially for a pitcher), but Vazquez is a guy I feel pretty confident in.

01/09/04 -
Outrighted Erick Almonte to AAA Columbus.

Realistically, he's not going to have much of a role on this team. He failed in an extended trial in 2003, and isn't likely to see another such opportunity come around in pinstripes.

01/12/04 -
Designated Fernando Seguignol for assignment.
Signed Tony Clark to a minor league contract and invited him to spring training.

As you probably know, Seguignol absolutely destroyed AAA last year and didn't earn as much as a look from the Yankees at any point. It's reasonable to think that he could be a pretty decent hitter in the major leagues right now, but he's not going to get that opportunity with the Yankees. At the same time, they feel the need to go out and sign a backup first baseman (hey...Seguignol has been a better hitter for at least the last two years, and he's in house!) Whatever. Tony Clark's got major league success behind him, is really tall, and can contribute. It just seems silly that teams frequently won't give minor league veterans because they have limited major league experience - it's a self-perpetuating cycle. Anyhow, Clark's not likely to make the team now that Travis Lee (see 2/26/04) has been signed to a guaranteed contract.

01/20/04 -
Signed Alfonso Soriano to a one year, $5.4 million contract. (avoided arbitration)

A very reasonable price for a hitter of Soriano's caliber. As much as he's frustrating to watch, he's been enormously productive at second base. Of course, he wouldn't be around for long.

02/04/04 -
Acquired Mike Lamb from the Texas Rangers. (for Jose Garcia)
Traded Jose Garcia to the Texas Rangers. (for Mike Lamb)

It'd be nice to envision Mike Lamb winning a role on the Yankees. With Boone going down, he would've been a decent fill-in at third base, but with the acquisition of Alex Rodriguez (coming soon), he's rendered pretty much useless. He's really a pretty decent hitter and can play both the infield and outfield corners - I think he'd find a place on my bench if I were running the Yankees. Hard to imagine him doing so now though.

02/05/04 -
Released Drew Henson.
Signed Erick Almonte to a minor league contract and invited him to spring training.
Signed Darren Bragg to a minor league contract and invited him to spring training.
Signed Homer Bush to a minor league contract and invited him to spring training.
Signed Jeff Deardorff to a minor league contract and invited him to spring training.
Signed Felix Escalona to a minor league contract and invited him to spring training.
Signed Sal Fasano to a minor league contract and invited him to spring training.
Signed Omar Fuentes to a minor league contract and invited him to spring training.
Signed Joe Girardi to a minor league contract and invited him to spring training.
Signed Tyler Houston to a minor league contract and invited him to spring training.
Signed Jim Mann to a minor league contract and invited him to spring training.
Signed Dioner Navarro to a minor league contract and invited him to spring training.
Signed Donovan Osborne to a minor league contract and invited him to spring training.
Signed John Rodriguez to a minor league contract and invited him to spring training.
Signed David Shepard to a minor league contract and invited him to spring training.
Signed Jon Mark Sprowl to a minor league contract and invited him to spring training.
Signed Steve Torrealba to a minor league contract and invited him to spring training.

The Drew Henson experiment officially ends; best of luck to him in the NFL. The Yankees don't often have guys make the roster after starting off as NRIs, and there's no exception in this group. Navarro and Sprowl are catching prospects (with Navarro the younger and better of the two), and there's not much else. Osborne will probably hang around AAA Columbus in case a Yankee starter goes down, and Girardi will move to the YES network. Tyler Houston might've been an option, but he gave up after the A-Rod acquisition.

02/16/04 -
Acquired Alex Rodriguez from the Texas Rangers. (with cash for Alfonso Soriano and a player to be named later)
Traded Alfonso Soriano to the Texas Rangers. (with a player to be named later for Alex Rodriguez and cash)
Traded a player to be named later to the Texas Rangers. (with Alfonso Soriano for Alex Rodriguez and cash)

I don't know what can be said that hasn't already been said. This is a wonderful deal for the Yankees. If I were starting a team right now (or any time for awhile now), my first selection would be Rodriguez...he can play short extremely well, he's been durable, he's still young and he can hit the crap out of the ball. And the Red Sox were close to acquiring him, which makes the trade even sweeter. He'll move to third for the beginning of the 2004 season - hopefully the Yanks think better of that before too long. The trade of trades.

02/17/04 -
Signed Gabe White to a one year, $2.15 million contract with a mutual option for 2005. (avoided arbitration)

White's been a very good reliever in the past and should be a lefty killer in the Yankee pen this year. If he can do what he's done in the past effectively, he's well worth $2.15 million to the Yankees.

02/24/04 -
Released Tyler Houston.

As I said, Houston gave up on making the team following the A-Rod trade. Good riddance.

02/26/04 -
Released Aaron Boone.
Signed Travis Lee to a one year, $2.25 million contract with a club option for 2005 ($3 million, $250K buyout).

Boone finally gets released - it's thought that the team may try to resign him to an incentive-laden deal for 2005, which would be fine with me. His injury ultimately paved the way for the A-Rod trade, so I guess it ends up being a positive thing. Not many Yankee fans were relishing the thought of seeing Boone out there for a full season, given what he did in pinstripes last year (of course, he'll always have a place in our hearts). The Travis Lee signing is a bit odd, just because of the money. I guess he probably had other options and could've gone and played more elsewhere, so the team had to come big to get him...I just don't see him getting all that many at bats with the team they've currently got. A great defensive first baseman, he'll be Giambi's caddy there - you just can't get him, Giambi, Bernie, Lofton and Matsui all into the lineup at once.

The 2004 Yankees are a very different looking team than the one that lost the 2003 World Series to the Marlins. For the most part, that's a good thing. There's no question that the team has lost starting pitching - but I have more questions about the back end of the rotation (Contreras and Lieber) than the top two replacements (Vazquez and Brown). In truth, the offense should be good enough to make up for a lot of pitching deficiences. Adding the likes of Sheffield and Rodriguez should make this one of the best offensive teams around, certainly the best Yankee team we've seen in recent years. Both the Yanks and Red Sox (and Blue Jays) have improved significantly since the end of the season - it's going to be fun, again.
posted by VZW Watcher at 12:50 PM -