Sabathia and Ramirez could land in Big Apple
Posted: Monday, October 27, 2008 3:35 PM
It’s just a week to the start of free agency so here are five “marriages” that would make sense if they come about this baseball winter:
CC SABATHIA AND THE YANKEES: This will happen simply because the Yankees cannot let another winter go by without taking a run at the game’s best available pitcher.
The decision to pass on Johan Santana last offseason didn’t work out too well in the Bronx. The math works in the pursuit of Sabathia as nearly $90 million comes off the Yankees’ books and with their new stadium much more money is headed into their coffers. Thus, the Yankees can simply follow the “Tom Hicks” playbook -- outbid everyone by so much that the players union implores Sabathia to accept the lucrative deal for the “good” of all players (see Rodriguez, Alex circa 2001). Sabathia will trade California and the chance to hit in the National League for mind-boggling dollars and October baseball.
MANNY RAMIREZ AND THE METS: Who else can and will give the dollars and years Manny’s agent, Scott Boras, wants for the 37-year-old? How about a team that needs another star to distract from the memory of a second consecutive collapse. A team that is in dire need of a right-handed power bat for a corner outfield spot. A team that showed an interest in acquiring Ramirez a few years ago. A team that has built a reputation as the best landing spot for Latin players. A team that plays in Ramirez’s hometown. And a team that has built a reputation for landing the superstar player.
MATT HOLLIDAY TO SAN FRANCISCO: There is the obvious issue of trading within your division that could keep this from happening. But if Colorado is serious about a pre-emptive trade of Holliday (he’s just one year from free agency and is represented by Scott Boras) as Denver reports indicate, then these teams are made to deal.
San Francisco, which will test the waters on Manny Ramirez, (the Giants seriously considered a trade for Ramirez in 2007) and perhaps Sabathia, has money to spend, a need for a power bat (righty hitters fare much better in their park), a huge need for a name position player and a surplus of starting pitching to fill Colorado’s needs.
DEREK LOWE TO DETROIT: Overlooked in the last four years was Lowe’s durability, which is of increasing importance in an era when insane dollars are invested in starting pitchers. The Dodgers received a solid return on their investment in Lowe as he threw at least 199 innings in each year of his contract. Those innings totals are the best sales tool for the 35-year-old Lowe, born in suburban Detroit. He could replace Kenny Rogers as the veteran anchor of a rotation hoping Justin Verlander and Jeremy Bonderman rebound.
JASON GIAMBI TO OAKLAND: The “second marriage” special. This makes sense on all fronts as Giambi’s power and OBP are still high and the Athletics desperately need an injection of both. He can fill gaping holes for Oakland at either first base or designated hitter. And a disaffected fan base could welcome home a familiar face, a significant point given the total stall that Oakland’s ballpark project has hit. Honorable mention here to Luis Gonzalez and Arizona as the veteran has openly pleaded to be let back in the Diamondbacks’ house. Nomar and Boston?? Never.
Other thoughts: I was going to suggest Francisco Rodriguez and the Mets but I wonder about both K-Rod’s price and his postseason bumps. Remember that the Mets will pay Billy Wagner through his 2009 rehab. And the New York Post reported that Brian Fuentes will be a Mets’ target this winter.
FIVE MORE SWINGS:
1. OBSCURE BUT INTRIGUING…action by Washington this week as it remade manager Manny Acta’s coaching staff. The Nationals hired Jim Riggleman as bench coach, a position reportedly turned down by Willie Randolph. But Riggleman is still hoping to make permanent his stint as Seattle manager. Reminds me of two winters ago when Charlie Manuel hired Art Howe to his staff only to have Ron Washington request to bring Howe in as his bench coach in Texas. Philadelphia released Howe, who was himself released by Texas earlier this month. Washington, the team, will be carefully watched this winter for signs of who is really in charge and any view of a plan.
2. RUMORS OF A QUICK DEAL…sending Jake Peavy to Atlanta may have hit a road block. Reports from the Arizona Fall League are that Braves’ top prospect Tommy Hanson was outstanding in a futures game in front of many scouts. The belief is that Atlanta general manager Frank Wren has put Hanson off-limits as there is the chance he could be ready to pitch in Atlanta in 2009.
3. REGARDING THE YANKEES AND SABATHIA…comes news from the Arizona Fall League that Phil Hughes has not overly impressed. Each story crafted in this manner reminds everyone of the Yankees passing on Johan Santana last winter and makes life more uncomfortable for Yankees general manager Brian Cashman, who is simply trying to responsibly run a baseball operation in an atmosphere that defines responsibility as winning every day.
4. THE SPORTING NEWS…polled 16 former big league shortstops, spanning five decades, on Jeter vs. Alex Rodriguez. Eleven picked Jeter, three said it was too close to call and only two chose A-Rod outright.
5. LOU PINIELLA…told a Chicago interviewer that he plans to move Kosuke Fukudome into a centerfield platoon with Reed Johnson in 2009. That makes Fukudome a $38 million platoon player (the amount the Cubs owe him for the next three years). That’s a steep price to pay for some marketing deals (and it doesn’t even include the eight first class air tickets between Chicago and Japan for family, the personal trainer, masseuse, interpreter and $25,000 in annual moving expenses).
When will teams learn the lesson about the uncertainty of a successful transition to the major leagues for players from Japan? And the Cubs contract with Fukudome makes the Yankees deal with Kei Igawa ($12 million owed over the next three years) look sane in comparison. No wonder the Cubs are still in limbo two years after going on the selling block.
