Another opportunity for A-Rod?

[CubinNY]

Best quote overheard by a Yankee fan co-worker today:

 

"A-Rod tries to play too pretty. He ain't a Yankee."

[goonys evil twin]

Best quote overheard by a Yankee fan co-worker today:

 

"A-Rod tries to play too pretty. He ain't a Yankee."

 

I love it.

 

He's no Sojo.

[JC]

Best quote overheard by a Yankee fan co-worker today:

 

"A-Rod tries to play too pretty. He ain't a Yankee."

 

I love it.

 

He's no Sojo.

 

No, he sure isn't. And Matsui is no Paul O'Neill.

 

20

03 NYY 163 623 82 179 42 1 16 106 63 86 2 2 .287 .353 .435 .788 
2004 NYY 162 584 109 174 34 2 31 108 88 103 3 0 .298 .390 .522 .912 
2005 NYY 162 629 108 192 45 3 23 116 63 78 2 2 .305 .367 .496 .863 
Total -- 487 1836 299 545 121 6 70 330 214 267 7 4 .297 .370 .484 .854 

 

I'd do my best to live with them as Cubs, however.

[Backtobanks]

Best quote overheard by a Yankee fan co-worker today:

 

"A-Rod tries to play too pretty. He ain't a Yankee."

 

I love it.

 

He's no Sojo.

 

No, he sure isn't. And Matsui is no Paul O'Neill.20

03 NYY 163 623 82 179 42 1 16 106 63 86 2 2 .287 .353 .435 .788 
2004 NYY 162 584 109 174 34 2 31 108 88 103 3 0 .298 .390 .522 .912 
2005 NYY 162 629 108 192 45 3 23 116 63 78 2 2 .305 .367 .496 .863 
Total -- 487 1836 299 545 121 6 70 330 214 267 7 4 .297 .370 .484 .854 

 

I'd do my best to live with them as Cubs, however.

 

Matsui may not be a Paul O'Neill, but I would love to have him playing OF for the Cubs.

[erik316wttn]

The Yankees could use an ARod deal to go a long way toward restocking thier pathetic farm system. They'd actually have decent prospects again.

[Tim]

The Yankees could use an ARod deal to go a long way toward restocking thier pathetic farm system. They'd actually have decent prospects again.

Why would they care?

[UBlink]

The problem with including Wood in a trade is that, with the no-trade clause, he is likely to demand a one or two year extension in order to waive the no-trade clause. So now the trading partner has to look at Wood as a guy with a 2 or 3 year contract. That means that a large part of the money savings from moving ARod will be absorbed by Wood's contract.

 

Note that I did not say Wood can't be moved because of the no-trade, just that his value to an acquiring team is lowered by whatever they have to give him to waive the no-trade.

[CubfaninCA]

The problem with including Wood in a trade is that, with the no-trade clause, he is likely to demand a one or two year extension in order to waive the no-trade clause. So now the trading partner has to look at Wood as a guy with a 2 or 3 year contract. That means that a large part of the money savings from moving ARod will be absorbed by Wood's contract.

 

Note that I did not say Wood can't be moved because of the no-trade, just that his value to an acquiring team is lowered by whatever they have to give him to waive the no-trade.

 

The Yankees won't trade ARod to save money. They'll trade him because their starting pitching is suspect. Their pitching was alot better in the late 90's when they were winning it all.

[CubfaninCA]

If Rodriguez is willing to play shortstop again, I'd take him without desiring the Yankees to eat any salary.

 

I wouldn't likely trade Prior to get him though. I doubt we have the players that would make the Yankees bite on moving him, but I might offer Ramirez.

 

If the Yankees were inclined to move Rodriguez, I'd definitely want to get in on those discussions. There aren't many teams that can afford a 16 million or more player, so if they want to send him packing, it could be fun to see where it could go.

 

A couple of thoughts: Could Wood be persuaded to waive his no-trade clause and go to the Yankees?

 

Would a Wood, Patterson, Hill deal interest the Yankees for Arod?

 

If the Yankees offered Wood a 1 or 2 year extension to his contract, there may be a shot of him waiving his no trade.

 

Have to agree w/ Tim, ARam and Wood for ARod. Maybe get another minor player from NY.

 

Ramirez and Wood would be overpaying. Rodriguez is better than Ramirez, but he's also paid more and Ramirez is younger.

 

Well, Wood's trade value isn't that high and he could walk in the free agency next offseason w/ the Cubs getting nothing back. Like I said the Cubs can ask for a minor player back from NY. Not really sure who though.

 

Wood's value may not be that high, but Ramirez is. He is a hellova hitter at a reduced price compared to Rodriguez. There's no way you offer the two of those for only one player who really helps you.

 

I would love to have Rodriguez, especially if he can still handle short. I would offer Ramirez for him, but reluctantly. I would not trade Prior for him, and likely not Zambrano either, but I would be tempted. Much depends on whether or not Rodriguez can play short.

 

The best course of action if the Cubs want Rodriguez is to try to invlove a third team that would be looking to shed payroll.

 

How about the Marlins?

 

Cubs get Rodriguez.

Yankees get Wood, Patterson, and Lowell.

Marlins get Cedeno and Wellemeyer.

 

In essence the Cubs give up Wood, Patterson, Cedeno, and Wellemeyer for Rodriguez. Of those players, only Wood and Cedeno have any real value to the Cubs.

 

The Marlins get to shed Lowell's contract and pick up a cheap infield option as well as a reliever. The real value for the Marlins is the salary relief.

 

The Yankees recieve Lowell to play third, though you'd have to sell them that Lowell can return to his previous form, Wood who could be a dominant starter for them and a defensive CF who could flourish as many LHed hitters do in Yankee stadium.

 

This is a deal I could live with. I'd love to substitute another prospect for Cedeno, but would include him if the deal hinged upon it.

 

The hardest part of this deal is convincing the Yankees that Lowell has value.

 

Now a 3 way deal could work. My guess is that Damon either signs w/ Anaheim (less pressure to perform) or stays w/ Boston, so NY will need a CF. Flordia could give them Pierre. Lowell could be the 2nd coming of Scott Brosius. :) Perhaps they could get Delgado from Florida too??

[badger1679666666]

No. A healthy Prior is worth more to us than a stud SS (or 3B).

 

Hasn't that been the problem?

 

I guess we could have the age old argument about how Prior's injuries were flukes... :?

 

You disagree with this? You think most of them weren't flukes? He's had 3 real injuries, 2 have caused a great deal of missed time IIRC.

 

1) Running into Giles. How is this NOT fluke?

2) Getting struck on the elbow with a ball travelling over 100 mph. How is this NOT fluke?

3) Achilles. The only one that could be considered not fluke.

 

Nothing irritates me more than people suggesting Prior is "injury prone".

[BigbadB]

No. A healthy Prior is worth more to us than a stud SS (or 3B).

 

Hasn't that been the problem?

 

I guess we could have the age old argument about how Prior's injuries were flukes... :?

 

You disagree with this? You think most of them weren't flukes? He's had 3 real injuries, 2 have caused a great deal of missed time IIRC.

 

1) Running into Giles. How is this NOT fluke?

2) Getting struck on the elbow with a ball travelling over 100 mph. How is this NOT fluke?

3) Achilles. The only one that could be considered not fluke.

 

Nothing irritates me more than people suggesting Prior is "injury prone".

 

I don't disagree with you, but I believe you are missing an injury. What was it that had him shut down at the end of 2004? It was some sort of arm trouble.

[USSoccer]

Prior wasn't shut down at the end of 2004. He pitched the Sunday game that Dempster and Hawkins blew in the 9th, and Mercker blew in the 10th. He then lost 2-1 in extras after a Austin Kearns game tying HR.

[CubfaninCA]

Now's a bad time to trade Prior, and I don't think the Yankees would take Prior for ARod straight up. Wood's a much better trade option given he's a free agent after 2006.

 

My bet is that Prior has a big year next year. He's due for some good luck.

[BigbadB]

Well, I may have the time frame wrong, but I don't believe I'm just making this up. He had some arm problems either right before or right after his Achilles problems. There was discussion about him possibly missing significant time because of it. And it wasn't the forearm drive off his elbow that I'm referring to.

[USSoccer]

Well, I may have the time frame wrong, but I don't believe I'm just making this up. He had some arm problems either right before or right after his Achilles problems. There was discussion about him possibly missing significant time because of it. And it wasn't the forearm drive off his elbow that I'm referring to.

 

He missed time in the middle of 2004, IIRC, but came back after maybe 3 or 4 weeks.

[CaliforniaRaisin]

Well, I may have the time frame wrong, but I don't believe I'm just making this up. He had some arm problems either right before or right after his Achilles problems. There was discussion about him possibly missing significant time because of it. And it wasn't the forearm drive off his elbow that I'm referring to.

 

He missed time in the middle of 2004, IIRC, but came back after maybe 3 or 4 weeks.

 

He missed just one start, though there were worries of TJS before tests put that to rest.

[NorthsideAvenger]

How about this:

 

Cubs acquire Alex Rodriguez and JC Romero.

Yankees acquire Torii Hunter, Brad Radke, and a couple of prospects.

Twins acquire: Ronny Cedeno, Eric Duncan, and Rich Hill. (the Cubs could throw in Patterson, if they need a stopgap CF)

 

You know why the Cubs would do this. The Yankees would add valuable defense to their team in Hunter. And we know Torii believe he will be traded. The Yankees would also covet another solid, yet PROVEN pitcher in Brad Radke (unlike Pavano and Wright), who they could slip behind Mussina and Johnson. The biggest reason why the Twins would do is for salary relief. But they would get a solid young SS (Barlett is a backup), and nice, but not great, 1st base prospect in Eric Duncan, and a solid young reliever, whom would instantly replace Romero in the bullpen. If they need a CF for the short-term, I have no problem with moving CPatt to the Twins.

[Magnetic Curses]

prior was shut down at the end of 2002 with a hamstring pull, iirc.

[goonys evil twin]

How about this:

 

Cubs acquire Alex Rodriguez and JC Romero.

Yankees acquire Torii Hunter, Brad Radke, and a couple of prospects.

Twins acquire: Ronny Cedeno, Eric Duncan, and Rich Hill. (the Cubs could throw in Patterson, if they need a stopgap CF)

 

I would not eliminate the chances of such a deal. Hunter makes a lot of sense for NYY, but they don't have a lot to offer, besides salary relief, in return. But I think the Cubs have to give up more there. Give Minny Dopirak, and give the Yanks a young starter.

[goonys evil twin]

prior was shut down at the end of 2002 with a hamstring pull, iirc.

 

baserunning

[Transmogrified Tiger]

How about this:

 

Cubs acquire Alex Rodriguez and JC Romero.

Yankees acquire Torii Hunter, Brad Radke, and a couple of prospects.

Twins acquire: Ronny Cedeno, Eric Duncan, and Rich Hill. (the Cubs could throw in Patterson, if they need a stopgap CF)

 

You know why the Cubs would do this. The Yankees would add valuable defense to their team in Hunter. And we know Torii believe he will be traded. The Yankees would also covet another solid, yet PROVEN pitcher in Brad Radke (unlike Pavano and Wright), who they could slip behind Mussina and Johnson. The biggest reason why the Twins would do is for salary relief. But they would get a solid young SS (Barlett is a backup), and nice, but not great, 1st base prospect in Eric Duncan, and a solid young reliever, whom would instantly replace Romero in the bullpen. If they need a CF for the short-term, I have no problem with moving CPatt to the Twins.

 

I don't think there's any way the Cubs get A-Rod and Romero for Hill, Cedeno, and throw-ins. The Twins get worked over in that deal. They don't need to clear THAT much payroll. They should be okay dealing one of Torii or Radke.

[goonys evil twin]

I don't think there's any way the Cubs get A-Rod and Romero for Hill, Cedeno, and throw-ins. The Twins get worked over in that deal. They don't need to clear THAT much payroll. They should be okay dealing one of Torii or Radke.

 

I agree they need more. But I think the Twins would love to deal both guys. Remember, no playoff revenue this year, which was something they had gotten used to in recent seasons. If they choose to lock up some young guys before they reach arbitration, this would help a lot.

[RynoRules]

I don't think there's any way the Cubs get A-Rod and Romero for Hill, Cedeno, and throw-ins. The Twins get worked over in that deal. They don't need to clear THAT much payroll. They should be okay dealing one of Torii or Radke.

 

I agree they need more. But I think the Twins would love to deal both guys. Remember, no playoff revenue this year, which was something they had gotten used to in recent seasons. If they choose to lock up some young guys before they reach arbitration, this would help a lot.

 

Radke is the de-facto mayor of the Twin Cities (in his first contract year, the state legislature considered diverting funds to the Twins to help re-sign him), and Hunter is the Deputy. If you think they have attendance problems now, try telling their fan-base that they just dealt the team's two most popular players to the most hated franchise in baseball, and in return received three guys known only those of us who are baseball obsessesed (Cedeno, Hill, and Duncan) and one absolute bust of a CFer (CPatt - but, hey, he's got all five tools!).

 

In summary: Ryan would be committing profesional suicide and would have to enter the witness protection program if he made that deal.

[Jehrico]

I'd throw Wood, CPatt, and Walker at the Yanks for ARod and see if they bite. We could have an IF of Lee, Cedeno, ARod, and Aramis. I'd explore putting Nomar in the OF, if he's willing. Sign Lofton, and I think you have a decent producing OF with Nomar, Lofton, and Murton (not a great OF, but not bad...), but we'd have the best IF production by far. NYY may not need Walker, but he could easily be flipped to another team for a need based on his low salary. Or bring a third team who's interested in Walker (Cleveland could have alot ot offer for him). Plus, if we have an injury to the IF, or if Cedeno gets sent down, Nomar could move to the IF, as a corner OFer would be easier to pick up in a trade than a 2B, SS, or 3B. Flexibility is the keyword with Nomar in the OF.

 

One thing I haven't see mentioned as to why the Yankee's might bite on Wood is that the FA crop of pitchers this year is weak. They've gone after 2nd tier guys like Pavano out of FA the last couple of years, I don't think they'll settle for anyone who is on the market. They'll want a premier talent. There won't be many teams marketing Ace-caliber pitching this summer, Wood may be their best bet. I don't think CPatt is going to hit .280 plus next year, but he could at least approximate Bernie William's production the last few years, while improving the defense markedly. There's a chance he'll turn the corner for the Yanks too, which makes it a worthwhile gamble.

 

Basically, getting Walker would be a safe bet either way (keep or flip to a third team), and if either Wood or CPatt have a comeback season, it's a fair deal. If both of them have a good year, it's a great deal for the Yanks.

[Bluescale]

Man, Yankee fans would eat Corey alive.