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Yankee woes could spill over into next season
Granted, the addition of Sabathia would give the Yankees one of the game's top rotations in 2009, presuming that Chien-Ming Wang, Joba Chamberlain and Phil Hughes came back healthy, and that Mike Mussina and/or Andy Pettitte returned.
Likewise, the addition of Teixeira would give the Yankees a younger, more productive offensive player than Jason Giambi, not to mention a far superior defender. The Yankees' dirty little secret this season is that their defense ranks among the worst in the majors, and Giambi is one of their many culprits.
Still, even if the Yankees landed Sabathia and Teixeira, they would be stuck with the same questionable group of young starting pitchers and many of the same underperforming hitters. The Yankees greatly overestimated both sets of players this season. Who's to say they won't make the same mistakes again?
Remember, the Yankees spent heavily last offseason — $275 million for third baseman Alex Rodriguez, $52.4 million for catcher Jorge Posada, $45 million for closer Mariano Rivera, $16 million each for Pettitte and right fielder Bobby Abreu. Those were all players who had proven they could play in New York. And yet, here are the Yankees, on track to miss the postseason for the first time since 1993.
Yes, they have been ravaged by injuries — particularly those to Wang and Chamberlain, their top two starters. However, physical breakdowns by 30-something veterans such as catcher Jorge Posada and left fielder Hideki Matsui should not come as surprises. Besides, with an Opening Day payroll of $209 million — by far the highest in the majors — no one wants to hear the Yankees' laments.
General manager Brian Cashman, in the final year of his contract, seemed to have the right idea when he committed to young pitching. The Yankees' offense, which was supposed to cover for any pitching shortcomings, might simply be in a one-year funk, the way the White Sox's attack was last season. But several of Cashman's decisions have yet to be validated, including the hiring of manager Joe Girardi, who still must prove that he can motivate a veteran club.
Cashman could have:
Instead, many of the Yankees' questions remain unanswered. We still don't know if Chamberlain can stay healthy or if Hughes can be a top- of-the-rotation starter. We do know that the Yankees' older players are not about to start trending upward. They are either in decline (hello, Derek Jeter) or a year closer to it (yes, even you, A-Rod).
Jeter is a particularly vexing subject. In the mind's eye of many fans, he is still 24. In reality, he is 34 and showing it. His defense at shortstop has improved slightly this season — Jeter ranks 23rd among qualifying major-league shortstops according to the Bill James Online plus-minus system, up from 31st in each of the previous two seasons. But he's still below-average defensively and little more than a singles hitter offensively; Jeter's on-base/slugging percentage is nearly 100 points lower than Jose Reyes' and nearly 200 points lower than Hanley Ramirez's.
At some point soon, the Yankees will need to move Jeter off short, but to where? Center field is the most obvious spot — Jeter's bat would be inadequate at first base — but the Yankees do not have a glaring need at the position. Cabrera, 24, could bounce back from his recent demotion to be least a plus defender and league-average hitter in center. If that doesn't happen, the Yankees eventually could turn to their top position prospect, Class AA outfielder Austin Jackson.
Here's the scary part: Jeter, according to the plus-minus defensive rating system, isn't even the Yankees' worst fielder relative to his peers. Giambi ranks 29th among first basemen, Cano 29th among second basemen, Bobby Abreu 33rd among right fielders. A-Rod is 16th among third basemen — just average.
The Yankees' defensive shortcomings are one reason they should refrain from re-signing Giambi or pursuing Manny Ramirez; the departures of Giambi and Abreu alone would help the defense. Frankly, the Yankees need to continue parlaying some of their young pitching into younger, more athletic position players — the way Cashman did when he traded for outfielder Xavier Nady, 29.
Other general managers wish they had the Yankees' resources, but for all of Cashman's advantages, he also faces unique challenges.
Rebuilding is not an option for the Yankees, and the ability to bestow lavish contracts is a blessing as well as a curse. Both Sabathia and Teixeira, for example, are 28, much younger than Posada, Rivera and A-Rod were when they re-signed with the Yankees last off-season. Still, a six-year commitment to Sabathia would not necessarily be prudent. Nor would an eight- to 10-year commitment to Teixeira.
From the Yankees' perspective, such concerns ultimately might prove irrelevant. They simply aren't developing players as effectively as the Red Sox, whose homegrown talents include left-hander Jon Lester and closer Jonathan Papelbon, plus first baseman Kevin Youkilis, second baseman Dustin Pedroia, center fielder Jacoby Ellsbury and now shortstop Jed Lowrie.
Rest assured, the Yankees will make headlines with their offseason moves. Rest assured, they will be in the same uncomfortable position next Opening Day.
Member Comments
Ken<br /><br />Before you right the Yankees off for 2009 I would caution you take into account how badly they will want to win next year. They will jetison $93M in payroll and even if the sign Teixera and Sabathia and Mussina and Pettite they won't add that much back in. They know they have to get younger and have better chemistry. That's what got them through last year. Girardi will make adjustments, Cashman will make enough moves and they will be competive. Remember they played most of this year without an all-star catcher, their number 1 starter and hd so many pitchers miss time it was hard to keep track of. You'll see - they'll be back.
oldschoolpics9/24/2008 6:06:00 AM(Report inappropriate content)
Kenny lets stop writing off jeets just yet. the main problem is they have too many guys who aren't yankees. you can't replace a paul o'niell with a soft player like abreu. stray-dog is too concerned with himself that he puts up the most useless numbers that mean nothing. if the yanks had a team of winners and grinders like they used to jeter would fit right in and noone would be talking about his defense or his lack of pop. you know what they would be talking about? his game winning hits in the postseason, his clutch defense. if you had a team of jeters i would take that anytime. let stray-dog, abreu, pavano and messina go reach their useless milestones for a team that is 35 games out of first (where they belong) let the yanks get back to signing quality free agents who hit in the clutch and can actually get people out on the mound when it matters (thats right messina i'm talking about you). funn how his best year as a yank comes when he is free agent. thanks for showing up in all those must win games in october buddy. then we can talk about derek jeter world series MVP because jeets shows up in all the big games unlike these assclowns they have now.
torre969/3/2008 5:31:00 AM(Report inappropriate content)
NEYpalm the Yanks are done this year. I will however take zero stock in what a rays fan says. There are no Rays fans just people that found out the rays existed this year. Can you imagine Being at the top of your division and no one comes to games! No sell outs! Tampa doesn't even deserve Baseball if the people won't come out and support a First place team! <br />That being Said I have been waiting all year for the rays to fall flat on their face and guess what they keep flippin winning somehow. It is amazing. The team is good and Maddon is a great Manager. Probably far superior to Girardi for that matter. <br /><br />2008 The first time Jeter Plays Garbage games. Imagine that
marty016069/2/2008 13:09:00 PM(Report inappropriate content)
Heypalm - good luck with that prediction...<br /><br />Hammerbourne - good try to diss the Rays. Ellsbury has always been a Boston player.
tampa_edski9/1/2008 10:00:00 AM(Report inappropriate content)
Who care? I just saw this guy is dating with several hotties on the HOT sexy&wealthy dating site '+++BillionaireRomance.C O M++++'. MOST of them are very rich.
8/31/2008 20:00:00 PM(Report inappropriate content)
I just got off patrol in Ajristan-Afghanistan, and my yanks are still back. But i just looked at the Devil Rays schedule,3 vs yanks, 3 vs blue jays 3 vs boston 3 vs Yanks and 3 vs Boston again then 4 vs Minny. I predict that by the 14 of september Boston is in first place and the Yanks are about 4 games back from the Dead Rays in the wild card...
NEyPaLM8/31/2008 7:08:00 AM(Report inappropriate content)
I have an idea how about paying for performance. Your batting average is down you make less money. You don't hustle less money. You s-u-c-k less money.
purefanatic118/30/2008 12:45:00 PM(Report inappropriate content)
I read that CC wants to play in the NL and bat and would like to play in Cal. Maybe LA. I don't believe teams can buy a title anymore. The free agents are mostly old junk.Teams like Tampa and Milwaukee are developing guys like Longoria and Braun and having solid pitching especially middle relief. Bad bullpens took out the Chisox last year and the Indians,Tigers and Yankees this year.
rush2win8/29/2008 20:30:00 PM(Report inappropriate content)
You were all praising cashman for not trading the young pitchers and now you want to question them. Every team in baseball can miss the playoffs or have one good year (METS) and be praised, the Yankees miss the playoffs after 13 years, 4 titles and 6 american league titles and they are now idiots. Give me a ****ing break. This is the same type of thinking that you killed Steinbrenner for. Billy Beane of the A's is a god but has never won a championship. Every team in Baseball would trade places with the Yankees for the past 13 years. You don't do what they did by being idiots. a few down years is expected because that's baseball. Yes they will spend money. Every team spends money. Omar Minaya has bought his team except for Reyes and Wright who came into the system before he did. He is never killed. Yankee haters like Rosenthal can talk all they want but beware of the sleeping giant. His name is Hank Steinbrenner. Cashman should be fired.
antimet8/29/2008 17:27:00 PM(Report inappropriate content)
Hey Ken,<br />Help me out with the FA OF Quest. Who's up for Big Yanks $$$$$$? I would even take a 30-year old OF with above Offense and above Defense.
sabreyank8/29/2008 15:01:00 PM(Report inappropriate content)
I almost forgot Cashman has progressivly declined the last 3-yeras on his decision making. This year he bomb in a big way. Time for a change??????????????
sabreyank8/29/2008 14:56:00 PM(Report inappropriate content)
Ken,<br />Your comments were almost right on.<br />Manny, Hinske you were kidding Right?<br />Yankees need to get youger, especially in the OF. Damon great lead off hitter the worst outfielder ever. Change needed needed!!!<br />Abreau, I'm scared of the Big wall. Matsui is done in OF bad knees. Needed 3- OF with .275 Ba 15 plus HR, 60 rs, 60 rbi.<br />Jeter will be o.k. A-Rod sucks in a clutch, but yanks own him and no one wants the money guy.<br />C.C. Sab, A.J. Burnett and TEx would be great additons. I'm still looking for the young OF with above average offense and superb defense.
sabreyank8/29/2008 14:53:00 PM(Report inappropriate content)
the scouts in the yankee farm system need to go..can you tell me how a team like TB and even BOS have managed to grow from within while cashman still has the 90s mentality of throwing cash around loosely?<br /><br />TB=20mil, NYY= 200mil and 9 games behing TB<br /><br />heads should roll in AA and AAA
dcd19718/29/2008 14:05:00 PM(Report inappropriate content)
The Yankees LOSE...the Yankees LOSE...the Yankees LOSE...HOW SWEET IT IS!!!!!
kycol18/29/2008 11:21:00 AM(Report inappropriate content)
we have gone over this several times. ken you are so juvenile it makes me wonder how you have an adults job. i guess like everything else, things will work out and you will lose your job. the plus minus system is not acurate because it does not take into account the pitcher tendancies. for example, if the pitcher is a sinker ball or a fly ball pitcher. so take the flawed system and stab yourself 29 times please. less face time on tv please!!! for the kids..
tommyg00888/29/2008 7:44:00 AM(Report inappropriate content)
Wasn't Jacoby Ellsbury drafted and developed in the Devil Rays system before moving to the Red Sox system for only a year and a half? I thought I ready that a few weeks back in another column.
Hammerbourne8/28/2008 22:04:00 PM(Report inappropriate content)
Never say never, alot can still happen in 5 weeks.
raidersandyankees8/28/2008 17:45:00 PM(Report inappropriate content)
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