Every year it seems like Brian Cashman brings in some vet reliever to be run into the ground doing setup work. Last year it was the Viz. His performance was so good, that his free-agent demands probably outpaced his value. So he’s gone, and the Yanks have signed LaTroy Hawkins to a 1-year deal at $3.75 million. A lot of scratch for a guy who might not be any better than any of the 35 other options from within the organization. Call it an insurance policy. In other news, Andy Phillips, who had been DFA’ed, declared free agency. Good luck to him finding a home. Bronson Sardinha also DFA’ed, to make room on the 40-man.
Out With The Old, In With the Old
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YAY…another middle-30’s, completely average, RIGHT HANDED reliever. Just what we needed. (sarcasm)
3.75 mil for a guy who had a 4.48 ERA pitching for the Orioles in 2006? His good years are only with NL teams–he’ll go back to getting rocked if he’s in the AL East again.
I wish I could slap Scott Linebrink in public. It’s all because of him and the retarded White Sox that the price for relievers has gone up to ridiculous proportions.
Before everybody piles on to trash this deal, let’s remember it’s only for one year. ONE YEAR. I think Hawkins is the only reliever FA that’s agreed to a 1-year deal so far. One can’t blame Viz for seeking a 3-year deal elsewhere, given the absurd 4 year/$19 million contract Linebrink got.
I’m probably not alone in saying I wanted David Riske, but he also took advantage of the reliever FA market and signed a 3-year deal. The Yankees really should get Ron Mahay now. It’d also be a good idea to look into trading some prospects for the Pirates’ Damaso Marte.
Didn’t Rivera sign his deal first? Remember that he’s getting paid 15 friggen million dollars. That’s more than Posada.
That’s true, but no one else was in the running to sign Mo. It’s more of a special case; I don’t think it influenced any other reliever deals.
The fact that Hawkins’ numbers last year at Coors were largely the same is reassuring. I’m not too sure if the NL to AL would have that great of an impact on a relief pitcher’s performance. It seems to me that a reliever won’t face enough batters for the DH/pitcher to have a big effect.
I don’t think it influenced any other reliever deals.
It is possible it didn’t, though Francisco Cordero signed his ridiculous 4 (5 with option) deal with the Reds just a few days afterwards. No proof that the money involved in the Cordero case was affected by Rivera’s signing, but there’s certainly no proof that it wasn’t affected either. Cordero got a LOT of money…
I think every deal influences other deals. When the gold standard at a position (in this case, Mo) gets his contract, it sets the ceiling – at least for this market – even if it is not done in overt competition with other teams bidding for those same services.
what would really excite me is if Steinbrenner the Senior woke up from his coma suddenly and shouted “Cashman! grrr, CASH-MAN! what year is it, 2001?? gimme last year’s Cy Young winner! whats his name! GAGNE! get me that boy or your ass is done in this town, boy!” (as I always imagine their conversations ending)
On the topic of bullpens, Jose Veras has posted this line in the Dominican Winter League:
7.2IP, 4H, 0ER, 3BB, 12K
Doesn’t mean too much, but I’ve heard and read that the Yankees really like his stuff. He could get a big chance in 2008.
Andrew, good point – the Yanks love Veras judging from comments made toward the end of last year.
And I am curious to see some of these other prospect b-pen arms come up.
Does anyone expect much of Oehlendorf this year? I did not follow him at all in the minors and though he did come up very very briefly toward the end of the season, it wasn’t for long enough to judge. ANy insight on him welcome…
What I know about Russ O: he is an Ivy League guy who is primarliy a groundball pitcher. He came here in the Johnson trade, and spent his time in the minors as a starter until last season, when the Yanks, in anticipation of him being called up, put him in the bullpen. The early reports were encouraging as his fast ball rose in velocity (some reports had him as high as 97). When he came up to pitch for the Yanks, he was put in typically low-leverage situations and basically buried by Torre. When he pitched, he was nothing special. Not good, not bad.
Tx Nick – curiuos to see if he emerges a bit this season (if he doesn’t get traded first)