I wanted to post about this earlier, but I'd been tied up for the past week making revisions to a dissertation chapter, among other things. But I had been keeping an eye on the recent Santana to the Yankees rumors, and it's impossible not to find such a move intriguing.  Who wouldn't want to see Santana, easily one of the best pitchers in the game the past few years, in pinstripes? He throws quite hard, has lock-down stuff including a dynamite change-up, he eats innings, and he's tough. The Yankees particularly need a very good lefty starter, possibly even more should Andy Pettite retire, and Santana would immediately solidify the entire rotation while dramatically improving the top of the rotation.  He's an ace, without question, and would put the Yankees near, if not at, the top of favorites for the 2008 World Series. He's just that terrific.

But at what costs Santana? Preliminary discussions between the Twins and Yankees have involved names such as Melky and Phil Hughes, and it's hard to believe that the Twins wouldn't command those two, plus another pitcher and possibly another position prospect/player.  That is, the Twins would demand a top pitching prospect, a good player already in the majors, and one or two more prospects. Is this worth it?

I'm torn, honestly.  Should the Yankees pull off such a deal, I wouldn't complain as long as the asking price weren't exorbitant.  After all, it would be Santana, not an overpriced, fairly good, limited pitcher such as Barry Zito. But I have to admit that I'm eager to see how Hughes, Chamberlain, and Ian Kennedy pan out. I'm not expecting the three of them to garner all the Cy Young awards until the year 2020--though that would be tremendous--but I do believe they'll perform well in 2008 and beyond.  Plus, they'll only improve from here.  Though he only pitched several innings in the 2007 ALDS, Hughes showed himself to be good and at times dominant in several starts in his rookie year.  He has much to learn, he has to improve his strength and endurance (hopefully through a rigorous exercise regimen), and he needs to sharpen his change-up and slider (key alternative pitches).  But he has the stuff as well as great poise for his age. He's worth holding onto and watching how he'll develop. So are the others, especially Joba.

The Yankees have also planned to use at least two of those mentioned above for the 2008 rotation, and it's quite possible that Kennedy could be in the rotation as well.  I agree with the plan, especially because the three have had some, albeit limited, experience in the majors.  Chamberlain will need to make the transition to the rotation, and thankfully appears to be untouchable.  Hughes had a nice, but truncated, 2007 season, and Kennedy was quite good in his brief stint in the majors.  All three have very good stuff, and Chamberlain is dynamite. The drawback is that the Yankees will be investing a lot of hope in very young pitchers based on the promise of shortened seasons. That, and the possible loss of Pettite combined with the bizarre collapse of Wang late last year, might spur the Yankees to pull the trigger. Yet that has panned out well for the Tigers, and is worth considering for the Yankees.

There's no getting around the fact that the Yankees--any team--will need to cough up a top pitching prospect and then some to get Santana, then they'll need to sign Santana to a huge, long-term deal--the less problematic part of any potential trade.  Is it worth it?  Should the Yankees trade Hughes, Melky, and a couple others for Santana?  I honestly don't know.  I'm leaning toward saying keep the kids and go with them, though Santana is scary good.  But if the Yankees went with two talented kids, Joba one of them, to go with Santana and Wang in the rotation, I would comfortably live with that. Tell me you wouldn't also.

On a different note, I relaxed with the Celtics-Knicks game last night, and it was better than I could have hoped for.  As long-time basketball but somewhat dormant Celtics fan, The 104-59 blowout was hilarious, especially after Quentin Richardson's shooting off his mouth that the 11-2 Celtics (now 12-2) hadn't won anything yet, so there was no need to over-dramatize their early-season success.  More than that, the game provided a perfect contrast between two teams and, more importantly, their philosophies toward the game.  The Celtics have three stars, all of whom have sublimated themselves to a team concept and have quickly jelled together. They're carrying the team, but also bringing along good young players like Kendrick Perkins, a tough young center who allows Garnett to play his natural power forward position, and Rajon Rondo, whose quickness and penetrating skills provide the Celtics with the engine they need at the point, and a player who doesn't need the ball for scoring very often. The Celtics have more than a very good, star-studded team--they have very good chemistry, and some depth to boot.

The Knicks, on the other hand, are an abject disgrace, an affront to the game.  From the opening tip, they looked indifferent to the outcome. They played with no intensity whatsoever offensively or defensively.  There were at least a dozen possessions in the first half alone that were one pass and shoot possessions, most of which missed. They played aimless, selfish, foolish basketball, and only a 40-foot heave at the buzzer prevented the Knicks from breaking their ignominious record for the lowest point total for a game (58) in their history.  It was pathetic, and I loved every minute of it.  Not to be lost in this, and why I enjoyed it so much, watching Isiah Thomas sit and blankly stare at his team's descent into the laughable was worth every minute. Why on earth Thomas--who drastically ratcheted up the team's payroll, who made numerous high-profile moves that all backfired, who has been a bad coach and a worse GM, who was recently found guilty of sexually harassing an employee--has stayed on as long as he has, as the deplorable team he built has Knicks home crowds rightly, increasingly, loudly calling for his firing is beyond me. As terrific as the Celtics are, the Knicks are nothing short of HORRIBLE.

Meanwhile, as the Bulls themselves struggle badly, and actually lost to the Knicks, people should be impressed by and not overlook Orlando.  Dwight Howard will be an All-Star for the next decade plus, the team is young and talented, and one of the best five in the NBA in this young season.  Lots of great NBA stories during baseball's off-season. 

Seventy-seven days until pitchers and catchers report.

[Edit: According to Buster Olney at ESPN, the Yankees are becoming more willing to consider trading Phil Hughes in a package for Santana.  Olney also reports that the Yankees and Red Sox are considering a trade for Dan Haren as well, a very good pitcher for Oakland who might command the same level of prospects and players in return, but would be pay far less.  Haren had a very good 2007 for Oakland, though for lots of reasons, I would be partial to acquiring Santana.  Regardless, this off-season certainly is heating up again.]

Happy Thanksgiving, Everyone! I know it's a little early, but the family and I will be traveling tonight, the roads will be slick, and I'll be tied up tomorrow with the big parade in Chicago (weather permitting) and helping to destroy a sumptuous feast at my sister-in-law's. I hope that everyone out there is happy, safe, well-fed, warm, and thankful for everything we have collectively and individually. Right up there with Christmas as my favorite holidays, Thanksgiving has increasingly occupied a special place in my heart as well as my stomach.  It truly is about giving thanks, so thanks to everyone who reads and posts here.  You've helped to make this a great activity for me, and hopefully for you as well. Enjoy tomorrow, and all other days, everyone.

Happy Thanksgiving.

Well now, after what appeared to be a potentially destructive off-season, things for the Yankees are looking up, at the very least. According to ESPN, Mariano has apparently agreed to a three-year, $45 million deal with the Yankees that, most likely, will culminate his career in pinstripes as it should be. It's also just right in my view. While Mariano should be richly rewarded for his Hall-of-Fame tenure with the Yankees, and is still an outstanding relief pitcher, anything more than this would have been sheer excess. $15 million per season is more than $4 million per season more than B.J. Ryan or Billy Wagner, and a fourth year--in which Mariano would be turning 42 as the contract ended--was really pushing it.  This was a good signing for both sides, though an expensive one that the Yankees could have avoided at several million dollars less at least by wrapping this loose end up before the 2007 season began.

Although I'm a labor guy all around in life, and always will be, I have to say that I've pretty much agreed with the Yankees' positions in bargaining, at least in result. They were right to give Rodriguez a generous extension offer and not a thorough-going renegotiation to start negotiations. They were also right to provide Jorge and Mariano with generous, multi-year agreements that will likely see their careers end in pinstripes. But the length of this agreement, especially at this very generous price, was fair for the Yankees.  They're in essence paying more than top dollar for a closer to continue to be the greatest ever when all signs, not the least of which will be his age, historically indicate that his skills should wane.

Yet if there is one pitcher that I could not put such potential achievements past as he closes his thirties, it's Mariano.  Let's not forget that the chatter about expecting Mariano to slow down began five to six seasons ago, when it was normal for that to occur for most pitchers, relievers included.  Mariano broke and recast the mold in his own historically great likeness, continuing to excel despite annual expectations of his premature demise.  Though he struggled at times in 2007, let's see how he does when the Yankees aren't using him in mop-up roles as they slog through a 9-13 start that became 21-29, when he might actually get regular work.  The incomparable Frank the Sage said it best tonight, during one of our notoriously famous multi-hour confabs when he said, When Mariano actually comes into Girardi's or Cashman's office, physically holding his detached right arm in his left hand, then throws it on the desk, then I'll believe he can't get someone out.  I couldn't agree more. If there is one guy on whom I'd bet on to continue to excel, if there's one reliever I'd bet on to return to greatness, there's no question it's Mariano.  He keeps himself in great shape. He still throws 94-95 MPH regularly.  He saves his arm for the year by not throwing until the last few weeks before pitchers and catcher report. He knows his limitations. He's often highly efficient in his saves.  He still throws what arguably is the single greatest pitch in the history of the game very effectively, accurately, and with great velocity. He has as much big-game experience as a reliever has ever had.  He's Mariano Rivera.  I believe he'll have an excellent three years, two at least.

This was a very good day for Mariano and for the Yankees. Now get Rodriguez and hopefully Pettite re-signed, and cobble together a strong bullpen. Then they're really in business.

In a nearly unanimous vote that should have been unanimous, Alex Rodriguez won his third MVP for his incredible 2007 season.  A very hearty congratulations, (hopefully) Prodigal Alex. Equally incredible, according to Pete Abraham, the two first-place votes that did not go to Rodriguez went to Magglio Ordonez but, more importantly, were cast from two Detroit-area beat writers, Tom Gage of the Detroit News and Jim Hawkins of The Oakland Press.  That's the rub of it, to me.  I think Ordonez had an amazing year himself, and was clearly the second-most valuable in the AL, hands down. But his year didn't match Rodriguez's statistically, or for the team success that his individual success brought. Alex brought his team to the playoffs, and simply carried the Yankees through a good three of the six months, no two ways about it.  With Jeter and Posada, Rodriguez and they were the only three consistent hitters in the first half of the year.  Without his monster 2007 year, there's no way the Yankees would have made the playoffs--probably in the race, but that's it given their early-season team woes.  Basically, he was prevented a unanimous MVP vote by two home-job voters. Horrible. To wit, Rodriguez no less deserved to be the unanimous MVP choice in the AL than, say, Jake Peavy deserved the National League Cy Young award. That is, the gap between Peavy and the rest of the NL Cy Young pack was to me no greater than it was between Rodriguez and the rest of the AL MVP pack.  At least the decision was correct.

I must also add that I'm appalled that Jorge didn't get anything above a third-place vote, finishing sixth. Not one?!? Come on! I don't begrudge Vlad, Ortiz and Lowell (the third through fifth-place finishers) some upper-level consideration, but Jorge, who had one of the greatest offensive years that a catcher has ever had, combined with his significantly improved defense the past couple years, deserved far more consideration for the MVP overall than he received.  There's no shame in finishing sixth in a year stacked with an MVP lock and a few others deserving weighty consideration for runner-up, but Jorge should have been one of those in the running for runner-up. He's a catcher, not a DH, and that should have mattered more in the final tally than it did.

Again, congratulations Alex.  Now get that contract wrapped up and signed!

Yankees things first. The Yankees and Alex Rodriguez have apparently agreed to an outline of a ten-year, $275 million contract. According to ESPN, not much is left in substance to do except draft the contract and put some John Hancocks on it.  Hopefully, that should be easy enough to do without either side screwing things up.  All said and done, this is huge, firming back up the Yankees' third-base position, getting back the most potent bat and righty bat in the game, providing the richest contract in baseball history, and doing so on their terms. For Rodriguez, this ensures that he's still the richest player in the game, grants him a raise that, despite his storied, sad playoff failures, is warranted based on his gaudy regular-season numbers and tremendous physical skills, allows him and the team to save face because he got a hefty raise--albeit one for which he didn't actually have to opt out of his contract to obtain--and brings him back into the fold.  Despite all the sloppiness of the past three weeks, this is the best move all around, and hopefully can lead to future team and individual successes, and smoothing over some ruffled feathers. The past several weeks would be a colossal waste of time and energy should the Yankees re-sign Rodriguez, but in the end, I guess it would be all's well that end's well.  I can live with that.

"And now for something completely different."--John Cleese, "Monty Python's Flying Circus"

According to the entire sports world, Barry Bonds has been indicted on four counts of perjury and one count of obstructing justice in the steroids probe in large part related to the BALCO probe.  I'll just say a couple things for now.  First, this really isn't a great, celebratory moment. In fact, it's really sad on a number of fronts, confirming what anyone with a bare minimum of analytical skills and a cursory attention span suspected anyway--steroids, their taint, and the abject willingness to cover for their abuse have been rife throughout sports, not the least of which has been baseball.  This isn't news, no question. But it's also not a day worth celebrating. It's pathetic, but in many ways these events need to happen to properly come to grips with this scourge.  Another thought is that, as former District Attorney Kevin Ryan, who started this investigation several years ago, forcefully stated on ESPN, perjury cases are very difficult to prove, despite what people all suspect. The prosecutors must have and convincingly present evidence to refute Bonds's statements that he didn't knowingly take steroids, and I'm keenly interested in what forms of evidence the prosecution will use. The successful prosecution of I Lewis "Scooter" Libby, by special prosecutor Patrick Fitzgerald, who made it look devastatingly easy when it was anything but, relied on far more than interviews and interpreting them, but e-mails detailing the lies and pinpointing what Libby and his corrupt, scoff-law superiors knew and did and when. Will the prosecution have e-mails conveying language and knowledge that Bonds knew what he was doing? Has Anderson turned on Bonds? Have others who played with, worked with, were friends with, or interacted with Bonds during the period of his steroid abuse, agreed to testify against him? Do they think that the sheer volume of business he did with BALCO, and the detailed interactions he had with Anderson and others, is enough to establish his lying about his knowledge of steroids?  As a historian, I'm keenly and innately interested in matters of evidence, and I know I'm not alone in that.   As bloggers and commenters on sports generally, we're all historians and witnesses to history on this, and generally.

Seems to be good and bad today.  I'm not denying that positives can't emerge from the prosecution of Bonds. But given the vast amounts of television time the case, its run-up, and the around-the-clock news shows will soak up, this won't be fun to watch play out despite the circus atmosphere that's due to erupt. I have an innate aversion to big-media trials as a rule. Bonds is innocent until proven guilty, but I don't believe for one second that he didn't knowingly take steroids. It is foolish to believe that.  He dealt repeatedly with a lab and its staff that developed and peddled steroids, and has apparently tested positive for steroids a few years ago.  Others have testified to his discussions and knowledge of steroids, his introducing players to steroid manufacturers--not good. Now it's up to the judicial system to determine his guilt or innocence on lying, though there's no doubt he abused them.

In an odd way, Rodriguez will benefit from the serendipitous timing of his contract settlement, providing the media with a far greater scourge on whom to focus.  It also puts his selfishness into a different light--still significant, ham-handed, and inexcusable, but not nearly the same "crime against the game" focus as a criminal prosecution of Bonds will generate.  Rodriguez has displayed short-sightedness and selfishness on a strange, foolish, and unprecedented level. That's far different, and certainly more excusable, than abusing steroids and quite possibly lying about it. 

According to multiple sources such as Mark Feinsand of the New York Daily News, Buster Olney of ESPN, and others, Alex Rodriguez has apparently gone back to the Yankees with his hat in his hand, without Scott Boras in tow, willing to eat the $21.3 million from Texas that his foolishly opting out cost the Yankees, and perhaps re-sign with the Yanks. Pete Abraham went so far as to say that the deal has "all but [been] finalized." I'm still waiting for the proof in the pudding to ensure that this is not part of a gambit from Rodriguez to extract more money from another suitor. Yet from the tone of this and the way in which this has unfolded, I'm disinclined to think that. For starters, Rodriguez ended up looking like a genuine fool not only for opting out of a very (some would consider it too) generous deal with the Yankees, but also for the way in which he handled it. He failed to contact the Yankees directly, failed to meet with the team, failed to give audience to what would have been an exceedingly generous extension, especially after yet another woeful playoff performance from him, and announced his opting out through his agent during the final game of the World Series to the media before contacting the organization. By any sober estimation, this was a colossal blunder, making him look like the greedy, obsessively cash-conscious player that he is to the entire sporting world.

But I think something at least as important, and probably more relevant in the final appraisal of this fascinating development, is at work here.  While the MLBPA, which I generally support, has raised the specter of collusion, I'm much more inclined to think that his bloated previous contract and grotesquely inflated contract demands were caveats in bright pink neon for most, if not all, potential suitors. According to Olney, the Tigers, Marlins, and Giants all passed on Rodriguez, and others had yet to formulate any specific demands in this (very) early phase of free agency.  When it comes right down to it, this is about money and the market, which is tight for various reasons all around.  My strong hunch is that Rodriguez panicked when he hadn't heard much from others, certainly nothing concrete to entice him or raise his hopes of something near the $350 million, long-term deal his greedy agent loudly advertised, and he figured his best bet would be to go back to the team that still most needed him, could best pay something near his egregious demands, and also which he offended.

And the Yankees do in fact need him, despite their hard bargaining position and although they would have still been a formidable team without him. Rodriguez placed back in the middle of the lineup  would return it to the same highly potent offense that it was in 2007 and before. It would also plug the gap at third that Rodriguez's foolishly opting out needlessly opened, and return the best right-handed bat, and likely the best bat period, in the game to the Yankees and their short left-field porch.  Should Rodriguez return, it would be primarily on the Yankees' terms, which would still be generous but, as the pundits have pointed out, on their negotiating terms--him returning to them, expressing his desire after all to be a Yankee. The market was equally difficult for the Yankees as it was for Rodriguez, with Mike Lowell reportedly asking for money and contractual length comparable to Posada, Damon and Matsui, the trade asking price for Miguel Cabrera unacceptably high for the Yankees, and very few viable, available options at third internally.

Such a deal--and estimates peg it roughly at ten years, $275 million--would also clearly be good for Rodriguez.  The length and financial generosity alone, if these numbers end up being accurate, merit his immediate signature. Should he remain with the team and finish out his contract in The Bronx, he would be 42 by the time it finished, all but assuring that he would spend the rest of career in pinstripes. Given how healthy, durable, and productive he's been, that could mean that he could end up with well over 800 career homers and 2,500 career RBIs. Given that his reputation was in tatters leaving him with the stigma somewhat as a cancer, as well as the very likely restricted market for his prodigious skills, Rodriguez may have figured that his best bet for the big payday was with the Yankees after all.

Should Rodriguez return to The Bronx, this will probably be chalked up by both sides as a big Mulligan in negotiations, with a rhetorically romantic rapprochement sealed with a big kiss between jilted organization and contrite player. Each will hope that all will be forgiven and forgotten as soon as possible, as most powerful people who screw things up in full view of an eagerly interested public often hope. The truth will very likely be otherwise, at least in the short term. He'll receive his fair share of scrutiny and boos, all earned if not justified. But there's one way to dispel any negativity, which is for him to start 2008 well and finish it better. Hoping for a repeat of 2007 for Rodriguez, should he return, would probably be too much to ask. Yet his getting off to a good start is entirely realistic, and having an excellent 2008 season would only be in form with what he's done practically every season of his career. The key, as we all know, is October baseball, when Rodriguez has been horrible the past several seasons. No one forced him to come to The Bronx, nor would anyone have forced him to return. In sum, Rodriguez will at every step have asked for his situation and surroundings, if not the peripheral noise within them.  The choice to try to succeed or fail on the grandest of sports stages has always been his, and would be this time as well, should he indeed return. He would grant himself a second chance in the next decade to do what his opting out tacitly admitted he couldn't do in his first four years in The Bronx--succeed on the biggest stage in sports.

For me, of course I would accept Rodriguez back. I would have no other choice but to.  He'd be on the Yankees.  I root for the Yankees. Ergo, I'd root for Rodriguez, as I rooted for Giambi after his pathetic admission of steroid abuse, Sheffield after his pathetic rendition of the-straw-that-stirs-the-drink act in a 2005 interview, and Kevin Brown for his idiotic wall punching down the stretch of the ill-fated 2004 season. Also, while I certainly haven't spent a minute since his laughable opting out pining for Rodriguez's return, it would be for the best as far as on-field performance. As I've readily acknowledged, there would be no way for any one person, at any position, to replace his regular-season numbers. Hoping for the Yankees to replace that would have been an exercise in futility, though I still and will always believe that the Yankees need to develop alternative ways to generate offense and win with pitching. Nor do I feel any compunction to retract anything I had said. His return, should it occur, was not my decision to make. Nor was my reaction to his opting out or the Yankees' hard stance the cause of either decision. I'm a blogging fan, not a decision-maker, nor do I pretend to be. I reacted to his decision to opt out, the circumstances in which Rodriguez decided to opt out, and the Yankees' reaction to it as I saw was right, proper, and justified. Rodriguez earned my wrath and that from countless others, but his going to the Yankees with his hat in his hand--and make no mistake that he is--would be a genuine, and hopefully long-lasting sign of humility that Rodriguez would do well to apply to his teammates and career as a whole.

Should he return, would I cheer his accomplishments? Of course. Would I hope that Rodriguez can help the Yankees make a successful return as World Series champion? Naturally. Would I hope that he breaks records along the way? Certainly. But will I forget the pointlessly nonsensical escapades of the 2007 off-season? Never. I'll forgive, and happily so should the Yankees get back onto the winners' dais. But I won't forget, because I don't forget. It's how I am. I have a long memory. I won't nor don't condone booing Yankees, nor would I, or have I ever, booing Rodriguez. Should he return, he'll give his all as he always does, and that's fine with me. I would expect nothing less. But like others I've mentioned and plenty I've not, I'll view Rodriguez with eternal, justified chariness, all the while hoping he realizes his greatness and translates it into the pinnacles of team success, yet all the while wondering if he'll continue to be a great regular-season player but a playoff bust and flake. That assessment he certainly can, and hopefully will, overcome, but it is also one he's unfortunately earned.

We'll see.  We'll also soon find out if this unnecessarily dramatic mea culpa plays out in his return or blowing off the Yankees a second time. But whether or not he returns is a much less pressing issue to me than it was five weeks ago--not because each side doesn't need the other because each does, but because I care far less for and about Rodriguez as a person than I did before, and much more strictly as a player who needs to shut up, stop obsessing about how much money he makes and the responsibilities he has to live up to his contract, and win already.  That can assuage a lot, and is pretty much all I'll look for from the guy should he return.

We'll see.

Thankfully, the Yankees finally wrapped up negotiations with Jorge Posada, signing him just before the free-agent deadline arrived last night to a four year, $52.4 million deal that should bring his outstanding career to a close in pinstripes by the contract's end. Jorge is now getting Damon and Matsui money with the long-term deal he desired. After screwing up negotiations before the 2007 season by failing to settle, or substantively address, the pending contractual terminations of Jorge and Mariano, the Yankees came through and had to pay big-time for it. Posada deserves it, not only for his stellar 2007 season but also for his career success, continued improvement, durability, leadership and consistent productivity at the most demanding player position. He's been outstanding, and it's very good news that he'll retire a Yankee. It would be nice to see him make the transition to first base in a couple years, allowing his excellent bat to stay in the lineup.

According to the New York Times, the Yankees have extended a very generous three-year, $45 million deal to Mariano that, I would hope, should provide for him and the Yankees what Posada's deal did him and the team. Again, the Yankees will end up overpaying for their intransigence before the 2007 season, and Mariano and Posada knew it. Hopefully Mariano can bounce back from a pretty good but still somewhat subpar 2007, stay healthy, and return to his usual dominant form. This, of course, presumes his re-signing, which I believe will occur. One way or another, Mariano is due for a big raise, and it will very likely come from the Yankees.

Pettite is the remaining wild card, and word is that as of now, he's leaning toward retirement. I for one would miss him, his abilities, his leadership, and his clutch pitching an awful lot, as would the Yankees as they push to get younger. Yet I wouldn't blame him if he did retire. He stayed healthy for the most part last year, he's won championships, he's devoted to his family and, though it seems the drive is still there in him, he really doesn't have anything left to prove. That said, it would be tremendous to have him back in pinstripes, to have a very good lefty and clutch starter in the now-young rotation, to have his leadership, and to keep watching one of the best pitchers the Yankees have had in the last quarter century.

Keeping the fingers crossed for Mariano's return, and signing Jorge was a big step back in the right direction.

Just a few ideas collected as I finish off the leftover stew from this past weekend, and wonder whatever happened to Robert Eeinhorn...

Say NO to:
A Johnny Damon for Joe Crede trade.  Forget it. If the White Sox were to throw in a good pitching or player prospect, I'd think about it. Straight up? Never. Crede has a very good glove, good power and a righty bat the Yankees could use to balance their lefty-heavy lineup. He's also coming off back surgery, has a history of back problems, has a .305 career OBP that doesn't remotely fit in with the Yankees' patient offensive approach, and quite simply isn't worth the same as a player as Damon is. If the Yankees were to trade for Crede, it should be some mid-level prospects and/or a player like Rasner or Karstens. More than that is larceny.  Plus, my gut tells me that Damon will have a very good 2008 season.

A Miguel Cabrera for Joba/Hughes/Kennedy deal. Never in a million years. Cabrera has a very good bat with power, plays a good third (though his errors were up in 2007, at 23--eesh), and hits right-handed. But the Yankees have been grooming these guys for a couple years, they've shown they can pitch at the major-league level, and have shown flashes of brilliance. They throw hard, will throw harder with continued weight training, and have a good array of off-speed stuff. While young and still relatively inexperienced, I'll take my chances with these three any day, especially over Igawa and Karstens. Moreover, the Yankees need reliable starting pitching and need to stop the revolving door of starters that has rotated in various duds from 2004 onward. Enough. Plus, Cabrera has gotten fat, is rumored to be a night owl (see Raul Mondesi) and, at the age of 24, those aren't good signs of the type of discipline that Girardi would likely command. 

I saw that Andy Pettite has declined his 2008 option as he continues to decide whether or not to play in 2008. I know I'm not alone when I say that I sincerely hope he returns to the Yankees. He's a great character guy, he became more vocal in the clubhouse last season, he quite frankly carried the starting staff for stretches of the season, was clutch up to and including the playoffs, and the Yankees could really use a good lefty. I also have total respect for how he handled his situation, unlike that clown Rodriguez, notifying the Yankees first about his intentions and uncertainty, addressing the media later, and comporting himself with dignity and respect for the organization for which he's done so much at all times. The Yankees responded admirably, with Cashman and Hank reiterating their desire to have Pettite return, and their willingness to give him time to consider it. Given Pettite's remarks about how pleasantly surprised he was that his arm held up as well as it did, I can't help but wonder if that as much as anything is the reason why he's unsure about returning for 2008. He had arm problems for a good part of his tenure with Houston, and at his age and having seen his good friend Clemens work through an awful lot to pitch last season, I can't help but speculate if Pettite is considering getting out before his body has a major breakdown. If so, I would completely understand it, but I sure would miss the guy. With better run and bullpen support, Pettite could have been in the Cy Young race last year, and could easily have won three more games.

By the way, I received my personalized letter from the Chicago Bulls, signed by the entire team, thanking me for my prediction that, if they were healthy, they would win the East. It says, and I quote, "Dear Jason, thanks for your unsolicited predictions and support. We're 0-4. Go to Blazes. Most sincerely, The Chicago Bulls organization."  In their defense, they had a slow start last year, but haven't been able to put the ball in the hoop, sadly. On the flip side, I was impressed with how the Celtics decimated the Wizards, remembering that defense can help teams win games. Even more so, the big three of Garnett, Pierce and Allen have proven unselfish, with someone stepping up at key points for big baskets.  When I was growing up, I just loved the Sixers and the Celtics and, from 1980 until 1987, one of the two were in the NBA finals. I loved The Doc, swooping like a condor to the hoop, with Mo Cheeks, Moses Malone, Andrew Toney, Bobby Jones, Clemon Johnson competing against the best front line in the history of the NBA in Bird, Parrish and McHale, with DJ and Ainge dominating as well. The Celtics have impressed, and the East isn't even close to being a JV league for the West, as Stephen A. Smith has accused them. The Celtics will be a factor in the East and should compete with New Jersey for the division. Ah, great to see the return of hoops.

It was cold as heck last night--20 degrees when I woke up--but thankfully I had a nice roaring fire going in the fireplace. I spent much of Sunday stacking two full cords of wood out back and, while it's tiring, it was well worth it to have not just good, reasonably priced heat, but the nice ambiance of a crackling fire. My little guy always asks me about building a fire when Fall and Winter approach, and I'm happy to oblige. We played a couple games of Sorry! the other day near the fire, chatted and had a very good time. There's still something about having a hearth that reflects family, home, and closeness. If you ever have a house with a fireplace, maintain it and put it to good use, especially with the outrageous prices of heating oil.  Good times.

All this chatter about A-Rod potential free-agent acquisitions, and whom to keep among the Yankees has gotten me thinking that it's time to throw a few things out there, and to get some feedback from you all.  For starters, there seems to be no question that the Yankees cannot afford to let Posada and Mariano go. There's just no way to let them walk, not after being great, life-long Yankees and certainly not with the other important holes that the team has to fill. Posada had an outstanding year and, while he wasn't at his best, Mariano was still very good and had in 2007 his only non-stellar season. Some more regular work from Mariano, especially in the first half, would have helped.

The Yankees did the right thing by re-signing Abreu. He scored 123 runs and drove in 100 for his 5th straight year. Especially without Rodriguez, keeping Abreu was a must, and he still plays a very good right field.  An outfield of Damon/Matsui, Melky, and Abreu is quite good defensively and offensively. I like Melky in center a lot, but he needs to sharpen his reads on the ball and his communication with the corner outfielders. A few of his judgments nearly resulted in collisions, and he needs to do a better job of recognizing when the corner outfielders are in a better position to field balls vis-a-vis runners on base. But his arm is tremendous and, given the corner positions are taken, center it shall be for Melky the Clutch.  Damon needs to come back strong from a subpar 2007, when he came into Spring Training inexcusably, and unprofessionally, out of shape. That won't cut it with Girardi, I strongly suspect.

Having Matsui and Jeter back healthy is key as well. Matsui just had arthroscopic surgery on his right knee, and should be good to go by Spring. He and Jeter faded down the stretch, not surprisingly given their injuries. A healthy Matsui should get a lot of time at DH, to me deservedly ahead of Giambi, a highly overpaid, essentially one-tool player.  I am hoping that the Yankees make room for Shelley Duncan, who was pretty  decent in the field and has some pop in his right-handed bat that the Yankees, as they are currently constructed, sorely need.

I am going on the record as being against Cano playing third, except in an emergency role. The guy has great hands, turns the DP very well and smoothly, has good range, and should not be moved as he continues to improve at second. The Yankees would be better served finding a third baseman. Yet I suspect their discussions of moving Cano indicate their concerns that it might be easier to find a second baseman outside the organization than a third baseman. Rodriguez is gone, Lowell may re-sign with Boston, and the available crop of third basemen is thin. Miguel Cabrera is not the answer as long as he's out of shape and the Marlins would command a lot in a trade. Joe Crede has a good glove and good pop as a righty, but he's coming off back surgery, has a history of back issues, and has a career .305 OBP--horrible, and it doesn't fit into the Yankees' offensive philosophy at all.

Rodriguez will be impossible to replace offensively, but there may be the chance to replace his numbers in a couple different positions with moves and improvements. One is getting more consistent production from a few players already here--Damon and Cano especially. With the latter, he had a very good 2007 but, with steadier play, could have had well over 100 RBIs and a .325 average in his sleep.  Frank the Sage speculated that Cano was due for a breakout year in 2007, and only in part did it materialize. He's due in 2008, especially to have his average and RBIs up. To me, he's capable of 30-35 homers, but hitting 17-25 is just fine as long as his average and RBIs are high. What's holding him back is his notorious impatience at the plate, preventing his from realizing his full potential as a hitter. His propensity for swinging at the first pitch is abysmal, coming so frequently in situations demanding increased wear on the pitcher, or ending a good rally with a weak ground out. Enough of that already. He has all the physical tools to be a great hitter, but needs to add the patience and discipline to really become great at the plate. I'll add that without A-Rod, Cano should move up in the order as well, perhaps to 5th or 6th, sandwiched between Posada and Matsui in some form. A healthy Cano should amass 23 HRs, 114 RBIs, and a .325 average, easily. He's that good.

The Yankees can more than make up for Rodriguez with better pitching, profiting from hopefully allowing less rather than just hoping to score as much.  Better starting pitching would be enormously stabilizing, preventing another first-half meltdown and keeping the Yankees in tight games in a way that the team hasn't had in several years. Obviously, the maturity of Joba, Hughes, and Kennedy are vital to this team's chances. Every bit as important, however, is finding a few reliable relievers. Nuke clearly should be gone, the Yankees haven't had a really good lefty reliever since Stanton--yes, that long--and Joba will become a starter especially when the Yankees re-sign Mariano, thus opening another spot. My sense is that kids like Ohlendorf and Veras will get looks. I'm also interested to see how Humberto Sanchez is recovering from Tommy John surgery. He throws very hard, and may be ready in the middle of the year. Yet he needs to keep himself in better shape.  The bullpen is really as important an area to address as the organization's position needs. The Yankees need some shutdown guys in the pen, period.

What are your suggestions? Who should the Yankees try in the pen and in the field? Do you think Cano should move to third? Who is out there that you'd like to see the Yankees sign, and who can they realistically acquire?

[Edit: Meanwhile, I hate to do this to you, but since it's Fall, we're moving into our cold-weather cooking propensities. My wife put together the five-hour, no-peek beef stew that has some cooking sherry and V-8 for marinate, turnips and other veggies, and some spices going in the oven for another hour or so. It smells so good I can barely avoid peeking. We also have some good Italian bread to go with the killer stew. Cool weather, fire in the fireplace, leaves snowing down on the lawn, and hot stew simmering in the oven. Life, it is good. Oh yeah, 105 days until pitchers and catchers report. Let's Go, Yankees!]

According to ESPN, the Yankees have picked up Bobby Abreu's $16 million option for 2008. I am in complete agreement with this. Though he had a sluggish first half, he had a monster second half. He fits in with the overall hitting approach of the team, and has played quite well--and better than the miscreant Sheffield--in right field. The lineup will remain quite strong with him and others, especially from the left side.  Good move, Yanks.

One down, three free agents (Mariano, Posada, Pettite) to go.

In related free agent news, ESPN also reported that A-Rod/Boras allegedly demanded $350 million from the Yankees. If true, that's nothing short of ridiculous--$119 million short over the eight years the Yankees offered to sign him. Forget it, and good riddance. I'd rather the Yankees replace him with a good player with good or better character and chemistry than re-sign the egotistical, playoff failure-ridden A-Rod. Great numbers during the regular season, that's about it. So long, Alex.