Someone asked this question on a Yankees forum:
If you were GM for a day...what would your projections look like for the 25 man roster for:
a) after trade deadline in 2007
b) 2008
So, here's my response, and I'd like to hear yours as well on this topic. Pretty fun to try and figure it out actually, I like coming up with the roster.
Anyway here's mine:
a)Look into seeing if the Yankees can get any value for Bobby Abreu or Mike Mussina. To be honest I doubt there's any market for either, especially Mussina, unless the Yankees pick up some money in the deal. Of course money is no object to the Yankees, and the more money they assume, the better prospects we can get in return. Otherwise, that's about it, I would stand pat. No major acquisitions, no trying to trade Johnny Damon, etc. Try to trade guys like Farnsworth and Vizcaino, they might actually hold some value at the deadline to desperate teams.
b)I'm assuming you mean the offseason of '07. I would do everything in my power to get Ichiro Suzuki on this team. Bat him leadoff, and Derek Jeter second. Or you could flip flop that, seeing as Jeter is the better on base guy. Anyway, that's the manager's decision.This not only improves the team, it adds to the depth of the lineup, allowing the Yankees to bat a healthy Johnny Damon down in the order to prevent the exposing of the bottom of the lineup. BTW for people who think that this further cripples us against lefties: his batting statistics are better when facing LHP than RHP for his entire career in the states, not just here. Obviously Abreu would be off the team.
Re-sign Andy Pettitte. Make a big play for Carlos Zambrano if you can, aces don't normally hit the FA market like this, it may be one of your only chances to get one outside of the farm system/mega trade. For 1B, Sean Casey is available I see. Get him, he may not be a sexy name, but he is a professional hitter and good in the clubhouse, a leader. Or if you are again worried about too many lefties, sign Dimitri Young. Less of a track record, but he's killing the ball in WAS right now, with like a .900 OPS. Not much of a 1B though. And of course, you do anything necessary to keep A-Rod. Re-sign Posada and Mo. Get Hughes in that rotation, promote Edwar Ramirez if he's ready.
For the bench, Cabrera would be shifted there. Try to get Ramon Castro or Rod Barajas as the backup catcher, they are both FAs. Marlon Anderson would be a decent utility infielder we could pick up as well, better then Cairo in my opinion. Sign Travis Lee as the backup 1B.
Bullpen. Let Vizcaino walk, he's a FA. I don't think Farnsworth can be traded unless you want nothing back, but I'll take the salary relief. Put Igawa in the bullpen. Britton needs to be on this roster next year, no Villone. I'll get Edwar Ramirez and Henn here too. Let Myers walk.
My team:
C-Posada
1B-Young or Casey
2B-Cano
SS-Jeter
3B-A-Rod
LF-Matsui
CF-Ichiro
RF-Damon
DH-Giambi
Starting staff:
Zambrano
Wang
Pettitte
Hughes
Mussina (can't be traded realistically)
Bench:
Melky Cabrera
Barajas or Castro
Marlon Anderson
Travis Lee
Bullpen:
Mariano Rivera
Igawa
Chris Britton
Edwar Ramirez
Sean Henn
Scott Proctor
Brian Bruney
There's my 2008 New York Yankees.
Go ahead, you guys can do it too.
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4 comments:
As much as I love Zambrano, he loves hitting too much to sign with an AL team, and Damon doesn't have the arm for RF (course, Damon doesn't have the arm for CF either). I'll work on this and let you know my plan tomorrow.
Please do. Hoping on hope that Zambrano changes his mind...
Alright, sorry for the delay. Here's my plan:
1) Before the deadline this year (assuming Giambi comes off the DL before it), I'd talk to the Angels about trading them Giambi, Farnsworth, and cash for Scot Shields, Jose Molina, and Chone Figgins. They probably won't do it, but it doesn't hurt to ask. So let's assume they say no. That's no big deal. We ask around to places about Myers and Villone, no value except maybe cash, so either we give them up for contract relief or we release them, doesn't matter which to me. We force Joe to stop using Farnsworth in the eighth inning unless it's a blowout. Other than that, we stand pat for this year. We've got the talent to win. No need changing it now.
2) In the offseason, I would release Farnsworth after asking some teams about him (probably little interest, maybe low level minor leaguers that aren't even worth it). Go after Ichiro, but not too bad. Then sign Torii Hunter. He's one of the best defensive center fielders, and he can hit for power, plus make our lineup more right-handed. Definitely extend Posada and Mo. Do everything in my power to convince Andy to pick up his option and play another season in NY. Re-sign Doug Mienkiwicz, but not as a starter. Re-sign Cairo, call up Thompson, and sign Barajas as the back up, and I'd let Tyler Clippard stay at the major league level. He may not be a great pitcher, but he should be able to be a fifth starter.
There'd be a platoon, sort of, at first base, but it would be Giambi and Damon switching days at DH, since Giambi seems to hit better when he's playing the field, so he'd be the regular, with Damon relieving him on days when Giambi needs rest.
Oh, and I wouldn't offer Joe Torre a new contract. I'd offer Joe Girardi the managerial job with a blank check.
Here's the '08 team.
C-Posada
1B-Giambi
2B-Cano
SS-Jeter
3B-A Rod
LF-Matsui
CF-Hunter
RF-Cabrera
DH-Damon
SP-Wang
SP-Pettitte
SP-Hughes
SP-Mussina
SP-Clippard
LR-Igawa
LR-Ramirez
MR-Britton
MR-Henn
SU-Bruney
SU-Proctor
C-Rivera
Bench
1B-Mientkiwicz
IF-Cairo
OF-Thompson
C-Barajas
I like that team a lot but I'm not sure they are going to be able to trade Giambi at this point...he needs to prove he's healthy first.
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