10/02/2008 12:00 PM ET
Yankees have tough decisions to make
GM Cashman looking to upgrade team's starting pitching
By Bryan Hoch / MLB.com
All of the concrete has been poured at the new Yankee Stadium, where the
yellow foul poles and dark blue seats point with anticipation toward a
rough version of the playing field that already has the outlines of a
diamond sketched upon it.
With their home for the 2009 season approximately 75 percent complete and
on track for Opening Day, the Yankees soon will get to work planning the
blueprint for the players who will comprise that initial lineup, as the
club attempts to move its memories across 161st Street in the Bronx.
Before any decisions could be made for the clubhouse, however, the Yankees
needed to reach finality within their front office. General manager
Brian Cashman agreed to terms on a three-year contract two days after the
season's end, and he said that the Yankees plan to be active by using the
free-agent and trade markets to upgrade their starting pitching.
"There is no doubt that starting pitching is something we have to clearly
address," Cashman said Wednesday. "We need to address the starting rotation,
whether it's by free agency, by trade. ...
"Just because you put certain players on the top of your list doesn't mean
you're going to be on the top of their list. We will need to address that
rotation whether it's via trades or via free agents, whether it's big names
or small names, ultimately it needs to be addressed."
The Yankees figure to see changes with a multitude of parts -- some more
difficult decisions than others. New York figures to see approximately
$86 million of contract salary come off the books following this season,
including the persons of Bobby Abreu, Jason Giambi, Mike Mussina,
Carl Pavano, Andy Pettitte and Ivan Rodriguez.
The substantial nature of those names could create a large ripple effect
through the rest of the roster. The Yankees have not ruled out bringing
back any of those six players, but it is extremely unlikely that they
would consider Abreu or Giambi at their current salaries ($16 million and
$21 million, respectively).
Meanwhile, co-chairman Hank Steinbrenner already has revealed that the
Yankees are keeping a close watch on potential free-agent pitchers like
C.C. Sabathia and A.J. Burnett, and catcher Jorge Posada has lobbied for
the club to go after a crop of pitchers outside the organization that also
could include Ben Sheets.
"That's something we're going to talk about over the winter," manager
Joe Girardi said. "Obviously, you have to put together a rotation, and
there's a possibility you're going to lose other guys, and you're going
to have to fill those needs. I think the philosophy still in the club is
building the Minor Leagues up so you don't have to go out and get a free
agent, but that takes time."
Mussina is coming off a 20-victory season -- the first of his career -- in
which he proved that health and a renewed approach still make him an
effective pitcher at the Major League level, but he will turn 40 in 2009
and is said to be strongly contemplating retirement. Beyond that, there
are no guarantees he would enjoy that same success again.
Pettitte struggled mightily in the second half -- including losing five
consecutive starts for the first time in his career -- and pitched with
a bad shoulder. He wants only to pitch for the Yankees from this point
forward, but said that he will need time to consider his next move and
has not ruled out retirement.
"Obviously there's huge question marks," Pettitte said. "Me and Moose are
both free agents, and there's a few other position players that they have
to make a decision. For me, I'll try as hard as I can to figure out what
I want to do next year without dragging anything out."
The Yankees will be working with the sting of missing the postseason for
the first time since the strike-shortened 1994 campaign, ultimately done
in by injuries and inconsistency. New York was as close as three games out
of first place in the American League East on July 28 but quickly hit a
double-digit deficit in the division, leaving them looking to the Wild Card
and then for help to keep the dream alive.
"We know we ran up against some tough teams and tough pitchers during that
stretch, and we can't go back and change that stuff," outfielder Johnny Damon
said. "Cashman and the Steinbrenners and Girardi are going to need to have
an idea and go out and do what they feel is necessary for us to get back
to the postseason."
As of now, New York plans to use Joba Chamberlain as a starter for the
entire season, after his transition from the bullpen to the rotation hit
speed bumps. They'll also evaluate the proper moves with younger personnel
like second baseman Robinson Cano, outfielder Melky Cabrera and pitchers
Phil Hughes and Ian Kennedy.
"There's always changes here," Derek Jeter said. "It's kind of hard to
speculate who's going to be back and who's not going to be back. That's
not our job. We'll see what happens in the offseason."
CONTRACT ISSUES
明年合約狀況：
Free agents: （自由球員）
Abreu, OF; Chad Moeller, C; Pettitte, LHP; Rodriguez, C; Mussina, RHP.
Eligible for arbitration:（可薪資仲裁）
Wilson Betemit, IF; Brian Bruney, RHP; Cabrera, OF; Xavier Nady, OF;
Chien-Ming Wang, RHP.
Club options: （球團選擇權）
Giambi, $22 million; Damaso Marte, $6 million; Pavano, $19 million.
Non-tender possibilities: （可能不會提供合約）
Wilson Betemit, IF; Sidney Ponson, RHP; Darrell Rasner, RHP.
以下為各位置球員的表現
CATCHERS
Jorge Posada, .268 BA, 3 HR, 22 RBIs
Jose Molina, .216 BA, 3 HR, 18 RBIs
Ivan Rodriguez, .219 BA, 2 HR, 3 RBIs
Chad Moeller, .231 BA, 1 HR, 9 RBIs
Posada did not play after late July due to surgery on his throwing shoulder,
but he insists he will catch Opening Day at the new Yankee Stadium. The
Yankees are willing to dangle that carrot if it helps get Posada back on
track; if he can't catch, he'd be a first baseman or DH. Molina was
overexposed as an everyday catcher and seems best suited to back up,
where he excels. Rodriguez gave the Yankees little after a late July
trade and will be permitted to leave.
FIRST BASE
Jason Giambi, .247 BA, 32 HR, 96 RBIs
Wilson Betemit, .265 BA, 6 HR, 25 RBIs
Juan Miranda, .400 BA, 0 HR, 1 RBI
The Yankees will not completely rule out the idea of bringing Giambi back
in 2009, but it seems likely that his run in pinstripes is over. Giambi
gave the Yankees some glossy power numbers and still walks enough, but
don't overlook his struggles with runners in scoring position. September
callup Juan Miranda might get consideration, but expect the Yankees to
toy with the free-agent market.
SECOND BASE
Robinson Cano, .271 BA, 14 HR, 72 RBIs
Cano drew frequent criticism for a nonchalant approach that prompted
Girardi to finally bench him for two games in September. Cano plans to
continue incorporating mechanical tweaks to his plate approach, welcoming
hitting coach Kevin Long to the Dominican Republic in November, and
believes '08 was an aberration. The Yankees hope so -- Cano's under
contract for at least three more years.
SHORTSTOP
Derek Jeter, .300, 11 HR, 69 RBIs
Cody Ransom, .302, 4 HR, 8 RBIs
Jeter continued his ascent atop the Yankees' all-time lists in a campaign
that might have been offensively better had he not been hit on the left
hand by a pitch from Baltimore's Daniel Cabrera in late May. Jeter finished
strong to close out Yankee Stadium, hitting .402 (35-for-87) in his last
22 games at the old ballpark. He'll have the chance to help bring the
memories across the street, as he told the crowd in his farewell speech
on Sept. 21.
THIRD BASE
Alex Rodriguez, .302, 35 HR, 103 RBIs
The boo-birds were out again for A-Rod this year in the Bronx, but on
the surface his season wasn't statistically poor. The troubles came with
runners in scoring position, and Rodriguez's 11 double plays in August
were a death knell. Rodriguez remains one of the game's top offensive
players, and the Yankees will take their chances with a guy who has
reached 35 homers, 100 runs and 100 RBIs in 12 seasons, 11 of them
consecutive.
OUTFIELD
Johnny Damon, .303 BA, 17 HRs, 71 RBIs
Melky Cabrera, .249 BA, 8 HR, 37 RBIs
Bobby Abreu, .296 BA, 20 HR, 100 RBIs
Xavier Nady, .268 BA, 12 HR, 40 RBIs
Brett Gardner, .228 BA, 0 HR, 16 RBIs
Hideki Matsui, .294 BA, 9 HR, 45 RBIs
The Yankees had the benefit of good seasons from Damon and Abreu to help
stabilize their outfield situation, but they were burned by Cabrera's
underperforming ways and delivered a wakeup call by shipping him to
Triple-A. Now he'll have to ward off a challenger like Gardner to remain
in the mix. Nady provided a boost after coming over from the Pirates on
July 26 and is under contractual control for 2009. Matsui is expected to
recover well from left knee surgery in September but is viewed primarily
as a DH, with outfield duty a question.
ROTATION
Mike Mussina, 20-9, 3.37 ERA, 200 1/3 IP, 150 K, 31 BB
Andy Pettitte, 14-14, 4.54 ERA, 204 IP, 158 K
Chien-Ming Wang, 8-2, 4.07 ERA, 95 IP
Joba Chamberlain , 4-3, 2.42 ERA, 100 1/3 IP, 12 GS
Ian Kennedy, 0-4, 8.17 ERA, 39 2/3 IP
Phil Hughes, 0-4, 6.62 ERA, 34 IP
Alfredo Aceves, 1-0, 2.40 ERA, 30 IP
Darrell Rasner, 5-10, 5.40 ERA, 113 1/3 IP
Sidney Ponson, 4-4, 5.85 ERA, 80 IP
The Yankees just never found a whole lot of answers behind Mussina, who was
wonderful, and Pettitte, who slumped in the second half and endured the
first five-start losing streak of his career. Losing Wang to a June foot
injury crushed the rotation and created a void that Rasner and Ponson
could not fill, while Kennedy and Hughes finished the year winless.
With Chamberlain believed to be a full-time starter, the Yankees still
face tough decisions with Mussina and Pettitte; less difficult with
Pavano and Ponson.
BULLPEN
Mariano Rivera, 6-5, 1.40 ERA, 39 SV
Brian Bruney, 3-0, 1.83 ERA, 34 1/3 IP
Jose Veras, 5-3, 3.59 ERA, 57 2/3 IP
Edwar Ramirez, 5-1, 3.90 ERA, 55 1/3 IP
Dan Giese, 1-3, 3.53 ERA, 43 1/3 IP
Dave Robertson, 3-0, 5.34 ERA, 30 1/3 IP
Chris Britton, 0-0, 5.09 ERA, 23 IP
Damaso Marte, 1-3, 5.40 ERA, 18 1/3 IP
Phil Coke, 1-0, 0.61 ERA, 14 2/3 IP
Despite a cranky shoulder, Rivera still had plenty to go around, saving
39 of 40 opportunities, though his troubles in tied games were a perplexing
flaw. The Yankees probably will not have Chamberlain to help in the same
role as '08, fueling plenty of debates, and must consider what they saw
late from contributors like Bruney and Coke as part of their planning.
Bryan Hoch is a reporter for MLB.com. This story was not subject to the
approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.
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