Notes: Lee, Jeter, Liriano, Martin, Melky

By On December 9, 2010 · 10 Comments · In Uncategorized

A number of Yankees Hot Stove stories out there this morning:

1) The Yankees have apparently upped their offer to 7 years, although Joel Sherman reports that the deal is actually more complicated than that:

The Yankees’ offers work on a scale in which the shorter the term, the higher the annual average value. It is believed the bids work something like this: five years for $125 million; six years for $144 million; seven years for $161 million; or $25 million a year, $24 million a year and $23 million a year, respectively.

This is an interesting plan, although I cannot see a pitcher of Lee’s age doing anything but taking the largest offer. I have said all along that I thought a 7 year deal was way too long, and I stand by that position. That said, it may be time to reluctantly conclude that this is an inflated market, and that these sort of deals may be where baseball is headed. As EJ noted yesterday, MLB may be due for some contract inflation due to soaring revenues.

2) Sherman with some encouraging news on Derek Jeter:

Jeter is renowned around the Yankees for having a set routine and hating to deviate from it. Yet in response to his poorest campaign, Jeter is going to break with his habitual offseason plan and do one-on-one sessions with Yankees hitting coach Kevin Long, The Post has learned. Jeter may travel to Arizona, but Long more probably will go to Tampa, likely in January.

The two had begun to implement some changes late in the year that showed some positive results. Essentially, as a way to shorten a too-long swing, Long wants to continue to get Jeter to better control the direction and the length of his stride.

Derek worked on his conditioning and flexibility prior to the 2009 season, and he later credited that work for helping him to one of the best seasons of his career. It is good to see that Derek is willing to change his routine to hone his craft, particularly now that he is signed to another expensive contract. A bounce-back season from Jeter would go a long way towards helping the club remain the best offense in the AL East.

3) The Yankees apparently called the Twins about Francisco Liriano, but were told that he is not available. I would imagine that the call was part of Brian Cashman’s Plan B, and I am curious to find out what his other targets might be should the Yankees whiff on Cliff Lee.

4) According to multiple reports, the Yankees and Red Sox are both working hard to sign Russell Martin. With the Yankees declaring Jorge Posada to be the DH and considering the uncertainty that surrounds Jesus Montero, a Martin signing would help remove a lot of the risk from the Yankees catching situation. The Red Sox may need Martin even more, so it should be interesting to follow this as it develops.

5) Old friend Melky Cabrera signed with the Royals, who also signed Jeff Francoeur. Neither player is good at all, and I often wonder whether it might be better for teams like KC to play minor league free agents and perceived AAAA-types in the hopes of discovering a decent asset.

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10 Responses to Notes: Lee, Jeter, Liriano, Martin, Melky

  1. T.O. Chris says:
    December 9, 2010 at 3:17 pm

    I’ve read that the Red Sox only want Martin if he willing to be a utility infielder and since they are right in the thick of things I assume he is OK with that idea which wouldn’t be a bad idea for the Yankees since he can play 1st, 3rd and a little corner OF.

    I would say with Salty and Tek the Red Sox have two catchers they feel comfortable with to some degree with the Yankees IF Posada truly isn’t catching this year we have a project behind the plate and Cervelli and with the addition of Crawford to the Sox I would say we may actually need Martin more…. either way in this conversation “Need” is a little strong but having Martin around sures up our situation more than theirs IMO since they would send Salty down while we send Cervelli down and Martin is a sure upgrade over Cervelli.

    I don’t know about you but I would much rather have Liriano than Lee, when you consider the age and price difference even factoring prospects Liriano is a better overall investment even though Lee is the better pitcher right now.

    Reply
  2. Reggie C. says:
    December 9, 2010 at 5:37 pm

    Russell Martin should stay in Dj’s guest house and work with Kevin Long when the coach arrives to work with DJ. If the front office believes that martin can rebound from two consecutive poor, poor years, then the upside is clearly higher than that offered in Cervelli.

    I like Cervelli but he was exposed as a weak hitter, and at times, a questionable back-stop. Lets guarantee Martin a 1-1 (player’s option) at a salary no lower than what he made last season. Martin can’t be guaranteed a full-time back-stop, but it appears Boston has similar plans in mind.

    Reply
    • T.O. Chris says:
      December 9, 2010 at 5:57 pm

      Apparently the Sox are the favorite to land him and from all reports will sign him soon.

      Martin made 5 million last year if the Yankees were going to pay that they would have traded for him.

      Reply
      • T.O. Chris says:
        December 9, 2010 at 6:41 pm

        The Red Sox are the only team amongst the Yankees, Jays and Sox to actually offer Martin a contract and they have done so with the guarantee he will start or so I have read, it looks like this one is over they will pay him and start and I don’t think he gets as much assurance of either with us.

        Miguel Olivo signed a 2 year deal today, someone yesterday guaranteed a veteran catcher signing they will need to hurry if that is the case.

        Take it for what it’s worth but “a rival exec” says the Red Sox are the favorites to land Scott Downs.

        Reply
        • T.O. Chris says:
          December 9, 2010 at 7:27 pm

          The Yankees and Jays are now officially in the offer category for Martin and he is weighing those offers against a “mystery team”… (Great am I the only one sick of Mystery teams?)…. that has apparently offered a multi year deal.

          Reply
  3. Reggie C. says:
    December 9, 2010 at 5:41 pm

    Re: Liriano
    Its a pipedream. Minnesota can compete for a wild card with Morneau returning and the addition of a better middle of the order guy. Pavano appears to be leaving, but Minny will survive it. There’s nothing that screams “realistic” about this rumour. Liriano would cost us Hughes + 2 of the killa Bs + Heathcott. The cost would indeed be that high.

    Chris Carpenter on the other hand … I’m interested.

    Reply
    • T.O. Chris says:
      December 9, 2010 at 6:05 pm

      Doesn’t there have to be a “rumor” for it to be true or not? There is no rumor here just the report that the Yankees called which is true and the Twins telling them no way which is true, a rumor would be that the Yankees are working on trading for Liriano.

      Liriano if he were avilable would cost way more than Hughes, 2 pitchers in double A who may end up as relievers and an A ball CF with no good numbers in the minors, also this is the second trade I’ve seen you propose with Heathcott, why? He doesn’t carry much value you at all right now and you’d be better off just keeping him no one will take him in any deal as more than a throw in.

      I will pass on Chris Carpenter at this point while good he isn’t the pitcher he once was, he still has maor injury concern going forward, he’s in his 30′s and would have to learn a whole new league and his contract is up in 2 years.

      The Cards would want more than I’d give up and he could really fall backwards in the AL or he could end up hurting himself and miss 2 years again, too much risk and too many injuries.

      Reply
  4. T.O. Chris says:
    December 9, 2010 at 9:44 pm

    The Rangers have officially offered Lee an assortment of deals as the Yankees have and I have a feeling if they get close to the Yankees numbers he’s staying in Texas and with the money being thrown around I’m not that upset if it happens that way.

    Reply
  5. T.O. Chris says:
    December 10, 2010 at 5:28 am

    Russell Martin’s agent says the Yankees have told Martin if he takes their offer he is the starting catcher going into the season so we may see Montero start out the year in Scranton unless they want him to backup Martin at C and Posada at DH while Frankie goes down.

    Reply
  6. leftylarry says:
    December 10, 2010 at 8:14 am

    Why did Yankees lose a still young pitcher like Lance Pendleton, ready to pitch in the ML’s and resign a nothing like Sergio Mitre?
    How much better could Mitre be?
    We know he is mediocre at best.Pendleton might have some upside.He as derailed by injury, not lack of success like Mitre has had everywhere.

    Reply

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