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Is Freddy Garcia the odd man out in the Yankees' rotation? (Photo: AP)
When Freddy Garcia signed a one-year, $4 million deal with the Yankees, he was arguably the third starter on the team’s depth chart. However, following the offseason acquisitions of Hiroki Kuroda and Michael Pineda, the re-emergence of Phil Hughes, and the comeback of Andy Pettitte, the veteran right hander now seems destined to be the odd man out.
Although the Yankees won’t have to make a decision regarding Pettitte for at least another six weeks, Phil Hughes’ strong spring performance has made it more likely that Garica will be nudged out of the rotation well before then. As a result, the veteran’s days in pinstripes could be numbered, and, judging by his recent comments, that possibility hasn’t been lost on Garcia.
I’ll be pitching here or wherever, but I know I’ll be pitching. At the end of the day, that’s all that matters. If it’s here, if it’s not here, I’ll be pitching.” – Freddy Garcia, quoted by the New York Daily News, March 17, 2012
Garcia’s frustration is understandable. Following a very successful campaign in which he posted an ERA+ of 122 in 146 innings, the 35-year old probably expected his spot in the rotation to be guaranteed, but instead, he is facing the real possibility of being cast in long relief. Needless to say, if he knew then what he does now, the right hander probably wouldn’t have signed a contract with the Yankees in the first place.
So, what should Brian Cashman do? The easiest, and perhaps wisest, solution would be to keep Garcia around as an insurance policy until Pettitte’s return is a reality. And, considering Ivan Nova’s 7.82 Spring Training ERA, it could be a policy the Yankees cash in sooner than later (the Yankees may not be overacting to Nova’s early struggles, but based on his recent comments following a poor outing, the young right hander may be getting a little anxious). However, assuming Nova doesn’t make the team’s decision easy by continuing to struggle, the next option to consider would be a trade.
In his 31 spring at bats, Raul Ibanez has a grand total of two hits. How is that relevant to Garcia? Well, if the 39-year old DH continues to struggle, the Yankees could decide that an upgrade is in order. Whether that decision is made in the spring, or after the season begins, Garcia could wind up being the bait the Yankees use to find a replacement.
Before the Yankees’ traded A.J. Burnett to the Pirates, they attempted to work a three-way deal involving the Los Angeles Angels that would have landed Bobby Abreu. When Burnett vetoed the trade, the Yankees turned their attention to Ibanez, so, if plan B doesn’t work out, it would make sense for Brian Cashman to return to his first choice.
Garrett Richards, Trevor Bell, Jerome Williams, Brad Mills and Eric Hurley are all candidates to be the Angels’ fifth starter, so it’s easy to see why GM Jerry DiPoto would have an interest in Garcia. Meanwhile, with Kendrys Morales getting closer to full health, and being a full-time DH, Abreu’s opportunity for at bats continues to dwindle. Considering the displeasure he voiced earlier in camp, which was only assuaged by a promise of playing time, keeping an unhappy Abreu on the team could be untenable.
If Ibanez continues to struggle, the Yankees might take a second shot at landing Bobby Abreu. (Photo: NYDN)
Rarely do two teams’ needs and strengths match-up perfectly, but the Yankees and Angels seem to be a perfect fit for a trade. However, the two sides would have to settle the $5 million salary difference between Abreu’s $9 million price tag and Garcia’s $4 million contract. The simple solution would be to split the difference, but the Yankees probably won’t be willing to add any more payroll. So, if the Angels really are desperate to move Abreu, not to mention eager to add Garcia, asking them to eat $6 million of his contract might not be unreasonable, especially considering the relative value advantage. If DiPoto and Arte Moreno were amendable to that figure, the Yankees could use the $1 million net savings (Garcia’s salary coming off the books plus the cash versus Abreu’s contract) to cancel out the $1 million guaranteed to Ibanez, making it a win-win on and off the field.
The Yankees don’t have to rush into a Garcia trade, but the team’s rotation depth, and stable of talented young arms in the high minors, should at least allow it to explore that option. Even if a deal with the Angels doesn’t work out, either because they are unwilling to eat most of Abreu’s contract or Ibanez snaps out of his funk, there are other teams in need and other areas where the Yankees can improve. It’s always better to deal from a position of strength, so if Cashman plays his cards right, the Yankees could wind up entering the season with a deck stacked even more in their favor.
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No one has mentioned anything about Andy’s return as it will be effected if/when Joba comes back. I love Andy as a player but his presence requires a trade. If Andy is Andy, I think packaging Swisher, Garcia and perhaps more for a high potential low cost outfielder might address several issues.
I was thinking that a Garcia for Giambi swap would make alot of sense, Giambi had a .990 OPS against RHP last year, and I would think that the Rockies would have more use for a starter of Freddy’s caliber than they would a pinch hitter.
I like Giambi as a LH DH but I’m not sure the Rockies would want Freddy in that stadium, he’s likely to be hit pretty hard.
I’d almost rather trade Hughes depending on what we can get back. Garcia was already the longman/6th starter before Andy came back, without Garcia you still have to either send Hughes to the pen or AAA. The only other option would be sending Pineda or Nova to AAA, but I see no reason to do that unless one is just getting bombed.
Seeing if Hughes (or Hughes and what) could net you Chris Young makes the most sense, even right now/at the trade deadline. I was originally thinking trade for him after the season to replace Swisher, but he could come in now and start in RF while you move Swisher to DH. Defense gets better in RF and the lineup gets stronger.
As someone who goes to Angels games regularly, the only problem with what you are saying is that Abreu is a tub of lard. Why anyone would want him is beyond me.
T.O. Chris, the reason I think you hang on to Hughes is that after the season you would have 3 openings in the starting rotation. Get rid one of the free agent pitchers and Swisher. Get a good defending,young ,”cheap” rightfielder. As for the DH, use the days Jones is not the DH to rest one of the infielders with that person being DH. Or you could bring up a hot hitting AAA player to help figure out that position for the future. remember that they are figuring Joba coming up in June/July as well.
I don’t want to have a weak bat in RF, a weak bat at DH, maybe no Martin at C, Gardner in LF, and an ever aging Arod and Jeter as my offense going into 2013. That forces your hand on giving big extensions to Granderson and Cano and hoping and praying Alex holds together physically. This is a team that needs to win now, already in his 30′s CC has less time left as an ace than not.
I don’t think we are going to re-sign Hughes when he hits free agency, in I believe 2014? He’s not that hard a pitcher to replace, even if you decide to sign someone like Anibal Sanchez, or guy with another Kuroda like 1 year deal you should be fine. So I’d rather try and turn Hughes, or Hughes and some smaller pieces, into a young, affordable, outfielder who can play all 3 OF spots. That would give us major flexibility, either this year in the lineup, or going forward with deciding who, if either, we should sign between Granderson and Swisher.
I understand wanting to hold on to Hughes but he’s rapidly passing the “young and cheap” phase, he really hasn’t earned another deal. I wouldn’t dump him for a bag of balls, but it’d be bad baseball to not shop him around a little and see what is out there.