Yanks Signing of Teixeira Bad For Mets?

The Mets are strongly targeting free agent pitcher Derek Lowe. Reports are that talks between the two parties are getting serious and a deal could be reached soon.

However, with the Yankees stealing Mark Teixeira from right under the Red Sox nose, the Sox might be forced to make a big move.

Now, while Lowe isn’t the big time free agent such as Sabathia, Burnett or Teixeira, he is one of the bigger free agents left. The Red Sox won’t be signing Manny. They could have an interest in signing Bobby Abreu, Adam Dunn, or Pat Burrell to improve their offense, but I think that would be  a panic move. Derek Lowe makes sense for the Sox. He would bolster their rotation, which is their strongest part. Lowe also would love to return to Boston.

Red Sox signing Lowe would really hurt the Mets. The Mets need to add at least one above average pitcher. Besides Lowe, the only other above average pitcher on the market is the injury ridden Ben Sheets. When the Mets are talking about the likes of Randy Wolf and Tim Redding as the plan B to Derek Lowe, the Mets can’t afford to lose out on Lowe to the Red Sox.

Under The Radar Free Agents: First Base

Kevin Millar

Okay, there is some decent stuff here.

1.Kevin Millar:2008 Stats: BA-.234, HR-20, RBI-72, OBP-.323, SLG-.394

Millar can is a decent hitter, his bat has some pop. Won’t kill you at first on defense, and can play corner outfield. Players seem to like him in the clubhouse, though he does have a big mouth.

2. Doug Mientkiewicz: 2008 Stats: BA-.277, HR-2, RBI-30, OBP-.374, SLG-.379

Great glove, which is a reason teams like Doug. Bad teams, such as the Pirates, platooned him, which says a lot. But, Doug is a perfect platoon first baseman, and back-up. He can get some hits here and there. In recent years, he has hit for a decent  and a decent OBP.

3.Sean Casey: 2008 Stats: BA-.322, HR-0,RBI-17, OBP-.381, SLG-.392

Casey is a very good back-up, when healthy. He hits for a good average and good OBP. Good for a pinch hitter off the bench also.

Under The Radar Free Agents: Catcher

For a few posts I will list some free agents who aren’t really being talked about (for various reasons, injury, age, etc.) that could be a good signing for a team. I will put 3 for each position.

There isn’t much on the market for Catcher, under the radar or otherwise. But here are a couple of names that haven’t gotten much attention.

1. Ivan Rodriguez: 2008 Stats- Avg- .276, HR- 7, RBI- 37, OBP- .319, SLG- .394

Pudge didn’t have a good year in 2007, especially after being traded to the Yankees. However, pudge could have another good year left in him and even be a starter. He could still hit some, and defend. There isn’t a large supply of great catchers in the league, so adding a pudge could be a good signing. But he is ranked as a B class free agent, which might be too much to give up for pudge.

Okay, there isn’t really anything else in the catching market. You could look to sign some veterans such as Greg Zaun, Paul Lo Duca or Toby Hall, but they shouldn’t be any higher than a AAA catcher, with the exception of Zaun, who could be a good backup. Sal Fasano is always a fun catcher to watch, he squats so low to the ground and has a great mustache.

Yanks Throw Curve, Spoil Sox

So Mark Teixeira is the newest present under the Yankee’s christmas tree. When the Red Sox executives were preparing for lunch today,  it looked like their 8-year $168 million offer was enough to nab Teixeira.

But, the Yankees are the Yankees and they went under the radar to steal Teixeira from right under the Red Sox with a 8-year $180 million offer. This is just like 2006, when the Yanks went under the radar to nab Johnny Damon from the Sox. Sox executives are no doubt infuriated that this happened to them twice.

Plus, the Yankees signing Teixeira throws a serious wrench into the Red Sox’ s off-season plans. They really wanted to add another bat in the lineup, and also make a move in response to the Yankee’s signings. Now the Red Sox only can make very few moves to help their team. They could sign Adam Dunn, Pat Burrell, or Bobby Abreu, but none of them are Teixeira.

Teams will cry Yankees spending fouls again. But, the reality is the Yankees still can have a payroll under $200 million in 2009, which is a decrease from previous years. The Yankees spend what money they can to win, while other teams pocket the revenue sharing that teams like the Yankees dole out. Teams should be crying foul over owners of teams like the Marlins, who spend only about $15 million on their team, now that is disgraceful.

There is a log jam of sorts with the Yankees now. With Teixeira now at first, that moves Nick Swisher from first base. The Yanks could put Swisher in center and leave Damon in left or put Damon in center and move Swish to left. However, that makes the Yanks defensively weaker in the outfield. This means that Nady, Swisher, Matsui, or even Damon could be trade bait now. Matsui, ideally would get traded because he is ultimately just a DH with bad knees, though is very productive when healthy. Damon then could move to DH, Swisher to left, and either Melky or Brett Gardner in center. Look for Swisher or Nady to be used as trade bait.

With all the signings the Yankees made, anything less than a World Series, will be an embarrassment. The Yankees can’t claim any kind of underdog status this year and the pressure to win it all will be more intense than ever.

Angels Out

Apparently the Angels have pulled their offer for Mark Teixeira and are no longer interested in re-signing him. This means Teixeira must sign soon, because his value will inevitably go down.

I believe if the Red Sox were just fooling people with them saying they aren’t in the running for Tex anymore, they will now sign him. There are reports that the Red Sox have offered around $170 million for 8 years, and despite that that they said they are not in the running any longer, they haven’t pulled the offer.

If the Red Sox are truly out of it, Teixeira will probably have to take the National’s offer of 8-years $160 million.

Boras wants at least 8-years $180 million or even $190 million. Boras might have to settle for the $170 million range.

If Teixeira’s value drops a bit, the Yankees could get more heavily involved.

With the Angels out of the Teixeira sweepstakes, look for them now to turn their attention to signing Manny, or possibly Bobby Abreu.

Teixeira Scenarios

Baseball’s biggest free agent slugger, Mark Teixeira, still hasn’t signed with a team yet. The Red Sox have said they are out of it because of the other offers. I don’t know how much I trust the Red Sox on this, they might just be trying to psyche all the other teams on this.

Below, I’m going to list 5 scenarios I think will play out for Teixeira, from most likely to least likely.

1. Teixeira signs with Angels: Even when the Red Sox were viewed as the favorites to land Teixeira, I still thought he ultimately will sign with the Angels. The Angels have the money to spend and need Teixeira’s bat in their lineup to make them a World Series heavyweight.

2. Teixeira signs with Nationals: Tex wants to play on the east coast and he’s from the Baltimore area. The Nationals seem to be offering the most money and want Tex to be the face of their franchise. Teixeria, being a loyal Boras disciple, wants a lot of money, and might ultimately settle for the place that offers the most. However, Tex wants to play for a contender, and the Nats are definitely not that.

3. Teixeira signs with the Red Sox: East coast team? Check. Lots of money available to spend? Check. World Series contender? Check. I don’t really believe the Red Sox are fully out of it, you never know with them. Tex fits perfect for them. Tex also wouldn’t feel the pressure to carry a team like the Red Sox on his back as he would with the Nationals or Orioles. the Red Sox might also feel pressured to respond to the Yankee’s off-season spending spree. But, maybe they really don’t want to spend the kind of money Teixeira demands.

4. Teixeira signs with the Orioles: The O’s want the Maryland native bad. They, like the Nationals, want Teixeira to be the face of the Orioles. The O’s have money to spend, though it is believed they aren’t offering as much as the Nationals are offering. Also, the Orioles are light years away from being a contender, so if Teixeira signs here, it would clearly be to play home and for the money.

5. Teixeira signs with Yankees: The Yankee’s need a big bat with the losses of Abreu and Giambi. They traded for Swisher, but he’s no Teixeira. The Yankees have everything Teixeira would want in a team, and the Yankees have the money to spend. The Yanks also would love to take Teixeira away from the Sox and shove it in their face. Teixeira is the bat the Yankees need, and the glove they also desperately want at first. However, the Yanks don’t have an unlimited budget, and after the signings of C.C. and A.J., the Yanks might not want to spend another $22-$25 million a year. Also, if Pettitte takes the one-year $10 million offer from the Yanks, I think the Yankees are done spending this off-season.

Slow Day

Since there isn’t much going on in the baseball world, I decided to post the trailer for the upcoming documentary about the unique off-season activities of catcher Sal Fasano.

Yankee Manny?

A-Rod and Manny in the same lineup would be a lethal combination.

Well, I said in my previous post a few days ago this could be an attractive option for the Yankees.

New York Post’s George King is reporting that if the Yanks can’t get Mark Teixiera, they will try for Manny.

This is what King reported:

“If they can’t get Teixeira, they are right there on Manny,” an official with knowledge of the Yankees’ plan said yesterday”

King also suggests the Yankees might try to trade Xavier Nady to make room. Nady made $3.35 million last year. King also mentions Jermaine Dye as a possibility for the Yankees.

Trading Hideki Matsui instead of Nady would be a better option for the Yankees. There are serious questions about how much Matsui can give to the Yankees because of his past injuries, he will be a DH mostly in 2009. Moving Matsui would open up a spot for Manny at DH, and prevent Manny from being an everyday outfielder. Matsui when healthy is a very good hitter and clutch. However, who is going to take a 34-year old injury-prone Matsui making $13 million this year, his final year in his contract, especially when he can’t be an everyday outfielder anymore.

K-Rod Adds Modesty To The Mets

Closer Francisco Rodriguez celebrating.

Looks like the NL East will have an extra reason to hate the Mets’ attitude on and off the field.

Newly signed Mets’ closer said this yesterday:

“Of course, we’re going to try to win the division. Of course, we’re going to be the front-runner. Of course, we’re going to be the team to beat.”

“Front-runner”? How exactly are you a front-runner in your division when your team had two historic collapses two years in a row and a division rival not only won the division last year, but also won the World Series?

I’m sure the rest of the NL East is loving the added cockiness K-Rod brings, because that’s exactly what the Mets were missing. For a couple of years now, NL East teams hate the way the Mets often celebrate on the field (*cough* Jose Reyes *cough*).  The acquisition of K-Rod will just add to their hatred, with his Bill Gramatica-esque celebrations when he’s on the mound. I’m sure the comments by K-Rod are sitting well with the world champion Phillies.

Of course the Mets aren’t alone in trash talk. The Phillies have made a few of those. The difference being the Phillies back it up.

At the start of the 2007 season, Phillies shortstop Jimmy Rollins incensed the Mets by proclaiming the Phillies the team to beat and will win the division, even though the Mets won the division in 2006 and made it to the NLCS, and the Phillies did do exactly that, with the help from a historic September collapse by the Mets.

Phillie’s pitcher Cole Hammels called the Mets “choke artists” the other day on WFAN. Which he isn’t wrong for saying. The past two Septembers, I don’t think you can call the Mets anything else.

Who knows? Maybe K-Rod will pull a Rollins and the Mets will win the division. One thing is for sure this Valentine’s day, the Mets won’t be getting any candy & flowers from the other NL East teams.

Yankee’s Defense= Weakness?

The addition of Nick Swisher should greatly improve the Yankee's defense.

There has been a lot of talk around baseball that even with all the pitching the Yankee’s weakness will be their defense. ESPN’s Keith Law says it could be one of baseball’s worst. I don’t believe this to be true. Centerfield and first base are only getting stronger. I believe defense will be much approved this season over last. I will breakdown each position’s defense.

1. Catcher

Jorge Posada/ Jose Molina- Posada was one of the best defensive catchers in 2007, he threw out 30% of runners and started blocking the plate more, two things that weren’t his strong points in the past. In 2008, Posada never had a chance to get comfortable catching, his year was shortened by a shoulder injury. When he was catching, he couldn’t throw out any runner with his hurt shoulder. Posada is supposed to be healthy for the 2009 season. I’m not sure how healthy he really is, and he is another year older. If he can stay healthy he can be close to his 2007 form, but that is a big if. I don’t believe Posada will be any kind of liability.

Molina is more than an adequate defensive catcher. He throws out runners at a high rate, he threw out 33 of 42 runners in 2008, and rarely has passed balls. Molina is exactly what you want in a back up catcher. If Posada isn’t healthy enough to start as catcher all the time, Molina only improves the defense of the Yankees on a full-time basis.

Grade: B/A

2. First Base

Nick Swisher- Swisher, without a doubt is a huge defensive improvement over Jason Giambi. Swisher will add stellar defense to the Yankees. One of GM Brian Cashman’s justifications for adding Swisher was that the run production your losing from Giambi’s bat balances out with the runs you will save from being scored with Swisher’s glove. However, if Swisher can’t produce on offense or if Cashman wants to add a first baseman that has better offensive numbers than Swisher, that could weaken the Yankee’s defense.

Grade: A-

3. Second Base

Robinson Cano- Cano over recent years has improved defensively. However this is still the Yankee’s top weakness. Cano posts a .984% fielding percentage, which isn’t terrible. But, Cano seems slow to react to some ground balls, and lazy at times.

Grade: C

4. Shortstop

Derek Jeter- Jeter is another year older and questions remain to how long Jeter can stay at SS. Jeter makes a good amount of errors a season, but he makes up for it with the intensity he gives going after and making the tough plays. Also, his patent Jeter throw is still incredible, and Jeter can make that over the shoulder catch better than any other SS.

Grade: B+

5. Third Base

Alex Rodriguez- A-Rod is one of the best defensive third baseman in the game. He’s prone to boot a few balls a year, but no one can complain with his defense.

Grade: A-

Brett Gardner would be a perfect defensive fit for the Yankees.

6. Left Field

Johnny Damon- Damon isn’t a center fielder anymore. But, he plays a great left field in Yankee Stadium, and s overall good there. In 87 games in LF, Damon has only 1 error. Just can’t count on assists by Damon.

Grade: B+

7. Center Field

Brett Gardner/ Melky Cabrera/ Mike Cameron?- If the Cameron deal doesn’t go through, I see Gardner as the starting centerfielder. Gardner would be a perfect defensive upgrade for the Yankees. He’s fast and great defensively, no worries there. If Melky wins the job over Gardner in spring training, Melky wouldn’t be a bad everyday starting centerfielder. He has shown he can play good defense in center, and has a stellar arm. Cameron is a several time gold-glove winner, he’s an incredible defender in center. The only issue with Cameron is that he is in his late 30’s.

Grade: A+/A-/A

9. Right Field

Xavier Nady- Nady takes over RF from Abreu, a position he played daily in Pittsburgh. Nady plays good defense, and has a decent arm. Nothing to worry about. Nady doesn’t have the arm Abreu had, but isn’t afraid of that back wall like Abreu was.

Grade: B

Overall, I believe the Yankees will be fine on defense and I think the criticism about their defense is overblown. Cano is the big weakness, and if Posada’s catching skills have severely regressed because of the shoulder injury, that would be a great cause for concern.