i’d be really interested in what you come up with, SG.

just eyeballing it, CHONE seems a little optimistic on Swisher and a little pessimistic on Nady given what just happened in 2008.

i love having Swisher, and if he hits his CHONE projection, the Yankees are going to be in awesome shape.  i have no problem with the defensive arguments in the article, but i just don’t look at the two players and see them as far apart as CHONE does on offense.

but i just don’t look at the two players and see them as far apart as CHONE does on offense

Yeah, it’s tough to tell.  If Nady is a “late-bloomer” (which does happen) and last year represented a talent-shift, there probably isn’t a hell of a lot of difference between the two.  If that’s the case - which unfortunately we won’t know until this time next year - I’d probably go with Nady as the “starter”.  Swisher is probably a part of this team in 2010 regardless, so getting Nady 600PA would help the Yankees evaluate if they want to resign him, OR up his rating to maybe an A to get the picks.

Either way, I think whichever of the two “loses” the position-battle will still get between 500-600PA, maybe more depending on injuries and how the CF situation resolves itself.

Yeah, honestly with the Gardner/Melky situation and the Damon/Matsui injury risks I’m not too worried about Swisher and Nady both getting their ABs.  That why I wasn’t really pro trading any of them.

I agree, it seems that what could be missed here is the inspection we did a while back that showed that Nady’s splits really changed over the last few years. He started out as what looked like platoon player and has become pretty balanced. Swisher, OTOH, has been a full time player his entire career.  Either way, it makes me excited that the Yankees were able to grab such a strong player (Swisher) and have a legitimate option on the bench to rest Damon and Matsui.

OR up his rating to maybe an A to get the picks.

IIRC, Nady was 2nd to last on the type A list, so this is definitely a possibility. It’s hard to say what the list would look like next year, but Nady as a type A is a real possibility. Personally, I wouldn’t mind seeing Nady and Swisher in the OF after Damon and Matsui depart.

A-Rod to miss 10 weeks?

start the panic…........NOW.

That why I wasn’t really pro trading any of them.

The only way it would make sense in trading either is if you could get something that clearly upgrades the team.  E.g. a young catcher who you feel comfortable giving 60 starts this year and slowly taking over for Posada.  Getting a player in single-A, or a player for depth, etc, really doesn’t do anything to help.

Now if Melky/Gardner (or even Jackson) is hitting their 90% projections, and all three of Damon/Swisher/Nady are meeting/exceeding expectations at the All Star break, the story may change a little…but even then probably not because that Yankees team will probably be on pace to win 100+ games and why would you mess with a good thing?

SG, could you look at platooning all three of Nady, Swisher and Damon?  Swisher in 06 and 07 just killed left handed pitching.  Nady is much better then Damon over his career against lefties as well.  Plus Damon needs to be rested to stay effective so a good platoon makes sense.

A-Rod to miss 10 weeks?

Source please…then I’ll panic.  Well, not really…

For a cyst?  Oh well- can Teixeira move back to 3B and Nady to 1B?

Nevermind, here is a link on it.

The source is apparently his brother and that’s it so far.  If this is really too, the timing looks suspicious.  He meets with the MLB investigators on Sunday and then a few days later he needs surgery and will be out until mid-May.  Not saying it’s anything, just looks fishy if so.

If this is really *true*.  Oops.

I always liked the name, but apparently Xavier Nady likes it so much that his son is Xavier Nady VII.  That’s the farthest I’ve seen any full name carried.

Yeah, honestly with the Gardner/Melky situation and the Damon/Matsui injury risks I’m not too worried about Swisher and Nady both getting their ABs.

The only thing that would justify this would be if they could get their hands on a nice insurance policy for Posada.

RAB has something up on ARod missing the first month of the season from ESPN Deportes. Hopefully it’s off the mark.

Looks like several people beat me to that.

For a cyst?  Oh well- can Teixeira move back to 3B and Nady to 1B?

Either they told him it wasn’t going to get better and it was bothering him too much, OR they felt it’s location could be threatening (e.g. may pinch a blood-vessel closed).  Better safe than sorry.

10 weeks sounds worse than it is, given we’re still a month from the season opener.  He’ll probably miss about 30 games, give or take a few.  I wouldn’t be surprised however if the Yankees make a trade shortly for an IF.  They’re not going to put Tex at 3rd - that would only happen in a REAL emergency, like no other IF left - and I doubt they want to go *that* long with Ransom or Berroa at 3rd. 

I don’t think any of the guys in the minors are ready either; Duncan hasn’t done anything, Russo isn’t ready, guys like Malec are filler, Veccionacci(sp) DEFINITELY isn’t ready, if he’ll ever be, and the most promising candidate is Suttle, and he’s at least 2 years away, if ever.

Isn’t Andy Marte available?

Well that really bites.

and the most promising candidate is Suttle, and he’s at least 2 years away, if ever.

Necessity becomes opportunity for… Eric Duncan maybe? This would really suck if true.

I’ll wait for a real timetable before I freak out.  Also I’d like to know when he would be back at 3b.  If it is 10 weeks before he can come back as a DH then that is a bigger concern.

Via Pete:

“Joe Girardi just claimed he didn’t know anything about Alex. That’s a sure sign of bad news.

The Yankees PR dept. is also in shutdown mode, another bad sign.”

Something’s fishy.

Didn’t Teixeira come up as a 3B?  Isn’t there still anothoer moneth of Spring Training?  That is the move.

Something’s fishy.

It’s possible that everything is true, and Alex’s brother is just running his mouth off before people on the Yankees have been informed; or at least before it has trickled down.  I’m sure even if Cashmen knew about it right away he would have wanted to talk to everyone before it leaked to get stories straight, but that doesn’t happen around ARod, unfortunately.

Didn’t Teixeira come up as a 3B?  Isn’t there still anothoer moneth of Spring Training?  That is the move.

Yes, but the last time he did was 2003.  I think it’s very possible that moving Tex to 3rd and Swisher (or Nady) to first would be such a defensive drop-off that Ransom’s offense would be sufficient to overcome it.  Assuming this is all true (FanGraphs just posted an article about it, though I haven’t read it yet), a trade is in the works.

Cashman to ARoid: I want my money back.

Didn’t Teixeira come up as a 3B?  Isn’t there still anothoer moneth of Spring Training?  That is the move.

Honestly, if this is true, you probably the best option at 3B you can, and you go Nady/Damon/Swisher in the OF in some combination to try to make up for the lost offense.

J: couldn’t you have edited my typos? They are embarassing enough the first time…

Didn’t Teixeira come up as a 3B?  Isn’t there still anothoer moneth of Spring Training?  That is the move.

I’m working on reducing my own typos first..

i don’t think i would risk injuring Teixeira for what is probably just shuffling the deck chairs.

Ransom is probably better than Teixeira at 3B.
Teixeira is better at 1B than Swisher.
Swisher is better at RF than Nady.

so, we’d take 3 defensive downgrades to make up the offensive difference between Nady and Ransom.

can’t see that being worth it.

they need to get an actual 3Bman in camp if this is going to take as long as they say or just take the hit with Ransom.

Cashman to ARoid: I want my money back.

if the cyst is steroid related, i’d have to agree.

if it isn’t, this comment is kindof pointless.

The NY Times picked up the story from ESPN Deportes..

http://bats.blogs.nytimes.com/2009/03/05/a-rod-to-have-surgery-to-remove-cyst/?hp

if it isn’t, this comment is kindof pointless.

Unless you’re Steve Lombardi, then it’s a headline for your next post.

they need to get an actual 3Bman in camp if this is going to take as long as they say or just take the hit with Ransom.

FanGraphs is positing that if ARod misses April (and nothing more) and Ransom replaces him, that’s a one-windowngrade.  Honestly, that’s not so bad.  The problem is, we don’t know if ARod will only miss April, and then there’s the specter of him missing more time (even if only a game here and there for soreness) the rest of the way.  Plus, I’m pretty sure from last year we know Alex will come back too early if he feels he’s needed.

I think getting a decent 3B is important now.  Any overpriced average-ish 3B who may be able to handle SS out there?  Guys that a team may want to take Melky and a lesser prospect for a salary-dump?  Or will we see something crazy like getting Beltre (note I am saying this is crazy)?

that’s a one-windowngrade.

These typos are contagious…

You can’t type that correctly here, not without html tricks anyway.

Damion Easley.  get on the horn, Cash.

Orlando Cabrera or did he sign w/Oaktown?  I still don’t know why we didn’t pursue him…

O-Cab is definitely off the market.

Assuming this is all true…a trade is in the works.

We have an only slightly gimpy 3B who was getting ready to be traded all winter. You guys have a 1B we were after.

Whaddaya say? And can you eat part of his salary while you’re at it?

(heh heh)

(37: Yes, O-Cab signed with Oakland, 1 year @ $4m)

I think Marte cleared waivers and ended up back with the Indians.

I certainly wouldn’t mind seeing that move.  At least there’s something there.. some upside. He’s got mixed numbers defensive by UZR at 3B, but he’s about average.

Really bad timing on this injury as OC is off the market, Nomar is off the market too and we have nobody to play 3rd.

Oh, I’m sure Billy Beane wouldn’t mind sending OCab or Nomar over this way.. for Phil Hughes.

Orlando Cabrera or did he sign w/Oaktown?  I still don’t know why we didn’t pursue him…

really?  $5M and a draft pick for a backup IFer?

or was this part of a larger move to move Jeter to CF?

So is Damon in CF all but a given now?

If they have to field a line up without ARod and Posada, this could be disastrous.

and obviously Cabrera was going to jump at the chance to sit on our bench instead of starting in Oakland.

So is Damon in CF all but a given now?

At least while A-Rod is out that is.

Who’s going to play 3rd in April and May?

At least while A-Rod is out that is.

This pisses me off. We spent all that time talking about Gardner or Melky, then Swisher or Nady, and now it looks as if it’ll be neither Gardner or Melky and both of Swisher and Nady.

SG, any chance we could get a rough projection of win dropoff with Ransom or Berroa taking A-Rod’s at bats in May and June?

Ps. I vote we bring back one of our classic infield fillers, like Aaron Boone or, more appropriately, Miguel Cairo

Miguel Cairo

Cairo is an a ML deal with the Phillies - I liked him as the BUI.

Why not see what it would cost to snag Marte? Obviously if no one claimed him, he has a pretty low value, although all of a sudden Cashman is a motivated buyer.

Is 9:30 too early to start desperation drinking?

Oh, I’m sure Billy Beane wouldn’t mind sending OCab or Nomar over this way.. for Phil Hughes.

If Oakland is going to move a salary, it would be Crosby.

If Oakland is going to move a salary, it would be Crosby.

Ehh.. can’t hit, can’t field, and for $5.1M or something like that? I’d rather throw Eric Duncan to the wolves and see if something clicks.

Blech.

IMO we should’ve been on Nomar, Uribe or Aurilia 2 months ago. 

Tex to 3B is, with all due respect, kinda nuts.

Easley is intriguing.  As is Marte in a different sort of way (high-ceiling, possibly more than a stopgap).

Other thoughts, none of whom I believe would cost a top prospect:

Bobby Crosby
Jack Hannahan
Brian Buscher
Chad Tracy
Wes Helms
Greg Dobbs
Jose Bautista
Ronnie Belliard
Blake DeWitt
Brendan Harris
Craig Counsell

None are guaranteed starting gigs.  Plus Crosby and Tracy (maybe others too?) make in the $5m/year range, ergo their GM’s might be even more eager to move them.

How big was that Bill Hall contract we were all talking about when the Cameron/Melky trade was on the table?

Oh, didn’t someone say Brett played third base in the minors?

Hall is injured and owed about $17M over the next 2 years.

i read that Aurilia had about 5 offers and took less to go back to SF.  he just wanted to stay in SF.

and is there really any difference b/w Ransom and Uribe besides name recognition?  he’s terrible. 

Nomar would be in camp if this happened a week ago.  unfortunate.

Hall is owed $6.8M in 2009 and $8.4M in 2010.That’s a steep price to pay for someone who will be useless after a month or so (if these reports are true.)

I always assumed Nomar would just never sign with the Yankees.  He would look out from the bench see Jeter and A-Rod playing and think, how did I end up the one without a job?

SI reporting surgery and 6-8 weeks of rehab

Counsell would be OK.  i believe he signed in St. Louis.

the timing on this is terrible. 

then again, if it happened 3-4 weeks ago, they wouldn’t really need someone else.

Is it that far fetched to think that Eric Duncan might get a shot?

SI reporting surgery and 6-8 weeks of rehab

if we assume 8 weeks from today, that is April 30th.

that’s a grand total 23 games.

that is probably too optimistic, but if it’s “only” 8 weeks, everything is going to be ok.

no need to trade Phil Hughes for Hank Blalock…

Nomar would be in camp if this happened a week ago.  unfortunate.

But Nomar and for that matter most of the other names I mentioned (i.e. the ones who can play the middle infield) were good fits last week too.  Seems a little hyper-critical given the millions spent this off-season, but I’ve been frustrated at the unwillingness to go shopping for a viable infield backup.

And sure enough, now we really need one.

Maybe my tinfoil hat is on too tight, but this whole 10-week surgery thing smells kind of fishy.

Just like Jordan “retired” from basketball to try baseball.

Just like the Knicks “lucked out” and got the first pick in the draft lottery (Ewing).

I’m calling BS on this story.  Mock me now, apologize later.

Oh, didn’t someone say Brett played third base in the minors?

That was me.  On TheBaseBallCube, they list him as 1 game at third, not sure how many innings or in what season.  Just checked BBref and they don’t have any record of that.  So if it did happen, it was probably either an emergency, a blowout (like when Boggs pitched), or a protest (like Billy Martin playing Guidry in CF).

But Nomar and for that matter most of the other names I mentioned (i.e. the ones who can play the middle infield) were good fits last week too.

some were, some weren’t.  some weren’t willing to come to NY.

like i said, Uribe MIGHT be worse than Ransom, but is just a better name.

the rest of those names require trades.

I’m calling BS on this story.  Mock me now, apologize later.

just to ask the obvious:  what would the point of keeping the suspension a secret be from Bud’s POV? 

completely defeats the purpose.

Yeah, not sure I get the conspiracy either.

That and Selig couldn’t suspend A-Rod even if he wanted to. The union would never allow it let along agree to keep it secret.

I signed bobby crosby on Playstation and he hit the first pitch he saw into the upper deck in right. So given that, I say we have to get him.