John Biever/SI
The Yankees will make an offer to exceed Johan Santana's $137.5 million contract to top target CC Sabathia and closely follow that bold first strike with proposals within the next day or two to A.J. Burnett and Derek Lowe, SI.com has learned.
The Yankees' aggressive three-pronged free agent pitching approach puts them in position to dominate the free-agent market. The three offers together are expected to total in the $250 million range.
The Yankees are hoping to blow away the field for Sabathia, who prefers to play in California if all things are equal, then fashion the rest of their rotation from a very strong free-agent market for pitchers. The Yankees don't expect immediate acceptances from all three pitchers, but one competing executive said, "I wouldn't be shocked to see the Yankees sign all three guys.'' (That's probably a long shot, however.)
The Yankees expect Mike Mussina to make his decision whether to return for another year sometime next week, but they are still expecting him to retire. Meanwhile, Andy Pettitte appears to be a fallback option at this point -- though his chances to return are quite possible barring affirmative answers form the three free-agent pitching targets they covet.
The Yankees' proposal to Sabathia will exceed the total amount and actual value of the Mets deal for Santana, whose record $137.5 million contract is estimated to be worth about $123 million when deferred dollars are figured in. Sabathia's first offer this winter came from the Brewers and was for $100 million over five years. But people familiar with that deal say it is actually worth closer to $18 million annually when all the deferred dollars are figured, meaning it is with about what Barry Zito's deal is worth on an annual basis, though much less than Zito's total of $126 million.
The Yankees remain interested in Manny Ramirez but are concentrating on the pitchers now with the expectation that Ramirez won't sign quickly with anyone, certainly not the Dodgers, who bid $45 million over two years, far below Ramirez's request for a five- or six-year deal. Moreover, the Yankees chances to sign star free-agent first baseman Mark Texieira are greatly diminished now that they have acquired Nick Swisher.
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help me out, i thought Swisher would play CF?
Also, don't the Yanks already have Wang,Hughes and Chamberlin in the rotation? 3 FA's make it sound like another bullpen year for Joba?
JMac39 - Major Hit…
New York , NY
Total Comments (407)
This is EXACTLY what is wrong with MLB and why the NFL has developed a robust national following and will continue to prosper. Baby Boss decides he wants to buy more championships so he takes the seemingly unlimited revenue that comes with being in a major media center and creates a market in which few can compete. There are only a handful of teams that can compete in the rarified air created by team payrolls exceeding $250M and everyone else just has to sit back and pick up the scraps. Yes, I know there are exceptions from time to time (e.g., Rays, Twins, etc) but look at which teams are there year after year. It is not because they have better oraganizations, scouting, player development, etc. It is because they can go out and make a play for the Sabbathias, Lowes, and Burnetts of the world to supplement their already ridiculously talent-laden stable of A-Rods, Riveras, and Jeters. MLB stopped being fun for fans of small to medium market teams a long time ago. Revenue sharing, and the equality that it will bring, is the only thing that will save MLB. Otherwise, most of the teams are merely farm systems for the Yankees, Red Sox, Cubs, Angels, etc.
RealBaseBallFan
Boynton Beach , FL
Total Comments (1)
1- listen to cashman's conference call from yesterday, he made it pretty clear swisher is going to be the everyday 1st baseman and spell the corner OF.... VERY rarely u Might see him in CF
2- Hughes is not promised anything, he will have to earn a spot in the rotation - hes throwing 95 again in AZ whixh is good, but his overall numbers haven't been too hot to say the least
basically the yanks are covering themselves by going after all 3, i don't think and i doubt they think they can sign all 3.... its just a case of "you can never have enough pitching"
Yank-ee Base-ball
Coram , NY
Total Comments (571)
Yeah how are they going to sign 3 free agent pitchers and then bring back Andy or Moose? I guess the Yanks are ready to put Joba back in the 8th inning, Hughes and Kennedy back in AAA or on the trade market. And yeah I thought Swisher played cenetr field when with the A's.
bcoltrinari
Staten Island, NY
Total Comments (10735)
According to Cashman, Swisher is more of a candidate to play 1B, and the corner outfields. Currently with Damon and Cabrera, CF is pretty set. Look for the Yanks to get younger in the corner positions.
YanksFanInCT
Total Comments (2)
If they get C.C., Burnett, Lowe... they also have Chamberlain and Wang... pretty nice 1 through 5, eh? This way, they can keep Hughes in AAA until someone gets hurt, and trade Ian Kennedy, Melky Cabrera, and another prospect for CF like Nate McLowth (Pitts Pirates). This is better pitching, age, speed, and power... more like the Dynasty
Yankee27
Castaic , CA
Total Comments (1080)
Realfan the Yankees do not have a $250M payroll. There payroll was $209M this year and it is currently down to $130M right now. I am sure that number will increase but I do not see them signing all these free agents so I do not see it reaching over $170M (which is a lot but it does show that they are starting to scale back from their mistakes in the early part of the 2000's. And to say other owners can't compete is naive. To own a team you need millions of dollars so I do not buy it when they cry poverty and cannot (read as will not) afford to pay for and retain their own free agents and then blame the Yankees and Sox for it. And MLB has drawn record attendance numbers the last few years so why are we comparing them to the NFL when both are successful?
bcoltrinari
Staten Island, NY
Total Comments (10735)
I only see them getting 1 of those 3 FA's. I'd prefer CC as he has shown to be the most durable and dominant. I'd then go and resign Moose for a 2 year deal and depending upon how they feel with Hughes/Kennedy/Rasner maybe sign Andy for a short term deal. That gives you CC, Wang, Joba, Moose and Andy or Hughes/Rasner/Kennedy as a starting 5. They then play Swisher at 1b where he replaces Giambi's power numbers and maybe is an upgrade defensively and batting average wise (no more exaggearted shift to hit into).
bcoltrinari
Staten Island, NY
Total Comments (10735)
just to add on to my own quote, joba is going to be a starter, that has been the plan all along, and cashman has already stated that joba and wang are the only ones that have spots...... like i already said they are not going to get all 3, and even if they did joba will still be in roto
Yank-ee Base-ball
Coram , NY
Total Comments (571)
forget rasner and kennedy bc- i'd rather see aceves or sanchez as our 5th if needed
Yank-ee Base-ball
Coram , NY
Total Comments (571)
Any word on Brackton? I had heard he would be given a chance at the #5 spot in spring a few weeks back. Can't recall the source of that one though.
bcoltrinari
Staten Island, NY
Total Comments (10735)
So CC, Wang, Joba, Moose, Andy or Aceves/Sanchez with Brackton, Rasner, Kennedy and Hughes in AAA in case someone gets injured.
bcoltrinari
Staten Island, NY
Total Comments (10735)
Andrew Brackman..I don't see how he can be a #5. There's no reason for it. He had Tommy John surgery in 07 and missed most of last year from it. No need to rush him -- he will spend time in the minors where he should be.
LetsGoYankees
Batavia , NY
Total Comments (1)
dont see them getting all 3 either but i think 2 of 3 is a strong possibility. with joba in the rotation i still think the yanks are a lil shaky getting to Mo. although the pen did much better than i expected last season. we'll see how this thing pans out. the key is to ensure that they lock up a power #1 and CC definitely fits that description.
Al_Cheese
Richmond, VA
Total Comments (1337)
Lowe with the Yankees with be scary, trust me, he is exactly who they need ... Lowe is a big stage pitcher, plus sinker ball pitchers have great sucess at Yankee Stadium (at least the old one) ... I hope they don't get him, but the is the best pitcher they can sign ... CC would be way overpriced for most of the length of the contract
bruinboy
Northridge , CA
Total Comments (201)
I for the life of me can't understand this love affair with Lowe...He's NOT even close to being a top tier player, I hate the Skankees with a passion and hope they sign him so he can do a Randy Johnson on their dumd a sses..
mac
Biloxi, MS
Total Comments (131)
Lowe def has the big game experience but he is going to cost a lot of money for a lot of years (not as bad as CC granted) and he is older than CC or Burnett. Yankees have had bad experience with older pitchers like Johnson, Clemens and Brown.
bcoltrinari
Staten Island, NY
Total Comments (10735)
you must not have watched the playoffs or any of the huge games Lowe has come through
bruinboy
Northridge , CA
Total Comments (201)
I agree I don't see the love everyone has for Lowe and believe he would be a repeat of Brown and Johnson. But why the Yankee hate mac? What's on your mind?
bcoltrinari
Staten Island, NY
Total Comments (10735)
What is the hold Cashman has on the Stienbrenners. Cashman has done NOTHING over the last 7 years except pay a kings ransome for AROD. He has the biggest payroll in Baseball and has NOT produced. I wish the "BOSS" wasn't in lala land and had all his marbles because Cashman would be doing valet service at some restraunt in Queens. Sign TEX,C.C., Lowe and Burnett. EARN your $$$$ Cashman or get out !!
ocalacal100
Ocala , FL
Total Comments (15)
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