Soler, 24, is exactly the kind of long-range player the Yankees need. But it's a bad fit. Their OF is full of aging, injury-prone players in decline, and their best prospect in Scranton remains RF Aaron Judge. Don't get me wrong: I don't mind them wheedling the Cubs for more in a deal. What I fear is that we'll be ones trading a prospect: We'll beat a few tomato cans, get three games above .500, and start trading our future for some Justin Morneau-type 1B, or to fill whatever positions become vacant after the next clown car of injuries. What I fear is that the Yankees have no long-term plan, other than to chase Wild Card Away Games for the next decade. Besides - whenever I hear the name "Jose Soler," bile rises in my throat because - dammit, we should already have him! We could have signed him five years ago, when he slipped out of Cuba as a 19-year-old prospect. All of baseball figured we would. We had the money. We had the prestige. Of course, it was a time before we realized the vapid, money-grubbing emptiness of Hal Steinbrenner's ownership.
Soler was the first Yoan Mocada - that is, a no-brainer Yankee signing, which the Yankees - having no brain - failed to consummate. Hal hid in the cellar until the Cubs signed Soler to a nine-year deal. Then the dutiful YES team launched a non-stop loop of praise for the owner's keen frugality. Today, many Yankee fans even play that game - weighing players by contracts rather than wins - because for some ridiculous reason, they want a billionaire family to bank even more money. But in the period since the Yankees refused to invest in Soler, they doled out lavishly for the likes of Chase Headley, Brian Roberts, Stephen Drew, et al - paying players for what they did in the past, rather than what they could do as Yankees. Blugh.
Anyway, yesterday Yulieski Guorriel - a 32-year-old 3B, generally considered the best player coming out of Cuba - was declared an MLB free agent. He has publicly discussed his dream of playing for the Yankees. Moreover, Guorriel has a 22-year-old brother Lourdes, who plays 2B, with a bright future. There is talk of a package deal, both signing with the same team.
Insert sigh here.
Once upon a time, any international free agent who voiced his desire to be a Yankee was sure to be a signing. Now, it's just a sign that the Yankees are owned by a cheap, spiritless, pants-shitting putz. I fully expect to watch Hal hide under the bed and make no sound until the Cuban brothers sign with some franchise that has a plan. Meanwhile, I can detect the distant smell of a Wild Card Away Game. Excuse me, while I hold my nose.
I remember the last time www signed a third baseman from Cuba......
ReplyDeleteI REMEMBER WHEN WE SIGNED GODZILLA, AND I WAS SAYING TO MYSELF, "ARE THEY KIDDING ME?"..... I ALSO REMEMBER HOW QUICKLY IT SEEMED HE CAME ON TO THE TEAM....GEORGE WANTED IT, AND MADE IT HAPPEN...QUICKLY! .....HAL RUNS AND HIDES AND NOTHING HAPPENS EXCEPT THE CASHMAN CLUNKERS HE GIVES HIM FREEDOM TO DO...... I CAN'T STAND THIS SHIT!
ReplyDeleteSoler, is a . 256 MLB hitter so far and has some trouble with right handed pitchers and a history for temper / attitude problems. Trading one of the Big three , hopefully garage door man , for a top prospect plus is a good idea. But I agree Soler does not seem like a good fit. So far the one thing Cashman has done right is refuse to trade the top prospects in the Yankee farm system. Hopefully he will continue to do that. Trying to add life into this mediocre team with a player or two who is on the down side of their career is not a good move.
ReplyDeleteWhen you look at the Yankees payroll and amount they have spent on international players they are still at , or close to , the top of the list. It is not so much as not spending money , as it is not spending their money wisely and falling so far to develop the talent they have.
What would Hal's bed look like?
ReplyDelete
ReplyDeleteI really want the world to know about this great man who brought back happiness into my life again after my husband left me and the kids 3 years ago for another women online when i contacted Dr Believe he cast a love spell for me within 48 hours my ex husband start calling me and begging for forgiveness for everything that have happened between us. I was so happy to have my family back together with love again here is the email of Dr Believe via believelovespelltemple@gmail.com a man with the great powers you can also call him or add him on Whats-app: +2348156148821
God bless you
I am very grateful for your help in my marriage.