And speaking of Cashie, it occurred to me again, over the weekend, how deranged it was that he let the Metsies sign away two players from us—including a generational talent—while we didn't respond, even when we could have had Alonso for a song.
Good ol' Hal the pacifist.
But really, it's almost as if Cashie made the following trade over the off-season, when you look at the people he let go to the Mets, and the people he signed in their stead.
We got:
1B-Paul Goldschmidt, turns 38 in September.
2025: 8 HR, 32 RBI, 5 SB in as many attempts.
.284/.344/.428/.772.
OF-Cody Bellinger, about to turn 30 (the 13th).
2025: 13 HR, 47 RBI, 9 of 11 SB attempts.
.272/.330/.468/.799.
P-Max Fried, 31.
2025: 11-2, 2.27.
111 Ks, 24 BB, 90 hits in 119 innings.
Not bad. All quality players, and Fried may be on course for a Cy Young.
But the Mets got from us—or got to keep:
1B-Pete Alonso, 30.
2025: NL-leading 25 doubles; 20 HR, 73 RBI, 1 of 3 SB.
287/.380/.543/.923.
OF-Juan Soto, 26.
2025: NL-leading 72 walks; 21 HR, 51 RBI, 10 of 11 SB.
.263/.396/.508/.904.
P-Clay Holmes, 32.
2025: 8-4, 2.99.
76 Ks, 39 BB, 77 Hits in 93 1/3 innings.
So, not a complete wipeout. But clearly, I think, advantage Mets.
Fried has been great, of course. Bellinger is a very talented all-around player, who I've wanted the Yanks to get for a couple years now (If you'll recall, the sad-eyed clown preferred Verdugo.) Goldschmidt has been a welcome surprise—but slumping badly for a month now and, being nearly 38, clearly near the end.
Alonso is a much younger, much more productive first baseman, who we could have out there on virtually a trial basis. Soto is Soto. Imagine a middle of the order that is Judge/Soto/Alonso? Not bad. And it's not like we couldn't use Holmes, either as a starter or in long relief.
So what were the Yanks thinking? What is the real difference here?
It's money, of course. For this year, it breaks down like so:
Yankees:
Goldschmidt: $12.5 million
Bellinger: $25 million (an additional, $2.5 million paid by the Cubs)
Fried: $14.5 million
Total, 2025: $52 million
Mets:
Alonso: $30 million
Soto: $51.875 million
Holmes: $13 million
Total, 2025: $94.875 million
Total HAL savings, 2025: $42.875 million
Future commitments:
Yankees:
Goldschmidt: $0
Bellinger: $25 million (player option; additional $2.5 million paid by the Cubs)
Fried: $203.5 million (through 2032)
Total future commitments: $228.5 million
Mets:
Alonso: $24 million (player option for 2026)
Soto: $254.125 million (through 2029, after which Soto has an opt-out)
$459 million (through 2039, if Soto opts in, and why would he not?)
Holmes: $25 million (including $12 million player option for 2027)
Total future commitments: $762.125 million
Total HAL savings, through 2038: $533.25 million
ZOWIE! That's a total win—when it comes to HAL Bucks.
No wonder Hal is so loyal to that adorable, sad-eyed clown. And we're not even counting here the big, long-term contract Steve Cohen will feel obliged to throw at Pete Alonso, if he continues to play this well.
Why, Cashie may have saved HAL some $600-$700 million just with these transactions (and non-transactions). Geez Louise, wouldn't you be loyal to someone who saved you that much money? While still giving the fans an illusion that your team is a contender—so much so that it still leads the AL in attendance?
Sure, the Blue Jays have gained 10 games on the Yankees in about a month. So what? That's all about some made-up metric we call "standings," and just who will win "the World Series"—another, mostly imaginary prize.
When it comes to cold, hard Cash—go with Cash.
I have to disagree that this is about money exclusively (Even though it could easily be. ) I'd like to think it is about utilization of limited funds.
ReplyDeleteAnd they are limited. - Should they be? NO! But they are.
Before I explain why allow me one caveat, I do not like or trust Brain Cashman to do the things that he is now set up to do.
Let's start with the easiest one... Clay Holmes.
It doesn't matter that Holmes is doing a good job as a starter for only $13 million dollars. Much like it doesn't matter that Gleyber is an All-Star. They were done here. Reviled even.
Keeping Holmes in any capacity was not happening. Did Cashman replace Holmes adequately? No he did not. But go Holmes had to and he did.
So let's see what's left. Alonso is having a good year. He is an asset. But, two years @$54 million dollars vs. 12M for what should be an adequate year from Goldy and then Ben Rice as our 1B for the next 5 at cost is a better move.
ReplyDeleteThat said, how the hell did they not sign Freddie Freeman? That was the move. Not Alonzo.
That leaves Soto. $51 million dollars a year? For what, a decade? I know how good he is but nah. Bellinger is not the problem. You yourself said you've wanted him for a while and I agree.
ReplyDeleteWould it have been great to keep the modern equivalent of Ruth and Gehrig (if one of them couldn't field.)? Yeah. It would have been awesome.
But because of the budget (it's real) getting Soto would have meant no Fried and right now Fried is the better signing. Especially with Cole gone. Fried is the only pitcher we have where I'm not holding my breath the whole time he's on the mound.
And last... "Total HAL savings, through 2038: $533.25 million" Kind of, but it's probably more like he's going to have to put some of that back in.
Over 13 years... Want to say 3/4? because in 13 years the Yankees are going to need to replace quite a few people. Including Judge so that cash will come in handy.
Don't worry Hoss, I still think Hal sucks big time and is pretty close to a total idiot as a GM. If they fired him tomorrow it would be a day too late. But adding Alonso, while keeping Soto and the horrific Clay Holmes (as a Yankee) doesn't really work for me. Plus Jasson is starting to rake.
We need a shortstop, a third baseman, two more starters and an entire bullpen. Spend the money there.
Oh and FIRE BOONE that's ten games a year right there!
Cahie the arrogant Sad Eyed Clown. Don't forget, he brought in Kai Agawa and Joey Gallo.
ReplyDeleteI don’t understand why cashman has the job security of the pope. It’s long past time for a pair of fresh eyes and some strong hands to set this franchise on a better course.
ReplyDeleteThe Cashman All Stars
ReplyDeleteC Gary Sanchez
1B Travis Hafner
2B Stephen Drew
SS Anthony Volpe
3B Chase Headley
OF Clint Frazier
OF Jacoby Ellsbury
OF Joey Gallo
RHP Carl Pavano
LHP Kei Igawa
RP Devon Williams
Hoss, like Doug, I'm going to disagree with you. Not the part that Hal cares more about saving money than winning championships, or that Hal is a sad clown (he shouldn't be sad at all, given his salary and blackmail income). But your overall assessment about who gained an advantage. I don't think the Mets won. However, if they did, it wasn't a "clear" advantage. As to Cohen feeling pressure to sign Alonso to a long-term, expensive contract, I disagree about this as well. Pete had a good season last year, but they decided to lowball him. Embarrass him, really, with a very late take-it-or-leave-it contract. There's no reason to believe that this will change in two years when he is older. Sure, he may remain a Met, but on a very favorable team deal.
ReplyDeleteCashman is a sad clown*
ReplyDeleteDoug and Carl J. Weitz, I hear ya.
ReplyDeleteYes, Freddie Freeman WAS the move. Instead, we got the badly damaged, declining Rizzo. And now Goldschmidt, instead of Alonso in a trial year.
Holmes and Gleyber couldn't make it here? They sure couldn't. So why not trade both for SOMETHING, instead of letting them both walk? No explanation.
It does on and on.
No Soto for that much money? I understand. So...why not keep Michael King? And try putting together a Drew Thorpe deal for Dylan Cease, the way the Padres did? Nah—and don't expect any stinking explanation, either!
Doug K., you want a third baseman? Why not sign Alex Bregman? Nah, no could do. Jasson is starting to rake? Great! Imagine him in an OF with Soto and Judge?
Always and forever, there is never a commitment to ONE GOOD THING.
ReplyDeleteGo with youth, pitching, and deal away those vets who aren't making it? Nope Nothing for Gleyber, nothing for Holmes, etc.
Go with talented free agents, and take the big gamble? Machado, Seager, Realmuto, Harper, Hader, Soto? Nope.
It is ALWAYS Mr. In-between. ALWAYS, Mr. Do-just-enough-to-contend. While...amazingly enough...making sure to never quite be good enough to win it all.
I'm sick to death with it. Stop pretending to be a small-market team. Go all out to win, or give the taxpayers of New York back the billions in public subsidies you now owe us, you fuckhead Steinbrenners. Sign big, or can this miserable excuse for a a GM and bring in a real baseball man.
It's the constant lying, the constant pretense, that drive me crazy.
Thank you, ladies and gentlemen.
I yam with all you sweet potatoes !
DeleteI don't know if you all will read this, but I just took the time to peruse the WashPost article on the Nationals -- who fired their manager and GM.
ReplyDeleteKinda what most of us here feel should happen in The Bronx.
BUT.......and it's a big butt.....here's the $ quote (anonymous) from the Post article, about the new GM:
“He’s going to be integrating our [analytics] into our day-to-day work stream a lot more,” a person familiar with the matter said Monday. “He’s going to be pushing for us to kind of catch up on the tech side. I think that we’ve done the work, the diligence to know what is out there, what we would like to do, and now it’s just kind of operationalizing it from there.”
To which I, as a Nationals fan from before their creation, respond: "Go operationalize yourself."
Hoss
ReplyDelete1) "Holmes and Gleyber couldn't make it here? They sure couldn't. So why not trade both for SOMETHING, instead of letting them both walk? No explanation."
THIS x 100. Although I'm pretty sure they tried on Gleyber. Don't know what they were asking but yes, if they knew they wouldn't be back, get something!
2) "Always and forever, there is never a commitment to ONE GOOD THING." and "It is ALWAYS Mr. In-between. ALWAYS, Mr. Do-just-enough-to-contend. While...amazingly enough...making sure to never quite be good enough to win it all."
This is not said often enough. The Yankees can never decide between a swish and a shot off the backboard and always clang it off the back of the rim.
3) Bregman. I don't know. I guess the real question, aside from why can't the Yankees draft/train a decent 3B in the ENTIRE course of Cashman's tenure (A mind blowing concept!) is why are there so few good ones out there?
MLB has access to pretty much ALL the players in the world. Even the ones from Japan are starting to come over more frequently as well so how come there aren't 32 players IN THE WORLD that can handle 3B well? Weird right?