Monday, October 28, 2019

Gerrit Cole must be the Yankees' target

Within every mega-deal bestowed upon a pitcher lurks one dirty little secret: 

Eventually, the signing team will regret this. 

They all do. At some point, Chris Sale reverts from Koufax to coleslaw, and Tim Lincecum becomes Tim Horton. (Wait... that wouldn't be so bad; at least we'd have the Breakfast Egg & Bacon!)  

Signing Gerrit Cole will require a 10-year monster deal - (he turned 29 last month) - that will surely turn into a pumpkin sometime around 2025. If we're still sentient by then, we at this blog will be whining to the juju gods about the $35 million-per-year millstone. But here's another dirty little secret: Whomever signs Cole will eventually trade him to the Yankees anyway, once his ERA soars north of Edwar Ramirez. Eventually, we'll end up holding the bag. Don't we always?

On that note, I say, let's shoot the moon now, and restore the Yankees as baseball's glamour - and most hated - franchise. Let's do this now, before Houston or Boston steals our limelight for another decade, if not this entire generation. 

Just as Hal Steinbrenner's dad once shelled out for Catfish Hunter - a transformational acquisition that ended our 12-year, Vietnam-to-Watergate barf - it's time for the Yankees to exercise their one great advantage over the opposition: Their money. And here's the dirtiest little secret of all: They can do this without running their payroll into the clouds. 

First, they'll save $8 million from the retirement of CC Sabathia.  

Secondly, they can give Didi Gregorius a gold watch and let him walk. Gleyber Torres can play SS, with Miguel Andujar returning at 3B, Gio Urshela or DJ LeMahieu at 2B, and Luke Voit, Greg Bird and Mike Ford duking it out at 1B. They have a fielding SS wizard in the minors named Kyle Holder. Yes, everyone loves Didi, but letting him go will save $12 million.

As much as it hurts, let Brett Gardner secure a two-year, pre-retirement deal with another team. This will be his final big paycheck. Even with Aaron Hicks out through July - (so, what else is new?) - the Yanks have plenty of outfielders, and, yes, Clint Frazier deserves a shot. That's another $10 million in savings.

Finally, if Aroldis Chapman opts out of his Yankee contract - as I suspect we all secretly hope - that's another $17 million.

That's possibly $47 million - free and clear - to spend this winter, and while these are cocktail napkin figures, even if El Chapo and Gardy stay, it's obvious that the Yankees can outbid anybody in a test of will. Of course, maybe it won't matter. Maybe Cole wants to move to his (rapidly burning) California roots, or stick with the (rancid wife-beating) Astros. But there is no excuse for the Yankees to poor-mouth. 

The Yankees will enter 2020 with an intriguing mix of young pitchers. In most farm system ratings - (as ridiculous as they are) - the bulk of their top prospects are pitchers. The current MLB.com Yankee Top 30 list includes 16 pitchers, including six - Deivi Garcia, Clarke Schmidt, Albert Abreu, Nick Nelson, Trevor Stephan and Michael King - who should be ready this year. Domingo German and Jonathan Loiasiga could make the rotation, and Luis Severino will turn 26 this winter. This could be a dynamic staff. All that's missing is an ace.

Last year, the Yankees sat on their hands throughout the Bryce Harper and Manny Machado auctions. Let's give them credit: It turned out to be the right move. But there comes a time when the team needs to utilize its financial strength. That time is coming. We need Gerrit Cole.

18 comments:

Vampifella said...

If they sign Cole to ten years, he better not clunk after the first year like Catfish Hunter. Luckily it was only a 5 year contract but he was basically worthless by the end of it. I still feel the Yanks are simply too cheap to sign him as he's not a mid-30s former hitting star, which they seem to have such a hard-on for.

The Osuna-Gate thing could be the only thing keeping Chapman from opting out as the press will be all over him as well and they'll condemn any team considering to sign him. It wouldn't surprise me though if he still does opt out but I don't think he'll get a huge payday either. It'll be just like the Yanks to resign him to a very regrettable new longer contract at about what he's getting now per year. I say let him go, he blew the Playoffs big time and he's not at all lovable like Mo. I'm surprised the fans didn't burn his effigy in front of Yankee Stadium last week for his blunder. I hated him from day one, more so now.

They'll surely resign Gardner for a pair of years now. No doubt about it after a 4 War season. They'll need another outfielder anyway and he'll probably be cheaper with a shorter contract than them signing whoever else is out there this year. I just don't see Frazier being an option for 2020 (or ever). I'm still hoping Mookie for 2021 though. We do love Sux castoffs and that would be big like getting Clemens and Boggs in the 90s. And wouldn't be such an obvious mistake like getting Stanton or resigning Hicks or getting Harper/Manny either.

Sadly the Yanks need at least 3 starting pitchers now, but then again so does just about every other team as well. It just won't happen for us nor anyone else as supply greatly outreaches demand. At best we'll probably get another Happ or Grey type and rinse, wash repeat as last year and he year prior with just good enough to be in the playoffs players but not good enough to beat the best. And the Yanks seem totally fine with that, as they are maximizing their profits.

Ceeja said...

Long term deals for pitchers make me queasy. But at least offer 6 years $35 million. If someone wants to pay more let them have him.

As for Catfish,I have found memories of him beating the Dodgers to close out the 1978 series. He was a mensch. Loved that signing

Unknown said...

If my Yankees want to win is so easy... sing COLE....

TheWinWarblist said...

Gnats on toast ...

Anonymous said...

WHAT DID CORBIN GET 6 YEARS $140 MILLION?

THEN AT MINIMUM, COLE IS GOING TO COMMAND 7 YEARS AND $200 MILLION IMO.

SAVE MONEY ON CC, GARDY, AND CHAPMAN (THAT'S ROUGHLY $33 MILLION FOR 1 SEASON ALONE).

DO THE DEAL.

IF HAL AND COOP CAN'T STAND THE PRICE TAG FOR COLE, THEN, SLIGHTLY CHEAPER OPTIONS WILL BE BUMGARNER, AND STRASBURG.

EITHER WAY, ONE OF THESE 3 MUST BE A YANKEE IN 2020 OR WE ALL BOYCOTT.

13bit said...

"Gnats on toast" made my day, Winnie.

Also, STOP SPENDING THE MONEY ON LUGNUT OUTFIELDERS AND DH'S.

If we're going to spend stupid money - as we must - put it into pitchers. Best bang for the buck. Didi? Can you hear me, Didi? There's an old Woody Guthrie song that goes "SO LONG, IT'S BEEN NICE TO KNOW YOU...SO LONG, IT'S BEEN NICE TO KNOW YOU..."

WIELD THE HATCHET MERCILESSLY. CUT THE DROSS. CUT THE FAT. CUT THE GRISTLE. Keep the young and the hungry, the speedy and swift. Cut the lame and halt. GARDY, CAN YOU HEAR ME? "Start by admitting from cradle to tomb, it isn't that long a stay...." Goodbye Gardy! Goodbye! Take your victory fucking lap in Cleveland, home of lost causes. Stanton? We have a serious life insurance policy on you. Your family will never go hungry. Perhaps you'd like to go hang gliding with us in the Grand Canyon? You'll be safe...

I have had it with these fuckers. Ellsbury is worth the insurance money, I get it, but my god. What the fuck are we doing with our spending? And Cashman evades all responsibility. If we win, it will be IN SPITE OF CRYIN' BRIAN.

EAT SHIT AND DIE, HOUSTON.

Okay, back to work.

JM said...

God, how can MLB survive such shitty umpiring?

Obviously, Washington can't.

Honey Barnes said...

What a novel idea....Good pitching beats good hitting. How about that.

Anonymous said...

Re: Cole "Lock him up!" with a seven year contract.

Doug K.

Leinstery said...

https://nypost.com/2019/10/28/yankees-parting-ways-with-pitching-coach-larry-rothschild/

FREE AT LAST! FREE AT LAST! THANK GOD ALMIGHTY WE ARE FREE AT LAST!

Carl J. Weitz said...

YESSSSSSSSSSSS! Rothschild fired!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Carl J. Weitz said...

THe Yankees will not sign Cole-not a chance.

Anonymous said...


The fires in California are starting to get to me.

Two towns where I run errands had flare ups yesterday and the image of both sides of the road by the Carquinez Bridge was truly disturbing.

The air is smoke filled, and even though I've yet to have to brush ash off my car like some of my friends in LA are doing, it is oppressive.

I don't particularly feel in danger but I finally made a bug out bag.

The weird thing about doing that is that you have to look at all of your stuff and decide what you would be wiling to lose.

The general rule is, if you can replace it (even if it's valuable) then it doesn't make the cut. So my father's WW2 dog tags beats out my Autographed Jim Bouton ball. That kind of stuff.

Why am I writing this? Because it takes me to my...

Happy Yankee Thought #7 (Collect Em All)

There were a number of Yankee based decisions. What that means is, I have enjoyed following the team so much over the years that I've acquired a number of items that have value (beyond the dollar).

That's pretty cool.

In case you are curious, the only one that made the bag was my seat box number from the last game at old per-renovation Yankee Stadium. It is small, irreplaceable, and I still remember how it felt to pop it off the rail and put it in my pocket as a good bye to the place.

It seemed appropriate.

Doug K.

Carl J. Weitz said...

Doug...please call Stanton who lives in your area and Ellsbury not that far north in OR and tell them you will pay them for a meet-and-greet with the fans ending with an autograph session (I see quite a few in my town lately at a restaurant called the Chowder Pot down here on the shore. Recent athletes have been LT, Mike Richter, Tino and Wayne Chrebet). Once there, drug them and set your house on fire. You'll be doing the Yankees a big solid as well as their fans. You will also gain by using your insurance to buy a bigger and better house. And after the Yankees determine it was your house that caught on fire call Hal directly and mention you would like a front office job as you're excellent at "cleaning up other people's messes". Don't admit to anything just give him a wink when you meet and he will understand what you mean. It's a win-win for everyone!

13bit said...

Carl, that's a reasonable, sane and sound action plan. I like it. Let's all make it happen.

HoraceClarke66 said...

Vampifella, I agree with much of what you say, but you're wrong about the Catfish.

There was more than that extraordinary 1975, in which he went 23-14 (and could easily have gone 30-7, with proper support).

He had an excellent 1976, going 17-15, 3.53, with 21 complete games (!), and a win in the playoffs. And then, yes, in his comeback year of 1978 he rallied to go 12-6, help pull in the great comeback, and then, as Ceeja mentions, closed out the Dodgers in the 1978 World Series.

Where things went wrong—some—was on Opening Day, 1977, better known for Reggie's Stadium debut. I was in the stands that day, and Catfish looked unbeatable, pitched 7 innings of shutout ball—but got hit on the toe by a line drive off the bat of Von Joshua of all people, and had to leave the game.

The toe injury caused him to change his windup, and that screwed up his arm. Always those damned little things in baseball...

HoraceClarke66 said...

Oh, and as to Larry Rothschild leaving—

LET THE RIVER RUN!
LET ALL THE DREAMERS WAKE THE NATION!
COME, THE NEW JERUSALEM!

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