As usual, Brian Cashman is working overtime heading into next week's Winter Meetings in Las Vegas. Cashman jetted across the country, supposedly headed to L.A. for a sit down with
Satan Scott Boras (George King got that one wrong). According to
Tyler Kepner, however, Cashman was actually in Washington, getting some face time with both Mark Teixeira and
Lucifer Boras.
The Yanks have interest in a bevy of Boras clients, including Teixeira, Manny, Derek Lowe and Oliver Perez. The rumors go on to state that Cashman will meet with with CC Sabathia before heading to Vegas some time on Sunday. The Yanks would probably love to get CC locked down before they show their faces in Vegas. Having the biggest piece of the offseason puzzle in place would take the stink of desperation off them and give them back a little bit of leverage when negotiating with other free agents and teams.
One more bit of Yankee Hot Stove.
Buster Olney thinks the Yanks will start with Chad Billingsley or Clayton Kershaw and work their way down to Matt Kemp as the return for Robinson Cano in a deal with the Dodgers. I'm not sure they'd be able to land any of the three for him, but each seems like a good deal to me. Kershaw the Dodgers' left-handed version of Joba, Billingsley is coming off a very strong third season. His 201 Ks in 200.7 innings is very impressive. Kemp and Cano are very similar players, although Kemp seems to have developed some patience at the plate (46 walks in 2008, only 16 in 2007). Cano has yet to make progress in that area. Trading Cano would obviously put Orlando Hudson directly in the Yankees' crosshairs.
At some point, someone in the Yankees organization is going to realize they don't have a number 3 hitter on their roster. When they do, I'd love it if they could address the issue.
Huge hat tip to
MLB Trade Rumors. If you aren't checking that site several times a day over the next week you must hate baseball.
There are no red states. There are no blue states. There are only states the color of jelly beans.
Kershaw is left handed a long time ace prospect with little to on injury history to concern people and he's in shape and he's 20 years old.
Joba Chamberlain is a pudgy 23 year old right hander with problems staying healthy who never really projected as an ace by scouts as much as exists more on hype than performance
Kershaw is more comparable to a cole hamels than a joba chamberlain - and as a phils fan i'd probably take kershaw over hamels :)
Kershaw's numbers also don't even come close to Joba's even though he pitched in probably the worst hitting division in the league since the 20s and Joba pitched in the A.L. East.
Kershaw's career: 107 IP, 100 Ks, 52 walks, 4.26 ERA, 1.495 WHIP
Joba's career: 124 IP, 152 Ks, 45 walks, 2.17 ERA, 1.158 WHIP
Kershaw may turn out to be great, but I don't think you can really say he's a better prospect than Joba right now. He may never be as effective as Joba's been so far.
That being said, there's no way the Dodgers trade him for Cano.
Have the Yankees expressed any interest in Derrick Lowe? Please tell me yes... the Yanks can afford to take a chance on a 30 something pitcher, the Phils can not. I'm hoping the Yanks will save the Phils from another Adam Eaton/Freddie Garcia/Tom Gordon.
Brian, on a personal note, a plea ...
This is the first and best site for Eagles/Yankees coverage! Where else can I find an Eagles/Yankees fan that covers both towns/teams?! Please don't give up your great Yankees and Eagles coverage!!!
PS... If you need a guest commentator from time to time on the Eagles, let me know.
And Joba was in his second season in the majors and kershaw was still a rookie.
I should have known better, no one over values their young guys more than the yankees, and their fans.
Hence why Santana pitches for the Mets and the yanks missed the playoffs...
If I'm overvaluing Joba so did every single prospect ranking going into last season. The guy is a stud, a stud who's done it against real hitters.
How'd the Mets do with Santana?