It's only been about 10 days, but in many ways it seems as if the Yanks have been in Hot Stove mode for months. Randy Johnson has undergone back surgery in California. The A-Rod trade rumors continue unabated, and Joe Torre lives to manage another day for the Yankees.
In the coming weeks and months, I'll use this space to analyze the Yank's winter moves, and rumors of moves. I'll break down the team with statistical analysis, and offer some thoughts for the 2007 season. Knowing the Yankees, there will be plenty to talk about this off-season.
Just from a personal standpoint, I fully expect A-Rod to be moved this winter, despite his no-trade clause. It would be best for him, and the team, if he resumed his All-Star career elsewhere.
Now that Lou Piniella is the manager of the Cubs, don't be surprised to see a creative 3-team trade proposed. The Cubs don't have much to offer the Yanks. 3rd baseman Armaris Ramirez is essentially a free-agent, so the Cubs can not deal him. And Carlos Zambrano is their only reliable pitcher, so I don't expect him to be traded.
Still, the major ingredients are in place for some kind of 3-way blockbuster. Lou wants A-Rod. And the Jeter/Torre factions have won out in the Bronx. That's the bottom line. Once Joe dropped A-Rod to eighth in the batting order in Game #4 against the Tigers, his fate was sealed. For the record, A-Rod finished the 2006 ALDS 1-for-14 with no extra-base hits. He is 4-for-41 (.098) with no RBI in his last 12 postseason games. Oouch.
A-Rod' salary is also not as prohibitive as most people think. The Yanks are only dealing with a $16 million per year obligation to Rodriguez, with the Rangers picking up the remaining $9 million per year. That doesn't change if A-Rod is traded. That all makes A-Rod a little easier to trade.
---------
On Tuesday, Cory Lidle's friend and family said their heart-felt farewells at his funeral in Covina, Calif.
Among the mourners were GM Brian Cashman, Manager Joe Torre, Captain Derek Jeter, Reggie Jackson, high school buddies Jason Giambi and Aaron Small, and his recent best friend on the team, Jaret Wright.
After the services Torre reminisced to reporters: "I go out to the mound and gave him the ball and I went out to the mound and took the ball away for the last time. We play a game and we think how important it is until you face something like this."
The Lidle tragedy certainly DOES put things into perspective. R.I.P. Cory Lidle.
E-Mail Story
Print Story
