Making The Call: Yankees/Mets Get Ready To Spend

Friday marks the start of the holiday shopping season for baseball GM’s and expect both Brian Cashman and Omar Minaya to be busy. Cashman will begin the free agent period by driving a Brinks truck to CC Sabathia’s house in hopes of getting him to sign on the dotted line. It’s a good gamble for the Yankees as the thing they desperately need more than anything else is a top starter and Sabthia certainly fills that description.

What the Yankees need to avoid doing is overpaying for any of the other starters out there. A.J. Burnett has been injury-prone throughout his career and will still probably get a huge deal. Derek Lowe has enjoyed pitching in the NL the past few years and may have a rough transition back to the AL and Ben Sheets makes Burnett look like a picture of health.

The Mets have an even trickier path to navigate. While they will surely say goodbye to Pedro Martinez, they should be careful how much aggressively they pursue the inconsistent Oliver Perez. Signing K-Rod would certainly go a long way to healing the bullpen, but considering he may cost $15 million a year that money would be better spent pursuing multiple lower-tier relievers.

There is also the Manny question. Omar has denied interest, but signing Ramirez would fill the hole in left and make the Mets’ lineup even more potent. Hopefully, Omar can undo the mistake his made of signing Luis Castillo last year and sign Orlando Hudson, but it is hard to see what team would be interested in taking Castillo off the Mets’ hands.

Photo of CC Sabathia by the AP

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By Peter Trinkle in News on November 9, 2008 3:27 PM

Comments [rss]

r1b2

Everyone loves Pedro, but it will be good to say goodbye. You have to pass on Manny; 2 good years will be followed by a chorus of boos in Citi Field. Who's gonna close for the Mets?

Mikefrombklyn

Mr Mel I agree with you.

LilEnosBurdette

No way will Omar pick up Manny. Besides, I don't think anyone in the clubhouse want him either. I don't know if CC wants the Yankmees. He's stated repeatedly he wants to hit.

Kevin Walsh

>>>Omar has denied interest, but signing Ramirez would fill the hole in left and make the Mets’ lineup even more potent.

Manny will ask for 7-10 years, $200M minimum, and the moon thrown in. He's, what, 36? He won't be at peak for most of the deal. Pass, or it's a Pedro like deal in which you're paying for a couple of good years and several so-so years.

www.forgotten-ny.com

jaycjay

"What the Yankees need to avoid doing is overpaying for any of the other starters out there."

Why? People say that all the time, but the fact is that the Yankees have all the money they need and more. They can afford to pay Burnett or Lowe or anyone else whatever's needed to reel them in.

It'd make sense to write something like that if you're reporting on most other teams, but not the Yankees. Most teams, for example, if they'd been saddled with a Carl Pavano sitation would have been essentially out of the major free agent market for a few seasons. For the Yankees it made no difference; neither would signing Burnett or Lowe to a huge deal.

Mr Mel

What ever the Mets do will be wrong. They constantly chase after superstars and get ripped off. Their two best players, Reyes and Wright were home grown and produce more than those multi million dollar stars. Reyes and Wright got the money after they proved themselves. The others get the money on the way down. They can get 260 hitters for a lot less money.