Sunday, January 4, 2009

Sign or Get Off the Pot

Let me start by saying I love Andy Pettitte. I think that by him coming back we would have the one thing we are currently missing form our rotation - someone who has won (and won big) as a Yankee before. Don't underestimate the importance of Pettitte's ability to play the 'been there...won that' card.

I also have developed a serious man-crush on Phil Hughes. I am expecting that by the 3rd year of CC and AJ's new contract they will both be slotted in behind Phil Phranchize on the depth chart.

That being said, we have to resolve our last rotation spot. Our offer to Andy has been gathering dust for a couple of months now and I think it's time to shake things up a bit.

Kernan of the Post suggests Oliver Perez - nah. If we wanted a young, immensely frustrating kid with huge potential we could have signed Daniel Cabrera for a relative bucket of balls.

No; there is only one direction to move in - Ben Sheets.

Take the same offer made to Andy, add a team option for 2010 and put it on the table as well to Sheets; the first to sign wins.

If we land Sheets we get a guy who has the 'stuff' and ability to be an ace. A guy who is every bit as good as the Boston god (he's a god according to the Gammonites, anyway) Josh Becket.

If it forces Andy to sign then we have the guy we wanted to begin with.

2 comments:

Unknown said...

"I am expecting that by the 3rd year of CC and AJ's new contract they will both be slotted in behind Phil Phranchize on the depth chart."

What about WANG?? Phil Franchise hasn't showed that he can touch Wang. Phil Franchise needs to be changed to Phil Fantasy until he proves he can pitch in the big leagues!

YankeeGM said...

You are completely right - Phil has pretty much shown only promise thus far and not much result. The few results he has shown, however (playoffs vs Cleveland, Texas almost no-no), lead me to believe that he will be a top of the rotation starter very soon.

As for Wang, I am both a believer and supporter. He is a very good pitcher, but not a 'shut-down ace' like CC is, and like AJ, Joba and Phil can be.

If I am correct in my assessment of Phil, if Joba continues to develop on his current path, if AJ really did experience growth in the shadow of Halliday and is not simply a walk-year performer (a lot of 'ifs', I know!), then Wang will be the best #5 starter in baseball history!

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