Nostalgia vs. Common Sense
By Mike Silva ~ November 10th, 2009. Filed under: Rumor Mill.
One of the biggest surprises to me during the GM meetings is the belief the Yankees will attempt to keep Johnny Damon, Andy Pettitte, and Hideki Matsui versus focusing on Matt Holliday, Jason Bay, and John Lackey. To me that’s the wrong move because it is predicated on nostalgia of the past versus objectively analyzing what each can provide in 2010. Obviously there are tons of contradicting statements and rumors coming out of Chicago. Often it appears the media is being used to leverage bargaining position by putting out tidbits of news to the already baseball starved public.
As I said on Sunday’s show, the World Series exemplified the ultimate dilemma when it came to the trio. Damon, although productive in the postseason, broke down in Game 6 and you have to wonder how durable he can be next season. Matsui picked up his game July 1st and never looked back, but is 35 years old and unable to play the field. Flexibility with the DH position has long been talked about as a priority with the Yankees and Game 6 of the World Series shouldn’t change that. Finally there is Andy Pettitte. I have the most faith in Pettitte providing similar productivity next season and believe he is a valuable “big game pitcher”- something that doesn’t grow on trees. The issue with a Pettitte return is the development of Hughes and Chamberlain. How confident are you with the two kids holding the four and five spot in the rotation? At some point you need to throw them into the fire, but will the big league club have the stomach for that type of development? You got away with just three starters this season, but I am not sure the baseball gods will be as kind again. John Lackey makes so much more sense, but if you bring in Lackey and Pettitte what becomes of Chamberlain/Hughes? At some point you have to give each a full season to prove themselves on the mound.
Combined the three will cost at least $30 million dollars and essentially end any chance of one of the big three free agents playing in the Bronx. This is pure speculation right now. The Yankees are putting up a good poker face about their offseason spending intentions. Just like with Teixeira last year I can see Cashman and company playing it close to the vest and swooping in to sign Holliday, Lackey, or Bay in the eleventh hour.
