I’m afraid of an overpay to make up for missing out on Cliff Lee.

Irrelevant, maybe, but I noticed in the last thread that rilkefan has an “annual” dinner/movie date with his wife? Too much time spent commenting on rlyw, I guess.

Also, I wish Ubaldo’s control were a little better. It can really make a difference. It’s made Pittsburgh’s staff, which is transparently mediocre, pretty creditable, since Correia and Karstens don’t walk anyone. Not asking for Halldady control but if Ubaldo was more in Jurrjen’s realm, he’d be having a much better season on that alone.

Yeah, his walk rate is a concern for me.  CAIRO says he’d project around a 3.77 ERA/3.81 FIP as a Yankee, which would be worth about 4.5 WAR over 200 innings.  Unfortunately, that includes a walk rate of around 3.6 batters per nine innings and with his strikeout rate dropping from 8.2 batters per nine to 7.5. 

And I really wonder if he’s completely healthy since he’s lost 3mph on his fastball.

Has his FB velocity been trending upwards since the beginning of the year?

As much as I’m tempted to cry out “Prospect Lovers !” I fear if I actually do it, fgas will jump up on the table, come running down it and drop kick me in the chest. So I’ll refrain.

However, at the risk of digging up the winter imponderable regarding Montero, it still seems to me that keeping him in the minors and sticking with Cervelli as the BUC is indicative that they are convinced he remains far away from being able to catch in the ML.

From that perspective, it makes sense to include him in any deal being discussed such as Ubaldo, where you might be able to keep one of the B’s at his expense.

So I ask, which prospect do we love better: either B, or Jesus ? For that matter, where does Nova fit in that little value puzzle ?

I like Jimenez and I think the Yankees should strongly consider a trade for him. But he’s not worth the Yankees 3 best prospects who also happen to be 3 of the best prospects in the game (I believe the lowest rated is Betances at 35) and an MLB ready starter with above average stuff.

fgas will jump up on the table, come running down it and drop kick me in the chest. So I’ll refrain.

FIRESTORM!

Betances is my favorite. Great K rate and super low hit rate = dominant pitcher. I think the control is going to end up it the 3-4/9 range which is totally acceptable if you K 1 per inning.

The pitcher would have to be at least Kershaw for the deal to be remotely plausible. Right now it looks like the Rockies are just making jokes.

[5] It’s not Montero. It’s the ask for 3 others that makes them seem like Nigerian scamming organ harvesters.

Has his FB velocity been trending upwards since the beginning of the year?

Not really.  Avg four-seam fastball velocity by start:

4/1: 93.4
4/19: 93.5
4/24: 94.9
5/1: 93.9
5/6: 94.6
5/12: 93.9
5/17: 94.0
5/22: 93.8
5/27: 93.5
6/1: 94.0
6/7: 94.7
6/12: 93.3
6/18: 93.8
6/24: 93.7
6/29: 93.7
7/4: 95.1
7/9: 94.4
7/14: 93.8

Betances is my favorite. Great K rate and super low hit rate = dominant pitcher. I think the control is going to end up it the 3-4/9 range which is totally acceptable if you K 1 per inning.

Seems to me that you just described Ubaldo Jimenez.  If Betances does what Jimenez has done in the majors, I think most of us would have to be happy with it, wouldn’t we?

-Why did they change Hughes’s curveball grip in the first place?
-I remember someone (fgas?) saying they hoped Cashman would look into trading for Ubaldo, back in 2009.

[9] Yes, but we wouldn’t be trading 3 top prospect + and spending X million a year + extension for that.

[8] I would strongly consider trading Bs + Montero and Nova for Kershaw.

[10] I think he changed it after speaking with Moose. Possibly to try to find a pitch that was less stressful on his hammy than his old curve.

[9] You mean compile a 16.3 WAR in his first three full seasons in the majors? I think you’d be happy with that from any pitching prospect, even Strasburg.

Betances is 23 and walking 4.8 per 9 in AA. Banuelos’ stuff has taken a step back. They may be ranked as the X best prospects in the minors now, but that’s more a reflection of the current state of prospects, IMO and I expect both guys to be ranked much lower once the off-season lists come in barring miraculous season turnarounds. I wouldn’t make that 4 for 1 deal, but I think there is some overvaluing going on. Especially considering Ubaldo’s contract. He may have lost 2-3 MPH on his fastball but given where he started all that means is that he goes from an ace signed to a ridiculous contract to a 1/2 signed to an extremely good contract.

Also, in these BOS/TB games, do we root for the Sox, since our only hope is the Wild Card?

[15] I root for both to lose.

Yes, but we wouldn’t be trading 3 top prospect + and spending X million a year + extension for that.

He has a really cheap contract for at least 2 more years after this one, maybe 3.

I would strongly consider trading Bs + Montero and Nova for Kershaw.

From ‘09 to today Kershaw has 513 IP of 132 ERA+. From ‘09 to today Ubaldo has 550 IP of 140 ERA+. From ‘10 to today Kerhaw has 342 IP of 127 ERA+. From ‘10 to today Ubaldo has 332 IP of 142 ERA+. If you look at this year alone, Kershaw has been better, yes, but there’s more to it than that. I think the 4 for 1 is crazy, but if you’re willing to do it for Kershaw…you have to at least consider it for Ubaldo.

I’d be happy with that from Betances, but from looking at his raw stuff, he has a chance to be *better* than that. Not a direct comparison of minor league numbers, OK, yes it is:
Jimenez - 655 IP 1.389 WHIP 8.0 h/9 0.7 HR/9 4.5 BB/9 8.8 K/9 1.97 K:BB
Betances- 375 IP 1.247 WHIP 7.0 h/9 0.5 HR/9 4.2 BB/9 10.4 K/9 2.49 K:BB

Mostly due to injury, Jimenez moved a bit quicker than Dellin has, but Betances while still considered a “project” is grossly better in every single category (not corrected for league and park).

And Banuelos, growing pains and blister problems aside, is still a remarkably talented young lefty.

Montero has always been a tough prospect to heap hope onto because it’s obvious to everyone not officially associated with the Yankees that he won’t be a catcher and the Yankees already have a 1B and DH locked up for the medium term.  But the Yankees suck at developing pitching. So…  Glad I’m not paid millions of dollars to make these decisions.

I’m usually a “win now” kind of guy, but no way would I want the Yankees to part with that package of prospects for Ubaldo.  I’m not sure I’d even pay that for Felix Hernandez. 

“CAIRO says he’d project around a 3.77 ERA/3.81 FIP as a Yankee . . . .”  Interestingly, the Yankees’ team ERAFIP this year is 3.53/3.70.  OK, that may be a misleading comparison; but even so, I don’t sense that adding Ubaldo would make them dramatically better in the near term, which sort of defeats the appeal of this move from the “win now” perspective.  Also, as far as Ubaldo’s contract is concerned, I generally don’t like to see the Yankees trading talent for payroll relief.  I’d rather see them leverage their financial might to acquire talent that other teams can’t afford to keep.

if he hadn’t lost 3 mph from his average fastball velocity since last year.

That sounds like the Yankees’ FO type.

Also, I’m gunshy of NL “aces”.

BTW Arodys Viscaino has a 53:14 K:BB ratio in 46 IP in AA as the youngest starter in the league.

Oh Javy, how I miss thee.

[17] And…Kershaw is 23. I’ll refrain from doing the “and…” thing again. But his K rate is better and his hit rate is lower.

I’d definitely take the next 5 years of Kershaw over the next 5 years of Jimenez. Like, I’d have to think about it for about 3 milliseconds.

[10] In 2009, I would have definitely traded four players for Jiminez.  Those players would have been Hughes, Joba, Melky, and Mark Melancon.

OK, that may be a misleading comparison; but even so, I don’t sense that adding Ubaldo would make them dramatically better in the near term, which sort of defeats the appeal of this move from the “win now” perspective.

I’d have to think if the Yankees are in a postseason series that having Jimenez starting two games instead of one of A.J. Burnett, Bartolo Colon, Freddy Garcia, Phil Hughes and/or Ivan Nova will make them a better bet to advance.

The Yankees may have a 3.53/3.70 ERA/FIP right now, but it’s probably a safe assumption that some of the contributors to that won’t pitch as well going forward.

He hasn’t really been dominant this year with an era over 4 (has he been hit unlucky ) and from SGs projection I’d be hesitant to give away more then 1 of the 4 plus lesser.  If Cliff Lee would have netted Montero why should Jimnez net so much more?

The only thing I can think of that’s remotely in favor of the older, less talented Jimenez is that he keeps the ball on the ground a little better. And his BABIP is percentage points higher than Kershaw’s.

I’d be happy with that from Betances, but from looking at his raw stuff, he has a chance to be *better* than that.

Diminished Ubaldo has better stuff than Dellin. Pre ‘11 Ubaldo has better stuff than probably any non-Verlander, Felix, Strasburg righty.

Not a direct comparison of minor league numbers, OK, yes it is:
Jimenez - 655 IP 1.389 WHIP 8.0 h/9 0.7 HR/9 4.5 BB/9 8.8 K/9 1.97 K:BB
Betances- 375 IP 1.247 WHIP 7.0 h/9 0.5 HR/9 4.2 BB/9 10.4 K/9 2.49 K:BB

Mostly due to injury, Jimenez moved a bit quicker than Dellin has, but Betances while still considered a “project” is grossly better in every single category (not corrected for league and park).

Ubaldo is almost exactly 4 years older than Dellin and 4 years ago he was in the midst of posting a 112 ERA+ in 82 innings of big league work. From a quick glance, Ubaldo also played in tougher parks/leagues for hitters every step of the way to the majors. I think this gap is a large one though pitcher age does not seem to matter as much.

And Banuelos, growing pains and blister problems aside, is still a remarkably talented young lefty.

Yes, but is he a lefty throwing 93-96, ‘10, or a lefty throwing 90-92, ‘09 and ‘11? That’s going to make a difference in the valuation.

[17] Jimenez is 27 and already has a spotty track record (health wise, at least), while Kershaw is 23 and will probably continue to improve for a few years before settling into his peak as one of the top pitchers in baseball. That means much more to me than performance over the last three years, and tilts the scale heavily towards Kershaw going forward. Not that he’s available, but if the Dodgers would accept the reported 4-for-1 offer, I’d jump on it. I would also seriously consider the same deal for Felix. Jimenez is not nearly in the same class as those two. This isn’t to say that I wouldn’t trade for him, but the current price is far too high.

If Cliff Lee would have netted Montero why should Jimnez net so much more?

Ubaldo could fetch more because a.) he’s younger b.) he’s signed at an outstanding price.

Again, I think the 4 for 1 is too much, but I also think we’re simultaneously overrating our prospects and underrating Ubaldo.

[24] but it’s probably a safe assumption that some of the contributors to that won’t pitch as well going forward.
But possibly some will be better.  You said yourself that Hughes was due for a correction.  /snark

I think Colon still has it in him, Garcia is a wily vet, and granted Hughes can come around.  CC is in straight-up honey badger mode and AJ is a coin flip.

On the other side, the bullpen while good can do nothing but get better (even just by subtraction).  Soriano, despite the absurdness of the contract, has to be a better pitcher than Sergio Mitre.

In 2009, I would have definitely traded four players for Jiminez. 

There’s a Mr. Kennedy that would like to have a word

[29] Probably, but he’s an NL ace.

Javy Vazquez was a 26 year old coming off of a four year run where he totaled nearly 18 WAR.  And look how that turned out.  Twice.

I dunno.  Jimenez would be nice, probably a no. 2 guy.  Not worth demolishing the farm for.  But I’m a prospect lover.

roidoworld:

The Yankees and Rockies haven’t started exchanging names in Ubaldo Jimenez trade talks, reports ESPN.com’s Buster Olney.
This contradicts a report by SI.com’s Jon Heyman on Sunday in which he wrote that the Rockies have asked the Yankees for catcher Jesus Montero, starter Ivan Nova and New York’s top two pitching prospects — Manny Banuelos and Dellin Betances—in return for Jimenez. Olney writes that the odds of a Jimenez trade between the Yankees and Rockies are very slim.

OK, this is getting crazy. Seriously Ubaldo would be the best #2 this side of Cliff Lee.

He’s really good and has one of the highest potentials in baseball. But is he worth 2 potential aces and a “can’t miss” power hitting prospect + a MLB ready/semi proven pitcher with above average stuff? IMO, no.

I would trade Montero plus 1 of Betances or Banuelos and Nova in a heart beat. Although, for Betances it would be a very long heartbeat.

I’d strongly consider trading all 4 for Kershaw. Age and handedness are important factors.

“Irrelevant, maybe, but I noticed in the last thread that rilkefan has an “annual” dinner/movie date with his wife?”

Two young kids.  To see a long movie/have a nice dinner/not rush takes over five hours, which comes to nearly $100 of babysitting.  So it has to be a really nice dinner, and the whole exercise gets quite expensive.  And that’s half a weekend day not rescuing the house from the neglect of the work week. Etc.

I’d do one of Montero/Betances/Banuelos+Nova+some other stuff for Jimenez.  Potentially also take a bad contract off their hands, if they have any w/o an NTC.  I’m not a big fan of giving up *two* of their top 3 prospects.

Preferably they could do Montero+Nova+someone from their 2nd-tier of pitching prospects, that are also MLB ready (Warren/Phelps/Noesi/Mitchell).  Maybe add in Corbon Joseph or similar as well.

I think Rockies pitchers should not get penalized as much for the league switch, because of the way Coors affects pitchers.  So if you think the NL is about 5% worse than the AL, for a Rockies pitcher maybe it’s more like 2.5%.

In his career, here are some of Jimenez’s home/road splits:

vs. batters at home:.244/.323/.373, 9.5% BB/PA, 19.1% K/PA
vs. batters on road:.214/.311/.313, 11.1% BB/PA, 23.6% K/PA

Component ERA at home: 3.94
Component ERA on road: 3.21

Let’s be honest, we would all trade IPK and Melky for Jimenez and Tulo.

[34] I think we’re in a similar area.  You’re proposed deal (2 of top 3 and Nova) is just a little too expensive for me.  Seems every time we make one of those trades we come to regret it.  Which is completly un-scientific, but…

Rockies don’t seem to have many bad-contracts, so IDK if there’s anything the Yankees could take off their hands to lower the prospect cost.

[39] It’s really expensive, and I’m a prospect lover, but at a certain point you have to realize that they are also chips to be used to aquire “now” talent. especialyl when the talent is young, very good and with possible remaining upside.

Let’s be honest, we would all trade IPK and Melky for Jimenez and Tulo.

Prospect hater.

Rockies don’t seem to have many bad-contracts, so IDK if there’s anything the Yankees could take off their hands to lower the prospect cost.

We should agree to take on the final 3 years of the Tulo deal.

Baby sitters make 20 dollars an hour?!?!  Assuming you have a ps3, I’ll take 10 dollars an hour and an undisclosed number of ice pops.

They might also see him as insurance for when CC opts out in the fall.

I like Mike’s offer in [36].  I’ve been looking forward to Montero for awhile, but it’s hard to picture where he fits into this aging roster.  30+% of the DH games will have to go Arod in 2012, IMO

[31] I like Granderson too much.

[35][43] I’ll do it for 5 dollars if you have a large closet.

Or a small closet.

I’d never include Montero in a deal for Ubaldo.
There are a lot of things I’m uncertain of. However, I’m 100 % sure that Jesus will become not only a very good hitter, but an absolute superstar.
And for all the talk about every one knows that Jesus can’t catch, why does he still man the position?

[46] I like Granderson, too, but he could easily have repeated his 2009 season.  Which is what he was doing for almost of all 2010 before Kevin Long turned him into a monster.

What would have happened if they didn’t trade IPK?  Gardner would be starting in CF and they’d might have been players in the Crawford or Werth sweepstakes.  Now IPK is an ace out west.  Meh.

FWIW, Dave Cameron has Jiminez as #25 on his Trade Value list.  Pitchers ahead of him on the list include (in order with kershaw being top pitcher) Strasburg, Tommy Hanson, Verlander, Lester, Felix, David Price, Kershaw.

Now of course, those 7 aren’t available (though I could see Verlander or Kershaw becoming available; unlikely but possible).  But just to put in perspective.  Now commence arguing over how much of an idiot Cameron is.

“And for all the talk about every one knows that Jesus can’t catch, why does he still man the position?”

To keep his value up so they can trade him for a superstar pitcher.

.280/.320/.400

[36] I agree with offer as little as possible. I can’t remember all the past trades, but lots of other different orgs got good talent with less than stellar prospect packages. Maybe it’s just because I don’t follow those orgs and aren’t attached to other team prospects. But I rather Cashman prey on other teams desperation.

Plus, again, might be my pinstripe coated shades, but seems like other teams wants a premium when dealing with Yankees. Sucks.

[35] Thanks for clarification. We are expecting in November. My plan is to ship the child via USPS to my parents in Brooklyn when we need a few days off.

[40] Yes I agree.  But I’m also against using too many chips in one deal.  Because then you don’t have the chips for other deals.  It’s not just keeping the prospects, it’s total cost I’m against.  I just think it’s too high.

Now, if you were to propse Montero, one of ManBan/Betances, and nothing else…maybe okay.

[51] See, this is something I don’t get at all.
When all but the Yankees know that he can’t catch, how does this keep his value up? It’s not like other teams would take the Yankees word for it, I’m quite sure they send their scouts to watch him.

My plan is to ship the child via USPS to my parents in Brooklyn when we need a few days off.

Use FedEx.  They put airholes in the boxes, USPS doesn’t.

[35] Additionally, I have married my wife on a “conscription” basis whereby household chores are performed to my specifications while I enjoy the Yankees on YES.

Actually, and to the disadvantage of both parties’ taste buds, I have to cook 3x per week. I have also made the mistake of revealing my superior bathroom cleaning techniques.

To keep his value up so they can trade him for a superstar subpar pitcher.

FTFU.

Surely announcing that “We were wrong, he’s not a catcher, never will be” would hurt his trade value? The upside is that maybe some other team will buy into your expressed optimism, or at least figure they can take a chance. The downside is a few passed balls in AAA.

If the Rockies have a young stud arm signed to a team friendly contract for 3.5 more years, and they are not in full rebuilding mode (they shouldn’t be), why are they even selling him?  It’s not salary relief.  They don’t have too much pitching. 

That, along with a 3 MPH drop in his FB I’d be worried.  Something doesn’t smell right.

When all but the Yankees know that he can’t catch, how does this keep his value up?

If the Yankees truly believe he can catch, it’s not a stretch to think there may be another team or two out there that would buy into it.  The gap between a player’s value as a catcher or a 1B can be massive, on the order of 2-3 wins. 

I really would rather not see them trade Montero, because he can help this year’s team, which is still getting sub-standard production out of DH and with Russell Martin’s bat now MIA.  The more I think about it, I may do Banuelos + Betances + second-tier guys for Jimenez if it keeps Montero in the organization.  I figure Jimenez basically equals Betances and Banuelos is just the price for contention.  If they insist on Montero, I am not sure what else I’d be willing to give them.

The Yankees can’t hang onto all their prospects, they are going to have 40 man roster issues coming up very soon.

I think the Yankees kept him at catcher b/c they have believed they could teach him to catch adequately at the big-league level.  At least up to the Jorge Posada standard, which is better than most give him credit for.  If they could get that level (say -10 defense, +/-0 on a good year), then he would have a lot of value to the team, OR as a trade chip.

Has he reached that level?  Can he?  IDK.  Like Nunez, I think he definitely *has* the skills, but that’s different than ever being able to apply them.

[61] Because they are sort of out of the race this year and see an opportunity to pick up some high quality, near MLB ready pieces to compete in 2012-2017.

[60] So you’re saying, that for the small chance of a team buying into your optimism, the Yankees are hindering his development as a hitter, and increasing his injury risk considerably? And please note that he’s not splitting time between DH and catcher, which would make more sense in your scenario, but he’s again the fulltime catcher for Scranton.

He became an elite hitting prospect playing catcher. How would playing catcher hurt his development as a hitter, exactly? And see #62.

[66] He became an elite hitting prospect by hitting really well at a young age. He became a top 5-10 prospect by playing catcher.

[61] I wouldn’t worry too much about that from the Rockies’ perspective.  By all accounts, they aren’t shopping him, they’re just listening to offers, and have made it known they need to be blown away.

[66] There are actually lots of ways that playing catcher could hurt his development as a hitter.  Including - spending so much time on catching drills that he isn’t spending sufficient time in the cage; if he’s frustrated with not progressing as a catcher that could affect his hitting; simply, there’s more wear-and-tear as a catcher (he’s already missed a lot of time with minor ailments).  IDK if any of this is true, but it is possible.

[67] Actually, I’m pretty sure Keith Law (among others) have consistently in their rankings mentioned that he’d be a top-10 prospect even if he wasn’t a catcher, b/c the bat was that good.  But it certainly helped.

My two cents.  Nova should stay in NY. Fact is he should be in Tampa now so that when Colon gets knocked around he can relieve him for 6 innings.  I think Colon should be on the DL and pitch a couple starts in Trenton to see if he can get his velocity and sharpness back.

I think the cost in prospects is awfully high to acquire Ubaldo.  Montero is likely gone I think later this month.  Its clear to me that right or wrong the GM has lost faith in him.  What he brings back at this point is the question.  I think he’s blocking Romine and that is a consideration also as to why I think they are determined to trade him.  The other indication is their insistence to this point not promoting him for even a cup of coffee as yet.

I think what we need to trade for is some pitching evaluators/coaches that know something about finishing young arms.  Look at Karstens and Kennedy as two examples.  If Bettances and Banneulos are so dominant why aren’t they dominating AA?  I know experience is a factor as well.

Can anyone tell me how Kershaw and Ubaldo have faired against Boston in interleague matchups?

[70] Betances is dominating AA, right now his only issue is walks.

good talent with less than stellar prospect packages.

Dan Haren seemed to have went to LAA for a lot less last year.  Even from the Yankees they were supposedly asking for Joba (who the Yankees apparently were never going to start again or were at least aware of potential arm issues) and Nova plus another kid.  Wwhich could be what was breaking the deal because the PTBNL from LAA was Tyler Skaggs and he’s progressing OK, I guess.

[62] which is still getting sub-standard production out of DH and with Russell Martin’s bat now MIA

In a perfect world the Yankees would also bat Jeter 9th.  The Yankees aren’t getting rid of Posada and turning Martin into a BUC any sooner than they’re moving Jeter.  Plus ARod will be needing DH days a plenty when he returns and probably quite a few next season too.

The Yankees aren’t getting rid of Posada and turning Martin into a BUC any sooner than they’re moving Jeter.

No, but if you have Montero backing up Martin instead of Cervelli maybe you can rest Martin more often and can spot Montero at DH a bit while we wait for Rodriguez’s return.

I think Colon should be on the DL and pitch a couple starts in Trenton to see if he can get his velocity and sharpness back.

I think SG basically debunked this in an earlier post, that Colon’s velocity wasn’t right.  Honestly that last game, Colon pitched OK.  I think there was one hard hit ball against him.

The other indication is their insistence to this point not promoting him for even a cup of coffee as yet.

He’s also been on the minor league DL two or three times this year, in addition to not hitting.  It’s not like he has a .900 OPS in the minors.

I think what we need to trade for is some pitching evaluators/coaches that know something about finishing young arms.  Look at Karstens and Kennedy as two examples.  If Bettances and Banneulos are so dominant why aren’t they dominating AA?

IPK in 2009 suffered an aneuryism in April and didn’t come back until September, and was limited then.  He was traded to AZ and immediately pitched above average.  I think 100% of his development is due to the Yankees.  Karstens was also 100% developed by the Yankees, and even then isn’t that good.  He’s got a .235 BABIP against and is stranding almost 90% of baserunners.  He’s a correction waiting to happen.  Betances is doing everything in AA except limiting walks, and seems fairly dominant.  Banuelos is 20 and holding his own just fine.

[58 etc] I do the cooking and clean the pots/pans/knives, and I bathe the kids, and get the younger one down and up.

The going rate we’ve been exposed to for babysitters (teachers at the kids’ daycare) is $16-17/h (same as what daycare comes to, actually).  Because of the housing situation in the Bay Area, getting here typically requires a 30-minute drive for someone in that SES, anyway that’s the case for the ones we know.

[76] Clearly I need to rethink my “career” path.

The going rate we’ve been exposed to for babysitters (teachers at the kids’ daycare) is $16-17/h (same as what daycare comes to, actually).

Completely different economy from yours, my two typical baby-sitters generally cost me either $20 or $40 for a night.  If it’s a couple of hours I give them $20, if it’s 4 or 5 hours I give $40.  Everyone is happy with nice, round numbers that don’t involve change.  It helps that my one sitter lives next door (and I’ve known for 7 years), and one lives 10 minutes away (and I’ve known for 13 years), and both hang out with my kids at a lot of the same parties and such.  So still costs enough that I need to factor that in when going out, but isn’t as restrictive as yours seems to be.

Re: Karstens, I’m pretty sure Pittsburgh’s DFA’d him a few times in the last couple of years and no one bit.  It’s nice to see him doing well, but it’s not like he’s some ace that the Yankees whiffed on.  He’s a fringe starter having a career year that’s propped up by some things that aren’t likely to be sustainable long-term.

As far as Kennedy, the Yankees got their most valuable position player for him.

Scary Flyball Guy will regress shortly.

The National League is the better place for IPK.  I wish him luck, but I’m happy to have Granderson.

I, too, am generally wary of NL pitchers at this point.  But then, I’m wary of our prospects at this point too!  *head explodes*

[21] Shut up.  SHUT UP.  SHUP UP SHUT UP SHUT UP!  [sticks fingers in eyes]

[68] - So basically the only way to get Ubaldo is to do something stupid.

[81] Probably.  Which means that we’ll never know what the Rockies really asked for, or if they were ever serious.  But eventually Heyman or Olney will report that, “There was a proposed deal, but the Yankees turned it down when Colorado asked to include David Phelps.”  And then the blogosphere will explode that Cashman is an idiot for letting David Phelps get in the way of a trade, like the Rockies asked for Phelps and Pena and Cashman said no.

[82] Wait, Cashman turned down Phelps and Pena for Ubaldo? I demand blood!

To address a few things:

I was not agitating for an Ubaldo trade in past years.  LIES!

We pay 13-16/hr but for only one kid.  Then I usually round it up to something even.  We don’t pay for travel time (our sitters are local) but for a big night out WE usually have travel time so it amounts to the same thing in terms of cost.

ETA:  Also, our day care is associated with a church that sometimes does “parent’s nights” for cheap—$20 for 4 hrs.  You can find these things by looking around the internets or local parents’ groups. 

Consider a housekeeper, especially one that will do laundry.  That takes the weight off weekend chores.  Also gardener.  Even every other week can be a big help.

john halfz, congratulations.  Consider getting your family to move wherever you are.  That’s really the best babysitting solution and one big reason we are still in SoCal.

john jalfz, congratulations.  Consider getting your family to move wherever you are.  That’s really the best babysitting solution

This.

[85] Echo.  When my brother is around I get a lot of free-babysitting.  My kid’s grandmother is also considering moving into the area next year, which will help a lot with before/after-school care as well.

You can find these things by looking around the internets or local parents’ groups.

My kid’s summer-camp does this about once a month (same place does their before/after-school care).  When my daughter was in gymnastics they did it, too.  Wasn’t 4 hours, I think more like 3.  But enough time for a nice dinner, or a quick dinner and a movie.

Karstens showed some good signs at times last year and has made a big step forward.  I think he may surprise you guys.  Kennedy did have some health issues with Yanks but he got hammered the in 08 when they gave him a spot.  If the NL is such a great place for these kind of guys what does it say about Cashman’s apparent interest in mining the NL for our midseason pickup?

I saw Colon in person the night he got hurt.  Prior to the injury he was 94-95 with precision and a lot of missing bats.  Research or not, that guy I saw bears no resemblance to the one that came back -except for the beltline.

Haren cost Angels less in prospects…. Yanks always have to pay a premium because they are the Yankees..and no team GM wants to do them favors.

Is there no concern for Nova’s innings this year?  I assume that he’s in AAA to stay on rotation but if there’s an innings limit, why not have him in the ML pen instead of the fillers like Mitre?

[87]  I don’t think there is an innings limit, I think they want to make sure he gets regular work and multiple innings.

I think he may surprise you guys.

He may indeed.  I promise to be thoroughly surprised if he can be a league-average pitcher for more than one season in his career.

Kennedy did have some health issues with Yanks but he got hammered the in 08 when they gave him a spot.

39.2 IP, some of which he may have already been pitching hurt.  I’m not convinced that was a true showing of his talent.

If the NL is such a great place for these kind of guys what does it say about Cashman’s apparent interest in mining the NL for our midseason pickup?

All else equal, pitching in the NL is easier than pitching in the AL.  Personally, I’m not convinced that IPK would be a flop in the AL East this year - he’d probably have an ERA more like 4 - though many say that.  All it really tells me is that more pitchers area available from the NL than the AL this year.

Haren cost Angels less in prospects…. Yanks always have to pay a premium because they are the Yankees..and no team GM wants to do them favors.

I’ll agree with this.

Is there no concern for Nova’s innings this year?

Little to none.  He totalled 187IP last year.  If they have a limit for him, it’s north of 200, which he won’t come close to.

Potentially also take a bad contract off their hands, if they have any w/o an NTC.

They don’t as I am assuming they don’t think Carlos Gonzalez and Troy T are bad contracts. They have a couple guys the Yankees could take to save them a few million this season or next, but that’s about it.

If the Rockies have a young stud arm signed to a team friendly contract for 3.5 more years

2.5 years actually. His 2013 club option can be (and will be by his agent) voided if he is traded. But I agree with the rest about something not smelling right if they would trade him for anything less than a complete heist of prospects. In other words, this deal ain’t happening.

Pop the cork, Mike K—Brandon Laird is a Yankee.

I feel bad for Pena, but I hope Laird gets a real shot at 3B.

[84] When my father intimates that he desires to move from a job in Manhattan (with 7 minute commute door-to-door) to an economically depressed county on the Canadian border, I’ll advise him of the remunerative possibilities of childcare. Same for my mom, who thinks that any temperature under 65 degrees is too cold.

I don’t feel bad for Pena. He absolutely cranked a HR at Yankee Stadium, which has to be the pre-adolescent dream of about 50,000,000 Americans alive today.

To lose your spot because of an emergency appendectomy has got to suck, though. Getting sent down because you’re not that good is one thing, but not even getting a chance to prove yourself because your APPENDIX? That’s harsh.

Having Werth or Crawford instead of Granderson would be a borderline disaster, considering the contracts of the former two players. Granderson’s reasonable contract must have been a big reason why the Yankees valued him so highly; and that also must be taken into account regarding Jimenez. Having Granderson in center and Gardner in left instead of Gardner in center and another patented Yankee monster contract in left was a masterstroke by Cashman, even if they did give up Kennedy. And believe me, I’m quick to criticize the guy, even though I think he’s a great GM.

[93]  So…er…why did you move there?

2.5 years actually. His 2013 club option can be (and will be by his agent) voided if he is traded. But I agree with the rest about something not smelling right if they would trade him for anything less than a complete heist of prospects. In other words, this deal ain’t happening.

But from the Rockies point of view he is signed for 3.5 years.  They already have him so there is no option voiding trade necessary to get him.

[84] We’ve got a gardner, hence no jungle; but we can’t keep enough toys and playground off the floors to feel able to let anyone into the house.

[97] Good point. Just wanted everyone to know that the Yankees would get that extra year out of his current deal. The Red Sox will when they trade for him though.

Dice-K for Ubaldo + cash and the Rockies 10 best prospects?