Snark overload.

These stories all seem intriguing at first blush, but eventually you realize that every player THINKS they’ve devised the perfect offseason strategy to get them to the next level.

“it’s good when Boston’s the team that has seemingly washed-up starting pitchers competing for starting rotation spots, it’s bad when it is the Yankees, in other words.”

I remember laughing when Boston got Bartolo Colon…THREE YEARS AGO!!!

[3] That team made the playoffs. I’d sign for that now.

Actually, yeah, the Yankees could’ve probably used him that year. Almost 200 IP from Rasner and Snacks, and 24 starts from Pavano, IPK, and Hughes, who all sucked.

I would rather Cervello be working out with Cano than working the kegerator with Joba.

I’d watch a buddy comedy about Cervello and Joba trying to hit up every Golden Corral on the east coast.

something like a Molina brother

Yadier: .268/.327/.361
Jose: .236/.280/.337
Bengie: .274/.307/.411
Cervelli .274/.343/.340

So Cervelli plans on sucking more?

I’d take Yadier’s line for Cervelli if he started playing defense like him…

[9] Yadir was worth 3.1 WAR last year (BBRef).  I’d take that in a minute.

[2] The fact that he’s working hard and isn’t satisfied with being a backup is encouraging.  Especially when he KNOWS that the Yankees have 3 guys who played AA or higher last year (Martin, Montero, Romine) who are ahead of Cervelli in the “catcher of the next 5 years” race.

Still not sure if people appreciate Cervelli enough.  If he could do 2009 defense (+5 runs) w/ last year’s offense (-3 runs), in the same 317 PA that’s 1.7 WAR.  If he can maintain those rates over another 200PA, that’s about a 3 WAR catcher.  Obviously he hasn’t done it yet, and likely never will in pinstripes (too many others need to fail for him to get 500PA).  But he’s got a shot to be in that 2nd tier of major-league catchers.

What about trading for Liriano? I wouldn’t give Montero for him straight up, am I wrong? What about the Banuelos for him straight up? I would pass on him too.

I don’t think anyone here would trade Montero straight up for Liriano.  I would trade Banuelos straight up for him, however.

A fun and optimistic perspective to take in the Spring has Martin and Cervelli breaking camp as the starting and backup catchers, Cervelli hitting well enough to minimize prospect loss in a trade for a solid starter sometime in June, at which point Montero comes up to share catcher/dh duties with Martin and Posada.  Plus, Jeter hits .320/.390/.450 for the year while not sucking as SS.  And A-Rod, Cano and Teix combine for 110+ HR, AJ pitches like it’s 2009, Hughes is 1st-half-last year guy…and…and…and…it’s almost Spring.

I would not trade Banuelos for Liriano, and I would be pissed if the Yankees did.

Speaking of said imaginary solid starter, I’m curious as to why no one is floating a Santana for prospects deal. The Mets have money problems, are going nowhere this year, and their farm is empty. The Yankees can pay his salary, want to win now, and have prospects. He wouldn’t even have to find a new house. On paper, it’s a good fit. Are the only obstacles cultural, or are there baseball reasons why this wouldn’t work?

Really? Banuelos has his own injury history, and will probably never be as good as Liriano, who is still just 26 and was the more hyped prospect.

Really. He’s Piliere #13 prospect at age 19 and he’s already in AA. His FB is in the mid-90s, he has a plus change, and he can command both pitches.  RAB thinks he’s their top pitching prospect. 

What’s his injury history?

What’s his injury history?

He had tonsolitis when he was 13.

Seriously though, quick search he had an appendectomy last spring.  Besides that, I don’t see anything.  I don’t think that counts as an injury history.  I mean, how many of those can he have?

The more I think on it, the more I agree - no to Banuelos.

Maybe that’s confusion of Banuelos and Betances.

I wasn’t assuming an injury history, just the usual risk and uncertainty of a 19-year old prospect who has never faced major league hitters.  Liriano is a seriously good LH pitcher, apparently completely healthy, just entering his age 27 season.  As good as Banuelos looks, I still think you’d have to cash him in for Liriano if the opportunity presented itself.  This wouldn’t be a case of squandering an elite prospect for ordinary veteran talent, it would be cashing in an elite prospect for an elite major league starter.

[20] I’m sure Rich (and by extension myself) were responding to yankz post in [16]: “Banuelos has his own injury history”.

I still think you’d have to cash him in for Liriano if the opportunity presented itself

Read Dave Cameron’s article I referenced on the other thread.  Sounds like the going price for a pitcher like Liriano would be around the 30th best prospect in the game.  So if you view Banuelos as top-20, he’s probably too much to give up.  If you view him in the 20-40 range, the price is probably appropriate.  Doesn’t mean you do it, but that at least it’s a fair price.  If you view him outside fo the top-40, I think you do the deal.  Not sure where everyone has him rated, but I think I’ve heard him as high as 13 on some lists.  I think he’s probably top-20, so keep him.

But there is an argument for trading him.  I’d RATHER try to build equal value around multiple players (if you convinced me he was in the 20-40 range).

[6] What’s a kegerator?  I assume it involves a beer keg.  And no, I’m not trying to be funny…
I first misread ‘kegerator’ as something probably not safe for this forum that would result in more disturbing google searches.

[10]

I, for one, love me some Frankie C.  He’s roughly average - which means he could START and not be an embarrassment.  That’s a nice thing to have, as a backup.  I was frustrated by his defense last year, but that can fluctuate.  I think his overall defensive work is still positive (excellent reviews on his minor league work and good work in the majors in 2009).

I wouldn’t be upset if Banuelos was traded for Liriano.  I think that’s a pretty good trade, really, given the attrition rate on young pitchers.

[22]

It keeps a keg of beer cold and dispenses it via a tap.  All in one easy-to-use appliance.