C.C. Sabathia Update Pt.5

 

From the Plain Dealer:

Now that the revised terms of Johan Santana’s contract with the New York Mets have come out, the numbers aren’t as bad as previously thought in terms of keeping C.C. Sabathia in Cleveland. Still, they represent a challenge for the Indians.

The present-day value of Santana’s six-year contract, as first reported by FoxSports.com, is $123.1 million as opposed to $137.5 million. The change is because of deferred money.

In those terms, the average annual value of Santana’s deal drops from nearly $23 million to $20.5 million. It reduces the gap between Santana and Sabathia, regarding the five-year offer, including a four-year extension, the Indians made to Sabathia at the end of December.

The four-year extension is believed to be worth $17 million to $18 million a year. The offer includes 2008, the last year of Sabathia’s current deal, in which he’ll make $11.25 million. When the Indians have extended existing contracts in the past, they’ve almost always sweetened the final years of the original deal. It’s not known what kind of raise the Indians offered Sabathia for 2008, but the Mets bumped Santana’s 2008 salary – the last year of his deal with the Twins – to $19 million from $13.25 million.

So basically, the contract extension offerred to C.C. is a 3-year deal that runs through 2011, (the fourth year is the 2008 season) without a definitive increase of salary in 2008. To truly compete in the Sabathia Sweepstakes (which, believe it or not, have already started), the Indians will have to offer something better than this current extension. Maybe another year and a few more million in 2008 would seal the deal for C.C.’s services.

I’m sure the Yankees would have no problem offering 4 years at $18 million per year once Sabathia’s free agency status rolls around (after the completion of the 2008 season).

(Thanks to MLBTR).

Cleveland and NY Still Battling

From Cleveland’s Plain Dealer:

The Indians are still negotiating with agent Scott Boras for 16-year-old Dominican Republic shortstop Edward Salcedo. The Tribe’s main competition is the New York Yankees.

“We’ve talked to Scott a couple of times,” Antonetti said.

The Indians have a good relationship with the 6-2, 197-pound Salcedo. He’s trained in their academy in the Dominican and he’s from the same hometown as Junior Betances, one of the Tribe’s staff members.

A rumor recently had the Indians signing Salcedo to a $4 million to $5 million contract. The Indians denied it, but they are trying to find a creative way to get the deal done.

Salcedo has been described as a potential five-tool player. Speed reportedly could be his one shortcoming.

I don’t know much about Salcedo other than what’s been presented to me here, in this article. Here’s a very brief scouting report on the kid from Perfect Game USA:

Edward Salcedo is a FA SS with a 6′3”, 190 lb. frame from La Vega, Dominican Republic. Big League body, strong and athletic. Smooth, easy defensive actions, easy plus arm, can really play SS. Aggressive swing, power projection, deep load from wide base, good bat speed, geared to drive fastballs, timing will be an issue. All the tools to be a top player. Potential 1st round type if in draft.

Could this guy be a slightly slower version of Hanley Ramirez?

(Props to MLBTR.)

Trading for Nick Johnson

 

From Joel Sherman (NY Post):

Nick Johnson, Nationals: Didn’t play at all last year after breaking his leg late in the season at Shea in 2006. Washington gave Dmitri Young a two-year contract late last season to play first, so Johnson will be showcased in spring and no one should be surprised to see him reunited with the Yankees.

I wonder why the Yankees haven’t pursued this route already. Johnson is an OPS machine and he would be an effective first baseman to say the least (if healthy). They may just be waiting to see how he looks in the spring (as stated by Sherman), or, they may just be content to try out their many options (Lane, Ensberg, Duncan, Damon, etc.) and see what sticks (platoon, full-time, etc.). But, with all the young pitchers in their system I wouldn’t be surprised to see them flip someone for Johnson, especially if a combination of guys doesn’t work out for the club. PA thinks it’s possible too, although Brian Cashman dismissed the idea of trading for a 1B when asked.

Honestly, Jason Giambi is done. He’s 37 years old and is absolutely crumbling before our very eyes. Why bother with this guy? Forget his $22 million, let it be a lesson to the team. Put him on the bench, let Matsui hit as DH (he raked as a DH last year), Damon in left, and Nick Johnson or Lane/Ensberg/Duncan or whoever, at first. Adding Johnson would spell playing time for Matsui (most likely) which doesn’t make sense to me, especially when he’s more capable at the dish (A-Rod protection) than Jason Giambi.

Catching Up With Mike Stanley

From Newsday:

All these years later, surely Yankees fans still hold Stanley in high regard, but his star has faded in the Bronx, probably because he was never part of a championship team. Reached this past week on his cell phone, Stanley, 44, said he absolutely loved his time as a Yankee, but the former catcher admits his unlucky timing still “just eats away at me.”

He said Yankees fans sometimes ask to see his World Series rings. Imagine how that makes him feel. There are none. “It’s just such a sore subject with me,” he said.

And that’s understandable. Stanley hit .305 with 26 homers and 84 RBIs for the 1993 Yankees and totaled 35 homers the next two seasons, but he left the Yankees after the 1995 season, thus missing out on the 1996 title. He returned in 1997, only to lose in the Division Series. Then he left again and missed the titles in 1998 and 1999. He almost came back in 2000 but couldn’t wait for the Yankees’ final offer any longer and signed with the Athletics.

“When my agent said, ‘OK, you’re on a flight to Oakland tomorrow,’ I said, ‘Yeah, but if New York calls in the morning, I’m going to New York,’ ” Stanley said. “Obviously, they didn’t call in the morning. I was ready to come.”

What made that year all the more painful was that the Yankees eliminated Stanley’s A’s en route to their fourth world championship in five years. “After we lost,” he said, “I can still vividly remember Joe Torre coming into the clubhouse to shake Art Howe’s hand and looking at me and saying, ‘Stano, you should be with us.’ “

“After that, I said, ‘The heck with it, I’m retiring. It wasn’t meant to be.’ “

Tough stuff for an old fan favorite. He had his best season with the Yankees (93), and it must’ve been hard to swallow when they went on their historic run without him (especially since he left and joined Boston). Anyone out there a big Mike Stanley fan?