Tuesday Morning Bits: Washburn, Posada, Hawkins
July 29, 2008, 5:44 amHere’s a quick update before I call it a night:
1. Yesterday, word got out that the Mariners were holding out and hoping that Hank Steinbrenner would step in to fast track a Jarrod Washburn deal. Today, I’m happy to say that they were sorely mistaken. In fact, instead of dealing with Hank Steinbrenner, it seems as though Hal Steinbrenner (who I predicted would have a say) has stepped into the situation and he doesn’t like what the Mariners are offering (or demanding, if you will). Here’s what he thinks about the proposed Washburn deal.
“I’m the finance guy, that’s what I get labeled, so putting on more payroll certainly doesn’t sit well with me, but neither does trading away young talent,” Steinbrenner said. “It’s got to be a balance.”
Basically, the Mariners are going to have to take it or leave it. So, they’ll either accept a salary dump or they’ll eat a substantial portion of Washburn’s contract in order to receive a somewhat “decent” prospect. It’s really their choice, but the Yankees aren’t going to continue with this charade for much longer. The NY Post even has an inside source who labels the talks as “dead”, citing Seattle’s insatiable appetite for talent and salary relief. I say good riddance. Jarrod Washburn’s career numbers in the second half are weak.
2. It’s great news knowing that Jorge Posada will be having surgery on his shoulder sooner rather than later. Nonetheless, the Yankees and their fans must be prepared for the consequences. While the team has said that Posada will be out for 6 months after the surgery, recovering and strengthening his shoulder, the waiting time could be much longer than that. Brian Cashman actually told Tyler Kepner that the 6-month recovery period is a minimum, so that’s with no presumable setbacks. This is major surgery and it could hamper Jorge’s throwing well into the 2009 season, which could accelerate a transition from catcher to first baseman (where Posada’s value takes a huge hit).
3. Finally, the Minnesota Twins may have an interest in the recently DFA’d LaTroy Hawkins. Wow, looking back on it, it definitely seems like Cashman should have just splurged and went with Ron Mahay. Ah, whatever, $3 million+ is like Kleenex to the Yankees.
More later…
“Basically, the Mariners are going to have to take it or leave it. So, they’ll either accept a salary dump or they’ll eat a substantial portion of Washburn’s contract in order to receive a somewhat “decent” prospect”
…Or… they don’t do anything at all. I think you and all Yankee fans keep forgetting that they’re the Mariners. They’re perfectly happy sitting on their thumbs and watching the season fall away. It’s not like the M’s can’t afford Wash. I think that Pelekoudas’ thoughts of “something good or no change at all” are the first bright thoughts to cross a Mariner GM’s mind since before the Bavasi era.
I don’t agree, actually. Mariner fans are acting like Washburn is a godsend. He’s a borderline 4, basically 5 starter. The Mariners want to lose the $14 million thats owed to him so that they can concentrate on rebuilding, or at least retooling with new players (why do you think he’s even on the block?). They already have Bedard, Felix, Silva (talk about bad contracts), Morrow, and Dickey (possibly) or R.R. Smith as rotation options for next year (the top 3 are definite). Where does that leave a mediocre starter who is owed over $10 million?
It’s fine if they decide not to trade him now, but will it be worth it next year when they try to add some level of offense to the team? Probably not. I guess you can try and trade him in the offseason or wait until August 31st (waivers), but what happens when his numbers in the second half begin to regress as they typically do, every year (see 2007, 2006). You’ll have less of a case then and Washburn is pretty much at his peak value. It’s funny because 2 months ago, Mariner fans were wishing they could DFA Washburn. You know, I’d like to see the Mariners keep Washburn and the Yankees work from within. The internal options are better in the long run (Aceves, IPK), and I’d rather have them throwing innings next year while Mariner fans complain about the dreadful Jarrod Washburn again (like a broken record).
Now, I’m not saying that Wash is a godsend. He’s barely an MLB starter in my opinion, but I think the national media is overselling the M’s ability to fill a starting 5. Why trade him at all when Rowland-Smith isn’t ready to fill more than 4 innings as a starter, Morrow hasn’t converted yet (and is needed to close with Putz putzing it up this year) and Dickey is just starting to succeed as more than a stop-gap to fill an often-injured rotation.
Bedard’s not going to stop whining for another month, Felix will keep playing ace baseball, Silva can barely pitch four frames himself… I’m just not sure where the M’s are expecting to find more starters to finish this season off, let alone next year. We’re tapped at AAA thanks to that massive Bedard cleanout.
I don’t disagree with your point that Washburn is hightly overrated here, or that his trade value is indeed at its peak. I just question the reasoning for the M’s making a move at all. How does saving a few million bucks or picking up a mediocre prospect improve the Mariners for now OR the future? Don’t forget that they cleared 115 million this year. Even overpaid, Wash may be worth the money just because we have no one else! There’s M’s management for you… always planning ahead.
On Washburn, I actually hope they don’t get him. He might have a low career ERA at Yankee Stadium, but its in a limited sample size and ERA isn’t even that great of a stat to look at. Not to mention, trading for him means he will be filling a spot in the rotation next year. Now that might be the #5 spot, but I would rather they just try out any of the youngsters in that role instead of blocking the kids with a 35 year who is usually a below average pitcher.
On Posada, I don’t think he will get transitioned to 1B next season. I am under the assumption they will be throwing a brinks truck filled with cash at Texiera. However, Posada could see a lot of time at DH as they won’t have anyone specifically on the roster for that. They will have the Matsui/Damon platoon in LF next year, and the other one could see a lot of time at DH, but do we honestly think both Matsui and Damon will be healthy through all of next season? One of them will see time on the DL, so Posada could still be valuable as a DH. In fact, I think that’s the best course of action from this point out. Posada should be looked at as a DH who occassionally catches and maybe plays 1B once in a while.
[...] for the heck of it, and because I already wrote it, here’s some comments I left on a great Yankee post about this whole deal which might bring enlightenment to those with too much of a… pinstriped [...]