F*** A SALARY CAP

From SI:

PARADISE VALLEY, Ariz. (AP) — Some baseball owners say it may be time to reconsider a salary cap after the New York Yankees spent nearly a half-billion dollars on free agents during a recession that may cause some teams to retrench.

“I would ask, if it’s such a bad idea, what sport doesn’t have a salary cap other than us?” Milwaukee Brewers owner Mark Attanasio said Wednesday.

A salary cap isn’t on the agenda of the major league owners meetings this week. But it could become an issue when the present collective bargaining agreement expires after the 2011 season — especially if the economy worsens.

“I think there’s a lot of owners that would like to have that right now,” Oakland owner Lew Wolff said. “I think the parity is what we’re looking for, and the more ways you can get to parity the better. I think it’s pretty good now, but I think it could be better.

“It’s a very good question, because maybe this recession, depression, whatever we’re in may be a change for a lot more years,” Wolff said.

So, let’s just install a salary cap in order to counteract the current economic downturn (and why not raise it every time the DOW drops!). I mean, we don’t know how long the problem will last or how it will effect baseball, exactly (the government doesn’t even know what the extent of the crisis will be), but hey, let’s just do it because times are tough!

At the end of the day, a salary cap, I believe, would require a salary floor (meaning teams would have to spend a certain amount of money on their team). If this is the case, it won’t happen. Also, even if a salary cap was installed, do weak organizations like the Pirates really think it would make them that much more attractive to elite free agents? If you have no money, that’s one thing, but to be run by a group of incompetent morons, now that’s a problem that a salary cap can’t even tackle.

Duncan clears waivers

It only makes sense now that he’s one of the ST invitees. Chad Jennings texted Duncan after the list of invitees was released and Duncan didn’t seem to know much about his future, but it seems self evident that he has cleared waivers.

Good Grief

From Bill Conlin (Philly Daily News):

The bottom line for Yankee haters since the days of Murderers’ Row has been the joy of rooting for them to lose – infrequently as that has happened to a franchise that has harvested 27 World Series rings.

But, yes, it can happen again to a team that paid so much last season to win 89 games in the American League East while finishing a dismal third behind the Rays and Red Sox. Here’s one I’ll throw out just for fun: It says here that John Smoltz, pitching with a powerhouse Red Sox lineup behind him and with a real closer behind him in Jonathan Papelbon, will win more games than Burnett. A.J. is a big-time power arm when healthy, but the question becomes, “When healthy?” Not too often in his DL-marred career.

OK, so John Smoltz, who isn’t able to pitch until at least June 1st, will win more games than A.J. Burnett because 1) Smoltz has a “powerhouse Red Sox lineup behind him” and 2) he has a “real closer behind him in Jonathan Papelbon.” Whereas the Yankees don’t have a powerhouse lineup behind Burnett (that Teixeira signing was for the birds…) and don’t have a real closer, either (that Rivera character is so overrated).

Oh, let’s not forget that the 42-year old Smoltz, who, again, won’t pitch until June because he was injured last year (a point Conlin has seemingly forgotten) and needed corrective surgery, will win more games than Burnett because A.J. is often on the DL. Now, I’m not arguing with the fact that Burnett is injury-prone, but is Smoltz really good health’s exemplar?

Wait, how does this stuff make sense again?

Yanks invite 20 to ST

From the Yankees (official website):

The New York Yankees announced today that they have invited 20 non-roster players to 2009 Spring Training in Tampa, Fla. The list includes four pitchers, five catchers, seven infielders and four outfielders. The total number of players now scheduled to report is 60.

C Kyle Anson, 25, batted .241 (54-for-224) with 11 doubles, four home runs and 25 RBI in 68 games with Single-A Tampa in 2008, catching 36.0 percent of potential base stealers (27-of-75). He was originally selected by the Yankees in the 10th round of the 2005 First-Year Player Draft as a third baseman and converted to catcher prior to the 2007 season.

INF Doug Bernier, 28, made his Major League debut in 2008, appearing in two games with Colorado and going 0-for-4 in his lone start at second base on June 19 vs. Cleveland. In 110 games with Triple-A Colorado Springs in 2008, Bernier hit .255 (86-for-337) with 10 doubles, four triples, nine home runs and 42 RBI. He set career highs in triples, homers and RBI and appeared at all four infield positions as well as one game at right field. Originally signed by Colorado as a non-drafted free agent in 2002, he owns a .244 (487-for-1993) career minor league batting average in 661 games with 78 doubles, 10 triples, 19 home runs and 204 RBI.

INF Angel Berroa, 31, split the 2008 season between the Kansas City and Los Angeles-NL organizations after being acquired by the Dodgers on June 6 in exchange for minor league infielder Juan Rivera. He started at shortstop in 64 of the Dodgers’ final 101 games, batting .230 (52-for-226) with 13 doubles, one home run and 16 RBI in 84 overall games with Los Angeles. The 2003 American League “Rookie of the Year” has appeared in 711 combined Major League games with the Royals and Dodgers and owns a .260 career average (658-for-2526) with 116 doubles, 21 triples, 46 home runs and 251 RBI. He played the second-most games at shortstop (449) in the American League from 2003-05, trailing only Miguel Tejada (484).

C Kevin Cash, 31, played in a career-high 61 games in 2008 with the Boston Red Sox, batting .225 (32-for-142) with seven doubles, three home runs and 15 RBI. He made 42 starts behind the plate, including all 30 of Tim Wakefield’s outings. A native a Tampa, Fla., Cash was signed by the Toronto Blue Jays as a non-drafted free agent in 1999 and has appeared in 187 Major League games over parts of six seasons with Toronto (2002-04), Tampa Bay (2005) and Boston (2007-08).

OF Colin Curtis, 23, appeared in 132 games with the Double-A Trenton Thunder in 2008, batting .255 (126-for-495) with 20 doubles, three triples, 10 home runs and 71 RBI for the Eastern League champions. He set career highs in games, runs (68), doubles, home runs and RBI. Curtis was originally selected by the Yankees in the fourth round of the 2006 First-Year Player Draft out of Arizona State University.

INF/OF Shelley Duncan, 29, batted .175 (10-for-57) with 3 doubles, one home run and six RBI in 23 games over two stints with the Yankees in 2008, starting at first base (12 games) and right field (three games). He won the 2008 James P. Dawson Award, given to the most outstanding Yankees rookie in spring training as voted on by the New York Yankees beat writers, after batting .354 (17-for-48) with 5 doubles, three home runs and 14 RBI in 20 spring training games. The Yankees’ second-round selection in the 2001 First-Year Player Draft, Duncan made his first career Opening Day roster in 2008.

LHP Kei Igawa, 29, earned Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre’s “Pitcher of the Year” Award in 2008, appearing in 26 games (24 starts) and going 14-6 with a 3.45 ERA. The lefthander led the International League champions in wins, starts, innings pitched (156.1IP) and strikeouts (117), while ranking second in the league in wins and fourth in ERA. Originally acquired by the Yankees through the Japanese posting process in November 2007, Igawa owns a 2-4 record with a 6.66 ERA in 16 Major League games (13 starts).

OF Austin Jackson, 21, hit .285 (148-for-520) with 33 doubles, five triples, nine home runs, 69 RBI and 19 stolen bases in 131 games with Double-A Trenton in 2008, leading the team in hits and doubles while ranking second in stolen bases and RBI. He enters the 2009 season as the Yankees’ top prospect, according to Baseball America. The publication also tabbed him as the organization’s “Best Athlete” and “Best Defensive Outfielder” for the second straight season. Following the season, Jackson was named a Top Prospect in the Arizona Fall League. He was originally selected by the Yankees in the eighth round of the 2005 First-Year Player Draft.

RHP Jason Johnson, 35, has a 56-100 career Major League record with a 4.99 ERA in 255 appearances (221 starts) with Pittsburgh (1997), Tampa Bay (1998), Baltimore (1999-2003), Detroit (2004-05), Cleveland (2006), Boston (2006), Cincinnati (2006) and Los Angeles-NL (2008). He appeared in 16 games (two starts) with the Dodgers in 2008, going 1-2 with a 5.22 ERA. Originally signed by Pittsburgh as a non-drafted free agent on July 21, 1992, Johnson tied John Lackey and Jamie Moyer for the fifth-most starts (98) in the American League from 2003-05.

INF Justin Leone, 31, batted .251 (90-for-358) with 22 doubles, 17 home runs, 64 RBI and 16 stolen bases with Triple-A Fresno in 2008, appearing in games at second base, third base, shortstop and all three outfield positions. Originally selected by Seattle in the 13th round of the 1999 First-Year Player Draft, he saw his most extensive Major League action in 2004 with the Mariners, appearing in 31 games and batting .216 (22-for-102) with five doubles, six home runs and 13 RBI. He also played in one game with San Diego in 2006.

OF Todd Linden, 28, has appeared in 270 Major League games over parts of five seasons with San Francisco (2003-07) and Florida (2007), batting .231 (116-for-502) with 22 doubles, eight home runs and 36 RBI. He split the 2008 campaign between Triple-A Sacramento (Oakland) and Triple-A Buffalo (Cleveland), combining to hit .289 with 27 doubles, 17 homers and 62 RBI in 113 games. Linden, originally selected by San Francisco as a sandwich pick (41st overall) of the 2001 First-Year Player Draft, last appeared in the Majors in 2007, posting a .245 (45-for-184) average with eight doubles, one home run and 11 RBI in 115 combined games with San Francisco and Florida, establishing career highs in games, at-bats, runs (21), hits and walks (19).

RHP Mark Melancon, 23, combined at three stops (Single-A Tampa, Double-A Trenton and Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre) in 2008 to go 8-1 with a 2.27 ERA in 44 relief appearances, holding opponents to a .202 batting average (69-for-341, 6HR). Following the season, he was selected as the organization’s sixth-best prospect by Baseball America. Melancon (pronounced “Muh-LAN-son”) was originally selected by the Yankees in the ninth round of the 2006 First-Year Player Draft.

RHP Sergio Mitre, 27, did not pitch in 2008 after opening the season on the disabled list with a right elbow strain and undergoing “Tommy John” surgery on July 15. He owns a career record of 10-23 with a 5.36 ERA in 78 games (52 starts) with the Cubs (2003-05) and Marlins (2006-07). Originally selected by the Chicago Cubs in the seventh round of the 2001 First-Year Player Draft, Mitre was acquired by Florida on December 7, 2005 in a trade for OF Juan Pierre and played the 2006 season under current Yankees Manager Joe Girardi.

C Jesus Montero, 19, batted .326 (171-for-525) with 86 runs, 34 doubles, 17 home runs and 87 RBI in 132 games with Single-A Charleston, recording the most hits among any minor league catcher in 2008. He also led the Yankees organization in batting average, runs, hits and RBI last season, while leading all South Atlantic League catchers with a .993 fielding percentage (4E, 588 TC). Originally signed by the Yankees as a non-drafted free agent in October 2006, the Venezuelan native played for the World Team for the 2008 All-Star Futures Game at Yankee Stadium. He enters the 2009 season ranked by Baseball America as the Yankees’ second-best prospect and will be the youngest player in the team’s spring training camp for the second consecutive year.

INF Eduardo Nunez, 21, will be making his second straight trip to spring training camp with the Yankees after attending as a non-roster invitee in 2008. He played in 94 games with Single-A Tampa in 2008, hitting .271 (101-for-373) with six home runs, 42 RBI and a career-high 18 doubles. A native of the Dominican Republic, Nunez was originally signed by the Yankees as a non-drafted free agent in February 2004.

INF Ramiro Pena, 23, batted .266 (118-for-443) in 111 games with Double-A Trenton in 2008, collecting 20 doubles, seven triples, two home runs and 45 RBI to set career highs in nearly every offensive category. Following the season, he was tabbed by Baseball America as the “Best Defensive Infielder” in the Yankees organization and in the Eastern League. A native of Mexico, Pena played for the World Team for the 2008 All-Star Futures Game at Yankee Stadium. He was originally signed by the Yankees as a non-drafted free agent in February 2005.

C P.J. Pilittere, 27, hit .277 (101-for-364) with 15 doubles, three home runs and 48 RBI in 97 games with Double-A Trenton in 2008, ranking fifth among qualifying Eastern League catchers with a 21.3 percent caught stealing rate (17-of-80). Originally selected by the Yankees in the 13th round of the 2004 First-Year Player Draft, Pilittere will be making his third straight appearance in spring camp after receiving non-roster invitations in 2007 and ‘08.

OF John Rodriguez, 30, split the 2008 season between the Tampa Bay (Triple-A Durham) and New York Mets (Triple-A New Orleans) organizations, combining to bat .276 (58-for-210) with nine doubles, 10 home runs and 32 RBI in 69 games. He saw his most extensive Major League action in 2006 with the St. Louis Cardinals, batting .301 (55-for-183) with 12 doubles, three triples, two home runs and 19 RBI in 102 games for the National League champions. He also led the club that season with 47 pinch at-bats and 11 pinch-hits. The New York native was originally signed by the Yankees as a non-drafted free agent in 1996 after attending a tryout at Yankee Stadium.

C Austin Romine, 20, was selected by the Yankees in the second round of the 2007 First-Year Player Draft out of El Toro High School in California and will be making his second consecutive appearance as a spring training non-roster invitee. He batted .300 (122-for-407) with 66 runs, 24 doubles, 10 home runs and 49 RBI in 104 games with Single-A Charleston in 2008, ranking second on the team and third among Yankees minor leaguers in batting average. Following the season, Romine was tabbed by Baseball America as the fourth-best prospect in the Yankees organization.

INF Kevin Russo, 24, batted .307 (82-for-267) with 17 doubles, two home runs and 33 RBI in 71 games with Double-A Trenton in 2008, despite missing nearly two months after fracturing his left cheekbone when he was hit by a batting practice grounder in early June. Following the season, he played for the Peoria Javelinas of the Arizona Fall League, where he led all Yankees winter leaguers with 34 hits. Drafted by the Yankees in the 20th round of the 2006 First-Year Player Draft, Russo will be making his first trip to Major League spring training camp with the Yankees in 2009.

For those who may be confused, these players will be at spring training with those who are already on the 40-man roster.

Yanks interested in Garcia?

According to Jon Heyman, the Yankees are indeed talking to Freddy Garcia. They are listed as one of 4 teams interested in the righty’s services (the Mets, Rangers, and White Sox are the others). Garcia has talent but his injury history is a concern. He’s supposedly fine now, though. Maybe the Yankees are trying to stock their minor-league system with pitching depth in order to avoid a Ponson-like situation in the future.

(Props to MLBTR).

Poor Pettitte

From Bryan Hoch (MLB):

According to a report Tuesday on SI.com, a Yankees official characterized the odds of Pettitte resuming his career with the organization as “less than a 50-50 chance.”

That report was from Jon Heyman (SI):

Pettitte, 36, never took the Yankees’ offer because he was hurt by the idea of a $6 million pay cut, never mind the fact that he started and finished poorly last year (he began the year with his HGH press conference and ended it with seven losses in his last nine decisions.) Overall he was 14-14 with a 4.54 ERA.

But it doesn’t appear that Pettitte has anything better, and if he wants to pitch in 2009 he will have to wait. If the Yankees can trade either Nick Swisher or Xavier Nady, that may open up payroll room to resubmit a similar offer to Pettitte, a beloved Yankee. This time we’d have to think Pettitte might finally except.

However, months after first making the $10 million offer to Pettitte, Yankees people still believe there is “less than a 50-50 chance” that Pettitte’s Yankees career will resume. Retirement seems to be the main second option for Pettitte, though the Dodgers and Astros could be long-shot possibilities.

If Pettitte retires, I think we should all, in unison, laugh at him. I know, I know, it’s Andy, but he’d basically call it quits because the money wasn’t what he thought it would be. If the Yankees offered him $7 million to come back, are you telling me he’d rather retire than accept that? He can’t be mad at the organization, especially since they had offered him $3 million more in their initial proposal. He should have known better and, if he does choose to retire, he’d really look like a chump.

Awesome

From the NY Post:

Henderson and Jim Rice were at a press conference at the Waldorf-Astoria yesterday, the two newest Hall of Famers. After saying he was retired, Rickey went on to add, “but if a club came out and said they needed a left fielder, they needed a guy to get on base and steal a few bases, they can always ring my phone and I’ll come on down and help their ballclub, that’s how much I love the game.”

Rickey at the age of 50 is still the Man of Steal, and if given the opportunity, he incredibly said he would lead the majors in stolen bases.

“I believe today, and people say I’m crazy, but if you gave me as many at-bats that you would give the runners out there today, I would out-steal every last one of them,” Henderson said with typical bravado.

Rickey got specific, noting, “I can go out and steal as many bases as [Jose] Reyes steals.” Reyes stole 56 bases last year.

“I might have lost a step or two, but I learned a step or two in knowledge that I can pick a pitch and walk to second base,” Henderson said.

How cool is Rickey Henderson? Wow…

Anyway, here are a few Yankee bits:

1. I don’t like to talk about Roger Clemens or Brian McNamee anymore, but if you’re interested in a quick update on his legal situation, click here. First, does anyone actually care about this story? Also, I wonder if this will effect Andy Pettitte’s status, moving forward (hey, he’s not on our team, right?)…

2. The Yankees are utilizing a few creative techniques in order to sell the final premium seats and luxury suites that are still available at their new ballpark. I know one creative method that may work. How about lowering the damn prices so normal people (non-bailout people) can purchase them? Sadly, that’s probably too outside-the-box.

Jorge in the WBC?

It could be a possibility (DH for Puerto Rico). Thanks to RAB.

Seriously?

Frank Russo over at NY Baseball Digest has recently provided us with the following bogus trade “rumors” and speculation:

• A Carlos Beltran for Robinson Cano deal
• The Yankees are interested in Aaron Rowand

Those rumors were ridiculous to begin with, however, I must say that Frank really takes the cake with his latest trade gem.

When you write about baseball like I do, you hear all kinds of rumors. Some are wild and some are crazy and some are just plain insane. Tuesday night I received an email from a friend of mine who covers the Pirates who told me of a possible trade scenario brewing between the Pirates and Yankees. The Yankees would send Xavier Nady, Nick Swisher and Brett Gardner to the Pirates for center fielder Nate McLouth, (with New York paying about 80 percent of both Nady and Swisher’s salaries as part of the deal).

Now I want to make one thing perfectly clear. I am not the one who came up with this rumor/trade scenario, I am just reporting on it, so don’t shoot the messenger. McLouth has long been a favorite of WFAN host Mike Francesa, who has deemed him to be the next great Yankees center fielder. Personally, I do not believe for a minute that the Pirates would ever trade McLouth, even with Swisher, Nady and Gardner as a starting point for a deal.

Now, Russo was one of the first people that I can recall who reported that Xavier Nady was being shopped. That was a realistic report and one that has since been corroborated by multiple sources, although I’m not sure if it was Frank who specifically broke that story.

Either way, that doesn’t excuse this crazy ass trade “scenario”. Think of all the ways it doesn’t make any sense. Why would the Yankees send both of these very productive players away for one player? Also, why would they pay both of their salaries? Furthermore, the defense would be severely hurt by McLouth in CF. In addition, who would the Yankes acquire for RF (if anyone?) and how would they do that if they’re still spending on Nady and Swisher. Let’s not forget that if McLouth is the future CF, what happens to Austin Jackson? For all of these reasons (and more), this trade scenario makes no sense at all.

What’s worse is that Frank says, “I do not believe for a minute that the Pirates would ever trade McLouth, even with Swisher, Nady and Gardner as a starting point for a deal.” The biggest problem is that the Pirates would never trade McLouth, not that trading Swisher, Nady and Gardner for McLouth makes no sense (no matter how good he is offensively). To Frank, that’s what’s unbelievable, which I find problematic. This really falls into that crazy category of rumors and is one that maybe should have stay locked up and out of sight.

Meanwhile, the Braves still seem interested in Nady and Swisher…