The Yankees apparently have Sabathia all but in uniform, at record price of course. This was expected from the outset and fills the Yanks most glaring need, as Sabathia will provide both quantity and quality and help eliminate those Sidney Ponson/Darrell Rasner sightings. As for the contract itself, it's being reported as 7 years/$160 million although there is apparently a player option after the third year. This seems like a bad idea for the club as these type of options almost always work against them, but then again maybe that's what was needed to lure Sabathia to New York as he did seem hesitant to leave the West Coast/small market type team. I'm not going to go any further into the pros/cons and possibility of injury based on Sabathia's size as they've been discussed elsewhere and in better depth than I can convey. Also late yesterday/today came word that the Yanks are also close to acquiring Mike Cameron for either Melky or a Melky based package. Cameron is a close friend of Sabathia, a decent CF (which would make him the Yanks best defensive player) and an obvious offensive upgrade over the position last year. The Yanks can easily afford both his salary and losing the 4th OF in Cabrera. These two moves show the Yankees once again using their financial resources to get what they want. I wonder though if in the end they'll wish they had signed Teixera instead as he's a much sounder investment and I doubt even the Yankees can sign CC and Tex in the same off season.
Not to be completely outdone, the Mets signed K-Rod to a team friendly deal and nabbed JJ Putz in a three team, 12 player NBA style mega-deal with the Indians and Mariners filling in the various other loose parts. In 2 days the Mets have created potentially the best back end pen in the NL. Putz has injury questions from last year and K-Rod has diminishing stuff issues, but both are clearly upgrades over an entire bullpen of situational guys they had last year. The Mets lose Heilman, Carp and a young upside arm whose name escapes me at the moment(I'm doing this post quick and don't have all relevant links). For what they gave up their return is great. If healthy Putz will be better than K-Rod while pitching more high leverage innings and helping the Mets begin to play 7 inning games. The Mariners get increased defense in Gutierrez and Endy Chavez, which will be a real asset given their vast outfield space. They also acquire the upside arm in question. The Indians jettison a 4th OF while obtaining a legit 2B prospect from the Mariners. This should let them slide Asdrubel Cabrera and Johnny Peralta over to SS/3B respectively while improving offensively at 2B. Again the prospects name escapes me.
The trade that I like the best though has to be the Rays-Tigers trade as it shows once again the ability of a good front office to leverage a player at peak value while getting a good return that fills a team need while fitting into the organizational philosophy perfectly. The Detroit Tigers needed depth at pitching and rightly identified the Rays as a team with a potential surplus. The problem is they went after the wrong guy. Domborski described Edwin Jackson as having a "breakout season", something which the numbers just don't support. Jackson's improvements can be almost completely tied to the Rays increased defense, and while Adam Everett, Brandon Inge and Placido Polanco make up a good defensive IF, the OF corners and 1B will be trouble spots. To get Jackson the Tigers gave up Matt Joyce, a decent prospect with average to slightly above average power and who plays a good RF. Joyce is two years further from arbitration than Jackson and a better bet to contribute to a winning club in meaningful way. The Tigers weird obsession with playing Guillen in LF, getting a new SS while keeping Sheffield allowed the Rays to make this move. It seems like the best decision would have been to keep Guillen at short while platooning Joyce and Thames with Ordonez playing left on days Joyce was in the lineup to maximize the clubs offensive and defensive assets. Now they've gotten a pitcher whom, they'll slot in a the number 3 guy and get 5/6 production out of. Jackson best future role is in a relief spot, possibly super long relief as he does have good stuff and stamina. (I know I have not used any stats but if someone is reading and wants to challenge me please do) Or, if they were going to trade Joyce, they should have gone after Sonnenstine, who seems a better bet to at least be a slightly above average innings eater (For some reason I'm obsessed with a Cory Hart for Sonnenstine deal, don't ask). The Rays get a strong side platoon player and open up a spot for Price in the rotation.
There were a handful of other trades, signings and of course the rule 5 draft, but this is not www.mlbtraderumors.com and I'm not Buster Olney or Jon Heyman so I'm not going to comment on all of them other than to say giving Casey Blake a three year deal with an option for a fourth is probably not the best idea. Anyway join me next time when I discuss my disagreement with Bill James young player index in the 2009 handbook.
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