Shopping Season

Black Friday came and went with the usual hustle and bustle of the holiday season. Retailers rushed to open shops as early as 4 a.m. and shoppers snatched up bargain buys by the bagfuls. The Major League Baseball shopping season has been extremely slow thus far. I expect teams to start signing free agents and proposing trades following December 7th’s GM meetings. In New York, the Yankees are trying to capture C.C.’s attention with a lucrative offer. The Mets have hibernated but expect to be major players for a consistent closer, right handed bat and second baseman.
Here is a list of stores the New York teams should be hitting up this shopping season:

The Disney Store: Mark Teixeria is the hottest hitter on the market but still remains in Disneyland. With the Red Sox also on the radar, the Yankees need to use their imagination to sign the former Angel. Mark will likely listen to what Anaheim is willing to give before signing with an East Coast team. Southern California probably is hard to pass up, but Teixeria would look great in Yankee pinstripes and knows it. Before the Yankee brass steps foot in the magic kingdom, they better consider who Mark’s agent is. The price for Teixeria will exceed any other hitter this season.

The Big & Tall Men’s Store: C.C. Sabathia is number one on the Yankees Christmas list. Santa (and everybody else) knows this. NY has already dished out their offer to C.C. and the Angels just announced they would like to sign him too. Who knows whether Sabathia even wants to play in New York. He is durable despite being one of the biggest major league starters since David Wells. A long-term deal is what Sabathia seeks and I am somewhat skeptical of signing someone for more than three years. But if C.C. brings a World Championship to New York, it will be worth the price.

Circuit City: The giant electronics retailer is going out of business. The time to find certain items is now. Manny Ramirez’s career also won’t last forever. The right-handed RBI machine is asking for a long-term contract. He’s a big ticket item, not unlike a high definition flat screen TV. Both the Mets and Yankees could consider signing Ramirez. The Dodgers want Manny back after his huge impact during the second half last year. However, LA is only offering the disgruntled player two years. I think Manny will listen to more offers but end up back in Dodger blue. It just really worked out there with his laid back style and competitive team spirit. The Mets could use Manny more than the Yankees. David Wright is their only real deep right handed threat. I do not think Ramirez should be signed for more than two seasons but Omar Minaya likes him and Manny is originally from NY. Before this star player runs out of business, the Mets should get all they can out of his bat.

The used book store: Sometimes the best gifts are second-hand ones. A.J. Burnett is like a used book looking for a second chance after being read through. His career has been up and down and he spends more time on the DL than you would like. Like a used book, you get what you pay for. The Yankees were prepared to offer the pitcher a five year contract according to recent news stories. This would be an incredible mistake in my opinion. Burnett has shown great command against the Yankees and the Red Sox. There is no question he could be a terrific addition as a back end rotation option. But I really hesitate to have him in New York. I think his best days are gone and he is washed up like a torn used gift.

The jewelry store: Francisco Rodriguez, aka K-Rod, is the gem of the Mets offseason. KRod shines like silver and his pitchers are golden. He would definitely be a factor for the Mets bullpen. With their closer situation, signing Rodriguez would fill the Mets’ biggest need. Anyone looking at this diamond should expect to pay. Like any luxury and rare commodity, a good closer is hard to find and usually overpriced. Even though the Mets need a solid closer, there are other options on the market. KRod doesn’t have too many really good seasons left to be as effective as he has been. If the Mets rotation under performs and the bats go dormant like they did in 2008, it doesn’t matter who closes games because it won’t get that far. So before going all out, Omar Minaya should look at the other jewels on the table. (Brian Fuentes, Houston Street)

The discount store: When shopping on a budget, it’s wise to browse discount stores. Often you can find some quality products for less. Andy Pettitte is still a very valuable player despite is dismal post-Allstar break record. Andy is no longer a top of the line pitcher but he knows how to win. If he took a hometown discount, the Yankees should sign him. Mike Mussina is retired and the Yankees need to install at least one veteran pitcher. At the very least, he could be a solid number five pitcher and would not cost the team very much.

The toy store: It is so much fun shopping for toys and re-discovering your youth. Second baseman free agent, Orlando Hudson, is like that shiny new toy train or doll. He guarantees to be a number one present on any team’s wish list. The Mets have to replace Luis Castillo at second base. If Daniel Murphy does not figure into the equation, the Mets are going to have to acquire someone. Hudson would fit perfectly in the infield with David Wright and Jose Reyes. The only drawback to Hudson is he has been injured in the past. But like any good toy, you take a risk in its longevity and running power. Hudson needs to refuel his batteries and he will be in good shape to play.

The homemade gift: Creativity is admired. Ideas arise for specific people on our Christmas lists and the perfect gift can be concocted. The Yankees may not be thinking about him, but Jake Peavy would add an original punch on the mound. The crafty Padre wants to return to his hometown and play for Atlanta. The Braves are unwilling to trade their prized pitching prospect and it looks like Peavy will go elsewhere as of now. It’s time for Brian Cashman to think outside the box and paint a picture to lure Peavy to the pinstripes. I think he’s the second best pitcher available. He is more efficient and eats more innings than Derek Lowe and would be more reliable than Burnett. Even if the Yankees overspend for Sabathia, they should be players in the Peavy stakes.

Parting points: I hope everyone is not too stressed out about the holiday shopping season. I do not enjoy the crowds so I try to get some gifts online or make them myself. I know I am looking forward to seeing how this baseball offseason plays out with the economic situation in the country.

Anticipating Another Acquisition

The hot stove league sure inspires inquisitive intellect. Buyer beware is this year’s mantra. The free agent class is one of the best in my recent memory. There are bargains to be had if GMs are willing to negotiate and compromise. For the most part, however, teams are going to pay through the roof to haul in hefty contracts. One of the heftier options (literally) is the reigning 2007 Cy Young winner, C.C. Sabathia. Hank and Hal Steinbrenner already made their money pitch to the Brewers’ ace. If Sabathia chooses to return to the American League, I can’t see him signing anywhere else except the Big Apple. C.C. does not guarantee the Yankees return to the World Series nor does acquiring the shut-down Sabathia even mean playoff baseball in NY. It would signify an upgrade in the starting rotation. The Yankees do not know what they have in their young pitchers, Phil Hughes and Ian Kennedy. Jaba Chamberlain is not a shoo-in for a starting job because the Yankees organization has not decided what direction they will go with him. Wang will become the second best pitcher on this team if C.C. is brought in. Still, the Steinbrenners are looking for more depth on the mound and will go hard after other free agents.
A.J. Burnett and Derek Lowe are on the Yankee radar. Each player has quality stuff but I wouldn’t sign either one over the Padres’ Jake Peavy. Peavy has said he would like to play for a National League team and the Padres will hear offers from those clubs first. The Yankees can and will outbid all other teams for Peavy if they truly believe he will provide a missing link to the club. But if Peavy really doesn’t want to be a part of the NY environment, it is a waste of time. San Diego alluded to opening the door to American League teams once the Braves closed the door on the Peavy rumored deal last week. I do think Jake will hear what the Yankees want to offer him.
As for the position players on the Yankees, they filled a need in the outfield by trading for Nick Swisher. What does Swisher bring to the table? If he can transform himself into the player he was in Oakland, he brings much. He can play any outfield position well and is patient at the plate. Swisher reminds me of Scott Brosius in a way. Both played for the A’s and are usually in the middle of big plays. Both are stellar teammates and aren’t afraid to get their uniforms dirty. I don’t know whether the Yankees intend on using Swisher at first, but it seems like Mark Teixeria is out of the free agent signing mix now. From all I’ve heard and read, the Yankees do not want to tie up first base for the long-term. With Derek Jeter and Jorge Posada slowly becoming too slow and old for their respective positions, it’s likely one of them will take over first base. If Teixeria is reeled in from the west coast, where would Posada and Jeter keep their heads above water in the field? The most logical place would be first base.
Austin Jackson seems to be the Yankee centerfielder of the future. No one is going to declare him the next Mickey Mantle just yet. He is still a little over one year away from becoming a major leaguer. Time in the minors to smooth over the rough spots would do him well. With Xavier Nady, Nick Swisher and Johnny Damon, the Yankees can get by for one year. I still see the need for some top of the line bench players and quality relief pitchers here in NY. Every team is going to be shopping for bullpen help, so the Yankees will have to get creative if they want to compete. They do not have the prospects to trade for any really good relievers. That being said, now is the time to look for the type of pitcher who has had major league experience and is coming off a contract year. Maybe even signing a former starter and regulating him to the bullpen would be a wise decision.
I really like how the Yankees are making a statement and holding nothing back this hot stove season. I anticipate some more acquisitions in the near future. I only hope they play out. We know from years’ past, some of the more prominent signings have not lived up to the hype.

Parting points: Ohio State beat Juice Williams finally. Penn State rallied for another win. This Big 10 conference is going to get very interesting next week. I couldn’t believe what I was seeing when I saw the Florida-South Carolina score. Wow. Is there any doubt what team deserves to play for the championship?
Song of the day: “Float on” by Modest Mouse