Jon Heyman says that the Yankees are considering free agent 2B Orlando Hudson.

The Yankees might have to consider some rejiggering as well, since they currently have the talented Robinson Cano at second base. While they could consider moving Cano to first base, the more likely scenario would be to trade Cano, either for a centerfielder (how about David DeJesus, who may be expendable now that the Royals have Coco Crisp) or a pitcher.

With Hudson likely to command upward of $50 million over 5 years despite a dislocated bone in his left wrist.  In addition to the concerns about his bat, it gives me concerns about his ability to hang in the pivot on the double play.  Just like when a catcher misses time after a collision, or when a pitcher gets hit by a batted ball, I want to see Hudson make the plays before I really trust him.

David DeJesus is what he is, a decent centerfielder who will turn 29 in a month, though he is economically signed for the next three seasons (3.6, 4.7, and an option for 6).  But Cano is 3 years younger and scheduled to make, 6, 9, 10 with options at 14 and 15.

I think Brian Cashman has to kick the tires on Hudson, with a price ceiling in mind.  If Hudson wants to play for the Yankees, then flipping Cano for pitching or moving him to first or right field makes sense.

Could the Yanks put Cano (rather than Hughes) at the center of a Peavy deal?  I doubt it.  What other teams have young pitching and are in the market for a 2B?

via graphics8.nytimes.com

Joe Posnanski of the Kansas City Star takes some interesting date from the Bill James Handbook and concludes that Mariano Rivera was the best closer in baseball in 2008.

We've all known that Mariano had an incredible season (a career best 0.67 WHIP, a 1.40 ERA that missed his career best by 0.02 points, 77K against a career low 6BB(!!!) in 70.2IP, not to mention pitching 70+ innings for the 6th straight season and 8th out of 9).  Mo finished 5th in Cy Young voting; it's the fifth time he's received votes (fun fact: Mo has appeared on the Cy ballot 5 times and the MVP ballot 8 times).

Bill James divides saves into three categories: easy saves, a regular save (1 run lead in a clean 9th), and tough saves.  Only Mo had as many as 5 tough saves last season, and he recorded each of them.

Never content to let statistical brilliance suffice when analytic observations can be added, Poz goes on to argue that Rivera has been even more valuable than his numbers because a the negative impact of an ineffective closer:

definitely seems to have an effect on the general atmosphere, the energy level, the manager’s enthusiasm, the talk radio tenor and so on. These things are multiplied in New York. And basically, in the case of Mariano, one guy has more or less eliminated that negativity from the equation.

An interesting theory to say the least, and an angle I think that Brian Cashman was forced to consider when he gave Mariano that $45M/3Y deal.  You can claim Yankee fans are different than other fans in a dozen ways like expectations, energy, expertise (sorry, I'm a sucker for alliteration).  But like every other fan base, we love our home grown players best.  And that makes it all the sweeter when the world sees that player is the best in the game.

Ken Rosenthal brings back the Yankees-Peavy rumors.

A Peavy trade, however, would be more complicated for the Yankees than it would be for his preferred National League clubs, the Braves and Cubs. For starters, Peavy -- who holds a full no-trade clause -- might not want to play in New York.

And the Yankees, after trading five young pitchers in recent deals for Nick Swisher and Xavier Nady/Damaso Marte, might simply prefer to spend on free agents.

Rosenthal makes two very good observations here that show why if the Yankees get Peavy it will be regarded as the deal of the year.

First, the Yankees already moved Ross Ohlendorf, Jeff Karstens, Daniel McCutchen, and Jeff Marquez from the MLB bullpen and AAA rotation.  Add in the loss of Jhonny Nunez and Jose Tabata and it's easy to feel like the Yanks have been jetisonning prospects like the '80s.

But, as Chad Jennings recently opined on his SWB Blog, there are about 8 different pitchers who could be fighting for starts in Scranton: Alfredo Aceves, Phil Coke, Alan Horne, Phil Hughes, Kei Igawa, Ian Kennedy, George Kontos, and Chase Wright.  While I figure at least 2 of these guys will break camp in the MLB pen (Horne and Coke?), that still leaves 6 guys who could make at least an MLB spot-start, and a couple who have the potential to fill a hole. 

So while the Yankees have been trading from their depth, it's still a significant depth.

Second, Brian Cashman has already proven that he's not willing to trade prospects just to dole out money.  He resisted trading for Santana last off-season and for Sabathia at the deadline.  So, for NY to become Peavy's destination, the Padres would have to accept a somewhat lesser deal.

Lesser is a relative term, though, so I would think Hughes, Melky/Gardner, and one of the guys listed as AAA possibles.  The Padres once showed interest in Kei Igawa: they've got a big ball park to hold fly balls and somewhere there's a pitching coach who thinks he's good enough to make Igawa's swing and miss stuff overcome his high and far results.

I'm filing any Peavy-Yankee rumors under "unlikely"  until I see the presser on YES.

Dropkick Murphys - Which Side Are You On? (via ZMKproductions)

1)  Sabathia will have to make his decision quickly, or else the MLB Player's Union is likely to come breathing down his neck.  He has the chance to lift the salary of every free agent starting pitcher for the next several years, even as Bud Selig and the other owners talk of <a href="http://www.commercialappeal.com/news/2008/nov/05/selig-warns-gms-about-economy/?feedback=1" target=_blank>fiscal responsibility</a>.

With the bosses threatening to pinch pennies, the union is going to want every player to grab the biggest paycheck available.  A high tide lifts all ships, and a plump pitcher in the Bronx inflates all contracts.

2)  Remember our outrage when Jared Wright cost $10 million dollars?

If the Yankees wind up giving Sabathia $150 M over 6 or 7 years it also makes Andy Pettitte, Derek Lowe, and AJ Burnett more expensive.  I'm not saying the Steinbrenners' checkbook can't handle it; the fans will have to (once again) readjust our tolerance for what is an acceptable salary for an entertainer who works from March through October.

On the other hand, it makes Phil Hughes, Jake Peavy and prospects that much more valuable.

NYTimes:

Swisher, who turns 28 this month, is the first baseman of the moment for the Yankees, who hope his disappointing 2008 season was an aberration.

For the low, low price of Jeff Marquez, Jhonny Nunez, and Wilson Betemit, we've got a 1B/ corner OF.

At 28, Swisher is young, athletic, and a solid bat.  His Batting Average on Balls in Play last season was .251, 28 points below his career average.  To me, that screams bad luck, especially since his LD% went up from 2007 to 2008.

If Swisher rebounds to 2007 (.262/.381/.455), it's only a slight step down from Giambi's .247/.373/.502.

And better yet would be to sign Teixeira anyways.

While the Blogfather believes that trading corner outfielders would indicate that "Cashman blows it all up," I think trading either Nady or Damon makes more sense than ever IF (note the big if) the Yanks can find a centerfielder.  Otherwise, we're looking at Damon in center, Nady and Swisher on the corners, and Melky or Gardner as the fourth outfielder.

The Yankees are a better team than they were this morning.  And upgrading offense and defense at the same time rocks.

To my chagrin I missed this during the week, and only caught it on MLB Trade Rumors' weekly roundup.

The Yankees have signed former Marlin and current TJ recoveree Sirge Mitre to a one year deal with a team option for 2010.   Mitre is one of the young guns that Girardi 'ruined' in Florida.

Due to the severe surgery on his right elbow, Mitre may not be ready to pitch until midseason, according to his agent, Matt Sosnick. Normal recovery time from Tommy John surgery is 12-18 months.

He'll make 1.25 million this year.  They're calling it a "split" contract, so I assume that 1.25 is pro-rated for the time he spends in the bigs.

I think this is an astute move by Cash.  The option prevents a repeat of the Octavio Dotel mess.  And that Mitre could start or relieve allows us to fill whichever is a need (it'll be the rotation).

The worst case scenario is that Mitre takes Sidney Ponson's meaningless innings.  Break even is that the Yanks play well enough and stay healthy enough that they never really need him.  And if Mitre contributes to a playoff run, I want it noted that on November 10th, I made the first Jon Lieber comparison.