Yankee Fans, Be Patient!
By Ricky Keeler
As I have been on the Twitter over the last couple of weeks, I see people are yearning for Brian Cashman to make some free agent signings. So far, the Hot Stove has not lit up in terms of free agent deals with the exception of the Red Sox getting worse by losing closer Jonathan Papelbon to the Philadelphia Phillies. The Miami Marlins have been one of the flashy team wining and dining free agents like Mark Buehrle, Jose Reyes, and Albert Pujols. They even have offers on the table for these guys already, but let me give some Yankee fans these patient words.
The place where we see the most action involving free agents is going to be when the MLB winter meetings begin on December 5th. Right now, the rumors are being put in place and the action will be consolidated there. Cashman brought in the big signing for the Yankees when they got star pitcher CC Sabathia to come back to New York for the next 5+ years. Now, they have to sit back and see who they can get to help the 2012 team and at what price.
Right now, from reading tweets from MLB insider Jon Heyman, the Yankees seem to be interested in starting pitchers C.J Wilson and Edwin Jackson. However, the asking price seems to be too much and the reason for that is there is not the quality of starters on the market compared to past years. New York is not going to overpay for pitching or they will end up with another A.J Burnett-esque contract. Like I have written on this site, I do not think Wilson is worth $100 million (let alone the reported 6 yrs/$120 he isasking for) with his playoff inconsistencies. Let him walk to Los Angeles if he wants that money.
The one thing I loved about what Cashman did last year was that he made smart no-risk signings that made the team better. This team won 97 games last year even with no starting pitching and was within one big hit of reaching the ALCS. They just need some role players on the bench and a starting pitcher at their price.
There is a marketable player the Yankees could get for their bench and that is outfielder Grady Sizemore of the Cleveland Indians. He is a free agent and is a good hitter off the bench when he is healthy. He is similar to Eric Chavez in terms of when he stays on the field, he is a great asset to the team. You can also use him for his defense as a 4th outfielder if you do not bring Andruw Jones back next season.
As far as a starter goes, Freddy Garcia could be the guy the Yankees bring back. There is mutual interest on both sides and from June 15th on, Garcia was reliable up until the month of September. The Red Sox are reportedly interested in him, but I think they are just raising the price for the Bombers. I like Mark Buehrle as an external option because of his winning pedigree, but I would not overpay him to be a number two starter.