2013-14 MLB Hot Stove thread

Richard Justice on the Tony Kornheiser Show today said Matt Williams (now D'backs bench coach) is the favorite for the Nats manager job & that Brad Ausmus (Padres special assistant & Israel WBC manager) is a possibility with the Cubs.

 

The names most reporters are throwing around for the Nats job are Williams, the two in-house guys with Knorr leading the way, and Cal.

Werth said he'd prefer Cal.
Several other players have said they want Knorr.

My guess? Knorr. There's no reason to go outside the clubhouse for this hire. Seamless transition.

 

Who is Cal? Ripken?

 

Yes, he means Ripken. Not much substance to it, other than Werth saying it off-the-cuff.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/sports/nationals/jayson-werth-says-cal-ripken-jr-would-be-his-top-choice-as-washington-nationals-manager/2013/09/28/ee8bc8e6-2869-11e3-97e6-2e07cad1b77e_story.html

 

Yeah, because hiring former star players with no managerial experience to be your big-league manager always works out great. Walt Weiss and Robin Ventura have really lit up the league.

 

Steak, that av is seizure inducing.

I don't mean that in a bad way though.

 

This is probably the most intense offseason of Brian Cashman's career. He's had a few years with a lot of roster turnover, but it was a matter of dealing with known quantities - players retiring, unwanted contracts expiring, etc.

This year, he has to figure out:
- The Cano situation. Cano reportedly wants 10 years, $305 million. Cashman and the Yankees want to get under the $189 million cap to reset their luxury tax number and stop financing their opposition. He's the best free agent out there and will command a big deal, but the Yankees have to be gunshy about a deal longer than six years for a middle infielder on the wrong side of 30. Cashman says he hopes Cano is the first Dominican to be enshrined in Monument Park. It's going to take a huge contract for a player who doesn't run out every ball and may have links to Biogenesis to make that happen.

- The Jeter situation. Will Jeter exercise his $9.5 million option, which could escalate to $16.5 million? If so, how do the Yankees handle the 39-year-old shortstop? He doesn't have enough power to be your DH, so you're talking about relying on him to play at least, what, 140 games in the field? Will they resign Brendan Ryan to back him up and not worry about offense? If Jeter declines the option, what, if anything, do the Yankees offer him?

- The Granderson situation. Do they make him a qualifying offer and, if so, do they lowball him based off this year's lack of numbers because of the injuries? Do they make him a legit offer and try to keep him off the open market? Will they rotate Granderson, Gardner and Soriano in center and left (with Ichiro in right)?

- The A-Rod situation. Will they be without their starting third baseman for the entire 2014 season (and maybe beyond), or will his suspension be reduced, allowing him to play next season. Eduardo Nunez has played a surprisingly good third base over the final couple weeks, and Mark Reynolds has been pretty good there as well. But both are largely considered minus fielders at the position. Do the Yankees stick with one of them or look elsewhere?

The Bullpen situation. For the first time in nearly two decades, the Yankees need a closer. Is Robertson good enough to take over Mo's mantle? Do they just hand him the closer role, or is he on a short leash? Will they bring in an established closer?

The Rotation situation. Sabathia was not himself this year and may never be again. Nova was strong. Pettitte is retiring, Hughes will likely leave in free agency (National League would be great for him). Kuroda was great early, but tumbled to the end of the season and may be done. Will they resign him and hope for his first half numbers?

- The Teixeira situation. Will he be healthy enough to give Cano everyday protection in the lineup and provide superior defense in the field? Who will fill the void if he has another injury-riddled season?

That's off the top of my head. I may be missing some of the question marks he's facing.

Oh, duh, forgot about the Girardi situation. My guess is the Yankees resign Girardi with little issue, but as others have mentioned, he may simply want to head to the Windy City.

Cashman may not sleep until Easter.

 

And he has to navigate all that just to keep the team from getting worse, when it wasn't good enough to begin with.

 

The Yankees lost five of their top six hitters (ARod, Teixeira, Granderson, Jeter and Youkilis) for a combined 645 games this year - nearly four full seasons. And they were in the race until the final week or two of the season.

Great job by Girardi and the guys who managed to stay on the field.

 

That's what happens when your best hitters are all ancient infielders. They get hurt.

 

I agree with you in principle, of course, but I'd point out that Granderson (an outfielder) was lost because he was hit by pitches, and Teixeira (at 33 isn't ancient) suffered an odd wrist injury that isn't really age-related either (just ask Jose Bautista). They weren't injuries the Yankees could have foreseen in any way.

 

Reds eliminated, so the Shin Soo Choo speculation can began. If Pence got $18 million per year, what will Choo get?