Oct 14
I’m going pull a 180 on Ibanez. For what it’s worth, he’s a fan of Kevin Long. If Raul was willing to take a 2-year deal to play first base in the Bronx, would that be the worst thing in the world for the Yankees over the next two seasons? Probably not.
What do you think?
37 Responses to “Raul Ibanez, On Second Thought”
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October 14th, 2008 at 12:05 pm
It wouldn’t be the worst thing in the world. They need to get creative and do something if they don’t go after Teixeira. Not sure how good Ibanez would be defensively at 1B though.
October 14th, 2008 at 12:50 pm
no thanks.
October 14th, 2008 at 1:15 pm
TurnTwo…do you have any good alternatives? I’m not saying I’m for it, but would like to hear what you think the Yanks should do other than “NO THANKS”.
October 14th, 2008 at 1:20 pm
“do you have any good alternatives?”
yeah. Mark Teixeira.
October 14th, 2008 at 1:23 pm
Obviously this is if they DON’T get Teixeira….I thought that was pretty clear.
October 14th, 2008 at 1:23 pm
He hasn’t played first since 2005, and even then it was only for four games. He’s only played first more than 25 games in a season once, and that was in 2002 (49 games). So we’d be basically signing and another Outfielder to pay firstbase. Pass. I’d rather trade for a real firstbaseman then sign a free agent that we have to shoehorn in there.
October 14th, 2008 at 1:26 pm
I’d rather trade for a real firstbaseman then sign a free agent that we have to shoehorn in there.
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Assuming there is real 1B out there who is available….
October 14th, 2008 at 1:30 pm
“Obviously this is if they DON’T get Teixeira….I thought that was pretty clear.”
i didnt get that from the post. i got this as a suggested short-term alternative to a long term deal for Teixeira.
i could be wrong though. maybe Steve can clarify what he meant for the purposes of discussion.
October 14th, 2008 at 1:36 pm
Assuming there is real 1B out there who is available….
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We’re all assuming here. Steve’s assuming Ibanez would be willing to sign a contract to play out of position.
October 14th, 2008 at 1:39 pm
Kevin Millar has played first more than any other position (by far) and he’s available.
He might liven up that clubhouse with Giambi gone.
October 14th, 2008 at 1:46 pm
But you didn’t name any players in your assumption for me to say I’d prefer player X to Ibanez either….it’s reasonable to assume that Ibanez might be someone who is available who can be looked at to possibly play 1B…but it might not be reasonable to assume to Yankees can just trade for a quality 1B, especially if no names are mentioned for possible targets.
October 14th, 2008 at 2:00 pm
I’m not trying to argue with you Antone. I guess I should have said “I’d rather explore the possibility of trading for a firstbaseman than sign an outfielder to play out of position.” I don’t know who’s going to be available via trade. I’ve heard a variety of names with varying degrees of seriousness. To name a few:
LaRoche
Fielder
Jacobs
Blalock
Kotchman
October 14th, 2008 at 2:20 pm
I’m not arguing either..just trying to discuss the alternatives…seems like everyone wants to say no no no but never has an alternative…
Kotchman and Laroche are the two listed that can hit and field above average. Not sure the Braves or Pirates would give them up though.
Fielder is another Giambi and would probably cost too much to get.
Jacobs is a horrible fielder and has a low OBP.
Blalock might be intriguing, but I would only bring him in to fight for the spot. He hasnt been healthy enough to be counted on to play 1B for a full season.
I think the bigger issue is that the Yankees are going to have to sign at least 2 starters(maybe 3), a 1B, and an OF. I think one of those positions is going to be neglected..meaning that they will get 3 bigger free agents and try to patch holes in the other spot depending on what’s available.
October 14th, 2008 at 2:22 pm
“Fielder is another Giambi and would probably cost too much to get.”
so this is a bad thing how?
October 14th, 2008 at 2:41 pm
Defensively he is another Giambi.
October 14th, 2008 at 2:42 pm
I would not trade away half my farm system for a defensively challenged out of shape 1B. If I could get him for nothing then I would chance it, but that’s not going to happen, so that’s why it’s a bad thing.
October 14th, 2008 at 2:45 pm
would not trade away half my farm system for a defensively challenged out of shape 1B. If I could get him for nothing then I would chance it, but that’s not going to happen, so that’s why it’s a bad thing.
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I dunno, I may be alone here, but I really like Fielder. seems like a great clubhouse guy who tries really hard, and is good with the stick.
October 14th, 2008 at 2:47 pm
I think the bigger issue is that the Yankees are going to have to sign at least 2 starters(maybe 3), a 1B, and an OF.
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Do you mean a centerfielder by OF? Cause if not we got too many OF’s
October 14th, 2008 at 2:54 pm
I think it makes sense if the team decides to go after pitching instead of hitting.
He could at least replace Abreu’s production.
And he’s played over 100 games at first in his career and has a .991 fielding percentage there.
Not bad.
October 14th, 2008 at 3:04 pm
“I dunno, I may be alone here, but I really like Fielder. seems like a great clubhouse guy who tries really hard, and is good with the stick.”
you’re not alone.
and he’s also over a decade younger than Giambi, and will come at a much cheaper price than Giambi, and does not come with a long term commitment.
i believe he’s arbitration eligible for a couple years before he hits the open market. if you trade for him, you can either sign him long(er) term at a fixed rate, or go year to year with him, and give him raises based on his performance.
if he sucks, or gets so grossly out of shape that you feel he is a liability, you let hime go.
but you pair him and ARod together, and youd see 90 HRs between the pair per season.
October 14th, 2008 at 3:19 pm
I’m not saying I’m for it, but would like to hear what you think the Yanks should do other than “NO THANKS”.
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I think the Yanks should take a look @ USS Mariner, and look up the name “Raul Ibanez.” Then they’ll find things like what’s posted below;
“Raul Ibanez isn’t very good, and the smart teams in baseball realize that, but the free agent compensation system is so out of touch with reality that the M’s will be highly rewarded for letting him walk this winter. For what Ibanez is, you should expect at most a B- prospect in return, except that you’ll be getting the chance at something much better by just letting him leave via free agency.”
October 14th, 2008 at 3:47 pm
and he’s also over a decade younger than Giambi, and will come at a much cheaper price than Giambi, and does not come with a long term commitment.
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He’s not cheaper if you factor in the prospects you would have to give up for him. I doubt the Brewers move him for anything less than Hughes.
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Do you mean a centerfielder by OF? Cause if not we got too many OF’s
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Right now they have two OFs…Nady and Damon….Matsui can’t play out there on a regular basis and I wouldn’t want to go into the season relying on Gardner/Melky…but yea I would prefer a CF…but what’s available is not that great.
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Raul Ibanez isn’t very good, and the smart teams in baseball realize that
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That’s being a little harsh…the guy can hit and he certainly would be an excellent DH option…but yeah he does suck in the field.
October 14th, 2008 at 3:59 pm
“He’s not cheaper if you factor in the prospects you would have to give up for him. I doubt the Brewers move him for anything less than Hughes.”
i was talking strictly about salary.
if you want cheap, all you need to do is pay Teixeira. so for me, it comes back there.
but id be willing to trade serious prospects for Fielder, where i wouldnt for the other names mentioned.
October 14th, 2008 at 4:04 pm
How about we take the radical step of actually acquiring a first baseman to play first base? Seriously, what is this obsession you have with dumping broken-down outfielders and catchers at first? First base is actually a very challenging defensive position. Left field is the black hole where you hide somebody. I fail to understand why a team with a $200 million payroll cannot simply sign a player who can field this position. Then again Cashman is the same buffoon who told us for years we didn’t need a left-handed reliever because we had righties who could “neutralize” lefties with their change-ups.
October 14th, 2008 at 4:17 pm
“He’s not cheaper if you factor in the prospects you would have to give up for him. I doubt the Brewers move him for anything less than Hughes.”
i was talking strictly about salary.
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ya he’d be expensive, but really how expensive? Weren’t the Brewers looking to trade him due to his salary desires?I remember something about being pissed off because of how much money Howard got and how litle he got
October 14th, 2008 at 4:26 pm
plus i also feel like he has something more to play for (getting out of his dad’s shadow), I dunno I just see him as a good fit…I’d be willing to give up Hughes Kennedy Horne whoever the Brwers want. Especially if they sign 2 (or more) free agent starters. Maybe they’d even take damon? With Cameron’s contract expiring( they hold an option), and us picking up most of the tab. Then we could re-up abreu and put nady in left. Only prob would be lead off, but I’d like to see Jetes lead it off, (or if gardner could hit him), maybe have Cano bat 2nd (like a spark under his rear)…
October 14th, 2008 at 5:13 pm
Then again Cashman is the same buffoon who told us for years we didn’t need a left-handed reliever because we had righties who could “neutralize” lefties with their change-ups.
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OPS (RHB/LHB)
Tom Gordon
04: (.527/.520)
05: (.642/555)
Mariano Rivera
Career: (.324/.260)
Chris Hammond, LHP
03: (.660/.797)
October 14th, 2008 at 5:18 pm
First base is actually a very challenging defensive position.
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Still, you had players like Frank Thomas, Jason Giambi, Jim Thome, etc, etc, etc man 1b for a considerable number of games…
October 14th, 2008 at 5:58 pm
I miss Gordon, he was never really replaced (unless you count Joba)…Although it was a good move not to resign him.
October 14th, 2008 at 8:55 pm
Umm what are those numbers supposed to prove exactly? That Chris Hammond sucked? That the greatest closer in history can get pretty much anybody out? Thanks, I didn’t know that. And how does the fact that three fat pantloads played first disprove my point about first being a challenging defensive position. Matt Nokes played a lot of games at catcher. Does that mean that catcher isn’t a challenging defensive position?
October 15th, 2008 at 12:04 am
Umm what are those numbers supposed to prove exactly?
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To quote “Cashman is the same buffoon who told us for years we didn’t need a left-handed reliever because we had righties who could “neutralize” lefties”
I gave you two examples of RHP that neutralized lefties, and a lefty, who threw a changeup, who neutralized righties.
And how does the fact that three fat pantloads played first disprove my point about first being a challenging defensive position.
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Shows that it’s not as relevant as you think. Minky was a great glove man, but pretty much settled into his role as a LIDR.
Matt Nokes played a lot of games at catcher. You know why? Because he could hit. Doesn’t change the fact that it’s a challenging defensive position, but here’s the relevant part IF A PLAYER CAN HIT, teams are willing to overlook a players defensive deficiency to get their bat in the lineup. That’s just the way the game is. If defense @ 1b was such a premium, guys like Travis Lee and Doug Mientkiewicz would get considerably more PT than their offensive minded counterparts.
October 15th, 2008 at 10:16 am
How about getting a first baseman who can hit AND field? We’re not talking about a situation where the Yankees have some stud slugging first baseman in their system that they need to find a way to plug into their lineup. We’re talking about going out and acquiring a new first baseman. Why would you replace a guy with Giambi’s profile with ANOTHER guy who can hit but can’t move, catch, or throw the ball? Isn’t the idea to upgrade the position? When did the Yankees develop this peasant mentality where they feel they have to patch tires every year with guys playing out of their natural positions? Oh, right, when Cashman became the principal decision-maker…
October 15th, 2008 at 10:46 am
When did the Yankees develop this peasant mentality where they feel they have to patch tires every year with guys playing out of their natural positions? Oh, right, when Cashman became the principal decision-maker…
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What are you talking about? Who’s playing out of position?
The number of games played @ 1b by players who were playing out of position is not that many. Even less, if you count those who have started @ 1b.
October 15th, 2008 at 11:02 am
“What are you talking about? Who’s playing out of position?”
dont allow facts to get in the way of some good ol’ brian cashman-hating.
October 15th, 2008 at 11:41 am
“When did the Yankees develop this peasant mentality where they feel they have to patch tires every year with guys playing out of their natural positions? Oh, right, when Cashman became the principal decision-maker…”
Don’t confuse the decisions the Yanks make with the ideas tossed out by Steve. No one on the Yankees is making this move; rather, Steve is proposing it as a potential idea. The Yanks haven’t adopted any sort of peasant mentality. Otherwise, they wouldn’t be so obviously interested in Sabathia and Teixeira.
October 15th, 2008 at 12:28 pm
just to throw it out there, but i read this on prince’s wikipedia page:
Prior to the beginning of the 2008 season Fielder became a vegetarian by removing meat and fish from his diet. The change came about after reading Rory Freedman and Kim Barnouin’s diet book Skinny Bitch. The book, given to him by his wife Chanel, advocates a pure vegan lifestyle while detailing the viciousness of factory farming and animal cruelty.[12][13]
if he actually stuck by that he’d lose weight, therefore becoming mobile. Sometimes being fat when your young is more a product of your parents eating habbits and as you grow it changes, perhaps he’s changing…altho perhaps not
October 16th, 2008 at 5:15 am
I could entertain that, though it definately shouldn’t be plan A.