Matsui would be the first choice. Possibly Cano when he gets hot. But Matsui is a professional hitter and should do at least as well as Abreau and I think probably better. Girardi is going to want to keep the lefty/righty/lefty thing so Arod stays at 4. Also, on Burnett…I think people have to keep in mind that he would be slotted at best at the number 3 hole if Sabathia is signed behind CC and Wang. And Burnett as a number 3 starter should be terrific if he stays healthy. Of course this is a big ‘if’. But with his stuff vs Sheets or Garland or almost anyone else, as the number 3 starter he is the best option. Try to remember he isn’t being recruited to be the number 1 and probably not the number 2. Hell, if Joba comes through Burnett could wind up the number 4 starter. This from one of the top 3 number 2′s in the game last year. Not bad at all!!

Pitchers will continue to throw Cano junk because he will swing at it and get himself out.

the reason i say cano is when he’s down lower in the order, pitchers can afford to throw him junk (which he will swing at no matter what) whereas if A-Rod is behind him, they will have to throw him at least a pitch or two to hit per AB (Even if he doesn’t take that many walks)

I say move everyone up a spot in the order, so Rodriguez would be the #3 hitter in the lineup.

maybe cano at the 3 hole? get him some good pitches to hit

So if we lose out on Tex and can’t find another reasonable bat, who’ll be our 3 hitter? Matsui? Posada?

I say Matsui.

Still couldn’t hurt to make him an offer… It’s like Pavano & Clement back in 04. Clement was the better pitcher up to that point, but got a lesser deal from the Red Sox.

The thing about Sheets is we have no clue what he wants for years and cost. I think he’s sitting back to see how the market develops for CC and Burnett and then we’ll hear what he’s looking for. I’d have no problem taking a chance on Sheets if Burnett asks for 5 years or an annual salary over $15 million…both of which are likely.

I would give Ben Sheets a look, he is like Key in that he has been effective when healthy, and to me is a better option than Burnett.
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agreed, i’d rather give sheets 2-3 yrs vs burnett 5

Jimmy Key, while he may have suffered injuries in the Jays system, he managed to throw 200+ innings several times. I loved watching him pitch, I think I made every one of his NY starts in 93, and was bummed when he got hurt in 95.

Jaret Wright, OTOH, was a bad move no matter which way you cut it.

I would give Ben Sheets a look, he is like Key in that he has been effective when healthy, and to me is a better option than Burnett.