There are few notable rehabilitation projects this off-season. It’s is interesting to see what kind of deals they can get and where they land. The most interesting part for me is how they perform in 2010 and which team ends up with getting the highest reward for their relatively cheap signings.
The list includes Rich Harden, Justin Duchscherer, Kelvim Escobar, Ben Sheets and Chien-Ming Wang. Anyone else?
Three pitchers on the list already got their deals that are all major league deals. According to reports, Ben Sheets is seeking for 12MM deal while there are 15 teams are interested in signing Wang.
As the list below shows, I guess Ben sheets will get a deal close to what Rich Harden gets while Wang will get a similar deal as Kelvim Escobar or Justin Duchscherer. Agree? Disagree?
Who will perform the best in 2010 is everyone’s guess. As a Taiwanese, I hope is Wang. However, I think Ben Sheets will pitch the best among them because it seems Rich Harden and Justin Duchscherer get injured a lot while Wang and Escobar come off shoulder injuries. Agree? Disagree?
Rangers Rich Harden (born 1981, 11, 30)
Injury & Achievement
1) Has a checkered health history (he's never pitched 190 innings in a season)
2) He's got No. 1 stuff and averaging 9.4 per nine innings throughout his career.
Base Deal
$6.5MM
Incentives
1) 3.5MM based on innings pitched
2) 11MM mutual option for 2011
3) 1MM buyout for 2011 mutual option
A's Justin Duchscherer (born 1977, 11, 19)
Injury & Achievement
1) Proved dominant as both a starter and reliever, posting a 2.82 ERA in 214 appearances for the A's.
2) Spent most of the season on the disabled list with an injured right hip in 2007
3) Missed the 2009 season due to shoulder and back injuries and a bout with clinical depression
Base Deal
$2MM
Incentives
1) 3.5MM based on games started and innings pitched
Mets Kelvim Escobar (born 1976, 4, 11)
Injury & Achievement
1) Between 2004 and 2007, Escobar posted a 3.60 ERA and a 2.63 K-BB ratio with Angels
2) He missed the entire 2008 season with shoulder problems
3) Labrum surgery in July 2008 limited him to just five innings of major league work in 2009
Base Deal
$1.25MM
Incentives
1) 125K for making the Mets' Opening Day roster
2) 2MM based on games pitched
3) 1MM based on games finished
Ben Sheets (born 1978, 7, 18)
Injury & Achievement
1) Missing all of 2009 with a torn flexor tendon in his right elbow
2) Posted a 3.09 ERA in 2008 ?
Chien-Ming Wang (born 1980, 3, 31)
Injury & Achievement
1) 2 times 19 games winner with 55-26 record in five years with the Yankees
2) Start 2008 season with 8-2 record before injuring his right foot when running the base
3) Coming off right shoulder surgery and might not be able to pitch until midseason
Monday, December 28, 2009
Wang: I will be ready for rehabilitation games at April
I know Wang’s days in Pinstripes are over. Just for someone may still have interests in knowing what is going on with Wang.
During the latest public appearance last Friday for his charity fund which will be the last one in Taiwan as Wang is going to go back to the United States at the end of December, Wang said he has no hard feeling toward to Yankees for the decision of letting him go because he understands the team has their own considerations.
He will go to Alabama to see Doctor James Andrews on January 4th in order to get the updated information on his injured right shoulder. After that, he will go to Fisher center for the rehabilitation continuously.
As for his future, he is interested in playing for any team no matter where the team is located. It all depends on how the negotiation goes. He focuses on his rehabilitation and the rest of stuffs he will leave to his agent.
As for his progress, he begins his long-toss program on the flat ground on Dec 1st. Right now, He has thrown 3 days a week with 55 throws per days, including 15 throws at 45 feet, 25 throws at 60 feet and 15 throws at 90 feet. So far, there is no issue and he feels great. He expects to be ready for rehabilitation games on April and then major league games on May.
During the latest public appearance last Friday for his charity fund which will be the last one in Taiwan as Wang is going to go back to the United States at the end of December, Wang said he has no hard feeling toward to Yankees for the decision of letting him go because he understands the team has their own considerations.
He will go to Alabama to see Doctor James Andrews on January 4th in order to get the updated information on his injured right shoulder. After that, he will go to Fisher center for the rehabilitation continuously.
As for his future, he is interested in playing for any team no matter where the team is located. It all depends on how the negotiation goes. He focuses on his rehabilitation and the rest of stuffs he will leave to his agent.
As for his progress, he begins his long-toss program on the flat ground on Dec 1st. Right now, He has thrown 3 days a week with 55 throws per days, including 15 throws at 45 feet, 25 throws at 60 feet and 15 throws at 90 feet. So far, there is no issue and he feels great. He expects to be ready for rehabilitation games on April and then major league games on May.
Friday, December 25, 2009
Happy Holidays!
First of all, Happy Holidays! I know I haven’t updated my blog regularly lately. Thanks the patience from all of my readers if there is anyone left right now.
As you guys know, I have been back to Taiwan from Australia for few months. I just got my new job almost 2 months ago. Before settling down, I really can’t spend too much time on my blog. There is nothing to do with Wang’s leave.
I know I promise to set up my new website. That plan is still out there. Hopefully, it can become reality pretty soon.
Of course, Yankees always have ways to keep fans busy during off-season. There is no exception this time around. There are many moves happening and I haven’t missed any one of them. I will post my comments shortly. However, this post belongs to holidays.
After more than 10 years moving around Tainan, Taipei, Kaohsiung, Los Angeles and Sydney by myself, I decide to go back to Taiwan and stays with my family.
It turns out to be a great decision. I have been pretty enjoyed the time with my family. We have watched movies and worked out together. We all know it is good to do whatever you want when you live outside by yourself. However, you will feel pretty lonely during holidays and the days you are sick. Trust me on that if you haven’t lived by yourself.
My family is planning to celebrate New Year somewhere in Taiwan. How about you guys? Any plan?
Thursday, December 10, 2009
Welcome Back, Andy
Andy Pettitte re-signs with Yankees for one year deal which is worthy 11.75M. Our rotation certainly looks much better with Andy in fold.
Wednesday, December 9, 2009
Curtis Granderson and Brian Bruney trades
It seems Yankees never stay still during any point of season, including off-season and playoffs. This certainly gives Yankees fans many things to talk about and have chances to love Yankees more which is a good thing.
There is no exception this off-season as well.
As for Brian Bruney trade, I really can't say I will miss him because it seems to me he always walks tons of guys that is a big no-no for me to a pitcher. I rather pitchers to give up hits than walking guys.
As for Curtis Granderson trade, my first reaction is Yankees giving up a little bit too much for him. Personally, I won't give up Austin Jackson for him. That being saying, I will rather Yankees have him than giving another big long term contract to relative older players, such as Jason Bay and Matt Holliday. Of course, I know they are much better overall players than Curtis Granderson. But, at some point, you have to ask how many long term contracts Yankees want to tie to for at least next 5 years.
I don't know prospects good enough to say which team gets the best deal out of this three-way trade. However, no one knows for sure how all the prospects will turn out to be.
If what Brian Cashman says is true which Yankees’ priority this off-season is pitching and a left fielder with no-so-firm fewer pay roll on hand, I think this deal means few things. First of all, I think this deal pretty much closes door on Jason Bay and Matt Holliday. Brian Cashman always likes to have flexibility. I don’t think he will go out to give another long term deal.
As for Johnny Damon, Yankees probably gain some leverages during negotiation. If Damon asks more than 2 year deal which I won’t give to him, I can see Yankees go to lesser players in order to add some depth. As we see this season, Melky and Gardner can handle the platoon situation. That being saying, Damon is a good fit to no.2 spot as DH and plays some games at the left field in order to give DH spot for Posada, Jeter, A-Rod and Teixeira once a while.
Brian Cashman probably focuses on starting pitchers and bench players from this point on. However, I think this deal may have an impact on Roy Halladay deal for couple of reasons. Of course, I assume Yankees will get Pettitte’s deal done at some point of this off-season.
Firstly, I don’t think Cashman is willing to give up prospects and giving another big long term contract to a pitcher after signing AJ and CC the past off-season. As history shows, there is a big risk to give any pitcher a long term contract. One will think two long term contracts to pitchers will be enough. I know Roy Halladay is an ACE, but he will be 33 year old in 2010. Do you really want to sign him through 37,38?
Secondly, I don’t think Cashman want to give up all good prospects he has at the same off-season after dealing Austin Jackson, Ian Kennedy and Phil Coke. You don’t give up prospects and let him walk at the end of 2010 season. Draft picks mean much less for Yankees than other small market teams. As Girardi shows he can handle the bullpen well, Yankees will need all the pitching depth they have on the higher minor league system to fill up their bullpen and(or) rotation. You can’t deal all of them away.
If I have to guess now, I think Yankees will bet and sign one or two veteran starting pitchers for a short term deal this off-season in order to fill up the end of rotation. Let us wait and see.
Let’s Go Yankees!
There is no exception this off-season as well.
As for Brian Bruney trade, I really can't say I will miss him because it seems to me he always walks tons of guys that is a big no-no for me to a pitcher. I rather pitchers to give up hits than walking guys.
As for Curtis Granderson trade, my first reaction is Yankees giving up a little bit too much for him. Personally, I won't give up Austin Jackson for him. That being saying, I will rather Yankees have him than giving another big long term contract to relative older players, such as Jason Bay and Matt Holliday. Of course, I know they are much better overall players than Curtis Granderson. But, at some point, you have to ask how many long term contracts Yankees want to tie to for at least next 5 years.
I don't know prospects good enough to say which team gets the best deal out of this three-way trade. However, no one knows for sure how all the prospects will turn out to be.
If what Brian Cashman says is true which Yankees’ priority this off-season is pitching and a left fielder with no-so-firm fewer pay roll on hand, I think this deal means few things. First of all, I think this deal pretty much closes door on Jason Bay and Matt Holliday. Brian Cashman always likes to have flexibility. I don’t think he will go out to give another long term deal.
As for Johnny Damon, Yankees probably gain some leverages during negotiation. If Damon asks more than 2 year deal which I won’t give to him, I can see Yankees go to lesser players in order to add some depth. As we see this season, Melky and Gardner can handle the platoon situation. That being saying, Damon is a good fit to no.2 spot as DH and plays some games at the left field in order to give DH spot for Posada, Jeter, A-Rod and Teixeira once a while.
Brian Cashman probably focuses on starting pitchers and bench players from this point on. However, I think this deal may have an impact on Roy Halladay deal for couple of reasons. Of course, I assume Yankees will get Pettitte’s deal done at some point of this off-season.
Firstly, I don’t think Cashman is willing to give up prospects and giving another big long term contract to a pitcher after signing AJ and CC the past off-season. As history shows, there is a big risk to give any pitcher a long term contract. One will think two long term contracts to pitchers will be enough. I know Roy Halladay is an ACE, but he will be 33 year old in 2010. Do you really want to sign him through 37,38?
Secondly, I don’t think Cashman want to give up all good prospects he has at the same off-season after dealing Austin Jackson, Ian Kennedy and Phil Coke. You don’t give up prospects and let him walk at the end of 2010 season. Draft picks mean much less for Yankees than other small market teams. As Girardi shows he can handle the bullpen well, Yankees will need all the pitching depth they have on the higher minor league system to fill up their bullpen and(or) rotation. You can’t deal all of them away.
If I have to guess now, I think Yankees will bet and sign one or two veteran starting pitchers for a short term deal this off-season in order to fill up the end of rotation. Let us wait and see.
Let’s Go Yankees!
Wednesday, December 2, 2009
Two tidbits from Taiwan related to Yankees
# According to Taiwanese news, NY Yankees Scout Donny Rowland is going to come to Taiwan to hold the press conference in order announce the signing of a 18-year-old Taiwanese player, 郭阜林(his Chinese name, I can't find his English name), for about three hundred thousand dollars.If you guys are able to read Mandarin, please use this link to read the full profile of this player.
He is an infield who plays great defense at third base. Basically, he is right-handed power hitter who hits the middle of lineup to drive in runs. His batting average is 0.485 and he drives in 16 runs during the most recent tournament he plays.
# Wang starts light tosses in Taiwan based on Taiwanese news.
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