Yankees have an opening in their rotation

Ken Rosenthal is reporting today that Mike Mussina will retire this offseason. I wonder what the Yankees willl do to fill his spot in the rotation? Maybe there are some free agents available for them to sign -- if they have the money, of course.

7 months ago Buckeye Brad Comment 30 comments 0 recs |

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Let’s assume Pettitte stays and they do what they’ve been saying they want to do.

Sabathia
Wang
Burnett/Lowe
Pettitte
Justin

How do I say this without sounding stupid … I kind of want Phil Hughes. I know, I know.

Steel Nick

by nickjs21 on Nov 19, 2008 6:27 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

Gutz + ??? for Hughes?

See if we can get them to throw in Kennedy too while were at it.

I doubt we get either, but itd be nice to try.

by world dictator on Nov 19, 2008 8:01 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

I’m just going to assume the Yankees ask for a lot.

Steel Nick

by nickjs21 on Nov 19, 2008 8:18 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

That’s a damn good looking rotation. If the Yankees get those guys they will be formidable next year.

The best thing probably is to hit [Grady] 2nd -- Jay

by Buckeye Brad on Nov 19, 2008 8:20 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

That of course is until CC breaks down from this past years overuse, Justin breaks down from the switch back to the rotation, Pettitte finally falls off, and Burnett gets injured like he always does.

by hans on Nov 19, 2008 10:50 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Well, first they learned that you can’t fill a rotation entirely with free agents. Next they learned that, if you have three advanced starting pitching prospects, the likelihood that all three will fail to produce in the same season is actually pretty high. I’m assuming the next lesson is the one the Red Sox figured out years ago: Unlike the rest of the league, they can afford both strategies simultaneously.

I really enjoy that the “Yankees developing their own starters” strategy lasted all of one (1) season, though. A hundred mediocre innings from Chamberlain, and no-shows by Kennedy and Hughes, and the entire fanbase howls for the two most expensive starters on the market. Way to tough it out, Yanks.

This is a great time to remind everybody about the voluntary moratorium on referring to Ian Patrick Kennedy by his initials, or the alternative: Calling our #5 ceiling starting prospects by their initials and expecting the rest of the planet to know who we’re talking about. Go JBS! Go ZTJ!

by fleerdon on Nov 20, 2008 12:25 PM EST up reply actions 1 recs

society killed Kennedy and Hughes.

Travis Hafner is overrated. Clarity is underrated. David Dellucci is David Dellucci.

by westbrook on Nov 20, 2008 1:53 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

when after all it was you and me

by SuddenSam on Nov 20, 2008 7:25 PM EST up reply actions 2 recs

I know they’re the yankees and all, but I doubt they sign CC and Burnett/Lowe.

Travis Hafner is overrated. Clarity is underrated. David Dellucci is David Dellucci.

by westbrook on Nov 19, 2008 9:16 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

They believe they can and some people are drinking the kool-aid. That’s why I said I was assuming they do what they say they intend to.

Steel Nick

by nickjs21 on Nov 19, 2008 9:44 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

I was always a big fan of Mussina. Mussina along with Schilling and Smoltz should make for some good HoF debates. Personally, I’d like to see all three get in.

by ClarkM on Nov 19, 2008 6:43 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

isn’t Smoltz a lock?

by JP_Frost on Nov 19, 2008 7:23 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

What makes you think he’s a lock? He doesn’t have 300 wins, he doesn’t have multiple 20 win seasons or multiple Cy Youngs.

by ClarkM on Nov 20, 2008 12:56 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Count the winzzzz + savezzzzz.

Steel Nick

by nickjs21 on Nov 20, 2008 2:13 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Smoltz is a lead pipe lock. The other two will make for great debates, and the one over Schilling will be nasty.

by SuddenSam on Nov 20, 2008 7:37 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

I won’t call him a lock, but I would definitely vote him.

Smoltz’ career as a reliever was much shorter but every bit as dominant as Eckersley’s, while his career as a starter was much longer and much more impressive. If Eckersley is the template for a split career, Smoltz should get in easily.

I believe he will narrowly make it on the first ballot.

by Jay on Nov 21, 2008 12:42 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

minus the Rick Manning factor

by SuddenSam on Nov 21, 2008 9:20 AM EST up reply actions 1 recs

Different kind of split career.

by Jay on Nov 21, 2008 11:59 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Total lock.

Don't be stupid. PUT IN MELOAN.

by gte619n on Nov 24, 2008 2:31 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Poz had a post a couple days ago about Mussina where he compared his career stats to Juan Marichal’s. They were quite similar in almost every way except ERA because, of course, Marichal pitched in a pitching era and Mussina pitched in an offensive era. Mussina was never known as an intimidating, dominating pitcher — like Clemens, Pedro, Big Unit, even Maddux — but his numbers are almost just as good. I think Mussina’s got a good shot at the Hall, and it certainly helped to get that magic 20-win season this year.

The best thing probably is to hit [Grady] 2nd -- Jay

by Buckeye Brad on Nov 19, 2008 8:01 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs