Comments on: Yankees: Sign Cespedes, Trade Montero?

By: Sam C

Sam C — Fri, 13 Jan 2012 01:52:00 +0000

Cespedes has those numbers in the Cuban leagues which is around an A/AA level. His swing doesn’t look that great from the video, and his ego from the video seems to high to be able to handle the ups and downs of the major leagues. I’ve never been a fan of this guy, and giving him up for Swisher (who had one bad series and everyone is calling for his head) seems to me like the worst move possible. That and your signing a 26 year old prospect, who since he’s from LA and there is a history of age adjustment from Latin American players you have to worry if your going to get any improvement from him. My guess is with a 4 year deal you get 1-2 years of prime play and the rest his age decline.

By: Marc Smilow

Marc Smilow — Sun, 08 Jan 2012 07:06:00 +0000

In reply to Justin M.

I agree completely Justin….. and as I said above add Nunez into the mix…

By: Marc Smilow

Marc Smilow — Sun, 08 Jan 2012 07:05:00 +0000

In reply to Tanned Tom. TRADE NUNEZ AND MONTERO neither of them have a strong future with the Yankees in my opinion. Lets us them while they still have high value to other teams.

By: Gemmullins

Gemmullins — Mon, 26 Dec 2011 03:28:00 +0000

stockpile as much talent as u can and then it would be easier to pull the trigger on a deal for king felix or some other stud

By: Bernard S

Bernard S — Wed, 21 Dec 2011 07:09:00 +0000

I disagree with your comment. Montero looks like the 2nd coming of Muguel Cabrera and maybe even Manny Ramirez. He showed an example of what he can do at the major league level. Hitters like him don’t come along often. He looked pretty decent catching in the one or two games in the majors. Besides he has excellent teachers that can work with him. Tony Pena would be a natural.

By: Tanned Tom

Tanned Tom — Wed, 21 Dec 2011 03:41:00 +0000

Getting rid of Swisher is obvious? He’s easily in the top 20 of the 90 MLB OFs. His OPS of .823 was the same as A-Rod’s last year, and only a few points behind Teixeira’s. Only Granderson and Cano had a markedly better OPS. He has a positive attitude, gives it his best always, is 31 and a comparative bargain at $10 mil for 2012. You want to ditch this player for a completely unproven Cuban ballplayer? Thank goodness you’re not the NYY GM.
As for Cespedes, I have no idea what his numbers would translate to in the bigs, and neither do you, or anyone else. All we have is a guess. Sign him and see what happens? Perhaps. Trade away Swisher so Cespedes can play RF, no way Jose.
Now when it comes to Montero, he had all of 61 ABs last season, so let’s wait and see what he can do. The real question will be can field any position at the ML level? Catchers have been turned into 3Bers before (Joe Torre comes to mind), and although it’s a stretch, Teixeira was a college 3B so maybe they could switch him (ala Kevin Youkliss) and move Montero to 1B (A-rod to DH), also catchers have been moved to LF (Yogi Berra spent alot of time in Death Valley). If he can’t field passably, then he’s DH material, which as you point out already has a queue on this team.
Since 2014 is the crucial deadline here (when the new CBA takes effect) don’t look for the Yanks to sign too many players to long term deals. If they wouldn’t sign a pitcher this off season, for which there is a real need, it’s unlikely they’ll sign a position player.

By: Justin M

Justin M — Wed, 21 Dec 2011 01:11:00 +0000

This is the truth. Having Montero will be more of a negative than anything over the next 5-10 years. Tex has first, Arod is undoubtedly getting more time at DH, as will Jeter and Romine and Sanchez are better young catchers. Montero has the name and the value right now, so deal him when the return for him would be the highest.