The YankLees

DOUGHBOYS · Post by **DOUGHBOYS** » Thu Dec 09, 2010 5:45 am

I would have liked to have been a fly on the wall at Yankee Headquarters when news came in about Carl Crawford signing with the Red Sox.

Crawford was the 'big signing' waiting for the Yankees, should the Cliff Lee deal go awry. They will probably throw enough green at Lee to make him feel irish. Maybe even promising to change their name to the YankLee's every fifth day to get his John Hancock. But, what if Texas or another club whisks him away?

Not needing Beltre or Raphael Soriano, and probably not having the youngsters to trade for Greinke, the Yankees may come out of their winter meetings all dressed up with no place to go.

It's tough to feel sorry for the Bombers. They have had a money hammer for so long that it is just assumed they will get two or three of the big free agents.

The advantage the Yankees have in baseball is similar to Childs or Jupinka getting 11 players every 10 rounds to our 10. It does not guarantee success, but it sure does help the chances!

I'm not a Red Sox or Yankees fan or hater, but love the off season battles between the two. The Red Sox had a lot to lose going into the off season. Beltre and Martinez are a lot to lose from any team. They have recovered and then some. Heck, if they still have some cash flow, the Red Sox would be wise to go after Soriano as well. It would make Papelbon a seventh inning guy, set up Bard, and finish with Soriano. That acquisition and back end of their bullpen could almost trump the Yankees signing of Lee, were it to happen.

The Yankees have to be hurting. Their farm is not doing so well. The best two prospects are catchers, who are usually more miss than hit. For them, it drives away suitors such as Kansas City looking for a Greinke deal.

The Yankees are long in the tooth. Brett Gardner looks like a kid on a sugar high, on the field with the rest of the Yankees. Nick Swisher is the 'cool guy' on the club and he'll be 31 next year.

Is this the end for the Yankees?

No. It's a bump in the road. But, like observers smiling from a low-rider getting damaged by that bump in the road, most baseball fans get to smile at the Yankees not getting their way.

It's a temporary thing. The Yankees farm clubs in actuality are the Pirates, Diamondbacks, Royals, and all the other small market teams that can't afford to pay budding stars. Last year, they got a call from the Braves who couldn't afford Javier Vazquez. That sort of call will probably happen again. The Royals heads could be turned by cash more than suitable prospects.

Right now though, For you Yankee haters, it is a good time to say nah-ner, nah-ner.

The Franchise · Post by **The Franchise** » Thu Dec 09, 2010 6:13 am

You have to give Theo credit for getting this done in stealth mode. I don't think anyone thought Crawford would sign before Lee.

Here is my prediction on what might happen soon.

1. Yankees sign Lee (Sabathia $$)

2. Sox trade Dice-K and Scutaro for Beltran (great vs. LH pitching/see Sabathia and Lee)

3. Here is where it gets crazy.....Sox trade for Greinke

Ellsbury will be part of package.

" The advantage the Yankees have in baseball is similar to Childs or Jupinka getting 11 players every 10 rounds to our 10. It does not guarantee success, but it sure does help the chances! "

I would like to add that what we can look forward to is, every once and while there comes around a SF Giants team.......

Winston's Empire · Post by **Winston's Empire** » Thu Dec 09, 2010 6:35 am

Great Post Dough! I don't hate the Yankee's either, but it is fun to watch the bully on the block trip on his own shoe strings once in a while!

Franchise, I really believe you are on to something with the Ellsbury for Greinke trade idea. I think Ellsbury will be part of a deal for either Greinke or Justin Upton (great contract). Either guy would fit awesome into the Red Sox plan going forward.

Ellsbury takes a MAJOR hit with the Crawford signing if he is forced to hit 9th in that lineup and for Boras to get TOP $ for him in free agency in a few years, a move might be a must sooner than later.

headhunters · Post by **headhunters** » Thu Dec 09, 2010 7:51 am

big winner year after year after year is... scott boras. the guy just beats these teams like a drum. the way it all falls, the order it all comes together is amazing. crawford got more because or werth and now lee will get more because of crawford. then everyone that did not get one of those 3 will panic and give everyone else more. the new age of austerity in baseball lasted one year.