Don’t get me wrong here, Roy Halladay is the better pitcher, but wouldn’t it make more sense to go after Lackey and not give up as much for him?
A few days ago, Jon Heyman said, that the Yankees are interested in Lackey or Halladay. His source also tells him that the Blue Jays are requesting Jesus Montero, Phil Hughes or Joba Chamberlain, and more for Halladay. Isn’t that a bit much?
The Yankees have unlimited funds. I don’t like hearing the bullshit talk of whether or not they can add another big contract to the payroll. You know when it’s all said and done the Yankees usually take out their checkbooks and slam down a big start during the holidays. I just don’t see why we should give up Montero and someone like Hughes/Chamberlain, when we can simply pay for some pitcher. Do you really want to give away some of our best home grown talent that we’ve had in years?
Lackey is one of only 6 major league pitchers who has won at least 11 games in each year from 2004–09. The others include: CC Sabathia, Derek Lowe, Johan Santana, Javier Vazquez, and Jason Marquis. Lackey’s record was only 11-8 this past season, and that’s mainly due to a lack of run support from the Angels anemic offense. “Big John” is a relatively young righty (a year and a half younger then Halladay), with plenty of postseason experience, and he’s a bulldog who never wants to come out of games. Is the guy is a big game pitcher? Absolutely.
John is considered one of the top free agent pitchers on the market, and is predicted to command a deal worth $100M, and something similar to Burnett’s contract. Someone close to Lackey has said that he seems himself in a higher class than Burnett. I would agree with that. Lackey might not want to hear this, but an MLB executive told 1050 ESPN New York’s Andrew Marchand that Lackey may be “lucky” to see AJ Burnett money ($82.5 million over five years). I would think that the Yanks’ would be willing to repeat Burnett’s $82.5M, five-year deal. Who knows though…with this new “lower the payroll” plan.
Burnett: (32 yrs old, 11 seasons), 100-85, 3.84ERA, 1.299 WHIP, 8.4 K/9
Lackey: (30 yrs old, 8 seasons), 102-71, 3.81ERA, 1.306 WHIP, 7.2 K/9
If the Yankees were willing to dish out that kind of money for Burnett, then why not for Lackey? After all, Lackey is younger, less erratic, and a more consistent pitcher then Burnett.
Kevin Rozell
M. B. Rozell
Ray Rothfeldt
Eduardo Perez
CC Halladay Lackey Burnett Andy expect the best always!!
i cant believe the yankees didnt fill the back of the rotation with proven arms like wolf or harden. they signed pretty cheap and would have put phil and joba in the pen where they have proved that they belong there instead of starting where both have been big disapointments.
I disagree with you on Hughes. Joba should definitely go back to the bullpen though..if we can land a guy like Lackey.
Zell
I’d rather the Yankees keep their payroll flexible for next offseason when 4 pitchers who are all better than Lackey hit the open market. To me a 1 year deal for Sheets or Duchscherer would be preferable.
and who would be those 4 pitchers….?
How will we ever know if Joba and Phil will reach their potential as starters if we don’t give them a fair chance?
CC, AJ, Andy, Phil, Joba, Sheets, Aceves, Gaudin, and Mitre…plenty of capable starters there.
Take Sheets, sign JohnnyD and JHair or Hinske and call it a day.
I’ll take Phil and Joba all day over Wolf and Harden.
To hell with Halliday, he’s way too expensive and will never bring anywhere near the return on investment.
Pass it on! A message from the Foundation For A Better Life. Dem bastards…