S18 record: 64-98
Finish: Third place, AL East
2010 final payroll: $59.7 million
Estimated 2011 opening day payroll: $ 75 million
Offseason action:
Gaping holes at SS and C with limited production at 3B, LF and CF. RF Doyle Twitchell at 29 will be looking for more than a 1 year deal in S19. I'm not sure NY will want to invest that in his bat. He will want close to double his 1.5M last season to return. Outside of Twitchell look for another 6M to come off the books in S19. The will come in handy to settle NY's 5 arbitration cases. Stars Fergiue Ryan and Juan Cervantes will be retained. The question with Ryan might be do you tie him up with a long term deal. It is hard to find determine the value for a guy who plays a non-premier defensive position who doesn't offer a lot of power. At 27 he still should have treads on his legs for a few more seasons. So the question will be what will NY do? Little used 1B Manuel Pineda, Defensively specialist CF Oswaldo Jacquez, and AAA SP Emilio Lee will further complicate matters for NY. Each might have value, but what value do they want and what is NY willing to give.
Reality check
RF Carlos Carrasco signed a 4 sear 24.2M deal in S18 that bought out all his arbitration seasons. He responded by batting .242 with 12hr42RBi and 16SB. New York will be looking for more production in S19 from him with the potential exit of Doyle Twitchell. Rookie 2B Stu Taylor will also be counted on more to add both offense and sneak onto base more regularly. His .258 Batting average looks better when you remove his at bats versus left handers where he looked horrible. Tandeming him with AAA Prospect Homer Eldred might be the best solution. In addition AAA SS David Gardner should get some time next season and break into the start lineup either in the OF or at 3B. He should not be the future at SS under any circumstance. What to do with super hitting prospect Tim Ross will be a huge question in the spring. He has no value except at the plate, but his bat might be desperately needed in NY this season.
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The Rotation is far from set. High Richardson is the only established pitcher on the team. Richardson struggled in S18 campaign amassing a 6-15 record with a 6.35 ERA. Expect a rebound, but not if the Knights continue to lean too heavily on his arm. Rounding out the rest of the rotation will be Christian Lim( 7-18 6.97ERA), Preston Walker(10-15 6.15ERA), and Adam James(Record 2-3 in limited action) . All could be upgraded on. Javier Mendoza should serve his time in Long relief but a desperate NY might be forced to start him. Further intrigue might be with reliever Omar Ramirez who could be started if monitored and allowed for extra time off. He might be the most skilled of the Knight pitchers and worth the investment. AAA Pitcher Emilio Lee should also get the once over and should see some time soon in the rotation.
The bullpen is headed by a recovered Diego Cruz who after a down S17 seemed to have regained form reeling 20 of 25 saves. Tony Velazquez showed mixed results in the pen walking 71 in 109 innings while striking out only 77. RP Omar Lowe might be the most overpaid guy at 4.4M for his lack of talent. A better option might be AA Reliever Lucas Hansen who put up healthy numbers in S18 and should get a few inning in the spring to earn a spot.
Summing it up With a Quote:
"All this team needs is a few big bats maybe a couple solid gloves and hell two solid arms and we will see you in October" - Diego Rivera Former AA bench coach now coaching the ML
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