News: No Arbitration to Abreu or Pettitte

December 1, 2008 at 17:30 pm · 38 comments

by Matthew Cerrone

According to Jon Heyman of SI.com, the Yankees have decided not to offer salary arbitration to free-agent LHP Andy Pettitte, nor free-agent OF Bobby Abreu.

…i still believe the Yankees will end up signing pettitte, but for less than the $16 million he was likely to get in arbitration…either that, or he’ll return to the Astros, or do what all ex-Yankees and ex-Red Sox do: join Joe Torre and the Dodgers…

In a recent post to his blog for ESPN.com, Jayson Stark wrote, “We’re also hearing talk connecting the Mets with Abreu, although his initial asking price (three years, $45 million) isn’t close to what they had in mind.”

i do not hide my dislike of abreu, who i believe is overrated as an actual baseball player…that said, if for some reason the Mets do end up signing him, which i doubt they will, but if they did, it’s good to know they will not be giving two draft picks to do so…

{ 38 comments }

Nate W. December 1, 2008 at 5:37 pm

Much like Adam Dunn he would ok but not ideal for a few years. As 6th hitting LF’s you could do a lot worse…

TheBigStapler December 1, 2008 at 5:44 pm

Even in our potent lineup Dunn could hit cleanup. Or were you talking about Abreu?

gameball December 2, 2008 at 11:47 am

No team with Adam Dunn batting cleanup will ever win a pennant.

CaseStreet December 1, 2008 at 5:38 pm

Matt, would it be possible to note when the article you link to requires a subscription? Thanks.

Seavertheman December 1, 2008 at 5:45 pm

Abreu would be a fine number 2 or 6 hitter for a couple of years. If you sign him to play LF, with Church in RF, I wouldn’t be upset. While Murphy showed great promise in limited AB’s, I’m not convinced he has the power to be an above-average corner outfielder or 1B. Or we could trade Church, put Abreu in RF, and deal with LF separately (the Tatis/Murphy platoon is merely adequate.)

zen December 1, 2008 at 5:46 pm

the draft picks are a big deal. i’m also not a big fan of abreu’s as a player, but it wouldn’t kill the team if it’s a short deal and doesn’t prevent them from signing pitching.

hampton signed with the astros. he likes the schools in houston.

blackskies December 1, 2008 at 5:50 pm

is Matt really gonna make the same mistake this entire off-season? the team that signs a type A free agent does NOT lose 2 draft picks… he keeps bringing this up over and over again and its dead wrong… have a lil respect for the facts and get it right all ready…

dominicanboy08 December 1, 2008 at 5:53 pm

how it works then?

blackskies December 1, 2008 at 5:58 pm

the team that signs a type A free agent loses its 1st rd pick unless that pick is 1-15… if it is one of the top 15 picks the team loses their 2nd rd pick…

the team that loses a type A free agent gains 2 picks but only 1 is from the team that signed said player… the other pick gained is a sandwich pick between rds 1 and 2…

therealsince86 December 1, 2008 at 9:40 pm

Yeah, I always laugh at that one too. Like we are some how MLB is giving us a supplemental pick to keep the player.

dominicanboy08 December 1, 2008 at 5:52 pm

I am 19 and throw 91MPH, sign me up!!! I am not kidding…

Reply to this comment
Comment by NYCESQ
2008-12-01 17:29:11
If you AREN’T kidding, email me at business@careercontractors.com.

I wrote this comment in the last post.

NYCESQ:
who are you? I am not kidding. I played college ball last year and I plan to play again next year.

phukthephills December 1, 2008 at 7:13 pm

email him…where do u play?? do u throw nything else other than a 91 mph fastball??

dominicanboy08 December 1, 2008 at 7:30 pm

I have 4 pitches, a 4seamer(91mph) a 2seamer(86-88mph) a curve, more like a slurve(70-72mph) and a change up (50-54mph) that I dont use much, only against lefties. I used it against righties and I got killed. I posted a video of me pitching on youtube.

dominicanboy08 December 1, 2008 at 7:41 pm

my change-up is really bad, my pitching coach told me I should throw it harder, but I cant control it.

NYCESQ December 1, 2008 at 7:45 pm

Hi Domincanboy08,

Check out my website:

http://www.careercontractors.com

I am the president of the firm, and maybe we can work together.

Boscov December 1, 2008 at 11:21 pm

That’s quite an extensive client list, nycesq

Kalihan42 December 1, 2008 at 5:59 pm

Type A ball players who are offered salary arbitration but the player turns it down to go on free agency DO in fact cause the team that later signs them to give up 2 draft picks. What changed 2 seasons ago hat the orignal team that does NOT offer salary arbitration can still attempt and resign the player where they used tonot be able to resign the player..

blackskies December 1, 2008 at 6:03 pm

this is 100% wrong… and its the reason why Matt should get his facts straight…

therealsince86 December 1, 2008 at 9:44 pm

It’s just not true. What are you giving up? Your first and second pick? Then who gets that 2nd pick? The original team gets a 1st rounder and a supplemental pick. The supplemental pick is given by MLB not the signing team. Think these things through just a little please.

Gina December 1, 2008 at 6:29 pm

Eric Gagne didn’t get offered arbitration either.

BBmetsfreak36 December 1, 2008 at 6:42 pm

GET ME ERIC BRYNES!…..

I’m sorry i know myself that when people use caps it gets your attention, but in the long run just makes me look stupid and completly inadequate as someone who posts on this blog. Therefore, I apologize in my failed attempt to voice my opinion on how strong I feel about the Mets’ situation on Left Feild and how I believe Byrnes can solve that problem.

therealsince86 December 1, 2008 at 9:45 pm

Pretty bad numbers and contract. They don’t seem to be interested in Castillo. Thus who would it be for? I for sure would not waste a prospect on him when there are better options for simllar money on the FA market.

rustyjr December 1, 2008 at 6:53 pm

nobody better sugest we go after either steroid boy or the man tyhats afraid of walls !!!

kingman 26 December 1, 2008 at 6:57 pm

I would rather have Slappy in left than Bonds!

oleosmirf December 1, 2008 at 7:17 pm

well if we had Bonds last season we would have made the playoffs but that might not be worth it to some people…

kingman 26 December 1, 2008 at 7:21 pm

Yeah, I guess that’s true; offense was clearly the problem…..

If Bonds was healthy enough to play, he would have saved at least 8 or 10 games out of the bullpen in August and September….

rustyjr December 1, 2008 at 9:04 pm

you mean his giant head woulda prevented the bullpen from giving up homeruns???

stemog1 December 1, 2008 at 7:18 pm

Exactly blacksies. The team that loses the Type A indeed gets two picks, but they don’t come from the team signing the player. One comes from that team and the other is the sandwich pick between the first and second rounds.

CaseStreet December 1, 2008 at 8:33 pm

thereal, sorry but your man-crush Grudzy won’t be a Met next season. The Royals have offered arbitration, which he’ll likely take. Checkout the kansas city royals website.

rustyjr December 1, 2008 at 9:05 pm

lol on man crush – damn hard to believe he was a expo

therealsince86 December 1, 2008 at 9:52 pm

Not so fast. He very well may not accept it.

therealsince86 December 1, 2008 at 10:07 pm

: Grudzielanek says he’s almost certain to decline the Royals’ offer. Instead of the maximum salary, he wants to play for a contender. He feels he can play for at least two more seasons. Five or six clubs have already expressed interest.

dave27 December 1, 2008 at 9:39 pm

I wonder if anyone who was a Mets fan prior to 2005 would ever advocate signing Abreu. When we saw him all the time as a Phillie, it couldn’t be more obvious what a small-time, unclutch player he was. Their road to the title this year started the day they gave him away.

No thank you.

therealsince86 December 1, 2008 at 9:54 pm

Abreu can’t be a star on a team anymore. However, anyone that thinks he is not better than what we trotted out to LF last season is kidding themselves. If he came on a 1-2 year deal to hold the spot for Fmart I have no objections. It’s not what I would do but I would not get upset if it did not cost us prospects or large cash.

therealsince86 December 1, 2008 at 9:57 pm

Seriously, look at his clutch stats last season. Look at his 120OPS+ last season. He’s as good as Dye and does not cost Niese and Parnell.

dave27 December 1, 2008 at 10:09 pm

Look at something besides a stat sheet. Abreu is a LOSER player. He will fit in perfectly if another September fade is what you are looking for.

therealsince86 December 1, 2008 at 10:13 pm

i know, there is no way I could have lived with his .890 OPS in September this year. Or his 1000 OPS in both 2/O RISP and close and late. But, hey you are right I should not look at stats.
Do I think he is the best option? NO. Would I take him over trading for Dye or signing Manny for 4 years 100 million? Sure.

chico December 2, 2008 at 12:34 am

Problem is that he wants big money! He’s gonna take a big chunk of our spending money and that’s money we can’t spend to fix the real problems we need to address. It’s just not the wisest usage of resources for our particular needs, and he’s a loser.

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