Yankee 21
12-08-2001, 09:13 AM
12/7/2001 5:00 pm ET
Subway swap
Mets get Justice, Yanks land Ventura
By Spencer Fordin
Yankees.com
Call it a super stopgap. Robin Ventura, a six-time Gold Glover, was acquired by the Yankees on Friday for one transparent purpose: to keep the hot corner warm for Drew Henson.
With the retirement of Scott Brosius, the Yankees needed a reliable third baseman, a guy they could count on to provide stellar defense and at least a little offense. Henson, who is ranked among the team's top prospects, still needs more seasoning. Even though he's coming off two straight subpar seasons, Ventura fits perfectly, especially since he only has one year remaining on his contract.
To get Ventura, the Yankees had to serve David Justice to the crosstown Mets. The price was steep, but Yankees' GM Brian Cashman believes the deal was well worth it. In a conference call with the local media, Cashman explained the rationale behind the blockbuster trade.
"Between now and Opening Day, by hook or by crook, it's my job to put the best championship quality team on the field," he said. "Obviously, we have a number of holes going into this winter. We just feel that the outfield holes are more easily filled than the third base hole. Robin Ventura stood out among the rest."
Here's why the Yankees felt they had to act immediately: without Brosius, Enrique Wilson was slated to be the team's starting third baseman. This trade, though, is not an indictment of Wilson's ability. Cashman simply said that it gives the team more flexibility.
Take that into consideration, along with the fact that Justice and Ventura had similar salaries, and it's easy to see why this trade made sense.
"I was looking for a one-year situation," Cashman said. "What am I more comfortable with, as long as my payroll doesnt change? Enrique Wilson or Robin Ventura? It came down to, does it make sense to do it -- we felt that it did."
"We love Enrique Wilson," he continuted, "but we acquired him as more of a utility basis."
For his part, Ventura said he was semi-shocked. He had never been traded before, in a Major League career that started all the way back in 1989. Ventura, who will turn 35 in July, hasn't had a super season since 1999. In that year, he won the last of his Gold Gloves, and he also hit .301 with 32 homers and 120 RBIs.
Since then, though, he's been merely adequate at the plate. He has hit 20 or more homers in each of the last two seasons, but his average has been stuck in between .230 and .240. Simply put, he hasn't lived up to expectations. If you ask him, though, he'll tell you that's only temporary.
"I know I havent lived up to them the last couple years," Ventura said. "Everybody has different expectations. I just feel like I have a good year left in there, if not two."
That's all the Yankees need. Ventura doesn't have to put up humongous offensive statistics. Like Brosius before him, Ventura is just expected to field his position. Anything else above and beyond that is an added bonus.
Justice, who had a monster season in 2000, is also coming off a poor season. He was injured for much of the year and never really found his rhythm.
"I've got a lot left," said Justice, who hit .241 with 18 homers in 2001. "Last year was based solely on injuries. No doubt about it. I still have my bat speed, still have my defensive skills. I dont feel I've gone down at all."
That may or may not be the case, but Justice certainly slipped from the titanic numbers he posted during the 2000 season. In that campaign, he hit 41 homers and drove in 118 runs -- and that was just during the regular season. Justice earned the ALCS MVP honors that season, largely because of a back-breaking homer off Arthur Rhodes.
"If he had the year he had previously for us, I can't say honestly I'd be sitting here talking to you about this deal," Cashman said. "David Justice, we can thank him for a strong contribution to that last championship. It was tough to say goodbye to him."
"I remember Cal Ripken told me this one time. Every year is different," Justice said. "Obviously, each player wants to have a great year every year. It doesnt always work out that way."
Steve Phillips, the General Manager of the Mets, said that a change of scenery might do wonders for both players.
"Robin Ventura is a good player. I truly believe he's going to bounce back, have a good year," Phillips said. "I think it's going to be win/win -- those are usually the best trades. I also think that, sometimes, the change of scenery impact on players is just the thing to light the fire."
When asked what he thought about that statement, Ventura wasn't sure what to say.
"I guess that's what he feels. Hopefully that's going to happen," he said. "I'm still in the same city, living in the same place. I kinda like my scenery.
"Maybe a change of teams and situations will do that," he continued. "Only time will tell."
Indeed it will. In fact, it already has -- Cashman spent a lot of time trying to put this trade together. In fact, he said the conversations started last summer.
"We just could not conclude a deal," he said. "After the World Series, I floated a new one towards them. They obviously had an interest in improving their outfield situation. It just seemed that we had a mutual interest that we could help each other by making the swap."
And now, the deal is done. The Yankees have a proven veteran to man the hot spot, a player that is hungry to prove that he can still play at a high level. Ventura admired the Yankees from across town, and he knows exactly what this team is all about.
"Obviously, they've set a standard the past few years that not many teams have ever done," he said. "In that sense, its going to be different. With the Mets, you have that feeling of chasing the Braves all the time. The Yankees are the ones that are always being chased."
Fine perspective, Mr. Ventura. It looks like you caught up to the right team at the right time
That's Cool! I've always liked him and I was wondering what we were going to do about a 3rd baseman!
Subway swap
Mets get Justice, Yanks land Ventura
By Spencer Fordin
Yankees.com
Call it a super stopgap. Robin Ventura, a six-time Gold Glover, was acquired by the Yankees on Friday for one transparent purpose: to keep the hot corner warm for Drew Henson.
With the retirement of Scott Brosius, the Yankees needed a reliable third baseman, a guy they could count on to provide stellar defense and at least a little offense. Henson, who is ranked among the team's top prospects, still needs more seasoning. Even though he's coming off two straight subpar seasons, Ventura fits perfectly, especially since he only has one year remaining on his contract.
To get Ventura, the Yankees had to serve David Justice to the crosstown Mets. The price was steep, but Yankees' GM Brian Cashman believes the deal was well worth it. In a conference call with the local media, Cashman explained the rationale behind the blockbuster trade.
"Between now and Opening Day, by hook or by crook, it's my job to put the best championship quality team on the field," he said. "Obviously, we have a number of holes going into this winter. We just feel that the outfield holes are more easily filled than the third base hole. Robin Ventura stood out among the rest."
Here's why the Yankees felt they had to act immediately: without Brosius, Enrique Wilson was slated to be the team's starting third baseman. This trade, though, is not an indictment of Wilson's ability. Cashman simply said that it gives the team more flexibility.
Take that into consideration, along with the fact that Justice and Ventura had similar salaries, and it's easy to see why this trade made sense.
"I was looking for a one-year situation," Cashman said. "What am I more comfortable with, as long as my payroll doesnt change? Enrique Wilson or Robin Ventura? It came down to, does it make sense to do it -- we felt that it did."
"We love Enrique Wilson," he continuted, "but we acquired him as more of a utility basis."
For his part, Ventura said he was semi-shocked. He had never been traded before, in a Major League career that started all the way back in 1989. Ventura, who will turn 35 in July, hasn't had a super season since 1999. In that year, he won the last of his Gold Gloves, and he also hit .301 with 32 homers and 120 RBIs.
Since then, though, he's been merely adequate at the plate. He has hit 20 or more homers in each of the last two seasons, but his average has been stuck in between .230 and .240. Simply put, he hasn't lived up to expectations. If you ask him, though, he'll tell you that's only temporary.
"I know I havent lived up to them the last couple years," Ventura said. "Everybody has different expectations. I just feel like I have a good year left in there, if not two."
That's all the Yankees need. Ventura doesn't have to put up humongous offensive statistics. Like Brosius before him, Ventura is just expected to field his position. Anything else above and beyond that is an added bonus.
Justice, who had a monster season in 2000, is also coming off a poor season. He was injured for much of the year and never really found his rhythm.
"I've got a lot left," said Justice, who hit .241 with 18 homers in 2001. "Last year was based solely on injuries. No doubt about it. I still have my bat speed, still have my defensive skills. I dont feel I've gone down at all."
That may or may not be the case, but Justice certainly slipped from the titanic numbers he posted during the 2000 season. In that campaign, he hit 41 homers and drove in 118 runs -- and that was just during the regular season. Justice earned the ALCS MVP honors that season, largely because of a back-breaking homer off Arthur Rhodes.
"If he had the year he had previously for us, I can't say honestly I'd be sitting here talking to you about this deal," Cashman said. "David Justice, we can thank him for a strong contribution to that last championship. It was tough to say goodbye to him."
"I remember Cal Ripken told me this one time. Every year is different," Justice said. "Obviously, each player wants to have a great year every year. It doesnt always work out that way."
Steve Phillips, the General Manager of the Mets, said that a change of scenery might do wonders for both players.
"Robin Ventura is a good player. I truly believe he's going to bounce back, have a good year," Phillips said. "I think it's going to be win/win -- those are usually the best trades. I also think that, sometimes, the change of scenery impact on players is just the thing to light the fire."
When asked what he thought about that statement, Ventura wasn't sure what to say.
"I guess that's what he feels. Hopefully that's going to happen," he said. "I'm still in the same city, living in the same place. I kinda like my scenery.
"Maybe a change of teams and situations will do that," he continued. "Only time will tell."
Indeed it will. In fact, it already has -- Cashman spent a lot of time trying to put this trade together. In fact, he said the conversations started last summer.
"We just could not conclude a deal," he said. "After the World Series, I floated a new one towards them. They obviously had an interest in improving their outfield situation. It just seemed that we had a mutual interest that we could help each other by making the swap."
And now, the deal is done. The Yankees have a proven veteran to man the hot spot, a player that is hungry to prove that he can still play at a high level. Ventura admired the Yankees from across town, and he knows exactly what this team is all about.
"Obviously, they've set a standard the past few years that not many teams have ever done," he said. "In that sense, its going to be different. With the Mets, you have that feeling of chasing the Braves all the time. The Yankees are the ones that are always being chased."
Fine perspective, Mr. Ventura. It looks like you caught up to the right team at the right time
That's Cool! I've always liked him and I was wondering what we were going to do about a 3rd baseman!