Obri
10-27-2003, 03:56 PM
Be it through free agency or trade, retooling anticipated
By Mark Feinsand / MLB.com
http://newyork.yankees.mlb.com/images/2003/10/26/2krnN59o.jpg
Outfielder Hideki Matsui peers out from behind his sport utility vehicle after leaving Yankee Stadium on Sunday afternoon. (Kathy Willens/AP)
NEW YORK -- Just as they have done for the last few seasons, the New York Yankees enter another winter with big changes on the horizon.
After falling to the Marlins in six games in this year's World Series, New York faces the task of retooling its pitching staff, from the starting rotation to the back end of the bullpen.
"Of course, I was disappointed," said George Steinbrenner in a statement released on Sunday. "We will be meeting soon to make whatever changes are needed to bring back a stronger, better team for New York and our fans. You can count on it."
When asked if the Game 6 loss marked the end of an era, manager Joe Torre refused to put that kind of label on his team, which has won four World Series titles and two other AL pennants since 1996.
"You never know that. They talked about it, end of an era, when Paul O'Neill and Tino left and Brosius and Knoblauch. But we resurfaced again," Torre said. "We'll see."
Several Yankees said after Saturday night's loss that while they expect some changes, they don't know how extreme those moves will be.
"I'm sure there will be some changes," said Jason Giambi, who was signed after the Yankees lost the 2001 World Series. "They'll do what they think they have to in order to guarantee a winner."
Bernie Williams, the longest-tenured Yankee, knows that there will be some new faces in the clubhouse next season.
"A lot of people are very upset," Williams said. "Lucky for me, I don't get paid to make those decisions. I think there are going to be some changes, so we'll see what happens."
Among the Yankees expected to file for free agency are Andy Pettitte and Jeff Nelson, two players with eight championship rings between them. Nelson is not expected to return, but losing Pettitte would be a major blow to the team's starting rotation, considering Roger Clemens' retirement plans and David Wells' uncertain future.
Wells, who has a $6 million team option for next year, looked to be a sure thing to return, but the back spasms that limited him to one inning in Game 5 of the World Series might have put those plans on hold.
Pitching coach Mel Stottlemyre said that while he wasn't sure what the team's pitching staff would look like next season, he did know that the front office would do everything it could to give the Yankees an opportunity to win.
"There are a lot of issues to address, but I don't know what they'll do to address them," Stottlemyre said. "The one thing I can tell you is that they will be addressed. Next year, they'll have a strong team."
The infield is set for next season, as Giambi, Alfonso Soriano, Derek Jeter, Aaron Boone and Jorge Posada will all return. Hideki Matsui and Williams will be back, though a flip-flop of positions remains a possibility. Nick Johnson should return to split time with Giambi at first base/DH, though the youngster could be dealt for an arm.
Right field is a question mark, as New York must decide whether it wants to give Juan Rivera or Karim Garcia a shot at the job, or go after a big-ticket free agent, such as Vladimir Guerrero or Gary Sheffield.
The big questions are mostly pitching-related. Mike Mussina, Jose Contreras and Jeff Weaver are slotted into the rotation, though Weaver's future in New York isn't a sure thing after a subpar season. Jon Lieber, recovering from Tommy John surgery, should have one of the starting spots in the rotation, assuming his rehab continues at its current pace.
That leaves Pettitte to fill the last spot, though the Yankees could go after one of the other high-end free agent hurlers as well, including Bartolo Colon or Kevin Millwood. The Yankees could also try to deal for a starter, with names such as Curt Schilling and Javier Vazquez being thrown around.
"We always managed to get the players that are capable of great things," Torre said. "I don't even want to think about next year right now. It was a very disappointing ending."
In the bullpen, the only sure thing is that Mariano Rivera will be closing games for an eighth consecutive season. Steve Karsay is likely to return from shoulder surgery, and Chris Hammond has one more year remaining on his contract. The team holds a one-year option on Gabe White for $3.5 million (with a $250,000 butout), while Felix Heredia has a player option for $1.7 million. Heredia said Sunday that he would speak to his agent in the coming days before making his decision whether or not to return to the Yankees.
Whatever changes are made, the core of the club will be back for the 2004 campaign. After turning over more than one-third of the roster this season, several players said they would like to see the bulk of this group return for another season together.
"This team got put together late, and we just started to come together," Giambi said. "Unfortunately, we ran out of games. It would be nice for us to have another run at it."
Mark Feinsand is a reporter for MLB.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.
By Mark Feinsand / MLB.com
http://newyork.yankees.mlb.com/images/2003/10/26/2krnN59o.jpg
Outfielder Hideki Matsui peers out from behind his sport utility vehicle after leaving Yankee Stadium on Sunday afternoon. (Kathy Willens/AP)
NEW YORK -- Just as they have done for the last few seasons, the New York Yankees enter another winter with big changes on the horizon.
After falling to the Marlins in six games in this year's World Series, New York faces the task of retooling its pitching staff, from the starting rotation to the back end of the bullpen.
"Of course, I was disappointed," said George Steinbrenner in a statement released on Sunday. "We will be meeting soon to make whatever changes are needed to bring back a stronger, better team for New York and our fans. You can count on it."
When asked if the Game 6 loss marked the end of an era, manager Joe Torre refused to put that kind of label on his team, which has won four World Series titles and two other AL pennants since 1996.
"You never know that. They talked about it, end of an era, when Paul O'Neill and Tino left and Brosius and Knoblauch. But we resurfaced again," Torre said. "We'll see."
Several Yankees said after Saturday night's loss that while they expect some changes, they don't know how extreme those moves will be.
"I'm sure there will be some changes," said Jason Giambi, who was signed after the Yankees lost the 2001 World Series. "They'll do what they think they have to in order to guarantee a winner."
Bernie Williams, the longest-tenured Yankee, knows that there will be some new faces in the clubhouse next season.
"A lot of people are very upset," Williams said. "Lucky for me, I don't get paid to make those decisions. I think there are going to be some changes, so we'll see what happens."
Among the Yankees expected to file for free agency are Andy Pettitte and Jeff Nelson, two players with eight championship rings between them. Nelson is not expected to return, but losing Pettitte would be a major blow to the team's starting rotation, considering Roger Clemens' retirement plans and David Wells' uncertain future.
Wells, who has a $6 million team option for next year, looked to be a sure thing to return, but the back spasms that limited him to one inning in Game 5 of the World Series might have put those plans on hold.
Pitching coach Mel Stottlemyre said that while he wasn't sure what the team's pitching staff would look like next season, he did know that the front office would do everything it could to give the Yankees an opportunity to win.
"There are a lot of issues to address, but I don't know what they'll do to address them," Stottlemyre said. "The one thing I can tell you is that they will be addressed. Next year, they'll have a strong team."
The infield is set for next season, as Giambi, Alfonso Soriano, Derek Jeter, Aaron Boone and Jorge Posada will all return. Hideki Matsui and Williams will be back, though a flip-flop of positions remains a possibility. Nick Johnson should return to split time with Giambi at first base/DH, though the youngster could be dealt for an arm.
Right field is a question mark, as New York must decide whether it wants to give Juan Rivera or Karim Garcia a shot at the job, or go after a big-ticket free agent, such as Vladimir Guerrero or Gary Sheffield.
The big questions are mostly pitching-related. Mike Mussina, Jose Contreras and Jeff Weaver are slotted into the rotation, though Weaver's future in New York isn't a sure thing after a subpar season. Jon Lieber, recovering from Tommy John surgery, should have one of the starting spots in the rotation, assuming his rehab continues at its current pace.
That leaves Pettitte to fill the last spot, though the Yankees could go after one of the other high-end free agent hurlers as well, including Bartolo Colon or Kevin Millwood. The Yankees could also try to deal for a starter, with names such as Curt Schilling and Javier Vazquez being thrown around.
"We always managed to get the players that are capable of great things," Torre said. "I don't even want to think about next year right now. It was a very disappointing ending."
In the bullpen, the only sure thing is that Mariano Rivera will be closing games for an eighth consecutive season. Steve Karsay is likely to return from shoulder surgery, and Chris Hammond has one more year remaining on his contract. The team holds a one-year option on Gabe White for $3.5 million (with a $250,000 butout), while Felix Heredia has a player option for $1.7 million. Heredia said Sunday that he would speak to his agent in the coming days before making his decision whether or not to return to the Yankees.
Whatever changes are made, the core of the club will be back for the 2004 campaign. After turning over more than one-third of the roster this season, several players said they would like to see the bulk of this group return for another season together.
"This team got put together late, and we just started to come together," Giambi said. "Unfortunately, we ran out of games. It would be nice for us to have another run at it."
Mark Feinsand is a reporter for MLB.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.