Yankees' Woes Don't Stop with A-Rod

Found this pretty interesting. From Tom Verducci at SI.com:

I wrote back in January about how [Mark] Teixeira, coming off a .256 season, is so mechanically unsound that he is going to continue to decline. Teixeira collapses on his back side and swings up on the ball. I wrote then, "The style means Teixeira must catch the ball out in front of him and leaves him prone to lifting the ball rather than driving through it. As he ages, Teixeira becomes an even more extreme fly ball hitter and pull hitter, trends that mean he will continue to lose points off his batting average." [...]

His batting average on balls in play has dropped every year with the Yankees: .302, .268, .239. That's not unlucky. It's symptomatic of his hitting style. His fly ball rate has increased every year as a Yankee (37 in 2008, followed by 44, 46, 47). His infield pop-ups, which are no different than strikeouts, and were as low as 14 in 2008, have grown to 21, 30 and 27 as a Yankee.

Teixeira's swing simply is not built to make him a consistent clutch hitter. After coming to the Yankees with a .308 average with runners in scoring position in 2008, he hasn't come close to that kind of reliability with New York (.264, .273, .268) -- especially in the postseason environment.

Teixeira turns 32 years old next season. The Yankees already have age-related issues with Alex Rodriguez and Derek Jeter. You can put Teixeira in that category, not because of health, but because his pull-happy, fly ball swing is the kind that doesn't age well, sort of like those of J.D. Drew and Adam Dunn.

According to Cot's Baseball Contracts, Teixeira is under contract until 2016 and is making $22.5 million annually. A-Rod is signed through 2017 and will make $29 million next year alone. Jeter is signed through 2013, averaging $16.5 a year, and has a 2014 player option. Something to think about as we lust after Prince Fielder or Albert Pujols.

Colletti Foot-Dragging Pays Dividends

Bobby Abreu: going gone. Adam Dunn: gone. Manny Ramirez, where is your savior now?

UPDATE:

Abreu's deal with the Angels: one year, $5 million plus incentives

Dunn's deal with the Nationals: two years, $20 million

the Dodgers' previous offers to Manny: two years, $45 million; one year, $25 million

The Price of Manny Plummets (Along With Gas Prices)

"Gas is up and so am I," sayeth Manny Ramirez. He scoffed at arbritration. He spit on the Dodgers' first offer (which was admittedly much shorter in duration than he desired).

And now, Pat Burrell goes out and signs a two-year deal with the Rays for the low low price of $16M. Rob Neyer thinks it's a steal, echoing the rest of the ESPN brass.

And I know Burrell only hit .250 last year with the Phillies. But that's still almost twice Andruw Jones' batting average; and, 33 HR is a hell of a lot more than team leader Andre Ethier's 20 HR. Yeah, Citizens Bank Park is a bandbox. But I think Manny, and possibly Adam Dunn, just got a lot cheaper.

Dodgers Hot Stove Cornucopia

Sorry I've been out of the loop for a while now, but here's a quick post to update Dodger fans on recent moves, and non-moves, by the Blue:

Dodger sourpuss Brad Penny, who packed up his team locker early rather than hang out with the team following his 6-9, 6.27 ERA record in 2009, has apparently signed with the Red Sox for a one year, $5M deal. Sounds like a steal for a pitcher a year removed from being a pretty solid contributor for the Dodgers, for a couple of years. But after the way he left the team this past year, can you blame us for passing on Brad, despite the gaping hole in the rotation caused by his (wide girth) departure?

Meanwhile, the Dodgers have sat on the sidelines and watched Randy Johnson go to the Giants, for a one year, $8M deal. Do we care about a 45-year old grizzled vet like Johnson, pitching for a non-contending team? Given the two holes in our starting lineup, we might.

But fear not, Dodger fans. Ned Colletti is on the offensive beat, first looking to hedge their Manny Ramirez bet by contacting former Diamondback and Red Adam Dunn, the free-agent slugger who has hit 40 home runs four years in a row. The last Dodger to hit 40 in a season? SoSG favorite Adrian Beltre:

The Dodgers, meanwhile, need to infuse power into a lineup that finished 14th in the National League in home runs last season. And with no certainty that they can re-sign Ramirez, they seem to have decided that Dunn represents their best alternative.

Bill Shaikin over at the LAT says we're also in the hunt for discarded Yankee Bobby Abreu, as another potential option should Ramirez not materialize in Dodger Blue:

The market for Ramirez apparently has not heated up even after Mark Teixeira, the most coveted hitter available in free agency, signed last week with the New York Yankees. General Manager Ned Colletti said Monday the Dodgers have not heard since then from Scott Boras, the agent for Ramirez and Teixeira. [...]

Ramirez, Abreu, Dunn, Garret Anderson and Pat Burrell are among the corner outfielders available in what has become a buyer's market, although the Dodgers are not believed to be interested in Anderson or Burrell.

And since we're thinking of Christmas (vacation) turkeys, check out this nugget at the end of the Shaikin piece:

The Dodgers found a possible taker for center fielder Andruw Jones in the New York Mets, but the talks apparently went nowhere after the Mets asked the Dodgers to take second baseman Luis Castillo in a swap of bad contracts. Jones has one year and $22 million left on his contract, Castillo three years at $18 million.

Wow. A 2009 season without Andruw Jones, one of Colletti and McCourt's many Waterloos? That would be a holiday present indeed.

Chime in, Dodger fans. It seems like there are so many holes throughout the Dodgers' lineup, it's hard to tell what chasms represent the highest priorities...

Diamondbacks Pick Up Adam Dunn for Stretch Run

Just reported on ESPN.com:

The Arizona Diamondbacks added a big bat Monday in their attempt to hold off the Los Angeles Dodgers in the NL West race.

Arizona acquired Cincinnati Reds outfielder Adam Dunn, who is tied for the major league lead with 32 home runs, for three prospects.

The trade was first reported by KTAR Radio in Phoenix.

In exchange for Dunn, Cincinnati will receive minor league pitcher Dallas Buck and two other players to be named later. [...]

Dunn is tied with the Phillies' Ryan Howard for the NL lead with his 32 homers. The White Sox's Carlos Quentin also has 32 home runs.

"I see your big bat, and call."

Brad Penny for Adam Dunn?

Mentioned in passing in this critique of the Reds' lack of off-season moves, but an intriguing concept nonetheless.