Post #1: Chef cooking over the hot stove

As is to be expected since I just started, there is a lot of exciting stuff I want to get to, including but not limited to the state of the up and coming Mets rotation, thoughts on the current post season and world series (game 4 was rained out tonight, dammit), the 2007 Florida Marlins, the Yankees long term plan, Arod, and much more.
I decided to start with Sheffield (http://www.baseball-reference.com/s/sheffga01.shtml) though, because this is an issue making headlines today. When the Yankees got Abreu from the Phillies it officially ended Sheffield’s future as a Yankee past 2006. With Matsui and Damon locked up until 2009 and Abreu in right for 2007 and likely 2008, not to mention Melky who is by all acounts here for the long haul, there is already an odd man out as it is --- as one of those guys will have to DH with Giambi (becoming a 21 million dollar liability before our very eyes for 2007) forced to play (a bad but surprisingly improving) first base.
Sheffield, the oddest man of them all, therefore has no place and the Yankees won’t pick up his 13 million dollar option (about 4 million of which is deferred, meaning he gets it but much later on and in small increments.) If they don’t pick up his option, they get a draft pick (either type A or type B, it will be interesting to see what Elias ranks him, whether they base it purely on the last season's stats or take his whole career into account) from the team that does sign him.
However, another option, which I first saw discussed on a message board, is to pick up his option and then try and trade him. This was the topic of the Bill Madden column in today’s Daily News: http://www.nydailynews.com/sports/story/465012p-391288c.html. I have several thoughts about this possibility swirling in my head after reading that, the first 2 points are obvious no brainers:

• let me make it clear that as long as what you get back is better than a draft pick and there is no additional financial liability then there is obviously no reason not to do it.
• it is important for Cashman not to get burned on an unofficial handshake type of deal where terms were agreed upon on a Sheffield deal only to have the other team back out at the end. The Yankees have no room for Sheffield and should only pick up his option if a deal is 100% in place.
• now the Yankees can control where Sheffield winds up. I personally was never worried about him going to Boston, considering 1. how he’s declining as a hitter (2003-2006 OPS: 1.023, .927, .891, .806) 2. the outfield defense he and manny will form in the corners will be atrocious, especially considering how tough right field is in Fenway and Sheffield's old legs and 3. most importantly, they will have to commit to him for 2 or 3 years for more than he is worth and that is money that could have been better spent on something much more important and something that would have suited the Red Sox needs much better. (hint: starts with a “p”). So basically, him going to Boston I would have viewed as a POSITIVE for the Yankees.
• since Soriano and Lee are the only slugging corner outfielders on the market, there may be interest from teams like the Cubs, Angels and Astros. The Angels and Astros in particular because i view them as being only a Sheffield away from becoming division favorites. However... :
• I really don't expect much in return for Sheffield considering his injury status, his decliningness, his attitude, and his paycheck (for a smaller market team.) Sure he is still a masher and at 13/1 year is a good deal and small commitment but there is no way he is in the same ball park as Abreu who, for only a few more million garnered Gillick and the Phillies practically nothing from the Yankees, and they threw in Lidle (r.i.p) as well! If Cashman gets something like Prior (us delusional yankee fans immediately think Prior upon reading this Madden article, but Hendry would have to drunk and high at the same time to entertain such a trade) for Sheffield months after Gillick got nothing for Abreu, Gillick should be fired. Now you may say: but Simmy, didn't Abreu have a full no trade clause which made it harder for Gillick to deal him? The answer is, Abreu was willing to waive that for ANY TEAM, even Kansas City or Toronto (the Canadian teams, well now that expos are in Washington I guess its "team", always seem to be in stars' No Trade Clauses, probably because as they would say on South Park, Canada sucks ass) as long as he had his 2008 option for 16 million (he is definately worth it) picked up. The fact that Lidle was involved and still all Gillick got was Henry, the Yankees toolsy young shortstop high ceiling #1 draft pick out of high school dude who are a dime a dozen and struggled in low A ball, and a couple of AAAA players, is flat out theft by Cashman, and it would be ridiculous if he can turn Sheffield into something useful.
• the last thing I think about when I read that article was that since a few million was deferred teams will be much more willing to take on the contract, who cares about paying a few hundred thousand a year for 15 years in a row starting from 10 years from now, or whatever the exact details are? It's much better than 13 million cash up front, and teams will view him as really only costing 9 or 10 million.

Very exciting development!

My prediction? I forsee the yankees picking up Sheffield's option and trading him for a useful major league player, probably a reliever with good stuff coming off of a good year, or a nice prospect and the other team paying the whole or most of the contract. I am anticipating such a great move from him because of Cashman's (who hasn't made ONE bad decision since gaining full power last offseason unless you want to count the debatable 4 year deal to Matsui) sheer genius (until proven otherwise - I am always willing to flip a 180 like a dog and hate him after one miserable deal, Heaven forbid).
As for life without Sheffield? Quieter! Plus, Matsui will probably DH with Melky in left, Damon in center and Abreu in right and Giambi at first full time. Because injuries happen, the Yankees will probably add a first baseman/role player type who can spell those outfielders or fill in for an injury, by either playing outfield or playing first base and letting Giambi DH, improving the defense. I do not believe the Yankees are satisfied with Wilson or Phillips.
OK that's all for now. Wow long post.

Did you know? Craig Biggio is the only player in baseball history with at least 600 doubles, 250 homeruns and 400 stolen bases.