The NJ Star Ledger
Yankees: Houston in the mix at third
Thursday, January 29, 2004
BY DAVID WALDSTEIN
Star-Ledger Staff
The Yankees finally found a small bit of luck in this absurd Aaron Boone situation. Brian Cashman confirmed yesterday that the club has signed infielder Tyler Houston, who has experience at third base, to be a nonroster spring training invitee.
Cashman said Houston was signed before Boone's injury, but he did not mention him publicly because the Yankees weren't prepared to announce their nonroster invitees. After Newsday reported yesterday that he had been signed, however, Cashman acknowledged the agreement and said Houston will join the mix at third base.
"He will certainly be one of the players we look at to help out," Cashman said. "I haven't seen much of him as a player, so I really can't comment on what he can do, but he will have a chance to compete and to make our club."
Houston was a backup for the Phillies last year and hit .278 in 97 at-bats over 54 games. The Phillies cut him in late August and, a few days later, he ripped manager Larry Bowa for being completely unpopular with the Phillies players. Bowa fired back, calling Houston a "loser" and saying, "I had 15 guys (players) doing back flips when we let him go."
Houston has never had more than 320 at-bats in a season.
Cashman reiterated yesterday that he thinks the third base solution will be solved in house, and that includes Houston, Enrique Wilson, Miguel Cairo and Erick Almonte. The situation is so unresolved that Gary Sheffield, who hasn't been a regular third baseman since 1992, volunteered to switch back. But Cashman, while applauding Sheffield's offer, said he fully expected Sheffield to play right field.
Eventually the Yankees will probably pursue a trade for a more established third baseman.
A major-league official who insisted on anonymity said the Yankees had called the Dodgers, among other teams, and inquired about Adrian Beltre and Robin Ventura. But the official said the talks were not serious at this point. Ventura, who was a favorite of Joe Torre's, cannot be traded until June 15, unless he gives his consent.
Back in California, Boone was still waiting to have a second MRI on his left knee, which he injured while playing basketball, but the Yankees are going under the assumption he will require surgery and will likely miss all, or most, of this season.
The Yankees believe Boone violated the guarantee provision in his contract by injuring himself playing basketball, which the contract forbids, but it appears there is a chance Boone and the club will be able to reach an agreement on a 30-day termination payment of about $900,000, instead of the full $5.75 million that Boone's contract calls for.
The Yankees have several options, according to one official, including releasing Boone and giving him the termination pay; paying him the full amount, which is unlikely; or even extending his contract by a year or two at an affordable price, though with so many third basemen becoming available next year, that would seem an unlikely path to take.
Thanks to Maryann for sending this one my way:
NEWSDAY.COM
January 28, 2004
There's some sympathy here for Aaron Boone after his unfortunate basketball accident. Although, even if he misses the entire season, he still pockets close to a million dollars and spends the winter comforted by a Playboy playmate, Laura Cover, who happens to be his wife. So he's covered there.
Surveying the barren third-base landscape, it's the Yankees who really need cover and compassion now. It's the Yankees who have nothing but uncertainty at third base if Boone doesn't recover miraculously. Behind Boone on the Yankees depth chart are journeymen, suspects and one NFL QB-in-waiting, though the recent and secret signing of Tyler Houston helps
Boone is a lovely man who wasn't what the Yankees hoped for or expected when they acquired him last July. He's a sweetheart but no sort of star.
He has more honor than power (who else would have owned up to the circumstances of the serious knee injury, knowing it would cost him a boatload?). He can't catch up to a big-time fastball and he can't hit the game's best pitchers. Even so, the Yankees will miss him drastically.
Boone has flaws, but he's Graig Nettles compared to the alternatives. That's why GM Brian Cashman was clandestinely calling around since Jan. 16, the date of Boone's devastating injury. One baseball exec summed up the Yankees' situation thusly, "They're in deep --."
The situation is desperate enough that Cashman responded to a question on ESPN Radio's "Michael Kay Show" regarding a possible return of Scott Brosius not by laughing uproariously, as you'd think, but by pointing out Matt Williams is also available. And Charlie Hayes is, too. And if they can pry Wade Boggs away from his hair-club duties ...
That all may seem ridiculous (mainly because it is), but one thing's sure, seeing as how the Yankees aren't the types to throw in the towel in January, they will not ever possibly entrust the hot corner to the lukewarm foursome of Enrique Wilson, Miguel Cairo, Erick Almonte and Houston.
Drew Henson, the QB, doesn't have a Hail Mary's chance of taking over for Boone, it turns out. Years of failure at the Single-, Double- and Triple-A levels apparently have finally convinced Henson that the only connection between himself and Derek Jeter is their agent (Casey Close) and home state (Michigan). One Yankees person said the Tampa-residing Henson hasn't appeared at the team's Tampa complex either before or after Boone's devastating Jan. 16 injury.
We won't see him again. The Sporting News reports Henson is working with NFL quarterbacks coach Larry Kennan at the IMG camp down I-75 in Bradenton, Fla., and the next step is negotiating his release from his gift $17-million contract, which would allow him to do something he actually excels at. To that, we say about time. In baseball, Henson was always two notches below Enrique Wilson; in football he was once on par with Tom Brady, at Michigan.
Henson looks like a baseball player. But only until the games start. Then he resembles a whiffing, yipping mess. The most remarkable thing about him is that his big downfall was his throwing (he's an NFL-caliber quarterback!). Henson's baseball problems had to be "mental," a Yankees exec surmised, the biggest one being that he chose the wrong sport initially.
Now the Yankees have to work feverishly, pray mightily and choose carefully to even approximate Boone's output. I know. I called around.
Troy Glaus? According to an Angels person, he's not going anywhere. Corey Koskie? No shot.
The Padres' Sean Burroughs or Phil Nevin? Nope.
Edgardo Alfonzo? A longshot in that the Giants need offense.
Adrian Beltre? An even bigger longshot considering the Dodgers need offense more than anyone.
The recommendation here is to reverse the whole Boone idea and to reacquire Robin Ventura, a New York-tested veteran who never should have been jettisoned for Boone in the first place.
There's no guarantee the Dodgers will part with Ventura since he's half their first-base platoon. But once Ventura-acquiring Dodgers GM Dan Evans gets pink-slipped following the approval of new owner Frank McCourt, the odds to make this deal should improve markedly.
Ventura would also have to consent to it since he recently signed back with L.A. However, the chance to play for a potential World Series winner might entice him to do so.
If the Yankees can pull it off, it's the perfect ending to the ill-conceived midsummer panic move to trade Brandon Claussen for Boone. This is a rare big-league chance for a do-over. Except for that one little caveat, of course. The Yankees will have a hard time convincing the Reds to return Claussen.
I Don't Know's on third?
MSGnetwork.com Joel Sherman Jan 27, 2004
Suddenly, the Yankees have found themselves in third-and-long. Aaron Boone was probably going to be nothing more than the Yanks’ ninth-place hitter. Yet, replacing him will be difficult.
Because the Yankees have no readily available full-time answer among their veteran subs. Because third base is just another place they are sickly in the minor leagues. And because it is late January and most teams are locked into their rosters right now and few free agents of worth are available.
Boone might not have looked great after the Yanks acquired him during last season – except for an all-time moment against the Red Sox in ALCS Game 7. Nevertheless, he did hold a place of importance on the 2004 roster. The Yankees are a bad fielding team and Boone was going to be one of the few above-average defenders playing, a fact that grows in importance because groundball specialists Kevin Brown, Jon Lieber and Paul Quantrill are expected to be important parts of the upcoming pitching staff.
Boone also provided athleticism and speed for a team that has lacked that, and it was not out of the question that he was going to be a 20-homer, 20-steal No. 9 hitter. Now he likely has a torn ACL and probably will miss the season. That bit of misfortune makes the Yankees’ acquisition of Boone – in which they gave up their top pitching prospect, Brandon Claussen, for far lower than his trade value – even more ridiculous.
However, that is from the spilt milk department. Now, the Yankees have to look forward and decide again how to fix their hot corner problem. The answer is not currently in the organization. Miguel Cairo and Enrique Wilson are backup players who will not hit well enough or field the position well enough to even share the position long-term. Erick Almonte is not very familiar with the position and has not shown the skills offensively or defensively to be a major league regular. Word is Drew Henson has been training in Florida as a quarterback, not a third baseman, and is about to make a break from the Yankees to the NFL, where he belongs.
So what are the Yankees’ outside options? Let’s consider 10:
EDGARDO ALFONZO: There is no doubt he can play in New York. He played much better in the second half and the playoffs last year – and playing well in the postseason matters to the Yanks. Why would the Giants make him available? Alfonzo has three years at $19 million left on his deal. They have Pedro Feliz around to play third base. If they could get the Yanks to take Alfonzo and perhaps Neifi Perez ($2.75 million), they would have enough to sign Greg Maddux, which they want to do. The problem for the Yanks is getting tied up with a third baseman on the downside when the free agent class next offseason could include Eric Chavez, Corey Koskie, Troy Glaus and Aramis Ramirez.
JOSE VALENTIN: He did not play an inning at third base last year, but played semi-regularly in 2002. He is a switch-hitter, who is feeble against lefties, but does very well against righties. That is fine. Cairo hits lefties with some skill and could start against southpaws. He is due $5 million this season and the cost-conscious White Sox might want to either save that money or use it elsewhere and put Jose Uribe at shortstop. It is worth a phone call.
ROBIN VENTURA: Another guy who can play in New York. He is currently a backup first baseman/third baseman for the Dodgers due to make $1.2 million. Los Angeles is suddenly counting pennies with its ownership situation unsettled. Because he re-signed as a free agent this offseason, Ventura would have to give written approval to be traded before June 16, but he likes New York and sees a starting possibility here that does not exist on the West Coast. He has slowed down greatly, which is why the Yanks traded him last year. But he is a better answer than anything the Yanks currently have.
ADRIAN BELTRE: Like we said, the Dodgers are looking to cut payroll. Beltre is due $5 million and is a free agent after the season. Ventura is available to play third regularly for Los Angeles. Beltre has never met expectations for stardom. He hardly ever walks and is a notorious poor starter. Still, he does not turn 26 until April. He fields his position. Is durable. Probably brings 20 homers. And Yankee minor league roving hitting coach Rick Down is a big fan.
SHEA HILLENBRAND: He is not much of a fielder and he hardly ever walks. But in the beggars can’t be choosers category, the Yanks may have to look to someone like Hillenbrand. Arizona is looking to cut payroll and have more than enough minimum-wage types to man third base. Hillenbrand is due at least $2.4 million through arbitration. Batting ninth in the Yankee lineup, the former Red Sox would probably be worth 20 homers and 80 RBIs.
PLACIDO POLANCO: There has already been talk of the Yanks going after David Bell, who has three years at $13.2 million left on his deal. But Polanco is more the guy the Yanks should be pursuing, seeing if they could entice Philadelphia to deepen its pen with someone like Gabe White in return. Polanco is a heady player, who will limit his strikeouts and would probably hit 15 homers as a regular for the Yanks.
TYLER HOUSTON: He has a reputation as a jerk, but the Yanks have not seemed scared away by reputations in recent years. He is a lefty batter, who does have hitting skills. Is he worth the trouble?
CHRIS STYNES: He fits in with a group that includes Craig Counsell and Herbert Perry that will be available from bad teams that are always looking to move money for young, inexpensive help. The question is if they are much different than Cairo or Wilson. And in the case of Counsell and Perry if they are healthy. Stynes is the best of the group (a Queens native, in fact). There also are free agents Jose Hernandez and Mark McLemore, who might be lured on make-good deals.
MATT WILLIAMS: He retired last year. He was fading well before his retirement due to natural deterioration and injury. But he might be worth a call to see if he wants to come to spring training on a make-good contract and see if time off most of last year has rejuvenated his body and spirit. Heck, the Yanks probably still have Scott Brosius’ phone number and might want to give him a ring.
ALEX RODRIGUEZ: You didn’t think you would get through a whole column without A-Rod’s name popping up. Sure, he was named Ranger captain this week. But the underlying problems remain. He doesn’t like the losing, or his manager (Buck Showalter) or GM (John Hart), and owner Tom Hicks doesn’t like Rodriguez’s contract. Whether he plays third base or Derek Jeter does, who cares? This would be the Yanks totally sticking it to the Red Sox, who had pursued A-Rod so much of his offseason
01/27/2004 5:35 PM ET
Who's on third for the Yanks?
By Mark Feinsand / MLB.com
NEW YORK -- Aaron Boone's untimely knee injury has left the Yankees without a true starting third baseman just weeks before Spring Training.
Boone, who suffered the injury playing pickup basketball, could be out for the year if he did, in fact, tear his left ACL. If that turns out to be the case, the Yankees will have to find another option at the hot corner.
Where do the Yankees turn from here? If the team decides that Enrique Wilson, Miguel Cairo, Erick Almonte or Drew Henson can't get the job done, what options are out there? MLB.com takes a look.
Ron Coomer: Having played almost half of his career games at third base, Coomer could fill the immediate vacancy for the Yankees. Coomer played in pinstripes in 2002, batting .264 with three home runs and 17 RBIs in 55 games, 26 if which were at the hot corner. New York's familiarity with Coomer could help, but whether or not the 37-year-old could be counted on as an everyday player remains to be seen.
Mike Bordick: At 38, Bordick decided to hang up his spikes at the end of the 2003 season. Could the former All-Star shortstop change his mind under the right circumstances? Anything is possible. Bordick played just 33 games at third in his 14-year career, but he certainly has the skill to make such a move.
Jay Bell: Like Bordick, Bell said that 2003 was his last season, but the 38-year-old could decide to return for a 19th big-league season. After playing 14 of his last 15 seasons in the National League, the Yankees would represent a change for Bell, but he did play for the crosstown Mets last year, getting just 116 at-bats. Also like Bordick, Bell played most of his career at shortstop, manning third base just 67 of his 2,063 games.
Scott Brosius: While we're talking about unretiring, why not bring back Brosius, the third baseman for the Yankees' 1998, 1999 and 2000 World Series championship teams. Brosius retired after the 2001 World Series, choosing to stay at home in Oregon with his family instead of signing a new contract. At 37, Brosius is younger than both Bordick and Bell, but whether or not he wants to play again is unclear.
Matt Williams: Another newly retired player, the 38-year-old Williams could be an intriguing option for New York. Williams played sparingly in his final two years with the Arizona Diamondbacks, appearing in just 104 games in 2002-03. His last big year was in 1999, when he hit 35 home runs and drove in 142 RBIs for Arizona, so a return to the Majors is unlikely.
Edgardo Alfonzo: Once upon a time, Alfonzo was a major player in New York baseball, helping the Mets reach the postseason in 1999 and 2000. Now, entering the second year of a four-year, $26 million contract with San Francisco, Alfonzo could be a trade possibility, considering his large contract. Alfonzo hit just .259 with 13 home runs and 81 RBIs for the Giants last season, but he has shown that he has what it takes to perform in New York.
Eric Chavez: Now begins the long-shot portion of our program. Chavez is entering the prime of his career, having averaged 31 home runs and 108 RBIs for Oakland over the past three seasons. Eligible for free agency after the 2004 season, Chavez could join Jason Giambi and Miguel Tejada as former A's, but Oakland isn't likely to deal its young star any time before the July 31 trading deadline. Even then, it will take a big package of prospects to land a player of Chavez's stature.
Troy Glaus: The same goes for Glaus, Anaheim's power-hitting third baseman who is eligible for free agency after the 2004 season. Glaus suffered through an injury-filled 2003, batting .248 with 16 homers and 50 RBIs in 91 games. In the three seasons before that, Glaus averaged 39 home runs and 107 RBIs, providing a big bat in the middle of the Angels' lineup. Having just shelled out major cash for Bartolo Colon and Vladimir Guerrero, and with Garret Anderson eligible for free agency at the end of the season, the Angels could look to shed some payroll, making Glaus a possibility at some point for the Yankees.
Corey Koskie: After his breakout season in 2001 (26 homers, 103 RBIs), Koskie has struggled in the past two years, averaging 14.5 homers and 69 RBIs. Minnesota could try to deal the 30-year-old rather than losing him to free agency next fall.
Robin Ventura: Despite being traded to Los Angeles on the same day the Yankees acquired Boone, Ventura did not leave New York with any bad feelings. At 36, Ventura can still play the position, though he is penciled in to play first base for the Dodgers while Adrian Beltre starts at third. Ventura isn't the player he was a few years ago, but he would be a decent fit for New York.
