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from the NY POST 11/1/04.
Like how about Todd Helton as a Yankee? Say the Yanks do not land Carlos Beltran and still itch to add a player who impacts both sides of the ball? Helton has seven years at $119.3 million left. The Yanks are one of the few organizations that could absorb that (is Boston another if it can deal Manny Ramirez?). And Colorado actually likes several Yankee prospects, particularly Eric Duncan, but hates any salary wash involving Jason Giambi. So if they snared Helton, the Yanks would have to live with Giambi at DH and Bernie Williams in center for another year.
Colorado wants out of the Helton commitment and has a first base prospect (Ryan Shealy) due in 2006. But the Rockies know to retain any fan goodwill, Helton must be the one who publicly asks out citing the financial good of the franchise and to keep him from wasting a Cooperstown-touched career with a horrible club. Farfetched? Helton said recently he was concerned about "playing for a team that has no chance."
And just as a side note, if the Mets still had Scott Kazmir, they would have a front-running chip for Helton. But, heck, they have Victor Zambrano, right?
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Like how about former infielder Gary Sheffield at first? If Beltran comes to The Bronx, the Yanks could then keep all of their best bats in the lineup by moving Williams to left, Hideki Matsui to right and leaving Giambi as DH.
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Like how about Pedro Martinez in Flushing? An AL executive who speaks with Mets GM Omar Minaya said, "I bet they'll try. But if you were Pedro, why would you go to a bad club like the Mets?" Good point. But an NL GM said Martinez is going to have difficulty finding a three-year market at more than $30 million. If the Mets really are in go-for-it mode (which I personally think they should avoid), then would you rather spend $21 million over three years on Kris Benson or be the high bidder for Pedro?
Martinez's World Series performance in St. Louis showed just how dominant he would be against weaker, pitcher-included NL lineups. In five starts in NL parks over the last three years, opponents hit .183 off him. Still, if Martinez goes to the NL, the Giants, Dodgers and Marlins have the best shots and, the AL executive said, "Do you think Steinbrenner would let the Mets outbid them? No way."
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Like how about Randy Johnson with the White Sox? The Yanks want him, but they might only be able to land him in a three-way trade. The Cardinals are the new darlings in the field. But the White Sox, with a package built around Carlos Lee and Jon Garland, could be most attractive.
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Like how about Shawn Green as a Met? The Dodgers want out of his contract and an NL GM said Green has grown disenchanted in L.A. The AL executive who confers with Minaya said the Met GM is determined to "make a splash," which is why you are hearing Manny Ramirez and Sammy Sosa. If those fall through, watch for Green.
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Like how about Jon Lieber in Cleveland, Texas or Toronto? The Yanks foolishly might not pick up Lieber's option, feeling $8 million is too expensive. But Lieber has value, even as trade bait. Could this be a sign — as some outside executives are whispering — that Steinbrenner's reaction to losing to Boston is to slash, not expand, payroll?
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Like how about Ray Durham as a Yankee? The Giants want out of his $7 million in 2006, perhaps enough to do a one-year salary wash in 2005 in which they take Steve Karsay and Felix Heredia. San Fran could move Edgardo Alfonzo to second and Pedro Feliz to third. Durham would give the Yanks speed at second base.
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