What happens to Moose on '07

[Dr. Gonzo]

With the off season getting real boring...

What happens to Moose next year,

does he come back as a 5 for much cheaper? Will the yanks let him be the team where he can go after 250 wins (what some people say is the new HOF number).

Does he even have a shot at the HOF, what would he need to do.

I know alot depends on what he does this year. But moose doesn't seem like the guy who would go to another team now. Maybe philly or pitt since it is close to his house. I just don't see him going to arizona to chase wins.

[Sixty one]

I see him retiring with a bad arm. He has all the money that he needs and doesn't seem like a player who looks for individual awards to satisfy his needs.

[Yankees1962]

It depends on what type of year he has, but at this time, I don't see the Yankees bringing him back after next season.

[hardrain]

I fear another Moose breakdown this year for a month or more, and a tedious August in which he stuggles to fine tune himself. I pencil him in for 11-7. 4.00 ERA.

He falls short of the hall.

[mwlsld]

I think he'll keep pitching, but elsewhere. He'll want to leave, and the Yankees won't want him back. (I won't either. He'll be just about done.)

[Dr. Gonzo]

I think he'll keep pitching, but elsewhere. He'll want to leave, and the Yankees won't want him back. (I won't either. He'll be just about done.)

why would moose want to leave?

he is a comfort guy, and I don't see him uprooting his routine for personal stats, which I agree that he doesn't seem to care for.

[Ghost of Dan Pasqua]

My guess is that he's done as a Yankee. But he won't leave the Northeast, so either he will retire or he'll sign something like a 2 year deal with the Phillies and then call it a career.

[NelsonMuntz]

I'm more worried about Moose in '06.

[ICEBERG18]

I don't think he'll be on the Yankees. Quality free agent pitchers will be available, and we might have a Minor League pitcher break out.

[38Special]

I believe two things will happen (and i hope they do happen)

1) Moose will have a good year, being that it is free agent walk year

2) One of Clippard, Hughes, White will step up in 06 and step into Moose's spot in 07.

[shroud]

That depends entirely on performances by Pavano, Chacon, Hughes and Clippard. If all of those prove efective the yanks won't feel uncomfortable with having one of the minor leaguers as a 5th starter with RJ, Pavano, Chacon, Wang rounding up the rotation.

But my guess is he's done as a yankee.

[38Special]

The quality FAs next year are:

Jason Schmidt - He's getting older now and cant stay healthy
Kerry Wood (Mutual Option) - I can't see the Cubs let him go away
Mike Mussina (Team Option)
Kelvim Escobar - Possibility
Ted Lilly - Can't see us going down that road now, especially given his injury/ineffectiveness
Andy Pettitte - Not likely to happen
Mark Mulder - Not the premium pitcher he once was
Barry Zito - Possibility, but I see the team who trades for him locking him up long-term
Doug Davis - Possibility
Mark Buerhle (Team Option) - No way the White Sox let him go
David Wells - ha

[38Special]

The 07 offseason class however has some REALLY great options

Bartolo Colon
Freddy Garcia
Roy Halladay
Carlos Zambrano
Josh Beckett
Roy Oswalt
Chris Carpenter (Team Option)
C.C. Sabathia

[SubwayFanatic]

I believe two things will happen (and i hope they do happen)

1) Moose will have a good year, being that it is free agent walk year

Hasn't Baseball Prospectus proven the belief that players somehow magically having a good year in their walk year to be false?

[38Special]

Hasn't Baseball Prospectus proven the belief that players somehow magically having a good year in their walk year to be false?

I'd love to see such a study because i've seen it happen countless times.

[SubwayFanatic]

I'd love to see such a study because i've seen it happen countless times.

Not sure if that study is online. It may have been in one of Baseball Prospectus' books.

Sure, some players may have had good years in their contract years, but couldn't it be that it's because baseball is just a very unpredictable game. I mean, Bill Mueller won a batting title a few years ago, who would have saw that coming?

I really don't see a guy like Mussina having a better year because 'he is in his contract year.' He may have the heart to try harder, but his body and physical skills are just not what they once were.

I would like to see him bounce back, but I would not count on it happening.

[CaptainThurman]

I just hope he rides into the sunset. His best days are long gone...

[gdn]

Moose will give us a decent year in '06 and then retire. He should, atleast.

[InterlockingNY]

There is no way the Yanks can bring him back. He cant stay healthy anymore, and there is no question he is not the pitcher he was only a couple of seasons ago. Besides, wouldnt he be owed like 20 million or something like that?

[Mark19]

Moose guts through 2006 and gives us 14 wins. We decline his option and offer him a smaller deal to return in 2007. With a World Series ring wrapped snuggly around his finger, he signs off on a low-risk contract through 2008. Being the thoughtful guy that he is, Moose acknowledges that his #2 spot in the rotation will go to one of the youngsters who dazzled the sports media in the playoffs.

[YankClipper5]

I don't think he is HOF material, he is borderline but still is chasing a Championship. If he gives us a huge year and pitches well in winning the Series, he may command a nice 2 or 3 year deal which he can chase the HOF but Moose seems like a guy who would probably retire if he had a stellar year and won a WS ring... I like his character and he may have a couple good years left in him. Let's hope he performs this year and then worry about it.

[Dr. Gonzo]

I hope we win a WS with him this year, but I hope that every year

[Bernie Inferno]

Moose guts through 2006 and gives us 14 wins. We decline his option and offer him a smaller deal to return in 2007. With a World Series ring wrapped snuggly around his finger, he signs off on a low-risk contract through 2008. Being the thoughtful guy that he is, Moose acknowledges that his #2 spot in the rotation will go to one of the youngsters who dazzled the sports media in the playoffs.

I like your idea!

[CaptainThurman]

The best news is that Moose and Sheffield alone free up $32 mil in salary dollars after 2006. Too bad Posada's option will vest, otherwise this team would be seriously looking at a not-too-embarrassing payroll situation in 2007.

[silverdsl]

Moose guts through 2006 and gives us 14 wins. We decline his option and offer him a smaller deal to return in 2007. With a World Series ring wrapped snuggly around his finger, he signs off on a low-risk contract through 2008. Being the thoughtful guy that he is, Moose acknowledges that his #2 spot in the rotation will go to one of the youngsters who dazzled the sports media in the playoffs.

I like the way you think!!

I'm more concerned though with how Moose is going to pitch in 2006 then what he might do in 2007 and beyond. Moose is one of my favorite Yankees so I'm really pulling for him to have a strong, injury-free season. If he stays healthy I think he will be a big asset to the Yankees this season.

I'd love to see him stay with the Yankees for the remainder of his career, however long that may be, but I don't know if that will happen.

-Deborah

[surge511]

I bet he gets 14 wins with a 4.3 ERA. I would not be surprised to see an injury, however. I bet Small and Wright both get starts this year, as well as some minor leaguers because of the fragility of the rotation. Hopefully, a youngster can prove himself and solve the offseason pitching problem.

[Mr. Mxylsplk]

Sure, some players may have had good years in their contract years, but couldn't it be that it's because baseball is just a very unpredictable game.

I can't find it online either, but that's exactly what they found. Plenty of guys improve in their walk years, but plenty of guys improve in non-walk years. And plenty of guys don't improve in their walk years, just as plenty of guys don't improve in non-walk years. Looking at lots and lots of guys, though I don't have the specifics of how many or over what period of time, they found that improvement in walk years happens no more often than improvement any other time, and declining in walk years happens just as often as declining any other time.

[Mr. Mxylsplk]

I think what happens to Moose in '07 is that he starts putting that Stanford education to work.

[pettitte_mussina]

I think he'll keep pitching, but elsewhere. He'll want to leave, and the Yankees won't want him back. (I won't either. He'll be just about done.)

why wouldn't he want to be back??

[pettitte_mussina]

I hope we win a WS with him this year, but I hope that every year

me tooo~~~!!! he deserves one! as do all the other yankees.

[pettitte_mussina]

I like the way you think!!

I'm more concerned though with how Moose is going to pitch in 2006 then what he might do in 2007 and beyond. Moose is one of my favorite Yankees so I'm really pulling for him to have a strong, injury-free season. If he stays healthy I think he will be a big asset to the Yankees this season.

I'd love to see him stay with the Yankees for the remainder of his career, however long that may be, but I don't know if that will happen.

-Deborah

I second (third?) that!!

[JeterRodriguezSheff]

Moose should be a HOF imo, Schilling will get in and Moose has just as good career stats as him and played his career in the AL while Schilling played mostly in the NL. If Schilling gets in and Moose doesnt then the HOF loses even more credibility.

[pettitte_mussina]

The 07 offseason class however has some REALLY great options

Bartolo Colon
Freddy Garcia
Roy Halladay
Carlos Zambrano
Josh Beckett
Roy Oswalt
Chris Carpenter (Team Option)
C.C. Sabathia

bartolo colon, tho a great pitcher, is even more injury-prone that moose is... and moose is better.

[JeterRodriguezSheff]

If the Cubs are stupid enough to not lock zambrano up long term we should give him a blank check and say "have fun"

[JamieMadrox]

I think he will finally get out of the AL East, into the NL West, and easily win 20 games for 3 straight years, wonder why the hell he didn't do this earlier, get to 300 wins and be a shoe-in for the HOF

Also at least 3 straight NL CYA

[Mattpat11]

The quality FAs next year are:

Jason Schmidt - He's getting older now and cant stay healthy
Kerry Wood (Mutual Option) - I can't see the Cubs let him go away
Mike Mussina (Team Option)
Kelvim Escobar - Possibility
Ted Lilly - Can't see us going down that road now, especially given his injury/ineffectiveness
Andy Pettitte - Not likely to happen
Mark Mulder - Not the premium pitcher he once was
Barry Zito - Possibility, but I see the team who trades for him locking him up long-term
Doug Davis - Possibility
Mark Buerhle (Team Option) - No way the White Sox let him go
David Wells - ha

I'll take Mussina

[Dr. Gonzo]

Moose should be a HOF imo, Schilling will get in and Moose has just as good career stats as him and played his career in the AL while Schilling played mostly in the NL. If Schilling gets in and Moose doesnt then the HOF loses even more credibility.

schilling will get in over moose, eventhough he shouldn't. Schilling even said he doesn't deserve, but that probably just talk.

Schilling will get in on the two WS, and that he won it for boston. If he won in KC instead of boston it wouldn't have mattered as much.

[BronxBombers2005]

Its hard to say this but I dont think the Yanks will be looking foward to keeping him in 07. But if he does have a good year (lets hope) maybe be can come back for much less of a price. But there are some great pitchers out on the market in 07.
As far as him going to the HOF, that probably wont happen. He has never won 20 games in one season and his numbers arn't really that good.

[BJG]

schilling will get in over moose, eventhough he shouldn't. Schilling even said he doesn't deserve, but that probably just talk.

Schilling will get in on the two WS, and that he won it for boston. If he won in KC instead of boston it wouldn't have mattered as much.

Winning the WS actually tends to be less of an issue than simply being a part of contending teams, something that Mussina has done all the way back to his B-more days. Schilling also has to contend with not really establishing himself until he was 29. He doesn't even have 200 wins yet. Mussina has a shot depending on what he does the next few years. I don't think Schilling has any chance.

[gEO3b4]

I've always liked Moose and wouldnt mind havign him back (at a reduced salary of coarse), but I have a feeling he will retire. If not I think he might go to one of the Pennsylvania teams or Baltimore.

[RobRiv]

As consistently good as Mussina has been throughout his career, he has been plagued by bad luck and poor run support. He's had how many (2 or 3?) no-hitters/perfect games blown in the 8th and 9th inning?

I think he has the talent to be a Hall of Famer, but because he comes across as moody and aloof with sportswriters, he most likely won't get in -- unlike Schilling who has probably been campaigning for the Hall since kindergarten, always filling the reporter's notebooks with juicy quotes, while perfecting the art of bogus self-depcrecation.

I have a good feeling about Moose for this season, and to some extent, that confidence has to do with my confidence in the Yanks restocked bullpen (please be good, Farnsworth & Co., please be good).

Mussina's craftiness and knuckle-curve should continue to serve him well, and his fastball should still have enough zip to keep most hitters off balance. I see him keeping the Yanks in the game until the 7th inning most of his outings, and throwing a few gems as well.

Addressing the title of this thread, I have no idea what happens to Moose in '07.

I like the guy, I like watching him, and I have a lot of confidence in him as a pitcher. I'd love to see him parading through New York's "Canyon of Heroes" in October.

Let's Gooooo Moose!

[LeapsNbounds]

The 07 offseason class however has some REALLY great options

Bartolo Colon
Freddy Garcia
Roy Halladay
Carlos Zambrano
Josh Beckett
Roy Oswalt
Chris Carpenter (Team Option)
C.C. Sabathia

I will take Halladay (no way Jays let him walk though), Zambrano, Oswalt, and Carpenter.

Until Sebethia can straighten his cap out, he has no place on the yankees!!

[gEO3b4]

I will take Halladay (no way Jays let him walk though), Zambrano, Oswalt, and Carpenter.

Until Sebethia can straighten his cap out, he has no place on the yankees!!

Agreed with everything you say. Also if Beckett is good next year I would consider him, and Garcia. But not for as much as Freddy Garcia would command.

[JeterRodriguezSheff]

All im saying is that imo Schilling is just as worthy if not more than Schilling who will get in.

[pettitte_mussina]

I'll take Mussina

Me too

[#7forever]

I think Mike has been a good pitcher for the YANKEES, and an outstanding
person representing the team. I have also been a big supporter of Moose here and on other boards. I hope he has a great season and the YANKEES take the option. However his glory days are behind him, and having never won 20 in a season, and never being considered the "best" at his position, I would say he is a no go to the HOF.

[JeterRodriguezSheff]

I think Mike has been a good pitcher for the YANKEES, and an outstanding
person representing the team. I have also been a big supporter of Moose here and on other boards. I hope he has a great season and the YANKEES take the option. However his glory days are behind him, and having never won 20 in a season, and never being considered the "best" at his position, I would say he is a no go to the HOF.

I hate how wins count so much in the HOF voter's eyes. Its all about run support, and its not Mussina's fault he hasnt got run support. His low ERA's should be more of an indincation of how he pitched. BTW his 2.54 era(with 241 IP) in the AL in 92 is dominating. And when you consider IP and the difference between Al and NL that 92 season for Moose imo was better than any schilling season.

[YankeePride1967]

The direction he has been heading in recent years, I doubt he has the kind of year in 2006 that will make the Yanks want to bring him back for 2007. I think this is Moose's last call in the Bronx.

[AJW]

I fear another Moose breakdown this year for a month or more, and a tedious August in which he stuggles to fine tune himself. I pencil him in for 11-7. 4.00 ERA.

He falls short of the hall.

Agreed. He's a good pitcher but not a great pitcher.

[NelsonMuntz]

The direction he has been heading in recent years, I doubt he has the kind of year in 2006 that will make the Yanks want to bring him back for 2007. I think this is Moose's last call in the Bronx.

Agreed. Moose has had a fantastic career and I appreciate all he's done as a Yankee. But he is definitely in decline and I am not expecting him to have a great 2006.