Author Archive
New York Yankees Make an Appearance in the Joe Mauer »
We'll call this a brief cameo, thanks to Bill Madden: Like everyone else in baseball, the Yankee high command is watching with keen interest how the Joe Mauer negotiations with the Minnesota Twins play out this spring. Unlike most other teams, however, the Yankees have both the financial resources to afford the MVP catcher as well as the surplus [...]
Hal Steinbrenner Confirms What We Already Know »
Nearly a month ago, Brian Cashman declared that there will be no talks with either Derek Jeter or Mariano Rivera regarding contract extensions: When Brian Cashman looks at Derek Jeter, Mariano Rivera and Joe Girardi, the Yankees GM paints his shortstop, closer and manager with the same brush. And with spring training opening next week in Tampa, [...]
Is Carl Crawford Bronx-Bound in 2011? »
Did the New York Yankees' reluctance to give Johnny Damon two years deal reflect something about their love for free agent to be Carl Crawford? According to Jon Heyman, the answer is yes. One reason the Yankees were reluctant to go for a two-year deal for Johnny Damon might have had little to do with Damon and been a greater reflection of what [...]
Will the New York Yankees Go After Aroldis Chapman? »
Lost in the shuffle of the Yankees tremendous offseason has been their relative inactivity on the Aroldis Chapman front. At the beginning of the offseason, the Yankees were heavily linked to the Cuban left hander because of their vast financial resources and experience signing international prospects. But now that the Yankees have acquired [...]
Analyzing the Javier Vazquez-Melky Cabrera Trade »
By acquiring Javier Vazquez, the Yankees are addressing one of their more pressing needs this winter: more starting pitching. By acquiring Vazquez, they sure picked up a good one. Vazquez is coming off the best season of his career with the Braves and was one of the top starting pitchers in the National League last season. On paper, the Yankees [...]
What Does the Nick Johnson Contract Mean for Adam »
Coming into the offseason, the two top free agent first basemen on the market were Adam LaRoche and Nick Johnson. Besides the fact that they are both left-handed first basemen, LaRoche and Johnson have little in common as far as their careers and playing styles are concerned. LaRoche is a steady power hitter, who has hit at least 20 home runs in [...]
For Johnny Damon, What’s Next? »
Last night, the Yankees and Nick Johnson came to terms on a one year/$5.5 million contract that all but ends Johnny Damon's tenure with the Yankees: In a move that almost certainly would end Johnny Damon’s four-year run in the Bronx, the Yankees were close to completing negotiations on a one-year contract with Nick Johnson late Thursday. A [...]
Nick Johnson Can Do So Much Better than New York »
Could Nick Johnson be returning to the Bronx? Maybe: The Yankees and Nick Johnson are talking about the sweet-swinging lefty and on-base machine replacing Hideki Matsui as the world champions’ designated hitter on a one-year deal. If an agreement is reached, it would be an indication the Yankees will part ways with Johnny Damon, who they [...]
The Market for Chien Ming Wang »
A few years ago, Chien Ming Wang was considered the Yankees' ace. Now, Wang isn't even a Yankee. In fact, after being non tendered yesterday, Wang has no team: Wang, 30, was a stalwart on Yankees teams that always seemed to be short of enough quality pitching, using his sinkerball to win 19 games in 2006 and 2007. As the Yankees struggled to find [...]
Rich Harden: Free Agent at the End of the Season »
Over the course of his career, Rich Harden has been a maddeningly frustrating pitcher. At times, Harden looks like the best pitcher on the planet because he has the stuff to be one of the most dominating pitchers in baseball.But every year it seems as though Harden's progression is set back by injuries. Since 2005, Harden has spent ample time [...]