Last week, Cole Hamels avoided arbitration with the Philadelphia Phillies and agreed to a one-year, $15 million contract for the 2012 season.Hamels' agent, John Boggs (no relation to Wade) remarked: "We're happy we've concluded the one-year portion of this...and at the appropriate time, I'm sure we'll have dialogue with the Phillies and continue talking about a multiyear deal."On the surface, that sounds like an agent who knows that his client's first choice is to remain with the only team he has played for following the 2012 season.But the ...
January is coming to a close, and free agency is wrapping up.Players like Albert Pujols, Prince Fielder, CJ Wilson, Jonathan Papelbon, Gio Gonzalez and Jose Reyes have new homes, while some players like Matt Kemp and CC Sabathia decided to stay at home.Every team and player wants to come out of the offseason better than when they went in, but not everybody can. There are always winners and losers, but who were those teams this offseason?Let's find out.Begin Slideshow
Earlier today, New York Yankees now-former catcher Jorge Posada announced that he would be retiring from baseball after 17 seasons in pinstripes. Posada announced that he would not rejoin the Yankees at the end of the season, and when nobody seemed interested in picking him up, he decided it was time to retire. When a man like Posada, who had success in baseball, retires, the question arises: Is he a Hall of Fame catcher? In my mind, I believe that Posada is a Hall of Fame catcher without a doubt. One ...
The New York Yankees already have two very good young arms in New York in Michael Pineda and Ivan Nova, but what about in the minor leagues?Who do they have that can replace Hiroki Kuroda and Freddy Garcia after 2012 if they fail to trade for or sign a pitcher in free agency?The Yankees are not known for having a strong farm system. and after trading Jesus Montero, their farm system did get a little weaker but they did get better pitching wise with the acquisition of Jose Campos.Where does ...
Suddenly, the Yankees really need a designated hitter.Jorge Posada is retiring. The Detroit Tigers just seriously bolstered their offense by signing Prince Fielder. The Anaheim Angels already brought in Albert Pujols, the Boston Red Sox and Tampa Bay Rays aren't going anywhere and, oh yeah, the Texas Rangers are still really, really good.The Yankees made huge waves by signing Hiroki Kuroda and trading for young stud Michael Pineda, and general manager Brian Cashman now has a bit of starting pitching depth he can shop to snag a designated hitter.From Bryan ...
The 1995 New York Yankees had lost the first five straight games of a western swing. It was only May 28, but Mr. Steinbrenner needed a victory. Manager Buck Showalter started 25-year-old Mariano Rivera against the Oakland A's. It was Rivera's second major league appearance.The California Angels had blasted him for five runs in his first major league start five days earlier. The Yankees staked Rivera to a lead in the first inning when they scored a pair of runs off Mike Harkey, but Rivera had problems in the Oakland ...
New York Yankees Hall of Fame-caliber catcher Jorge Posada formally announced his retirement on Tuesday, January 26, 2012. It was an emotional conference, with Posada rightfully breaking down as he called it quits on a legendary career. Despite a laundry list of Yankee greats, Jorge will forever have a special place in the hearts of Yank fans everywhere. No longer will fans be able to scream the enthralling "Hip-Hip-Jorge" chant after he blasts a game-tying or game-winning home run. He may not have been the greatest defensive catcher in the game throughout his ...
Brian Cashman has again suggested he will use the Yankees surplus of pitching to target a DH in the trade market. Looking at it from all sides, this is what New York has. CC Sabathia, Hiroki Kuroda, Ivan Nova and Michael Pineda are NOT being traded. Don't even try to argue it. Then, the possibilities are A.J. Burnett, Freddy Garcia and Phil Hughes. First, we have Burnett. The Yankees would love to get rid of Burnett, but don't count on it. His salary is too high, and he has not been successful ...
In his last start at Columbus against the Rochester Red Wings. Mariano Rivera pitched a five-inning no-hitter. On July 4, 1995, he was the New York Yankees starter against the Chicago White Sox at Comiskey Park. Rivera had a streak of 20.2 scoreless innings for the Columbus Clippers when he rejoined the parent club. In his previous stint with the Yankees, Rivera had compiled a 1-2 record with a 10.20 ERA. In his minor league career, Rivera was primarily a starting pitcher. He started 68 games, completed seven—which in 2012 ...
Maybe it was the fan in me that got in the way, but when news broke two weeks ago that the announcement of Jorge Posada's retirement was imminent, I did not jump on Bleacher Report to wax poetic.I decided to wait—perhaps because, deep down, I was hoping for one more year, though I knew, just as everyone else did, that it was time for him to walk into the sunset.Today, that is exactly what Posada will do as he prepares to announce his retirement at Yankee Stadium.He finishes his career ...