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More on Wang and Damon

According to the NY Daily News, the Yankees offered Wang a minor-league contract with a promise that he would return to the Bronx if and when he could prove his shoulder was back to normal. His agent, Alan Nero, insisted that Wang receive guaranteed money, which turned out to be the sticking point for the Yanks. It could be a bluff, but for now Wang is a free agent. It would be see him work his way to the Yanks from the minors. For a pitcher who used to be a reliable 19-game winner each year, he surely could still add value to their rotation.

Also, according to the same article, Johnny Damon's agent, Scott Boras instructed the Yankees to not bother making an offer unless it was for a minimum of 3 years and $13 million per year. This would make sense and be right in line with a statement that Damon recently made when he claimed the Yanks have not made him an offer. I have no doubt that Brian Cashman is sticking to his guns regarding $8 million per year for 2 years, which is apparently the numbers that the Yanks have in mind for Damon. I don't think those numbers are unfair.

Labels: Contract negotiations, Damon, Pitching, Wang

posted by webmaster @ 5:59 AM 0 comments

Friday, December 11, 2009

Damon to return to the Bronx?

There continues to be a gap between the 3 - 4 years that Scott Boras insists for Johnny Damon's next contract and the 2 years that the Yankees are willing to give him. Damon would be a great fit next to Curtis Granderson in the outfield and in front of Jeter in the order. Despite the fact that he's 36 years old, Damon is not showing signs of age having come off one of his best seasons, hitting .282 with 24 home runs, 36 doubles and 82 RBIs in 2009. However, Cashman and the rest of the front office have been showing more discipline in recent years, being more selective about the big-name free agents they persue and more stingy with the length of contracts that they sign. We will soon find out how much Damon wants to remain in the Bronx.

Labels: Contract negotiations, Damon, Outfield

posted by webmaster @ 7:45 PM 0 comments

Monday, March 03, 2008

The case for Brian Cashman

The Yankees have an important decision coming up that could potentially effect their team for years to come. There is debate about when (or if at all) to extend Brian Cashman's contract. I say he deserves an extension sooner rather than later, and he deserves a salary appropriate for a man who is possibly one of the best general managers in the game. First, he has had to deal with the Boss. I love Steinbrenner and what he has done for the team, but it would be hard to compile an argument against the notion that he is a tough man to work for. Second, Cashman has had to deal with the scrutiny of the New York media and the expectations of the New York fans. These are not easy tasks. Third, and most importantly, he has put a field on the team that has consistently made the playoffs every year. He was responsible for bringing Alex Rodriguez (who has won 2 MVPs since arriving in the Bronx) to new York. He successfully signed Bernie Williams and Derek Jeter to long-term contracts. He also was able to go out and get Matsui. Most recently he can be credited with stocking the Yankee farm system with names such as Phil Hughes, Ian Kennedy, Joba Chamberlain, Humberto Sanchez and Dellin Betances. Finally, I admire his bravery. There will be many who will, in retrospect, judge his decision to hold firm on the Santana deal. If Kennedy and Hughes pan out and Santana fizzles, he will look like a genius. On the other hand, if the kids never make anything of themselves and Santana is successful in Queens, his decision will be second-guessed. But given the information he had available to him at the time, I'd say that he made the right choice. He could have succumbed to pressure and traded for the big-name pitcher and trade the future away for the here and now as the Yankees were known for doing in the 1980s, but instead he chose to take a little risk and do what was right for the long-term success of the team, even if it meant he looked bad and might be risking his job with the team. He puts the team first and he deserves to be rewarded for a job well done.

Labels: Cashman, Contract negotiations, Winning

posted by webmaster @ 6:34 PM 1 comments

Monday, November 19, 2007

Rivera to accept contracf for 3 years, $45 mil.

Rivera informed the Yanks today of his intention to accept their offer.

Labels: Contract negotiations, Rivera

posted by webmaster @ 8:11 PM 0 comments

Sunday, November 18, 2007

Rivera close to resigning

It appears now as if Mo is about to drop his demands for a fourth year on his next contract and sign a 3-year, $45 million contract with the Yankees, making him the highest paid closer of all time. Needless to say, this is good news....

Labels: Contract negotiations, Rivera, Salaries

posted by webmaster @ 1:16 PM 0 comments

Friday, November 16, 2007

Heading in the right direction, but not quite there yet.

OK, so the A-Rod is looking all but done and Posada is right behind him. That’s great news, but there’s still work to be done. Apparently Mariano Rivera is looking the the fact that Alex Rodriguez will, with the current he is in the verge of signing, be signed and playing in pinstripes until the ripe old age of 42. The three-year deal that the Yankees have extended to Mo will expire when he is 41. Apparently he wants a fourth guaranteed year. I say, give it to him. I would bet a paycheck or two that at the age of 42, Mo will still be very effective. Besides, with all that he has given to this team, would it really be the worst thing in the world to overpay him a bit if he did begin to lose his effectiveness? Unfortunately, the word is that the Yankees are not going to budge on the length of the contract and this word came from the Boss himself. Even if the Mo is signed, the Yanks have a lot of work ahead of them in the pitching department. I think they would go a long way in solving their problems if they were to convince Pettitte to come back for at least another year and find a way to trade for Johan Santana. Maybe send Melky or Cano their way, along with a mediocre prospect or two.

Labels: A-Rod, Contract negotiations, Pettitte, Posada, Rivera, Santana, The Boss

posted by webmaster @ 10:08 AM 0 comments

Thursday, November 15, 2007

A-Rod, Yanks agree on framework of $275 million, 10-year deal

It is all but written in stone. Question his willingness to be a team player or his attitude, you just can't argue with 150+ RBIs and a gold glove.

Labels: A-Rod, Contract negotiations, Salaries

posted by webmaster @ 8:23 PM 0 comments

A-Rod talks still looking good, and maybe Mike owell too

ESPN.com is now reporting that A-Rod and the Yanks are getting ever closer to 10-years/$270 million agreement. That may lead some to believe that the Yanks would surely back off their recent aggressive pursuit of Boston's WS MVP, Mike Lowell, since he also plays 3rd base. However, there are reports that the Yanks are still in discussions with Lowell's agents and they are talking about bringing him to the Bronx to play 1st base. Finally, Matsui came out of knee surgery yesterday with no complications or problems and is expected to begin rehab soon and remain on schedule to be ready for the beginning of the 2008 season. For those of you who are paying attention, there is an extra player in there. Abreu's option was picked up so he could play right. Melky will be playing center with Damon backing him up. Damon will also be putting a lot of time in at left field, with Matsui also putting time in left and as DH. If Lowell does get signed to play first, that leaves Jason Giambi to play the occasional first base and be a part-time DH. $21 million is a lot for an occasional first baseman and a part-time DH. Barring a major injury or some unforeseen circumstances, I don't see the Yankees keeping Giambi on past 2008, regardless of Mike Lowell's whereabouts.

Labels: A-Rod, Cabrera, Contract negotiations, Damon, Giambi, Lowell, Matsui, Salaries

posted by webmaster @ 2:09 PM 0 comments

Wednesday, November 14, 2007

Things moving quickly with A-Rod

There is now a report on the official yankees website that the Yanks are close to resigning A-Rod for $290 million. For that price, and considering the fact that the Steinbrenners may very well be sticking to their guns regarding the discount for opting out of his old contract, this may very well be for 10 years.

Labels: A-Rod, Contract negotiations

posted by webmaster @ 9:57 PM 0 comments

Statement from A-Rod

Alex has posted a positive statement on his website regarding his discussions with the Steinbrenners.

Labels: A-Rod, Contract negotiations, Steinbrenners

posted by webmaster @ 7:37 PM 0 comments

Some truth to the A-Rod rumors.....

Apparently the Steinbrenners are now in some sort of negotiations with A-Rod. Apparently two conditions of the discussions are that Scott Boras is not present and at least part of the deal will be for an under-market price to make up for the suppliment Texas was paying on A-Rod's previous contract which he opted out of to explore the free agent market.

Labels: A-Rod, Contract negotiations

posted by webmaster @ 2:55 PM 0 comments

Friday, August 17, 2007

Cashman will only keep Alex on current contract

Brian Cashman has stated that the Yankees' will not renegotiate a new contract with A-Rod if he opts out of his current contract, which he is entitled to do if he chooses after the end of this season. This makes sense as, based on the initial trade for Alex which sent Alfonso Soriano to the Rangers, Texas would pay part of the remainder of A-Rod's salary for the duration of the contract. After the 2007 season, Alex will have $81 million owed to him over the final three years of his contract and Texas is obligated to about $30 million of this. If A-Rod were to opt out and the Yankees were to resign him to a new contract, Texas would immediately be relieved of the $30 million obligation and the Yankees would have to pick that up. One alternative, which is probably the most likely, is that the Yanks and A-Rod extend his contract, keeping the current one in place and extending the number of years and salary. The Yankees will probably insist that he surrenders his right to opt out and he will likely get paid even more than his current average of $25 million per year. It's will most definitely be worth it. There are still questions about how he will perform in the post-season but he has done much this year to alleviate fear about any lack of performance in New York during the regular season. If he retired today he would likely make his way to the Hall of Fame, never mind the numbers he will put up in the next 8 to 10 years. Statistically he will likely be the top player of all time. He has the capability to lead the Yanks to several more world championships. It's a no-brainer.

Labels: A-Rod, Cashman, Contract negotiations, Salaries

posted by webmaster @ 8:52 AM 0 comments

Saturday, February 17, 2007

Mo problems coming down the road?

Mariano Rivera wearing a Red Sox uniform. If that's not enough to scare you silly, then you cannot call yourself a Yankee fan. But this is going to become a real possibility, according to Rivera, if the Yankees don't figure out how to solve his contract issues. It is fairly simple. Mariano wants a contract extension before his contract expires after this season. Brian Cashman has spoken to him and reiterates the fact that the team obviously wants to keep him. However, Cashman also stated that he does not want to negotiate contract extensions during the season and he does not want to make an exception even for the great Mariano Rivera, because then other players who wish to negotiate contract extensions during the season will be asking the obvious question, "If you can negotiate with Mariano during the season, why not me too?" Further complicating this whole issue is the fact that Mariano believes the Yankees are leaving Bernie Williams out to dry, and he may be worried about the same possibility for himself. While that might be a bit of a stretch to say the least, Mariano feels as if he is being disrespected. While I don't think there is a possibility of Mariano playing for any other team next year other than the Yankees, I certainly hope that things don't get nasty behind closed doors. This is a mess that doesn't need to happen.

Some other notable recent events:

Roger Clemens is thinking about staying retired. No big loss there. It's not like the Yanks are lacking starting pitching these days. In fact, there is talk of trading Pavano if he can prove he is healthy and strong as they will then have an abundance of arms. So without an opening in the rotation, I don't see the point in bringing back an old, once-great pitcher on the sole value of his name rather than his ability to pitch. The sooner he retires, the sooner he can get elected to the Hall of Fame.

The future George Steinbrenner is not impressive so far. Steinbrenner's son-in-law and designated successor Steve Swindal, who is also the Yankees general partner, was arrested Thursday morning on charges of driving under the influence in Tampa. One thing I have always loved about King George is that while he demanded discipline, focus and absolute dedication from each of his players, you sort of got the impression those were the qualities that he took with him in life. This is how he attacked his career and how he approached life. Let's hope this is an isolated incident and not a reflection of Swindal or a sign of things to come.

Labels: Clemens, Contract negotiations, Rivera, Swindall

posted by webmaster @ 5:46 PM 0 comments

YANKEE QUOTES

TEAM INFORMATION LINKS

25-MAN ROSTER

DEPTH CHART

DISABLED LIST

SCHEDULE

TEAM LEADERS

SORTABLE PLAYER STATS

CURRENT WEATHER AT THE GAME

DEFINING HISTORY

LAST UPDATED: 10/05/2009

ALL-TIME SAVES LEADERS

RANK

1.
2.
3.

NAME

Trevor Hoffman
Mariano Rivera
Lee Smith

SAVES

591
526
478

ALL-TIME HITS LEADERS

RANK

1.
2.
3.
4.
45.
46.
47.
48.
49.
82.
83.
84.
85.

NAME

Pete Rose
Ty Cobb
Hank Aaron
Stan Musial
Andre Dawson
Ken Griffey Jr.
Vada Pinson
Luke Appling
Derek Jeter
Willie Davis
Steve Finley
G. Van Haltren
Alex Rodriguez

HITS

4,256
4,198
3,771
3,630
2,774
2,763
2,757
2,749
2,747
2,561
2,548
2,532
2,531

ALL-TIME HOME RUN LEADERS

RANK

1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8(T).
8(T).

NAME

Barry Bonds
Hank Aaron
Babe Ruth
Willie Mays
Ken Griffey Jr.
Sammy Sosa
Frank Robinson
Mark McGwire
Alex Rodriguez

HR

762
755
714
660
613
609
586
583
583

27 WORLD SERIES TITLES

1923 - 1927 - 1928 - 1932 - 1936 - 1937 - 1938 - 1939 - 1941 - 1943 - 1947 - 1949 - 1950 - 1951 - 1952 - 1953 - 1956 - 1958 - 1961 - 1962 - 1977 - 1978 - 1996 - 1998 - 1999 - 2000 - 2009 - ????

16 RETIRED NUMBERS

1      BILLY MARTIN
3     BABE RUTH
4      LOU GEHRIG
5      JOE DIMAGGIO
7     MICKEY MANTLE
8      YOGI BERRA
8      BILL DICKEY
9      ROGER MARIS
10    PHIL RIZZUTO
15    THURMAN MUNSON
16    WHITEY FORD
23    DON MATTINGLY
32    ELSTON HOWARD
37    CASEY STENGEL
44    REGGIE JACKSON
49    RON GUIDRY

40 HALL OF FAMERS

Frank Baker 1916-19, 1921-22
Yogi Berra 1946-63
Wade Boggs 1993-97
Roger Bresnahan 1901-02
Frank Chance 1913-14
Jack Chesbro 1903-09
Earle Combs 1924-35
Stan Coveleski 1928
Bill Dickey 1928-43, 1946
Joe DiMaggio 1936-42, 1946-51
Leo Durocher 1925, 1928-29
Whitey Ford 1950, 1953-67
Lou Gehrig 1923-39
Lefty Gomez 1930-42
Goose Gossage 1978-83, 1989
Clark Griffith 1903-07
Burleigh Grimes 1934
Ricky Henderson 1985-1989
Waite Hoyt 1921-30
Catfish Hunter 1975-79
Reggie Jackson 1977-81
Willie Keeler 1903-09
Joe Kelley 1902
Tony Lazzeri 1926-37
Mickey Mantle 1951-68
Joe McGinnity 1901-02
John McGraw 1901-02
Johnny Mize 1949-53
Phil Niekro 1984-85
Herb Pennock 1923-33
Gaylord Perry 1980
Branch Rickey 1907
Phil Rizzuto 1941-42, 1946-56
Wilbert Robinson 1901-02
Red Ruffing 1930-42, 1945-46
Babe Ruth 1920-34
Joe Sewell 1931-33
Enos Slaughter 1954-55, 1956-59
Dazzy Vance 1915, 1918
Paul Waner 1944-45
Dave Winfield 1981-88, 1990