Mariano Rivera Rumors

Chamberlain Still Unsure Of 2010 Role

We've heard a lot about the "Joba Rules" ever since Joba Chamberlain was first called up to the Yankees in 2007. Going into next season, however, the "Rules" are up in the air since nobody seems to even know what the game will be for the young right-hander in 2010. Chamberlain told MLB.com's Anthony DiComo that the Yankees have yet to inform him if he will be a starter or a reliever next season. Chamberlain doesn't seem bothered by the lack of information, saying "it helps me just to know that I've been put in a lot of situations and...   Continue Reading

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Five More Years For Mariano Rivera?

Mariano Rivera told today's crowd he wants to play for five more years, according to the New York Times' Jack Curry. Rivera explained: "I'm serious. I hope the organization does whatever it takes to bring me back. I know I have another year under my contract, and then whatever happens happens." Of course, as Curry notes, "A few months before the 2000 season, Rivera shocked the Yankees by saying he wanted to pitch four more years, then retire to become an evangelical minister." Rivera, 40 later this month, added to his legend in 2009 with 44 regular season and five...   Continue Reading

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Odds & Ends: Holliday, Putz, Lopez, Teahen, Reds

It's been a busy first day on the hot stove, so here's another batch of links... Derrick Goold of The St. Lous Post Dispatch says there are eight teams "that have the need and the financial wherewithal" to sign Matt Holliday. It's the usual suspects (i.e. big market clubs), and Goold explains why each may be interested in Holliday. Craig Landis, agent for J.J. Putz, said that his client "hasn't ruled out returning to the Mets with a cheaper, incentive-laden deal," according to Bart Hubbuch of The NY Post. Earlier today we learned that the Mets informed Putz that they...   Continue Reading

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Baseball Blogs Weigh In: Mets, Pirates, Papelbon, Rivera

On this date 42 years ago, Brian Cashman was born. Cashman has been the General Manager of the Yankees since 1998 and is signed through 2011. With four weeks until the trade deadline, Cashman will certainly be active in the trade market. Let's take a look at what is being written in the Blogosphere... The Guttridge-Wang Trade Model attempts to quantify all aspects of a trade. MLB Notebook looks at how teams that are willing to spend will control this year's trade market. Mets Geek evaluates some buy-low trade targets for the Mets. Sully Baseball recommends that the Mets not...   Continue Reading

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Yanks Considered Trading Rivera For Wells In '95

Former Yankees GM Gene Michael told John Harper of the New York Daily News that he considered dealing Mariano Rivera to the Tigers for David Wells back in 1995. Rivera was still considered a starter then, and he was one of the players the Tigers had interest in. Michael, now a scout, says he held onto Rivera because of his control and mid-nineties fastball. "But nobody ever could have foreseen him doing all of this - and really with just one pitch." The Tigers dealt Wells to Cincinnati, where he pitched to an ERA of 3.59 in 11 starts. The...   Continue Reading

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Baseball Blogs Weigh In: Yankees, Oil Can, Halladay, Mets

On this date 21 years ago, the Baltimore Orioles traded Ray Knight to the Tigers, only one year after signing the World Series hero as a free agent. The O's received Mark Thurmond, who would go 1-8 in 1988 with an 85 ERA+. Knight would only play 105 games for the Tigers before retiring. With spring training now in full swing, several veteran free agents are still without contracts or guaranteed jobs and may be on the verge of retirement. Let's take a look at what is being written in the Blogosphere... More Hardball puts together a 25-man roster of...   Continue Reading

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Yankees Rumors: Teixeira, Igawa, Sabathia

The Yankees chatter died down a bit today, but here's what we've got. Joel Sherman of the New York Post notes buzz about Robinson Cano going to the Dodgers amid Yankee interest in Russell Martin and Matt Kemp. He admits it's unlikely. Mark Feinsand of the New York Daily News talked to one big league exec about whether Mark Teixeira could handle the pressures of New York. Brian Cashman says nobody has asked him about Kei Igawa, who has three years and $12MM left on his contract. Cashman would not rule out the possibility of bringing back both Mike Mussina...   Continue Reading

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Papelbon Gets $775K

Outspoken Red Sox closer Jonathan Papelbon signed a one-year deal for $775K for '08. That's significantly more than the Sox had to give him, so it seems they value his happiness. His new salary beats Mariano Rivera's two-year service time closer record of $750K. Papelbon's salary will increase drastically a year from now, as he'll be arbitration-eligible for the first time. He probably won't get the $10MM Ryan Howard did, but something north of $5MM seems possible.   Continue Reading

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K-Rod Looking For Rivera Money?

On Saturday, we discussed the Francisco Rodriguez situation. He's been historically good for a closer his age, and his next contract could be record-breaking. That contract doesn't seem likely to come from the Angels. K-Rod has arrived in camp, and he admits that '08 is probably his last season with L.A. Mike DiGiovanna speaks of repeated rejected extension attempts by the Angels. After the '07 season, the Angels offered something near three years and $34MM. Rodriguez unsurprisingly turned this down, as it's $11MM short of the Mariano Rivera money he craves. GM Tony Reagins is thinking about a future that...   Continue Reading

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Mariano Rivera Confusion?

Here is a December 17th press release from the Yankees announcing Mariano Rivera's three-year deal. Here is a New York Daily News article from early this morning indicating that Rivera has yet to sign on the dotted line. There is a lot of dated information in the Daily News article, so it seems as if they simply accidentally posted an old story, nothing more. Threw me for a loop, though   Continue Reading

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