On this date in 2000, the Yankees signed Chien-Ming Wang as a 20-year-old amateur out of Taiwan for $1.9MM. The sinkerballer pitched to a 4.16 ERA in parts of five years with New York before hurting his shoulder and being non-tendered after the 2009 season. Here's the latest from baseball's two East divisions…
- Orioles GM Dan Duquette told Roch Kubatko of MASNSports.com that Miguel Tejada initiated contact with the team (Twitter link). Tejada will sign a minor league deal if he passes his physical on Monday, then will head to Extended Spring Training to work out.
- Adam Kilgore of The Washinton Post recapped a story told by GM Mike Rizzo at the Nationals Press Club luncheon. Rizzo spoke about his journey from minor league player to GM and the team's rise to contention.
- ESPN's Jim Bowden put together a list of trade candidates for the Yankees in wake of Mariano Rivera's torn ACL, including Brandon League, Joel Hanrahan, and Grant Balfour. The majority of MLBTR readers believe David Robertson should replace Rivera according to this morning's poll.
- The Blue Jays have started to show signs of contention in the AL East, writes Tim Brown of Yahoo! Sports. Toronto is 16-11 even though Jose Bautista has yet to really get going.
LOL… Brandon League.
I think the Yankees are done dealing for Seattle pitchers.
Laughing and cringing at the same time. Not to mention the price right now would be sky-high as the Yankees would be in a position of weakness.
I hope Dave Robertson steps up.
You knew this was coming every baseball writer throwing every closer in a hat and saying the Yanks will trade for them. So my guess is they will use what they have until problems occur then its time to trade. If they decide to give up a top prospect it will be for a good closer but they might just take a chance on a high price closer some club wants to dump. Now can I have my baseball writer HOF vote since I can guess just like them.
Hanrahan could be a fit. 2 issues however. Pittsburgh has to give up on the season and the Yankees have to give up the farm system to acquire him.
the days of trading the farm system for a closer are long over.
the most a team should expect to get is something similar to (but somewhat more than) Mike Adams for Wieland/Erlin.
two very good/top prospects or one top prospect and one middling prospect is *not* the Yankees’ farm system.
but the Yankees don’t need to trade for relievers.
Oh.. By the “farm” i didn’t mean that of course, but it would cost a lot more than like what Boston paid for melencon as an example.
Hanrahan is one of the better closers around, even in the NL and would translate into the AL (more than likely) with -0- difficulty. I see him costing a LOT more than NY would be willing to pay.. Such as one of those stud young SP they are counting on not to long from now and there is no way (I see) Cashman parting with that.
One of my posts on another topic agrees with you here that the NYY will fill the job internally also.. Not Soriano, but probably Robertson until a closer becomes available who could handle the job better later on. As of this moment (also made another post on this another topic) I see nobody from Marmol, Gregg, Broxton etc.. Who could close in NY, or should be anywhere for that matter.
Allow me to throw Mark Melancon’s name into the hat for Yankees closer.
mark malancon is not a fit for the al east
I heard heath be is good closer
WIth the yankees farm system containing whitley and whelan i rather just wait this thing out especially iof joba and aardsma contribute anything this yr.
I think my team is just fine! I would take Holland, Harrison and Darvish over Kuroda any day. Feliz is pretty good to.
If I were the Yanks I would worry about the Jays, Rays and Orioles those theams have a ton of talent.
Wow RS 5th place finish this year? Haha
“Holland, Harrison over Kuroda any day. Feliz is pretty good to”You could do that but us sane fans will go with the proven commodities. O and feliz has a 5.32 fip so sorry if i dont fear him and his 5 walks a gm…
Maybe the Yankees could acquire K-Rod from the Brewers.
He has no emotional issues at all and is a great family man.
Jays pitching has been better than expected, but not sure how long it can last. young players pitchers usually hit a wall..
AA still needs to get another started in the mix, doesn’t have to be an ace per say, but a front line starter is a must. Oh he could also bring back Lyle Overbay to play first base because that would be an upgrade..
What about Brandon McCarthy, I’m sure its only a matter of time before he’s moved, and his stuff plays well in the AL East
Blue Jays and Rays division for the next 5 years! Book it.
The Orioles are taking it to the Red Sox today and you’re telling me it will be all Blue Jays and Rays for the next five years and book it while I am at it.
You know the Orioles look to be pretty good and I don’t think it’s a fluke.
I look forward to the Ranger challenge next week and I hope the O’s hit Yu Darvish to the tune of .506! 😛
PS I feel badly for Cook, the ball game might be a lot closer except for the play at the plate. I almost forgot. I still can’t stand Eck as an announcer and picking up Tejada (blech)! DeWitt or Headley would be a much beter idea.
Kuroda and cc are two proven starters that makes one more proven starter
than the rangers have. I mean lewis is an average pitcher, and holland
and harrison havent exactly found consistent sucess either. Perhaps it
be best to worry about your own team…
Lol Lefty * Rays, Jays AND the Orioles for the next 5+ years! You guys have a true ace in Bundy coming up soon along with a good offense and potential to add payroll. Not to mention the best catcher in the league. Can’t wait for you guys to make the postseason again! Red Sox and Yanks get boring.
I think you guys are forreal this year. Hopefully Arrieta and Matusz finally turn the corner this year.
he used to be underwhelming, then he completely changed his mindset/mechanics/pitch selection.
he used to be a power pitcher, now he’s a groundball pitcher and throws mostly sinkers, and so now he’s a much better pitcher. the only real question is his health, and that’s a pretty big question.
3.30 xFIP last year.
there is health concerns, but plug him in to the rotation, put hutchinson back in the minors and it could be a huge boost to the rotation..
I wouldn’t overpay for him though.