Yankees Rumors

Odds And Ends: Gonzalez, Hill, Koskie

By Ben Nicholson-Smith | March 21, 2009 at 11:31am CDT

Links for Saturday…

According to MLB.com's Bryan Hoch, the Yankees demoted righty Phil Hughes. He had a nice spring and figures to be the first in line when the team needs another starter.
Tracy Ringolsby of Inside the Rockies reports that Diamondbacks CEO Derrick Hall spoke with Luis Gonzalez about re-joining the D'Backs once he retires as a player.
Dave Perkin of Baseball America highlights some amateur players worth keeping an eye on.
Check out Tim's Interview over at 6 Pound 8 Ounce Baby Joba.
Cameron Smith of the Washington Post thinks Shawn Hill and the Blue Jays should work out a deal because it would benefit both sides.
Paul Sullivan of the Chicago Tribune reports that Corey Koskie's baseball future could be in jeopardy. Koskie felt light-headed after diving for a ball yesterday in Spring Training.
ESPN.com's Peter Gammons spoke with Matt Holliday about his home-road splits and his new Oakland teammates. Like Buster Olney, Gammons suggests the Red Sox, Yankees and Angels are possible fits for Holliday after the season.

Odds & Ends: Wade, Baker, Catalanotto

By Tim Dierkes | March 20, 2009 at 12:03pm CDT

Links for Friday…

RotoAuthority advises how to manage information during your fantasy draft.
Something's not right with Corey Koskie, and the Chicago Tribune's Paul Sullivan says he'll decide about his future by Saturday.
Former Blue Jays assistant GM Bart Given has a blog, and it's pretty good from what I've read (hat tip: Drunk Jays Fans).
Sidearmer Mark Worrell, acquired by the Padres for Khalil Greene, needs Tommy John surgery according to Bill Center of the San Diego Union Tribune.
Mark Gonzales of the Chicago Tribune says the White Sox "traded infielder Sergio Santos to San Francisco for future considerations." Santos was picked 27th overall by the D'Backs in the 2002 draft.
Chico Harlan of the Washington Post wonders whether $5MM first baseman Dmitri Young will be willing to accept an assignment to Triple A.
MLB.com's Alyson Footer says Astros GM Ed Wade never lied to her and doesn't owe her an apology about Ivan Rodriguez. Wade just changed his mind after talking to Footer.
Paul Sullivan of the Chicago Tribune doesn't see the Cubs releasing $4MM reliever Luis Vizcaino.
Tracy Ringolsby of Inside The Rockies believes Jeff Baker is the team's most likely infielder to be dealt. ESPN's Jayson Stark mentioned Baker yesterday as a trade candidate, and the Denver Post's Troy E. Renck has wondered if he'd fit for the Yankees or Astros.
MLB.com's T.R. Sullivan says the Rangers have discussed Frank Catalanotto with other clubs but found no takers. Catalanotto has $6MM coming to him.
Rany Jazayerli discusses the Royals' signing of Sidney Ponson and release of Jimmy Gobble.

Brewers Not Talking Trades

By Ben Nicholson-Smith | March 19, 2009 at 6:23pm CDT

Tom Haudricourt of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel checked in with Brewers GM Doug Melvin and heard that the Brewers aren't talking trades with any team. Jayson Stark heard rumblings that the Yankees could be interested in Mike Cameron again, but Melvin said: "We're not talking trade with any team now."

Melvin said he spoke on the phone in general terms today without bringing Cameron's name up. Melvin also said the Astros haven't inquired about trading for a third baseman.

Stark On Cameron, Ohman, Jenkins

By Tim Dierkes | March 19, 2009 at 3:44pm CDT

ESPN's Jayson Stark has a new blog post up.

The Astros plan to give Chris Johnson a chance to win the third base job, but Stark says Juan Uribe, Jose Bautista, and Jeff Baker "could still show up on their shopping list in the next two weeks."
Stark heard "rumblings the Yankees are poking around again on Mike Cameron's availability." Back in December, the Yanks and Brewers were pretty close on a deal.
Eric Milton is looking decent and appears to be the frontrunner for the Dodgers' fifth starter job (given Pedro Martinez's asking price).
Will Ohman seeks a one-year, $1.75MM deal with easily-reachable incentives for another million. He also prefers the West Coast, and Stark believes the Padres and Giants are more likely than the Dodgers. Like the Dodgers, the Phillies and Marlins have interest at a lesser price. Stark has also heard the Phils connected to Giants lefty Jack Taschner.
Shawn Camp, Geoff Geary, John Buck, and Geoff Jenkins are currently available. The Phillies would eat almost all of the $8MM owed to Jenkins.

Hideki Matsui Enters Contract Year

By Tim Dierkes | March 17, 2009 at 12:50pm CDT

Joel Sherman of the New York Post writes about Hideki Matsui’s future with the Yankees. Matsui, 34, projects as the team’s full-time DH and Opening Day cleanup hitter this year. Sherman says that after two knee surgeries the Yankees view him strictly as a designated hitter.

The Yankees’ outfield may see changes for 2010. Matsui is a free agent after the season, as are Scott Boras clients Johnny Damon and Xavier Nady. Nick Swisher is under contract through 2011. Sherman says that since the Yanks may want to keep the DH spot open for Jorge Posada and other stars under contract, Matsui may not make sense. Interesting names on the free agent market after ’09: Jason Bay, Matt Holliday, Rick Ankiel, Mike Cameron, Bobby Abreu, Jermaine Dye, and possibly Manny Ramirez.

Matsui told Sherman he’d be open to playing for other teams and doesn’t intend to return to Japan. Like many corner outfield/DH types, Matsui will probably have to take a large pay cut in free agency even if he has a solid year.

Odds & Ends: Hamels, Giants, Yankees

By Tim Dierkes | March 16, 2009 at 9:36am CDT

Links for Monday…

Cole Hamels is flying to Philadelphia to have his sore left elbow examined. Hamels threw 3,914 pitches in total last year, the most in baseball (two more than C.C. Sabathia). Hamels thinks he’s fine and it’s not a big deal.
Julian Tavarez on why he chose the Nationals.
MLB.com’s Joe Frisaro says the Marlins returned Rule 5 lefty Zach Kroenke to the Yankees.
Maury Brown of The Biz of Baseball looks at postseason ticket revenue over the last decade.
Dan Brown of the San Jose Mercury News talked to John Dewan about the Giants’ defense.
Joel Sherman of the New York Post writes about the fraternity in the Yankees’ revamped rotation.
Athletics Nation talked to Jason Giambi, who was very close to re-signing with the A’s before he signed with the Yankees.
Patrick Newman of NPB Tracker asks if Yankees starter Kei Igawa, owed $12MM over the next three years, is movable.

The Yankees And a Decade of Decadence

By Maury Brown | March 13, 2009 at 7:08pm CDT

This just in… The New York Yankees spend wildly on player payroll.

That statement may not be surprising to most, but it could be if you look at player payroll over the course of several years.

To be exact, I have now have pulled together end of year payroll figures for the last decade. In looking over the totals, this much is clear: the Yankees spend, and outspend all comers by a considerable margin.

To place this in perspective, the Yankees have never ranked any lower than 2nd in total player payroll at the end of a season since 1999. At the end of the 2001 season they had a player payroll of $114,457,768, second only to the Dodgers at $115,478,346.

But, what should show how much more George Steinbrenner and Co. enjoy spending is that the Yankees have spent over 42 percent more than the Red Sox over the last decade, and have exceptionally close outcomes:

World Series Wins
Yankees: 2
Red Sox: 2

ALCS Champions:
Yankees: 4
Red Sox: 2

ALDS Champions:
Yankees: 4
Red Sox: 5

As they say, talk amongst ya selves. For those interested, the totals for each of the 30 clubs over the last decade are now available on The Biz of Baseball. Here’s end-of-year payrolls for the Yankees and Red Sox over the last decade:

Yankees EOY Payroll (1999-2008)
Year	Rank	EOY Payroll
2008	1	$222,519,480
2007	1	$218,311,394
2006	1	$207,461,320
2005	1	$207,152,931
2004	1	$187,918,394
2003	1	$180,322,403
2002	1	$133,429,757
2001	2	$114,457,768
2000	1	$95,285,187
1999	1	$91,990,955
	Total	$1,658,849,589

Red Sox EOY Payroll (1999-2008)
Year	Rank	EOY Payroll
2008	2	$147,075,645
2007	2	$155,402,595
2006	2	$137,497,097
2005	2	$116,640,070
2004	2	$130,395,386
2003	5	$104,873,607
2002	2	$110,249,535
2001	3	$114,331,641
2000	7	$75,525,525
1999	7	$72,330,656
	Total	$1,164,321,757

Maury Brown is the Founder and President of the Business of Sports Network, which includes The Biz of Baseball, The Biz of Football, The Biz of Basketball and The Biz of Hockey. He is contributor to Baseball Prospectus, and is available as a freelance writer. Brown’s full bio is here. He looks forward to your comments via email and can be contacted through the Business of Sports Network.

Odds & Ends: Manny, Papelbon, Pudge, Peavy

By Tim Dierkes | March 12, 2009 at 9:51am CDT

Links for Thursday…

The Nationals remain interested in Duaner Sanchez, says Barry Svrluga of the Washington Post.
Yahoo’s Jeff Passan talked to Mark Prior.
Joel Sherman of the New York Post heard Manny Ramirez and Scott Boras consider the contract with the Dodgers a one-year deal with a safety net. Sherman wonders if the Yankees and/or Mets could get involved depending on how Manny’s 2009 season plays out.
Red Sox closer Jonathan Papelbon commented about Manny to Chris Jones in the April issue of Esquire. It’s a good article and there’s a lot more to it than the Manny comments.
Free agent catcher Ivan Rodriguez is working out at first base, according to Will Gonzalez of MLB.com.
The Padres have the third pick in the June draft. Tom Krasovic of the San Diego Union-Tribune asks whether they’ll finally take a player with big upside.
Jake Peavy’s agent Barry Axelrod seems to be writing off the Padres, in comments to Fred Mitchell of the Chicago Tribune: "It’s tough with the Padres’ situation. They are not very good and it looks like it is going to be another long year for them."
Marlins shortstop Robert Andino is out of options, so Mike Phillips of the Miami Herald says this is his audition.
ESPN’s Buster Olney says Mark Mulder’s audition is drawing closer and he’s throwing well. Olney also says Luis Gonzalez is waiting by the phone. For a look at the other remaining free agents, click here.

Yanks Sign Joba, Mets Sign Murphy

By Tim Dierkes | March 12, 2009 at 8:23am CDT

Joel Sherman of the New York Post has more pre-arbitration signings for us today, including Joba Chamberlain ($432,575) and Daniel Murphy ($401,000).

Heyman On Contracts, Loretta, Indians, Lackey

By Tim Dierkes | March 11, 2009 at 1:22pm CDT

SI.com’s Jon Heyman has a new column up…

Heyman writes in praise of White Sox GM Ken Williams, who says, "People don’t really understand our way, our method."
Heyman names his top 13 contracts, from an agent point of view. Barry Meister appears twice, with Edgar Renteria and Kyle Farnsworth. Scott Shapiro and Barry Praver get two mentions (Willy Taveras and Juan Cruz), and Scott Boras has three (Derek Lowe, Mark Teixeira, and Willie Bloomquist).
Heyman writes of "talk at Dodgers camp" about possible Yankee interest in Mark Loretta (you may recall their consideration of him as a first base candidate in 2007). Loretta would have to consent to a trade, and keep in mind Brian Cashman’s comments yesterday.
The Indians may have sufficient depth in young position players to make a trade for pitching.
Heyman speaks of optimism for an extension for Angels ace John Lackey, since the team was able to hammer out his ’06 contract with agent Steve Hilliard.

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