Yankees Rumors

Yankees Not Likely To Replace A-Rod Through Trade

By Cork Gaines | March 10, 2009 at 7:32pm CDT

7:32pm: Marc Carig of the Newark Star-Ledger has another quote from Cashman on why the Yankees will not trade for a replacement.

"With the team not wanting add payroll, not wanting to hurt the farm system and stuff like that, and we’re going to get Alex back, we’re going to go with what we have in camp," Cashman said.

7:08pm: According to an AP article, Brian Cashman spoke about the possibility of finding a replacement for Alex Rodriguez through the trade market saying it is not likely.

"I’m not optimistic about doing anything," Cashman said before the Yankees played Cincinnati on Tuesday night. "I’m not going to be proactive in trying to do something. If something represents itself that makes sense, then maybe it will be different. I think our answer is here in camp."

Cashman added that he has not spoken to any other GM’s about a third baseman but he has heard from the agents representing free agent third basemen.

Cork Gaines writes for RaysIndex.com and can be reached here.

Odds & Ends: Crosby, Vizcaino, Andruw

By Tim Dierkes | March 10, 2009 at 11:12am CDT

Links for Tuesday…

Chat today, 2pm CST.
RotoAuthority sums up the stats you should target in each category for your fantasy league.
The Braves released pitcher Anthony Lerew, according to Carroll Rogers of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution.
Rany Jazayerli says the Royals will be better just by subtracting Ross Gload, Tony Pena Jr., and Joey Gathright. Here’s my Offseason In Review for the club, if you’re interested.
A’s manager Bob Geren "chuckled and said no" when asked if Bobby Crosby is being showcased at third base for the Yankees, according to Susan Slusser of the San Francisco Chronicle. Crosby is learning third in part because Eric Chavez is injured again.
Speaking of Crosby, Paul Sullivan of the Chicago Tribune wonders if the Cubs could work out a deal involving reliever Luis Vizcaino. Despite the $4MM owed to Vizcaino, he’s not a lock for the Cubs’ bullpen. We learned last week that the Cubs do not appear interested in Crosby.
Slusser also has an article about young A’s pitcher Michael Ynoa, who believes he can be in the Majors in two years at age 19.
Andruw Jones apologized to Dodgers fans in this Bill Plaschke article.
Talking to Paul Hagen of the Philadelphia Daily News, Phillies manager Charlie Manuel sees Jayson Werth missing no more than 15-20 games this year. Geoff Jenkins, with $8MM left on his contract, looks like the odd man out.

Rosenthal On Pedro, A-Rod, Beimel, Ohman

By Tim Dierkes | March 10, 2009 at 9:12am CDT

Here’s the latest from Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports…

One executive tells Rosenthal Pedro Martinez seeks a contract similar to the one John Smoltz received (a $5.5MM base plus $5.5MM incentives). Rosenthal’s speculative candidates for Pedro include the Dodgers, Marlins, Indians, and Mets. He says the A’s, Orioles, Nationals, and Brewers are out.
Rosenthal does not expect a major acquisition by the Yankees to cover for Alex Rodriguez. He adds that the Yanks will not collect insurance on A-Rod’s salary.
In addition to Orlando Cabrera, Manny Ramirez has a clause in his contract prohibiting his team from offering arbitration if he’s a Type A free agent after the season. Orlando Hudson and Bobby Abreu do not have such clauses.
Two GMs told Rosenthal Joe Beimel wants a one-year, $2.5MM deal, but the pitcher’s agent Joe Sroba says they have’t gotten that specific. Sroba says new teams are in the mix for Beimel and he’s waiting for one to be "aggressive and sincere in their pursuit."
The White Sox and Dodgers are two teams in on free agent lefty Will Ohman.

Odds & Ends: Strasburg, Lester, Pudge

By Tim Dierkes | March 9, 2009 at 11:28am CDT

Links for Monday…

Tom Haudricourt of the Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel talked to Brewers GM Doug Melvin, who said the Yankees have yet to contact him regarding their possible third base need.
ESPN’s Rob Neyer says the Mets don’t need Pedro Martinez.
The scouts Buster Olney talked to absolutely adore Stephen Strasburg. One of them said, "Right now, he’s better than A.J. Burnett." There’s no way the Nationals can pass on a talent like this.
WEEI’s Alex Speier compares Jon Lester’s record-breaking contract to others given to young pitchers.
Jim Baumbach of Newsday talked to Mets first baseman Carlos Delgado, who promoted Ivan Rodriguez and noted that assistant GM Tony Bernazard observed the catcher’s four-hit, two home run performance in Puerto Rico Saturday.
ESPN’s Peter Gammons notes the affordability of Boston’s pitching staff.

Yankees Not Discussing Mark Teahen

By Steve Adams | March 8, 2009 at 8:24pm CDT

8:24pm: MLB.com’s Dick Kaegel says there’s nothing to the rumor of the Yankees being interested in Teahen. Yanks GM Brian Cashman said he hasn’t even discussed it internally.

1:16pm: Bob Dutton of the Kansas City Star is reporting that the Yankees may have interest in acquiring Royals’ utility man Mark Teahen, in light of Alex Rodriguez’s recent decision to undergo surgery.

Royals officials are writing it off as speculation, but with A-Rod expected to miss two months, the Yanks have been on the lookout for a temporary fix. Their current in-house candidate for a replacement is 33-year-old journeyman Cody Ransom. Ransom has 183 Major League ABs in an 11-year professional career.

Teahen is set to make $3.575MM in 2009, and the Royals’ current projected payroll of $75MM is slightly higher than the $70MM they had originally budgeted for.

One Royals official stated that they were hoping the Yankees would sign Mark Grudzielanek, which would give Kansas City a sandwich pick in the 2009 draft. Doing this would require moving Robinson Cano to third base, however.

Notes On The A-Rod Injury

By Tim Dierkes | March 6, 2009 at 9:44pm CDT

9:44pm: Peter Abraham of the Journal News writes that Yankees GM Brian Cashman "has not spoken to any teams regarding trades." It sounds like the Yanks could deal with A-Rod’s vacancy using in-house options. Then again, as noted below, there are still a few infielders left on the free agent market.

9:50am: A few interesting thoughts from ESPN’s Buster Olney this morning:

The Yankees talked internally in the past about how Robinson Cano’s best position, in the long term, might be third base. And it may be that if they determine that A-Rod will be out for a long period of time, they could shift Cano from second to third, and create another set of options for themselves, as they try to replace A-Rod’s offense.

At least in terms of the free agent market, this could make sense. Second basemen Mark Grudzielanek and Ray Durham aren’t known for their range, but signing one for $1MM or less could serve as an insurance policy. If the Yankees seek more pop, they could call the Marlins about Dan Uggla (my own speculation). Uggla is under team control through 2011, though, so acquiring him would create a long-term logjam.

Speaking of insurance, Olney notes that the Yankees do have a policy on A-Rod’s contract.

Heyman On Bradley, A-Rod, Manny

By Tim Dierkes | March 6, 2009 at 1:01pm CDT

New info from SI.com’s Jon Heyman…

Milton Bradley’s two-year, $20MM deal becomes a three-year, $30MM deal only if he plays at least 75 games in 2009. Bradley’s games played totals over the past four years: 126 (mostly DHing), 61, 96, 75. The structure of the deal seems dangerous – does it give Bradley incentive to play hurt?
Heyman talks about the A-Rod injury situation, running through the various replacement names we’ve discussed.
Heyman believes the Giants would’ve gotten to the low-$40MM range over two years for Manny Ramirez, and they had not agreed to an opt-out.

Odds & Ends: Gload, Pierre, Beimel

By Tim Dierkes | March 6, 2009 at 11:09am CDT

Links for Friday…

The Dodgers designated Justin Orenduff for assignment to make room for Manny Ramirez, according to Tony Jackson.
The A's contracts with Orlando Cabrera and Nomar Garciaparra are official.
WEEI's Alex Speier talked to Marlins prospect Mike Stanton and manager Fredi Gonzalez about the near-acquisition of Manny last summer.
In another column, Speier looks at the players the Red Sox and Yankees have battled for in recent years.
Derrick Goold of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch says a bunch of relievers are vying for one bullpen spot for the Cardinals, now that they've signed Dennys Reyes.
Bob Dutton of the Kansas City Star suggests there's a chance the Royals release first baseman Ross Gload and eat the $1.9MM owed to him in 2009. Rany Jazayerli talks about Gload as well as the chances of the Royals competing this year.
Tom Tango says Juan Pierre would have to defer his contract for 50 years to be worth acquiring.
Tracy Ringolsby of Inside The Rockies says the Rox offered Joe Beimel more than $1MM but so far he's passed. Beimel's home run prevention trend might be challenged at Coors Field. Susan Slusser of the San Francisco Chronicle says the A's are in on Beimel but "have not yet have substantive talks" with his agent.
Check out a Giants Spring Training preview from the guys behind El Lefty Malo and McCovey Chronicles.

A-Rod Has Torn Labrum In Hip

By Tim Dierkes | March 5, 2009 at 7:12pm CDT

7:12pm: All A-Rod, All the time…Tom Verducci notes that the A-Rod injury is a sign of a bigger problem, that the Yankees are getting old. Verducci also notes that Mark Teixeira is the player that will be most impacted without A-Rod’s protection and the pressure to live up to the new contract…The New York Post has another comprehensive list of possible A-Rod replacements. The two intradivisional options at the top of their list seem like a long-shot…Ken Davidoff wonders if some time away will help Yankees fans appreciate what they have with A-Rod…Rob Neyer can’t help but wonder if the Yankees are going to have to eat a good chunk of the $178MM they still owe A-Rod.

5:30pm: Even more from Abraham with special bonus audio of Brian Cashman: Abraham says surgery is necessary at some point, but that the Yankees are hoping that rest and rehab will be enough to hold off the surgery until after the season. Abraham notes that Mike Lowell tried the same tactic last season after his injury was discovered in June, but the injury got so bad he was held off the playoff roster.

3:27pm: More details from Abraham: A-Rod has a torn hip labrum that would take four months to repair surgically. He won’t play in the WBC and he’ll play less in Spring Training to try to return soon. Marc Craig of the Star-Ledger writes that A-Rod’s out indefinitely and could still need surgery. The New York Daily News offers more, including analysis from various doctors.

2:40pm: Peter Abraham of The Journal News talked to Yankees GM Brian Cashman, who said Rodriguez’s cyst was drained and they will attempt rest and rehab rather than surgery.

12:59pm: Joel Sherman of the New York Post offers other ideas for third base if A-Rod is to be out for a considerable length of time: Scott Rolen, Melvin Mora, Brandon Inge, Hank Blalock, Chone Figgins, Adrian Beltre, Blake DeWitt, Martin Prado, and Mark Teahen.

12:17pm: ESPN’s Peter Gammons comments about the injury, wondering if mid-May is a best case scenario. Gammons speculates that Garrett Atkins or Chad Tracy could be fits for the Yanks, but the price for Atkins could be high. River Ave. Blues likes Mark Grudzielanek or possibly Bobby Crosby as other external options, while ESPN’s Buster Olney speculates on Bill Hall (who is recovering from a torn calf). Susan Slusser of the San Francisco Chronicle wonders if Bobby Crosby could fit.

ESPN’s Stephania Bell suggests ten weeks could be a light estimate, if Rodriguez has a labral tear.

10:40am: ESPN’s Enrique Rojas talked to Alex Rodriguez’s brother, who says the Yankees third baseman will miss about ten weeks due to hip surgery to remove a cyst. A ten week rehab would put A-Rod at a mid-May return, so he could miss a quarter of the season. A-Rod’s brother told MLB.com the operation will be performed Monday. The Yankees haven’t confirmed anything yet though. It probably makes sense to hold off on replacement speculation until we get official word on the injury.

Check out my instant fantasy take on the situation over at RotoAuthority.

Yankees Sign 10

By Tim Dierkes | March 3, 2009 at 10:08am CDT

According to Joel Sherman of the New York Post, the Yankees finished off their 40-man roster signings by inking ten pre-arbitration players for ’09. They’re all around the league minimum.

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