AL East Notes: Red Sox, Yankees, Cuddyer, Johnson
There has been a great deal of talk about what the Yankees might do in the wake of Mark Teixeira's injury, but the Red Sox have some questions of their own to address as Opening Day approaches. As David Ortiz struggles with an injured left Achilles, could Boston explore a move for a slugger? Here's more on that and other notes out of the AL East..
- Red Sox manager John Farrell acknowledged that the club could explore a Plan B for Ortiz, but nothing is in the works on that front just yet, writes Rob Bradford of WEEI.com. For now, the BoSox skipper says that the club is only evaluating its in-house options.
- Buster Olney of ESPN.com (on Twitter) wonders if there is a deal to made between the Yankees and Rockies for Michael Cuddyer in which Colorado eats a large portion of his deal. Cuddyer is a right-handed hitter who has the versatility to fill in at first base, in the outfield, and at DH. The 33-year-old is owed $21MM over the next two seasons.
- Josh Johnson's contract status and potentially impending free agency isn't stressing him out, writes Gregor Chisholm of MLB.com. Johnson says that his next deal is the furthest thing from his mind and manager John Gibbons isn't concerned about it becoming a distraction. The right-hander will earn $13.75MM in his walk year.
New York Notes: Yankees, Mets, Wells, Rivera
Earlier today, MLBTR readers were fairly split on what the Yankees should look to do next. About 32% of you said that the Bombers should just work with what they have, nearly 28% want to see the Yanks to land an infielder and an outfielder, and 26% say that GM Brian Cashman should pursue either a first or third baseman. Here's more on what the Yankees may (or may not) do before Opening Day and some items on the Mets..
- The Mariners probably won't make someone truly intriguing such as Kyle Seager or Michael Saunders available for the Yankees, but Casper Wells could be in play, writes Joel Sherman of the New York Post. The 28-year-old is out of options, might not have a roster spot and showed that he can hit well against lefties last season.
- Over the past several months, the Mets have quietly made a series of promotions in the front office, writes Andy Martino of the New York Daily News. Dick Scott, who worked with J.P. Ricciardi in Toronto, is now director of player development. Adam Fisher, who is a holdover from the Omar Minaya era was promoted from manager of baseball operations to director of baseball operations. Former assistant director of minor league operations Jon Miller also earned a promotion, moving up to director of minor league operations.
- Buster Olney of ESPN.com (Insider sub. req'd) reflected on the career of Mariano Rivera and his importance to the Yankees franchise over the years. The legendary closer has decided that he will call it a career after the 2013 season.
Poll: The Yankees’ Next Move
The Yankees have finished first or second in the American League in runs scored in each of the last four seasons. Joe Girardi has managed some potent offenses, but the club's current lineup looks ordinary rather than exceptional following the news that Curtis Granderson and Mark Teixeira will miss the first month-plus of the regular season with injuries.
The Yankees’ projected lineup now includes Juan Rivera and Dan Johnson in place of Granderson and Teixeira. Not surprisingly, GM Brian Cashman is considering possible upgrades. Significant trades aren't generally completed in March, so Cashman's options are limited. Plus, if the Yankees make a major move they could face tough roster decisions in a matter of weeks. But the team can't afford to field a weakened lineup for one sixth of the season, as Joel Sherman of the New York Post pointed out today. How should Cashman navigate this early season dilemma?
What should the Yankees do next?
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Rely on internal options 32% (3,394)
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Acquire an infielder and an outfielder 29% (3,073)
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Acquire a corner infielder 25% (2,643)
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Acquire an outfielder 14% (1,486)
Total votes: 10,596
Quick Hits: Tanaka, Headley, Stanton, Crawford
Right-hander Masahiro Tanaka may be the next Japanese pitcher to turn a strong World Baseball Classic performance into a nine-figure Major League contract, ESPN's C.J. Nitkowski writes (Insider subscription required). Tanaka, 24, has a 2.50 ERA, 8.6 K/9 and 4.34 K/BB ratio in 1103 IP over six seasons with the Tohoku Rakuten Golden Eagles. Tanaka has expressed interest in pitching in North America and is three years away from international free agency, though Rakuten could open the posting process before then.
Here's the latest from around the majors…
- The Padres are starting to listen to offers for Chase Headley, Bill Madden of the New York Daily News reports. The Padres tabled extension talks with Headley earlier this winter after the two sides were far apart on terms. The third baseman is under contract through the 2014 season and Madden argues that the Yankees should make a move for a young star like Headley or Giancarlo Stanton in order to bolster the lineup and ensure the team will contend this year.
- "The fact is, this is the right time to trade Stanton. He’s never going to have more value than this," a Marlins operative tells Madden, arguing that such an unpopular move can't hurt a team that is already at rock bottom in terms of public perception. “I understand Jeffrey [Loria]’s getting killed in Miami over blowing up the team this winter and why he doesn’t want to trade Stanton. But how much more can we get killed? He’s already had some injury issues, and we’re never going to sign him to a long-term deal," Madden's source said.
- Carl Crawford criticized the Boston media and told CBS Sports' Danny Knobler that he erred in signing with the Red Sox in the 2010-11 offseason. "It just wasn't the right place for me at the end of my day. I didn't do my homework. Maybe they didn't, either," Crawford said.
- If the Tigers do acquire a reliever, MLB.com's Jason Beck believes such a deal isn't likely until nearer to the end of Spring Training when other teams have their own bullpen situations settled.
- Chone Figgins feels a lack of playing time exacerbated his struggles with the Mariners and is looking forward to seeing more action playing under NL rules with the Marlins, The Associated Press reports.
- Rubby De La Rosa and Allen Webster have both looked good in Spring Training and the Red Sox could reap more than financial benefits from last summer's trade with the Dodgers if these two young pitchers develop, John Tomase of the Boston Herald writes. Tomase also talks to Rays manager Joe Maddon about how the Rays were targeting De La Rosa before L.A. dealt him to Boston.
Yankees Notes: Free Agents, Youkilis, Cano
As usual, there's no shortage of headlines out of the Bronx, what with Mariano Rivera's pending retirement announcement and a batch of Yankee items earlier today from the New York Post's Ken Davidoff. Here's some more Yankees-related news…
- The Yankees won't be able to find and buy premium talent in free agency as easily as they have in the past, FOX Sports' Ken Rosenthal writes, as so many teams have been able to sign their top players and keep them from hitting the open market. While New York's minor league system isn't bad, Rosenthal notes that the Yankees lack MLB-ready young replacements for their aging stars and they also lack the prospect depth to trade for the likes of Giancarlo Stanton.
- Kevin Youkilis is happy to play at either first base or third base following Mark Teixeira’s injury, Mark Feinsand of the New York Daily News reports (on Twitter). Youkilis' versatility will provide the Yankees with some flexibility in pursuing either type of corner infielder.
- Grantland's Rany Jazayerli recaps the Yankees' modern history of success and believes the team is poised to struggle in 2013.
- Robinson Cano will be "the most important position player in baseball" in the wake of the injuries in the Yankee lineup, Mike Axisa of River Ave Blues opines. "No other team that fancies itself a contender will rely as heavily on one player as the Yankees will rely on Cano early this season," Axisa writes. This reality can only help Cano and Scott Boras in their contract negotiations with the team.
MLBTR's Ben Nicholson-Smith contributed to this post
AL East Notes: Niese, Napoli, Yankees
The Mets could have kept R.A. Dickey and sent Jon Niese to the Blue Jays for prospects Travis d’Arnaud and Noah Syndergaard this offseason, Andy Martino of the New York Daily News reports. One of Martino's sources said the Blue Jays have always loved Niese. “They absolutely would have done that,” the person said. Some Mets people actually preferred Dickey to Niese, according to Martino. The Blue Jays ultimately acquired Dickey from the Mets for a package of players including d’Arnaud and Syndergaard.
Now for some more links related to the AL East…
- Mike Napoli told Rob Bradford of WEEI.com that the environment in Texas "was awesome" because of a great core group of players. The 31-year-old said he kept talking to the Rangers during his time as a free agent but decided to sign with the Red Sox after speaking to GM Ben Cherington and manager John Farrell. “I think going through the whole thing I was hoping we would work it out in Boston,” Napoli told Bradford. “The role did play into it, but I think going into it and other teams being involved I still had my mind set that I was going to come to Boston.”
- While the Red Sox once had 'too much' bullpen depth, health issues have depleted the team's pitching and a spring trade no longer seems necessary, Brian MacPherson of the Providence Journal writes.
- ESPN.com's Buster Olney wonders if the Yankees could pursue Scott Rolen, Don Kelly or Russ Canzler in the aftermath of the injury to Mark Teixeira. Ken Davidoff of the New York Post noted earlier today that the Yankees’ alternatives include Carlos Lee and Tyler Colvin.
Yankees Notes: Lee, Rolen, Colvin
The injuries keep coming for the Yankees, who will now consider pursuing corner infielders after losing Mark Teixeira for eight to ten weeks. There aren’t many attractive options available in trades or on the free agent market, however. Ken Davidoff of the New York Post explains the team’s predicament:
- The Yankees acknowledge that their roster doesn’t have the same kind of depth it did in past seasons, when players such as Eric Chavez and Bartolo Colon were available to step in after others sustained injuries.
- Anything is possible for the Yankees at this point, Davidoff writes. Free agent Carlos Lee would be one option, but he hasn’t been willing to sign for a low base salary, according to Davidoff.
- Scott Rolen is available in free agency, but he hit just .244/.301/.397 in 2011-12.
- While Tyler Colvin doesn’t have a starting role with the Rockies, the Yankees and Rockies “haven’t clicked” in recent trade talks.
- GM Brian Cashman explained that he’s not at all worried about Derek Jeter’s health. “He’ll be ready when it counts,” the GM said.
AL East Notes: Yankees, Blue Jays, Hill
The ability of Kevin Youkilis to play third or first will allow Brian Cashman to pursue a player at either position and he still could look for a better alternative in the outfield than Juan Rivera or Matt Diaz but don't expect them to do anything dramatic, writes Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports. Here's more on the Yankees and other news out of the American League East..
- There was more to the Blue Jays' Aaron Hill trade with the D'Backs than meets the eye, writes Shi Davidi of Sportsnet. Hill was struggling in Toronto and even though he hadn't asked for a change of scenery, General Manager Alex Anthopoulos felt that the second baseman was in need of one.
- Jon Heyman of CBSSports.com (on Twitter) suggests Michael Cuddyer, Justin Morneau, Carlos Pena, Greg Dobbs, Casey Kotchman, Carlos Lee, and Aubrey Huff as potential first base options for the Yankees.
- Despite the Yankees' injury woes and fairly quiet offseason, it would be foolish for anyone to count them out, writes Matt Snyder of CBSSports.com.
Yankees To Consider Corner Infielders
Mark Teixeira has a strained right wrist and will miss eight to ten weeks, according to Yankees manager Joe Girardi (via Jack Curry of the YES Network on Twitter). The Yankees will look at first basemen and third basemen when considering possible replacements, Mark Feinsand of the New York Daily News reports (Twitter links). Kevin Youkilis’ versatility will enable the club to explore options at both corner positions.
Travis Hafner is not an option in the field, Girardi and GM Brian Cashman confirmed. The left-handed hitter will only be used as a designated hitter and pinch hitter. Juan Rivera and Dan Johnson are among the Yankees' internal options at first base. However, the Yankees are stretched thin in general following Curtis Granderson's injury and may need Rivera in left field.
Free agents Carlos Lee and Aubrey Huff might appeal to the Yankees at first base. The club could also consider trading for a player, though the trade market doesn’t typically gain momentum until later in March. If the Yankees do pursue trades for first basemen they could be bidding against other teams, such as the Brewers.
AL East Notes: Red Sox, Ichiro, Jeter, Orioles
MLBTR’s offseason in review series is just getting started, but the AL East is now complete. Click here to see how the Yankees, Red Sox, Rays, Blue Jays and Orioles navigated their respective offseasons. Here are some more links from the division…
- The Red Sox aren't close to bumping up against MLB's luxury tax, as Gordon Edes of ESPNBoston.com shows. With commitments in the $163MM range, the Red Sox have $15MM separating them from the $178MM threshold.
- Ichiro Suzuki explained to Ken Davidoff of the New York Post that he wanted to re-sign with the Yankees because of the team's focused emphasis on winning. “Those are things that I wanted in a clubhouse and on a team, and I didn’t know that it existed,” Ichiro said. “I kind of had given up hope that I would find that ideal clubhouse, kind of how I felt how about a clubhouse should be. And I was able to find that last year, and that was here.”
- In a video blog Davidoff explains that Brian Cashman's recent misadventure won't stop him from doing his job as the Yankees' general manager. Cashman broke his right fibula and dislocated his right ankle after jumping out of a parachute to raise awareness for the Wounded Warrior Project two days ago.
- Yankees shortstop Derek Jeter and managing general partner Hal Steinbrenner are among the ten most powerful people in baseball, Tom Verducci writes at SI.com. Commissioner Bud Selig tops Verducci's list.
- The Orioles like what they see from Jair Jurrjens this spring, Eduardo A. Encina of the Baltimore Sun reports. Jurrjens, who signed a minor league deal with Baltimore this past offseason, is one of 13 Orioles pitchers competing for a rotation spot this spring.