Yankees Rumors

AL East Links: Soler, Orioles, Dice-K, Jeter, A-Rod

By Mike Axisa | February 25, 2012 at 12:44pm CDT

Red Sox ownership already spoke to the media this morning, so now let's check in the on the rest of the AL East…

Orioles GM Dan Duquette wouldn't comment on the team's interest in Jorge Soler, telling Roch Kubatko of MASNSports.com that tipping his hand wouldn't benefit the team. The O's watched the 19-year-old outfielder work out earlier this month.
The Orioles lead all clubs with ten out of options players, and manager Buck Showalter told MLB.com's Brittany Ghiroli that he estimates they'll have to make "2-4 moves" before the end of camp (Twitter link).
Daisuke Matsuzaka told WEEI.com's Rob Bradford that he still wants to pitch until he's 40. The right-hander is in the final year of his contract with the Red Sox, and is expected back from Tommy John surgery at midseason.
“If I didn’t think that I was capable of playing the game at a high level I would go home," said Yankees captain Derek Jeter to reporters yesterday, including George King of The New York Post. "If I wasn’t enjoying myself or enjoying the competition I would go home. Right now I am an enjoying myself. I can’t comment on what would force me to retire because I have a lot of confidence and if that starts to waver I would do it."
Joel Sherman of The New York Post wrote about Alex Rodriguez, wondering what kind of contract the Yankees third baseman would have received had he been a free agent his offseason.

AL East Notes: Martin, Red Sox, Vizquel

By Dan Mennella | February 24, 2012 at 7:24pm CDT

A few odds and ends to pass along from the AL East. For more news out of the division, be sure to check out this afternoon's earlier post.

The Yankees and catcher Russell Martin have decided to table extension talks until after the season, writes Andrew Marchand of ESPNNewYork.com. Martin, 29, is eligible for free agency after this season, and is apparently seeking more than the three years and $20MM the Yankees were willing to offer, as reported by Jon Heyman of CBSSports.com.
Red Sox GM Ben Cherington addressed his club's shortstop situation today, according to the Associated Press: "[W]e feel good about the mix that we have, and we'll certainly keep our eyes open if there are ways to improve that. But right now we're focused on the guys we have." The current starting candidates are Nick Punto, Mike Aviles and, less likely, Jose Iglesias.
Blue Jays infielder Omar Vizquel passed on an offer to manage a winter league team in his native Venezuela so that he could focus on playing in the Majors for what is presumably a final season, writes Shi Davidi of Sportsnet.ca. Davidi adds that Vizquel, signed to a minor league deal this offseason, is the favorite to claim the backup infielder's role with the Jays. Vizquel also says managing is likely in his future.

Yankees, Martin Discussing Extension

By Ben Nicholson-Smith | February 23, 2012 at 9:21pm CDT

9:21pm: Jon Heyman of CBSSports.com says (on Twitter) that talks haven't gotten off the ground, and the two sides will revisit an extension during the season. The Yankees are willing to do $20MM over three years, but Martin wants a raise.

3:03pm: The Yankees have suggested the possibility of re-working Russell Martin’s one-year contract into a three-year extension, agent Matt Colleran told Andrew Marchand of ESPNNewYork.com. However, GM Brian Cashman said Martin and Colleran "weren't interested" in the team's initial offer, Jack Curry of the YES Network reports (Twitter links). Martin will earn $7.5MM in 2012 on his current contract before hitting free agency.

The Yankees aim to have a payroll under $189MM by the 2014 season for luxury tax purposes, and Martin is willing to “be flexible in their budget constraints," according to Colleran. GM Brian Cashman and Colleran spoke yesterday and will likely discuss a deal again soon. Though the Yankees' initial offer didn't entice Martin to sign, Cashman said he's open to resuming discussions.

Meanwhile, the Cardinals continue extension talks with Yadier Molina, who is also scheduled to hit free agency after the season. If Martin and Molina sign long-term, Mike Napoli and Miguel Montero would be the top available free agent catchers next winter. Arizona GM Kevin Towers said earlier in the offseason that there are few satisfying comparable catchers to Montero and MLBTR's Extension Tracker supports his assertion. The catchers with five or more years of service time who recently signed extensions wouldn't be relevant to Martin, Molina, Montero and Napoli.

AL East Notes: Red Sox, Rays, Rivera, Vizquel

By Ben Nicholson-Smith | February 23, 2012 at 3:50pm CDT

Roy Oswalt probably won't be signing in Boston any time soon and the Yankees are discussing a multiyear deal with Russell Martin. Here are some more updates of note from the AL East…

Red Sox manager Bobby Valentine said he's ready to move on without Oswalt, Scott Lauber of the Boston Herald reports. “I think I may have been more comfortable, but I wouldn’t have been totally comfortable,” Valentine said of potentially signing Oswalt. “What did he pitch, 136 innings last year?” Valentine was close — it was 139.
Red Sox GM Ben Cherington says he doesn’t anticipate making any more additions in the near future, Alex Speier of WEEI.com tweets.
Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports discusses the Rays’ impressive rotation depth and explains why it’s a good ‘problem’ to have. Manager Joe Maddon told Rosenthal the club could use a six-man rotation at times this year and said top prospect Matt Moore won’t be relegated to the bullpen.
Mariano Rivera seems to be savoring the early days of Spring Training, so Joel Sherman of the New York Post won’t be surprised if the closer chooses to retire after the season.
Blue Jays infielder Omar Vizquel said he'll likely become involved in coaching next year, according to MLB.com's Gregor Chisholm (on Twitter). The 44-year-old doesn't anticipate playing after 2012 and would eventually like to manage in the Major Leagues.

Yankees Sign David Aardsma

By Ben Nicholson-Smith | February 22, 2012 at 7:09pm CDT

7:09pm: Joel Sherman of The New York Post reports (on Twitter) that any incentives Aardsma earns in 2012 will increase the base salary of his 2013 option by the same amount.

11:21am: The Yankees have signed 30-year-old right-hander David Aardsma, the team announced. It's a Major League deal worth $500K that includes a club option for 2013. The deal includes $500K in incentives and the 2012 option is worth $500K, Geoff Baker of the Seattle Times tweets. Aardsma underwent Tommy John surgery last July and won't be ready to contribute until midway through the 2012 campaign.

Aardsma last pitched in the Major Leagues in 2010, when he saved 31 games as the Mariners' closer, posting a 3.44 ERA with 8.9 K/9 and 4.5 BB/9 in 49 2/3 innings. He has a 4.20 ERA with 9.1 K/9 and 5.0 BB/9 in parts of six MLB seasons.

MLB.com's Bryan Hoch and Mark Feinsand of the New York Daily News first reported the deal.

Scott Kazmir Considering Mets, Five Other Clubs

By Ben Nicholson-Smith | February 22, 2012 at 10:07am CDT

Free agent left-hander Scott Kazmir is considering six teams and could decide on his next club within a few days, ESPN.com's Buster Olney tweets. The Mets, who selected Kazmir in the first round of the 2002 draft, are among the interested teams.

Kazmir worked out in front of about ten scouts last week, throwing in the 86-89 mph range. The 28-year-old appeared in one game for the Angels last year, but got released after struggling at Triple-A. The Yankees are not interested, Joel Sherman of the New York Post tweets.

Yankees Notes: Rivera, Betances, Rodriguez

By Ben Nicholson-Smith | February 22, 2012 at 8:09am CDT

It sounds as though 2012 may be the final season of what will surely be a Hall of Fame career for Mariano Rivera. Here’s the latest on the Yankees and the back end of their bullpen as Spring Training 2012 gets underway…

Joel Sherman of the New York Post doubts the Yankees will spend on the best free agent closer available, though it’s a strategy they might have chosen in the recent past. Brian Cashman believes it’s unwise to sign relievers other than Rivera to significant contracts, and the GM aims to keep payroll under $189MM by 2014.
David Robertson and Rafael Soriano are internal candidates to close if Rivera retires, as Sherman points out. Many baseball people believe the Yankees should use prospect Dellin Betances out of the bullpen, but he has just two MLB games to his name at this point.
The Yankees don’t expect Alex Rodriguez to be a vital part of their team four or five years from now, but there’s $143MM remaining on his contract, so the team needs to get as much value as possible from A-Rod.
The Yankees will obtain another closer, but they won’t replace Rivera, Sherman writes.
Robertson, Soriano and Joba Chamberlain told Marc Carig of the Star-Ledger that they aren't thinking about replacing Rivera just yet.

Yankees Notes: Chavez, Rotation, Damon

By Tim Dierkes | February 21, 2012 at 2:58pm CDT

Four Yankees prospects — Manny Banuelos, Dellin Betances, Gary Sanchez, and Mason Williams — made Baseball America's top 100 prospects list today. The quartet also cracked top 100 lists from Keith Law and Kevin Goldstein this month. The latest on the club:

Yankees manager Joe Girardi accidentally talked about Eric Chavez as if he was on the Yankees' roster, in a discussion with reporters today. GM Brian Cashman said the team was not closer to signing the third baseman, though ESPNNewYork's Andrew Marchand still expects a deal. Sunday night, Chavez pegged his chances of returning to the Yankees at 50-50. Joel Sherman of the New York Post heard that through Monday, the Yankees had not talked to Chavez's agents in several days. He senses that the Yankees will stick to an offer in the $1MM range.
Yahoo's Jeff Passan analyzes the struggles of the team's rotation additions of the last 15 years, and wonders if Michael Pineda and Hiroki Kuroda can "flip history the bird" as C.C. Sabathia has.
Sherman looks at why the Yankees chose Raul Ibanez over Johnny Damon.

Yankees Sign Raul Ibanez

By Tim Dierkes | February 21, 2012 at 11:24am CDT

The Yankees have found their new designated hitter, officially announcing an agreement with Raul Ibanez that was first tweeted by ESPN's Buster Olney yesterday. The framework for a deal was done weeks ago with the ACES client, tweets Joel Sherman of the New York Post, who pegs the value at $1.1MM. Plate appearance incentives can bring the total to $4MM, tweets Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports.

Never known for his defense, Ibanez has spent most of his career as a left fielder. He dabbled at DH with the Mariners and Royals before signing with the Phillies after the '08 season, notably appearing 69 times in that role for the 2001-02 Royals. Only eight other free agents hit more home runs in 2011 than Ibanez's 20, but he batted just .245/.289/.419 overall in 575 plate appearances. The Yankees hope the 39-year-old can take advantage of their short right field porch. Ibanez has a .304 OBP against lefties over the last three seasons, so he could be complemented by Andruw Jones, a right-handed hitter.

In a February 18th poll, about 32% of MLBTR readers felt Ibanez was the best DH option for the Yankees, which edged out other free agent choices such as Johnny Damon, Vladimir Guerrero, and Hideki Matsui. Ibanez was linked to the Yankees as early as January, but they preferred to dump some of A.J. Burnett's contract on the Pirates before finishing a DH deal. That move opened a 40-man roster spot for the Yankees. The Phillies offered Ibanez arbitration in November, which almost certainly involved a handshake agreement he'd decline. In June, the Phillies will receive a supplemental draft pick for their loss.

Photo courtesy of Icon SMI.

Yankees Notes: Chavez, Rivera, Martin

By Tim Dierkes | February 20, 2012 at 1:30pm CDT

Yankees position players are due in Tampa on Friday, and new designated hitter Raul Ibanez will be among them. The latest on the team:

The Yankees are now in talks with third baseman Eric Chavez, tweets Jon Heyman of CBS Sports, who says it'd be a Major League deal. Speaking to MLB.com's Jesse Sanchez last night, Chavez pegged his chances of returning to the Yankees at 50-50. ESPNNewYork's Andrew Marchand is more confident, writing, "Considering that Chavez thought about retiring and has plenty of dough, they are expected to come to an agreement."
Closer Mariano Rivera on whether he will retire after this year: "I know now, but I don't have to tell you." ESPN's Buster Olney had the quote, among others. According to Marc Carig of the Newark Star-Ledger, Rivera also said, "This one is different. This is it," comparing his decision to previous retirement talk.
Catcher Russell Martin told Daniel Barbarisi of the Wall Street Journal he talked this winter about a three-year deal with the Yankees, but the discussion never progressed beyond the initial stages. Martin avoided arbitration with a $7.5MM contract for 2012.
The Yankees have no interest in re-signing Damaso Marte and GM Brian Cashman could imagine Pedro Feliciano helping in September at best, writes Joel Sherman of the New York Post. Sherman looks at all the Yankees roster possibilities in this blog post.
"The bullpen has become a cheap thing for me," Cashman explains in this article from Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports. On the other hand, Cashman spent plenty on his rotation this winter, whether through free agent dollars or the loss of Jesus Montero.

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