Yankees Rumors

Stark On Pitchers, Vlad, Sabathia, Crawford

By Tim Dierkes | May 7, 2009 at 4:47pm CDT

Stark rattles off a bunch of starting pitchers teams are "tracking" in advance of the trade deadline: Roy Halladay, Jake Peavy, Cliff Lee, Roy Oswalt, Aaron Harang, Erik Bedard, Kevin Millwood, Mark Buehrle, Doug Davis, Chris Young, Andy Pettitte, Bronson Arroyo, Jonathan Sanchez, Andy Sonnanstine, Jeff Niemann, Jason Marquis, Vicente Padilla, Jeff Suppan, and Russ Ortiz. Not all of these guys are actually available, so check out the article for more analysis.
Teams are "backpedaling away" from Vladimir Guerrero as a free agent option after the season. One scout sees Vlad as a DH right now.
C.C. Sabathia downplayed the importance of the out clause in his contract, talking to Stark. Sabathia said it was "just something my agent came up with, and I just went with it." Stark is skeptical though; he thinks the clause was specific to New York.
Stark talked to a baseball man familiar with the Rays' thinking who sees "zero chance" they don't exercise Carl Crawford's $10.125MM option for 2010. The Rays have a three-year outlook on the budget.
With Jason Isringhausen ready within a few weeks, the Rays may have a surplus in the bullpen. Stark doesn't expect Dan Wheeler or J.P. Howell to be moved, but teams are tracking them.
Stark sees Jorge Cantu as a trade candidate after the season. He figures to make $5-6MM through arbitration.

A-Rod’s Milestone Bonuses

By Ben Nicholson-Smith | May 7, 2009 at 2:30pm CDT

ESPN.com's Jayson Stark hears from a variety of baseball officials who believe the Yankees should try to challenge and avoid the clauses in Alex Rodriguez's contract that reward him for hitting historic home runs. The contract calls for five $6MM bonuses to reward Rodriguez for "historic milestone accomplishments." A-Rod, who has 553 home runs, gets $6MM for matching Willie Mays (660), Babe Ruth (714), Hank Aaron (755) and Barry Bonds (762) and another $6MM for passing Bonds.

Stark reports the Yankees haven't begun questioning the clauses yet, but many officials on other teams argue the Yankees shouldn't have to reward A-Rod because his legacy has been tainted. They say the home runs are no longer as historic. In the words of one official: "I'd be doing everything I could not to pay that money, and let him sue me for it."

Yankees Re-Sign Humberto Sanchez

By Ben Nicholson-Smith | May 6, 2009 at 8:27pm CDT

The Yankees re-signed right-handed pitcher Humberto Sanchez to a minor league deal, according to this press release on the site for the Scranton Times-Tribune. He was released by the Yankees on April 25th to make room for Mark Melancon. Sanchez, 25, was assigned to AA Trenton and placed on their disabled list.

Odds & Ends: Qualls, Scheppers, Strasburg

By Tim Dierkes | May 6, 2009 at 12:28pm CDT

Links for Wednesday…

D'Backs closer Chad Qualls has MLBTR bookmarked…nice!
In yesterday's post on Miguel Angel Sano, I linked to a three-minute video. It turns out that clip was a snippet of a documentary called Live to Play, Play to Live. A production company is following five players, including Sano, leading up to the July 2nd signing period.
Baseball America's J.J. Cooper writes about the independent league season debuts of Tanner Scheppers and Aaron Crow. Scheppers is with the St. Paul Saints, who also employ Craig Brazell and Kerry Ligtenberg.
Keith Law discusses Stephen Strasburg in this ESPN video. Law predicts Strasburg will sign for $18-20MM. Strasburg's coach Tony Gwynn advises caution for the Nationals if they draft him, in talking to Edward Lewis of the Daily Aztec.
Former Yankees Dominican scouting director Ramon Valdivia filed a $3MM wrongful termination suit against the team, according to ESPN's Jorge Arangure Jr.
SI's Jon Heyman looks back at the incredible 2005 draft class.

Heyman On Strasburg, Pedro, Byrd

By Tim Dierkes | May 4, 2009 at 1:03pm CDT

Let's take a look at the latest from SI.com's Jon Heyman.

Heyman's on Twitter!
Heyman runs through the surprise contenders and decides which teams are the real deal.
The Nationals, as you know, have decided to draft Stephen Strasburg.
Heyman learned from Yankees GM Brian Cashman that "the Yankees can't seriously consider Pedro Martinez or Paul Byrd until they're pitching somewhere." Heyman talked to another GM who estimated each player would need a month to get ready. Byrd told Yahoo's Tim Brown he needs just two weeks in the minors.

Damon Talks About Future, Varitek

By Tim Dierkes | May 4, 2009 at 11:07am CDT

MONDAY: WEEI's Alex Speier talked to Damon. Damon's stance on the term of his next contract:

"I would like to at least get two years, but we’ll see what happens. If I need to take a one with an option or a vesting option, then so be it."

Damon also stirred the pot a bit in reference to Jason Varitek:

"I couldn’t believe that they were letting him walk and try to find a team. That’s the difference between New York and Boston…If you’re a part of New York, they’re going to keep you there: Posada, Jeter, Mariano, it’s the first time in history guys have been on the same team for 15 years. It goes to show you something about how the Yankees think, and how many Yankees players have been exclusive with one team. They keep them forever. (The Red Sox) were ready to let (Varitek) go. He’s their starting catcher. That’s how the two teams work. You know his days are going to be numbered here. But hopefully not — he deserves to be here until his career is over."

FRIDAY: ESPN's Andrew Marchand has a story up about a Johnny Damon radio appearance on 1050 AM in New York. Damon, a free agent after the season, hopes to re-sign with the Yankees. However, he feels the chances are slim based on the team's young outfielders. Damon specifically mentioned Austin Jackson.

Damon, 35, is hitting .295/.385/.500 in 91 plate appearances on the young season. Realistically, the Yankees may well look to sign an outfielder this winter. It just might not be Damon.

Yankees Sign Casey Fossum

By Ben Nicholson-Smith | May 2, 2009 at 9:58am CDT

According to Chad Jennings of the Scranton Times Tribune the Yankees signed Casey Fossum; he will start for AAA Scranton today. Fossum pitched in three games for the Mets this year before they designated him for assignment. The 31-year-old veteran of 237 major league games pitched well in the minors this April, striking out 12 in 11 innings and allowing ten baserunners.

Odds And Ends: Yankees, Pedro, Mets

By Ben Nicholson-Smith | May 2, 2009 at 9:44am CDT

Links for Saturday morning…

Some Yankees fans are frustrated by the first month C.C. Sabathia and Mark Teixeira spent in pinstripes, but Torii Hunter would be happy to add them to the Angels, according to Matt Gagne's article in the New York Daily News.
Peter Schmuck of the Baltimore Sun writes that the Orioles continue to deny interest in Pedro Martinez.
MLB.com's Marty Noble reports that Omar Minaya now says the Mets have an "edge".
Noble adds that Oliver Perez could conceivably be asked to accept a minor league assignment if he pitches poorly today.
ESPN.com's Peter Gammons discusses teams' recent appreciation for a strong defense.
Gammons spoke with on GM who suggested we're in a golden era of second basemen in which players like Dustin Pedroia, Ian Kinsler, Chase Utley, Robinson Cano and Aaron Hill hit well at a "defensive" position.
ESPN.com's Tim Kurkjian asks why the Rangers have always been offense-first.
Bob Elliott of the Toronto Sun reports that the Blue Jays are scouting high school pitcher Shelby Miller.

Odds & Ends: Nationals, Teixeira, Ligtenberg

By Tim Dierkes | May 1, 2009 at 11:32am CDT

Links for Friday…

RotoAuthority looks at the April offensive stat leaders.
Jim Callis of Baseball America discussed Jim Bowden's Stephen Strasburg comments. Bowden says the Nationals' decision to draft Strasburg has been made, and predicts they'll sign him for around $15MM minutes before the deadline.
ESPN's Jorge Arangure Jr. talked to Nats interim GM Mike Rizzo about their revamped Latin American plan.
Mark Teixeira talked to Mike DiGiovanna of the L.A. Times about his decision to sign with the Yankees.
Brian Stensaas of the Minneapolis Star-Tribune writes about Kerry Ligtenberg, who is attempting a comeback with the St. Paul Saints.
SI.com's Tom Verducci spoke with one GM who points to struggling older teams and says "it's better to be young these days."
Jon Paul Morosi of the Detroit Free Press writes that the Tigers are being patient with pitchers Ryan Perry and Rick Porcello.
MLB.com's Corey Brock doesn't expect GM Kevin Towers to sit back and watch if the Padres continues to struggle.
Here's Baseball America's list of the hottest prospects in the minors right now.
ESPN.com's Keith Law scouts a pair of college players who could turn up on BA's list next year: Tim Wheeler and Drew Storen.
Twins reliever Juan Morillo cleared waivers, so he'll head to Triple A according to La Velle E. Neal III of the Minneapolis Star-Tribune.

Baseball Blogs Weigh In: Pedro, Byrd, Ibanez, Figgins

By Cork Gaines | May 1, 2009 at 8:41am CDT

On this date three years ago, the Red Sox traded for Doug Mirabelli to be Tim Wakefield's personal catcher. Mirabelli had to put his uniform on in the car from the airport and arrived 13 minutes prior to first pitch against the Yankees. While trades in April and May are rare, they are not unprecedented. Let's take a look at what is being written in the Blogosphere…

Fire Ned Colletti Now argues that Ned Colletti does not deserve an extension. My head just exploded.
Sox and Pinstripes makes a case for the Yankees signing Pedro Martinez.
Jorge Says No! takes a look at the market for Paul Byrd.
More Hardball puts together a roster of the highest paid players ever.
Fangraphs reviews the Yankees drafts from the past three years.
The Fightins honor Raul Ibanez's first month with the Phillies. The signing was highly criticized.
6 Pound 8 Ounce Baby Joba contemplates the Yankees acquiring Chone Figgins.

Cork Gaines writes for RaysIndex.com. If you have a suggestion for this feature, Cork can be reached here, and followed on Twitter here.

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