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Damaso Marte

Odds and Ends: Ankiel, Hoffman, Mussina

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Linkage for Thursday…

Yankees Sign Damaso Marte

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3:38pm: Joel Sherman says the 2012 option is for $4MM, with a $250K buyout.  Ken Davidoff believes this contract was a mistake in light of the ’09 option, and I agree.

1:06pm: It’s official.  Marte gets a three-year deal with a club option for 2012.

9:01am: According to Impacto Deportivo, the Yankees signed Damaso Marte to a three-year, $12MM deal (link is in Spanish).  The Yanks had declined a $6MM option for 2009 earlier.

It’s good news for Marte, who was saddled with Type A status.  Marte is getting up there a bit; he’ll be 34 in February.  He initially had a rough go of it with the Yankees, battling elbow inflammation.  Fortunately, Marte finished strong with a 1.64 ERA in his final 15 games.

Yankees Decline Marte’s Option

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The Yankees announced today that they have declined Damaso Marte’s ’09 option. Yesterday we learned that the Yankees were seeking to sign Marte to an extension.  Marte is a Type A free agent, so figure on at least an offer of arbitration.

The option was for $6MM and was bought out for $250K.

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

Yankees Rumors: Sabathia, Marte, Mussina

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11:09pm: Brian Cashman sums up the Yankees’ plan: "We’re going to show a lot of love."

12:15pm: It’s about time we check in with Yankees links.

  • The Yankees will make their record-breaking pitch to C.C. Sabathia.  If it fails, they’ll move on to A.J. Burnett, Derek Lowe, and Oliver Perez.
  • Joel Sherman says the Yankees could get involved on Manny Ramirez, but only if they fail to sign Mark Teixeira and manage to trade Hideki Matsui.
  • Sherman says the Yanks are in on the catching market just to be safe, engaging the Rangers about Gerald Laird and Jarrod Saltalamacchia.  They’ll also "keep tabs" on Ivan Rodriguez.  If the Yanks find another club that values Robinson Cano highly and offers pitching, he could be traded and Orlando Hudson signed.  None of this stuff seems likely.
  • Peter Abraham believes the Yanks are working on an extension with Damaso Marte.
  • Buster Olney says some of Mike Mussina’s friends believe that the longer it takes for him to decide on 2009, the more likely it is he pitches. 
  • Peter Abraham believes Phil Hughes or Ian Kennedy will be traded before next season, but Brian Cashman has not lost faith in Hughes.

Odds and Ends: Twins, Big Unit, Rockies

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Links and tidbits for Wednesday.  Remember to check back on this post for updates!

Latest Yankees Info

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Peter Abraham was in on the Brian Cashman briefing; his blog posts can be found here and here.

  • Option decisions are due on Jason Giambi, Carl Pavano, and Damaso Marte by November 14th.  The only uncertainty is with Marte’s $6MM option.  George King reported yesterday that the Yankees are unlikely to exercise it.  Abraham says Cashman indicated that Marte could be signed to a new contract if the option is declined.  I imagine it’d take multiple years to entice him.
  • There have been no conversations between the Yankees and Bobby Abreu’s agents.  Abreu is looking for a three-year deal, so he’ll probably be cashed in for draft picks.
  • Center field is not considered a priority; the Yanks like their in-house options.
  • Cashman wants to acquire two starters; right now he considers Chien-Ming Wang and Joba Chamberlain his rotation.
  • Eric Milton and Victor Zambrano are free agents again.

Odds & Ends: Amaro, Marte, Griffey

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Some Odds & Ends to begin the day:

  • The Phillies are expected to announce Ruben Amaro Jr. as their next General Manager on Monday. Says Ken Mandel of MLB.com, "Amaro, 43, served as a batboy for the Phillies from 1980-83, and played for the Phillies from 1992-93 and 1996-98. He moved into the front office after retiring as a player." As the clubs Assistant General Manager, he’s been the heir apparent to the 71-year-old Pat Gillick as GM.
  • The Yankees are expected to decline Damaso Marte’s $6MM option, according to George King III of the New York Post. Marte made $2MM this year and the Yankees are opting to buy him out for $250,000. I expect them to make an attempt to sign him to a new contract but no details yet.
  • Larry Stone of the Seattle Times says Ken Griffey Jr. is open to returing to Seattle. No comment from M’s new GM Jack Zduriencik.

Yankees Rumors: Jeter, Sabathia, Hudson

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Let’s talk Yankees.

  • Ken Davidoff makes recommendations for the ’09 Yankees.  He would sign Derek Lowe and Andy Pettitte, and offer arbitration to Damaso Marte and Bobby Abreu.
  • Jim Baumbach explains a tricky situation coming up: re-signing Derek Jeter.
  • Peter Abraham takes a look at various free agents on the minds’ of Yankees fans.
  • Tyler Kepner of the New York Times says first priority for the Yankees is to re-sign Brian Cashman.  I imagine they already have a Plan B in place, but recent reports lean toward Cashman returning.
  • Kepner says the Indians were aggressive in pursuing a deadline deal involving Phil Hughes and C.C. Sabathia.  Now, Kepner says the Yankees are skeptical they’ll be able to sign Sabathia.  For Plan B, the Yanks seem to prefer pitchers with American League experience.  They’ll probably stand pat on the bullpen, though a decision must be made on Damaso Marte’s option.
  • If the Yankees can engineer a Robinson Cano–Matt Kemp swap (unlikely), they could then sign free agents Mark Teixeira and Orlando Hudson.  The right-side infield defense would be drastically improved.
  • Bill Madden of the New York Daily News is more pessimistic – he doesn’t see the team’s internal center field options working out, nor does he consider the free agent signings wise.

Rays Scouting Jayson Werth

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Mike Tingle of ESPN 840 in Charlottesville spoke to Rays scout Mike Cubbage yesterday.  Cubbage said that he plans to scout Phillies outfielder Jayson Werth, and that Werth may be available in the right deal.  Werth, 29, is hitting .272/.358/.485 in 268 plate appearances (most of the damage done against lefties).

Additionally, the Rays offered a package of players for Xavier Nady and Damaso Marte but the Bucs chose the Yankees’ offer.  The Rays also looked at Jon Rauch previously, though he was not at the top of their list.  And of course, the Rays would like to acquire Brian Fuentes.

Week In Review: 7/20 – 7/26

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This one will be a bit lengthy, which can be expected as the deadline approaches. Here’s a review of some of the major moves and rumors of the last week:

  • The Yankees acquired Xavier Nady and Damaso Marte from the Pirates for OF Jose Tabata, RHP Ross Ohlendorf, RHP Dan McCutchen and RHP Jeff Karstens . I agree with Tim that Ian Kennedy would’ve been a better centerpiece, but Tabata is pretty highly-touted himself. Kennedy would have made a more immediate impact, while Tabata is only 19 years old.
  • The Dodgers acquired Casey Blake for minor league RHP Jon Meloan and C Carlos Santana. The Dodgers get a nice boost to their lineup without giving up too much, although Santana’s putting together a very impressive season in Class-A ball.
  • The Nationals sent Jon Rauch to the Diamondbacks in exchange for minor league 2B Emilio Bonifacio. Rauch adds to a strong bullpen for Arizona, while Bonaficio could become a very solid leadoff hitter in the future for Washington. They may have been able to get more for Rauch, but I personally like the move, regardless.
  • The Brewers acquired Ray Durham from the Giants for minor leaguers Darren Ford and Steve Hammond. Rickie Weeks has been a disappointment to an otherwise red-hot club. Can Durham provide a bit more stability? The power’s gone, but he can still get on base.
  • The Astros acquired Randy Wolf from the Padres for minor league pitcher Chad Reineke. This one confuses me a little bit; with all due respect, did the Astros forget they were 12.5 games out? I don’t see the logic in buying on a pitcher.
  • The Cardinals traded Anthony Reyes to the Indians for minor league pitcher Luis Perdoma. I don’t get this one either. I feel like the Cardinals could have gotten more, despite Reyes’ struggles in the past. The Indians could make this one look like a steal, in my opinion.
  • The Yankees are in deep discussion with the Mariners about acquiring Jarrod Washburn. Tim cites Buster Olney and Ken Rosenthal in saying that the Mariners want a top prospect in addition to the salary dump, but the Yankees are only offering a marginal prospect. Can’t say I blame them. A top prospect for an mediocre pitchers who’s due an additional $14MM? Sounds like Seattle’s getting greedy…
  • A new, and surprising name surfaced in trade talks: Manny Ramirez. Manny has said he would waive his no-trade clause, and based on interviews, has basically said that 2008 will be his last season in Boston. I can’t see Boston trading their (arguably) best hitter in the middle of a pennant race, however. I’d bet on him finishing out the season.
  • Speaking of corner outfielders, the Mets need one, and they know it. Having missed out on Nady and Blake, they will likely zero in on Raul Ibanez. Ibanez makes great sense for them, and the Mariners would obviously like to rebuild. I expect this one to get done.
  • There was a report that Roy Halladay came out and told the Blue Jays that he is unhappy in Toronto, which has provoked the Jays to explore their potential options. Halladay’s price would have to be astronomical, I’d think. He’s signed through 2010 and pitching like it’s 2003 all over again. Personal speculation: I think Halladay to the Cardinals with a Colby Rasums centerpiece would make sense.
  • Crisitan Guzman signed a two-year, $16MM contract extension. Guzman has revived his career after surgery following an awful 2005. I like the signing for the Nats.
  • Jorge Posada could be out for the season. The Yankees are looking for catchers. In addition to the names mentioned there, they could take a shot at signing Johnny Estrada, who was DFA’ed by Washington this week. Estrada was terrible in Washington, but has put up solid offensive numbers for a catcher throughout his career.
  • Brian Fuentes, Huston Street, and George Sherrill are all still potential trade pieces. Fuentes is the most likely to go, I’d say, although the Rockies are asking for quite a bit.
  • Tim updated the left-handed reliever and left field markets.
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