Yankees won't wait around to bolster roster

The New York Yankees have made it clear they are tired of being the outlier in baseball's payroll structure.

They are coming off a record-setting $228 million payroll in 2013 -- their sixth consecutive season in excess of $200 million -- but have their sights set on coming in below the $189 million level for 2014 in an attempt to put themselves in position to avoid being hit with baseball's payroll excise tax.

At least that's the intention.

There's one thing to remember, however.

The Yankees are more concerned about winning games than saving money. After doing little last offseason and then failing to advance to the postseason for only the second time in 19 years, the Yankees are back in business this offseason.

They have won 27 World Series championships, but only one of those has come in the past 13 seasons, which doesn't satisfy the Yankees.

They claim they'll keep that goal of staying beneath the $189 million threshold, and they say the budget is being drawn while factoring in $25 million for Alex Rodriguez, in case he does win his appeal of the 211-game suspension handed down last summer.

Time will tell.

What has become obvious is the Yankees aren't winter wallflowers this time around.

They want to play in October again, and they aren't going to sit at home and hope for a miracle. The likes of Chris Stewart and Lyle Overbay and Jayson Nix and Austin Romine and Kevin Youkilis and Luis Cruz and Francisco Cervelli and Reid Brignac and Chris Nelson and Alberto Gonzalez and Brennan Boesch and Brent Lillibridge and Travis Ishikawa were not the answers this past summer.

That means the Yankees plan to be busy this winter.

The club made that loud and clear when it agreed to terms with catcher Brian McCann on a five-year, $85 million deal, filling the void created by last winter's loss of Russell Martin as a free agent and last summer's inability to find a satisfactory replacement.

With the signing of McCann, the Yankees are obligated for roughly $115 million in 2014 salary, thanks in part to the Cubs, Angels and Blue Jays combining to pick up $36 million of what is owed to veteran outfielders Vernon Wells and Alfonso Soriano.

But the Yankees are in limbo at third base in light of Rodriguez's battle to be reinstated; at shortstop in light of uncertainty of the durability of Derek Jeter, who at the age of 39 is coming off a season in which he played only 17 games; and at second base, where Robinson Cano is shopping the free-agent market, looking for a 10-year, $310 million deal.

With all due respect to Jeter, the Yankees know they need to have an alternative at short, which is why Stephen Drew's name has come up in conversations for 2014.

And the Yankees aren't sure what to think about second base, where their preference is to re-sign free agent Cano. However, they are thinking more along the lines of a seven-year, $168 million package.

The question is how much either side will give to get that deal done.

That's something the Yankees would like to get an answer to sooner rather than later, because they don't want to get sidetracked with the pursuit of Cano, have the talks fall through, and be too late to make additional moves to beef up the roster. And they have kicked the tires on Omar Infante -- the next-best available option, although he's not close to being in the class of Cano.

The Yankees are moving ahead in pursuit of free agent Carlos Beltran, balking at his three-year request in light of the fact he will turn 37 in April, preferring to guarantee only two years but with the idea they could include a third-season option that could become guaranteed if Beltran reaches makeable triggers.

There remain indications that the Yankees won't be shy when (or if) Japanese right-hander Masahiro Tanaka is given the go-ahead to go to a Major League team.

And all of those efforts are shadowed by the uncertainty of Rodriguez. It's going to be at least another six weeks before the Yankees will know whether they will have Rodriguez on the roster or whether they will be off the hook for his salary in 2014.

The Yankees aren't waiting around this year.

They are up to their old tricks.

They are looking to make things happen.

Sitting around in October has the Yankees back on the offseason move, again.

Tracy Ringolsby is a columnist for MLB.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.

14.24 | 0 komentar | Read More

Girardi gives thanks for family, food, football

By Bryan Hoch / MLB.com | 11/27/2013 4:00 P.M. ET

NEW YORK -- Given Joe Girardi's current occupation, the Yankees manager might not be pleased if he heard that one of his players was lacing up to play Thanksgiving football, knowing the domino effect that one sharp cut or hard tackle could have for the future.

Yet Girardi knows that temptation all too well, and he was guilty of giving in on more than one occasion early in his career with the Cubs. For Girardi, the Thanksgiving holiday represents a time for his family to enjoy food and football, and it is not necessarily in that order.

"I used to love to play in the Turkey Bowl," Girardi said. "That was one of my favorite things to do. I knew that I shouldn't be doing it; I was a player at the time, when Kim and I were first married. I played in it every year. I absolutely loved it. I never got hurt, so I was OK."

• Giving thanks • MLB in the Community

14.24 | 0 komentar | Read More

Veteran Lilly confirms reports of retirement

By Ken Gurnick / MLB.com | 11/28/2013 2:45 P.M. ET

LOS ANGELES -- Pitcher Ted Lilly confirmed earlier reports that he has retired as a player because of chronic neck pain.

Clarifying conflicting published comments in recent days, Lilly on Thursday wrote in a text message that he can no longer physically perform.

"I am retiring," Lilly wrote. "I don't want to, but I think it is the realistic decision."

The 15-year Major League veteran recently had the nerve endings on the right side of his neck cauterized by a spine specialist. The procedure allowed Lilly to pitch in the Venezuelan Winter League, but the discomfort continued.

Lilly was limited to just five starts in 2013, while posting a 5.09 ERA over 23 innings. In total, Lilly played for six organizations -- including the Dodgers, Cubs, Yankees, Blue Jays, A's and Expos.

The 37-year-old Lilly, who was released by the Dodgers on Aug. 4, compiled a 130-113 record and 4.14 ERA in 331 career starts. He amassed 1,681 strikeouts, while walking 661 during his 1,982 2/3 innings at the big league level.

Lilly's best season came in 2007, when he went 15-8 while posting a 3.83 ERA in 34 starts for the Cubs. It was the first of what turned into back-to-back seasons with at least 200-plus innings and came immediately after he signed a lucrative free-agent contract.

The native of California was originally taken by the Dodgers in the 23rd round of the 1996 First-Year Player Draft. His orignal plan this offseason was to find a way back to the Majors.

Ken Gurnick is a reporter for MLB.com. Cash Kruth and Gregor Chisholm also contributed to this story. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.

14.24 | 0 komentar | Read More

Yankees won't wait around to bolster roster

The New York Yankees have made it clear they are tired of being the outlier in baseball's payroll structure.

They are coming off a record-setting $228 million payroll in 2013 -- their sixth consecutive season in excess of $200 million -- but have their sights set on coming in below the $189 million level for 2014 in an attempt to put themselves in position to avoid being hit with baseball's payroll excise tax.

At least that's the intention.

There's one thing to remember, however.

The Yankees are more concerned about winning games than saving money. After doing little last offseason and then failing to advance to the postseason for only the second time in 19 years, the Yankees are back in business this offseason.

They have won 27 World Series championships, but only one of those has come in the past 13 seasons, which doesn't satisfy the Yankees.

They claim they'll keep that goal of staying beneath the $189 million threshold, and they say the budget is being drawn while factoring in $25 million for Alex Rodriguez, in case he does win his appeal of the 211-game suspension handed down last summer.

Time will tell.

What has become obvious is the Yankees aren't winter wallflowers this time around.

They want to play in October again, and they aren't going to sit at home and hope for a miracle. The likes of Chris Stewart and Lyle Overbay and Jayson Nix and Austin Romine and Kevin Youkilis and Luis Cruz and Francisco Cervelli and Reid Brignac and Chris Nelson and Alberto Gonzalez and Brennan Boesch and Brent Lillibridge and Travis Ishikawa were not the answers this past summer.

That means the Yankees plan to be busy this winter.

The club made that loud and clear when it agreed to terms with catcher Brian McCann on a five-year, $85 million deal, filling the void created by last winter's loss of Russell Martin as a free agent and last summer's inability to find a satisfactory replacement.

With the signing of McCann, the Yankees are obligated for roughly $115 million in 2014 salary, thanks in part to the Cubs, Angels and Blue Jays combining to pick up $36 million of what is owed to veteran outfielders Vernon Wells and Alfonso Soriano.

But the Yankees are in limbo at third base in light of Rodriguez's battle to be reinstated; at shortstop in light of uncertainty of the durability of Derek Jeter, who at the age of 39 is coming off a season in which he played only 17 games; and at second base, where Robinson Cano is shopping the free-agent market, looking for a 10-year, $310 million deal.

With all due respect to Jeter, the Yankees know they need to have an alternative at short, which is why Stephen Drew's name has come up in conversations for 2014.

And the Yankees aren't sure what to think about second base, where their preference is to re-sign free agent Cano. However, they are thinking more along the lines of a seven-year, $168 million package.

The question is how much either side will give to get that deal done.

That's something the Yankees would like to get an answer to sooner rather than later, because they don't want to get sidetracked with the pursuit of Cano, have the talks fall through, and be too late to make additional moves to beef up the roster. And they have kicked the tires on Omar Infante -- the next-best available option, although he's not close to being in the class of Cano.

The Yankees are moving ahead in pursuit of free agent Carlos Beltran, balking at his three-year request in light of the fact he will turn 37 in April, preferring to guarantee only two years but with the idea they could include a third-season option that could become guaranteed if Beltran reaches makeable triggers.

There remain indications that the Yankees won't be shy when (or if) Japanese right-hander Masahiro Tanaka is given the go-ahead to go to a Major League team.

And all of those efforts are shadowed by the uncertainty of Rodriguez. It's going to be at least another six weeks before the Yankees will know whether they will have Rodriguez on the roster or whether they will be off the hook for his salary in 2014.

The Yankees aren't waiting around this year.

They are up to their old tricks.

They are looking to make things happen.

Sitting around in October has the Yankees back on the offseason move, again.

Tracy Ringolsby is a columnist for MLB.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.

14.24 | 0 komentar | Read More

Girardi gives thanks for family, food, football

By Bryan Hoch / MLB.com | 11/27/2013 4:00 P.M. ET

NEW YORK -- Given Joe Girardi's current occupation, the Yankees manager might not be pleased if he heard that one of his players was lacing up to play Thanksgiving football, knowing the domino effect that one sharp cut or hard tackle could have for the future.

Yet Girardi knows that temptation all too well, and he was guilty of giving in on more than one occasion early in his career with the Cubs. For Girardi, the Thanksgiving holiday represents a time for his family to enjoy food and football, and it is not necessarily in that order.

"I used to love to play in the Turkey Bowl," Girardi said. "That was one of my favorite things to do. I knew that I shouldn't be doing it; I was a player at the time, when Kim and I were first married. I played in it every year. I absolutely loved it. I never got hurt, so I was OK."

• Giving thanks • MLB in the Community

14.24 | 0 komentar | Read More

Veteran Lilly confirms reports of retirement

By Ken Gurnick / MLB.com | 11/28/2013 2:45 P.M. ET

LOS ANGELES -- Pitcher Ted Lilly confirmed earlier reports that he has retired as a player because of chronic neck pain.

Clarifying conflicting published comments in recent days, Lilly on Thursday wrote in a text message that he can no longer physically perform.

"I am retiring," Lilly wrote. "I don't want to, but I think it is the realistic decision."

The 15-year Major League veteran recently had the nerve endings on the right side of his neck cauterized by a spine specialist. The procedure allowed Lilly to pitch in the Venezuelan Winter League, but the discomfort continued.

Lilly was limited to just five starts in 2013, while posting a 5.09 ERA over 23 innings. In total, Lilly played for six organizations -- including the Dodgers, Cubs, Yankees, Blue Jays, A's and Expos.

The 37-year-old Lilly, who was released by the Dodgers on Aug. 4, compiled a 130-113 record and 4.14 ERA in 331 career starts. He amassed 1,681 strikeouts, while walking 661 during his 1,982 2/3 innings at the big league level.

Lilly's best season came in 2007, when he went 15-8 while posting a 3.83 ERA in 34 starts for the Cubs. It was the first of what turned into back-to-back seasons with at least 200-plus innings and came immediately after he signed a lucrative free-agent contract.

The native of California was originally taken by the Dodgers in the 23rd round of the 1996 First-Year Player Draft. His orignal plan this offseason was to find a way back to the Majors.

Ken Gurnick is a reporter for MLB.com. Cash Kruth and Gregor Chisholm also contributed to this story. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.

14.24 | 0 komentar | Read More

Yankees meet with Cano's agents

By Bryan Hoch / MLB.com | 11/26/2013 4:36 P.M. ET

NEW YORK -- The Yankees met with the representatives for free-agent second baseman Robinson Cano on Tuesday, but a large gap remains between the two sides, according to multiple reports.

Cano did not attend the meeting with Yankees team president Randy Levine and general manager Brian Cashman. The five-time All-Star was represented by Brodie Van Wagenen and Juan Perez of CAA Baseball. Jay-Z also was not present at the meeting.

Another meeting with the Yankees could take place on Wednesday. Cano's camp is believed to have moved slightly off of their original asking price of 10 years and more than $300 million, but the difference was not thought to be substantial enough to accelerate an agreement.

The Yankees have shown a willingness to complete deals at this early point of the offseason, agreeing late last week to a five-year, $85 million contract with free agent catcher Brian McCann, a deal that is expected to be finalized after the Thanksgiving holiday.

The agreement with McCann reinforced public statements that Levine made last week, when he said that Cashman and the Yankees were engaged with "five or six free agents."

Levine also cautioned that any completed signings could reduce the total amount of payroll left to make offers to Cano. The Yankees are known to also be interested in signing free-agent outfielder Carlos Beltran, among others.

New York's original offer to Cano is believed to have been in the range of seven years and approximately $160 million. The 31-year-old Cano batted .314 with 27 home runs and 107 RBIs in 160 games for the Yankees this past season.

Bryan Hoch is a reporter for MLB.com. Follow him on Twitter @bryanhoch and read his MLBlog, Bombers Beat. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.

14.25 | 0 komentar | Read More

Yankees won't wait around to bolster roster

The New York Yankees have made it clear they are tired of being the outlier in baseball's payroll structure.

They are coming off a record-setting $228 million payroll in 2013 -- their sixth consecutive season in excess of $200 million -- but have their sights set on coming in below the $189 million level for 2014 in an attempt to put themselves in position to avoid being hit with baseball's payroll excise tax.

At least that's the intention.

There's one thing to remember, however.

The Yankees are more concerned about winning games than saving money. After doing little last offseason and then failing to advance to the postseason for only the second time in 19 years, the Yankees are back in business this offseason.

They have won 27 World Series championships, but only one of those has come in the past 13 seasons, which doesn't satisfy the Yankees.

They claim they'll keep that goal of staying beneath the $189 million threshold, and they say the budget is being drawn while factoring in $25 million for Alex Rodriguez, in case he does win his appeal of the 211-game suspension handed down last summer.

Time will tell.

What has become obvious is the Yankees aren't winter wallflowers this time around.

They want to play in October again, and they aren't going to sit at home and hope for a miracle. The likes of Chris Stewart and Lyle Overbay and Jayson Nix and Austin Romine and Kevin Youkilis and Luis Cruz and Francisco Cervelli and Reid Brignac and Chris Nelson and Alberto Gonzalez and Brennan Boesch and Brent Lillibridge and Travis Ishikawa were not the answers this past summer.

That means the Yankees plan to be busy this winter.

The club made that loud and clear when it agreed to terms with catcher Brian McCann on a five-year, $85 million deal, filling the void created by last winter's loss of Russell Martin as a free agent and last summer's inability to find a satisfactory replacement.

With the signing of McCann, the Yankees are obligated for roughly $115 million in 2014 salary, thanks in part to the Cubs, Angels and Blue Jays combining to pick up $36 million of what is owed to veteran outfielders Vernon Wells and Alfonso Soriano.

But the Yankees are in limbo at third base in light of Rodriguez's battle to be reinstated; at shortstop in light of uncertainty of the durability of Derek Jeter, who at the age of 39 is coming off a season in which he played only 17 games; and at second base, where Robinson Cano is shopping the free-agent market, looking for a 10-year, $310 million deal.

With all due respect to Jeter, the Yankees know they need to have an alternative at short, which is why Stephen Drew's name has come up in conversations for 2014.

And the Yankees aren't sure what to think about second base, where their preference is to re-sign free agent Cano. However, they are thinking more along the lines of a seven-year, $168 million package.

The question is how much either side will give to get that deal done.

That's something the Yankees would like to get an answer to sooner rather than later, because they don't want to get sidetracked with the pursuit of Cano, have the talks fall through, and be too late to make additional moves to beef up the roster. And they have kicked the tires on Omar Infante -- the next-best available option, although he's not close to being in the class of Cano.

The Yankees are moving ahead in pursuit of free agent Carlos Beltran, balking at his three-year request in light of the fact he will turn 37 in April, preferring to guarantee only two years but with the idea they could include a third-season option that could become guaranteed if Beltran reaches makeable triggers.

There remain indications that the Yankees won't be shy when (or if) Japanese right-hander Masahiro Tanaka is given the go-ahead to go to a Major League team.

And all of those efforts are shadowed by the uncertainty of Rodriguez. It's going to be at least another six weeks before the Yankees will know whether they will have Rodriguez on the roster or whether they will be off the hook for his salary in 2014.

The Yankees aren't waiting around this year.

They are up to their old tricks.

They are looking to make things happen.

Sitting around in October has the Yankees back on the offseason move, again.

Tracy Ringolsby is a columnist for MLB.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.

14.25 | 0 komentar | Read More

Girardi gives thanks for family, food, football

By Bryan Hoch / MLB.com | 11/27/2013 4:00 P.M. ET

NEW YORK -- Given Joe Girardi's current occupation, the Yankees manager might not be pleased if he heard that one of his players was lacing up to play Thanksgiving football, knowing the domino effect that one sharp cut or hard tackle could have for the future.

Yet Girardi knows that temptation all too well, and he was guilty of giving in on more than one occasion early in his career with the Cubs. For Girardi, the Thanksgiving holiday represents a time for his family to enjoy food and football, and it is not necessarily in that order.

"I used to love to play in the Turkey Bowl," Girardi said. "That was one of my favorite things to do. I knew that I shouldn't be doing it; I was a player at the time, when Kim and I were first married. I played in it every year. I absolutely loved it. I never got hurt, so I was OK."

• Giving thanks • MLB in the Community

14.25 | 0 komentar | Read More

Mattingly realistic when it comes to Hall chances

NEW YORK -- There aren't many nervous winter minutes spent waiting by the phone these days for Don Mattingly, not unless they concern the possible moves his Dodgers are trying to pull off.

Mattingly's name has appeared as a candidate on the National Baseball Hall of Fame ballot for the 14th year, but the former Yankees captain has acknowledged the likelihood that enshrinement in Cooperstown, N.Y., just isn't in his future.

"My first year of eligibility, I pretty much knew I wasn't going to make it or anything," Mattingly told ESPN earlier this year. "I don't pay that much attention to it, to be honest with you. It's to the point now where it comes up and you're like, 'Oh, it's over,' and you go on."

The sweet-swinging first baseman certainly appeared as though he might have been on a Hall of Fame track early in his playing career, which saw him represent the Yankees proudly for 14 seasons in pinstripes.

One of the most popular players in franchise history, Mattingly has been enshrined in Monument Park with his No. 23 retired by the Yankees, and the nine-time Gold Glove Award winner is not holding out hope for his phone to ring about the Hall of Fame.

"When I retired [after the 1995 season], I was 34," Mattingly told ESPN. "If I had kept playing another five years, I may have ended up with 3,000 hits and reached some other milestones and gotten in. I made the decision for my boys, because I wanted to be around.

"When you do that type of thing, you know what you're doing, you know you're not going to make the Hall of Fame. If I was worried about making the Hall of Fame, I wouldn't have retired."

Mattingly's best showing was 28 percent in 2001, his first year on the ballot. Last year, Mattingly appeared on 13.2 percent of ballots cast, a slight dip from his 13.8 percent showing in 2011.

A candidate must receive 75 percent of the vote from Baseball Writers' Association of America members to gain election to the National Baseball Hall of Fame. No players reached that threshold in 2013. Second baseman Craig Biggio (68.2 percent), starting pitcher Jack Morris (67.7 percent) and first baseman Jeff Bagwell (59.6 percent) are the top returning vote-getters from last year's ballot. Results of the 2014 election will be announced on Wednesday, Jan. 8.

Over a six-year run that started in 1984, Mattingly averaged 26 home runs, 114 RBIs and a .327 average, representing the Yankees on the American League All-Star team in each of those seasons. No player during that stretch had more RBIs than Mattingly's 684, while only Hall of Famer Wade Boggs (1,269) had more hits than Mattingly's 1,219.

"Donnie Baseball" also accomplished an incredible feat in 1987, setting or tying five Major League records. He hit six grand slams to set a new single-season mark, a record that was tied by Travis Hafner in 2006. From July 8-18, Mattingly went deep in eight consecutive games, tying Dale Long's 1956 record (an achievement later matched by Ken Griffey Jr. in 1993).

Mattingly's 10 homers during that streak are a big league record for most in an eight-game stretch, and Mattingly also recorded extra-base hits in 10 consecutive games, breaking Babe Ruth's 1921 record. On July 20, Mattingly tied a Major League record by recording 22 putouts at first base.

Many believed that Mattingly was on the fast track to the Hall of Fame, but he was slowed by back injuries over the next six years. Mattingly won the AL MVP Award in 1985, batting .324 with 35 homers and 145 RBIs, and he also finished in the top five in the MVP Award voting in '84 and '86.

Mattingly edged teammate Dave Winfield in a memorable race for the the AL batting title in 1984 by hitting .343. But from 1990-95, Mattingly averaged fewer than 10 home runs and 64 RBIs per season, topping the .300 mark just once, in the strike-shortened 1994 season.

"I was pretty good for a short period, and when I got banged up and hurt my back, it kind of robbed me of some things, things I wasn't able to do after that," Mattingly told ESPN. "That's just the way it is. There are a lot of guys who are probably in my boat, good players who got banged up and found it hard to be productive after that.

"For me, it was hard just to stay on the field. I was on the DL once a year, maybe twice, for the last five years. When you do that, it's really frustrating because you start rolling a little bit and the next thing you know, you're on the shelf. Couple that with my kids and everything and it's enough."

While voters may not feel that Mattingly's career matches up, his supporters raise the comparison to the Twins' Kirby Puckett, a first-ballot inductee in 2001 whose career was cut short after the 1995 season due to irreversible retina damage in his right eye.

Mattingly retired with 2,153 hits to Puckett's 2,304, 442 doubles to Puckett's 414, 222 homers to Puckett's 207 and 1,099 RBIs to Puckett's 1,085. Mattingly posted three more 100-RBI seasons than Puckett and two more 30-homer seasons, while winning one more MVP Award and the same number of batting titles.

Puckett's apparent advantage came in team hardware, as he played an integral part in the Twins' two World Series titles in 1987 and '91. Mattingly appeared in the postseason just once, losing in the AL Division Series in his final season, 1995.

So for now, Mattingly's Monument Park tribute may have to do. When his number was retired by the Yankees in 1997, a plaque was posted beyond Yankee Stadium's outfield wall to honor his career.

"A humble man of grace and dignity," reads the plaque. "A captain who led by example. Proud of the pinstripes tradition and dedicated to the pursuit of excellence. A Yankee forever."

Bryan Hoch is a reporter for MLB.com. Follow him on Twitter @bryanhoch and read his MLBlog, Bombers Beat. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.

14.24 | 0 komentar | Read More

Up for Hall, Mussina hopes to avoid 'Mr. Almost' tag

By Bryan Hoch / MLB.com | 11/26/2013 10:00 A.M. ET

NEW YORK -- It is almost difficult to believe that more than five years have passed since Mike Mussina stood in the visiting clubhouse at Fenway Park, his fingers digging into a container of McDonald's french fries with a satisfied grin spreading across his face.

Mussina had just logged his 20th victory of the 2008 season, altering a reputation that had him known as a "Mr. Almost" of sorts: He had been a runner-up for a Cy Young Award, fell one inning shy of being a World Series champion and was one strike short of a perfect game in 2001.

Though he waited a few weeks to make his decision public, Mussina knew he had finished on a high note. In doing so, he had completed a career that makes an interesting case for enshrinement in the National Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown, N.Y.

"It's not easy to go out there 30 times a year and be successful and stay healthy and do what everybody is expecting you to do every time," Mussina said in 2008. "Yeah, I lost, and I didn't pitch great every time.

"But for the most part over the long haul, I did what I was supposed to do. When you're asked to do a job, you expect yourself to go out there and do it. I'm proud of myself that I went out there and did it as well as I did."

This will mark Mussina's first turn on the Hall of Fame ballot, with his fate to be decided by the voting members of the Baseball Writers' Association of America. Pitching for 18 seasons with the Yankees and Orioles, Mussina compiled a lifetime record of 270-153 and a 3.68 ERA.

A candidate must receive 75 percent of the vote from BBWAA to gain election to the Hall. No players reached that threshold in 2013. Second baseman Craig Biggio (68.2 percent), starting pitcher Jack Morris (67.7 percent) and first baseman Jeff Bagwell (59.6 percent) are the top returning vote-getters from last year's ballot. Results of the 2014 election will be announced on Wednesday, Jan. 8. Greg Maddux, Tom Glavine, Frank Thomas, Jeff Kent and Mussina highlight the first-time candidates.

A five-time All-Star and seven-time Gold Glove Award winner who toiled for his entire career in the American League East during an era marked by performance-enhanced slugging, Mussina was able to win at least 15 games in 11 seasons.

He enjoyed six top five finishes in voting for the AL Cy Young Award, finishing second to Pedro Martinez in 1999. Mussina's 270 wins are tied with Burleigh Grimes for 33rd place on baseball's all-time list, and he retired as the oldest pitcher to record a 20-win season for the first time.

Only five pitchers in the game's history have had as many wins as Mussina while matching his .638 career winning percentage: Grover Cleveland Alexander, Christy Mathewson, Roger Clemens, Lefty Grove and Randy Johnson.

That select company becomes more impressive when you consider that a strength of Mussina's career was his ability to reinvent himself, and that he completed his run with the Yankees relying on guile and finesse, a much different approach than he had used during his Baltimore days.

Some were surprised that Mussina walked away after his 20-win season in 2008, believing that he could have held on for a few more years to further bolster a Hall of Fame case that -- as it stands -- compares nicely to past inductees Juan Marichal and Jim Palmer.

That was never part of the equation for Mussina, who realized that his best days were behind him at age 39. There were no guarantees that Mussina would quickly be able to reach the vaunted 300-win plateau; in his mind, it might have taken three more years of hanging on.

"I didn't want to be one of those guys that bounces all over the place," Mussina said in 2008. "That's not how I feel about the game. If I can't contribute at the level I want to contribute at, then someone else should be doing it."

Mussina spoke openly at the time about having decided to make his exit while he was still having fun.

"I just felt so good about the season, the way it was going, and enjoying it and not getting caught up in the bad times," Mussina said. "It was like the last year of high school. You know it's going to end, and you just enjoy the ride."

In the years since his retirement, Mussina has returned to life in his beloved hometown of Montoursville, Pa., where he continues to avidly collect John Deere tractors and classic cars while serving as the head coach of the local high school varsity basketball team.

The Orioles inducted Mussina into their Hall of Fame in 2012, and now it will be up to the voters to decide if Mussina's accomplishments on the field also warrant a road trip to Cooperstown, N.Y. in the near future.

Bryan Hoch is a reporter for MLB.com. Follow him on Twitter @bryanhoch and read his MLBlog, Bombers Beat. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.

14.24 | 0 komentar | Read More

Yankees meet with Cano's agents

By Bryan Hoch / MLB.com | 11/26/2013 4:36 P.M. ET

NEW YORK -- The Yankees met with the representatives for free-agent second baseman Robinson Cano on Tuesday, but a large gap remains between the two sides, according to multiple reports.

Cano did not attend the meeting with Yankees team president Randy Levine and general manager Brian Cashman. The five-time All-Star was represented by Brodie Van Wagenen and Juan Perez of CAA Baseball. Jay-Z also was not present at the meeting.

Another meeting with the Yankees could take place on Wednesday. Cano's camp is believed to have moved slightly off of their original asking price of 10 years and more than $300 million, but the difference was not thought to be substantial enough to accelerate an agreement.

The Yankees have shown a willingness to complete deals at this early point of the offseason, agreeing late last week to a five-year, $85 million contract with free agent catcher Brian McCann, a deal that is expected to be finalized after the Thanksgiving holiday.

The agreement with McCann reinforced public statements that Levine made last week, when he said that Cashman and the Yankees were engaged with "five or six free agents."

Levine also cautioned that any completed signings could reduce the total amount of payroll left to make offers to Cano. The Yankees are known to also be interested in signing free-agent outfielder Carlos Beltran, among others.

New York's original offer to Cano is believed to have been in the range of seven years and approximately $160 million. The 31-year-old Cano batted .314 with 27 home runs and 107 RBIs in 160 games for the Yankees this past season.

Bryan Hoch is a reporter for MLB.com. Follow him on Twitter @bryanhoch and read his MLBlog, Bombers Beat. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.

14.24 | 0 komentar | Read More

McCann latest in line of great Yankees catchers

Thanksgiving hasn't arrived. It's clearly far too early to draw any conclusions about the 2014 baseball season. But here's one thing we should know for sure.

When the Yankees report to Tampa, Fla., in February, they're going to look a lot more like the Yankees that we've known than the team that went to camp last spring -- the one that had Chris Stewart, Francisco Cervelli and rookie Austin Romine as its primary catchers.

Reaching an agreement with free agent Brian McCann on a five-year, $85-million contract is a critical first step for Brian Cashman and the Yankees' baseball staff in making the 85-win season in 2013 just a blip on the radar, not the beginning of a run of non-playoff seasons.

It remains to be seen who exactly McCann will be catching when he pulls on the pinstripes. With Hiroki Kuroda and Phil Hughes in free agency and Andy Pettitte retired once again, the Yankees could be missing veterans who accounted for 91 starts last season. That's a staggering total. Ivan Nova and David Phelps are currently the only semi-givens behind CC Sabathia, and it remains unclear if the Yankees (and everyone else) will even get a crack at Japanese ace Masahiro Tanaka, who Cashman's people covet.

But as we said, it is early in the offseason. And the Yankees just added a 29-year-old stud behind the plate. He's not the best defensive catcher going, but he's a lifetime .277 hitter with power from the left side of the plate, which always plays well at Yankee Stadium. But that's not the main thing they're getting.

For the Yankees, the best part about adding McCann is they now have one piece they've almost always had when they were at their best -- a backstop with presence. Big time, as Dusty Baker would say. They didn't have that this season, and it showed.

While the legendary 1927 Yankees had a footnote as their primary catcher (Pat Collins, who played more than 100 games only once in his career), most of the Yankees' great teams have been built around an elite catcher.

Jorge Posada, who played in 125 postseason games and won four World Series rings, was an extension of the line that began with Hall of Famer Bill Dickey, who helped the Yankees win eight pennants and a staggering seven World Series from 1932-43 before turning the gear over to a kid from St. Louis who had been on a 36-foot gunship during the invasion of Normandy.

Yogi Berra would somehow top Dickey, playing in 14 World Series, including 10 that ended with the Yankees as champions. He passed the gear on to a native of a different side of St. Louis, Elston Howard. He was the Yankees' first African-American player and a solid link in the chain leading to the Thurman Munson years.

Munson was famous for not giving ground to anyone. McCann should be a worthy heir to that legacy.

As his free agency approached in Atlanta, McCann signaled a Munson/Carlton Fisk-like willingness to be a protector of baseball's unwritten rules in a series of incidents in August and September that had Bryce Harper, Jose Fernandez and Carlos Gomez getting on his bad side.

McCann, who denied ordering a plunking, was a central figure in an incident in Washington after the Braves' Julio Teheran drilled Harper with a 94-mph fastball, fairly obviously in retaliation for Harper admiring a long home run to center field the previous at-bat. He got in Fernandez's face after a series of subtle exchanges during a game in September, leading to Fernandez styling around the bases after the NL Rookie of the Year Award winner hit his first pro home run.

McCann took a more direct approach when the veteran Gomez shouted while making his way around the bases after a home run in late September. McCann blocked home plate -- in the style of Fisk once chasing Deion Sanders down the first-base line, yelling at "Prime Time" to run -- to get his message across, triggering another showdown for the Braves.

Russell Martin brought the Yankees some of that presence, but Cashman was outbid for him a year ago, when he jumped to the Pirates for $17 million over two years. McCann, an All-Star in seven of the past eight seasons, is a major upgrade over both Martin and the blue-collar group in 2013. With some time as the designated hitter, in addition to his games behind the plate, he is a real threat to hit 30-plus home runs.

McCann had been widely pursued, with the Rangers among those in the hunt. Cashman stepped up to get a deal done. He was rebuilding his roster and going back to the future.

Good teams almost always have good catchers, and no team has had better catchers than the Yankees.

Phil Rogers is a columnist for MLB.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.

14.25 | 0 komentar | Read More

McCann deal speaks volumes about Yanks' intentions

The New York Yankees' signing of catcher Brian McCann sends a message that the other 29 Major League franchises do not necessarily want to hear.

The Yankees' oft-stated desire to get their payroll below the $189 million luxury-tax threshold notwithstanding, they are going to do what is necessary to regain Yankee-like status in 2014.

McCann signed on for major money -- a five-year, $85 million deal, which will become a six-year, $100 million deal if he remains healthy and a vesting option kicks in.

McCann, 29, may be the real prize of the free-agent class. He's a sound defensive catcher, a productive hitter, a fine handler of pitchers, a solid citizen and a terrific teammate. McCann has been a National League All-Star seven of the past eight years. The Atlanta Braves liked him a lot, but then the Yankees paid him a lot.

The Texas Rangers were also in pursuit of McCann, but when they traded for Prince Fielder and assumed $138 million of the $168 million remaining on his contract, Texas became a much less likely landing spot for McCann.

The Red Sox were also reportedly interested in McCann, which would make his signing by the Bronx Bombers all the happier from the Yankees' perspective.

In any case, contrast the Yankees' successful and relatively rapid pursuit of McCann with what happened to their catching situation a year ago. Russell Martin signed as a free agent with the Pirates for $17 million over two years. The Yankees never fully recovered from that loss, with their primary catchers being Chris Stewart, Francisco Cervelli and Austin Romine.

The Pirates, on the other hand, found Martin to be extremely useful. One big difference between a losing season for the Pirates in 2012 and the first postseason qualifier Pittsburgh had in 21 years was Martin's help in slowing down the opposition running game. Opponents had frequently run almost unchecked against the Pirates in recent seasons. In 2013, against Martin, that was no longer the case.

The primary difference between Martin and McCann is that McCann is a far better hitter. His left-handed power will be ideal for Yankee Stadium, and on days he gets off from catching he could be a fine candidate to serve as a designated hitter. That is part of the reason why McCann commanded what is a truly big deal for a catcher. On a per-season basis, he will be the highest-paid catcher in baseball. Joe Mauer of the Twins makes $24 million per year, but he is being shifted to first base.

The McCann signing should be just the beginning for the Yankees. They have their own incumbent second baseman, Robinson Cano, to sign, and he will doubtless be the most expensive free-agent signing, the only question being how expensive. It is difficult to imagine another club prevailing in a bidding war with the Yankees over Cano's services.

And the Yankees are reported to be extremely interested in outfielder Carlos Beltran, who reached the World Series for the first time in his distinguished career last month as an employee of the St. Louis Cardinals.

Beltran is 36 but he is not in the market for a long-term deal. The Cardinals demonstrated that, with periodic rest, Beltran can still be a productive player over the course of an entire season and postseason.

The Yankees still have plenty of questions with their pitching staff. But in the early days of this offseason, they have already made their mark and made their intentions known.

The signing of Brian McCann is truly a large deal, and not primarily because of the dollars involved, although those are plentiful.

This deal is a sign that the Yankees are not morphing into some sort of bastion of fiscal conservatism. It is also a sign that this is an organization that will not react with passivity to what was an alien experience for the Yankees -- watching the postseason on television at home.

Mike Bauman is a national columnist for MLB.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.

14.25 | 0 komentar | Read More

Yanks have promising outfield prospect in Williams

I have struggled with my scouting evaluation of New York Yankees outfield prospect Mason Williams.

I project him to one day be a multiple tool player roaming the outfield in Yankee Stadium. But there is work to be done before that happens.

I don't think the issue will be "if" Williams can play Major League Baseball. It is more a question of "when."

When I watched Williams play center field in the Arizona Fall League, my eyes saw an athlete with an outstanding frame and the type of physicality that translates to "star."

My problem is simple. I kept waiting to see Williams use his wiry 6-foot-1, 180-pound frame as a base for a top-notch hitting tool.

While he hit .267 in the Fall League, I guess I expected to see him drive the ball more. I expected to see more elevation and loft to his hitting. He had no home runs and drove in four runs.

However, while I was confused by his offense, I was enthused and encouraged by his defense. He can really play center field.

The Yankees selected Williams directly from West Orange High School in Winter Garden, Fla. He was chosen in the fourth round of the 2011 First-Year Player Draft.

Athletic genes run in Williams' family. He is the son of former New England Patriots receiver Derwin Williams.

Williams is the No. 2 player on the Yankees' Top 20 Prospects list.

A left-handed hitter, Williams has enough speed to classify as a plus runner. He uses his speed busting down the line from home to first. But he had an on-base percentage of .330. That didn't offer many opportunities to steal. He was successful in four out of six attempts.

His lack of power in the Fall League mirrors his performance to date in the Yankees farm system.

In his career to date Williams has hit 18 home runs. He has 57 doubles and 18 triples, showing his speed and an ability to hit the gaps.

In 2011 during his first full season while playing for Class A Short Season Staten Island, he hit .349 in 298 plate appearances. He struck out only 41 times and delivered a message that he has a potential hit tool.

In 2012 during his age 20-season, Williams played for Charleston in Class A and Tampa in Class A Advanced. He hit a combined .298, spending most of his time hitting .304 at Charleston. That's where he had 311 of his 397 plate appearances for the year.

His season ended early when he dislocated his shoulder making a diving catch.

Incidentally, I saw him make diving catches in the Fall League. He certainly doesn't shy away from that play.

This past season, Williams began the year at Tampa hitting .261, including 21 doubles in 461 trips to the plate. He was promoted to Double-A Trenton in August, where he finished the season hitting .153 in 76 plate appearances while playing in 17 games.

This past season, Williams scuffled a bit more against lefties, hitting only .222 rather than his .257 against right-handed pitching.

Williams has quick hands and good bat speed. He makes good contact with a rather short, direct path to the ball. He hasn't shown much patience at the plate, generally swinging early and often.

In the games I scouted, I saw Williams rely heavily upon his forearms and wrists for his offensive thrust, as opposed to taking advantage of his legs and lower body in his swing. It did result in some line drives and shots through infield holes. But it caused a lack of loft on the ball.

Of all his tools, I feel his outfield defense and plus arm strength and accuracy are the best.

A former pitcher, Williams will cut down runners looking to advance.

Williams follows the flight of the ball off the bat extremely well. He closes fast on balls hit in all directions and takes charge in the outfield.

Williams is a fine athlete with a hitting tool waiting to explode. That could happen at any time.

Bernie Pleskoff has served as a professional scout for the Houston Astros and Seattle Mariners. Follow @BerniePleskoff on Twitter. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.

14.24 | 0 komentar | Read More

Cashman focusing attention beyond just Cano

NEW YORK -- The Yankees continue to express interest in re-signing Robinson Cano, but considering the wide gap between the two sides in contract negotiations, general manager Brian Cashman has been focusing attention on other needs at this early stage of the offseason.

Team president Randy Levine said this week that Cashman "is engaged with five or six other free agents," and the club is believed to have at least made contact with the representatives for other players in recent weeks.

Levine said that "if guys are ready to make deals, we'll make deals with those" players, a clear sign that the Yankees do not intend to hold up business while waiting for Cano to move off his reported demands for a 10-year contract in excess of $305 million.

Here, then, is a general rundown of where the Yanks stand with their offseason targets:

Starting pitchers
Cashman said that it is a priority to add approximately 400 innings behind CC Sabathia and Ivan Nova, who are their only rotation locks at the moment. The Yankees would like to re-sign Hiroki Kuroda, but thus far, the veteran has not relayed his plans for next season.

Japanese star Masahiro Tanaka is the Yanks' top target. A 25-year-old right-hander went 24-0 with a 1.27 ERA during the regular season for the Rakuten Golden Eagles in 2013, but his availability is on hold while Major League Baseball and Nippon Professional Baseball negotiate changes to the posting system.

The Dodgers are expected to be heavily in the mix for Tanaka, who has been compared nicely to the Rangers' Yu Darvish, and many other teams have expressed interest. Tanaka is even more appealing to the Yankees, because the posting fee required to negotiate with him would not count toward next year's luxury tax threshold.

The Yankees have also made contact with right-hander Ricky Nolasco, who is in the market for a four-year offer, and various reports have connected the club to the likes of Bronson Arroyo, Scott Feldman, Matt Garza, Dan Haren and Ubaldo Jimenez.

It is clear that there will be sticker shock for starting pitching, considering the news of Jason Vargas' four-year, $32 million deal with the Royals. A move for David Price has been suggested by numerous fans, but even if the Rays would consider dealing their ace within the division, a trade is unlikely as the Yanks do not have the Minor League chips to go to battle with deeper clubs.

Relief pitchers
David Robertson may be the in-house choice to grab Mariano Rivera's closer role, but the Yankees aren't ready to hand the keys over just yet. The New York Daily News reported this week that the Yanks have "peripheral interest" in Joe Nathan, who saved 43 games for the Rangers this past season.

Grant Balfour's name also has come up, boasting a 38-save season for the Athletics this past year. The Yankees also touched base with lefty specialist Javier Lopez before he re-signed with the Giants, which suggests that Boone Logan may not return in 2014.

Catcher
New York clearly wants to upgrade over this past year's catching group of Chris Stewart, Francisco Cervelli and Austin Romine. Free agent Brian McCann is believed to be a top Yankees target, but he will not come cheaply. With the Rangers and Yanks both thought to be heavily interested in his services, the winning bid for McCann could wind up surpassing $100 million.

McCann and other free-agent catchers like A.J. Pierzynski and Jarrod Saltalamacchia certainly weren't upset to see veteran Carlos Ruiz land a three-year, $26 million deal with the Phillies, raising the bar for available help behind the plate this winter.

McCann has hit at least 20 homers in each of the past six seasons; his left-handed power would be a nice fit, especially at Yankee Stadium and coming after the Yankees got unimpressive results from their defense-first approach. Cashman said that Cervelli will "absolutely" be tendered a contract for next season, but he did not make the same assurance for Stewart.

Second base
The Yankees would love for Cano to return, but the $300 million price tag is a non-starter. The Yanks weren't rattled when Cano's representatives, including Jay-Z, dined with the Mets this week to gauge their market outside the Bronx. Levine said that the Yankees have "Plan B, C, D and E" in place, and one of those backup options has to include free agent Omar Infante.

This week's trade between the Rangers and Tigers adds a new wrinkle to Cano's situation. Having dealt Ian Kinsler to Detroit for Prince Fielder, Texas may well slot Jurickson Profar in as its new second baseman, though it is not impossible to imagine a scenario where the Rangers have an even bigger play in mind. Perhaps it would dangle Profar or Elvis Andrus in a trade to clear room for Cano.

Shortstop
The Yankees are close to finalizing a deal with slick-fielding Brendan Ryan, who played 17 games with the club last season, as a backup for captain Derek Jeter. That is not expected to be their last move at the position, considering Jeter's injury-plagued 2013 as well as the uncertainty of Alex Rodriguez's situation at third base.

Jhonny Peralta is on the Yankees' radar and could play either shortstop or third base. It has been reported that the 31-year-old Peralta, who served a 50-game drug suspension last year, is seeking a three-year contract. The Yanks have also been connected to Stephen Drew, who is looking for a multiyear deal and has Draft compensation attached because he declined a qualifying offer from the Red Sox.

Outfield
The Yankees have been reported to have serious interest in Carlos Beltran, who would be a nice fit if he would accept a two-year deal, but they may be able to fill right field with an even more familiar face. Cashman told the New York Post this week that Curtis Granderson remains "a serious part" of the club's offseason plans.

Cashman said that the Yankees would like to upgrade over their current outfield alignment of Alfonso Soriano, Brett Gardner, Ichiro Suzuki and Vernon Wells. Top free agents Shin-Soo Choo and Jacoby Ellsbury and would also fulfill that need, but the Yanks would like to stay away from those longer commitments if possible. Like Drew and McCann, Choo and Ellsbury would cost New York a compensatory pick in next year's First-Year Player Draft.

Raul Ibanez has also not been forgotten after his ridiculous September and October 2012 performances; the Post reported that he is also a Yankees target, though the team's interest in the 41-year-old is believed to be more for the designated-hitter role against right-handed pitching.

Bryan Hoch is a reporter for MLB.com. Follow him on Twitter @bryanhoch and read his MLBlog, Bombers Beat. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.

14.25 | 0 komentar | Read More

McCann, Yankees agree to five-year deal

By Bryan Hoch / MLB.com | 11/24/2013 10:48 A.M. ET

NEW YORK -- The Yankees are on the verge of completing a bold upgrade behind the plate, agreeing to terms on Saturday with free-agent catcher Brian McCann on a five-year contract worth at least $85 million.

McCann, widely regarded as the top available catcher on the market, will need to pass a physical before the deal becomes official. The Yankees have not made an announcement regarding the signing.

The deal includes a vesting option for the 2019 season that could push its overall value to $100 million, a source confirmed to MLB.com. It also contains a full no-trade clause.

McCann, who will turn 30 on Feb. 20, spent each of his first nine Major League seasons with the Braves, making seven All-Star teams and winning five Silver Slugger Awards. The signing will cost the Yankees their first-round pick in the 2014 First-Year Player Draft, as McCann had been issued a qualifying offer by the Braves, and Atlanta will receive a compensation round pick.

In 102 games last season, he hit .256 with 20 home runs, 57 RBIs and a .796 OPS. McCann's left-handed power stroke figures to fit nicely in Yankee Stadium, restoring some of the punch that the Yankees sorely lacked from their catchers this past season.

New York struggled to find offensive production from its catchers, giving extended playing time to Chris Stewart, Francisco Cervelli and Austin Romine after declining to match the two-year, $17 million contract Russell Martin found with the Pirates.

With general manager Brian Cashman and manager Joe Girardi agreeing to try their defense-first catching alignment, the Yanks' backstops produced an overall line of .213/.289/.298 with only eight home runs and 43 RBIs.

McCann projects to lean more toward the levels of power production that the Yankees received from Martin and, before him, fan favorite Jorge Posada. McCann has hit at least 20 homers in each of the last six seasons and owns a career split line of .277/.350/.473.

Cashman said during this month's General Managers Meetings that he "absolutely" expected to tender Cervelli a contract offer, so it is likely that Cervelli and Romine will compete next spring to serve as McCann's backup, with Stewart becoming more of a non-tender candidate.

The timing of the deal was somewhat of a surprise. McCann and his agent, B.B. Abbott, were not expected to make a decision until at least the Winter Meetings next month in Orlando, Fla., with the Rangers, Angels and Red Sox also considered to be in play for his services.

Instead, ESPN New York reported that McCann visited with the Yankees on Tuesday, and that was enough to convince him to jump at an offer that represents the largest annual value contract ever given to a free-agent catcher at $17 million per year.

The Yankees' signing of McCann is the first splash in what the club expects will be a busy offseason, reorganizing after New York was absent from postseason play for just the second time in the last 19 years.

Team president Randy Levine had said earlier in the week that Cashman was engaged with "five or six free agents," a group that included McCann as well as second baseman Robinson Cano, who remains one of the Yankees' top priorities.

However, the organization's public statements sent a clear message to Cano's camp that it was preparing to fill other needs while waiting for Cano to back down from his reported demands of a 10-year deal worth in excess of $305 million.

In addition to Cano and McCann, the Yankees are believed to have targeted an array of starting pitchers that include Japanese standout Masahiro Tanaka, while engaging the representatives for infielders Stephen Drew and Jhonny Peralta, plus outfielders Carlos Beltran, Shin-Soo Choo and Curtis Granderson.

Bryan Hoch is a reporter for MLB.com. Follow him on Twitter @bryanhoch and read his MLBlog, Bombers Beat. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.

14.25 | 0 komentar | Read More

McCann latest in line of great Yankees catchers

Thanksgiving hasn't arrived. It's clearly way too early to draw any conclusions about the 2014 baseball season. But here's one thing we should know for sure.

When the Yankees report to Tampa, Fla., in February, they're going to look a lot more like the Yankees that we've known than the team that went to camp last spring -- the one that had Chris Stewart, Francisco Cervelli and rookie Austin Romine as its primary catchers.

Reaching an agreement with free agent Brian McCann on a five-year, $85-million contract is a critical first step for Brian Cashman and the Yankees' baseball staff in making the 85-win season in 2013 just a blip on the radar, not the beginning of a run of non-playoff seasons.

It remains to be seen who exactly McCann will be catching when he pulls on the pinstripes. With Hiroki Kuroda and Phil Hughes in free agency and Andy Pettitte retired once again, the Yankees could be missing veterans who accounted for 91 starts last season. That's a staggering total. Ivan Nova and David Phelps are currently the only semi-givens behind CC Sabathia, and it remains unclear if the Yankees (and everyone else) will even get a crack at Japanese ace Masahiro Tanaka, who Cashman's people covet.

But as we said, it is early in the offseason. And the Yankees just added a 29-year-old stud behind the plate. He's not the best defensive catcher going, but he's a lifetime .277 hitter with power from the left side of the plate, which always plays well at Yankee Stadium. But that's not the main thing they're getting.

For the Yankees, the best part about adding McCann is they now have one piece they've almost always had when they were at their best -- a backstop with presence. Big time, as Dusty Baker would say. They didn't have that this season, and it showed.

While the legendary 1927 Yankees had a footnote as their primary catcher (Pat Collins, who played more than 100 games only once in his career), most of the Yankees' great teams have been built around an elite catcher.

Jorge Posada, who played in 125 postseason games and won four World Series rings, was an extension of the line that began with Hall of Famer Bill Dickey, who helped the Yankees win eight pennants and a staggering seven World Series from 1932-43 before turning the gear over to a kid from St. Louis who had been on a 36-foot gunship during the invasion of Normandy.

Yogi Berra would somehow top Dickey, playing in 14 World Series, including 10 that ended with the Yankees as champions. He passed the gear on to a native of a different side of St. Louis, Elston Howard. He was the Yankees' first African-American player and a solid link in the chain leading to the Thurman Munson years.

Munson was famous for not giving ground to anyone. McCann should be a worthy heir to that legacy.

As his free agency approached in Atlanta, McCann signaled a Munson/Carlton Fisk-like willingness to be a protector of baseball's unwritten rules in a series of incidents in August and September that had Bryce Harper, Jose Fernandez and Carlos Gomez getting on his bad side.

McCann, who denied ordering a plunking, was a central figure in an incident in Washington after the Braves' Julio Teheran drilled Harper with a 94-mph fastball, fairly obviously in retaliation for Harper admiring a long home run to center field the previous at-bat. He got in Fernandez's face after a series of subtle exchanges during a game in September, leading to Fernandez styling around the bases after the NL Rookie of the Year Award winner hit his first pro home run.

McCann took a more direct approach when the veteran Gomez shouted while making his way around the bases after a home run in late September. McCann blocked home plate -- in the style of Fisk once chasing Deion Sanders down the first-base line, yelling at "Prime Time" to run -- to get his message across, triggering another showdown for the Braves.

Russell Martin brought the Yankees some of that presence, but Cashman was outbid for him a year ago, when he jumped to the Pirates for $17 million over two years. McCann, an All-Star in seven of the past eight seasons, is a major upgrade over both Martin and the blue-collar group in 2013. With some time as the designated hitter, in addition to his games behind the plate, he is a real threat to hit 30-plus home runs.

McCann had been widely pursued, with the Rangers among those in the hunt. Cashman stepped up to get a deal done. He was rebuilding his roster and going back to the future.

Good teams almost always have good catchers, and no team has had better catchers than the Yankees.

Phil Rogers is a columnist for MLB.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.

14.25 | 0 komentar | Read More

Yanks make deal with Padres, add six to 40-man roster

By Bryan Hoch / MLB.com | 11/20/2013 10:52 P.M. ET

Dean Anna saw time at second base, shortstop, third base and left field in 2013. (Kenny Karst/MILB.com)

NEW YORK -- The Yankees acquired infielder Dean Anna from the Padres on Wednesday in exchange for right-handed pitcher Ben Paullus, adding him to the club's Major League roster along with five other players.

New York also added right-handers Jose Campos, Shane Greene and Bryan Mitchell to the 40-man roster, along with outfielder Slade Heathcott and catcher Gary Sanchez.

Infielder Corban Joseph was also outrighted to Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre, leaving the Yankees' roster standing at 39 players.

Anna, 26, spent the 2013 season with Triple-A Tucson, where he batted .331 (165-for-498) with nine home runs and 73 RBIs in 132 games.

A left-handed batter who saw time at second base, shortstop, third base and left field, Anna was originally selected by the Padres in the 26th round of the 2008 First-Year Player Draft.

The Yankees made the roster moves in advance of Wednesday's deadline to protect eligible players from the Rule 5 Draft, slated to take place on Dec. 12.

Sanchez, Heathcott, Campos and Mitchell are currently listed among the Yankees' top prospects, according to MLB.com.

Sanchez turns 21 next month and is ranked as the team's No. 1 prospect. He combined to bat .253 (115-for-454) with 15 homers and 71 RBIs in 117 games with Advanced Class A Tampa and Double-A Trenton in 2013.

Heathcott, 23, batted .261 (104-for-399) with eight homers and 49 RBIs in 103 games with Trenton in 2013. He is listed as the Yankees' No. 7 prospect.

The 21-year-old Campos is ranked as the Yankees' No. 14 prospect. He went 4-2 with two saves and a 3.41 ERA in 26 games (19 starts) with Class A Charleston in 2013 and was acquired by the Yankees in a January 2012 trade with the Mariners that also netted right-hander Michael Pineda.

Mitchell, 22, combined to go 4-11 with a 4.71 ERA in 27 games (26 starts) with Tampa and Trenton in 2013 and has been tabbed as the Yankees' No. 18 prospect. Greene, 25, combined to go 12-10 with a 3.38 ERA in 27 games (26 starts) with Tampa and Trenton in 2013.

The Padres received the 24-year-old Paullus, who was 6-3 with a 3.01 ERA in 38 relief appearances for Class A Charleston and Tampa in 2013. A 19th-round Draft selection of the Yankees in 2011, Paullus made 32 of those appearances for Charleston.

Bryan Hoch is a reporter for MLB.com. Follow him on Twitter @bryanhoch and read his MLBlog, Bombers Beat. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.

14.25 | 0 komentar | Read More

Cashman focusing attention beyond just Cano

NEW YORK -- The Yankees continue to express interest in re-signing Robinson Cano, but considering the wide gap between the two sides in contract negotiations, general manager Brian Cashman has been focusing attention on other needs at this early stage of the offseason.

Team president Randy Levine said this week that Cashman "is engaged with five or six other free agents," and the club is believed to have at least made contact with the representatives for other players in recent weeks.

Levine said that "if guys are ready to make deals, we'll make deals with those" players, a clear sign that the Yankees do not intend to hold up business while waiting for Cano to move off his reported demands for a 10-year contract in excess of $305 million.

Here, then, is a general rundown of where the Yanks stand with their offseason targets:

Starting pitchers
Cashman said that it is a priority to add approximately 400 innings behind CC Sabathia and Ivan Nova, who are their only rotation locks at the moment. The Yankees would like to re-sign Hiroki Kuroda, but thus far, the veteran has not relayed his plans for next season.

Japanese star Masahiro Tanaka is the Yanks' top target. A 25-year-old right-hander went 24-0 with a 1.27 ERA during the regular season for the Rakuten Golden Eagles in 2013, but his availability is on hold while Major League Baseball and Nippon Professional Baseball negotiate changes to the posting system.

The Dodgers are expected to be heavily in the mix for Tanaka, who has been compared nicely to the Rangers' Yu Darvish, and many other teams have expressed interest. Tanaka is even more appealing to the Yankees, because the posting fee required to negotiate with him would not count toward next year's luxury tax threshold.

The Yankees have also made contact with right-hander Ricky Nolasco, who is in the market for a four-year offer, and various reports have connected the club to the likes of Bronson Arroyo, Scott Feldman, Matt Garza, Dan Haren and Ubaldo Jimenez.

It is clear that there will be sticker shock for starting pitching, considering the news of Jason Vargas' four-year, $32 million deal with the Royals. A move for David Price has been suggested by numerous fans, but even if the Rays would consider dealing their ace within the division, a trade is unlikely as the Yanks do not have the Minor League chips to go to battle with deeper clubs.

Relief pitchers
David Robertson may be the in-house choice to grab Mariano Rivera's closer role, but the Yankees aren't ready to hand the keys over just yet. The New York Daily News reported this week that the Yanks have "peripheral interest" in Joe Nathan, who saved 43 games for the Rangers this past season.

Grant Balfour's name also has come up, boasting a 38-save season for the Athletics this past year. The Yankees also touched base with lefty specialist Javier Lopez before he re-signed with the Giants, which suggests that Boone Logan may not return in 2014.

Catcher
New York clearly wants to upgrade over this past year's catching group of Chris Stewart, Francisco Cervelli and Austin Romine. Free agent Brian McCann is believed to be a top Yankees target, but he will not come cheaply. With the Rangers and Yanks both thought to be heavily interested in his services, the winning bid for McCann could wind up surpassing $100 million.

McCann and other free-agent catchers like A.J. Pierzynski and Jarrod Saltalamacchia certainly weren't upset to see veteran Carlos Ruiz land a three-year, $26 million deal with the Phillies, raising the bar for available help behind the plate this winter.

McCann has hit at least 20 homers in each of the past six seasons; his left-handed power would be a nice fit, especially at Yankee Stadium and coming after the Yankees got unimpressive results from their defense-first approach. Cashman said that Cervelli will "absolutely" be tendered a contract for next season, but he did not make the same assurance for Stewart.

Second base
The Yankees would love for Cano to return, but the $300 million price tag is a non-starter. The Yanks weren't rattled when Cano's representatives, including Jay-Z, dined with the Mets this week to gauge their market outside the Bronx. Levine said that the Yankees have "Plan B, C, D and E" in place, and one of those backup options has to include free agent Omar Infante.

This week's trade between the Rangers and Tigers adds a new wrinkle to Cano's situation. Having dealt Ian Kinsler to Detroit for Prince Fielder, Texas may well slot Jurickson Profar in as its new second baseman, though it is not impossible to imagine a scenario where the Rangers have an even bigger play in mind. Perhaps it would dangle Profar or Elvis Andrus in a trade to clear room for Cano.

Shortstop
The Yankees are close to finalizing a deal with slick-fielding Brendan Ryan, who played 17 games with the club last season, as a backup for captain Derek Jeter. That is not expected to be their last move at the position, considering Jeter's injury-plagued 2013 as well as the uncertainty of Alex Rodriguez's situation at third base.

Jhonny Peralta is on the Yankees' radar and could play either shortstop or third base. It has been reported that the 31-year-old Peralta, who served a 50-game drug suspension last year, is seeking a three-year contract. The Yanks have also been connected to Stephen Drew, who is looking for a multiyear deal and has Draft compensation attached because he declined a qualifying offer from the Red Sox.

Outfield
The Yankees have been reported to have serious interest in Carlos Beltran, who would be a nice fit if he would accept a two-year deal, but they may be able to fill right field with an even more familiar face. Cashman told the New York Post this week that Curtis Granderson remains "a serious part" of the club's offseason plans.

Cashman said that the Yankees would like to upgrade over their current outfield alignment of Alfonso Soriano, Brett Gardner, Ichiro Suzuki and Vernon Wells. Top free agents Shin-Soo Choo and Jacoby Ellsbury and would also fulfill that need, but the Yanks would like to stay away from those longer commitments if possible. Like Drew and McCann, Choo and Ellsbury would cost New York a compensatory pick in next year's First-Year Player Draft.

Raul Ibanez has also not been forgotten after his ridiculous September and October 2012 performances; the Post reported that he is also a Yankees target, though the team's interest in the 41-year-old is believed to be more for the designated-hitter role against right-handed pitching.

Bryan Hoch is a reporter for MLB.com. Follow him on Twitter @bryanhoch and read his MLBlog, Bombers Beat. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.

14.25 | 0 komentar | Read More

McCann, Yankees agree to five-year deal

By Bryan Hoch / MLB.com | 11/23/2013 8:25 P.M. ET

NEW YORK -- The Yankees are on the verge of completing a bold upgrade behind the plate, agreeing to terms on Saturday with free-agent catcher Brian McCann on a five-year contract worth at least $85 million.

McCann, widely regarded as the top available catcher on the market, will need to pass a physical before the deal becomes official. The Yankees have not made an announcement regarding the signing.

The deal includes a vesting option for the 2019 season that could push its overall value to $100 million, a source confirmed to MLB.com. It also contains a full no-trade clause.

McCann, who will turn 30 on Feb. 20, spent each of his first nine Major League seasons with the Braves, making seven All-Star teams and winning five Silver Slugger Awards.

In 102 games last season, he hit .256 with 20 home runs, 57 RBIs and a .796 OPS. McCann's left-handed power stroke figures to fit nicely in Yankee Stadium, restoring some of the punch that the Yankees sorely lacked from their catchers this past season.

New York struggled to find offensive production from its catchers, giving extended playing time to Chris Stewart, Francisco Cervelli and Austin Romine after declining to match the two-year, $17 million contract Russell Martin found with the Pirates.

With general manager Brian Cashman and manager Joe Girardi agreeing to try their defense-first catching alignment, the Yanks' backstops produced an overall line of .213/.289/.298 with only eight home runs and 43 RBIs.

McCann projects to lean more toward the levels of power production that the Yankees received from Martin and, before him, fan favorite Jorge Posada. McCann has hit at least 20 homers in each of the last six seasons and owns a career split line of .277/.350/.473.

Cashman said during this month's General Managers Meetings that he "absolutely" expected to tender Cervelli a contract offer, so it is likely that Cervelli and Romine will compete next spring to serve as McCann's backup, with Stewart becoming more of a non-tender candidate.

The timing of the deal was somewhat of a surprise. McCann and his agent, B.B. Abbott, were not expected to make a decision until at least the Winter Meetings next month in Orlando, Fla., with the Rangers, Angels and Red Sox also considered to be in play for his services.

Instead, ESPN New York reported that McCann visited with the Yankees on Tuesday, and that was enough to convince him to jump at an offer that represents the largest annual value contract ever given to a free-agent catcher at $17 million per year.

The Yankees' signing of McCann is the first splash in what the club expects will be a busy offseason, reorganizing after New York was absent from postseason play for just the second time in the last 19 years.

Team president Randy Levine had said earlier in the week that Cashman was engaged with "five or six free agents," a group that included McCann as well as second baseman Robinson Cano, who remains one of the Yankees' top priorities.

However, the organization's public statements sent a clear message to Cano's camp that it was preparing to fill other needs while waiting for Cano to back down from his reported demands of a 10-year deal worth in excess of $305 million.

In addition to Cano and McCann, the Yankees are believed to have targeted an array of starting pitchers that include Japanese standout Masahiro Tanaka, while engaging the representatives for infielders Stephen Drew and Jhonny Peralta, plus outfielders Carlos Beltran, Shin-Soo Choo and Curtis Granderson.

Bryan Hoch is a reporter for MLB.com. Follow him on Twitter @bryanhoch and read his MLBlog, Bombers Beat. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.

14.25 | 0 komentar | Read More

MLB responds to A-Rod's arbitration outburst

By Paul Hagen / MLB.com | 11/20/2013 6:37 P.M. ET

Major League Baseball responded Wednesday to accusations leveled by Yankees third baseman Alex Rodriguez, who stormed out of the arbitration hearing at which he's appealing his 211-game suspension.

"For more than 40 years, Major League Baseball and the Players Association have had a contractual grievance process to address disputes between the two parties. This negotiated process has served players and clubs well. Despite Mr. Rodriguez being upset with one of the arbitration panel's rulings today, Major League Baseball remains committed to this process and to a fair resolution of the pending dispute," the statement read.

The tone was in sharp contrast to Rodriguez, who was upset that independent arbitrator Fredric Horowitz declined to call Commissioner Bud Selig to testify.

There is no precedent for Selig to appear at such a hearing, however.

"In the entire history of the Joint Drug Agreement, the Commissioner has not testified in a single case," MLB said in a second statement. "Major League Baseball has the burden of proof in this matter. MLB selected Rob Manfred as its witness to explain the penalty imposed in this case. Mr. Rodriguez and the Players Association have no right to dictate how Baseball's case is to proceed any more than Baseball has the right to dictate how their case proceeds. Today's antics are an obvious attempt to justify Mr. Rodriguez's continuing refusal to testify under oath."

Shortly after Rodriguez walked out of MLB's Park Avenue offices in New York, a statement was released through one of his publicists.

"I am disgusted with this abusive process, designed to ensure that the player fails," Rodriguez said. "I have sat through 10 days of testimony by felons and liars, sitting quietly through every minute, trying to respect the league and the process. This morning, after Bud Selig refused to come in and testify about his rationale for the unprecedented and totally baseless punishment he hit me with, the arbitrator selected by MLB and the Players Association refused to order Selig to come in and face me."

Rodriguez then appeared on WFAN with host Mike Francesa, who asked multiple times whether Rodriguez was guilty of any of the actions he is being accused of. Rodriguez, accompanied by one of his lawyers, repeatedly and unequivocally denied any guilt.

The Players Association also released a statement late Wednesday afternoon.

"The MLBPA believes that every player has the right under our arbitration process to directly confront his accuser. We argued strenuously to the Arbitrator in Alex's case that the Commissioner should be required to appear and testify. While we respectfully disagree with the Arbitrator's ruling, we will abide by it as we continue to vigorously challenge Alex's suspension within the context of this hearing."

After Rodriguez left -- he slammed his fists on the table and cursed at MLB chief operating officer Rob Manfred before departing -- his attorneys remained in the building until about 1:30 p.m. While Rodriguez does not have to be present for the hearings to continue, unless he returns he obviously will be unable to testify in his own behalf.

Rodriguez is one of 13 players connected to the Biogenesis scandal to be disciplined by MLB. The other players, who were suspended between 50 and 65 games, did not appeal. It remains unclear whether Wednesday's events will impact the timing of Horowitz's decision, which had been expected sometime next month.

Paul Hagen is a reporter for MLB.com This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.

14.24 | 0 komentar | Read More

Yanks make deal with Padres, add six to 40-man roster

By Bryan Hoch / MLB.com | 11/20/2013 10:52 P.M. ET

Dean Anna saw time at second base, shortstop, third base and left field in 2013. (Kenny Karst/MILB.com)

NEW YORK -- The Yankees acquired infielder Dean Anna from the Padres on Wednesday in exchange for right-handed pitcher Ben Paullus, adding him to the club's Major League roster along with five other players.

New York also added right-handers Jose Campos, Shane Greene and Bryan Mitchell to the 40-man roster, along with outfielder Slade Heathcott and catcher Gary Sanchez.

Infielder Corban Joseph was also outrighted to Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre, leaving the Yankees' roster standing at 39 players.

Anna, 26, spent the 2013 season with Triple-A Tucson, where he batted .331 (165-for-498) with nine home runs and 73 RBIs in 132 games.

A left-handed batter who saw time at second base, shortstop, third base and left field, Anna was originally selected by the Padres in the 26th round of the 2008 First-Year Player Draft.

The Yankees made the roster moves in advance of Wednesday's deadline to protect eligible players from the Rule 5 Draft, slated to take place on Dec. 12.

Sanchez, Heathcott, Campos and Mitchell are currently listed among the Yankees' top prospects, according to MLB.com.

Sanchez turns 21 next month and is ranked as the team's No. 1 prospect. He combined to bat .253 (115-for-454) with 15 homers and 71 RBIs in 117 games with Advanced Class A Tampa and Double-A Trenton in 2013.

Heathcott, 23, batted .261 (104-for-399) with eight homers and 49 RBIs in 103 games with Trenton in 2013. He is listed as the Yankees' No. 7 prospect.

The 21-year-old Campos is ranked as the Yankees' No. 14 prospect. He went 4-2 with two saves and a 3.41 ERA in 26 games (19 starts) with Class A Charleston in 2013 and was acquired by the Yankees in a January 2012 trade with the Mariners that also netted right-hander Michael Pineda.

Mitchell, 22, combined to go 4-11 with a 4.71 ERA in 27 games (26 starts) with Tampa and Trenton in 2013 and has been tabbed as the Yankees' No. 18 prospect. Greene, 25, combined to go 12-10 with a 3.38 ERA in 27 games (26 starts) with Tampa and Trenton in 2013.

The Padres received the 24-year-old Paullus, who was 6-3 with a 3.01 ERA in 38 relief appearances for Class A Charleston and Tampa in 2013. A 19th-round Draft selection of the Yankees in 2011, Paullus made 32 of those appearances for Charleston.

Bryan Hoch is a reporter for MLB.com. Follow him on Twitter @bryanhoch and read his MLBlog, Bombers Beat. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.

14.24 | 0 komentar | Read More

Cashman focusing attention beyond just Cano

NEW YORK -- The Yankees continue to express interest in re-signing Robinson Cano, but considering the wide gap between the two sides in contract negotiations, general manager Brian Cashman has been focusing attention on other needs at this early stage of the offseason.

Team president Randy Levine said this week that Cashman "is engaged with five or six other free agents," and the club is believed to have at least made contact with the representatives for other players in recent weeks.

Levine said that "if guys are ready to make deals, we'll make deals with those" players, a clear sign that the Yankees do not intend to hold up business while waiting for Cano to move off his reported demands for a 10-year contract in excess of $305 million.

Here, then, is a general rundown of where the Yanks stand with their offseason targets:

Starting pitchers
Cashman said that it is a priority to add approximately 400 innings behind CC Sabathia and Ivan Nova, who are their only rotation locks at the moment. The Yankees would like to re-sign Hiroki Kuroda, but thus far, the veteran has not relayed his plans for next season.

Japanese star Masahiro Tanaka is the Yanks' top target. A 25-year-old right-hander went 24-0 with a 1.27 ERA during the regular season for the Rakuten Golden Eagles in 2013, but his availability is on hold while Major League Baseball and Nippon Professional Baseball negotiate changes to the posting system.

The Dodgers are expected to be heavily in the mix for Tanaka, who has been compared nicely to the Rangers' Yu Darvish, and many other teams have expressed interest. Tanaka is even more appealing to the Yankees, because the posting fee required to negotiate with him would not count toward next year's luxury tax threshold.

The Yankees have also made contact with right-hander Ricky Nolasco, who is in the market for a four-year offer, and various reports have connected the club to the likes of Bronson Arroyo, Scott Feldman, Matt Garza, Dan Haren and Ubaldo Jimenez.

It is clear that there will be sticker shock for starting pitching, considering the news of Jason Vargas' four-year, $32 million deal with the Royals. A move for David Price has been suggested by numerous fans, but even if the Rays would consider dealing their ace within the division, a trade is unlikely as the Yanks do not have the Minor League chips to go to battle with deeper clubs.

Relief pitchers
David Robertson may be the in-house choice to grab Mariano Rivera's closer role, but the Yankees aren't ready to hand the keys over just yet. The New York Daily News reported this week that the Yanks have "peripheral interest" in Joe Nathan, who saved 43 games for the Rangers this past season.

Grant Balfour's name also has come up, boasting a 38-save season for the Athletics this past year. The Yankees also touched base with lefty specialist Javier Lopez before he re-signed with the Giants, which suggests that Boone Logan may not return in 2014.

Catcher
New York clearly wants to upgrade over this past year's catching group of Chris Stewart, Francisco Cervelli and Austin Romine. Free agent Brian McCann is believed to be a top Yankees target, but he will not come cheaply. With the Rangers and Yanks both thought to be heavily interested in his services, the winning bid for McCann could wind up surpassing $100 million.

McCann and other free-agent catchers like A.J. Pierzynski and Jarrod Saltalamacchia certainly weren't upset to see veteran Carlos Ruiz land a three-year, $26 million deal with the Phillies, raising the bar for available help behind the plate this winter.

McCann has hit at least 20 homers in each of the past six seasons; his left-handed power would be a nice fit, especially at Yankee Stadium and coming after the Yankees got unimpressive results from their defense-first approach. Cashman said that Cervelli will "absolutely" be tendered a contract for next season, but he did not make the same assurance for Stewart.

Second base
The Yankees would love for Cano to return, but the $300 million price tag is a non-starter. The Yanks weren't rattled when Cano's representatives, including Jay-Z, dined with the Mets this week to gauge their market outside the Bronx. Levine said that the Yankees have "Plan B, C, D and E" in place, and one of those backup options has to include free agent Omar Infante.

This week's trade between the Rangers and Tigers adds a new wrinkle to Cano's situation. Having dealt Ian Kinsler to Detroit for Prince Fielder, Texas may well slot Jurickson Profar in as its new second baseman, though it is not impossible to imagine a scenario where the Rangers have an even bigger play in mind. Perhaps it would dangle Profar or Elvis Andrus in a trade to clear room for Cano.

Shortstop
The Yankees are close to finalizing a deal with slick-fielding Brendan Ryan, who played 17 games with the club last season, as a backup for captain Derek Jeter. That is not expected to be their last move at the position, considering Jeter's injury-plagued 2013 as well as the uncertainty of Alex Rodriguez's situation at third base.

Jhonny Peralta is on the Yankees' radar and could play either shortstop or third base. It has been reported that the 31-year-old Peralta, who served a 50-game drug suspension last year, is seeking a three-year contract. The Yanks have also been connected to Stephen Drew, who is looking for a multiyear deal and has Draft compensation attached because he declined a qualifying offer from the Red Sox.

Outfield
The Yankees have been reported to have serious interest in Carlos Beltran, who would be a nice fit if he would accept a two-year deal, but they may be able to fill right field with an even more familiar face. Cashman told the New York Post this week that Curtis Granderson remains "a serious part" of the club's offseason plans.

Cashman said that the Yankees would like to upgrade over their current outfield alignment of Alfonso Soriano, Brett Gardner, Ichiro Suzuki and Vernon Wells. Top free agents Shin-Soo Choo and Jacoby Ellsbury and would also fulfill that need, but the Yanks would like to stay away from those longer commitments if possible. Like Drew and McCann, Choo and Ellsbury would cost New York a compensatory pick in next year's First-Year Player Draft.

Raul Ibanez has also not been forgotten after his ridiculous September and October 2012 performances; the Post reported that he is also a Yankees target, though the team's interest in the 41-year-old is believed to be more for the designated-hitter role against right-handed pitching.

Bryan Hoch is a reporter for MLB.com. Follow him on Twitter @bryanhoch and read his MLBlog, Bombers Beat. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.

14.24 | 0 komentar | Read More

MLB responds to A-Rod's arbitration outburst

By Paul Hagen / MLB.com | 11/20/2013 6:37 P.M. ET

Major League Baseball responded Wednesday to accusations leveled by Yankees third baseman Alex Rodriguez, who stormed out of the arbitration hearing at which he's appealing his 211-game suspension.

"For more than 40 years, Major League Baseball and the Players Association have had a contractual grievance process to address disputes between the two parties. This negotiated process has served players and clubs well. Despite Mr. Rodriguez being upset with one of the arbitration panel's rulings today, Major League Baseball remains committed to this process and to a fair resolution of the pending dispute," the statement read.

The tone was in sharp contrast to Rodriguez, who was upset that independent arbitrator Fredric Horowitz declined to call Commissioner Bud Selig to testify.

There is no precedent for Selig to appear at such a hearing, however.

"In the entire history of the Joint Drug Agreement, the Commissioner has not testified in a single case," MLB said in a second statement. "Major League Baseball has the burden of proof in this matter. MLB selected Rob Manfred as its witness to explain the penalty imposed in this case. Mr. Rodriguez and the Players Association have no right to dictate how Baseball's case is to proceed any more than Baseball has the right to dictate how their case proceeds. Today's antics are an obvious attempt to justify Mr. Rodriguez's continuing refusal to testify under oath."

Shortly after Rodriguez walked out of MLB's Park Avenue offices in New York, a statement was released through one of his publicists.

"I am disgusted with this abusive process, designed to ensure that the player fails," Rodriguez said. "I have sat through 10 days of testimony by felons and liars, sitting quietly through every minute, trying to respect the league and the process. This morning, after Bud Selig refused to come in and testify about his rationale for the unprecedented and totally baseless punishment he hit me with, the arbitrator selected by MLB and the Players Association refused to order Selig to come in and face me."

Rodriguez then appeared on WFAN with host Mike Francesa, who asked multiple times whether Rodriguez was guilty of any of the actions he is being accused of. Rodriguez, accompanied by one of his lawyers, repeatedly and unequivocally denied any guilt.

The Players Association also released a statement late Wednesday afternoon.

"The MLBPA believes that every player has the right under our arbitration process to directly confront his accuser. We argued strenuously to the Arbitrator in Alex's case that the Commissioner should be required to appear and testify. While we respectfully disagree with the Arbitrator's ruling, we will abide by it as we continue to vigorously challenge Alex's suspension within the context of this hearing."

After Rodriguez left -- he slammed his fists on the table and cursed at MLB chief operating officer Rob Manfred before departing -- his attorneys remained in the building until about 1:30 p.m. While Rodriguez does not have to be present for the hearings to continue, unless he returns he obviously will be unable to testify in his own behalf.

Rodriguez is one of 13 players connected to the Biogenesis scandal to be disciplined by MLB. The other players, who were suspended between 50 and 65 games, did not appeal. It remains unclear whether Wednesday's events will impact the timing of Horowitz's decision, which had been expected sometime next month.

Paul Hagen is a reporter for MLB.com This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.

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