On the injury front, Phillies feel Yankees' pain

By Paul Hagen / MLB.com | 12/03/12 10:07 PM ET

NASHVILLE, Tenn. -- Coming off another playoff appearance, a high-profile team went into the following season with big question marks about one side of its infield.

That would be the Phillies, who opened 2012 without second baseman Chase Utley and first baseman Ryan Howard. Utley didn't play until June 27 because of a chronic knee condition. Howard made his first appearance on July 6 because of a ruptured Achilles tendon. By then, the five-time National League East champions were 11 games under .500 and 13 games out of first. Even a strong finish couldn't overcome the deficit, and the Phils missed the postseason for the first time since 2006.

So if anybody could empathize with the news that broke Monday at the Winter Meetings that Yankees third baseman Alex Rodriguez is expected to miss the first three months of the season recuperating from surgery to repair a torn labrum in his left hip, it's Phillies general manager Ruben Amaro Jr. That's because Yankees shortstop Derek Jeter is also coming off a broken left ankle suffered during the American League Championship Series.

"It's no fun," Amaro said when asked about having two high-profile All-Star infielders sidelined at the same time.

The Phillies' general manager laughed when asked if there's anything the Yankees can learn from what he went through.

"[Yankees GM Brian Cashman] is a smart guy," he said. "He's going to try to put his team in a position to fill those holes, and he's probably got pretty good internal options. He has some guys who have experience, because there are some guys who played in A-Rod's place in the past. So I would never put it past him to fill the holes.

"But it's not fun."

The situations are not exact parallels. At this time a year ago, the Phillies were cautiously optimistic that Howard might be back by May 1. But when the surgical wound became infected during Spring Training, the timetable was pushed back. And they didn't know Utley would have further knee problems until he got to Clearwater, Fla.

The Yankees, on the other hand, fully expect Jeter to be ready, if not by Opening Day or at least close to it. And they're fully prepared to be without Rodriguez for much or most of the first half.

The Phillies were also holding their own until ace right-hander Roy Halladay went on the disabled list with shoulder problems in late May. And third baseman Placido Polanco was limited to 90 games by injuries, creating a revolving door at the hot corner that caused a significant defensive drop-off.

Cashman allowed that losing A-Rod is "a significant blow," but also pointed out that he always tries to anticipate any possible misfortune and make preparations for any eventuality.

"We're just checking off our what-if column," he explained. "We do that every winter. It's just that this time we know we're going to be without Alex for a period of time."

For that reason, Cashman said, his approach will change surprisingly little considering what a large loss this could be.

"Where do we go from here? I'm going through the winter with the sole intent of trying to improve the club," he said. "We're not going to overreact."

If the Yankees don't suffer further injuries to key players, as the Phillies did, they may be able to ride out this storm better than the team they beat in the 2009 World Series was able to do last season.

"I'm certainly not afraid of this challenge. We've dealt with situations like this before," Cashman said. "We will be Alex Rodriguez-less, and we are not the better for that. But we've done it before. We've just got to figure out a way to get through it. Take a step back and deal with it.

"We won't operate any differently."

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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Plenty of work to be done at Meetings for Yanks

By Bryan Hoch / MLB.com | 12/02/12 3:25 PM ET

NASHVILLE, Tenn. -- A contingent of Yankees executives, led by general manager Brian Cashman, is set to arrive at the Gaylord Opryland Hotel on Monday morning. They'll be checking into their rooms on a mission: The Yankees have some serious needs to fill.

A starting catcher and a new right fielder are at the top of the shopping list for the Yankees, who identified pitching as their priority when the winter began and feel confident about the moves to retain Hiroki Kuroda, Andy Pettitte and Mariano Rivera.

"I think we're having a successful early campaign to our winter, because we've been able to retain some real high-caliber, high-end starting pitching on one-year deals," Cashman said. "If you look at the marketplace -- and it's not a great marketplace -- I'm not sure if anybody is doing better than that right now, in terms of addressing some obvious needs."

But Nick Swisher is expected to depart, creating a vacancy in right field, and the Yankees weren't exactly caught off guard by catcher Russell Martin's decision to sign a two-year, $17 million deal with the Pirates.

In fact, while hammering out their agreements with Kuroda, Pettitte and Rivera, the Yankees hadn't made an offer to any position player. That could change soon.

Cashman said that he has already made contact with all 29 other teams, and between scheduled events -- including Thursday's Rule 5 Draft -- there will be plenty of opportunities to discuss trades or possible free-agent signings.

Agents, front-office types and reporters will swarm the lobby of the Opryland, where reports and rumors are sure to swirl. Yankees.com will have you covered for all the latest developments -- big or small -- concerning the Bombers.

"We're still capable of a lot," Cashman said. "People should still be leery of us and afraid of us, as if we're the stalking horse, and that's good. I want them to think that."

It is not clear whether the Yankees will have interest in selecting a player in this week's Rule 5 Draft. As things currently stand, New York's 40-man roster is at capacity, so a subsequent move would need to be made in order to clear room for a selection.

There has been a lot of talk about managing general partner Hal Steinbrenner's directive to reduce payroll below $189 million for the 2014 season, which is why the Yankees have seemed disinterested in multiyear contracts on the free-agent market.

Despite their stated need for a right fielder, the Yankees are steering clear of the big-ticket Josh Hamilton bidding and aren't considered to be players for the services of Michael Bourn.

They've heard about Ichiro Suzuki's preference to return, and it's still possible that the popular star could return for a full season in pinstripes; Cody Ross presents another option; and the Yankees could flirt with trades for the Rockies' Michael Cuddyer or the D-backs' Justin Upton.

Cashman said that right field is more of a priority than catcher, even with Martin's departure. It is likely, Cashman said, that the Yankees' Opening Day catcher is already on the roster in the form of Francisco Cervelli, Austin Romine, Chris Stewart or Eli Whiteside.

Free-agent catchers Mike Napoli and A.J. Pierzynski haven't drawn interest from New York, but Cashman said that the Yankees are still prepared to "strike and pounce" on any trade or signing that makes sense for them.

"I'm real happy with how our winter program is currently unfolding, but at the same time, [we are] recognizing that you can't have everything," Cashman said. "You can't have it all. We are going to be running out a very strong team, as we usually do."

Beyond daily coverage on yankees.com, the team's official site will also feature multimedia content to provide a closer look at the happenings in Nashville. Fans are also encouraged to join the discussions in the comments section below to address the various issues facing the club.

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.

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Cut4: Cashman rappels Stamford building

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Syracuse, West Virginia to clash in Pinstripe Bowl

By Andrew Simon / Special to MLB.com | 12/02/12 9:10 PM ET

Syracuse coach Doug Marrone lifts the trophy after his team's 36-34 win in the inaugural Pinstripe Bowl. (AP)

For the second time in three years, Yankee Stadium will play host to a New York team during college football's bowl season.

Syracuse announced on Sunday that it has accepted a bid to meet West Virginia in the 2012 New Era Pinstripe Bowl, which will be held at 3:15 p.m. ET on Dec. 29 and televised on ESPN.

Syracuse finished the season 7-5, including 5-2 in Big East Conference play, and won five of its last six games. The Orange also participated in the Pinstripe Bowl's inaugural game in 2010, when it notched a 36-34 victory over Kansas State.

West Virginia went 7-5 this season under second-year head coach Dana Holgorsen, in the school's first season in the Big 12. The Mountaineers are marking their 11th straight bowl appearance.

In last year's contest, Rutgers defeated Iowa State, 27-13.

The game will be a homecoming of sorts for Syracuse head coach Doug Marrone, who graduated from Herbert H. Lehman High School in the Bronx and was an offensive line coach for the New York Jets from 2002-05. Marrone's grandfather, Robert Thompson, spent more than 20 years working as an usher at the original Yankee Stadium.

"We are thrilled to be invited to the New Era Pinstripe Bowl for the second time in three years," Marrone said in a statement. "It means a great deal to us to play a bowl game in Yankee Stadium where many of our alumni and fans will have the opportunity to share it with us. New York State is the foundation of our program.

"I am proud of this team for the way it fought through early-season adversity to win five of the last six games and win a share of the Big East championship. It is great for our team, and particularly our seniors, to have the chance to play one more game. This senior class has given so much to our program on and off the field and will be great ambassadors for our program and the university."

Syracuse will be playing at the home of the Yankees for the eighth time in its history. The Orange defeated Pittsburgh in the first college football game at the original Yankee Stadium, on Oct. 20, 1923, then played there five more times through 1964.

For the Mountaineers, this will mark their fifth college football game at the home of the New York Yankees. West Virginia played the second college football game in the original Yankee Stadium on Oct. 27, 1923, earning a 13-13 tie with Penn State. WVU's last contest at the House that Ruth Built came on Oct. 18, 1947, a 40-0 win over NYU.

Andrew Simon is a contributor to MLB.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.

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'Ambassador' Granderson to tour Korea, Japan

By Adam Berry / MLB.com | 11/30/12 3:11 PM ET

Curtis Granderson has served as an MLB International Ambassador in England, the Netherlands and Italy. He's made trips to South Africa and New Zealand, and in 2008 became the first Major League player to tour China.

This offseason, Granderson will add South Korea and Japan to the list.

The Yankees center fielder will help grow the game as part of the MLB International Ambassador program by spending three days in South Korea and eight more in Japan, making appearances throughout both countries and participating in grassroots initiatives. His work will include the re-opening of the Ishinomaki Municipal Baseball Stadium, which was damaged in the 2011 Japan earthquake and tsunami.

"After playing in Taiwan last offseason and touring China as a part of the MLB Ambassador program a few years ago, I'm excited to have the opportunity to help grow and promote the game in Korea and Japan," Granderson said in a statement. "I've seen firsthand that baseball is a global sport, and it is gratifying to take part in its development in younger generations all over the world."

Granderson's first stop will be in Seoul, South Korea, where he will take part in a baseball clinic and donate equipment to the SOS Children's Village orphanage. He will also participate in a clinic with the Seoul National School for the Deaf and meet with the New York Yankees Fan Club of Korea.

From there, Granderson will journey to Tokyo, Kyoto, Ishinomaki and Okinawa in Japan. He is scheduled to speak at the Ishinomaki Municipal Baseball Stadium field commemoration and take part in a clinic for young baseball players with a local semi-pro team. He will lead another clinic for the Girls Professional Baseball League in Kyoto and visit young baseball players at Konan High School and Okinawa Shogakuin High School.

In Tokyo, Granderson will be a part of a panel discussion at Waseda University on "CSR within Professional Sports," talk to students at The American School in Japan and attend an event at the MLB Cafe, the first Major League Baseball-themed restaurant.

Adam Berry is a reporter for MLB.com. Follow him on Twitter at @adamdberry. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.

14.25 | 0 komentar | Read More

Yankees finalize one-year contract with Mo

By Bryan Hoch / MLB.com | 11/30/12 6:35 PM ET

NEW YORK -- One day after suffering a season-ending knee injury, Mariano Rivera defiantly addressed a group of reporters in the visiting clubhouse of Kansas City's Kauffman Stadium, vowing to pitch again and saying to "write it down in big letters."

On Thursday, Rivera and the Yankees attached some fairly large numbers to that promise. New York and the all-time saves leader agreed to a one-year contract worth $10 million, plus awards incentives.

The Yankees announced the completion of the deal on Friday evening, and Rivera said that he did not want to remember the last moment of his playing career writhing in pain on a warning track.

"Like I've been saying, I didn't want to go out like that," said Rivera, who tore his right anterior cruciate ligament in a May 3 batting practice mishap. "I didn't want that to be the last image. But it wasn't an easy decision, because there's more than just baseball with me.


"I have to consider my family and the church, too. But I feel like we have a great group of guys and a team that can compete for a championship. I'm not just coming back to play. I'm coming back to win."

The Yankees announced additional roster moves on Friday, claiming right-hander Jim Miller off waivers from the Athletics. Miller, 30, was 2-1 with a 2.59 ERA in 33 relief appearances with Oakland in 2012.

New York also signed infielder Jayson Nix to a Major League contract, avoiding arbitration. In order to make room for Rivera and Miller on the 40-man roster, the Yankees designated Nix and right-hander Mickey Storey for assignment.

Rivera, who turned 43 on Thursday, was 1-1 with a 2.16 ERA in just nine appearances for the 2012 Yankees.

The owner of 608 regular-season saves, plus a Major League-record 42 in the postseason, Rivera had recorded at least 25 saves in 15 consecutive seasons (1997-2011) and has reached the 30-save plateau 14 times in his career, tying Trevor Hoffman for the most all-time.

The Yanks expect Rivera to reclaim his role as closer after turning it over to Rafael Soriano, who converted 42 saves in 46 opportunities before opting out of his contract to declare free agency.

The $10 million figure is a step down from the two-year, $30 million pact that Rivera just completed, but the veteran will be given the opportunity to make up the difference by achieving incentives.

After briefly flirting with retirement and telling general manager Brian Cashman that he wasn't sure what he wanted to do, Rivera confirmed earlier this month that he had decided to return.

"I felt like, I have something left and [I should] give it a shot. Why not?" Rivera said.

Following his June 13 procedure, Rivera said that he has been seeing results from intense rehab with the help of a New York-based trainer. The Yankees believe that he will have plenty of time to prepare for the beginning of the '13 season.

"I have a long time to go. I'm not rushing," Rivera said. "I just have to make sure that my knee gets stronger. It does. It's getting stronger and stronger every day. I'm happy with that. I just have to continue what I'm doing."

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

Fans treated to terrific trio for one Mo year

Andy Pettitte, Derek Jeter and Mariano Rivera have won five World Series championships together. (Getty Images)

So we'll have at least one more season to see 'em all together, these three who've meant so much to the Yankees.

Did I say the Yankees?

That's silly. Derek Jeter, Andy Pettitte and Mariano Rivera impacted this game all over the world. They defined winning -- 16 playoff appearances together, seven American League pennants, five World Series championships.

They didn't just win. They won the way we'd all like to win. They won with dignity, with class. They played the game the way we'd like every player to play it. They played hard from start to finish. They respected their opponents.

And when they weren't able to write their own ending, they did that with class, too. That they'll be together for at least one more season is a treat for all of us, for all the millions of Yankee fans, but really for anyone who loves this game and what these three represent.

People don't think of the Yankees the same way since they arrived. The Yankees are supposed to be hated, and you can look it up.

The Babe was jeered and cursed. Reggie was hated for sure. The Boss? You know the answer to that one.

Who hates Rivera? He's so elegant, so dignified. Classy in defeat, classy in victory. Pettitte is like that, too. Wouldn't utter a disrespectful word if you dunked him in ice water.

Jeter? They boo him in a few places, especially in Boston. But they don't really mean it. Those boos are the boos of fans who wish he was playing for their team. In their hearts, they know he's about as close to a perfect baseball player as we've ever had.

Anyway, there was a time last offseason when the band appeared to be breaking up. Pettitte was coaching kids in Texas. And then Rivera showed up at Spring Training and strongly hinted that 2012 would be his final season. He said he still loved it and all, but he wanted to go out on his own terms.

If it was almost any other player, you'd wonder if he was playing management for a new contract. But that's not how Mariano Rivera does things.

It was almost incomprehensible he would go out on top when he's still capable of pitching at a high level. Only after he wrecked his right knee on May 3 did he tell reporters he'd be back for a 19th season.

He's 43 years old, three years older than Pettitte, five older than Jeter. If you're thinking this is starting to look like an old baseball team, you're right.

When reporters throw that question at Yankees general manager Brian Cashman, he has a couple of quick answers. First, virtually all of his old players are productive, that is, excluding that bad week against the Tigers in the American League Championship Series.

His older players are so meticulous in their preparation that there's no reason to think there will be a decline in production. Besides, Cashman has invested millions in a player development system that has produced Robinson Cano, Phil Hughes, David Phelps, Brett Gardner, Ivan Nova, Joba Chamberlain and David Robertson the last few seasons.

Still, Friday's announcement that Rivera had agreed to a one-year contract for 2013 prompts legitimate questions about how much he still has left in the tank.

At 43, he has more yesterdays than tomorrows in baseball, and at some point, there will be a decline. The Yankees trust Rivera to know when that time will be, and he seems confident he can be productive in 2013.

His cutter averaged 90.6 mph last season, according to Fangraphs.com. That's 1 mph down from 2011, but only a half mph down from '10.

His 8.64 strikeouts-per-nine-innings in 2011 is actually higher than his career average of 8.26. It's also down significantly from his 2009 average of 9.72.

So the bottom line is that there has been a dropoff, but as long as Rivera still has a sharp break on his cutter, he'll probably be fine.

Naturally, there will be concern about his right knee post-surgery and if it'll allow him to throw with the same motion and drive to the plate. Again, Rivera seems confident.

Let's hope it works out. He has been so good through the years, so committed to doing everything right, that it'll be a sad day when he does finally go.

For now, we'll have the privilege of seeing him pitch one more season, seeing Pettitte and Jeter, too. Years from now, we'll be some of the lucky ones who saw them play. There may never be three teammates who represent the game better or accomplish more.

Richard Justice is a columnist for MLB.com. Read his blog, Justice4U. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.

14.24 | 0 komentar | Read More

'Ambassador' Granderson to tour Korea, Japan

By Adam Berry / MLB.com | 11/30/12 3:11 PM ET

Curtis Granderson has served as an MLB International Ambassador in England, the Netherlands and Italy. He's made trips to South Africa and New Zealand, and in 2008 became the first Major League player to tour China.

This offseason, Granderson will add South Korea and Japan to the list.

The Yankees center fielder will help grow the game as part of the MLB International Ambassador program by spending three days in South Korea and eight more in Japan, making appearances throughout both countries and participating in grassroots initiatives. His work will include the re-opening of the Ishinomaki Municipal Baseball Stadium, which was damaged in the 2011 Japan earthquake and tsunami.

"After playing in Taiwan last offseason and touring China as a part of the MLB Ambassador program a few years ago, I'm excited to have the opportunity to help grow and promote the game in Korea and Japan," Granderson said in a statement. "I've seen firsthand that baseball is a global sport, and it is gratifying to take part in its development in younger generations all over the world."

Granderson's first stop will be in Seoul, South Korea, where he will take part in a baseball clinic and donate equipment to the SOS Children's Village orphanage. He will also participate in a clinic with the Seoul National School for the Deaf and meet with the New York Yankees Fan Club of Korea.

From there, Granderson will journey to Tokyo, Kyoto, Ishinomaki and Okinawa in Japan. He is scheduled to speak at the Ishinomaki Municipal Baseball Stadium field commemoration and take part in a clinic for young baseball players with a local semi-pro team. He will lead another clinic for the Girls Professional Baseball League in Kyoto and visit young baseball players at Konan High School and Okinawa Shogakuin High School.

In Tokyo, Granderson will be a part of a panel discussion at Waseda University on "CSR within Professional Sports," talk to students at The American School in Japan and attend an event at the MLB Cafe, the first Major League Baseball-themed restaurant.

Adam Berry is a reporter for MLB.com. Follow him on Twitter at @adamdberry. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.

14.25 | 0 komentar | Read More

Yankees finalize one-year contract with Mo

By Bryan Hoch / MLB.com | 11/30/12 6:35 PM ET

NEW YORK -- One day after suffering a season-ending knee injury, Mariano Rivera defiantly addressed a group of reporters in the visiting clubhouse of Kansas City's Kauffman Stadium, vowing to pitch again and saying to "write it down in big letters."

On Thursday, Rivera and the Yankees attached some fairly large numbers to that promise. New York and the all-time saves leader agreed to a one-year contract worth $10 million, plus awards incentives.

The Yankees announced the completion of the deal on Friday evening, and Rivera said that he did not want to remember the last moment of his playing career writhing in pain on a warning track.

"Like I've been saying, I didn't want to go out like that," said Rivera, who tore his right anterior cruciate ligament in a May 3 batting practice mishap. "I didn't want that to be the last image. But it wasn't an easy decision, because there's more than just baseball with me.


"I have to consider my family and the church, too. But I feel like we have a great group of guys and a team that can compete for a championship. I'm not just coming back to play. I'm coming back to win."

The Yankees announced additional roster moves on Friday, claiming right-hander Jim Miller off waivers from the Athletics. Miller, 30, was 2-1 with a 2.59 ERA in 33 relief appearances with Oakland in 2012.

New York also signed infielder Jayson Nix to a Major League contract, avoiding arbitration. In order to make room for Rivera and Miller on the 40-man roster, the Yankees designated Nix and right-hander Mickey Storey for assignment.

Rivera, who turned 43 on Thursday, was 1-1 with a 2.16 ERA in just nine appearances for the 2012 Yankees.

The owner of 608 regular-season saves, plus a Major League-record 42 in the postseason, Rivera had recorded at least 25 saves in 15 consecutive seasons (1997-2011) and has reached the 30-save plateau 14 times in his career, tying Trevor Hoffman for the most all-time.

The Yanks expect Rivera to reclaim his role as closer after turning it over to Rafael Soriano, who converted 42 saves in 46 opportunities before opting out of his contract to declare free agency.

The $10 million figure is a step down from the two-year, $30 million pact that Rivera just completed, but the veteran will be given the opportunity to make up the difference by achieving incentives.

After briefly flirting with retirement and telling general manager Brian Cashman that he wasn't sure what he wanted to do, Rivera confirmed earlier this month that he had decided to return.

"I felt like, I have something left and [I should] give it a shot. Why not?" Rivera said.

Following his June 13 procedure, Rivera said that he has been seeing results from intense rehab with the help of a New York-based trainer. The Yankees believe that he will have plenty of time to prepare for the beginning of the '13 season.

"I have a long time to go. I'm not rushing," Rivera said. "I just have to make sure that my knee gets stronger. It does. It's getting stronger and stronger every day. I'm happy with that. I just have to continue what I'm doing."

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

Fans treated to terrific trio for one Mo year

Andy Pettitte, Derek Jeter and Mariano Rivera have won five World Series championships together. (Getty Images)

So we'll have at least one more season to see 'em all together, these three who've meant so much to the Yankees.

Did I say the Yankees?

That's silly. Derek Jeter, Andy Pettitte and Mariano Rivera impacted this game all over the world. They defined winning -- 16 playoff appearances together, seven American League pennants, five World Series championships.

They didn't just win. They won the way we'd all like to win. They won with dignity, with class. They played the game the way we'd like every player to play it. They played hard from start to finish. They respected their opponents.

And when they weren't able to write their own ending, they did that with class, too. That they'll be together for at least one more season is a treat for all of us, for all the millions of Yankee fans, but really for anyone who loves this game and what these three represent.

People don't think of the Yankees the same way since they arrived. The Yankees are supposed to be hated, and you can look it up.

The Babe was jeered and cursed. Reggie was hated for sure. The Boss? You know the answer to that one.

Who hates Rivera? He's so elegant, so dignified. Classy in defeat, classy in victory. Pettitte is like that, too. Wouldn't utter a disrespectful word if you dunked him in ice water.

Jeter? They boo him in a few places, especially in Boston. But they don't really mean it. Those boos are the boos of fans who wish he was playing for their team. In their hearts, they know he's about as close to a perfect baseball player as we've ever had.

Anyway, there was a time last offseason when the band appeared to be breaking up. Pettitte was coaching kids in Texas. And then Rivera showed up at Spring Training and strongly hinted that 2012 would be his final season. He said he still loved it and all, but he wanted to go out on his own terms.

If it was almost any other player, you'd wonder if he was playing management for a new contract. But that's not how Mariano Rivera does things.

It was almost incomprehensible he would go out on top when he's still capable of pitching at a high level. Only after he wrecked his right knee on May 3 did he tell reporters he'd be back for a 19th season.

He's 43 years old, three years older than Pettitte, five older than Jeter. If you're thinking this is starting to look like an old baseball team, you're right.

When reporters throw that question at Yankees general manager Brian Cashman, he has a couple of quick answers. First, virtually all of his old players are productive, that is, excluding that bad week against the Tigers in the American League Championship Series.

His older players are so meticulous in their preparation that there's no reason to think there will be a decline in production. Besides, Cashman has invested millions in a player development system that has produced Robinson Cano, Phil Hughes, David Phelps, Brett Gardner, Ivan Nova, Joba Chamberlain and David Robertson the last few seasons.

Still, Friday's announcement that Rivera had agreed to a one-year contract for 2013 prompts legitimate questions about how much he still has left in the tank.

At 43, he has more yesterdays than tomorrows in baseball, and at some point, there will be a decline. The Yankees trust Rivera to know when that time will be, and he seems confident he can be productive in 2013.

His cutter averaged 90.6 mph last season, according to Fangraphs.com. That's 1 mph down from 2011, but only a half mph down from '10.

His 8.64 strikeouts-per-nine-innings in 2011 is actually higher than his career average of 8.26. It's also down significantly from his 2009 average of 9.72.

So the bottom line is that there has been a dropoff, but as long as Rivera still has a sharp break on his cutter, he'll probably be fine.

Naturally, there will be concern about his right knee post-surgery and if it'll allow him to throw with the same motion and drive to the plate. Again, Rivera seems confident.

Let's hope it works out. He has been so good through the years, so committed to doing everything right, that it'll be a sad day when he does finally go.

For now, we'll have the privilege of seeing him pitch one more season, seeing Pettitte and Jeter, too. Years from now, we'll be some of the lucky ones who saw them play. There may never be three teammates who represent the game better or accomplish more.

Richard Justice is a columnist for MLB.com. Read his blog, Justice4U. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.

14.24 | 0 komentar | Read More