Notre Dame tops Rutgers in Pinstripe Bowl

Notre Dame head coach Brian Kelly takes the microphone after Notre Dame defeated Rutgers, 29-16, at the Pinstripe Bowl. (AP)

NEW YORK -- There was no Knute Rockne moment, but Notre Dame didn't need one.

The Fighting Irish made a statement with simplicity Saturday at the Pinstripe Bowl, when they emerged from a halftime tie and dominated the rest of the game. Notre Dame wore down Rutgers down-by-down and drive-by-drive and held the ball for 20 minutes in the second half en route to a 29-16 win.

Notre Dame, ranked No. 25 by the Associated Press, had three drives of at least five minutes in Saturday's second half. Two of those drives ended in field goals, and the last resulted in a touchdown by Tarean Folston that gave the Fighting Irish a 10-point lead with less than four minutes remaining.

When it was all over, head coach Brian Kelly wanted to get with his team and deliver a heartfelt speech. Notre Dame, one year removed from the national title game, had a lot to be proud of.

"I first wanted to thank our seniors for what they have given to our program both on and off the field," Kelly said. "They have been great examples of what student-athletes are at Notre Dame both in the classroom, and they've certainly set a high bar. Four consecutive bowl games. Played for a national championship. Twenty-one wins in the last two years. So it was a bit emotional in that sense to see those guys for the last time in the locker room singing the fight song."

Notre Dame (9-4) and Rutgers (6-7) played to the first sellout in Pinstripe Bowl history, and the victory allowed the Fighting Irish to improve their all-time bowl record to 16-17. Notre Dame is now 17-6-3 in games played at Yankee Stadium, and it improved to 5-0 all-time against Rutgers.

Notre Dame ran the ball 43 times in the win, and quarterback Tommy Rees set a school record for bowl games by throwing the ball 47 times. But the true killer was time of possession. Rutgers held the ball for just 3:30 of the third quarter and netted just one yard as Notre Dame took control.

Offensive tackle Zack Martin was named the Most Valuable Player of the Pinstripe Bowl, marking the first time in the game's four-year history that the standout player wasn't a running back. Martin, in the aftermath, joked that he wasn't sure why he won, but that he'd gladly accept laurels for the team.

"Coming into the game, we knew there was going to be a point where the offensive line and the backs were going to have to take over," said Martin. "Our defense got a couple stops early in the second half and we were able to put together some long drives and get the ball in the end zone at the end."

Rutgers got off to a slow start Saturday, but it used a muffed punt by Notre Dame to tie the game on a field goal. Chas Dodd later led Rutgers on a 75-yard drive to tie the game again, connecting with Brandon Coleman for a 51-yard pass up the sideline and on a 14-yard touchdown to the corner.

Notre Dame intercepted Rutgers twice in the second quarter, once to set up a field goal and once to save another score. Dodd threw a pick at his 22-yard line early in the quarter, and with just three minutes left, Rutgers tried a halfback option pass that resulted in an interception at the goal line.

Neither team could push ahead at halftime, and Notre Dame was rarely challenged after the intermission. Rutgers kicked a game-tying field goal from the 1-yard line early in the second quarter, and coach Kyle Flood said that he knew his team would be in for a game of attrition.

"We knew we were going to give up some drives," he said. "We thought if we played good red zone defense and we could make them kick a few field goals and attempt some field goals, maybe we could block one and then win the game in the fourth quarter. We were kind of poised to do that."

Notre Dame, which played without running back George Atkinson III and cornerback Jalen Brown after an undisclosed violation of team rules, got five field goals from kicker Kyle Brinzda. Brinzda's five field goals tied a school record and set a new team mark for the most in a bowl game.

Kelly said that his team has a lot of building blocks for 2014, with four returning starters on the offensive line and a precocious young defense. Kelly knows that his team will miss standouts like Rees and wideout T.J. Jones, and he said Martin is one of the best players he's ever coached.

Notre Dame played five ranked opponents this season, beating Michigan State and Arizona State and losing to Michigan, Stanford and Oklahoma. Both the Michigan and Stanford losses came on the road, but Notre Dame fell behind early at home against Oklahoma and was never able to catch up.

"A good year that could've been a great year," said Kelly of his team's season. "I like the fact that the last couple of years we've played well at home, except for the Oklahoma game where we gave them 14 points early on some things we don't normally do. But I would say a couple of missed opportunities in some games where we could have easily been a team that's looking at double-digit wins.

"So it was a good year, but we want more. It's not enough for us; 9-4 is a good year for Notre Dame, but it's not what we sign up for every year. We wanted a little bit more out of this year."

Rutgers, by contrast, will go into next year thinking of untapped potential. The Scarlet Knights dropped six of their last eight games, and they'll begin play in the difficult Big Ten conference next season. Rutgers has only played in nine bowl games, but eight have come in the last nine years.

The Pinstripe Bowl, played in snowy conditions in each of the last two years, drew more than 47,000 fans Saturday. Rees set Pinstripe Bowl records in pass attempts (47), completions (27) and passing yards (319), and he also set a school record for career yards (683) in bowl games.

Rees also became the third quarterback in Notre Dame history to throw for more than 3,000 yards in a season, joining Brady Quinn and Jimmy Clausen (each of whom did it twice.) Now, Rees can ponder what comes next, but not until he gets a chance to savor the Pinstripe Bowl experience.

"It was an awesome week," said Rees. "They did a great job of taking care of us and giving us some great experiences in the city. Our goal all along -- and I've said it since Day One -- is we were coming here to win a game. And we were able to do that. Hats off to Rutgers for playing a great game."

Spencer Fordin 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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Postseason aspirations return with new year

Every team in baseball entered 2013 with sights set on making it a better year than the one before. Some obviously had higher hopes than others, aspirations that included the promise of a trip to the postseason.

As demonstrated by a few of those with seemingly all the right tools to make 2013 a special year, high hopes can sometimes be sent on a detour. Ultimately, the destination -- namely, October baseball -- might not be so simple to find.

These were teams that made major moves in the offseason, like the Jays and their remarkable makeover, and the Angels with yet another superstar signed for the long term.

There were teams that had been there before and wanted to take the next step, like the Nationals coming off a division championship that made history in the nation's capital, and the Yankees eager to reunite their veteran core for one more run.

Looking back at some of the stories that defined 2013, those four teams represent clubs whose high hopes were knocked around a bit this past year, teams that are looking to brighter days in 2014 after a year that didn't quite turn out the way they'd envisioned.

In Toronto, high hopes took a detour early and never quite got on track following a winter of change heading into 2013. Bold trades with the Marlins and Mets brought an influx of talent that had the Blue Jays aiming for their first postseason appearance since 1993.

But it wasn't long before it was evident their planned voyage toward October was headed off course. R.A. Dickey was roughed up on Opening Day in what turned out to be a rough April (10-17) for the team as a whole. Their star shortstop and major offseason prize, Jose Reyes, injured his ankle on April 12 and was out for two months. It wasn't a good way to start, and it didn't get much better as the Jays finished last in the AL East at 74-88, a mere one game better than the year before.

"I think almost everyone across the game expected us to be a good team, to what level, I don't know," Jays GM Alex Anthopoulos said at season's end. "But I think unanimously people thought it was going to be a good competitive team, and it didn't work out."

The same could be said for an Angels team that upped the ante on the previous year's haul of free agents by sweeping Josh Hamilton off his feet, shifting him from one AL West rival to another. But, just as Albert Pujols, C.J. Wilson and even the arrival of megastar Mike Trout wasn't enough in 2012, the addition of Hamilton didn't raise the Angels' place in the standings or drive them to their first postseason appearance since 2009.

With pitching woes and injuries piling up, the Angels finished 78-84, their worst mark since 2003. Hamilton had his worst full season with a .250/.307/.432 slash line with 21 homers and 79 RBIs after going for 43 and 128 the year before with Texas.

"It can only get better for me from here on out," Hamilton said on the season's final day.

For the Nationals and Yankees, building blocks for success were in place after playoff appearances for both clubs in 2012. But both teams took a step backward in 2013, missing out on the October party.

Nats manager Davey Johnson had said it would be "World Series or bust" for his club in 2013 and, well, it wasn't World Series, or even a return to the postseason. The Nationals didn't have the magic they had the year before despite the emergence of Jordan Zimmermann as an elite starter and a few other positive turns in an 86-76 season. They struggled offensively, with Bryce Harper's injury-marred year a factor there, and despite a late push in the NL Wild Card hunt, they were unable to make good on Johnson's best-or-bust boast.

The Yankees, meanwhile, were looking forward to having a healthy Derek Jeter back in action, and they prepared for a farewell tour for all-time great closer Mariano Rivera, and eventually Andy Pettitte. But all that star power couldn't make it happen, especially with Jeter's injury taking a bigger toll than hoped, and the Yankees fell short of making the playoffs for just the second time in the last 19 years. They placed 19 players on the disabled list, using a franchise-record 56 players.

By the end of the year, the team didn't know whether manager Joe Girardi would return for a seventh season. But Girardi signed back with hope for October 2014 and beyond, confident that he'd see another World Series title in the four years of his contract extension.

"Absolutely. I wouldn't have come back if I didn't think we could win a championship," Girardi said. "I know there's a lot of work to be done. I know there's a lot of holes that we have to fill, and there's people leaving and people retiring, but I have faith in our organization."

From there, the Bronx Bombers signed Jacoby Ellsbury, Brian McCann and Carlos Beltran to fill gaps in the lineup, and now they reportedly are in on the bidding for Japanese starter Masahiro Tanaka. The Yankees clearly have their sights set on a return to the postseason -- much like they did a year ago.

That's the thing for all those teams whose high hopes in 2013 took a wrong turn: There's always 2014.

John Schlegel is a national reporter for MLB.com. You can follow him on Twitter at @JohnSchlegelMLB. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.

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Rivera and Pettitte exit, as 2013 marks end of an era

NEW YORK -- There is a snapshot that perfectly captures the 2013 Yankees season. It shows Mariano Rivera wearing the sliver of a smile and on the verge of tears, handing the baseball to Andy Pettitte and Derek Jeter on the evening of Sept. 26 at Yankee Stadium.

Rivera had just thrown his final Major League pitch, burying his face in Pettitte's sweatshirt to weep as the emotions of the moment took over. Two days later, Pettitte would also make his exit, putting the finishing touches on a complete game victory over the Astros in a game that carried no playoff implications.

Looking back at 2013

• Yankees 2013 stats
• Final standings
• Hot Stove Tracker

Jeter, meanwhile, went to the mound while on the disabled list for the fourth and final time -- the captain's frustrating season consisting of only 17 games while he watched what had once been a Core Four whittled down to just one man.

"They both came to get me out, and I was thankful they came out," Rivera said. "I needed them there, and they were there."

The Yankees entered the campaign with championship aspirations, as per usual in the Bronx, but injuries took their toll. Manager Joe Girardi never seemed to be able to field his complete lineup, a trend that began in Spring Training with hits to key cogs like Curtis Granderson and Mark Teixeira.

Girardi's Yankees secured 85 victories despite their revolving cast of characters, but that win total was not enough to prevent missing the playoffs for the second time in the last 19 seasons. The club set a franchise record by utilizing 56 players during the season, listed alphabetically from David Adams to Mike Zagurski.

Managing general partner Hal Steinbrenner said at the end of the season that the organization's focus remains the same, to win a championship, and that "if we don't win a championship, we know that there's improvement that needs to be done."

The Yankees moved swiftly to retain Girardi as manager, and in the months since, ensured that the roster that takes the field on Opening Day 2014 will look much different. Robinson Cano and Granderson are among those who have departed, while Brian McCann, Jacoby Ellsbury and Carlos Beltran headline the earliest additions.

"I think there's some more things in the works that we're trying to do," Girardi said last week.

Here is one final look back at the highs and lows of 2013, recapped by the top five storylines of the calendar year:

5. Ichiro 4K

The Yankees' season featured a fun milestone chase that drew international attention, as Ichiro Suzuki collected his 4,000th career hit -- combining his Major League and Nippon Professional Baseball statistics. The Aug. 22 game halted to honor Ichiro, who was applauded at first base by the entire Yankees roster.

Ichiro collected 1,278 hits as a member of the Orix Blue Wave from 1992-2000. He joined Pete Rose (4,256) and Ty Cobb (4,191) as the only players with at least 4,000 hits when combining totals from the highest levels in the United States and Japan.

"That's a lot of hits, man. It's pretty impressive," Jeter said. "I don't care if it's 4,000 in Little League. It shows how consistent he's been throughout his career."

4. Alfonso Soriano's historic hot streak

No matter what becomes of Corey Black, the pitcher the Yankees shipped to the Cubs in a late July trade, it is likely that New York still will view their end of the deal as a winner. Soriano seemed to be rejuvenated by putting the pinstripes back on, and he was never hotter than a memorable four-game stretch in August.

Soriano tied a Major League record with 18 RBIs over that span, going 13-for-18 with five homers against the Angels and Red Sox. The veteran slugger provided a right-handed power presence that the Yankees desperately needed, slugging 17 homers in 58 games with New York, and is expected to split his time between the outfield and designated hitter in 2014.

3. Injuries, injuries and more injuries

Things finally seemed to be sticking to the script on July 28, as Derek Jeter returned from the disabled list for the second time and slugged the first pitch he saw from the Rays' Matt Moore over the wall. It was only a cruel tease in what Jeter called a "nightmare" season, as he played in just four games before going back on the disabled list.

At least Jeter had plenty of company, as the Yankees' most recognizable faces seemed to be perpetually stationed at the training grounds in Tampa, Fla. instead of participating in the big league season. The Yanks used the disabled list 28 times for 21 different players. While the Yanks enjoyed contributions from patchwork replacements like Lyle Overbay and Vernon Wells, they still combined to lose a total of 1,287 games to the disabled list.

2. Alex Rodriguez's continuing drama

It is remarkable to consider that, despite the gallons of ink already spilled to detail A-Rod's trials and tribulations of 2013, a final resolution is still not expected before the new year. There were no shortage of storylines this year involving Rodriguez, who rehabbed from left hip surgery only to be hit with a record-setting ban on Aug. 5, based on his alleged use and possession of numerous prohibited performance-enhancing substances over the course of multiple years.

Rodriguez appealed the suspension and played out the remainder of the season, batting .244 with seven homers and 19 RBIs in 44 games, but his action was just beginning. Rodriguez said that he would be "fighting for my life" in the appeal of the suspension, assembling an expensive legal dream team that filed lawsuits against Major League Baseball and Yankees team physician Dr. Christopher Ahmad.

With his appeal underway, Rodriguez angrily stormed out of a Nov. 20 meeting when independent arbitrator Fredric Horowitz ruled that Commissioner Bud Selig was not required to testify in the case. That day, Rodriguez appeared as an unannounced guest on WFAN and told host Mike Francesa, "I'm done. I don't have a chance." Horowitz's final ruling is expected to be delivered shortly after Jan. 1.

1. Farewell to Mariano (and Andy, too)

The tributes began in Spring Training, as Rivera held a news conference to announce what many suspected; the 2013 season would be his last as a Major League player. Over the next six months, each Yankees road stop celebrated the all-time saves leader in its own way, as Rivera collected a bounty of treasures that included a rocking chair made of broken bats, a surfboard, bicycles, deep sea fishing equipment, a Metallica gold record -- pretty much everything a retiring legend could ever dream of needing.

Rivera also gave back to each city, carving out time for emotional meetings with a variety of people behind the scenes, including office personnel, stadium workers and long-time season ticket holders. Universally, Rivera's gentlemanly demeanor and class on the diamond were praised.

Later in the season, Rivera would open up about how difficult it had been to return from his knee injury, and how there had been strong temptation to quit during rehab. On the mound, Rivera often looked like he had not skipped a beat, posting a 2.11 ERA and recording 44 saves to finish with 652 for his career.

Rivera's exit was no secret by September, but he had company. Pettitte kept his intentions quiet until his final Yankee Stadium start appeared on the calendar, but he, too, was ready to call it a career (for the second time). Pettitte emptied the tank for a final Stadium start on Sept. 22 and a complete game in Houston on Sept. 28.

"It's a shame we've got to get old, and you can't just continue to play this game," Pettitte said. "But just how blessed and fortunate I am, to be able to play a game and get paid to do it, it's just been incredible."

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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Notre Dame tops Rutgers in Pinstripe Bowl

Notre Dame head coach Brian Kelly takes the microphone after Notre Dame defeated Rutgers, 29-16, at the Pinstripe Bowl. (AP)

NEW YORK -- There was no Knute Rockne moment, but Notre Dame didn't need one.

The Fighting Irish made a statement with simplicity Saturday at the Pinstripe Bowl, when they emerged from a halftime tie and dominated the rest of the game. Notre Dame wore down Rutgers down-by-down and drive-by-drive and held the ball for 20 minutes in the second half en route to a 29-16 win.

Notre Dame, ranked No. 25 by the Associated Press, had three drives of at least five minutes in Saturday's second half. Two of those drives ended in field goals, and the last resulted in a touchdown by Tarean Folston that gave the Fighting Irish a 10-point lead with less than four minutes remaining.

When it was all over, head coach Brian Kelly wanted to get with his team and deliver a heartfelt speech. Notre Dame, one year removed from the national title game, had a lot to be proud of.

"I first wanted to thank our seniors for what they have given to our program both on and off the field," Kelly said. "They have been great examples of what student-athletes are at Notre Dame both in the classroom, and they've certainly set a high bar. Four consecutive bowl games. Played for a national championship. Twenty-one wins in the last two years. So it was a bit emotional in that sense to see those guys for the last time in the locker room singing the fight song."

Notre Dame (9-4) and Rutgers (6-7) played to the first sellout in Pinstripe Bowl history, and the victory allowed the Fighting Irish to improve their all-time bowl record to 16-17. Notre Dame is now 17-6-3 in games played at Yankee Stadium, and it improved to 5-0 all-time against Rutgers.

Notre Dame ran the ball 43 times in the win, and quarterback Tommy Rees set a school record for bowl games by throwing the ball 47 times. But the true killer was time of possession. Rutgers held the ball for just 3:30 of the third quarter and netted just one yard as Notre Dame took control.

Offensive tackle Zack Martin was named the Most Valuable Player of the Pinstripe Bowl, marking the first time in the game's four-year history that the standout player wasn't a running back. Martin, in the aftermath, joked that he wasn't sure why he won, but that he'd gladly accept laurels for the team.

"Coming into the game, we knew there was going to be a point where the offensive line and the backs were going to have to take over," said Martin. "Our defense got a couple stops early in the second half and we were able to put together some long drives and get the ball in the end zone at the end."

Rutgers got off to a slow start Saturday, but it used a muffed punt by Notre Dame to tie the game on a field goal. Chas Dodd later led Rutgers on a 75-yard drive to tie the game again, connecting with Brandon Coleman for a 51-yard pass up the sideline and on a 14-yard touchdown to the corner.

Notre Dame intercepted Rutgers twice in the second quarter, once to set up a field goal and once to save another score. Dodd threw a pick at his 22-yard line early in the quarter, and with just three minutes left, Rutgers tried a halfback option pass that resulted in an interception at the goal line.

Neither team could push ahead at halftime, and Notre Dame was rarely challenged after the intermission. Rutgers kicked a game-tying field goal from the 1-yard line early in the second quarter, and coach Kyle Flood said that he knew his team would be in for a game of attrition.

"We knew we were going to give up some drives," he said. "We thought if we played good red zone defense and we could make them kick a few field goals and attempt some field goals, maybe we could block one and then win the game in the fourth quarter. We were kind of poised to do that."

Notre Dame, which played without running back George Atkinson III and cornerback Jalen Brown after an undisclosed violation of team rules, got five field goals from kicker Kyle Brinzda. Brinzda's five field goals tied a school record and set a new team mark for the most in a bowl game.

Kelly said that his team has a lot of building blocks for 2014, with four returning starters on the offensive line and a precocious young defense. Kelly knows that his team will miss standouts like Rees and wideout T.J. Jones, and he said Martin is one of the best players he's ever coached.

Notre Dame played five ranked opponents this season, beating Michigan State and Arizona State and losing to Michigan, Stanford and Oklahoma. Both the Michigan and Stanford losses came on the road, but Notre Dame fell behind early at home against Oklahoma and was never able to catch up.

"A good year that could've been a great year," said Kelly of his team's season. "I like the fact that the last couple of years we've played well at home, except for the Oklahoma game where we gave them 14 points early on some things we don't normally do. But I would say a couple of missed opportunities in some games where we could have easily been a team that's looking at double-digit wins.

"So it was a good year, but we want more. It's not enough for us; 9-4 is a good year for Notre Dame, but it's not what we sign up for every year. We wanted a little bit more out of this year."

Rutgers, by contrast, will go into next year thinking of untapped potential. The Scarlet Knights dropped six of their last eight games, and they'll begin play in the difficult Big Ten conference next season. Rutgers has only played in nine bowl games, but eight have come in the last nine years.

The Pinstripe Bowl, played in snowy conditions in each of the last two years, drew more than 47,000 fans Saturday. Rees set Pinstripe Bowl records in pass attempts (47), completions (27) and passing yards (319), and he also set a school record for career yards (683) in bowl games.

Rees also became the third quarterback in Notre Dame history to throw for more than 3,000 yards in a season, joining Brady Quinn and Jimmy Clausen (each of whom did it twice.) Now, Rees can ponder what comes next, but not until he gets a chance to savor the Pinstripe Bowl experience.

"It was an awesome week," said Rees. "They did a great job of taking care of us and giving us some great experiences in the city. Our goal all along -- and I've said it since Day One -- is we were coming here to win a game. And we were able to do that. Hats off to Rutgers for playing a great game."

Spencer Fordin 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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Yankees among first clubs to contact Tanaka

By Bryan Hoch / MLB.com | 12/28/2013 10:15 A.M. ET

NEW YORK -- The Yankees have taken their first steps in pursuit of Japanese standout Masahiro Tanaka, touching base with the right-hander's representatives, according to multiple reports.

Newsday and the New York Daily News reported on Saturday that the Yankees have been among the first clubs to make contact with agent Casey Close, who is handling Tanaka's negotiations for Excel Sports Management.

The Yankees are not expected to make an offer until next week at the earliest, but they have identified the 25-year-old Tanaka as a top priority in an offseason that has already seen them commit more than $300 million to free agents like Jacoby Ellsbury, Brian McCann and Carlos Beltran.

General manager Brian Cashman has been seeking a frontline arm to add to a rotation that currently projects to include CC Sabathia, Ivan Nova, Hiroki Kuroda and several other candidates. The Yankees have seemed unimpressed by the remaining crop of free-agent starters.

Tanaka posted a 24-0 record with a 1.27 ERA last season with the Rakuten Golden Eagles of Japan's Pacific League, leading his club to a championship, and he could command a contract that exceeds $100 million. There will also be a posting fee owed to Rakuten by Tanaka's signing club, a figure capped at $20 million.

The size of Tanaka's expected salary suggests that the Yankees are prepared to exceed the $189 million payroll figure if necessary. Managing general partner Hal Steinbrenner has repeatedly said that the $189 million figure is a goal but not a mandate, and team officials have grown weary of discussing it in recent weeks.

The Dodgers, Red Sox, Rangers, Cubs and Mariners are among the clubs believed to be preparing to join the pursuit of Tanaka, who will have until 5 p.m. ET on Jan. 24 to sign a contract if he intends to pitch in the Majors in 2014.

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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Postseason aspirations return with new year

Every team in baseball entered 2013 with sights set on making it a better year than the one before. Some obviously had higher hopes than others, aspirations that included the promise of a trip to the postseason.

As demonstrated by a few of those with seemingly all the right tools to make 2013 a special year, high hopes can sometimes be sent on a detour. Ultimately, the destination -- namely, October baseball -- might not be so simple to find.

These were teams that made major moves in the offseason, like the Jays and their remarkable makeover, and the Angels with yet another superstar signed for the long term.

There were teams that had been there before and wanted to take the next step, like the Nationals coming off a division championship that made history in the nation's capital, and the Yankees eager to reunite their veteran core for one more run.

Looking back at some of the stories that defined 2013, those four teams represent clubs whose high hopes were knocked around a bit this past year, teams that are looking to brighter days in 2014 after a year that didn't quite turn out the way they'd envisioned.

In Toronto, high hopes took a detour early and never quite got on track following a winter of change heading into 2013. Bold trades with the Marlins and Mets brought an influx of talent that had the Blue Jays aiming for their first postseason appearance since 1993.

But it wasn't long before it was evident their planned voyage toward October was headed off course. R.A. Dickey was roughed up on Opening Day in what turned out to be a rough April (10-17) for the team as a whole. Their star shortstop and major offseason prize, Jose Reyes, injured his ankle on April 12 and was out for two months. It wasn't a good way to start, and it didn't get much better as the Jays finished last in the AL East at 74-88, a mere one game better than the year before.

"I think almost everyone across the game expected us to be a good team, to what level, I don't know," Jays GM Alex Anthopoulos said at season's end. "But I think unanimously people thought it was going to be a good competitive team, and it didn't work out."

The same could be said for an Angels team that upped the ante on the previous year's haul of free agents by sweeping Josh Hamilton off his feet, shifting him from one AL West rival to another. But, just as Albert Pujols, C.J. Wilson and even the arrival of megastar Mike Trout wasn't enough in 2012, the addition of Hamilton didn't raise the Angels' place in the standings or drive them to their first postseason appearance since 2009.

With pitching woes and injuries piling up, the Angels finished 78-84, their worst mark since 2003. Hamilton had his worst full season with a .250/.307/.432 slash line with 21 homers and 79 RBIs after going for 43 and 128 the year before with Texas.

"It can only get better for me from here on out," Hamilton said on the season's final day.

For the Nationals and Yankees, building blocks for success were in place after playoff appearances for both clubs in 2012. But both teams took a step backward in 2013, missing out on the October party.

Nats manager Davey Johnson had said it would be "World Series or bust" for his club in 2013 and, well, it wasn't World Series, or even a return to the postseason. The Nationals didn't have the magic they had the year before despite the emergence of Jordan Zimmermann as an elite starter and a few other positive turns in an 86-76 season. They struggled offensively, with Bryce Harper's injury-marred year a factor there, and despite a late push in the NL Wild Card hunt, they were unable to make good on Johnson's best-or-bust boast.

The Yankees, meanwhile, were looking forward to having a healthy Derek Jeter back in action, and they prepared for a farewell tour for all-time great closer Mariano Rivera, and eventually Andy Pettitte. But all that star power couldn't make it happen, especially with Jeter's injury taking a bigger toll than hoped, and the Yankees fell short of making the playoffs for just the second time in the last 19 years. They placed 19 players on the disabled list, using a franchise-record 56 players.

By the end of the year, the team didn't know whether manager Joe Girardi would return for a seventh season. But Girardi signed back with hope for October 2014 and beyond, confident that he'd see another World Series title in the four years of his contract extension.

"Absolutely. I wouldn't have come back if I didn't think we could win a championship," Girardi said. "I know there's a lot of work to be done. I know there's a lot of holes that we have to fill, and there's people leaving and people retiring, but I have faith in our organization."

From there, the Bronx Bombers signed Jacoby Ellsbury, Brian McCann and Carlos Beltran to fill gaps in the lineup, and now they reportedly are in on the bidding for Japanese starter Masahiro Tanaka. The Yankees clearly have their sights set on a return to the postseason -- much like they did a year ago.

That's the thing for all those teams whose high hopes in 2013 took a wrong turn: There's always 2014.

John Schlegel is a national reporter for MLB.com. You can follow him on Twitter at @JohnSchlegelMLB. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.

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Former World Series hero Blair dies at 69

An extraordinary and proud defender who, nonetheless, was said to be incapable of making great catches, has died. Paul Blair, a critical cog during the Orioles' and Yankees' championship seasons in the 1960s and '70s, collapsed at a celebrity bowling tournament on Thursday outside Baltimore after he had played a round of golf. His death, at age 69, leaves the game without one of its legendary center fielders and a most popular alumnus.

Blair won eight Gold Glove Awards during his tour with the Orioles and was an essential factor in manager Earl Weaver's championship equation -- "Pitching, defense and the three-run homer."

Blair was so gifted a center fielder, "He couldn't make a great catch," Weaver said. "If the ball's in the park, my guy will be waiting for it when it comes down."

Blair reveled in that characterization.

The defense provided by Blair, the late shortstop Mark Belanger, third baseman Brooks Robinson and an assortment of second basemen -- most notably Davey Johnson -- was a primary factor in the successes of the Orioles and their vaunted starting rotation.

"It's like they had 15 guys with gloves out there," former Yankees pitcher Mel Stottlemyre said in 1985. "When our hitters came back to the dugout, they weren't cursing [Jim] Palmer, [Dave] McNally or [Mike] Cuellar. All you'd hear is 'Damn you, Blade [Belanger]' and 'I hate you, Brooks.' And Bobby [Murcer] always said you had to really pull the ball to keep it out of Blair's range."

Palmer, McNally, Cuellar and Pat Dobson were 20-game winners for the 1971 Orioles. Blair used to say "Brooksie, Blade, Davey and me were responsible for 40 of those wins. And Frank [Robinson] and Boog [Powell] were responsible for the other 40." But the four pitchers combined for 81 victories. "Earl got them the other one," Blair would say.

* * * * *

Paul L.D. Blair was the Orioles' regular center fielder from 1965-76, the year before he was traded to the Yankees. His value was primarily in the field. But he became a more productive hitter in '69, when he hit 26 homers and drove in 76 runs -- both career highs -- and batted .285. He placed 11th in the balloting for the American League Most Valuable Player Award behind MVP Harmon Killebrew and three Orioles teammates.

Blair was struck in the face by a pitch thrown by Ken Tatum of the Angels on May 31, 1970. His nose broken, Blair returned to the lineup three weeks later and contributed three hits to an Orioles victory in his second game back. But his batting began to flicker and then gradually diminish. He batted higher than .267 only once more and never approached 26 home runs after being hit.

Blair discounted the impact of the injury; he was unwilling to cite Tatum's pitch as the cause of his offensive decline. Instead, he attributed his decreased production to the departure -- in late 1971 -- of Frank Robinson, who had afforded him significant protection in Weaver's well-planned batting orders.

"I'd batted second, and Frank hit third," he said. "With him in there, all I saw was fastballs, because who would walk me to get to Frank? But with him gone, I started getting sliders and changeups, which were harder for me to hit. And I didn't have the discipline at the plate that I had in the field."

A right-handed hitter, Blair tried switch-hitting in 1971 but abandoned the idea when the results were lacking. Teammates believed he did have a problem hanging in the batter's box against certain right-handed pitchers, a problem related to Tatum's pitch. It seemingly became more evident with time. Blair batted .218 in 440 at-bats and .197 in 375 in his final two seasons with the O's.

Orioles managing partner Peter Angelos issued a statement a statement on Friday regarding Blair's passing. "It is with great sadness that we learned of Paul Blair's passing last evening," Angelos' statement read. "Paul was a key member of many of the Orioles' most memorable and successful teams, as his contributions at the plate and his Gold Glove defense in center field helped the club to two World Series and four AL pennants. After his on-field career, Paul made the Baltimore area his home and stayed involved with the organization through his appearances in the community and at the ballpark. On behalf of the Orioles, I extend my condolences to his wife, Gloria, and his family."

* * * * *

It was in the afterglow of the Yankees winning the decisive fifth game of the 1977 AL Championship Series that Thurman Munson, the Yankees' captain, praised Blair's courage for "hangin' in there." Blair had started the game in right field, as a replacement for uninjured Reggie Jackson. He led off the ninth inning against right-handed Dennis Leonard, the Royals' No. 1 starter who had been summoned to pitch in relief. His base hit to center field ignited the three-run rally that secured a 5-3 victory. Munson identified Blair as "my hero."

Two days later, Blair, a .288 hitter in 66 career at-bats in the World Series, contributed a run-scoring hit that ended Game 1 of the World Series, a single through the left side against right-handed Rick Rhoden. More heroism.

For all Blair did for the Yankees -- he was one of Billy Martin's favorites -- he did more to torment them when he played with the Orioles. After he had made two routinely graceful catches on the warning track against the Yankees in an afternoon home game in 1976, teammate Jackson called him "Venus ... like in fly trap. He's a killer. He just snaps that glove out there and all the flies are caught."

Blair was involved with Jackson in a different way during a Yankees' game in Fenway Park in 1977. He was the player Martin sent to right field to replace Jackson when the manager became outraged by what he considered lackadaisical play by his slugger.

And 23 years later, Blair became somewhat involved in a Yankees-Mets incident. Roger Clemens had beaned Mike Piazza with a fastball in an Interleague game at Yankee Stadium, a precursor to Clemens' bizarre bat-throwing behavior in the 2000 World Series. Piazza, who had suffered a concussion, became a sympathetic figure in the aftermath. But Blair, nicknamed "Motormouth" and known for his candor, blamed Piazza.

"He's always diving in against a great pitcher he owns," he said. "Roger has a rep as a headhunter. Mike has to know that. He should have expected something high and tight, especially the way he hits Roger." Blair often was at his best in the postseason. He hit a home run in Wally Bunkers' 1-0 shutout of the Dodgers in Game 3 of the 1966 World Series and denied Jim Lefebvre a home run that could have tied the score in the eighth inning of Game 4. Moreover, he batted .474 in the 1970 World Series and .333 in the '71 Series.

Blair's moment in the '69 World Series, one he would have preferred to avoid, came in Game 3. With the Mets leading, 4-0, in he seventh, Mets center fielder Tommie Agee made a sprawling catch at the lip of the warning track in right-center field. What might have been a three-run double for Blair became a third out.

Frustrating, of course. But Blair was unimpressed. He thought Agee's catch then and one his Mets counterpart made three innings earlier against Elrod Hendricks were not as difficult as they appeared.

"The one against me he should have caught standing up," Blair bluntly said years later. "It's no sour grape. I would have made it and stayed on my feet." Maybe so.

Marty Noble 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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Yankees among first clubs to contact Tanaka

By Bryan Hoch / MLB.com | 12/28/2013 10:15 A.M. ET

NEW YORK -- The Yankees have taken their first steps in pursuit of Japanese standout Masahiro Tanaka, touching base with the right-hander's representatives, according to multiple reports.

Newsday and the New York Daily News reported on Saturday that the Yankees have been among the first clubs to make contact with agent Casey Close, who is handling Tanaka's negotiations for Excel Sports Management.

The Yankees are not expected to make an offer until next week at the earliest, but they have identified the 25-year-old Tanaka as a top priority in an offseason that has already seen them commit more than $300 million to free agents like Jacoby Ellsbury, Brian McCann and Carlos Beltran.

General manager Brian Cashman has been seeking a frontline arm to add to a rotation that currently projects to include CC Sabathia, Ivan Nova, Hiroki Kuroda and several other candidates. The Yankees have seemed unimpressed by the remaining crop of free-agent starters.

Tanaka posted a 24-0 record with a 1.27 ERA last season with the Rakuten Golden Eagles of Japan's Pacific League, leading his club to a championship, and he could command a contract that exceeds $100 million. There will also be a posting fee owed to Rakuten by Tanaka's signing club, a figure capped at $20 million.

The size of Tanaka's expected salary suggests that the Yankees are prepared to exceed the $189 million payroll figure if necessary. Managing general partner Hal Steinbrenner has repeatedly said that the $189 million figure is a goal but not a mandate, and team officials have grown weary of discussing it in recent weeks.

The Dodgers, Red Sox, Rangers, Cubs and Mariners are among the clubs believed to be preparing to join the pursuit of Tanaka, who will have until 5 p.m. ET on Jan. 24 to sign a contract if he intends to pitch in the Majors in 2014.

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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Notre Dame tops Rutgers in Pinstripe Bowl

Notre Dame head coach Brian Kelly takes the microphone after Notre Dame defeated Rutgers, 29-16, at the Pinstripe Bowl. (AP)

NEW YORK -- There was no Knute Rockne moment, but Notre Dame didn't need one.

The Fighting Irish made a statement with simplicity Saturday at the Pinstripe Bowl, when they emerged from a halftime tie and dominated the rest of the game. Notre Dame wore down Rutgers down-by-down and drive-by-drive and held the ball for 20 minutes in the second half en route to a 29-16 win.

Notre Dame, ranked No. 25 by the Associated Press, had three drives of at least five minutes in Saturday's second half. Two of those drives ended in field goals, and the last resulted in a touchdown by Tarean Folston that gave the Fighting Irish a 10-point lead with less than four minutes remaining.

When it was all over, head coach Brian Kelly wanted to get with his team and deliver a heartfelt speech. Notre Dame, one year removed from the national title game, had a lot to be proud of.

"I first wanted to thank our seniors for what they have given to our program both on and off the field," Kelly said. "They have been great examples of what student-athletes are at Notre Dame both in the classroom, and they've certainly set a high bar. Four consecutive bowl games. Played for a national championship. Twenty-one wins in the last two years. So it was a bit emotional in that sense to see those guys for the last time in the locker room singing the fight song."

Notre Dame (9-4) and Rutgers (6-7) played to the first sellout in Pinstripe Bowl history, and the victory allowed the Fighting Irish to improve their all-time bowl record to 16-17. Notre Dame is now 17-6-3 in games played at Yankee Stadium, and it improved to 5-0 all-time against Rutgers.

Notre Dame ran the ball 43 times in the win, and quarterback Tommy Rees set a school record for bowl games by throwing the ball 47 times. But the true killer was time of possession. Rutgers held the ball for just 3:30 of the third quarter and netted just one yard as Notre Dame took control.

Offensive tackle Zack Martin was named the Most Valuable Player of the Pinstripe Bowl, marking the first time in the game's four-year history that the standout player wasn't a running back. Martin, in the aftermath, joked that he wasn't sure why he won, but that he'd gladly accept laurels for the team.

"Coming into the game, we knew there was going to be a point where the offensive line and the backs were going to have to take over," said Martin. "Our defense got a couple stops early in the second half and we were able to put together some long drives and get the ball in the end zone at the end."

Rutgers got off to a slow start Saturday, but it used a muffed punt by Notre Dame to tie the game on a field goal. Chas Dodd later led Rutgers on a 75-yard drive to tie the game again, connecting with Brandon Coleman for a 51-yard pass up the sideline and on a 14-yard touchdown to the corner.

Notre Dame intercepted Rutgers twice in the second quarter, once to set up a field goal and once to save another score. Dodd threw a pick at his 22-yard line early in the quarter, and with just three minutes left, Rutgers tried a halfback option pass that resulted in an interception at the goal line.

Neither team could push ahead at halftime, and Notre Dame was rarely challenged after the intermission. Rutgers kicked a game-tying field goal from the 1-yard line early in the second quarter, and coach Kyle Flood said that he knew his team would be in for a game of attrition.

"We knew we were going to give up some drives," he said. "We thought if we played good red zone defense and we could make them kick a few field goals and attempt some field goals, maybe we could block one and then win the game in the fourth quarter. We were kind of poised to do that."

Notre Dame, which played without running back George Atkinson III and cornerback Jalen Brown after an undisclosed violation of team rules, got five field goals from kicker Kyle Brinzda. Brinzda's five field goals tied a school record and set a new team mark for the most in a bowl game.

Kelly said that his team has a lot of building blocks for 2014, with four returning starters on the offensive line and a precocious young defense. Kelly knows that his team will miss standouts like Rees and wideout T.J. Jones, and he said Martin is one of the best players he's ever coached.

Notre Dame played five ranked opponents this season, beating Michigan State and Arizona State and losing to Michigan, Stanford and Oklahoma. Both the Michigan and Stanford losses came on the road, but Notre Dame fell behind early at home against Oklahoma and was never able to catch up.

"A good year that could've been a great year," said Kelly of his team's season. "I like the fact that the last couple of years we've played well at home, except for the Oklahoma game where we gave them 14 points early on some things we don't normally do. But I would say a couple of missed opportunities in some games where we could have easily been a team that's looking at double-digit wins.

"So it was a good year, but we want more. It's not enough for us; 9-4 is a good year for Notre Dame, but it's not what we sign up for every year. We wanted a little bit more out of this year."

Rutgers, by contrast, will go into next year thinking of untapped potential. The Scarlet Knights dropped six of their last eight games, and they'll begin play in the difficult Big Ten conference next season. Rutgers has only played in nine bowl games, but eight have come in the last nine years.

The Pinstripe Bowl, played in snowy conditions in each of the last two years, drew more than 47,000 fans Saturday. Rees set Pinstripe Bowl records in pass attempts (47), completions (27) and passing yards (319), and he also set a school record for career yards (683) in bowl games.

Rees also became the third quarterback in Notre Dame history to throw for more than 3,000 yards in a season, joining Brady Quinn and Jimmy Clausen (each of whom did it twice.) Now, Rees can ponder what comes next, but not until he gets a chance to savor the Pinstripe Bowl experience.

"It was an awesome week," said Rees. "They did a great job of taking care of us and giving us some great experiences in the city. Our goal all along -- and I've said it since Day One -- is we were coming here to win a game. And we were able to do that. Hats off to Rutgers for playing a great game."

Spencer Fordin 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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Former Indians broadcaster Hegan dies at 71

By Jordan Bastian / MLB.com | 12/25/2013 10:01 P.M. ET

CLEVELAND -- Mike Hegan spent most of his life around the Cleveland Indians. He shagged fly balls in the outfield of Cleveland Municipal Stadium as a boy, played in the ballpark as a visiting big leaguer and went on to call some of the franchise's most memorable games as a broadcaster.

The Indians lost a close friend on Christmas morning.

With family by his side on Wednesday, Hegan passed away in his home of Hilton Head, S.C., after a battle with an untreatable heart condition. He was 71.

Hegan's family ties to Cleveland date back to his father Jim Hegan, the longtime Indians catcher and member of the franchise's 1948 World Series championship team. During Jim's second season with the Tribe in 1942, James Michael "Mike" Hegan was born in Cleveland, where he was raised and embarked on his own path in baseball that had its roots in Northeast Ohio.

Most Indians fans might be more familiar with Hegan's voice than his accomplishments in the Major Leagues. After spending 12 seasons as a color commentator with the Brewers, Hegan joined the Indians' WUAB-TV broadcast team in 1989, alongside Jack Corrigan. Hegan went on to spend 23 years doing play-by-play and color in Cleveland's radio and TV booths.

In 1998, Hegan also was teamed with Tom Hamilton and Dave Nelson as part of a three-person radio broadcast on WTAM and shuttled between radio and television. Matt Underwood replaced Nelson in 2000 and the new trio stayed together through '06, when Underwood moved to TV and Hamilton and Hegan became a two-man team for three seasons, with Hegan focusing solely on radio work.

That partnership continued through 2011, when Hegan transitioned to an alumni ambassador role with the organization to focus more on family and his health. Hegan did return to call his final game on May 23, 2012, when the Indians pulled off a dramatic 4-2 victory over the Tigers.

Before his 50 years in professional baseball, Hegan starred as a three-sport athlete (football, basketball and baseball) at St. Ignatius High School on Cleveland's West Side. He was inducted into the St. Ignatius Hall of Fame in 1989. The Greater Cleveland Sports Hall of Fame similarly honored him in 2011.

After one season at Holy Cross, Hegan signed with the Yankees in 1961 and made his big league debut with the club in 1964. A first baseman and outfielder in his career, Hegan appeared in eight games between the regular season and World Series for the '64 Yankees, who lost the Fall Classic to the Cardinals in six games.

Hegan's big league career spanned 12 seasons, which included stints with the Yankees, Seattle Pilots, Milwaukee Brewers and Oakland A's. He was the first player to sign with Seattle's expansion team and belted the franchise's first home run in his first at-bat on Opening Day in 1969, his lone All-Star season. The Pilots moved to Milwaukee and became the Brewers in 1970.

That year, Hegan began an errorless streak at first base that spanned 178 games and extended into the '73 season. It stood as the American League record until Boston's Kevin Youkilis surpassed it in 2007. Hegan also captured a World Series title with the 1972 A's in the midst of that record run.

Later, from his perch high above the playing field, Hegan helped describe many of the Indians' historic moments throughout their incredible run in the '90s. He took pride in not only providing color commentary, but in being able to also provide play-by-play for his audience.

Hegan is survived by his wife, Nancy, his two sons, Shawn and J.J., and four grandchildren.

Jordan Bastian is a reporter for MLB.com. Read his blog, Major League Bastian, and follow him on Twitter @MLBastian. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.

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Former World Series hero Blair dies at 69

An extraordinary and proud defender who, nonetheless, was said to be incapable of making great catches, has died. Paul Blair, a critical cog during the Orioles' and Yankees' championship seasons in the 1960s and '70s, collapsed at a celebrity bowling tournament on Thursday outside Baltimore after he had played a round of golf. His death, at age 69, leaves the game without one of its legendary center fielders and a most popular alumnus.

Blair won eight Gold Glove Awards during his tour with the Orioles and was an essential factor in manager Earl Weaver's championship equation -- "Pitching, defense and the three-run homer."

Blair was so gifted a center fielder, "He couldn't make a great catch," Weaver said. "If the ball's in the park, my guy will be waiting for it when it comes down."

Blair reveled in that characterization.

The defense provided by Blair, the late shortstop Mark Belanger, third baseman Brooks Robinson and an assortment of second basemen -- most notably Davey Johnson -- was a primary factor in the successes of the Orioles and their vaunted starting rotation.

"It's like they had 15 guys with gloves out there," former Yankees pitcher Mel Stottlemyre said in 1985. "When our hitters came back to the dugout, they weren't cursing [Jim] Palmer, [Dave] McNally or [Mike] Cuellar. All you'd hear is 'Damn you, Blade [Belanger]' and 'I hate you, Brooks.' And Bobby [Murcer] always said you had to really pull the ball to keep it out of Blair's range."

Palmer, McNally, Cuellar and Pat Dobson were 20-game winners for the 1971 Orioles. Blair used to say "Brooksie, Blade, Davey and me were responsible for 40 of those wins. And Frank [Robinson] and Boog [Powell] were responsible for the other 40." But the four pitchers combined for 81 victories. "Earl got them the other one," Blair would say.

* * * * *

Paul L.D. Blair was the Orioles' regular center fielder from 1965-76, the year before he was traded to the Yankees. His value was primarily in the field. But he became a more productive hitter in '69, when he hit 26 homers and drove in 76 runs -- both career highs -- and batted .285. He placed 11th in the balloting for the American League Most Valuable Player Award behind MVP Harmon Killebrew and three Orioles teammates.

Blair was struck in the face by a pitch thrown by Ken Tatum of the Angels on May 31, 1970. His nose broken, Blair returned to the lineup three weeks later and contributed three hits to an Orioles victory in his second game back. But his batting began to flicker and then gradually diminish. He batted higher than .267 only once more and never approached 26 home runs after being hit.

Blair discounted the impact of the injury; he was unwilling to cite Tatum's pitch as the cause of his offensive decline. Instead, he attributed his decreased production to the departure -- in late 1971 -- of Frank Robinson, who had afforded him significant protection in Weaver's well-planned batting orders.

"I'd batted second, and Frank hit third," he said. "With him in there, all I saw was fastballs, because who would walk me to get to Frank? But with him gone, I started getting sliders and changeups, which were harder for me to hit. And I didn't have the discipline at the plate that I had in the field."

A right-handed hitter, Blair tried switch-hitting in 1971 but abandoned the idea when the results were lacking. Teammates believed he did have a problem hanging in the batter's box against certain right-handed pitchers, a problem related to Tatum's pitch. It seemingly became more evident with time. Blair batted .218 in 440 at-bats and .197 in 375 in his final two seasons with the O's.

Orioles managing partner Peter Angelos issued a statement a statement on Friday regarding Blair's passing. "It is with great sadness that we learned of Paul Blair's passing last evening," Angelos' statement read. "Paul was a key member of many of the Orioles' most memorable and successful teams, as his contributions at the plate and his Gold Glove defense in center field helped the club to two World Series and four AL pennants. After his on-field career, Paul made the Baltimore area his home and stayed involved with the organization through his appearances in the community and at the ballpark. On behalf of the Orioles, I extend my condolences to his wife, Gloria, and his family."

* * * * *

It was in the afterglow of the Yankees winning the decisive fifth game of the 1977 AL Championship Series that Thurman Munson, the Yankees' captain, praised Blair's courage for "hangin' in there." Blair had started the game in right field, as a replacement for uninjured Reggie Jackson. He led off the ninth inning against right-handed Dennis Leonard, the Royals' No. 1 starter who had been summoned to pitch in relief. His base hit to center field ignited the three-run rally that secured a 5-3 victory. Munson identified Blair as "my hero."

Two days later, Blair, a .288 hitter in 66 career at-bats in the World Series, contributed a run-scoring hit that ended Game 1 of the World Series, a single through the left side against right-handed Rick Rhoden. More heroism.

For all Blair did for the Yankees -- he was one of Billy Martin's favorites -- he did more to torment them when he played with the Orioles. After he had made two routinely graceful catches on the warning track against the Yankees in an afternoon home game in 1976, teammate Jackson called him "Venus ... like in fly trap. He's a killer. He just snaps that glove out there and all the flies are caught."

Blair was involved with Jackson in a different way during a Yankees' game in Fenway Park in 1977. He was the player Martin sent to right field to replace Jackson when the manager became outraged by what he considered lackadaisical play by his slugger.

And 23 years later, Blair became somewhat involved in a Yankees-Mets incident. Roger Clemens had beaned Mike Piazza with a fastball in an Interleague game at Yankee Stadium, a precursor to Clemens' bizarre bat-throwing behavior in the 2000 World Series. Piazza, who had suffered a concussion, became a sympathetic figure in the aftermath. But Blair, nicknamed "Motormouth" and known for his candor, blamed Piazza.

"He's always diving in against a great pitcher he owns," he said. "Roger has a rep as a headhunter. Mike has to know that. He should have expected something high and tight, especially the way he hits Roger." Blair often was at his best in the postseason. He hit a home run in Wally Bunkers' 1-0 shutout of the Dodgers in Game 3 of the 1966 World Series and denied Jim Lefebvre a home run that could have tied the score in the eighth inning of Game 4. Moreover, he batted .474 in the 1970 World Series and .333 in the '71 Series.

Blair's moment in the '69 World Series, one he would have preferred to avoid, came in Game 3. With the Mets leading, 4-0, in he seventh, Mets center fielder Tommie Agee made a sprawling catch at the lip of the warning track in right-center field. What might have been a three-run double for Blair became a third out.

Frustrating, of course. But Blair was unimpressed. He thought Agee's catch then and one his Mets counterpart made three innings earlier against Elrod Hendricks were not as difficult as they appeared.

"The one against me he should have caught standing up," Blair bluntly said years later. "It's no sour grape. I would have made it and stayed on my feet." Maybe so.

Marty Noble 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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Notre Dame, Rutgers ready to clash in Pinstripe Bowl

NEW YORK -- Call it a cold-and-dry run for the Super Bowl. New York and New Jersey, hosts of the ultimate game in pro football this season, will also stage the fourth annual Pinstripe Bowl, which pits Jersey-based Rutgers against national behemoth Notre Dame at Yankee Stadium on Saturday.

Notre Dame, one season removed from a berth in the BCS National Championship Game, can appreciate its surroundings. The Fighting Irish had a rich tradition in old Yankee Stadium, and they're looking forward to capping off their season with a victory over Rutgers in front of their local alumni.

"You hear, 'Well, it's not a BCS game,'" said Notre Dame coach Brian Kelly. "[Rutgers coach Kyle Flood] and I, we're competitors. That's first of all. Any game that you put in front of us, we want to win. It doesn't matter the venue. We love the venue. We love the bowl. We love what's happened for our kids this week, but we're competitive. The old phrase is, 'A game worth playing is a game worth winning.'"

Notre Dame, ranked No. 25 in The Associated Press poll, will be capping off a season that saw the Fighting Irish compete against five ranked opponents. Notre Dame (8-4) lost to Michigan, Oklahoma and Stanford, but it also earned impressive victories over Michigan State and Arizona State.

There's also the matter of Notre Dame's history against Rutgers. The Irish have played the Scarlet Knights four times -- including once at the Polo Grounds in 1921 -- and have never lost. Notre Dame has outscored the Rutgers 197-17 in those four games, a streak that includes three shutouts.

But the most recent victory came in 2002, which is almost three graduation cycles ago. None of the current Rutgers players remember any of those losses, and they just want to end their season on a positive note. The Scarlet Knights, 6-6 this year, will begin play in the Big Ten conference next season.

"This is a young football team," said Flood when asked about the future. "It will be a much different football team next year, when our senior class leaves and our freshman class comes in. That's kind of the nature of college football. These teams are very different year to year, so I don't know what it will mean going forward. But it's a great showcase for our program right now to play against a great program like Notre Dame. Ultimately, when that game is over, we'll look to our future in the Big Ten."

Notre Dame can boast of 11 national titles, six Hall of Fame coaches and seven Heisman Trophy winners, but that hasn't always translated to success in bowl games. Notre Dame is 15-17 all time in bowl games and has lost 11 of its last 13 bowls dating back to the 1995 campaign.

Rutgers, by contrast, has only appeared in eight bowl games, but the Scarlet Knights have been busy recently. Rutgers lost the Russell Athletic Bowl last season, but it won the Pinstripe Bowl the year before. The Scarlet Knights, in fact, have gone to a bowl game in six of the last seven years.

Rutgers ranks fourth nationally against the run with just 94.6 yards allowed per game, but its secondary ranks 120th in pass defense (311.4 yards per game). Neither team has been particularly explosive on offense this season, and Rutgers goes into the bowl with losses in five of its last seven games.

"Ultimately, you look at the season in its entirety, and I think there's a big difference between 7-6 and 6-7. It's a winning record and a losing record," said Flood of the stakes at the Pinstripe Bowl. "To our senior class, winning this game is very important. We remember what it was like just a year ago to lose a bowl game against a good program in overtime. It's not a good feeling in that locker room, for the team. It's not a good feeling for those seniors who have to walk out the door for the last time."

Both teams will be watching a senior quarterback play his final game. Tommy Rees, second in career touchdown passes at Notre Dame, will hope to go out with a victory, as will Chas Dodd of Rutgers, who started as a freshman and sophomore before coming off the bench the last two years.

Notre Dame also features senior wide receiver TJ Jones, who needs four catches in the Pinstripe Bowl to move into second place in the school's record books. Four seniors -- Kona Schwenke, Prince Shembo, Bennett Jackson and Austin Collinsworth -- will start for Notre Dame on defense.

"It's a little bittersweet and exciting," Jones said of playing his final college game. "It's exciting because you don't know what's next. I'm opening myself to the real world and there are countless opportunities, whether it's the NFL or any other job path I might take. But at the same time, I'm leaving a group of guys that I've built bonds with for four years and who I can honestly say are my brothers. It's going to be different next semester when they're going through spring ball and I'm sitting there watching."

Rutgers got to practice at home the last week, and Notre Dame borrowed the facilities of the New York Jets and the New York Giants for one day each. Both teams sent representatives to the New York Stock Exchange to ring the opening bell on Thursday, a traditional perk of the Pinstripe Bowl.

Notre Dame's players also got to take in the sights of Manhattan from Rockefeller Center, and they embarked on a group trip down to the World Trade Center memorial on Friday morning. Now, with the holidays and sightseeing behind them, it's time to focus on the bowl game business at hand.

"I've been to a number of bowl games and BCS games. I can tell you that in terms of the organization, in terms of the detail -- where you're going, what you're seeing -- you're really leaving here with an understanding of this great city," said Kelly of the events leading up to the Pinstripe Bowl. "I can tell you, after experiencing BCS bowls, it's as well-run as any. The kids have been part of that process. ... They're going to walk away feeling they were a part of the bowl season as much as any other program, and that's a tribute to the Pinstripe Bowl and the Yankee organization. They do it right."

Spencer Fordin 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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Yanks ready to go all-in on Tanaka -- and they need to

If the Yankees sign Masahiro Tanaka, their offseason will have been a dazzling success. Or maybe it's more appropriate to look at this thing from another angle. That is, if the Yanks don't sign Tanaka, they will not have succeeded in positioning themselves to finish ahead of the Red Sox and Rays in the American League East. Isn't it about that simple?

Even as the Yankees committed almost $300 million in the signings of Jacoby Ellsbury, Brian McCann and Carlos Beltran, they still had unfinished business. At the moment, their rotation is CC Sabathia, Ivan Nova, Hiroki Kuroda and possibly Michael Pineda and David Phelps.

If you look at that rotation from a certain angle, the Yankees could still win the AL East. To do that, Sabathia must figure out how to get by with diminished velocity. He probably is going to need to do that regardless of what happens with Tanaka. But seeing the Yanks' rotation from this angle probably is unrealistic.

In addition, Nova must have a second straight solid year, and Pineda, who hasn't started a game since Sept. 21, 2011, will have to prove his right shoulder is again sound.

From the beginning of this offseason, the Yankees have seemed to put all their chips on adding Tanaka to their rotation. Their assessment may change if they can't sign him, but so far, they've shown no interest in Matt Garza and Ervin Santana, the best of the remaining free-agent starters.

Tanaka is 25 years old and coming off a 212-inning season in which he walked 32 and struck out 183. He may not ever be as dominant as his buddy, Yu Darvish, but in the course of a 24-0 season, scouts have been effusive in their praise of his stuff and his poise.

To insert Tanaka alongside Sabathia, Nova and Kuroda would give the Yankees' rotation a far different look. Suddenly, it's one that might just be able to match up with the Rays and Red Sox.

The Yankees will still have questions about third base and the health of Mark Teixeira and Derek Jeter, but Tanaka seemingly would go a long way toward getting them back to the postseason.

Maybe that's why Tanaka signing with the Yankees has seemed like such a foregone conclusion. Now with the bidding scheduled to begin on Thursday morning, it'll be interesting to see how quickly the Yanks are able to close the deal and what the final price will be.

And it'll be interesting to see what other clubs get into the mix. The Diamondbacks would have postseason expectations if they pulled off a surprise and added Tanaka to their staff.

Likewise, the Rangers, who've already had a tremendous offseason, seem likely to at least make an offer. Tanaka and Darvish are said to be friends and workout partners. To pair them up could create an appealing comfort level for both players. And his signing might make the Rangers the best team in the big leagues.

Others? The Dodgers seem likely to make a run at Tanaka, and while they apparently have the cash to go toe to toe with the Yankees, the level of their interest is not known.

After that, there are an assortment of teams that could pull off the upset. The Cubs have been mentioned by some. The Giants, Mariners, Astros and Tigers would also make sense on some level.

Again, though, the Yanks are expected to be aggressive in attempting to close a deal, and while there may be a price they're not comfortable with -- see: Cano, Robinson, new Mariner -- Tanaka might be seen as the final piece to their 2014 club.

It's unlikely the Yankees could sign Tanaka and remain under their self-imposed $189 million luxury-tax threshold. On the other hand, they've emphasized that it was only a loose guideline and that they intend to be back in contention in 2014.

To do that, Tanaka's signing would seem to be a must. At the beginning of this process, it seems headed toward an inevitable conclusion. But that's what plenty of us thought about Cano's free agency as well.

So let the fun begin. This has already been a wild offseason with surprising signings and trades and big money being thrown around here, there and everywhere. Let's do it one more time.

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.

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Former Indians broadcaster Hegan dies at 71

By Jordan Bastian / MLB.com | 12/25/2013 10:01 P.M. ET

CLEVELAND -- Mike Hegan spent most of his life around the Cleveland Indians. He shagged fly balls in the outfield of Cleveland Municipal Stadium as a boy, played in the ballpark as a visiting big leaguer and went on to call some of the franchise's most memorable games as a broadcaster.

The Indians lost a close friend on Christmas morning.

With family by his side on Wednesday, Hegan passed away in his home of Hilton Head, S.C., after a battle with an untreatable heart condition. He was 71.

Hegan's family ties to Cleveland date back to his father Jim Hegan, the longtime Indians catcher and member of the franchise's 1948 World Series championship team. During Jim's second season with the Tribe in 1942, James Michael "Mike" Hegan was born in Cleveland, where he was raised and embarked on his own path in baseball that had its roots in Northeast Ohio.

Most Indians fans might be more familiar with Hegan's voice than his accomplishments in the Major Leagues. After spending 12 seasons as a color commentator with the Brewers, Hegan joined the Indians' WUAB-TV broadcast team in 1989, alongside Jack Corrigan. Hegan went on to spend 23 years doing play-by-play and color in Cleveland's radio and TV booths.

In 1998, Hegan also was teamed with Tom Hamilton and Dave Nelson as part of a three-person radio broadcast on WTAM and shuttled between radio and television. Matt Underwood replaced Nelson in 2000 and the new trio stayed together through '06, when Underwood moved to TV and Hamilton and Hegan became a two-man team for three seasons, with Hegan focusing solely on radio work.

That partnership continued through 2011, when Hegan transitioned to an alumni ambassador role with the organization to focus more on family and his health. Hegan did return to call his final game on May 23, 2012, when the Indians pulled off a dramatic 4-2 victory over the Tigers.

Before his 50 years in professional baseball, Hegan starred as a three-sport athlete (football, basketball and baseball) at St. Ignatius High School on Cleveland's West Side. He was inducted into the St. Ignatius Hall of Fame in 1989. The Greater Cleveland Sports Hall of Fame similarly honored him in 2011.

After one season at Holy Cross, Hegan signed with the Yankees in 1961 and made his big league debut with the club in 1964. A first baseman and outfielder in his career, Hegan appeared in eight games between the regular season and World Series for the '64 Yankees, who lost the Fall Classic to the Cardinals in six games.

Hegan's big league career spanned 12 seasons, which included stints with the Yankees, Seattle Pilots, Milwaukee Brewers and Oakland A's. He was the first player to sign with Seattle's expansion team and belted the franchise's first home run in his first at-bat on Opening Day in 1969, his lone All-Star season. The Pilots moved to Milwaukee and became the Brewers in 1970.

That year, Hegan began an errorless streak at first base that spanned 178 games and extended into the '73 season. It stood as the American League record until Boston's Kevin Youkilis surpassed it in 2007. Hegan also captured a World Series title with the 1972 A's in the midst of that record run.

Later, from his perch high above the playing field, Hegan helped describe many of the Indians' historic moments throughout their incredible run in the '90s. He took pride in not only providing color commentary, but in being able to also provide play-by-play for his audience.

Hegan is survived by his wife, Nancy, his two sons, Shawn and J.J., and four grandchildren.

Jordan Bastian is a reporter for MLB.com. Read his blog, Major League Bastian, and follow him on Twitter @MLBastian. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.

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Former World Series hero Blair dies at 69

MLB.com | 12/26/2013 10:45 P.M. ET

Paul Blair (right), with Ken Griffey at 2007 Old-Timers' Day at Yankee Stadium, played in the Majors from 1964-80. (Getty Images)

Paul Blair, an outfielder for the Orioles, Yankees and Reds who played on four World Series championship teams, died Thursday at 69, according to the Baltimore Sun.

Reports said Blair collapsed while bowling in Pikesville, Md. Blair was taken to Mount Sinai Hospital, where he was pronounced dead, a hospital supervisor confirmed to the Sun.

Blair was a part of the Orioles' championship teams of 1966 and 1970 and was a part of the Yankees' World Series championship teams of 1977 and 1978. He played in two other World Series with the Orioles (1969 and 1971). 

Blair won eight Gold Glove awards, the second-most in Orioles history after Hall of Famer Brooks Robinson, whom he played with on both championship teams.

Al Bumbry was a teammate with Blair during Bumbry's first four seasons in the majors, taking over in center field in 1977.

"I learned a lot watching him and talking to him about playing center field," Bumbry told MASN. "I was smart enough to realize the guy won a lot of Gold Gloves. He must know something."

Blair was known for his defensive prowess, but he also homered to win Game 3 of the 1966 Series and batted a team-high .474 in the 1970 Series when Baltimore beat the Reds in five games.

He played 12 years for the Orioles before stints with the Yankees and Reds.

In 17 seasons in the majors, he hit .250 with 134 home runs, 620 RBIs and 171 stolen bases. In addition to the six World Series, Blair was a two-time All-Star.

This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.

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Yanks ready to go all-in on Tanaka -- and they need to

If the Yankees sign Masahiro Tanaka, their offseason will have been a dazzling success. Or maybe it's more appropriate to look at this thing from another angle. That is, if the Yankees don't sign Tanaka, they will not have succeeded in positioning themselves to finish ahead of the Red Sox and Rays in the American League East. Isn't it about that simple?

Even as the Yankees committed almost $300 million in the signings of Jacoby Ellsbury, Brian McCann and Carlos Beltran, they still had unfinished business. At the moment, their rotation is CC Sabathia, Ivan Nova, Hiroki Kuroda and possibly Michael Pineda and David Phelps.

If you look at that rotation from a certain angle, the Yankees could still win the AL East. To do that, Sabathia must figure out how to get by with diminished velocity. He probably is going to need to do that regardless of what happens with Tanaka. But seeing the Yankees rotation from this angle probably is unrealistic.

In addition, Nova must have a second straight solid year, and Pineda, who hasn't started a game since Sept. 21, 2011, will have to prove his right shoulder is again sound.

From the beginning of this offseason, the Yankees have seemed to put all their chips on adding Tanaka to their rotation. Their assessment may change if they can't sign him, but so far, they've shown no interest in Matt Garza and Ervin Santana, the best of the remaining free-agent starters.

Tanaka is 25 years old and coming off a 212-inning season in which he walked 32 and struck out 183. He may not ever be as dominant as his buddy, Yu Darvish, but in the course of a 24-0 season, scouts have been effusive in their praise of his stuff and his poise.

To insert him alongside Sabathia, Nova and Kuroda would give the Yankees rotation a far different look. Suddenly, it's one that might just be able to match up with the Rays and Red Sox.

The Yankees will still have questions about third base and the health of Mark Teixeira and Derek Jeter, but Tanaka seemingly would go a long way toward getting them back to the postseason.

Maybe that's why him signing with the Yankees has seemed like such a foregone conclusion. Now with the bidding scheduled to begin on Thursday morning, it'll be interesting to see how quickly the Yankees are able to close the deal and what the final price will be.

And it'll be interesting to see what other clubs get into the mix. The Diamondbacks would have postseason expectations if they pulled off a surprise and added him to their staff.

Likewise, the Rangers, who've already had a tremendous offseason, seem likely to at least make an offer. Tanaka and Darvish are said to be friends and workout partners. To pair them up could create an appealing comfort level for both players. And his signing might make the Rangers the best team in the big leagues.

Others? The Dodgers seem likely to make a run at Tanaka, and while they apparently have the cash to go toe to toe with the Yankees, the level of their interest is not known.

After that, there are an assortment of teams that could pull off the upset. The Cubs have been mentioned by some. The Giants, Mariners, Astros and Tigers would also make sense on some level.

Again, though, the Yankees are expected to be aggressive in attempting to close a deal, and while there may be a price they're not comfortable with -- see: Cano, Robinson, new Mariner -- he might be seen as the final piece to their 2014 club.

It's unlikely the Yankees could sign him and remain under their self-imposed $189 million luxury-tax threshold. On the other hand, they've emphasized that it was only a loose guideline and that they intend to be back in contention in 2014.

To do that, Tanaka's signing would seem to be a must. At the beginning of this process, it seems headed toward an inevitable conclusion. But that's what plenty of us thought about Cano's free agency as well.

So let the fun begin. This has already been a wild offseason with surprising signings and trades and big money being thrown around here, there and everywhere. Let's do it one more time.

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.

14.25 | 0 komentar | Read More

Former Indians broadcaster Hegan dies at 71

By Jordan Bastian / MLB.com | 12/25/2013 10:01 P.M. ET

CLEVELAND -- Mike Hegan spent most of his life around the Cleveland Indians. He shagged fly balls in the outfield of Cleveland Municipal Stadium as a boy, played in the ballpark as a visiting big leaguer and went on to call some of the franchise's most memorable games as a broadcaster.

The Indians lost a close friend on Christmas morning.

With family by his side on Wednesday, Hegan passed away in his home of Hilton Head, S.C., after a battle with an untreatable heart condition. He was 71.

Hegan's family ties to Cleveland date back to his father Jim Hegan, the longtime Indians catcher and member of the franchise's 1948 World Series championship team. During Jim's second season with the Tribe in 1942, James Michael "Mike" Hegan was born in Cleveland, where he was raised and embarked on his own path in baseball that had its roots in Northeast Ohio.

Most Indians fans might be more familiar with Hegan's voice than his accomplishments in the Major Leagues. After spending 12 seasons as a color commentator with the Brewers, Hegan joined the Indians' WUAB-TV broadcast team in 1989, alongside Jack Corrigan. Hegan went on to spend 23 years doing play-by-play and color in Cleveland's radio and TV booths.

In 1998, Hegan also was teamed with Tom Hamilton and Dave Nelson as part of a three-person radio broadcast on WTAM and shuttled between radio and television. Matt Underwood replaced Nelson in 2000 and the new trio stayed together through '06, when Underwood moved to TV and Hamilton and Hegan became a two-man team for three seasons, with Hegan focusing solely on radio work.

That partnership continued through 2011, when Hegan transitioned to an alumni ambassador role with the organization to focus more on family and his health. Hegan did return to call his final game on May 23, 2012, when the Indians pulled off a dramatic 4-2 victory over the Tigers.

Before his 50 years in professional baseball, Hegan starred as a three-sport athlete (football, basketball and baseball) at St. Ignatius High School on Cleveland's West Side. He was inducted into the St. Ignatius Hall of Fame in 1989. The Greater Cleveland Sports Hall of Fame similarly honored him in 2011.

After one season at Holy Cross, Hegan signed with the Yankees in 1961 and made his big league debut with the club in 1964. A first baseman and outfielder in his career, Hegan appeared in eight games between the regular season and World Series for the '64 Yankees, who lost the Fall Classic to the Cardinals in six games.

Hegan's big league career spanned 12 seasons, which included stints with the Yankees, Seattle Pilots, Milwaukee Brewers and Oakland A's. He was the first player to sign with Seattle's expansion team and belted the franchise's first home run in his first at-bat on Opening Day in 1969, his lone All-Star season. The Pilots moved to Milwaukee and became the Brewers in 1970.

That year, Hegan began an errorless streak at first base that spanned 178 games and extended into the '73 season. It stood as the American League record until Boston's Kevin Youkilis surpassed it in 2007. Hegan also captured a World Series title with the 1972 A's in the midst of that record run.

Later, from his perch high above the playing field, Hegan helped describe many of the Indians' historic moments throughout their incredible run in the '90s. He took pride in not only providing color commentary, but in being able to also provide play-by-play for his audience.

Hegan is survived by his wife, Nancy, his two sons, Shawn and J.J., and four grandchildren.

Jordan Bastian is a reporter for MLB.com. Read his blog, Major League Bastian, and follow him on Twitter @MLBastian. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.

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Yankees start moves early in order to stay later

NEW YORK -- Keeping the lights off at Yankee Stadium in October never fits into the Yankees' business model, so it was anticipated that the organization would attack the offseason aggressively coming off an 85-win showing in 2013.

With so many items to handle on the to-do list, general manager Brian Cashman made it clear that he intended to tackle whatever he could as soon as possible, sending a message that the Yankees were open for business and ready to sign on the dotted line.

That approach has resulted in some bold-face additions to the Yankees' 2014 roster. Thanks to a spending spree of more than $300 million, manager Joe Girardi is pondering a lineup that will include Brian McCann, Jacoby Ellsbury and Carlos Beltran, as well as a few items still in the works.

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"Our need to be aggressive is because of how our season went," Cashman said. "The obvious answers aren't coming from within, so we have no choice but to be aggressive."

There were also pieces that the Yankees expressed interest in retaining, but ultimately did not. Robinson Cano was a top target and the Yankees offered seven years at $175 million, but that could not match the Mariners' larger offer. Curtis Granderson also switched boroughs, inking a four-year deal with the Mets.

"It's probably not what I would have imagined was going to happen," Girardi said, "because I think you always hold out that the players you have are going to [stay] and that you're going to add to it.

"But that's the nature of this business, players leave. We've added three guys that were with different teams last year, so it's happened to other teams as well. But what we've added to our lineup is as much as I've seen since I've been here. We've added a lot."

And with all of that activity, Cashman said that the Yankees still must fill holes going into the new year. The new-look lineup promises to ring up runs on the scoreboard, but people in the organization still have doubts about the pitching staff, an issue that the Yankees continue to look to address.

Given that, the Yankees head into 2014 with a healthy list of questions that soon will be answered. Here is a look at 10 of the most pressing, in no particular order:

1. How realistic is the goal of a $189 million payroll?

Managing general partner Hal Steinbrenner has spoken publicly numerous times about his desire to reduce payroll below $189 million in 2014, so that the Yankees can take advantage of a reset in their luxury tax bill, thus allowing them to pump dollars into their club, rather than the rest of the league.

Steinbrenner has also been clear that it is a goal and not an absolute mandate, and that a lower payroll will not come at the expense of a championship caliber club. Those words are about to be put to the test, as it would take some fancy footwork for the Yankees to fill all of their needs and still remain under $189 million.

Generally speaking, their only chance at this point is if Alex Rodriguez's suspension is upheld for the 2014 season, reducing their luxury tax hit on his contract from $27.5 million to $2.5 million. Even then, a run at elite Japanese pitcher Masahiro Tanaka could blow $189 million away. In that event, they could always try to reduce payroll again in 2015.

2. How will CC Sabathia and the starting five look?

The Yankees still point to Sabathia as their ace, and one positive is that the big lefty can still be counted on as an innings-eating workhorse. There were concerns this past year as Sabathia's velocity stalled and his home run rate rose. They are trends that the Yankees hope will reverse in his second year back from elbow surgery, but Sabathia himself has acknowledged that he has a lot of innings on his arm and some slowdown was inevitable.

Behind Sabathia, there are more questions. Cashman said that he wanted to import 400 innings to slot alongside Sabathia and Ivan Nova, and he found approximately 180 to 200 of those in Hiroki Kuroda, who was the Yanks' best starter for a long stretch last year before running out of gas in mid-August. The Yankees pushed Kuroda hard because they had to, and Girardi will likely take greater care with him in the second half in 2014.

Tanaka obviously would be a terrific fit on paper, and you can expect the Yankees to bid heavily for the Rakuten Golden Eagles standout. His arrival is no sure thing, as the Yankees will have competition and should probably anticipate being drawn into a bidding war.

As a backup plan, they've touched base with the other free agent starters on the market, a group paced by Bronson Arroyo, Matt Garza and Ubaldo Jimenez.

The Yanks also have a group of candidates like David Phelps, Michael Pineda, Adam Warren and Vidal Nuno to compete for a rotation spot in camp.

3. When (and how) will A-Rod's situation be resolved?

The Yankees, Rodriguez and Major League Baseball should have a final resolution on the appeal of Rodriguez's 211-game suspension shortly after the new year, which is good news for all parties involved. Independent arbitrator Fredric Horowitz has the ability to uphold, reduce or altogether lift Rodriguez's record-setting ban.

Club officials have said that they continue to proceed as though Rodriguez will be an active player in 2014, for budgetary reasons as well as in talent evaluation. If Rodriguez will be unavailable for most or all of the season, the Yankees would have some additional money to spend, but also will need help at third base. Currently, infielder Kelly Johnson would be the likeliest candidate on the roster to fill the position.

4. What should the Yankees expect from Derek Jeter?

Jeter played just 17 games in what he referred to as a "nightmare" season, and the organization re-signed him to a one-year, $12 million deal in early November. That contract is a challenge for Jeter to prove that last season was a fluke, and that a full offseason of lower-half training will allow his legs to recover and give the captain a strong base to play out a demanding season.

The Yankees aren't in the business of betting against Jeter, and for good reason, but there are still plenty of reasons for concern. He will turn 40 in June, and the number of everyday shortstops at that age is short and sweet. They re-signed defensive whiz Brendan Ryan as insurance and really won't know what they have until Jeter resumes playing in the spring.

5. How will Ellsbury, Beltran and McCann adapt to life with the Yankees?

Girardi said shortly before the holidays that he has already started to formulate lineups in his mind, and it's easy to see why he would be excited. The Yankees are betting big on three established stars, but as we've learned many times, there are no guarantees in free agency.

Ellsbury is a dynamic game-changer at the top of the order when healthy, which is why the Yankees made a massive $153 million commitment to him. The disabled list obviously has been an issue in his recent history, but Ellsbury said that he is completely healed after Boston's championship run, and the Yankees didn't see anything in his physical to warrant a red flag.

McCann offers a brand of power that the Yankees so sorely lacked from their catchers in 2013, and they also fell in love with his reputation for leadership in the clubhouse and on the field. Yankee Stadium promises to be an excellent fit for his left-handed stroke, but he also has had a few injury flags pop up. Catchers in their mid-30s tend to slow down, but for the first few years of the deal, the Yankees hope there is nothing to worry about.

They're also pleased by the addition of Beltran, adding another switch-hitter to the lineup, albeit one with some miles on the tires. Beltran has a reputation for being a solid clubhouse presence -- despite some hard feelings about his time with the Mets -- and his postseason track record is appealing. It all looks promising on paper, but of course a lot can change during a 162-game schedule.

6. How will the Yankees reduce their crowded outfield?

Cashman said that it would not be a "preferable situation" for the Yankees to carry six outfielders, which is a strong hint that something should happen there very shortly. The names most prominently on the bubble are Ichiro Suzuki and Vernon Wells. The Yanks would entertain a trade involving Ichiro, who has one year remaining at $6.5 million, but thus far haven't been able to drum up much interest. Thanks to some creative accounting, Wells actually doesn't cost against the Yanks' luxury tax bill in 2014, with his contract being paid by the Angels. Thus, he's a strong candidate for release if the Yankees determine that's necessary.

7. Who is Mariano Rivera's replacement?

Rivera strolled into the sunset back in late September saying that he believed David Robertson has earned a chance to serve as the next Yankees closer. That very well may turn out to be the case, but Cashman said recently that Robertson is unproven as a closer, and thus the organization is continuing to see what else is out there.

Grant Balfour's name popped back up on the radar after his deal with the Orioles fell apart. That would be one avenue the Yankees could pursue, but it would not be surprising if they ultimately choose to go with Robertson, whose sneaky fastball and high strikeout rates have tempted evaluators to picture him having a solid closing career.

8. What does the future hold for Brett Gardner?

The Yankees quickly turned down a trade offer from the Reds at the Winter Meetings that would have shipped Gardner to the Reds for second baseman Brandon Phillips. It is not difficult to see why teams view Gardner as an attractive and affordable piece, especially coming off a season in which he was healthy into September and seemed to come into his own.

But the Yankees also like Gardner for those same reasons, and do not intend to trade him unless they can score an upper-echelon starting pitcher in return. They do like the idea of Gardner as an Ellsbury-lite type of player, and whether it's 1-2 or 9-1 in Girardi's lineup, batting them back-to-back could have some fun consequences during the year.

9. How will the reconstructed bullpen perform?

Beyond replacing a Monument Park legend in Rivera, the Yankees also had some other business to tackle with their relief corps. They signed veteran lefty Matt Thornton to a two-year contract in December as a replacement for Boone Logan, who found a three-year deal with the Rockies.

That tackled one problem, but the Yankees still are patching together the alignment. Assuming Robertson gets the closing gig, he can count on Shawn Kelley and Preston Claiborne helping to set up. Behind them is a jumble of names that the Yankees don't seem ready to commit to yet. In fact, Cashman suggested that the Yankees might need to fill their pitching needs -- both rotation and bullpen -- via non-roster invitations in the spring, and maybe even later than that.

10. Can Mark Teixeira reach his baseball card numbers?

Teixeira often said, memorably, that you should be able to look at the back of his baseball card and count on seeing 30 home runs and 100 RBIs each year. For the better part of a decade, he was right, though those numbers dipped to 24 homers and 84 RBIs in 2012 and fell off completely in 2013 when he was able to play in just 15 games.

The right wrist surgery Teixeira had performed this past year can be tricky to return from, but there are success stories that suggest it can be done -- Jose Bautista is a prime example; David Ortiz is another. Teixeira said he feels close to 100 percent and that he will try to focus on hitting homers, driving in runs and playing top-notch defense. If he does, as far as the Yankees are concerned, that'll be enough.

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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