Cashman, Yankees prepare for offseason tasks

NEW YORK -- In an end-of-season conversation with managing general partner Hal Steinbrenner, Yankees general manager Brian Cashman said that he received a reminder of how large the tasks ahead of the organization will be this winter.

"We have a lot of work to do," Cashman said. "He hasn't given me anything specific other than, 'Here are the issues in front of us, and we've got to tackle them.' Everybody is disappointed that we're not where we want to be, but you've got to be in it to win it and we didn't qualify to be in it."

Cashman said that the Yankees will look at their starting rotation and have to deal with questions at three of their four infield positions, as Robinson Cano prepares to test free agency, Alex Rodriguez handles his appeal of a 211-game suspension and Derek Jeter tries to return from injuries.

The Yankees will start their professional scouting meetings on Monday, which will create the chess board to determine which players they will pursue. Cashman also said that the Yankees have been evaluating the decision making of their player development staff for the last two months.

"We're going through that process," Cashman said. "We haven't had as fruitful results from the Draft here recently as we had hoped and anticipated."

At some point in the near future, the Yankees will also learn how much money they have to spend to assemble the 2014 roster. Steinbrenner has been consistent in stating that he would like the payroll to dip beneath $189 million to take advantage of tax-related incentives.

"The only thing I can confidently tell you is, when the last name is Steinbrenner, the effort is going to be there in terms of making a full push for having the best team on the field you can possibly have," Cashman said.

Cashman reiterated Steinbrenner's position that the figure represents a goal and not an absolute mandate.

"It's a goal that we have and if it's possible, there's a lot of benefits to staying under that," Cashman said. "But it's not a mandate if it's at the expense of a championship."

Girardi speaks with Cashman, considers return

NEW YORK -- The Yankees hope to retain Joe Girardi as their manager and are set to open negotiations on a new contract, general manager Brian Cashman said on Tuesday.

Cashman said that he met for coffee with Girardi on Monday and has scheduled a meeting for Wednesday with Girardi's agent, Steve Mandell. Girardi's three-year, $9 million pact is set to expire in November.

"I'm not speaking for Joe, but I think if you're good at what you do, you'll have opportunities to stay," Cashman said. "He's definitely going to have that. We're going to give him a real good reason to stay. He's earned that."

The 2013 season marked Girardi's sixth at the helm of the Yankees. Over that span, Girardi has compiled a 564-408 regular-season record, winning one World Series, but also missing the playoffs twice.

Girardi said during the Yankees' season-ending series in Houston that he has loved his time with the organization, but that he has not made up his mind about managing in 2014.

"It comes down to family," Girardi said on Sunday. "They are first, and whatever is best for the group of us -- not one individual, not me or just my wife or just one of my children -- whatever is best for us as a group, that's what we'll decide to do.

"And that's something I've put some thought into and I'm going to have to think about a lot of the next few days. But that's a decision that we'll sit down and make and decide what's best."

He has been mentioned in media reports as a candidate for the Cubs' managerial vacancy, as Chicago parted ways with Dale Sveum this week, but Girardi said on Sunday that his connections to the Windy City are not as strong as they once were.

Asked if he would grant the Cubs permission to speak with Girardi, Cashman declined to comment.

"We can't control what other options or interests may be out there," Cashman said. "If you're good at what you do, people are going to have some interest. You can't predict the future on that; you can only control your side of it. I feel we hired a good one.

"He's been a world-champion player for us, a coach, a broadcaster, and obviously a world-champion manager. We've benefited from having him and we'd like to do that going forward. We'll have to stay tuned and see how it plays out."

Cashman said that if Girardi returns, the Yankees would also be interested in retaining the entire coaching staff: bench coach Tony Pena, hitting coach Kevin Long, pitching coach Larry Rothschild, infield coach Mick Kelleher and outfield coach Rob Thomson.

"They're not technically free agents until Oct. 31," Cashman said. "If Girardi comes back, I would like to have our coaches back, and I think Girardi feels the same way. But ultimately, because of the way the process needs to work, the manager has to be decided first and then you can focus on the coaches."

Though the Yankees posted only 85 victories in 2013, their lowest total in a full 162-game season since 1992, Cashman said that Girardi has been "consistently tremendous" in making the most of his roster and keeping the club motivated.

"This year was unique in a lot of different ways and he was able to still maintain that leadership, keep these guys hungry and motivated and not give up," Cashman said. "They never did. I never saw that. Thumbs up. I thought he did a great job, him and his staff."

'Homegrown' Cano in Yankees' long-term plans

NEW YORK -- The Yankees have consistently stated that they would like to retain second baseman Robinson Cano, who is set for his first crack at free agency, and general manager Brian Cashman has said that the club has already made the five-time All-Star one "significant offer" to stay in pinstripes.

Another is likely to follow in the near future, though a quick resolution to Cano's contract status seems unlikely. Through his representative at Jay-Z's Roc Nation Sports, CAA's Brodie Van Wagenen, Cano has reportedly asked the Yankees for a 10-year, $305 million deal.

"We'd love to have Robbie back," Cashman said. "There's not much more for me to say about that, but our intention is to have him back if we can. He'll receive without question, or has received, a significant offer to stay. He'll have something legitimately to ponder."

The Yankees' offers were reportedly in the arenas of eight years at $138 million and six years at $144 million. The requested $305 million pact would be the richest in history.

"He's been a great Yankee," Cashman said. "I think if he stays, he'll have a legitimate chance to experience what you just saw, for instance, for Mariano [Rivera]. Maybe he has the chance to be the first Dominican-born player in Monument Park; a homegrown Yankee.

"But at the same time, it's a business. He has comported himself in a tremendous way both on and off the field for the New York Yankees and we've been extremely happy to have him. We hope to extend that relationship."

Cashman said that Cano and his representatives "certainly" will be in a position to entertain offers from other clubs, a process that can begin after the World Series.

Bombers bits

• A position change is not in the works for Yankees captain Derek Jeter. Cashman said that the only options for Jeter will be shortstop and designated hitter.

• Yankees right-hander Michael Pineda completed the 2013 season healthy and was shut down only for prescribed rest coming off right shoulder surgery, according to Cashman.

The Yankees envision Pineda competing for a rotation spot next spring, but Cashman noted that Pineda can also be optioned to the Minors. Pineda has not thrown one big league pitch for the Yankees since being acquired from the Mariners prior to the 2012 season.

• Though he acknowledged the possibility that Hiroki Kuroda could retire, play in Japan or even seek a contract from another club in free agency, Cashman said that the Yankees have interest in keeping the veteran right-hander.

"Of course we'd love to have him back, but I don't know what's going to happen," Cashman said. "He did a great job. Obviously, he was our ace this year and regardless, we were really happy we were able to acquire him and hope that we can maintain a relationship with him as a player on this roster next year."

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

14.25 | 0 komentar | Read More

Girardi speaks with Cashman, considers return

NEW YORK -- The Yankees hope to retain Joe Girardi as their manager and are set to open negotiations on a new contract, general manager Brian Cashman said on Tuesday.

Cashman said that he met for coffee with Girardi on Monday and has scheduled a meeting for Wednesday with Girardi's agent, Steve Mandell. Girardi's three-year, $9 million pact is set to expire in November.

"I'm not speaking for Joe, but I think if you're good at what you do, you'll have opportunities to stay," Cashman said. "He's definitely going to have that. We're going to give him a real good reason to stay. He's earned that."

The 2013 season marked Girardi's sixth at the helm of the Yankees. Over that span, Girardi has compiled a 564-408 regular-season record, winning one World Series, but also missing the playoffs twice.

Girardi said during the Yankees' season-ending series in Houston that he has loved his time with the organization, but that he has not made up his mind about managing in 2014.

"It comes down to family," Girardi said on Sunday. "They are first, and whatever is best for the group of us -- not one individual, not me or just my wife or just one of my children -- whatever is best for us as a group, that's what we'll decide to do.

"And that's something I've put some thought into and I'm going to have to think about a lot of the next few days. But that's a decision that we'll sit down and make and decide what's best."

He has been mentioned in media reports as a candidate for the Cubs' managerial vacancy, as Chicago parted ways with Dale Sveum this week, but Girardi said on Sunday that his connections to the Windy City are not as strong as they once were.

Asked if he would grant the Cubs permission to speak with Girardi, Cashman declined to comment.

"We can't control what other options or interests may be out there," Cashman said. "If you're good at what you do, people are going to have some interest. You can't predict the future on that; you can only control your side of it. I feel we hired a good one.

"He's been a world-champion player for us, a coach, a broadcaster, and obviously a world-champion manager. We've benefited from having him and we'd like to do that going forward. We'll have to stay tuned and see how it plays out."

Cashman said that if Girardi returns, the Yankees would also be interested in retaining the entire coaching staff: bench coach Tony Pena, hitting coach Kevin Long, pitching coach Larry Rothschild, infield coach Mick Kelleher and outfield coach Rob Thomson.

"They're not technically free agents until Oct. 31," Cashman said. "If Girardi comes back, I would like to have our coaches back, and I think Girardi feels the same way. But ultimately, because of the way the process needs to work, the manager has to be decided first and then you can focus on the coaches."

Though the Yankees posted only 85 victories in 2013, their lowest total in a full 162-game season since 1992, Cashman said that Girardi has been "consistently tremendous" in making the most of his roster and keeping the club motivated.

"This year was unique in a lot of different ways and he was able to still maintain that leadership, keep these guys hungry and motivated and not give up," Cashman said. "They never did. I never saw that. Thumbs up. I thought he did a great job, him and his staff."

Cashman, Yankees prepare for offseason tasks

NEW YORK -- In an end-of-season conversation with managing general partner Hal Steinbrenner, Yankees general manager Brian Cashman said that he received a reminder of how large the tasks ahead of the organization will be this winter.

"We have a lot of work to do," Cashman said. "He hasn't given me anything specific other than, 'Here are the issues in front of us, and we've got to tackle them.' Everybody is disappointed that we're not where we want to be, but you've got to be in it to win it and we didn't qualify to be in it."

Cashman said that the Yankees will look at their starting rotation and have to deal with questions at three of their four infield positions, as Robinson Cano prepares to test free agency, Alex Rodriguez handles his appeal of a 211-game suspension and Derek Jeter tries to return from injuries.

The Yankees will start their professional scouting meetings on Monday, which will create the chess board to determine which players they will pursue. Cashman also said that the Yankees have been evaluating the decision making of their player development staff for the last two months.

"We're going through that process," Cashman said. "We haven't had as fruitful results from the Draft here recently as we had hoped and anticipated."

At some point in the near future, the Yankees will also learn how much money they have to spend to assemble the 2014 roster. Steinbrenner has been consistent in stating that he would like the payroll to dip beneath $189 million to take advantage of tax-related incentives.

"The only thing I can confidently tell you is, when the last name is Steinbrenner, the effort is going to be there in terms of making a full push for having the best team on the field you can possibly have," Cashman said.

Cashman reiterated Steinbrenner's position that the figure represents a goal and not an absolute mandate.

"It's a goal that we have and if it's possible, there's a lot of benefits to staying under that," Cashman said. "But it's not a mandate if it's at the expense of a championship."

'Homegrown' Cano in Yankees' long-term plans

NEW YORK -- The Yankees have consistently stated that they would like to retain second baseman Robinson Cano, who is set for his first crack at free agency, and general manager Brian Cashman has said that the club has already made the five-time All-Star one "significant offer" to stay in pinstripes.

Another is likely to follow in the near future, though a quick resolution to Cano's contract status seems unlikely. Through his representative at Jay-Z's Roc Nation Sports, CAA's Brodie Van Wagenen, Cano has reportedly asked the Yankees for a 10-year, $305 million deal.

"We'd love to have Robbie back," Cashman said. "There's not much more for me to say about that, but our intention is to have him back if we can. He'll receive without question, or has received, a significant offer to stay. He'll have something legitimately to ponder."

The Yankees' offers were reportedly in the arenas of eight years at $138 million and six years at $144 million. The requested $305 million pact would be the richest in history.

"He's been a great Yankee," Cashman said. "I think if he stays, he'll have a legitimate chance to experience what you just saw, for instance, for Mariano [Rivera]. Maybe he has the chance to be the first Dominican-born player in Monument Park; a homegrown Yankee.

"But at the same time, it's a business. He has comported himself in a tremendous way both on and off the field for the New York Yankees and we've been extremely happy to have him. We hope to extend that relationship."

Cashman said that Cano and his representatives "certainly" will be in a position to entertain offers from other clubs, a process that can begin after the World Series.

Bombers bits

• A position change is not in the works for Yankees captain Derek Jeter. Cashman said that the only options for Jeter will be shortstop and designated hitter.

• Yankees right-hander Michael Pineda completed the 2013 season healthy and was shut down only for prescribed rest coming off right shoulder surgery, according to Cashman.

The Yankees envision Pineda competing for a rotation spot next spring, but Cashman noted that Pineda can also be optioned to the Minors. Pineda has not thrown one big league pitch for the Yankees since being acquired from the Mariners prior to the 2012 season.

• Though he acknowledged the possibility that Hiroki Kuroda could retire, play in Japan or even seek a contract from another club in free agency, Cashman said that the Yankees have interest in keeping the veteran right-hander.

"Of course we'd love to have him back, but I don't know what's going to happen," Cashman said. "He did a great job. Obviously, he was our ace this year and regardless, we were really happy we were able to acquire him and hope that we can maintain a relationship with him as a player on this roster next year."

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

14.24 | 0 komentar | Read More

A-Rod rep denies legal PEDs report

By Bryan Hoch / MLB.com | 10/2/2013 8:42 P.M. ET

Alex Rodriguez's hearing with Major League Baseball and an arbitrator went to a third day Wednesday. (David Karp/AP)

NEW YORK -- A representative for Alex Rodriguez has denied a published report that the Yankees third baseman is planning to claim that he believed he had been supplied with legal supplements by the now-shuttered Biogenesis clinic.

Rodriguez appeared at Major League Baseball's New York headquarters for a third consecutive day on Wednesday. The three-time American League Most Valuable Player is appealing a 211-game suspension that was levied by MLB on Aug. 5, as part of the league's investigation into Biogenesis, an anti-aging clinic that formerly operated in Coral Gables, Fla.

"We cannot provide any details of this hearing as the chair of the arbitration panel has issued an order prohibiting all parties from commenting publicly on the confidential proceedings, but what is being reported is not true," Rodriguez's spokesman, Ron Berkowitz, said in a statement.

Citing a source, the New York Daily News reported on Wednesday that Rodriguez's attorneys "have presented a case based partly" on the claim that the substances Rodriguez received from Biogenesis and its founder, Anthony Bosch, were believed to be legal.

Bosch, who is cooperating with the league's investigation into the clinic, is expected to testify that Rodriguez knowingly received illegal performance-enhancing drugs from his operation.

Rodriguez has said that he plans to be present for all of the proceedings taking place within MLB's Park Avenue offices and estimated that the process should take five days.

Fredric Horowitz, an independent arbitrator who is based in Southern California, will review the case and has the options to completely uphold, reduce or dismiss Rodriguez's suspension. Horowitz is expected to issue a ruling within 25 days of the opening of the hearing.

In August, MLB stated that it was disciplining Rodriguez due to "use and possession of numerous forms of prohibited performance-enhancing substances, including testosterone and human growth hormone, over the course of multiple years," as well as "attempting to cover up his violations of the program by engaging in a course of conduct intended to obstruct and frustrate the Office of the Commissioner's investigation."

The Yankees have said that they are continuing to plan as though Rodriguez will be available to play third base next season, pending Horowitz's decision. Rodriguez is set to earn approximately $25 million in 2014, plus a possible $6 million bonus if he hits six home runs to tie Willie Mays' career total of 660.

"It's not something that's in our control, so I'm not focused on it," Yankees general manager Brian Cashman said on Tuesday. "I have Alex plugged in, unless I'm told something different."

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

14.24 | 0 komentar | Read More

'Homegrown' Cano in Yankees' long-term plans

NEW YORK -- The Yankees have consistently stated that they would like to retain second baseman Robinson Cano, who is set for his first crack at free agency, and general manager Brian Cashman has said that the club has already made the five-time All-Star one "significant offer" to stay in pinstripes.

Another is likely to follow in the near future, though a quick resolution to Cano's contract status seems unlikely. Through his representative at Jay-Z's Roc Nation Sports, CAA's Brodie Van Wagenen, Cano has reportedly asked the Yankees for a 10-year, $305 million deal.

"We'd love to have Robbie back," Cashman said. "There's not much more for me to say about that, but our intention is to have him back if we can. He'll receive without question, or has received, a significant offer to stay. He'll have something legitimately to ponder."

The Yankees' offers were reportedly in the arenas of eight years at $138 million and six years at $144 million. The requested $305 million pact would be the richest in history.

"He's been a great Yankee," Cashman said. "I think if he stays, he'll have a legitimate chance to experience what you just saw, for instance, for Mariano [Rivera]. Maybe he has the chance to be the first Dominican-born player in Monument Park; a homegrown Yankee.

"But at the same time, it's a business. He has comported himself in a tremendous way both on and off the field for the New York Yankees and we've been extremely happy to have him. We hope to extend that relationship."

Cashman said that Cano and his representatives "certainly" will be in a position to entertain offers from other clubs, a process that can begin after the World Series.

Girardi speaks with Cashman, considers return

NEW YORK -- The Yankees hope to retain Joe Girardi as their manager and are set to open negotiations on a new contract, general manager Brian Cashman said on Tuesday.

Cashman said that he met for coffee with Girardi on Monday and has scheduled a meeting for Wednesday with Girardi's agent, Steve Mandell. Girardi's three-year, $9 million pact is set to expire in November.

"I'm not speaking for Joe, but I think if you're good at what you do, you'll have opportunities to stay," Cashman said. "He's definitely going to have that. We're going to give him a real good reason to stay. He's earned that."

The 2013 season marked Girardi's sixth at the helm of the Yankees. Over that span, Girardi has compiled a 564-408 regular-season record, winning one World Series, but also missing the playoffs twice.

Girardi said during the Yankees' season-ending series in Houston that he has loved his time with the organization, but that he has not made up his mind about managing in 2014.

"It comes down to family," Girardi said on Sunday. "They are first, and whatever is best for the group of us -- not one individual, not me or just my wife or just one of my children -- whatever is best for us as a group, that's what we'll decide to do.

"And that's something I've put some thought into and I'm going to have to think about a lot of the next few days. But that's a decision that we'll sit down and make and decide what's best."

He has been mentioned in media reports as a candidate for the Cubs' managerial vacancy, as Chicago parted ways with Dale Sveum this week, but Girardi said on Sunday that his connections to the Windy City are not as strong as they once were.

Asked if he would grant the Cubs permission to speak with Girardi, Cashman declined to comment.

"We can't control what other options or interests may be out there," Cashman said. "If you're good at what you do, people are going to have some interest. You can't predict the future on that; you can only control your side of it. I feel we hired a good one.

"He's been a world-champion player for us, a coach, a broadcaster, and obviously a world-champion manager. We've benefited from having him and we'd like to do that going forward. We'll have to stay tuned and see how it plays out."

Cashman said that if Girardi returns, the Yankees would also be interested in retaining the entire coaching staff: bench coach Tony Pena, hitting coach Kevin Long, pitching coach Larry Rothschild, infield coach Mick Kelleher and outfield coach Rob Thomson.

"They're not technically free agents until Oct. 31," Cashman said. "If Girardi comes back, I would like to have our coaches back, and I think Girardi feels the same way. But ultimately, because of the way the process needs to work, the manager has to be decided first and then you can focus on the coaches."

Though the Yankees posted only 85 victories in 2013, their lowest total in a full 162-game season since 1992, Cashman said that Girardi has been "consistently tremendous" in making the most of his roster and keeping the club motivated.

"This year was unique in a lot of different ways and he was able to still maintain that leadership, keep these guys hungry and motivated and not give up," Cashman said. "They never did. I never saw that. Thumbs up. I thought he did a great job, him and his staff."

Cashman, Yankees prepare for offseason tasks

NEW YORK -- In an end-of-season conversation with managing general partner Hal Steinbrenner, Yankees general manager Brian Cashman said that he received a reminder of how large the tasks ahead of the organization will be this winter.

"We have a lot of work to do," Cashman said. "He hasn't given me anything specific other than, 'Here are the issues in front of us, and we've got to tackle them.' Everybody is disappointed that we're not where we want to be, but you've got to be in it to win it and we didn't qualify to be in it."

Cashman said that the Yankees will look at their starting rotation and have to deal with questions at three of their four infield positions, as Robinson Cano prepares to test free agency, Alex Rodriguez handles his appeal of a 211-game suspension and Derek Jeter tries to return from injuries.

The Yankees will start their professional scouting meetings on Monday, which will create the chess board to determine which players they will pursue. Cashman also said that the Yankees have been evaluating the decision making of their player development staff for the last two months.

"We're going through that process," Cashman said. "We haven't had as fruitful results from the Draft here recently as we had hoped and anticipated."

At some point in the near future, the Yankees will also learn how much money they have to spend to assemble the 2014 roster. Steinbrenner has been consistent in stating that he would like the payroll to dip beneath $189 million to take advantage of tax-related incentives.

"The only thing I can confidently tell you is, when the last name is Steinbrenner, the effort is going to be there in terms of making a full push for having the best team on the field you can possibly have," Cashman said.

Cashman reiterated Steinbrenner's position that the figure represents a goal and not an absolute mandate.

"It's a goal that we have and if it's possible, there's a lot of benefits to staying under that," Cashman said. "But it's not a mandate if it's at the expense of a championship."

Bombers bits

• A position change is not in the works for Yankees captain Derek Jeter. Cashman said that the only options for Jeter will be shortstop and designated hitter.

• Yankees right-hander Michael Pineda completed the 2013 season healthy and was shut down only for prescribed rest coming off right shoulder surgery, according to Cashman.

The Yankees envision Pineda competing for a rotation spot next spring, but Cashman noted that Pineda can also be optioned to the Minors. Pineda has not thrown one big league pitch for the Yankees since being acquired from the Mariners prior to the 2012 season.

• Though he acknowledged the possibility that Hiroki Kuroda could retire, play in Japan or even seek a contract from another club in free agency, Cashman said that the Yankees have interest in keeping the veteran right-hander.

"Of course we'd love to have him back, but I don't know what's going to happen," Cashman said. "He did a great job. Obviously, he was our ace this year and regardless, we were really happy we were able to acquire him and hope that we can maintain a relationship with him as a player on this roster next year."

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

14.24 | 0 komentar | Read More

Cashman, Yankees prepare for offseason tasks

NEW YORK -- In an end-of-season conversation with managing general partner Hal Steinbrenner, Yankees general manager Brian Cashman said that he received a reminder of how large the tasks ahead of the organization will be this winter.

"We have a lot of work to do," Cashman said. "He hasn't given me anything specific other than, 'Here are the issues in front of us, and we've got to tackle them.' Everybody is disappointed that we're not where we want to be, but you've got to be in it to win it and we didn't qualify to be in it."

Cashman said that the Yankees will look at their starting rotation and have to deal with questions at three of their four infield positions, as Robinson Cano prepares to test free agency, Alex Rodriguez handles his appeal of a 211-game suspension and Derek Jeter tries to return from injuries.

The Yankees will start their professional scouting meetings on Monday, which will create the chess board to determine which players they will pursue. Cashman also said that the Yankees have been evaluating the decision making of their player development staff for the last two months.

"We're going through that process," Cashman said. "We haven't had as fruitful results from the Draft here recently as we had hoped and anticipated."

At some point in the near future, the Yankees will also learn how much money they have to spend to assemble the 2014 roster. Steinbrenner has been consistent in stating that he would like the payroll to dip beneath $189 million to take advantage of tax-related incentives.

"The only thing I can confidently tell you is, when the last name is Steinbrenner, the effort is going to be there in terms of making a full push for having the best team on the field you can possibly have," Cashman said.

Cashman reiterated Steinbrenner's position that the figure represents a goal and not an absolute mandate.

"It's a goal that we have and if it's possible, there's a lot of benefits to staying under that," Cashman said. "But it's not a mandate if it's at the expense of a championship."

Girardi speaks with Cashman, considers return

NEW YORK -- The Yankees hope to retain Joe Girardi as their manager and are set to open negotiations on a new contract, general manager Brian Cashman said on Tuesday.

Cashman said that he met for coffee with Girardi on Monday and has scheduled a meeting for Wednesday with Girardi's agent, Steve Mandell. Girardi's three-year, $9 million pact is set to expire in November.

"I'm not speaking for Joe, but I think if you're good at what you do, you'll have opportunities to stay," Cashman said. "He's definitely going to have that. We're going to give him a real good reason to stay. He's earned that."

The 2013 season marked Girardi's sixth at the helm of the Yankees. Over that span, Girardi has compiled a 564-408 regular-season record, winning one World Series, but also missing the playoffs twice.

Girardi said during the Yankees' season-ending series in Houston that he has loved his time with the organization, but that he has not made up his mind about managing in 2014.

"It comes down to family," Girardi said on Sunday. "They are first, and whatever is best for the group of us -- not one individual, not me or just my wife or just one of my children -- whatever is best for us as a group, that's what we'll decide to do.

"And that's something I've put some thought into and I'm going to have to think about a lot of the next few days. But that's a decision that we'll sit down and make and decide what's best."

He has been mentioned in media reports as a candidate for the Cubs' managerial vacancy, as Chicago parted ways with Dale Sveum this week, but Girardi said on Sunday that his connections to the Windy City are not as strong as they once were.

Asked if he would grant the Cubs permission to speak with Girardi, Cashman declined to comment.

"We can't control what other options or interests may be out there," Cashman said. "If you're good at what you do, people are going to have some interest. You can't predict the future on that; you can only control your side of it. I feel we hired a good one.

"He's been a world-champion player for us, a coach, a broadcaster, and obviously a world-champion manager. We've benefited from having him and we'd like to do that going forward. We'll have to stay tuned and see how it plays out."

Cashman said that if Girardi returns, the Yankees would also be interested in retaining the entire coaching staff: bench coach Tony Pena, hitting coach Kevin Long, pitching coach Larry Rothschild, infield coach Mick Kelleher and outfield coach Rob Thomson.

"They're not technically free agents until Oct. 31," Cashman said. "If Girardi comes back, I would like to have our coaches back, and I think Girardi feels the same way. But ultimately, because of the way the process needs to work, the manager has to be decided first and then you can focus on the coaches."

Though the Yankees posted only 85 victories in 2013, their lowest total in a full 162-game season since 1992, Cashman said that Girardi has been "consistently tremendous" in making the most of his roster and keeping the club motivated.

"This year was unique in a lot of different ways and he was able to still maintain that leadership, keep these guys hungry and motivated and not give up," Cashman said. "They never did. I never saw that. Thumbs up. I thought he did a great job, him and his staff."

'Homegrown' Cano in Yankees' long-term plans

NEW YORK -- The Yankees have consistently stated that they would like to retain second baseman Robinson Cano, who is set for his first crack at free agency, and general manager Brian Cashman has said that the club has already made the five-time All-Star one "significant offer" to stay in pinstripes.

Another is likely to follow in the near future, though a quick resolution to Cano's contract status seems unlikely. Through his representative at Jay-Z's Roc Nation Sports, CAA's Brodie Van Wagenen, Cano has reportedly asked the Yankees for a 10-year, $305 million deal.

"We'd love to have Robbie back," Cashman said. "There's not much more for me to say about that, but our intention is to have him back if we can. He'll receive without question, or has received, a significant offer to stay. He'll have something legitimately to ponder."

The Yankees' offers were reportedly in the arenas of eight years at $138 million and six years at $144 million. The requested $305 million pact would be the richest in history.

"He's been a great Yankee," Cashman said. "I think if he stays, he'll have a legitimate chance to experience what you just saw, for instance, for Mariano [Rivera]. Maybe he has the chance to be the first Dominican-born player in Monument Park; a homegrown Yankee.

"But at the same time, it's a business. He has comported himself in a tremendous way both on and off the field for the New York Yankees and we've been extremely happy to have him. We hope to extend that relationship."

Cashman said that Cano and his representatives "certainly" will be in a position to entertain offers from other clubs, a process that can begin after the World Series.

Bombers bits

• A position change is not in the works for Yankees captain Derek Jeter. Cashman said that the only options for Jeter will be shortstop and designated hitter.

• Yankees right-hander Michael Pineda completed the 2013 season healthy and was shut down only for prescribed rest coming off right shoulder surgery, according to Cashman.

The Yankees envision Pineda competing for a rotation spot next spring, but Cashman noted that Pineda can also be optioned to the Minors. Pineda has not thrown one big league pitch for the Yankees since being acquired from the Mariners prior to the 2012 season.

• Though he acknowledged the possibility that Hiroki Kuroda could retire, play in Japan or even seek a contract from another club in free agency, Cashman said that the Yankees have interest in keeping the veteran right-hander.

"Of course we'd love to have him back, but I don't know what's going to happen," Cashman said. "He did a great job. Obviously, he was our ace this year and regardless, we were really happy we were able to acquire him and hope that we can maintain a relationship with him as a player on this roster next year."

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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Girardi speaks with Cashman, considers return

NEW YORK -- The Yankees hope to retain Joe Girardi as their manager and are set to open negotiations on a new contract, general manager Brian Cashman said on Tuesday.

Cashman said that he met for coffee with Girardi on Monday and has scheduled a meeting for Wednesday with Girardi's agent, Steve Mandell. Girardi's three-year, $9 million pact is set to expire in November.

"I'm not speaking for Joe, but I think if you're good at what you do, you'll have opportunities to stay," Cashman said. "He's definitely going to have that. We're going to give him a real good reason to stay. He's earned that."

The 2013 season marked Girardi's sixth at the helm of the Yankees. Over that span, Girardi has compiled a 564-408 regular-season record, winning one World Series, but also missing the playoffs twice.

Girardi said during the Yankees' season-ending series in Houston that he has loved his time with the organization, but that he has not made up his mind about managing in 2014.

"It comes down to family," Girardi said on Sunday. "They are first, and whatever is best for the group of us -- not one individual, not me or just my wife or just one of my children -- whatever is best for us as a group, that's what we'll decide to do.

"And that's something I've put some thought into and I'm going to have to think about a lot of the next few days. But that's a decision that we'll sit down and make and decide what's best."

He has been mentioned in media reports as a candidate for the Cubs' managerial vacancy, as Chicago parted ways with Dale Sveum this week, but Girardi said on Sunday that his connections to the Windy City are not as strong as they once were.

Asked if he would grant the Cubs permission to speak with Girardi, Cashman declined to comment.

"We can't control what other options or interests may be out there," Cashman said. "If you're good at what you do, people are going to have some interest. You can't predict the future on that; you can only control your side of it. I feel we hired a good one.

"He's been a world-champion player for us, a coach, a broadcaster, and obviously a world-champion manager. We've benefited from having him and we'd like to do that going forward. We'll have to stay tuned and see how it plays out."

Cashman said that if Girardi returns, the Yankees would also be interested in retaining the entire coaching staff: bench coach Tony Pena, hitting coach Kevin Long, pitching coach Larry Rothschild, infield coach Mick Kelleher and outfield coach Rob Thomson.

"They're not technically free agents until Oct. 31," Cashman said. "If Girardi comes back, I would like to have our coaches back, and I think Girardi feels the same way. But ultimately, because of the way the process needs to work, the manager has to be decided first and then you can focus on the coaches."

Though the Yankees posted only 85 victories in 2013, their lowest total in a full 162-game season since 1992, Cashman said that Girardi has been "consistently tremendous" in making the most of his roster and keeping the club motivated.

"This year was unique in a lot of different ways and he was able to still maintain that leadership, keep these guys hungry and motivated and not give up," Cashman said. "They never did. I never saw that. Thumbs up. I thought he did a great job, him and his staff."

Cashman, Yankees prepare for offseason tasks

NEW YORK -- In an end-of-season conversation with managing general partner Hal Steinbrenner, Yankees general manager Brian Cashman said that he received a reminder of how large the tasks ahead of the organization will be this winter.

"We have a lot of work to do," Cashman said. "He hasn't given me anything specific other than, 'Here are the issues in front of us, and we've got to tackle them.' Everybody is disappointed that we're not where we want to be, but you've got to be in it to win it and we didn't qualify to be in it."

Cashman said that the Yankees will look at their starting rotation and have to deal with questions at three of their four infield positions, as Robinson Cano prepares to test free agency, Alex Rodriguez handles his appeal of a 211-game suspension and Derek Jeter tries to return from injuries.

The Yankees will start their professional scouting meetings on Monday, which will create the chess board to determine which players they will pursue. Cashman also said that the Yankees have been evaluating the decision making of their player development staff for the last two months.

"We're going through that process," Cashman said. "We haven't had as fruitful results from the Draft here recently as we had hoped and anticipated."

At some point in the near future, the Yankees will also learn how much money they have to spend to assemble the 2014 roster. Steinbrenner has been consistent in stating that he would like the payroll to dip beneath $189 million to take advantage of tax-related incentives.

"The only thing I can confidently tell you is, when the last name is Steinbrenner, the effort is going to be there in terms of making a full push for having the best team on the field you can possibly have," Cashman said.

Cashman reiterated Steinbrenner's position that the figure represents a goal and not an absolute mandate.

"It's a goal that we have and if it's possible, there's a lot of benefits to staying under that," Cashman said. "But it's not a mandate if it's at the expense of a championship."

'Homegrown' Cano in Yankees' long-term plans

NEW YORK -- The Yankees have consistently stated that they would like to retain second baseman Robinson Cano, who is set for his first crack at free agency, and general manager Brian Cashman has said that the club has already made the five-time All-Star one "significant offer" to stay in pinstripes.

Another is likely to follow in the near future, though a quick resolution to Cano's contract status seems unlikely. Through his representative at Jay-Z's Roc Nation Sports, CAA's Brodie Van Wagenen, Cano has reportedly asked the Yankees for a 10-year, $305 million deal.

"We'd love to have Robbie back," Cashman said. "There's not much more for me to say about that, but our intention is to have him back if we can. He'll receive without question, or has received, a significant offer to stay. He'll have something legitimately to ponder."

The Yankees' offers were reportedly in the arenas of eight years at $138 million and six years at $144 million. The requested $305 million pact would be the richest in history.

"He's been a great Yankee," Cashman said. "I think if he stays, he'll have a legitimate chance to experience what you just saw, for instance, for Mariano [Rivera]. Maybe he has the chance to be the first Dominican-born player in Monument Park; a homegrown Yankee.

"But at the same time, it's a business. He has comported himself in a tremendous way both on and off the field for the New York Yankees and we've been extremely happy to have him. We hope to extend that relationship."

Cashman said that Cano and his representatives "certainly" will be in a position to entertain offers from other clubs, a process that can begin after the World Series.

Bombers bits

• A position change is not in the works for Yankees captain Derek Jeter. Cashman said that the only options for Jeter will be shortstop and designated hitter.

• Yankees right-hander Michael Pineda completed the 2013 season healthy and was shut down only for prescribed rest coming off right shoulder surgery, according to Cashman.

The Yankees envision Pineda competing for a rotation spot next spring, but Cashman noted that Pineda can also be optioned to the Minors. Pineda has not thrown one big league pitch for the Yankees since being acquired from the Mariners prior to the 2012 season.

• Though he acknowledged the possibility that Hiroki Kuroda could retire, play in Japan or even seek a contract from another club in free agency, Cashman said that the Yankees have interest in keeping the veteran right-hander.

"Of course we'd love to have him back, but I don't know what's going to happen," Cashman said. "He did a great job. Obviously, he was our ace this year and regardless, we were really happy we were able to acquire him and hope that we can maintain a relationship with him as a player on this roster next year."

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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Exit Sandman: Mo calls it a career

HOUSTON -- The last day in a big league uniform for the man with the most saves in history started with an apology, as Mariano Rivera admitted that he was feeling a bit "selfish" for not taking the field as the Yankees played out the final three games of the schedule.

It concluded with Rivera at total peace, crossing the finish line of a farewell tour that started this spring and continued through cities across North America, where he was lavished with gifts and was universally praised as the best closer the game has ever seen.

Rivera has savored this wonderful 162-game journey, attempting to give back more than he has received at each stop while also fulfilling his duties in the late innings on the mound. That is done now, Rivera said, so it is finally time to go home.

"There is no sadness at all," Rivera said in the visitor's clubhouse at Minute Maid Park, having shed his road gray No. 42 jersey for the last time. "Definitely, I've been ready for this moment. I'm OK with it, I'm happy with it, and I will move on."

It would have seemed anticlimactic for Rivera to conclude his career here in Houston, in a stadium he had never pitched in during a regular-season game, and with the Yankees unable to qualify for the postseason -- the time when he shone the brightest, compiling a record 42 saves and exiting the game with a razor-sharp 0.70 ERA.

The sequence of events that took place last Thursday in New York, where Rivera retired all four batters he faced before tearfully handing the ball off to longtime teammates Andy Pettitte and Derek Jeter, had been choreographed too well to spoil with another appearance.

"Simple. It's over. That's it. My season finished in New York," Rivera said.

So with another classy moment in a season that has been filled by them, Rivera apologized at the conclusion of a pregame ceremony in his honor.

"I want to leave with the game I played at Yankee Stadium on Thursday -- I want to keep that memory of mine," Rivera told a crowd of 40,542. "For that, I apologize. You guys deserved more, but I'm being a little selfish."

A five-time World Series champion, Rivera leaves the game with 652 regular-season saves, the first of which came on May 17, 1996, against the Angels.

The last came on Sept. 18 at Toronto, marking his 44th save in a season that concluded with a 2.11 ERA in 64 appearances. Indeed, his ERA at age 43 was actually a tenth of a run lower than his career ERA of 2.21.

"There's nobody -- I don't care what era you're talking about - who is ever going to do what he has done as a closer," said former Yankees manager Joe Torre, who was on hand in Houston to help send Rivera off into retirement.

In that final appearance in the Bronx last Thursday, Rivera had disappeared under the tunnel after getting two outs in the eighth inning, seeking heat treatment for his arm.

Rivera had not talked about it - in fact, manager Joe Girardi had to hear it from Jeter and Pettitte, and only after Rivera already returned to the mound - but his right forearm had been aching for some time.

His surgically repaired knee had been barking as well, but Rivera continued to push through a heavy September workload, not needing to save bullets with his club on the fringes of qualifying to press into October.

"That's just who he is," Girardi said. "He was going to do everything in his power to help us get to where we wanted to go."

A playoff appearance was not meant to be, and so when Jeter reached the mound for that instantly famous pitching change and said, "Time to go," all the emotions building inside Rivera were emptied on Pettitte's sweatshirt-clad shoulder.

"He carries himself just as he's always carried himself; a class act," Pettitte said. "That's what I would like people to know, and I hope people see that. He's just always been a great teammate, and a great friend of mine. And I love him dearly."

Two days later, when Pettitte pitched a complete game in front of his hometown crowd to author his own memorable conclusion, Rivera remarked that "going out on your own terms is the best."

He would know. After all, it took Rivera less than 24 hours to decide that the final image of his career would not be of a broken 42-year-old writhing in pain on a Kansas City warning track.

Hobbling on crutches, his right ACL torn and in need of season-ending surgery, Rivera returned to Kauffman Stadium the next day and defiantly dared reporters to "write it down in big letters" that he would return in 2013 -- a promise he made good on, and then some.

"I really believe that, in our lifetime, I don't know if we'll be able to say that about another pitcher that can do what he's done at 43," Girardi said. "I really don't. We have watched something that is truly special."

And now the show was over; the credits were rolling and the house lights came on.

Rivera pulled on his jacket and tightened a tie around his neck, doing so with complete certainty that he had made the right call. As he said last week, baseball may be what he did for a living, but it never defined Rivera as a man.

There is more for him to invest time into, beginning with the church he is restoring in suburban New Rochelle, N.Y., as well as the charitable missions his foundation is planning. Rivera said that he felt "a sense of relief," knowing that this ending was perfect.

"Like I said, I'm done," Rivera said. "And I'll stick with it."

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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Yanks withstand injury wave until final week

NEW YORK -- There was never an instance during this injury-ravaged season, Joe Girardi said, when he was tempted to give in to exasperation and declare, "Enough!" But it is not difficult to imagine him doing so, and furthermore, no one would have blamed him.

Had anyone walked through the doors of the Yankees' clubhouse this spring and delivered this message from the future, that the club would have 19 players on the disabled list and set a franchise record with 56 players used, Girardi wouldn't have believed it.

2013 season wraps

2014 outlooks

How could that be? It was difficult to fathom even while playing out in plain view: Each passing week seemed to produce at least one trip for X-rays or MRI exams. But while the Yankees missed the postseason for just the second time in 19 years, they still were able to fight and stay afloat into the season's final week.

"I'm extremely proud of this group because of what they've done and all that they've had to deal with," Girardi said. "You get one guy back, and he goes back on the DL. It's been strange with all the stuff that they've dealt with, but they've never stopped believing in themselves."

Girardi said that he took pride in the fact that his club seemed to always give a total effort, even when an early season rash of injuries to stars like Curtis Granderson, Derek Jeter and Mark Teixeira made prognosticators revise their picks and wipe the Yankees out of the playoff forecast.

"I know all the guys in that room expected to win a championship," said left-hander Andy Pettitte, who retired at the conclusion of the year. "We felt going into the season we had the team and the power to do that."

The Yankees patched the holes as best they could, making some early season acquisitions by trading for Vernon Wells and signing Lyle Overbay with three days left in camp; both had an impact, though Alfonso Soriano would prove to be the best acquisition of all, slugging 11 home runs in August alone after coming over in a late-July trade with the Cubs.

Alex Rodriguez's unprecedented 211-game suspension by Major League Baseball for violating the Joint Drug Agreement threatened to be a serious distraction, but the players seemed to handle the circus well. A galvanizing moment came in August, when Rodriguez was intentionally thrown at by the Red Sox's Ryan Dempster in a game at Fenway Park.

"I'm not sure how I would feel if I was on a different team, but Alex is my teammate," Brett Gardner said that night. "And obviously, I'm glad to have him back in the room."

The Yankees' on-field play also carried the ongoing subplot of Mariano Rivera's final season. The 43-year-old all-time saves leader returned from a devastating torn anterior cruciate ligament in his right knee and made his retirement tour count, as he carved out time to make memories behind the scenes with longtime employees, fans and other personnel in each city the club visited.

"It has been great," Rivera said. "No regrets. It has been wonderful. The only thing that I wish is we could be in a different position than we are now."

That was a similar refrain in a season when the Yankees had eight rookies make their debuts, part of a final cast of 56 participants that ranged alphabetically from infielder David Adams to left-hander Mike Zagurski.

"Everything here is judged on whether you win the World Series or not," Girardi said. "That's just the nature of the business. But I can tell you that these guys have given everything I could ask for."

Record: 85-77, third place in the American League East

Defining moment: The Yankees hosted a memorable ceremony for Rivera on Sept. 22, retiring his No. 42 on an afternoon in which Pettitte carried a one-hitter through seven innings in his final Stadium start. But the day of celebration turned bittersweet as the Yankees twice had runners thrown out at the plate in a 2-1 loss to the Giants. Already saying goodbye to Rivera and Pettitte, the Yankees were also forced to acknowledge that any reasonable chance of making the playoffs was now gone.

What went right: Rivera was as dominant as ever in his final season, reaching 40 saves for the ninth time in his career. ... Robinson Cano was called upon to carry the offense and did an admirable job in a contract season, marking his third campaign with at least 25 homers and 100 RBIs. ... The acquisition of Soriano on July 26 was a steal. He became just the fifth player in history to collect 50 or more RBIs for two teams in one season. ... Gardner came into his own as a solid force, becoming the first Yankee since 1945 to have at least 30 doubles, 10 triples and 20 stolen bases in a season. ... A-Rod surpassed Lou Gehrig for the all-time grand slams record with the 24th of his career on Sept. 20. ... The 41-year-old Pettitte finished his career on a strong note, pitching well in August and September. ... The Yankees set a franchise record by having 23 players hit home runs. ... Lyle Overbay, released by the Red Sox near the end of the spring, provided stability at first base. He had four go-ahead home runs, including three in the seventh inning or later. ... Shawn Kelley was a solid arm out of the bullpen after being acquired via trade in February. ... Ivan Nova was the AL Pitcher of the Month for August, going 4-0 with a 2.08 ERA. ... Hiroki Kuroda was the Yankees' best starter before running out of steam in mid-August. ... Ichiro Suzuki collected his 4,000th career hit (Majors and Japan combined) on Aug. 21.

What went wrong: The injury tone was set by Granderson, who had his right forearm fractured by a pitch in his first at-bat of the spring. He missed 38 games, then had his left hand broken by a pitch on May 24. ... Jeter served four stints on the disabled list in what he called a "nightmare" season, batting .190 in just 17 games. ... The signings of Kevin Youkilis ($12 million) and Travis Hafner ($2 million) were flops. Youkilis played in just 28 games before having back surgery, and Hafner didn't help much after April. ... CC Sabathia posted a career-high 4.78 ERA, and Kuroda faltered when the team needed him in August and September. ... Phil Hughes skidded badly in a contract year, costing himself millions. The Yankees are not expected to bid on his services as a free agent for 2014. ... The Yankees tried nine third basemen other than A-Rod. None was particularly productive. ... Eduardo Nunez was unable to take advantage of a chance to play shortstop regularly. ... Francisco Cervelli lost most of his season to injury, then was hit with a 50-game suspension for violating the Joint Drug Agreement. ... Ichiro's performance fell off after July. After a warm start, Wells saw his bat cool, and the highly paid veteran slipped into reserve duty. ... Joba Chamberlain fell out of favor and was mostly used as a mop-up reliever in the second half. Preston Claiborne also struggled after a promising start to his rookie season. ... Michael Pineda had a setback while rehabbing from right shoulder surgery and has still not pitched a big league inning for the Yankees.

Biggest surprise: It had to be that Girardi was able to keep an injury-ravaged roster in the playoff race down to the final week of the season. The sense of the lineup changed with Soriano's arrival, as the Yankees were suddenly a team that could win by outslugging opponents, but they had been largely punchless for the first half of the season. The Yankees could have easily sunk under .500 this year, but Girardi mixed and matched to showcase a strong bullpen while keeping his veteran players fresh.

Hitter of the Year: Cano

Pitcher of the Year: Rivera

Rookie of the Year: right-hander Adam Warren

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

14.24 | 0 komentar | Read More

Yanks' departures may necessitate creativity

NEW YORK -- The final week of the regular season doubled as an extended farewell for Mariano Rivera and Andy Pettitte, as the Yankees graciously and deservedly thanked the pair of stars who served as key contributors for five World Series-winning clubs.

Now, as the Yankees begin to plot how they can make good on managing general partner Hal Steinbrenner's decree to field a championship-caliber club each season, team executives must brace for a winter that could set the course for the organization's future.

"It's going to be a new age next year, some new faces in here," Yankees right-hander David Robertson said. "I mean, we're losing Mariano and Andy Pettitte. Those are two legends here at Yankee Stadium. Nobody's going to be able to replace them. All we can do is hopefully have the guys we have fill in."

2013 season wraps

2014 outlooks

The Yankees are expected to make Joe Girardi a solid offer to return as manager, and it would not be surprising to see Girardi return for a seventh season at the helm. That's an easy call compared to the topic of next year's payroll, following a 2013 season in which it exceeded $220 million, much of it paid to players on the disabled list.

Steinbrenner, who once described himself as "finance geek," has spoken openly about his desire to reduce the payroll below $189 million for 2014. That would reset the luxury tax penalty rate and allow for bigger spending in 2015, but it presents a difficult balancing act in terms of filling the Yankees' present needs.

There is some wiggle room, as Steinbrenner has said that coming in under $189 million is a "goal" but not an absolute requirement, and not at the expense of the on-field product. With Robinson Cano expected to hunt for a free-agency deal that could top $200 million, the Yankees may need all the payroll flexibility they can get -- especially after team president Randy Levine recently said that nobody, Cano included, "is a re-sign at any cost."

Alex Rodriguez's unresolved situation with Major League Baseball could steer the course of the winter. Rodriguez's appeal of a 211-game suspension is scheduled to begin on Sept. 30, and if the ban is upheld by independent arbitrator Fredric Horowitz, the Yankees could be off the hook for paying Rodriguez's $27.5 million salary for next season.

Shortstop Derek Jeter has a $9.5 million option for next season that he intends to execute, which would give the Yankees just six players under contract for 2014: Jeter, CC Sabathia, Mark Teixeira, Alfonso Soriano, Ichiro Suzuki and Vernon Wells.

After issuing raises to their arbitration-eligible players, the Yankees figure to have about $80 million to distribute to their 2014 payroll, with free agents like Cano, Curtis Granderson and Hiroki Kuroda deserving consideration.

The Yankees saw this season that their Minor League system was unable to present many big league-ready choices for promotion, so it would not be surprising to see general manager Brian Cashman work the phones and attempt to trade pieces in order to add depth.

As the Yankees absorb just their second darkened October in the last 19 years, change is in the air. Jeter acknowledged that this month, having watched the "Core Four" get reduced to just himself and noting the Yankees are already in a new chapter of franchise history.

"What's the future of the organization?" Jeter said. "You hope that we have a lot of young players who can come up and contribute. I don't know if it will be to the extent that we [in the "Core Four"] have, and what I mean by that is the timeframe. I don't know if you'll see that again."

Arbitration eligible: C Francisco Cervelli, CF Brett Gardner, RHP Shawn Kelley, RHP Ivan Nova, RHP Michael Pineda, RHP Robertson, C Chris Stewart.

Free agents: 2B Cano, RHP Joba Chamberlain, OF Granderson, DH Travis Hafner, LHP David Huff, RHP Phil Hughes, SS Jeter ($9.5 million player option), RHP Kuroda, LHP Boone Logan, 1B Lyle Overbay, LHP Pettitte, IF Mark Reynolds, RHP Rivera, SS Brendan Ryan, IF Kevin Youkilis, LHP Mike Zagurski.

Rotation: Girardi recently said of Sabathia, "My thought is CC will be [No.] 1, and then we'll go from there." It's unclear who would follow him. Not only is Pettitte is retiring, but Kuroda is eligible for free agency. The right-hander has given no indications regarding whether he intends to retire or return to Japan.

The Yankees probably won't attempt to keep Hughes. Nova is expected to be back, but the Yanks will definitely be shopping for starting pitching. On paper, they'd fill out their rotation right now with Phelps, Warren and Pineda as the leading in-house candidates. No wonder they've been scouting Japanese star Masahiro Tanaka, who has been referred to as a Yu Darvish-type talent.

Bullpen: There will be a great deal of focus on how the Yankees handle the closer's role after Rivera, but Robertson has been groomed for the job and can wriggle out of jams with the best of them. How Cashman assembles a bridge to get to the ninth inning may be a better question.

Kelley showed promise this year, and if Logan doesn't return, the Yankees like lefty Cesar Cabral. Preston Claiborne enjoyed some early success as a rookie and should be up for a big league job, and maybe Vidal Nuno will get another look. It's clear that the Yankees will need more arms to round out the bullpen.

Catcher: The Yankees went with a defense-first catching tandem this season, tabbing Cervelli and Stewart while letting Russell Martin walk as a free agent. Cervelli played just 17 games before being lost to injury and then suspension, and Stewart was overexposed as he set a new career high in games played.

Brian McCann is a free agent and offers a tempting option. It is also possible that the Yankees could try to save money here again. Stewart is eligible for arbitration, so Cervelli and Austin Romine are good guesses to be in line to handle the pitching staff, with rookie J.R. Murphy beginning the year at Triple-A and No. 1 prospect Gary Sanchez tabbed for Double-A.

First base: Teixeira is expected to return after being limited to a .151 batting average in 15 games. The histories of Jose Bautista and David Ortiz, who bounced back from similar wrist injuries, suggest that Teixeira still should be able to do damage as a powerful switch-hitter in the heart of the order.

But Teixeira has acknowledged that, as he heads into his age-34 season, the best years of his career are already behind him and he may never be able to replicate his terrific 2009 season. If Teixeira is healthy, there's little chance Overbay can return.

Second base: The safe bet is that Cano will stay in the Bronx. The haggling points will be the length of a deal that is likely to reach $20 million to $25 million per season. It's unclear how great the level of outside bidding for Cano's services will be. It would be in the interest of Cano's representatives, Jay-Z and Brodie Van Wagenen, to get teams like the Dodgers involved.

Shortstop: Even if a full offseason is able to restore the strength in Jeter's legs, the Yankees would be wise to add depth rather than roll the dice that a 40-year-old shortstop coming off two left ankle fractures can remain healthy for 162 games. Ryan is an excellent defender and showed some hitting ability in a small sample size. Other options include Nunez, who boasts great athleticism and maddening inconsistency, or the versatile Nix.

Third base: The verdict on Rodriguez's suspension will set the offseason in motion. The Yanks tried nine third basemen other than A-Rod this year and found few answers. They could try David Adams or Nunez again there. Another choice is Reynolds, who offered power at the infield corners and would consider returning as a free agent. Youkilis may try to play in 2014, but it's doubtful he'd be asked back to the Bronx.

Left field: The Yankees have a couple of high-priced veterans slotted in. Soriano should be locked in as the everyday left fielder next year, and the Cubs are paying all but $5 million of his salary. Wells started in left field more than any other Yankee in 2013, and he's under contract for one more season, with the tab being picked up by the Angels. Zoilo Almonte is a depth option.

Center field: It seems likely that the Yankees will make Granderson a qualifying offer of one year at about $14 million. After missing most of the year to injuries, would he accept that and try for a bigger score as a free agent in 2015? Then again, Granderson also knows the Yankees already bumped him out of center field in favor of Gardner. The Yankees like what Gardner offered as an option at the top of the lineup and rate him as an excellent defensive outfielder.

Right field: Ichiro will be back for the second year of a two-year deal, earning $6.5 million. Girardi said that Ichiro played well "at times" this season, and he continues to be an above-average defensive outfielder, but he went into an extended second-half slide at the plate that made the veteran's advancing years hard to ignore. Wells can also play here, but he's best suited for reserve duty.

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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Mo should be first unanimous Hall of Fame inductee

HOUSTON -- Tom Seaver couldn't do it. Neither could Nolan Ryan nor Cal Ripken. Ty Cobb came up short, too.

Mariano Rivera?

Why not?

If baseball is ever going to have a unanimous Hall of Fame selection, Rivera ought to be it. This is his last challenge in baseball, the appropriate final touch to a 19-year career defined by greatness.

In 77 years of Hall of Fame balloting, no player has been named on every ballot. Seaver came the closest, getting the votes of 425 of 430 members of the Baseball Writers' Association of America who cast ballots (98.84 percent) in 1992.

Ryan made it onto 491 of 497 ballots (98.79 percent) in 1999, and Ripken, Cobb and George Brett all got better than 98 percent of the vote.

But no one has ever been unanimous.

Could Rivera be the first? Could someone come up with a reason for not voting for him?

Actually, the same question could have been asked of Seaver, Ryan et al. Someone can always find a justification for doing something dumb. Maybe Rivera's other goal could be beating Seaver's 98.84 voting percentage.

At a time when players have been stained by performance-enhancing drugs -- either by the acknowledgment that they used them or the suspicion by voters that they did -- Rivera pitched 19 seasons without the hint of any such scandal.

In terms of production on the field and good citizenship off it, no player has ever been closer to perfect than Rivera. If there's a reason against voting for him, it would have to be someone's bias against relievers getting into the Hall, or some other knucklehead logic.

Let's review.

First, there are the 652 regular-season saves, the most in history. Rivera was about winning, too. In 19 seasons, his Yankees missed the playoffs just twice. He was a member of five World Series championship teams and got the final out in four of them.

Rivera was at his best when the stakes were highest. In 96 postseason appearances, he compiled a 0.70 ERA and had 42 saves. He pitched 141 postseason innings, which is the equivalent of two full seasons as a closer.

Most of those appearances came in pressure situations for a franchise defined by its championships. That is, almost every single postseason appearance meant something. And 141 innings, he allowed 11 earned runs.

The Yankees rode him hard in the postseason. As former Yankees manager Joe Torre said the other day, "When he took the ball, you felt the game was over."

"You became a spectator," said Torre's successor, Joe Girardi.

Rivera was so efficient with his pitches that he could pitch more games than some other closers. He went more than an inning for 31 of his 42 postseason saves. He pitched two innings for 13 of them.

And there was the masterful three-inning shutdown of the Red Sox in Game 7 of the 2003 American League Championship Series. The Yankees and Red Sox were tied at 5-5 when Torre handed Rivera the ball in the ninth inning.

That was that.

He'd pitched two innings in Game 3 of that series and two more in Game 5 two days earlier. Yet with one day of rest, he took the ball and didn't give it back. The Yankees won it in the bottom of the 11th inning, and the Rivera legacy grew a bit more magical.

There have always been things about relievers that are harder to measure than other positions. For instance, every player, coach and manager will tell you that the toughest defeats to take happen after blowing a ninth-inning lead. Those are the ones likely to have a hangover impact.

That psychological impact cuts both ways. When teams played the Yankees, they saw the game as being eight innings long. If they didn't get the lead in the first eight, they had no chance in the ninth.

In the postseason, the Yankees' opponents had to do it by the seventh inning because they knew Torre or Girardi would be unafraid to call on Rivera for two innings.

There was something else about Rivera that was impossible to measure. His impact on the clubhouse, on the team, was dramatic.

Torre said that when a player joined the clubhouse, Rivera would approach the newcomer and welcome him to the club. If a player seemed uncomfortable being part of the great Yankees, Rivera attempted to find the words to calm him down.

Rivera would say that every player was in that clubhouse for the same reason, and that all anyone -- George Steinbrenner, Brian Cashman, Torre or any of those millions of New Yorkers -- cared about was winning.

Few players in the great history of the Yankees have contributed more to that than Rivera, with his 652 saves. He's one of the Yankees who every other will always be measured against.

He was honored one final time on Sunday afternoon, with Torre and Roger Clemens showing up to let him know how much they respected and cared for him.

Next up: Cooperstown.

He'll be on the Hall of Fame ballot after the 2018 season, and almost certainly he'll be inducted the following summer. We don't get that many chances to celebrate perfection. This should be one.

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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