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 files lawsuits against MLB, doctor

Alex Rodriguez arrives at the offices of Major League Baseball in New York for Tuesday's session of his arbitration hearing. (AP)

NEW YORK -- Alex Rodriguez entered his appeal of a 211-game suspension saying that he was going to be "fighting for my life and my whole legacy." With the assistance of his attorneys, the Yankees slugger has taken two big swings.

Rodriguez first filed suit against Major League Baseball and Commissioner Bud Selig in New York Supreme Court in Manhattan on Thursday, accusing them of conducting a "witch hunt" and engaging in "tortious interference" with his contracts and business relationships.

The Manhattan lawsuit is seeking unspecified compensatory and punitive damages for what it alleges has been a campaign by MLB to "destroy the reputation and career of Alex Rodriguez."

The three-time Most Valuable Player then filed suit against Yankees team physician Dr. Christopher Ahmad and New York Presbyterian/Columbia University Medical Center in Bronx Supreme Court, claiming that Ahmad misdiagnosed Rodriguez's hip injury during the 2012 playoffs.

The Bronx lawsuit alleges "careless and professional negligence" on the part of Ahmad, who is said to have missed a superior labral tear at the left hip, "thus allowing [Rodriguez] to further injure himself and the necessity for additional surgeries." The Yankees were not named in the lawsuit, and had no comment on either suit.

In response to the Manhattan filing, MLB issued the following statement on Friday:

"For the more than four decades that we have had a collective bargaining relationship with the Major League Baseball Players Association, every player and club dispute has gone through the jointly agreed upon grievance process. This lawsuit is a clear violation of the confidentiality provisions of our drug program, and it is nothing more than a desperate attempt to circumvent the Collective Bargaining Agreement.

"While we vehemently deny the allegations in the complaint, none of those allegations is relevant to the real issue: whether Mr. Rodriguez violated the Joint Drug Prevention and Treatment Program by using and possessing numerous forms of prohibited performance-enhancing substances, including testosterone and human growth hormone, over the course of multiple years, and whether he violated the Basic Agreement by 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."

Through a publicist, Ron Berkowitz, Rodriguez released a statement explaining his thought process behind the lawsuit against MLB and Selig.

"The entire legal dynamic is very complex, and my legal team is doing what they need to in order to vindicate me and pursue all of my rights," Rodriguez said. "This matter is entirely separate from the ongoing arbitration. I look forward to the arbitration proceedings continuing, and for the day to come when I can share my story with the public and my supporters."

In response to MLB's statement, Rodriguez's representatives issued another release on Friday:

"Mr. Rodriguez's financial damages lawsuit against Commissioner Selig and Major League Baseball in no way violates the confidentiality provisions of the Joint Drug Agreement. That accusation is preposterous -- and uniquely so coming from MLB, when many of the bases for the complaint filed by Mr. Rodriguez last night arise from MLB's willful and persistent violations of those very confidentiality provisions over the past six months, and beyond.

"As for the Collective Bargaining Agreement's discipline appeal process, Mr. Rodriguez respects the process. He has personally attended and participated in every minute of the arbitration proceeding that began on Monday, has continued every day this week, and will continue hereafter. Mr. Rodriguez has been a Major League Baseball Players Association member for nearly two decades, and he is appalled by the levels to which his league has stooped, as demonstrated in the complaint filed last night. Mr. Rodriguez eagerly awaits the day when all of this legal jostling is finished, and he can share his story with the public and his supporters. Until then, he will continue to respect the confidentiality requirements imposed upon all through this process, while his legal team continues to do what is necessary to vindicate him."

Rodriguez's lawsuit against Ahmad and the hospital recalls Oct. 11, 2012, the date of Game 4 of the American League Division Series between the Yankees and Orioles in New York. Rodriguez had an MRI performed on his right hip before traveling to Baltimore.

On Aug. 18 of this year in Boston, Yankees general manager Brian Cashman reiterated that Rodriguez entered the 2012 playoffs with no physical complaints. Rodriguez finally did mention hip discomfort in Game 3 of the ALDS, but only after manager Joe Girardi had decided to pinch-hit for Rodriguez with Raul Ibanez.

At the time, Rodriguez told Girardi that he believed he was being bothered by his surgically repaired right hip, not the left, which eventually needed surgery. Rodriguez's lawsuit charges that Ahmad and the hospital had a "failure to timely evaluate and treat" Rodriguez "with the accepted and proper medical management, and all without any fault or lack of care on the part of" Rodriguez.

After performing poorly during the American League Championship Series against the Tigers, Rodriguez had surgery performed on his left hip on Jan. 16 by a different physician, Dr. Bryan Kelly of the Hospital for Special Surgery in New York.

Rodriguez's lawsuit filed Friday stated that he "sustained great pain, agony, injury, suffering, disability, hospitalization, as well as mental anguish and emotional distress" as a result of Ahmad's actions.

In the 31-page Manhattan complaint, constructed by lawyers from three firms: Reed Smith; Tacopina Seigel and Turano; and Gordon and Rees, Rodriguez alleges that MLB is paying $5 million for the testimony of Anthony Bosch, the founder of the now-defunct Biogenesis anti-aging clinic in Coral Gables, Fla.

The suit further states that an investigator for the league paid $150,000 in cash for Biogenesis records related to Rodriguez, "handed off in a bag in a Fort Lauderdale, Fla., area restaurant," and claims that investigators engaged in "vigilante justice," including episodes of intimidating and bullying witnesses.

Further, Rodriguez's lawsuit states that MLB has leaked stories to the media regarding the Rodriguez investigation and discipline, "turning what is supposed to be a confidential disciplinary and appeal process into a public trial of Mr. Rodriguez."

As a result of the league's investigation, Rodriguez claims that his reputation has been "permanently harmed," affecting his future earning abilities in the tens of millions of dollars. Two potential sponsors, Nike and Toyota, have terminated negotiations with Rodriguez.

The suit states that the investigation has affected Rodriguez's ability to run his businesses, including a construction company and a Mercedes-Benz dealership near Houston. Also mentioned is that Rodriguez's likeness and voice were cut from the film "Henry & Me," an animated feature that chronicles the Yankees' history and features team stars past and present.

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

14.24 | 0 komentar | Read More

Yankees extend contract offer to Girardi

By Bryan Hoch / MLB.com | 10/4/2013 8:30 P.M. ET

NEW YORK -- Hoping to take advantage of their exclusive negotiating window, the Yankees extended a contract offer to manager Joe Girardi on Friday and expect to learn shortly if a new agreement will be reached.

Yankees general manager Brian Cashman said this week that Girardi would be given "a real good reason to stay" for a seventh year at the helm of the club, acknowledging that Girardi would be offered a raise over his expiring three-year, $9 million pact.

It is anticipated that Girardi's boosted salary would sit within the $4- $5 million window, permitting him to become the second-highest paid manager in the Majors. The Angels' Mike Scioscia signed a 10-year, $50 million contract in 2009.

"The most important thing is he knows we'd like to have him stay and continue as manager of the New York Yankees as we move forward," Cashman said this week.

Cashman and Girardi met over coffee on Monday in New York, and Cashman also had meetings with Girardi's agent, Steve Mandell, this week.

Girardi said during his end-of-season news conference in Houston that he has enjoyed his time in the Yankees dugout, compiling a 564-408 record during the regular season while piloting the club to its 27th championship in the 2009 World Series.

Girardi is under contract through Oct. 31, and the Yankees are unlikely to grant other clubs permission to speak with him. The Cubs are thought to be interested in Girardi's services, while the Nationals and Reds also could join that group.

Yet, Girardi has said that his family now has roots in the New York area. The Peoria, Ill., product downplayed the suggestion that the Cubs represent a dream job, noting that his family ties to Chicago are not as strong as they once were.

Girardi later added that he expected a quick resolution to his contract status.

"It's not in my personality to drag things out," Girardi said. "I've always been a guy that likes to know what I'm going to do the next day."

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

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 files lawsuits against MLB, doctor

Alex Rodriguez arrives at the offices of Major League Baseball in New York for Tuesday's session of his arbitration hearing. (AP)

NEW YORK -- Alex Rodriguez entered his appeal of a 211-game suspension saying that he was going to be "fighting for my life and my whole legacy." With the assistance of his attorneys, the Yankees slugger has taken two big swings.

Rodriguez first filed suit against Major League Baseball and Commissioner Bud Selig in New York Supreme Court in Manhattan on Thursday, accusing them of conducting a "witch hunt" and engaging in "tortious interference" with his contracts and business relationships.

The Manhattan lawsuit is seeking unspecified compensatory and punitive damages for what it alleges has been a campaign by MLB to "destroy the reputation and career of Alex Rodriguez."

The three-time Most Valuable Player then filed suit against Yankees team physician Dr. Christopher Ahmad and New York Presbyterian/Columbia University Medical Center in Bronx Supreme Court, claiming that Ahmad misdiagnosed Rodriguez's hip injury during the 2012 playoffs.

The Bronx lawsuit alleges "careless and professional negligence" on the part of Ahmad, who is said to have missed a superior labral tear at the left hip, "thus allowing [Rodriguez] to further injure himself and the necessity for additional surgeries." The Yankees were not named in the lawsuit, and had no comment on either suit.

In response to the Manhattan filing, MLB issued the following statement on Friday:

"For the more than four decades that we have had a collective bargaining relationship with the Major League Baseball Players Association, every player and club dispute has gone through the jointly agreed upon grievance process. This lawsuit is a clear violation of the confidentiality provisions of our drug program, and it is nothing more than a desperate attempt to circumvent the Collective Bargaining Agreement.

"While we vehemently deny the allegations in the complaint, none of those allegations is relevant to the real issue: whether Mr. Rodriguez violated the Joint Drug Prevention and Treatment Program by using and possessing numerous forms of prohibited performance-enhancing substances, including testosterone and human growth hormone, over the course of multiple years, and whether he violated the Basic Agreement by 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."

Through a publicist, Ron Berkowitz, Rodriguez released a statement explaining his thought process behind the lawsuit against MLB and Selig.

"The entire legal dynamic is very complex, and my legal team is doing what they need to in order to vindicate me and pursue all of my rights," Rodriguez said. "This matter is entirely separate from the ongoing arbitration. I look forward to the arbitration proceedings continuing, and for the day to come when I can share my story with the public and my supporters."

In response to MLB's statement, Rodriguez's representatives issued another release on Friday:

"Mr. Rodriguez's financial damages lawsuit against Commissioner Selig and Major League Baseball in no way violates the confidentiality provisions of the Joint Drug Agreement. That accusation is preposterous -- and uniquely so coming from MLB, when many of the bases for the complaint filed by Mr. Rodriguez last night arise from MLB's willful and persistent violations of those very confidentiality provisions over the past six months, and beyond.

"As for the Collective Bargaining Agreement's discipline appeal process, Mr. Rodriguez respects the process. He has personally attended and participated in every minute of the arbitration proceeding that began on Monday, has continued every day this week, and will continue hereafter. Mr. Rodriguez has been a Major League Baseball Players Association member for nearly two decades, and he is appalled by the levels to which his league has stooped, as demonstrated in the complaint filed last night. Mr. Rodriguez eagerly awaits the day when all of this legal jostling is finished, and he can share his story with the public and his supporters. Until then, he will continue to respect the confidentiality requirements imposed upon all through this process, while his legal team continues to do what is necessary to vindicate him."

Rodriguez's lawsuit against Ahmad and the hospital recalls Oct. 11, 2012, the date of Game 4 of the American League Division Series between the Yankees and Orioles in New York. Rodriguez had an MRI performed on his right hip before traveling to Baltimore.

On Aug. 18 of this year in Boston, Yankees general manager Brian Cashman reiterated that Rodriguez entered the 2012 playoffs with no physical complaints. Rodriguez finally did mention hip discomfort in Game 3 of the ALDS, but only after manager Joe Girardi had decided to pinch-hit for Rodriguez with Raul Ibanez.

At the time, Rodriguez told Girardi that he believed he was being bothered by his surgically repaired right hip, not the left, which eventually needed surgery. Rodriguez's lawsuit charges that Ahmad and the hospital had a "failure to timely evaluate and treat" Rodriguez "with the accepted and proper medical management, and all without any fault or lack of care on the part of" Rodriguez.

After performing poorly during the American League Championship Series against the Tigers, Rodriguez had surgery performed on his left hip on Jan. 16 by a different physician, Dr. Bryan Kelly of the Hospital for Special Surgery in New York.

Rodriguez's lawsuit filed Friday stated that he "sustained great pain, agony, injury, suffering, disability, hospitalization, as well as mental anguish and emotional distress" as a result of Ahmad's actions.

In the 31-page Manhattan complaint, constructed by lawyers from three firms: Reed Smith; Tacopina Seigel and Turano; and Gordon and Rees, Rodriguez alleges that MLB is paying $5 million for the testimony of Anthony Bosch, the founder of the now-defunct Biogenesis anti-aging clinic in Coral Gables, Fla.

The suit further states that an investigator for the league paid $150,000 in cash for Biogenesis records related to Rodriguez, "handed off in a bag in a Fort Lauderdale, Fla., area restaurant," and claims that investigators engaged in "vigilante justice," including episodes of intimidating and bullying witnesses.

Further, Rodriguez's lawsuit states that MLB has leaked stories to the media regarding the Rodriguez investigation and discipline, "turning what is supposed to be a confidential disciplinary and appeal process into a public trial of Mr. Rodriguez."

As a result of the league's investigation, Rodriguez claims that his reputation has been "permanently harmed," affecting his future earning abilities in the tens of millions of dollars. Two potential sponsors, Nike and Toyota, have terminated negotiations with Rodriguez.

The suit states that the investigation has affected Rodriguez's ability to run his businesses, including a construction company and a Mercedes-Benz dealership near Houston. Also mentioned is that Rodriguez's likeness and voice were cut from the film "Henry & Me," an animated feature that chronicles the Yankees' history and features team stars past and present.

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

14.24 | 0 komentar | Read More

Yankees extend contract offer to Girardi

By Bryan Hoch / MLB.com | 10/4/2013 8:30 P.M. ET

NEW YORK -- Hoping to take advantage of their exclusive negotiating window, the Yankees extended a contract offer to manager Joe Girardi on Friday and expect to learn shortly if a new agreement will be reached.

Yankees general manager Brian Cashman said this week that Girardi would be given "a real good reason to stay" for a seventh year at the helm of the club, acknowledging that Girardi would be offered a raise over his expiring three-year, $9 million pact.

It is anticipated that Girardi's boosted salary would sit within the $4- $5 million window, permitting him to become the second-highest paid manager in the Majors. The Angels' Mike Scioscia signed a 10-year, $50 million contract in 2009.

"The most important thing is he knows we'd like to have him stay and continue as manager of the New York Yankees as we move forward," Cashman said this week.

Cashman and Girardi met over coffee on Monday in New York, and Cashman also had meetings with Girardi's agent, Steve Mandell, this week.

Girardi said during his end-of-season news conference in Houston that he has enjoyed his time in the Yankees dugout, compiling a 564-408 record during the regular season while piloting the club to its 27th championship in the 2009 World Series.

Girardi is under contract through Oct. 31, and the Yankees are unlikely to grant other clubs permission to speak with him. The Cubs are thought to be interested in Girardi's services, while the Nationals and Reds also could join that group.

Yet, Girardi has said that his family now has roots in the New York area. The Peoria, Ill., product downplayed the suggestion that the Cubs represent a dream job, noting that his family ties to Chicago are not as strong as they once were.

Girardi later added that he expected a quick resolution to his contract status.

"It's not in my personality to drag things out," Girardi said. "I've always been a guy that likes to know what I'm going to do the next day."

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.

14.24 | 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

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