Posted by: Patrick
From John Harper of the Daily News:
Not sure how much stock should be put in "a person in regular contact with Yankee brass," but there you have it.
Via Tim Dierkes.
... a person in regular contact with Yankee brass said Tuesday he believes the club still wants Pettitte back and believes a deal will get done, perhaps as early as next week.
According to this person, someone in the Yankee organization was putting out that word as something of a scare tactic, knowing that Pettitte badly wants to pitch for the Yankees next season. "They just want him at their price, that's still the bottom line," the person said.
According to this person, someone in the Yankee organization was putting out that word as something of a scare tactic, knowing that Pettitte badly wants to pitch for the Yankees next season. "They just want him at their price, that's still the bottom line," the person said.
Not sure how much stock should be put in "a person in regular contact with Yankee brass," but there you have it.
Via Tim Dierkes.
Posted by: Patrick
Peter Abraham reports that Bernie Williams, playing winter ball in Puerto Rico in an attempt to participate in the World Baseball Classic, has a "serious quad injury." Definitely a shame.
12/26: 2008: Year in Review
Posted by: Seamus
MLB.com's Bryan Hoch gives a nice review of 2008 in Yankeedom, highlighting month-by-month the final year in the House that Ruth Built.
The review also includes of course the busy start to this offseason. What I thought was most interesting was a comment by a poster called julianbino, who likened the 2009 Yankees to the "Redeem Team" (the 2008 U.S. Men's Olympic basketball squad).
The review also includes of course the busy start to this offseason. What I thought was most interesting was a comment by a poster called julianbino, who likened the 2009 Yankees to the "Redeem Team" (the 2008 U.S. Men's Olympic basketball squad).
Posted by: Patrick
Newsday's Kat O'Brien has some interesting details of how the Teixeira negotiations went down, according to a source involved in them. First Boras wanted 10 years (with the 9th and 10th years being options), then he said they'd take 8 at $192 million. But, the Yankees held firm to their 8 year, $180 million offer - the offer that was accepted, 20 minutes after Boras told them that the free agent first baseman would likely be headed to the Red Sox.
Posted by: Patrick
For SI.com, Alex Belth shares the final night at Yankee Stadium, September 22, from the perspective of Ray Negron, a Yankee special advisor who has been with the club since George Steinbrenner caught him spray painting on the stadium when he was a kid. It's a great read.
Posted by: Patrick
From Robb Kubatko of the Mid-Atlantic Sports Network:
Via Ben Jones.
Anyway, just one more note on Mark Teixeira: I've heard from a reliable source that the first baseman turned down about $5 million more from the Nationals to sign with the Yankees. And the Nats would have gone higher, but were never given the chance. Teixeira jumped at Brian Cashman's first offer.
Via Ben Jones.
Posted by: Patrick
From Ken Rosenthal:
Via Andrew Fletcher.
The Cubs are confident of signing free-agent designated hitter Milton Bradley, but a number of teams remain interested in the free-agent designated hitter, including the Rays, Yankees and Nationals. The Yankees, as is their custom, are touching base with virtually every available offensive player. ...
Abreu remains in touch with the Yankees (who doesn't?) and also could become a candidate cross-town if the Mets trade Ryan Church. Abreu, 34, had to be encouraged by the three-year, $31.5 million contract that the Phillies awarded Raul Ibanez. He is two years younger than Ibanez, and his .903 career OPS is 85 points higher.
Abreu remains in touch with the Yankees (who doesn't?) and also could become a candidate cross-town if the Mets trade Ryan Church. Abreu, 34, had to be encouraged by the three-year, $31.5 million contract that the Phillies awarded Raul Ibanez. He is two years younger than Ibanez, and his .903 career OPS is 85 points higher.
Via Andrew Fletcher.
Posted by: Patrick
Joel Sherman of the New York Post reports that the team has signed catcher Kevin Cash to a minor league deal. He'll earn $700,000 if he makes it to the Major League club. Cash has spent the last two seasons with the Boston Red Sox.
Posted by: Patrick
SI.com's Jon Heyman and ESPN.com's Buster Olney are reporting that, according to sources, the Yankees have agreed (in principle, at least) to a deal with free agent first baseman Mark Teixeira. Supposedly, the deal is for $180 million dollars over 8 seasons or an average annual value of $22.5 million a season.
My reaction: No way. Absolutely no way. Wow, it's good to be a Yankees fan. CC Sabathia, Mark Teixeira and A.J. Burnett? Remarkable!
Via James.
My reaction: No way. Absolutely no way. Wow, it's good to be a Yankees fan. CC Sabathia, Mark Teixeira and A.J. Burnett? Remarkable!
Via James.
Posted by: Patrick
MLB.com's Tom Singer reports that the Yankees were one of two teams to exceed the luxury tax threshold in 2008 - the other being the Tigers - and they must pay $26.9 million dollars because of it.
