Posted by: Patrick
The website of the Baseball Writers' Association of America reports the full results of the voting for the American League MVP award. Dustin Pedroia of the Red Sox beat Justin Morneau of the Twins by 60 points to collect the honor.
A-Rod appeared on 19 ballots, collecting 45 points, placing him in 8th place. Mussina received a lone eighth place vote, allowing him to claim 19th place.
Somehow, some way, Mariano Rivera did not appear on a single ballot. Despite the fact that Francisco Rodriguez finished in sixth place with 143 votes.
A-Rod appeared on 19 ballots, collecting 45 points, placing him in 8th place. Mussina received a lone eighth place vote, allowing him to claim 19th place.
Somehow, some way, Mariano Rivera did not appear on a single ballot. Despite the fact that Francisco Rodriguez finished in sixth place with 143 votes.
Posted by: Patrick
I guess you could say that Johnny Damon enjoys being a member of the Yankees:
"I want them both," Damon said yesterday of CC Sabathia and A.J. Burnett.
"And I hope we also get Derek [Lowe]."
"And I hope we also get Derek [Lowe]."
Posted by: Seamus
The Yankees have announced that they will in fact be opening the new Yankee Stadium with two exhibition games against the Cubs, as had been speculated. The games will be played on April 3 and 4, and the team will be off on April 5 before heading to Baltimore to open the season the following day.
From the official press release:
I'm still not sure how I feel about the idea, but apparently this has become pretty standard for teams opening new stadiums. When you look back at your first memory of the new Yankee Stadium, are you going to think about the game on April 3, or the the first game that actually counts, on April 16?
From the official press release:
"The Yankees organization is excited and honored to host the Chicago Cubs in two exhibition games to be played at the new Yankee Stadium," said Yankees co-Chairperson Hal Steinbrenner. "As we welcome our fans into the ballpark for the first time, it is fitting to showcase two of Baseball's greatest and most historic franchises."
"We are thrilled to have such a great organization in the Chicago Cubs agree to play the first-ever exhibition games as we unveil Yankee Stadium," said Yankees President Randy Levine. "It will be a symbolic event for the fans of two iconic teams while we celebrate the beginning of a new chapter in this proud franchise's history."
"We are thrilled to have such a great organization in the Chicago Cubs agree to play the first-ever exhibition games as we unveil Yankee Stadium," said Yankees President Randy Levine. "It will be a symbolic event for the fans of two iconic teams while we celebrate the beginning of a new chapter in this proud franchise's history."
I'm still not sure how I feel about the idea, but apparently this has become pretty standard for teams opening new stadiums. When you look back at your first memory of the new Yankee Stadium, are you going to think about the game on April 3, or the the first game that actually counts, on April 16?
Posted by: Patrick
From Michael Silverman of the Boston Herald:
There is no way this is going to happen. It makes no sense and goes against what Cashman has been working to build. With a superior Jorge Posada already under a huge contract, why would we give a 37 year old (next April) a multi-year deal in the $10 million dollar range, when his line for the last three years has been:
Average/On Base/Slugging Percentage
2006: .238/.325/.400
2007: .255/.367/.421
2008: .220/.313/.359
There's just no way. So, I'm willing to dismiss those chances. We can find a catcher capable of those numbers for a lot less with a lot less baggage. And, even if he was cheap, I wouldn't want him.
Via Steve.
Even though Varitek’s agent, Scott Boras, said at the GM meetings two weeks ago that Jorge Posada’s four-year, $52.4 million contract should, as a gauge of Varitek’s worth, be considered “probably representative age-wise and it’s also representative of what a player on a winning team - for very different reasons, obviously - can do,” word is that Boras is not asking for a Posada deal.
A $50 million contract worth some $13 million a year is not in the offing for Varitek. It should require something closer to a two- to four-year deal worth $10-11 million a year to sign Varitek. He is coming off a four-year, $40 million deal.
Teams expected to be in on the bidding include the Tigers and Angels. Do not dismiss the chances of the Yankees going after Varitek as doubt remains about whether Posada’s shoulder, surgically repaired last season, will allow him to catch in 2009.
A $50 million contract worth some $13 million a year is not in the offing for Varitek. It should require something closer to a two- to four-year deal worth $10-11 million a year to sign Varitek. He is coming off a four-year, $40 million deal.
Teams expected to be in on the bidding include the Tigers and Angels. Do not dismiss the chances of the Yankees going after Varitek as doubt remains about whether Posada’s shoulder, surgically repaired last season, will allow him to catch in 2009.
There is no way this is going to happen. It makes no sense and goes against what Cashman has been working to build. With a superior Jorge Posada already under a huge contract, why would we give a 37 year old (next April) a multi-year deal in the $10 million dollar range, when his line for the last three years has been:
Average/On Base/Slugging Percentage
2006: .238/.325/.400
2007: .255/.367/.421
2008: .220/.313/.359
There's just no way. So, I'm willing to dismiss those chances. We can find a catcher capable of those numbers for a lot less with a lot less baggage. And, even if he was cheap, I wouldn't want him.
Via Steve.
Posted by: Patrick
Via Tyler Kepner.
Posted by: Patrick
ESPN.com's Jerry Crasnick reports that, according to his agent Matt Sosnick, Darrell Rasner has been sold to the Tohoku Rakuten Golden Eagles for $1 million. Rasner had told Brian Cashman that he would like to pitch in Japan and Cashman worked to make it happen.
"He really bent over backwards to make this work for Darrell and his family," Sosnick said. Farewell, Mr. Rasner.
Via MLB.com.
"He really bent over backwards to make this work for Darrell and his family," Sosnick said. Farewell, Mr. Rasner.
Via MLB.com.
Posted by: Patrick
From the Taiwan News:
Via Ben.
Taiwan-born New York Yankees starter Wang Chien-ming (王建民) returned to Taiwan yesterday morning and pronounced his right foot injury that forced him to miss the last four months of the season completely healed. ...
Asked whether he will pitch for Taiwan in the 2009 World Baseball Classic, Wang said Yankees general manager Brian Cashman believed the pitcher will not be able to regain his top form in time for the international competition next March, and therefore did not want him to participate.
Asked whether he will pitch for Taiwan in the 2009 World Baseball Classic, Wang said Yankees general manager Brian Cashman believed the pitcher will not be able to regain his top form in time for the international competition next March, and therefore did not want him to participate.
Via Ben.
Posted by: Patrick
Tom Krasovic of The San Diego Union-Tribune reports:
David Pinto suggests Kei Igawa, Ian Kennedy and an outfielder for Peavy. Even if that outfielder is Austin Jackson, that seems pretty cheap to me.
Imagine a rotation of Sabathia, Peavy, Wang, Joba and Pettitte/Sheets/Burnett/Lowe/Hughes/Mussina, though. Wow. That said, though, any talk of a deal with the Padres is highly speculative and, at this point, highly unlikely. We can still dream, of course.
Via Ben.
“We've had advanced discussions with the Cubs and Braves, which are Jake's priority teams,” General Manager Kevin Towers said Thursday night, “but at this point in time, I do not see a potential deal with either club.”
The Yankees and Angels could be next in line, but that doesn't necessarily mean Towers' job will become easier.
The Yankees and Angels could be next in line, but that doesn't necessarily mean Towers' job will become easier.
David Pinto suggests Kei Igawa, Ian Kennedy and an outfielder for Peavy. Even if that outfielder is Austin Jackson, that seems pretty cheap to me.
Imagine a rotation of Sabathia, Peavy, Wang, Joba and Pettitte/Sheets/Burnett/Lowe/Hughes/Mussina, though. Wow. That said, though, any talk of a deal with the Padres is highly speculative and, at this point, highly unlikely. We can still dream, of course.
Via Ben.
Posted by: Patrick
Updating a previous story, Anthony DiComo and Barry M. Bloom of MLB.com report:
Though this is the supposed starting point, the contract as it is would represent the biggest deal a pitcher has ever received, above the contract that Johan Santana signed last year. Santana's deal was also for six years, but was for $137.5 million.
The Yankees made a record-breaking six-year, $140 million offer to free-agent starter CC Sabathia on Friday as the first part of their plan to overhaul their starting rotation, Hal Steinbrenner, one of the team's co-chairmen, confirmed. ...
"Yes," Steinbrenner said. "And we're prepared to make offers to Burnett and Lowe."
"Yes," Steinbrenner said. "And we're prepared to make offers to Burnett and Lowe."
Though this is the supposed starting point, the contract as it is would represent the biggest deal a pitcher has ever received, above the contract that Johan Santana signed last year. Santana's deal was also for six years, but was for $137.5 million.
Posted by: Seamus
The free agency period has officially begun, and Jon Heyman is reporting that the Yankees will make a hefty offer to CC Sabathia as early as today that will exceed the $137 million dollar deal the Mets gave to Johan Santana last year (perhaps $160 million and a small island or two?). This isn't news outside of what we expected, but the article also expands on the Yankees' pursuit of A.J. Burnett and Derek Lowe:
Heyman also mentions that the Yankees expect Mike Mussina to decide on whether to return or not sometime next week (via WFAN).
UPDATE: Just heard on ESPN that the expected offer is going to be in the $140-142 million range, according to Buster Olney.
The Yankees are hoping to blow away the field for Sabathia, who prefers to play in California if all things are equal, then fashion the rest of their rotation from a very strong free-agent market for pitchers. The Yankees don't expect immediate acceptances from all three pitchers, but one competing executive said, "I wouldn't be shocked to see the Yankees sign all three guys.'' (That's probably a long shot, however.)
Heyman also mentions that the Yankees expect Mike Mussina to decide on whether to return or not sometime next week (via WFAN).
UPDATE: Just heard on ESPN that the expected offer is going to be in the $140-142 million range, according to Buster Olney.
