Peter Abraham reports on Brian Cashman's conference call after making the Swisher deal.

Cashman said that the Yankees do not view Swisher as their center fielder, except in an emergency. The team views him as a first baseman first, then a corner outfielder. If the season started today, Swisher would be the starting first baseman. The intention is for him to be an every day starter, according to Cashman.

Meanwhile, both Abraham and Kat O'Brien speculate that the team will now be less aggressive in any potential pursuit of Mark Teixeira.

Jason Beck and Anthony Castrovince of MLB.com report that both Mariano Rivera and Mike Mussina received third place votes for the 2008 AL Cy Young Award.

Only 7 pitchers received votes. Rivera collected three third place votes (one of which came from Peter Abraham, placing him fifth overall, while Mussina had two, putting him in a tie for sixth place. The winner, Cliff Lee, appeared on all 28 ballots.

Via Anthony DiComo.

Congrats to the Captain and A-Rod for each receiving a Louisville Slugger's Silver Slugger Award for their offensive contributions in 2008.

Updating our previous story, ESPN.com's Jerry Crasnick reports on the finalized details of the Yankees trade for Nick Swisher.

In addition to pitcher Jeff Marquez, the Yankees also included infielder Wilson Betemit and pitcher Jhonny Nunez. Nunez was acquired from the Nationals for Alberto Gonzalez last season.

The Yankees also acquired a minor league pitcher in the deal. His name is Kanekoa Texeira. Not Teixeira. Texeira. He is 22 years old and he split time between Single-A and Double-A last season, going 6-3 with 21 saves and a 1.33 ERA in 51 appearances.

Breaking news from ESPN.com's Jerry Crasnick (and Seamus, through his brother). Sources tell him that the Yankees have acquired White Sox first baseman Nick Swisher, in exchange for pitching prospect Jeff Marquez and, perhaps, more. Swisher, who will turn 28 later this month, hit .219 for the Sox this season, with 24 home runs and 69 runs batted in. He split time evenly between first base and center field.

According to Cot's, he has three years remaining on the 5 year/$26.75 million dollar contract that he signed before the 2007 season. He's set to make $5.3 million in 2009, $6.75 in 2010 and $9M in 2011. The deal also includes a $10.25 million dollar club option for 2012, with a $1 million dollar buyout.

Kat O'Brien reports that the Yankees have signed Damaso Marte to a 3 year, $12 million dollar deal with an option for a fourth year.

Earlier this month, the team declined a one year option of $6 million on Marte, electing to pay him a $250,000 buyout. The new deal has Marte receiving $3.75 million in 2009 and $4 million in both 2010 and 2011. The team then holds a $4 million dollar option on Marte for 2012, with a $250,000 buyout.

I like this deal. I think Marte could have received more on the open market. We have been looking for a consistent lefty for years and, though his numbers with the Yankees were not great last season, he has enough of an established pedigree to treat them as an aberration.

Mike Mussina told the Daily News that he plans to make a decision on his future, early next week. "I'm still kind of up in the air," he told the paper.

Via Yahoo! Sports.

Anthony DiComo of MLB.com reports on the movement from Babe Ruth's Yankee Stadium monument, from the old park to the new one. Check out the video below, as well.


Via Peter Abraham.

The Yankees have signed Damaso Marte to a 3-year deal worth about $12 million and a club option for 2012, according to the team's official site. This comes days after the Yanks declined his $6 million club option for 2009.

I can live with this one, I guess. NoMaas doesn't like the deal, but I think the contract is small enough to ship it elsewhere if need be.

The National Baseball Hall of Fame reports that former Yankees Carl Mays, Wes Ferrell, Joe Gordon and Allie Reynolds will be considered by the Veterans Committee for inclusion into the Hall of Fame. A player must receive 75% of the vote to be inducted.