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New York Yankees: “Walk Year” Presents Intriguing Potential for Pitchers
Much like their hitters, New York Yankees‘ pitchers are in a variety of different places in their careers as they head into the final year of their contracts. Here is a review of each pitcher’s outlook as they face Free... More of this article »
New York Yankees: “Walk Year” Will Impact Hitters Differently
The age old debate of the “walk year” should be front and center all season long for the New York Yankees. Perhaps there have been teams in the modern era of Free Agency with more players in the final year of their contracts,... More of this article »
Yankees Spring Training: Signs Early On Will Be Important
The first couple of weeks of spring training are generally pretty irrelevant. Pitchers throw bullpen sessions, batters hit fastballs, athletes make statements they make every year. In New York Yankees‘ camp most years, Spring... More of this article »
Yankees’ Dumping of Stubhub Illustrates Tone Deaf Front Office
The New York Yankees have some of the most loyal fans on the planet. It’s not because they have a rich history of losing and have stuck with their team through thick and thin. Outside of the late 60’s and the 80’s,... More of this article »
Cubs DFA Tony Campana: Cheap Alternative to Michael Bourn?
Michael Bourn’s trade market has been slow this offseason. With Tony Campana designated for assignment today by the Chicago Cubs, it may be a little more delayed as well. Campana was DFA’d to make room for Scott Hairston,... More of this article »
Indians Sign Dice K To Minor League Deal – Make Myers Deal Official
The Cleveland Indians were active today and have put the finishing touches on its 2013 rotation. The Tribe inked two veterans, Daisuke Matsuzaka and Brett Myers, to one year deals today. Dice-K, the Japanese import who came over to... More of this article »
New York Yankees: How The Bronx Bombers Can Compensate For Age
Joe Girardi trusts his statistics. One of the lost underlying themes of the New York Yankees‘ manager’s regime compared to his predecessor has been in regards to numbers. Joe Torre was completely about trust and as a result... More of this article »
Houston Astros: Fielding a Major League Team on $25 Million
The Miami Marlins have caught a lot of flack this offseason, and deservingly so. Just one off season after opening a new stadium mostly financed by taxpayers, the Marlins have trimmed nearly $80 million off of what was a nine digit... More of this article »
Ichiro Suzuki: Greatest Singles Hitter of All Time?
Pete Rose had first ballot Hall of Fame numbers even if he never rounded first base. The all-time MLB hits leader delivered 3,215 singles in his career, which up until, Craig Biggio, was wrongfully kept out of the HOF, meant automatic... More of this article »
Cincinnati Reds: Should Aroldis Chapman Transition From Reliever to Starter?
The Cincinnati Reds will be the newest team to attempt the always controversial switch of a star reliever into a starter. Cuban import, Aroldis Chapman, threw over 71 innings last year and dominated the National League in the ninth... More of this article »
New York Mets: LaTroy Hawkins Has Shot at Roster Spot This Spring
The New York Mets inked veteran reliever, LaTroy Hawkins, to a minor league deal with a spring training invite on Thursday. Hawkins will compete to not only make the roster, but provide setup man innings with Bobby Parnell and Scott... More of this article »
Cleveland Indians: Matt Capps Signed to Minor League Deal, Add Bullpen Depth
In an effort to continue to add depth to its bullpen, the Cleveland Indians signed former Minnesota Twins’ closer, Matt Capps, to a minor league deal. Capps, the winning pitcher in the 2010 All Star Game, inked the deal attached... More of this article »
New York Yankees: PEDs or Not, It’s Time to Move on From Alex Rodriguez
It won’t be easy, but it’s time for the Yankees to move on. Thank you for 2009, and for being a good teammate on the field, and for that magical season where you hit a home run what felt like every single day so you could... More of this article »
Seattle Mariners Remain a Match for Kyle Lohse
Kyle Lohse and Michael Bourn remain the biggest free agent names still available this winter and neither one has a clear landing spot. Lohse, in particular, seems to have an intriguing situation. We’re now fully aware of the... More of this article »
In Which Big Market Would Don Mattingly Thrive?
Don Mattingly has been the Los Angeles Dodgers manager since 2011 and is in the final year of his contract. Though the Dodgers have an option year on his deal, he has reportedly asked for it not to be picked up, leaving him with no... More of this article »
New York Yankees: Is Mark Montgomery Bronx Bombers Closer in Waiting?
It’s not going to be quite the same thing. In 2007, Joba Chamberlain blew through the Yankees’ farm system. He was a starter with a triple digit fastball and if you were lucky enough to watch him every game and cut highlights... More of this article »
New York Yankees: 3 Trade Scenarios to Improve in 2013
In the wake of the Michael Morse trade sweepstakes, the New York Yankees are entering the second half of January without a right-handed hitting outfielder or DH. There aren’t many Free Agents left who can satisfy New York’s... More of this article »
NL East: Why the Washington Nationals Will Repeat in 2013
Ninety eight wins. Only four teams have won 98 games or more since Opening Day in 2006. None of those teams did it two years in a row. The Washington Nationals are the newest potential juggernaut and a perfect storm is forming for... More of this article »
New York Yankees: Understanding the (lack of) spending
Yankees fans are something very few people understand. In the only major North American team sport without a salary cap, the Yankees are the Kings of payroll. Everyone outside of this universe will automatically hate the team for this... More of this article »
Seattle Mariners Should Trade Justin Smoak or Mike Carp
The Mariners would be wise to deal Justin Smoak or Mike Carp The Seattle Mariners are a young team. Up and comers like: Kyle Seager, Brendan Ryan, Michael Saunders, Jesus Montero and Casper Wells can be found up and down its roster.... More of this article »
New York Yankees: Offseason Moves Still to Come
How does New York finish the offseason? Let’s ignore the right-handed, 30 home run-capable, “elephant” in the room. It’s been mentioned enough times since the moment Denard Span joined the Nationals that Michael... More of this article »
New York Yankees: Top 10 Prospects for 2013
The Yankees have one of the more controversial farm systems in baseball. By no means is it elite, but some go as far as to call it barren, which is also patently false.Though the Yankees likely do not have a top prospect in the top... More of this article »
Can the Texas Rangers Absorb Offseason Losses?
Andrus and Beltre will be back to anchor the left side of the infield First Texas lost its chance to three-peat as American League Champions. It was at the same time they were swept out of October by the A’s (taking away the... More of this article »
Baltimore Orioles: Repeat Contenders in 2013?
Buck Showalter is reportedly nearing a multi-year agreement with Baltmore The 2012 Baltimore Orioles were good for Baseball The emergence of a once proud franchise back into playoff contention after a 15 year hiatus helped transition... More of this article »
MLB Free Agents: Market for Michael Bourn Oversold?
Bourn may ring in the New Year without a new team Scott Boras is the excellent employee everyone loves to hate. Fans despise him because they blame the super agent for high player salaries and think it correlates to higher ticket... More of this article »
American League East: History Does Not Favor the Toronto Blue Jays
The Blue Jays have not reached the post-season since 1993 You can’t predict Baseball. The Yankees’ very own John Sterling always says that. And like most of the things out of the Yankees’ infamous radio announcer’s... More of this article »
Intriguing Options Remain to Complete Yankees’ 2013 Roster
Diaz can play the corner outfield position and hits right-handed, but… The New York Yankees signed outfielder and occasional hitter, Matt Diaz, to a one year deal worth up to $2 million after incentives on Wednesday. At best... More of this article »
2013 Yankees Roster: Missing Ingredients or Missing Luck?
Yankees: There are lots of variables accompanying an October run We’ve already reviewed the difference between the 2012 and 2009 Yankees’ teams. One installment was swept out of the championship series, embarrassed by... More of this article »
MLB Trend: The Shrinking Closer Market
The market for high salaried closers is shifting Once upon a time, closers like Rafael Soriano were in high demand. Draft picks carried less clout, the ninth inning was critical and it took a special kind of attitude to record those... More of this article »
Yankees Playing Waiting Game In More Ways Than One
New York will go to battle with what they have, almost.. The difference makers are already on the roster. At least that’s what the New York Yankees are hoping for if they are to contend during the 2013 season. With Ichiro Suzuki... More of this article »
Yankees Face 40 Man Roster Crunch with New Additions
Figuring out who will be removed from the 40 man roster is always a challenge Kevin Youkilis and Ichiro Suzuki will be on the starting 25 man roster barring injuries on Opening Day. Ichiro has been signed two year deal worth a total... More of this article »
Yankees 2013: Injuries Bigger Concern than Age for Bronx Bombers
Cano will be 30 years old on opening day, and doesn’t get hurt If you read this while listening to the Jurassic Park theme song, kudos to you for being more creative about the Yankees’ ever rising age on the roster. With... More of this article »
Making Sense of Yankees Off-Season by Looking to 2014
Goals are great if there’s an end game Editors Note : This is part two of a series on the New York Yankees plans for 2013 and 2014, You can read part one here For the Yankees’ off-season to make any sense, it has... More of this article »
Josh Hamilton and Yankees Not a Match in 2013
Yankees payroll cuts don’t match-up with Hamilton signing Editors Note : This is part oneof a series on the New York Yankees plans for 2013 and 2014, You can read part two here When you read about the Yankees being a dark... More of this article »
All Signs Point To Yankees Selling
Causing panic among Yankees’ fans is not very difficult Unlike actual New Yorkers, overreacting is the status quo. When it comes to sports, fans can become irrational and impulsive in general. When you root for a team expected... More of this article »
A-Rod’s Surgery Adds Urgency For the Yankees to Acquire a Bat
Maybe he’s not a singles hitter after all The saga of Alex Rodriguez continues as the third baseman is projected to miss 3-6 months while he recovers from surgery on his left hip. Rodriguez was starting to heat up in 2012 when... More of this article »
Yankees 2013 – Five Lesser Known Names Who Can Help
The Yankees have a knack for making something out of nothing to fulfill role player obligations. Brian Cashman doesn’t like to spend much on other team’s relievers (remember: Rafael Soriano was a Steinbrenner signing.) He... More of this article »
Yankees Would be Wise to Pursue Michael Morse
Morse offers a 30 HR capable bat who can man first base or the outfield The Washington Nationals completed a trade to acquire Denard Span today from the Minnesota Twins for their number six prospect. With the acquisition, the Nationals... More of this article »
Yankees on Verge of Re-Signing Rivera, Ichiro and Pettitte
Pettitte fills multiple team needs as a veteran with postseason success The remaining necessities of the Yankees’ off-season appear to be coming steps closer towards completion. About a week after locking up Hiroki Kuroda as... More of this article »
Review of Free Agents Linked To Yankees
Yankees have been linked to almost everyone at some point this off-season With Hiroki Kuroda firmly signed into the 2013 rotation, the plan for the off-season is admittedly clearer. New York will move to try to resign Mariano Rivera... More of this article »
Yankees’ Re-Signing Kuroda Begins to Shape Transition Offseason
Finally, the Yankees made a big move. Re-signing Hiroki Kuroda was absolutely necessary. In a year where the Yankees will pretty obviously not give a second year to any player who might be the least bit expensive, Kuroda was literally... More of this article »
Yankees Sacrificing the Future of the Franchise?
Kuroda could return to New York , Los Angeles or Japan It’s worth debating just what a self-imposed salary cap in a partially implied salary capped sport could mean for a franchise not obligated to follow any rules. Joel... More of this article »
Yankees and MLB Fire Sales – Failed Spending Sprees
MLB proves again how spending money does not equal winning It’s not always easy being a Yankees’ fan. Whether you remember four titles in the 90’s or one in 2009, nobody is ever going to sympathize about the Yankees’... More of this article »
Ronnier Mustelier, Not Mike Napoli, Would be a Fit for the 2013 Yankees
Mustelier hit .303 with 10 HR and 49 RBI in 89 games in AAA Scranton If Brian Cashman had a check list it would surely include the following rules for the Yankees this offseason: 1. Save money wherever possible. 2. No long-term contracts. 3.... More of this article »
Kuroda, Swisher and Soriano Reject Yankees’ Qualifying Offers
Trio Reject Yankees’ Qualifying Offers When Nick Swisher and Rafael Soriano declined qualifying offers from the New York Yankees, it was both expected and relatively already planned for. After all, Mariano Rivera has already... More of this article »
2013 Free Agents Yankees Should Pursue ? List Not Long
Ichiro wants to come back to Yankees for 2013 Taking a stab at next year’s finished product could be difficult when it comes to a lot of franchises. However, the New York Yankees are in an obvious holding pattern. It would be... More of this article »
Yankees Mariano Rivera Declares His 2013 Return
With Rivera’s return, the Yankees’ bullpen will once again be a strength Mariano Rivera did not take much time at all to inform Yankees’ General Manager, Brian Cashman, he wanted to return in 2013. With this most... More of this article »
“Qualifying Offers” Greatly Benefit the Yankees
Kuroda may be the hardest decision of all qualifying offers for Yankees The Yankees have a huge number of impactful Free Agents walking out the door this offseason. Not since 2009 when New York saw: Bobby Abreu, Andy Pettitte, Mike... More of this article »