On the Yankees beat

Yankees should explore Piazza as backup for Jorge. Eventhough He doesn't strong throwing arm, he still hit and calls a great game behind the plate.

Hey Jim. Did you ask Cashman any possibilities take a chance on Piazza?

Jim: I looked up his height 6'3". I hope there is some muscle on the frame. Keep these guys away from the buffet table. Monahan must go crazy with some of the players.

Apparently, Pavano is working on his body trying to get in shape in Az.

Major Trade Coming At Winter Meetings, Per Jim Bowden- ESPN News

Jim Bowden just said on ESPNNEWS that in the next 72 hours, a major trade involving multiple teams in the industry would take place, and his exact words were "A major trade that will shock the world". Wonder what's brewing? I know it's only Bowden being Bowden but still he is earshots away at all times.

Any takes?

72 hours? If it's known but not completed--maybe a player needs to waive a no-trade clause.

Manny wouldn't "shock the world" at this point.

I doubt Bowden would be the one breaking the news on A-rod.

How about Dontrelle?

How about Melkey,Sanchez to Marlins for Willis

I think it may involve Vernon Wells and/or Mark Texieira (sp?). I'm not talking about either of these guys coming to the Yanks, but they could move as Wells is a FA after next season and will get a HUGE contract. Bowden needs to stay off the tube and get to work...the Nats are really going to suck next year.

I think the Yankees are in if.Also Sea

Padilla, Rangers reach agreement on $34M contract. It was reported 3 year deal.

http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/news/story?id=2686441

I'm Glad the Yankees walk away and back-off. $11 million per year for number #3 starter. I guess the price was too high.

bowden has been known to be lets just say full of dog poo

Foxsports Dayn Perry

Andy Pettitte to the Rangers ; Craig Wilson and Todd Walker to the Yankees.

Are you kidding me? I don't want garbage players and rethread like Wilson and Walker. No thanks....

http://msn.foxsports.com/mlb/story/6237374

In 72 hours a few trades might be happening, it's what they are there for. Chances are one will be a shocker. That Bowden is no fortuneteller. Just exaggerating the truth to keep folks plugged in for the next few days. However if ARod is traded for an infielder with a bad back and a middle of the rotation SP then maybe Cashman has lost his mind and all the rumors about Torre playing favorites are true. We have to get better players for ARod. I personally think that if the fans give Alex some breathing room he can continue to produce and help us to the next WS championship.

Amen OYF.

On Wfan Sweeny Murti just said the Yankees are going after Brad Penny. are you figin kidding me. This whole front office is so clueless it isent funny. This guy has a bad elbow. They rather have this guy over Zito, Schmidt, and Lilly or Pettitte unbelievable....

Do You Want Barry Zito For $143 Million, over 6 years?

For those that wanted to sign Zito. Rosenthal is saying the price might be 102M over six years from the Rangers, who happen to be Boras's sugar daddy. Of course with the luxury tax of 40% that's 142.8M if the Yankees sign him.

http://msn.foxsports.com/mlb/story/6237440

http://story.scout.com/a.z?s=303&p=2&c=597256

Here's The preview of Rule V Draft. Shelley Duncan and Charlie Manning might get selected and picked.

Hey Andy, what are you talking about.

The Yankees and their fans love retreads, except they don't call them that around here.

They call them experienced and proven.

Hey I just read about this on another blog but wnated everyones input here, because personally i like you guys better. IT said that the red-sox are looking at trading manny, then signing barry bonds to an incentive based 1 year deal? any thoughts?

We have more than enough offense. What we need is good starting pitching. The best way to get good starting pitching is to trade A-ROD. Get the W\SOX and Angels to bid against each other, and take the best offer. We had a ton of offense last year and it couldn't even get us out of the 1st round. Also, any possible offer the R\SOX get for Manny, we could get for A-ROD and then some.

Here's chance for the Yankees to redeem themselves for ever letting Andy Pettitte go in the 1st place. He'd fit in of course with his ring bearing buddies from the championship years and bring back the glory again. Andy would fit with any of the others. He's a good teammate. Now, if Mrs. Andy Pettitte would only give the green light to finish his career happy. The NY metro area is a great place to be during baseball season. He can go back to Houston after the WS Championship parade down the Canyon of Heroes.

I wouldn't get too worked up about what the media says regarding the Yanks going after Brad Penny. I think we should all know by now that what is "reported" is usually not true. I wouldn't reem the front office for a move they haven't even made- we'll reem them if they don't IMPROVE the pitching staff, and Penny is not an improvement.

Hey, just in case anyone wants a pretty good rumor site, check this out: http://www.prosportsdaily.com/mlb/mlbrumors.html. It's nothing magnificent, and it only gets updated once a day, but it has all relevant rumor stories from all over the country. Sometimes I find the hometown beat writers a lot more accurate than the nationally-based online serials, so it may be worth bookmarking (remember on Valentine's Day 2004, Newsday was actually the one who broke the A-Rod to the Yankees story).

Hey Roy, Alex was a big part of that offense, 121 RBIs during an “off year”. Mess with that and maybe we don't score enough runs. The pitching around baseball is suspect with only a few true aces scattered so we’ll still need to score 3-4 runs minimum. The Angels and W/Sox want to win too, they have good teams so I don't see them giving away their pitching (which seems to be the golden egg of this years FA/trade market) for offense. The Angels might be more interested in Manny than Alex. And the W/Sox had no trouble scoring runs; they went through a pitching slump (probably because of all innings they logged in the WS run) towards the end giving the Twins some life down the stretch.

OYF- The Angels need a 3rd baseman badly, and would take A-ROD over Manny in a second. The W\SOX have wanted A-ROD since the season ended, and have already offered us any 1 of their starting pitchers and Crede. This has been widely reported for the last 3 weeks. Our lack of starting pitching has killed our championship runs the last several years. Let's try and fix this by giving up part of that so called "modern day Murderer's Row".

Roy-Why should we settle for a middle of the rotation starter and an infielder with a bad back who was ranked 4th behind Alex for 3rd baseman? We shouldn't be desperate for what they throw at us and it seems that the W/Sox are only interested in parting with Garcia, Buerle or Vasquez and honestly none of those guys are going to be a savior in NY. We've already seen Vasquez melt on the mound. And if you think the Angels are going to part with Ervin you’re mistaken. He is young and is a sure thing in their rotation why would they give up an important part of their strength for Alex? They can get an RBI guy with a big one or two season contract like Piazza or Hillenbrand. IF they give up their pitching it might put them out of contention. It’s pretty obvious that clubs are coveting their pitching and trying to get more. They would have to offer a #1 starter, which they won’t if they want to win. Right now trading Alex won’t make the team better; there are about 5 guys on the team that could fill the # 3,4,5 spots. We need a #1 and no on is going to part with that.

Roy

I'm all with you on trading A-Rod, but for the RIGHT deal. I don't think I would do the White Sox proposal as it stands now....a SP and Crede.

I really don't see there SP's as being any better than what we have now, and Crede, while being a talent, has back issues. Backs are not something to take lightly. Look at RJ.

I would consider doing a deal with the Angels for Ervin Santana AND Scott Shields.

Rick if the Yankees do that then who plays 3B and where do they get their RH power and the 121 RBIs that Alex contributed during the season?

Figgins is not going to be the answer at 3B.

I disagree about trading Alex, I don't think he's going to fetch top rotation SP. Too many teams need that right now and the Angels are in the rare position of having a young SP that fits in the top of their rotation. So if they want to win which Moreno does they won’t do that deal. Scott shields would be a great addition to the pen but the Angels aren't going to let their top relievers go either. They might trade Donnelly instead of shields.

Teams are only showing interest in Alex because they think The Yankees are desperate to deal him and they are hoping to get him for the cheapest possible. I’m glad Cashman hasn’t gone for any of those mediocre deals.

OYF

If you read my post above, you will see that I ONLY say to trade A-Rod for the RIGHT deal. We don't just get rid of him for the sake of doing it. Last year, the Angels supossedly offered Santana, Shields and Figgins for M.Tejada.

So, I just assumed that they would be willing to offer the same for A-Rod. And, there are plenty of rumors suggesting some of those names as well.

And you have a good question as to who would play 3B. We would certainly need to sign someone for that too, or bring Duncan up. Our offense is more than plenty. We need pitching and IF we could get Santana and Shields, I just say we should do it.

Word is Eric Duncan Sucks.

I read it, what I was trying to point out is that what we need is the same as the needs of other teams so I don't think that the right deal is going to be available. I don't see a team like the Angels giving up Ervin and the W/Sox giving up McCarthy. Detroit would never part with any of their young guns. All of these teams are contending and if they mess with their rotation then they mess with their chances.

The Yanks are short on RH power as it is and I just can't see giving up Alex right now. I know Rick is mad about his postseason (lack of) performance, but there is still time for him to get it right. Jeter has had more clutch "moments" because he has been in the situation since he was a kid. I think all Alex needs is some success to spark him along. If he were the type of player who didn't care or loafed on the field I would feel a lot different about him but Torre himself said he thinks Alex is sometimes working too hard, being the first one out on the field and the last one to leave. Bonds was always known as a choker in the playoffs but got over it, and I think Alex will too...I hope.
Bronx Bomber: I'm hearing the same thing about Duncan. Evidently he has back problems too and was demoted. It's a shame, but that's what you get w/ prospects, they're mostly just dreams.

OK, then keep A-Rod.

But, when he ain't gettin it done in the 4 hole, then drop him down in the order like JT did in game 4 this year. It's the kick in the *ss method instead of coddling. They bat Giambi and Matsui down there. Why is A-Rod sooooo special that he can't be dropped when he is slumping?

If we keep him, then I say to start treating him like everyone else and stop babying him. Giambi led this team in HR and was asked to go down to AAA at one point. My question is....would they EVER say that to A-Rod? Just tell him to stop thinking and posing all the time and go play baseball!!!!!

There, now I feel sooooo much better. Ahh

You're right Rick JT shouldn't have to pencil him into the 4th spot I like him better as a #3 or #5 hitter. I read somewhere his numbers are even better when in the #3 spot of the lineup.

Definitely no more babying! But the fans have to stay off his tail.

You cannot compare what happened with Jason To Alex. please give alex some decency , The AAA ploy was to Embarrass Jason so he can want to out of his contract in order to leave, What he did was a Big black eye for the yankees and you saw how the treatment was , he was acussed of using steroids Not alex but Jason , and behind the scenes the Yankees hated him and wanted him gone Torre included

It was a black eye for all of baseball. But he has been producing and has been clean (if you believe in the testing and anti-doping regulations). He turned it around after that embarrassment. Alex is not Giambi, after the steroids thing, for me Giambi can't measure up to a player like Alex. But JT’s technique ended up helping Giambi so they ended up keeping him even though they wanted to be rid of him and the money they owe him. Since they couldn’t do that they moved on and Giambi has come through. Hopefully tough love will work with Alex too and he can lead us to #27.

The same love should be given to Carl P. remember AL batters not really know his stuff

Bronx Bomber

What is this love affair with Pavano? The guy is a stiff!

Well I like him he can be if healthy an answer to our problems a good pavano gives us three capable pitchers not counting RJ and The Japanese dude and if we get lets say a Zito or a good pitcher then we can throw RJ under the bench

Keep in mind Pavano did pitch a little for the Yanks and he sucked. I think he may have realized he was in trouble so he came up with all these strange but unproven ailments. He says his butt hurt too much to pitch, how can you prove otherwise?
Then they operated on him to remove bone chips, but really it was just a way to appease him as the doctors couldn't really find anything wrong with him. I give him points for hitting that Alyssa Milano though, I guess if you are going to hurt your ass, do it with her.

Jim A

You have been keeping up with this guy's saga! You have it exactly right. He realized he sucked and was in way over his head in NY, so he came up with all these ailments to avoid the inevitable. Now it's time for him to get a fresh start back in the NL on some loser team where there's no pressure.