Game 104. 1st game of d/n dh goes to the Yanks, 8-3.

The Yanks have a day/night DH today. One game is a makeup of a game Dennis and I got washed out of back in April.

Yankees 61-42, 2nd in AL East, 2 1/2 back. They are 5 up for the wild card.
OPS+ 108. ERA+ 120.  Three games worse than the Pythagorean record.

Jeter, Granderson, Martin get the opener off, Teix DHs…

Gardner CF .281-4-21  32sb/42att  OPS+ 105  leads AL in steals.
Nunez SS .272-3-23  15/19   91    lots of speed at the top
Teixeira DH .244-29-77  2/3  126    304 career HR
Cano 2B .290-16-63   6/7  120
Swisher RF .260-12-57  2/4   115
Chavez 3B .275-0-7  0/0  102   11 for 40
Posada 1B .235-9-29   0/2  89
Dickerson LF .292-0-3  1/1  94   7 for 24
Cervelli C .228-1-14  4/4  59

Colon P  7-6, 3.29  ERA+ 127

Tigers get Fister from Seattle today. Fister hopes for more run support. (3-12, 3.33!)

Phils could have interest in the Giambino or Thome. They want a bat off the bench yet. It would be hard to see Thome agreeing to go. Granted he played, and well, in Philly for a few years. Granted there is the chance for a ring. But he would rot on the bench like he did for the Dodgers a few years ago. Not much playing time for a guy four HR short of 600. Would he get the at bats he needs to reach 600 if he went to Philly? Interesting decision.

Brewers get Jerry Hairston.

Yankees updates from Joel Sherman of the Post and YES’ Jack Curry. Yankees and Rockies in staredown. Yanks don’t want to give up three elite prospects for Jiminez. Dodgers asked for Nova and either Montero or Romine for Kuroda. Yanks say no to that. Kuroda would be a tw0-month rental. Also, from Sherman: Yankees, like all teams, have scouts everywhere, but who is where is always key, and trusted Bill Livesey is watching SD relievers…Sense Chisox have really fallen out love with Thornton, would love move $13M owed ’12-’13. Yanks among teams watching the LHR. Thornton, 34, is 0-4, 3.28, 3 saves, ERA+ 126 for the White Sox. He’s 26-27, 3.53 for his career, ERA+ 128.

In the first, a two-out, two-on error by Nunez almost costs the Yanks, but Colon gets out of it with a K. Colon gets a K to get out of a 2nd and 3rd, two-out jam in the 3rd. So far, the Yanks bats have been quiet.

That changes in the third. Posada singles, and is forced by Dickerson. Cervelli doubles, and Gardner singles in two. 2-0 Yankees after three.

Two singles and a forceout give the O’s a run in the fourth. A double follows, and it’s 2nd and 3rd, one out. Colon has been in and out of trouble all game long. A groundout ties the game, and sends the runner to 3d. Colon’s pitch count is getting up there and that’s not good. You don’t want to burn the bullpen with a 2nd game later tonight. SB. Colon once more gets a K to get out of it, but the game is tied at two.

Not for long. Cano walks, Swisher hits #13. 4-2 Yanks. Singles by Chavez, Dickerson and Cervelli make it 5-2 Yanks after four. Even though his pitch count is in the 90s, Colon is out there for the fifth and for a possible win.

Like a bloodhound sniffing out a fox, Colon smells that win. The fifth is his best inning, 1-2-3, 2 K.

The Yanks open it up in the fifth. Teix reaches on an error, Swish doubles. Chavez singles in a run, a Posada groundout makes it 7-2. Dickerson singles to make it 8-2.

Wade in for Colon. Colon: 5 IP, 2 R, 5 H, 2 walks, 6 K.

Wade has a 1-2-3 sixth.

Colon goes to 8-6, 3.30.

If the Yanks big lead continues, they may break in Soriano here on his return.

Wade goes 3, 1 R, 2 H, 0 walks, 2 K. Reynolds homers off him in the 8th to make it 8-3, which winds up as the final score. Wade’s ERA goes to 2.08. He also helped save the rest of the bullpen for tonight’s game.

Logan wrapped up. 1 IP, 0 R, 2 H, 0 walks, 1 K. ERA 3.18.

Swisher 3 for 4, Hr, 2 rbi. 2 h, rbi for Chavez, Dickerson, Cervelli.

Game 74. Giambi’s revenge. He HRs in Rockies win 4-2.

Phil Hughes has a rehab start for Trenton tonight. Check the minor league update late tonight/early tomorrow for the report.

The Yanks are home vs. Colorado tonight. Rain is in the forecast off and on for the next few days.

Yanks 43-30, 1/2 game back of Boston in AL East. 2nd place. Wild Card leaders. OPS+ 113, ERA+ 115. 2 games worse than Pythagorean record.

1. Gardner LF .286-4-18 14 sb/24 att. OPS+ 115
2. Granderson CF .278-21-54  10/17  150  leads MLB in R, AL in Triples
3. Teixeira 1B .246-21-55  2/3  136   needs to get BA up
4. Rodriguez 3B .296-13-45  4/5  138
5. Cano 2B .299-14-48  6/7  131  .299 highest amongst regulars
6. Swisher RF .236-8-35  1/3  106
7. Posada DH .225-7-23  0/2  92
8. Martin C .233-9-30  7/8  103
9. Nunez SS .241-2-11  8/11  80
Burnett P  7-5, 4.05  ERA+ 101

Update: I should mention that besides going up against Tulo and Helton, this marks the return of the Giambino (Jason Giambi) to the Bronx.

In the first, after an out and two walks, A-Rod doubled in one run. There was some indecision on whether to send Teix, but they held him up. Cano lined into a DP. 1-0 Yanks.

Welcome back, Jason Giambi, but not that way. The Giambino ties it up with a HR in the 2nd. It is #423 for Giambi.

Checking Twitter: Wang will finally take the mound in a minor league start on Monday. He hasn’t pitched (Majors or minors) since 2009.

Morneau neck surgery. Sheesh, between him and Mauer, the Twins have been hurting.

Yanks get two on, one out in the 2nd. Nunez pops up. Gardner grounds into a force. 1-1 after two.

The Rox load the bases in the third with one out. Single by Helton makes it 2-1. AJ limits the damage by getting Tulo to GIDP.

Alex comes through again in the 3rd. A Granderson run with his speed. Walk, SB, went to 3rd on a fly ball, and Curtis scored on a SF by A-Rod. Tied at 2 after three.

Bad AJ. Walk, double. 2nd and 3rd, no out. A nubber brings in a run, 3-2 Rox. AJ gets lucky with a lineout to Cano. Walk. Another walk, then AJ gets out of it.

AJ struggling. Hmm. Who gets up? Noesi used (and bombed) Wed. night. Carlyle?

After four, 3-2 Colorado.

I’d have pulled AJ after four. It’s clear he has nada, and Tulo goes deep off him. 4-2 Rockies. He puts two more on, but gets out of it. But it’s clear he has nothing tonight.

5th. Nunez singles, but is CS. Granderson walks, SB again, but is stranded.

In the sixth, AJ strikes out four. Yes, four. One reached on a WP on the strikeout.

After six, still 4-2.

AJ goes 6 1/3, 4 R, 7 H, 5 walks, 5 K. ERA 4.15. Logan in. He gets 2 K.

Not much O from the bats tonight. After seven 4-2 Rockies, just four hits for the Yanks.

With two outs, Logan gives up a walk and a double. Ayala in to get out of it.

Logan: 1 1/3, 0 R, 1 H, 1 walk and 2 K. ERA to 3.50.

Going to the 9th. 4-2 Rockies.

Ayala 1 1/3, 0 R, 1 H, 0 walks and K. ERA 1.48.

One out single by Swish, Yanks have a shot.

Nope. Lose 4-2. Drop to 43-31.

AJ drops to 7-6, 4.15.

Giambi 3 for 4, scored twice, 1 RBI. The revenge of Giambi.

 

Spring and Summer of shame?

I won’t get into the legal details, but this spring and summer could get very interesting and shameful. Things seem to be speeding up regarding the Bonds and Clemens trials. Bonds’ trial is scheduled for March 21st, and it’s being reported that ex-teammates as well as Jason Giambi may be testifying.

Not long after we are done with that comes the Clemens’ trial. The defense tried to get the case dismissed, thinking too many charges are all lumped together. The prosecution doesn’t want Clemens’ lawyer cross-examining Pettitte because he worked for Pettitte before. I still wonder if Clemens’ upcoming trial is playing a part in Andy’s decision whether or not to retire.

Regardless, things could get messy for Bonds, Clemens, others, and baseball in general.

Moves

Tom Gorzelanny traded to the Nats by the Cubs. I guess Garza made him expendable. Rauch signs with Toronto, Chris Young with the Mets.

The Giambino signs a minor league deal with the Rockies. Giambi, who just turned 40, has 415 HR.

Be interesting to see how the Yanks do in arbitration coming up. Joba and Hughes are on that ride.

Marcus Thames goes to the Dodgers. Now to see how quickly the Yanks get a deal done with Andruw Jones.

Game 109. Preview. Boston @ Yanks.

From Pete Abraham, the lineup (comments mine):

YANKEES (66-42, 3 1/2 up at the 2/3 mark.)
Pythagorean +5
OPS+  118    ERA+ 99

In case you were wondering, from baseballreference.com:
  Park Factors  Over 100 favors batters, under 100 favors pitchers. 
  The new Stadium: Batting - 103, Pitching - 103

BA; HR; RBI; SB/SB attempts; OPS+ *=team leader; **=league leader
Jeter SS .316*-11-45-19/23-119      (329 hits from 3000)
Damon LF .287-20-64-8/8-131  (only 8 HR short of the league leader? Thank You New Stadium!)  
Teixeira 1B .288-28**-81*-2/2-146*
Rodriguez 3B .261-19-60-7/8-135 (The Killebrew Kurse? Stuck at 572 since 7-19)
Matsui DH .261-16-52-0/0-124 (We will miss him when he’s gone after this year. Yankee fans should cheer him each time up from here on in. A classy player and individual who has been low maintainence and clutch. It’s too bad he can’t play the field anymore).  
Posada C .278-14-50-1/1-124 (Turns 38 in 10 days. 235 HR are 15 short of Nettles NYY total).
Cano 2B .309-06-57-4/9-118 (Gold Glove for Robbie this year? Loved the play on Big Papi last night…or is that Big Popup? Used with permission. I see someone used that on Jason’s blog last night. Copyright pending!)  
Swisher RF .248-18-55-0/0-125
Cabrera CF .286-11-43-5/7-111 (career high in HR, would be in BA, would be in OPS; Thank You New Stadium!)

Pitching: RHP A.J. Burnett (10-5, 3.89). ERA+ 114 (Joba still leads with a 119)

Pete reports that the big G was released by the A’s today. He was at .193-11-40, OPS+ 89. Career HR, 407* (same # as Duke Snider). That one MVP, one runnerup, but a tainted career. Only once since 2002 did he hit over .255.

As Pete states, don’t be surprised if someone picks him up for a stretch run. Probably an AL team. The big G, after all, isn’t known for his D. He is 38 so this could be a last hurrah.

A good career, probably not HOF worthy even had he stayed off the juice (the lack of D hurts). Given the past however, no shot at all for the HOF.

Pete also reports that Claggett went down, Ramiro Pena up.

Aceves, Hughes and Rivera are rested and ready.

Meanwhile an APB has been sent out on Brian Bruney.

My milk carton has
this photo.

Update:My MRI had to be rescheduled. The center didn’t get the pre-auth from my insurance agency. My doctor and the insurance have been playing phone tag for a few days regarding the authorization for the MRI. I should have given my name as “Carl Pavano.”

I think he pulled a quad tying those shoes.
One guy (unlike yours truly) who never
has had to wait for an MRI.
The MRI Express Lane is named after him—
even in his new home of Minnesota.  

From Bryan Hoch at MLB.com, in case you missed this last night:

Jorge Posada found his own small way to pay tribute to the memory of Yankees captain Thurman Munson on Thursday, affixing a small No. 15 to his catcher’s mask during New York’s 13-6 win over the Red Sox.

The gesture came as the Yankees played their first home game following the 30th anniversary of Munson’s tragic death in an Aug. 2, 1979, plane crash.

“I just wanted to give a little tribute,” Posada said. “Thurman is special to me. It’s one night; hopefully I don’t get fined for that. I just wanted to let everyone know I was thinking about it.”   

If he gets fined for it, the commissioner is more stupid than most of us think he is.

C’mon, Bud. Have a heart. After all, you did retire #42 not only for the Dodgers, but throughout ALL of baseball. This was the Yankees and Posada is the current Yankee catcher (and, if I may add, a worthy successor to the lineage of Dickey-Berra-Howard-Munson-Posada; NO other team has a five-catcher lineage that good). A fine would really earn some wrath of Yankees fans. Bud, don’t be like the N(o) F(un) L(eague).

Speaking of.

Dickey. HOF. .313. 202 HR Five top 10 MVP finishes, runnerup to Foxx in 1938. (and Greenberg, who hit 58 HR that year, had NO 1st place votes and finished 3rd! Foxx had 19 of the 22 first-place votes, Dickey the other 3.)
Berra HOF .285 358 HR; 3 MVPs. From 1950-1956, he didn’t finish lower than 4th.
Howard .274, 167 HR. 1963 MVP, 10th in 1961, 3rd in 1964.
Munson .292, 113 HR. 1976 MVP, 7th in 1975 and 1977.
Posada .277-235 HR. 3rd in MVP voting 2003, 6th in 2007.

Not bad, eh?     

UPDATE II: The Red Sox DFA’d Smoltz and Traber today.

Smoltz and Dice-K. 16 combined starts. 3-10, ERA around 8.28.

If this is it for Smoltz, the future HOF finishes with 212 wins, 154 saves and a 3.32 ERA (ERA+ 125), 1 CYA, over 3000 K’s and 15 postseason wins. He won the CYA as a starter, and finished 3rd another year as a closer.  

College Football: Florida gets #1 in the coaches preseason poll and why not? Defending champs, lot of returnees, not to mention Tebow. My alma mater, PSU, is at #8.

Game 14. The Big G comes into town, but the game is rained out.

ESPN has tonight’s Yankees-A’s game as Jason Giambi returns to the Bronx. Andy Pettitte will go for the Yanks.

UPDATE: The game is rained out and will be made up in July.

From Pete Abraham, the revamped rotation. Wang passed over for now:

Tuesday vs. Oakland: Andy Pettitte
Wednesday vs. Oakland: CC Sabathia
Thursday: Day off
Friday at Boston: Joba Chamberlain
Saturday at Boston: A.J. Burnett
Sunday at Boston: Andy Pettitte

So obviously Chien-Ming Wang is getting skipped. No word yet as to when (or in what role) he will pitch next.  

Redding a Met

RHP Tim Redding, 31 next month, was signed by the Mets. Redding was 10-11, 4.95 for Washington in 2008, ERA+ 89. For his career, he is 34-51, 4.92, ERA+ 88. He was a Yankee for one game in 2005, and got bombed up in Fenway, lasting only one inning. His best season came for Houston in 2003.

Apparently the Mets never did make that 3 yr/$36M offer to Lowe. The Braves are getting in on Lowe and apparently are going to make an offer.

Some free agents still available:

Manny, Dunn, Sheets, Hudson, Lowe, Abreu, Ollie Perez, Garland, Juan Cruz, Crede, Orlando Cabrera, Pettitte, Garret Anderson, Wolf, Pudge, Looper, Varitek, Grudzielanek, Junior, Edmonds, Byrd, Ray Durham, Springer, Beimel, Pedro, Juan Uribe, Brocail, Kent, Hinske, Freddy Garcia, Nomar, Ohman, Rhodes, Guardado, Glavine, Millar, Eckstein, Prior (did you know the Yanks drafted him in 1998 but couldn’t sign him?), Cliff Floyd, Casey, Aurilia, Vizquel, Kenny Rogers, Alou, Big Hurt, Kapler, Emil Brown, Wilkerson, Chad Cordero (teams looking at him in a workout), Schilling (prob. will retire, but is out there), Ausmus, Lamb, Luis Gonzalez, Counsell, Foulke, Izzy, Gagne, Jacque Jones, El Sid, Sexson, Mientkiewicz, Broussard, Julian Tavarez, Jay Payton, Fossum, Lieber, El Duque, Livan Hernandez, Greg Norton, Cintron, Herges, Villone, Mark Sweeney, Timlin, Bart the Colon, Mulder, Jason Jennings, Flash Gordon, Corey Patterson, Rincon, Vidro, Cairo, Ozuna, Podsednik, Donnelly, Tony Armas Jr. (remember when he was a Yankees prospect???), Trot Nixon, Mercker, Fasano, Moeller….

By no means is this inclusive. I try to keep it as accurate as possible. Someone may have signed a minor league deal with somebody. It’s just a list so that you, the reader, have a clue of who is still out there.

The Celtics continue their slide, losing at Cleveland tonight. 38 for Lebron.

NFL weekend. We’ll see who makes it to “Championship Sunday.”

January 12th….someone gets the CALL FOR THE HALL. Rickey is a shoo-in. Who joins him?

Dave Roberts died at 64. No, not the Dave Roberts who stole that base on the Yanks in the 2004 ALCS. Another Dave Roberts. One that was a lefty pitcher. Padres, Astros, Tigers, Cubs, Giants, Pirates, Mariners and Mets. 1969-1981, 103-125, 3.78 (ERA+ 97). 14-17, 2.10 (talk about no run support!) in 1971 for SD. Won 17 for the Astros in 1973. 16-17 for the Tigers in 1976. That Dave Roberts.

I advise you to check the Sliding Into Home blog every so often. Greg Cohen posts updated photos of the New Stadium every so often, and it’s really something to see. It’ll take your breath away.

This fall will mark 10 years (ALREADY????) since the last two (or more)-homer game by a Yankee in a World Series game. Check the picture. Do you know who it is? (No cheating by going on image source or checking the tags!!!)

BTW, did you know that the last Yankee to hit a HR in a WS game was Giambi?

Moose to retire. New “breakfast recipe” in Boston.

Reports from Fox and ESPN today indicate that Mike Mussina will indeed retire. If so, he goes out on top. Other than Mussina, the only other pitcher I can think of to retire after winning 20 or more games in his final season is Sandy Koufax (27 in 1966). If you know of another, please comment. I’d have typed this earlier but had DSL trouble and it’s about bedtime. So sorry if I don’t look it up.

Boston will have to find a new “breakfast.”

The Red Sox traded Coco Crisp to KC today for reliever Ramon Ramirez. Ramirez, 27, was 3-2, 1 save, 2.64, ERA+ 162 for the Royals this year. 9-7, 1 save, 3.62, ERA+ 127 for his career. Crisp was .283-7-41-20 SB, OPS+ 93 for Boston this year. It looks like a nice move for Boston to shore up the bullpen. With Ellsbury, Crisp was expendable. As for the Royals, I’ve always liked DeJesus and he had a nice year. The person on the Royals hurt by this will be Joey Gathright (71 hits, only 4 for XB, OPS+ 59). Now we see what the Royals do with him.

I saw a posting that Boston is looking to make a push for Burnett. With Schilling probably retiring (seriously, can you see anyone right now picking up 38pitches.com or Pedro?), Boston, who didn’t have 38pitches last year, could be looking at a rotation of Dice-K, Beckett, Burnett, Lester and Wakefield. Scary. Masterson in the bullpen then? Then look at Tampa, who according to King, George A. III could be looking at Giambi for DH to help out the AL champs even further. Tampa’s rotation was solid. All the more reason for the Yanks to shore up a rotation that had Darrell “Now in Japan” Rasner as the guy who was third in IP last year.

BTW, Seattle’s Wakamatsu, by his hiring, becomes the first Asian-American manager in MLB.

A few years ago on Yankee Fan Club Radio I gave the plusses and minuses for Mike Mussina and Gary Sheffield for the HOF. Since I am tired and need to get to bed (damned DSL problems), I won’t get into Moose’s career stats right now (I probably have already) but will refer you to an excellent piece by Jason over at Heartland Pinstripes on Mussina’s career.

One good move. Pena to bench coach?

What a novel concept. It looks like the Yanks will have someone with managerial experience as their bench coach next year. No offense to Rob Thomson, but….(from Pete Abraham):

The Yankees appear to have finalized their coaching staff. According to Joel Sherman of the Post, Tony Pena will become the bench coach, Rob Thomson will move to third base and minor league defensive coordinator Mick Kelleher will become the first base coach. Kelleher is a former big leaguer and a former big league coach.

Should’ve done it last year. The heck with worrying whether Pena (a finalist, along with Mattingly, for the job Girardi won) will be able to work with Girardi. You do or hit the road. As for Kelleher, he was an infielder (mostly backup) for the Cards, Astros, Cards II, Cubs, Tigers and Angels from 1972-1982. .213-0-65 in 1081 AB. Yup. No Hr. OPS+ 42.

Cashman is stating that he only has two starters and is looking for two, but really, he has three as Pettitte wants back. The Yanks have to look at Andy (37 next June) as a 4 at best, and preferably a 5. 14-14, 4.54. I just wonder if he (like Mussina in 2008) has a comeback year in him….and also how much the winter of 2007-2008 with its HGH revelation hurt Andy in 2008. Will he bounce back if he has a controversy-free offseason? One year deal, though Brian. At his age and coming off the year he had, one year.

As Abraham aptly points out, the problem arises only if Mussina decides to return. Then decisions have to be made. Moose, make up your mind so the Yanks can move forward.

I don’t expect the Yanks to get Peavy in a deal. The Braves are probably the front runners. I would guess the best guess could be CC, AJ (and that’s a shaky choice with his injury history), Wang, Joba and Andy.

Abraham states that Randolph and Bobby Valentine could be finalists for the Seattle managing job.

Thanks, here’s your ring, hit the road: 3B Coach Steve Smith was dismissed by the Phils.

Rumors persist that the Tigers are looking to trade Magglio. He’ll be 35 next year. Two years less than Manny. .317-21-103 last year. OPS+ 127. 129 for the career. He’d be cheaper than Manny. Granted Manny is a free agent. It’d take a trade for Magglio. Hey, his hairstyle is just as bad. He did lead the AL is GIDP last year. Just saying.

I kind of would like Nady to stay in LF or RF, use Damon at DH and trade (even though I love him), Matsui (for Matt Cain of SF? I think nomaas.org first proposed that, but a good idea)….but that is contingent on getting another OF—a corner OF with power, and I don’t see it happening right now. Unless… but you know I don’t want Manny. Abraham states that Bora$$ wants a deal for Manny taking him to 42, like Bonds had and Alex has. JUST SAY NO, YANKS! PLEASE.

I see a possible Matsui to Seattle discussed, but for whom? (If you say Jarod Washburn, you are banned from this blog for a month). All I see are some relievers, but I think the Yanks are ok there with Melancon, Coke and Robertson emerging in 2009. With the finish Seattle had, I’d take their draft picks instead of players and WAIT and BUILD.

Interesting. This this flawed? Joel Sherman reports that the Yanks are valuing Cano like the near batting champ of 2006 rather than the dud of 2008 as far as trade bait goes. May be hard to find a bite if they dangle him.

The Red Sox have that “legends” problem the Yanks have. How to let one go. They have let a few go recently. They will have to cut the cord on Schilling, and Damon, Millar, Pedro, Nomar are gone. Now they have to decide on Varitek. Boston would like to re-sign him, but he is coming off an awful year.

I see where the Phils expect to sign the ancient (EX) Mariner, Jamie Moyer, who turns 46 in two weeks.

If after declining the option, Cashman re-signs Pavano, a revolt will ensue. The only question would be what upper deck to hang Brian from. The old one or the new one?

As for Giambi, don’t count him out. I’d expect him to go back to the A’s, but if the Yanks can’t get Teixeira, or Dunn (for 1B) or deal for a Fielder or Kotchmann, and have little options, then the big G could be back at lower cost.

Winter League Update:

Arizona: 2B Kevin Russo .359-2-9 (64 ab); Juan Miranda .333-1-7 (42); Austin Jackson .233-1-11 (73). Hughes, 1-0, 4.08, 17 2/3 IP, 19 K; Jeff Marquez, 0-1, 5.54, 13 IP; Kevin Whelan 1-0, 0.77, 11 2/3 IP, 14 K; Humberto Sanchez 0-1, 15.63 in 6 1/3 IP.

Hawaii: 2B Damon Sublett, .291-2-16 (55); Austin Romine .220-0-3 (41)
Jeremy Bleich, 2-1, 2.45, 22 K in 25 2/3 IP
Andrew Brackman, 3-3, 4.21, 27 K in 25 2/3, 13 walks.

More news, and no surprises yet.

From Pete Abraham:

It’s official now, the Yankees have declined the 2009 contract options of Jason Giambi ($22 million) and Carl Pavano ($13 million). The Big G will receive a buyout of $4 million. Pavano receives $1.95 million.

The Yankees can sign either player to a new deal if they want. That is unlikely.

Curiously, the Yankees did not announce their intentions regarding Damaso Marte, who has a $6 million option. That suggests they may in the process of trying to sign him to an extension.

and it’s official. AJ filed.