News & Notes

- In an article from the Hartford Courant Robinson Cano says he feels a lot more secure now that he has his new contract, but is that really a good thing?

"Now I don't have to worry if something happens, if I get hurt," said Cano, who signed a four-year, $30 million contract with the Yankees Thursday. "I have security. I'll be honest with you, I know this hasn't happened before and I'm really happy they made me the first one."

This may be why the Yankees don't like giving young players long-term contracts.

Steve Lombardi over at WasWatching.com speculated that this may mean that he doesn't work as hard trying to come back from an injury and in his words "to pull a Pavano and sit out longer than he may have...when he was playing for a contract."

This kind of comment worries me as well, hopefully Cano can stay healthy, and we don't have to find out, at least not this year.

Also in the article was some better news:

Cano was one of the players, along with Bobby Abreu and Johnny Damon, the Yankees admonished to get into better shape during the offseason. Cano hired a personal trainer in the Dominican Republic.

"Every day, I drive an hour and work out from 10 to 2," Cano said. "Normally, I come to camp 212, 215 pounds. Right now, I'm about 206. ... I know they've complained in the past, but I don't think they will have any complaints now."

At least he's working hard, that's a good sign. Unlike Johnny Damon who claims he gains weight when he runs, acknowledged a few weeks ago that he's 12 pounds over the team’s prescribed weight for him

- Don Mattingly told the Daily News that due to his problems with his family he's actually glad he didn't end up getting the Yankees job.

"As it turned out, it was just as well I didn't get (the Yankees) job," Mattingly - who last month had to withdraw as Joe Torre's batting coach with the Dodgers - told the Daily News "That's because I would've had to walk away from it because of these issues."

"It's unfortunate what's happened," Mattingly said, "especially for my kids, being in the papers and all that. But we've just got to deal with it. And we will."

Then, in reference to 1995, when he left the Yankees and baseball to go home to Indiana for a self-imposed eight-year exile - after hitting .417 with six RBI against the Mariners in his one and only postseason series - Mattingly added: "This is not the first time we've all had to go through this" - suggesting his family's problems have lingered for years.

- The Yankees roster along with player's numbers were updated on Yankees.com today, here are some of the changes:

Phil Hughes is now #34, was #65
Ian Kennedy is now #31, was #36
Edwar Ramirez is now #36, was #31
Sean Henn is now #30, was #34
Ross Ohlendorf is now #39, was #60
Chase Wright went from #38 to #65 (So all of you who bought Phil Hughes jerseys now own a Chase Wright jersey.)
Jonathan Albaladejo was given #63
Latroy Hawkins gets Roger's old number 22

- Peter Abraham reports that the Yankees are heading to arbitration with pitcher Chien-Ming Wang. The two sides couldn't come to an agreement on a deal. Wang and his agent want $4.6 million a year, while the Yankees only want to give him $4.
The hearing will take place on Feb. 14th.

- There was a Carl Pavano sighting down at the Yankee minor league complex yesterday. He played catch for 12 minutes.

Eiland plans to meet with Pavano and Yankees head trainer Gene Monahan Monday to discuss the pitcher’s rehab program.

Rotoworld says that he may be able to pitch in a long-relief role sometime in the second half of the season... I wouldn't get your hopes up.

- If you haven't read it yet, there was a great article about Phil Hughes written by Sam Borden of the Journal News yesterday, you should definitely check it out.