Ken Rosenthal (hat-tip to MLB Trade Rumors) is reporting that the Atlanta Braves are close to signing veteran reliever Billy Wagner to a one-year, $7 million deal. The deal will also include a vesting option for the second year. Rosenthal also tells us that the vesting option is worth $6.5 million, and will become guaranteed if Wagner can throw 50 games next year. The deal is pending a physical.
Obviously this has nothing to do with the Yankees, but it's the first pretty big signing of the hot stove season and he was a Red Sock.
Wednesday, December 2, 2009
Yanks Sign Taiwanese Infielder
According to Diamond Leung via Twitter, the Yankees have signed 18-year-old Fu-Lin Kuo. According to Taiwan Baseball the deal is worth $150K.Taiwan Baseball also wrote up a bio on Kuo, which can be viewed here.
Kuo is the second Taiwanesse player the Yankees have signed, with Chein-Ming Wang being the first.
Yanks Eying Lyon?
Ken Rosenthal is reporting that the Yankees have expressed interest in relief pitchers Brandon Lyon. This season with the Tigers Lyon went 6-5 with 3 saves, a 2.86 ERA and a WHIP of 1.106. In 78.2 innings pitched he allowed 25 earned runs on 56 hits in 78.2 innings pitched, struck out 57 and walked 31. He also said that "The Yankees likely will express interest in all of the top available late-inning relievers — lefty Mike Gonzalez, righties Fernando Rodney, Rafael Soriano and Jose Valverde — if they haven't already." But "Whether they will sign any of those pitchers is another question entirely."
He also pointed out that "a lot must happen before the Yankees decide whether they want to sign Brandon Lyon or any other free-agent reliever."
Makes sense. I think they also need to figure out what they actually want to do as an organization when they meet this week before we take any of these rumors too seriously. But still, let's say it's true. Would you like Lyon on the Yanks?
He also pointed out that "a lot must happen before the Yankees decide whether they want to sign Brandon Lyon or any other free-agent reliever."
Makes sense. I think they also need to figure out what they actually want to do as an organization when they meet this week before we take any of these rumors too seriously. But still, let's say it's true. Would you like Lyon on the Yanks?
Tuesday, December 1, 2009
Damon Says No Arbitration Is A Good Thing
Well, for him....
Damon told Tyler Kepner that's he's “In a better position since teams won’t lose draft picks,” Damon said in a text message. “Will now wait and see what develops.”
With teams protected from losing draft picks to the Yankees they may be more open to offering Damon that extra few million dollars or extra year that the Yanks might not be willing to give up.
Kepner figures that the Yankees expect another "severely depressed" free agent market, which is likely why they did not offer Damon arbitration. Kepner also said he "thought it might be worth it for the Yankees to offer Damon arbitration, even if he took it and received, say, $15 million." And while that is likely more than he's worth, he thinks Damon still has "at least one more year in him before age starts to slow him down. He could continue to energize the order while buying another year of development for Austin Jackson."
Damon told Tyler Kepner that's he's “In a better position since teams won’t lose draft picks,” Damon said in a text message. “Will now wait and see what develops.”
With teams protected from losing draft picks to the Yankees they may be more open to offering Damon that extra few million dollars or extra year that the Yanks might not be willing to give up.
Kepner figures that the Yankees expect another "severely depressed" free agent market, which is likely why they did not offer Damon arbitration. Kepner also said he "thought it might be worth it for the Yankees to offer Damon arbitration, even if he took it and received, say, $15 million." And while that is likely more than he's worth, he thinks Damon still has "at least one more year in him before age starts to slow him down. He could continue to energize the order while buying another year of development for Austin Jackson."
RIP "Old Reliable"
Former Yankees right fielder and all around clutch hitter, Tommy Henrich, passed away today. At the age of 96-years old he had been the oldest living Yankee. He was a member of seven Yankees championship teams, and in 11 seasons he hit .282/.382/.491 with 183 home runs and 795 RBI. The name "Old Reliable" came from Mel Allen, who gave the right fielder the name for all his clutch hits, obviously. For more on Henrich you can check out this article by Richard Goldstein.
Here's three quotes from former teammates via WFAN. The first comes from Yogi, the second from Jerry Coleman, and the third from Dr. Bobby Brown:
“Tommy was a darn good ballplayer and teammate. He always took being a Yankee to heart. He won a lot of championships and did whatever he could to help us win. When I came up in 1947, he taught me little nuances about playing the outfield. Being around Tommy made you feel good, whether playing cards or listening to him sing with that great voice. He was a proud man, and if you knew him, he made you proud too. ”
“Tommy was a terrific player. What made him so special was that he always played well in big games. You get him in a close or important game and he would always show up ready to play. It seemed like he never made any mistakes in the outfield. He was a true professional and an ultimate Yankee.”
“Tommy was incredible. They called him ‘Old Reliable,’ and he was just that. My first year with him was 1949, and it seemed like every home run he hit won the game. His career stats might not show it, but he was a great clutch player. When he hit, it counted. He was also a fine defensive player in the outfield."
Here's three quotes from former teammates via WFAN. The first comes from Yogi, the second from Jerry Coleman, and the third from Dr. Bobby Brown:
“Tommy was a darn good ballplayer and teammate. He always took being a Yankee to heart. He won a lot of championships and did whatever he could to help us win. When I came up in 1947, he taught me little nuances about playing the outfield. Being around Tommy made you feel good, whether playing cards or listening to him sing with that great voice. He was a proud man, and if you knew him, he made you proud too. ”
“Tommy was a terrific player. What made him so special was that he always played well in big games. You get him in a close or important game and he would always show up ready to play. It seemed like he never made any mistakes in the outfield. He was a true professional and an ultimate Yankee.”
“Tommy was incredible. They called him ‘Old Reliable,’ and he was just that. My first year with him was 1949, and it seemed like every home run he hit won the game. His career stats might not show it, but he was a great clutch player. When he hit, it counted. He was also a fine defensive player in the outfield."
Yanks Won't Offer Arbitration To Anyone
According to The Star-Ledger, the Yankees announced today that they will not be offering arbitration to any of their eligible players. Those players include Johnny Damon, Jerry Hairston Jr., Eric Hinske, Hideki Matsui, Jose Molina, Xavier Nady and Andy Pettitte. It's the second year in a row that the team has not offered any of their players arbitration.
Olney: Halladay Deal Must Happen Before Spring Training
From Buster Olney:
Roy Halladay, the All-Star pitcher who has been the subject of much trade talk since before the July deadline, will not approve any proposed deal after he reports to spring training, according to his representatives.This is really Johan Santana part two.... Anyway, this news doesn't really change anything, most people believe the Jays will get a deal done with someone by the beginning of spring training.
This means that the Blue Jays will either have to work out a trade of Halladay by the end of the off-season, or be prepared to receive only draft-pick compensation when the pitcher becomes eligible for free agency in the fall of 2010.
...
"[But] one thing is certain -- once Roy reports to spring training as a member of the Blue Jays, from that point forward he will not approve or even discuss any potential trade scenario," Berry continued. "This will eliminate a repeat of the distracting media frenzy of 2009 for both Roy and his teammates, and will allow Roy to focus on pitching at the exceptional level Jays fans have come to expect."
Burnett Wants His Mentor To Join Him On Yanks
From Mark Feinsand:
"I think it's time for him to get a fresh start," Burnett said Monday. "He's paid his dues there, been the face of the organization, done everything they've asked him to do and more. At this point in his career, I think he just wants to win."Burnett also thinks he could helps pitchers like Joba Chamberlain and Phil Hughes like helped Burnett back in Toronto. "You're going to get a guy you can learn from. When you're around him, he encourages you to get better. You watch him make himself better and it inspires you." The only problem with that is that one of those two would be in Toronto if Halladay was a Yankee.
...
After playing the first 12 years of his career in Toronto, a move to New York would be a major change for the 32-year-old, but Burnett - who acknowledged that the two markets are "completely different" - doesn't think Halladay would be overwhelmed by the pressure that comes with wearing pinstripes.
"I don't think he would let anything distract him," Burnett said. "He's not really the type of person that gets intimidated easily. It doesn't matter where he pitches; he's going to be the same. None of the stuff that goes on here would faze him at all."
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