Thursday, January 16, 2014

CC Sabathia Joins Roc Nation Sports

CC Sabathia has switched his agents from Legacy Agents to Jay Z's Roc Nation Sports. Jay Z is apparently targeting the New York Yankees and their high profile players. Jay Z now has two baseball players in his fold, Robinson Cano and now Sabathia, and Kevin Durant in the NBA. Sabathia is under Yankees control for the next three seasons and New York is on the hook for $76 million so I don't think this will affect us at all so nothing to see here.

Brewers Close To Signing Mark Reynolds

The Milwaukee Brewers are close to signing third basemen Mark Reynolds to a major league deal tweets Ken Rosenthal. Whether Reynolds would play third base or first base remains to be seen but it is more likely that Reynolds would play first for the Brew Crew. And another one down...

Steinbrenner Says Give The Job To Robertson


Hal Steinbrenner has given his endorsement to David Robertson to be the closer for the New York Yankees for the 2014 season and possibly beyond. Hal wouldn't come out and say the words" David Robertson is our closer" but he may as well said it without helping Robertson's cause in arbitration by saying :

"We're going to rely on [David] Robertson. I'm sure he'll do a good job for us"

When pressed again for an answer, not a dodge to the question, Hal responded with this:

"I think you'll have to ask [Joe] Girardi that, but that's my understanding. He's the number one candidate. Rightfully so."

Hal said it so it must be true and it's about time.



Yankees Sign Cervelli To New Deal Avoiding Arbitration

The New York Yankees have announced a one year deal with catcher Francisco Cervelli for the 2014 season worth $700K avoiding arbitration. Obviously everyone, including myself and MLB Trade Rumors, had Cervelli projected to make right at or somewhere in the neighborhood of $1 million so this is a little less than projected, ask Hal Steinbrenner and he will tell you that every penny counts.

Cervelli had little to no bargaining power and leverage after a 2013 season that included a 50 game Biogenesis steroid suspension, a broken right throwing hand, and a stress reaction in his elbow that cost him his season.

Owners Approve Changes In Instant Replay

The owners have unanimously approved changes to the instant replay system in Major League Baseball effective for the 2014 season. With the Major League Baseball union as well as the umpires already approving replay this is basically a done deal for next year, whether you agree with it or disagree unfortunately. Chad Jennings from LoHud has the complete list of details and he did such a great job I refuse to paraphrase so HERE is the link.

Derek Jeter Will Start On Field Workouts Monday


Derek Jeter, courtesy of Derek Jeter, has announced that Derek Jeter will start his on the field workouts on Monday. Jeter was speaking at his foundation's, Turn 2, charity golf tournament when he said he was ready to start on the field drills. Jeter is in his age 40 season and coming off a season where he almost played in as many games, 17, as times he was placed on the disabled list, four, and is looking to have a normal and productive offseason to ensure his success in 2014. It's not much news but it goes to show everyone that baseball is getting closer by the day.

Yankees Might Retire A Number Or Two This Season


Yesterday on MLB.com we were all treated to a question and answer session with Yankees owner Hal Steinbrenner, seen HERE. Most people felt compelled to ignore all of the interview except for the parts containing to Alex Rodriguez but I read something that really intrigued me, the Yankees may retire a number or two this season including that of Joe Torre. I'll save you the reading and the skimming and quote the part here about retiring numbers, enjoy:

MLB.com: Now that Joe Torre is being inducted in the Hall of Fame, is his No. 6 going to be retired this year?
Steinbrenner: We're going to figure out just whose numbers are going to be retired. He may not be the only one. We'll figure that out. We haven't gotten into that yet, to answer your question.
MLB.com: So sometime this year you'll come to a decision on this?
Steinbrenner: Sometime in the next few weeks we'll be talking about it. It could be none, one or multiples. You've been around long enough to know that it's a very special thing for us. It's not something we do lightly.
MLB.com: Rivera's No. 42 was already retired because of Jackie Robinson and was officially retired by the Yankees at the end of this past season, his last. Obviously, Rivera's number is part of the group that will go into Monument Park in the near future.
Steinbrenner: He's certainly the caliber of Yankee who belongs in there on his own merit. Technically, his number is retired by baseball anyway, so no one else is going to be able to wear it.

ESPN Releases Sunday Night Baseball Schedule


ESPN has released their annual schedule for Sunday Night Baseball's first half of the season and it is definitely Yankees heavy, especially at the beginning of the season. The complete list can be seen HERE via Hardball Talk, thanks go out to them.

The first few months have the Yankees on ESPN's Sunday Night Baseball three times:

4/13 - Boston Red Sox @ New York Yankees

4/27 - Los Angeles Angels @ New York Yankees

7/13 - New York Yankees @ Baltimore Orioles

In case you were wondering the Yankees play the Tampa Bay Rays on May 4, the TBD game on the schedule, but it is now officially a 1:05 pm ET game so we won't be there. Check back closer to the All Star game for the second half schedule. 

2014 Yankees Schedule Now With Start Times Added

Major League Baseball tweeted that they had started hammering out start times to go with their games this season and they are now live on MLB.com. If you were wondering the Yankees start at 7:10 pm on Opening Day in Houston and will host the Orioles in their home opener at 1:05 pm ET on the 7th of April. Check out the entire schedule with dates and times HERE and soon to be transferred to the site here as well.

Yankee Stadium Legacy: #75 Wade Boggs


Wade Boggs was a five time American League batting champion with the Boston Red Sox and jumped to the other side of the rivalry with the New York Yankees before the 1993 season. The bat did not come around initially for Boggs in New York but in 1994, in his second season in pinstripes, Boggs batted .342 and won his eight career Silver Slugger Award. In five seasons in pinstripes Boggs averaged a .313 average which tied for sixth highest in team annals.

75 days until Yankees Opening Day

Former Yankees Update: Travis Hafner

Chris Cotillo, the new guy on the block and of MLBDailyDish.com, tweeted that former Yankee designated hitter Travis Hafner has agreed to join the coaching staff for the Notre Dame College baseball team in Division II. The school also announced the move in a press release which begs the question, how will this affect Pronk's baseball career if at all? Well that is still yet to be determined.

This Day In New York Yankees History 1/16


Nothing, again. I didn't forget you guys and I'm not dead, just nothing happening today on this day in Yankees history.