If I Had A Hall Of Fame Vote...

If I had a Hall of Fame Vote I think my ballot would look a lot like this:

Roger Clemens

Barry Bonds

Jeff Bagwell

Craig Biggio

Curt Schilling

Tim Raines

Mike Piazza

Bernie Williams #homer

Pete Rose #writein

I have no proof that Roger Clemens did any kind of performance enhancing drugs and until I do I am going strictly on on-field performance. Barry Bonds kind of fits in the same category in my eyes so he is on my ballot as well but then again so is Pete Rose as a write in so I may have just blown any chance I had at a real vote. I know I have the poster child for steroid use (allegedly) in both pitching and the offense in Clemens and Bonds and I know that I do not help my cause with suspected users like Jeff Bagwell but it's my vote and I am kind of over the steroid era. 

Yankees Could Not Match Offer For Russel Martin

The Pittsburgh Pirates, as predicted by yours truly at TGP, signed Russell Martin on a two year deal worth $17 million which is far under market value. The shocking news came when Russell came out and said the Yankees told him that they could not match the offer or beat it and that is why he is headed to Pittsburgh. Say what?!?!

I can get behind the 2014 luxury tax plan and all that but at what cost? Then today we hear that the Yankees have no intentions of going after Mike Napoli or AJ Pierzynski... say what again ?!?! I am hoping that this is more of a ninja cash type scenario that nets us a Joe Mauer and not the beginning of New York Rays.

Miley Named Manager Of The Year By Baseball America

Baseball America has named their minor league manager of the year and it is our very own Scranton Wilkes-Barre Dave Miley. Miley is no stranger to the hardware as he also won International League Manager of the Year as well this season. After leading his homeless team to a division crown and playoff birth for the fifth time in six seasons managing a Yankees minor league affiliate. Congratulations to Dave!!

Welcome Back Mo From The Greedy Pinstripes

You know you have done something special in this game when you celebrate your 43rd birthday and agree to a $10 million contract in the same day, especially after basically missing all of the 2012 season. I just wanted to personally give you a welcome back and thank you for your service to baseball and your loyalty to the Yankees.

Rivera Returns!

The Yankees have been monitoring the health of Mariano Rivera, and apparently they're happy with what they've seen because they've reportedly signed the GOAT to a deal worth $10 million, with another $5 million in incentives.

Although the pitching staff is pretty much set, I'm sure we'll see the team do a bit of tinkering. I wouldn't put it past Ninja Cashman to move one of the young Yankee starters (Hughes, Nova, Phelps, etc) in order to fill positional holes like right field and catcher.

Russell Martin Signs With Pirates

David Waldstein tweeted that Russell Martin has agreed to a two-year deal with the Pittsburgh Pirates. Jon Heyman tweeted that the Yankees only offered a two-year deal to Russell for $12-$14m, however Buster Olney says the Yankees didn't make any offer at all.

Outside of Twitter I don't see anything official, but for the time being I'm going to start thinking about other catchers for the Yankees.

Pirates Willing To Go 3 Years With Russell Martin

I know that I said yesterday that I thought the Pittsburgh Pirates were the front runners for Russell Martin's
services and i feel a whole lot better about that prediction today. The Pirates announced today that they knew they would have to pay more in years and dollars to sign Russell and they proved it by their willingness to go a third year on a potential contract. No way the Yankees should go three years after Russell's 2012 season in my opinion so this will be worth keeping an eye on at the winter meetings.

Happy 43rd Birthday Mariano Rivera

A very happy 43rd birthday goes out to Yankees closer Mariano Rivera. He is not officially signed yet but is expected to be before weeks end.

BJ Upton Signs With Atlanta Five Years $75 Million

The Atlanta Braves and BJ Upton have announced that the two have agreed upon a five year deal in the $75 million range that will make BJ the highest paid Braves player in the history of their franchise. The deal is pending a physical and there is no word yet of a potential no trade clause or anything yet. Why do we care? The Rays, on paper, just got worse until they call up their next uber prospect.

Ryan Madson Comes Off The Board

One of the two formerly elite closers that underwent Tommy John surgery last year came off the board, as the Angels came to terms on a 1 year contract with Ryan Madson worth $3.5 million, with another $2.5 million in roster bonuses (meaning how many days he's on the active roster) and yet another $1 million based on incentives (games finished).

This is a good sign for the Yankees, and for fans such as myself that want the team to bring Joakim Soria on board. Soria has already said that he's willing to set-up for Mariano Rivera, and seeing that it could simply take a one year deal I really hope Brian Cashman and Co. is looking hard at the guy. Joakim had a poor 2011 campaign, in which he put up an ERA of 4.03, but that could have been due to his elbow as he had an ERA of 2.01 over the previous 4 years.