Tuesday, December 17, 2013

Yankees Pay $28.1 Million In Luxury Tax For 2013


The luxury tax penalties are in for the 2013 season and the Yankees were hit with having another Alex Rodriguez on the team when they had to pay $28.1 million. That is obviously a new record, what else is new, and the Yankees are only one of two teams, the other team being the Dodgers, to pay the tax this season.

The Yankees had a payroll near $237 million in 2013 when all was said and done, much like the Dodgers who only had to pay $11 million, but the Yankees being repeat offenders they were hit harder. This penalty will take the Yankees total fee from 2003 to over $250 million.

Alex Rodriguez May Pull A Jose Canseco


Alex Rodriguez is doing his best to do his best Jose Canseco impersonation, no this has nothing to do with steroid use per se, as A Rod may have himself a tell all book deal. A Rod may also be securing a documentary deal to tell his story about his "battle" with Major League Baseball. According to Emily Smith of the New York Posts' "Page Six" A Rod is close to turning a profit on this deal as well, like he needs the money. A Rod sold his Miami mansion back in May for a reported $15 million and is looking to sell his Miami condo for the low, low price of $1 million.

Rodriguez is hoping to chronicle what his life has been like since being handed a 211 game suspension for steroids. I am not going to lie this would be a Day One buy for me and I would probably read it cover to cover the first night. I would like to see what kind of spin he puts on everything, how he describes the whole Ryan Dempster episode, storming out of his appeal hearing, Bud Selig taking a picture with a fan with an "A Roid" photo, and all that other juicy good drama.


Grant Balfour Comes Off The Yankees Board


I am not entirely sure if Grant Balfour was ever really on the Yankees board or not but if he was he isn't anymore after signing a deal with the Baltimore Orioles. Balfour will replace Jim Johnson as the closer in Baltimore and brings that fly ball and home run prone tendencies to the AL East. Balfour was really helped out playing in the spacious Oakland Coliseum and I think we will see his numbers increase with the Orioles. Balfour reportedly turned down a bigger deal for a two year deal with Baltimore. No word yet on the contract details but it looks like a done deal.

Yankees Have Shown Interest In Jeff Baker


The Yankees are still looking to fill in a few gaps this offseason with the roster and that search has been extended to former Texas Rangers outfielder Jeff Baker. Baker is more of a utility player then an outfielder with the ability to play first base, third base, second base, and both corner outfield spots. Baker's right handed power bat can really balance out the lineup and likely platoon with Brian Roberts and others if he is signed.

Baker is 32 years old and is coming off of a .279/.360/.545 triple slash with 11 home runs in only 175 plate appearances in 2013. Baker, and this is serious, missed more than a month with a sprained thumb injury that he got during a high five with a teammate.

Yankees Sign Left Hander Matt Thornton


It must be a trend this offseason to acquire guys four or five years too late as it started with Carlos Beltran, continued with Brian Roberts, and now extends to left handed reliever Matt Thornton. Thornton received a two year deal worth $7 million to replace Boone Logan and be our LOOGY.

Thornton has been pretty durable in his career only spending two disabled list trips since suffering a herniated disc back in 2003 so that is good news for the Yankees. The bad news is that Thornton's strikeout numbers have dipped, down to 6.2 K/9 last season, but he saw his numbers against right handers go from bad to awful so the LOOGY role may be the best thing for Thornton and for the Yankees.

Yankees Sign Brian Roberts For One Year, $2 Million


The New York Yankees have signed Brian Roberts to a one year deal worth $2 million to more than likely be their second basemen on Opening Day. This all but slides Kelly Johnson into the third base position or on the bench if we sign a Mark Reynolds. The deal is obviously pending a physical which is not a guarantee at this point in his career. If this were 2006 I would be jumping for joy, but it's not, so I'm not. New York still has a lot of work to do.

Yankees Not Interested In Garza or Jimenez

The New York Yankees are ready to fill their starting pitching holes via trade or by internal options, not by throwing money at free agent pitchers Matt Garza and Ubaldo Jimenez. According to Bob Klapisch the Yankees are ready to show some fiscal restraint when it comes to starting pitching. Apparently Brian Cashman was told that outfielders win championships, not pitching.

Klapisch also adds that the Yankees will be all in on Tanaka when he gets posted so there is at least some hope there. I personally like Garza and think he could do well here in a #3 or #4 spot in the rotation but I am greedy and a little bias so what do I know.

Yankees Likely To Do Some Bargain Bin Shopping


According to the New York Post the Yankees and General Manager Brian Cashman are likely to go bargain bin shopping from here on out to fill the roster holes. This quote from Dan Martin on the link provided should scare every single Yankees fan. Here it is, digest it.

General manager Brian Cashman has said he would prefer to act quickly to fill holes, but acknowledged last week that might not be possible and added the Yankees may have to wait until players are released during spring training or even until the trade deadline to get the kind of players he wants.

Yankees Likely To Sign Brian Roberts

No word on whether this is the fix for the second base problem we are having or if this will be a minor league deal but according to Ken Rosenthal the Yankees are likely to sign Brian Roberts. You probably recognize Robert's name either from the Baltimore Orioles or the disabled list, the latter more then the former. If anything it will be a cheap one year deal or minor league deal but at this point why not just let Kelly Johnson have the spot?

This Day In New York Yankees History 12/17


On this day in 1924 the New York Yankees trade three pitchers to acquire Urban Shocker from the Browns. Shocker is coming off of four consecutive 20 win seasons after the Yankees traded him to St. Louis in 1918.


On this day in 1964 the Yankees fired long time broadcast personality on television and radio Mel Allen. Allen was best known for bringing the phrase "going, going, gone" to the game while describing home runs as well as "how about that" when describing the play on the field.


n this day in 2003 the Yankees finalized a three year deal with Gary Sheffield worth $39 million. Sheffield was coming off of season where he put up a .330 batting average with 39 home runs and 132 RBI's. There was also a team option for $13 million for the 2007 season that brought Sheffield to New York after he made his name with the Milwaukee Brewers, Atlanta Braves, Florida Marlins, and the San Diego Padres.


On this day in 2004 a three way deal involving the New York Yankees, the Los Angeles Dodgers, and the Arizona Diamondbacks fell through when the Dodgers backed out at the last second. The deal would have brought Randy Johnson from Arizona and Kaz Ishii from the Dodgers to the Yankees, Shawn Green and Brad Penny being sent to the Diamondbacks from the Dodgers, and Jose Vazquez and prospects going to the Dodgers.


On this day in 2007 the Yankees continued their offseason of resigning their own free agents as they signed 38 year old closer Mariano Rivera to a new three year deal. The deal was worth $45 million and came on the heels of the Yankees resigning Alex Rodriguez to a 10 year deal worth $275 million, Jorge Posada for four years and $52.4 million, and Andy Pettitte for one year and $16 million.