Thursday, December 26, 2013

Yankees Spoke With Bronson Arroyo Last Week


The New York Yankees are "casting a wide net" on the remaining free agents in the league and that net reached out to free agent pitcher Bronson Arroyo last week. This was obviously before the Masahiro Tanaka decision was handed down so definitely Arroyo is being classified as a Plan B or C, I hope anyway. The Yankees were also interested earlier in the offseason for the right handed innings eater from the Cincinnati Reds and Boston Red Sox.

Arroyo is 36 years old and while his numbers look good, 3.79 ERA in 202 innings, I think his stuff would not translate well back into the AL East. He did pitch in one of the better hitters parks in the league in the Great American Ball Park but he also faced the pitcher two or three times a night too, which helps. Arroyo's value is in his durability as he has pitched at least 199 innings in the last nine seasons consecutively.

Again he is definitely not a Plan A and should not be a Plan B either but he would definitely fill a need, a need of 200 innings to take the toll off the bullpen.

Yankees Stadium Legacy: #96 Alex Rodriguez


Alex Rodriguez joined the New York Yankees in 2004 coming off an MVP award in 2003 with the Texas Rangers. Alex would win the award again, this time in pinstripes, in both 2005 and 2007. His 2007 campaign was a memorable one as Alex hit 54 home runs, scored 143 times, and drove in 156 RBI's.

96 more days to Opening Day.

Masahiro Tanaka To Be Posted Today


There is no going back and changing their minds this time for the Rakuten Golden Eagles as Masahiro Tanaka will be posted sometimes today. That gives teams until January,24 2014 to pony up the $20 million and exclusively negotiate with Tanaka.

Tanaka has hired agent Casey Close, agent of Derek Jeter and Mark Teixeira, to be his man to talk with teams. That's a great sign since he has such a relationship with the Yankees organization as a whole. The Cubs, Angels, and Diamondbacks appear to be New York's  stiffest competition for the 25 year old right hander but I fully expect teams like the Texas Rangers and New York Mets to at least be in the discussion.

People have been asking me on Twitter and such what I think about Tanaka and two words come to mind, all in!

Greedy Pinstripes Elf On A Shelf Returning Presents


That's what he told the police officer anyway...

This Day In New York Yankees History 12/26


On this day in 1919, although not official until January, the Yankees purchased pitcher in outfielder Babe Ruth from the Boston Red Sox. Ruth would end up costing the Yankees $100,000 with a $300,000 loan with Fenway Park as collateral. Too bad they didn't default on that huh?