Derrek Lee To Stay Retired, Not Join Yankees

Derrek lee has told the New York Yankees that he will stay retired and will not be joining the New York Yankees in 2013, thank goodness.  Lee has not played since 2011 and has not played well in a few years prior to that so I could not see this working out well for us. The Yankees were interested in Lee to temporarily replace the injured Mark Teixeira but the search will continue.

WBC: Team USA vs. Team Dominican Republic

Both Team USA and Team Dominican Republic won their opening pool games in the second round of the World Baseball Classic so one team will leave Miami tonight in the drivers seat and one will take a step back. Team USA beat up on Team Puerto Rico 7-1 behind David Wright's offensive explosion and Team Dominican Republic and Yankees star Robinson Cano beat Team Italy 5-4. Team USA will send RA Dickey to the mound and the game will be televised at 7:05 pm ET on MLB Network.

After Facing Hitters, Hughes Is Okay

Phil Hughes faced hitters this morning, which was the first time he's done so since he was diagnosed with a bulging disc on his back. The plan is for him to throw a simulated game on Monday, and then it's possible he'd be ready to make his Spring Training debut, and then be ready for his first start of the regular season. However, I wouldn't get my hopes up on that quite yet. When it comes to pitching, unlike batting, the Yankees would be okay if Philthy missed his first regular season start.

New York Yankees @ Toronto Blue Jays

The Yankees will travel to play the Toronto Blue Jays in their latest spring training game as a part of Grapefruit League play. The game will be televised on MLB TV at 1:05 pm ET.

Spring Training 3/14/13 Lineup

Brett Gardner CF
Eduardo Nunez SS
Kevin Youkilis 1B
Travis Hafner DH
Ben Francisco LF
Jayson Nix 3B
Francisco Cervelli C
Thomas Neal RF
Corban Joseph 2B

RHP Jose Ramirez

Start Time: 1:05 p.m.
T.V: None
Radio: Toronto Blue Jays Radio (MLB.com)

Looking Around The AL East - Toronto Blue Jays

The Toronto Blue Jays had their third consecutive fourth place finish in 2012 when they finished with a 73-89 record in the AL East. The Jays reloaded this off season with a monster trade with the Miami Marlins and another notable trade with the New York Mets for the 2012 reigning National League Cy Young Award winner RA Dickey. Will it be enough to finally topple the usual suspects in the very deep American League East? Let's take a look an analyze the Blue Jays off season and how it should affect their 2013 on the field product.

I have put each players WAR from 2012 in parenthesis next to their name.

Additions:

• Melky Cabrera (4.7)
• Maicer Izturis (0.1)
• Henry Blanco (-0.2)
• Mark DeRosa (-0.8)
• Darren Oliver (1.9)

Subtractions:

• John Buck (0.4)
• Travis d'Arnaud (minor leagues)
• Jeff Mathis (0.8)
• Kelly Johnson (1.4)
• Yunel Escobar (2.5)
• Adeiny Hechavarria (0.0)
• Mike Aviles (2.0)
• Scott Cousins (-1.0)
• Henderson Alvarez (0.1)
• Jason Frasor (0.3)
• David Herndon (0.0)
• Brandon Lyon (1.2)
• Scott Maine (-0.3)
• Carlos Villanueva (1.2)

Notable Trades:

• Acquired Mark Buehrle (3.2)
• Acquired Josh Johnson (3.1)
• Acquired Jose Reyes (2.8)
• Acquired John Buck (0.4)
• Acquired Emilio Bonifacio (0.5)
• Acquired RA Dickey (5.6)

The Toronto Blue Jays went all in this off season while taking advantage of yet another Miami Marlins fire sale and a fiscally troubled Mets team to improve their team. The AL East, no matter who says what, is still the most competitive division in all of baseball and I do not expect the Blue Jays to finish in fourth place of it AGAIN. With all the big time additions already being added to a fantastic core of Brett Lawrie, Ricky Romero, etc this team could be special if everyone lives up to expectations. I obviously do not see RA Dickey replicating his 2012 season and I am not entirely sold on Josh Johnson because he has not given anyone any kind of consistency in his career, especially in the health department, but this team still has the ability to go far. According to WAR they added around 15 wins to their total from last season but 15 wins would only improve them to a 89-73 record so it will be interesting to see just what happens in 2013 up in Toronto.

2013 Predictions: 91-71 record 3rd place finish

Yankees Beat Up On Phillies

Ben Francisco wasted no time getting acclimated with being a New York Yankees player as he hit a two RBI double off the center field wall in his first at bat against Phillies pitcher Cliff Lee. Welcome to the Yankees Ben, do that a few more times and you will make Matt Diaz shake in his boots a little bit more.

Ichiro Suzuki added the third Yankees run in the 2nd off of Cliff Lee with an RBI single after he walked Gil Velazquez and Derek Jeter. I know it is spring training but that cannot be a bad sign for the Yankees offense, no?

Melky Mesa improved his chances of winning the temporary center field spot by driving in Juan Rivera with an RBI single in the 3rd inning to put the Yankees up 4-1. Mesa also got lucky on the wild pitch by Cliff Lee that allowed him to get to second base and allowed Matt Diaz to score the 5th run because the ball did not bounce away from Quintero enough to justify him running.

Mariano Rivera would pitch a quick and perfect inning shattering a bat. Andy Pettitte allowed a run in his 3+ IP and struggled with command but looked good overall. David Aardsma allowed a home run and then a hard hit single but settled down to limit the damage to just the one run thanks to a great running play by Melky Mesa.

The Yankees would win the game 6-2

Yankees Cut Warren, Almonte, & Corban Joseph

The Yankees have cut three more players from minor league camp today and reassigned them to AAA Scranton Wilkes-Barre. The Yaknees sent down pitcher Adam Warren, outfielder Zoilo Almonte, and infielder Corban Joseph. I am surprised to see Zoilo go down this early with the whole outfield competition still going on but I guess that means Melky Mesa is going to temporarily replace Curtis Granderson. Also kind of surprised to see Corban Joseph go down but the only shot he had at making this team would have included him as a third basemen and his defense was terrible at the hot corner all spring long.

John Sickels Ranks 4 Yankees In Top 150 List

John Sickels of minor league ball has released his top 150 prospects list and the usual four Yankees suspects have made the list. Gary Sanchez ranked at #46 and has an ETA from Sickels of 2015. Tyler Austin was surprisingly ranked next at #58 and has an ETA of 2014. Mason Williams was ranked next at #64 and also has an ETA of 2015 with Gary Sanchez. Sickels is obviously not as sold on Mason Williams as the rest of us are but then again I had him third as well in my rankings but I had Tyler Austin ranked ahead of Gary Sanchez so what do I know. Slade Heathcott ranked at #108 in Sickels list and has an ETA of 2014. Sickels says that he would rank Heathcott higher but he has obvious health concerns. I think this is the last of the big time prospects lists of the year until around draft time.

Texas Rangers Scouting Joba Chamberlain

The Texas Rangers have been scouting Yankees pitcher Joba Chamberlain, as recently as Monday when the Yankees played the St. Louis Cardinals, in hopes of maybe trading for the young right hander this summer. Joba hit 95 mph on the gun in that game and allowed a single in his innings work in what was an uneventful inning for the scouts to watch. Joba Chamberlain will be entering his age 27 season in 2013 and will be a free agent after this season so I can understand where the Yankees might want to see if they can get something for him rather than let him walk but who knows if he is even available at this point.