Greedy Pinstripes Elf On A Shelf Makes An Appearance

Getting ready for Christmas week...

Pitchers May Use Headgear As Soon As 2014

According to Arizona Diamondbacks pitcher Brandon McCarthy there is a chance that Major League pitchers could have the option of using protective headgear as soon as 2014. The headgear would look like a hat but would protect pitchers from line drives off the bat, much like the one that caught McCarthy while with the Oakland A's. Knowing the MLB these would be the biggest fashion statement of the year, sarcasm included, but safety comes first right?

McCarthy says the headgear is definitely coming but he does not think that the pieces will be mandatory. HERE are some quotes:

"They're coming," McCarthy said of the headgear. "From everything I know they'll be available this year. I don't believe they're going to be mandatory. Actually, I'm almost certain they won't be mandatory."

"It should be strong enough and capable enough that literally if I got hit by the same exact ball, I would have been able to keep pitching in that game," McCarthy said.

Yankees Stadium Legacy: #100 Mariano Rivera

In Mariano Rivera's first full season as the New York Yankees closer in 1997 Mo saves 43 games for the AL East champions with a 1.88 ERA. Rivera transitioned from shutting down the 7th and the 8th innings in 1996 to shutting down the games in 1997 thus ending rallies for the other team in the 9th inning. In 2005 Mo saved 43 more games, the sixth time he had saved 40 or more games in a season, and took home his fourth American League Rolaids Relief Award.

In exactly 100 days the New York Yankees will start their quest for their 28th World Series Championship and The Greedy Pinstripes will countdown to Opening Day to keep you sane during the long, dark, and boring winter. Check back every day for a new edition of the Yankees Stadium Legacy.

This Day In New York Yankees History 12/22

On this day in 1982 Lee Mazzilli was traded for the third time this season as the Yankees trade the first basemen and outfielder to the Pittsburgh Pirates for Tim Burke and three minor league players. Mazzilli was acquired in New York that August for Bucky Dent from the Texas Rangers.

On this day in 2008 the New York Yankees signed Chien Ming Wang to a one year deal worth $5 million to avoid arbitration. The 28 year old right hander had missed half the season after an injury running the bases in Houston ended his season.

On this day in 2009 the World Series champions acquired Javier Vazquez from the Atlanta Braves for outfielder Melky Cabrera. The last time we saw Vazquez in Yankees pinstripes he was giving up that grand slam to Boston Red Sox Johnny Damon in Game 7 of the 2004 ALCS.

I Think The Yankees Are Targeting Stephen Drew

Stephen Drew's decision is awaiting some further Yankee clarity
— Peter Gammons (@pgammo) December 21, 2013

I called it a few weeks back and now the Yankees may finally be listening as I think New York is finally targeting Stephen Drew, at least according to Peter Gammons. Are the Yankees still after Drew even after signing Brian Roberts? I sure hope so.

I wonder what the "clarity" that Drew needs though. Is it waiting on the Alex Rodriguez decision? Is it waiting on the Masahiro Tanaka decision? Do the Yankees want him to play a position he is not normally playing, like say third base? Is Jay Z trying to get Drew too just to screw the Yankees?

Here's to hoping for clarity soon, either way.

Shin-Soo Choo Signs With The Rangers

If you were among the minority of Yankees fans that thought the team should trade Brett Gardner, and then sign Shin-Soo Choo, it's too late.

"Move over, Chuck Norris. There's a new Texas Ranger in town."

This morning Choo and the Texas Rangers agreed to a seven year contract, worth $130 million. Of course, that is lower than the offer the Yankees reportedly made to Choo before signing Jacoby Ellsbury. Then again, Texas... like Washington... is one of those states with no income tax, so the deal with the Rangers may turn out to be more lucrative.

In Case You Missed It: Carlos Beltran Introduced

In case you missed it here is the introductory press conference for Carlos Beltran.

This Day In New York Yankees History 12/21

On this day in 1927 the New York Yankees and the Boston Red Sox made a trade that saw pitchers Ernie Shore and Dutch Leonard with outfielder Duffy Lewis go to the Yankees for "relatively unknown players" and $15,000 cash. The group of players included Frank Gilhooley, Slim Love, Ray Caldwell, and Roxy Walters.

On this day in 1995 the Yankees resigned David Cone to a three year deal worth $18 million. Cone and the Toronto Blue Jays flirted around before George Steinbrenner got his man back in pinstripes.

On this day in 2009 the Yankees got hit with a luxury tax penalty bill of $25.69 million after winning the World Series just a month and a half ago. New York was the only team to go over the cap and get the penalty bill in the mail and has been the only team to be penalized in the seven years of the luxury tax's existence.

$3 Million Kept Us From Having Shin-Soo Choo

Heard NYY/Choo agreed at 7/140. Then Boras asked to make it $143, $1M over Carl Crawford. Angered NYY, agreed with Beltran instead.
— CJ Nitkowski (@CJNitkowski) December 20, 2013

The Yankees have to be kidding me right now. The Yankees were willing to go seven years and $140 million on OBP King Shin Soo Choo and let him walk over $3 million? I can see ending a deal over years, see Robinson Cano and Omar Infante for great examples of letting guys go elsewhere for too many years, but not $3 million. The YES Network probably makes $3 million between the hours of midnight and 2:00 pm ET, obviously sarcasm but you get my point. The Yankees were angered because Scott Boras asked for $3 million more and instead turned their attention to Carlos Beltran and again this is after they had signed Jacoby Ellsbury. I don't get it, oh well. There is still time.

Yankees Sell Yamaico Navarro To Korea

Well that didn't take long now did it. Earlier in the offseason the Yankees made it priority number one to add depth to their minor league system in all facets of the game, especially infield depth. That depth took a hit today as the Yankees sold Yamaico Navarro to Korea and the Samsung Lions. The only person happy about this is probably Jayson Nix as that opened up another spot for minor league infield depth.