Justin Upton Traded

It's a sad day for Yankee fans like myself.

Justin Upton has been traded... to Atlanta.

The Braves will reportedly send Martin Prado, prospects Nick Ahmed and Brandon Drury, and young right-handers Randall Delgado and Zeke Spruill. Along with Upton, the Diamondbacks will send third baseman Chris Johnson to Atlanta.

I was really hoping Cashman had a deal in the works, and the news was going to come out of nowhere for us. It turns out that the Yankees never really had much interest in dealing for Upton, which is a real shame. Maybe there's something else being talked about, but this is not news I wanted to wake up to.

Scott Hairston Comes Off Board, Signs With Cubs

The Yankees had some interest in the best right handed hitting outfielder on the market Scott Hairston but he came off the board early this morning when he signed a two year deal with the Chicago Cubs. Scott's deal is worth $6 million over two years if all his incentives are met. Last week we were told that he was choosing between only the New York teams, the Mets and the Yankees, so this signing comes as a surprise to many. The happiest people alive this morning have to be Matt Diaz and Russ Canzler because one of them is almost guaranteed a roster spot now.

Yankees Not Interested In George Kottaras

The New York Yankees have announced that they have no interest in recently designated for assignment catcher George Kottaras. The left handed former Oakland Athletic was DFA'd last week when the A's acquired Jon Jaso in the Michael Morse trade. I cannot for the life of me understand why the Yankees would not be interested in this guy especially with him making $1 million and still under team control with arbitration. Real head scratcher here if you ask me.

Yankees To Invite Tyler Austin To Spring Training

The Yankees have not officially announced their list of Spring Training invites for the 2013 season but Tyler Austin, the Yankees super prospect, has announced that he has been invited to Spring Training camp. Tyler told MiLB.com in an interview, seen here, that he was excited to be invited to the camp and it will be an "unbelievable experience that I will never forget." Click the link for the full interview.

Nobody Interesting This Offseason

From MLB Trade Rumors, here's something that can be filed under "Bull****"...

The Yankees intend to lower their payroll below $189MM by 2014, but the financial incentives in place for doing so might not be as strong as initially anticipated. The team could end up obtaining less than expected from the new market-disqualification revenue-sharing program, as Rosenthal explains. However, Yankees officials say the team’s offseason strategy has been influenced by available players rather than maneuverings based on the sport’s collective bargaining agreement.

I'm assuming that un-named Yankee official is only referring to this offseason, which I can kind of understand. I wasn't dying to get Josh Hamilton or Zack Greinke, and seeing what happened between the Red Sox and Mike Napoli has changed my mind completely on that player. I keep reading that the austerity budget could be thrown out should the team not be up to snuff, but I guess we'll have to wait another year to see for sure.

Youkilis And His New Batting Stance

I read some news regarding Kevin Long working with Kevin Youkilis on his batting stance, and trying to get Youk back to the all-star caliber player he once was. Well, instead of reporting it here, and possibly because I'm lazy, I'm going to advise everybody to click here and read the article posted by Mike over at River Avenue Blues. He did an excellent job of going over the changes, and why they are being made.

By the way, don't forget to read Daniel's interview with Dante Bichette Jr. right here.

T.G.P Exclusive Interview With Dante Bichette Jr.

The Greedy Pinstripes present to you our latest exclusive interview, this time with Yankees third base prospect Dante Bichette Jr. Our first round pick in the 2011 MLB First Year Players Draft finished last season in High A with the Charleston Riverdogs and looks to be in Trenton or even Scranton by seasons end. I hope you guys enjoy reading this interview as much as I enjoyed conducting it. A big thank you goes out to Dante for taking the time to do this for us, you're the best D!!

The Greedy Pinstripes: Was your dream as a child always to be a baseball player? If not then what did you want to be when you grew up?

Dante Bichette Jr: I grew up around the game since my dad played. So naturally I always thought it would be awesome to play on the same stage, but I knew for sure i wanted to be a Major Leaguer when i was about 16.

TGP: What team did you root for growing up as a kid?

DB: I was always a Yankees fan as a kid. I had to keep it a secret though since my dad played for the Red Sox for a couple years.

TGP: Favorite player(s) growing up?

DB: My favorite players have stayed the same since as long as I can remember. Manny Ramirez and Derek Jeter.

TGP: Your biggest inspiration when it came to baseball?

DB: I am extremely self-driven, so it is enough for me to just try and really be the best I can be.

TGP: How is it like to grow up with a dad as a Major League player?

DB: I dont think there is a better way to learn about the game than to be around it, so it definitely is something I am lucky to have been blessed with.

TGP: Was your dad one of the crazy parents that would ride you hard in little league or coming up?

DB: This is funny because I have been around more crazy little league, travel ball, and high school coaches than you can imagine! But no, my dad has always had my best interest in mind which keeps him at a good intensity level.

TGP: Favorite moment as a Yankees prospect?

DB: I have two. One was when i was called up for a Big League game last spring training and hit two homers. The other was winning the GCL finals my first year.

TGP: Who was the best prospect in the Yankees system that you ever played with?

DB: Oh man! I cant single one person out, because I am surrounded by a bunch of guys that are awesome. I would definitely say that Ive been playing with a few future stars the past couple years.

TGP: Do you keep in touch with any other current or former Yankees prospects or coaches?

DB: I do. I stay in touch with a bunch of players and a few coaches via text, twitter, or visits over the offseason.

TGP: Hardest part of being a prospect?

DB: I would be ungrateful to say there is a hard part of being a prospect. Its exactly what everyone wants, and it only means you need to work harder.

TGP: What do you plan to do to bounce back and replicate your 2011 season?

DB: This year will be very simple. I am going to stick to an approach and I am confident everything that is supposed to happen by the end of the year will happen.

TGP: Were you always a 3B? Did you ever want to try another position?

DB: I played SS growing up and through high school. I love shortstop, but now watching guys like Cito Culver I see why I am moved to the hot corner haha!

TGP: Not really a question but your mom is awesome! We love reading and replying to her tweets. She is the mold of how every baseball mom should be!!!

DB: She is great! Everything that has happened in my life or my brothers life should be credited to my mom.

TGP: Most famous person in your cell phone?

DB: haha! Oh definitely my little Brother Bo! Or at least he will be the most famous.

TGP: Most embarrassing song/artist in your ipod?

DB: Possibly "Boyfriend" by Justin Bieber. Im not particularly embarrassed by it, but it usually brings on a few laughs.

Yankees Sign Thomas Neal To A Minor League Deal

The Yankees have added more scraps depth to the minor leagues and more competition in Spring Training by signing former Cleveland Indian Thomas Neal to a minor league deal. Neal was moved off the 40 man roster to make room for former Yankees player and recently acquired Nick Swisher. The only reason he was signed is because he is a right handed out fielder who holds a triple slash of .316/.382/.412 against southpaws the last two seasons. This will be Neal's age 25 season so let us hope that Brian Cashman has found lightning in a bottle once again.

Should We Feel Confident For 2013 & Beyond

This has been an off season to remember, or forget depending on how you want to look at it, especially for the fans that have been spoiled to grow up watching the Yankees during the dynasty years of the mid 90's until as recently as 2009. We have all seen guys come through the system like Derek Jeter, Jorge Posada, Mariano Rivera, Andy Pettitte, Phil Hughes, Brett Gardner, David Robertson, and a plethora of others guys that I am unintentionally forgetting that have all had huge impacts on not only the regular season but also have played big parts in our five World Series titles in the last seventeen seasons. We have also seen the Yankees go out and bid against themselves getting the biggest free agent prizes like Jason Giambi, Carl Pavano, CC Sabathia, AJ Burnett, Mark Teixeira, Gary Sheffield, Mike Mussina, David Wells, Hideki Matsui, and probably 600 other free agents that George Steinbrenner and Brian Cashman have gotten into pinstripes. With the ability to have a seemingly infinite budget both in free agency, with International Free Agents, and in the draft the Yankees and Brian Cashman have not been afraid to pull off big trades involving prospects for proven veteran pieces to make another World Series run which was fun to watch for all of us until the new Collective Bargaining Agreement was applied with a luxury tax. With the newest CBA now under full effect with even harsher penalties up to a 50% tax for repeat offenders who go over the luxury tax threshold the Yankees are finally starting to feel the heat and the restraints put into place.

We have been hearing about it for the last couple of off seasons now that the Yankees have a plan to get under the luxury tax threshold before the 2014 season, which is going to be set at $189 million, in order to reap the fiscal benefits that come along with it. The Yankees have continuously operated in the red as an business, although the YES Network has always more then made up for the short comings by the actual team, so the idea to get under the threshold to save some money and restart the penalties if we decide to go over in 2015 make sense on paper but do they really make sense in the real world? I personally have my doubts and my question has always been whether the fiscal savings by getting under the threshold would outweigh the fiscal hit the Yankees would take if we were mediocre on the field not only in 2014 but this season as well. Can the Yankees really compete in what is an ever growing competitive American League East AND follow through with the austerity budget in what seems to be like a rebuilding project? Sure, we can, but the only way that is going to happen is if we put our faith into Brian Cashman's alter ego, Ninja Cashman. Let's not beat around the bush our farm system, especially in the upper levels, is depleted and barren and not going to really help us in major spots in 2013 and beyond besides for maybe a David Adams, Corban Joseph, Adam Warren, or a Mark Montgomery. While those are nice pieces for depth or in a pinch aside from Montgomery none of these guys are the can't miss type guys that we will need to keep the payroll down and still compete. The only way we are going to get this done is if Ninja Cashman can pull off a trade or two that brings us a young and effective piece without creating too many other holes but can we really bank on that? I am glad that you asked...

I took it upon myself to look at the last six seasons worth of trades, no matter how minor, and evaluated each one specifically to evaluate whether or not we should really put our faith into Ninja Cash or if we should expect to miss the playoffs the next two seasons. I am just going to hit the high spots because I do not think anyone puts much weight into trades like when we acquired Justin Maxwell from the Nationals in 2011 for some guy whose name I cannot pronounce and have to copy and paste his last name(Adam Olbrychowski) to make sure the spelling is correct. Let's look an evaluate the trade history of Ninja Cash:

On July 23rd 2012 the Yankees traded minor leaguers DJ Mitchell and Danny Farquhar for Ichiro Suzuki while we were in Seattle playing the Mariners. This trade worked out beautifully for the Yankees because we were never going to give either of these guys a shot for the big club and in 67 games Ichiro gave us a 0.8 WAR, wreaked havoc on the base paths, and was one of the few Yankees to not totally disappear when the calendar changed to October. Verdict: Good Trade

On April 4th 2012 Brian Cashman traded away George Kontos to the San Francisco Giants for Chris Stewart. This trade never made much sense to me because while I can agree and get behind the fact that relievers are a dime a dozen and George Kontos was not exactly young or a "can't miss guy" can you not say the same thing about back up defensive minded no bat catchers? Especially when the Yankees already had a capable backup, albeit not exactly defensive minded first, in Francisco Cervelli already on the roster. Kontos went on to have a pretty good season for the eventual World Series champions while we were without guys like Mariano Rivera and Joba Chamberlain and Chris Stewart did nothing of note for the Yankees. Granted Chris Stewart looks more and more like our starting catcher in 2013, which I do not know if that is a good thing or a bad thing, so there is time to get some value out of this trade. Verdict: Bad Trade

On January 23rd 2012 the Yankees traded Jesus Montero and Hector Noesi for Michael Pineda and Jose Campos from the Seattle Mariners. As much as this trade hurt because I have watched Montero come through the system and salivated at the idea of his power in Yankees Stadium the trade made sense because Michael Pineda was a power arm with 5 years left of team control and filled a need. Jose Campos was also considered to be able to walk into camp and be listed in our Top 5 Prospects list right away and had much more potential then Hector Noesi ever thought of having. The trade is obviously incomplete as even after the 2013 season we will still have 3 years left of Michael Pineda and Jose Campos is still only in Charleston you have to wonder if Pineda will ever come back and be effective for the Yankees. The only redeeming factor in this trade is the fact that Jesus Montero once again seems to be without a true position and did not exactly tear the cover off of the ball while Hector Noesi got lit up in Safeco. Verdict : Fair Trade

On July 31st 2010 the Yankees acquire "Kid K" Kerry Wood from the Cleveland Indians for at the time was two players to be named later, who later turned into Matt Cusik and Andrew Shive, and cash. Kerry came over and absolutely dominated out of the Yankees pen with a 0.69 ERA in the second half for the bombers while to date neither Shive or Cusik have done anything for the tribe. Verdict : Good Trade

On December 22nd 2009 the Yankees traded Melky Cabrera, Mike Dunn, and Arodys Vizcaino for Boone Logan and Javier Vazquez. While in Atlanta Melky Cabrera was absolutely terrible and quickly traded to Kansas City, Mike Dunn has not done anything to lose sleep over, and Arodys Vizcaino is going to miss the 2013 season with Tommy John surgery. While Boone Logan has been somewhat of the LOOGY we have been searching for the last five to ten seasons Javier Vazquez was absolutely terrible for the Yankees. It is a lot to give up just for essentially a LOOGY but since we did not give up anything that has come back to bite us to date this trade gets my approval. Verdict : Good Trade

On December 8th 2009 the Yankees, Diamondbacks, and Tigers hooked up in a three team trade that saw The Yankees acquire Curtis Granderson from Detroit while giving up Phil Coke and Austin Jackson to the Tigers and sending Ian Kennedy to Arizona with other lesser pieces moving back and forth. Curtis started out well for the Yankees and has compiled a 13.2 WAR since the trade the pieces we gave up have compiled a 26.8 WAR in the same time period. Austin Jackson has turned into one of the better lead off men and center fielders in the American League, Phil Coke has dominated us in the playoffs out of the pen, and Ian Kennedy is one season removed from becoming a 20 game winner. Curtis Granderson has forgotten how to take routes in center field and has become an all or nothing kind of home run hitter that the Yankees were trying to get away from. Verdict : Bad Trade

Our final trade we are going to look at was on November 13th 2008 where the Yankees acquire Nick Swisher and reliever Kanekoa Texeira for Wilson Betemit, Jeffrey Marquez, and Jhonny Nunez. This was a classic buy low move after Swisher had the worst season of his career in Chicago and rebounded nicely in four seasons for the Yankees. We gave up nothing of note and got a fan favorite in return that the Yankees are scrambling and struggling to replace after leaving via free agency this season. Swisher has compiled a 15 WAR in his time in pinstripes where Betemit, Marquez, and Nunez combined have brought Chicago a 2 WAR. Verdict: Excellent Trade

I know that I have missed a few trades but for the sake of space I hit the high spots and wen't over the bigger of the trades and according to my tally I have one excellent trade, three good trades, one fair trade, and two bad trades. Trades, much like the MLB draft, are a crap shoot because you never know what you are going to get but on the bigger trades Ninja Cash seems to get the better end of the deal more often than not. I am not the most patient Yankees fan and I definitely hate settling for anyone less then Zack Greinke and Josh Hamilton this off season, hence the name Greedy Pinstripes, my faith in my General Manager and the teams commitment to winning will never waiver. Ninja Cash has been fantastic at finding cheap value late in the off season and in traded and I have full confidence that he will again in 2013 and 2014 to keep this team in contention.

Yankees Sign Reggie Corona To A Minor League Deal

The Yankees signed once highly touted prospect Reggie Corona to a one year minor league deal to bring him back to the club after being released. After having a pretty significant arm injury in 2010 after colliding with an outfielder that has basically kept him out of baseball since he finally looks to be healthy and had a decent winter ball this year. The 26 year old will bounce back from AA Trenton to AAA Scranton if I had to guess as a depth infielder.