Welcoming Alfonso Soriano Back To The Yankees Again

Welcome back to the New York Yankees for Alfonso Soriano. Looking forward to what he will bring in 2014. 

Francisco Cervelli Opens Up About Using Steroids In 2011

Originally Francisco Cervelli was very adamant that he only consulted with Tony Bosch and his Biogenesis clinic down in Miami that we all know all too well by now but now we have a whole new side of the story being told. Cervelli opened up and talked a bit about his steroid usage and suspension and admitted to taking the steroids after breaking his foot in March of 2011. Cervelli went to Yankees Stadium this year to personally apologize to manager Joe Girardi after the news broke but nothing was said of Girardi's reaction or how his teammates welcomed him. 

 Here are a few quotes from Cervelli's interview:

Talking about why he used the steroids-

"I felt so many times in my career a little scared I'm going to lose my job...Every year I have to go to spring training and fight for a job."

Talking about being surrounded by the wrong crowd-

"Sometimes you listen to people who have nothing to lose; that's dangerous," he said. "When you're desperate or anxious or scared, that's when you have to step back, slow down and think about what can happen in the future with your actions in the present."

Talking about his new job mentoring younger players-

"I talked to all the kids here in the rookie league, just be careful with your circle and the people around you, especially the people that have nothing to lose because they don't care if you fail or are a success," he said. "I'm not going to tell anybody what they have to do, what decisions they have to make. Prevent a little bit about when you're desperate, anxious or whatever, what bad decisions you can make, so just be careful. Just listen to your heart and listen to good people."

The question is now raised on whether Cervelli would be "forgiven" and accepted again inside the Yankees clubhouse and around baseball. If what he says is true, that he only used it to get back onto the field, then that helps his case a bit. I know that people will say "well we all forgave Andy Pettitte" but Pettitte did it before it was against the MLB's rules and written in the Collective Bargaining Agreement. 

Paul O'Neill May Manage The Cincinnati Reds

Paul O'Neill is my favorite baseball player of all time.

"Thanks, Bryan."

I won't get far into the reasons why, let's just say that I love his passion for the game. When he became a Yankee in 1993, I was really excited. Honestly, I liked him as a Red, but it wasn't until he helped the Yankees win four World Series titles that he became "the man" to me.

I'm happy that he may be getting an opportunity to manage, as I think he'd be really good at the job. I suppose his emotions could get the better of him at times, which could be a problem, but Paul is a very smart person, as Yankee fans like myself have heard recently.

Oh, and I'm sure there are more than a few water coolers that are getting nervous that Paul could be back in the dugout.

At the same time I'm sad that he may be getting an opportunity to manage, but that it won't be with the Yankees. I don't mean to say I didn't want Girardi back (I did), I'll just miss having Paulie around the Bombers.

O'Neill and the Reds are just in the discussion phase of things, so nothing's set in stone. But I wish The Warrior the best in whatever he does.

What I'd Like To See For 2014: Outfield

I've decided to pull a Peyton Manning and call an audible.

"I'll allow it."

Instead of releasing each post in this series on Mondays, I decided to push them up. Part of that decision had to do with my impatience, and another part had to do with the possibility of something big happening soon after I finished this series, making the whole thing nearly pointless.

But it's mainly the impatient thing. I mean, I'm sure you've all been there. You get a great present for somebody for Christmas or their birthday, and you can't wait to give it to them. Of course, sometimes that present isn't as great as you thought. But that's not the case here... right?

So moving to the outfield, I'm going to start with what is the easiest position to plan for... centerfield.

Brett Gardner finished the 2013 season with a batting line of .273/.344/.416, while leading Major League Baseball in triples with ten (tied with Starling Marte and Jean Segura). Brett only stole 24 bases this season, thanks in part to the fact that he only attempted 32 steals. But keep in mind that in 2011, his last healthy season, Gardner attempted 62 steals. While a lower walk rate didn't help things this past season, that's not the reason he tried 30 less steals. It could be because he played in a few less games, it could be because Gardner was nursing an injury or two, or it could be that Brett was afraid of taking the bat out of somebody's hands . Either way, Brett is enough of a threat on offense that he warrants a spot in the starting lineup in 2014.

But what about Gardy's defense? Your initial reaction might be "DUH", but I'm going to throw out a couple of stats. Let me preface this by saying that Ultimate Zone Rating (UZR) is not perfect by any means, but the numbers do give us a decent idea of the type of defender somebody is. Anyway, Brett's UZR/150 this past season was -0.3. In 2011, again... his last healthy season, his UZR/150 was -4.7. Even if you assume the numbers are off some, Brett is really an average centerfielder. For that reason, you may think the Yankees should be on the look-out for a replacement centerfielder. But remember that this is Gardner's first full-season at that position, so there's reason to believe he will improve out there.

So Brett Gardner is my pick to be the Yankees starting centerfielder in 2014.

I want to see this over and over again.

The other two positions are a bit more work, seeing as how the Yankees are not only losing one of their outfielders to free agency (Granderson), but the other two that are under contract through next season are hardly guys to be excited about (Wells and Ichiro). As for youngsters who have some MLB experience, that could work there way into the mix, you have Zoilo Almonte, Brennan Boesch, and Melky Mesa. I don't know about you, but not one of those three names even makes me pause. Sure, Almonte started off strong with the Yankees this season, but he ended up with pretty poor numbers. When it comes to minor leaguers with no MLB experience, there's nothing there either. The Yankees big three outfield prospects (Tyler Austin, Mason Williams, and Slade Heathcott) are still a couple of years away. Ronnier Mustelier once looked like a sure call-up, but after returning from injury he did nothing to force the Yankees hand, finishing with a triple-slash of .272/.319/.398. Musty may get another shot at MLB next year, but it shouldn't be on Opening Day.

So what do the Yankees do? I say they make Curtis Granderson a qualifying offer.

I'm sure some fans may look at his batting line of .244/.337/.432, with only six home runs, and think I'm nuts, but you can't tell me missing 98 games this season didn't have a negative effect. And we're not talking about just a little bit of production when he was healthy. Curtis hit 84 home runs between 2011 and 2012. I don't care that his batting average over that same time period was only .247, because 84 home runs is still huge.

With a bit more work in left field, where he's only played 100.2 innings at Yankee Stadium, I think he can be an above average defender. Couple that with his production with the bat, and I think this is a guy the Yankees should seriously consider bringing back. Even if the cost is more than the qualifying offer.

Speaking of that qualifying offer, I'm starting to think Grandy won't take it. I'm not the only one that sees how much potential Curtis has, and is willing to give him a multi-year deal. Sure, like I said, he missed 98 games, but that was due to two freak injuries. A hit by pitch that broke his forearm in Spring Training, and another hit by pitch that broke a finger shortly after he returned from the first broken bone.

The only reason Granderson should take the qualifying offer is to rebuild his stock for another free agent run next year. If it wasn't for those injuries, and assuming he continued to hit homers like he did in 2011 and 2012, then he could be looking at a 5 year deal worth upwards of $17 million a season. I guess we'll see if Curtis is a gambler. Will he gamble on getting a four-year deal next offseason, and take the qualifying offer this year? Or will he just play it safe and take a three or four year deal now?

I don't know what the answer to that is, but either way I think the Yankees should think long and hard about re-signing Curtis Granderson. Assuming it wouldn't cost five year, I'm bringing Curtis Granderson back to the Yankees.

Who wouldn't want this guy around?

That brings us to the final piece of the outfield puzzle... right field.

While it's true that the team has Ichiro Suzuki and Vernon Wells under contract for 2014, it's also true that neither one of those players deserves regular playing time. Take away Suzuki's performance after being dealt to the Yankees last season, and you're left with a guy that struggles to get on base 30% of the time. Then you have Ichiro's complete lack of power (seriously, his SLG the past three years is only .358). If he was still able to hit .300 we may have something, but his batting average of .273 the past three years (and that includes his 227 at bats with the Yankees last year) makes me say the words "Suzuki" and "bench" at the same time.

Vernon Wells is also not somebody you want to lean on. In his last five years Vernon's triple-slash is .249/.296/.425. You're reading that right. A batting average under .250, and an on-base percentage below .300. Oh, and that .425 slugging percentage may be respectable, but when it's attached to those other two numbers then you can take this guy and shove it. And it doesn't matter to me that Wells is essentially free in 2014, thanks to Cashman fiddling with the money the Angels owe the Yankees from the trade that brought him to New York. The Yankees would have to get paid, and paid a lot, to allow Vernon to play more than a handful of times a month. And even that may be a stretch.

But the Yankees don't have a ton of money to work with, so what should they do. I'll give you two words... Corey Hart.

Before missing the entire 2013 season due to a microfracture injury to his left knee, we're talking about a guy that hit just under .280 over the previous three seasons. And in those three seasons, Hart hit 87 home runs, for an average of 29 a season. Yankee Stadium is a bit deeper in left field than Miller Park in Milwaukee, but I don't think that will make much of a difference for Corey. I mean, perhaps he'd hit like five less homers, but we're not talking about a pull hitter. If you check out Hart's spray chart from his last three healthy seasons, you see that he's hit quite a few home runs to the opposite field. 

The best part about signing Hart is his cost. You see, he's in pretty much the same boat as Curtis Granderson is. Both guys have a lot of potential, but both of them suffered injuries this past season that cost them so much time that they won't be able to cash-in like many thought they would back in March. So I can see Corey accepting a one-year deal to raise his stock back up for another run at a big contract after the 2014 season, which is where the Yankees swoop in. Not only would the deal be for less years than Corey may otherwise deserve, but it would be for a lot less money. My guess is around $10 million. That may seem like a lot for a guy that just missed the entire season, but not many guys have 30-homer power either. 

By the way, if you're worried about defense, Hart is an average defender. He's mainly played right field, and right field at Miller Park is much bigger than right field in Yankee Stadium. You don't have to be a fielding genius to know that less ground to cover usually means a guy will be better off. Even if Hart's injury lingers a bit, and his defense gets a bit worse, I don't see it getting to the point where the Yankees really have to worry. 

Oh, and Corey would be of help in the infield too, where Mark Teixiera will likely need regular rest. Something I mentioned on Monday when planning the infield. Corey has actually spent 857.1 innings at first base. Now, it's not at the level of Teixiera or other Gold Glove caliber first basemen, but it's not so bad that other infielders need to think before throwing him the ball.

"For the last time... I DON'T wear my sunglasses at night!"

To wrap this up, I'd like to see Brett Gardner return to center field. I want the Yankees to give Curtis Granderson a qualifying offer to continue playing left field. And finally I'd like the team to bring in Corey Hart to man right field.

*salaries are by Average Annual Value (AAV)
Left Field: Curtis Granderson $15 million (whether it's a qualifying offer, or a multi-year deal, Granderson's salary will be something like this)
Center Field - Brett Gardner $6 million (arbitration 3)
Right Field – Corey Hart $10 million (signed for 1 year/$10 million)

Yanks prospect O'Brien homers in Scorpions loss

Last night, the Yankee-affiliated Scottsdale Scorpions lost their 2013 AFL home opener to the Salt River Rafters, 12-2. This game was very one sided, as the Scorpions had just 1 hit through 6 innings. But on the bright side, Yankees third base/catching prospect Peter O'Brien did hit a two-run home run in this one, Scottsdale's only bright spot. 

Two Yankees pitching prospects, Fred Lewis and Brett Gerritse, did appear in this game. Now Lewis did great, throwing a scoreless frame while striking out one. 

But Gerritse really struggled. In his 1.1 innings of work, the right-hander walked two, gave up two hits, and surrendered three earned runs. I'd prefer he do better, but it's just game 2. He still has plenty of time to improve. 

This Day In New York Yankees History 10/10

On this day in 1923 the Yankees played their first postseason game at Yankees Stadium in it's history with the Giants winning 5-4. Giants outfielder Casey Stengel hit an inside the park home run in the top of the 9th to give the Giants the lead they would not relinquish. This was also the first game to be nationally televised in the history of the World Series.

On this day in 1941 the Yankees would win their  14th World Series championship in their storied history as they beat the Giants 4-3 in Game 6.

On this day in 1964 Mickey Mantle hit a walk off home run in Yankees Stadium beating the St. Louis Cardinals 2-1. This would be Mantle's 16th home run of the postseason passing Babe Ruth for the most home runs in the postseason at the time. Also Mantle was only the fifth player to ever have hit a game winning home run in World Series history.

On this day in 2000 the Yankees and the Mariners set an ALCS record for strike outs in a single game with 22 combined K's. The Yankees struck out 13 times and the Mariners struck out 9 times in the game.

Joe Girardi to stay with the New York Yankees: Total No-Brainer

Four More Years! Four More Years!

The New York Yankees checked off their first goal of the offseason on Wednesday, retaining manager Joe Girardi until 2017.

The skipper signed a four year contract worth $16 million, as a source told ESPNNewYork.com's Andrew Marchand 

Despite missing the playoffs twice in six seasons at the helm of the Yankees, Girardi has led the team to a World Series championship in 2009, an ALCS appearance in three of four years and three division titles. The Yankees' 580 winning percentage under him since 2008 is the best in baseball.

After speculation that Girardi would entertain offers from his hometown Chicago Cubs, the Yankees gave him an offer he apparently couldn’t refuse.

That’s a good thing. Girardi is still the best fit for this team, especially as it goes through its first major transition period in a long time. The lack of adequate alternatives (Dusty Baker, Tony Pena, Charlie Manuel, Manny Acta; yeah, no thanks) makes this move obvious.

Girardi’s greatest strengths as a manager includes being numbers savvy (he’s got an engineering degree from Northwestern, you know), managing the bullpen (his predecessor’s greatest flaw), and getting the most out of replacement players, as we saw this year as the Yankees somehow won 85 games without half a roster that hit 245 home runs last season.

The Yankees are going to be a much different team than in the past years. With Mariano Rivera and Andy Pettitte retired and Hiroki Kuroda and Robinson Cano possibly gone to free agency, the prospects for 2014 don’t look too great next year at the moment, but of course that could easily change.

Regardless of who is on the roster next year, you can count on Girardi to keep this team competitive. Even with the greatest closer ever gone, he will find a way to put together a solid bullpen like he does every year, this time possibly led by David Robertson. If he has the right personnel on offense, he’ll find a way to get this team to hit enough.

The Yankees have proved to be resilient over the past couple of years, and Joe Girardi is a big reason for that. Even when things look bad, he’s been able to push the right buttons and get this team to win. Maintaining him was the Yankees’ first objective and now that’s done, and that’s a good thing for thing. Total no-brainer.

New York Yankees Minor League Players Updates

The Yankees had another year of the injury in 2013 and it was not just limited to the major leagues, it happened in the minor leagues as well. The Yankees saw their players injured from the 2013 draft, from the lower levels of the system, and through the upper levels of the system as well including our former #1 prospect Manny Banuelos. Here is a ton of minor league injury updates.

Speaking of Manny Banuelos he missed the entire 2012 season after having Tommy John surgery but Banuelos has pitched at the Yankees minor league complex down in Tampa and some in the Instructional League. There are no plans to build arm strength or knock any rust off in the winter leagues or anything like that so Manny will be fresh for Spring Training in 2014.

Michael Pineda is not throwing this year in any kind of winter ball or anything like that after rehabbing his shoulder surgery that he got before the 2012 season. Pineda has been a Yankee for two seasons now and has not thrown a pitch for us yet so this is a very important season for the Yanks and for Pineda. Pineda was shut down with shoulder stiffness which was deemed normal for someone having a shoulder surgery like he did. Pineda was seen throwing 94-96 MPH on the fastball and worked off a lot of rust this season. Hopefully we can see Pineda contribute in 2014 for the Yankees and get past these injuries before he is donned the next Carl Pavano.

Aaron Judge missed the entire 2013 season after a quad pull but is expected to be ready for spring training this season. The injury was called precautionary as the Yankees wanted to make extra sure that the injury is fully healed so The Judge can make his professional debut without a hiccup.

Gosuke Katoh was also drafted this year like Judge and also has missed time due to injury. Katoh broke onto the scene in a big way with an amazing debut for the Gulf Coast Yankees before his season ended with a sprained finger ligament while in the instructional league. This is considered to be a very minor injury and another precautionary move to ensure that Katoh will be ready and healthy for the spring.

Mark Montgomery spent much of the season on the AAA disabled list and not on the RailRiders field after being donned the best Yankees relief prospect in their system with a back and a shoulder injury. The shoulder has been looked at multiple times and is said to be healthy so now the Yankees are letting Montgomery's back heal up for spring training.

Corban Joseph's season ended with the AAA Scranton Wilkes Barre after a cup of coffee in the majors on May 31st with a season ending shoulder surgery. He is throwing and rehabbing the shoulder now and also will be ready for spring training in 2014. With Joseph's spot on the 40 man he better hope and do everything that he can to ensure that the shoulder is healthy coming in.

Jose Ramirez was shut down with an oblique injury at the end of the 2013 season but is back to throwing and is in the Instructional League. Ramirez will be ready for spring training in 2014.

Slade Heathcott had offseason knee surgery after being shut down the last couple weeks of the AA Trenton Thunder's season. This procedure was considered to be very minor and just classified as a clean up type procedure and Slade should be ready for spring training.

Yankees Sign Joe Girardi To New Four Year Deal

The New York Yankees have announced that they have reached an agreement on a new four year deal with their manager Joe Girardi worth $16,000,000. Girardi has been the Yankees manager for six seasons including four postseason appearances and one World Series championship. Girardi is now among the games highest paid managers so welcome back to New York Joe, no pressure. 

2013 New York Yankees Old Timer's Day

Let's take a look back at the 2013 Old Timer's Day put on by the New York Yankees this season. Enjoy!