Forbes: Yankees Most Valuable Club At $2.5 Billion

The New York Yankees not only spend a lot of money, they are worth a lot of money too, $2.5 billion to be exact according to Forbes. This is the 17th consecutive season with the Yankees being ranked at the top of the list while the Tampa Bay Rays are in dead last in all of Major League Baseball. The Yankees $2.5 billion is up around 9% from last season with the Dodgers coming in second at $2 billion, up 24% from last season for Los Angeles.

The Top 5 was rounded out by the Boston Red Sox worth $1.5 billion, the Chicago Cubs at $1.2 billion, and the San Francisco Giants valued at $1 billion. No other teams are valued at or over $1 billion in the game right now but the Philadelphia Phillies are close, among other teams, at $975 million. George Steinbrenner would be proud.

Yankees 15 Season Spending Spree Streak Snapped

For the last 15 seasons the New York Yankees were the highest spending team in all of baseball but that streak will come to an end in 2014 thanks to the Los Angeles Dodgers. If they keep this kind of behavior up we may have to change the name of the blog, shame on you Brian Cashman. The Associated Press released the list, here is the Top 10:

1. Dodgers: $235,295,219
2. Yankees: $203,812,506
3. Philadelphia: $180,052,723
4. Boston: $162,817,411
5. Detroit: $162,228,527
6. LA Angels: $155,692,000
7. San Francisco: $154,185,878
8. Texas: $136,036,172
9. Washington: $134,704,437
10. Toronto: $132,628,700

Other notables payrolls were:

18. Seattle: $92,081,943
27. Pittsburgh: $78,111,667
30. Houston: $44,544,174

Read more here: http://www.kansascity.com/2014/03/25/4915619/ap-dodgers-surpass-yankees-for.html#storylink=cpy

New Drug Agreement Could Be In Place This Week

Major League Baseball and the Major League Baseball players and management are close to agreeing on a new joint drug agreement that would bring stiffer penalties for muscle building steroid use. In turn there may also be a reduced suspension in situations of unintentional use, who makes that call of what is and isn't intentional is beyond me. The real reason for the change came out later in the day when there was discussion of closing the loophole that allowed Alex Rodriguez getting paid $3 million for his singing bonus even though he is on the suspended list this season due to his ties with Biogenesis. Rodriguez was allowed almost another $3 million because Frederic Horowitz, the arbitrator in his suspension appeal, stated that he was eligible for some pay since players are paid over 183 day season and Rodriguez would only be suspended for 162 games, allowing him another $2,868,852.

The deal may be done as soon as Sunday before teams start Opening Day's around the league. What it sounds like is left to be decided is the lengths of the reduced and strengthened suspensions, so no big obstacle are standing in the way of an agreement. I agree with this because 50 games is obviously not enough of a deterrent, people are still doing the stuff and getting handsomely rewarded, so making the penalties stiffer is a great idea.

Claiborne surrenders 6 runs in Yanks loss to Blue Jays

Despite getting a solid 3 innings of two-run from starter Chris Leroux, a 2-run Single from a 3B playing first in Kelly Johnson, and a 2-Run Double from struggling RF Carlos Beltran, the Yankees lost again today to the Blue Jays in Dunedin, 10-6. Going into this one's bottom of the fifth, the Yanks actually led 6-2, but then youngsters Fred Lewis and Preston Claiborne came in and completely ruined everything, giving up 2 and 6 runs respectively in the frame. 

So yea, the frustration that is this week definitely continued today. Don't know why or how, but it did. 

New York Yankees Spring Training News & Notes 3/26

Ivan Nova and Michael Pineda threw bullpen sessions today. Jacoby Ellsbury, Brian McCann, and Mark Teixeira all stayed behind in Tampa to take batting practice.

Alfonso Soriano has been dealing with some tightness in his shoulder, although it has not kept him out of the lineup yet. Soriano will be held out of the game tomorrow and will be re-evaluated on Friday.

Francisco Cervelli won the back up catchers job over Austin Romine, John  Ryan Murphy, and Gary Sanchez among others. Romine was optioned to AAA today.

Chad Jennings with the assignments from the day in Yankees camp:

Today’s second string: C Jose Gil, 1B Russ Canzler, 2B Scott Sizemore, SS Eduardo Nunez, 3B Yangervis Solarte, LF Zelous Wheeler, CF Antoan Richardson, RF Adonis Garcia

· Today’s scheduled relievers: Yoshinori Tateyama, Dellin Betances, Preston Claiborne, Jim Miller, Danny Burawa, Matt Daley, Fred Lewis (with Aaron Dott, Pat Venditte and Branden Pinder up from minor league camp just in case the Yankees need them)

· Tomorrow’s travel squad for Bradenton:
Pitchers: Danny Burawa, Cesar Cabral, Shane Greene, David Herndon, Fred Lewis, Jim Miller, Vidal Nuno, David Phelps, CC Sabathia, Yoshinori Tateyama, Adam Warren
Catchers: Jose Gil, Brian McCann
Infielders: Dean Anna, Russ Canzler, Eduardo Nunez, Scott Sizemore, Yangervis Solarte, Mark Teixeira, Zelous Wheeler
Outfielders: Zoilo Almonte, Adonis Garcia, Antoan Richardson, Ichiro Suzuki

New York Yankees @ Toronto Blue Jays 3/26

The New York Yankees have set their fifth starter, Michael Pineda, and are now riding out their time until Opening Day. That ride continues tonight as they travel to play the Toronto Blue Jays in the latest spring training game in the Grapefruit League. Chris Leroux will be on the mound for the Yankees and the game will be televised at 1:05 pm ET on MLB TV, I think. Enjoy the day Yankees family.

Predicting The MVP's In 2014

I absolutely bombed these predictions last year picking Albert Pujols and Matt Kemp, both of which who missed major time due to injury and had lackluster seasons. Maybe I will do better this season with my MVP predictions, only time will tell.

For the American League MVP I think Robinson Cano will finally get the respect and recognition he deserves since he is not a member of the New York Yankees anymore. He has home run power as well as double power and should see those numbers come out again in 2014. He will play at least the first season of his mega contract with a chip on his shoulder, he may even run out a ground ball or two.

For the National League MVP I thought about putting Clayton Kershaw here again but decided that the closer Giancarlo Stanton gets to free agency the healthier and better he would get. That's why I am picking Stanton to finally play 150+ games, carry the Marlins to more than 60 wins in a season, and win the MVP award. Probably will not be a landslide, especially on a losing team, and will have plenty of competition but I think the time is now for Mike Stanton.

Yankee Stadium Legacy: #6 Bob Meusel

Bob Meusel was a career .309 hitter over his 11 Major League seasons and jumped right into the mix for the New York Yankees in 1920 by batting .328 with 83 RBI's as a rookie. Meusel continued to drive in runs throughout the 20's knocking in 136 runs in his second season and then led the American League with a career high 138 RBI's in 1925.

The New York Yankees are a Joe Torre, 6 days away, from playing on Opening Day

*Yes I realize this was posted yesterday but somehow I got off a day... my apologies.

Quick Hit: Yankees Finances "Tapped Out"

We learned yesterday that the New York Yankees talked to Scott Boras and Stephen Drew again but cannot sign him due to being "tapped out" in the money department. I think the gif says it all.

This Day In New York Yankees History 3/26

On this day in 1936 the New York Yankees signed future Hall of Fame pitcher Red Ruffing to a deal worth $12,000.

On this day in 1951 Mickey Mantle hit a home run estimated at 650 feet in an exhibition game against the University of Southern California at Bovard Field. Mantle, a rookie, also had a single, triple, and another home run in his first ever Yankees West Coast trip.

On this day in 1957 Yankees manager Casey Stengel is arrested and released on a $50 bail after allegedly cursing and kicking a newspaper photographer during an exhibition game in St. Petersburg.