Mariano Rivera Says He Is At 95%

Mariano Rivera was asked how his knee was doing after ACL surgery and he says that his knee is at 95%. Mariano states that his knee will be 100% by the time Spring Training starts because all he needs is to do some strengthening in the knee. Mariano has been rehabbing daily and will begin throwing off flat ground as early as next week. Mariano states that he will have a normal routine this spring so I feel confident we will see more of the same from Mo in 2013.

Brian Cashman's Last 6 Years Of Trade History - 2011

Continuing with our look at Brian Cashman's recent trade history we will look at the 2011 season and see what ninja Cashman was able to pull off for the Yankees. Spoiler alert, this one is kind of a bore:

2-11-11

Yankees get Justin Maxwell

Nationals get Adam Olbrychowski

The Yankees got the better of this trade until they let Maxwell walk after Spring Training last season. He could really be a great fit for the Yankees in 2013 but I digress. The Yankees got some use out of Maxwell and gave up a guy that I cannot even pronounce his last name let alone know anything about him. 

3-25-11

Yankees get Chris Dickerson

Brewers get Sergio Mitre

I absolutely fell in love with Chris Dickerson during the 2012 season and clamored for him to be called up and actually used all season long, to no avail obviously. When this trade actually happened I was just happy to be rid of Sergio Mitre. We win this trade just by addition by subtraction in my eyes. Now that Chris has been designated for assignment and probably not going to clear waivers I will use this as another opportunity to say goodbye to C-Dick. 

Brian Cashman's Last 6 Years Of Trade History - 2010

One year removed from a World Series ring the Yankees and Brian Cashman were at it again trying to bring home another ring. Let's look at what Brian Cashman was ale to pull off in the search for a ring.

7-30-10

Yankees get Austin Kearns

Red gets Zach McAllister

This trade really excited me because it reminded me of last year's Eric Hinske and Jerry Hairston trades. Austin Kearns was less then stellar, hell we won't sugar coat it he sucked, in New York but Z Mac never had a future in New York. He was pretty decent in 22 starts for Cleveland last season so the trade looks bad but if he did not go in this trade he was destined to go in another. This is more of an oh well kind of trade.

7-31-10

Yankees get Lance Berkman

Astros get Jimmy Paredes and Mark Melancon

was really upset to lose Mark Melancon because he was deemed the Yankees future closer and was never given a fair shot. He pitched poorly but if Mariano Rivera was used as sparingly as Mark was I bet even he would have a little rust on him. Fat Elvis was decent for the Yankees but I truly think we lost this trade, even if relievers are dime a dozen. 

7-31-10

Yankees get Kerry Wood

Indians get Andrew Shive and Matt Cusik

The Yankees got Kid K from Cleveland and he was absolutely stellar for the Yankees as they gave up absolutely nothing for the guy. Wood had a 0.69 ERA in the second half for the Yankees and Shive and Cusik have done nothing so this is a great trade. 

Brian Cashman's Last 6 Years Of Trade History - 2009

The 2009 season that brought the Yankees a World Series for the first time in nine seasons was a very busy one by Brian Cashman and the Yankees. Let's look at what kind of trades, along with some big free agent signings, that brought the Yankees the ultimate goal, the ring for the boss.

6-30-09

Yankees get Eric Hinske

Pirates get Eric Fryer and Casey Erickson

This was one of those depth moves that proved to help the Yankees immensely down the stretch and through out the playoffs. Eric hit home runs in big spots and played the outfield well enough to get a ring while we gave up two pieces of nothing for him. 

7-31-09

Yankees get Jerry Hairtson

Red get Chase Weems

Another under the radar trade that paid huge dividends down the stretch and through the playoffs as Jerry Hairston gave us some great times in pinstripes. Chase Weems never was a great prospect and has not done anything since and Jerry helped us win a ring so the trade is a win for us. 

12-8-09

Yankees get Curtis Granderson

Diamondbacks get Ian Kennedy

Tigers get Phil Coke and Austin Jackson

In a three team trade that included more pieces then this the Yankees got Curtis Granderson to man center field for them while giving up Ian Kennedy, Phil Coke, and Austin Jackson. A Jax has turned into one of the best center fielders and lead off men in the game and Phil Coke has dominated us during the season and in the playoffs. Ian Kennedy went on to win 20 games for Arizona and got some Cy Young consideration before taking a step back last season. Granderson started out well for us but he has forgotten how to hit anything besides a home run and his routes in center field leave much to be desired. We still have a season of Granderson at least so maybe the 2013 season can make this look like a good trade because as it stands right now we gave up just a little too much. 

12-22-09

Yankees get Boone Logan and Javier Vazquez

Braves get Melky Cabrera, Mike Dunn, and Arodys Vizcaino

Boone Logan has been a god send since coming over to the Yankees much unlike Javier Vazquez who just stunk up the place. The good news is that Melky Cabrera was terrible for Atlanta, Arodys Vizcaino is going to miss the 2013 with Tommy John surgery, and Mike Dunn is nothing special. It is still a bad trade but it is looking better all the time. 

Happy Birthday To The Greedy Pinstripes!!

One year ago today The Greedy Pinstripes opened their doors to provide Yankees fans with our opinions, articles, rants, musical recommendations, and so much more. To this point we have received roughly 97,000 views which I think is amazing for a blog just getting off the bench and straight into the game. We had 162 game threads plus one for every game in the playoffs, something some of the bigger blogs cannot boast, and we did our best to give you the latest and most relevant Yankees news. We just hope you have enjoyed reading us as much as we have enjoyed writing for you! Thank you for a great year of comments and interacting with us and we hope the next year and years to come are as gratifying and special as this first one was. Stay greedy Yankees fans!

Lance Berkman Off The Board, Signs W/ Tex

The Yankees were said to be interested in a reunion with Fat Elvis Lance Berkman but that will not be happening since today he signed with the Texas Rangers. The Rangers have not confirmed the deal but reports say Lance signed for one year on a Major League contract with a vesting option for 2014. More details when they are available.

Brian Cashman's Last 6 Years Of Trade History - 2008

Continuing our look at the last six seasons of trades and reactions under the Brian Cashman regime we look at a very busy 2008 year that brought the Yankees in many trades. Let's take a look at what Cashman had under his sleeve way back in 2008.

7-26-08

Yankees get Damaso Marte and Xavier Nady

Pirates get Ross Ohlendorf, Jose Tabata, Daniel McCutchen, and Jeff Karstens

I was against this trade from the beginning and Jose Tabata has not made me feel any better about the trade since. Sure we probably might not have gotten that 2009 ring without Damaso Marte remembering how to pitch for a month or two but Nady was a flop and Tabata has fit in nicely with Pittsburgh.

7-30-08

Yankees get Ivan "Pudge" Rodriguez

Tigers get Kyle Farnsworth

The Yankees had a banged up Jorge Posada and needed a defensive catcher so the match with Pudge was an obvious one. Kyle Farnsworth was finally harnessing his potential under Joe Girardi so I hated to see him go but the trade did not work out for either team so I guess there is always that.

11-13-08

Yankees get Nick Swisher and Kanekoa Teixeira

White Sox get Wilson Betemit, Jeff Marquez, and Jonny Nunez

This was an absolute steal of a trade for Ninja Cashman as he stole Nick Swisher after an awful season for three pieces of nothing. Four seasons later under Swish's watch and a World Series ring later the Yankees are struggling to fill the void and the clubhouse personality left behind by Nick.

Brian Cashman's Last 6 Years Of Trade History - 2007

It seems very likely that if the Yankees are going to compete in both 2013 and 2014 that we are going to have to rely on Brian Cashman pulling his ninja suit out and making a trade or two. I wanted to take this opportunity to look at the last six seasons of Ninja Cash working his magic in hopes of maybe showing us if we should be excited about that fact or not. Here goes...

1-9-07

Diamondbacks get Randy Johnson

Yankees get Alberto Gonzalez, Steven Jackson, Ross Ohlendorf, and Luis Vizcaino.

The Yankees basically had all of the advantage here because Randy requested a trade to Arizona but we still got basically scraps for the Big Unit. Luis Vizcaino was helpful out of the bullpen and Ross Ohlendorf helped us net Xavier Nady and Damaso Marte two seasons later but other then that this trade was nothing worth jumping for joy over.

7-21-07

Yankees get Jose Molina

Angels get Jeff Kennard

This is one Cashman trade that flew way under the radar and was actually helpful. Jose Molina was the defensive wizard that we always wanted behind the plate and made Jorge Posada look like an amateur defensively. We basically gave up someone that I, an admitted prospect hugger, haven't even heard of in Kennard. Great trade for Cashman and company.

7-31-07

Yankees get Wilson Betemit

Dodgers get Scott Proctor

The day that Joe Torre cried was the day that Scott Proctor got sent to the Los Angeles Dodgers for Wilson Betemit. I have to admit that I was crazy excited for this trade when it happened because I thought he could help us give A Rod days off and  would be the super utility guy we have always been looking for. Betemit was not great in pinstripes but then again neither was Proctor.

Yankees Interested In Lance Berkman For DH

The Yankees are still continuing their search for a right handed outfielder and/or DH and that search has brought them to a potential reunion with Lance Berkman. Granted Lance is a switch hitter and much better from the left side then the right but he can still hit lefties at a decent pace, given whats left on the free agent market. The biggest concern is obviously his health and whether he will be able to play more then the 32 games that he appeared in last season. Also can he even still play the outfield in a pinch or would he be a first base back up and primary DH? After two separate knee surgeries that ended his season last year the concern will always be there, especially in his age 36 season. The Astros, Rangers, and Orioles are also said to be interested in "Fat Elvis" for the 2013 season so there is a little bit of competition there.

Still No Date Set For Alex Rodriguez's Hip Surgery

The Yankees had to scurry and find a replacement for Alex Rodriguez, thus doing so with the Kevin Youkilis signing, after we found out that he would need a second hip surgery in five seasons. The fist one was back before the 2009 season on his right hip and this one will be on his left hip. I find it amazing that we are in January and we still do not have a date set for Alex's surgery. I do not know if we should consider this a set back or necessarily something to worry about or not so I guess we will just have to wait this one out.